8 Reasons To Eat An Apple a Day

It has been said that "An apple a day keeps the doctor away." Turns out, there is a lot of truth to this and if the apple is organic and locally grown, all the better for vibrant health and well being. Studies have shown men who eat an apple a day reduce their risk of heart attack by 32%. Apples have more antioxidant power than any common fruit found in the U.S., next to cranberries, which are not as nice to munch on.

Here are 8 great reasons to eat an apple every day:

1. great source of fiber
2. great source of boron - builds bones, prevents osteoporosis
3. blood sugar regulator
4. energy booster
5. powerful anti-cancer properties
6. great for cardiovascular health
7. tremendous antioxidant power
8. anti-asthma benefits

Nurses Week: 11 Reasons To Thank A Nurse

National Nurses Day is celebrated annually on May 6th in the United States.The purpose of National Nurses Day is to honor and recognize nurses for the important work that they do and the role that they play in society. It is a time to celebrate the achievements of nurses. And to acknowledge the compassion and care that nurses give tirelessly, day in and day out, through out the year.

Nurses Week is observed from May 6th to May 12th in the United States dating back to the early 1980's. May 12th was Florence Nightingale's birthday. Many hospitals and medical facilities around the country host banquets, luncheons and gatherings to celebrate the nurses on staff. The week serves to raise awareness of the important role that  nurses play in upholding standards in healthcare, patient relations and the impact nurses as a group have in the community.

Nurses Week presents an opportunity to all of us to honor a remarkable group of  human beings who have chosen a challenging profession that requires a lot of heart.

To all nurses everywhere,
thank you

• for your kindness and compassion 
• your calm in a crisis
• your grace with my upset,tired family
• for comforting worried families every day
• thank you for NOT passing out at the site of blood
• and cleaning up bodily fluid that most of us would rather not touch
• thank you for working all night
• being on your feet for hours
• being a messenger, a record keeper
• a janitor, a medicine straightener outer
• a listener, a pep talker and an ally

Thank you for being a nurse.
If you are a nurse reading this, I hope you feel truly acknowledged.

If you are not a nurse and you're reading this, I hope you'll treat a nurse special this year between
May 6 and May 12th. Heck, you certainly don't have to wait until then or restrict yourself to those days.Popular gifts for Nurses Appreciation Week are:

• flowers
• spa products
• restaurant gift cards
• massage gift certificates 
• ice cream cakes and deserts
• foot massage
• fruit baskets
• candles
• coffee cards

We have lots of great gift ideas for nurses and their employers. Gift Certificates, Products, Foot Massage, Spa Days, Couples Massage, Pedicures and Facials to name a few. Shop our services and products online.Call us at 706-613-3947 to inquire about on location massages for nurses and medical staff.

We love nurses. At Urban Sanctuary, we love taking care of people who take care of people.

Four Natural Allergy Remedies

Pollen allergies can put people in a miserable state. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.These four natural remedies will provide more than an ounce of relief with none of  negative side effects pharmaceuticals can cause. For fatigue, headaches, sinus pain, itchy watery eyes and congestion, try:

1. Vitamin C- It's a natural antihistamine and very gentle. 500-1000 mg is recommended
2. Spice-Chilly pepper and cayenne both help to remedy stuffy noses,sinus pain and congestion 
3. Peppermint Tea- Eases headaches and congestion.Green tea can be a preventative measure.
4. Aromatherapy-Lavender, Eucalyptus, Tea tree and Peppermint ease headaches, lethargy and fatigue.

Vitamin C,being a natural antihistamine, reduces cold and allergy symptoms by reducing histamine in the body.Histamine is released by the body in allergic reaction to pollen causing itchy, swollen, watery eyes, runny nose, sneezing, wheezing, swollen lips, shortness of breath, irritated skin and coughing. Vitamin C daily dosage amounts can be adjusted to bowel tolerance.

Chilly pepper and cayenne pepper both have a compound called capsiacin.Capsaicin can clear up sinus pressure, sinus pain and nasal congestion. It has natural pain relieving properties, as well. The healing properties in spices are truly amazing.

Peppermint boosts circulation, reduces drowsiness, aches and pains and boosts immunity. The tea is great for headaches, congestion and fatigue. Peppermint tea is a mild alternative to peppermint aromatherapy which is swift acting, strong smelling and potent. None of which are bad things, however people aren't always willing to deal with the strong smell of peppermint essential oil or the stimulating effects.

