Dreaming Earth Botanicals

Chamomile Essential Oil

2012-01-12T08:05:00.000-08:00

Chamomile Essential Oil is highly prized for its relaxing and soothing effects on both mind and body. Chamomile is one of the gentlest essential oils, and one of the few essential oils recommended for use with children. As an herb, Roman Chamomile has a long history of use, dating back to ancient Egypt.

Roman and German Chamomile have similar properties, although the German Chamomile has superior anti-inflammatory effects and is an excellent choice for skin problems. The German chamomile essential oil is a beautiful blue color, and the Roman a pale yellow. The Roman Chamomile has a sweeter scent than the German, and is often described as having an apple-like aroma—in fact, the Spanish call Chamomile ‘manzanilla’, which means ‘little apple’.

Properties: Analgesic, Anti-inflammatory, antineuralgic, anitparasitic, antispasmodic, calmative, carminative, digestive stimulant.

Commonly used for:

Trouble sleeping, stress, stomach upset, irritability, headaches, menstrual problems, PMS, muscle/joint aches and pains, and all kinds of skin problems, such as acne, eczema or skin rashes. Helps reduce chronic tension and is prized for its anti-inflammatory properties (especially the German chamomile).

Essential Oil Recipes Using Chamomile:

Muscle Relief Aromatherapy Blend:

10 drops each Roman Chamomile Essential Oil, Ginger Essential Oil, and Nutmeg Essential Oil

2 Tb Carrier Oil

Use to massage into sore joints or muscles.

Calming Aromatherapy Blend

10 drops of Roman Chamomile, Bergamot and Lavender Essential Oils. Use in a diffuser—a tea candle (diluted in water), a lightbulb ring, or a nebulizing diffuser.

Soothing Chamomile & Cream Bath

½ cup powdered whole milk

1 Tb Carrier Oil

10 drops German Chamomile Essential Oil

Add the above to a warm bath, swish the water to mix, and relax.

Rosemary Essential Oil, Part Two

2011-10-15T16:38:00.000-07:00

Rosemary is one of our favorite essential oils. It's versatile, inexpensive, powerful and, of course, has a lovely, fresh-woody aroma. Rosemary oil is commonly used for muscular and joint pain, respiratory problems, and in skincare and hair-care blends. Emotionally, Rosemary essential oil has a stimulating effect, and and has the reputation of assisting with memory and attention. Gabriel Mojay describes Rosemary oil as being one of the most invigorating of the essential oils, and states that it's fortifying for the body's yang energy, helping to circulate Qi.

Rosemary oil is considered to be non-toxic and non-irritating, so can be used in massage blends, baths, skincare and via inhalation.

Below are some recipes using Rosemary oil -- enjoy experimenting with this wonderful oil!

Memory and Attention Blend:

4 drops Rosemary Essential Oil

1 drop Bay Essential Oil

1 drop Orange Essential Oil

Add the above essential oils to one tbsp carrier oil and apply to pulse points, or diffuse the straight essential oil blend into the air. This is especially nice to use when studying for an exam. Apply the blend while studying and again when taking the exam. The association of the aroma with the material studied may very well help with memory retention.

Nasal Congestion:

2 drops Eucalyptus Essential Oil

2 drops Rosemary Essential Oil

2 drops Peppermint Essential Oil

Use this blend in a diffuser or steam inhalant. Add the blend to a bowl of steaming water, cover head and bowl with a towel, CLOSE EYES and breathe in through your nose for a few breaths. Repeat two to three times and as needed.

Muscle Soreness Massage Blend:

4 drops Eucalyptus oil

4 drops Rosemary oil

4 drops Peppermint oil

2 drops Marjoram oil

2 drops Ginger oil

1 ounces carrier oil

Blend essential oils with carrier oil, shake well, and use as a massage oil for sore and stiff muscles.

Hair Conditioning Treatment Oil:

1 ounce Olive oil or Jojoba oil

10 drops Rosemary oil

5 drops Lavender oil

Warm the oil, add the essential oils and mix well. Using your fingers, massage the oils through your hair and scalp. Wrap your hair with a shower cap, or towel, and leave in for 30 minutes to an hour. Shampoo as usual.

Rosemary Essential Oil, Part One

2011-09-04T09:44:00.000-07:00

Rosemaryhas such a fascinating and rich history, that we’re making this a two-partpost. We begin with the historical usesof Rosemary (the herb), and continue next week by delving into the propertiesand uses of Rosemary essential oil. Enjoy!

Rosmarinusofficinalisfavors the sun, rocky hills, and sandy soil of the south of France and otherMediterranean regions. The name translates to “dew of the sea”-- possiblybecause this drought-resistant plant could thrive in locations where water wasoften scarce, and needed only the moisture brought in by the ocean breeze. It’sa woody, perennial herb, with fragrant, evergreen leaves and is a member of themint family.

Rosemaryis probably one of the most used and beloved herbs in the Western World. Itsheady scent—and medicinal and culinary properties--has left it mark on theages.

Tracesof rosemary have been found in the first dynastic tombs of the ancientEgyptians. The herb was supposedly draped over the goddess Aphrodite when sheemerged from the sea, and it was burned in the shrines of the ancient Greeks.And, according to legend, the Virgin Mary spread her cloak over awhite-flowered rosemary bush, thus turning the flowers blue.

Theold French name for rosemary is incensier, which refers to the herb’suse as church incense. A favorite in apothecary gardens, rosemary was used inthe Middle Ages to protect against both evil spirits and the plague (which mayhave seemed to many to be one and the same.) It was also the primary ingredientin “Hungary water”, a treatment first prepared in the fourteenth century forQueen Isabella to restore life to paralyzed limbs.

Accordingto a legend dating to at least the 1100’s, rosemary was an ingredient in the“balm of Fierabras.” This was a miraculous concoction allegedly used on thecorpse of Jesus, which was supposed to heal anyone who drank it. In the book DonQuixote, the knight makes this balm with oil, wine, salt, and rosemary—andeighty blessings. Though, instead of healing him and Sancho Panza, it makesthem horribly ill.

Rosemaryis strongly associated with both love and death. People threw sprigs of theherb into graves at funerals. ThomasHood writes in a poem, “Dreary rosemarye/ That always mourns the dead.” AndThomas Moore commemorated it with: “Thehumble rosemary/ Whose sweets so thanklessly are shed/ To scent the desert andthe dead.”

Inthe Middle Ages, weddings were scented with rosemary, bringing about the herb’sextensive association with love. Brides wore a rosemary headpiece, and allothers in the wedding party wore sprigs. Rosemary eventually evolved into alove charm, in a variety of ways. For example, rosemary was put into clothdolls, to attract a certain lover.

Itsassociation with love and magic became so strong that, for a while, the herbbecame associated with witches and strong-willed women. A proverb states,“Where Rosemary flourishes, the woman rules.” In the 1500’s, men oftendestroyed the home’s rosemary plants, to signify to neighbors that it was hewho was in charge. And John Lindley writes in The Treasury of Botany,“There is a vulgar belief in Gloucestershire and other counties, that Rosemarywill not grow well unless where the mistress is ‘master’; and so touchy aresome of the lords of creation upon this point, that we have more than once hadreason to suspect them of privately injuring a growing rosemary in order todestroy this evidence of their want of authority.”

But,today, rosemary is possibly best remembered as an herb signifying remembrance,no pun intended. Its reputation for enhancing memory dates back at least toscholars of ancient Greece, who threaded rosemary in their hair while studying,as an aid to concentration. And Ophelia famously and tragically speaks of theherb in Hamlet:

“There’srosemary, that’s for remembrance; pray you, love, remember.”

