How to Make the Perfect Spa Themed Gift Basket

Simple gifts are easy to give, but why not make it even more special without the complication. A spa themed gift basket is a perfect match for just about anyone with stress or a busy life. Do you know anyone that isn’t stressed? Likely not, so this is a win win gift.

Want to make a spa gift? It’s incredibly easy and affordable as well. Here’s how:

1. Grab a medium sized basket or box. Choose natural wood or soothing colors. This is where you’ll stash everything.
2. Make sure you have things to fill the box with and these can be strips of newspaper, cotton balls or even cloth.
3. Fill the basket with items perfect for inducing relaxation and the spa experience. Some ideas include an eye mask, a facial scrub or liquid mask, some lavender oil, candles, massage lotion, a massage voucher and finally - no basket is complete without some Eucalyptus oil shower spray. (More ‘how to’ here) The spray can be used in any hot shower or bath to bring extra rejuvenation and immune boosting.
4. Create little note cards with instructions and the reason for each item included.
5. Top it all with a bow.

You’re ready to present your gift. Whether or not you wrap it completely is up to you. But we assure you, this is a crowd pleasing gift at any age.

Eurospa has been providing the highest quality of pharmaceutical grade Eucalyptus oil to both homes and spas for more than 30 years. We are honored to provide it to you as well and are happy to answer any questions you might have.

From us to you, have a happy holiday!

Muscle Pain? Get Relief With Menthol Crystals, From These Recipes You Can Make At Home!

Menthol Crystals offer temporary pain relief for sore muscles, providing a local

anesthetic with a cool numbing sensation as it penetrates the skin.  But how do you use them? 

Well, first, a little history.  These crystals generally come from India and are extracted from mint leaves with a gentle freezing process.  

The properties are so concentrated that just a few crystals are needed  to create very powerful effects. *Just beware. It's important that due to their strength, you may want to wear protective eye wear, gloves and keep the space you are working in well ventilated.  They are easy to inhale in small quantities in steam, but when you are creating a recipe, you'll be working with larger amounts in a dry environment.* 

We were blessed to stumble upon these great recipes from Abby Brown Soaps and are now sharing them with you!

Cooling Foot Soak

*Please use gloves when handling Menthol Crystals – as to not transfer from hands to eyes or other sensitive parts of your body.

4 oz Epsom Salt
4 oz Fine Dead Sea Salt
.20 oz Menthol Crystals
40 Drops Eucalyptus Essential Oil
40 Drops Lemon Essential Oil

Add all the ingredients above into a food processor. Mix or pulse until all ingredients are fine ground. Store in jar or zip lock baggy. Clean Food Processor thoroughly.

Please note that the amount of menthol crystals in this recipe are the perfect amount for a foot soak, but will be too strong to be used as a body soak. We recommend 1% or less of menthol crystals in body soaks, as to not irritate or cause discomfort on sensitive areas.

Soothing Menthol Muscle Salve

2 tablespoon coconut oil =1oz
2 tablespoon shea butter = 1oz
2 tablespoon beeswax= 1oz
4 tablespoons almond oil = 2oz
1.2 teaspoon menthol crystals= .2oz
40 drops sweet birch essential oil
30 drops eucalyptus essential oil
20 drops rosemary essential oil
10 drops lavender essential oil

1) Start by measuring your coconut oil, shea butter, and beeswax into a small container and melting the oils on low heat.

2) When the oils have melted, remove from heat and stir in the menthol crystals until dissolved. Be sure to keep your face away from the mixture as to not irritate your eyes or nose.

3) When the crystals are dissolved, stir in the almond oil, followed by your essential oil.

4) Pour your mixture into a container with a lid for storage, but allow to cool before capping. Keep in refrigerator to maintain texture and shelf-life.

Massage a small amount onto sore muscles and joints for soothing relief. Wash your hands after and avoid face, eyes, and other sensitive areas. This recipe makes a mild salve that should be suitable for most skin types, even sensitive skin. You may increase the percentage of menthol crystals for stronger potency, but increase slowly to ensure your skin’s tolerance. We have encountered recipes ranging from 3%-20% menthol crystals, this recipe starts at 4%.

Want more?  Order your own Menthol Crystals! Happy health to you!

5 Ways To Defeat Seasonal Allergies and Feel Better Fast!

Allergies and hay fever seem to be at their peak this year and the world is feeling their misery!  There's a certain torture about the never ending sinus pressure, itchy eyes and relentless sneezing and leaving you with your arms in the air begging for relief.

Well put your arms down.  Relief is on it's way.  You're welcome to reach for the nearest OTC pills, but we'd like to suggest something a little healthier on the short and long term.  

The added bonus is how fast relief will come! 

Here are 5 ways to defeat seasonal allergies and feel better fast!

