Educate your Senses

Recipes for Winter Stress

Last week on my radio show, Aromatherapist On-Call, I talked about essential oils that had
great calming qualities. I will list the oils that were discussed and I encourage you to research these oils more. Botanical is a good source for more facts.

Calming Essential Oils
- Chamomile (Matricaria recutita)
- Clary sage (Salvia sclarea)
- Frankincense (Boswellia carterii)
- Jasmine (Jasminum officinale)
- Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
- Marjoram (Origanum majorana)
- Patchouli (Pogostemon cablin)
- Rose (Rosa spp.)
- Rose geranium (Pelargonium graveolens)
- Sandalwood (Santalum album)
- Vetiver (Vetiveria zizaniodes)
- Ylang ylang (Cananga odorata)


I also said that I would post the recipes that I talked about. These recipes are for your bath, if you do not take baths, you can use the essential oils in these recipes with 2oz. of carrier oil such as grapeseed oil, sweet almond or olive oil to make a lovely moisturizer for your skin after your shower.

Stress-Relieve 
Lavender, clary sage and sandalwood make a deeply relaxing aromatherapy bath.

- 5 drops lavender essential oil
- 3 drops sandalwood essential oil
- 2 drops clary sage essential oil

Add essential oils to the bath water after the tub has filled and mix the oils into the water with your hand. (I would add about 4-5 tbsp. of Epsom and dead sea salt to the bath.) Remember to use intention and visualization as you are releasing your stress into the water, watching it go down the drain.

Restorative 
Frankincense, lavender and rose geranium help restore a sense of balance.

- 1/8 cup Epsom salts
- 1/8 cup sea salt
- 1/4 cup baking soda
- 5 drops frankincense essential oil
- 5 drops lavender essential oil
- 5 drops rose geranium essential oil

Combine the Epsom salts, sea salt and baking soda into a glass bowl. Add essential oils, mix well.  To use, fill the bathtub with warm water and add bath salts after the tub has filled. Mix the salts into the water to dissolve.

Sweet Dreams 
Try this bath just before bed to ensure a restful night's sleep. Lavender, vetiver, clary sage and ylang ylang have deeply relaxing effects on the body and mind.

- 1/4 cup Epsom salts
- 1/4 cup baking soda
- 10 drops lavender essential oil
- 5 drops vetiver essential oil
- 5 drops clary sage essential oil
- 2 drops ylang ylang essential oil

Combine Epsom salts and baking soda into a glass bowl. Add essential oils, mix well. To use, fill the bathtub with warm water and add bath salts after the tub has filled. Mix the salts into the water to dissolve.

In all of these recipes, you can make batches and store them in nonporous sealed containers for future use. If you want to use the Sweet Dreams recipe for a child, cut the essential oils in half.

There are great essential oil bath salts available at Aroma Pharmica.

Deck the Halls with Aromatics - Part 3 - Holiday Firewood

Okay I am on a roll and want to share with you some the easiest and most effective ways to change your world and the world of the people around you through essential oils.

Let's Make Holiday Logs for the fire. Whether your fireplace is inside or outside, this will surely evoke memories of yesteryear and perhaps create new ones for years to come.

All you need is one drop of EO, that's right only ONE drop of Essential oil per log per fire. Surprisingly, this one drop will be enough to provide an aromatic boost to the Holiday ambiance. If you make a holiday blend from the essential oils below, simply use ONE drop.

Simply put the "Firewood or Holiday" oil onto the log and leave it to soak in before putting on the fire. I suggest 20-30 minutes, sounds good. The reason is that Essential oils are inflammable so unless the oil has been given time to soak in, you might see more sparks than you bargained for.  I usually prepare several logs at a time and set them aside and use as needed.

Firewood Essential Oils: Frankincense, Myrrh, Cedarwood, Cypress, Sandalwood

Holiday Essential Oils: Cinnamon, Clove, Bay, Pine, Cedarwood, Mandarin, Orange Tangerine, Frankincense, Myrrh

(Essential oils can be found at your local natural grocer or specialty store or my favorite source Aromatics International.)

