Archive for the ‘Natural Health’ Category
Thursday, January 19th, 2012
Like I needed one? I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again…I love chocolate! Chocolate is better than…well let’s just say I really love Chocolate!;) I recently read that there has been research that suggests that dark chocolate is actually healthy to boot, here’s why…
Chocolate is made from plants, which means it contains many of the health benefits of dark vegetables. These benefits are from flavonoids, which act as antioxidants. Antioxidants protect the body from aging caused by free radicals, which can cause damage that leads to heart disease. Dark chocolate contains a large number of antioxidants. Flavonoids also help relax blood pressure through the production of nitric oxide, and balance certain hormones in the body.
Dark chocolate is good for your heart. A small bar of it everyday can help keep your heart and cardiovascular system running well. Two heart health benefits of dark chocolate are:
*Lower Blood Pressure: Studies have shown that consuming a small bar of dark chocolate everyday can reduce blood pressure in individuals with high blood pressure.
*Lower Cholesterol: Dark chocolate has also been shown to reduce LDL cholesterol (the bad cholesterol) by up to 10 percent.
Chocolate also holds benefits apart from protecting your heart:
*it tastes good
*it stimulates endorphin production, which gives a feeling of pleasure
*it contains serotonin, which acts as an anti-depressant
*it contains theobromine, caffeine and other substances which are stimulants
*Did I mention it tastes good? LOL
In celebration of Chocolate and all of it’s health benefits, Scandle is featuring a new gift set for Valentine’s Day, Scandle’s Chocolate Spa Therapy, featuring this heavenly treat. The gift set includes
*1 Scandle Chocolate Dipped Strawberry Shimmering Lotion Candle in reusable ceramic container
*1 Scandle Chocolate Dipped Strawberry Dead Sea Salt Soak and Scrub
*1oz Chocolate Prescription chocolate bars so you can get your daily dose of healthy yumminess!
Tags: Antioxidants, blood pressure, chocolate, Chocolate Prescription, Chocolate Spa, Chocolate spa therapy, health benefits of chocolate, heart health, Scandle Dead Sea Salt Soak & Scrub, Scandle Massage Candle
Posted in Anti-Aging Treatments & Products, Antioxidants, Brain Health, Chocolate Body Treatments, Healthy Lifestyle, Natural Health, Scandle Candle, Soy Candles, Stress-Reducing Treatments, Valentine's Day, emotional well-being | 5 Comments »
Monday, February 28th, 2011
More than ever before, we are overly stressed physically, financially and mentally and living in a toxic environment. So it is important that we take the time to create a chain reaction of profound wellness.
Green tea, a simple, inexpensive plant can help promote profound healing and well-being.
One type of Japanese green tea is kyoto karigane. Because of how this particular type of tea is grown and processed in Japan, it is has the highest stress-relieving amino acid L-theanine.
Drinking Kyoto Karigane will help you experience a higher alpha state, resulting in a mind that is clear and focused, your body will feel relaxed, and your creativity enhanced. In addition, the tea will boost your immune system as it is packed full of free-radical scavengers.
Using kyoto karigane on your body will help clean and nourish the skin.
What other “magical” and inexpensive natural remedies do you use to nourish yourself on the inside and out?
Tags: amino acid L-theanine, Green Tea, kyoto karigane, natural beauty, stress relief, tea, toxins
Posted in Antioxidants, Brain Health, Green Tea, Healthy Lifestyle, Healthy Living, Natural Health, Natural Remedies, Scandle Candle, Stress-Reducing Treatments, Tea Treatments | No Comments »
Thursday, January 27th, 2011
Eucalyptus is a flowering tree, native to Australia. This tree amazes us not only in appearance, but also by the many uses we receive from its oils. The rainbow eucalyptus is found in Southeast Asia, and is the only source of natural eucalyptus in the northern hemisphere.
Eucalyptus has a strong medicinal smell that is admired by some and dreaded by others. It is a fast growing source of wood, and its oils are often used as a cleaning agent or a natural insecticide. The oil is often steam that is distilled from the leaves of certain species.
Eucalyptus oil has many healing properties to it, which make it a very popular item for the household. It is used in many over-the-counter drugs. It is great for rashes and skin irritations, so it is often used in rubs, inhalers and creams. It is also an antiseptic, and can often be found in mouthwashes and used to treat wounds. Eucalyptus oil is often used to treat respiratory problems. The oil is anti-inflammatory and analgesic in nature, and is recommended for muscle and joint pain such as arthritis and fibrosis.
Eucalyptus oil, or eucalyptol, clearly has many uses. People who use it love the immediate cooling and refreshing effect that it provides. On top of all of the medicinal purposes, eucalyptus oil is also supposed to help with exhaustion, mentally and physically. Eucalyptus is also great for aromatherapy, if you do like the smell. If you need those sinuses cleared, just put some in the bathroom while you take a hot and steamy shower and wake up with a refreshing and invigorating smell. For many people, this oil is essential.
