www.smartgiftsolutions.co.uk

Monday 30 July 2012

The Benefits of Aromatherapy on your Body...

 
We recently posted about our new range of Aromatherapy Gift Baskets; created so you can indulge yourself with gorgeous Essential oils to soothe, relax and relieve your body and mind. But what exactly are the benefits of Aromatherapy and how can it affect your lifestyle, and what particular oils work best?



Aromatherapy has been used for thousands of years as a natural medicine for both the mind and the body and has been clinically proven to improve and help with...
 
-         Boosting your immune system
-         Helping you to relax by easing your mind & body providing stress & anxiety relief
-         Insomnia
-         To regulate hormones (e.g. during the menopause)
-         To relieve menstrual cramps
-         Decreasing congestion
-         Killing fungal & bacterial infections
-         Increasing blood circulation 

But how exactly do the Essential Oils work?
 
The beautiful aromas from the oils help to release endorphins, instantly making your body and mental stale feel relaxed and calmer. It's sort of the same way you feel when you eat a gorgeous chocolate bar... Instantly happier! The body also absorbs the oils into the skin and blood stream, meaning massaging your body with essential oils instantly reaps therapeutic benefits! You know the feeling of massaging your chest with Tiger Balm when you’ve got a horrible cold, and you sinuses are relieved? That’s the magic of Aromatherapy!

There are particular oils which benefit different bodily functions – so we've complied a list of 10 Essential oils for you to refer to!
 
1)  Lavender is considered to be the most popular; and is most commonly used as a sedative, antiseptic, diuretic and can also soothe sores, burns and wounds. Lavender is considered effective for insomnia, with the oil being traditionally placed on the pillow before bed to ease sleep.

2)  Chamomile has antiseptic, antibacterial and digestive properties, and can be used to relax with its sweet and fruity aroma.

3)  Eucalyptus has anti-inflmmatory properties and has benefited asthma and bronchitis, and can relieve both muscular and rheumatic pains.

4)  Rose has both antidepressant and antispasmodic properties, and is perfect for uplifting a mood with its warm and sensual aroma.

5)  Jasmine can be beneficial for dry and sensitive skin, and with its floral scent it is considered to be rejuvenating and uplifting.

6)  Rosemary is often used in products for hair loss, as it is believed to stimulate hair growth.

7)  Sandalwood is used frequently in Asia, and is popular for the practice of meditation with its relaxing and therapeutic aroma. It can also be used for skin disorders and cystitis.

8)  Peppermint  is good for inflammation - with its cooling aroma it can numb uncomfortable muscular pain.

9)  Frankincense has healing properties that are great for wounds, blemishes, scars and dry skin.

10) Oregano can be used for increasing joint and muscle flexibility, and is believed to strengthen the immune system and improve digestive problems.


Although Aromatherapy is essentially a safe practice, there is of course the risk of allergic reaction to the oils as they are highly concentrated products that particular skin types may react negatively to. If the doseage used is too high, it may cause irritation, burns, nausea or headaches – so remember to use only the amount subscribed. Pregnant women should avoid using essential oils, as it can be a danger to both you and your unborn baby – for further information visit http://www.essentialoils.co.za/pregnancy.htm, where this is explained in thorough detail for those who are unaware of the risks.


Be sure to check out our Aromatherapy products at Smart Gift Solutions, where we have a range of Essential oils and Aromatherapy Gift Baskets for every woman to indulge with! If you are still unsure about the practice of Aromatherapy, or you wish to find out what other oils you can use, you can purchase our Aromatherapy Guide Book by Christine Westwood to discover more!

Tuesday 24 July 2012

Aromatherapy Gift Baskets


Here at Smart Gift Solutions, we have designed a beautiful new range of Aromatherapy Gift Baskets, filled with gorgeous products for you to indulge yourself with. We love to use Essential Oils on our skin to help us relax and to ease our daily stresses; so we’ve provided you with a variety of luxury sets that mean you can do the same!

