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Kelley's Custom Creams

Kelley Rico, Founder

2532 Santa Clara Avenue Alameda, CA 94501 phone: (510) 769-6781

Headaches

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Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Some people don't get headaches, and I think they're pretty lucky.

There are many types of headaches- sinus, digestion-related, migraine, cluster, among others- but they all have one thing in common. Pain. Even a low level headache can put you out of commission, but an intense headache can make you want to be permanently put out of your misery. Although at times medication is the only recourse, there are things you can do to prevent and minimize the occurrence of these throbbing visitants.

Sinus headaches, for example, respond extremely well to essential oils diffused in the air. The combination of rosemary, peppermint and thyme can work seeming miracles when your sinuses are congested and your head feels as though someone is drilling spikes through your eyebrows. This mixture also helps with any potential nausea. People with chronic sinus or respiratory problems can really benefit from using a vaporizer (available at most drug stores) with oils in the medicine cup area while they are sleeping, for example. This is also an excellent way to aid sleep in general, using the more soporific and relaxing oils such as spikenard or ylang ylang as well as the respiratory helpers above.

Deep frontal headaches are often related to digestive and gall bladder issues. Gently massaging a mixture of flower essences and essential oils directly on the forehead can bring substantial relief. Ongoing attention to diet and stress is very important in managing this sort of headache, as it is, in a way, the body saying it can't digest what is going on around it. Diffusing mixes of oils, including clary sage, is also helpful for these headaches.

A tension headache can be greatly eased by a bath with essential oils in it, including peppermint. Even a foot bath can be very pain relieving in these instances. Paying attention to your breathing is also important with tension headaches, as in: Do it.

The mechanism of migraine headaches is not well understood, and of course once you've got one in progress the only real treatment recourse is prescription medication. ( I had to laugh the other day at a commercial for an OTC migraine medicine. Relief, it said, in just half an hour. Half an hour with a migraine is eternity.) However, migraines do come along with prodromes, and paying attention in that time period can save you some misery later on. Diffusing or vaporizing the oils of basil and mugwort together is very powerful for migraine headaches, although this should not be used by pregnant or nursing women, or young children, just to be safe. A mixture including clary sage, peppermint and eucalyptus can be very helpful in a prodrome, along with an ice pack on the back of the neck. There is some evidence that the herbs feverfew and butterburr work to help prevent migraines, most likely on a vascular level.

There are many ways to approach headaches using botanicals. I have found that the essential oils are tremendously helpful both during a headache and preventively. They have the benefit of quick entry into the system and bloodstream without a lot of side effects, as well as improving the air quality wherever you are using them. If you have frequent headaches, of course consult your physician to be sure of the causes, but also think about using the organic and non-invasive benefits of essential oils as an adjunct to whatever other treatments you use.

Kelley Rico is a trained herbalist and aromatherapist, and a certified flower essence and Jin Shin Jyutsu® practitioner.

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Allergies, Jin Shin Jyutsu®, Energetic Applications

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Thursday, May 14, 2009

Many years ago I went to an allergist for comprehensive testing. I remember how relieved I was not to be allergic to chocolate! However I am allergic to, it seems like, almost everything else, as well as many of the medications prescribed for allergies. Given that allergies are an on-going, and now, almost year round occurrence, what can be done?

A visit to your physician is important, because if you have chronic and/or serious allergies you do need to work with allopathic medicines to keep your body from going completely out of balance. For those with less endogenous allergy problems, an OTC spray that coats the nasal passages, and a good allergy eye drop may do the trick. Other readily available products may need to be taken as well. In addition to these, however, alternative practices can provide noticeable improvement in quality of life. Diet is also a crucial element in all this, but I am not addressing that in this particular blog.

