Skin Care Product Testing July 31, 2009

Sustainable Esscentials

It’s Friday, and as I received boxes of new ingredients on Wednesday, today I am doing some product testing..

The first product I am trying out is a Dead Sea Mud Mask. It is a very dark blackish-green, and goes on very thick!

Dead Sea Mud has:

• a very high salt and mineral content,
• draws out toxins and impurities,
• hydrates the skin,
• improves circulation,
• tightens the skin.

Since I don’t agree with Animal Testing, it is never safe to visit unless you want to try out some products!

The Results:

The Dead Sea Mud rinsed off easily – I didn’t have to scrub like I do when using some clay masks!  And while my face felt soft and hydrated, it certainly wasn’t red and hot – which can be a problem for me as I have extremely fair skin.  This means that I usually have to do a mask the day before a Big Day, but with this product, I could mask the Same day, and not ruin my complexion for 8 hours or so!

I’ll report later with any further findings!  And if anyone has any experiences with Dea Sea Mud, please let me know!

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Aromatherapy Formula For Killing Chlorine Stench, And Pendants! July 28, 2009

Sustainable Esscentials

It’s Monday, and as promised, I worked on formula info last night, and came up with a sample to try!  And although I had originally hoped for a formula that would have a thin enough consistency to spray on, this first attempt was too thick, and I ended-up using a lotion dispenser pump, instead.

1oz Clear Dispensing Pump

These containers are great, especially for blends that are used in small amounts, or as samples!  And my sample finished in a beautiful, creamy lemon color..  A few of the blends ingredients: my beautiful Calendula Oil, Shea Butter, Aloe Vera Juice, Lemon Essential Oil, Tangerine EO, and Rosemary EO.  It smells awesome!

Use: To be a barrier to the huge amounts of chlorine in the club pool – for hair & skin.

Directions: Apply to skin in an even layer; dispense enough product for your hair length, put in hands, rub together, then smooth over hair before putting hair up.  Then, shower prior to getting in pool to help your skin absorb clear water rather than chlorine water. I could smell the product for the first half-hour of swimming, though it was not visible on my skin or hair, and there was no visible ‘run-off’ from my body..I just smelled like lemons and citrus!

After work-out, shower as usual, then apply cream again to help moisturize skin and hair (smaller amounts) and you’ll hardly smell any chlorine at all!  As soon as I get this product perfect, I’ll put it on my site for anyone who’s interested…

Swimming

Although I’m taking a break today (day 5), yesterday I completed my 5 minute time trial and my one lap stroke count.  I did better than I had supposed, and after I entered the data in at swimplan.com, I received my first swimming program!  I’ll give it a try tomorrow, and let you know how it worked!

I have some great news on the Aromatherapy front: The Pendants Are Coming!

Aromatherapy Glass Pendant-Colored Snake

Aromatherapy Glass Pendant-Rake

Aromatherapy Glass Pendant-Reversal

Aromatherapy Glass Pendant-Clear

Aromatherapy Pendant Dropper

Aromatherapy Pendant Silk Cord Colors

I have the Clear Glass Aromatherapy Pendant, with a red silk cord, and I love it!  It slips over your head, and is tied in a way that makes it completely adjustable!  You can put any Essential Oil or EO blend in with the dropper that comes with it, and it smells wonderful!  Plus, it will not spill!  They will be shipping them to me tomorrow, so I should have them sometime next week!   The only change will be that they didn’t have silk cords in black, so the black cords will be made of a waxed cotton.  The example is in the Reversal and Clear Pendant photos…I’m told that they are much hardier!

I will be offering them with or without Essential Oils…give me a holler if you’re interested!

My New Pain Management Progress : Swimming July 26, 2009

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It’s Sunday afternoon, and I’m recovering from my three days of swimming!  Each day, starting on Friday, we’ve gone to the club, and swam for 60 minutes…it feels so great to move, especially as my body has continued to deteriorate over the last two years.  I used to consider myself an athlete, now I’m happy the I can move whilst in the pool…

Although I don’t feel much improvement with my Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and my pain hasn’t decreased (Fibromyalgia & two herniated cervical discs), it certainly hasn’t Increased, and I know that my mental outlook has greatly improved!

The only real downside: the stench of chlorine that follows me everywhere, even after showering!  But I have plans, and am in the R&D phase of creating a Shampoo/Body Wash, a good Conditioner, and a Barrier product to put on before swimming and afterwards that will help with the chlorine smell, and dry skin and hair!  Will update you all on those when I get something that works the way I want it to!

Meanwhile, as I was not swimming before, I had ZERO gear: not even a suit – but I came across Swimoutlet.com and promptly bought several nice things!

