Birch Hill Happenings Aromatherapy, LLC Newsletter Vol 101 May 2007

In this issue:
First Aid Kit for Anytime, Anywhere
Tiredness
Aging Skin Care
Ticks, Mosquitoes and Creepy crawlies!
Recipes to Try

Physical Ailment

First Aid Kit for Anytime, Anywhere

by Alan Keay

Yippee!!! Spring is in the air, grass is getting green and of course, while getting the yard “prettied up”, I got to thinking about a First Aid Kit and what you may want in it, while working in the yard and on your summer trips.

So some of the things that came to mind while cleaning up the yard were;
- insect bites
- cuts and wounds
- headaches
- indigestion (from the restaurant food, NOT Penny’s!
- athlete’s feet
- motion sickness
- and of course allergies

Now to talk about the situations that may arise and the help you may want –

Insect bites – some of the oils that may help are Roman Chamomile, Cedarwood, Eucalyptus globulus, Tea Tree and Lavender, all of these oils will help with swelling, itchiness and inflammation.

Most of the time since we are (at least I am) being bitten by mosquitoes, sand flies and “noseums”, just a dab of one or two of the above oils listed will help with those little bites.

If you are bitten by a spider, a bee, wasp or other large bug, then Lavender along with a clay paste or even mud (if you are camping and don’t have access to your clay) will help pull the toxins from the bite. You can also use Epsom salts or plain old table salt (dissolved in water and soak or use a compress on the bite if need be).

Then again if you want to not be bitten, I would suggest either one of our synergy blends – Bug Off!! which is a type of skin repellant which is an oil based spray.

It is all natural and DEET FREE!! And have been used by our customers in areas around the world with the reports back being great – NO bugs, NO bites

Cuts and wounds – the oils that may help are Lavender, Eucalyptus globulus, Thyme, Lemon, Marjoram, Rosemary and Tea Tree.

What these oils have are wound healing and antiseptic properties. And of course Tea Tree is known for it antifungal fighting properties.

Headaches come in different ways – working too much (hint, hint!!), with loud equipment, an accident, stress or dehydration and of course in the way we eat but that may be a different subject in a different newsletter.

Headaches are usually caused by tension, so if you have been working with a mower, a trimmer or any other machine, you most likely have a headache caused by the tension in the muscles in and around the shoulders, neck (from looking down for a long time) and just the sound of the machine you are using (you should be using ear and eye protection anyway).

A few good oils that may help are Peppermint, Eucalyptus globulus, Rosemary, Black Pepper, Marjoram. Basil, Jasmine and Roman Chamomile will help. So will any other oil that helps you relax.

My favorite headache reliever is 2 drops of Peppermint and 2 drops of Rosemary in a small amount of a carrier oil on the back of the neck and rub them both in, then go someplace quiet and close your eyes for 10 – 15 minutes and VOILA’, no more headache.

Indigestion can come in many different forms, such as bloating, gas, nausea or heartburn.

Some of the causes of indigestion are different and new food combinations, poor diet, failure to chew food properly, overeating (who us?? Which causes overweight situation etc).

Some oils to help improve digestion are Peppermint, Black Pepper, Roman Chamomile, Fennel, Anise, Clary Sage, Marjoram, Ginger and Sage.

Yes, just inhaling them will help with indigestion. Remember inhaled essential oils enter the blood stream rather quickly and can go to the area of the body where they are needed.

Athletes feet (I don’t know where this one came from but it may be a hotel stay (shower or pool) or the locker room. Since this has been mentioned in previous newsletters the only thing I will say is Tea Tree (the best), Lavender, Myrrh and Patchouli are some oils that may help. See our past newsletter for more detailed information on treating Athletes feet.

But something else for a reminder is to wear either sandals or thongs so the feet can dry out as any virus, bacteria or fungi like to have things wet.

Motion sickness – ahh, yes, those car rides, being on the lake, the wild rides at amusement parks etc.

This also was mentioned in a previous newsletter (Newsletter Volume 89) so be sure to check out our past newsletters for more detailed information about motion sickness.

The feelings are headaches (mentioned above) nausea, cold sweats, sleepiness or in severe cases may cause lack of coordination.

Some things to do are: keep still by lying down and closing your eyes, this minimizes the objects (scenery) going by or up and down.

