Diffuser Jewelry

Diffuser jewelry is a great way to enjoy essential oils in a safe way.  Simply add a drop or two of an essential oil or blend to the felt pad, close the locket, and wear.  If you want to utilize cinnamon bark when you are out shopping (for its anti-viral effects), yet, due to its high potential for sensitization on the skin, diffusion is the best application method.

Plant Therapy is running a one-day only sale on diffuser necklaces (affiliate link) today.  These make great gifts and are a wonderful tool to have on hand for using and enjoying aromatherapy.  Using the coupon code DAY18, you will receive 50% off any diffuser jewelry order!

Olive leaf cold care

When a cold comes through the house, there are plenty of options!  This particular cold featured a sore throat, due to post nasal drip.  However, with a history of strep throat, prevention is called for!  Olive leaf is a traditional antimicrobial herb.  This remedy is a make-as-needed item that only takes an hour to be ready for use.

1 - In a clean pint jar, add 1/2c. (By volume) dried organic olive leaves 

2 - Add 1Tblsp. Cough & Sore throat honey

3 - Fill the jar with boiling water & cap tightly

4 - When the decoction has cooled to approximately room temperature, use 2Tblsp. Of the decoction in a glass of water.  3-5 glasses per day is appropriate throughout the duration of the cold.

References:

http://cms.herbalgram.org/herbclip/347/review45194.html

Sore throat & Cough Honey

NOTE:  This is for healthy adult use only!!!  This recipe is inappropriate for children under age 13.

Honeys are a great way to incorporate herbal remedies and aromatic medicine into the home medicine chest.  This aromatic honey can be prepared and stored for a long period of time (1-2 years) and used when needed to soothe a cough or sore throat.  Honey has traditionally been used on its own for these purposes.

Honey is often labeled by the type of plant the bees feed on.  Clover honey bees feed on clover flowers. Buckwheat honey bees feed on buckwheat.  Eucalyptus honey bees feed from eucalyptus trees.  For this application, I chose eucalyptus honey as my base.

High quality essential oils distilled or expressed from organic plant matter are needed for this project as it will be ingested.  The three essential oils chosen for this honey are traditionally used for sore throat and cough application and are often found in OTC cough lozenges.

Sore Throat & Cough Honey

16 oz. Eucalyptus honey

20 drops Eucalyptus radiata essential oil

15 drops Lemon (Citrus limon) essential oil

15 drops Ginger (Zingaber officinale) essential oil

Mix the ingredients very thoroughly.

To use, add 1 tsp. of the Sore Throat & Cough Honey to a 12 oz. cup of warm water or tea and stir well.  Inhale the steam as it cools and drink warm. Alternatively, spread 1 tsp. of the aromatic honey on a piece of toast or biscuit, just note that eucalyptus does give the honey a traditional cough drop flavor.  Up to three teaspoons (divided) of honey per day is appropriate during a sore throat or cough for an otherwise healthy adult.


This honey has a < 0.5% total essential oil content and strong eucalyptus scent and flavor.

NOTE:  This is for healthy adult use only!!!  This recipe is inappropriate for children under age 13.


References:
Lai, Yinyan; Dilidaer, D.; Chen, Bei; Xu, Geng; Shi, Jianbo; Lee, Robert J.; Cohen, Noam A. In vitro studies of a distillate of rectified essential oils on sinonasal components of mucociliary clearance American Journal of Rhinology & Allergy, Volume 28, Number 3, May/June 2014, pp. 244-248(5)

Paul IM, Beiler J, McMonagle A, Shaffer ML, Duda L, Berlin CM, Jr. Effect of Honey, Dextromethorphan, and No Treatment on Nocturnal Cough and Sleep Quality for Coughing Children and Their Parents. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2007;161(12):1140-1146. doi:10.1001/archpedi.161.12.1140.

