Aromatherapy for Anxiety

Essential oils have been used for years for all kinds of ailments. From headaches to bug repellent, there are so many natural compounds that can be found to help with life’s aches and pains. A form of relaxation known as aromatherapy has taken the beauty community by storm. Below is a list of a few anxiety-relieving oils for your aromatherapy device.

1. Lavender

A tried and true scent for mental relief. Chances are you’ve grown up with this oil, as it’s found in almost every popular body product. It’s even been adopted into cuisine by coffee shops and chefs compressing the lavender into syrups for added flavor. It has maintained a common belief in its ability to reduce stress and improve mood, as well as acting as a natural sleep-aid. It can be found in our Calming lotion.

2. Ylang Ylang

It is a commonly held belief in aromatherapists that ylang ylang can help to reduce stress & anxiety. It has a history of traditional and herbal treatments for diseases like malaria, rheumatism, gout, and headaches. You can find this essential oil in our Calming lotion.

3. Lemon

Lemon, although it is a stimulating scent, it helps to aid in overall clarity and mindfulness. People have claimed it to fight exhaustion and inflammation. This oil can be found in many natural household cleaning products, which makes sense due to its resistance to harmful bacteria like E. coli. and staphylococcus.

4. Rose

Rose oil has been found to protect against bacteria and fungi on top of decreasing levels of the stress hormone cortisol. It’s been noted that rose oil allergies are less common than other oils, but a patch test should always be done on a localized part of the skin to ensure a safe and non-reactive essential oil experience.

5. Chamomile

Many are familiar with this flower in their bed-time tea routine, but it actually has healing properties. When distilled, the sweetness of the flower can be a relaxing experience. Some studies have even suggested using chamomile as a treatment for insomnia.

In Summary

Aromatherapy, or the act of breathing or using essential oils for treatments of any kind, can reduce everyday stresses. Essential oils are made from plants, herbs, roots, petals… really any kind of plant matter. It is believed that certain oils can soothe and ease different parts of the body by sending messages through smell receptors to the nervous system in your brain. If you’ve tried other medications and nothing’s worked, you may want to try the homeopathic approach to anxiety relief.

How to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint

ashleymo
June 9, 2020
7 Minute Read

First of all, what is a carbon footprint?

A carbon footprint is a value that represents “ the amount of greenhouse gases – primarily carbon dioxide – released into the atmosphere by a particular human activity.” You can calculate your own personal carbon footprint by inputting your daily activities into an online calculator. The average carbon footprint in the United States clocks in at 16 tons, which is considered quite high worldwide.

There’s no better time than during a global pandemic to take small and easy measures for you to help reduce your own carbon footprint. In order to be more environmentally conscious, you may think you need to restart your life and buy all new bamboo products… but actually that’s not the best way to do it. Living more sustainably can actually be done on a small scale and a small budget, contrary to popular belief. Here are a few easy ways to reduce your carbon footprint.

1. Reusable Straws & Water Bottles

A good place to start is by cutting daily, single-use plastics out of your life, like plastic straws and water bottles. I’ve noticed over the years more people have been sporting reusable water bottles and more recently, reusable straws! Imagine the cost alone if you bought a soda product or a water bottle case every few weeks; on average you’d spend $10 per case. After purchasing only three cases you’ve spent $30. That money could’ve been spent on an awesome, keep-your-drink-colder-than-ever, stylish reusable bottle that you could use for years. We know that filtered water might be a problem, so if you’re more concerned with minerals and electrolytes, there are reusable bottles that can filter and enhance your water!

2. Back to Basics

Focus on what you really need month to month and try to cut down on those random Amazon purchases. When you do order online, try to consolidate your orders to cut back on the packaging, shipping, and manufacturing footprint. E-commerce is not a bad thing, however if a product is not necessary try to remember all of the resources, gasoline, planes, water, and international labor, that might’ve gone into its delivery. Your amazon instant delivery addiction affects more than just your personal wallet. I get it, we’ve all been there, but cutting back on unnecessary online purchases is an easy way to reduce your carbon footprint and save money while you’re at it!

3. Dishes & Washing

The chemicals you use matter! Find alternatives to harmful household cleaning chemicals using this no chemical lists. I know it may be difficult to give up your beloved Dawn duck, but if we want to conserve our water and keep it clean for generations to come then we need to make a change. There is a ton of science behind this, but long story short, the chemicals that go down your drain are the same chemicals that you could be drinking if the system didn’t clean them out. So, do us all a favor and switch your dish soap and shampoo brand. Easy fix: Ditch Dawn and buy Dr. Bronner’s.

4. Meatless Mondays

Your plate: why keto is not always good (especially when it’s not whole foods). It’s been scientifically shown that in order to reduce your carbon footprint, you have to eat less meat. This doesn’t necessarily mean going full-on vegan, it just means being a conscious carnivore and taking measures to moderate your meat consumption. For example, you could try eating vegetarian one day a week. If you really want to scare yourself into not eating meat, watch “Forks over Knives” and “Cowspiracy” which are both currently on Netflix. However commonplace beef may be, once you understand the true cost of this American staple, it will make you rethink the impact of your diet. Easy meat-lover fix: purchase Impossible Burgers or Beyond Beef instead of real beef.

5. Flip the Switch

Heating, lighting, and appliances can sound like a hefty price tag to switch out in order to reduce your carbon footprint. However, it’s the small differences that make the biggest impact. Turn off your lights when you’re not using them, this not only saves you money but it reduces your carbon emissions. Unplug appliances or other electronics when you’re not using them because even when they are not turned on they are using energy. Replace your lights once they burn out to LED lights, which use 85% less energy and last up to 25 times longer than your average incandescent bulb. Another option is to invest in new appliances (after they’re on their last leg) with an Energy Star symbol. This symbol helps you identify money and energy-saving appliances. Easy fix: Turn off the lights when you leave the house.

6. Transportation Time

Carpooling or buying a Prius is the age-old resort to reducing your carbon footprint, but that’s not always feasible for everyone. Carpooling can present logistical issues to already busy, complicated schedules. One simpler way to reduce your transportation carbon footprint is to discern where you need to go from where you want to go. If a grocery store is less than a mile from you, consider biking or walking instead of driving. Not in a rush? Take public transportation. Easy fix: Use highways or more direct routes with less stop-and-go which can increase your average MPG (saves you gas money and emissions).

7. Sustainable Shopping.

Buy fewer products that last much longer. If you need something, try to shop locally to help offset imported goods’ shipping and packaging pollution. Take a reusable bag to the store. Invest in quality products that last.

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