Aromatherapy offers world of natural cures, pain remedies and support for vibrant health and well being. Lavender, Eucalyptus, Tea tree and Peppermint are four greats for headaches and fatigue. How to actually use aromatherapy effectively at home and on the go is a big topic. Easy effective and safe application methods for when you're on the go include:

•  inhaling aromatherapy directly from the the bottle to clear sinuses and get a boost
• applying your blend directly to pulse points, scalp or temples
• using an aromatherapy desk top or car diffuser
• carry a mists to spray and breath as needed

At home use aromatherapy in the bath, your body lotion or oil, for massage, facial steams, foot soaks, candles and room diffusers. Or get an aromatherapy massage, scalp and sinus massage, foot massage, body scrub or any spa service utilizing high quality, pure essential oils. Call Urban Sanctuary for an aromatherapy consultation or to book an appointment for a spa service.Send in a friend and make someone happy! Shop our aromatherapy candles, soaps, baths, scrubs, bath bombs, lotions, salts and soaks online.

Be Kind To Your Sinuses. Unwind at Urban Sanctuary in Athens, Georgia. Voted Best Day Spa 8 years in a row. Serving up aromatherapy seven days a week for 10 years.

Staff Highlight: Jan Bush

Jan Bush joined our massage department over the winter holidays of 2014.She started by helping us out with Sunday massage shifts and quickly moved into a full time position. Jan is a very talented massage therapist with a lot of heart. A great fit for Urban Sanctuary.

Jan, tell me what your favorite clients services are at Urban Sanctuary. What do you love to do the most?
I really love to work on people's sinuses, sinus relief massage whether it's incorporated into a face and scalp massage, TMJ massage or another type of massage. It's really just so great for people. Relieving that pressure and pain, so people can breath and be head ache free...

Back, neck and shoulder massage is one of my favorites also. So many people need extra attention in those three areas. I really like our signature massage and prenatal as well. There are many modalities that I like to incorporate into the massages that I give.

How would you describe your massage style and your strengths as a massage therapist?
My massage is responsive and intuitive. I choreograph a different massage during each session a repeat client has with me rather than defaulting to a routine. It's an evolving and unfolding massage, where I incorporate different techniques and modalities to address what my clients are dealing with and their bodies.

My priority is to have the massage accomplish something on the road to better health, stress relief and pain relief for my clients.I really like to create a treatment plan with clients that involves repeat massage sessions, stretching and home care in between massages to alleviate pain and stress.

Have you done any specialized training, study or research related to well being, massage and healing modalities outside of your massage school training?
Yes. I've done extensive self study on muscular skeletal tissues, common stress patterns, stretching and trigger point therapy. Some lymphatic drainage, foot massage and sinus relief massage training.

Are there particular communities or groups of people the community that you would especially like to impact through your massage work at Urban Sanctuary and our community outreach work?
Yes! I have a special and deep affinity for the elderly population and I'd love to have the opportunity to work with people who have cancer. 

I was the primary caretaker for my parents for years. While I cared for them, my Step Dad had cancer and my Mom had Alzheimer's. I have a tremendous amount of respect and appreciation for the elderly and for people with cancer. That is especially so after having an up close look at what my parents were dealing with.

Tell us more about your family. I heard you say that you have four kids.That's a lot of kids! What are their names and where are they?
My youngest son, Malachi, is 19 and he is a freshman at UGA. That's what drew me closer to Athens. My other three are Zach, Macy and Madison. They are spread across the country. I also have two grand-kids named Max and Jack. I absolutely love to spoil them. My dog's name is Buddy.

My mother was a master gardener when I was growing up and my Dad was an avid sports fan. Loved football especially. 

Are you an animal person?
Yes. I am a dog person and I love horses.

I rode horses and raised horses as a young girl. I developed a life affirming bond with horses. My Father died when I was very young. The connection I had with horses and the time I spent with them really got me through some of the pain of  losing my Dad.

More about Jan: Jan has inherited some of her mother's love of gardening. She loves to grow herbs in pots, rosemary being a favorite.And as for her Dad's influence, Jan is a sports trivia buff! Her father taught her tons about football and sports trivia when she was just tiny.

Jan has enjoyed several interesting career paths prior to becoming a licensed massage therapist. Being motorcycle sales person for over ten years has been a highlight. She was the marketing director for Harley Davidson Atlanta. Wow .

Jan is at Urban Sanctuary 4-5 days a week including Sundays and evening shifts. If you have not had a massage with her yet, mention this blog post and receive $5 off your first session. Call 706-613-3947 to book your appointment at Urban Sanctuary.

Browse our menu of services, scalp massage, foot massage, specialty massage and prices.
Be kind to yourself. Unwind at Urban Sanctuary...

Eat Fresh Lemons For Health and Vitality

Whole fresh lemons, lemon juice and lemon essential oils offer many health benefits.