Using Essential Oils for Seasonal Allergies

2011-04-24T12:50:00.000-07:00

For many of us, it's challenging to find natural remedies that help with seasonal allergies. If you're experimenting with aromatherapy and allergies, we recommend trying out one essential oil or blend at a time (try for a week or so, though, before switching to something new), and keeping track of what is most effective. If an oil seems to make things worse, than, of course, eliminate that right away, as the last thing you want to do is exacerbate your symptoms. Remember to look into herbal remedies and dietary remedies as well, as both of those can make a big difference. And we are big fans of the Neti Pot, for those of you who suffer from sinus congestion and chronic infections.

Our top oils for seasonal allergies include Blue Tansy, Roman Chamomile (note: avoid chamomile if you know you have a ragweed allergy), Lavender (is there anything Lavender isn’t helpful for?), Eucalyptus, Peppermint, Lemon, Geranium and Rose. Many people simply add a few drops of their chosen oil or oils to a tissue or handkerchief, and inhale as needed throughout the day (an aromatherapy inhaler is a nice, portable way to carry your oils with you). In your home, you can diffuse the oils, of course, and a bath can be a wonderful way to relax with essential oils, especially right before bed.

For my daughter, who suffers from spring allergies, I make up a massage blend, using just a few drops of Chamomile or Blue Tansy and Lavender, which she massages around her neck and behind her ears. It helps to relax her, and alleviate some of her symptoms.

For relief of congestion, a blend of peppermint, eucalyptus (radiata) and lemon is a blessing in a diffuser. And of course a steam inhalation can feel heavenly when the symptoms are at their worst. Add a few drops of eucalyptus or rosemary essential oil to a bowl of steaming water. Cover your head and the bowl with a towel, close your eyes, and take in a few deep breaths. Repeat as needed.

The following recipe blends come from Valerie Gennari Cooksley’s fantastic book, “Aromatherapy: A Lifetime Guide to Healing with Essential Oils”.

Allergy Diffuser Blend:

5 parts Lavender essential oil

2 parts Bergamot essential oil

1 part Lemon essential oil

1 part Juniper essential oil

1 part Peppermint essential oil

Use in a diffuser two to three times per day.

She also recommends a footbath, with the following:

Into a few tablespoons of your favorite bath salts, add 3 drops Lavender, 1 drop Rose and 1 drop Geranium essential oil. Fill a small tub with warm water, add the oils and salt, mix well, and then soak your feet for 15-30 minutes.

Carrot Seed Essential Oil

2011-04-04T07:03:00.000-07:00

Oil Of The Month:
Carrot Seed Essential Oil

Carrot Seed, or Daucus carota, is also known as Wild Carrot or Queen Anne's Lace. The essential oil of carrot seed should not be confused with infused carrot oil, or carrot tissue oil, which comes from the commonly known edible carrot, and whose orange root is infused in a carrier oil. Carrot Seed essential oil is steam distilled from the dried seeds of the wild carrot (which has an inedible, white root), and the majority of it is produced in Hungary and France. The oil itself has a strong, earthy, penetrating aroma--rather sharp and dry--which while, not unpleasant, isn't one of those oils you might use solely for aromatic purposes!

Carrot seed oil's major uses are in the areas of skin care, muscle and joint pain and inflammation, digestive disorders, and as a fragrance component in cosmetics and detergents. Carrot seed essential oil has depurative properties (cleansing or purifying), and is said to be helpful with conditions like eczema and psoriasis. Because of its regenerative properties, it's an excellent oil for skin rashes, irritations, and to help enliven dull or aging skin.

We include it as one of the components in our skin replenishing blend, but it's easy enough to make your own. Because of its rather intense earthy aroma, we recommend blending Carrot seed oil with other essential oils. Use oils such as Frankincense, Lavender and Rose, which also are superb for skin rejuvenation, and maybe add a few drops of sea buckthorn berry or tamanu oil.

Click Here for a recipe to make your own facial blend.

Salvatore Battaglia, in his wonderful book "The Complete Guide to Aromatherapy", has this to say about Carrot seed oil:   "It can be used to improve the complexion of the skin and has been described as one of the strongest revitalising essential oils. It is recommended for dull, pallid, lifeless and tired skin which is tired from environmental stress."

As with almost all essential oils, Carrot seed should be diluted before use. This is a very safe oil, however, being non-toxic, non-irritant, and non-sensitizing. While a fairly expensive oil, so little is needed that a small bottle should last quite a long time.

Essential Oil of the Month: Niaouli (Melaleuca viridifloria)

2011-02-27T13:55:00.000-08:00

Niaouli is a pale yellow or greenish oil with a sweet, sharp, fresh odor. It is extracted by steam distillation from an evergreen plant native to Australia, New Caledonia, and the French Pacific where it has been used locally for respiratory ailments, body aches and pains, and infections.

Niaouli is a very versatile and useful essential oil. As already mentioned above, it is reported to strengthen the immune system. Shirley Price states that it activates defenses and augments leukocytes and antibodies in infected areas (Shirley Price & Len Price, Aromatherapy for Health Professionals). In addition, it is said to have direct antiviral action against herpes simplex, some strains of influenza and viral hepatitis. It is generally considered to be a strengthening and fortifying oil and a physical and mental stimulant that clears and revives the mind and body.

Many people believe that when there is fatigue or exhaustion it is beneficial to stimulate the body as much as possible. This is not true - it is rarely, if ever good to subject the body to strong stimulants. Therefore, it is best to use Niaouli in small quantities (not more than 2 drops per application) and at night it can be combined with Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) to prevent insomnia. In this way, the body will benefit from the fortifying action of Niaouli without the negative effects of over-stimulation. This is a wonderful oil to use when you have been sick or stressed for a long time and your body is in a generally weakened condition with low stamina and poor immunity.

Niaouli is also a wonderful essential oil to use when you have body aches and pains. It has antispasmodic and analgesic effects that make it very useful for these applications. It is great to use in a diffuser when you have a cold because it will help fight the virus, open and stimulate the respiratory tract, mobilize and strengthen the immune system and fortify the body. It is an expectorant and very useful for the respiratory system (but, as with any essential oil, use only with guidance if you have asthma), as well as for the urinary tract (cystitis, urinary tract infection). To ease symptoms of cystitis, try a warm (not hot) sitz bath with two drops of Niaouli added.

Niaouli is a powerful tissue stimulant and because of this it can help to heal routine cuts and burns. Use 6 drops in a half pint of distilled water for washing wounds. Its strong antiseptic properties help in this respect and, because it is anti-inflammatory as well it can be a help for itching and inflamed skin. It can be applied neat to a pimple or insect bite but don't use more than 1 drop this way. Mix 2 drops in a teaspoon of carrier oil (such as grapeseed oil) for applying to athletes foot.

Properties of Niaouli: Analgesic; anticatarrhal; antirheumatic; antiseptic; antispasmodic; diaphoretic; expectorant; febrifuge; stimulant; balances and regulates body functions; soothes; tissue stimulant. It is non-toxic and non-sensitizing but it is often adulterated and so the real thing can be hard to find! Its chemical constituents include 50 - 60 % of cineol, eucalyptol, terpineol, pinene, limonene and various esters (Patricia Davis, Aromatherapy An A-Z). In Traditional Chinese Medicine, Niaouli is cool, dry, and slightly yin. Its main uses are to detoxify, decrease inflammation, and fight infection.

