In this newsletter we will try to help you further your knowledge and use of essential oils.

Physical Ailments

Catarrh - Another name for Congestion?

Aromatherapy is used for different conditions - one of which is Catarrh. Catarrh is inflammation of the nasal, sinus and upper respiratory passages. Using another more common term - Congestion.

Congestion may include formation of mucus but can be due to swelling and inflammation of the tissues lining the nasal and sinuses.

Aromatherapy is often used to help relieve congestion due to rhinitis, sinusitis, the common cold, influenza, hay fever just to name a few.

The simplest way to help relieve is to add a drop or two of known essential oils to relieve congestion to a cotton ball or tissue and breathe in.

Some prefer to do a steam treatment by filling a bowl with hot water and draping a towel over the bowl. Add a few drops of essential oil and inhale for several minutes.

For some using a nasal inhaler with a few drops added is more discreet especially, if you have to go out in public and want to have something to use that is quick and easy.

Eucalyptus is very well known to help with congestion. But other oils may help include Cajuput, Cedarwood , Frankincense, Ginger , Lavender, Lemon, Marjoram, Peppermint , Pine , Ravensara , Rosemary, Tea Tree and Thyme.

Try this blend in the diffuser.
Eucalyptus radiata - 20 drops
Lavender - 20 drops.

You can use this blend in any diffuser - if you want to use all night use in a fan diffuser such as the Natura, Spa Scenter or Fan Fuser.

In the Personal inhaler put Rosemary 2 drops and Peppermint 1 drop. Inhale as needed.

A Chest Rub for Catarrh
2 ounces carrier oil
Eucalyptus - 20 drops
Basil - 5 drops
Peppermint - 5 drops
Cedarwood - 5 drops

Blend essential oils then add the carrier oil - Sweet almond or Sunflower oil are excellent choices. Rub on the upper chest, neck and on your back (if you have help). After you have rubbed these areas, cup your hands over your nose and mouth and inhale the remnants of the essential oils left on your hands for a few breaths. Use this 2-3 times daily as needed.

Emotional Concerns

Irritability

Irritability can be caused from any number of things that happen throughout the day or night. Little things just bug you and make you "crabby". You become edgy, and feel like nothing is going right and then it's like the straw that broke the camels back.

Often times, lack of sleep, or getting out of the wrong side of the bed sets the stage for being irritable all day. But don't fear, you have the power to change your own mood. Essential oils can help along the way.

Several oils are known to help take the edge off of irritability. Cypress, Coriander , Litsea Cubeba, , Neroli , Ylang Ylang , Melissa, Lavender and Roman Chamomile .

Using any of these oils singly or blending a few together will often lighten the mood and situation.

Most of these oils are known as euphoric, or good feeling oils so using them can help uplift your mood and although they won't remove the source of irritation, they may help you look at the situation in a different light!

Try a blend of
Ylang Ylang , - 15 drops
Coriander - 10 drops
Roman Chamomile - 5 drops

Blend well and use in the diffuser or mix several drops in 1 ounce of a massage oil and enjoy a massage. This blend can also be added to the bath (use 5-6 drops in the tub).

Beauty and Skin Care

Diaper Rash

Every baby or young child at one time or another can develop diaper rash. Diaper rash is nothing more than a type of dermatitis on the buttocks. To help prevent diaper rash, cleaning the bottom is important between every diaper change.

Prevention of course is the best medicine. Try to change the diapers as soon as possible when wet or soiled. Clean the area well and apply a light layer of a diaper rash oil or cream.

A very easy diaper oil is
Lavender - 10 drops
Roman Chamomile - 1 drop
Sweet almond - 2 ounces.

Blend well and apply a light amount on the babies’ bottom.

Amie, a new mother asked me to blend this cream for her newborn baby. She says it works great for preventing diaper rashes and if the baby does get one, it will heal quickly.

Amie's Baby Cream
Sorbolene Cream - 4 ounces
Apricot - 1 1/2 ounces
Roman Chamomile - 6 drops
Lavender - 9 drops
Tea Tree- 2 drops
Rose Otto - 2 drops

Blend this well and use a small amount between each diaper change or after bath time.

Amie also says they use this same recipe in a Nursing Home she worked at prior to becoming a full time mother. She says this works great on bedsores and other rashes the elderly or infirm develop.

