Skip the Doctor's Office With these Natural Cold and Flu Busters!

The cold and flu virus seems to have taken a real hold on people's health. Don't get under it. Instead, recognize what you can do to both strengthen your immune system, cleanse and heal your body from the comfort of your home, without chemicals or unnecessary trips to the doctor!

Skip the Doctor's Office With these Natural Cold and Flu Busters!

Steam Treatment
The body loves a chance to release stored toxins in the skin and other organs. Either create a good steaming shower and add our eucalyptus oil shower spray to the mix or do the same in a quality sauna or steam room.  This will also fight bronchial infections, respiratory struggles, improve circulation and alleviate pain from fibromyalgia and arthritis. 

Hydration
Keeping hydrated allows the body to both function efficiently and to flush toxins and bacteria from your system. Water is essential for the optimal function of every system in your body.

Diet
The following foods are extremely beneficial for your overall health and strength of your immune system. Be sure to get a balanced amount of each.

-Fermented foods such as kefir, kimchee, miso, pickles, sauerkraut, etc.
-Coconuts and coconut oil
-Locally grown fruits and vegetables
-Garlic, when eaten raw, it is a potent antimicrobial that kills bacteria, viruses AND fungi
-Herbs and spices with high ORAC scores: Turmeric, oregano, cinnamon, cloves 
-essential oils with antiviral and antibacterial properties such as: melaleuca, rosemary, lavender, oregano, thyme and citrus, are great for inhalation, diffusing or topical application, when looking to boost the immune system. 


Vitamin D. 
Vitamin D is the number one prevention and treatment for illness as it is an amazingly effective antimicrobial agent, producing 200 to 300 different antimicrobial peptides in your body that kill bacteria, viruses and fungi. The best source for vitamin D is direct sunlight exposure, but isn't always available for many or practical during the winter. The next best thing to sunlight is the use of a safe indoor tanning device. If neither natural nor artificial sunlight is an option, then using oral supplements is your best bet.

Sleep
Make sure you are getting an adequate amount sleep. If you aren’t getting enough sleep, or enough restorative sleep, you’ll be at increased risk for a hostile viral takeover.

At Eurospa, we are committed to your health and the health of the world around you.  Please take close care of your immune system this season and talk to us about our other products available for personal and spa use!

If You Deal with Daily Stress, These Aromatherapy Secrets May Be Your Solution!

Aromatherapy has been shown to carry many benefits in terms of wellness and stress relief. For example, one study showed that aromatherapy does indeed have an effect on brain waves, and can alter behavior. But not all scents are created equal, nor do they affect human physiology and behavior in the same ways. Below, we at Eurospa want to share with you some of the top scents used in aromatherapy, to relieve stress and enhance better health; not to mention, some great ways to use them. 

If you deal with daily stress, these aromatherapy secrets may be your solution!

Lavender
Lavender is associated with feelings contentment, improved cognitive performance (some measures) and mood as well, and has also shown other mild sedative and calming effects. It’s also been shown to reduce cortisol levels . It can soothe babies and new mothers alike, promote positive mother-infant interactions, and promote sleep in infants, and promote deep sleep in men and women, as well. This can be a great choice for anyone trying to relax for sleep or feel more calm and relaxed during the day.

Eucalyptus and Rosemary
I put these here together as they work off each other for an even more enhanced effect. Eucalyptus is known to be clearing and cleansing. Rosemary is associated with feelings of contentment. Both have been shown to have positive affects on performance and mood and have demonstrated the ability to reduce cortisol levels. Add rosemary to your diffuser. Spray eucalyptus oil shower spray into the steam of your shower or just around the home! These oils are great choices for de-stressing during the day when there is still work to be done.

Peppermint
Peppermint aromatherapy has been found to increase memory and alertness, which can provide a great pick-me-up for too-tired, too-busy people, stressed students, and the overworked.

Citrus
So much research has shown that citrus oils, such as lemon, wild orange and lime, possess anti-depressant-type effects, making it a good choice for stress relief and mood enhancement as well.  Place a few drops on the palms of your hands and rub along your chest and shoulders.  The oil is not only antibacterial by nature, but increases feelings of lightness and joy!

Eurospa wants to make your life better, which is why we specialize in top quality products for home and spa! We hope you have enjoyed these tips toward less stress and better health.  Contact us today!

Get the Best Essential Oils to Boost Your Immune System for Winter!

Incorporating essential oils into your daily routine will help keep your immune system stronger, shorten your recovery time from illness and uplift your spirits when the winter weather keeps you inside a bit more than you would like. Pure therapeutic essential oils have the ability to work with the body on a spiritual, mental and physical plane to bring the body to a place of balance and harmony. Take care of your health and get the best essential oils to boost your immune system for winter.

