Inside HBC

Seaweed Detox Bath: Luxuriate in the opulence of the ocean

The holidays can be a time of high stress, parties that overextend you and overindulgence of food and drink. Soaking in a hot seaweed detox bath is an incredible remedy to help increase the blood and lymph flow, break down cellulite and move waste out of your body.

HBC’s seaweed detox bath uses not only organic seaweed from the coast of Maine, but also a blend of dead sea salts and himalayan salts as well as spirulina. Spirulina is rich in antioxidants (which reduce signs of aging in the body) and also boosts cellular health. The combination of ingredients in our seaweed detox bath can help to support adrenal health. When you are under high stress levels and eating lots of sugary foods or drinking alcohol…your adrenals are taxed. A few signs of adrenal fatigue include weight gain, trouble sleeping, insomnia, and poor digestion.

Directions for Seaweed Detox Bath:

Add bath mix to hot water as the bath is filling.

Get into the bath water before the tub is full–by doing this, your body will adjust to the temperature of the water. Fill the tub with very hot hot hot water so that your pores will open and your muscles will soften to the wonderful healing properties of the bath’s ingredients.

Soak for at least 20 minutes. You may begin to sweat as your  pores open and your body flushes toxins.

When you finish your bath, you can pat dry your skin and then use a body brush vigorously to continue to encourage circulation and a flush of toxins. Drink a lovely glass of cool lemon water and then snuggle into a long refreshing night’s sleep.

You will awaken feeling ready to greet the day with optimism and a clear head and will know you have partaken in the opulence of the ocean.

You can stop in to the clinic to purchase the Seaweed Detox Bath or order online at http://www.heavenlybodiesclinic.com/biodetox/detox_products/index.nclk

Happy Holidays from the HBC group!

Sauna Night, Ladies Only Please

Winter sure has been tough here in Northern Virginia: snow storms that kept us cooped up at home for days on end; bitter cold winds that burned our faces; stressful daily lives between bosses, deadlines, kids, significant others, and all the other things we are up against as we keep all the balls in the air. Phew! I need a break!

We have just the thing. Come try the Sauna during our Ladies Only Night which happens on the first Friday of every month. The Heavenly Bodies Clinic Healing Team is thrilled to host a free*, just-us-girls evening to help wash away the cares of the week. We talk, laugh, tell stories, eat delicious food (like Power Pesto and GWF cakes) and just learn to RELAX. And you’ll learn from some of our “saunies” just what is so great about this powerful treatment.

No reservations necessary, unless you want a reflexology appointment with Marlene. Just hit “Comment” on this entry or call us at 703.528.8272 if you are interested and we’ll make sure to add you to the calendar.

The Sauna Center is located at 5801 22nd St North, Arlington (1.5 miles west of the main clinic). Call us if you would like directions 703-528-8272.

*$30 for 30 minute reflexology appointment

Essential Oils for Weight Loss: Grapefruit

This past Saturday morning in the Heavenly Bodies Clinic our aromatherapy expert, Marlene, demonstrated how using essential oils can help with weight loss.  The oil from the grapefruit has a calming effect on your mental state and can help curb your appetite. Some of our Weight Loss Club participants were here, and we all got a chance to try it!

Marlene put a drop of the oil on our hands, we rubbed them together and then held both hands in front of our faces and breathed deeply.  You know what grapefruit tastes like: a little sweet, a little sour, maybe even bitter if you get the right one.  The scent is similar. Here’s how Sharon described it: “It smells refreshing, and it clears any other scent that may have triggered my appetite.  I can even imagine that I just ate a grapefruit!  I think this is going to help me stay on track.”

That’s what we like to hear! Marlene made some inhalers for us to take home and use this week.  She recommends holding the inhaler up to one nostril, sniffing for the count of four, holding breath for the count of four, then exhaling (you got it, to the count of four!).  Then repeat in the other nostril.  You can do this 4 or more times a day, as needed.

We’ll let you know how we do!

A Glade Plug-In Scented Oil is not Aromatherapy

A Glade Plug-In Scented Oil is not Aromatherapy.  A more appropriate label would be “Phthalate-therapy”.   But there’s really nothing therapeutic about a Glade Plug-in or any other synthetic scented personal product.  So I think I’ll term it  “phthalate-permeaters”.  They are everywhere… in the environment, in humans and in our pets.  They are used to extend the fragrance in scented products as well facilitate the absorption of lotions into the skin. This is just one way  the 8.1 billion kilograms of phthalates produced annually, are used in our modern world.

