20 Good Reasons Lavender is the Superhero of Essential Oils

Posted on April 29, 2015 by suzannerbanks

Please check out my new book REVELATION! – Reveal Your Destiny with Essential Oils

Barnes & Noble Booktopia AU Amazon UK

and many other stores worldwide as a Kindle and Paperback

20 Good Reasons Lavender is the Superhero of Essential Oils

Lavender at my local market

The following is an excerpt from my book:

“Lavender – Singularly Spectacular for General Health”

If it all gets a bit too confusing, lavender is here to save the day. It’s the super hero of essential oils and here are 20 good reasons why:

1. It is a herb that has been used for perfumery and healing for centuries and is still thriving.

2. Lavender’s purple colour is related to the upper chakras, mainly the crown chakra which connects us with the universe and all the knowledge contained within its structure.

3. The perfect oil for use in first aid as it has properties of cell regeneration, anti-bacterial and anti-septic constituents. Perfect for cuts, grazes, falls and anytime first aid is required. Even rushing to someone’s aid with a little bottle of lavender can help shock and fright.

4. A great after sun oil and THE one indicated oil to use for any kind of burn.

lovely lavender

5. Great for relaxing and inducing sleep.

6. It is calming and can be used for headaches and as an antidote for sadness and depression.

7. A wonderful tonic for the heart both physically and meta-physically.

8. It has warming and cooling properties and could be considered a balancing oil – an oil of evening things out. I call it the oil of solidarity.

Lavender backpackers in Akeroa NZ

9. Treats insect bites by immediately stopping the itching.

10. It’s easy to find and relatively inexpensive.

11. It’s grown and produced all over the world, each region giving its scent and quality to the oil.

12. Lavender oil can be inhaled as a steam for colds, coughs and sinus infections to relieve the symptoms.

wild lavender with butterfly

13. It counteracts most kinds of pain – physical an emotional.

14. The herbaceous scent blends well with all other oils and can be used as the main part of a potion to provide a platform for all the other scents to project from.

15. The herb can be used in baking, in jams, in teas and in body products.

16. Children seem to like it – it tends to provide a sense of calm and security. It is also a powerful oil to use with the elderly to instill a sense of safety.

more gorgeous lavender

17. The essential oil is perfect for grounding and centering, using in spells and to help stimulate creativity.

18. It is wonderful to use if you need support and encouragement, and either don’t have anyone around to give that to you, or you’ve temporarily exhausted your own supply. Helps you to find the strength to carry on when times are tough.

19. Connects us to the great feminine power of Gaia.

20. One drop is enough to change your perspective from weak to strong.

lavender!

Remember to treat yourself first, then everyone will benefit.

Check out my YouTube channel too, thanks.

Australian Eucalyptus Oil – A Review and Giveaway

Posted on April 22, 2015 by suzannerbanks

Please check out my new book REVELATION! – Reveal Your Destiny with Essential Oils

Barnes & Noble Booktopia AU Amazon UK

and many other stores worldwide as a Kindle and Paperback

Australian Eucalyptus Oil – A Review and Giveaway

The picturesque road to Banalasta – it was stinking hot and there was a bushfire in the distance

At the end of last year I visited a friend in Armidale which is about 5 hours drive from Sydney (or about an hour flying). On our way to see friends in Tamworth – the Country Music Capital of Australia – we saw signs to a Eucalyptus farm. A few kilometres up a bumpy dirt road we found the gorgeous little shop and cafe, selling eucalyptus oil from the property “Banalasta” (the land of healthy waterholes). They are growing quickly and increasing their wholesale business to the USA, as well as supplying the Australian public through online sales and sale on the property. They are a certified organic farming business.

The lovely people gave me a quick look around out the back, where they actually store the leaves and distill the oil. Here are a few pics:

Here you can see fresh eucalyptus leaves (Eucalyptus radiata) harvested off the property, from living trees (that continue to live). The scent was absolutely divine!

Fresh eucalyptus leaves awaiting distillation

The massive vats used for distilling the oil:

Distilling vats

The receptacle that collects the essential oil:

The pot of gold at the end of the rainbow – where the essential oil is collected

Glass measuring and testing equipment to assess each batch:

At Banalasta they also grow and distill lavender (Lavandula Intermedia grosso):

Lavender just about to flower outside the shop

The Oil: Eucalyptus radiata certified organic

The Scent: A sweet and soft eucalyptus, almost like you are eating a eucalyptus candy. Within the scent I can detect mild camphorous tones and the poetic sense of the Australian bush.

