Don't Throw Away that Cucumber -- Use it for Amazing Skin!

Next time you are ready to use that half used cucumber from your refridgerator because it is bruised or going the other way, toss it in the blender and give your face a boost!

At Herbana Spa, our estheticians love to recommend cucumber as an at-home natural treatment because the PH in this veggie is very similar to our skin.   It has a mild astringent quality that is hydrating, balancing and cooling.   Cucumber is back on the facial "hot list" as the latest and greatest product for top skincare lines.  But you don't have to pay big bucks to get the benefits of a $1 cucumber.  Here are some easy recipes you can do at home:



Cucumber Astringent
An easy way to reduce oily shine:
Coarsely chop 1/2 a cucumber, peeled, and place in a blender; blend until smooth. Apply liberally to face and allow to stay on for 15 minutes. Rinse with cool water and pat face dry.

Nourishing Cucumber-Avocado Facial Mask
This magic formula does it all: nourishes, tightens pores, and helps slough off dead skin cells to reveal fresher skin.
Place the following ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth:
1/2 cup coarsely chopped peeled cucumber
1/2 cup coarsely chopped peeled avocado
1 egg white
2 teaspoons powdered milk
Refrigerate for 30 minutes, then apply to face and neck. Leave the mask in place for 30 minutes, then rinse with warm water. Splash cool water on after that, then gently pat dry.

Clear Skin Mask
If you are occasionally troubled by blemishes, this easy mask will help to prevent them.
Place the following in a blender and blend until smooth:
1/2 cucumber, peeled
1 tablespoon instant nonfat dry milk
1 teaspoon plain yogurt
Apply to face and leave on for 20 minutes, then rinse thoroughly.

Radiant Facial Treatment
If your complexion is dull and oily, this easy formula will help you look glowing and radiant:
1 teaspoon grated cucumber
splash of rosewater
Apply to face and allow to stay for 15 minutes, then rinse with warm water.

Quick Fix for Puffy EyesTime-honored because it works:
Slice two thin rounds of cucumber, lie down, and place the cucumber slices over your eyes. Rest for 15 minutes, then remove cucumber.

Two Ways to Reduce Dark Circles Under EyesThese are great for tightening sagging under-eye skin, too:
1. Apply grated cucumber, either alone or mixed with an equal measure of carrot juice, to area beneath eyes. Allow to stay on for 20 minutes, then rinse with cool water.
2. Mix grated cucumber with milk and refrigerate 30 minutes, then apply to under-eye skin and allow to stay on for 20 minutes. Rinse with cool water.
Toning Cucumber Mask
5 fresh mint leaves
1/4 medium cucumber
1 egg white
1. Chop mint finely. Peel and seed the cucumber, placing it with mint in a blender and puree. Beat the egg white separately until it holds stiff peaks. Fold it very gently into the pureed cucumber mixture.
2. Apply evenly to the face and neck and leave on for 20 minutes. Rinse with pure water and pat dry.

Read more: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/cool-cucumber-spa-treatments.html#ixzz1IHRrUaRB

I might look thin... but I have too much FAT!

That's right!  I have taken four Body Fat Percentage tests online, and no matter which one I take, I am above the "ideal" 22 percent.  My best rate was 28%, while my highest came in at a whopping 36%!  What's the difference?

Well, each test had a different way to measure your body fat.  One test has you measure your wrist, waist, and hips.  Another asks for neck size, size at navel, size at smallest waist point, etc..  Yet another wants calf and thigh measurements.  

I believe in research which is why I did several tests, and I am still not finished.  I want to find out why it is so important for someone like me, who looks just fine underneath normal clothes, to be worried about the body fat percentage.   By the way, my BMI (Body Mass Index) is absolutely normal.  

Here's what I have read -- Body Fat Percentage is something we should all keep in mind for a couple reasons:  One, it is a good indicator of our fat and cholestoral intake (even if you do not look overweight) and two, it reveals our excercise level or lack thereof.   

