Ladies Blend Thymes Natural Living

Aromatherapy Bath Recipes

To make an aromatherapy bath, you can drop the essential oils right into the tub and use your hand or foot to swish them around just before entering the bathtub, this method however at times can produce hot spots and cause irritation. 

If you have grain alcohol on hand you can add the essential oils to a small bit of alcohol and mix, the alcohol will help disperse the EO's into the bath water. 

or

Add the EO's to a small amount of carrier oil, such as sweet almond oil, or one of my favorites, cold pressed sweet cherry kernel oil, stir well and add the mixture just before entering the bath. 

Whatever method you choose, be sure to fill the tub with warm water, then add the essential oils, right before you are ready to step in.

Essential oils penetrate our skin, pass into the bloodstream and circulate through our bodies.  The formulas listed here are for adults and are not intended for use with children, pregnant women or those with health related conditions, use and proceed with care.

Healing Waters

Photo Credit:  Courtesy of The Springs Resort

The Springs Resort in Pagosa Springs, Colorado is one of my future relaxation destinations.  I can almost feel the tension melt away as I take in the picture above, and I imagine what it must feel like to submerge myself into the water after an active day of biking and hiking. 

From their website:  As you step into these mineral rich waters, the various minerals and elements in the water are absorbed through the pores in your skin. The healing process is enhanced when the pores are opened by increased water intake prior to entering the mineral pools.

Spa packages at The Healing Waters Spa & Salon sound equally enticing and with names like Peaceful Escape, Simple Serenity, Spa Surrender and Perfectly Polished, I for one would take great pleasure and indulge in a different pampering experience each day.

Create Your Own Healing Waters

While it is not likely that one could replicate the spas and pools of water at The Springs Resort in Colorado, it is possible and easy to create your own healing waters at home, with products that are specifically formulated to turn any ordinary bathtub into an extraordinary experience.

Our Selections are:

Ladies Blend Thalassotherapy Seaside Garden Bath Soak
Thalassa (sea)  Therapy (treatment) 

It begins with hand gathering and sustainable harvesting in the protected, pristine cold waters of Iceland.  Kelp, a key ingredient in Ladies Blend Thalassotherapy Seaside Garden Bath Soak is blended with lavender, lemongrass, orange peel and rose petal powders; natural sea salts complete this botanical beauty treatment...read more

and

Ladies Blend Hydrotherapy Body Soaks
Hydro (water) Therapy (treatment)

Ladies Blend Hydrotherapy Body Soaks are made with naturally and ethically harvested salts sourced from the mineral rich waters of the Caribbean Sea and certified organic or wildcrafted herbs. Pure, simple and naturally effective for treating a variety of ailments...read more

Beautiful Lavender Bath Salts

Once again, today, I meet with the trainer at the gym, that sounds kind of nice doesn't it?  It is grueling.  I'm not sure that I am even looking forward forward to it, but it is early and I am focusing on positive thoughts and on the words the trainer said to me last week.  When I was sort of whining, he said "if it was easy, everyone would be doing it."  He put me in my place in a serious, yet friendly fashion with a big smile and a little laugh, firm, yet kind.  How did he know that is what I respond to and need? 

So today, weights, reps and equipment/machines-all increased.  All I can say is that when I am finished, look out, I come home and start up my juicer, I crave those green drinks at the end of a workout.  The next place I go to is the shower and after that, the bathtub. 

During the past month or so, I have developed an even more intense appreciation for all of the bathing salts that I have acquired.  They have helped to alleviate my aches and pains, naturally.  I have taken no pain relievers and believe me when I tell you, that, at times, my muscles have been screaming at me.  By the end of a fifteen minute soak in the tub, I am literally pain free.  It is so easy to make your own natural salts, I thought I would share this very simple recipe, so that you can make your own fragrant and beautiful bath soak.

Lavender Bath Salts

• Select your container that will hold your salts, clear glass creates a beautiful visual, use with care though.
• Fill container half full with your choice of bath salts.
• Then fill the rest of the jar (to about the 3/4 mark) with lavender buds. 
• Cap the jar, and slowly turn it upside down, then right side up several times until the salts and lavender have been combined.

To Use 

• If you do not mind skimming off the lavender buds from your bath water before you drain it, you can add the salt mixture directly to your tub filled with warm water. 
• You can also fill a small drawstring muslin bag with the salts or add them to a large piece of cheesecloth or other thin material.  If the cloth is big enough, you can bring the sides together and tie, if not, then secure with a pieces of raffia, ribbon or string. 
• Toss this into your tub, the salts will dissolve and the lavender buds will stay secured inside the pouch. 
• When you are finished with your bath, simply empty the herbs from the pouch, you may discard, compost or sprinkle them in your garden. 
• Discard or rinse out the pouch/cloth, air dry and use for your next treatment.   

Echinacea Tincture

I know it's a hot sultry August day for most of us, but heads up folks, you should start thinking about what you need to gather for your winter echinacea tincture.  Start it soon so it will have had the proper amount of time to extract and be nice and ready when you need it.

Click here to read the article that I wrote last year explaining how to make your own echinacea tincture.  I hope you decide to make your tincture, it costs way less and is far superior to most brands that you buy in the stores.  Start it soon so you will be ready-cold and flu season has a way of sneaking up on us!

Holistic Pet Care

   I really wanted to post this article sooner, but I had a heck of a time finding it, it was in a weekly supplement with our regular newspaper.  I always look forward to it because it has a lot of goings on within our community.  I think the article-Holistic Pet Clinic-will go into archive in just a couple of days and I am not sure that you will be able to view it after that, so if you are interested in a heart warming little story, along with personal testimonials, have a look:

http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070613/NEWS0304/70612059/1107

Personal note:  The facilty mentioned in the article (Holistic Animal Clinic) is where Nathan went for a problematic uti that did not respond to traditional standard protocol, he was on 3 different meds for 2 weeks, then we took the holistic approach. 

We all have draw on our own conclusions on how to care for our beloved pets, but all I can say is that this was one of the best decisions that I have ever made in the best interest of our kitty cats.  All my unanswered questions regarding pet nutrition, sicknesses and diseases-answered by extremely caring and completely competent professionals. 

Holistic medicine treats the patient as a whole, not just a symptom(s).  Nathan was given acupuncture, herbal supplements and a complete diet/nutrition change-the new diet was passed onto his sister Chloe and mother Pretty Kitty.  They were previously being fed a dry kibble which I thought was of high quality and of many different things, variety has also been added.  I always wondered (and asked) if they get bored or tired of eating the same thing all of the time-indeed they do.  I truly feel that holistic care was the missing link that will help to ensure that they have strong supportive immune systems instead of weak ones caused by chemicals, controversial pharmaceuticals and a not-so-healthy diet.  Their lives will be happier, healthier, in tune and balanced properly. 

We try to live better lives by eating fresh & organic, we are just as particular with our personal care products and when we have health issues, if possible, we choose a natural/herbal therapy, so it just makes sense that we would do the same for our pets.

Shirley’s Wellness Cafe, Holistic Healthcare for People & Animals, is an incredible educational website.