Do you spend the majority of the day on your feet, and come home with aching muscles and sore ankles? Well, we’ve created a unique pampering treat to make your soles feel brand new again! Our Wellbeing for Feet Gift Basket, for £29.95, includes a stylish portable foot massager suitable for your handbag, 100% natural Peppermint foot gel to freshen and revive after a day trapped in shoes and socks, and Reflexology Massage Socks to guide you through a relaxing foot massage! We've also included 4 scented tea candles to light around a bubble bath and an Organza drawstring bag filled with Bath Potion (200g) with aromas of Lavender, Orange and Sweet Basil to relieve your stresses! It's the perfect way to unwind, so if you know someone who is run off their feet lately... our Gift Set won't go unappreciated!

Perhaps it's your back that causes you pain when you get home... does it feel tense and sore? Our gorgeous Feel Good Gift Basket is filled with several different Essential Oils to help relieve your muscular pain after a stressful day! For £31.95, included are Feel Good Bath Salts with the gorgeous aroma of Orange Flower, a wooden body massager to increase circulation and relieve tension and 4 scented tealight candles. There is also 3 Essential Oils; a bottle of Massage and Bath Oil with aromas of Lavender, Fennel and Peppermint, a bottle of Sweet Almond Base Oil which is to dilute the Lavender Pure Essential Oil. Perfect for showing her you care, or as a luxurious Birthday Treat, the Feel Good basket is bound to make her feel good as knew!

If it's been a stressful week, and you need a whole weekend to pamper and relax to restore yourself, our deluxe Tranquil Dawn Gift Basket is bursting with everything a woman needs... Included for under £45, is a handmade Lavender Wheat filled bag which can be heated and used to soothe aches and pains, a delicious Bomb Cosmetics Sweet Cherry Pie Bath Blaster, a calming Tranquil Dawn CD by Llewellyn to transport you away from the stresses of daily life and a lilac eye gel mask to soothe your tired eyes... For the many more delightful treats included in our luxury gift basket, head over to our website. It's the perfect way to show a loved one you appreciate their hard work, and suits all occasions including Anniversaries, Birthdays and Thank Yous!

Later on this week we'll be posting about the benefits of Aromatherapy and what aromas work best, so stay tuned to find out how your life can be improved by the simple aromas of Essential Oils!  

Feel free to comment via our Facebook, Twitter or Blog on your views on Aromatherapy - do you swear by it? If so, what are your secrets, what works best for you?


Wednesday 18 July 2012


There's nothing better than hearing from our customers :-) We love your feedback and all your lovely comments. We especially love all your comments on Facebook when we run competitions.  Here's a few of our favourites when we asked how you were coping with the prolonged rain ...




- "Splashing in puddles with Charlie and the dog!"

- "Enjoying showing off my new wellies and a great excuse for a fab new brolly!"

- " We are spending our time clearing out stuff in the house to make some extra cash and waiting for our caterpillars to turn into butterflies."

- "I've bought a huge umbrella that looks like a palm tree so every time it rains I can be safe in my own little palm tree Island!"

- "All you need is a good set of waterproofs and the fun you can have in the rain is limitless!  

Friday 13 July 2012

It’s easy to ignore cows, or at least to forget how important they are to our food chain. Cow Appreciation Day sets out to change all of that, and to remind you just how integral cows are to our daily life, so... Happy Cow Appreciation Day!



Just for you here's a poem we like very much about the wonderful creature that is a cow...



The friendly cow all red and white, I love with all my heart:
She gives me cream with all her might,
To eat with apple-tart.

She wanders lowing here and there,
And yet she cannot stray,
All in the pleasant open air,
The pleasant light of day;

And blown by all the winds that pass
And wet with all the showers,
She walks among the meadow grass
And eats the meadow flowers.
by Robert Louis Stevenson