The Best Way to Kick Your Migraine Naturally and Fast

There’s nothing worse than feeling a migraine creep in. Whether you feel it in your eyes, your neck or all over, you know you’re in for a rough day. But before you reach for a whole bottle of pain pills, I want to tell you something important. 

Most commonly, headaches migraines are triggered or exacerbated by stress of the emotions or body, making relaxation an important part of headache treatment. So when the pain hits, ask yourself what might be causing your stress and ask if there’s something small or big you can do to eliminate it at least for the day. 

Usually, when we are stressed, our muscles tighten, causing our nerves to spasm. And the most common areas that this happens is  at the temples, all around the base of the skull, around the ears and under the jaw. So get in a relaxed seated position and feel what area feels the tightest and gently stretch and massage those areas. Do make sure to focus some good attention to the joint of your jaw; massage downward as you open and close your mouth. Then be sure to hook your finger just under the edges of your jaw and apply pressure. Does it feel tight and sore? Apply the pressure (not too hard) until you feel it’s beginning to relax and then move to the next spot. From the jaw, rub your fingers downward along the front/sides of your neck, all the way down to the collar bone. Rub along the top and bottom of your collar bone as well. When you picture all of this, you see how interconnected all the muscles are. In our daily lives we spend so much time at computers and on our phones that our muscles tighten in those positions. Add stress and muscle tightening to the equation and you end up with the dreaded migraine. 

Now do the stretches and massage and take it further by adding heat and aromatherapy. For many generations, aromatherapy has been used to relieve stress and pain for pain, and is quite safe, provided you use them as directed. 

Eucalyptus
The most efficient solution is Eucalyptus. The leaves and oil of the eucalyptus tree are used for many medical purposes. Eucalyptus oil is said to help reduce swelling, increase circulation, clear nasal congestion, and relieve pain. Full-strength essential oil of eucalyptus should never be taken by mouth or rubbed on the skin. It should be diluted first. (everyday health)

The best way to enjoy the benefits of Eucalyptus for headaches, migraines and muscle tension is through steam - using our eucalyptus oil shower spray in both a shower or steam room. You'll quickly feel the pressure lighten and your body relax. Try the massage I told you about, while in the shower or steam room and see how quickly you find relief!

Other oils that can provide headache relief are Lavender, Rosemary and Peppermint. Here’s a little information on each of those.

Lavender 
Lavender oil comes from the plant’s blue-violet flowers. Some small research studies suggest that lavender oil has a calming effect when its scent is inhaled. It may also help reduce pain — aromatherapists often use it to help treat headache. Just place a few drops of lavender oil into boiling water and inhale the vapors. Lavender oil can also be rubbed into the skin for pain relief. But keep it away from your mouth and eyes — it’s toxic if ingested by a non-therapeutic grade brand.

Rosemary
Rosemary is another essential oil that is frequently used in aromatherapy. Rosemary oil applied to the skin has been used to treat muscle pain and improve circulation, so it makes sense that it could help relieve migraine or headache pain. One study supports the use of rosemary for reducing stress and anxiety. Essential oil of rosemary may be added to base oil and rubbed into the skin. It can also be added to bathwater, but avoid contact with the eyes or any open cuts.

Peppermint
Peppermint is a cross between watermint and spearmint plants, and it grows wild in Europe and North America. Peppermint oil is used in aromatherapy for headache as well as muscle and nerve pain. This essential oil can be inhaled, applied to the skin after being diluted with another oil, or taken by mouth in very small doses. Some pain studies show that peppermint oil used as aromatherapy for headache may allow people to use fewer traditional pain medications.

If you deal with headaches or migraines, we don't envy you. But we do want to provide you with relief. Use the techniques taught to you today and support your health with the highest quality essential oils possible. Visit Eurospa today to learn more about our Eucalyptus based products.

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!

Relieve Sinus Pressure Naturally with These Easy Remedies!

The sinus headache is a common ailment that has a big affect on the people who must fight it.  So, finding out there are ways to relieve the pressure and feel better fast is exciting news! 

Whatever the reason is that this headache exists, we want to leave you with a few tips to relieve sinus pressure naturally. As usual, we at Eurospa, wish you the best of health!

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! 

Want to Feel Great? 7 Surprisingly Simple Ways to Stress Less and Live Well!

Life keeps us busy and it can be hard to find time to take care of yourself.  We get tired and need a boost but tend to reach all too quickly that dependable cup of coffee even if we are sick and our bodies are screaming for nurture and healing!

Often-ignored but totally necessary, self-care can be any behavior or practice that helps us avoid triggering worse health problems (like the risk of heart problems due to high stress, for example) and betters our life quality by improving our mental and physical health through increased self-esteem, less stress, and overall well being. Implementing these simple tips can also help provide balance in our over-stimulating world. Self-care makes up an essential part of a healthy lifestyle that keeps us healthy, happy, and more in-tune with our minds and bodies.

