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

Physical Ailments

Backache!

During the past year, I have taken up the hobby of Scrap booking. Al and I have over 30 years of photos and other memorabilia that I'm attempting to put into a story for generations to come. This, as many of you who already do scrap booking, is not an easy task. Well, for me it's not. I sit and do a lot of remembering while I'm making my pages.

While doing these pages, I sit for hours bent over the table or at a desk. After a while I start to feel it in my back. Just at the bend between lower and mid-upper back. Occasionally even in my shoulders if I've been 'wearing' them by my ears. (I thought this was suppose to be a relaxing hobby.)

Many of you have probably experienced this same type of backache. Not from scrap booking, but while you are at work or performing other types of desk work. Especially if your desk is not really fitted to your specific body type.

You get up and stretch, moving your back from side to side to release the cramped achy feeling.

If you are at home and have someone close at hand, you can have them massage a little muscle relaxing blend into your back. Don't forget to rub into the shoulders and down into the lower back, as all the muscles of the back can be fatigued and tired from this too.

The most commonly used essential oils for this type of backache include Lavender, Marjoram and Rosemary. Sometimes adding a warming essential oil will help. In this case a little Black Pepper, Ginger or Peppermint added to the blend will be welcoming too.

Try this simple blend for a quick relief.
Ginger - 5 drops
Bay laurel - 5 drops
Marjoram - 5 drops
1 tablespoon Sunflower oil.
Blend all together and use for massaging that back ache.

My daughter-in-law and I have several weekend Scrap booking retreats we are attending for our hobby. I'll be taking one of these blends along for her and I to use. And of course at the end of the day, a relaxing hot bath too!

Emotional Concerns

Balancing Oils

Ups and downs, sideway sways. Anything can cause a little upheaval in your day. Nothing totally out of balance but lets keep it that way.

Several essential oils can help you stay balanced and be more at ease throughout your day. Giving you the advantage and energy you need to make the day flow by easily.

The most commonly used essential oil that can do just about everything and is known as the "Mother of essential oils" is Lavender. Lavender is great to help you stay balanced. Rose Otto is known as the "Grandmother" and every one knows what ever Mother can't do, Grandmother can do. And maybe just a little bit more easily. After all she has more wisdom!

Rose Otto, may work better for you than other essential oils. Although more expensive, you will need just a drop or less, compared to using Lavender or other essential oils.

Of course, you might want to try some of the other essential oils first. Some that might help with balancing your emotions are Lemon, Cedarwood, Cardamom, Orange and Mandarin .

For general balancing of many body systems you might want to also try: Basil, Bergamot , Clary Sage, Cypress, Frankincense, Geranium, Marjoram, Grapefruit, Thyme ct Linalool, Petitgrain, Neroli, Sandalwood, Juniper berry and Eucalyptus radiata .

You can diffuse or inhale any single oil or choose 2-5 oils and add a drop or two of each in an amber bottle. Then diffuse in any diffuser or place in a Personal inhaler and use throughout the day.

Don't forget to write all your recipes down. Add notes to each card, so you can remember how the blend worked for you throughout the time used and whether or not you might want to try this blend again sometime.

Have fun and enjoy!

Beauty and Skin Care

Fall Shedding

Several people (and animals) shed during the spring and fall seasons. Whether this has to do with the change in the length of daylight exposure or temperature changes, no one really knows for sure what will trigger the loss of hair seasonally. Hormonal fluctuations may also cause this seasonal shedding.

Since losing your hair can be upsetting, if you realize that this might be a normal shed for you, you might be able to take some precautions to see if you can lessen the loss or delay the sudden loss of so much hair at one time.

It still is alarming when after months of little of no hair loss, all of a sudden you are finding more than normal amounts in the sink or shower after washing your hair. This is case for me, I have a normal loss of hair in the fall and in the spring, even after years of experiencing this I still get upset when it happens. It lasts about a month for me, then stops.

Anyway, there are a few things you might want to try.

Massage or stimulation of the scalp might be all you need to help you keep your locks. Do the massage prior to shampooing. If you don't shampoo your hair everyday, then at least do a massage of your scalp daily. Not much, just use your finger tips and with gentle circles, massage your entire scalp. Better yet if you can get someone else to do it for you would be great. Scalp massage can be very relaxing.

Two essential oils that help to stimulate hair growth and my also retard hair loss includes Rosemary and Roman Chamomile .