Phthalates, like many other synthetic petro-chemicals, are disruptive to our endocrine system, are linked to breast and prostate cancer, ADHD in children and more.

Safe alternatives can be found in nature in the form of essential oils that are genuine and authentic, steam distilled and unadulterated.  They are derived from plants and are very healing on a physical, emotional and spiritual level.

So toss your Glade Plug-in and start diffusing essential oils.  They smell better, are safe, and have numerous health properties. The next time you’re in the clinic, ask about the diffusers we use and chat with our in-house resident expert on the safe use of essential oils.

Essential Oil inhaler for travel

I just finished making up a travel blend for two of my reflexology clients who will be traveling soon.  Inhalers are perfect for travel.  They are easy to use and can provide an aromatic escape when sitting in an airport filled with people.  I chose four essential oils for this blend:    Fragonia for its respiratory support, immune strengthening qualities, and emotional balancing properties;  Ravintsara is highly anti-viral and raises your energy;  Lemon to keep those germs in check.  It’s also a calming and uplifting scent;  Lavender to reduce tension and keep you emotionally balanced.

First Friday Women Only Sauna Night

UPDATE: No reflexology this month (December)!  Come anyway! 

Black Friday got you feeling a little stressed?  Holidays are coming, and they aren’t going to wait for you to be ready.  Guess what?  Taking a little time for you could be just the thing to slow down the pace.  Come try the HBC Sauna next Friday, December 4th.  On the First Friday of every month, the Heavenly Bodies Clinic Healing Team hosts a free* Women Only Sauna Night.  That’s right, just us girls.  We talk, laugh, tell stories, eat delicious food (like Power Pesto and GWF cakes!) and just learn to RELAX at the end of the work week.

No reservations necessary, unless you want a reflexology appointment with Marlene.  Just hit “Comment” on this entry or call us at 703.528.8272 if you are interested and we’ll make sure to save you a spot.*  The holidays were never so relaxed until now.

The Sauna Center is located at 5801 22nd St North, Arlington (1.5 miles west of the main clinic). Call us if you would like directions 703-528-8272.

*$30 for 30 minute reflexology appointment

Success with new diffused oils

Last night Valentino, Romeo and I took our regular 7:30pm dead sea salt mineral bath (Romeo always reminds me to add salts for valentino) and then tried out the new oils to diffuse from Marlene. I set the diffuser to work for 5 minutes every 45 minutes throughout the night.

We only woke at 12:30 and then again at 4:30am. Valentino coughed a few times throughout the night. Little coughs. It was a relief compared to the coughing from the previous nights that would result in him gagging and then vomiting.

I was so excited with the results that I ran the diffuser again this morning while I dressed Val nearby and then did an extended reflexology treatment. (Yesterday Marlene and I did a training on working on the whole foot instead of just lungs and digestion…but that’s a whole different post…..)

Throughout the day today Val has pushed out little coughs here and there with good force. I am thinking that it’s not cold/flu related–this is CF coughs. So, I think at our next visit to the specialist we will end up with a new treatment plan that maybe includes nebulizers or some other treatment that I don’t even know about yet.

For now I think he’s breathing easy again.

Valentino’s cough- 7 months old

The past three nights have been completely sleepless with Valentino waking up 8-10 times a night coughing himself awake. When I hear him coughing away in his crib I run to the crib and pick him up to help him clear the mucus. During the day he coughs 5-6 times. I presume that when he lays down at night, the mucus is building up and causing him to cough more.

Because he also has weepy eyes and a runny nose…I can’t tell if this cough is a normal baby cold/flu or if it is CF related. Either way, Marlene has put together a new essential oil plan for us to try out.

We will be using a sonic diffuser set to time on and off periodically through the night (only running 5 minutes at a time) to diffuse the following oils:

inula- to break up the mucus

german chamomile- get rid of the waste from the bacteria in the mucus

tea tree oil- anti viral

lemon- immune boost (and it just smells so good!)

eucalyptus- break up mucus

This is a strong blend of oils. The german chamomile in particular comes through and is very strong. I am adding this to the current regimine of running a salinizer next to his crib throughout the night.

I hope this clears up his cough and he can get some sleep and keep breathing easy.

Using Essential Oils to Clear Lungs and Sinuses

Valentino is still fighting a runny nose and a little bit of a cough. For today’s nap Dr. Ana (Valentino’s acupuncturist) and I put him next to an essential oil diffuser to sleep. We used 4 drops of  Australian Eucalyptus Oil in the diffuser to help clear his sinuses and get rid of the last bits of stubborn phlem that chest PT isn’t completely clearing.

sleeping next to essential oil diffuser