A Spa for Your Mom on Mother's Day - Special Tribute!

Mother’s Day Special Tribute
Hello, I am Dr. Sugar, your internet doctor – with a tribute to all Mother’s everywhere -Today is one of those occasions worthy of being celebrated daily to honor that special woman in our lives who nourished us in the womb and nurtured us through life – our Mother. Now that most of us are Moms (even Grandmas), we realize even more deeply how essential that bond was; and how tenuous when that wonderful person, our very first love is gone from our lives.

Isn’t it amazing how she cajoled, supported, challenged and sometimes even threatened us to be at our best? Mom read stories, kissed our cuts, laughed with us and was our best buddy until we found new, pint-sized best friends in school. She held our hand through various childhood illnesses until the time when it was our turn to comfort with similar ministrations. During our most headstrong moments we swore, “I’ll never be like my Mom” and found out soon enough that we are so like her, and proud of that fact! No matter how big we’ve grown, did she ever, truly let go?

Today, as moms ourselves, we guide our children, show them the myriad wonders the world has to offer, sport teeth marks when they are teething and suffer emotional ‘bruises’ during their angst-driven adolescent stage. We are impatient for them to grow up but bite back tears as we see them off on their first day at school.

The Mom who was always there for us deserves so much more than a perfunctory ‘I love you’ or handsomely-wrapped store-bought presents this Mother’s Day. Our concoctions will never be able to compete with Body Shop or Victoria’s Secret and was never intended to, but who cares? TLC (tender loving care) in strong doses doesn’t carry a price tag! Go ahead, take a break and celebrate this special day together with a sense of Zen-filled bonding. Relax and rejuvenate using common ingredients found at home. Do this with your own little girls and start a family ritual, a loving legacy to be handed down to their own offspring.

Mother’s Day Tips:
1.Before you even open your fridge or light the first scented candle, set the mood by playing music she loves. Nix the regular spa music in favor of the dear and familiar like Gershwin or even the Beatles if this is her cup of tea. Sip a bit of chamomile tea to relax you when visions of how she forbade you to play rock music or date your version of the ‘bad boy’ dare intrude into your consciousness.

2.Drink lots of ‘spa water’, a fruity infusion with a hint of herbs that can be taken hot or cold. Water, Mother Nature’s beauty secret hydrates, detoxifies and refreshes, beautifying you inside and out inexpensively.
1 pitcher of icy or hot water
1 cleaned, unpeeled and deseeded lemon, lime and orange sliced thinly crosswise
1 cucumber sliced thinly
½ thumb garlic gently crushed (remove after 5 minutes) or ginger powder (optional if you want the beneficial effects of a natural anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant agent)

Put a few sprigs of mint and berries when you freeze ice cubes for your icy drinks. The flavor is gradually enhanced and the drink looks even prettier reminding you of spring! This is your sugar-free, almost zero calorie healthy alternative to iced-teas and colas.

3.Exfoliate your way to radiant, supple skin by mixing the following into a smooth, gooey paste:
1 tbsp honey
¼ tsp fine granulated sugar or salt
1 tsp olive oil
Let Mom lie down and tell her to relax her facial muscles – squints, scowls even smiles are not allowed. Pat the mixture gently into her face and lightly massage upwards and outwards to evenly distribute he mixture. Avoid the papery, wrinkly area around the eyes. Leave this to Botox!

Rinse off after 15-30 minutes or before she dozes off. If skin is on the oily side, add 1 tbsp lemon juice to ¼ cup of fresh or evaporated milk to curdle it into yogurt-like consistency before applying as a facial mask. For wrinkle quick fix, stir in a table-spoon of uncooked oats into really cold egg-while and apply as a mask until skin feels taut.

4.For Facial Steaming that soothes sinuses as well as de-clogs skin pores, pour boiling water over
a bowl and add:
5-10 drops mint / eucalyptus oil
1-3 drops vanilla essence and/or lavender oil
You may sprinkle chamomile, basil or sage leaves for added aroma.

Enjoy the scented and decongesting vapors for 10-15 minutes. After steaming, gently pat off the face with cool and moistened washcloth to seal the pores. Finish off with a dollop of moisturizer or olive oil. Please do not do this if there is predisposition to asthma because strong odors can trigger an attack.

Having done all these for Mom on her special day, reward yourself with a good, old, soothing massage the following day!

“There is no need to go to India or anywhere to find peace. You will find that deep place of silence right in your own room, your garden or even your own bath tub.”
Elizabeth Kubler-Ross

I am Doctor Sugar and I want to wish you and your Mom the Best Mother’s Day ever!

To Your Total Wellness,
Dr. Sugar

Your own Community Doctor- Isn’t that Sweet!!