Pine Needle Essential Oil

2011-02-15T16:55:00.000-08:00

Essential Oil of the Month

Pine Needle (Scotch Pine) Essential Oil

The Scotch pine is native to Russia and Northern Europe and is now cultivated in America, Europe, Russia, and Scandinavia. A therapeutic grade essential oil of Scotch Pine is produced by distillation of the needles. An inferior grade of essential oil is obtained from distillation of the wood chippings and turpentine is made by distilling the oleoresin. Turpentine is sometimes used by herbalists or other trained practitioners but I don't recommend it for general use and, of course, you wouldn't want to use an inferior grade of oil for any therapeutic purpose.

The venerable pine has been used for many centuries as a medicinal plant. Native Americans used it to prevent scurvy and repel lice and fleas; they also burned it with cedar and juniper for purifying rituals. In addition the needles and shoots have been prepared in various ways for use with coughs, bronchial complaints, rheumatic pain and nervous exhaustion.

Pine Needle essential oil is a pale yellow or colorless, pourable liquid with a, sharp, balsamic, "piney" odor. It blends well with cedarwood, rosemary, lavender, juniper, and eucalyptus but it can overwhelm more delicate fragrances. It is antibacterial, antiviral, antineuralgic (reduces nerve pain), soothing, cholagogic (stimulates the flow of bile into the duodenum), choleretic (promotes excretion of bile by the liver), diuretic, expectorant (promotes removal of mucous from the respiratory system), hypertensive, insecticidal, and rubefacient (causing redness of the skin). It also stimulates the adrenal cortex and the circulatory and nervous systems and is said to have a restorative and strengthening action.

In aromatherapy, the essential oil of Pinus sylvestris has been used to help relieve coughs, bronchitis, sore throat, sinusitis, cystitis, colds and flu, arthritis, gout, muscle pain, poor circulation, rheumatism, neuralgia, fatigue and exhaustion, and stress-related conditions. It is also sometimes used as a component of deodorants to help decrease perspiration. Julia Lawless describes the essential oil as non-toxic, non-irritant (except in concentration), and as a possible sensitizing agent (one that can lead to allergic-like reactions with repeated use). She recommends avoiding it in allergic skin conditions. Tisserand and Balacs do not report skin sensitization with this oil but I believe that it is best to err on the side of caution and I would avoid it or use it very cautiously in persons who have a history of allergic reactions or who have experienced sensitization with other oils.

Many aromatherapy books do not have anything on essential oil of Pine and in this respect it seems to be less popular than some other oils. This may be due to the fact that its aroma reminds some people of pine-scented cleaners. Personally, I like the odor and find it clean and uplifting. It is such a shame that some writers have not included Pine in their books, because this essential oil is so useful, especially when there are respiratory problems, muscle aches and pains, or exhaustion. One of my favorite authors, Gabriel Mojay, does write about Pine in his wonderful book, Aromatherapy for Healing the Spirit. He describes it in terms of oriental medicine as being warm and dry and says that it tonifies the Qi. He says that it is psychologically fortifying and invigorates the "P'o" or Bodily Soul, the source of our vital spirit. Valerie Worwood, another of my favorites, describes it as helping to bring acceptance, understanding, patience, and self-forgiveness.

Pine is related to the Air element, and this points towards its use for respiratory problems. I use pine for colds and flu and other times when I need to clear my respiratory tract and ease muscle aches and pains. I also use it when I feel in need of "fortifying" and strengthening. The element of Air rules the mental plane and here too, Pine may have great powers, as it helps to bring clarity, fortitude, and purposeful focus.

It is important to use Pine in moderation - no more than one or two drops in a steam inhalation, diffuser, or a massage oil. By using it in a diffuser, you can avoid any potential problems with skin irritation. I do not recommend this oil for use by those who have hypertension (high blood pressure) or asthma.

Happy Valentine's Day!

2011-02-12T17:24:00.000-08:00

And now here is my secret, a very simple secret; it is only with the heart that one can see rightly, what is essential is invisible to the eye.
-- Antoine de Saint-Exupery

I believe in a kind of love that brings sailors home from the sea. Made up of seconds and years and the nospace between hands on skin. I cannot believe how much goes on. I can't even cut out enough red hearts to keep up.
-- Sarah Mimnaugh

If I can stop one heart from breaking, I shall not live in vain;
If I can ease one life the aching,
Or cool one pain,
Or help one fainting robin Into his nest again,
I shall not live in vain.
-- Emily Dickinson

At the touch of love everyone becomes a poet...
-- Plato

Keep love in your heart. A life without it is like a sunless garden when the flowers are dead. The consciousness of loving and being loved brings a warmth and a richness to life that nothing else can bring.
-- Oscar Wilde

Headache Relief using Essential Oils

2011-01-22T15:14:00.000-08:00

by Angela

Headaches can be so overwhelming and debilitating. I’ve experienced bad ones for years, and have tried many remedies, but unless I catch a headache before it really begins, I seem doomed to suffer until the next day. The last time, though, I tried something that actually helped cut my headache short, and left me feeling better in about an hour.

I took two aspirin, and then ran a bath as hot as I could stand it and put about 20-30 drops of our Headache Relief Blend in the water (note: be sure this is either pre-mixed massage blend, or that you dilute the pure essential oil into a carrier before using in the bath). I relaxed in the water lying with my spine as straight as I could with my head mostly underwater. I could feel the slight tingle of the mint on my scalp. After about 20 minutes I felt my headache was gone. I rested for another 30 minutes outside of the bath and felt completely normal. This is now the first treatment I turn to when I feel a headache coming on.

Make Your Own Chocolate Truffles

2010-12-05T12:09:00.000-08:00

Who doesn't love truffles? Here's an easy recipe - make up a big batch, place them in tins or festive cardboard containers with some wax paper and you've got a much appreciated gift.

Basic Recipe:

8oz Chocolate (dark is best, in my opinion. I used Ghirardelli bittersweet this time)
1/2 cup Heavy Cream

Warm up the cream to simmering and pour over the chocolate. Cover with plastic wrap and leave alone for ten minutes, till melted. (If that doesn’t work, pop the bowl in the microwave for about a minute). Mix well—it should look shiny and dark and smooth. Now, pour into a shallow pan (I used a cookie sheet) and refrigerate for about 30 minutes.

While you’re waiting for the chocolate to cool, get your toppings ready. We used the following, each in its own small bowl:

Cocoa

A blend of ginger, clove and cinnamon spices

Cayenne Pepper

Organic Lavender oil

Sea salt

Here’s where the messy fun starts. Take the chocolate out, and have a couple of pans covered with wax paper ready (this is much easier with two people, by the way). One person scoops up about a teaspoon of the chocolate with a spoon and rolls it in their hands until they have a smooth-ish round. The next person gets to dip the chocolate in the toppings. For the lavender, use one drop only and mush it up with enough chocolate to make about 10-12 truffles.

The results: I thought I’d love the lavender truffles, but there was something strangely conflicting about inhaling the lavender aroma and tasting the dark chocolate at the same time.

The best: the sea salt. Wonderful! The sharpness of the salt is fantastic with the rich creaminess of the chocolate.

Second runner up: the cayenne pepper. Go easy, depending on your love of heat, but I find the more I eat, the spicier I like them.

These make for a great gift, but don’t forget to make some extras for yourself!

Make your own Aromatherapy Holiday Gifts

2010-12-01T10:11:00.000-08:00

Making your own holiday gifts can seem daunting and overwhelming when so many obligations and tasks are competing for your time. If you do a little planning ahead, though, creating your own gifts can take less time than trudging around a crowded mall, be more enjoyable, and result in lovelier and more appreciated presents. Our next few blog posts will focus on ideas that are simple to put together, and will make for thoughtful and much appreciated gifts. Here are three aromatherapy spray blends that take minutes to put together and smell heavenly. Buy some pretty spritzer bottles and make your own labels to make this extra special.