Problem is, we can just do it once and expect change.  New patterns of change in our lives can be hard to commit to as they can seem intimidating or we are are afraid of failing.  But I've compiled these tips because they are easy to implement into our daily lives, allowing us to set new patterns. 

So get out a pen and paper and write down the ones that feel right to you; ones that you feel you can accomplish and will make you feel good.  Cause that's what we all want, right?  To feel good?

1.  A list within a list - I want you to write a list of the things that make you smile, giggle and make your arms spread open in pure joy.  What are those things?  Can you think of 3?  How can you make those things happen each week or even each day?   For some, it's loud happy music and dancing around.  For others it's swimming or playing with a child.  Think on that one.  Life is best experienced when our hearts can smile. What gets yours going?

2.  Get Outside.  Ditching the comfort of your home gets us out in the world without obligation; cause walking from your front door to your car doesn't count.  Get outside, take a walk and BREATHE deeply.   Being outside alone is associated with less mental stress and increased quality of living.

3.  While You're At It....  Exercise outdoors.   We all know the benefits of exercise and even if you're feeling a little shy - there are plenty of ways to get your heart rate going and oxygen pouring into your lungs.  Find a friend to play tennis or go on a long walk with.  Find a more private park path or beach to stand strong and engage your core muscles.  Climb a tree.  Hike. Swim.  Run.  Bike.  

4.  Eyes Wide Open.  Look around and find happiness.  Find love.  Notice acts of kindness, encouraging words and heart felt smiles.  Watch the love between people and see the beauty in the flowers.  It can be hard to get past the sadness and hostility in the world, but when we focus on the beauty still present, we are more excited to share it.  Be part of a joy revolution - and start with yourself. 

5. Pay It Forward.   Have you heard of those stories of people in line at Starbucks, waiting to pay, only to find out that the person ahead of them took the bill?  By helping others, we actually help ourselves, too. Lending a hand not only boosts mental health, but may also lead to a longer more fulfilled life. Volunteering also affects self-confidence, self-esteem, and general wellbeing in a positive way.

6.  Common Scents.  Yes, that was intentional.  Essential oils are getting more and more recognition for their healing properties and we are happy that it's happening. 4. Breathe the right scents.  We have all been taught that deep breathing can help us relax. But what we breathe might be just as important as how we breathe. But current research suggests that citrus scents, orange essential oil in particular, can help slash stress and anxiety, and inhaling eucalyptus oil can invigorate the senses while also going deep inside our cells to purify and cleanse us from bacteria and toxins.

7.  Get Sleep! So many things can sabotage our sleep, whether it’s a late night working, a reality show marathon, a wild party, or just normal life. The problem is, skimping on sleep can seriously hurt clarity and productivity, causing us to eat more, and may lead to adrenal and thyroid problems; which domino to diseases like heart disease and diabetes. Prioritize your rest to be a healthier, happier you — even if it’s just a power nap on your lunch hour!

Are you ready?  Ready to upgrade your experience on the planet?  Ready to reduce your stress and feel GOOD?  

We are.  Eurospa is committed to global self care, which is why we provide top quality eucalyptus products and menthol crystals for spa and home use.  Your health is our priority! 

How do you reduce the stress?  We'd love to hear from you!

Can't Get to the Spa? Create Your Own Spa Night!

Getting to the spa can be a costly adventure but we all deserve to wind down.  What if you could have the perks of the spa at home?  After all, whether it's work or family, your days and weeks can become exhausting and it's good to reward yourself with relaxation and rejuvenation.   



Why?

For one thing, STRESS.  We all know the word and feelings that come with it very well.  Stress not only tenses the muscles in the body but is also believed to be connected to other health issues such as higher blood pressure, headaches and ulcers.

Treat your body well no matter your finances or schedule.  I want to share with you some simple ways to relax and create your own spa night in the comfort of your own home.

Pumice your Feet
These are great and easy to find at any local store with shower or beauty supplies in the bath or body section and cost under 3 dollars!   Use these to gently scrub dead skin off of calloused and dry places, paying close care not to over scrub or damage the skin.  This will exfoliate unnecessary discomfort and build up from your skin, allowing new skin to come through in a healthy and glowing way. 

Walk in an Ice Bath
This is a common European and Asian tradition for bettering your circulation and general relaxation.  If you are doing this at home, I recommend getting a tub of cold water and ice and placing it either on the bathroom floor or just outside the bathroom.  Stand or sit with your water in the tub while moving your toes and feet in opposing motions for  just a few moments.  Then... 

Create a Steam Room
Once you've used your makeshift ice bath, enjoy some heat.  Either jump into a steaming shower or fill up your tub (before the ice bath)  with some hot water.   Enhance the experience with some eucalyptus shower spray.  It will not only smell nice but further relax your muscles, expand your breathing passages and attack unwanted viruses and bacteria. 

Stretch
Don't underestimate the power of deep and gentle stretching.  Allow the renewed circulation and heat of the water to pour into your muscles to aid in their relaxation and healing.  Roll your neck from side to side, roll your shoulders and do some gentle twists to really get deep into the tension and let it out. 

