Foot Reflexology Massage Video

Living in the city can make our feet take a beating every day. Sadly, our feet often don’t receive the care and attention they deserve. We don’t give them much thought until something goes wrong with them. But our feet carry us around all day long and take us everywhere we want to go.

Here are some fascinating foot facts from foot.com:

*The foot contains 26 bones, 33 joints, 107 ligaments and 19 muscles.

*1/4 of all the bones in the human body are down in your feet. When these bones are out of alignment, so is the rest of the body.

*Your feet mirror your general health. Conditions such as arthritis, diabetes, nerve and circulatory disorders can show their initial symptoms in the feet - so foot ailments can be your first sign of more serious medical problems.

It would be lovely to be able to go and get a spa treatment whenever we were not feeling our best, but if a weekly visit to the spa is not in your budget, here are some inexpensive and easy ways that you can pamper your feet at home.

Gather your foot soak supplies: a deep basin, essential oils, epsom salts, teas and towels. Heat up the water, put on some relaxing music, light a few candles and prepare to relax. Here are some recipes for a decadent and rejuvenating foot soak bath:

Peppermint Foot Soak with Lavender
(Source: Recipezarr.com)

This foot soak soothes aches, remove odors, and soften rough skin. Hey go ahead and add some rose or lavender petals to the bath.

1/2 cup epsom salts
5 drops peppermint extract
3 drops tea tree oil
3 drops lavender

Directions:

Add oils and salt to a large pan or footbath of water and soak for 10 to 15 minutes, rinse feet, dry and moisturize.

Sore Feet Remedy (Source: Mybeautyrecipes.com)
Ingredients:

* 1 tablespoon olive oil
* 1 tsp. of Aloe Vera
* 1 teaspoon wheat germ
oil
* 20 drops of peppermint Essential Oil
* 20 drops of eucalyptus Essential Oil

Mix together and add to warm water. Soak your feet in it.

Honey Foot Soak
(Source: Recipezarr.com)

A great foot soother with natural, antiseptic qualities! A great stress reliever, too!

1 cup honey
1 gallon warm water

Directions:

Mix 1-cup of honey to 1 gallon of warm water and soak for 10 to 15 minutes.

Chamomile* Tea Foot Soak (Source: Tipnut.com)

4 bags chamomile tea
1/8 cup dried parsley
4 drops essential oil of choice

Steep ingredients in 1 gallon of hot water for 10 minutes before soaking feet.
*You can substitute green tea bags

After a good soaking, you should give yourself a pedicure, and then massage your feet. Better yet, have someone else massage your feet while you lay back and relax.

As a special treat, you can do these treatments for your partner and make them feel fantastic.

Now that you know just how important your feet are to you be sure to take some time to give them a little extra attention, and add foot pampering to your beauty regime.

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Your skin is a precious gift and a miracle of nature. It is your body’s largest organ and it protects your internal organs from the harsh environment that we live in. The condition of your skin reflects the quality of the food you eat, the beverages you drink and the environment that you spend time in. If you want your skin to be as clear and soft and smooth as it can be, then you need to take a good look at what kinds of things you are putting into your body and where you spend your time.

People tend to get frightened when you start to talk about making changes. We live our lives in comfortable routines, and when you ask someone to break out of their normal routine and try something new this idea is often met with stubborn resistance. We want a magic bullet, or a pill that we can take that will magically transform us from the undesirable state in which we find ourselves to the place where we want to be instantly. The good news is that the changes we are talking about here will not only help to give you radiant, beautiful skin, they will increase your energy and overall health. Since the only way to be healthy is to eat a healthy diet, you will need to increase your intake of clean water, fresh fruits and vegetables, and whole grains. Eliminate the processed foods, sugars and fatty fried foods and soft drinks that leach calcium from your bones. Shop from the outer edges of the grocery store and avoid the inner aisles.

Exercise is also important to your overall health. Getting at least 30 minutes of cardio every day is a start on the right path. You might say that you don’t have 30 minutes to exercise in your busy days, but you can chunk this time up into ten minute intervals. There are lots of ways to fit healthy exercise into your life. Here are a few quick ideas for squeezing exercise into your busy day:

• Turn off your television and take a 30 minute walk after dinner

• Park your car further away from work and walk to work

• Take public transportation

• If the building that you work in has many levels, walk up and down the stairs on your break

• Walk during your lunch break

A healthy lifestyle is an important part of having healthy, beautiful skin. Eat a balanced diet, drink plenty of clean water and exercise regularly and you will begin to notice an improvement in your skin’s appearance as well as increased energy and vitality.

