PHYSICAL AILMENTS
DERMATITIS - ECZEMA
When your skin becomes oversensitive to any number of things you may develop a dermatitis - one of which is eczema. It can be very hard to discover what is causing this itchy, dry, red and raw skin condition.  Allergies, psychological troubles (such as stress), fatigue, weather, chemicals - such as washing your hands or even working on projects which may expose your skin to harsh oils and grease,  coarse clothing, even fragranced lotions can cause dermatitis.  

Often times it will be trial and error to find combinations of things you will need to do to heal your skin. There are essential oils to help with both itching and inflammation (Roman Chamomile, Lavender and Bergamot).  Others will help you deal with stress or other psychological reasons that might be causing the skin to react (Lavender and Bergamot).  Avoiding harsh chemicals and cleaners, would be the easiest to eliminate.  Using common sense for weather changes is simple too.   Finding out if the cause is an allergy, (food or contact), may be a little more difficult.  Try to avoid synthetically fragranced cosmetics and perfumes.

Using a healing oil, cream or lotion may give you the most relief.  We suggest you try using an unscented lotion or base cream and add a few drops of essential oil and apply several times a day. Excellent oils for eczema include Lavender, Helichrysm, Tea tree, Melissa, Neroli, Rose, Roman Chamomile, Sandalwood, Bergamot, Ylang ylang, Jasmine, Patchouli and Rosewood.  All of these oils have wonderful healing properties and can also help with secondary infections (bacterial and fungal) that can develop due to the itching and raw skin. All of these oils can also help deal with stressful situations to relax and calm. 

Be sure to mix your essential oils with lotions, cream or carrier oils. The carrier oils of choice include Rosehip seed oil and Hazelnut oil with a touch of Jojoba added.
EMOTIONAL CONCERNS
GRIEF
Grief comes from a loss that causes great sorrow and sadness. The loss most often is associated with that of a loved one, spouse, parent, child, or the family pet,  etc. but the loss can also be any thing that causes you to have a deep sadness in what I call 'felt in the gut' .  Often times your emotional feelings will transfer to be come a physical pain too. 
 
Loss of a job, loss of a home or memories from childhood, photographs loss in fires or destroyed accidently, etc.  Any of these types of losses may cause a form of grief.  Many essential oils have properties to help you deal emotionally with your grief. To help you relax the tense muscles and calm you while others will help your mind to sort all the many feeling and emotions you are experiencing. 

Some essential oils used for grief include Bergamot, Chamomile, Jasmine, Marjoram, Neroli, Rose, Nutmeg, Frankincense, Melissa, Vetiver and Vanilla.  Each of these oils can be used separately or in combinations. Try not to use more than 4-5 oils in a blend.  These can be used in diffusers or in a nice relaxing, warm bath.  

Giving a small silk arrangement with some of these oils applied to the flowers to someone grieving is a beautiful way to brighten someone's day.  Give them a small bottle of the blend to freshen the scenting  so they can continue the healing process.  They will start to feel better without knowing the real reason why!! 

HEALTH & BEAUTY
PAINFUL PERIODS
Sometime during a woman's reproductive years she will experience painful menstrual cramps. There cause again can be simple to serious. For any pain please have your doctor make sure the underlying cause is not due to a serious medical condition or emergency. 

If the pain is due to regular menstrual cramps then you can try a few recipes to help relieve the cramping and muscle tension. Massage oils and aromatic baths help many women.  Try a blend of Lavender - 5 drops, Cypress - 2 drops, Nutmeg - 2 drops and Peppermint - 2 drops
Add this blend to a nice warm bath where you have added 1/2 cup of Epsom Salts.  Soak in the warm water for about 20 minutes.  After you have towel dried, snuggle yourself in a warm bed with your legs and feet elevated (just above your heart level), by placing a pillow underneath your knees and lower legs. This is very relaxing and will take tension off your lower back. Rest for 20-30 minutes.