Breathe Deeply
Don't forget to breathe.  It's the oxygen coming into the brain and the muscles that causes the rest of the body to relax and heal.   So when you breathe, breathe deeply.  If you are lucky enough to have the Eucalyptus oil in the air, breathe that much more deeply and be a blessing to your lungs, heart and stress level. 

Your body goes through so much environmental, physical and emotional stress each day.  At Eurospa, we believe that the body needs to be nurtured through this to experience good health and positive life quality.  

Do your best and be gentle with yourself.  Life is a gift.  Live it well. 




by: Navae Fiona

Feeling Stressed? Fast and Affordable Tips for Stress Relief At Home Or On the Go!

Stress is a hot topic everywhere whether you are male or female and so often it has to do with our busy lives and family dynamic.   But how do you relieve that stress when you feel there's just no time to handle it?   It's time we talk about the simple and affordable tips to relieve stress quickly at home and on the go. 

Let's talk about the men first.  We know you guys.  You are a hard working crowd with a lot of pressure on your shoulders.  And whether you are the game watching or fine dining type, you have the right to experience the relaxing fruit of your labor!  

And Ladies?  We know you too.  Whether you are a mother at home, working hard at your career or the busiest of the two worlds: BOTH, we invite you to take the time here and there to reward yourself for your thorough dedication to your many responsibilities!

I know we all have heard of the dangers stress brings to our lives, but I do want to touch base on a few major points (before I go into the fixes) so that we remember to take it seriously and take charge of the stress relief we so greatly deserve.  

So what is stress? It's simply a fact of nature.  Forces from the inside or outside world affect people in various ways and the individual responds to stress in ways that affect both themselves and their environment as well. Due to the overabundance of stress in our modern lives, we tend to think of stress as a negative experience, but from a biological point of view, stress can be a neutral, negative, or positive experience.  In general, stress is related to both the external and internal factors. External factors include the physical environment, such as your job, relationships with others, your home and all the situations, challenges, and expectations you have to deal with on a daily basis. Internal factors determine how your body responds to and deals with the external stress-inducing factors. The internal factors that influence your ability to handle all that stress include your nutritional state, overall health and  fitness levels, emotional well-being, and the amount of sleep and rest you get. 

Now that that's clear,  let's talk about some simple ways to deal with it all!

• Move Your Body:   Pretty clear, don't you think?  When we move our bodies via running, dancing, yoga, weight training, cycling and other forms of movement, we release dopamine (a happy hormone) and get rid of cortisol (the stress hormone that wreaks havoc).  Our heart rate increases and our whole bodies get into a groove of joy and excitement.
• Eat Well, Live Well:  Just a few simple rules here.  Stay away from white foods as much as you can.  This includes white breads, pastas, rice and sugar. These cause peaks and lows with our blood sugar, contributing to mood swings and feelings of anxiety.  Make sure your food includes veggies and fruits in a variety of color (extra greens if you can) and that you are adequately hydrated.  DRINK WATER.  You may be surprised at how much that single tip helps! 
• Breathe Deep:  Annoying people and frustrating circumstances are all around us and this is the most easy tip yet the hardest to remember.  Breathe in through your nose slowly and deeply, pausing at the peak of inhalation.  This activates the back of your brain, causing a slower and calmer reaction time.  
• Relax:  This is, of course the most enjoyable tip.  What relaxes you?  Whether it's a massage or a slow walk in the park, you can determine what you will enjoy.  I know for me, my favorite two things are to sit in a hot tub or sauna or to sit in the sunshine with a book. 
• Gratitude:  Be thankful.  Yes, times can be hard.  I'm not at all saying it's easy.  We can recognize the pain, feel it and then take a deep breathe and really be thankful for the beauty that *is* in our lives - the things that are working, the people that do love us and the health we are experiencing. 
• Laugh:  Enjoy your laughter! Talk to an old friend and think back on old times.  Recall stories that make you smile. Play with children.  Invite friends over for charades!  Watch a comedy.  Laughter is healing.  Don't underestimate it's power. 
• Sleep:  Here's the most medicinal one.  We tend to slack on sleep because our work and family load can keep us busy until midnight.  Then we wake to being our recurring routine at 6 am the following morning and then wonder why we are burnt out.   Many medical studies agree that we need to turn off all media at least an hour prior to bed time.   In that hour, practice the art of being in the present moment and just letting everything else go.   Take a hot bath with some drops of lavender oil and a few sprays of eucalyptus shower mist to the steam - and do the same with the lavender and eucalyptus to your pillow and bed sheets for an even deeper sleep relaxation.   Read, pray and be thankful. Trust that tomorrow will have plenty of beauty of it's own to be thankful for as well.

Your health is so important and it begins with your state of mind and being.   Take care of your mind, body and soul and the rest will begin to fall more peacefully into place.   At Eurospa we want to know that people's live are enriched and full of beautiful health.  Don't hesitate to ask what we can do for you!

Enjoy the day that awaits you!

by: Navae Fiona