Around the House and Garden

Sanitizing the Mattress

Several times a year - (okay about four times a year) - I like to strip down my beds, and thoroughly clean everything. The mattress and foundation get a good vacuuming and then I spray them down with a blend of essential oils mixed into distilled water. After spraying them, let them dry for an hour or two before putting the sheets and blankets, etc. back on.

The blends I use help with any undesirables, like dust mites and all kinds of bacteria, etc. Of course I like the smell of the blends too.

This is a strong Sanitizer and works well to disinfect your mattresses.

Peppermint - 50 drops
Eucalyptus - 10 drops
Oregano - 10 drops
Pine - 5 drops
2 ounces of water.

Shake well before and during the spraying process. This will make enough to spray the mattress and foundation.

Your bedroom may smell very strong, so you may want to open a window after you are finished or close the door and let this blend sanitizes the whole room.

Recipe found in Little Giant Encyclopedia of Aromatherapy by Schiller & Schiller

Recipes to try

BIRCH HILL HAPPENINGS NEWS

Hello Everyone,

Sure hope everyone is enjoying the wonderful fall. Here in Minnesota our fall has been great, just as our summer and spring were too. The colors of the trees have been so beautiful. We know it won't be long and we'll be seeing snow and cold.

The Holidays are just around the corner and we hope to have several ideas for gift giving to fit everyone's budget and level of aromatherapy experience. Please watch the beginning of our On line Catalog page for a link to our holiday suggestions page. (Penny's still working on that page but hopes to have it up within the next couple weeks.)

This month we have some more new diffusers. They are small Terra Cotta discs for just $4.97 each. We looked for a long time before we finally located these wonderful small diffusers. They come with nine different designs stamped in them.

To use you simply put several drops of essential oil into the depressed design. It will absorb into the Terra cotta and slowly diffuse into the air. These types of diffusers are great near your personal work or reading areas.

One of customers said she uses it near her bed, on her night stand. She doesn't like to hear the motor of the fan diffusers running, and it is not safe to burn tea lights. She loves the constant diffusion near her head all night as provided by these small terra cotta diffusers.
Another customer said she saw where you can add your favorite essential oils and then place the disc on the floor of the shower. As the warm water of the shower hits the disc, the oils are sent throughout the shower.

There are probably dozens of places these inexpensive and cute little disc style diffusers can be used. We personally use one by our computers. It is easy to use and last for several days. Most of the designs can hold up to 1 ml or more of essential oil.
As with any diffuser, don't overfill, as any spilled essential oil can damage the surface of your furniture.
To see our selection of these cute little diffusers and for more information, Click Here.

Finally, after months of experimenting, we finally have some all natural perfumes available. To start with, we suggest you purchase a sample vial or if you are daring you can purchase the 10ml roll on bottle. We have a large selection to choose from. A couple may be suitable for use by men, but you will need to judge that for yourself. The Perfumes, just as the other essential oil products are not refundable or returnable. So please buy a small amount to try before buying larger 10 ml Roll-on Applicators. Please visit our Perfume page Click Here to read about the different Perfumes.

Our new storage boxes have been a great hit. As you know we had been searching for quite a while for storage boxes for you to keep your essential oil bottles organized.   Finally, we found some little boxes.   They are made from Basswood.  Although it is a fairly soft wood, they are very nice boxes.   We have fit them with a compartment grid so your bottles can sit upright and separated. They are unfinished wood.   You can choose to paint or finish them yourself or leave unfinished.   Remember essential oils if dropped on finished wood - paint or varnish may mar the finish on them.
For more information about sizes, styles and pricing, Click Here.

If you haven't already checked out our two new - all metal Tea light diffusers.   They are made from a beautiful mirrored finished metal and have a copper well to put the water and essential oils in.   They are very nice and will diffuse your oils for many hours.

To order Click Here.

Just a gentle reminder Make sure you get started on your Holiday gifts.   Remember when you use essential oils to make special blends of Lotions, Shampoos, Creams, etc you will want to get them blended soon. The essential oils when mixed in these products take several weeks to have time to blend and mix properly into your finished products.   Order your supplies soon and experiment now so you can surprise your family and friends with a most appreciative and thoughtful gift.

Soap makers - you need to get your soaps made now so they have plenty of time to dry before the holidays.

As always, if we can help you with any aromatherapy question please send us an E-mail at bhhinfo@birchhillhappenings.com and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.

‘til next month,

Yours in Aromatherapy,
Alan and Penny
E-mail us at bhhinfo@birchhillhappenings.com