Energetic bodywork treatments, such as Jin Shin Jyutsu®, as well as acupuncture, to clear the head and support the liver are incredibly helpful in getting your nose and eyes cleared and restoring proper functioning. The liver needs extra support during allergy seasons as it is not only a major cleaner of the body, but also a source of histamines and bodily responses to allergens. Herbal support for the liver is thus helpful as it is working overtime in these situations. Things like milk thistle and mushrooms, as well as herbs such as ashwaganda are helpful at any time of year. Other herbal products are available OTC as well, such as bromelain, which among other things addresses inflammation. Often, however, if you are taking prescription medication, fruit juices such as grapefruit and pineapple (which contain bromelain) interact to block the medication, so something else needs to be tried. Spray applications of appropriate flower essences and essential oils can be very helpful ; once you are indoors and still symptomatic, application of a spray can really help reduce the problems in short order. Keeping the mucus and watery eyes under control can also help you avoid sinus congestion which leads to headaches and interferes with sleeping. I make customized allergy sprays, which you can order by going to my website and placing a Special Order.

Sinus congestion can be very effectively dealt with using Jin Shin Jyutsu®. It can take about a half hour of application, but the head and sinuses will clear, and you will then able to proceed comfortably with whatever it is you are trying to do. Try this: Place your left hand on the back of your neck so the fingers are covering the area from the indent at the base of your skull down to the bottom of your neck on the right side. Then, place your right fingers on the top of your skull at the right side front, above the eye and below the hairline. This really does work. Other Jin Shin Jyutsu® flows can maintain this clearing effect and help you remain in optimum balance. There are also many self help things you can do using Jin Shin Jyutsu® to keep yourself feeling good: If you practice these in between sessions from a practitioner you will be amazed at how well you feel. I offer sessions in the Oakland-San Francisco bay area; if you live elsewhere this website will help you find a practitioner.

Kelley Rico is a trained herbalist and aromatherapist, and a certified Flower Essence and Jin Shin Jyutsu® practitioner

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Taking Care of Your Scalp

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Monday, May 11, 2009

The scalp is an important skin area that often doesn't receive much attention, aside from shampoo and perhaps conditioner. However, it is skin, and prone to the same potential outbreaks and issues as anywhere else on the body.

Many people ask me about itchy rashes on their scalps. While I generally emphasize an individual analysis for any remedy, I have come up with some interesting discoveries lately that seem to work consistently, depending upon the presenting issue. Hormonal balance plays a huge role in the health of the scalp, and shifts and imbalances can cause overgrowth of yeast, be it greater or lesser. Given that we do scratch our heads, bacteria and viruses can also be present. A third potential skin issue on the scalp is eruptions, breakouts, and bumps from systemic issues. Flaky, dry scalp is another common problem.

Of course, it is important to wash your hair with the most proper and pH balanced product available to you, and to condition hair and scalp with a proper conditioning agent. Thorough washing and rinsing is very important. Diet is also crucial to maintaining healthy hair and scalp. Medications have an impact on skin, scalp and hair, and appropriate supplementation with micronutrients helps. It is also important to drink plenty of water, to keep your system flushed out and hydrated. Aside from these approaches, however, what can you do when there is a Big Rash on your head that itches and is preventing hair growth? Or flakes that mean you're always in white? Or bumps that hurt when you brush your hair?

Essential oils and flower essences to the rescue, once again. Scalp flaking can be addressed by massaging essential oils into the scalp. Patchouli is one excellent choice, and three drops on the fingers is usually enough to do the job after each washing. There are, of course, other good choices of essential oils if you cannot stand the scent of Patchouli. Bumps can often be addressed with a mixture of helichrysum oil and black walnut tincture, among other ingredients. Itching scalp rashes seem to respond well to treatment with thyme and spruce oils. Flower essences are added to these mixtures as appropriate, as well as carrier oils if indicated in specific instances. There are also essential oil and flower essence combinations that can aid hair growth, where that is possible.

While every person has a different bodily slant on each of these issues, the above remedies mixed with other personally appropriate essences and oils can show real improvement when used consistently for a few weeks. I am happy to answer your questions about more specific needs, as well!

Kelley Rico is a trained herbalist and aromatherapist, and a certified Flower Essence and Jin Shin Jyutsu® practitioner.

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Menopause Options

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Friday, May 08, 2009

Even Jack in the Box has gotten into the menopause act with its new commercial for fruit smoothies, pitched by a woman in her garden talking about being blind-sided by her hot flashes.

