Aromatherapy for the Mind, Body and Spirit: Part 2, Your Nose Knows

Essential oils have been used in perfumery for thousands of years. The ancient Egyptians, East Indians and Hebrews used them. Perfumes were used in bathing, anointing, ritual and as incense. Plant essences were used primarily in perfumes up until the early 1900's, at which point synthetic perfumes began to be developed. These chemical fragrances were relatively cheap to create which lead to the decline of natural perfumery.

Aromatherapy effects of dynamic natural plant essential oils cannot be duplicated by man-made chemical fragrance oils.   This is because Aromatherapy is a branch of plant medicine that has nothing to do with synthetic fragrances. However, because the health-promoting properties of true Aromatherapy are desirable, many companies use cheaper chemical fragrance oils that do NOT carry these benefits, but will mislead customers (knowingly or unknowingly) by using the terms aromatherapy or aroma to make it seem like they are the same thing. Some companies will even call a product ‘herbal’ if it has a lab created fragrance.   In order for a product to have genuine aromatherapy properties is must be made with unadulterated plant essences. Products labeled for example as "Lavender Fragrance Oil" or "Lavender Oil" you may assume are synthetics. A product made with Lavender essential oil will be labeled as such.

How can you tell if you are smelling a pure essential oil product or natural perfume? There are various ways to test an undiluted oil or essential oil for purity, but when it comes to diluted oils in body or or home fragrance products your nose is also a fine judge. When you smell a product made with pure essential oils you should feel drawn to inhale deeply. In contrast when smelling a chemical substitute you may feel like you want to immediately cease inhalation or even hold your breath. Just think of a trip down laundry or home fragrance aisle at the supermarket, which is often overwhelming for people even without chemical sensitivities. Using personal body products with chemical fragrances such as these may contribute to stress on the liver and development of chemical sensitivities over time.

In addition it is noteworthy that certain plant scents cannot be stabilized. Natural perfumery expert Mandy Aftel notes in her book Essence and Alchemy that following florals cannot be produced naturally: Freesia, Honeysuckle, Violet, Tulip, Lily, Gardenia, Heliotrope, Orchid, Lilac, and Lily of the Valley. Also you may find the following fruity 'flavor oils' in various lip balms, but I can assure you they are not essential oils. These are Cherry, Watermelon, Apple, Raspberry, etc. Citrus fruits flavors however can be condensed from collection of the essential oils from outer peel.

 This article was written by Cory Trusty of Aquarian Bath, who creates Natural perfumes made with pure essential oils or other plant based ingredients...never including chemical fragrance or flavor oils.  Her Mandarin Perfume is pictured below.

Part 1 of this article can be read here.

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Aromatherapy For The Mind, Body And Spirit: Part 1 Introduction To Essential Oils

Aromatherapy is a branch of herbal medicine which involves the therapeutic use of plant essences (essential oils).  Essential oils are most often concentrated from plants by distillation. These essential oils have specific effects on mood and the emotions when their scent is carried from the nose/olfactory system to limbic system also known as the 'emotional brain.' Essential oils such as Rosemary and Peppermint have even been shown to speed up synaptic transmission in the brain.  The therapeutic effects of dynamic natural plant essences simply cannot be duplicated by man-made and cheaply manufactured chemical fragrance oils.

Essential oils must always be diluted to a safe level.  Two and a half percent is generally considered a safe level for massage oils, however, all essential oils are not save at the same levels.  For example, one popular essential oil is Ylang Ylang, pronounced Ee-lang Ee-lang.  This essential oil is used in natural perfumery as well as aromatherapy. The Ylang yYang plant is pictured, here. Ylang ylang is a heavenly floral, which also has properties of calming the nervous system, relieving insomnia and depression, and acting as an aphrodisiac.  Ylang Ylang essential oil is safe for use at only 0.8% on skin due to possibility of sensitization.

Lavender is considered one of the safest essential oils.  A simple recipe for a aromatherapy massage oil is 100 mLs of grapeseed oil  and up to 50 drops (2.5%) of Organic or Wild-harvested Lavender essential oil. Lavender is a very calming, refreshing and balancing essential oil.

Many essential oils also have anti microbial and anti oxidant properties.  Eucalyptus and Tea Tree are two other very safe essential oils.  These specific essential oils that can be used in a balm can help fight the virus that causes cold sores.

If you would like to learn more about essential oils, their properties and how to use them safely, Robert Tisserand is an excellent resource.  Robert is a leader in the field of Aromatherapy, down to earth, and offers reliable safety information based on scientific and clinical research.  Also Organic essential oils, which are considered therapeutic grade, can be found at Mountain Rose Herbs.






