Back in the spring, our founder Kim Matheson-Shedrick asked mySpaShop partners to suggest products and services that they felt could help Kim’s sister-in-law, Kate, who was undergoing treatment for Breast Cancer. The response to Kim was overwhelming and heartening. Suggestions included natural sleep rituals & aids, visual stimulation, soft and cozy clothing, peaceful baths, inspiring literature, music & sound, cures for dry and damaged ski, and diet support.

With October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Kim wanted to share these wonderful responses in the hopes that it may offer relief and support to other women who may be going through this healing journey. To our thoughtful partners, our deepest thanks for the outpouring of great ideas and support.   Please read on…

B. Kamins
I have spoken with Ben Kaminsky about Kim’s sister and he recommends our Therapeutic range as the ideal choice for someone recovering from chemo therapy. Mainly the Therapeutic Anti-Aging Moisturizer would be the most reparative and restorative treatment for her.  – Jacqueline Elman

Berjang usa, Inc.
I suggest that Kate find a Reiki practitioner.  Reiki is energy work which can ease pain, nausea and many other ailments and is especially great after a session of chemo.  It has been proven to aid naturally in the healing process.  – Cheri Hecker

Chella Professional Skin Care
The Chella line has several creams and lotions that are very hydrating.  Most notably the Evening Crema is a very thick, rich formula that should help very dry skin.  Not to mention its peptide based so two applications a day should help reduce signs of aging, like fine lines!
Our Hydrating Face & Body Lotion, also a peptide formula, is a lighter emollient which can be used for all over hydration.  Both are filled with all sorts of goodies like vitamins, botanicals, and antioxidants.

I have come across a book that I think could have a profound difference in potentially helping Kate, it is called “Fit for Life” The reason I think it might be able to help is understanding that the reasons for most cancers are environmental and yes believe it or not the food we eat.  In one section of the book they detail several comprehensive studies that were done with Cats and mice where they feed a control group of each nothing but cooked food and the others nothing but raw or live food, meaning not cooked.  Within 1-3 generations the group that ate nothing but cooked food helped developed cancers and tumors and become infertile.  The group that ate live food had no ill health effects.  Bottom line FOOD is a major factor in our health. Without rewriting the book in this e-mail,  I would encourage Kate to read this book.  I recommend the copy put out about 25 years ago. I have faithfully began following the book and without dieting have lost 25 pounds,  I know that is not the issue, but it shows how powerful the concepts of the book are for healthy living. – Chris Kolodziejski

Energy Muse
We are sorry to hear about your sister-in-law Kate, but I feel that reaching out to your healing community is such a great gift for her.
I suggest that she wear the Energy Muse Journey Bracelet for Breast Cancer Awareness.  New this month, it is symbolic of ones journey that represents a continual moving through the ebbs and flow of emotions which range from darkness and light.  – Timmi Jandro

Essence of Vali
Surviving cancer and the treatments takes a lot of courage and fortitude.  You deserve to always treat yourself with the utmost care and now even more so….– Valerie Bennis
Read more from Valerie’s “Soothing Sleep Bedtime Ritual”

Gilden Tree
I think the best thing we can offer is our Un-fragranced Lotion, Hand Cream, Cleansing Gel, and Healing Hand & Cuticle salve.  We have had friends and customers going through chemo or radiation therapy find relief with these products, maybe because they contain a lot of Certified Organic Aloe Vera.  I don’t know if she is sensitive to scent, but in case she is or becomes so, I’d stick to the un-fragranced products. – Ann Thariani  

Global Beauty Group
Our deepest, heartfelt prayers are with Kate and her family. As a cancer survivor myself, the following really helped my skin during chemotherapy.