Body butter

Body butter is a fairly simple product to make at home.  It does take time however.  For this recipe, you will need 4oz. Shea butter, 2oz. Coconut oil, and 1oz. Coffee infused almond oil, plus 10 drops of coffee essential oil (optional).  Note that this is a very soft body butter, it melts on contact.  For a harder product, use cocoa butter in place of part or all of the Shea butter.

Step 1. Weigh Shea butter & coconut oil and place in heat proof glass bowl

Step 2. Melt the butter and oil in the oven at 250deg

Step 3. Allow the butter and oil to cool until it becomes opaque.  This can be done in the freezer for a few minutes or on a frozen rice pack as shown below.

Step 4. When it is starting to turn opaque, add the coffee infused almond oil and whip

Step 5. Keep whipping, if you need to put it back in the freezer for a few minutes, do so.

Step 6. Once the body butter starts to look like a whipped frosting, add the essential oil

Step 7. Once it is forming stiff peaks, it is ready to package.

Step 8. Package in a sterilized jar.  Close tightly and label.  Use within 6 months.

Inhalers

Aromatherapy inhalers are a great way to use aromatherapy in crowded places or around children while reducing the exposure to those around you and intensifying the experience for yourself.

While room diffusers are wonderful and are very useful to set the mood or combat an illness which is making its rounds through the family, the inhaler is personal.  It can be filled with essential oils for a particular individual for a particular need.

In our family, we use a blend of ginger and fennel EO in a personal inhaler to combat motion sickness.  Similarly, for an upcoming international trip, I am formulating inhaler blends to use during flight to assist with jet-lag and travel anxiety.

To use a personal inhaler, simply add the desired essential oils to the wick, insert the wick into the inhaler and close the inhaler.  When using, remove the cap, inhale deeply through the nose for a few minutes, then cap and store the inhaler.  They are small, portable, and personal.  Make sure you label your blends as well, and given the proximity to the nose and mouth, it is wise to label each inhaler with the initials of the individual using it.

Soap - Rosemary & French Clay

Strictly speaking, soapmaking is not a therapuetic modality such as herbalism or aromatherapy, however, skin care and hygeine products do contribute to the environmental stress load our bodies must deal with each day.  Careful selection of products such as lotions, toothpaste, deodorants, soaps and more can contribute to healthy lifestyle.  To that end, choosing a soap which is either fragrance free (unscented does not always mean fragrance free!) or uses organic natural fragrances and colors is one way to lessen the environmental exposure to harsh chemicals which our bodies must deal with every day.

This soap is made with organic fixed oils and butters, distilled water, organic rosemary infused distilled water, and lye (no lye, no soap!). The color is obtained by the addition of French green clay at trace.  Organic rosemary ct.verbanone essential oil is also added at trace to add a lovely rosemary scent to the finished bar.  Additional dried rosemary leaves are added between the plain and clay layers as well as sprinkles on top for appearance.

Rosemary is often used in skin and hair care products to stimulate hair growth and to ease itchy dry skin.  French green clay is frequently found in high-end spa treatments such as body wraps and masks, it is reputed to assist the body in the removal of impurities from the skin and is used as a polishing agent.  This soap is super-fatted to provide additional moisurizing qualities as all soap is drying to a degree and should be followed with a quality lotion or body butter.

This soap will be cured and ready for use in four to six weeks.  Rosemary & French Clay soap is sure to be lovely addition to the natural hygeine regimen.

Herbal preparation - A Slow Adventure

Today, I am processing more Holy Basil (tulsi) from my CSA farmer at Endless Bounty.  The first thing to notice is the rich, sweet aroma of the fresh herb.  It is instantly relaxing due to the high percentage of naturally occuring essential oil in the plant matter.  

My plan for this batch is to use some of it fresh for more iced tea, and to dehydrate the rest.  Some of the dehydrated herb will be tinctured later as Holy Basil is an adaptogen and useful in the home wellness chest.

The first step for all of these uses is to thoroughly wash the plant matter.  I wash it three times in my large salad spinner, then spin out out until it is fairly dry.

(After wash, before spun)

Next, I load the plants into my dehydrator, reserving a portion for fresh use.

