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

Physical Ailments

Bruises and Sprains.

Oooh, oouch, wow! All that pain, swelling, and beautiful coloring!
This month, we thought we'd cover something that can happen to anyone at any time.
Bumps and bruising, and sometimes even a sprain.

Not that Penny is accident prone, but recently, she missed a couple steps while descending our stairway. Down she went, not back or butt first, but landed on her hands and knees. She landed hard on her left hand and wrist, in so doing she broke the large blood vessel in the heal of the palm of her hand where it joins the wrist. It started to swell.

Immediately she put ice (actually some snow) on the area. Then a cold pack, (we always have them handy. ) (No sprain, or break - as she had full range of movement and no discomfort whatsoever that would have indicated a break or sprain).

We kept the cold pack on for about 30 minutes. Then she applied some Helichrysum . She applied a couple drops to the bruise and gently rubbed it in with her finger tips.

Of course during this whole time she kept her hand elevated and very quiet. We followed basic first aid for this type of injury. We immediately put ice on the area to help reduce further bleeding and rested and elevated it. The cold, elevation and resting kept the discomfort to a minimum.

She applied a cold compresses a couple hours later and then a few more drops of Helichrysum . By the next morning, most of the discomfort was gone from the hand and there was very little bruising.

Throughout the next day she applied Helichrysum a couple more times. Within just a few days, all you could see was just a small nickel size area of discoloration (you know the green/yellow coloring). We feel that had she not followed this protocol the bruising would have easily extended well over her whole hand and well up her arm beyond her wrist.

If she had not applied the ice, elevated and rested her hand, We are certain the bruising would have been much worse. But adding the Helichrysum also helped to keep bruising to a minimum.

Bruising and Sprains are treated similarly in Aromatherapy. Sprains, can of course be and are much more serious. If pain and swelling continue, please see your doctor.

As you can see, the top essential oil for bruising is Helichrysum . It has the unique ability in its chemical makeup to penetrate tissues and enter the circulatory system to help with swelling and hemorrhages (the trauma to the underlying blood vessels damaged in the bruising or spraining.) Helichrysum also has the ability to help take away acute pain in this type of injury.

Simply apply a couple drops to the affected area several times a day. You can dilute with a carrier oil if you want to but it can be used 'neatly' (applied directly) to help reduce the swelling, bruising and discoloration in the affected area. Other oils that can also be applied to bruises include Lavender and Roman Chamomile .

Helichrysum Helichrysum italicum is also known as "Immortelle" or "Everlasting". The oil comes from the strawlike flowers. It is not an inexpensive oil. But you don't need it very often, unless your accident prone!

So remember, RICE - Rest, Ice, Compression (if needed for sprains, Elevation, and of course Helichrysum!

Other uses for Helichrysum include abscess, acne, boils, burns, cuts, eczema, inflammation, muscular aches and pains due to rheumatism, and painful strained muscles. The respiratory system will be helped in cases of asthma, bronchitis, coughs and has been used in Europe to treat Whooping cough. Helichrysum is also used to help fight bacterial infections and also colds and flu.

Emotional support is given by Helichrysum to fight depression, lethargy and nervous exhaustion.

A blend of Helichrysum and Rosehip seed oil applied to surgery incisions (once the suture materials are removed) can help lighten and heal the scar tissue much more quickly.

Emotional Concerns

Peace

To feel peace. That is what many of us feel or want to feel, especially this time of the year.
Yet, with hectic schedules and busy lives, the feeling of peace may elude us. This month we'll give you some suggestions of oils and a blend to help you feel at peace.
You of course must set up the mood, so you can feel the peace too! Play some quiet music, or draw a hot bath or both. Let your mind clear all thoughts of your busy day. Smell the scents and relax.

Oils that help to give one an inner peace may vary from one person to another. Please try one or two oils at a time and see which ones help you the most.

Oils to try include Neroli, Frankincense, Melissa, Yarrow, Juniper berry , Rose, Jasmine , Roman Chamomile, and Spikenard . For those of you more familiar with Aromatherapy, as you look through this list, you will see that most of them are oils recommended for meditation. Finding inner peace often begins with your ability to meditate.

For convenience we do carry a couple of blends you may want to try. Meditation blend is the most traditional and uses the above mentioned Frankincense , as one of it's main essential oils. Take Five blend has Roman Chamomile,and Spikenard and along with Lavender to help you relax and feel more at ease.

Any combination of oils that help you to relax (but not necessarily fall asleep) will help you along your path to finding inner peace.

Health and Beauty

Dry Chapped Skin

This time of year is always brutal to our skin. To help keep you skin soft and moist you must do several things.

1) Protect it as much as possible from extreme temperature changes. Exposure even for a few minutes to subnormal temperatures can cause damage.

2) Help prevent moisture loss by applying a good lotion or body oil. You don't necessarily need a lot, but you should try to apply something to help "lock" in the moisture.

