Beat the Christmas Excesses
"A glowing start..."
The New Year has long been associated with fresh beginnings and the chance to set new goals, and for many years, people have searched for ways to detox and remove the unattractive effects of overindulging during the wintertime. Ancient cultures stretching way back to the times of the Sumerians and Egyptians recognised the need not only to cleanse the body and spirit of impurities, but also to prevent the likelihood that illness would attack the finely-tuned systems which operate in all of us. They relied on natural remedies containing herbs such as Mint, a powerful diuretic, and Sage, with its anti-inflammatory properties, to give tired bodies a much-needed boost.
The history books tell us that in the late 1300’s, the Queen of Hungary ordered what is regarded to be the first modern perfume in Europe. The resulting alcohol-based perfume, known as Hungary Water, contained distilled Rosemary, and was believed to be effective for treating gout and rejuvenating tired limbs.
Whilst gout may no longer be a common problem, winter often causes us to wrap up in the warmth and wallow in little luxuries which we know aren’t really good for us, but which fulfil a short-lived craving.
The classic combination of excessive alcohol intake, eating too many fatty foods and constant lack of sleep due to Christmas and New Year parties takes its toll on even the liveliest party animals amongst us, leading to dehydrated skin, dark circles under the eyes and that tell-tale bloated feeling. The crisp days of January bring with them the chance to sweep away these bad habits and replace them with something altogether healthier and more wholesome. Drinking plenty of water and eating regular light, calorie controlled meals with a high fruit, vegetable and fibre content goes a long way towards getting your body back on track. Just don’t overdo the “underindulgence” - why not try a delicious fruit smoothie or refreshing herbal tea instead of your usual cup of coffee at breakfast? After all, unsatisfying diets and relentless exercise regimes are unlikely to get you wanting to leap out of bed in a morning!
Restoring the balance
Celtic Herbal has the perfect products to provide a balance between cleansing the body and calming the mind. If you feel as though being back in the whirl of work and the stress is starting to get to you again, why not treat yourself to a little luxury which will leave you feeling great without breaking any of those all-important New Year’s Resolutions? If you find yourself tempted to ignore the early morning alarm, why not shower away those cobwebs and lather on one of our tantalisingly tingle-inspiring herbal soaps? For a fantastically fresh scrubbing session, choose our Mint Soap, which is guaranteed to clear away the fuzzy feeling you have when you first wake up. Alternatively, Seaweed Soap can help to repair the damage done during the festive season, soothing the skin and hydrating the body so that the natural balance is restored.
There’s no need to rack up the cost of a visit to the spa on your credit card this year, as you’ll find everything you need for a fraction of the price on our user-friendly website. 
Pay special attention to the extremities at this time of year, as the chances are that standingaround in endless queues and office parties, and theeffect of chilling wind on the face and hands, have stripped the moisture from these sensitive areas. Make sure you check out our range of Natural Facial products; start off with the pore-purging Organic Steam Facial, with its blend of Lavender, Chamomile, Marigold, Comfrey and Rose petals, then heal any unsightly blemishes with a Pink Clay and Geranium Face Mask. Whilst waiting for the mask to take effect, why not take a well-earned bath?
Celtic Herbal’s Organic Reviving Bath Blend is a classy combination of fresh antioxidant treats, and includes Rosemary - now you too can feel like a Hungarian queen! Our Detox Bath Oil does exactly as it suggests on the bottle! Lemon, Juniper, Grapefruit and Lavender oils come together to gently eliminate undesirable toxins from the system. Of course, you’ll want to ensure that you seal in as much moisture as possible once you’ve dried off. We have a trusty trio of soothing balms which do the job wonderfully; Honey and Lemon Lip Balm, Hand Balm with Frankincense and Orange, and the all-essential Peppermint, Eucalyptus and Lemongrass Foot Balm, all of which will leave you feeling sumptuously supple.
Take time
This January, why not promise yourself that this year really will be different for the all the right reasons? If, like most of us, you just never seem to have the time for “me-time”, you need to start thinking long-term of the benefits of living a little more healthily and balancing work and family commitments with those all-important moments where you close the bathroom door and slip into the soap suds undisturbed. To make sure you stick to your commitment, we’ve created the ideal bathtime companion – the Citrus Detox gift box, complete with Detox Bath Oil and natural Hand and Lip Balms. Sheer delight!
So, if you’ve got the urge to purge, why not check out our online offers before you go splashing out on that gym membership? With the 2.5% reduction in VAT off all our products, there has never been a better time to cleanse the body and lift the spirits!
About Us
The Celtic Herbal Magazine is produced by The Celtic Herbal Company Ltd, makers of high quality natural herbal soaps and skin care. If you'd like to see our range of handmade herbal products, including soaps high in essential oils, bath oils, sea salts for bathing, balms and facials plus gorgeous gift boxes for special occasions, you can visit us here at www.celtic-herbal.co.uk. We're looking forward to seeing you!