Lastly, the dried herb is stored in a glass canning jar and labeled with the common name, botanical name, source, and date to be stored in my herb pantry.  The yeild from this batch was a little less than a pint of dried herb.

Storage

Carrier oils do go rancid when exposed to air and heat.  Many essential oils oxidise with the same exposure and them become more potent sensitizers.

I have been looking for a small campus refrigerator for about two years now to hold my "stash" as I was only able to keep a tiny portion of my supplies in our family refrigerator.  Yesterday, I saw one on our local swapsheet for a good price and now I have a better home for my aromatherapy and body care raw materials.

Here is a photo of the fridge with a few items:

This is more that needs to go in:

I also have several gallon sized tubs of shea butter, coconut oil, olive oil, mango butter and cocoa butter that should go in as well, but I don't think they will fit.  The little fridge is a great addition to my natural health "kitchen".

Note:  Liquid carrier oils and the following families of essential oils should receive priority when deciding on what must be refrigerated and what can be stored in a cool, dark are such as a basement:  citruses, pines, spruces

Iced refresher

This morning when my CSA farmer offered me a choice betweed two varieties of sweet basil and holy basil tulsi, I did not hesitate to choose the fresh Holy Basil (tulsi)!  Holy Basil is very nourishing to the adrenal glands and offers hepatoprotection as well.  The link below contains some relevant information on the benefits of Holy Basil.

https://www.naturaldispensary.com/product/5953/l_herbal_monographs

Here is one way that my family enjoys the refreshing benefits of Holy Basil:

Herbed Iced 'Tea'

1/4 c. fresh Holy Basil

1/4 c. Fresh sweet basil

1" fresh ginger

Wash and chop the herbs and place in a 1qt. glass jar.  Pour almost boiling water over the herbs, cap and refrigerate.  Once chilled, serve over ice.  Lemon and sweetener may be added to taste, but the sweetener is not at all necessary.

Fresh basils

Washed and chopped herbs

Heat proof quart jar

Almost boiling water to the top.  Cap & ready to be chilled.

Enjoy!

How an Aromatherapist THINKS about a Topical Application

This is the question I get most often.  It goes something like this, "How many drops of eucalyptus oil should I put on my baby's chest, he has croup?"

So, let's break this down:

1.)  How many drops?
As a professional aromatherapist, I rarely, if ever use "drops" to measure essential oils for topical applications.  The reason is simple.  A "drop" of lavender essential oil is not the same size as a "drop" of vetiver essential oil due to the viscosity of the liquid.  To complicate matters, different manufacturers have different sized orifice reducers, so every brand could potentially have a different drop size.  To get around this, I use a disposable syringe which holds up to 1mL of liquid and is marked in 0.1 mL increments.  They are inexpensive and assure me that my measurements are precise. Using this type of measurement, I can know, with confidence, that my chest rub contains exactly 0.5% total EO in a carrier oil or salve.  This type of precision is not as important with very mild EOs such as lavender, but can be very important with a potent EO such as wintergreen or a common sensitizer such as cinnamon bark EO.

Another note on number of drops is to keep in mind that with essential oils, less is more.  Start with the lowest dilution, and if more is needed, it can be added, but if there is too much, it is very difficult, and in some cases impossible to reduce the amount to EO being used.


2.) Dilute
Dilution in a carrier is very important with regard to topical use of essential oils to avoid irritation and sensitization.  Dilution is based on many factors including:

• the exact species / chemotype of the EO in question
• any other EOs to be included in the blend
• the purpose of the application
• the age of the person it is to be used on
• the % of the body which will be covered (spot treatment, large area, whole body)
• where will it be applied (how sensitive is that area, how thick or thin is the skin)
• how often will it be applied (daily, hourly, weekly?)
• what is the expected duration of the application (once and done or every day for a month?)
• are there any other concerns such as medications or conditions?
• what are the safety parameters for that EO specifically, every EO has its own unique parameters for use which may change when used in a blend
• are essential oils being added for the purpose of scent or to accomplish a specific task?

