The History of Argan Oil in Morocco

Argan oil has long been used for food, skin, hair, and healing salves. In the 20th century, its remarkable benefits drew global attention. To protect both tradition and ecosystem, women-led cooperatives emerged—supporting fair wages, literacy, and sustainable harvesting. The argan forest’s cultural practices are now internationally recognized, helping preserve both heritage and biodiversity. Ancient Roots READ MORE

Turkey- Spices and Essential Oils

Turkey is one of the most beautiful countries to visit.  It takes a 12 hour plane ride from Washington DC to Istanbul, the capital of Turkey. It is a sensory overload for sure.  From colors, textures, scents to taste.  Also known for its most appetizing cuisines in the world,  Turkish food and culture displays a READ MORE

Philippines – Exhale and Immersing With Nature

Mindshift: Pushing Beyond Your Limits Women’s Retreat was unlike any other women’s immersion retreat. Immersion comes from the Latin word immersion, a stem of immerser meaning “to plunge in, dip into, sink, submerge,” from assimilated form of in- “into, in, on, upon.”  This retreat was an immersion in nature incorporating the five elements (metal, wood, READ MORE

Travel Blog: Bali, Indonesia

    TRAVEL BLOG: Bali St. Michael & Company recently visited the island of Bali in Indonesia. Bali is the province of Indonesia and is located in the westernmost part of the Lesser Sunda Islands and 2,232 mi².     Denpasar is the provincial capital 4,317,404 people are living in Bali that is excluding foreigners. READ MORE

Travel Blog: Turkish Baths/Hammam

Aside from exploring the food, spices and essential oils in Turkey, came to check out the Hammam.  Massage therapy books tell us that the history of spa treatments dates back as far as 5,000 years ago.  The  hammam in Turkey is one of the first and oldest massage therapy modalities We visited one of the READ MORE

Travel Blog: Turkey

St. Michael & Company Spa and Wellness visited the country of Turkey.  Turkey sits in the borders of Asia and partly Europe . A vibrant and colorful country, located in the crossroads of the eastern Mediterranean.    At heart of the city of Istanbul, you will find the famous Blue Mosque, the New Mosque, the READ MORE

Travel Blog: Greece

Happy Valentine’s Day from Athens where Valentine’s day originated. Derived from the Roman god of desire and affection, Cupid and his ancient Greek counterpart Eros. Eros was the godly child of Aphrodite. St. Michael & Company  Spa and Wellness traveled this year to Greece.   The country knows for its ancient history enriched with history and READ MORE

Travel Blog: India

From Catholicism to Hinduism, St. Michael & Company traveled to India.  India is diverse in food, language, religion, arts, and traditions. We visited the cities of Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, and Varanasi.  Our trip can be described as a pilgrimage of healing– profound, colorful, in-depth with meditation – Namaste- peace. Indian people are very religious.  You READ MORE

Travel Blog: Jordan – Dead Sea Water

DEAD SEA WATER / HEALING PROPERTIES – May 2018, we joined the Jerusalem Pilgrimage and traveled through Aman, Jordan. We had the chance to experience swimming in the Dead Sea -Jordan side. According to Bible ancient stories, the Dead Sea is famous for its healing properties because it contains many minerals and its salt properties READ MORE

Travel Blog: Jerusalem – Mediterranean Cuisine

  In 2018, we traveled to Jerusalem explore the history of healing from the Biblical perspective and  the use of aromatherapy such as essential oils and resins.  During our trip, we had an opportunity to explore   Mediterranean   and “sunny” dishes, Mizrahi cuisine is often light, with an emphasis on salads, stuffed vegetables and vine leaves, READ MORE

Travel Blog: Petra is a UNESCO World Heritage Site

  Petra located at Aman in  Jordan is known as the center of ancient trade routes between Arabia, Egypt, and the Mediterranean Sea over 2000 years ago.   It was capital city for trade of the powerful and wealthy during the ancient times.  It was a major destination of foreign trades of the most exotic essential READ MORE

Hot Stone Massage

HOT STONE MASSAGE Description: Hot stone massage. Warm and soothing hot stone massage is ideal for people who have muscle pain and tension or who simply want to relax. This type of therapeutic massage eases muscle tension, improves blood flow, and relieves pain by using heated stones. Treatment Goals: Muscle Pain, Stress Relieve, Relaxation Indication: READ MORE

Let’s Make Candles

  For centuries since the beginning of time, candles have been used for gatherings, religious ceremonies, holiday preparations and aesthetic decorations. Candles come in different colors, shapes and scents. Candle making is part of aromatherapy. There are so many variety of candle waxes : Paraffin Wax. Paraffin wax, also known as straight wax, Soy Wax  Palm Wax. READ MORE

