Pinecrest Natural Skincare & Holistic Therapies

18/11/2025

2 30pm slot has become available tomorrow. Also 12pm Friday. PM to book

17/11/2025

It’s not unusual to feel sleepy, heavy, or even emotionally drained after a reflexology session, and it’s actually a good sign that your body is responding.

Reflexology activates the parasympathetic nervous system - the “rest and digest” branch responsible for slowing the heart rate, lowering blood pressure, and triggering recovery processes. When the body shifts out of a chronic stress state (sympathetic dominance), it finally has permission to relax, repair, and rebalance.

That deep relaxation can sometimes feel like fatigue, especially if your system has been running on adrenaline or stress hormones for a long time. The tiredness isn’t a side effect. It’s a signal that your body is resetting its internal balance.

📚 Research supports this response:

Studies, including McVicar et al. (Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, 2007), show measurable reductions in heart rate, blood pressure, and anxiety levels following reflexology - clear indicators of parasympathetic activation.

A 2011 pilot study published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine found that reflexology sessions produced significant decreases in salivary cortisol (the body’s main stress hormone), reinforcing the link between reflexology and stress reduction.

Improvements in sleep quality and relaxation have been documented across multiple clinical settings, from cancer care to maternity wards, all pointing to the same physiological mechanism of rest and regulation.

💧 How to support your body afterward:

Drink water to help the body process metabolic by-products released during deep relaxation.

Avoid caffeine or alcohol immediately after your session to prolong the calm.

Rest if you can, even a short nap or quiet time helps integrate the benefits.

Feeling tired after reflexology is simply your body exhaling and catching up on the rest it’s been asking for. 😴

16/11/2025

Come and meet us at a Christmas Craft Fair and discover our range of natural skincare, handpoured soy candles/wax melts, soaps, gifts and a range of giftsets curated to make the perfect gift this holiday season 🎅

We also have some gift vouchers available if you are interested ✨

The Christmas Markets we will be attending this year are:

Sunday 23rd November in Letterkenny Community Centre

Sunday 30th November at the Letterkenny Annual Christmas Craft, Gift & food Fair in the Radisson Blu Hotel, Letterkenny

We hope to see you there 💕

Moira x

07/11/2025

Hi everyone,
Just thought I’d pop on and explain some of the benefits of our natural skincare for anyone who is curious or new to this page❤️

Here I talk about our Skin Soothing balms (dry/irritated skin), Baby Balms (dribble/nappy rash etc), our Magnesium infused Body Butters (sleep, muscle recovery & more) and our new Organic Wild Yam cream which is good for hormone balance during perimenopause/menopause.

We also have some new additions to our natural skincare range including Organic Hand Creams and Natural Moisturisers (and lots more ideas to come) which I will do videos on in the future!

Thank you for supporting a small Irish business, which also helps support my family ❤️

All the best, Moira x

04/11/2025

Introducing our new Organic Hand Creams! ✨

Enriched with Oat extracts to nourish and protect your skin and rosehip, sea buckthorn and borage oils providing essential fatty acids, Vitamins A,C & E as well as antioxidants. These natural hand creams are beautifully scented with essential oils (with more variants to come 👀)

Made with the finest natural ingredients and essential oils these moisturising hand creams will nourish and protect your hands throughout the day, naturally 💕

02/11/2025

This week’s availability is shown in the photo below 💕

Treat yourself to some well deserved relaxation and choose from any of the treatments listed below and if you require a time outside these, please contact me and I will do my best to facilitate you.

✨Treatments Available:
- Reflexology
- Upper Body Massage
- Hot Stone Massage
- Facial Massage
- Reiki
- Hypnotherapy
- Combinations (just ask!)
- Havening (stress, anxiety, phobias etc)
- Peri/Menopause Holistic Consultation
- Optimum Fertility Natural Health Program

Look after your body and mind with a range of our complementary therapies here at Pinecrest, based in Milford, Co. Donegal. With many years of experience and fully certified, I am able to offer treatments especially tailored to your needs. Our combination treatments are very popular, for example: back massage & facial, and reiki & reflexology. Curious about the benefits of each treatment or want to know about possible combinations? Feel free to send me a message!

We also offer holistic treatments as an approach to emotional issues (stress, anxiety, phobias etc) through Havening Techniques and Hypnotherapy. These can also be paired up with a massage to look after your body as well as your mind. I am also a certified Menopause Wellness Practitioner and can offer one-to-one consultations (online &in-person) on how to approach this chapter of life from a holistic/natural approach.

If you have any questions, please feel free to get in touch! Send a message on Facebook or contact me on 086 086 6662

All the best, Moira 💕

30/10/2025

🧠 World Stroke Day | Reflexology & Recovery

A stroke can have a profound impact on both body and mind. Alongside essential medical care and rehabilitation, some people recovering from stroke also turn to reflexology as a way to support their wellbeing.

Reflexology is a complementary therapy involving gentle pressure on specific areas of the feet, hands or face. While it is not a treatment for stroke itself, emerging research suggests it may:
✨ Help reduce anxiety and stress
🌿 Support relaxation and emotional wellbeing
🌙 Improve sleep quality and overall comfort
💓 Promote a sense of balance and calm during recovery

Many stroke survivors experience heightened tension, fatigue and anxiety - factors that can make rehabilitation more challenging. Reflexology may help ease some of these symptoms, supporting a more holistic recovery journey.

⚠️ Important reminders:
• Always seek medical clearance before starting reflexology after a stroke.
• Work with a qualified practitioner who can adapt treatment to your needs (e.g., mobility challenges, sensation changes, or spasticity).
• Avoid treatment if there is active DVT, open wounds or foot infection.

Reflexology works best when used alongside, not instead of, medical and rehabilitative care. For many people, it can offer a gentle space for calm and comfort during a time of major change. 💜

27/10/2025

Coming soon 👀

We are delighted to announce our newest editions to our natural skincare range: Organic Hand Creams!

Made with the finest natural ingredients and essential oils these moisturising hand creams will nourish and protect your hands throughout the day, naturally 💕

Keep an eye out on our socials to find out when they’re available (currently making finishing touches on the listings)

24/10/2025

With the days getting shorter remember to pamper yourself, cosy up and relax🍁🕯️

This weekend we would love to offer you 10% of your next order using code AUTUMN25

This includes our certified natural skincare, handmade candles & soaps, gifts, vouchers & more!

⏰ Ends Tuesday 11:30pm

Thank you, all the best,
Moira x

Natural Skincare formulators, Natural Remedies and Suppliments. Menopause wellness practitioner, Advanced Reflexology, Holistic Fertility Specialist, Hypnotherapy, Havening Techniques, Reiki, Optimum Fertility Program, Massage. Our range of natural skincare is suitable for all & can help with variou...