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

Physical Ailments

Coughs and Coughing

This is one of those symptoms that although annoying, may be very necessary for certain ailments.

Coughing can be voluntary but often times is an involuntary action of the body as the bronchi go into spasm to attempt to expel an irritant or thick mucous.

A cough can start as a little tickle in the back of the throat that causes you body to expel air rather quickly. Some coughs are dry while others are moist and mucous filled. When there is congestion, coughs should not be suppressed, as mucous needs to able to be expelled (with ease).

To deal with a cough the first step is to determine the cause of the cough.

Do you have allergies? Are you getting a cold or the flu? or just getting over one? Are you a smoker? or have you been exposed to airborne irritants such as those found in a restaurant, bar or other public place that allows smoking?

Does your chest feel tight and congested? Do you feel the need to get 'rid' of something, but it's just too thick?

Do you have a little tickle that produces nothing when you do cough?

Does your cough produce lots of mucous?

All of these types of coughs may need different types of essential oils.

Please note: Any cough accompanied by a fever should be addressed by a medical practioner. Also coughs that produce green and/or bloody sputum, coughs that persist more than a couple of weeks, or if you are having difficulty breathing - please seek medical attention.

Dry coughs are often caused by allergies or airborne irritants. Essential oils used to help with allergies, may be used to relieve the nasal inflammation and the post nasal drip may stop and give relief from the cough.

Allergy caused coughs if left unattended may lead to bronchitis or other upper respiratory infection.

Moist coughs and those with a lot of congestion, may respond better to the use an expectorant type essential oil, that can thin and loosen mucous so it can be expelled without a lot of excessive coughing.

Steam inhalation may give some relief.

Some essential oils that help with coughs include Eucalyptus globulus (adults), Eucalyptus radiata (adults and children), Frankincense, Lavender, Marjoram, Ravensara, Niaouli, Pine needle , Tea Tree, Cajeput , Rosemary, Cypress, Hyssop, Thyme, Peppermint and Sandalwood. Myrtle has also been used by a couple of our customers and they have had great results with their chronic coughs.

Try this blend for Moist coughs
Eucalyptus globulus - 8 drops
Hyssop - 4 drops
Rosemary 2 drops

Blend well and add 4 drops to a bowl of steaming water. The steaming water will speed the essential oils into the air and put some needed moisture in the air also.

adapted ¹

adapted ¹

Emotional Concerns

The Scents of the Holidays!

This time of year when we think of the holidays, certain scents come to mind. The scents of Cinnamon, Clove bud , Orange, including other citrus oils such as Mandarin and tangerine are very common.

And who can forget the smell of the trees! Pine needle , Spruce needle and the Fir Needles are the best known.

The favorite smell of Douglas Fir or Siberian Fir needles are the most common sought after scents for the True Christmas tree smell.

Many people purchase the Douglas Fir Needle for use in their artificial trees. Simply apply to a cotton ball or two and stick in amongst the branches of your fake tree (or you can boost the smell of your real tree too!). You can purchase some small pinecones and apply the essential oil to the pine cones and fasten to the branches. This is my favorite method of diffusing in the artificial trees. Oh and don't forget if you have a wreath inside you might want to give it a little scenting too.

If you can't have a tree you can still diffuse a little of your favorite essential oils that remind you of a tree.

Other scents popular this time of year are Frankincense, Myrrh, and Cedarwood. You might also apply these to your firewood along with Sandalwood, and Cypress to give your fireplace a wonderful smell too. Be sure to apply the essential oils to the logs an hour or so before burning so the oils can penetrate the wood.

Although these are the pleasant sides of the Holidays, this can also be a very sad or depressing time for many. Several factors can cause the sadness. One of which is the lack of Sunshine this time of year resulting in Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD. If you are a victim of this syndrome you know how important it is for your mental well being to get plenty of specialized lighting. Also, there are several essential oils that may be able to help you too. Please see our past newsletter for specific help for this concern. Click here

Sometimes you want to be home with family, but circumstances such as distance, time constraints, work commitments and more won't allow us to be with our loved ones. So we might be a little home sick. In this case you should probably use essential oils that are pickme ups. Such as Citrus and Mint scents or blends.

Of course, everyone has their favorites for the holidays, so whatever scent makes you feel warm and cozy, or feel like celebrating, those are the essential oils you should be using!

