Tuesday 30 July 2013

How To ... Make a Foot Cream for Dry Cracked Feet

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How To ...

Make a Foot Cream for Dry Cracked Feet

Dry, cracked feet can be a painful condition.  In this warmer weather we are more often to go barefoot, or wear improper shoes such as flip flops which can cause skin dehydration causing the skin to thicken and form calluses, this then makes the skin more resistant to moisture and thus more likely to peel and crack. 

But don't panic there are home remedies that can help heal the skin as well as keep it soft and supple.

Firstly, you can exfoliate your feet, particularly heels and the ball of the foot.  Remove dead and dry skin with regular exfoliation.  Massage onto your feet in circular movements for a couple of minutes, then rinse off with cool water.

Click here to see our Recipe for Peppermint Foot Scrub >

< Click here to see our Recipe for a Foot Soak >


Moisturising your Feet

Moisturising your skin on your feet is really important when dealing with dry, cracked skin.   Apply your cream after exfoliating and soaking your feet, then put on cotton socks.  For best results leave on overnight to help the cream penetrate and heal the skin.  

You Will Need:
Natural Lotion or Cream Base
Vitamin E
Benzoin Essential Oil ( anti-inflammatory and antiseptic)
Myrrh Essential Oil (anti bacterial and anti-inflammatory)
Patchouli Essential Oil (skin regenerator and deodorizer)
Geranium Essential Oil (anti fungal and anti bacterial)
Tea Tree Essential Oil (antiviral and antifungal) 

Mix well and use daily on hands and feet, especially after exfoliating and soaking or after a bath and shower.

Have you made your own Foot Cream?  Why not share your recipes.


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How To ... Make a Foot Soak for Dry Cracked Feet

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How To ...

Make a Foot Soak for Dry Cracked Feet

Dry, cracked feet can be a painful condition.  In this warmer weather we are more often to go barefoot, or wear improper shoes such as flip flops which can cause skin dehydration causing the skin to thicken and form calluses, this then makes the skin more resistant to moisture and thus more likely to peel and crack. 

But don't panic there are home remedies that can help heal the skin as well as keep it soft and supple.

Firstly, you can exfoliate your feet, particularly heels and the ball of the foot.  Remove dead and dry skin with regular exfoliation.  Massage onto your feet in circular movements for a couple of minutes, then rinse off with cool water.

< Click here to see our Recipe for Peppermint Foot Scrub >

Soak you feet in a Foot Bath

For a really relaxing foot bath that will soften your feet.

You Will Need:
Warm Water
Patchouli Essential Oil (skin regenerator and deodorizer)
Lavender Essential Oil (calming, skin regenerator, anti-inflammatory)
Tea Tree Essential Oil (antiviral and antifungal) 
Rose Essential Oil (moisturises, helps with infections and reduces inflammation)

Add the oils to the warm water and soak your feet for 15 - 30 minutes.  The soak will help soften and soothe dry skin while the antiseptic properties can help guard against infection.

Have you made your own Foot Soak?  Why not share your recipes.


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Friday 26 July 2013

How to ... Make your own Natural Exfoliator

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How to ...
Make your own Natural Exfoliator


You can make your own exfoliators at home from a range of natural ingredients, many of them will help nourish the skin.  Exfoliating the skin on a regular basis will encourage new cell growth revealing beautiful soft, toned and vibrant skin and will help with blood circulation and lymph system drainage.

Easy Recipes for you to Make.


Exfoliators can be made simply by mixing sugar and water and gently massaging into your skin.  This will removed dead skin cells and help combat spots and acne.

You can also mix sugar with sea salt, which makes a more abrasive scrub suitable for over the body. This is best used in the shower so that it can be easily washed away.

To both these exfoliators you can add essential oils.  At the moment Peppermint Essential Oil is great to rejuvinate and stimulate < click here to read about peppermint > whilst Lavender Essential Oil is great for relaxation and soothing.

