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About a year ago I was doing some research on different uses for salt around the world. I stumbled across a random image of a sumo wrestler throwing salt into the ring, and I was immediately intrigued. Turns out this is an ancient cultural spiritual ritual over 1000 years old.
Sumo originated as a ceremony to show respect to the Shinto deities (Shinto is an indigenous religion of Japan). The wrestlers perform a wide variety of specific rituals derived from Shinto practice.
Facing the audience, they clap their hands and stomp their legs to drive away evil spirits.
Stepping out of the ring into their respective corners, each wrestler is given a ladleful of water, the chikara-mizu (“power water”), with which he rinses out his mouth. Then both step back into the ring, squat facing each other, clap their hands and spread them wide – showing that they have no weapons. Returning to their corners, they each then pick up a handful of salt. The sumo wrestlers throw salt into the ring to get rid of evil spirits and purify the ring before the match. They also pray for a safe game.
Added bonus – the salt acts as an excellent disinfectant for their scratches! Ritual meets utility.
Salt can be used as a natural disinfectant in many ways. Our downtown Asheville salt market and spa offers neti pots, salt boo boo stones, and sole water jars for purchase – all of which have disinfectant, antimicrobial, antiviral, anti fungal properties.
It is with great excitement and delight that we are finally able to share with you that the Travel Channel did a little feature on us! We have had to keep quiet about this for some time now, but they released the video earlier this week and we can now share it with you all! A big thank you everyone who helped out on the day of filming – staff, friends, family, community – filming salt cave therapy sessions, special events, and massage therapy in our downtown Asheville location.
Beyond grateful for you all!
If you only use one essential oil, Lavender is it! It is often referred to as the Grandmother of all oils. The Latin name of lavender is Lavare, which means “to wash”, due to its particularly pleasant floral aroma. It is so vast and versatile in all its healing properties, and most commonly known for its relaxing effects on the body and mind. The health benefits of lavender EO include its ability to eliminate nervous tension, relieve pain, disinfect the scalp and skin, enhance blood circulation and treat respiratory issues.
Here are some great ways I like to use Lavender essential oil to benefit my health:
Calming Effects of Lavender Essential Oil
Rub 2-3 drops of lavender oil in your cupped palms, use the inhalation method to draw the scent all the way into your amygdala gland (the emotional warehouse) in your brain to calm the mind. Then, rub on the feet, temples, wrists (or anywhere) for an immediate calming effect on the body.
Lavender Essential Oil for Bee sting / Insect bites
Lavender essential oil is potent for many types of bugs like mosquitoes, midges, and moths. Apply some lavender oil on the exposed skin when outside to prevent these irritating bites . Put a drop of Lavender oil on a bee sting or insect bite to stop itching reduce swelling.
Minor burns reduced with Lavender
Put 2-3 drops Lavender oil on a minor burn to decrease pain. I recently did this after I spilled scorching hot tea on my hand and luckily had my lavender with me. Result: NO redness, swelling or pain. NO sign of any burn.
Soothing Eczema / Dermatitis with Lavender
Mix several drops of Lavender oil with a carrier oil (coconut, jojoba, etc) and use topically on eczema and dermatitis. A dear friend of mine who suffers from severe eczema swears by this method.
Natural Sleep Remedy with Lavender
Place a few drops of Lavender oil on a tissue and tuck it in your pillowcase before bedtime. To heighten the experience I love adding a few drops of this potent oil to my bath ritual at night as I am winding down in the evening.
Lavender Relieves Aches and Pains
Lavender essential oil is known as an excellent remedy for various types of pains including those caused by sore and tense muscles, rheumatism, sprains and spasms. A study done on post operative patients showing that combining lavender essential oil vapor into the oxygen significantly reduced the amount of pain experienced, versus those patients only revived with oxygen after a major surgery.
Carrying a bottle of lavender EO around with you is like having your own personal first aid kit, perfume and stress reducer.
*Always test your sensitivity to an essential oil before using in large amounts. Apply a tiny drop to a small patch of skin to make sure you have no adverse reactions. People with extra sensitive skin tend to benefit from using a carrier oil.
All of our massage therapy services, such as couples massage, therapeutic massage, and foot massage, include the option to add on essential oils.
One of the most magical places on the earth can be found in Turkey. It is called Pamukkale or Cotton Castle. The name refers to the surface of the glistening, snow-white limestone, shaped by salt minerals and calcium-rich springs. As the concentrated waters drip slowly down the vast mountainside, mineral-rich waters foam and collect in terraces, spilling over cascades of stalactites into milky pools. Legend has it that the formations are solidified cotton (the area’s principal crop) that giants left out to dry.
Pamukkale in Turkey is still considered one of the healthiest and most mysterious places in the world. Deep in the earth beneath the city lies a vast source of water that is heated by volcanic lava. As a result, the water dissolves into white calcium and minerals, and then once saturated, it appears on the surface of the earth where it bursts forth and runs down a steep hillside. The end result is a form of calcium cascades frozen in stone.
As most mysterious places in the world, Pamukkale has a strong legend that makes this place even more intriguing. People believe that back in the days, there was a young Turkish girl that no one wanted to marry because she was very plain. The sad girl tried to end her life by throwing herself off a ledge. She fell into a natural pool and survived the fall. The water in the pool turned her into a radiant girl who caught the attention of the Turkish lord Denizli while he was passing by the place. He fell in love with the girl instantly and decided to marry her. People nowadays believe that in addition to the health benefits, the rocks in Pamukkale can make you more beautiful.
There are 17 natural springs in Pamukkale with temperatures ranging from 35 degrees to 100 degrees.