For each recipe, mix the essential oils with the vodka in a spritzer bottle and shake well. Add water.

Holiday Spice Spritzer:

25 drops Sweet Orange Essential Oil

10 drops Clove Essential Oil

8 drops Cinnamon Essential Oil

1 tsp Vodka

4 oz Water

Holiday Forest Spritzer

20 drops Sweet Orange Essential Oil

20 drops Fir Needle Essential Oil

20 drops Pine Needle Essential Oil

20 drops Cedarwood Atlas Essential Oil

1 tsp Vodka

4 oz Water

Vanilla Spice Spritzer

40 drops Orange Essential Oil

12 drops Clove Essential Oil

40 drops Vanilla Boosted Extract

Essential Oils for Relaxation and Sleep

2010-11-14T13:16:00.000-08:00

by Kathryn Brightbill

I seem to favor oils that are very lush and grassy with floral notes, as evident in my first favorite, Geranium. While Geranium is pretty subtle, sometimes the extra lush scents are strong and take awhile to get used to. My second favorite essential oil is Clary Sage with its nice floral, green scent. It has a strong aroma, but you don’t need to use much to benefit from its relaxing properties. It turns out that Clary Sage is a great oil for women to use to ease menstrual pain and irregular periods (but shouldn’t be used during pregnancy). It can also be used as an astringent in a diluted form. Be careful though, as Clary Sage is said to have narcotic effects if used too often or in large quantities and should be avoided if drinking alcohol. Just a drop in a candle diffuser smells good and helps me unwind and relax.

Another oil that I didn’t like at first but have come to use quite a bit is Roman Chamomile. Initially, the earthy scent was too strong and the floral notes were not strong enough. An incident helped me change my opinion on Roman Chamomile, though, and actually made me an aromatherapy convert. One afternoon in the shop, back when I was still pretty new, one of us (not me of course!) spilled a fairly large quantity of Roman Chamomile on the counter. Its strong scent filled the whole shop. Even after we cleaned up, it was very pungent and overwhelming. After awhile, we realized that we were all feeling pretty drowsy and decided it was best if we left for the day and let the shop air out. I went home and slept for a couple of hours, which was very unusual for me as I’m not a napper and never sleep during the day. This incident, more than any other experience so far, convinced me of the power of essential oils and aromatherapy. I now use Roman Chamomile to help me fall asleep when I have insomnia and it works every time. Just one or two drops on a bandanna under my pillow does the trick. It is an amazing oil.

Roman Chamomile and Clary Sage essential oils are my favorites for relaxing and for bedtime sleep aides. They are healthy, natural, non-addictive ways to unwind and get a restful night’s sleep.

Essential Oils for Teeth and Gums

2010-11-04T08:46:00.000-07:00

by Angela Arnshek

Unfortunately, I inherited terrible teeth from my father. I have extra roots and nerves in most of my teeth, and so getting something like a root canal done is expensive, complicated and painful. Needless to say, I try very hard to avoid dental procedures by taking exceptionally good care of my teeth. I brush, floss, use a Water Pik and experiment with do it yourself remedies that sound like they might be helpful.

Even so, at one point, I had to have the dreaded root canal, which I was told wasn’t completely successful and would eventually fail, which would lead to a more complex and more expensive surgery, and …well, you get the idea. Painful, pricey, and possibly ineffective.

So, when that tooth started to hurt, and the gums became inflamed, I thought I was done for. Since it was the weekend, I decided to see what I could do over the next two days to keep things from getting worse.

Here’s what I came up with.

I made a mixture of equal parts of:

Oregano essential oil

Lavender essential oil

Tea tree essential oil

I used 5 drops of this mixture in my Water Pik with a ¼ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon of baking soda. The salt and baking soda helps the oil stay mixed with the water. Using the Water Pik I was able to get the solution under the gum line and completely around each tooth.

I couldn’t believe my success! By Sunday night my mouth felt great and my tooth and gums were pain free with all inflammation gone. Now, of course, I’m not advocating not going to the dentist. I go regularly and get my teeth cleaned twice a year. But I decided that in addition to those things, I’d use this recipe as an overall good oral health aide and preventative. I use it now once or twice a week, but it could be used daily, or less often, as needed. If you don’t have a water pik, you can use this combination as a mouthwash or rinse (5-6 drops of the essential oil blend diluted in a cup of warm water are more than enough).

These oils are anti-bacterial in their properties. Salt and baking soda help to restore the proper pH to the mouth which helps fight tooth decay. It’s a simple, fresh-smelling, and inexpensive strategy for taking good care of your teeth. As with all essential oils, these should not be ingested. Be careful not to swallow the solution while rinsing or brushing.

Happy brushing!

Geranium Essential Oil

2010-10-21T16:53:00.000-07:00

Kathryn Brightbill is one of the wonderful employees at Dreaming Earth who’s agreed to do a regular blog post for us. Once a month or so, she’ll be sharing her reflections on her favorite essential oils and essential oil blends. We’re so happy to have her expertise and passion to share with you! Here’s her first post:

Even though I've worked at Dreaming Earth Botanicals for going on five years, I still think of myself as an aromatherapy novice. Sure, I've learned quite a bit about the aromatherapy field, but I still discover something every time I come into work that I didn't know before.

Dreaming Earth is my part-time gig. I work in the library at a small college full-time, I home-school my teenager, and I'm active at church, so I'm pretty busy. People marvel. They say, I don't know how you do it! Sometimes I don't know either. I do know that it helps to have one job that is like an afternoon walk in a flower garden in full bloom. That is what it's like working at Dreaming Earth. And I learn something every time I come in. Like I said, lucky me!

I thought I might start by blogging about my favorite oils, as I discovered them while working here. My first "discovery" was geranium. While mixing some Skatter one day, I was thinking how nice it smelled for bug repellent. I thought it was probably the Lavender, which has always been one of my favorite scents, but found that it was geranium. Geranium essential oil is very green and lush-- earthy and a little spicy. It's so fresh and summery that I started using it to clean with at home. I add a few drops to some castile soap in hot water and I love the way it leaves the house smelling. I use it in my candle diffuser, too. It has anti-depressant properties and helps with skin aliments, as well as being a natural insect repellent. Geranium is a great essential oil that is often over-looked. It now stands next to lavender as one of my go-to all purpose oils.

Make Your Own Conditioning Hair Treatment

2010-10-17T16:54:00.000-07:00

Angela Arnshek has worked for Dreaming Earth for going on two years, and is the source for many of our new product ideas. She loves to experiment with recipes and come up with blends for healing and bath/beauty formulations. We're happy to share some of her experiments and ideas with you through this blog!

I’m always on the lookout for hair conditioning treatments, but rarely find any that really work for me. They make big promises that fall flat, or they provide only short-term improvement.

My ideal hair treatment would make my hair shiny, manageable, and lively, and would help diminish the effects of winter dryness, and summer water/sun/wind damage. My hair is long, so it doesn’t take much for it to feel brittle, and get hopelessly tangled (as in one step away from dreadlocks tangled).

So, dissatisfied with what’s on the market, I decided to do some research and make my own hot oil treatment. I love the results! The combination I came up with revitalizes my hair and reduces tangles for weeks. It also adds shine and brightens my natural highlights. The first time I used it was right before going to the beach for a 5-day camping trip. In the past, by the end of this trip, I felt like I was living in the middle of a spider web. But this time I didn’t have to do anything special to counteract the effects of a week of hair abuse. It was just a great vacation!