1. Lavender Essential Oil is a godsend. Use it in a candle diffuser to infuse the air with the calming benefits or add 4-6 drops in a warm bath prior to sleep, as it is also a phenomenal sleep aid. I even used it for my son when he was teething as a baby.  In the “pure” form, it is anti viral and anti inflammatory and can be used directly on the skin that may be suffering from the chemo. 
Tip: To test the “purity” of any essential oil. Add one drop of oil to a sheet of white paper. If the drop evaporates without leaving an oily residue, it is pure.  If it does leave an oily residue- it is either a synthetic or blended oil- not pure.
Please Try: TARA Lavender Single Note Essential Oil

2. Keep organic steel cut oats cooked and ready to apply in either compresses (use loose weave gauze) or directly on the skin affected. It has unbelievable wound healing properties, due to the beta glucan present. The beta glucan has been isolated and is used at burn centers worldwide for this purpose.

3. Use organic grapeseed oil (available at most health food stores), as a deep hydrator after the bath (can add two drops of lavender as well for even more benefit). It is BioMimetic to the skin and will be accepted as a healing balm. Calendula Tinctures work fantastic as well, but smell very strong, which can upset the stomach if experiencing nausea and vomiting due to chemo.

These are very simple cures but very effective. Of course, plenty of rest is important too, though can be challenging. – Chandra Bredel; Director of Training and Education

Judith Jackson
We are truly sorry to hear of your sister-law's season of discontent. I do have suggestions of aromatherapy self-treatment that have worked for friends/customers using the following products to assuage the ravages of chemo and radiation. – Judith Jackson

•    Renewal Face Essence
•    Serenity Body Essence
•    Lavender Lift Facial
•    Alkalol Gargle (available at your local drug store)

Just Good for You
Our products are not specifically made for such kind of treatment, though we received great response for our Pearl Milk Cream Bath –It's all natural, with whole milk cream, finely ground freshwater pearls and wheat proteins, combined with the most relaxing fragrance of wild, freshly cut roses. It soothes the sensitive, injured skin and relaxes the senses. We recommend Kate try it on a damp cloth or for best results, in a full bath. It is in powder form and is best mixed with warm water.

Also, our all natural Jasper & Wild Rose Body Oil is a very light oil. As mentioned before, we got great response from clients with very sensitive or injured skin.

Both of these products can be found in our Luxury Gift Spa Set – Bettina Garber

Kashwére
Having a family history of cancer and an aunt who was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 32, I understand exactly what you all are going through.  A few things….My aunt was never supposed to survive this horrible disease being the cancer spread to 10 lymph nodes.  It’s been over 25 years and she is still here today!   Please pass my message on to Kate because no matter what the doctor’s say… there is always hope.  She needs to remain positive.

From personal experience as well as feedback from those in similar situations…. there is nothing better than Kashwere to make a person comfortable and to feel good during these trying times especially!  Kashwere blankets, throws and socks, will help to ensure comfort through this difficult time. –Merri Gleckler

Kerstin Florian
To soothe her mind on those difficult days and hopefully create some type of peaceful relaxation, we recommend the following products.  – The Kerstin Florian Team
•    Calm Mind:  To calm the mind and spirit
•    Organic Harmony Oil: To soothe dry skin and balance
•    Neroli Water: To uplift the spirit and hydrate the skin

Naturopatch of Vermont
Naturopatch Stress & Sleep patches will help Kate with sleep and to reduce stress.

My other recommendation is that she consider a raw & living foods, diet and lifestyle. Hippocrates Health Institute is a great source for information. The group is well known for the amazing healing & transformation that happens with their patients/visitors – many with serious life threatening illnesses.  –Julie Dokas
  
Physician Endorsed, Inc.
For protecting her sensitive skin, we suggest one of our hats such as OhLaLa and a fun pair of sunglasses like Animal Attraction.  She may want to stick with the hat with the soft terry sweatband, versus the adjustable string tie.  The soft terry will be helpful if she is receiving treatments, but if she is wearing a wig, then any of them will do.  –Angi Williams