SwimOutlet.com

And today, as I was looking for information on chlorine, I found a free site that you enter-in your personal info (time trials, stroke count, swimming level), and they will come up with swim training plans for you, and will keep track of your progress…I haven’t entered in my data yet, but after my workout tomorrow I will, then I’ll see what they suggest!  But it seems like a pretty cool site, so here it is:

SwimPlan.com

Swimming For Pain Management at InShape Gym July 25, 2009

Sustainable Esscentials

It’s Saturday, and yesterday I joined a gym…but it wasn’t at the Y, but at InShape Club.

Although I was originally going to join the Y because they’re the closest to our house, they are expensive.  I love that they have great community projects – but they’re all for children (ours is going to be 20 next month!).

So, the only other option for me : InShape Club.  They’re open 24 hours, their pool is indoor and very warm, they are not specifically set-up for children (like YMCA), and although I didn’t save any money, they have much nicer equipment, and more of it!  I cannot yet use the cardio and  circuit machines, and I can’t do free weights, but I plan to as soon as I have my surgery!  And when that happens..I want to be on great equipment!

The other great thing about InShape – the locker rooms!  Although I can’t say what the men’s looks like, the women’s is very nice: Slate flooring with many lockers, mirrors everywhere, and very nice slate showers that have a separate section to dress, and when you come out, there’s a dispenser on the wall to get a bag to put your wet swimsuit in!

InShape Club

Although the swimming is wearing me out, I cannot tell you how hard it has been to not be able to MOVE!  This has been such a blessing to me…and I wish I had not waited so long to try it!

Of course, even with showering I still come home smelling of chlorine…I’ll have to come up with an aromatherapy solution for that!

Swimming for Chronic Pain – Aromatherapy for Sweet Dreams! July 23, 2009

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Yesterday, I went to the local YMCA, in order to join a gym with a pool, so I can finally follow my doctor’s orders and swim.

I have not been looking forward to it, but the pain is getting bad enough that I cannot make any more excuses..

Are there any other Chronic illness sufferers out there that have used swimming to good effect?

As for the Aromatherapy:

Last night, our dog Lucius, who sleeps at the foot of the bed, kept having bad dreams.  At least I think it was a bad dream…he was crying and growling, so it didn’t sound good!  I wasn’t sleeping yet, but was reading for awhile.

I kept waking him up, but as soon as he fell asleep, the crying and growling would continue.  So finally, I got up and decided that I would try to give him some better dreams!

I put about five drops of Calendula Oil in my hand, then one drop of Rose Geranium…I rubbed my hands together, then rubbed his head, neck, and chest.

I got back into the bed, he went back to sleep, and I didn’t hear a peep from him after that! (He smelled much better, too!)

Big Boy Lucius

Calendula Oil

Rose Geranium

An Aromatherapy Blend For Grief, And Letting Go July 20, 2009

Sustainable Esscentials

Over the last few weeks, I have been dealing with quite a bit of stress and emotional pain – I’m not exactly sure what the cause for my emotional distress has been, but my Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue, and the two herniated cervical discs certainly have something to do with it!

My emotional issues have been:

• Uncontrolled anger
• Frustration and anger with past events
• Unreasonable anger
• Emotional agony

Sounds like it’s been fun at my house?  Probably a tad more fun than it has been in this body!  All I knew was that I was angry and hurt, and completely lost.

As I was meditating this afternoon, and reading info on anger and emotions that has been written in Buddhist literature, I started to think about my anger, and why it has basically exploded now, all-of-a-sudden… And I started to think of anything that’s been different in the last two weeks:

And then I realized – I might be having a major withdrawal episode from changing from Cymbalta (an anti-depressant drug that I have been on for years – pretty manidatory for Fibro & CFS patients to be on an anti-depressant of one kind or another..), to starting Savella (read my blog of  July 14, 2009), to quitting it completely, and not starting back on anything else..

Can that really be it?  Have I completely lost my mind FOR NOTHING?!  Holding my ground, not for principal, not because I’m right, but because I’m having DRUG WITHDRAWALS??

Writing this certainly does nothing positive for my self-esteem, or for my pride, but I cannot be the only person dealing with chronic illnesses who are put on and taken off meds constantly, who are liable to having this happen to them.  I promise that the recipe that you thought you were going to read (and that I thought I was writing) is coming…I just wanted to let others know that if you start feeling this way…there could be explanations that you haven’t thought of.

And now, what you’ve all been waiting for:

Frankincense

Rose

Take a spray bottle, and for every ounce, add 3 drops of Rose Absolute (I use Rosa damascena), and 5 drops of Frankincense (Boswellia frereana), and then fill bottle with distilled water.  Shake, and spray on face, neck, and chest.  Breathe deeply.

I promise you’ll feel better!

P.S. Call your doctor in the morning!!

Prescription For The Heat – Mojitos, Anyone?! July 19, 2009

Sustainable Esscentials

Although it isn’t as hot on the Central Coast of California as it is in most places, this summer, it’s hot enough for us!