So, my winning combination is:

1 oz jojoba

1 oz carrot tissue

11 drops lavender essential oil

11 drops basil essential oil

11 drops sea buckthorn oil

Combine these oils in a two ounce bottle (a plastic, squeeze type is best, so it’s easier to apply) and shake vigorously to really mix the essential oils with the carriers.

How to use:

First, warm your oil. Heat some water in a small pan, remove from the stove, and place your bottle of oil treatment into the pan of hot water for a few minutes to warm the oil.

Wet your hair and towel dry.

Apply the warmed oil to your hair (those with long hair may need to use the full amount, but most will need less), and then wrap your hair with plastic wrap or a shower cap. Cover the plastic wrap with a towel (if you warm the towel beforehand, even better). You can leave the oil in for 45 minutes up to several hours. I like doing the treatment in the evening, since it often takes two shampoos to remove all the oil. I’ll wash my hair at night, and then again in the morning, followed by a normal conditioning.

What do these oils do?

Jojoba is a wax and it helps moisturize the strand, as the molecules are small enough to penetrate the hair cuticle. It’s great for the scalp too, and because it’s a wax, it won’t leave your hair feeling greasy.

Carrot Tissue is high in beta-carotene, anti-oxidants, vitamins A, B, C, D, E, and several fatty acids, and helps nourish, heal and regenerate damaged skin and hair. Plus, because it’s bright orange in color, it helps bring out any of your natural red or gold highlights.

Lavender essential oil is soothing to the scalp and hair.

Basil essential oil promotes growth by stimulating circulation.

Sea buckthorn is rich in essential fatty acids, carotenes, tocopherols, and phytosterols and helps promote collagen production in hair, skin, and nails. Plus, like the carrot tissue oil, its vibrant reddish color brightens natural highlights.

I have been applying a treatment monthly and I feel it has changed my hair, taking away that drab, dead look that can so easily happen to long or treated hair. Even today I received a compliment on how healthy my hair looked!

Essential Oils for Summer

2010-06-13T19:03:00.000-07:00

Summer has (almost) officially arrived, and here are some favorite oils to have on hand for the bites and bothers that sometimes come with it.

Roman Chamomile Essential Oil (Anthemis nobilis ) - This oil is so gentle and versatile, that it's truly a must have for any household. For relaxation and stress relief, dilute in a 10% solution with your favorite carrier oil and use in a bath or massage. Apply (again, in a 10% dilution) to sore and stiff muscles to help relieve achy and overworked muscles. Combined with helichrysum and/or lavender, this can be especially soothing and relaxing. We also like to use chamomile mixed equally with lavender in a spritzer for soothing sunburn. Add 5-6 drops of oils (total) per tsp of water and spritz as needed (also see recipe below).

Lavender Essential Oil (Lavandula angustifolia) - Lavender oil is so versatile, effective for treating sunburn, relieving pain and itching from bug bites and skin irritation, and helping to relieve stress and anxiety. Lavender oil has natural antibiotic, antiseptic and anti-inflammatory qualities, and, combined with peppermint, can be a wonderful remedy for headaches. Add a drop or two in a tsp of carrier oil, and apply to nape of neck, or wherever muscles feel tense. Trouble sleeping? One or two drops underneath your pillow can help relax and lull you into sleep. For bug bites, apply one drop to affected area (lavender is one of the few oils that can be applied neat) to help with itching and aid in healing.

Peppermint Essential Oil (Mentha piperita) - For upset stomach, add a drop or two of peppermint to a tsp of carrier oil, and massage your belly in a circular motion. Peppermint is fantastic as a pick me up oil, and a good one to have in the car for long car trips. For motion sickness, peppermint oil can be a lifesaver. A drop on a cotton ball (again, store in a plastic baggie) can be inhaled as needed when feeling queasy.

Sunburn Relief Recipes: Here's a soothing recipe for sunburn relief using the above oils.
In a spritzer bottle, mix one ounce aloe extract, one ounce lavender flower water, one ounce chamomile flower water, 10 drops lavender essential oil, 5 drops chamomile oil and 2 drops peppermint. Spritz on affected areas for relief.

Even easier, adding a drop or two of lavender and chamomile in aloe vera gel (especially nice if kept cool in the fridge beforehand) can feel heavenly after a sunburn.

Easing Grief with Massage and Essential Oils

2010-06-03T15:58:00.000-07:00

A study published in the April 2010 issue of the Journal of Clinical Nursing ("Providing Consolation For Bereaved Relatives Through Hand And Foot Massage," Mar 26 2010), describes the benefits of receiving a soothing foot or hand massage during a period of grieving. Eighteen subjects who had lost a loved one to cancer participated in a study, where they chose to receive a 25 minute massage once a week for eight weeks. The massages were done with oil, lightly scented with citrus or hawthorn, and using slow, light pressure strokes. After the massage, the participants were encouraged to relax for thirty minutes. Interviews were done before and after the study, with the participants reporting significant benefits.

Here are some of the comments from the study participants:

"I could focus on my grief during the massage and that helped me handle the rest of the week."

"I was just lying there… and no one expected me to talk about my feelings."

"I gained strength… Through my weakness, strength emerged."

"I suddenly realized that I could go through my thoughts in a much calmer way…I was more sensible in my thinking."

Lead author, Dr Berit S Cronfalk from the Stockholms Sjukhem Foundation, a Swedish palliative care provider, observed: "Study participants also told us that the massages helped them to balance the need to grieve and the need to adapt to life after the loss of their relative."

While this makes intuitive sense, of course, it’s always nice to see studies supporting the use of massage and aromatherapy. It’s a simple idea that could be easily incorporated into hospitals, nursing homes, hospice centers and support groups. Gabriel Mojay, in his book “Aromatherapy for Healing the Spirit” suggests the following essential blends to aid in the grieving process:

Per Tbsp of of Carrier Oil add these Essential oils:

Cypress, 4 drops, Frankincense, 1 drop, Rose, 1 drop

Clary Sage, 3 drops, Rosemary, 2 drops, Thyme, 1 drop

Hyssop, 2 drops, Clary Sage, 2 drops, Orange, 2 drops

Favorite Essential Oil Books Part 2

2010-05-23T15:28:00.000-07:00

More Books We Love:

Aromatherapy: A Lifetime Guide to Healing with Essential Oils by Valerie Gennari Cooksley

Cooksley is a registered nurse and aromatherapist, and a wonderful teacher. Her book is practical, accessible and chock full of recipes. Her chapters are organized by body systems, and she gives an overview at the start of each chapter of each system she covers, and then follows that with common symptoms and remedies. For example, in her chapter on the respiratory system, she describes how the respiratory system works, and then goes into the oils most useful for the respiratory tract. From there, she describes common illnesses, such as bronchitis, or asthma, and treatments which may be helpful. In addition to essential oil remedies, she includes other supportive treatments, including dietary, herbal, breathing exercises etc. Her explanations and descriptions are always clear and simple to understand, and she includes case histories. This is a great step by step guide to using essential oils, and the back of the book includes a concise essential oil reference guide.

375 Essential Oils and Hydrosols by Jeanne Rose
A great book for summaries of essential oil properties. Jeanne Rose profiles 375 essential oils and hydrosols, including botanical family, aroma, habitat and growth, chemical components, actions and uses. She manages to do this without being dry or too technical; many of the descriptions include fascinating historical and literary references. And she includes chapters that are fascinating, including one titled “Essential Oils are More Than Stinky” which helps us understand the experience of aroma. This is a useful addition to any aromatherapy library, and one we turn to often when we need a quick reference on an oil.

