PHYSICAL AILMENTS
Allergy - Hay Fever
Ka-chew!  Allergies and the fall hay fever season will soon be here. Seasonal rhinitis can be a slight annoyance for some and a major health issue for others.

The best way of course is try to avoid the allergens. If it could only be that easy.  The other is to help build up your immune system so when the pollen is flying your immune system is ready.

Penny is troubled with Hay Fever due to Rag weed. Starting in mid July she starts to diffuse or inhale Roman chamomile - just a drop a day.  Continuing until the first of October.  This usually lessens the reaction.   Others find that a blend of Roman chamomile,  Lemon, Eucalyptus, and Lavender help give relief once you have a reaction. simply add a couple drops of Roman chamomile, Lemon and Lavender to your bath, and relax.  (You can diffuse in the air too.)

If you prefer to use a rub, just blend the above with a tablespoon of a carrier oil and apply to your neck and chest. Adding a drop of Geranium works for others.

You'll need to experiment with different essential oils to find which one will work better for you.  Try each one or blend for about 1 week before changing to another. Keep a journal and record what works.  You'll want to remember for next year!

Once you are afflicted you can try treating with essential oils for  symptomatic relief.  Peppermint will help to open stuffy noses, as will Eucalyptus.  Eucalyptus radiata is preferred over Eucalyptus globulus for upper respiratory concerns in children and the elderly.  Rosemary can be used if either of the Eucalyptus are too strong.

Placing a few drops of your favorite essential oil in a cool bowl of water, wringing a cool cloth and placing it on your fore head or over the bridge of your nose, and relaxing is very comforting also.

If you have something that works for you please, e-mail us and let us know - we would love to share with others.

EMOTIONAL CONCERNS
Stimulating oils for Concentration
There are several situations where you may feel a need to increase your concentration. 


Long lectures, important board meetings, seminars to name a few. 
Have a busy afternoon at work? After lunch is another time when some folks have a tendency to become sleepy. You may want to try diffusing some oils in your personal work space.

Some businesses find diffusing essential oils in the office during the afternoon a very inexpensive, pleasant way to increase productivity  Essential oils can be used safely during this time to stimulate your mind.

Simply diffuse a few oils throughout the room for everyone to enjoy or you may want to place on a tissue and sniff occasionally. Personal diffusers are available for use on your desk or near your work space.

Known stimulating essential oils include Basil, Eucalyptus citriodora, Eucalyptus radiata, Grapefruit, Lemon, Patchouli, Peppermint, Ylang ylang and Rosemary. The bolded oils are the most commonly used.  A few more oils that work for a few or are added to blends include, Bergamot, Cypress, Coriander, Ginger, Geranium, Neroli,  Palmarosa.
Again, Aromatherapy is not necessarily an exact science and what works for one person may not be the perfect oil for another.
*

HEALTH & BEAUTY
Foot Odors
Oh no, Don't take off those shoes!  Foot odors seem to get worse in the summer months.  Hot, sweating feet just seem to be a wonderful breeding ground for all those nasty odor producing bacteria and fungi.   


Alas, there are many essential oils that will work to not only comfort your feet but help to eliminate the odors.   A very soothing foot bath can help begin the process to destroy the bacteria and fungus infections.   A very simply foot bath is a basin of tepid to luke warm water that you have added a few drops of Lavender.  This is the safest foot bath and can be used if you have broken skin, such as blisters and cracked skin (you know the kind you get between the toes).  

Athletes Foot is caused by a fungus and will need a stronger essential oil. In this case, using a Tea Tree oil and Lavender mixture is recommended.  These oils can be applied directly to the skin.  To eliminate athletes foot you will need to repeat the treatment for several days to weeks depending on the severity of your infection and underlying health problems.

For hot tired feet a drop of Peppermint or Eucalyptus to the foot bath is very soothing too.  Or a blend of Peppermint, Rosemary and Geranium.  See our Recipe below for Rejuvenating your feet after a long day.

AROUND THE HOUSE AND GARDEN
Bug Bites and Stings
Lavender to the rescue!!  Every summer time first aid kit should include Lavender. It can be applied 'neatly' (without dilution) to the affected area as needed.  After cleaning the area with warm soapy water, rinsing and drying, apply a drop directly to the insect bite.
Roman chamomile and Eucalyptus can also be applied in small dabs directly on the bite. 


For more serious insect bites such as bee stings, remove the stinger first.  Then apply Lavender, Roman chamomile or Eucalyptus.  Apply a cold compress over the affected area, changing frequently.   Do NOT use ice as you can cause damage to the skin if it accidentally becomes frozen.   If you or the person bitten are affected by severe allergic reactions to bee stings, seek immediate medical attention.

For gnat and chigger bites, a mixture of 1 teaspoon cider vinegar and 3 drops thyme applied to the bite will give relief.
Some people get relief from the severe itching of all insect bites by applying a small amount of peppermint mixed with a carrier oil to the area.

You may have other oils that have helped you once you are bitten. If you would like to share please let us know.

Of course the best thing is to avoid getting bitten. Preventing bites by using essential oils and blends to repel those nasty encounters is a pleasant and simple thing to do.

One of our favorite BUG OFF recipes is:
Cajeput - 25 drops
Lemon 19 drops
Geranium - 19 drops
Cedarwood 13 drops
Almond Oil - 2 oz
Mix the essential oils in a PET Plastic bottle, then add the Almond Oil.
Shake until well blended.
Apply a thin amount to exposed skin. Apply as needed.
Other essential oils for repelling that may work better for some include: Lemongrass, Citronella, Thyme, Peppermint, Cedarwood, Geranium, and Sandalwood.

RECIPES TO TRY
 Concentration Blend**
Lemon - 20 drops
Basil - 6 drops
Rosemary - 2 drops
Mix oils then diffuse into the air.
 

Rejuvenating Food Bath**
Myrtle - 4 drops
Spearmint - 4 drops
Grapefruit - 4 drops
Cajeput - 3 drops
Carrier oil such as (Almond, Hazelnut or Sesame)-1 teaspoon
Blend all oils and add to your basin of warm water, swirl around, then soak your feet and relax for at least 15 minutes!

BIRCH HILL HAPPENINGS NEWS
Hello Everyone,


This month in celebration of  Penny's "Retirement" from the Veterinary Clinic and now being able to devote her energies to working at home with the Aromatherapy Business, We are offering some Special Deals.  You can find them located throughout the On line catalog or we have most of them listed on the Sales page. 


We hope you found this months issue full of helpful and useful information. We encourage you to use and explore new and different oils.  As we have said before, an oil that works for one person, may not be the best oil for another. You need to experiment.  

Using essential oils responsibly is safe, fun and rewarding. 

We recommend you try at least one new oil each month until you have several oils in your kit.  Learn as much as possible about each oil as you add it to your collection. 


In the weeks and months ahead, Penny will continue to expand our website with more information.  If you have any suggestions - whether it be types of information or new products, we would love to hear from you.  Just e-mail us at bhhinfo@birchhillhappenings.com

As always we are here to help you learn about and enjoy the scents nature has given us.  Contact us so we can help you further. We are only an e-mail away.

‘til next month,

Yours in Aromatherapy,
Alan and Penny

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

To the beginning of our Catalog.

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.