DIY ACUPRESSURE FACE MASSAGE
You can heal yourself.  It's true.  The Chinese have been working with the body's immune system for thousands of years with unexplainable results!  There are many points all over the body that when pressure is applied to them, relief and healing is found.  (it's how the ninjas were treated after rigorous kung fu training!) For allergy relief, simply see the photo below and use your index or middle fingers of each hand to apply a firm pressure to each of the points marked.  Be sure the pressure is firm enough to create slight discomfort, but not enough to hurt. You will know you are on the right spot as it will be a little tender.  Stay on each point for about 30 seconds. Please drink a lot of water after performing this on yourself. You need to dilute the toxins that have been released! 

DRINK WATER
Old news rings true.  Water is our KEY SOURCE for ridding toxins and stagnant bacteria out of our bodies.  It's THE necessary ingredient to our kidneys and livers functioning well.  Guess what? It also thins your mucous.  Want to get that mucous flowing and the anti-histamine to calm down?  Drink water.  As stated above, it will also get things diluted and expelled faster! (Additional side note?  Dehydration is one of the biggest causes behind halitosis; bad breath! During allergy season (and daily life) bacteria accumulates in our sinus passages, mouths and stomach (from the mucous) and sits there.  You can't brush or rinse these guys away, but you can dilute and flush them.) So drink up.  

WORK OUT AND SWEAT
Sorry, to bring it back to water, but it's a vehicle that moves things. When you need relief from seasonal allergies, get your blood moving.  When you exercise, you increase your circulation and begin to sweat.  Both blood and water carry the pollen and anti-histamine out of yours system faster.  Think of a stagnant river vs. a flowing river.  Which one's going to have more bugs, slime and bacteria? If it's so bad, stay indoors for your work out.  OR, get above it and hike on a mountain where it's less concentrated. Lastly, try going for a swim. It's great exercise and there's no pollen in the water! 

HOT SHOWER // STEAM ROOM
A relaxing option is to breathe in the steam.  The steam will break up the mucous and relax the uptight muscles involved.  You can enhance this option by using the acupressure mentioned while in the heat.  Also, adding essential oils like our Eucalyptus Oil Shower Spray to the steam WITH the acupressure IN the steam, will give you peak relief.  Try it!  We'd love to hear how it worked out for you!

WATCH YOUR FOOD
Stay away from foods that dehydrate or add to histamine production.  Beverages with high caffeine, like coffee and black or alcoholic drinks are all dehydrating.  Beer is even worse as it's both dehydrating and the hops add to histamine production.  It's best to stay away from too many tree fruits, bananas, mushrooms, tomatoes and all breads and pastas.  I know that sounds difficult, but it won't be forever.  These foods carry their own histamine in them and will only make things worse.  Just think of it as a cleanse for a few days while you get your health and sanity back!

At Eurospa, your health is our priority.  We enjoy bringing the quality back to your life. Please stop by and let us know what else we can do to make your experience a better one! 

The Natural and Powerful Home Remedy You Need Today!

Isn't it great when there is sickness in the home, and you are able to cure your cold naturally at home with the power of plant based medicine?  Did you know that healing with essential oils is stronger and more potent than loose leaf herbs?  For example, when properly distilled, just a few drops of peppermint oil have all the healing properties of many pounds of the herb in loose leaf form! Peppermint is not alone, with Eucalyptus being equally strong and coming with multiple anti-microbial, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-fungal AND anti-inflammatory properties! 

The beauty of this versatile oil is that it addresses a lengthy list of ailments (see below) in a variety of ways.  If you own the concentrated oil, be sure to have a base like coconut or olive oil to mix the oil into for topical applications.  For inhalation methods, our own eucalyptus oil spray will be very helpful. 

Here is a great list of uses and benefits of eucalyptus oil that every parent and family should read and know about!  And please, pass this on to your friends and family, as we know that a healthy planet, begins with being informed!

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Arterial Vasodilator

Eucalyptus will help dilate the circulatory system, increasing circulation. Use 1 drop during massage over any area of concern.

Asthma
During an asthma attack, massage 1-2 drops over the chest. Also, inhale the aroma directly or diffuse in the air.

Brain Blood Flow
Diffuse or spray the mist throughout the home or classroom to increase circulation to the brain.

Bronchitis
Use topically or aromatically, massaging into the chest, back and throat, inhaling from the bottle, or dropping the oil on the shirt collar.

Congestion
Eucalyptus oil uses included clearly congestion from the airways. I recommend inhaling for nasal congestion and massaging the oil over all other affected areas.

Cooling
Yes, eucalyptus oil uses even include cooling the body down. Place several drops in a spray bottle, along with peppermint oil if you'd like some extra oomph, and spritz over the body. 