So today, I was looking to blend a nice cooling spritzer…something I could

• spray on for relief of the heat,
• that would smell delightful,
• and that would benefit my skin.

And here’s what I came up with… You’ve seen the Bacardi commercials, lately?  The one for their version of the Mojito?  I’m sure you see where this is heading, though it didn’t occur to me until after I blended it..

Peppermint (Mentha piperata)

Recipe:

Take 15 drops of Peppermint EO*

Add 15 drops of Key Lime EO

Add to 8 oz. spray bottle

Add 2 oz. of Witch Hazel (this is not neccessary, but I added it due to my sweating..)

Finish off with 6 oz. cold distilled water…and combine using your all-natural emulsifying machine…

Key Lime

…SHAKE vigorously!  Shaking is a natural, chemical-free emulsifier!

Witch Hazel

Keep bottle in the refrigerator and spray at will!  I feel much better all ready!

Is There An Aromatherapy Oil For That?! July 18, 2009

Sustainable Esscentials

It’s Saturday morning, and my husband and I have just returned home from the therapists’… We are not only having a hard time keeping up with the bills since I have been disabled, but are in complete disagreement about his 20 year-old daughter who still lives with us.

We have raised her since she was 9, and we had to take her from her mother, who was not taking care of her, and who had been arrested for Grand Theft and was being investigated for three-counts Felony Bomb Threat.  Needless to say, the child had many problems.

One year ago, after failing out of college, she begged to move back in to our house, so that she could go to the local Community College full-time, and not have to support herself.  Four months later, she quit, and we told her that she would have to get a full-time job and help around the house if she was to stay.  Now, she works 10-12 hours a week, plays the rest of the time with her friends, and does housework completely against her will.

Therefore, my marriage is on shaky grounds because my husband doesn’t want to fight with her (though he has no problem fighting with me).  So she lives rent-free, does as little around the house as possible (and is as rude as possible), and I’m supposed to shut-up and let her take complete advantage of us.  Strangely, I am having problems with this…hence, the therapist!

Shouldn’t there be some natural remedy for this?  I’m sure, that if I only knew the recipe, I would be able to mix up something…

Does anyone have that recipe?  Please do not send hexes, curses, or the pox…those don’t seem to work!

The Magic Potion?

I guess I can try my newly bottled Calendula Oil…it has done some miraculous things…but where I would put it, I know not!

Calendula Oil

Calendula Oil Reports July 17, 2009

Sustainable Esscentials

Although I have been battling illness this last week or so, I have finished my Calendula Oil filtering, and it is a beautiful golden color, and completely clear!  Because of this, I have been using it neat on every skin ailment that comes my way:

• My husband’s scrape on the back of his hand after changing my spark plugs
• Various scratches from our various cats
• Blemish sites

By the next morning, the scrapes and scratches are almost completely gone!  It’s pretty amazing!  And although I am accustomed to using Calendula Oil in my recipes, I haven’t been used to using it straight!  But it works, and there’s no reason to waste my other ingredients!

Calendula Oil

If anyone needs assistance making it, or is looking to purchase, let me know!  I’ll be trying it on everything I can think of, and will report back on my findings!

Sources:

Jeanne Rose. The Aromatherapy Book: North Atlantic Books, 1992 ISBN 978-1-55643-073-2

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New Fibromyalgia Medicine Is Released… July 14, 2009

Sustainable Esscentials

It’s Monday, and once again I’m stuck: Sick and at home, awaiting for a return call from one of my many doctors.

Last Monday, I had an appointment with my General Practitioner, who is very good, and she told me of a new Fibromyalgia medicine that has just recently been approved, and that she wanted to try: Savella.

And I, ever ready to be “cured” after more than 10 years with this stupid ailment, agreed.

First, the details of the medication:

• Brand Name: Savella (Sa-vel-la) Tablets, (milnacipran HCl)
• Doseage – 50 mg twice per day..starts with a titration packet

Savella Pak

This is the inside of the pack containing the  1st months’ of Savella doses.

I managed to take this medicine for 7.5 days, before some very irritating side-effects became deal-breakers…

The deal-breakers:

• Severe Nausea
• Constipation.

Savella Inside Pack

On day 5, these symptoms started, getting worse and worse.  By day 7, after I had taken the morning dose, I decided it had to be the Savella, and discontinued taking it.  Since the 7th day was Saturday, I trudged through Sunday, until I could call my doctor’s office on Monday morning.

As of right now, I am experiencing withdrawals, which consist of reverberations that seem to be coming from the inside of my skull…but THAT side-effect I can handle!

I would be very interested to hear from others that have taken Savella, and if it has worked…

Glossary:

*Titration:  In medicine, titration is the process of gradually adjusting the dose of a medication until the desired effect is achieved.

Sources:

Wikipedia

WebMD

Answers.com