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Wednesday 24 July 2013

How To ... Use Peppermint Oil in 12 Ways

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How To ... 
Use Peppermint Oil in 12 Ways


12 Reasons you should have Peppermint Essential Oil in your medicine cabinet. 

1. Place peppermint on temples and under nose or just put the bottle under nose, and inhale several times to wake up.  Also place a drop of peppermint oil on temples and back of neck, and even across the forehead to ease a headache.


2. Place a few drops of oil on a damp flannel and wipe down your body to cool down.  
3. Rub a drop of peppermint oil on the tummy with a Carrier Oil to help relieve nausea and motion sickness or Rub on joints to relieve tendinitis and arthritis pain. 

4. Add peppermint oil to a warm foot soak, or add peppermint to an unscented lotion and do a foot massage with it to relieve the tension or make our great peppermint cooling foot scrub. < click here to see recipe >

5. Place one drop of peppermint essential oil on tongue for a freshness.

6. Add peppermint to a glass of water hot or cold and drink for a daily digestive aid or Add one drop of peppermint oil, cocoa powder or chocolate syrup to coffee for a peppermint coffee mocha, stir and enjoy.

7. Add peppermint essential oil to cookies, brownies and sweet treats.

8. To Clear congestion simply add peppermint oil to a hot cup of steaming water, and inhale. Even make a tent over your head and bend over the peppermint steam and inhale to relief pressure in sinuses.

You can also Rub peppermint oil combined with a carrier oil to the chest to relieve congestion.

< View our Stay Cool with Peppermint Essential Oil click here >

9. Combine lavender and peppermint essential oil to a massage oil to bring relief to feet, shoulders and back.
10. Make a cleansing air freshener.  Combine peppermint, lemon, and bergamot to distilled water.

11. Place peppermint oil on a cotton ball and place in areas where you find spiders.  You can also make a spider spray repellent.  Add 4-5 drops of the oil to water in a spray bottle. Make sure it has a strong peppermint scent, and spray in areas you want to repel spiders. 
12. Add a few drops of peppermint oil to a spray bottle of water and spray plants to kill aphids.

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Monday 22 July 2013

Stay Cool with Peppermint Essential Oil

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Stay Cool with Peppermint Essential Oil


How to Stay cool with Aromatherapy. Peppermint essential oil is your best bet to beat the summer heat. Whether you are baking at the beach or relaxing in the garden, this essential oil can help us stay cool.
Peppermint Essential OIl
The common peppermint plant (botanical name: Mentha piperta) is easy to find.  It is a sturdy herbaceous perennial that grows easily and spreads quickly.

All About Peppermint Essential Oil
Botanical Family: Labiatae syn Lamiaceae
Part of Plant essential oil is extracted from::  Leaves and flowering tops
Extraction method: Steam distillation
What it looks and feels like: Clear, light, quick drying, no residue
What it smells like: clean, clearing, menthol, fresh, cool

Main Therapeutic Properties

Combats mentail fatique and encourages focus.

Stimulation, clearing and mood lifting.
Cools an overheated body.
Clears congestion.
Cleansing, helps circulation and energizes skin.
Calms an upset stomach or motion sickness.

How to Use Peppermint Essential Oil to Cool Off This Summer?
Make a body spritzer by simply adding a few drops to a spray bottle filled with distilled water. Can also be used to mist your sheets and pillow before settling to go to sleep.
Cool yourself down by adding a few drops to a damp flannel and patting on back of neck.
Add a few drops to your shower gel to wake you up.  Can also be added to your bath.

Some of our How To ... Tutorials from last week using Peppermint Essential Oil >

What Peppermint Essential Oils do we have available?