There are many approaches to menopause of course, and each woman has to decide for herself what works best for her. It is definitely worth exploring herbal remedies to help the passage of change the body is experiencing, and come out on the other side focussed instead of frazzled. My observation has been that a combination of herbs can be of tremendous help with all the symptoms of menopause, such as hot flashes, bloating and weight gain, mood swings and all the rest. Taking just one, such as black cohosh, by itself is not nearly as effective. Herbs act as balancers, bringing the system into balance. Since the body is a unified whole, any symptom is being generated in a complex of energetic interactions in the system. Treating just one item, as one does, for example, by using cohosh alone (for hot flashes), leaves all the others even more out of balance. It's like a house of cards where removing one makes all of them fall down. Treating hot flashes alone doesn't balance the rest of the system that is contributing to them, so it is therefore much more productive to use a mixture.

Additionally, menopause is a shift in time from one state of being to another. Treatments that focus on keeping the body the same as it was originally are, in the end, at the very least impractical. It is, of course, worth seeing your MD to find out if an SSRI would be useful; serotonin levels play a big role in hot flashes and sleeplessness, so SSRIs are another option for balance.

In addition to herbs taken by mouth, aromatherapy is tremendously helpful. Many essential oils aid the hormonal system and help balance and mediate, so diffusing oils is a wonderful way to help keep your cool, both physical and mental. Botanicals in creams are also excellent resources for menopause. The familiar wild yam cream is one example of this, helping the progesterone balance. Other mixtures are effective for water retention and mood swings, as well as for interrupted sleep patterns.

So, even though menopause may pose challenges to one's balance, they can be dealt with, and the body can stay in harmony using botanicals. It's worth trying!

Kelley Rico is a trained herbalist and aromatherapist, and a certified flower essence and Jin Shin Jyutsu® practitioner.

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Some Thoughts on Flower Essences

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Tuesday, May 05, 2009

I recently read that, in ancient wisdom traditions, flowers were thought to help one Hear. I thought this was terrific; flowers do help you hear, I think. They help you contact the inner voice, the calm spot inside, that helps you figure out what you need, and what to do.

Then, I was thinking about the fact that sometimes the things you like, the foods you are drawn to, the flowers you like, may be essences that can be very helpful in whatever situation may be transpiring at the moment. There are many fruit and vegetable essences, and they act energetically much as fruits and vegetables do on the physical level. Fruit tends to be cleaning and refreshing, vegetables are nourishing and building.

Strawberry and grape essences are excellent for opening up happiness in the body. Enjoying a walk or the weather on one's face, lessening tension. Corn essence is wonderful for settling down to enjoy what you have, building on accomplishments and knowledge to move forward. Broccoli essence helps with the day to day intrusions on one's time and thoughts. Tree essences are wonderful for healing long standing issues. Plants and flowers that work to heal burns and inflammation, such as Hen and Chickens (semper vivens) and Echinacea, work on emotional "hot spots".

Essences, called Elixirs, are also made out of gems and rocks, minerals and natural features. These help break up blockages in the flow of energy. The kind of landscape that attracts you, stones you like to wear, can all be potentially appropriate essences to consider for yourself.

Research is showing, more and more, the truth of the intimate connection between all things, and the flow of energy that passes around and through everything on the planet. Availing yourself of the energies of things you are drawn to can be an excellent way to explore the truth of all these findings. As always, I am happy to answer your questions, via email or phone consultation!

Kelley Rico is a trained hebalist and aromatherapist, and a certified Flower Essence and Jin Shin Jyutsu® practitioner.

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Sleep Can Knit the Raveled Sleeve of Care

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Sunday, May 03, 2009

Shakespeare said it, and it is certainly true. One sees many herbal sleep aids, and there are consistent ingredients. These include lavender, hops, chamomile, cedar, valerian , passion flower, and neroli, among others.

