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How
to Green Your Spring Cleaning
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Recipe:
Julie's Herbal Shampoo & Rinse
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The
Art of Drying Herbs
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How
to Make Your Own Lip Balm
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How
to Make Herbal Remedies for Cold & Flu
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How
to Make a Plant Press
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How
to Make Candied Ginger
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How
to Make Elderberry Syrup
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How
to Make Fruit & Herbal Vinegars
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How
to Make Herbal Perfumes & Colognes
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How
to Make Your Own Herbal Tea Blends
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Essential Oil Basics
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Essential oils are concentrated
aromatic liquids extracted from a variety of aromatic plant
material through the process of distillation.
Essential oils are natural organic
substances that are produced in various glands and sacs within
aromatic plants. Each essential oil is usually produced in one
part of the plant, except in a few cases. Where a plant produces
essential oils in more than one of its parts, differences of
odor and hence differences in chemical composition occur. For
example, the oil from the leaves of the cinnamon tree has a
cinnamon and clove like odor; where as the oil from the bark
has the characteristic ‘cinnamon’ odor. Another example is
from the bitter orange tree: Bitter orange oil is produced from
the peel, petitgrain from the leaf and neroli from the blossom;
all have different odors yet similar properties.
Each plant contains a percentage (which
varies between 5% - .01%) of essential oil and it is this fact
that dictates the amount of plant material needed for
distillation to create a specified amount of essential oil. E.g.
it takes up to 100 kilo's of rose petals to produce 1/2 liter of
rose whilst 100 kilos of lavender will yield approximately 3
liters of lavender essential oil. The quantity of plant material
needed also dictates pricing of the individual essential oils.
Which
essential oils to
start with?
Lavender
Lavendula vera syn.
Angustifolia
Good for just about everything!!! Stress, wounds, burns, various
skin disorders, calming, soothing, good for insomnia, uplifting,
healing, good for children, relaxing.
Tea tree
Melaleuca alternifolia
Wonderful antiseptic, wound healing, good for general skin care,
cold remedies.
Bergamot
Citrus bergamia
Uplifting, clearing to the mind, calming, use for insomnia,
excellent antiseptic.
Geranium
Pelargonium graveolens
Slight astringent, useful for acne, hormonal imbalance, PMS,
soothing, comforting, relaxing.
Lemongrass
Cymbopogon citratus
Good for cleaning the whole house!! Laundry. Strong antiseptic,
good for poor circulation, cleansing, detoxing, stimulating.
Rosemary
Rosmarinus officinalis
Refreshing, stimulating, good for poor circulation, muscular
aches and pains.
Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus globulus or
radiata
Great expectorant and soothing to colds, flus, coughs and other
respiratory issues, good antiseptic, muscular aches and pains.
Clary sage
Salvia sclarea
Balancing, soothing, good for PMS and other hormonal upsets,
relaxing.
Peppermint
Mentha x piperita
Stimulating, muscular aches and pains, good for migraines, use
in respiratory blends.
Tangerine, red
Citrus reticulata
Calming, soothing, a great
citrus to add to emotion based
blends, slightly warming.
Frankincense
Boswellia carteii
Wonderful healing oil on all levels, good for skincare, useful
for respiratory conditions, calming. |
Excerpted from an article
written by Jade Shutes of the Institute of Dynamic Aromatherapy.
Visit them at www.theida.com
Return
to Shopping Organic Essential Oils
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Essential Oil
Recipes for Body and Soul
Recipes to treat
stress, anxiety, bronchitis, athlete's foot, sinus problem's and more.
The following recipes are adapted from
Practical Art of Aromatherapy
 by Deborah Nixon.
Anxiety:
Anxiety creates tension in the body and can trigger other stress-related
symptoms. Ease your anxiety by using these calming and uplifting oils.
to calm the nerves:
lavender 10 drops, geranium 5
drops, sandalwood 10 drops. Blend into 2 oz of base/carrier oil such as
jojoba. Massage into chest, back, and neck.
for anxiety and fear:
lavender 6 drops, frankincense 8
drops, sandalwood 6 drops. Blend into 2 oz of base/carrier oil such as
jojoba. Massage into chest, back, and neck.
Insomnia:
To help battle insomnia try 6 drops of lavender and 4 drops of cedarwood
in a vaporizer. Or place a bowl of dried rosebuds in your room and
sprinkle a few drops of lavender essential oil to help promote sleep.
Remember, if you are having trouble sleeping, create a haven in your
room with relaxing colors, fabrics and no TV to promote a relaxing
environment.
Stress:
If you are stressed and exhausted, try this recipe in 2 oz of
base/carrier oil: Bergamot 10 drops, frankincense 8 drops, and rose, jasmine or neroli 2
drops. Massage into chest, back and neck.
Athlete's Foot:
There are a variety of methods to combat athlete's foot. Here are just a
few:
footbath:
lavender 3 drops, tea tree or eucalyptus 3
drops.
compress:
A compress is placing the following ratios of
essential oils into a bowl of very warm water, soaking a washcloth,
squeezing and applying to affected area. Once the cloth has cooled down,
repeat the process several more times: lavender 1 drop, tea tree 1 drop, eucalyptus 1 drop.
massage:
mix the following oils into 2 oz of base/carrier
oil and massage into feet both morning and night:
tea tree 5 drops, thyme 5 drops, pine 5 drops.
Bronchitis:
In two ounces of base/carrier oil mix eucalyptus 7 drops, tea tree 5
drops, lavender 3 drops. Massage into chest and back. For direct
inhalation, use half measures and place onto hankie.
Eczema:
Here are two recipes for creating massage oils to be applied to affected
areas. Use in 2 oz of base/carrier oil.
massage:
lavender 10 drops, sandalwood 5 drops.
massage:
bergamot 3 drops, geranium 3 drops, juniper 6 drops,
lavender 3 drops.
Influenza:
vaporizer or inhalation:
tea tree 2 drops, lavender 2
drops, eucalyptus 2 drops.
bath:
Add 3-4 drops of one oil to the bath: lavender,
eucalyptus, sandalwood, tea tree or lemon. Soak a minimum of 20 minutes.
Sunburn:
Lavender and tea tree oils soothe and heal sunburn. Dilute 2 drops in 3
oz of water (not oil) and spray on, or soak a cold cotton compress or
handkerchief in the mix and apply to cool the burn. Lavender added to
aloe vera gel is also soothing.
bath:
peppermint 6 drops, lavender 4 drops.
Varicose Veins:
massage: in 2 oz of base/carrier oil mix rosemary 5 drops,
juniper 5 drops, lemon 2 drops.
bath or massage: cypress 5 drops, geranium 5 drops. |