Again some of the oils to help are Peppermint, Ginger and Chamomiles are good for nausea. Inhaling of course is the best.

Allergies - at this time of the year are from the many trees that are blooming and until the spring rains can wash them away, there is mold left on the ground from the snow now being gone. I know Penny has talked about this before and the Chamomiles are great for this.

So after all this, you will want to have in your First Aid Kit several essential oils.

I would have Lavender, Peppermint, Tea Tree, Rosemary or Eucalyptus globulus, a Chamomile (either the Roman or German or our Allergy Tamer blend !!), Geranium, Thyme, and a Bug Repellant as your basic first aid kit. You can certainly add more oils as you feel necessary.

Have a Safe and Happy Summer!!

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Emotional Concern

Tiredness

by Penny Keay

Have you had a good night sleep only to find that a few hours into your day you feel terribly tired?

If you can’t figure out what is causing it, maybe it was because a few days earlier you had a restless or sleepless night or went to bed later or had to be up earlier than usual.

It is not uncommon for there to be a 24-48 hour delay in your energy levels after a night when you didn’t get as much rest as you normally would.

Typically the day after you were ‘shorted’ on sleep you will function quite normally. But in another 24-48 hours you feel as if you have hit a brick wall.

Again, this is normal and provided you can get back to your sleep routine the tiredness should resolve on its own.

For these types of tiredness you can treat yourself to inhaling a few different essential oils. Sniffing these is better for you health wise than drinking a bunch of coffee or other caffeine laden beverages.

The caffeine can end up keeping you awake or distrupting your sleep pattern again for another night (you can see how this can become an on going problem?)

Since essential oils can enter your body very easily through inhalation, just breathing a little ‘pick-me-upper’ essential oils will give you a little burst of energy within just a few minutes of inhaling.

My favorite is Spearmint and Grapefruit. You may have others. Basil, Lemon and Rosemary, not only are great to give you a little energy they will also help you to concentrate on the tasks at hand and to improve your memory at the same time.

Some of the best essential oils to help stimulate with this mildest form of fatigue are any of the citrus oils: Lemon, Orange, Grapefruit, Lime, Tangerine and Mandarin. Almost all of them are stimulating essential oils. Also the mints – Peppermint and Spearmint are stimulating.

Since every one has a different chemical makeup you may find you are better stimulated by some of these oils: Coriander, Cypress, Basil, Geranium, Clary Sage.

And don’t forget we have several synergistic blends that may work for you too. Citrus Blend, Concentration blend, Elation blend, Enlighten blend, Refreshing blend, and Revitalizing blend each have essential oils that are stimulating.

Now we also want to look into the other end of the spectrum here too. You are tired and need to sleep so you will also want to use some relaxing essential oils about 30-60 minutes prior to bedtime.

Of course the old standby Lavender is always the first one to try. We have found that using Bergamot, Roman Chamomile and Ylang Ylang also are great oils to help you fall asleep too. Neroli, Petitgrain and Basil . work for some folks. And don’t forget, we have several wonderful pre-made synergistic blends such as Calming blend, Relaxing blend and Take Five blend that may work for you too.

Nighty night, sleep tight and feel rested in the morning!

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Health and Beauty

Aging Skin Care

by Penny Keay

Lovely, soft and wrinkle free skin at any age can be a challenge for every man and woman.

Of course, it is important for skin health to be sure you are eating a good diet. Skin needs good nourishment and plenty of fresh water. Eat your fruit and veggies as they have many important vitamins and minerals that are needed.

To help fight the signs of aging skin you need to make sure you have plenty of fresh water. Skin that is wrinkled or dry will look years older. Wrinkled skin at an early age may be nothing more than an indication you have been dehydrated much of your life. So first step, increase your water intake.

Next you will want to help nourish your skin from the outside. When skin is soft and pliable it is usually less wrinkled. There are several essential oils that have been used though the years to help fight the aging effects of time, weather and temperatures.

These in combination with several of the carrier or fixed oils can work wonders on wrinkled, dry and aging skin.

Some of the best essential oils to help with wrinkles and aging skin are: Frankincense, Rose and Carrotseed. Although these are found in several recipes throughout the internet and in books there are other essential oils that may work better for your own skins makeup.

Your skin may react better to any of the following when blended together in groups of 3-5 different oils: Lavender, Neroli, Rosewood, Fennel, Rosemary, Lemon, Myrrh, Hyssop, Patchouli, Yarrow, German Chamomile.