One thing I have noticed more and more is that, although there are common reasons why people can't sleep, everyone has some additional level that makes a customized sleep aid work even better. Breathing issues commonly interrupt sleep, for example, as well as stress and mental preoccupation. GI tract woes, low serotonin, and pain also keep us awake.

While it is true that sleep cycles change through the different ages of a person's life, the optimal level of sleep is still seven to eight hours. As well as topical treatments, and internal administration of herbal preparations, inhaling essential oils is a fantastic way to promote restful and comfortable sleep. Since the oils penetrate the blood-brain barrier very quickly, they are able to cleanse the body, alleviate discomfort, and relax us in a reasonably short period of time. The oils have a tremendous impact on the electro-magnetic field of the body, and the emotions, so even if you are in the midst of personal trauma you can find some relief through using a diffuser in your bedroom and putting the oils in, perhaps twenty minutes before retiring.

Last night I found a new favorite mix: Elemi and Catnip. Both these plants promote calmness and spiritual grounding, are anti-spasmodic and help insomnia. The smell is wonderfully fresh, balsamic and peppery, all at once. It is indeed a treat for your olfactory senses as well as your tired brain and body to recline with this plant helper surrounding you.

If you have any questions about how plants and energy work can help you sleep, don't hesitate to contact me! Until then, sweet dreams.

Kelley Rico is a trained herbalist, aromatherapist, and certified Flower Essence and Jin Shin Jyutsu® practitioner.

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Navigating Through Swine Flu

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Friday, May 01, 2009

We've all read and heard about the possible Swine Flu pandemic. Apparently the World Health Organization has recently issued some statements indicating the current virus is not as virulent as originally thought, which is really good news. However, as we know from years past, any new flu is a concern. Not something to become afraid of or panicked by but definitely something to pay attention to.

Some research has indicated that homeopathic remedies were among the most effective treatments in the 1918 influenza outbreak. Homeopathic remedies are easily obtainable at health food and some grocery stores, and worth looking into. Another thing that is extraordinarily effective is elderberry syrup, sold under a variety of labels. It works by keeping the virus from being able to pierce cell walls, enter, and multiply. Any simple thing you can do to boost immunity is helpful: Mushroom tinctures are excellent, drinking plenty of water and getting adequate rest are also important. If you DO get the flu, of course get medical attention right away, and keep yourself hydrated. Gatorade actually can work miracles in these situations.

Washing your hands and not touching your face are of PARAMOUNT importance in prevention. A good discussion of handwashing, which I found informative, can be found here, at Simmons Naturals Soaps. The products here are wonderful and can make keeping your hands clean a real joy. Hand sanitizers are popular now as well. I myself prefer a sanitizer made from essential oils. I think they work better and don't have the potential to, in the end, actually lower your resistance to bacteria and viruses from overuse. It is really important to make sure your hands are cleaned, somehow, after every transaction in the outside world: The ATM, the grocery store, the Post Office, wherever you may be. By not touching your face, or chewing your pen, you are keeping the bugs away from your eyes and mucus membranes, AKA The Entrance Point.

An additional, if subtle, precaution is to avoid being overtaken by fear of flu. The body's defenses weaken when we are afraid, and invasion is more likely to be successful. Remembering that these viruses and bacteria and microbes are around us, on us. all the time can help restore some mental breathing space. The more pressured you feel about things, the more worried you are about stockpiling things "just in case", the more stress, in short: The lower your resistance. Keep your balance, keep your hands clean, and you're way ahead in the game.

Diffusing essential oils in the air at home is also a superior way to maintain adequate immune defenses. The oils clean the air and also work on the mucus membranes, and the blood, to disinfect and protect. Thyme oil is especially good in this regard, and can be mixed with other oils to increase its effectiveness and aromatic qualities.

I have many recipes for these kinds of remedies if you are interested. Just email me with your questions!

Kelley Rico is a trained herbalist, aromatherapist, and certified flower essence and Jin Shin Jyutsu® practitioner.

