Tag Archives: essential oils for winter

Essential Oil Blends for Christmas

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Hello dear natural beauties, I hope you’re winding down to the end of the year. It’s always great in Australia as summer kicks in too! We wait all year, for all the good things in one season. That’s life in the southern hemisphere. Here’s a few oil blends for the diffuser this “holiday’ time …

Buy my 100% natural and organic botanical perfumes, and paperback book here:

suzannerbanks.com.au

                     Digital downloads and paper backs of my book                              Revelation! Reveal your Destiny with Essentials Oils here:

Barnes & Noble      Booktopia AU      Amazon UK

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For the Winter Christmas Diffuser

clove oranges – tedious to make and then they went mouldly within a week due to the humidity in Sydney

White Christmas

  • Lemon                         10 drops
  • Patchouli                      6 drops
  • Juniper                         5 drops
  • Cedarwood Virginian   4 drops

Here Comes Santa’s Sleigh

  • Orange               13 drops
  • Cinnamon             6 drops
  • Rosemary             6 drops

Sugar and Spice

  • Petitgrain      10 drops
  • Ginger            5 drops
  • Clove             5 drops
  • Nutmeg         5  drops
juniper berries

A Quick Winter Perfume: a few drops in a little dish with a splash of jojoba

  • Roman Chamomile 3%  3 drops *info on 3% blends
  • Juniper                            1 drop
  • Peru Balsam                   1 drop

For the Summer Christmas Diffuser

beach by me

Buzz Off

  • Citronella           10 drops
  • Clove                   5 drops
  • Cinnamon            5 drops
  • Rose Geranium    5 drops

Bush Christmas

  • Orange                             12 drops
  • Cypress                             5 drops
  • Australian sandalwood       8 drops

Get Out of the Sun

  • Mandarin          14 drops
  • Lavender          8 drops
  • Marjoram          6 drops
Lime oil has more depth than the other citrus oils

A Quick Summer Perfume: a few drops in a little dish with a splash of jojoba

Summer Love

  • Lemongrass    1 drop
  • Rosewood       1 drop
  • Lime                 1 drop

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you enjoy the last days of the year.

Saving the World With Lavender Oil this Winter/Summer Solstice

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On this winter solstice in the southern hemisphere, and the summer solstice up north, now is a time of change. You are needed to save the world. Can you do it?

Can you feel it? There’s a buzz in the air. Sometimes it’s positive and sometimes it’s negative, but undoubtedly, there’s a level of tangible electricity.

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Buy my 100% natural and organic botanical perfumes, and paperback book here: suzannerbanks.com.au

Digital downloads of my book Revelation! Reveal your Destiny with Essentials Oils:

Barnes & Noble      Booktopia AU      Amazon UK

***********************************************************************************************

Everyone I meet has a different opinion on the state of the world, but there is one common thread, and that is, that there is something changing. You’re right. There are a lot of things changing, and they have been for many years and now we are finally noticing the signs. We can connect with someone on the opposite side of the world without having met them. We can do this through breakthroughs in technology, which are available to more and more people on Earth. We can topple governments and create change at a grassroots level like never before. It is quite amazing. It is futuristic and very sci-fi. The future is here and if you think time is going fast now, it will only appear to be going faster as we expand in the space-time continuum. We are speeding up exponentially, driven by technology but when will our next spiritual evolutionary jump be?

Caught on camera somewhere in Sydney

 

My secret to the evolution of human consciousness in our time on this planet is lavender oil. Essential oils represent a link to our past, and a beacon for the future, as they are simple agents of change. They are healers of our collective psyche, and panaceas of our individual worlds. A drop of lavender on your wrist, at the bottom of the shower, in the bath or cleaning your bench tops, could start a wave of solidarity, leading to a critical mass jump to the next level of evolution. How? The molecules within a drop of essential oil move through the spaces in our mind to our souls, allowing miracles to unfold. They slip through matter in waveform, and work their secret magic.

Ah lovely lavender

 

My simplistic formula for our rise to the next level of humanity is one drop of lavender oil.

 

Lavender will always be stylish!

 

I know you’re reaching out to your fellow earth dwellers, on a one-to-one basis, exchanging information and love. We don’t need to be controlled by hierarchies of terror. Just love. And that’s what you are doing now if you are reading this, writing your own blog, running your own business, donating to charities, interacting on social media, or going out into your community in the flesh. This is a time of co-operation not competition. Essential oils can help us change focus in a matter of seconds, so when you get bogged down in life’s daily ups and downs, crack open that bottle of lavender oil and take a huge whiff.