Although easy to read charts seem like a simple way to safely dilute essential oils for topical use, they do not generally take into consideration that some EOs are quite mild and others are very potent.  They also cannot take into consideration all of the factors outlined above.  Charts are a must-have for simplifying the arithmetic, but they cannot tell you what the proper dilution is for a specific scenario.

3.) Choice of Essential Oil(s)
The last problem with this question is intertwined with the choice of essential oil for use.  Again, knowing the species and chemotype is important as is the age and any physical conditions of the person.  Many essential oils are fine to use (at proper dilution) with children, others need to be reserved for those over the age of 6; sometimes even older.  In our example above, it is necessary to know the baby's age and the species of Eucalyptus being used.  Also, it is prudent to consider that inhalation / diffusion is generally the most effective route for administering an EO for respiratory ailments.  There are MANY species of Eucalyptus, some are gentler than others.  There are other essential oils which are also effective for the upper respiratory tract (pines, firs, spruces, various Melaleuca species).  There are options to consider, and perhaps a blend is most appropriate.  It is also worth noting that many essential oils are not appropriate for a baby (e.g. peppermint, wintergreen, fennel, cinnamon bark, ylang ylang, and others)

In conclusion, essential oils are a wonderful addition to the home wellness "toolbox",   They are powerful tools for providing relief and support during illness and for everyday wellness, but they should be respected and used appropriately in order to be effective.  Consult with a trained, registered, or certified aromatherapist for proper usage and safety.

Dilution - Ratios and Percentages

Topical applications must be diluted to prevent irritation and sensitization.  This often requires some arithmatic.  Below are two sets of data showing how much essential oil is used for a topical application.  In both cases, the amount listed is the amout of EO to be added to the bottle which is then filled to capacity with a carrier.

Rules of Thumb for Dilution

5mL ~ 1 tsp.

6 tsp. = 3 Tblsp. ~ 30 mL ~ 1 fl.oz.

100 drops ~ 1tsp. ~ 5mL

Dilution is generally notated in either a ratio (ex. 1:4) or a percentage (1%).

Here are some common dilutions:

In a 5mL bottle:

0.5% = 1/2 drop = 0.025 mL = 1:198

1% = 1 drop = 0.05mL EO = 1:99

2% = 2 drops = 0.1mL = 1:48

5% = 5 drops = 0.25mL = 1:19

10% = 10 drops = 0.5mL = 1:9

25% = 25 drops =1.25mL = 1/4tsp = 1:3

33% = 33 drops = 1.7mL = 1/3tsp = 1:2

50% = 50 drops = 2.5mL = 1/2tsp = 1:1

In a 1oz. Bottle, simply multiply the chart above by 6:

0.5% = 3 drops = 0.15 mL = 1:198

1% = 6 drops = 0.3mL = 1:99

.

.

50% = 300 drops = 15mL = 3tsp = 1Tblsp = 1:1

Note that these “rules of thumb” are close approximations and not precise, however, they do come quite close for most topical applications.

Herb infused fixed oil

Calendula infused olive oil has anti-inflammatory properties which makes a fantastic base for summer salves.  Infusing herbal oils is easy to do, and addictive!

For a strong calendula infused oil:

Heat the oven to 250deg F. Add 4oz dried calendula officinalis flowers (by weight) to a glass pint jar.  Cover with 8oz. (By volume) High quality olive oil.  Place the jar in the oven and turn the heat off.  In several hours, when the jar is room temperature, strain the herbal oil through a cheesecloth.  The resulting infused oil may be stored in the refigerator for use alone or as an ingredient in a healing salve. More on salve making another time.

A list of studies related to C. officinalis may be found at:

http://www.ema.europa.eu/docs/en_GB/document_library/Herbal_-_List_of_references_supporting_the_assessment_report/2009/12/WC500018123.pdf

Holistic living : Clean eating

As an advocate and student of holistic wellness, I often look to food and lifestyle choices to improve overall health.  However, the decision and dedication to follow a plant based, clean, or Mediterranean eating lifestyle is not always easy.