Happy Holidays from the studio of Aroma Pharmica to your family...As always, thank you for your support throughout the year and as a way to show you our gratitude, use coupon code "thanks" for 20% savings when shopping with us at Aroma Pharmica, where we have better Synergy Essential Blends for diffusing or putting on logs throughout the year.

Tis the Season

As the holidays approach at a rapid rate, I am multitasking, making my lists and checking them twice. I want to share with you one of the easiest holiday gifts to make that will put a smile on everyone's face. This is a fail-proof way to ease the stress of the ones you love and the ones who care for us and our family. My children and I are making these for their teachers who work tirelessly throughout the year, loving and giving our children the necessary tools to go forth as independent, strong and educated beings.

In the studio and in my home this week, we are making our famous "Chocolate Lavender Bathtub Cookies."


Now for the ingredients, you probably have most of these in your kitchen. If not, they are easily obtained from the grocery or health food store.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. Cocoa Butter
• 2 oz. Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 1 cup Oatmeal, Fine
• 1/4 cup Goat's Milk Powder (naturally pH balanced) 
• 1/4 cup Cocoa Powder 
• 3/4 cup Epsom Salt
• 1 cup Cornstarch
• 1 cup Baking Soda
• 1/2 cup Citric Acid
• 1 tsp. Lavender Essential Oil

Directions:

Warm the Cocoa Butter and Extra Virgin Olive Oil in a hot water bath until completely melted.  Remove the Cocoa Butter and Oil from the heat, allowing it to cool slightly, but not to harden.  Next, line a small baking sheet with waxed paper and set it to the side.  In a medium sized mixing bowl, combine the Oatmeal, Milk Powder, Cocoa Powder, Cornstarch, and Epsom Salt.  Stir the ingredients well, making sure to break up any clumps in the powders.  You may want to grind the oatmeal in a blender or food processor to achieve a fine consistency.   In a second mixing bowl, combine the Baking Soda and Citric Acid.  Again, make sure to work out any clumps in the mixture.  Next, combine the two bowls of dry ingredients and mix well.  Add the Lavender Essential Oil to the melted Cocoa Butter and Extra Virgin Olive Oil then pour the liquid mixture into the dry ingredients.  Begin stirring and kneading the mixture immediately.  You must work quickly at this point to get the cookies formed and placed onto the baking sheet.  Using your hands, form tablespoon sized balls of the mixture.  Place the balls onto the baking sheet then press them down gently, flattening the top.  They should be similar in shape to a gingersnap or sugar cookie.  Continue shaping cookies with the remaining mixture.  Allow the cookies to harden for a full 24 hours before attempting to remove them from the baking sheet.  After 24 hours the cookies should be hard enough to be handled and packaged. Makes approx. 28 cookies.

Usage and Packaging:

Chocolate Lavender Bath Cookies should be stored in a tightly sealed bag or container.  Moisture or humidity can cause the cookies to fizz or "flower" prematurely.  These cookies look adorable in Cello Bags or 1/2 lb. Tin Tie Bags.  To use the Cookies, simply drop one or two into a warm bath.  They will fizz and bubble, filling the bath with the delightful aroma of Lavender and Chocolate, leaving your skin moisturized and nourished, your muscles relieved and revived and your mind relaxed and rejuvenated. 

 

Heather A. Howell  teaches classes such as ‘Facials from the Frig,” “Nature's Medicine Cabinet” and other aromatherapy classes from her studio and as Community Education through the school districts in Charleston, SC.  She is also the Chief Organic Skincare Formulator and Aromatherapist for Aroma Pharmica. Visit the website http://www.aroma-pharmica.com for most nature inspired skincare.

Deck the Halls with Aromatics

As we are full swing in the holiday season, I have found that most are getting into the real season of holiday spirit, which is not the materialistic world of Big Box shopping. This blog is meant to awaken your senses and bring back fond memories of holidays past.

There is an aroma that most of us know and it definitely warms the spirit and evokes fond childhood holiday memories and that is fresh cut Pine or other resinous conifer. The simplest way to fill your surroundings with this heavenly smell is to use it as garland throughout. Dress your windows and doorways, decorate it with ribbons, bows and lights if you like.