Favorite Essential Oil Books Part 1

2010-05-13T08:50:00.000-07:00

There are so many fantastic books out there on essential oils and aromatherapy. We often get asked which books we recommend, so in the next few posts, we'll be describing some of our favorites. Here are two we recommend for everyone interested in aromatherapy:

The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy by Valerie Ann Worwood

If I had to pick one book to recommend for the public, this would be the one. Besides being fun to read, this book includes over 600 recipes, practical chapters on creating your own aromatherapy kits (basic kit, travel kit etc), and chapters dedicated to the specific needs/concerns of women, men, children, and the elderly. She also has information on using aromatherapy for celebrations, to beautify and clean your home, and in the garden. The end of the book includes charts on which essential oils are most useful in different circumstances, which is handy. The best part of the book are the recipes: she has everything here, from athletes foot, coughs, toothache, headaches to anti-wrinkle creams, face masks, air fresheners and furniture polish.

Another favorite is Aromatherapy for Healing the Spirit by Gabriel Mojay. This is a beautiful book, which addresses the use of essential oils in the realm of emotional and spiritual matters. Gorgeous illustrations, clear writing and new insights make this useful to anyone who is new to or already working with essential oils. Mojay combines the wisdom of Chinese medicine with the use of aromatherapy, and describes the energetic nature of 35 different oils.

For example, in his discussion of Juniper, he writes:

“Juniper works, therefore, to break through psychological stagnation and consolidate will-power. It is suited to the individual who, feeling burdened and aloof, is deeply absorbed in their own thoughts – thoughts which revolve around worries, pressures and unpleasant memories.”

The first part of the book is devoted to describing individual oils, uses, cautions, indications, etc, and the last part describes remedies and blends which may be useful for emotional issues, such as depression, anxiety, anger, indecisiveness, and much more. With each emotional state, he delves deeper. For example, he breaks depression down into five categories, based on the Five Elements of Chinese medicine, and recommends blends based on the particular element.

In the foreword, Robert Tisserand describes this book as “…dense with insight, and yet concise and easy to reference. Every page draws the reader inexorably into an intricate web of holistic truth.”

That’s it in a nutshell. We highly recommend this wonderful book!

Where did Mother's Day Come From?

2010-05-02T10:54:00.001-07:00

Mother’s Day is fast approaching, and it occurred to me I had no idea where this tradition came from. Here’s what I found, after a bit of research (without going WAY back…):

In England, around the 1600s, it was called Mothering Sunday and was celebrated on the fourth Sunday of Lent. After attending a church service to honor the Virgin Mary, children gave flowers and gifts to their own mothers. And all those employees and servants who lived away from home were allowed to return home in order to spend the day with their mother and bring some kind of traditional gift.

In the United States, the custom of Mother’s Day was first suggested by Julia Ward Howe in the late 1800s. Howe, a prominent peace advocate of the times, was horrified by the carnage of the Civil War, and proposed that June 2 be dedicated to honoring peace, in the form of a Mother’s Day celebration. She issued a Mother’s Day proclamation, a passionate appeal for women to rally against war and work towards peace.

The Mother’s Day celebration that we are all familiar with, though, came about through the efforts of a woman named Anna Jarvis. She was a social worker who was strongly influenced by her mother, and felt there should be a day where ALL mothers are honored, both living and dead. She lobbied tirelessly, writing to politicians and people of influence until May 8, 1914, when President Woodrow Wilson signed a Joint Resolution designating the second Sunday in May as Mother's Day. She later became disillusioned with the way Mother’s Day was celebrated, and railed against the custom of giving cards, which she felt was less personal than writing a letter. She even demonstrated against Mother’s Day, upset with its increasing commercialization (what would she say about us today, I wonder?).

In any case, it seems fitting that it was the hard work of women, championing for peace and acknowledging the work that mothers have made in the world (often quietly and without fanfare) that made Mother’s Day official. We hope you are able to spend this upcoming Mother’s Day with your mother, your grandmother, your children and your grandchildren. And if you live too far away from your mother to get home, think of Anna Jarvis—skip the card and write a long, old-fashioned letter!

Make your Own Facial Cream with Essential Oils

2010-04-24T16:35:00.000-07:00

There are lots of essential oils that are nourishing to the skin, but here’s a favorite recipe, especially for dry, sun-exposed skin, and for those of us trying to avoid or reduce wrinkles. Mix and match ingredients depending on what you have—here are some ideas:

Mix four ounces of unscented (our gentle, organic is our favorite) lotion base with:

One teaspoon Tamanu Oil or Rosehip Seed Oil (a few drops of Sea Buckthorn Berry would also be nice)

20-30 drops of Lavender Essential Oil, Carrot Seed Essential Oil, Frankincense and/or (if you really want to splurge) Rose Otto. You can use single oils, or mix several together, to equal the total.

Mix well, and apply to face and neck with light upward strokes twice a day. This lotion is free of harmful ingredients and synthetic fragrances and keeps your skin healthy and glowing.

Join us on Facebook!

2010-04-11T13:57:00.000-07:00

We've joined Facebook, and hope you'll join us there, too. Every month, we'll be having a special promotion, contest or sale for our Facebook fans. We start it off this month with a $35 gift certificate to our online retail shop, but the drawing is April 15th, so don't procrastinate! To be entered in, go to our Facebook page and become a fan. That's it! We'll draw a name out of a hat and announce the winner on the 16th.

In the meantime, we hope you're enjoying this long awaited and gorgeous Spring weather as much as we are. Don't forget to take a walk and enjoy the wonderful fragrance of flowers blooming everywhere!

Mood, Memory and Aromatherapy

2010-03-30T13:29:00.000-07:00

Aromas can affect mood and evoke memories. If the smell of baking cookies, a smoky campfire, or a lover’s favorite perfume have ever transported you back in time, calling up long-forgotten events and feelings, then you have experienced the powerful association between aromas, emotions, and memories. Long before modern scientists began the study of the physiological processes that underlie this association, human beings were exploring and utilizing the power of fragrant substances in their daily lives.

Many ancient cultures, including those of India, China, and Persia have left records that document their use of fragrance for its effect on mental states and feelings. The Egyptians, in particular, made extensive use of incense and fragrant oils in their religious rituals. Kyphi, an incense containing at least 16 herbs and other fragrant plants such as Juniper, Cinnamon, and Myrrh, was used by Egyptian priests to facilitate the attainment of ecstatic states during religious rites. Virtually every culture has reported aphrodisiacal properties for various fragrances. In the harems, Sandalwood and Rose were prized for enhancing sexual desire and the essential oils of Vetiver, Patchouli, Ylang Ylang, Jasmine, Ginger, and Clary Sage have all been used for this purpose.

Many ancient peoples, such as the Romans, became very skilled at utilizing certain fragrant plants for evoking specific mental states and aromatherapy lore reports highly selective effects for specific essential oils. For example, Frankincense and Cypress have been said to aid in dispelling grief, while Ylang Ylang and Juniper are claimed to aid in coping with guilt.
To read more about how essential oils can impact our moods and emotional state, click on Dr Power's article Aromatherapy and Emotions on our website.

Aromatherapy for Parkinson's Disease

2010-03-21T14:38:00.000-07:00

A customer recently asked us for information and recipes to help deal with the symptoms of Parkinson's Disease. In researching some ideas for him, we came across a site that many of you might like -- Positive Health out of the U.K. The particular article in question discussed a research study using a blend of essential oils that included Marjoram (Origanum majorana), Clary Sage (Salvia sclarea) and Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia).