• strengthen circulation and blood vessels
• freshen bad breath
• a liver cleanser
• naturally detoxifying
• powerful digestive aid
• boosts metabolism
• fights infection and viruses
• alleviates fatigue
• natural diuretic
• excellent vitamin C source
• reduces the risk of skin Cancer

Immune System Aromatherapy: 4 Staples and 4 Greats

Organic and high quality essential oils are available at Urban Sanctuary in Athens, Ga.

Aromatherapy yields many health and well being benefits. Immune system activation and support being a primary one. There are a wide range of medicinal benefits that can be achieved with aromatherapy use as well as stress reduction, enhanced mood and beauty. Aromatherapy massage, foot baths,scalp and sinus massage, facial steams, salt scrubs and foot massage are very effective spa services that work healing essential oils into your system.  

The following four essential oils are known to activate and boost the immune system.

• Tea Tree is an immune system tonic.
• Lemon treats lymph gland and the immune system.
• Chamomile activates the immune system while easing inflammation.
• Lavender boosts immunity, ease headaches and relieves pain.

Working with essential oils is fun and easy, however, there are some precautions to take and a few possible harmful side effects with over use.For instructions on how to use aromatherapy, refer to our  2012 post.

The most rapid way to impact your system with aromatherapy is through inhalation. When inhaled, an essential oil stimulates receptor sites in the brain within a fraction of a second.That's pretty powerful!Other effective methods of using aromatherapy at home include smelling salts, foot soaks, baths, steams, room diffusers, chemical free aromatherapy candles, body oils, self massage, partner massage, muscle and chest rubs.You can also apply blended essential oils or single notes directly to your skin or pulse points.Never apply essential oils neet or without a carrier oil. They can burn your skin and scar.

The following four oils provide great immune system support, particularly if a cold, virus or congestion has already compromised your system.

• Orange-good for flu,colds and nervous tension.
• Peppermint-fights viruses and heals stomach problems.
• Melissa-treats viruses, lung congestion and insomnia.
• Eucalyptus-good for cold, flu and sinuses.

Spices That Heal Hypertension: Cocoa, Garlic,Saffron and 10 More

Yum! Cocoa, garlic and saffron are each delicious in their own distinct ways.What do all three have in common? Each one, when consumed in healthy doses, reduces the symptoms of hypertension and high blood pressure. To keep hypertension at bay, blend a tablespoon of unsweetened cocoa powder (preferably organic) in a cup of hot water, and drink this once daily to keep your blood pressure at a healthy level. If you like, blend it with cinnamon or cardamom.

Growing numbers of people are dealing with the effects of hypertension, particularly in the Western hemisphere. To reduce your own risk of hypertension related health problems, incorporate healing spices and whole foods into your diet. The healing and fortifying properties of whole foods and spices are boundless...

 Choose at least four or five from this list of spices to include in meals, snacks and beverages :

• Allspice
• Black Pepper
• Cardamom
• Celery Seed
• Cinnamon
• Cocoa
• Coriander
• Fennel Seed
• Garlic
• Onion
• Oregano
• Pomegranate
• Saffron

Garlic, a spice on the list worth noting, is a global remedy. Add generous quantities of fresh garlic daily in your soups, sauces and main courses to reduce your blood pressure by 2-7% over a month's time! Garlic boosts immunity, lowers cholesterol and strengthens heart health. Garlic can be taken in capsules, also; however, your body may have difficulty absorbing some of these. Be selective.

Saffron is the most expensive spice in the world. Eighty thousand crocus flowers produce one pound of lovely saffron, so it is very difficult to cultivate. A miniscule 1/20th of an ounce vial of authentic Saffron costs about $20. Toss saffron on your rice, broth and seafood dishes. Saffron in capsule form may help prevent or treat hypertension, insomnia, PMS, anxiety, memory loss and depression.

Onions are easily accessible and inexpensive. Our potent-smelling friends have potent medicinal uses! Cancer-fighting and allergy healing, onions also help reduce hypertension. They are known for their anti-inflammatory, antibiotic and antiviral nature. Onions come in a variety of colors: green, red and yellow. Chopped, sliced or diced, onions will do wonders for your health. Avoid overcooking them to maximize nutritional benefit. Squeeze lemon juice on your hands to get the onion odor out of your skin after cutting them.

More tasty facts on Fennel Seed, Cardamom, Black Pepper, Pomegranate and other spices on the above list coming soon. This is one of my favorite subjects to talk about.

Be kind to yourself...unwind at Urban Sanctuary...

                         Urban Sanctuary is open seven days a week. The perfect place to Unwind...

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