Two or three drops of rosemary oil or eucalyptus oil shower spray on the bottom of the shower before you turn the water on will disperse into the air and as you breathe it in you are supporting your immune system. Diffusing lemon, lime or grapefruit essential oil into the air of your home or office not only uplifts the spirits, it inhibits the growth of bacteria, making indoor air safer to inhale. (For best results, diffuse essential oils diluted in water.)

At the first sign of a cold or sinus infection try a facial steam with lavender or tea tree oil. Place two drops of the pure oil in a glass bowl then fill with hot water. Place a towel over your head, close your eyes and breathe the steam deeply in through your nose. You are breathing in these pure antibacterial and antiviral essential oils. Do this two or three times during the day as the infection is beginning and it will often shorten the length of sickness or even stop you from becoming sick altogether. If you can’t do a steam, try dropping a few drops of the essential oils on a tissue and breathe it in throughout the day. You will still be getting the therapeutic effects of the oils.

Salt or sugar body scrubs that have been blended with pure essential oils are a winter skin must-have. When you stimulate the surface of the skin with a scrub it brings blood to the surface and helps rid the body of toxins through the pores. Doing a body scrub with peppermint or rosemary oil in the shower boosts the immune system while leaving your skin clean, soft and moisturized.

Here are my top must haves for winter immune boosting:

Lavender:  for its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties as well as its ability to help us relax and rest. Mix with a carrier oil and pat it gently on to your face with the palms of your hands.

Tea Tree: is antiviral and is an excellent immune stimulant. Mix into the above oil blend for increased immune benefits. 

Eucalyptus: is anti-infectious and antiviral, fighting off infections. Use the eucalyptus oil shower spray in your shower steam to really open up your bronchial passages for respiratory health. 

Rosemary: is antiseptic and astringent and helps fight bacteria.

Lemon: is an immune stimulant as well as an antiseptic, which makes it an excellent choice to diffuse into winter air. Get a therapeutic grade lemon oil and put a couple drops in your tea or cold water bottle to boost your system while cleansing it at the same time. Take caution and never ingest food grade (or lesser grade oils); only ingest certified pure therapeutic grade lemon oil. 

Peppermint: for its analgesic, anti-infectious properties. Pat a small amount on your temples and at the base of your neck to relieve tension and pressure. Inhale the scent to give your energy a boost in the morning and throughout the day as well!

Whichever method you choose to incorporate essential oils into your life this winter, I encourage you to buy pure, high quality oils from a company you trust and use them wisely, as these oils are medicines. Be safe and handle them with respect.

Eurospa is dedicated to your health and well being. Please let us know how we can further support your healthy lifestyle!

Surprising Health Benefits of Steam Rooms and Saunas You'll Enjoy!

If you have have had the pleasure of enjoying a sauna or steam room, you know it’s worth every penny of investment for your health, your skin and your mental well being. At Eurospa, we design our products, like our Eucalyptus Oil Spray, to enhance your steam room and sauna experience. We believe your health and wellness should be a top priority, because you deserve to have a healthy and vibrant life.

But do you know the benefits of steam rooms and saunas?

The benefits of saunas and steam baths are widely reported. Heat therapy helps to relieve stress and improve health overall. Perspiration stimulates circulation, sooths tired muscles, reduces nervous tension, and promotes healthier and more beautiful skin. You’ll probably get a better night’s sleep, too.

Here are some other benefits to sauna bathing:

• Gives a cardiovascular workout and helps condition the heart by increasing heart rate and improving circulation. Better circulation allows more oxygen to reach injured areas of the body and helps reduce pain and speed up the healing process.
• Soothes and relaxes tired muscles, especially before and after exercise. Heat therapy loosens the muscles and relaxes the body. Many massage therapists use heat to provide more thorough and effective treatment.
• Cleanses skin: Sweating opens pores in the skin and flushes unhealthy toxins, loosens and expels dead cells, softens the skin and clears the complexion. The result: a more beautiful you.
• The body eliminates most toxins naturally by sweating and heat therapy speeds up this natural process. Heat therapy stimulates the sweat glands, helping to cleanse and detoxify the body of sodium, alcohol, nicotine, cholesterol and carcinogenic heavy metals (cadmium, lead, zinc, nickel). Excess moisture and subcutaneous fat can be reduced, as well.
• May help to relieve allergies and sinus congestion.
• During a 10-20 minute sauna session, your heart rate increases by 50-75%. This provides the same metabolic result as physical exercise. Combined with a healthy diet and regular exercise, sauna bathing can burn as many as 300 calories during each session, which is equal to running 2-3 miles and taking a brisk walk. There is a slight effect on blood pressure because the heat also causes blood vessels to expand, thus accommodating increased blood flow.