So, what to do?  For me, I have decided to ride my bicycle everyday.  Jogging is another good option, as the way to lose fat is to exercise your largest muscle groups.  But I am realistic. I know I hate jogging, and I love riding my bike, so it's an easy choice.   If you need to lose a little fat percentage, think of something you LIKE to do that will work the legs, and then go do it -- everyday!  Just walk fast around your neighborhood for 30 minutes, hop on your bicycle, jog if you like it, swim if you can (swimming will really shape you up!). 

Then, watch what you eat.  What are you putting in your body?  A diet high in protein and complex carbohydrates with lots of veggies and fruits is best.   Start making healthy choices for snacks -- nuts not chips; fruit not cake, etc.    I already eat pretty well, so I think the increased exercise will work.  But if you need a little boost, here are some things you can supplement your diet with. 

Chromium Picolinate
Magnesium
Lechitin (helps emulsify fat)
Potassium
Vitamins A & C

At Herbana Spa in Houston we have a great nutritional supplement called Algea Nutrio that has the above ingredients and is really great for weight loss, metabolic balance, and nutrition.  But you can get the products mentioned at almost any store that sells vitamins, and of course online.   

And remember -- starving yourself won't work!  It'll just make your body slow its metabolism and you'll ping-pong with your weight.   Ready to get started?  Get your tape measure and go on this web site: http://www.bmi-calculator.net/

Good luck and let us know how you do.  You can find us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Herbana-Natural-Concepts-Spa-Houston/157817704736 -- we want to hear from you!

Eminence Organics -- Don't Leave Home Without It!

Here's a bit about my recent experience with Eminence Organics Skin Care products.   We introduced the line at Herbana Spa in 2006, and they were an instant hit.  Not just with us, but it seemed everywhere.  The line is so good that celebrities like Katherine Heigl (of Grey's Anatomy and film fame) will endorse them for free.  So do we... so DID I. 

But then something happened.  After an extended sojourn in Asia, I ran out of Eminence.  So, I started using the next best natural stuff I could find in stores.  And I found some good stuff (particularly a brand called Lotus from India), but it was just not Eminence. 

Well, they say you can get used to anything... I suppose I did.  Long story short, I went for about a year using over the counter products, even when I returned to the U.S., I didn't immediately re-stock Eminence in my personal skincare arsenal; and dare I say it -- yes, the spendthrift I am, I even started to buy some  products at the local CVS and slapping it on my face.  

Then last week, I finally told Sara at Herbana to give me a sample of everything Eminence, so I could figure out just what I needed.  By this time my skin was looking dull, congested, and generally irritated. 

Eminence is a whole experience... just smelling the products made me want to slather everything on.  But I started with the much needed Almond and Mineral Treatment.   My face got a rosy glow and seemed better, but I wasn't yet amazed.  I applied the Linden and Calendula cream and thought nothing more.  The next day I got up, washed with the Citrus Cleanser and used the Thermal Spring Whip.  WHOOOA!  What a difference.  I literally felt like I just gave my face some much needed nourishment after starving it and abusing it for over a year.   I guess I had just forgot what it was like to have great skin.  

Since my husband was suffering from a face rash caused by some cheap products we bought at the pharmacy, I slathered some Stone Crop Whip on his face (he has oily, but sensitive skin) and poof! -- in a few hours, all the redness disappeared.  

When you put natural, chemical free products on your face, not only can you feel the difference (they are so soothing and nourishing), you get the youthful,  HEALTHY glow we all want.

Bottom line -- if you have not gone all natural for your skin -- do it!  If you have, come get some free samples from Herbana before you travel.  Your skin will love you for it!   I for one, will never make the mistake of slipping into the cess pool of chemical skin care again. 

What IS Reiki?!

What is Reiki? I get this question all the time so let me help you to understand. Reiki is a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes healing. Basically what happens during the treatment is the therapists hands will hover over the body to work on an unseen "life force energy" flows through us and is what causes us to be alive. If your "life force energy" is low, then we are more likely to get sick or become stressed out quickly, and if it is high, we are more capable of being happy, healthy, and more content with the way life is going on around you.