Chemical Composition: Aromatherapy Effects on Blood Pressure

  A study was conducted in October 2010 published in the National Center of Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine titled “Effects of Aromatherapy on Changes in the Autonomic Nervous System, Aortic Pulse Wave Velocity and Aortic Augmentation Index in Patients with Essential Hypertension.” The study created two groups to undergo a clinical trial using READ MORE

Muscles In Running

Running is a great exercise to improve health and well-being. A couple of essential muscles work in running, so it is important to focus on preparation, nutrition, hydration, conditioning, and recovery after each race. Essential oils can help those tired muscles during recovery. Muscle Tiredness Relieve Oil blend is anti-inflammatory and relaxes tiring and aching READ MORE

Study Shows Essential Oil Application for Fluid Retention

A case study was conducted in 2016 by a registered nurse following the National Association for Holistic guidelines demonstrated the efficacy of the clinical aromatherapy blend in reducing edema over three weeks. While the study needed research, it showed promising results. Fluid retention is often associated with edema or swelling. It can be caused by READ MORE

Daily Essentials- Turmeric

Turmeric is one of the most common root herbs in the Philippines and is now getting its attention in the Western world for its anti carcinogentic properties or cancer fighting therapeutic properties. CHEMICAL COMPOSITION According to a study conducted at the Stephen Austin University, Turmeric has at least 235 compounds, primarily phenolic compounds and terpenoids READ MORE

Daily Essentials: Lemongrass

Lemongrass is an herb that is native to the Philippines. Philippine local farmers such as Piknikan Garden in Pangasinan grow lemongrass. Lemongrass is also a common ingredient in Filipino cooking and teas. In a 2015 study,  it suggests that drinking lemongrass tea infusions daily for 30 days can increase hemoglobin concentration, packed cell volume, and READ MORE

DAILY ESSENTIALS: Sweet Orange Oil

Latin name: Citrus sinensisCountry of origin: PortugalPart of the plant: RindsExtraction method: Cold pressedMain biochemical components*: Limonene, delta-3-care, linaloolProperties: Antiseptic digestive, sedative, stimulant (digestive and lymphatic) tonic, antidepressant. Why Use Physical uses: Poor circulation, digestion, water retention, constipation, infections (bacterial, fungal), lymphatic support. Skin care uses Dull skin, oily skin, puffy skin, dry skin, wrinkles, rough skin, poor circulation, minor READ MORE

DAILY ESSENTIALS: Lemon

Latin name: Citrus limonumCountry of origin: ItalyPart of the plant: RindsObtained by: Cold pressedMain biochemical components*: Limonene, beta-pinene, gamma-terpineneProperties: Antibacterial, antirheumatic, antiseptic, antidepressant, antifungal, diuretic, insecticide, tonic. Why Use Physical uses: Infections (bacterial, fungal, viral), sinusitis, colds, flu, sore throat, poor circulation, immune support. Skin care uses: Congested skin, oily skin, blemishes, minor skin infections (bacterial, fungal, viral), imbalanced oil production, warts, skin READ MORE

How to Use Essential Oils

Essential oils are powerful and potent. Follow safety guideline in using essential oils. Essential oils must be for external use only. Always dilute before use. Keep out of reach of children. Avoid eyes and other sensitive areas. Keep away from direct flame – essential oils are flammable. If pregnant or nursing, consult a physician before READ MORE

Daily Essentials : Peppermint

Peppermint Latin name: Mentha piperitaCountry of origin: USAPart of the plant: Leaves, stems, flowersExtraction method: Steam distilledMain biochemical components*: Menthol, menthone, isomenthoneProperties: Analgesic, anti-inflammatory, decongestant, stimulant, antispasmodic, astringent. Why Use Physical uses: Poor digestion, indigestion, nausea, stomach aches, motion sickness, respiratory congestion, sinusitis, coughs, infections (bacterial, viral), muscle aches, muscle spasms, sciatica, stiff joints, menstrual cramps, headaches, feeling over-heated, nerve pain, sluggishness, READ MORE

Daily Essentials: Essential Oils for Dengue

Background: Dengue (pronounced DENgee) fever is a painful, debilitating mosquito-borne disease caused by any one of four closely related dengue viruses. These viruses are related to the viruses that cause West Nile infection and yellow fever. According to Center for Disease Control, an estimated 400 million dengue infections occur worldwide each year, with about 96 READ MORE

DAILY ESSENTIALS: BENEFITS OF SUNFLOWER OIL

Sunflower Seed Oil is one of most frequently used carrier oil. There are so many benefits that Sunflower Oil can offer most especially for skin conditions. It as anti inflammatory, anti bacterial, antifungal, anticancer, cardio protective and dermoprotective. Healing Benefits (Source: Therapeutic Anti-inflammatory – – Sunflower has anti inflammatory benefits due to its chemical position READ MORE