The patients were divided into three groups: the first group received a regular aromatherapy massage from a therapist along with using essential oils at home in the form of massage and baths. The second group used essential oils at home, but did not receive a massage from a therapist, and the third group received regular massage sessions from a therapist, but no home use of essential oils.

The symptoms studied included: Tremors, slurred speech, rigidity, muscle or joint pain, cramp, low energy, weakness in limbs, hypertension, memory loss, insomnia, constipation, headaches, nausea, nightmares, difficulty in swallowing, anxiety and/or depression.

The results, at the end of the nine month study, showed improvement in the two groups using aromatherapy, and less improvement in the group receiving massage without essential oils. Here is the entire article, for those who are interested, with a detailed explanation of the outcomes. Certainly worth looking into for anyone who has, or is caring for, someone with Parkinson's.

Along with articles on aromatherapy, this site includes research on all kinds of alternative healing modalities, specific diseases, nutrition and more. It's a great resource for anyone interested in alternative healing, and the aromatherapy section has articles by Gabriel Mojay, Shirley Price (who led the study on Parkinson's) among others.

Beeswax Recipes - Make Your Own Lip Gloss and Balms

2010-03-16T13:13:00.000-07:00

We just received our latest shipment of beeswax candles and bulk beeswax, and they smell heavenly. We’re lucky enough to have a family nearby who make their candles locally, and so they arrive here smelling incredibly sweet and fresh. The bulk beeswax comes in one ounce blocks that stack neatly together, and make for easy measuring. If you've never used beeswax before, read on for some tips and recipes.

General Guidelines for using Beeswax:
You'll normally use about two parts of your chosen base oil to one part beeswax, and then adjust as needed depending on the consistency you want. To make a balm, simply heat the carrier oils of your choice in a double boiler and add the beeswax. Once melted, pour into a bowl, and mix well. As the base starts to cool, check the consistency and add more oil or beeswax as needed. Wait until the base has cooled a bit to add your essential oils, to prevent them from evaporating.

Recipes:

Basic Lip Gloss Formula

1 cup sweet almond or olive oil

1 1/2 ounces Bees Wax

Heat the almond or olive oil on low heat, and then remove from heat (turn off burner). Add beeswax to carrier oil and mix well. Allow to cool a bit. While still liquid, add 5-15 drops essential oil (peppermint is nice). Stir again and pour into desired containers and let cool. That's it!

If the balm is too hard (waxy), add more oil to your mixture.

If it is too soft, add more wax.

Moisturizing Balm
4 oz. olive oil or sweet almond oil
1 oz. beeswax
2 oz. Rose or Lavender flower water
8 drops Vitamin E oil
10 drops Rose Geranium essential oil (or Lavender would be nice, too)

Melt the oil and the wax in a double boiler, Remove from heat, add the flower water, and mix briskly (the flower water can be hard to mix in, but keep at it till completely absorbed and smooth). When the mixture has cooled slightly, add the Vitamin E and essential oil and stir well. Pour into the containers of your choice while the mixture is still warm. Let cool and then cover. This balm is very moisturizing and fabulous for dry, chapped or irritated skin.

Healing Salve - customize your own formula
Ingredients:
2 ounces Beeswax
3 ounces Olive or Sweet Almond Oil
1 ounce Calendula or Jojoba Oil
40 drops total essential oil of your choice

An easy way to make these are with essential oil blends. For example, if you want something for muscle pain, use our Muscle Relief blend in a salve. Same for Sleep-Well, Arthritis, Relaxing, etc. Otherwise, pick the combination of oils you like.

Some Ideas, using a total of 40 drops of essential oils:
Lavender/Chamomile for relaxation
Majoram/Ginger/Rosemary/Lavender for muscle soreness
Rosemary/Basil/Grapefruit for concentration and focus
Lavender/Tea Tree for first aid, sunburn, bug bites etc.

Follow the same basic directions as in previous recipe, and enjoy experimenting with your own ideas and blends. Ingredients and jars for these recipes can be found on our website.

Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils - Fact or Fiction?

2010-03-14T12:43:00.000-07:00

We get quite a few questions about essential oil quality, with most of them falling into one of the following categories:

Are your oils therapeutic grade?

Isn't the term "therapeutic grade" or "aromatherapy grade" just marketing hype?

I've heard that only "XYZ" Company has certified therapeutic essential oils. Is that true?

We thought it might be helpful to reprint here an answer that Dr. Power gave in the FAQ section of our website. Dr. Power, who founded Dreaming Earth Botanicals, has been working with and teaching essential oil usage for over thirty years. Here is what she had to say:

"Aromatherapy Grade" or "Therapeutic Grade" may be considered by some to be marketing hype but, in fact, it is not. We use the terms "therapeutic grade" or "aromatherapy grade" (same thing) to differentiate our essential oils from other essential oil "stuff". We use the terms to mean that we consider our essential oils to be of excellent quality and suitable for therapeutic applications. There is no official grading system other than perhaps the use of the term food grade or pharmaceutical grade, which often denote oils inferior to those sought by aromatherapists. You could say that all essential oils are alike. You could also say that all wines are alike. I think there is often quite a lot of difference between one wine and another and one essential oil and another.

We find that if you are looking at the therapeutic properties of essential oils, then there is often a very real difference between one and another. That is why we always review the MS/GS (gas chromatography) reports for each oil before making a purchase. No one tells us that these are are "aromatherapy grade" or therapeutic grade. This is the decision we make and the label we apply.

Some oils for sale on the market are adulterated and some have had certain components removed or come from the second or third distillation of the plant material. We consider such oils to be inferior and definitely not therapeutic grade. All our oils are pure, unadulterated, complete and from first run distillations (unless otherwise plainly stated)."

We hope that is helpful information to you. As to the question of whether one company and one company only carries therapeutic essential oils, the answer is easy: No.

To read more about essential oil quality, and gas chromatography, click here to go to our articles collection.

Rose Otto Essential Oil

2010-03-09T15:35:00.001-08:00

Rose Oil is one of the most divine of the essential oils, with an aroma that is intoxicating, sweet, warm, and nurturing. Many people are shocked by the price of pure Rose Otto essential oil, and it is indeed expensive. The reason? It takes somewhere around 60,000 roses to distill one ounce of essential oil, or sixty roses to yield one drop of essential oil. So, while we sell the pure Rose Otto, we also offer it as a 5% solution (in jojoba) to make it available to everyone. The 5% is a lovely way of wearing a completely natural and intoxicating perfume--dab a few drops of the diluted rose on the inside of your wrists, behind your ears, and you'll never reach for the synthetic stuff again.

Therapeutically speaking, Rose is a balancing, grounding oil, helping to lighten and lift the emotions. It's one of the most gentle essential oils, making it suitable for use with children and the elderly, and is excellent for skincare. Rose oil is a wonderful addition to any mature skin care blend, and is a valuable oil for menstrual difficulties and menopause. Jeanne Rose calls Rose oil the "prime" oil for women, and suggests this formula for menstrual health: Add 3 drops of Rose Oil and 3 drops of Rose Geranium oil to 1 ounce of Calendula infused oil and use for a full body massage on a regular basis.

Aromatherapy and Yoga

2010-03-07T14:10:00.000-08:00

Aromatherapy can enhance and deepen a yoga session, and the two practices together are powerful stress-busters. Maybe you think you don't have time to do yoga, but why not start small? Even a tiny ritual can help to break up habitual thinking/worrying tendencies, slow us down and nurture us. And that one thing feels so good, that the next day you commit to doing it again. And again. And then, hopefully, you've created a habit.

