Here is a 6-week course for $9.99
What a great gift for YOU or
someone else who wants to take
charge of their health with essential oils!
First off, Merry Christmas!
Second, did you know that you don't need to have an Amazon Kindle to read Kindle books? (I didn't) (Although a Kindle is pretty nice...) You simply download a FREE App from Kindle and then go ahead and make use of all the eBooks that Kindle has available at incredibly read-worthy prices! (Click into the APPS for All Page to get the App you need- or see below)
Third, there is quite a collection of Kindle eBooks dealing with essential oils and Aromatherapy. Click on them to read their descriptions and reviews. Although there is a LOTTA information online, it's still nice to have a book to read from cover to cover, something that has been researched and rated (whereas, alas, most websites are not).
EBooks make excellent gifts, did you know? Any Kindle book available for purchase in the Kindle Store can be given as a gift to anyone with an e-mail address. You do not need a Kindle device to send or receive Kindle book gifts, and the recipient can read their gift on a registered Kindle device or any free Kindle reading application. You don't have to pay to ship them. You don't have to wrap them. Gosh, you don't even have to include an expensive card. (Now that is making me sound like a real chintz, isn't it? Well, you know what I mean) AND, if you are downloading to a reader device, you are saving all those trees!! And bookshelf space!! You're a good friend and a hero...
You don't need a Kindle Reader Device to read any of the Kindle EBooks-- just download an APP (free) for your device or PC by clicking below:
I apologize for not having been on here for yanks... but Facebook*, bless 'em, made it rather expedient for me to get back here and update... and update I must, for I fear that most of the links on my informational blogs (how to deal with flu, etc.) are broken, out-of-date, embarrassingly linked to non-existent sites, etc. It will be a long job, but I'm on it!
In the meantime, I am also going to start posting some fresh articles and items about the many uses and loves for pure essential oils. Can you see that I have added a store-- well, it's a pseudo-store, really, just a place with a bunch of products that you can purchase through Amazon.com. Prices are certainly good.
Looking forward to going forward again! Fragrant blessings to you!
*Come join our Group on Facebook... we will be more active than we have been so we don't get turfed... tell us what you like about essential oils, how you use them, etc....
This post appeared originally in December 2007 and is the most frequently viewed post in this blog. ------------------------ Today's excellent suggestion originated in a post by Jessica Wild, the author and moderator of the Wild Harvest Yahoo! group(no longer active) in response to a group member's question about her husband either flushing a kidney stone or relieving the pain associated with it.
Jessica suggests a combination of 10 drops of pure Frankincense and 10 drops of pure Lemon essentialoil in a capsule, taken every four hours.
The beautiful aromatic essential oil of Frankincense is obtained by distilling the bark of the Frankincense tree that grows in Somalia, Saudi Arabia, Ethiopia and China. You will likely be familiar with the reference to Frankincense from the gifts that the Magi brought to the Christ Child, immortalized in the Christmas carol "We Three Kings" (as an aside, there is nothing in the Bible to indicate how many kings, or wise men, actually visited the Christ Child in his birth cave/stable). Along with Myrrh and
Gold, it was considered a very precious commodity of the time... in fact, an essential part of any wealthy family's 'medicine cabinet', if you will pardon the pun. Frankincense was used as a cleanser and a balm for wounds, to quell fevers, fight coughs and colds, soothe bronchitis, clear laryngitis, calm the stressed, and embalm the dead. Frankincense was a birth-to-death agent.
Pure, unadulterated Frankincense essential oil still works. It makes perfect sense as a purifying, calming additive in a capsule to help with kidney stones.
Pure Lemon Essential Oil is high in antioxydants, provides a wonderful emotional lift, and appears to boost the immune system in doing its job. It is tonic, astringent and antiseptic. A great deal has been recorded about the ability of lemon juice to dissolve gallstones, so commonsense would indicate that pure lemon essential oil would also be useful in dealing with kidney stones.
On the tenth day of Christmas
My Aromatherapist gave to me Frankincense and Lemon for the stones in my kidney...
9 drops Marjoram to deal with insomineeeee (a)
An 8-Lemon Drop Co-oo-ookie
Fragrance so Seventh Heaven-ly!
Six drops of Geranium,
Five ---- Drops--- of ----- Myrrh
Four big drops of Thieves blend
Three Raindrop treatments...
Two Eucalyptus Globulus
and
A bottle of pure Ro-s-e-mary....