Oils that may help include Roman Chamomile, Lavender, Marjoram, Melissa, and Rosemary.  Some women find Basil, Carrotseed, Frankincense, Clary sage, Juniperberry and Peppermint will give them relief. Again, try blending 2 to 4 oils together and add to your favorite carrier oil, then massage into the lower abdomen.

AROUND THE HOUSE AND GARDEN
SLEEP PILLOW
A simple and easy night time ritual involves placing a few drops of essential oils onto  a couple of cotton balls and tuck them in both sides of your pillow just underneath the pillow case. 

Some folks prefer to add a few drops to their pillow case themselves. Although most essential oils will totally evaporate, some will leave a slight color due to pigmentation in the distilled oils.  So dropping directly on a pillow case (especially a  white one) would not be encouraged. 

Most people will fall asleep and relax more easily with Lavender,  Roman chamomile or Clary sage.   You may have your favorite oil to use to relax.  Experiment to find what works for you.
 

RECIPES TO TRY
A Eczema - Calming Bath
Chamomile - 3 drops
Geranium - 3 drops
Lemon - 3 drops
Elemi - 2 drops
Sandalwood  - 2 drops
Disperse all ingredients in a tub filled with warm water.

In Times of Grief
Jojoba Oil - 1/8 oz (4 ml)
Neroli - 4 drops
Chamomile - 2 drops
Jasmine absolute - 2 drops
(to use the Jasmine absolute 10% we sell use 1 ml or 20 drops)
Rose - 1 drop
(to use the Rose 5% we sell use 20 drops)
Blend all the above oils together,
Can be worn as a fragrance - like perfume or inhale from the bottle.

After you have placed items in the Shopping Cart,  type the word Sale in the Redeem Coupon section and the Shopping cart will figure your discount.  You'll only need to type it in once. Don't worry if you forget to type in the word Sale,  we will still give you the discount no matter if you do or not. 


A lot of folks stock up now for the spring and summer as our next sale won't be until late summer.  Although we have great prices year round as many of you already know.  You save whenever you order from us!

The Aroma Sacs and Lip Balms, both new, are a welcome addtion to our product line and many people are looking forward to using them this summer for all their aches and pains, and the lip balms of course, to protect those lips during the hot summer months.
The same business that makes the Aroma Sacs and Lip Balms also makes a line of Salt scrubs and Sugar scrubs. Please let us know if you think you might be interested in products like these as we are contemplating carrying them if we find there is enough interest.
Any suggestions of products you would like to see us carry are always welcome. We look forward to continuing to supply you with the highest qualities oils and aromatherapy supplies we can find.
Again, Thanks for being the BEST CUSTOMERS!  We plan on being here for all your Aromatherapy Information, Supplies and needs for many years to come!
‘til next month,

Yours in Aromatherapy,
Alan and Penny 


NOTE: Please use bhhinfo@birchhillhappenings.com when e-mailing us.

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Disclaimer:
We do not endorse, nor do we encourage anyone to implement Aromatherapy or any suggestions contained within this site without the consent of his/her medical doctor. We also do not take any liability for your implementation of any oils, recipes, or anything else available through this site, from any book or company recommendation, or available on any site linked from Birch Hill Happenings
 
 

**Resources for information in this newsletter was obtained from the following sources:
Aromatherapy A Lifetime Guide to Healing with Essential Oils by Valerie Gennari Cooksley
500 Formulas for Aromatherapy by Schiller & Schiller
The Fragrant Veil by Elisabeth Millar
The Fragrant Mind Aromatherapy for Personality, Mind, Mood, and Emotion by Valerie Ann Worwood
Aromatherapy An A-Z by Patricia Davis
*Aromatherapy for Vibrant Health and Beauty by Roberta Wilson
Practical Aromatherapy for Home and Garden Decoder
Advanced Aromatherapy Decoder
The Decoders are available from Birch Hill Happenings

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Copyright © 2004-2007 Penny Keay
Please do not use my information without my written permission.