All About

Essential oil Safety

This is a very important aspect of aromatherapy. Essential oils are very potent and highly concentrated chemicals extracted from plants by distillation.

One needs to remember that only a drop or two of essential oils are needed in most applications.

Some essential oils are more mild (Lavender) while others are extremely strong (Peppermint , Thyme and oregano) when applied to the skin and also when inhaled. But just because an essential oil may have a light smell doesn't mean it won't have strong properties for emotional and health reasons.

Any essential oil can be a potential poison and so caution needs to be used around children, pets and the elderly. Again, use only small amounts around children, elderly and pets. When using recipes, cut the essential oil amounts in half but always use the normal amount of carrier oils in massage, lotion or other applications.

Please keep all essential oils out of the reach of children! And we don't mean just toddlers. Unless your teenager has been properly instructed, they to should not be using essential oils without adult supervision.

Some other major concerns are sensitization and skin irritations. To check to see if you have sensitive skin to any oil, you should test a small amount of essential oil (a drop diluted with carrier oil) on the inner arm (near the elbow). Observe for 24 hours, if no reaction, then you can proceed using on a routine basis. Of course, if at any time while using essential oils you see or feel an unpleasant reaction, discontinue use.

Any Citrus oil can cause a photosensitivity reaction to occur if applied to the skin and then exposed to sunlight or UV light such as in tanning salons. Avoid using citrus essential oils or blends for several hours prior to either of these.

About using essential oils during pregnancy. Just like any other drug or strong chemical, it is suggested that most essential oils be avoided during the first trimester. After those first three months many essential oils are safe to use in moderation. Inhalation is preferred over skin applications. Again, when used in massage blends, follow the recommended recipe when it pertains specifically to a pregnancy or if for the general population, cut back the essential oils in the recipe by half. Please see our previous issue on Pregnancy for more detailed information about using essential oils while pregnant.

There is much controversy about using essential oils with those that have epilepsy and high blood pressure. Although there has not been much documentation done on essential oils causing problems with either. If you feel you should avoid certain essential oils, by all means, do so.

Martin Watt does state that there is documentation that suggests strong odors or smells can sometimes trigger an epileptic attack. So one may want to avoid essential oils such as Eucalyptus globulus and Rosemary, other oils that may be included but are not limited to this list are camphor and Tea Tree.

And before we forget, do not take essential oils internally. The term aromatherapy, means to smell the aromas for therapy. It doesn't say to swallow them ever (unless instructed by a medical doctor).

Do not apply undiluted essential oils to mucous membranes (eyes, mouth, vagina, rectum). Never apply to the eyes and use extreme caution if applying oils and lotions that contain essential oils near or around the eyes.

If you are unsure about using an essential oil, then don't use it. Often times there are other essential oils that can be blended that can bring about the desired effect you are trying to achieve.

As always, buy several books on essential oils and their uses. Then read, read, Read!!!

Our main safety are points:

Around the House and Garden

Homemade Holiday Gifts PART 2

Suggestions from our Readers

We had a few readers send us their gift ideas. The first one is very easy to make and I agree would be a great hit. All of them are fairly easy and inexpensive to make.

If you have more suggestions please let us know, as there will be at lease one more Newsletter before Christmas and there should be plenty of time for the last minute crafty people to put together some of these "FROM THE HEART" gifts made.

Gwen S. writes:

One year I took fine bird seed, added a few drops of a relaxing essential oil (Lavender my favorite but you can use any) and let it age a few days. Then I filled square, round or heart shaped pouches made out of fabric in the dimensions of approx. 4" x 4" so that they were still fairly flat but thick. I stitched these shut and used them as "saucers" or tea cup cozies. The heat of the hot cups of tea would release the fragrance of the oils and add to the relaxation experience while sipping on the hot tea. Everyone loved them.

Susan S writes:

One of my favorite gifts to make is also one of the easist! Take a small ivy bowl (the almost-sphere bowl found in craft stores), fill with dried flowers and a small set of Christmas tree lights, then add some essential oils to the dried flowers (a homemade potpourri). Add a bit of lace or mesh to the top tied on with a bow with the plug of lights hanging out. Plug it in and, voila! A lovely and cheerful gift that smells great! I have one in the dark corner of my kitchen which makes me happy to look at.

