SOME NATURAL HOLIDAY GIFT IDEAS

December has arrived, and every year if you are like me, who thinks that I am going to do my Christmas shopping way in advance… Well, it rarely happens! So, if you are just like me searching for last minute gift ideas and Christmas Stockings Stuffers, here are a few suggestions:

ESSENTIAL OILS by LA DROME PROVENCALE

If you refer to my newsletter of the month of May 2008 (simply go to my web site and click on the NEWSLETTER button at the top right side of the directory bars. Then, look for HEALTH AWARENESS Newsletter Archives. Then scroll down TEN articles to “THE POWER OF ESENTIAL OILS” ).  From this article you will see and understand how wonderful Essential Oils really are.

After years of research, we at Monterey Bay Naturopathy are pleased to inform you that we now carry a wonderful brand of Certified Organic Essential Oils coming directly from France and, at prices that are absolutely incredible. The price for our Essential Oils ranges from about $10.00 to less than $30.00 depending of the particular Essential Oil. If you are familiar with Essential Oils prices, you can see that it is impossible to get a better price, nor a higher quality line of Essential Oils. It is for this reason I thought that our Essential Oils would make wonderful gift ideas and stocking stuffers. And, they are marvelously packaged like no other Essential Oil on the market. Here are my favorites:

Lavender (Lavandula Angustifolia): True Lavender
Lavender is excellent for skin repair, for burns, cuts, and insect bites. It can be applied directly on a sun burn, even on the lips; it can be added to a shampoo for dandruff and hair loss control; it is good for allergies, herpes outbreaks, or headaches; it helps reduce stretch marks, improves eczema, psoriasis, and rashes. It lowers high blood pressure, tapers off nausea, and reduces PMS. The best way to use Lavender Essential Oil is to put 5 to 10 drops for 1 teaspoon of Almond oil and apply it directly onto the skin. It can be put into a compress of warm boiled water (10 drops). It can be diffused into a room for a calming and cleansing effect, or it can be put into a bath. For Headaches, insomnia or nervous tension, put 2 to 5 drops of Lavender Essential Oil in a teaspoon of raw organic honey and take it 2 to 3 times per day.

Eucalyptus Globulus (Eucalyptus Globulus):
Eucalyptus is a powerful antimicrobial agent. This oil is excellent for any respiratory disorder. It is an expectorant, as it helps break down mucus, it is antibacterial, (staph and strep. ) antifungal, (candida), and antiviral. It can help in case of bronchitis, sinus congestion, and sinusitis. Diffuse it in the room, or breathe over a bowl of hot water. You can take it internally as 2 to 5 drops into a teaspoon of honey.

Peppermint (Mentha Piperita)
This is the second most popular Essential Oil after Lavender. Peppermint Essential Oil supports the digestive system, helps to expel worms, acts as a decongestant, antibacterial, and antifungal. It is also a stimulant, hypertensive, and cardio-tonic. It stimulates liver and gallbladder function and has anti-inflammatory properties for the intestines and urinary tract. Peppermint Essential Oil rubbed on the temples, ear lobes, and frontal head can stop the onset of a headache. You can put 1 drop of Peppermint Essential Oil on your tongue for halitosis (bad breath). Add a few drops to a water bottle or into a hot tea for digestion. Take 1 or 2 drops into a teaspoon of honey twice a day for improving alertness, memory and concentration. To relieve motion sickness, put 4 to 5 drops on a handkerchief and breathe.

Citronella (Cymbopogon Nardus)
The main application of Citronella is as an insect repellent. You can diffuse it in the rooms before bedtime. It also purifies the air as a general cleanser. If applied directly onto the skin, it relieves insect bites. Various cultures have used it to treat intestinal parasites, digestive and menstrual problems as well as a general stimulant.

Clove (Syzygium Aromaticum)
Clove Bud Essential Oil is a very good antimicrobial. It is well known to relieve toothache or gum disease. Dentists have used it for the numbing of gums for centuries before they had chemical analgesics. If you have a toothache, simply put a couple of drops on your finger and rub gently the gum and tooth area. It can also be put into a gargle by adding 2 drops of Clove to a cup of boiled water.

Relaxing Mix:

This is a wonderful blend of Marjoram, which is calming, Bitter Orange, very useful in stressful situation, Bergamot, Grapefruit and Lavender. This is perfect to take a relaxing bath or diffuse into a bedroom before sleep or even to put a few drops on the pillow of an infant or child. It can be used in a massage oil diluted with jojoba or avocado oil.