~ This introduction to Aromatherapy was written by Cory Trusty of Aquarian Bath.  Two of the most popular Aromatherapy Roll-Ons in her product line are Mental Clarity Aromatherapy Roll-On and an Immune Assistance Aromatherapy Roll-On.

Part 2 of this article can be read here.






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Aromatherapy On The Go

 There are many different forms of aromatherapy on the market these days. Between the use of candles, of oils or tarts in a burner, incense, or diffusers, you have many options to choose from.  But, all of those are meant to be used in your home/apartment/office.  Now, there is a great way to be able to enjoy an instant aromatherapy treatment anywhere you are, anytime that you want/need one.

Aromatherapy necklaces are the perfect way to carry your treatments with you wherever you go.  The pendants on these necklaces are actually bottles.  You just have to fill them with the appropriate oils and you are good to go.  Attached to the screw top of each bottle is a wand.   You can use the wand to apply the oil wherever you need to.  If you don’t want to apply any oil, you can just run the bottle under your nose for a quick treatment.

The preferred method of using these is by using an essential oil mixed with a carrier oil.  The most common carrier oils are cold pressed vegetable oils like olive oil or avocado oil, but some nut oils, like almond oil or sunflower oil, will work as well.  If you are going to apply this to your skin, please make sure it is an oil you are not allergic to! 

Depending on which essential oil you use, you will want to use either a 2:1 or 3:1 dilution (with the carrier oil being the larger portion).  Essential oils are very strong, and should never be applied directly to the skin.  They need to be diffused into a carrier oil.

Now, to choose what sort of necklace to wear, and what kind of oils to use, the first thing you need to decide on is what you want the treatment for.  Gemstones and essential oils both have healing properties.  You will want to choose a stone and an oil that both work towards accomplishing the same basic goal, whether it be clearer thinking, simple relaxation, a boost of confidence, or stress relief.

Here is some examples:

Tourmaline is believed to help achieve calmness, balance, focus and self-assurance.  If this is what you would want in your necklace, then you would need to choose an oil that also worked for promoting those same things.  You could use this with sandalwood oil, since sandalwood is good for relieving anxiety, fatigue, grief, insecurity, stress.  This combination should help you get through a tough work day, a stressful family meeting, even help calm you before an important job interview.

Amber is believed to protect you from negativity and promote attractiveness and energy.    You could pair this with a lavender oil, since lavender is good for relieving anxiety, depression, irritability, panic, or stress.  You could use these two together to pick you up before an important presentation at work, to keep you up and focused during a craft fair, on a first date, meeting the potential in-laws...anytime you just need a shot of confidence.

Now, what if you aren’t currently a practitioner of aromatherapy or find it all just too confusing.  Well, there are other uses for these necklaces.

Perfume - you can simply fill these with your favorite perfume, and carry it around with you at all times.  Face it, your clutch purse is prime real estate.  If you can carry one less thing in there, the better.  Work the necklace into your evening attire, and you can carry your perfume with you that way.  Use the wand to apply the perfume to your wrists, behind your ears, wherever you need a quick touch-up.

Prayer/Wishing - The mouths on many of these bottle are big enough to slip a piece of rolled up paper into.  Is there someone special you want to keep in your thoughts?  Someone who is no longer with us who you always want to remember or memorialize?  A secret wish/desire that no one else knows about?  Well, whatever it is, write it on a small slip of paper and place it in the bottle.  Now, you have that wish/thought/prayer/desire with you at all times, and are carrying it close to your heart. 

Necklace - When all else fails, you don’t really need to carry anything inside the pendant if you don’t want to.  These can be used as simple gemstone necklaces with large, bold silver pendants.  There is nothing wrong with that either.

These necklaces have multiple uses.  One of them is right for you.  You can find the ones pictured here, and many others by visiting my website.


Enjoy!
~ Giani







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Essential Oils: Cold Relief

We continue our series on Essential Oils.  This week Karley Ziegler Mott discusses cold relief and shares some of her all natural recipes with us!

We have been discussing the use of Essential Oils the past couple of weeks in Aromatherapy. Last week we discussed ways to relax and relieve stress. Today, I would like to talk about easing the symptoms of colds and congestion through Aromatherapy.

I am going to share with you two great recipes to treat common symptoms such as stuffy and runny nose, congestion, cough, post nasal drip, etc.

