PHYSICAL AILMENTS
CANDIDA
Candida - is a form of yeast that normally lives in our stomachs and intestines. Problems arise when the candida organism proliferates to a number where they are out of control and an infection can occur.

Often times seen in the oral lining (mouth) where it is known as 'Thrush' or in the vaginal and anal areas.   These over growth infections occur most often after a course of antibiotics.   Persons with uncontrolled diabetes may also be troubled with candida as they also love a highly sugary environment.

When this organism gets way out of control it may lead to nausea, headaches, depression, abnormal fatigue and more. It is thought people suffering from chronic fatigue are affected by Candida.
As most folks know eating yogurt or adding other probiotics to your diet will help to keep the good bacterial flora in the intestinal system.  Using a few essential oils in a mouth rinse,  douche or in a bath for a few days will also help to get this problem under control.

Oils that are useful include: Eucalyptus, Tea tree, Lavender, Lemon, Myrrh, Rosemary, Geranium, Roman Chamomile and Patchouli.
Myrrh is used for many types of mouth problems and adding a drop in a couple ounces of warm water and rinsing your mouth a couple times a day will bring relief.  Any of the above listed essential oils can be used in a mouth rinse.  Remember only 1 drop in 2 ounces of water.

If you are troubled with a vaginal or perianal infection.  The following recipe can be used as a Sitz bath or as a douche.
2 Tablespoon Vinegar, 3 cups lukewarm water, 2 drops Lavender, 2 drops Rosemary, 2 drops Tea tree and 1 drop Geranium.
Use Once daily.
If no improvement after several days, You may need to seek further medical attention.

EMOTIONAL CONCERNS
MEMORY LOSS
Dealing with Memory loss can be difficult for everyone.  We all suffer from memory loss in our life time.  Of course the older we get the more likely it is for us to have a combined Short and Long term memory loss.  The best essential oil to help with memory is Rosemary.  This oil is used with Alzheimer's and Dementia patients in several nursing care facilities.

In the past it was recommended to use Rosemary with caution in people with high blood pressure. In actuality Rosemary is a regulator. In other words if you have high blood pressure it will help to normalize it and if you have low pressure it will bring it up.
As with all essential oils they should be used in small amounts and with caution in anyone in poor health.  Oils used with the elderly and children should always be used 1/2 strength of the amounts that would be used in a normally healthy person.

Oils to help enhance memory especially for clarity is Rosemary and Basil.  If the person is agitated or depressed adding Jasmine, Rose or Neroli will also help.

Other oils include: Ginger, Lemon, Grapefruit, Thyme, Black pepper, and  Coriander.  Several of the oils in this group help with the confusion often times associated with memory loss. To help with confusion a blend of Black Pepper - 5 drops,  Ginger- 4 drops Grapefruit 8 drops  Helicrysum -5 drops and Basil - 7 drops may be used. Mix these in a amber bottle and apply a drop or two on a cotton ball attached to the lapel or collar of the patient.  Apply once daily. This blend can be used in a diffuser also.

*For more information on Essential oils for use with Memory loss consult a good Aromatherapy Book.  See suggestions below.

HEALTH & BEAUTY
INSOMNIA
Can't Sleep?? Boy, don't you just hate it?  You try to sleep, you feel so tired, but you can't shut your brain off.  You just about doze off and 'click' something in your brain starts in again.

Sleeping isn't normally the problem - it's getting there in the first place.  Insomnia unfortunately can become habit forming, YIKES!
So first off we need to break the cycle and start a new habit!
Start a new set of bedtime rituals and soon it might be the
one that will make everyone a 'happy camper'.

Avoiding stimulating foods, such as coffee and even some teas after 6:00 in the evening is a starting point.  Avoid stimulating movies and television (including not watching the late news or late night talk shows).  Instead take a relaxing warm bath about 30 minutes prior to retiring. Adding a few of the relaxing essential oils or a premixed blend to the bath water, can help to relax you further.

This works for me - Reading an absolutely boring book - find a subject that you know bores you and try to read that - I mean really try to concentrate on the subject, before long you'll be fast asleep.

Okay, I almost forgot, there are more essential oils to try.
Essential oils known to help relaxation include: Lavender, Roman Chamomile, Marjoram, Ylang ylang, Basil, Neroli, Bergamot, Clary sage and Sandalwood.   Add a drop or two of a couple of these oils to your bath water.  Sit, soak and enjoy.
Also place a drop of Lavender oil on your pillow. Remember the suggestion from a few issues ago? Add a drop or two to a cotton ball and slip inside your pillow case.

Remember only use a few drops, over use of any oil can sometimes produce the opposite effect and can stimulate certain areas of the brain and we don't want that to happen!

Any of the above oils can be diffused in the evening hours too.
AROUND THE HOUSE AND GARDEN
CARPET CLEANER / DEODORIZER
With summer here, and in certain areas of the country with HIGH Humidity,  all our carpets might develop an unpleasant odor. If you don't have time to shampoo and clean them properly you can do a quick deodorizing by adding a few drops of essential oil to baking soda and sprinkle that on the carpeting about 15 minutes prior to vacuuming.  Good oils to try include:  Lemon, Clary sage, Geranium, Bergamot, Lavender, Grapefruit and Lime.
Remember all essential oils have antibacterial, anti fungal, anti microbial and antiseptic properties. If the odors are coming from any of these sources, the oils will help destroy the odor causing bugs too.

RECIPES TO TRY
 Carpet Cleaning and Deodorizer
6 Tablespoon Borax
3 drops Lemon
1 drop Clary sage
5 drops Lavender
1 drop Grapefruit
Mix all ingredients and sprinkle on carpet.
Let sit for 5 to 10 minutes and then vacuum thoroughly.

Sweet Slumber Sleepy time Blend
1 Tablespoon Jojoba
6 drops Sandalwood
2 drops Neroli
2 drops Ylang ylang
1 drop Coriander
1 drop Vetiver
Blend these oils together and apply to your pulse points prior to your bedtime. (Pulse Points include the inside of your wrists, behind your ears and behind your knees.)

BIRCH HILL HAPPENINGS NEWS
Hello Everyone,

Thanks to everyone these past couple weeks for your patience while we got caught up on orders and email.

As many of you know Penny's father passed away,  He suffered from Dementia and Alzheimer's and passed away quietly in his sleep.  He lived a rich full life, he was almost 88.  We have many, many fond memories,  as he and her mother (who passed away last year) were our next door neighbors for  20 + years.   We are the new caretakers of the land he loved so much here in Northeastern Minnesota.  So Thanks again for understanding while we get back on track.

A Special Thanks to all caretakers of people afflicted with dementia and /or Alzheimer's.  Whether you are taking care of them at home or work in a nursing care facility I know from a personal stand point, that you are very special and I'm glad there are people trained to care for our Loved ones.   Thanks to you all!  (Penny)

Back to business.  Our 8 oz PET bottles finally arrived so all our 8 oz products are once again available.

We are working on some "Special Deals" and hope to have them up on the Website soon. So watch the site every week for announcements of the Specials.

Currently, Penny is working on the website to make it even more user friendly.  It won't change much but hopefully navigation will be even better.   Also more informational pages are being worked on and will be added as time permits.

Again, we appreciate our Readers and Customers and look forward to helping you as you continue to learn about and use essential oils used in Aromatherapy.

‘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 and others were 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"
"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.