Wednesday, March 14, 2012

The Healing Powers of the NETI POT

I’ve been attempting to write this blog for what feels like months now, and I’m so glad that I’ve finally got it done! Nasal cleansing (as associated with the Neti Pot) is an ancient tradition; and as with many traditions there is good reason why this one should continue to be practiced.
For those who may not know (I just got hip myself when a brutal head cold attacked me while I was pregnant & taking medication was not an option) what a Neti pot is or what it’s used for, allow me to explain:
          

What Is It?:    A Neti Pot is a nasal cleansing unit, typically made of ceramic, that is shaped like a ‘child size’ tea kettle; some come with extravagant designs and others are just plain-jane. The main difference between this ‘kettle’ & the traditional one is that you will use this one to hydrate/clean your nasal cavities. Here’s a handy, little site about the History of the Neti Pot http://www.ehow.com/about_5156969_history-Neti-pot.html
What is it used for & Why?:    A Neti Pot is used as a form of personal hygiene for your nasal cavity. With only the help of gravity, the pot aids in ridding the nose & sinuses of mucus, dirt & bacteria; therefore cutting down on the possibility of one catching a cold and/or sinus infection.
It’s used by filling it up with a saline solution (which is nothing more than combination warm water & a small percentage of salt-though I wouldn’t recommend table salt as it can be too harsh for our mucus membranes- you’ll want to try a pre-mixed saline solution from a pharmacy or pick up some sodium bicarbonate from your local Walgreens). The saline solution helps moisten & draw out debris from the mucus membranes. As we know, salt is a natural healer (think Epsom salts for achy feet or even gargling with table salt to soothe a sore throat).  It has been proven that practicing good nasal hygiene (as a part of your normal hygienic regimen) can help to decrease swelling in the nose (especially once the membranes have already flared up & a cold/infection is present), drain the sinuses making asthma more tolerable and just making everyday breathing easier.  *Tip: Be sure to use filtered water- if none is available- boil your faucet water, allow to cool until warm & proceed*
 How is it used?:    Once the mixture is prepared, one simply leans over the sink, turning the head to one side (the goal is to have the nostrils parallel to each other) and mouth open for the entire procedure (you will only want to breathe through your mouth, as your nose will be occupied). Once the head is slightly tilted, then the Neti pot spout is inserted into one of the nostrils. The entire content of the pot is poured through one nostril & (if the head is held proplerly) it filters through the other pushing all that nasty debris out. (I know sounds a little scary but TRUST ME, you will NOT drown (I didn't)!

Click on the link below to see Dr. Oz explain &demonstrate how to use a Neti Pot.  
                       http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/sinus-relief
Though salt isn’t something you want to add to your diet, it is ideal for the overall health of your otolaryngology system  as they are all connected. In the long run you can expect overall better health & in the event that you do suffer from the occasional sniffles, just warm up some water, drop in a few milligrams of salt and get ready to feel better! I’ve been using the Neti system for 3 months now and my breathing has never been better! I don’t have that irritating post nasal drip that I used to experience & I haven’t been sick since I started. Neti pots are great for anyone over the age of 5 & for those who can’t (or chose not to) flirt with western medicine as the answer for every discomfort.

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Customer Appreciation Valentine's GIVEAWAY!!!


We would like to send out a heartfelt THANK YOU to all of those who have signed up for our newsletter, followed us on Twitter, Liked us on Facebook and, of course, shopped at our Etsy page!
It is because of YOU that we have been able to stay motivated, continue sharing natural news, enhance our product line by supplying the best of what nature provides.
One of our New Year's resolutions was to show our customer's just how much they're appreciated, all while giving those who have not yet tried our products the opportunity to do so!

With that, we figured what better way to say thanks then to have our first ever Customer Appreciation giveaway- Valentine's Edition!!

The giveaway will be a Valentine's Sampler. In the true spirit of Valentine's Day it will showcase samples from the AJA Naturals chocolate inspired collection featuring: Sensual Chocolate body butter, Cocogasm handmade soap, Decadence Bath Fizz, SweetiePie Sugar scrub and a full size bottle of Seduction essential oil perfume ($8.00 value).

As this is our first giveaway, we have opened it to all AJA Naturals Fans (whether they have previously purchased or not).

To show special appreciation to those who have made purchases (we have your information stored in our database) for their continued loyalty, we will be supplying you not only with the chocolate inspired samples, but also with one full size bar of Oat Couture soap ($6.00 value).