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Helping Musculo-skeletal Pain With Botanicals

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Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Many of my customers buy creams from me for pain: Tendonitis, Joint Pain, Knee Injuries, Nerve Pain. We have become used to taking medicines internally for these conditions, but topical treatments are often more effective for long term help. Inflammation is a root cause of many disorders, and topical applications can help you keep your inflammation under control without aggravating your stomach, liver and kidneys. This, in turn, promotes improved overall well being.

When you hurt yourself, you'll take an anti-inflammatory such as ibuprofen, tylenol, or aspirin. If you go to your physician you may get a steroid preparation. These all have to go through your stomach and entire system to start working. While it can be very important to treat inflammation in this way at the beginning, as time goes on and the pain continues, it is well worth your time to look into other ways of dealing with the situation. Of course, as well, you have to stop re-injuring yourself. I often think of a dancer who bought some Tendonitis cream from me, but was absolutely not going to change her routine at all. Or the cyclist who had already injured his knees to the point where he could not perform as he had been accustomed to do. On the other end of the contimuum, I have many customers who will not take so much as an aspirin no matter how much things hurt. It is always important to operate within your physical limits and treat your body with respect. Pain is a message, and it doesn't do to ignore it, in either direction.

Many of us have things like repetitive stress problems in our hands and wrists, tendonitis in the elbow, TMJ, and the like. My Tendonitis cream has proven to be remarkably effective in a variety of instances, including TMJ, trigger fingers, numb and hurt hands from physical labor such as gardening and warehouse work, as well as tennis elbow. The Pain and Injury cream helps with nerve pain, rotator cuff injuries, and arthritic conditions. Each cream has some similar pain relieving constituents, but works differently to address different types of pain. While the Tendonitis cream has herbal iingredients that help the body get rid of the excess acid and calcium in the muscles, and elixirs that help the energy move properly and not become congested, the Pain and Injury cream helps stop the body's shut-down response to pain (especially long standing issues and bony injuries where there has been bleeding and joint injury, as well as nerve damage), and gently promotes free movement. The Pain and Injury cream has been helpful to people with serious sports injuries, such as bicycle and surfing accidents, as well as chronic knee problems.

Since these remedies are topical, they do not place an additional load on the body in order to process them. This can be quite important in instances of regular pain, such as tennis elbow, arthritis or rotator cuff problems, where you really don't want to be medicating yourself constantly. I have found that the Tendonitis cream can actually resolve episodes and exacerbations, especially if you can stop the re-injury to the area by resting for a time, or wearing more proper footwear, or using a better chair, or whatever it might be.

You can read comments by my customers here, in Testimonials. Please contact me if you have any questions: I am happy to answer them.

Kelley Rico is an herbalist and a certified Flower Essence and Jin Shin Jyutsu® practitioner, who offers customized care products and distance work.

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Keeping Your Pets Happy and Healthy

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Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Flower essences can be remarkably helpful for your pets, whether they are furred or feathered. The essences are a gentle and safe way to help your pet navigate a variety of issues and feel a lot better.

They are especially helpful at transitional times, such as moving , as well as for pets with terminal diagnoses. The flowers can also be good adjuncts to training and dealing with problem behaviors.

My recent dog clients have included a Basenji, two sister Dachshunds, and an Australian Shepherd. All pretty high strung dogs who need alot of input and action. The Basenji had two tragic events occur: One. when he was briefly back in his puppy home kennel and the owners did not watch him carefully enough. As the runt of the litter he got quite a mauling. I gave his human a mixture of an essential oil and a flower essence to rub on his healing wounds, and within about a week he was almost completely without the fear and jumpiness exhibited when he came home, and his wounds were completely healed. In the second, he witnessed a very tragic accident, from which it took him about two years to mentally regroup. He whined constantly and could not be left alone. His owner has put the flower essences I give him into the dog's water and eventually, after fits and starts and some backsliding, the dog does not whine and is able to be alone more easily. The combination of the owner's patience and the essences ultimately moved this dog forward.