**I am not a medical person (doctor, nurse, dentist, etc.) but make any references to the healing capabilities of essential oils on the basis of testimonials from real live people who have experienced or observed first-hand results.
Nausea and vomiting are common symptoms that come from irritation to the intestinal tract, but they can also be associated with other illnesses such as diabetes, and are linked with disturbances in the inner ear. Putrid odors, jet lag, headaches, food allergies, poor digestion and both emotional and physical stress can cause this ugly feeling.
Nausea is that unpleasant sensation that makes you feel like you want to vomit. Vomiting is the forceful expulsion of contents from the stomach through the mouth.
There are several ways to deal with this difficulty and perhaps the safest and most effective way is very natural: the use of essential oils. Here are seven ways to use essential oils for the prevention and relief of nausea:
Many aromatherapists recommend a very gentle massage with essential oils over the stomach area. In this instance you would dilute the chosen essential oils into a carrier oil base, and then rub a few drops of the blend over the tummy. You can also rub 1-3 drops behind each ear (over the mastoid).
Some may find a massage uncomfortable, and in this case a compress may be preferred. Here you could put about two cups of warm water in a sink or basin, add 10-15 drops the chosen essential oils, and after swishing the oils around to disperse them, put a cotton washcloth into the solution, gently wring it out, and then place the cloth over the tummy.
Simple inhalation may be the easiest and best way to relieve or prevent nausea. You can either inhale directly from the bottle of essential oil, or put a few drops on a tissue or cotton ball. This can be stored in a baggy, then taken out for a whiff when the sense of nausea come on.
Try adding a drop of Peppermint (Mentha piperita) or Spearmint (Mentha spicata) to an Altoid or breath mint, if you feel a bout of nausea coming on. Often this will prevent an attack, and is quite tasty.
Drink some chamomile (Matricaria recutita or Chamaemelum nobile) cinnamon(Cinnamomum verum), or peppermint tea. Or add a slice of ginger to some hot water. I have also found it effective to add a drop of essential oil to ginger ale. This and both of these teas are soothing to an irritated tummy. Don't have these items on hand? You can make a tea with essential oils, but you will want to dilute the oil before adding it to the cup of hot water. Put one drop of essential oil into a teaspoon of honey. Then you will only need to add about 1/4 to 1/3 of the teaspoon of oil infused honey to a cup of warm water. Remember that the essential oil is a very concentrated form of the herb or spice. One drop of chamomile essential oil is equivalent to about 30 cups of chamomile tea. So go easy here. And remember to use ONLY the purest therapeutic grade oils. This is very important. If unpure or adulterated oils are used, you can only make the problem worse.
You can also apply the essential oils to your feet. Pay attention to the reflexology point for the stomach: the area on the bottom of the foot, in the middle of the foot on the inside in line with the big toe. The acupressure point to relieve nausea is on the inside of the arm, just above the wrist in line with the long finger.
Sometimes using a diffuser to disperse an essential oil can be helpful. Here it is particularly important to select, ahead of time, an essential oil that is agreeable to the person. Choosing an oil that the nauseated person finds offensive, for whatever reason, can only make matters worse.
The most appropriate essential oils to use are peppermint, spearmint, Ginger (Zingiber officinale), Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) and Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans). Mailhebiau recommends using Dill seed ( Anethum graveolens) oil for children. Essential oils of carrot seed (Daucus carota), chamomile, turmeric (Curcuma longa), and Patchouli (Pogostemon cublin) have also been found to be effective. See your aromatherapist to determine which essential oils are right for you.
Here is an effective blend for nausea to be used as a tummy massage:
5 drops of Roman Chamomile
2 drops of Peppermint
2 drops of Patchouli
1 drop of Ginger
1 Tablespoon of vegetable oil or jojoba carrier oil (or unscented body lotion).
Combine ingredients and rub on hands. Have the person who is nauseated inhale slowly and deeply a few times, then gently massage this blend over the solar plexus area (below the rib cage) in a circular motion. You can store the massage oil in a glass bottle. This recipe makes about 1/2 ounce. Be sure to label the bottle with the ingredients, and the date the blend was made. You can also use this blend without the vegetable oil, and place a few drops on a tissue for inhalation. Store it in a plastic bag, and take it out to smell of it when the feeling of nausea comes on.