The word Reiki is made of two Japanese words - Rei which means "God's Wisdom or the Higher Power" and Ki which is "life force energy". So Reiki is actually "spiritually guided life force energy."
A treatment is like a wonderful glowing radiance that flows through and around you. Reiki treats the whole person including body, emotions, mind and spirit creating many benefits that include relaxation and feelings of peace, security and wellbeing. Reiki is a simple, natural and safe method of spiritual healing and self-improvement that everyone can use.
While Reiki is spiritual in theory, it is not a religion, however it is still important to live and act in a way that promotes harmony with others. It has no dogma, and there is nothing you must believe in order to learn and use Reiki. In fact, Reiki is not dependent on belief at all and will work whether you believe in it or not, and because Reiki comes from “God”, many people find that using Reiki puts them more in touch with the experience of their religion rather than having only an intellectual concept of it.
It sounds a little odd but when I went to the first Reiki training class and was so inspired I decided to get one of the symbols tattooed on my back I have a picture below of what the symbol looks like. I know that's not how usual people are inspired but I wanted to have it with me always. The symbol is called Hon Sha Ze Sho Nen, this symbol sends the energy aiming on the center of the matters beyond time and space like a time machine. If you interpret the symbol from its drawing, which are Kanji letters in fact, you will find its meaning as “Every root is the true consciousness”. The true consciousness is attained when our little universe (our mind) unite with the great universe.

Something that I have done since learning Reiki is the chant it is very different than many other chants you might be used to this one brings you an understanding of one day...and that is just for today.

The secret art of inviting happiness
The miraculous medicine of all diseases
Just for today, do not anger
Do not worry and be filled with gratitude
Devote yourself to your work. Be kind to people.
Every morning and evening, join your hands in prayer.
Pray these words to your heart
and chant these words with your mouth
Usui Reiki Treatment for the improvement of body and mind

The founder , Usui Mikao

Want to learn Reiki in Nepal?  Join Sandra on at her Reiki Camp Nepal.  Himalayan views, Nepali culture, and amazing spiritual transformation!  sandra@trekthimalaya.com

Cleaning the chemical free way! (and affordable too!)

A new year has begun and if your house is anything like mine, it looks like a tornado has hit! Parties, cooking, gatherings..there is not a clean spot in my house after it all! I have really resisted the urge for some deep down cleaning since I still have a cabinet full under my kitchen sink of cleaning products bursting at the seams with chemicals. While there's an abundance of all natural cleaners all worth a pretty penny for being so, I have yet to replace my old cleaners. So I knew it is time to hit up google and research some easy home-made all natural household cleaners so I could safely get the job done. Below are some of my favorite recipes from some of my favorite websites. I have included the links in case you get the itch to clean clean clean, so you can see what else they have! For me, I'll start simple and hopefully have it all done by February!


Basic Floor Cleaner-
This recipe comes from Julie, our fabulous Lead Esthetician. She discovered this recipe while tackling out bathroom floor one day and it really does work well!

Use about 1 Cup Vinegar for 3 gallons water
10 drops of lemongrass essential oil or a splash of lemon juice
Mop away!

Lemon Oil Duster From Annie Bond

http://www.care2.com/greenliving/alternative-furniture-polish.html#

Most commercial lemon oil is not all natural, but may contain petroleum distillates. Contact herbalists for pure sources of lemon oil. Traditionally, lemon oil has been used for furniture because it is so lubricating and antiseptic.

10 drops lemon oil
2 tablespoons lemon juice
A few drops olive oil or jojoba

Dip a soft recycled cloth, such as one of flannel, in the lemon oil mixture, and wipe furniture. You can substitute the lemon juice for vinegar (plain white is best as apple cider can stain)

Oven Cleaner- http://www.care2.com/greenliving/nontoxic-oven-cleaner.html

Saturate bottom of oven with 1/4 inch layer of baking soda. Using a spray bottle filled with plain water dampen baking soda but avoid flooding it with water. After a few hours, repeat. Next morning wipe out with a sponge! No scrubbing, no harsh chemicals!

Skin - Why you should care.