Aromatherapy Milk Bath:

Today, we're going to indulge in a soothing bath treatment to help you with cold symptoms

When I'm in need of some R & R, I like to enjoy a milk bath. My favorite when I am feeling under the weather with a cold, congestion, or flu-like symptoms is my "decongestant" milk bath, which can be made in a large jar and refrigerated, or in small jars for one treatment. You can use mason jars, canning jars, or any clean and dry jar. Rinse out those plastics and feel free to reuse it to make this as well.

Why

a milk bath? Milk contains lactic acid, a form of alpha hydroxy acid (AHA). It helps to gently exfoliate the skin, and milk will also soften and nourish.

I like to use aromatherapy as much as I can to treat symptoms of stress and illness. It is being used more and more by alternative health practitioners to treat stress when used as a complementary therapy with traditional Western medicine. Of course, I believe in going to the doctor regular and in vaccinations to prevent illness, but I take a holistic approach along with traditional medicine.

This will fill a 4 ounce jar:

Start with 1/4 cup of goat's milk (you can buy Meyenberg Goat's Milk in many grocery stores or natural food grocery stores right in the refrigerated section. I really prefer the fresh version as opposed to powder. Powdered goat's milk doesn't work as well, in my opinion, as the fresh.

You can also use organic whole milk or buttermilk.

I then use 1/8 cup of steeped peppermint or chamomile tea. You can skip this and just use milk if you don't have any handy.

Then add in some fresh or dried peppermint. I use enough to fill a teaspoon. You can use more or less.

Add in about 15 drops of peppermint essential oil, 15 drops of eucalyptus essential oil, and 10 drops of lemon essential oil. All are available at Mountain Rose Herbs or at your local natural foods store. Locally, Wegmans even has most of these in the Nature's Marketplace section.

Gently mix these with a wooden spoon and pour into your jar. You will most likely have room to add more milk before you put the top on.

I let this steep for a few hours. I then pour it under running hot water in the tub & light a couple of candles to soak away my cold symptoms.

This blend will store in the fridge for a couple days.

When you're ready to settle in for the night, I recommend using this homemade congestion relief balm:

Just use this as you would Vick's. It is especially effective when you rub it into your feet and cover with cotton socks. Do not put in your nose or mouth or near other mucous membranes.

This will make enough for about a 1 ounce jar, give or take a bit either way depending on spillage (which I often do).

4 teaspoons of Grated Beeswax (I use a cheese grater for this)

2 t. Shea Butter

8 t. Coconut Oil

2 t. Sweet Almond Oil

Essential Oils Needed: Eucalyptus, Rosemary, Lavender, Tea Tree, Sweet Orange

Note: If you do not have these supplies, read on. You can use cocoa butter or mango butter in exchange for shea. As for the oils, you can substitute rice bran, sunflower, safflower, soybean, olive, etc. Hemp Seed and Grapeseed are nice, too.

Melt the beeswax and oils over low to medium heat in a saucepan. Most recipes say you need a double boiler. You really do not to make this project at home.

Let cool for a moment when melted. Now add in your essential oils: 5 to 10 drops of eucalyptus, and up to 5 drops each of lavender, tea tree, and rosemary oils followed by 3 drops of sweet orange or lemon essential oil.

Pour quickly through a small funnel right into your pots. If you do not have one, you can carefully pour using a small pot if you have one.

Let cool. I let these sit for about 3 hours before capping.

Apply to the chest and to the feet? The feet? Yes! Anecdotal evidence suggests that applying congestion relief products to the feet and putting cotton socks over them helps the essential oils to penetrate and do their job more effectively. I do this on my boys and on me and it really helps us!

~As always, seek a medical professional for any symptoms you may be experiencing as I am not a doctor. This is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any disease or ailment.

--
~Karley

Karley Ziegler Mott

Editor, Chic & Green™:
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Related Posts:
Introduction to Essential Oils
Essential Oils and Relaxation

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Essential Oils and Relaxation

Karley Ziegler Mott continues her discussion of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy in Part 2 of this
series.
_______________________________________

This week, I would like to discuss the use of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy to treat stress.

Everyone from time to time goes through stressful times. We have all been there. Whether it is something temporary--such as worrying about an upcoming test, or longer lasting such as an unhappy relationship, financial troubles, etc.--stress affects our bodies on so many levels.

If I were to ask you what the main symptom of stress is in terms of health, you might say "a headache." Tension headaches are a very common sign. Other signs, though, is a rapid heart rate, an increase in blood sugar levels, decreased energy, skin troubles ranging from paleness to breakouts, insomnia, and depression.

