Kimba is so happy we clean with natural products!

On Aromatics International we have a recipe section with successful  blends we have made over the years. I recently added several new recipes for cleaning products: a hand cleanser and a hand soap (the soap is listed under colds and flu).

I find that when I clean with natural products and essential oils, I feel much better than I would if I used chemical cleaners. Essential oils are well known for their anti-microbial effects, as they can possess antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal properties.

You can do a search on Aromatics International for these or any properties, and get a list of oil that possess those properties. When searching, use the search field on the top right of the website, and use the terms “bacterial” “fungal” and “viral” to produce the best results. There are long lists of essential oils that provide these results, so you can pick your favorite oils to use for cleaning and supporting your immunity at the same time!

I have recently had some great experiences using essential oils to relieve tension headaches.

• First add 1 drop of peppermint essential oil (Mentha piperita) into a teaspoon of Trauma oil and rub it on the back of your neck. It should feel cool and tingly. I love using Trauma oil as my carrier, it is quite healing in and of itself! It is made from Olive oil (first pressing), Calendula flower (Calendula officinalis), Arnica flower (Arnica montana) and St. John’s Wort flowering tops (Hypericum perforatum). You might feel immediate relief! You can repeat this application 3-4 times daily for a few days if needed.
• Next use 1 drop of Frankincense essential oil (Boswellia carterii) in the same amount of trauma oil and rub it into your feet! I know it might seem odd that massaging your feet with Frankincense would help a headache, but the reflex point are powerful and it works great. Massage your whole foot and especially your toes with the oil. If you find some sore spots, spend more time there. Massage as deeply as you enjoy, feeling sore as you rub your feet is ok, pain is not the goal! You can repeat this application 3-4 times daily for a few days if needed.
• Lastly make an inhaler with Rosewood essential oil (Aniba rosaeodora). Add 15 drops to the blank inhaler and inhale deeply every hour, into both nostrils. If you don’t have a blank inhaler use a tissue and add one drop of rosewood essential oil to the tissue every hour and inhale. If you don’t have rosewood essential oil you can use Eucalyptus essential oil (Eucalyptus globulus) instead.

I have found that if you use all three approaches, the headache can fade away within half an hour! If you try this approach, let me know how it goes. if you have other headache suggestions using essential oils, we would love to hear about them!

Allergies driving you crazy?  You have have noticed a surge in your symptoms, as well as a surge in television and radio commercials promoting various over the counter and commercial allergy medications.

Want to avoid using medication?

The first step is avoidance. You can take a lot of cautionary measures to avoid exposure to allergens.  (Like keeping your windows closed at home, using air filters, keeping your sheets and pillows clean, and staying inside during peak pollen times.)  Use the Internet to your advantage by researching the sort of tips and steps that fit into your lifestyle.

For many, relief may be obtained naturally.  A saline rinse (unmedicated) can do wonders for rinsing and relieving nasal tissues.  Once you get past the weird feeling, it’s actually very soothing.

Essential oils can be used to relieve nasal allergy symptoms.  Here are two recipes we share at Aromatics International:

Allergy Relief Inhaler

Ingredients:

• 4 drops Eucalyptus Dives Essential Oil
  
• 2 drops Laurel Leaf Essential Oil
  
• 3 drops Ravintsara Essential Oil
  
• 2 drops Siberian Fir Essential Oil
  
• 1 Blank Aromatherapy Inhaler – White

You don’t have to wear green or drink green beer (or be Irish) to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.  Try bringing a little “green” into your home for the day by diffusing bright, herbal essential oils!

• Sweet Basil essential oil smells like fresh basil leaves.  Sharp, bright, and springy, the aroma is emotionally uplifting.  Perfect to get you through the last days of Winter!
• You can’t get much greener than Lime essential oil. The aroma is very tropical and bright, with a sweet tangy bite to it.  Diffuse it to clear the air in your home and to ease anxiety.
• Palmarosa essential oil has a floral tone.  The unmistakable aroma is surprisingly rose-like for an oil distilled from grass.  This “green” oil is calming and a little romantic without being cloying or overly flowery.
• If you or your loved one is suffering from a Winter cold, you may want to “go green” with a pine oil like Siberian Fir essential oil.  Diffuse it to help rid your home of germs.  You can also steam with a drop to help clear out sinuses and ease breathing.