Wednesday, November 28, 2012

RECIPE: MUSTARD COMPRESS FOR COLDS AND FEVERS



Use this with CAUTION. Mustard can be quite heating and irritating to the skin, so make sure you don’t let it burn you or the person under your care. Some people have allergies to mustard seed; in doubt, ask or do the muscle test.

Ingredients:
2 cups of flour
4 Tbsp. dry mustard powder, or less according to strength
Warm water

Method:
  • Mix the flour and mustard, then gradually add warm water to make a paste. Aim for a smooth and easy-to-spread, but not runny, consistency.
  • Take a clean tea towel, or piece of cotton or flannelette and apply the paste on it.
  • Fold up the bottom half of the towel and apply to chest area, fabric side on the skin. Do NOT apply the paste on the skin! This would cause blistering.
  • Before covering with a blanket to encourage sweating, make sure you put another piece of fabric on top of the paste to avoid staining the blanket.
  • Leave on for 10 to 20 minutes. Tingling, heat and redness of the skin are normal as heat and blood circulation is drawn to the surface but too much can bring blistering. Remove if skin turns deep red. If using on a child, watch carefully as young skin is more delicate.
  • Remove poultice, wash skin with a warm cloth to remove any trace that may have seeped through and dry.
  • Apply sesame oil.
  • Repeat the same procedure on the back.

Apply every 4 to 6 hours as needed.

A good recipe to make your own mustard paste is available at http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2010/oct/12/how-to-make-mustard-home.

DECOMPRESS WITH HOT AND COLD COMPRESSES


Compresses are great for a great many conditions and the ingredients to use for them will vary accordingly.


Both hot and cold compresses can be used, but for different purposes.
    Rules of thumb

    - Using hot or cold compresses depends both on the condition and the person’s dosha.
    - Never apply a hot compress on the head.

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

TIP - FATTY ACIDS AND IODINE: TO WRITE HOME ABOUT!


You have heard a lot about the benefits of Omega-3 and -6 for brain growth and performance, and to reduce cholesterol and the risks of heart diseases and cancer. Whether you integrate Omega-3s to your meals or spread them on your body, your skin loves them because of their anti-inflammatory properties and ability to repair damaged and dry skin. Omega-6s are also great because they support anti-allergic functions and are great allies against eczema.

Next time you prepare a menu for your skin, add avocado oil and 2 or 3 drops of linseed oil (the best of the Omega-3) and rosehip or poppy seed oil (the richest in Omega-6).

For those of you with eczema, add linseed and rosehip oil to increase the value of your unguent or massage oil. Linseed and rosehip also contain iodine, which is great for the thyroid. Rashes, discoloration, acne and edema are some of the skin problems associated with thyroid malfunction.

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

HOLLOWEE'N, HOUSES AND MASKS


Do you sometimes dream of house? This morning, I was meditating to find a topic for this blog. This lead me to my heart chakra where I found a wonderful house, welcoming, well lit and with bright windows and cheerful colours. This was a start contrast to the state of the gloomy, decrepit houses I used to dream about years ago when I was healing from burn out. They looked like Hollowee’n houses, without moonlight. I also also wanted to bring something fun to this blog for Hollowee’n, so here's an experiment in mask making.

Monday, October 15, 2012

RECIPE - 2 FABULOUS EXFOLIANTS

1. For the Vata and Kapha constitutions, therefore for cold-dry and cold-oily skin. Excellent to calm acne.
1/2 teaspoon of honey 1 cup of boiling water 5 bay leaves 1/4 teaspoon of sage powder 5 fresh neem leaves or 1/4 teaspon of neem powder Method: - Infuse the herbs in boiling water. - Gradually dilute honey in approximatez 1 Tbsp of the infusion to obtain a texture that is smooth but not runny - Apply on your face and let penetrate for 11 minutes. - During that time, drink the rest of the tea. - Rince with tepid water. Use a coloured facecloth to avoid visible stains!
2. For the Pitta constitution, therefore sensitive hot skin, use: 2 teaspoons of rice syrup 1/4 teaspoon of turmeric 1/4 teaspoon of neem leaf approximately1/4 teaspoon of rice milk or organic cow's milk Method: - Make a smooth (but not runny) paste with all the ingredients. - Let penetrate for 11 minutes. Meanwhile, enjoy a nice cup of mint tea.

Monday, October 1, 2012

BEAUTY TIP - CHECK YOUR FACE FOR CLUES



Consider your face as a map on your journey to beauty. Pimples, wrinkles and other blemishes in various areas of the face indicate an area of depletion, stress, emotion and loss of balance of one element:

FOREHEAD: a loss of balance of the air (Vata) element; a discomfort or problem in the colon and/or can related to emotions of anxiety, fear and worry
NOSE AND CHEEKS: a loss of balance of the fire (Pitta) element; related to the small intestine and/or emotions of anger, jealousy and frustration
MOUTH, CHIN AND NECK: a loss of balance of the earth (Kapha) element; issue relates to the chest and stomach and/or to emotions of grief, depression and attachment.