The Verdict: A must have for all scent enthusiasts

To Win:

10ml bottle Eucalyptus radiata

Please comment via the little thought bubble at the top of the blog and tell my why you’d LOVE this little bottle of Aussie goodness. The winner will be chosen through random.org on the 20th May 2015.

Thanks so much! You can support local organic farmers by buying direct from Banalasta here: http://www.banalasta.com.au/Essential-Oils-p-1-c-252.html

Check out my YouTube channel too, thanks.

10 Recipes with Rose Essential Oil 3% – Rosa damascaena

Posted on April 15, 2015 by suzannerbanks

Please check out my new book REVELATION! – Reveal Your Destiny with Essential Oils

Barnes & Noble Booktopia AU Amazon UK

and many other stores worldwide as a Kindle and Paperback

10 Recipes with Rose Essential Oil 3% – Rosa damascaena

Beautiful rose in Wellington Botanic Gardens

“Rose is a rose is a rose is a rose.“

Gertrude Stein

Rose essential oil is sometimes referred to as Attar of Rose or Rose Otto. It is steam distilled and the most expensive way to buy rose oil. Many other rose oils are actually “absolutes”, which refers to the way in which the scented oil has been extracted. This method is not very natural, often with chemicals used to extract the scented essence.

I’m hoping that one day soon we will start to see more CO2 extracts of rose available, which are more environmentally friendly (even though it doesn’t sound like it), and actually extracts more of the plant or flower than steam distillation does. Check out my article “What are CO2 Extracts in the World of Aromatherapy?” for more info.

Back to the rose. I have written a couple of articles about roses before and you can check them out at your leisure:

“Stop and Smell the Roses”

“Rose and Rosehip – A Winning Combination for Youthful Skin”

On to some recipes.

I will give you some recipes using 3% rose oil and some using pure rose oil. Rose oil is mostly sold already mixed in a 3% ratio with jojoba mainly because of the cost. See my article for more info on 3% blends in jojoba.

Moisturising with oil on your face can have fantastic benefits

1. Facial Oil Treatment

Mix one or two drops of essential oil in one teaspoon of carrier oil. You can warm the oil slightly first if desired – it will be very relaxing! Massage your face and rest for 10 minutes. You can also place a cool or warm wet face cloth on your face as a compress over the oil mask. Remove excess oil with a tissue or cloth if necessary.

Rose 3% 6 drops

Rose pure 2 drops in a teaspoon of oil

The classic Duralex glass dish is handy to make oil blends and quick perfumes in

2. Pure Pulse Point Perfume

In a little dish mix these oils and anoint your pulse points or chakras – 3 drops of essential oils and dilute with a few drops of carrier oil – always patch test first!

*All with 3% rose oil

“Sense and Sensibility”

Rose 3% 3 drops

Rose Geranium 1 drop

Nutmeg 1 drop

“Lovin Myself”

Rose 3% 4 drops

Lemon 2 drops

“Queen”

Rose 3% 6 drops

Indian Rosewood 1 drop (Dalbergia sissoo)

“Single Pointed Intention”

Rose 3% 4 drops

Orange 1 drop

Patchouli 1 drop

Nourish your body with a beautiful oil blend – pic via redbookmag.com

3. Nourishing Body Oil Blend

For a coat of your body use 3 teaspoons of carrier oil in a little dish and, add 7 – 8 drops of essential oil. It’s always best to patch test first, before you apply all over.

***** Always put the drops of essential oil into the bottle or dish first, then add the carrier oil. It gives the scents time to create a synergistic fusion.

For a 50ml bottle of oil add 25 drops and see my articles “Ratios for Blending Essential Oils – A Reminder of the Basics” and “Aromatherapy – It’s Easy as 1 2 3”

*All with 3% rose oil so the ratios from my standards above, will differ slightly

“Softly”

Rose 3% 6 drops

Peru Balsam 2 drops

Bergamot 2 drops

“One Fine Day”

Rose 3% 6 drops

Geranium 2 drops

Juniper 2 drops

“Wish”

Rose 3% 9 drops

Neroli 3% 4 drops

A personal mist is easy to make! pic via ebay.com.au

4. Personal Aura Cleansing Mist & Room Mist

In a 50ml mist bottle filled with water add 25 drops of oil

(depending on the packaging you have, you may need to use a little alcohol -like vodka- at the bottom of your bottle first, so the oils disperse into smaller drops to prevent clogging the atomiser top. I’ve found sometimes it works just with water, and sometimes it doesn’t – very annoying!)