The blend of oils you use should be mixed with a carrier oil of your choice such as Hazelnut oil, Sweet almond, or Apricot kernel oil that has a small amount Rosehip seed and Jojoba added. These last few carrier oils are very nourishing to the skin, but are only needed in small amounts.

Try this simple blend to help ease your dry, lined face.

Frankincense – 3 drops
Carrotseed – 3 drops
Lavender – 3 drops
Neroli – 1 drop
Rosemary – 1 drop
Geranium – 1 drop
Rose - 1 drop
Rosehipseed oil – 1 teaspoon
Jojoba – 1 teaspoon
Hazelnut oil oil - 5 tablespoons

Blend essential oils together, then add to the carrier oils. Mix well. Then apply just a few drops to a clean face. Avoid getting into your eyes.

An alterative to the above essential oils mixed with the carrier oils is to add a drop or two of the above blend to 2 ounces of water and shake well. Then apply with a cotton pad as a toner after cleaning your face.

One other simple thing you can do and is enjoyed by many is to use some rose hydrosol as a toner. Rose hydrosol is the distillation water left over from the processing and distillation of rose essential oil.

Although there are only minute amounts of rose essential oil present in the hydrosol the healing properties are still present. Applying this as a toner will brighten your day and help with your aging skin. (Sorry this is one product we do not carry)

We also have a new premixed synergy blend – Smooth & Soft Blend to help keep your skin looking its best. To use this blend simply add 10-15 drops to 1 ounce of carrier oil, blend well then dab on your face.

This can also be mixed with the Sorbolene Cream – To two ounces of Sorbolene Cream add 25 drops of the Smooth & Soft Blend, stir well. Then add 1-2 teaspoonful of distilled water to thin down a little more.

To use- apply a small amount to your face and smooth on. This should absorb in rather quickly to your skin if it doesn’t you have applied too much. Simply wipe off any excess with a soft cloth.

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Around the House and Garden

Ticks, Mosquitoes and creep crawlies!

by Penny Keay

Don’t you love all these creepy crawly and flying creatures this time of the year?? NOT!!

Well, as you can see I feel they are just a bunch of nuisances that can cause pain, stress, anxiety and terrible infections (such as Lyme disease) and who knows what other kinds of problems. Keeping them from biting (attaching) to your skin is some of the best preventative measures you can take.

Essential oils to the rescue!! Plants may hold the clue to keeping us happy in many ways. Not only do they make us feel better when we smell their lovely scents but there are many essential oils that will repell those nasty little creepy crawling bugs!

Many plants produce essential oils to protect themselves from insect attacks. So we can look at essential oils that can be used in carrier oils or mixed with water and spritzed on to our skin and clothing to repell these unwelcome little critters too.

In the research I have found that the most effective repellent blend of essential oils contain Geranium and among others.

Ticks especially dislike Geranium.

Catnip essential oil has been studied and found to be a natural alternative to DEET.

Eucalyptus Lemon (Eucalyptus Citriodora) is said to be as effective as DEET too.

Here are some other essential oils that are known to repell insects: Cedarwood, Citronella, Lemongrass, Lavender, Vetiver, Juniperberry, Tea Tree, Patchouli, Peppermint and Sandalwood (personally this one is too costly to even think of using for repelling not to mention Sandalwood from India is in short supply).

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Recipes to try

Wakeme up Blend

Orange – 3 drops
Clary Sage – 2 drops
Coriander – 2 drops
Helichrysum – 1 drop
Jasmine Absolute – 1 drop
Palmarosa– 1 drop
Vetiver – 1 drop
Jojoba – 4ml

Blend all together and wear as a perfume. Inhale as needed. Can also be used on a Terra Cotta pendant or in the other aromatherapy jewelry but omit the Jojoba if used on the jewelry.

Insect Repellant # 3

Eucalyptus Lemon – 5 drops
Geranium – 3 drops
Lavender – 3 drops
Peppermint – 1 drop
Sunflower oil– 1 tablespoon

Blend all in a PET Plastic bottle. Apply as needed to exposed skin. An alternative would be to mix the essential oils without adding the carrier oil. Then apply one to 2 drops to the top of your shoes or bottom of your pant leg to deter the insects from biting you near your legs and feet.