Exhale.

Continue.

 

fun with amber glass and essential oils

 

If everyone could experience a drop of lavender oil each day, we may be able to breakthrough the limitations we have come to believe actually exist. We allow our limitations to flourish with a collective agreement about how life “is”. Inhale one drop of lavender, exhale love, limitation, change, spiritual expansion and the power of oneness.

 

look within – not without

The Wonders of Wintergreen

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Thanks for tuning in again natural beauties. This week a client and friend brought me a gift from the USA – Wintergreen Life Savers. She had promised she would bring some back to me so I could have a taste – and had been inspired to do this after I used wintergreen in an oil blend for one of her treatments. She said that this lolly was a blast from the past and a loved candy from her childhood.

 

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

Barnes & Noble      Booktopia AU      Amazon UK

and many other stores worldwide as an ebook and paperback

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As you can see from the comment in my pic above – wintergreen as a flavouring for a candy is very unusual for me (and I would think many Aussies too). To me it’s like eating a sports rub like Deep Heat or Dencorub. It is commonly used as a flavouring in America, but I’m not sure if it’s embraced the same way in other parts of the world. After the initial blast and sensation of the essential oil of wintergreen in my mouth, the fragrance subsided into a general sweetness. Phew.

Some of my classic aromatherapy text books warn against using this oil at all, which seems strange when you can eat it in a lolly )this is however, at an extremely low dosage). Wintergreen is an essential oil of warmth, expansion and healing and can be used in an external oil blend for:

  • sore muscles
  • a chest cough
  • a headache
  • tension
  • poor circulation

I think the reason this oil is misunderstood is that some texts say it is high in the same chemical constituents that are in aspirin – but that’s not quite true. It has a high concentration of methyl salicylate ……

“Methyl salicylate is good for some people, not for others. A blanket contraindication is not necessary, but it is best avoided in pregnancy – all salicylates are teratogenic in sufficient amount, including methyl salicylate and aspirin (acetyl salicylic acid). Methyl salicylate must be absolutely avoided by anyone taking blood-thinning drugs, as it increases the action of the drug, and this causes blood to leak into tissues and  internal bruising occurs.

 

Wintergreen oil has some wonderful properties, but I would not like to see it used at more than 5%.”

 

Robert Tisserand

 

wintergreen - Gaultheria procumbens

wintergreen – Gaultheria procumbens

 

NB: As Robert Tisserand says above, he would not recommend using this at a higher concentration then 5%. Well 5% is a very high concentration in aromatherapy as mostly our oil blends are a standard 2.5%.

I have used this oil with an elderly client who is on blood thinners and it really helps him with back pain. I don’t use it all the time and when I do make a blend I always add other oils too.

Common sense and intuition must always play a part when you use essential oils. One size does not fit all. 

 

Here are a few recipes for an oil blend at 2.5%

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”

 

Wintergreen with frost - pic via http://tcpermaculture.com/

Wintergreen with frost – pic via http://tcpermaculture.com/

 

“BRRR I’m Freezing”

Wintergreen     1 drop

Lemon             7 drops

 

 

“The Anti Cough”

Wintergreen         2 drops

Marjoram             2 drops

Frankincense     4 drops

 

 

“Period Pain-Away”

Wintergreen     2 drops

Lavender         4 drops

Peppermint     1 drop

 

 

“Oh My Aching Knees”

Wintergreen     3 drops

Ginger             3ginger drops

Cypress          2 drops

 

Do you like wintergreen?

Remember to treat yourself first, then everyone will benefit.

Check out my YouTube channel too, thanks.

copyright-2017

Lavender for Summer AND Winter Skin

Video

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Hello natural beauties I hope you’re all faring well after the New Year. I’m so grateful I’ve been having  lots of lovely beach time this summer, which also means I have tan, and have been exposed to lots of UV rays. Lavender is the perfect essential oil to cool summer skin, but even if you’re in the dead of winter, it’s perfect for you too! Read on to find out how this amazing oil of oils can help you now ….