*All using pure rose oil

“Pure Magic”

Rose 6 drops

Ylang Ylang 4 drops

Mandarin 8 drops

Cypress 7 drops

“Wild”

Rose 8 drops

Black Spruce 8 drops

Australian Sandalwood 7 drops

More beautiful roses from my recent trip to New Zealand

Happy blending and remember to use your intention when you are creating your formulas. See my article about intention.

Check out my YouTube channel too, thanks.

Fresh Blood – New Energy – Which Essential Oils?

Posted on April 8, 2015 by suzannerbanks

Please check out my new book REVELATION! – Reveal Your Destiny with Essential Oils

Barnes & Noble Booktopia AU Amazon UK

and many other stores worldwide as a Kindle and Paperback

Fresh Blood – New Energy – Which Essential Oils?

Fresh blood is loaded with oxygen

I just got a text from a good friend who said he was off to the (music) studio to work with new producers. He said he needed “fresh blood”. I quite like that expression and thought about it for a minute, realising it’s about new starts, a new attitude, fresh energy. At the change of the season it’s a wonderful concept to grab a hold of. Our lives are somewhat cyclical, but there is always an opportunity to start afresh.

Fresh blood = red blood cells highly oxygenated.

Oxygen in the blood stream = fresh life to all the cells in the body. Hooray!

Essential oils cannot help red blood cells become more oxygenated, but energetically they can help us change perspective. So let’s look at which essential oils can give us a feeling of a new perspective, a new and fresh life.

The green fruit pictured here is very small like a cumquat - pic via nwitimes.com

The green fruit pictured here is very small like a kumquat – pic via nwitimes.com

1. Petitgrain

potentiality, opportunities

“I love using petitgrain as a promise of good things to come. When you can be a bit more relaxed about the search for your purpose in this world, more opportunities will present themselves to you. Find new opportunities, new projects, new thoughts and feelings, new rituals and a new outlook with petitgrain.”

Suzanne R Banks “Revelation! Reveal Your Destiny with Essential Oils

I love lemons!

2. Lemon

refresh, reload, brighten up

“When I think lemon oil I think, “refresh”, “reload”, like the refresh button on your computer. ..to me it means to start again. The oil is often used in cleaning so in that sense it helps to clear the air, clear your energy and clear your perspective. It’s the oil of fresh starts”.

Suzanne R Banks “Revelation! Reveal Your Destiny with Essential Oils

Roman chamomile in the Wellington Botanic Gardens

3. Roman Chamomile

less tension more inspiration

“If you can relax into the flow of life with a few drops of this divine oil, you will have more energy for the good stuff. Take your energy away from tension and into creation and inspiration with Roman chamomile.”

Suzanne R Banks “Revelation! Reveal Your Destiny with Essential Oils

Eucalyptus smithii

4. Eucalyptus

clearing, enlightening

“Eucalyptus is expansive and purifying as it literally opens the pathways of the breath in the body, while freshening the air with a truly Australian bush scent. It can decontaminate your space, refine your attitude and offer a vital, enlightening clean breath of fresh air.”

Suzanne R Banks “Revelation! Reveal Your Destiny with Essential Oils

A cup of peppermint tea could do the trick as well

5. Peppermint

removes resistance

“I have found peppermint oil to soothe emotions stuck in the body and to remove resistance and barriers we sometimes create in our minds…. Get rid of tension and get happy. A great way to start the day is to steam with a few drops of peppermint essential oil in the shower to awaken your senses and clear any issues from the day before.”

Suzanne R Banks “Revelation! Reveal Your Destiny with Essential Oils

Any essential oil that you love could be your vessel of newness and fresh blood and energy.

Happy blending and remember to use your intention when you are creating your formulas. See my article about intention.