Natural hair care recipes use all natural ingredients that you might already have at home to help you restore and maintain the natural beauty of your hair. Many women, in an effort to keep up with the latest trends and styles use all kinds of harsh chemicals, glues, and excessive heat in order to attain certain hairstyles. After many years of using these harsh agents on your hair it can become damaged and listless and dull. Well, take heart because there is hope of restoring your hair’s natural beauty by using natural products to heal the damage and renew your hair’s strength.

Hair is actually dead tissue once it has emerged from the root beneath the scalp. So, it is actually a misnomer to say that you can ‘heal’ your hair. Once the ends have been split or splintered, all you can do is trim away the damage and wait for new hair to grow in. The condition of your hair is based on several factors including your ethnicity, age, and the overall state of your health. Hair growth rates also vary by person and can also be influenced by the above mentioned factors.

Go ahead and try these recipes at home. You’ll quickly get hooked once you start working with the natural ingredients when you begin to see the results. Feel free to share these recipes with your friends.

Rosemary, Honey & Olive Oil Conditioner
This nourishing conditioner blends two ingredients from nature — honey for shine and olive oil for moisture — and is enhanced with essential oil of rosemary to stimulate hair growth.

1/2 cup honey
1/4 cup warmed olive oil (2 tablespoons for normal to oily hair)
4 drops essential oil of rosemary
1 teaspoon of xanthan gum (available in health food stores)

Place all the ingredients in a small bowl and mix thoroughly. Pour into a clean plastic bottle with a snug-fitting cap.

To use, apply a small amount to your slightly dampened hair. Massage your scalp and work the conditioner through your hair until it is completely and evenly distributed. Next, cover your hair with a warm towel (your microwave or dryer can heat it up) or shower cap; leave the conditioner in place on to nourish and condition for 30 minutes. Remove the towel or shower cap; shampoo lightly and rinse with cool water. Dry as normal and enjoy shinier, softer and healthier hair the natural way.
(courtesy of www.spaindex.com)

Chamomile Fields Shampoo
* 4 bags of Chamomile tea (or 1 handful of fresh Chamomile flowers)
* 4 tablespoons pure soap flakes
* 1 1/2 tablespoons glycerin

Let the tea bags steep in 1 1/2 cups of boiled water for 10 minutes. Remove the tea bags and with the remaining liquid add the soap flakes. Let stand until the soap softens. Stir in glycerin until mixture is well blended. Pour into a bottle. Keep in a dark, cool place.
(courtesy of www.pioneerthinking.com)

Wonder of the Desert Shampoo for Dry Hair
1/4 cup liquid Castile Soap
1/4 cup aloe vera gel
1 teaspoon glycerin
1/4 teaspoon avocado oil or other light vegetable oil

Mix together all the ingredients. Store in a bottle and always shake well before using. Apply to hair and allow to sit for a few minutes. Rinse well with cool water.
(courtesy of www.longlocks.com)

Natural Shampoo for Normal Hair
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup liquid Castile Soap
1/2 teaspoon sunflower or other light vegetable oil

Mix together all the ingredients. Store in a bottle. Use as you would any shampoo, rinse well.

Deep Conditioner
By: Mia Jones © 2001

* 1 small jar of real mayonnaise
* 1/2 of an avocado (Avocados contain vitamin B6 & vitamin E )

Put together in a medium bowl and squish together with your hands until it’s a minty green color. Smooth into hair all the way to the tips. Put on a shower cap or wrap your head with saran wrap.

Leave on for 20 minutes. For deeper conditioning put a hot, damp towel around your head -over the saran wrap. And if you have really long hair and only need deep conditioning at the ends, cut the ingredients in half and apply only to the ends and just wrap them.
(courtesy of www.pioneerthinking.com)

Rosemary Hot Oil Treatment
1/2 cup of dried rosemary leaves
1/2 cup soybean oil

Combine ingredients and heat until warm. Strain through a fine strainer or cheesecloth. Coat the entire head and hair with the oil mixture, working it through to the ends. Wrap hair in plastic wrap and wrap in a warm towel. Leave oil on hair for 15 minutes. Wash hair until oil is completely removed.
(courtesy of www.longlocks.com)

The most important concept in caring for your hair is protection. You want to protect your hair from heat, high temperatures, harsh chemicals, etc. Using natural products to keep your hair clean and conditioned and avoiding exposure to these harmful elements will ensure that your hair will be as beautiful as it can be.