Tags: eucalyptus
Posted in Aromatherapy, Arthritis Treatments and Causes, Beauty Care & Treatments, Beauty/Health Myths, Budget Friendly Beauty Treatments, Cold Prevention, Essential Oils, Healthy Lifestyle, Home Treatments, Massage, Natural Health, Natural Treatments & Products, Sensitive skin, Skin Damage, Spa, Stress-Reducing Treatments | No Comments »
Thursday, January 20th, 2011
De-stress yourself without breaking the bank. Send the kids off to slumber party. Send the hubby on a Guys Night Out. Unplug your phone and turn off your porch light, make this night all about you. You may not get the hunky massage therapist, but these DIY Spa tips and tricks will be sure to relax you and save you money.
First things first, get what you need.
There’s no point in starting when you have to run out to the store. Look up on all-natural, feel good recipes for you to pamper yourself. There are many ideas out on the web, and you can handpick what you are putting on your face and rubbing on your skin. Find out what kind of treatments you want, like manicures, facials, scrubs or body wraps.
Start healthy.
Start off your day right and eat healthy foods. Start off your day with some oatmeal or granola with some fresh fruits. If you make sure you feel good in the morning, then it will carry with you for the rest of your day. Stretch your body when you wake wake up in the morning and loosen up for the rest of your day.
Set the mood.
Find out what kind of tunes will set the ambiance and help you relax. Nothing too upbeat or depressing. You will want something slow, at a low volume. Turn it on and just let the rhythm carry you away.
Lighting.
You’d be surprised at how much the right kind of lighting will take away all of your stress. Turn off the lights, light up some candles, and watch the flames dance. Make sure to pick some good fragrances to add aromatherapy to your at home treatment. The right kind of lighting paired with the perfect music is just what you need to start off your spa experience.
The home experience.
Here’s the good part. Make sure you’re taken care of from head to toe. Pick out the perfect salts for your bath. Use a conditioning treatment for your hair (coconut oil does wonders), and an invigorating mask for your face. From there you can either soak in your bath or shed some inches with a warm body wrap. If your skin is particularly dry (let’s face it, these cold winters are not helping) then a fresh cut orange half is great as a loofah scrub. Use them on your hands, feet, elbows and knees. Lemons will also work, and will also help lighten darker areas. End your spa treatment with a great manicure/pedicure, and feel beautiful from head to toe.
Once you help yourself feel good, you can carry that feeling everywhere you go. A DIY spa treatment will lift a weight off your shoulder and make you feel years younger. Just remember to let everything go, pace yourself, and free yourself from the world and anything that may distract you from you. Everyone needs a little me time.
Posted in Antioxidants, Aromatherapy, Beauty Care & Treatments, Beauty Treatments, Beauty/Health Myths, Body Scrubs, Budget Friendly Beauty Treatments, Essential Oils, Facials, Green Living, Hair Treatments, Healthy Living, Home Treatments, Lemon treatments, Natural Health, Natural Treatments & Products, Salt, Scandle Candle, Sensitive skin, Skin & Body Care/Treatments, Stress-Reducing Treatments, Winter Care | No Comments »
Wednesday, January 5th, 2011
Whether you can tell it’s a natural color or not, plenty of people (men, women, and children) dye their hair. Some people do it every two weeks, some once a month, and some people do it just once and instantly regret it. There’s actually a good chance that you dye your hair, but do you actually know what you put into your hair?
It seems like such a common thing to do that people don’t even think about it. If you do it too much, it damages your hair, everyone knows that, but have you read the fine print that recommends you to do a patch test first? Or do you just ignore it and jump into the good stuff? Artificial hair dye has been known to cause severe allergic reactions, respiratory disorders and has even been linked to cancer.
It’s a scary thought, so you want to avoid it if you can. If you absolutely must dye your hair, do it as a little as possible. Try to avoid chemicals like hydrogen peroxide, ammonia, resorcinol or p-Phenylenediamine.
You can also opt for more natural dyes. You don’t get as dramatic of a color, nor can you control the shade as easily, however you also aren’t pouring cancer-causing chemicals onto your scalp. You heard about it on Glee, Sam uses lemon juice to get those golden locks of his. It may be a myth to get rid of freckles, but lemon juice can be rubbed into your hair to regulate blood flow to help your hair grow, help with dandruff or lighten your hair.
You can also try tea. It tastes great hot or cold, and does wonders for your hair. Just brew a pot overnight (black tea for those with darker hair and wish for a nice finish) and rinse it through your hair. It may take a while, but can lighten your hair. Just make sure you hold the sugar and honey for this pot of tea.
The natural method of hair dye is a bit more tedious and unpredictable, but it is better to dye your hair rather die your hair. Just remember that it does take time and embrace the result!