Peppermint Essential Oil 10ml only £1.79 < Click here to BUY >
Peppermint Essential Oil 50ml only £4.29 < Click here to BUY >
Peppermint Essential Oil 100ml only £5.59 < Click here to BUY >
Peppermint Essential Oil 500ml only £22.99 < Click here to BUY >
Peppermint Essential Oil 500ml only £45.99 < Click here to BUY >

Peppermint Gel 30ml only £3.29 < Click here to BUY >
Peppermint Gel 60ml only £3.99 < Click here to BUY >
Peppermint Gel 100ml only £5.99 < Click here to BUY >
Peppermint Gel 500ml only £17.49 < Click here to BUY >

Peppermint & Lavender Natural Soap SLS Free 100g only £2.49 < Click here to BUY >

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Friday 19 July 2013

How to Help and Soothe Sun Burns

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How to ...
Help and Soothe Sun Burns

With all this gorgeous weather we are having, many people are unintentionally overexposing their skin to the sun. Of course, prevention is always better than cure and a good sunscreen is a must, especially for children, but if you do manage to get sun burnt then this simple recipe can really help to keep your skin hydrated and reduce the heat while it heals.

What you will Need:
How To:

  1. Mix all the ingredients until you get a thick consistency.
  2. Apply it in your skin after exposure to the sun.
  3. Let it penetrate for 10 minutes and then rinse with plenty water

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How To Make Summer Body Spritzers

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How To...
Make Summer Body Spritzers


Earlier in the week we showed you how to make your own refreshing face spritzer with sweet orange.  Today we are going to give you 2 simple recipes to make your own Summer Body Spritzers.

What You will Need:
A Spray bottle
Distilled Water
Witch Hazel (use 1 tbs)
Essential Oil 

Instructions:

Recipe 1: Grapefruit Essential Oil

About Grapefruit Essential Oil:
Scent: Fresh & Citrus aroma
Plant Part: Outer Peel
Extraction method: Cold Pressed

Properties: Good for cellulite, Invigorating, Refreshing, Stimulating, Uplifting.
Warning: May cause photosensitivity

Recipe 2:  Refreshing Spray using Peppermint, Sweet Orange and Lime

About Peppermint Essential Oil:
Scent: Sweet and rich aroma
Extraction method: Steam Distilled
Chest clearing, Cooling, reviving

About Sweet Orange Essential Oil:
Scent: Fresh, sweet, fruity, citrus
Plant Part: Peel
Extraction method: Cold Pressed
Country of Origin: Brazil
Colour: Light yellow to Light orange
Notes: Top

About Lime Essential Oil:
Scent: Fresh, Sharp, Citrus aroma
Extraction method: Steam Distilled from the Rind.
Country of Origin: Mexico
Colour: Yellow / Green
Note: Top


Simply add 5-10 drops of your chosen essential oil(s) into the spray bottle and fill with distilled water and witch hazel.  Gently shake to mix the ingredients together.    Store your bottle in the fridge to keep it cool.  Shake well before each use.


These are just 2 oils that can be used in a spritz,  but you could try any combination.  Be Creative.  Let us know what you have tried.  

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Thursday 18 July 2013

How to Make Cute Seashell Tealights

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How to ...

Make Cute Seashell Tealights


With the weather being so warm and the children off from school, i'm sure quite a few of you have visited the beach,

If you have collected seashells here's a really cute idea on how to use them, rather than putting them in pots in the garden >>>

You will need some beeswax, wicks and seashells.  If you want fragranced candles then choose your favourite essential oils.

Gently melt the beeswax using the double boiler method.  Once melted if you are using essential oils add these now then carefully pour the wax into the shells and add a wick. 

Once these have cooled and set (approx 24 hours) they are ready to use.


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Wednesday 17 July 2013

How to Make a Peppermint Foot Scrub & Scrub Cubes

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How To ...
Make a Peppermint Foot Scrub

Flip Flops and Sandals keep our feet cool but can encourage horrible rough skin.  To help prevent this and cool your feet in this scorching heat, follow this easy recipe to make a wonderful refreshing and soothing foot scrub, and say goodbye to dry rough skin.

Take 1 cup of granulated sugar and put in a mixing bowl.

Gradually add your favourite oil until slightly wet, or if you prefer an oilier consistency add a little more.  This is entirely up to you.  Great oils to use include: Sweet Almond, Wheatgerm Oil or Coconut Oil.

Add a few drops of Peppermint Essential Oil and mix well.  Add this scrub to a pot and hey presto all done!

Soak you feet and use your wonderful homemade peppermint scrub to refresh those tootsies!

If you have a favourite essential oil, why not try with this recipe.