Everyone who participates is encouraged to leave feedback on the AJA Naturals Facebook fan page. As an added bonus we will be providing those who do leave feedback with a special coupon to be used towards their next purchase & they will also be entered into AJA Naturals March Madness Bath Fizzy Giveaway !


Details of the Giveaway:


1. To get your FREE* sampler you must sign into the AJA Naturals Etsy page select & add it to your cart.

2.  This event begins on Etsy this Friday (2/10/12) at 12noon & ends on Tuesday (2/14/12) at 11:59pm.

3.  There is a limited amount - therefore only (1) sampler per customer.


*AJA Naturals sampler is a FREE giveaway;  there's only a minimum charge ($3.00 total for U.S. customers) for shipping & handling. Etsy does not allow for a product to be listed at $0.00, therefore the sampler is priced at $0.50 with a Shipping fee of $2.50 (for U.S. customers) for a total of $3.00. 

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

I'm BACK!!!

Hello Family!
 
It’s been a long time since we last “spoke”. I hope that you are all having a blessed New Year!

7 months pregnant (photographer-Gricel Robles)
What have I been up to?
I’ve had some exciting new things happen in my life since we last visited with each other, the most important was the birth of my first child. My husband & I decided to have a natural birth at home (meaning no intervention what-so-ever; no drugs, no forceps- au natural!), and I’m so happy that we did, it was absolutely perfect & I wouldn’t have changed it for the world! It is truly amazing what the human body can do when we just believe and allow nature to take its course instead of trying to make things happen ‘our way’. My little man has been the center of our life ever since and I’m proud to be his mama!
 During my pregnancy, we also moved to a new state and started working at a new place of business. While getting settled in & preparing for the birth, I also was able to make a few changes to the AJA Naturals line. All in all, it’s been very busy (to say the least).
 

But I’m finally back- got a few fresh ideas & I’m ready to start sharing again
J !
Logo created by Infinte Productions

 
What’s up with AJA Naturals?
Well, I’m glad you asked.  Since being ‘offline’, we’ve added a few additions to the line that are meant to work with our debut products and turn them into three distinct categories:

  


  • Clean & Soft (SheaCoco Love, Oat Couture, Calm Waters bath fizz and Heavenly perfume oil)
  • Bright & Uplifting (Citrus Radiance, Refresh bath fizzy and Bliss perfume oil)                                           
  • Rich & Sexy (Sensual Chocolate, Cocogasm, Decadence bath fizz and Seduction perfume oil)
SweetiePie sugar scrub is unscented & can be used with each category.

Each group’s products complement each other so that you can enjoy a ‘spa-like’ experience all while layering the chosen fragrance in order to enjoy it longer.

 
We have always been serious about providing you with a quality, natural product and we’ve stuck to our convictions; all of the new additions are also made with natural & organic ingredients.
The bath fizzies pack a powerful fizz & fill the tub with delightful scents as they melt, and the perfume oils (the word ‘perfume’ is used only to be descriptive as these oil are made with fractionated coconut oil and high quality essential oils only) are packaged in glass roll-on containers which make them perfect for freshening up your fragrance on the go! The new products will be on sale at our Etsy shop in March 2012.
Our body butters are still made with the same great ingredients that our customers love, but are now a bit more fluffy & whipped. We are currently re-working the recipe for Majestic Orchards moisturizing soap so that it’ll be more fruity & really hold on to its scent- this can be a bit tricky with citrus essential oils, but we’re going to make it happen & keep it totally natural in the process. The new version should be out by mid spring.
 

 
This summer will also be our first time offering ‘seasonal’ products, which we’re sure you’ll be pleased with-but we’ll talk more on that at a later date.


 
What’s the future of AJA Naturals?

 
 We are striving to turn AJA Naturals into a household name for all of our fellow health conscience, organic, tree-loving folks out there! We have plans to reach out to like-minded boutiques & stores so that AJA Naturals can be introduced on a broader scale; expanding our business by interacting more with our customers via polls, suggestion boxes, contests & product giveaways; and lastly, but most importantly, we will be giving back to our community by donating to those less fortunate than us- as AJA Naturals is more than just products, it’s a way of life and we hope to positively influence peoples’ lives as we grow as a company and as individuals.

 
  
We really want to thank you for your continued support.
We have been fortunate enough to have a dedicated following that has stuck with us and we look forward to pleasantly surprising you with all that we have in store.
 

 
Please continue to spread the word and follow us to stay up to date on all the latest natural news:
Twitter @AJANaturals;  on Facebook at the AJA Naturals fan page and by signing up for the AJA Naturals monthly newsletter .
 

 
The Best is yet to come so stay tuned!

 
~The AJA Naturals Family