Rae T writes:

I would like to make rice bags and would like to scent them, can you help? We wrote Rae back with this information: Although we have not made any rice bags, they can be easy to make. You need cloth or a tube sock. Rice and a dried herb or flower suggested are dried Lavender, chamomile, Rosemary and sage. Add your desired Essential oils or an essential oil blend to your herb and flower mixture. Blend this in a glass jar for a few days. Then add a couple of tablespoon to your rice and add to the cloth bag or sock. Stitch it closed. Make sure the cloth or socks you use are made from 100% cotton. Essential oils sometimes can deteriorate synthetically made fabrics. The rice bag can be heated in a microwave for 2-3 minutes. The rice will absorb the heat, the heat will release the essential oils. The rice bag can be placed on sore necks, legs, etc. or ones that are chilled too! An alternative that I saw on making these therapeutic bags is to use flax seed or dried soy beans in place of the rice. In place of the dried herbs and flowers, you can use a couple of herbal tea bags.

Pauline H writes:

I make a Smelly Gelly Jar. You need to buy a product from the Home and Garden section that is used to keep the soil moist for extended periods for your house plants. The brand I used was called "Soil Moist". It is a product that will hold many times it's weight in water /liquid. The beads or crystals are made from polyacrylamide copolymer.

To make the Smelly Gelly Jars. I took 1 part of the "Soil Moist" and then added 3 ounces water and 1 ounce vodka. I stirred that in and let the soil moist swell. Then after an hour or so, I added about 5 ml of my favorite essential oils. To some I added Lavender, some I used Birch Hill Happenings Mint Energizing blend and another their Calming blend. I then put this mixture in a fancy Jelly Jar, I used some lace and fastened it on the top of the jar with the Jar ring. The great thing about these air fresheners is that although they dry out after a couple months, you can revive them with a little water and more essential oils. I gave them as gifts with an attached card and instructions on reviving them. We are still using one in our bathroom after almost 2 years! Of course I'm still reviving it!! I know of people that have also used Knox Gelatin to make air fresheners similar to this but understand they dry out rather quickly.

We would like to Thank everyone that contributed to this article by providing great suggestions for easy to make holiday gifts.

Again, if you have a great suggestion please e-mail it to us as we will share next time.

Recipes to try

BIRCH HILL HAPPENINGS NEWS

Hello Everyone,

The Holidays are just around the corner. Time sure flies. We have been busy preparing for the busy holiday season and we know many of you have been too.

Now is the time to get real serious with your holiday gift plans. Especially if you are making them yourself.

We hope you enjoyed some of the suggestions made by our readers and even if you don't give them as gifts you can easily make them for yourself.

Just remember, some essential oils when blended into base products like carrier oils and shampoos need time to "ripen" or develop the true aroma. So mix them at least 2 to 3 weeks before you will be giving the gift.

Our latest additions to our product line is what I like to call the Ultimate in Personal aromatherapy.

We have finally found some Aromatherapy Jewelry. Just in time for gift giving.

We have some inexpensive Terra Cotta Pendants. These are very easy to use. Just add 1 drop of your favorite essential oil on the pendant, give it a minute or two to absorb into the porous surface and let your own body heat diffuse the essential oils right under your nose all day!

We also have some very beautiful Sterling Silver, Brass and Pewter jewelry too. There are several lockets to choose. Apply a drop or two of essential oil or a blend to the pad and lock into the locket! All of these come with a corded necklace. We do have some Sterling Silver chains available for the sterling silver lockets.

Please visit our Jewelry pages for
Sterling Silver, Brass and Pewter Jewelry



and also our page for Terra Cotta Pendants



The Holidays are getting closer and we have ideas for gift giving to fit everyone's budget and level of aromatherapy experience.   Please visit http://birchhillhappenings.com/giftsets.htm for some ideas.

Remember to place your order early, so your gifts and supplies will have plenty of time to arrive before your celebration.

Before I forget, we have several new designs of the little terra cotta disc diffusers. They are great to place in the tree or near the tree to use as a convenient diffuser for your holiday scents.     The Terra Cotta diffusers may last a few days depending on how much you apply.   See our Selection of Terra Cotta and other Passive diffusers by Clicking here.

We hope to have even more and new exciting products in the future.

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

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