Tags: hair dye, Hair Treatments, Natural Treatments & Products
Posted in Beauty Care & Treatments, Beauty Treatments, Beauty/Health Myths, Budget Friendly Beauty Treatments, Green Living, Hair Treatments, Healthy Lifestyle, Home Treatments, Natural Health, Natural Treatments & Products, Natural/Fruit infused treatments, Tea Treatments, cosmetics | No Comments »
Tuesday, January 4th, 2011
We hope everyone has had an amazing start to the new year! We all know that new times can be very refreshing, but we also know that it can be very frustrating and stressful. So to make sure everyone starts their year off on the right foot, we are going to share with you the trends in the spa market that are going to be a hit in 2011, identified by SpaFinder.
Specialized treatments for the wise and experienced. Spas are becoming more and more aware of the older demographic. Physiotherapists and chiropractors can now be found at many spas. Treatments such as joint rejuvenation and relief will be on the rise with this growing demographic, as well as relaxing thermal bath soaks.
Watch out for the Asian invasion. Many techniques have been brought over from Asia to enhance the spa experience including Thai massage, bamboo fusion massage, and acupuncture. These techniques are getting to be so popular, that the spa market in Asia is expanding as well, especially with the growth of hotels. If you do happen to be in Asia and are having a nice spa day, make sure you keep your eyes open for one of our Scandle Body Candles! Keep a watch on the Asian spa market, and just watch how fast it grows.
Salt’s not just a seasoning anymore, and it hasn’t been for a long time now. Halotherapy is a healing therapy technique that traditionally involves soaking in a salt cave. It sounds strange, but research shows that salt soaks and even inhaling the environments of salt caves has medicinal benefits. Dead Sea salt itself has been known to strengthen bones, rejuvenate the skin and relief the pains of arthritis. Salt therapy is becoming very popular in spas, and is often used in their bath and soak treatments or along with massages.
Along with these trends, you can also expect to see more branding (emerging franchises such as Massage Envy), speedy spas (for those who only have a just a few minutes to relax), and the science behind spas (for those of that want to add a bit of practicality to the experience).
Whatever the reason you choose to go, make sure that you do go to the spa. Everyone needs to relax, even if it will be for a speedy trip or a nice relaxing thermal soak. The year has just started, so take your time, relax and don’t rush threw it. Happy New Year!
Tags: 2011, Dead Sea Salt Soak & Scrub, New Year, Spa, Spa Trends, Trends
Posted in Anti-Aging Treatments & Products, Arthritis Treatments and Causes, Beauty Care & Treatments, Body Scrubs, Dead Sea Salt, Healthy Living, Massage, Natural Health, Natural Treatments & Products, News, Salt, Scandle Candle, Spa, Stress-Reducing Treatments, Trends | No Comments »
Thursday, December 16th, 2010
These are the busy months. Work is much more hectic. You need to finish your holiday shopping. You need to get ready for the entire family to come over. When are you going to get the time to yourself? As much joy as this season may bring, winter can be very harsh on a person, let alone your skin. Don’t let your skin get dry or your lips get cracked. Let us help you provide a little extra TLC for your skin.
- As for everything, to keep your skin healthy (and yourself!) make sure to drink plenty of water and exercised. Exercise is a word we all dread, but will energize you greatly, and give your skin a nice boost in color as well. Keeping your body hydrated will also keep your skin cells healthy. Along with this, water-enriched vegetables (such as lettuce) are also good for giving your skin that natural glow.
- Control your environment. Adding a humidifier to your room will protect your skin from the dry air. Also keep your showers short. Exposing your skin to too much can also dry your skin out. Sometimes lukewarm water is the best option. Try not to crank up the heat inside your house, either. Turn your thermostat down to the lowest temperature at which you feel comfortable, and your skin will thank you later.
- Products are a plus. You may not like the idea of rubbing things onto your face and body, but just keep an eye on the products, and help your skin out. Switch out your soap bar for something a bit more mild if you want to be a little more friendly to your body. Don’t scrub or be rough, and just dab at your skin to dry it. If your skin tends to be extra dry, you can use some aloe vera or sesame oil. Be sure to moisturize your skin, and keep an eye on your lips. No one wants to smooch with dry, chapped lips.
-Be mindful of your feet and hands, where skin has more of a tendency to crack and peel. Try to use a hand and foot treatment at least once a week. If you get a moment to yourself, treat yourself to a nice foot soak while you’re catching up with your DVR.
Even through your hectic winter days, make sure to keep yourself healthy and sane. Always take a little time each day to pay attention to yourself because even the busiest mom needs a little extra tender, love and care. So before you head out to that last bit of holiday shopping, put on a natural lip balm and some sun protection and make yourself feel just a little more at ease.
