Nourish Your Nose, Nourish Your Body and Soul

For anyone who has ever felt their stress melt away like butter under the artful hands of a talented massage therapist, it is hard to imagine that anything could get better than that. It can, and the Greeks had the scoop on it in the 4th century.

Hippocrates, our father of medicine, defined medicine as "the art of rubbing".  More specifically however, he advised that people take "a daily aromatic bath and scented massage".  He theorized that to obtain true health one had to be balanced, and that the body had to be treated as a whole, not just a series of parts.

Like the ancient Egyptians and practitioners of traditional Chinese and Indian medicine centuries before him, Hippocrates also believed that essential oils could heal. Though many of Hippocrates' practices lost favour over the centuries, aromatic massage is one that is having a major revival.

Aromatic massage combines the topical benefits of essential oils with the therapeutic benefits of the massage. Essential oils, simply put, are the concentrated form of the oil of the plant from which they are taken. Each individual oil represents the unique scent and characteristics of its source plant. In aromatherapy, each of these scents or characteristics has noted therapeutic properties.

We all know about endorphins and can relate to how the scent of Grandma's lavender perfume on a forgotten sweater can momentarily wrap us up in one of her cocooning hugs. Interestingly enough, lavender was actually central to the freak incident that led to the development of the term 'aromatherapy'.  In the early 1900s a French chemist named Rene-Maurice Gattefosse burned his hand in a lab accident. He quickly doused it in the nearest container, one holding pure lavender oil. His hand healed so quickly, and with so little scarring, that he became fascinated with essential oils. He later went on to publish a book appropriately called 'Aromatherapy'.

With over 300 essential oils and a seemingly infinite combination of those to choose from, you are sure to find one that targets your specific needs. Give your therapist as much ammunition as possible in terms of lifestyle and health information, and you could find yourself healing, de-stressed, replenished and satiny smooth—all in one day. And remember to breathe. That can be the best part.

References

http://www.oilsandplants.com/gattefosse.htm

http://www.medicinenet.com/massage_therapy/article.htm

Pondering a Purse?

With the spring season upon us, you might be considering an update of your handbag. Once you have made the decision to invest in a new purse, there are many things to consider.

When it comes to purses, size does matter.  What will the bag be used for primarily? Will you use it every day to carry necessities like bottled water, hair products or slip-on walking shoes; or will it be a more formal or special occasion bag?  It pays to sit down and list everything that you plan to carry.  Then, refer to your list when you are shopping and see if the styles you are looking at fit the bill.

If features like a zip closure or exterior pockets are really important to you, don't justify a spending money on a bag that doesn't include them. You could regret the purchase the first time you find yourself feeling blindly for a missing cell phone at the bottom of your bag.

Colour often presents the biggest challenge when shopping for a handbag. Play it safe, or go wild? Neutral is often the best bet for larger, designer bag investments. Shades of black and brown go with everything and hold their value while trendy colours and embellishments can fade from style quickly.

However, if your wardrobe is crying out for a punch of colour, a red purse can be a great constant that lets others know that you do possess a little joie de vivre.
How important are dual straps to you? If you find yourself always slinging your purse over your shoulder, you probably shouldn't give up a shoulder strap entirely, even if a carry handle is an important option for you. Habits can be hard to break. Many a clutch purse has been left on banquet tables by former shoulder slingers! Know thyself.

Finally, shop around and stick to a budget. There are lots of great options and price points available today. Material and quality of construction are key factors that determine cost. Though these are qualities that are more easily assessed in person, there are many reputable online retailers. Ask around for referrals.

And remember, unless your old bag is truly beyond repair, there are lots of charities that would love to give it a chance to shop around again!