>> View our Range of Essential Oils click here >>

Another wonderful combination is to make a solid scrub.  We have chosen coconut and lime, but of course you can do any combination you wish.




For this recipe you will need your favourite oil, white granulated sugar, soap base or if you haven't got any available you can shred a soap bar (glycerine base), essential oils (doesn't have to be coconut and lime), a bowl and a mould.  A good mould would be a silicone ice tray, as this is the perfect size cube for one shower/bath use.

The measuring quantity would be 1 part oil, 2 parts soap, 3 parts sugar.  So 1/4 cup of oil, 1/2 cup soap and 1 cup of sugar.  To this add 3-4 drops of your choice of essential oil.

Melt the soap in the microwave on 10 second intervals with the oil and keep stirring until it is all melted.  Add your essential oils and stir.

Have your mold ready, as when you add the sugar it starts to harden.  Spoon these into your moulds.  If you don't have a mould available you can use your hands to shape.

Once this is done you can put them in the freezer to harden.  Once set you can pop them out and put them in an airtight container and ENJOY.


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Friday 12 July 2013

Amazing Facts about Neem for Horses (Equine)

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Neem Oil for Horses
Organic and Cold Processed

Neem oil comes originally from India, extracted from the nuts of the Azadirachta Indic tree, often referred to by the locals as the village pharmacy. It has been used for over 4000 years in Auyervedic medicine where it is highly valued for its ability to treat topical skin conditions and for its anti-fungal, antibiotic and healing properties.

Our Neem oil is of the purest, cold pressed variety, approved for cosmetic use. It has a very strong smell that can be described as nutty and yeasty.

The oil can solidify in cool temperatures but easily liquifies at around 32 degrees. Simply warm in the hands, in hot water or in a warm place such as near a radiator.



Neem oil has excellent insect repellent properties, making it a great ingredient for using in home-made fly sprays, dabbing on clothing to repel mosquitoes and sand flies, treating and protecting against fleas or treating head lice. I have several horse owners who swear by a mix of Neems, Eucalyptus, Citronella and Cedarwood for keeping horseflies and midges at bay.


Ailments, Allergies and Conditions Neem is Great for:

- Mud Fever
- Sweet Itch


Ticks, Fleas and Mange

To treat an infestation of fleas or cases of mange, massage Neem oil into your pet’s fur and leave on for at least 30 minutes. Then thoroughly wash off with a gentle pet shampoo. For mange, repeat the treatment weekly until symptoms disappear.

To prevent infestation, add 3% off Neem to your pet’s shampoo for regular use. You can also place a few drops of Neem oil in the collar area which will deter fleas from making their home on your pet.


Topical Skin Conditions

Neem oil is rich in fatty acids and glycerides as well as containing highly concentrated actively anti-microbial ingredients. It can be used to heal and prevent fungal and viral infections of the skin, and to treat dry, scaly and sensitive skin.


Suggested uses are for:

Eczema and Psoriasis
Rashes
Scabies
Ringworm
Warts
Athletes Foot
Thrush
Fungal Nail Infections


Head Lice

A Non-toxic, natural alternative to chemical treatments.  Safe for children and those with eczema and asthma.  It can be used as often as necessary and is useful for preventing re-infection.   Many chemical treatments have been over-used resulting in head lice becoming immune to their effects. This is not the case with Neem Oil.


Neem oil contains substances which are very similar to the lice’s own hormones. This confuses the lice resulting in them not breeding, laying, or eggs hatching and therefore the reproductive chain is broken.  


We recommend applying the oil to freshly washed hair (1-2 teaspoons). Thoroughly rub in and comb through so that the oil is coating every hair and leave on for 30mins.  Wash out thoroughly and then comb the hair with a fine nit comb.  Repeat every 36 hours until there are no further signs of nits.  To prevent infestation add 3% Neem oil to regular shampoo.


Thursday 11 July 2013

BUSINESS ADVICE: Is Free Advertising the Answer

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Is free Advertising the Answer?
A discussion on product demonstrations as a method of gaining new clients.