3) Also, remember to drink plenty of liquids. Many folks forget to drink plenty of fluids in the cooler winter months. Did you know that in the winter, you can become dehydrated very fast? The best thing to drink ? Plain water. Yeah I know you've been told it before, but Water really is the best!

Once the skin is dry and chapped, you will really need to protect it from further damage.
To help heal and encourage the growth of new skin cells you should apply a cream or oil that has one of two of the following oils added. Lavender, Carrotseed, Geranium , Neroli, Rosemary, Sandalwood, Roman Chamomile, Jasmine, Rose, and Rosewood. A little Peppermint added to your lotion will help stimulate the skins own oil glands to produce more oil.

You may need to discontinue using soaps, or use a very mild soap. Did you know that any lotion can be used to remove makeup and also to clean the skin? Simply apply the lotion to your skin, massage lightly and then rinse off using tepid water. Try to avoid using lotions that have alcohols listed as an ingredient as they will continue to dry your skin.

To your lotion or cream add a little Evening Primrose oil or Rosehip seed oil. Both are known to help heal skin.
Remember to apply lotions or creams several times a day and especially at bedtime.

Around the House & Garden

Dresser Drawer Liners

Don't you just hate opening up a dresser drawer where you have seasonal clothing stored?
Well, you can remedy this 'storage' smell very easily. You can use these scented drawer liners in all dresser drawers or even on closet shelving.

Simply go to your local home decorating or lumbar yard (we have Menards, Home Depot not to mention other privately owned building supply stores). Look in the discontinue items bins in the Wall paper isle. What you are looking for is plain wall paper, not vinyl coated, not prepasted. But plain wallpaper. Most of the time you can find rolls very cheap - a couple dollars for a roll. Since they will be in the bottom of the drawer and not really seen, any design will do. Of course if it is a design you like, it's a bonus!

Cut your paper to fit your drawers. Then roll the paper up and place in a heavy plastic bag. Add several drops of your favorite essential oils to a few cotton balls. Seal all inside for several days so the essential oils can penetrate the paper. Then simply place in your drawers, add your clothing and next spring you won't dread opening the drawers!

You can use blotting paper, or plain unprinted newspaper. (If you have a newspaper printer or print shop in the area, often times you can get the ends of the big paper rolls very cheap too.)

Favorite oils to use for this project include but are not limited to Lavender, Rose, Geranium, Lemon, Rosemary, Roman Chamomile, and Marjoram . Pick your favorite oil or blend a new scent.

Recipes to try

BIRCH HILL HAPPENINGS NEWS

Hello Everyone and SEASON GREETINGS,

What a busy time of year this is for everyone! Please do take time for yourself and enjoy the season.
Spend time with your children, spouse and other relatives. This is what makes memories, the time you spend together. Preparing meals, decorating, wrapping gifts, playing games, etc and the list goes on and on.

Our Annual Holiday Sale is going on until the end of the year. Receive 5% off all items (except those already marked as Specials or discounted.) As you add items to the Shopping cart it will automatically figure the discount.
(If an item is not discounted it is because it is already sale priced.)

To help you with your busy shopping schedule, we have several suggestions for a wide variety of budgets.

For many of you, Gifts under $10.00 will fit the need, when you have friends or coworkers you'd love to give a little something and not spend too much.

Scentballs and Car diffusers are very inexpensive, easy to use and welcomed.

Several small passive diffusers like the shells, or small vases with a small bottle of a synergy blend is nice too.

The Soapstone diffusers are beautiful, hand carved from India Soapstone. Some of them are under $10.00 or if you have a few extra dollars, there are larger tealight diffusers available too. We have plenty in stock.

Scented bars of soap, can make a great stocking stuffer.

Don't forget we have Beginner Kits and Basic oils kits available for those just starting out in the world of Aromatherapy. Decoders and Wall charts to aid those more adventurous.

Several of our pre blended Massage oils can also be used as bath oils. One or two of those, with some unscented personal care products may be a hit too.

The Aroma Sacs can give you that warm cozy feeling when heated for a bit in the microwave. The heat and essential oils and herbal scents will be more readily enjoyed for up to an hour. Aroma Sacs can be placed on heads, necks, hands, feet or any place else.

We still have a good supply of "Christmas Tree" scents to satisfy everyone.
We have Pine Needle, Sylvestris, Siberian Fir Needle, Douglas Fir Needle, Spruce Needle and of course our Conifer Blend .

Of course other favorites this time of year -
Winter's warmth, Celebration, Citrus blend and Mint energizing blend.


Also, we still have all our "Special Deals and Buys" available for those budget conscious, but gift giving folks.

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 at bhhinfo@birchhillhappenings.com.

‘til next month, We wish you and yours the Happiest of Holidays and Merriest of New Years!

Yours in Aromatherapy,
Alan and Penny

E-mail us at bhhinfo@birchhillhappenings.com