Mixing a few drops of either one in your final hair rinse is all you need to do. About 5 drops of each in a quart of warm water. Wash your hair normally then, rinse, squeeze out the excess water, and then use your essential oil rinse, pouring slowly over your scalp. Do not rinse out, squeeze your hair of excess moisture. Dry and style your hair as usual

Rosemary does have a tendency to darken your hair. If you are a blond you might want to try the Roman Chamomile which can often times add a little bit of shine and bring out the golden hair colors.

Essential oils that might help with hair loss besides Rosemary and Roman Chamomile include, Cedarwood , Clary Sage, Cypress, Lavender, Lemon, juniper, Grapefruit, palmarosa, yarrow, Patchouli , rose, Thyme, and Ylang Ylang . Mixing 3 or 4 of them with Jojoba and using as a pre shampoo massage or oil treatment may also help.

Chose 2 or 3 of the above listed essential oils, add 4 drops of each to 2 tablespoons of Jojoba, blend well. Then apply several drops to your scalp and massage in. Leave in so it can absorb into your scalp. 1 to 2 hours if possible, then shampoo as usual.

In place of the Jojoba you might want to try Avocado oil. In some instances this may be a better choice for those having a problem with hair loss. All by itself avocado oil may reduce hair loss when used to massage the scalp.

There can be other reasons for hair loss. Please seek advice from a medical professional if you are not sure why you are having hair loss.

Nutritional deficiencies, hormonal changes, sudden and / or prolonged stress, medications, and the list goes on that can all cause hair loss.

Around the House and Garden

Moth Control

This is the time of year that you will see a few different household moths. They are trying to get into the clothes closets or maybe they are the grain type moths that have entered your home after grocery shopping.

We usually see the grain type moths as we have dog food bins and I think they come around because of the dog food.

In either case, you will want to try to keep them away from your clothing, especially anything woolen or blended with wool. You certainly don't need holes in your garments.

The essential oil of choice to repel clothing moths is Cedarwood . Many people have Cedarwood lined closets or storage chests. If you don't though you can always use Cedarwood essential oil.

Simply place several drops on a Terra Cotta Disc diffuser and place in your drawers or closets. (Do let the oil soak into the diffuser before placing in these areas.

You can of course, use Lavender sachets and add several drops of Cedarwood essential oil to that and place in your drawers and closets too. You will have to add more essential oils to both the sachets and Terra Cotta Discdiffusers but you will need to monitor this by your own sense of smell. Most likely you will need to add more essential oils every 2 to 4 weeks.

The grain moths are another story. Although Cedarwood will work, you may not want your kitchen cupboards or pantry to smell of Cedarwood.

In this case, you might want to try Rosemary on the Terra Cotta Disc diffusers or on the Lavender sachets.

The following blend should work well for both types of moths

Cedarwood - 30 drops
Sandalwood 30 drops
Lime - 20 drops
Lavender - 20 drops
Geranium - 20 drops
Blend well and store in an amber bottle. Place several drops on your Terra Cotta Discor Lavender sachet. You may have to add more of this blend every week to 10 days depending on your infestation.

Several essential oils are good at repelling insects and moths are no different.

Other oils to try include: Lavender, Geranium , Eucalyptus globulus, Eucalyptus Lemon, Cajeput, Clove bud, Bay laurel, Peppermint, Patchouli, Pine needle, Sandalwood, Citronella and Lemongrass.

Please note: these essential oils will not kill any of the pests, just repel them. If you desire to actually destroy these pests, you should call an exterminator.

Recipes to try

BIRCH HILL HAPPENINGS NEWS

Hello Everyone,

Wow, can you believe it is already half way through September?

Al and I had a great vacation in August. We appreciate you letting us take a little break.

Sorry, this newsletter is later than normal but with our Customer appreciation days going on and all the other Fall time activities we are a little off schedule.

We welcomed a new family member the end of August. We welcomed our new Granddaughter, Hailey Marie. She was born on the last day of our vacation. So we had to make a quick trip to see her. We saw her again over Labor day weekend.

We hope your fall is not as hectic as ours has been.

As you know it is our Customer Appreciation month. We want to give a big Thank you to everyone for being the best Customers.

E-mail us at bhhinfo@birchhillhappenings.com

For a listing of the Resources for information in this newsletter (including recipes) and others please visit our Reference page Click here