These natural hair care recipes use ingredients found in nature that have properties that will, over time, promote beautiful, healthy hair. Another fabulous side benefit to creating and using your own natural products on your hair is that you are helping to protect the environment by using these products that you can create yourself in your own kitchen. Bear in mind that these products will have a shelf life, so don’t mix up more than you can use in a few days or they will spoil.

I was in Harvard Square and I wandered into the Lush shop to look at what they have to offer in terms of bath and body products. I had only ever visited their web site, and I was thrilled with all of the yummy handmade soaps and lotions and balms and the fabulous smells of the shop. The employees were incredibly friendly, and I got a hand treatment with an exfoliant and then some of their creamy lotion.

After browsing the lovely selection of products, I settled on a Mango Too Massage bar, which is a green/organic product made from cocoa butter, shea butter, mango butter honey, white chocolate and other yummy ingredients.

I use it after coming out of the shower while my skin is still warm. You massage the bar over your skin and it melts on to your skin as you apply it. Over time it has made my skin incredibly supple and soft. Proof of how yummy it smells came when one of my daughters came into my room while I was putting it on and asked if she could have some of the candy that I was eating.

When I looked at the reviews on the Lush web site, it seems that people either love or hate the fragrance. I love it.  I am pleased with this massage bar and when it runs out I will buy another one.

Dry brush exfoliation has lots of wonderful benefits for your skin. You should use a soft, natural bristle brush to very gently brush the skin to get rid of dead skin cells, detoxify the skin, improve circulation, open up the pores and restore a healthy radiance. It’s a great addition to your natural skin care regimen.

All you need for dry brush exfoliation is a soft, natural bristle brush or a loofah. Dry brushing done in the morning before your shower can help to invigorate you and get you off to a vibrant, energetic start to the day. Avoid dry brushing and consult your doctor if you have any rashes or other skin conditions.

You’ll want to do your dry brushing right before taking your shower. Beginning with your feet, brush your skin very lightly in small circles moving up towards your heart.

When you are finished, take a warm shower to rinse your skin. After drying off gently with a towel, apply moisturizing oils or lotions containing natural ingredients such as shea butter.

Over time you will notice that your skin will be softer and smoother and look beautiful and healthy. Dry skin brushing does not take time and can easily be added in to your morning hygiene routine a few mornings a week.

Dry hair can be caused by many things including harsh, cold winter temperatures, too much sun exposure, wind, harsh chemicals, excessive high heat such as flat irons and curling irons and blow dryers. Dry hair tends to be weak and brittle and may suffer from split ends. Because hair is dead tissue, these ends will not mend themselves. You will need to visit your salon and get a trim to remove the damaged hair.

When you are caring for your dry, damaged hair you want to be gentle with it. Do not brush it when it is wet because this will only cause more breakage. Use a comb and gently work through the tangles to avoid additional damage to the hair.

Don’t ignore your scalp as you treat your dry hair. Be sure to gently massage your scalp as you shampoo your hair and when you work the conditioner into your hair. Massaging your scalp not only feels good, it will also stimulate the blood flow to the hair’s roots, which may encourage new hair to grow.

Here are just a few tips to prevent dry hair:

• Wrap your hair up at night in a silk scarf to protect it, and use a silky or satiny pillow case.

• Wear a hat to protect your hair from long exposure to the sun and from the extreme cold

• Drink plenty of clean, fresh water

• Take a multi-vitamin supplement that contains E and B complex

• Do not wash your hair every day. Try cutting back to twice a week

• Use a leave-in conditioner

• Occasional hot oil treatments

Try these natural dry hair remedies to keep your hair looking shiny, healthy and beautiful:

Hot Oil Treatment for Damaged Hair

1/2 cup soybean oil

8 drops oil of sandalwood

8 drops oil of lavender

8 drops oil geranium

Mix all ingredients well. Warm oil to a comfortable temperature and apply the mixture to damp hair. Wrap hair in plastic wrap and apply a hot towel for 20 minutes. Shampoo.

