Birch Hill Happenings Aromatherapy, LLC Newsletter Vol 102 June 2007

This was written when Al & I had a building project going on!

In this issue:
Building, Building, and OWW!
Sleep, Sleep, Elusive Sleep
Oh, my Aching Hands
Springtime Flying Bugs!!
Recipes to Try

Physical Ailment

Building, Building, and OWW!

by Penny Keay

With all the physical activities going on these past few weeks, Al and I are experiencing a lot more aches, pains and soreness than we have for quite a few years. How about you? Have you started your summer projects yet? Read on to see if you can relate and see if some of our suggestions won’t make your summer projects a little less painful, stressful and tiring!

We have used more of our massage blends and other essential oils lately than we have ever used.

Muscle Rub, Back rub and Muscle Relaxing massage blends have almost become a nightly ritual. Dar's blend mixed with carrier oil has been used too when we have an extra sore area!

At the end of a long hard day of hammering, using the screw gun, bending, lifting, holding, swatting at mosquitoes & flies we are more than happy to take a nice long soak in a hot tub with some rejuvenating essential oils.

The number one oil we have used is probably Lavender – just a drop or two (once properly diluted with a carrier oil) on all those little cuts, scrapes and little boo boo’s we get each day. Preferably applied within an hour or so has kept skin infections under control and practically heals those little mishaps within a day or two.

Then, at night, when we are done, we take a bath, where we add one or two of our favorite oils – Eucalyptus globulus, Lavender, Peppermint and Rosemary or one of our favorite blends like Calming blend or Relaxing blend or if we are going out after a bath we might use Mint Energizing blend!!

Essential oils that are good and that help to penetrate the sore, tired and overworked muscles are: Eucalyptus globulus, Peppermint, Coriander, Cypress, Marjoram, Lavender, Vetiver, Ginger, Nutmeg, Pine needle, Rosemary, Thyme, Oregano, Juniper berry and Black Pepper.

Any of these oils mixed with a little carrier oil like Sweet almond will also make a wonderful massage oil to rub into the extra sore areas.

Oh and soaking in a tub with Epsom salts also helps those tired sore muscles too.

Don’t have time for a full bath? I have taken a small basin of warm water and added the Epsom salts to it and a few essential oils and soaked my very sore hands.

Holding on to a hammer handle for a couple hours makes the muscles in our hands very sore and tired – a little hand bath with our favorite essential oils makes my hands feel – oh – so much better!!

Remember you can experience muscle soreness from just about any physical activity including any outdoor sports – canoeing, camping, hiking – you name it you can get sore.

Try a few of the above massage oils or soak in a hot bath with your favorites. Soon you’ll feel better and rejuvenated too! We know we do!

Please note: We do not necessarily use essential oils every day as there are days when we don’t work as hard. We use them just on some of the days.

As with anything, you do not want to overdo it. So use common sense and don’t misuse or over use essential oils. Use when necessary and discontinue when not needed.

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Emotional Concern

Sleep, Sleep, Elusive Sleep

by Penny Keay

Since our project began, we have been so excited that we have – needless to say – been having trouble falling asleep and staying asleep.

We fall asleep thinking about all the things we need to do and all the thinking that goes along with a project of this size for the average home owner!

We have discovered that the best things we can do to help us fall asleep and sleep all night is to keep with our regular bedtime routine. We try not to have any caffeine for several hours before bed and of course take a warm relaxing bath too.

Most nights we are tired enough there is no problem, but sometimes when we are anxious about the next days building or business activity we have a hard time ‘shutting off’ our brain.

You may experience these same reactions prior to taking a vacation or other types of travel. Especially when it is out of your normal routine, sleeplessness can easily become an unpleasant event.

We have found that if Lavender doesn’t do the trick by placing a few drops on our pillows then we need to add a couple drops of Roman Chamomile. Others have found they may have better sleep if they use or Ylang Ylang.

Usually you can find the right combination that will work for you. You may have to try a few different oils but the above mentioned essential oils appear to work for many folks. Nighty, night!!

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Health and Beauty

Oh my Aching Hands

by Penny Keay

Al and I have some of the sorest hands that can be found in Blackhoof Township!!

You can tell we have been typing and doing ‘soft’ jobs for way too long. Now our hands are getting a real workout.

When we are out handling wood, concrete, nailing or using any number of hand tools we are apt to get slivers, scrapes and all kinds of injuries. We have been fairly lucky that we have only had a few slivers.

Mainly, our hands are sore from gripping the hammer handles or in some cases the drill for use with screws.

Of course, resting them would be a great way to have the soreness disappear but we have way too much to do to be able to rest them for more than a day or two.

We have found soaking them in Epsom salts with a little Eucalyptus globulus or Lavender seems to give them the relief they need.

Naturally, we apply a good moisturizing lotion at the end of each day to keep them nice and soft.

Our hands are also benefiting from the massage oil blends we use to rub out all those sore muscles. (See the above section on building for some suggestion on massage blends).

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Around the House and Garden

Springtime Flying Bugs!!

by Penny Keay

Mosquitoes are abundant this time of year here in Minnesota. Warm and/or hot humid days bring them out along with all their other pesty biting fly friends.

If you are spending a lot of time outdoors, especially in the evenings you can try to make your own blend of essential oils to make an insect repellent by using any of the essential oils that are known to help repel.

Essential oils that help to repel insects include: Geranium, Citronella, Lemongrass, Eucalyptus citriodora (also known as Eucalyptus lemon), Catnip, Lavender, Sandalwood, Cedarwood, Pennyroyal, and Peppermint.

There may be others essential oils that work great in your particular area of the country. You may want to experiment with others.

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Recipes to try

Relaxing Massage

Orange – 4 drops
Anise - 3 drops
Cedarwood - 3 drops
Sandalwood – 2 drops
Neroli - 3 drops
Roman Chamomile – 2 drops
15 ml Sweet almond

Blend well and use for a relaxing massage.

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Massage oil for Sore Muscles

Ginger - 2 drops
Cinnamon - 4 drops
Cajeput – 3 drops
Roman Chamomile – 3 drops
15 ml of your favorite carrier oil such as Sunflower oil

Mix all oils, and use as you would any massage oil. Work into muscles especially after a strenuous workout

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Dry Skin Formula

(use on the skin after your skin has been exposed to the elements)
Jojoba -1 teaspoon
Camellia oil- 1 teaspoon
Sesame oil - 1 teaspoon
Carrotseed essential oil - 25 drops
Sandalwood -6 drops
Neroli - 4 drops
Geranium - 2 drops

Blend all ingredients in a 1 oz bottle, shake well to mix. Apply 4 to 6 drops of blend twice a day to dry area.

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Sunburn Relief

Body Spray Base – 2 ounces
Jojoba – 2 ounces
Helichrysum – 25 drops
Lavender – 60 drops

Blend well and use as needed on your sunburned skin. Shake often to keep blended or before adding the essential oils to the Body Spray base, the Essential oils with 1 teaspoon emulsifier, then add this to the Body Spray Base and then this mixture to the Jojoba.

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