So my last (and actually first ever) blog considered how Carol can find new clients for her massage therapy business, given that she had little funds available for advertising. My feelings were that her existing clients would be a great source of leads to help her generate new business and I suggested she considered a technique known as leverage referrals. Basically your existing clients each suggest three new people whom you can contact and sell your service.

But lets assume that Carol still needs more clients. Is free advertising the answer? Well I would have to confess to being on the fence, given that she has a relatively niche product/service, that is not mainstream. Whilst advertising will help, I think it needs to be more rifle shot than buck shot and needs to be targeted specifically at her potential clients rather than thrown to the world at large.

With this in mind, lets consider an alternative way of addressing her target market on a direct, almost intimate basis. I am talking about massage demonstrations parties. The idea is that you ask one of your satisfied clients to hold a massage demonstration party for you in their home. You know the sort of thing. Tupperware and Ann Summers have been doing it for years. The number of people you invite is critical. Too few and it wont be worth the time you are investing. Too many and you will not be able to mingle effectively. I would suggest for Carols product, no more than six people plus the hostess.

The theme of the evening is that you will teach your selected attendees how to give a good massage. I guess it doesn’t matter which part you demonstrate but lets assume it’s the back. You then demonstrate on your hostess how to give a great back massage and should take about thirty mins max. Then get the guests to practice on each other (a few glasses of wine might help) under your expert tuition.

An hour or so later you will have a group of people who are appreciative of your advise. A little more wine or nibbles whilst you mingle with the guests giving each a five min mini demo of a different technique. For example a head massage for one, a foot massage for another , a hand massage etc etc. Make a careful note of what each guest asked for.

After your mini massage, they will hopefully be longing for more and this is your chance to try and take a booking. Explain that it isn’t really the right environment for them to get the most from it and that really you would love them to come to your therapy room and try a full session. Explain that you are have a special offer for any sessions booked tonight but remember to never , ever , ever discount the price. Always give away something instead, such as a 15 min foot massage with all back massages booked. You get the idea. If you drive the price down you will never get it back up.

Hopefully you will get the booking you need. If they say no, this is possibly to be expected. Welcomed even. No is simply a request for more information. It says that based on what you have told them, they don't have enough information to make a decision. Its ok to ask them why. Something like……..”No problem. I fully understand. Not everyone likes massage. Is that the case or is it something else. Just probe gently saying is it this or is it that. They will then hopefully explain why they don’t want to do it which you can then either accept or discuss. Having discussed it, if its still a no, all is not lost.

If you have been very gentle throughout this process and they loved your mini massage, they are psychologically feeling possibly a tad guilty or at the very least, would like to help you in some way. So play your ace. Ask them if they would help you by hosting and event like tonight and inviting six of their pals round…different pals though. Joke that they get to enjoy the 30 minute demo massage, so they have nothing to loose.

If they say no, well what have you lost. Nothing! But lets now leave with something. Say you fully understand and are so grateful for their time. But if they cant host an event ,can they at least give you three people whom you can contact etc. And you are back to the leverage referral route I mentioned in my last blog.

Two things before you leave. Get the names, telephone numbers, email address’s and birthdays of everyone in the room before you go. Something as simple as passing around a pre-printed sheet for them to complete. Add this to your data base and book the birthday reminders in outlook two weeks before the big day, so you can send them an e card and birthday treat special offer. Later you will be emailing them Xmas offers, Valentines specials and anything else you can creatively think of. Don’t forget to email everyone the next day thanking them for coming and re confirming any bookings made.

And if all else fails……..take a few bottles (at least six) of some of MotherNatures Goodies pre-blended massage oils to the evening with you, and mention that these are available to purchase on the night . Of course during your demo you sing its praises. At the very least the profit will cover your fuel costs. We supply an enormous variety of massage oils, but maybe check out our suggestively titles Tease n Please range , where you will find, Heat, Lust, His, hers, Passion and Tingle just waiting to be noticed.

Have any of you tried this method of winning new clients? Did it work for you?
How comfortable did you feel using it (as its not for everyone I guess).
Let me know what you think.
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