So, here's one simple and quick idea:

If you have a candle diffuser, pick an oil that you love and that helps calm and ground you. Some possibilities are Lavender, Frankincense, Clary Sage, Bergamot, Chamomile, Cypress, Sandalwood or Ylang Ylang essential oil. Add a few drops to your diffuser, or if you don't have one, you can add your oils to a pot of barely simmering water. Alternatively, add a few drops to a teaspoon of carrier oil, and dab on your wrists and behind your ears. If you have a piece of music you especially love, turn it on.

Now, lie on your back. Close your eyes. For a few minutes, breathe in, breathe out, feeling the movement of your belly. With your next inhale, stretch your arms over your head and lengthen your body from head to toe. Exhale, lowering your arms back by your side. Repeat three times, slowly and mindfully, really feeling your body's movement as you stretch. Then, with your next inhale, bring your right knee to your chest, clasping it with both hands, and gently raise your head to your knee. Exhale, lying back and stretching your arms back up over your head. Repeat with your left side. Continue with this rhythm of breathing and moving a few times on each side, and then lay back, close your eyes again and relax.

Roll over on your side, and take a few breaths before rising. If you want to carry the effects of this into the rest of your day, apply a few drops of massage oil (with the essential oil or blend you used during the exercise) to your wrists. You could also use the straight essential oils on a handkerchief or portable diffuser (these are nifty little devices the size of a lipstick container that allow you to take your essential oils with you). If you find yourself feeling harried or stressed later, simply breathe in your chosen oils and bring yourself back to that place of calm and peace.

~ Beauty of style and harmony and grace and good rhythm depend on simplicity. ~

Plato

About Essential Oils

2010-02-27T19:04:00.001-08:00

Since we get so many questions about essential oil quality, here's some general information about the oils, and as we go along, we'll be digging a little deeper into what makes an oil 'therapeutic', why the quality of an oil is so important, and how to know what you're buying.

So, first things first. What are essential oils, exactly?

In a nutshell, essential oils are mixtures of naturally occurring compounds that exist in plants which have fragrant flowers, leaves, wood, bark, roots, or seeds. From an organic chemist's point of view, the active constituents of essential oils are composed of hydrocarbons and oxygenated hydrocarbons which can be grouped according to their molecular structure. For those of you interested in the chemistry behind what makes an oil valuable for this or that, we'll be blogging about that soon (hopefully without getting too technical or tedious).

Essential oils may be extracted from plants using a variety of methods but for aromatherapy purposes, the only acceptable methods are those that are non-toxic. This includes distillation, cold pressing, and, in a few cases, non-toxic solvent extraction. A good therapeutic grade essential oil is produced using non-toxic procedures that preserve the life-giving vital essence of the plant.

Don't confuse essential oils with vegetable oils, which are also sometimes called "carrier" or "base" oils. Essential Oils are volatile, which means that they evaporate when exposed to air; they are very fragrant; they do not feel slick or oily, and do not leave an oily residue. Vegetable oils, such as almond oil, apricot oil, olive oil, or avocado oil are not really fragrant; they do not evaporate readily; they do feel oily and leave an oily residue. Vegetable oils are used in aromatherapy for the purpose of diluting essential oils so that they can be safely applied to the skin.

What's the difference between an essential oil and a fragrance oil?

Fragrance oils are synthetically manufactured chemical mixtures that mimic natural plant aromas. They may smell just like the "real thing" but are not appropriate for aromatherapy. Read product labels carefully and avoid those labeled as "fragrance oils", "essential fragrance oils", or "nature identical".

Know what you're purchasing.

Some products sold as "essential oils" are diluted in cheaper carrier oils or are adulterated in some other way. Again, read product labels carefully but be aware that labels may not disclose full information. Become familiar with the botanical names of the oils you want to use and never purchase an essential oil that is not labeled with the botanical name, as well as the common name.

Is Organic always better?

Not necessarily . . . to learn more about how we choose our oils, why organic doesn't necessarily mean better therapeutically speaking, read Dr Power's article on organic oils at our website.

Make Your Own Aromatherapy Spritzers

2010-02-23T10:15:00.000-08:00

One of our favorite ways to use aromatherapy is in room sprays, because (a) they’re SO easy to make and (b) they can change the mood/aroma/of a room in minutes. They’re also very economical, since you need just a few drops of essential oil per bottle of spritzer.

Some Basic Principles:

You can vary the concentration (i.e. the number of drops of essential oil) based on what you’re trying to achieve. For example, if you want a facial spray, be sure and keep the concentration low, at around 5-6 drops per 4 ounce bottle. For body sprays, that amount can be increased to 15-30 drops, and for room sprays, you can go as high as 60-80 drops per four ounces. Some sources recommend higher concentrations for room sprays, but we recommend starting at a lower concentration and adding if needed.

Here’s what you’ll need:

4 oz spritzer bottles (we’ll be giving recipes for 4 ounce bottles, but obviously if you have larger bottles adjust amounts accordingly)

3.5 ounces distilled water

3 tsp grain alcohol or vodka (if you'd rather, you can use witch hazel) to help disperse the essential oils and prolong the fragrance.

Essential Oils of your choice

A small notebook--I strongly recommend you keep notes of what you do. Oftentimes, when dabbling, you'll fall in love with a particular concoction and have only the vaguest idea of what you combined. This is a nice habit to get into whenever you work with essential oils and blends.

Choosing your oils:

The sky’s the limit on choosing essential oils you’d like to combine. You should decide, firstly, on your purpose. Is it a room deodorizer? Linen spray? Are you trying to create a specific mood?

Here are some ideas to get you started:

Refreshing/Citrus (a great spritzer when you want to air out a musty, closed up space)

Orange or Mandarin - 15 drops
Lemon - 7 drops

Grapefruit - 7 drops
If you want to add a little spice to the citrus, add a few drops of clove or cinnamon essential oil to the above.

Disinfectant Room Spray

Tea Tree - 10 drops
Eucalyptus - 12 drops
Lemon - 12 drops
Pine - 4 drops

Relaxing/Calming

Lavender - 8 drops

Mandarin - 4 drops

Roman Chamomile - 4 drops
Ylang Ylang - 4 drops

Balancing

15 drops Lavender essential oil
5 drops Bergamot essential oil
3 drops Clary Sage essential oil
2 drops Frankincense essential oil

Measure out the distilled water and add your alcohol, if using. Then add your drops of essential oils and shake well to blend. Let your creations sit for at least 24 hours to allow the oils to deepen. Shake well before using. Enjoy experimenting with making these wonderful spritzers, and let us know your personal favorites. We'd love to share your recipes with other readers.

Cautions: As with any essential oil usage, educate yourself about the properties of oils before using, and avoid during pregnancy, around young children and with those who have asthma. Some essential oils can discolor upholstery and fabrics, so be careful where you spritz.

Joining the Blogging World

2010-02-20T18:59:00.000-08:00

Welcome to our new blog! Since our website is a bit utilitarian, we've been wanting to have a friendlier forum for quite awhile. With this blog, we hope to be able to do more questions and answers (we do quite a bit of this by phone and email, but this way we can publish our answers more widely), post recipe ideas and tips, announce specials, and give information on upcoming new products. We love to hear from our customers, since it's you that give us some of our best ideas, and motivate us to try new formulations and product lines.

What's New:
Dr Power will be holding her next Aromatherapy Workshop this Spring, April 24-25th. This will be a Level I workshop, covering the fundamentals of Aromatherapy. Our Somatherapy oils, diffusers and massage oils will be available for purchase. Her last workshop filled up fast, so if you're interested, click her for details and registration information: http://aromatherapy-school.com