CARE OF BODY PARTS
Essential oils impart pleasure and health benefits as they absorb quietly into warm and damp skin. To prepare body oil, choose three bath essential oils (5 drops of each oil) in 2 tbsp (or 30 ml) base oil. In case you wish to prepare a larger quantity of body oil, you can use a 3% concentration of essential oil in the base oil. Now, after you have prepared a suitable body oil, you can proceed to give an after-bath treatment to your body, as suggested hereunder.
HANDS AND NAILS
Hands and nails get affected after daily routine work, and if hands are dirty, the dirt will pass on to our stomach with the eaten food. If the filth gets stuck within the nails, it can cause multiple infections. Hence care and hygiene of both hands and nails is a prerequisite
for our health. If hands are dipped or soaked in water during a bath, the skin gets tender and softer—it will help to clean around the nails and also clip even uneven nails without snagging. Hence the most ideal time for a pedicure or manicure is after soaking the hands. For flaky and fragile nails need nourishing and rich treatment, for which they should be rubbed with oil of apricot kernel, jojoba oil or wheatgerm oil. For moisturising and soothing the hands, mix 5 drops each of lavender, lemon and patchouli oils with 15 ml of sweet almond oil and apply over the hands.
CONDITIONING OF HANDS AND NAILS
Hand and nails should be conditioned by way of a simple finger-pulling exercise. Stretch and spread the fingers straight out. Now massage each finger with blending oils—starting from the tip of the nails to the cuticles and up to the knuckle of each finger.
ELBOWS
Elbows are generally neglected during and after a bath. But such neglect can result in a build-up of complex protective layers of grey and unsightly skin. Certain persons have more brutal and rough skin around the elbow. But the problem can be easily encountered by application of sweet almond oil and refined oatmeal, for which 3 tbsp each of sweet almond oil and refined oatmeal should be mixed to prepare a paste, add yoghurt or milk to it. This paste should be rubbed over the elbows and any grey spots and goosey areas of skin around the upper arms. If arms are flabby, add to the past 6 drops of fennel oil.
Another cheaper and traditional method is to cut a lemon into 2 pieces, squeeze out the juice and then rub the elbow in the hollow of the lemon. Some people mix lemon juice and glycerine also for the same purpose, adding also a few drops of sweet oil of almond. Oil is applied to the arms with smooth upward strokes. You should concentrate more on the elbows and upper arms, where the skin is often found to be drier and rougher.
FEET
Feet are the most neglected part of our body as we take care of them when they are hurt, or pain, or ache. Remember, feet have to carry the burden of the entire body, and if feet are tired, aching or hurt, our mobility will be restricted. Moreover, at feet, lower extremities also end. While treating your feet, take particular care
of beds, soles and toes. Whenever you feel your feet are tired or start aching, it is nature’s warning signal. While treating your feet after a bath, treat both feet entirely and do not adopt a lopsided and casual approach. As the skin on and around heels is quite complex, it should be polished hard (around heels and soles) with the help of a pumice stone or damp salt. If you want to stimulate blood circulation and also relax your tired feet, you should bend one knee (while in the bath), grip the toes first and thereafter massage in an upward direction—starting from the toes and then going upwards to the heels and finally to the calves. Body oil should be massaged into the feet after you have taken a bath or shower, or pedicure.
Add 3 drops each of lavender and cypress oils to a basin full of water (so as to gain deodorising and soothing effect) and bathe your feet. If you have chilblains, mix 3 drops of geranium and one drop each of rosemary and lavender oils to 1 tbsp of base oil of sweet almond and then massage the affected parts.
Massage between the toes (after a bath) and then move around the stricter skin and heel areas to soften the feet. In order to stimulate blood circulation to each hook and corner of the feet, finish with sweeping movements all over the area.
APPLYING BODY OIL TO THE NECK,
SHOULDERS AND BACK
As it is pretty challenging to reach the areas of the neck, shoulders, and back either during or after a bath, these remain neglected, even though this area and the skin around them should be nourished to release tension. Massage the said areas with suitable body oil as smoothly as possible. It is better to seek another person’s help in this regard.