Pamukkale is considered a natural health spa thanks to the many benefits it provides for its visitors. The salt water provides remedy against asthma and rheumatism. Additionally, the water can bring benefits to the skin and eyes, help with recovery from high blood pressure, kidney stones, stroke, physical exhaustion, circulatory issues, digestive maladies, chronic disorders and nutritional disorders.
This one is sure to visit on the list of magical salt places on the earth. Continue to follow as I share of more salty places!
Our Energy Ball Salt Stones have many uses and benefits. As with the BooBoo stones, they can be stored in your freezer or warmed up for easing muscle pain. They can be used as a natural deodorant or they are great for bumps and bruises. Their round shape makes them excellent for holding in your palm as a meditation tool. They are also lovely placed in an Abundance Bowl style salt lamp.
Each stone is about 2 inches round, one per each purchase.
Specs:
- Pure Pink Himalayan Salt
- Individual round 2″ stone
Add flavor and 84 essential elements/minerals to any dish with our edible Pink Himalayan salt. This coarse salt comes ready to use in a ceramic grinder.
Ingredients:
Pure Coarse Pink Himalayan Salt
These are great for flavoring soups, Bloody Marys, or anything that needs a dash of salt. Just 2 or 3 stirs is all it takes! Briefly flash-rinse with water to clean and wipe dry.
Himalayan Salt Infused Body Butter with peppermint and tea tree oils. Moisturize and replenish dry cracked skin, rough elbows/heels, and overworked hands. Also great as a hair or beard oil!
1.5oz Tin
Ingredients:
Cocoa Butter, Calendula Infused Apricot Oil, Coconut Oil, Beeswax, , Himalayan Salt, Essential Oils of Peppermint & Tea Tree
Himalayan Salt Infused Hand, Cuticle, and all over Body Butter. Moisturize and replenish dry cracked skin on damaged cuticles, rough elbows/heels, overworked hands, and overworked nipples ;) for nursing mamas.
1.5oz Tin
Ingredients:
Cocoa Butter, Calendula infused Apricot Oil, Coconut Oil, Beeswax, Essential oils of Lemon, Orange, Spearmint, Tangerine, White Grapefruit and Himalayan Salt
Our specially formulated soaps are handmade and infused with pink bath salts, which helps to balance the pH of skin. They are soothing, revitalizing , and support the skins own healing capabilities. Using these high quality soaps can help the skin heal from dryness, flaking, acne, and eczema.
Each soap is handmade and will vary slightly from photos.
As a massage therapist one of the most common postural problems I see is Forward Head Posture (FHP). Nearly every client mentions some level of discomfort in their neck and shoulders! And with the increase in smart phones, I see it much more now than I did 8 years ago when I first started my massage practice.
Since we live in a front-facing world we are repeatedly looking forward and down while rolling our shoulders forward and slouching (texting, reading, typing, watching TV, driving, wearing a backpack…). Repetitive movements in any certain direction will strengthen the body’s nerve and muscle pathways to move in that direction (i.e. the more we pull forward, the easier it becomes for the body to naturally find and hold that posture).
The effects of poor posture on health and wellbeing are increasingly apparent. Spinal pain, headache, mood, blood pressure, and lung capacity are among the functions more easily influenced by posture. Ideally, the head should sit directly on the neck and shoulders. Think of the weight of the head like a bowling ball: holding it forward and out of alignment, puts a massive strain on your neck and upper back muscles! The result can be chronic muscle fatigue and an aching neck.
This may seem unavoidable, but there are some simple, quick, and easy solutions that all of us can do to counteract the effects of our forward facing world.
- For office use and video game play, place your computer monitor height so the top third of the screen is even with your eyes and the screen is 18” – 24” from your face.
- Every half hour, sit/stand up straight and pull the neck and head back over you shoulders. Hold for a count of 3, and breath deeply. Do for 15-20 breaths.
- Use a back support pillow and engage your abdominal muscles when sitting or driving. By supporting the low back and engaging the abs, the head and neck will want to move back over the shoulders.
- Receive regular massage & bodywork and stretch your body to help keep your muscles lose and supple.
Our specially formulated soaps are handmade and infused with pink bath salts, which helps to balance the pH of skin. They are soothing, revitalizing , and support the skins own healing capabilities. Using these high quality soaps can help the skin heal from dryness, flaking, acne, and eczema.
Each soap is handmade and will vary slightly from photos.
Our specially formulated soaps are handmade and infused with pink bath salts, which helps to balance the pH of skin. They are soothing, revitalizing , and support the skins own healing capabilities. Using these high quality soaps can help the skin heal from dryness, flaking, acne, and eczema.
Each soap is handmade and will vary slightly from photos.
If you are like me and enjoy creating your own body care products, using clean and simple ingredients, here is a simple and effective toothpaste. I’ve been trying this one out and really liking it!
Ingredients:
4 Tbs Coconut Oil
4 Tbs Bentonite Clay
2 – 3 Tbs filtered water
1/2 tsp Pink Salt
10 – 15 drops peppermint essential oil
(You can add a few drops of liquid stevia if you feel so inclined.)
Directions:
1. Mix coconut oil, clay, and salt in a small bowl. Start with just one tablespoon of water. Working with the back of a spoon, “cream” the ingredients together and add more water until you like the consistency. (If you choose to add in a few drops of liquid stevia, this is the step to do it).
2. Add in the peppermint oil (or cinnamon or spearmint) and then mix until well combined. Store in air tight container.
To use: Place a pea-size amount on your toothbrush and the brush. Not too hard. Not too long. Just enough to make your mouth happy. Rinse. (Although it’s safe to consume in case your kiddies don’t rinse very well.)
Let us know your feedback if you give the recipe a try!