The healing power of essential oils—lavender to the rescue!

Today I accidentally leaned into the fiery hot muffler of a friend’s motorcycle right after I got on. I am aware I need to keep my legs from touching these hot parts; regardless, today I got the reminder loud and clear. I am now sporting a half-dollar sized burn mark on my calf. To say this hurts is an understatement, but what’s done is done. Now it’s time for the healing to begin.

Initially I put ice on it because I rode out to a restaurant and was unable to get to my arsenal of medications at home for a few hours. The ice did help and even numbed the area a bit, but I could still feel the heat of the burn deep into my calf. Once I got home I immediately put lavender essential oil on the spot and, as I knew it would, it took the burning pain away instantly.

Lavender has many attributes; one virtue is its quick absorption and healing ability. As with all essential oils, lavender has antibacterial properties. With any kind of skin injury, including today’s burn, keeping bacterial infection away is priority #1. Lavender is also soothing to cuts and scrapes as well as burns, whether it’s a sunburn or a burn from an oven, an iron, or a hot motorcycle muffler. In fact, lavender is said to be a contact healer, meaning that it soothes burns (and other injuries) on contact. I know this was definitely the case with me today.

I now have a large bandage (soaked in lavender) on the area, and I can’t even feel the injury. I will continue to put lavender on this place and eventually it should be OK.

• Lesson 1: Don’t lean into a motorcycle’s muffler (or burn your skin in any other way)
• Lesson 2: Use lavender essential oil if you do

This and many essential oils can be found in most health food stores. Lavender is in my personal medicine cabinet as one of the essential oils I reach for often.

The next thing to do for my skin injury is to keep it covered, away from sun exposure. Learn more about the importance of this and how to keep hyperpigmentation away:

• Do you have pigmentation or hyperpigmentation? Perhaps post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation? Why keeping UV rays off injured skin is important (coming soon)

For more detailed information on this essential “medication” see:

• Lavender: A Medicine Cabinet Must!
• Lavender—an amazing healing remedy for burns (and blemishes, too!)

 

Quincy Blu: My newest pack member

One of my wonderful clients told me I should put some personal stuff about myself on this blog. So I thought I’d start with my life as a Pack Leader!

I am in love with The Dog Whisperer. I believe in the show’s host, Cesar Millan, and his way with “red zone” cases, which are basically dogs who have gone over the edge and have aggression issues. I also agree with his general mantra: exercise, discipline, and affection (in that order) and being the pack leader (vs. your dog being the leader of the pack). I have followed Cesar’s blossoming career from the beginning of the show, and you can usually find it on the National Geographic channel. It’s a great program if you have a chance to watch it.

Last November I decided to adopt a pup from the Boulder Valley Humane Society (BVHS). Actually, the day I went in and found my dog, I really wasn’t expecting (or ready) to adopt. I had gone to BVHS on previous weekends to see the dogs and cats and to just peruse. At the time I was still living in what is now my 1 bedroom rental with my 2 cats. I already felt cramped and wasn’t going to move into my new 2 bedroom condo for another 6 weeks.

Life truly does happen while we’re making other plans. And so was the case that wonderful day in November. I knew I wanted an Australian Cattle Dog. They have the kind of temperament and activity level I was looking for. They are termed Velcro dogs because they are very people oriented and tend to follow you around and stick by your side. Because my dog would be a hiking companion, this was just what I was looking for. Enter: Little Bit—my pooches name when I adopted him. I don’t get the name, but I was going to change it anyway, so it didn’t matter. But Little Bit? After a few days of being around him, Quincy Blu became his forever name.

The “Blu” in his name is an homage to his Australian heritage. I’ve heard that in OZ they call red-headed men Blue or Bluey. Since Quincy is a Red Heeler, I thought this was a fun way to keep his Aussie background in his name. Quincy? Not sure, it just came to me. He is a joy in my life and, although my cats are not so happy with me for bringing in a canine, he is a good and willing member of our pack.

In January he had bilateral (both) elbow surgery to remove bone fragments and a floating bone found during surgery. It has been an interesting recovery process and now, poor boy, he needs an additional surgery on his right elbow that hasn't responded to rehab. More bone spurs were found, so at the end of July he will have his second (and last!) surgery. Due to all of this, I sometimes refer to him as my million dollar dog!

Regardless, Quincy has found his forever home, complete with 2 cats for him to herd! CLICK HERE for a video of Quincy when he was “Little Bit” at the BVHS. He was so sweet, even before he was mine!

UPDATE 7/2015

Please read my tribute to this wonderful pup who was a treasure every day he graced my life:

• QUINCY BLU: A Beautiful Life

Quincy loved to roll and roll and roll :+)

Happy 15th Anniversary to Carolyn Ash Skin Care!

Fifteen years ago, on March 1st 1994, Carolyn Ash Skin Care opened its doors. And 2009 marks my 24th year as a skin care pro (aesthetician)—WOW!

It has been wonderful having my own business(es), starting out in Dallas, then moving up to Chicago, and now living in beautiful Boulder, Colorado.

In all the cities I’ve worked and grown businesses, it has always been the warmth and support of my many clients that has kept me going, now to year 24. I love my work and look forward to many more years helping people with their skin.

I want to give a big shout out to all of you who have been so dedicated and have supported me all of these years!

Growing a Donation: Hair for Locks of Love

Some of you know last January (2008) I cut 12 inches of my hair off and donated it to Locks of Love. Having spent this past year with my short short hair, I was thinking about ways I could contribute to someone else’s life, and I decided to grow my hair out again and donate it once I’ve reached the minimum 10 inches.

For me, my hair isn’t really an area of concern. I realize for many people how their hair looks makes or breaks their day. Although the growing out process has its moments, I feel good about my decision and look forward to growing this donation mindfully.

If you’re looking for something to do—to give back—consider joining me and growing your hair out this year! It will help one or more people who have lost their hair through illness and/or disease. As an added benefit, you will save money since you’ll need fewer haircuts!

For more information on donating your hair, please visit:

•  Locks of Love 

To read about my 2015 hair donation, see:

•  Another donation of hair for charity

On the Eve of a New Year...

Greetings All!

I am excited about this new year 2009! I will finally have the opportunity to post information for you any time I want to with my new blog! Over the past few weeks I have wanted to start this process but I was moving into a new home, adopting a dog, and getting everything together for the holidays. Now that all of that is behind me—almost—I am looking forward to writing articles with you in mind, working to help you understand how to take better care of your skin as well as offering other information that may and may not be related to skin care.

I will make this one short and wish you and your family and friends all things good for the new year and beyond. January 1st always feels like a fresh start, a chance to do things differently and to enjoy every moment—starting now.

BE WELL, and keep checking in to see what’s new on this blog!

:+) Carolyn Ash.

www.carolynash.com