Stimulating Mix:

This blend is made of Grapefruit, Lemongrass, Pine, Bergamot, Lemon and Peppermint. It has a very light and fresh smell. You can diffuse it in a room for ambiance, and for energy booster, put a few drops on your wrists or on a piece of tissue so you can breathe it all day long. It can be applied in case of sudden fatigue in the afternoon or to stay alert while driving.
We have many more types of Essential Oils by La Drome Provençale in the office. To name a few, we also have: Bergamot, Basil, Cyprus, Geranium, Grapefruit, Tea Tree Oil, Mandarin, Sweet Orange, Cinnamon, Lemon, and Thyme. I invite you to come and see them all in our office at 1011 Cass Street Suite 107 in Monterey. Please fee free to call us at 831-642-0202.

THROAT SPRAY by LA DROME PROVENCALE

This Throat Spray by La Drome Provençale is amazing!  John and I tumbled onto it several years ago in France. After traveling on airplanes, we would inevitably come down with something due to the foul and contaminated air on airplanes. One day we entered a little health food store as I was looking for a product to relieve sore throat. Reading the ingredients of this particular Throat Spray was immediately appealing to me because the major ingredient was pure Propolis.

Propolis is made by bees for the construction of their beehives as it helps the forming of the honeycomb.  It it also serves the bees when they need to embalm a dead animal intruder that may have entered into their beehives. Amazingly the embalmed animal doesn’t rot once it is treated this way with Propolis. Why? The properties of Propolis are a major anti-microbial,  anti-viral,  anti-fungal,  and anti-bacterial!  The TRUTH of the matter is that Propolis has been successfully used by man since the days of the "cave man".  You can be sure that the pharmaceutical industry do not want you to know about this one!  I have seen major chronic infections clear after the regular intake of Propolis as a supplement. The Throat Spray from La Drome Provençale is very efficient: Just spray deep into the back of the throat on each side, several times a day. The bottom line:  KEEP THIS THROAT SPRAY CLOSE BY DURING THE COLD SEASON! 

Oh yes, we never forget our Throat Spray when we fly internationally or domestically and, we spray our throat every 2 hours for  the duration of the flight. Thanks to this amazing Throat Spray by La Drome Provençale, we simply do not contract anything bacterial from these long flights. Try this simple Throat Spray by La Drome Provençale for yourself and give it to your friends and family for Christmas. They will be forever thankful!  And…it is not at all expensive! The product is wonderful and it REALLY works!  

STEVIA by ERBA DOLCE

Stevia is a natural sweetener coming from the plant Stevia Rebaudiana. When it comes to sweeteners, Stevia by Erba Dolce IS THE ONLY NATURAL SWEETENER that is Safe, Natural, has ZERO calories, and a ZERO amount of sugar. It doesn’t get better than that! Stevia by Erba Dolcei s a plant that grows in South America. The Stevia we carry from the company called Erba Dolce is simply reduced into a powder; is 100% Natural, has no Chemicals, and it has NO bitter after taste. You can use it for tea or coffee, add it to a dessert, iced tea, or you can even bake with it.

I always tell my patients to reduce or even stop their intake of sugar as I believe that it is the number one killer in modern diet. Sugar intake alone can be the cause of: obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, atherosclerosis, mood disorders, PMS, fatigue, candidosis, chronic headaches, low immunity, brain fogginess, skin rashes, eczema, psoriasis, bladder infections, constipation, sinus congestion, ear infections, vaginal infections, poor appetite, excessive eating, cravings, heartburn, acid reflux, liver congestion, hemorrhoids, chronic back aches, stiff joints, arthritis, colitis… etc. The list goes on and on, because simply put: sugar is a poison!

So, if you are health conscious, and if you or a loved one needs to stop eating sugar, the best and most healthy way to help them or to help yourself is to replace sugar with STEVIA by Erba Dolce.

I think that any of these Healthy Natural Products would make Super Christmas presents and Stockings Stuffers and at the same time they help improve your Health!

All of us at Monterey Bay Naturopathy wish you a Very Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah, and a Happy New Year!  We thank you for your support, your encouragements, and your friendship. To have our patients satisfied is what we strive for every single day. So, if you are Satisfied and Healthier, we are Happy!

Yours in Health,

Béatrice Levinson, Naturopath
 

The entire contents of HEALTH AWARENESS are based upon the opinions of Beatrice Levinson, Naturopath, unless otherwise indicated. Individual articles are based upon the opinions of the respective author, who retains copyright as marked. The information on this website is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice. It is intended as an offering and sharing of knowledge and information from the research and experience of Beatrice Levinson, Naturopath within the U.S. and Europe. Beatrice Levinson, Naturopath encourages you to make your own health care decisions based upon your research and in partnership with a qualified health care professional.

©Copyright 2007 Beatrice F. Levinson, Naturopath. All Rights Reserved.  This content may be copied in full, with copyright, contact, creation and information intact, without specific permission, when used only in a not-for-profit format. If any other use is desired, permission in writing from Beatrice Levinson is required.

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