(courtesy of www.longlocks.com)

Jojoba Hot Oil Treatment

Ingredients

2 teaspoons jojoba oil

1 teaspoon soybean oil

Combine ingredients then warm gently on low heat. Test temperature on inside of forearm. Massage mixture into hair. Wrap hair in a hot towel or cover with shower cap or plastic wrap for 15 minutes. Shampoo & rinse out. Recipe may be doubled for very long hair.

(courtesy of www.longlocks.com)

Ravishing Rosemary Hair Conditioner

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) is thought to stimulate hair growth. A great remedy for itchy scalps and dandruff this easy to make recipe will leave your hair feeling softer, more manageable and smelling wonderful.

Rosemary essential oil

Carrier oil (sweet almond or olive oil) slightly warmed

Add 2-5 drops of rosemary essential oil with 1 teaspoon of carrier oil of your choice, blend well. Work the oils through dampened hair and massage the scalp. Wrap your head in a warm towel and leave on for 45 minutes to deep condition the hair. Wash out and rinse with cool water. Keep out of eyes.

(courtesy www.pioneerthinking.com)

Homemade Recipes For Dry Hair

By Kenia Morales

Mix 1 tablespoon Honey and any type of vegetable oil. Distribute mixture evenly all over the hair.

• Coat dry hair with mayonnaise, once finished cover with a plastic shower cap and leave on for 10-20 minutes.

• Apply olive oil all over your hair. Cover with a plastic bag and let it stay for 20 minutes. For extra conditioning take a warm shower while waiting. The heat will help the oil work to its maximum potential.

• Beat one egg, add 3 tablespoons of water and apply to scalp and hair.

This applies to all recipes: Once you are done waiting for the natural ingredients to work their magic wash, rinse, and style hair as usual.

(courtesy www.pioneerthinking.com)

Give these recipes a try and you will be pleased at the wonderful results. It is possible to restore the natural luster and shine of your hair, and protect it from these harsh elements using ingredients you might already have at home in your cabinets.

Mouth watering Blood Orange with a hint of Chocolate makes this a luxurious body butter that moisturizes and softens. Concentrated with potent vitamins and antioxidants that protect against aging and restore the healthy appearance of previously damaged skin.

Natural beauty recipes have been shared and passed down through generations of women for hundreds of years. Before skin care products were commercially available, women had to use whatever they had available to clean, moisturize and protect their skin. In this article we are going to take a look at some of the ingredients that you probably already have in your kitchen and show you how easy it is to use them to care for your skin and maintain its natural beauty quite conveniently and inexpensively.

The following recipes use these and other ingredients that you most likely already have at home. Because these are fresh and highly perishable ingredients, do not mix up more than you will use in a few days uses or else they will spoil.

GENTLE HONEY CLEANSER
This cleanser is simple and effective. The soap gently cleans, the glycerin prevents drying and the honey not only softens the skin, but its antimicrobial properties can help ward off breakouts. A touch of honey is all you need for healthy, glowing skin. Combine 1/4 cup honey, 1 tablespoon liquid soap, 1/2 cup glycerin in a small bowl until fully blended. Pour into a clean plastic bottle. Pour onto clean face sponge or soft cloth and gently rub onto face, wash away with warm water and pat face dry. Enjoy fresh radiant skin.
(courtesy of www.honey.com)

SPA INDEX HONEY OATMEAL FACIAL
1/4 cup plain yogurt or buttermilk
1/2 cup oatmeal
2 tablespoons of honey

Finely grind or process the oatmeal in a blender or food processor. Set aside. In a small bowl, stir together honey and yogurt, and then add ground oatmeal. Mix thoroughly until a smooth paste consistency has been reached. Smooth over your face and neck, leave on for fifteen minutes, and rinse off with warm water. Can be used daily.
(courtesy of www.spaindex.com)

FACIAL MASK
Squeeze half a lemon and mix the juice with one beaten egg white. Leave on your face overnight or, for a quick pick-me-up, just 15 minutes. Splash warm water on your face to rinse.