We are happy that you are taking the time to invest in your health, because you deserve it. Please, feel free to stop by and see what further products and services we have to offer. Have a beautiful day!

Surprisingly Easy, Fast and Natural Ways to Beat Head Lice!

Lice Happens, but it's not something anyone looks forward to. You need a dependable non-toxic way to Keep in mind that it's impossible to completely eradicate head lice from existence because they learn to adapt to their environment. So accepting they exist and are likely to be found in your child’s hair at some point of their schooling is going to be less stressful for everyone. With a good management plan, you’ll be much better off when it happens. 

Here are some surprisingly easy, fast and natural ways to beat head lice: 

1. If your child has long hair, tie it up for school every day (plaits or braids are great) and if you like, spray their hair with hairspray. Many mothers swear by hairspray – after you’ve tied up your child’s hair, keeping it under control with hairspray seems to help.

2. For long or short hair, encourage wearing a hat to protect their hair from coming into contact with others.

3. You can buy (or make your own) head lice resister sprays which you can spray into their hair and inside their hats. Most of the sprays have essential oils; usually tea tree, eucalyptus, geranium and lavender – which lice don’t like. Its an effective repellant. Even try our eucalyptus oil spray for your hats, hair and home!

4. Make absolutely sure that you follow any treatment program as per the instructions. No treatment exists that kills both the head lice AND the eggs in one go. Repeating a treatment is always needed because the live lice die, but the eggs in your child’s hair will hatch soon after, so you need to make sure you get them out before they are old enough to reproduce – around 7-10 days is a good time to repeat a treatment.

4. Use tea tree shampoo and/or conditioner for washing your children’s hair. Check out the different options available which vary in price, as well as the amounts of oils in each product. You may be able to find a better range at your pharmacy or variety store.

5. Make sure you check yourself and your family for head lice. Kids love to cuddle, so you may have transmitted head lice between you before you realized head lice was around. The last thing you want is to have your children head lice free, but then someone else passes it back to them. Many mothers have found that they can keep lice away effectively by coloring, straightening or using other products on their hair; the heat and products kill the lice and their eggs. 

6. Once you suspect lice, evenly distribute coconut or olive oil to your child's hair and then pull it back in a pony tail.  The lice and eggs find it difficult to stick to the hair shaft and are unlikely to stick around.

Eurospa is dedicated to your health, which is why we provide such high quality eucalyptus products for both home and spa. Get in touch today and see what we can do for you!

Fight Back-to-School Germs With This Home Remedy List

It's back-to-school time and for most parents, that means germs, colds and sick days!  It doesn't have to
be that way though.  In addition to time tested habits like hand washing and covering your coughs and sneezes, we have some simple tricks to share with you on how to fight back-to-school germs with this easy home remedy list. We know you are too busy to be dragged down by sickness, so be sure to heed these helpful tips!

Vitamin D.  

If your child isn’t getting enough of this vitamin through food sources, you can consider any number of vitamin D3 supplements which contribute to bone health by creating optimum conditions for bone formation, in addition to supporting proper function of the immune and nervous systems.* For younger children, liquid D is a great option as it can be dropped right on the tongue or mixed in with foods or beverages.

Aloe Vera

The aloe vera plant contains over 200 biologically active components, and has been used for centuries in folk natural medicine and as a product ingredient. Its constituents are used in many forms, including it's juice which enhances healthy immune function, digestion and gums. It's incredibly detoxifying but the flavor can be strong to some. If adding it to food, you may want to try an already strong flavor combination like apple, mango and banana. 

In topical form, it’s often used for soothing skin and is even a common  ingredient in hand sanitizers. Having it on hand means that, in addition to using it on its own, you can make your own customized version.

Lavender oil 

Essential oils not only scent your hand sanitizers, but also add increased amounts of antibacterial properties! One of the most versatile plant essential oils, lavender’s name is derived from the Latin word “lavera,” which means to wash. It’s both gentle and effective in balancing the skin, and has a soothing and calming effect. You need only add a tiny amount to your recipe.

Eucalyptus Oil 

Eucalyptus oil is also a great option. Steam distilled from the leaves of the Eucalyptus plant, this oil is known for its cooling, soothing effects. As well, it's anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory, not only killing germs but can be used symptomatically as well.  Use this shower mist both to clean surfaces of germs and bacteria and in the shower to open bronchial passages and clear the sinuses! 

Peppermint Oil

Peppermint, like Eucalyptus, contains menthol and menthone, as well as rosmarinic acid and flavonoids such as hesperidin and luteolin. Again, a little essential oil goes a long way. Steam distill this or make a tea.  The effects are cooling, soothing and will help those stuffy noses feel much lighter and clearer!

Your health is our priority at Eurospa.  We hope you find these tips helpful and would love to hear from you.  Let us know how we can make your life even better!