Tags: Busy Moms, Health, Holiday, Lifestyle, Skin Care, Winter
Posted in Beauty Care & Treatments, Beauty Treatments, Beauty/Health Myths, Budget Friendly Beauty Treatments, Healthy Lifestyle, Healthy Living, Natural Health, Natural Treatments & Products, Scandle Candle, Sensitive skin, Skin & Body Care/Treatments, Skin Care, Skin Damage, Sun Damage, Winter Care | No Comments »
Monday, December 6th, 2010
We all want to do it. Turn back the clock on a few wrinkles. Who wouldn’t want to look younger? These days, you have to take so many precautions to stay young, like avoiding age spots caused by traffic and pollution. With all the new innovations and discoveries, there’s no point in rubbing numerous chemicals on your face anymore.
Instead of buying random products that promises to hide those wrinkles and age spots, make sure you know what you’re rubbing on your skin first! Anti-aging and natural beauty care go hand-in-hand now. Everyone is going green now, so help your body go the earth-friendly route, too.
The easiest way to go natural is to make sure your products are growing. Durian, argan oil, red tea, acai berry and bearberry are 5 of the most common natural ingredients when it comes to anti-aging. Antioxidants are another key word to look for. They’re not only good for your health, but great for your skin. Also, make sure your products contain some sort of UV protection. That tan may look good now, but the sun will not be so friendly as you age.
Always go for the ingredients you know, rather than the ones you can’t pronounce, when it comes to keeping your skin healthy. If you can keep your hands moisturized and hide those wrinkles, you’re already a step closer to that young, natural look. A few things to remember: exercise, eat well and relax. It’s all up to you.
Tags: Anti-Aging Treatments & Products, Antioxidants, natural beauty, Skin Care
Posted in Anti-Aging Treatments & Products, Antioxidants, Beauty Care & Treatments, Healthy Living, Natural Health, Natural Treatments & Products, Natural/Fruit infused treatments, Scandle Candle, Skin & Body Care/Treatments, Skin Care | No Comments »
Tuesday, November 9th, 2010
As the holiday season sets in, not only should you be concerned with the cold season (here are some natural tips to prevent it) but burnout can get serious too. With shopping, holiday planning and heavier work loads, most symptoms associated with it pop up this time of year.
There are two levels of burnout:
- Mild: consisting of emotional exhaustion
- Full burnout syndrome: emotional exhaustion, social detachment and/or performance dissatisfaction
Since we are all about natural, holistic approaches to life, I was excited to come across a study on burnout and the effects a trip to the spa can have on preventing it.
Austrian researchers measured the benefits of a three-week program of spa therapy which included massage, exercise and therapeutic bathing. A group of 65 actively working individuals of various occupations were selected, all of which experience some level of work-related burnout.
The participants’ levels of fatigue, distress, reduced motivation and their quality of sleep were measured before and after their spa vacation.
At the end of the treatment, all of the burnout symptoms showed significant levels of improvement. And those improvements lasted for almost 3 months after the treatment.
While I know most of us do not have 3 weeks to indulge in a “spacation,” there are little things you can do to combat burnout:
- Massage. Whether you get yours by a professional or a loved one, regular massage is good for the body and the mind.
- Exercise. Regular release of endorphins helps fight exhaustion and frustration, especially during the holidays.
How do you fight burnout?
Tags: burnout, fatigue
Posted in Cold Prevention, Healthy Lifestyle, Massage, Natural Health, Natural Treatments & Products, Stress-Reducing Treatments | No Comments »
Thursday, November 4th, 2010
Vitamins are an essential part of your daily routine. Some fight fatigue, promote brain health or simply replace the amount of vitamins people use to get from food. Vitamin B12 is known to enhance memory and promote healthy brain activity. New research says it may also protect against Alzheimer’s disease.
This vitamin’s key role is promoting normal functioning in the brain and nervous system and the formation of blood in the body.
The recently published seven-year study took blood samples from 271 people between the ages of 65 to 79 who had no symptoms of dementia. During the duration of the study, 17 people developed Alzheimer’s.
Blood samples were tested for levels of homocysteine, an amino acid associated with vitamin B12. Too much of it can have negative effects on the brain, such as stroke. But higher levels of vitamin B12 can lower homocysteine.
The study found that higher levels of that amino acid increased the risk of Alzheimer’s disease by more than 16 percent.
While further research on the role of vitamin B12 as a marker for identifying people who have an increased risk of Alzheimer’s, it is surprisingly common for the elderly to have extremely low levels of B12, a vitamin that may decrease the risk of Alzheimer’s.
I’ll be adding it to my vitamin cabinet! Do you use B12? If not, would you now?
Tags: Alz, Alzheimer's disease, Alzheimer’s patients, B12, Vitamins
Posted in Healthy Lifestyle, Natural Health, Natural Remedies | No Comments »