What is waterproof, washable, self healing, is touchy and feels, helps keep you warm, helps keep you cool, helps keep you well, excretes toxins, and is selectively absorbent? No, it is not a new high tech Snuggie. It is your skin, and it is truly amazing. As the largest organ of your body, your skin plays a vital role in your overall health and should be treated with respect.
Most people don't realize that their skin is a vital part of their body's immune system and should be kept healthy in order to help fight off many types of illness. The oil that your skin produces naturally not only helps keep your skin lubricated, but it is naturally antibacterial and also helps keep you from becoming dehydrated. You can promote good health by properly caring for your skin.
In a world where we are constantly bombarded by advertising for new skin care products, how do we know what is best for the wellness of our skin? There are a few ingredients that are best avoided when using skin care products. Harsh detergents, such as sodium laurel sulfate (SLS), which is found in nearly everything that produces a lather, from dish soap to face wash is best avoided. SLS strips away your skins natural oils and leaves you more susceptible to infection, acne, dehydration and a number of other skin disorders.When your skin feels, "squeaky clean", it is not a good thing, because that means you have stripped your skin of its' immunity. One of the other ingredients that is best avoided are the family of preservatives known as parabens. Parbens have become controversial in recent years because one study has linked them to breast cancer. This is important because a portion of what you put on your skin such as body lotions, moisturizers, skin tonics, and perfumes are actually absorbed by the skin and enter the blood stream.
How can you tell if a product is truly natural? The answer is, that there will be less ingredients and they will most likely be ingredients that you can easily pronounce. This means the product is less processed and is easily used by yours skin and body to maintain your overall health. If you are in doubt, ask questions. Any educated skin care professional should be able to answer them honestly. What you put on your skin does impact your health. Using personal care products that contain ingredients directly from nature and that are free of SLS and parabens can only benefit your overall health.

What are muscle knots exactly?

As a massage therapist we get asked just about daily, "What is a knot?"

Knots are the results of two main things: lactic acid and myofascial trigger points.

Lactic acid is a chemical found in the body that responds to stress and over exertion. This is also the chemical commonly known to cause a burning sensation after a workout or jogging, and is part of the reason when you get a massage you experience a slight burning when your therspist is working on a knot or certain areas of the body. Lactic acid forms between the layers of your muscles and then forms adhesion's which can limit movement or cause structure imbalances. If these are not worked out with massage, the muscle will begin to tighten and contract. Think of a loose rubber band looped around two fingers and then imagine wrapping it around your fingers until no slack is left and it is tightened up. This is what happens in a sense to your muscles.

Our body is full of trigger points as well. Many of you have even heard of trigger point therapy which is a different massage modality to work specifically with the trigger points in your body. Trigger points are small parts of tightly contracted muscles, or isolated spam, that affects just a small part of the muscle tissue. When it becomes "knotted" it cuts off its own blood supply, which irritates it- and you!- even more.

Massage is the only technique to eliminate muscle knots and give you relief. Doctors prescribe pain medications or "muscle relaxers"but its not eliminating the issue, just masking it so you are less aware of the pain. This can cause you to irritate the area even more by not knowing it hurts and possibly injuring the tissue altogether.

However, all clients need to understand that knots take months and years to be formed in the body. By the time the pain is so severe you can barely stand it, it has been forming for quite some time. One massage session will not be the cure all to rid your body of these knots, but instead getting massages regularly is necessary. For clients who suffer greatly and have limited mobility being caused by knots, I recommend seeing them weekly-every other week. For those who have regular bothersome knots that they would like worked out I usually say twice a month to once a month is sufficient.

Lactic acid is a toxin and your body needs to have it flushed out. For this reason we also recommend having our Seaweed Detox Spa Soak either before the massage (heats up the muscles and starts flushing out toxins, or after a massage (helps to keep flushing the toxins released form the tissue during massage).

Ever wonder why your therapist is constantly asking you if you need some water? Muscles require hydration and it not only helps muscles from forming knots, but will help with contractions of the muscles, and after a massage flushes out toxins that have been released from the tissue.

Lastly, some things you can do at home to help relieve pain in between massages is to soak in a tub of warm water with Epsom salts. You can follow the guidelines on the side of the package for how much to use. We also recommend using a microwavable neck wrap. These usually can be found scented with a relaxing aromatherapy and utilize a moist heat vs. a dry heat like a heating pad. Lastly, apply our Source Vital Analgesic oil for an all natural alternative to Icy Hot. It will warm up the tissue and help relax and relieve aches. Its great applied directly to the skin, or added to a bath with your Epsom salts!