The association of a particular aroma varies for many depending on where you were brought up or lived. Here in the good ole USA memories of happy childhood holidays may be evoked the aroma of Bayberry, because traditionally at this time of year, candles made from Bayberry wax was burned in the memory of the first settlers who made all their candles from the Bayberry. 


So from my studio to your family, I give to you today a simple recipe for HOLIDAY HOUSE SPRAY.

Recipe:

Pine Essential Oil 8 drops

Orange EO 4 drops

Cinnamon EO 2 drops

Diluted in 1 cup of distilled water in a plant spray bottle.

(These oils are available at your local natural grocer and other specialty stores, or one of my reputable sources for quality oils Aromatics International)

With the help of nature's essential oils, the evocative aromas of the Holidays need not be lost. Stay tuned as Part 2 will be here soon.

Please visit Aroma Pharmica for all your natural, organic skincare and aromatherapy needs.


Happy Holidays and Most Abundant New Year!

Tis the Season - Part 1

As we are full swing in the holiday season, I have found that some just are not participating as much as year's past. This blog is meant to awaken your senses and bring back fond memories of holidays past.

The association of a particular aroma varies for many depending on where you were brought up or lived. Here in the good ole USA memories of happy childhood holidays may be evoked the the aroma of Bayberry,  because traditionally at this time of year, candles made from Bayberry wax was burned in the memory of the first settlers who made all their candles from the Bayberry.

There is another aroma that most of us know and it definitely warms the spirit and evokes fond childhood holiday memories and that is fresh cut Pine or other resinous conifer.

So from my studio to your family, I give to you today a simple recipe for HOLIDAY HOUSE SPRAY.

Recipe:

Pine Essential Oil 8 drops

Orange EO 4 drops

Cinnamon EO 2 drops

Diluted in 1 cup of distilled water in a plant spray bottle.

(These oils are available at your local natural grocer and other specialty stores, or one of my reputable sources for quality oils Aromatics International)

With the help of nature's essential oils, the evocative aromas of the Holidays need not be lost. Stay tuned as Part 2 will be here soon.

Happy Holidays and Most Abundant New Year!

Aromatherapy Tips for Everyday Life

The following are creative ways to use essential oils: to bring peace, relaxation, and simplicity into one's space. 

·         Lighten the air: Put a few drops of essential oil in the bag or filter of a vacuum cleaner. This will fill the room with aroma while cleaning. This instantly changes the energy of a room and the people in the room too. Lavender is calming; Lemon is uplifting and an incredible germ killer.

·         Aromatic House Spray to evoke memories of holidays past.

o    Recipe:

§  Pine Essential Oil 4 drops

§  Orange EO 2 drops

§  Cinnamon EO 1 drop

§  Diluted in 1 cup of distilled water in a plant spray bottle.

• Fragrant Linens: Put 3-6 drops of essential oil on a handful of cotton balls and place them throughout one's closet shelves. Next time one reaches for new sheets or towels, a waft of the heavenly scent will be present. Do the same thing to one's dresser drawers, desk drawers, etc. Use your favorite essential oil or blend, one that leaves a feeling of elation.
• Essential Clean: To clean one's fridge, put a few drops of orange, mandarin, mint, lavender, or lemon oil in a spray bottle of water. Not only will it disinfect and clean the fridge, but it will leave a wonderful scent when done. 
• Stove Top Potpourri: Simmer a few drops of Cinnamon and Nutmeg essential oils and other spice to create a warm and delicious scent in one's kitchen. OR make a pot of incredible air freshener by adding cinnamon sticks, cloves and sliced lemon to water and simmer on the stove. This eliminates any odor in the kitchen. 
• Stress Buster: Take 30 minutes to relax in a sensuous bath infused with 5 drops lavender oil, 4 drops orange oil and 4 drops ylang ylang oil. This fragrant bath with entice one's senses while leaving you calm, rejuvenated and refreshed.