 

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

Barnes & Noble      Booktopia AU      Amazon UK

and many other stores worldwide as an ebook and paperback

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SUMMER

  • Lavender has always been used to treat burns as its high linalool and linalyl acetate content helps soothe hot skin.
  • Used as a calming oil you can see how this relates to stress, sleep, healing skin and soothing skin too.
  • Mix a few drops of lavender oil into some natural aloe vera gel for the perfect after-sun treatment (although it can be a bit sticky)
  • Add a few drops of this amazing oil into your favourite body or face moisturiser to help soothe and repair sun damaged skin
  • Have a luke warm bath with some coconut milk and 4 drops of lavender
  • Make a body oil blend with lavender and your favourite cold pressed oil using this ratio:

 

lovely lavender in my neighbour's planter box out the frot

lovely lavender in my neighbour’s planter box out the front

 

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”

 

“After Sun Special”

Lavender        4 drops

Peppermint    2 drops

Vetiver            1 drop

 

I took this pic in Mexico in 2014

I took this pic in Mexico in 2014

 

WINTER

Warm up in winter with essential oils

Warm up in winter with essential oils

 

While lavender is wonderful for soothing and calming summer skin how can it help you in winter?

  • Lavender is an ancient healing herb oil that has strength and tenacity which is what one often needs to brave the winter months
  • Your skin can become very dry due to many reasons – artificial heating, hot showers and baths and by being continually covered up the dead skin cells often don’t have anywhere to escape to, leaving you dry and flaky
  • Lavender is the perfect oil to nurture you in the cold by doing steam inhalations to bring colour and life into your face – even add a few drops to your shower to give you an all over steam inhalation
  • Add a few drops to a hot foot bath to increase circulation
  • And as above: add a few drops of this amazing oil into your favourite body or face moisturiser to help soothe and repair dry skin
  • Make a body oil blend with lavender and your favourite cold pressed oil using the ratio above:

“Warm me up, Give Me Strength”

Lavender         3 drops

Rosemary        2 drops

Ginger             2 drops

 

Lavender in Sydney

Lavender in Sydney

 

“When in doubt, use lavender”

                       Suzanne R Banks

Ah yes there I go quoting myself again, hehe.

Do you use lavender all year round? I’d love to know x

copyright-2017

Juniper Essential oil for the June Solstice, Jupiter and Venus 2015

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Yes it’s the June solstice and while many of you are in the height of summer, don’t forget us on the other side of the equator. It’s cold. Dead of winter cold. Game of Thrones Winterfell cold. Well  maybe not that cold, but you get my drift ……

 

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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 an ebook and paperback

***************************************************************************************************************

Great diagram by earthsky.org

Great diagram by earthsky.org

As I was wondering what to write about this week, and I noticed the bright stars and planets in the sky with a gorgeous crescent moon, I found out about the special connection Venus and Jupiter are having at the moment. But in my mind I kept stumbling on the word “Jupiter”, and using “juniper” instead. I have been known to accidentally ask for a juniper and tonic once or twice before in bars too!

So I’m going to tell you how incorporating juniper essential into your life will give you an extra push, at this very auspicious time, wherever you live.

“On any night in June, 2015, look for the queen and king of planets – dazzling Venus and bold Jupiter – as these two worlds appear in your western sky first thing every nightfall. They’ll appear in your evening sky throughout June 2015, and they’ll be drawing closer together each evening!

Venus will pass Jupiter in late June/early July, 2015. At that time – especially on the nights of June 30 and July 1 – you can witness the closest Venus-Jupiter conjunction until August 27, 2016.”

earthsky.org

Moon, Venus, Jupiter on June 18, 2015 by Daniel McVey in Silverthorne, Colorad0 - via earthsky.org

Moon, Venus, Jupiter on June 18, 2015 by Daniel McVey in Silverthorne, Colorad0 – via earthsky.org – danielmcvey.com – facebook.photographybydanielmcvey

 

So whether you live north or south of the equator, or in equatorial countries, this planetary alignment is the same and its giving extra special powers to the Winter or Summer Solstice.

“The second major event in June is Venus meeting Jupiter in the sign of Leo, aligning to Prometheus in another fire sign, Aries, promising a romantic, sexy and creative summer, especially for fire signs (Leo, Sagittarius, Aries).”

neilspencer.com

I suppose it can be applied to us in winter too, and I did have a very social weekend – normally I’m by the heater for 3 months.