Identify what is happening on you face and in your emotional life. See how this relates to the above.
Reviewing what you know about the elements and what you discovered about the emotions to which you gravitate most often, what will you do to bring back balance to your skin?

I FEEL GREAT BUT... STORIES THAT CAUSE PIMPLES


Yesterday, I had a booth at the Journée de la culture event in Embrun, Ontario, and as usual was offering free assessments. I had the opportunity to meet a women who gave me a topic for today’s blog. Her face was tight and serious, she had pimples in the lower part of her cheeks and her eyes were dull.  She asked what I could do to help her skin.
Given the location of her pimples, I surmised that the source was constipation and/or grief or depression. Her shallow breath and shoulders held high and very tight, as if defending from something, also struck me. She mentioned that she has constipation, is chronically depressed, and that people have been mean to her since childhood and keep putting her down. She repeating that story several times during the session.

Monday, September 17, 2012

STAY YOUNG WITH GOLDEN MILK: A RECIPE

Aging is a normal process with many benefits. Several signs of decay associated with it, including the calcification and drying of the joints, can be slowed down considerably with proper maintenance. Golden milk is one of your ticket to liberation from cracking, stiffening joints. I see it a the velvety golden stream of nourishment that flows in the fountain of youth. This delicious recipe has been a staple of Ayuvedic medicine for few thousand years. Drink it regularly.

It is also used before (women) and after (men) sexual intercourse to replenish the ojas.

The recipe below serves 1 person.

Ingredients:

  • 1/8 teaspon of turmeric
  • 3 pods of cardamom
  • 1/4 cup of water
  • 1 cup of milk or almond milk
  • 1 Tbsp of ghee
  • 1 tsp honey (2 for Vata) or maple or rice syrup for Pitta
Method:
  1. Dilute the turmeric in water on high, then medium heat and stir until you obtain an nice paste.
  2. Add milk and cardamom until comfortably warm.
  3. Pour in a cup.
  4. Add sweetener.
  5. DO NOT add honey during the cooking process.



Enjoy!






Tuesday, September 4, 2012

WHAT CAN WEARING GEMS DO FOR YOU?


Under what stars were you born?
Did Eve and Adam wear gems in the garden of Eden? We likely will never know. However, given every human being’s desire to look and feel beautiful it is very likely. For eons, women, men and children have adorned themselves with flowers, feathers, animal parts, gems and precious metals to play, seduce, impress, or establish their status. Gems are also have been given other roles.

Thursday, August 2, 2012

RECIPE - REMOVING MOLES

Ghee and agni hotra ashes unguent is a very powerful medicine for many skin conditions, including moles.
Mix 1/4 tsp of agni hotra ashes to 1 tsp of ghee. Apply gently on the mole every day, for 40 days.
Ashes can be obtained from Face to Grace.
Agni hotra ashes are obtained from a fire ceremony held at sunrise or sunset. To learn how to make ghee and get your own ashes, contact Samyukta at info@facetograce.com.

EFFORTLESS EVOLUTION: THE GIFTS OF THE PRACTICAL AWAKENING and BALANCING YOUR EMOTIONS COURSES

Life changes can bring great joy, great stress and often both. Choosing a new career or partner, having a baby, losing a loved one or a job, having you life threatened by a serious illness, a natural disaster or criminals are great tests. How do you cope? Can you observe your thoughts and emotions, without freezing or reacting, to get a wider perspective of reality?

 Allowing life to flow through you without judgment
or chaotic emotions during quiet or challenging times
 supports your evolution.

The first thing to remember is that thoughts and emotions are not permanent. Only habitual patterns make you believe that they are. Learning new techniques and reflexes as well as upgrading how you feel about yourself and view the world can help you take control of them instead of letting them control you. Practical Awakening and Balancing Your Emotions with Aromatherapy are courses that help build your nervous, hormonal and immune systems. They bring you to a place where you can ground and create a distance between the judgments, fears, anger and other emotions that paralyze you and block your life force. The practices taught also help remove memories lodged in the cells of you physical body and from the chakras.

Watch http://vimeo.com/43226631 for more comments on Practical Awakening and how effortlessly your personal evolution happens when you stop resisting the moment, when you stop trying to change yourself. The gift is the same for Balancing your emotions. Sitting to do the practice for 40 days settles the emotions regardless of what you are going through. It is that simple, so simple you may not notice at first. Then one day, you realize something shifted...

Open the door to the pure creative potential of your life and celebrate the natural healing power available within you. Contact Samyukta at info@facetograce.com to sign up for these empowering classes.

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

RECIPE - Rashes, chafing, hives and other irritations

If your Pitta (inner fire) is too high, you are likely to experience various uncomfortable skin irritations. To alleviate the discomfort and heal the skin:
- Purée 2 Tbsp of fresh cilantro with 1.5 tsp coconut oil.
- Add 3 drops of tamanu or neem oil.
- Apply and leave on for 3 min.
- Remove the paste and help penetrate as much oil as possible.
- Repeat as often as needed.
- You may double or triple the recipe depending on the surface to cover.
This recipe will keep in the refrigerator for 3 days to 1 week.