·         Aromatic Logs for the fire. Whether the fireplace is inside or outside, this will surely evoke memories of yesteryear and perhaps create new ones for years to come.

o    Just one drop of EO, that's right only ONE drop of Essential oil per log per fire. Surprisingly, this one drop will be enough to provide an aromatic boost to the ambiance.

o    Simply put the "Firewood or Holiday" oil onto the log and leave it to soak in before putting on the fire. Suggested wait time before putting into the fire is 20-30 minutes. The reason is that Essential oils are inflammable so unless the oil has been given time to soak in, there could be sparks. Prepare several logs at a time and set them aside and use as needed.

§  Firewood Essential Oils: Frankincense, Myrrh, Cedarwood, Cypress, Sandalwood

§  Holiday Essential Oils: Cinnamon, Clove, Bay, Pine, Cedarwood, Mandarin, Orange Tangerine, Frankincense, Myrrh

§  Use 2-4 oils and blend together to create a unique blend for special occasions.

These are a few quick and easy ways to enhance one’s mental and emotional health through aromatherapy, but one should consult a trained Aromatherapist who can read the chemical composition of an essential oil profile and make an educated decision about the safety of an essential oil before delving into this healing modality.

Heather A. Howell is a Certified Clinical Aromatherapist and owner/formulator of Aroma Pharmica, an organic skincare company and custom blend practice. Life with 3 incredible children based on holistic living and nature is rewarding and fulfilling. Aroma Pharmica is located on James Island, SC. 843.330.5941 On-line at http//:www.aroma-pharmica.com

Hyssop - The Holy Herb

Hyssop - hyssopus officinalis is a bushy perennial shrub with small linear leaves and small clumping flowers. These flowers are very aromatic and attract swarms of bees and butterflies. It is from the Lamiaceae family.

Hyssop is a herb that is referenced 12 times in the bible. The chemical constituents that make up the essential oil of Hyssop are quite complex. A medicinal therapeutic grade  consists of 48% Ketones, which exert a very powerful action on body systems and are potentially toxic compounds that should be used in VERY small amounts; 30% Monoterpenes which are hostile to microbes and reprogram cells with correct information; 8% Sesquiterpenes which are oxygenating, mood elevating and can deprogram miswritten and garbled codes in the DNA; and lastly 4% Phenols which are antiseptic, cleanse receptor sites and detoxify our bodies.

Ancient uses of Hyssop include spiritual cleansing, purification from sins, help in focusing your mind in meditation, and expelling of evil spirits. During Passover, the Israelites stuck the post and lintels of their doorways with a branch of hyssop as protection.

Hyssop is used today to relieve anxiety, arthritis, asthma, respiratory infections, parasites, sore throats, cuts and wounds. It metabolizes fats, increases perspiration, detoxifying and emotionally balancing. The monoterpenes reprogram miswritten information in the DNA and thus promoting permanent healing at a cellular level.

Hyssop is a quintessential cleanser, enabling a clarity of spirit. It purifies and cleanses, awakening closed hearts and minds, all which is needed for the ultimate oneness with the Universe. As a Certified Clinical Aromatherapist, I have been using this precious Essential oil in my private practice. If you would like to heal yourself naturally, please feel free to  visit  Aroma Pharmica's custom formulation page for your own healing blend.

Tis the Season - Part 3

Moving along, I would like to share with you more ways to have aromatic holidays. I know everyone is familiar with pomanders, those spicy fragrant oranges that hang from beautiful ribbon. Here are simple instructions to make your very own and create memories that last a lifetime. At least in this life and you will be a happier person in and after the process, as the sweet nectar of orange essential oils are absorbed through your fingertips.

Decorations are an integral part of holiday celebrations and essential oils can be easily incorporated. How about pine cones? Most parts of the US have pine trees which produce these cones that can be picked up fresh from the forest floor and used in decorations. If you are not graced with pine cones in your area, you can easily buy them from a craft store or such. Now put these into a sealable bag and put a few drops of Holiday Essential Oils: Cinnamon, Clove, Bay, Pine, Cedarwood, Mandarin, Orange Tangerine, Frankincense, Myrrh on a cotton ball and seal the bag. Remove the cones the next day and enjoy the aromatic power of essential oils. You can also do this with wrapping paper. Leave it in a sealed bag overnight with a cotton ball with essential oil. Use a different aroma for different family members and create a harmony of blends right under your tree.