It helps to removes blotches, because the lemon works as a bleaching agent.
(courtesy of www.healthrecipes.com/beauty.htm)

CUCUMBER EYE GEL #1
1/4 large cucumber
1 ounce aloe vera gel

Puree the cucumber in a blender ( leave a little pulp), strain the mixture into a glass bowl until you have at least 2 ounces. Spoon in just a tad of the pulp from the strainer). Add the aloe vera to the cucumber puree in the bowl and mix lightly. Pour into a clean, sterilized container. After cleansing face, stir mixture gently and apply with a cotton ball to under eye area. Avoid the eyeball. The shelf life of this product is very limited by the fresh cucumber. It should be used within a few days, and kept refrigerated between uses.
(courtesy of www.spaindex.com)

VITAMIN E CREAM
2 tsp. plain yogurt
1/2 tsp. honey
1/2 tsp. lemon juice
3 capsules vitamin E (equivalent of 300 units)

Combine yogurt, honey and lemon juice. Open the vitamin E capsules and fold contents into the mix. Gently massage into skin; Leave on skin for 15 minutes. Shelf life: 3-4 days.
(courtesy of www.spaindex.com)

Night-Time Rose Creamy Lotion
20 fl. oz. Almond oil
16 fl. oz. Rosewater to which have been added 1 oz. dried red Rose petals, this soaked for 3 days, then strained out and removed
3 oz. Beeswax Essence of Rose, if desired

To make: Into a water bath or the top of a double boiler put the oil and the wax. Heat until the wax is dissolved and then remove pot from the fire. Add the Rosewater slowly, beating all the while, and beat until it is cool. At this point add the essence of Rose a drop at a time, if you like. Beat the creamy lotion until cold, pour into a bottle and store away for use.

To use: This lotion makes an excellent Rose Cold Cream to remove old grimy dirt or makeup. Simply apply with clean fingertips and remove with fine tissue. Then you might take a teaspoonful of cornmeal in each palm and rub the hands and face well with it. Rinse with warm water and then cold. Pat the remaining fine film of cream into the skin for night-time smoothing.

Why: Almond oil and Rosewater as we know is an excellent moisturizing lubricant for normal to dry to sensitive skin; cornmeal is a gentle tonic stimulating to the tissues and acts as a “beauty grain”.

Tip: Whenever making fine cosmetics always use a porcelain or glass pot. Some beauty experts recommend stainless steel cooking pots but these often leach poisonous heavy metals into the enclosed liquids. Nonmetal is best for herbs.
(courtesy of www.jeannerose.net)

Establish a regular daily beauty regimen that includes cleaning, toning and moisturizing your skin. Because our skin is constantly renewing itself, exfoliation, or the sloughing off of the dead skin cells to reveal the new skin is also a vital step.

Feel free to experiment with these recipes and try other ingredients until you’ve found the right formulations for your skin type. Keep in mind that the condition of your skin is a reflection of the overall health of your body. To have beautiful, healthy, radiant skin you must also have a healthy diet, drink clean water and get plenty of exercise. Eliminating foods and substances that are not good for you will also contribute to the health of your body and be reflected in the beauty of your skin.

Natural beauty comes from within each person. One of the most wonderful miracles of life is the fact that we are each unique individuals that represent an unending diversity of shape, size, color and personality. Like flowers in a garden, each of us has unique characteristics that make us who we are. Learning to embrace the beauty that radiates from within, and working with ingredients found in nature to keep ourselves looking and feeling our best regardless of age is what this web site is all about.

As women, we tend to always be busy working or caring for our husbands, our partners, our children our households and even our communities. But if we do not want to burn out and fall down in a crumpled heap or have a nervous breakdown, we must set aside some time to take care of ourselves. As you read this I can
hear you saying, “Sounds good but where will I find the time?” I ask in response where will you find the time to get sick? If you do not take care of yourself and maintain your health your body will eventually break down and force you to take the rest that it needs to keep going. So, if you are feeling like its selfish to take time to focus on you, then you need to find a way to let those thoughts go and give yourself permission to relax and focus on your own needs for awhile so that you can replenish your reserves that will allow you to continue doing all that you do.

We are not simply going to focus on the face or the skin; rather we will take a holistic approach and look at beauty that comes from a foundation of total health for the body. So, in addition to exploring ways to look our best on the outside, we will also look at the state of our health from within–both our physical health, diet fitness, and our spiritual health.

The ultimate goal of this site is to create a sense of community among those who value all things natural when it comes to our bodies as well as our home environment and then our world. So, welcome to natural beauty DIY. Make yourself at home here and explore all that the site has to offer from recipes for creating your own pure and natural skin and hair care products, to resources on diet, health and fitness, ways to incorporate healthy and green living practices into your life, your home, your workplace and your community.