Although my family has made many of the changes needed to get away from processed food-stuff and choose real foods, we were never 100% committed.  

In early March, I became frustrated with the latest fad in slimming drinks and pills filling my facebook feed, and although some friends were wildly successful, losing 50-70lbs in a matter of months, as a trained herbalist, I have great reservations about drinking stevia and cambodia garcinia on a daily basis.  Food and exercise must be the answer.  I found an online nine-day cleanse that cuts out all sugars, no sugar substitutes, no grains, no dairy.  It is only nine days, but it is REAL food.  No gimmicks, no pills, shakes or colorful drinks.  At the end of the nine days, a real food, no sugar (and no sugar substitutes) lifestyle is encouraged, legumes, grains, and dairy are added back, with the encouragement to add them back slowly to look for any symptoms of food intolerances or sensitivities.

Now, I could have developed this program myself, however, I liked the fact that it was planned out for me and I didn't have to think about what my next meal would be.    At the end of the nine-day cleanse, I had lost over 10lbs.  Two weeks later, I have lost another 2lbs. as I am not going back to breakfast cereal or "cheats".  Everything I am eating is fueling my body, not just alleviating hunger.  

Real food works.  It tastes good too!  

I am starting to see "cheats" such as jellybeans or peanutbutter cups as contamination of my now-balanced digestion.  I still have pizza on Sunday with my family, but the rest of the week, I am eating in a Mediterranean-style, plant-based, real-food way.  I feel good, my sinuses are no longer stuffy, and I have broken my caffeine addiction.  

Lunch - baked yam with a little coconut oil& butter, steamed brocolli, and crushed pecans

Breakfast - fresh organic berries and chia seeds

Not pictured - last night's dinner was baked chicken, rice, and steamed brocolli.  

Flavored Water

I have always been a big water drinker.  I have no problem drinking 8-12 glasses of water per day.  But, it is nice to add a little flavor on occasion.  As tempting as it is to add a drop of essential oil to a glass of water, please consider:

What Happens When Drinking a Glass of Water with EOs in It?
~There are many safe ways to use essential oils internally, BUT drinking them in water is not one of them. Essential oils and water do not mix.  Essential oils are easily absorbed by mucous membranes.  The EO drop or drops floating on the top of a glass of water will be absorbed in a small area of mucous membrane at the back of the throat and with repetition, this can cause serious damage to these delicate tissues.

Instead, a refreshing glass of iced herbal tea or a slice of lemon or cucumber in the glass is a safe and healthy way to add flavor to water without risking damage to the sensitive mucous membranes of the mouth, throat, esophagus and more.

Nourishing Sleepwell Herbal Tea

Technically a tisane, this simple aromatic blend of two adaptogenic leaves and one soporific flower is both nourishing and might even help with sleep!

In a fine mesh strainer, combine 

1T. Holy Basil vana

1T. Holy Basil krishna

1T. English lavender flowers

Place strainer in a warmed teapot and fill the pot with boiling filtered water.  Let steep 5-8 minutes.  Remove strainer, pour tisane into a warmed teacup.  Inhale the aromatic steam and enjoy this nighttime beverage.

An herb for every pot

I love my herbs.... I really do.  They are a comfort.  I came into herbalism like many others, through my mom.  She had one book on medical herbalism and a daughter who was very prone to upper respiratory infections.  We used peppermint tea for tummyaches, ginger for nausea, and celery seed tea (yuck!) for chest colds.  So, it wasn't a big surprise that I grew up to study herbs and use them for my family.  My first training, at home, was folk-traditional, I have added to that evidence-based formal studies.

Here is a peek into my herb closet:

These beautiful and often fragrant dried plants are used in our home for healing oils and salves, flavorful meals, tea, medicine, and more.

Tonight, as we prepare to rest, a fragrant cup of herbal tea is a welcome friend.