Coughs
Diffuse or spray throughout the room throughout the span of the illness, but also massage into the reflex points of the feet (follow the application guidelines in the link above), as well as over the chest, back, and throat. *Be sure to add the shower mist spray to a hot shower, bath or steam room, as this will quickly break through congestion and mucous for faster relief of respiratory conditions.

Diabetes
Because of the vasodilation mention above, using eucalyptus on a daily basis can increase circulation, a common issue for diabetics. I recommend massaging it into the body with lotion after each shower, as the massage will also help increase circulation.

Disinfectant
Its antiviral and antibacterial properties naturally make cleaning among one of the eucalyptus oil uses. Follow this household cleaners guide for more information.

Dysentery
Massage 2 drops of eucalyptus over the abdomen in a counter-clockwise direction to ease diarrhea, inflammation, and fight infection.

Ear Inflammation
Never put essential oil IN the ear canal! However, you can massage the oil on and around the outer ear. Use only 1 drop to start, diluted for children.

Emphysema
Eucalyptus oil uses are wonderful for all manner of respiratory disease. Diffuse or spray your personal sized mist the oil daily, massage 1 drop over the chest at least once a day, and another drop into the reflex points of the feet.

Expectorant

To help drain mucus from the lungs, massage 1 drop into the reflex points of the feet and apply another drop over the chest at least once a day (I'd personally do three times a day if no sensitivity is found).

Fever
Because eucalyptus oil uses include cooling the body (above), using during a high fever can help the body regulate its temperature and support its efforts in fighting infection.

Flu
Depending on your flu symptoms, eucalyptus oil uses will vary. You can apply to the abdomen to ease diarrhea, massage into aching joints and muscles, or simply diffuse through the air to fight infection.

Hypoglycemia
Another of eucalyptus oil uses, you can help regulate your blood sugar by massaging 1-2 drops into the soles of the feet daily.

Inflammation
Massage 1-2 drops over the afflicted area, always moving toward the heart to support the lymphatic system.

Iris Inflammation
This recommend comes from Modern Essentials (mentioned below). While you should never put essential oils IN the eyes, massaging into the temples may support the irises.

Jet Lag
Eucalyptus oil uses include waking up the body with its slightly sweet, fruity, and uplifting aroma. Use topically or aromatically.

Kidney Stones
Massage 1-2 drops of the oil over the afflicted area up to three times a day.

Lice
Its natural insecticidal properties make this among one of the more surprising of eucalyptus oil uses. Read more about treating lice naturally here.

Measles
Diffuse  and spray your mist throughout the home for the length of the illness, and massage 1-2 drops into the reflex points of the feet 2-3 times a day.

Neuralgia
Another of the little-known eucalyptus oil uses, massaging into the areas of concern daily can reduce pain.

Neuritis
Along with neuralgia, massage several drops into the reflex points of the feet and over the affected areas can reduce inflammation.

Overexercised Muscles
Strain, fatigue, etc can all be treated with a gentle massage of eucalyptus oil. Always massage toward the heart to move the lactic acid buildup through the lymphatic system.

Pain
Depending on the type of pain, eucalyptus oil uses may necessitate application to the reflex points of the feet or directly over the area of concern.

Pneumonia
Help the lungs to clear by diffusing constantly and massaging directly over the lungs. Use the shower mist as often as possible.  It will also help to massage eucalyptus into the reflex points of the hands and feet. 

Rhinitis

Reduce inflammation and open airways by inhaling directly from the bottle, massaging one drop over the sinuses, or applying as a hot compress.

Shingles
Eucalyptus oil uses include shingles for its antiviral properties, as well as its anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. Massage into the affected areas daily, add to a warm bath, or use a hot compress over the area.

Sinusitis
Apply as a hot compress over the sinuses and massage 1-2 drops into the reflex points of the feet (toes and pads of the feet). You can also inhale directly or diffuse throughout the room.

Tennis Elbow
I highly recommend finding a massage therapist who specializes in treating tennis elbow and bringing along your eucalyptus to include in the deep massage of the area.

Tuberculosis
Eucalyptus oil uses include fighting the bacterial infection, clearly the lungs, reducing inflammation and more. Diffuse constantly and massage 2 drops into the chest and over the back.

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As you can see, the uses for this powerful oil are many!  Everyone in the family will be able to benefit from it's healing properties!  It's smart to keep a bottle of it in concentrated and spray form in the home and in your car.  

This way the air is constantly being cleaned and the oil is readily available to heal wounds both inside and out!

The perfect gift for yourself, your home, mother's day and father's day, Eucalyptus Oil Shower Spray from Eurospa Aromatics is a must healthy must have in your life. 

We love to get you healthy and would love to hear how eucalyptus has enriched or aided in healing your life and body!