You can also infuse ribbon that you are using for decorating and for gift wrapping with essential oils. Simply add 6-10 drops of the Holiday Essential Oils: Cinnamon, Clove, Bay, Pine, Cedarwood, Mandarin, Orange Tangerine, Frankincense, Myrrh to 1 cup of water, swish the ribbons around in the blend and let them dry. Remember you can create your own Holiday blend by adding a combination of the above oils.

(Essential oils can be found at your local natural grocer or specialty store or the WWW.)

Happy Holidays from the studio of Aroma Pharmica to your family...As always, thank you for your support throughout the year and as a way to show you our gratitude, use coupon code "thanks" for 20% savings when shopping with us at Aroma Pharmica. 

Tis the Season - Part 2

Okay I am on a roll and want to share with you some the easiest and most effective ways to change your world and the world of the people around you through essential oils.

Let's Make Holiday Logs for the fire. Whether your fireplace is inside or outside, this will surely evoke memories of yesteryear and perhaps create new ones for years to come.

All you need is one drop of EO, that's right only ONE drop of Essential oil per log per fire. Surprisingly, this one drop will be enough to provide an aromatic boost to the Holiday ambiance. If you make a holiday blend from the essential oils below, simply use ONE drop.

Simply put the "Firewood or Holiday" oil onto the log and leave it to soak in before putting on the fire. I suggest 20-30 minutes, sounds good. The reason is that Essential oils are inflammable so unless the oil has been given time to soak in, you might see more sparks than you bargained for.  I usually prepare several logs at a time and set them aside and use as needed.

Firewood Essential Oils: Frankincense, Myrrh, Cedarwood, Cypress, Sandalwood

Holiday Essential Oils: Cinnamon, Clove, Bay, Pine, Cedarwood, Mandarin, Orange Tangerine, Frankincense, Myrrh

(Essential oils can be found at your local natural grocer or specialty store or the WWW.)

Happy Holidays from the studio of Aroma Pharmica to your family...As always, thank you for your support throughout the year and as a way to show you our gratitude, use coupon code "thanks" for 20% savings when shopping with us at Aroma Pharmica. 

Orange you glad to see me...

This week play with me in the deeply and familiar fragrant grove of the Orange family. Sweet, sweet Orange is imbued with the energy of sunlight. This couldn't be a more perfect time to further explore the gifts of Orange essential oil, from the land of the sunny South, where everything is permeated with sunshine. With the holidays on our heels, I am reminded of fond memories of making beautiful hanging ornaments or pomanders with red ribbon, oranges and cloves. 

Orange contain the joy and magnificence of the light of the heavens. Bursting with vitality, it brings happiness to the heavyhearted, and light to those who seems lost. It brings newness and regeneration. Orange essential oil can rekindle a spark long forgotten and revitalize spiritual connections to a soul grown dim through living too hard, too fast, or too painfully. The fragrance uplifts those with fear of letting go so they can see the full spectrum of light that fills every cell of each and every one of our bodies. 

Healing through Nature  

Fragrant white flowers, shiny oblong leaves and nutritiously sweet fruit are bountiful on the Orange tree. The best oil comes from the rind and is expressed by hand. Orange oil restores balance to dry or oily skin. It supports healthy, youthful skin by promoting the production of collagen, which reduces puffiness and discourages dry or wrinkled skin. It also clears blemishes and improves acne-prone skin.

Remember Orange balances the emotions, either by relaxing or stimulating which ever the body needs. Orange has a warm, happy influence that prevents extreme seriousness; therefore, helping before perfection, overwork or mental overload takes its toll. Orange can awaken creativity, inspire harmony and promote self-awareness.

Embrace the gifts from the Orange family, those being warm, sweet and sensuous while having a positive effect on everything and everyone. That's the Law of Attraction in action. 

Remember that fragrances have the ability to bring memories to the forefront of our minds and with that, Oranges always make me smile as I breathe in the aromatic goodness as the skin cracks under my fingers.

What memories does Orange bring to you?