For health, wellness, and relief from aches and pains.

author’s photo

Natural Beauty and Health at Home

Here in North Carolina, there are lots of folks who love nature and want to bring the goodness of nature to their wellness and beauty regimens.

Since picking up a copy of Natural Beauty for all Seasons by Janice Cox nearly 20 years ago, I have been infatuated with making my own natural beauty and health products.

I was a hairdresser at the time and learning about healthy at-home alternatives coincided with learning about essential oils and the positive benefits they could have for my clients. I remember very distinctly falling in love with Ylang Ylang.

Well-respected among my peers and by my clients as an educator in my field, I traveled the East coast for training to prepare me for in-salon educating. During this glamorous time of planes and limos, I studied ingredients, chemistry, and learned to develop my “stage” presence.

Now that I am out of the beauty industry, and have completed my Bachelor of Science (in environmental science) I have the added interest in the natural, the homeopathic, and a deeper understanding of the function of the largest organ of our body — the skin.

What we do with and to our skin impacts our health.

And where the products come from that we use impacts our environment.

I’d like to think that taking care of both is not all that difficult — it just takes a little research.

CBD Craze

As in North Carolina, each state is a little different on how CBD oil usage is regulated. Here is a bit more on the legalities of CBD: Green Market Report

I’ll admit, I am on this bandwagon. It took months of research to satisfy me of a brand and what to try — and try it, I did. My personal results are flabbergasting.

As a sufferer of Dermatillomania since I was a small child, to have the compulsion to pick pick pick just dwindle to the point of nearly vanishing — this is miraculous.

But I want wellness for my whole self, including the skin that I am in.

So I took my years of experience, my obsession with wellness, and I smashed them into a luxurious recipe to help with aches and pains, skin blemishes, various mental health benefits, improved circulation…the list goes on! Consider each of the ingredients of my recipe:

Ingredients. Author’s photo

Clary Sage Essential oil:

antidepressant effects, anti-inflammatory effects, improved digestion, antibacterial effects, stress relief, improved circulation— Medical News Today

Ylang Ylang Essential Oil

The health benefits of ylang ylang essential oil can be attributed to its properties as an antidepressant, antiseborrheic, antiseptic, aphrodisiac, nervine, and sedative substance. It is also used for lowering high blood pressure. — Organic Facts website

CBD oil

…the strongest scientific evidence is for its effectiveness in treating some of the cruelest childhood epilepsy syndromes, such as Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS)… to address anxiety…helps to treat insomnia… an option for treating different types of chronic pain. A study from the European Journal of Pain showed, using an animal model, CBD applied on the skin could help lower pain and inflammation due to arthritis. Another study demonstrated the mechanism by which CBD inhibits inflammatory and neuropathic pain, two of the most difficult types of chronic pain to treat. — Harvard Medical School website

Cannabidiol (CBD), Hempworx image

Note: Hemp Oil, which is made from hemp seed is not the same thing as CBD Oil (above). Hemp oil has benefits to the skin which is why I have included it in this recipe.

Hemp Oil

The oil from the hemp seed is highly nutritious and may be especially helpful for the skin. The vitamins and fatty acids in this oil may help keep the skin healthy and prevent breakouts. — Medical News Today

Epsom Salts

Epsom salt bathwater can soften rough, dry skin, and exfoliate dead skin cells. It may also soothe skin affected by skin conditions, including eczema and psoriasis... may provide pain relief and reduce swelling in people living with certain types of inflammatory conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, gout, and psoriatic arthritis… Epsom salt contains magnesium and may help the body get rid of toxins responsible for exacerbating inflammation while also reducing swelling, stiffness, and pain… research has found that people who are suffering from mental and physical stress benefit when their magnesium levels are managed. — Medical News Today

Convinced yet? I put a lot of thought into what I wanted in the “perfect bath treatment” for my chronic pain, as well as what I wanted to treat anxiety, skin issues, and even my restless leg (the Epsom salts are fantastic in treating this!) …so with that, here’s my recipe.

CBD Bath Salts Recipe with Essential Oils (By Christina Ward)

• 3 cups plain, non-scented Epsom salts (must be Epsom salts — not sea salt, etc.)
• 1/2 dropper CBD Oil tincture
• 1 dropper Hemp Oil (mine is by Beauty Untouched and I happened to find it in an outlet store.)
• 10–15 drops of your favorite essential oils. (I used 10 drops Ylang Ylang and 5 drops Clary Sage)
• 10–15 drops of your favorite liquid food coloring colors (I used yellow (8 drops), green (4 drops)and blue (3 drops) approximately)

The fun part. Using a large metal bowl and a wire whisk, add in the Epsom salts and as you add in each other ingredient, whisk well. The last ingredient is the food coloring — whisk and add until you get the desired color. I prefer paler colors as the softer colors are more soothing to me.

Author’s photos

Once you have your salts mixed well place them in a container with an airtight lid (I recycled a container from previous bath salt products I received from my daughter for Mother’s day — it had a scoop)

Pour 1/2 to 3/4 cup under running bath water and be sure to soak for at least 15 minutes to allow your aches and pains (and your stresses!) to melt away.

Thanks for reading — I wish you wellness!

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