When I am stressed out, my skin just looks tired. My heart will race. My shoulders will tense up and have knots. I think we've all experiences these symptoms before. Then there's insomnia. If I am stressed, I go to bed and then my mind starts zooming from issue to issue and I cannot relax. Then I worry that I'll be tired the next day for not sleeping well. It's quite a cycle. It's at that time when I experience those symptoms that I realize I really need to get more in touch with my tranquil side once again.

Using Essential Oils can help relieve the symptoms of stress and find our way back to that peaceful and relaxed state. Ideally, you'll also be using exercise, meditation, and healthy eating to help things along as well.

The most well known oil for relaxation and stress relief is Lavender.

I am beginning with this oil because it is, perhaps, the most well known of the Essential Oils.

Lavender, or Lavandula Angustifolia, is commonly grown throughout Europe, particularly in Bulgaria, France, and England. It can be grown here, though. I live in New York and our climate really isn't the best for growing an abundance of beautiful lavender. That is not to say it cannot be done, though. This fragrant herb is just lovely. It works well on its own or can be used in blends to enchance its effects.

Lavender, though, does much more than smell nice. A scientific research team at Texas A & M University conducted a study to measure a human's response to odor. Study participants were asleep and given EEG tests. This study was conducted in 1992 and had interesting results. It showed that Lavender Essential Oil essentially lulled the participants to sleep sooner.

Lavender, though, isn't the only beneficial Essential Oil when it comes to relaxation.

Chamomile is another. Chamomile, or Anthemis Nobilis, is distilled from dried flowers of the chamomile plant. Its usage dates back to ancient Egypt. Chamomile usually is found in England, North America and in most southern parts of Europe. You often hear people saying to have some chamomile tea if you need to relax a bit. Why? This Essential Oil has been shown to calm nervous personalities, anger and irritability, and anxiety. It is very soothing. I'll talk more about this another week, but just as it calms the mood, it calms even troubled skin.


Lemon Essential Oil is another relaxing oil. This is surprising to many people, as Lemon (Citrus Limonum) can also be energizing. When combined with other Essential Oils, it can be wonderfully stress-relieving. It improves mental clarity and can even "lift" heavy emotions when used in conjunction with oils in a blend. Lemon calm help relieve the symptoms of tension and migraine headaches as well. Lemon Essential Oil originated in India.

Ginger (Zingiber Officinale) is said to have originated in India. It also comes from the West Indies, Africa, and China. This warming oil is often used to treat muscle aches and pains and I have personally found it helpful to me when I had knots in my shoulder blades and back and need to relax and de-stress. I have found it to be particularly helpful in a recipe I am going to share with you today down below.

Cedarwood is another beneficial oil, but isn't talked about as much as the others. Cedarwood, or Cedrus Atlantica, is commonly grown in Morocco, among other countries in the area. While it is woodsy and not something you'd think of as a relaxing oil, it actually is known by aromatherapists as a gentle sedative and can help to calm symptoms of anxiety.


How can you reap the benefits of the Essential Oils I have mentioned?

You can gently and carefully add some of them to a handkerchief and take a small sniff. You can put some in a carrier oil and apply a dab or two to the skin. Personally, I like an aromatherapy spray.

Today I would like to share a recipe with you. It is for a popular product I once offered in my skin care line. Dreamland Pillow Mist combines stress-relieving essential oils into a synergistic blend and will provide the great benefits of aromatherapy.

You can spray this right on your linens. I spray it on my pillowcases, sheets, and curtains. I spray it on unscented dryer sheets and even place it underneath my mattress pad. This recipe is gentle, so you can even spritz a bit on (spot test for sensitivity first, please) and enjoy its effects.

One of my favorite relaxation ideas is to spray this on my towels, pop them in the dryer while I am in the tub, and then when I come out I have warm towels and aromatherapy.

Here is the recipe:

2 ounces of distilled water
2 ounces of witch hazel hydrosol/distillate (this is alcohol free)
15 drops lavender essential oil
10 drops lemon essential oil
10 drops ginger essential oil
4-5 drops Cedarwood Essential Oil

Combine in a bottle. This makes just over 4 ounces. You can divide it into 1 ounce or 2 ounce bottles with misting spray tops.

Enjoy...and be well rested!

--
~Karley

Karley Ziegler Mott
Editor, Chic & Green™:
http://chicandgreendaily.com

On Twitter:
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Chic & Green™ is a TODAY Show (NBC) Network Blog, an MSNBC Going Green Blog, and has been named a "Best Green Blog"!

Check out my handmade line of jewelry, Loubird Handmade™



***The beautiful Aromatherapy Necklaces pictured are by by Galleria di Giani.. Visit this great shop on Etsy for more information on these and other wonderful necklace designs.  

Related Posts:
Introduction to Essential Oils