Sleep Garden
Well I can tell you that Sleep Garden's zMusic is used in many hospitals and wellness centers for just such a situation - it is wonderful for reducing anxiety.  I found Lance Armstrong's first book to be both a good story and a powerful testament to keeping the faith and not taking “no” as an answer regardless of source. I found it very empowering. –Robert deStefano

Soundings of the Planet
It is our pleasure to share our music and I hope it will help the healing process.  I would suggest any one of our “healing” titles.  Some of the top picks would be Chakra Healing, Healing Waters, Healing Sanctuary, Healing Dreams, Classical Healing…just to name a few. 
- Autumn Manion

StevenVictorMD
We are so sorry to hear of Kate having to go through all the pain and discomfort that comes with chemotherapy. Hopefully, her body will respond well to the treatment and she'll never have to do it again. Most importantly, she has a great attitude and sense of humor and that is sometimes the most valuable tool in getting healthy again.

Dr. Victor has worked with many patients undergoing treatment and he and his nurses agree that Eucerin or Aquaphor in the ointment or heavy cream form (available at most drug stores), work the best for dry, irritated skin.  Both are excellent moisturizers and have very little added in the way of fragrances so as not to further irritate the skin. Some people find the ointments to be sticky, but when I am really dry that is usually what I use, just tell her to put one some soft flannel pajamas.

Steven Victor’s Miracle Serum also works very well on irritated or delicate skin.  Like the others, it has no added fragrances or chemicals and it is a wonderful hydrator and protector for the face, neck, elbows and knees (or anywhere, really). We use it in the office after lasers treatments, so must be extremely gentle and soothing. –Anna Rhodes

Tees for Change
I suggest Kate look into the Hippocrates Health Institute. I have read so many stories of people who have been healed from so many diseases, including cancer, after undergoing their program. Their focus is on raw foods.

Also, Crazy Sexy Cancer - This is the website of a woman, Kris Carr, who was diagnosed with terminal cancer and was told she only had two months to survive. She took charge of her health and is now still living five years later. – Andreea Ayers

Of course, our LIVE COURAGEOUSLY tee might help to lift her spirits!

Universal Companies, Inc.
As I read your email, I was touched by the similarities in our situations.  My mother passed away 10 years ago, after a 14 year battle with breast cancer, which she fought valiantly with strength and grace.  For the last 4 years, my beloved sister-in-law (who I also love as my own sister) has been fighting an advanced stage of ovarian cancer, and, with the example that my mother provided, has fought her disease with a positive mental attitude, a diet consisting of juicing and raw foods, and moderate intervention by modern medicine (which by the way, wrote her off long before it was her time).  My sister-in-law Vanessa is nothing short of a walking miracle. 

Having also been the Spa Lady of the family, I have faced similar challenges of what I could possibly do to help her with the terrible side effects of this disease.  The entrepreneur in me actually fantasized about creating an on-line resource of products developed especially for the sick.

We suggest that a Care Basket stocked with some of our soothing products will help comfort Kate during this difficult time of healing, Peacock Alley Ivory Chelour Robe & Treatment Throw, Spa Moments Herbal Neck Wrap, a soapstone diffuser with ESS® Relaxation Essential Oil Blend, Spa Moments CD – Peaceful Reflections, and a bottle of Masque Apothocary Calm Renewal with Aloe & Chamomile Natural Clay Mask.

One last thought – I’d like to bring your attention to something our company developed in our quest to further breast cancer research.  Please visit www.thepinkglove.com and please recommend this to all spa professionals (or anyone who would wear vinyl gloves for their profession).   We are donating $5.50 for every box of gloves that are sold, and we have already donated close to $70,000.  City of Hope is on the cusp of finding a cure for this horrible disease, and I believe it will happen in our life time if we help raise funds for their ongoing research. – Marti Morenings, Founder & CEO

Yoga Myst Global Products, LLC
Yoga! Yoga! Yoga is wonderful for the Heart (as well as mind/body/spirit). – Choyia Doll Fraley
Yoga Myst

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