Thursday, July 12, 2012

NOT JUST A FACIAL, A BIOVEDIC FACIAL!


Ahhh … what kind of facial?

Rose powered, fresh herbs,
ghee, mint tea... Yum!
If you are a regular reader, you already know that the term ‘vedic’ comes from the word Ayurveda (science of life), and that ‘bio’ is connected to the notion of organic or pure. ‘Bio’ also refers to the bioenergetic flows that move organically through the body; they are magnetic, plasmic and electric. Thus, a ‘biovedic’ facial is one that marries Ayurvedic and bioenergetic knowledge, techniques, as well as organic/natural ingredients based on your physical needs and the practitioner’s perceptions of your face and body flows.

First, assessing where you’re at
The first step of the facial consists in finding out which element or elements (air, water, fire, earth) are most prevalent in your body and whether or not they are in a state of balance. This is called an assessment of your ‘dosha’ or constitution. It is done by asking questions, reading your face as a map, and taking your pulse. Ingredients for the facial will then be chosen accordingly, and sometimes evaluated through muscle testing to find out what strengthens you and to avoid allergic reactions.

Listening to the messages of your face
Vicky's ultra-sensitive pink nose, cheeks and chin called
for cooling and moistening ingredients. The Pitta
moisturizer and toner fit the bill perfectly.
You will then settle comfortably on a massage table. To establish contact between client and practitioner, we generally start with a short foot massage or with a compress on the face to open the pores. By this point, your body will start communicating through its different flows and information will arise. It may say that there is excess fire on the surface of the skin or extreme dryness in the dermal layers. Certain areas can feel blocked and cold and require a combination of several oils or just one. A facial could focus on the forehead for relaxation and around the nose to improve breathing on a first visit. The next one could center around the facial marmas (Ayurvedic equivalent of acupuncture points) of the lungs and so one.

A facial marma point could reveal that
 the kidneys need to be warmed up.
Following the guidance in the 
moment
The sequence of this process is never predictable, which is where it differs most from other types of facials. Ingredients used may be from the line of Face to Grace products or any combination of fresh and dried flowers and herbs, spices, dairy, oils, hydrosols, essential oils, etc. By staying grounded in the moment and connecting with your body’s reactions, the practitioner could perceive that releasing a knot in your shoulder with a ginger compress would do more to make your skin breathe than any quantity of cleanser. Pimples around the mouth could tell that there is something you are not digesting well. Ultimately, what the practitioner does is to remove obstacle blocking the flow of life in your cells, to strengthen the healthy ones and to ensure that your inner radiance reaches the surface.

Your receptivity and ability to relax, as well as the practitioner’s knowledge, subtle perceptions, creativity and pure intention will ensure you receive a facial that nurtures all layers of your beauty. You will feel it and those around you will notice the results.

If this is the kind of facial care you are looking for, book a appointment now, in person or on Skype, at info@facetograce.com.

Thursday, May 31, 2012

FLOW, WATER, RELAXATION, SPA AT THE LAKE

A joyful experience
My friend Christine was relating a joyful experience over dinner last week. She had a massage a few days before which greatly relaxed her. On the way home, she felt radiant and expansive. At a red light she turned her head and saw a cyclist, also stopped at the intersection, who was watching her with great interest. He waved with sparkling eyes and an appreciative smile, then raised his hitchhiker’s thumb. She waved back feeling incredibly alive and attractive. The light turned green and they each went their own way. She was still glowing as she described how rejuvenating the whole experience was.

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

AMAZING GIFTS HIDE UNDER 'BAD' EMOTIONS


What hides behind emotions? 

The paradoxes life and the human experience bring up don’t cease to amaze me. It seems as though the more I desire something, whether beauty, wholeness, connection or

Monday, April 2, 2012

PEOPLE WATCHING... ELEMENTS AT PLAY

New adepts of Ayurveda
at Encounters of Canada
Do you enjoy watching people or yourself? Consider Ayurveda as a starting point of your observations and you will see a new world unfolding in front of you. I recently had two ideal situations that provided unique vantage points to observe the impact of fire and the other elements in people and their interactions. The first one occurred during a workshop to a group of teenagers, the second one during the journey
to Kannur, India,

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

PANCHA KARMA IN KANNUR: A HOT EXPERIENCE

Thank you for opening this page today as I invite you on a journey of pancha karma, a fantastic way to clean your body, the temple of your soul.
Feeling great after pancha karma
and a henna treat.
A change of scene
Journeys have the power to

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

DEAR LAVENDER: HEALER, TEACHER AND FRIEND

Ageless, fragrant, powerful.
Little did I know when I first met you that you would become so important in my life. My grandmother had a sachet of your dried petals in a drawer to ward off the moths from the woolens in her drawer. I didn’t particularly like your smell at the time, and associated you with ‘old’ women. Either Grand-maman didn’t have the words to explain how valuable you are or I didn’t have the ears to listen.