Simple acute nausea and vomiting that occurs following overeating or over indulgence of alcohol, or in the morning sickness of early pregnancy may require little or no treatment. But severe or prolonged nausea and vomiting requires careful management. Chronic nausea can be a sign of something more serious. See your health care professional for this.
This article is written for informational purposes only and is not meant to diagnose or treat medical problems. The advice and care of a physician is recommended for your health concerns. Aromatherapy is intended as complementary care with health care providers, not as an alternative to care.
A registered aromatherapist, Judy has a special interest in using essential oils in health care and prevention. For information about Judy and for ways to obtain her favorite essential oils, visit her Web page at: http://home.comcast.net/~judy922/site/
Flea bites are the most common
form of insect bite found on HUMANS.
I've had a lot of nasty bug bites and boils in my day. I am so happy that there are ways to quickly draw off the toxins in the little pustule that develops... I am going to detail one method for doing that today using essential oils, activated charcoal and some other items. The recipe I provide is called a "black drawing salve" and you will want to make some up for your Natural Medicine Chest. You may want to take it with you when you go camping, etc. It is good to use for bee stings, boils, slivers, infections and the like-- anything that requires drawing poisons out of your body. For the grannies out there (such as I), it is a precious gift to give to the parents of your grandbabies-- you know what I mean.
Ingredients:
2 T. Beeswax
3 T. Cocobutter
3 T. Sheabutter
2 T. Organic Coconut Oil*
1 T. Vitamin E oil
2 T. Activated Charcoal Powder**
3 T. Bentonite Clay
Pure Essential Oil (choose from list below)
8 - 1/2 oz. jelly jars with lids, or 8 baby food jars with lids, sterilized
candy thermometer
Old Crockpot/slow cooker/electric skillet/electric wok that you dedicate from now on to melting wax with
What to do:
Have all ingredients on-hand and ready to go. I am able to buy all of the above ingredients at my local health food store. Please use only ORGANIC Coconut Oil so as to make use of the antibacterial properties not available in the heavily processed coconut oil. Charcoal Powder: you may have to buy a bottle of charcoal caps and just break open the capsules and pour the powder into a small bowl until you have 2 T.
Put the beeswax, shea butter, cocobutter and coconut oil into an old crockpot that you purchase second-hand or pick up free from Freecycle-- this is the safest way to melt your oils and wax. The most dangerous way is to melt over a gas fire. If you are an old pro candle-maker, etc., go ahead and melt the items in a small pot over low heat. Use your candy thermometer to heat and simmer up to 180 degrees (Medium) Hold at 180 degrees F. for 15-20 minutes
Add all remaining ingredients (except for essential oil) and stir to blend.
When the mixture is cool, add the essential oils (5 drops) that you wish to use. The ones I recommend are (1)Lavender (2)Tea Tree (Melaleuca) (3)Myrrh (4)Chamomile.... other essential oils are useful as well.
Spoon into sterile jars, lid tightly, and store in a cool, dark room.
How to Use the Salve
Put about an 1/8 of a teaspoon-full of the salve on the boil or sting, etc.
Cover with sterile gauze and a warm compress will be helpful in drawing the toxin out
(adapted from an article online at Herbs.Love to Know.com)
And about those spider bites....take a look at this video-->
I'm going to be running a blog series on Do-It-Yourself Healthy Skin Care that we can all take advantage of with little cost and with good results and NO petrochemicals or other unknown (unpronounceable) product additives. Go ahead and subscribe to this blog to get notice of these posts as they come out.
The formulations we look at will use "natural" essential oils-- meaning that you will often just enjoy the fragrances of the plants and other ingredients-- those fragrances are the essential oils releasing, soothing your skin, relaxing you. For example, today we will use strawberries in a face mask. Can you remember how wonderful mashed strawberries smell? That delicious scent, my dear, is the strawberry's essential oils. You may wish to augment your formulations with a drop or two of good therapeutic essential oils-- that will be up to you.
But before we get to that, here are the Top 15 baddies that you will want to avoid in your skin care products (check the ingredients on the bottle/tube and if needed, look them up on the internet or contact the company). This is list is excerpted from a longer article by Mel on the Care 2 Make a Differencesite.
1.SYNTHETIC FRAGRANCES often contain phthalates (pronounced THAY-lates), synthetic chemicals commonly used to stabilize fragrances and make plastic more pliable. These endocrine disrupters mimic hormones and may alter genital development. Avoid products that list fragrance as an ingredient unless the label states that it’s derived from essentials oils, or look for a phthalate-free label on the packaging.