The dachshunds, two young sisters, were barking constantly and not walking well on their leashes. I gave their human some flower essences for the water and by the end of the bottle, about three weeks, the barking was hugely diminished (I know this because they live up the street!) and I saw them trotting along insouciantly with no fear, leash pulling, or lack of control. One girl also had a sprained paw, to which I applied Jin Shin Jyutsu, and it resolved very quickly. The importance of this to dog owners is that a gentle holding of an injured paw can be healing and helpful. Another point is this: The dachshunds' "father" had attributed the leash behavior to fear; the essences showed it was much more about focus and being overwhelmed by so much "stuff". It is important not to jump to conclusions about what is motivating an animal's behavior.

The Australian Shepherd is a case in progress. She's a young dog who whines non-stop. Through the past five months, with about three of them in treatment with drops, this dog has shown diminished whining and allows physical contact that was forbidden before.

I have also treated animals with terminal cancer, and seen them have excellent quality of life in the intervening time until they had to be euthanized due to the pain. One cat was able to again walk around, tail up, and actually caught birds again. (While I frown on bird catching, being a parrot owner myself, I could still appreciate this!) A lovebird with a tumor was also treated with flower drops and had improved eating and functioning for several weeks as a result. Animals who have been treated with steroids can also benefit from topical applications of essences and essential oils: A donkey client had been so medicated, had horrible allergic reactions to insect bites as a result, and was miserable. Topical application of essences and oils brought a great deal of relief and healing.

If you have a pet who seems to need help, or who is ailing, I would be happy to discuss it with you. As usual, please email me at info@kelleyscustomcreams.com and I'll be pleased to answer your questions or arrange a consultation.

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Foot Care for Young and Old

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Tuesday, April 21, 2009

We often take our feet for granted. Strong but delicate, they are important to us, whether we are walking on them or not. Attention paid to the feet can help us relax, feel invigorated, and help our immune systems function more efficiently.

The bottom of the foot is an area where things are very quickly absorbed into the body. (You can check our website for the SLEEP CREAM, which is applied to the sole of the foot, here.)This is why the old treatments of placing eucalyptus oil, vick's vapo rub, or tiger balm on the bottom of the foot work quite well for colds and congestion, nasal and bronchial. Placing a piece of garlic on the sole of the foot with tape and covering it with a sock overnight may be a bit fragrant, but it pulls toxins out of the body and is effective for infection and flus. There are many other options, as well as foot baths, that can restore happiness to the foot and well being to the body.

It is easy to ignore our feet and just, well, walk on them until they start barking. If you are on your feet all day, or sitting in an office, or running around after your kids, your feet need some nurturing. Whether you wear high heels or work boots, your feet need to be attended to. A quick massage before going to sleep while applying a moisturizing and nourishing foot cream can take three minutes but contribute a great deal to the next day's comfort. (My foot cream, for example, contains things that help the breathing, assist concentration, fight fungal attack, and make the feet relax.) This is an important consideration for keeping the foot properly aligned as well. Wearing high heels as well as going barefoot or without proper foot support can cause bunions; an ounce of prevention in this case is worth more than a pound of cure.

Many people get pedicures regularly, but this attention to the feet tends to decline as we get older. A big area of importance in geriatric medicine is foot care; this applies also to people with serious illness or who are in wheelchairs. Circulation must be maintained, the skin has to be cared for, and nails nourished. Whether this effort falls off due to inattention or disability, it is crucial to overall health as well as physical balance. The legs also need to be moisturized and gently massaged to maintain circulation and skin tone. Massage or touch to the legs has energetic healing aspects as well, so it is important to keep them well treated. In the course of my work with elderly and disabled individuals, I have developed some easy to use, simple, gentle and all organic products that work well to meet these needs. Some come in spray form which can be important when a person does not want to be touched; for example, in cases of neuropathy.

If you have a person in your life who is elderly, in skilled nursing, has a disability, or if you just want happier feet, I would be happy to answer your questions via email or set up a quick consultation; just use the contact us page on this site, or email me at info@kelleyscustomcreams.com.

Kelley Rico is an experienced herbalist, aromatherapist and flower essence practitioner. In addition to making customized organic botanical body treatments, she gives Jin Shin Jyutsu and energy therapy sessions in the San Francisco/East Bay area by appointment.

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