10 Recipes with Ginger Essential Oil – Zingiber officinale

Posted on April 1, 2015 by suzannerbanks

Please check out my new book REVELATION! – Reveal Your Destiny with Essential Oils

Barnes & Noble Booktopia AU Amazon UK

and many other stores worldwide as a Kindle and Paperback

10 Recipes with Ginger Essential Oil – Zingiber officinale

Beautiful ginger

To me ginger essential oil is an oil that doesn’t necessarily smell how you think it will – especially if you have eaten eat before, or drunk tea with fresh ginger in it. Like black pepper essential oil, ginger is a spice oil that is a lot more gentle that the plant itself. It is soft and warming, slightly reminiscent of rosemary, with a spicy undertone that can take a few seconds to vapourise.

I’m writing about ginger today because yesterday I had my regular aromatherapy treatment and I was given ginger, orange and, um …. something else (I can’t remember now), and it was gorgeous!

In aromatherapy ginger essential oil is used:

* externally on the stomach for nausea

* as a general warming tonic

* to increase circulation to the extremities (important with people who have diabetes)

I use ginger oil metaphysically to help clients or friends (or myself), particularly when the emotions are stuck and a cold. Ginger is a great way to soften your emotions ans help you to become more approachable in your relationships, and may even help with finding your true purpose in life.

Here are some recipes:

An essential oil steam in the shower will do wonders for your mind and energy levels – pic via completehealthcircle.com

1. Put A few Drops Of Oil into the bottom of the Shower

This works in a similar way to just taking a whiff straight from the bottle, but if you’ve got an extra minute, it will give you a completely different experience. Your whole body will be immersed in an essential oil steam. Just cover the drain with a cloth or your foot for a couple of minutes and breathe in the medicinal goodness

Check this out - an oil burner made from a can - pic via www.instructables.com

Check this out – an oil burner made from a can – pic via http://www.instructables.com

2. Scent Your Space

In a traditional oil burner with a candle or a diffuser add 25 drops of oil

“Job Interview Magic”

The evening before your interview immerse yourself in this –

Ginger 10 drops

Petitgrain 5 drops

Mandarin 5 drops

Cedarwood Virginian 5 drops

“Change of Season”

Ginger can help you move through weather changes –

Ginger 8 drops

Lavender 9 drops

Frankincense 8 drops

“Let’s All Get Along Tonight”

Calm those crazy kids –

Ginger 9 drops

Orange 10 drops

Geranium 4 drops

Vetiver 2 drops

Rub oil into your body – it’s good!

3. Nourishing Body Oil Blend

For a coat of your body use 3 teaspoons of carrier oil in a little dish and, add 7 – 8 drops of essential oil. It’s always best to patch test first, before you apply all over.

***** Always put the drops of essential oil into the bottle or dish first, then add the carrier oil. It gives the scents time to create a synergistic fusion.

For a 50ml bottle of oil add 25 drops and see my articles “Ratios for Blending Essential Oils – A Reminder of the Basics” and “Aromatherapy – It’s Easy as 1 2 3″

“Sooooo Cold”

Warm up –

Ginger 3 drops

Rosemary 2 drops

Lemon 4 drops

“Pre-Workout Warmer”

Ginger 3 drops

Marjoram 2 drops

Grapefruit 2 drops

“High Seas”

If you’re feeling nauseous or travel sick –

Ginger 3 drops

Peppermint 2 drops

Fennel 2 drops

Chinese tea cup – perfect for a little perfume magic

4. Pure Pulse Point Perfume

In a little dish mix these oils and anoint your pulse points or chakras – 3 drops of essential oils and dilute with a few drops of carrier oil – always patch test first!

“I Like Myself Today”

Ginger 1 drops

Rose 3% 3 drops *see my article for more info on 3% blends in jojoba

“Kindness, Kindness, Kindness”

Ginger 1 drop

Lemon myrtle 1 drop

Lime 1 drop

“Empathy”

Ginger 2 drops

Ylang Ylang 1 drop

Warming ginger root

Please embrace ginger essential oil – hopefully you’ll love it as much as I do.

Remember to treat yourself first, then everyone will benefit.

Check out my YouTube channel too, thanks.

suzannerbanks

scent . intention . consciousness . essential oils

Monthly Archives: April 2015

20 Good Reasons Lavender is the Superhero of Essential Oils

Australian Eucalyptus Oil – A Review and Giveaway

10 Recipes with Rose Essential Oil 3% – Rosa damascaena

Fresh Blood – New Energy – Which Essential Oils?

10 Recipes with Ginger Essential Oil – Zingiber officinale

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