2. PARABENS, ubiquitous in skincare, preserve other ingredients and extend a product’s shelf life–but these antimicrobial chemicals also have hormone-disrupting effects.
3. UREAS, formally known as diazolidinyl urea, imidazolidinyl urea, or DMDM hydantoin and sodium hydroxymethylglycinate, are preservatives that have the potential to release formaldehyde in very small amounts and are a primary cause of contact dermatitis.
4. 1,4-DIOXANE, a chemical carcinogen, is created when ingredients are processed with petroleum-derived ethylene oxide. Common ethoxylated compounds include sodium laureth sulfate and polyethylene glycol (often listed as PEG). To avoid it, skip any product with the following ingredients: myreth, oleth, laureth, ceteareth (or any other -eth), PEG, polyethylene, polyethylene glycol, polyoxyethylene, or oxynol.
5.PETROCHEMICALSare derived from crude oil. Petroleum-based ingredients such as petrolatum, mineral oil, and paraffin (derived from nonrenewable sources) form a barrier when applied to the skin that does not allow it to breathe and can clog pores.
6. MEA/DEA/TEAare “amines” (ammonia compounds) and can form harmful nitrosamines when they come in contact with nitrates. Used as foaming agents, synthetic stabilizers, and to adjust the pH of cosmetics, they can cause allergic reactions, eye irritation, and dryness of the hair and skin.
7. SULFATES, such as sodium lauryl and sodium laureth, are harsh detergents that give cleansers, soaps, and shampoos their latherability. Often derived from petroleum, sulfates can also come from coconut and other vegetable oils that can be contaminated with pesticides. Sulfates can cause eye irritation and skin rashes.
8. CHEMICAL SUNSCREENS, such as oxybenzone and octylmethoxycinnamate, have been shown to disrupt endocrine activity. Titanium dioxide and zinc oxide are safer alternatives.
9. QUATS, such as benzalkonium chloride, steardimonium chloride, cetrimonium bromide, and cetrimonium chloride, give a positive charge to conditioners in order to prevent static. They are necessary for conditioners, but we have allowed only the mildest quats in our Beauty With a Conscience standard: guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride, hydroxypropyltrimonium oligosaccharide, and SugaQuats.
10. ANTIBACTERIAL COMPOUNDS, such as triclosan and chlorphenesin, do not break down in the environment and may contribute to bacterial resistance.
11. SYNTHETIC POLYMERS, such as sodium polyacrylate and carbomer, come from petroleum and give viscosity to skincare products. They are highly processed and their manufacture creates toxic by-products.
12. SYNTHETIC COLORS are made from coal tar. They contain heavy metal salts that may deposit toxins onto the skin, causing skin sensitivity and irritation. Animal studies have shown almost all of them to be carcinogenic. They will be labeled as FD&C or D&C, followed by a color and a number.
13. CHELATORS, such as disodium EDTA and tetrasodium EDTA, are used in personal care products to remove impurities from low-quality raw materials. They do not readily biodegrade in the environment.
14. NANOS are a new technology with inconclusive but potentially hazardous study results. Research suggests that when tiny nano particles penetrate the skin, they may cause cell damage.
15. ANIMAL TESTING: A grim history of cruelty to animals lies behind many cosmetic ingredients. But scientists are developing new technologies to test cosmetics before a European Union ban on animal testing begins in March 2009.
Read more: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/top-15-dangerous-ingredients-in-skin-care.html#ixzz0zlI2YqbN Here is today's video on how to make your own strawberry yogurt skin mask. My own bias would be to use all organic products, but that is not mentioned in the video. Not all of us are starting with the seemingly young and flawless skin of the demonstrator in this video, but I know that we can't be harmed by the ingredients (unless, of course, we are allergic... then look for something natural that doesn't use the allergen). Enjoy!
Essential oils are particularly helpful in dealing with stress. They enter the bloodstream quickly through the skin or when inhaling or diffusing, or in some cases, ingesting. There is nothing more relaxing than an aromatherapy massage! It is very very important to realize that you will also allow many toxins this way in if you are using essential oils that are not pure. Here is a list of different sorts of stressors and essential oils to deal with them:
General Stress Kit: Bergamot, Bois de Rose, Cedar, Chamomile, Clary Sage, Cypress, Geranium, Jasmine, Lavender, Marjoram, Neroli, Petitgrain, Rose, Sandalwood, Ylang Ylang