Juniper berries - pic via www.thedrinksbusiness.com

Juniper berries – pic via http://www.thedrinksbusiness.com

So now I’m giving you juniper for Jupiter (the King) and here’s why:

* Juniper is a great essential oil to help release extra fluid in the body including watery emotions. Maybe this means you need to shed any worries, sadness or concerns to take up the creative energy of the planetary alignment.

* It’s an energetic cleanser for you and your space, to help you make room for the experiences you really want – maybe love?

* It’s a light, bright sparkly scent, oozing sophistication. Use it around you to move your thought patterns from dark to light.

* For those in the height of summer, it’s gin and tonics, fun in the sun, laughter and love, and reaping the rewards from seeds you planted last winter. You are able to enjoy the prosperous summer knowing winter is a long way off.

* For those in the calm of winter, using juniper essential oil is a way to shed “stuff’ so you can be exact about what you’d like to come to fruition this summer. You are now on a steady rise to longer days, so commit to your desires NOW!

* For those in places very close to the equator, juniper oil can be a fresh addition to your routine, helping you gain better insight into your dreams for the future.

young unripe juniper berries

young unripe juniper berries

Wherever you are, enjoy Jupiter and Venus, the solstice and the gorgeous oil of juniper.

Remember to treat yourself first, then everyone will benefit.

Check out my YouTube channel too, thanks.

copryright SR Banks 2015

 

New Year – New Energy – Which Essential Oils?

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

Amazon USA      Booktopia AU      Amazon UK

and many other stores worldwide as a Kindle and Paperback

New Year – New Energy – Which Essential Oils?

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So here we are, 2015! It’s definitely the present but sounds like the future. It’s going to be a great year of fun, working together, and loving life. So which essential oils can we use to embellish our clean, crisp new year energy?

Hmmmmmmmm. I’m going to split this into 3 sections, with 3 oils in each:

1. Northern Hemisphere

2. Southern Hemisphere

3. Equatorial

It's winter for you

It’s winter for you

1. Northern Hemisphere

Brrrr it’s winter for you, so the oils that I’m sending to you are those which will be comforting, warming and loving.

Cinnamon – best to use this in the atmosphere rather than on your skin because it can really burn. It’s an oil of sweetness and loving what you do, and a spice that is loved by so many people. Used in herbal formulas the spice can help to increase metabolism and even help breakdown glucose in the blood a little bit faster; so it’s interesting that it’s often used in baking. This is a wonderful oil to use in your space to invite a new depth of your place in this world – your dharma. What is your true purpose?

Rosemary – warm up your feet and entire body with an oil blend made with rosemary oil. It is also the oil of remembering and there’s no better time than in winter to remember the good times, while you’re tucked away from the cold. It is a stimulating and refreshing oil and inspires us to look at the beautiful flow of abundance in our lives. Be grateful for what you have NOW, and energetically create your new plans.

Cedarwood Virginian – dissolve the barriers from last year to start the new year with a clean slate. This comforting oil can be used in body blends so well and is also great for soothing coughs and colds. This is also a wonderful oil to help with the answers to your questions of purpose in life. For you this winter, starting 2015, we need you to be absolutely committed to your spiritual and human purpose. This is evolution.

 

I took this pic the other day

I took this pic the other day

2. Southern Hemisphere

Yay it’s summer for us! Beach, gin and tonics, beach, swimming, really hot, beach.It’s our turn to celebrate and be out in the sun (with sunscreen on). We can relax and enjoy life. No need to think about the future too much – just be present.

Geranium – happiness and cheeriness. Perfect for a body oil blend or in a space scenting blend this floral oil of happiness reminds us we can feel good about life and enjoy every minute. It emanates colour, fun and joy – so be happy!

Vetiver – the oil of tranquility and abundance this oil is great to use to help remove heat from the body and to cool us down in the humid summer evenings. This very strong oil should be used sparingly and 1 drop around the body is enough. A couple of drops on a wet cloth, placed in front of a fan or a window can scent the entire house with the cool, earthy tones to help slip into a vibration of peacefulness and trusting.

Basil – expansive and refreshing basil oil will help open our minds to the wonderful opportunities for 2015. Basil oil can help strengthen our affirmations and resolutions for 2015 and will give us confidence. Whiff straight from the bottle or add to a space scenting blend to connect to universal intelligence.

 

The Equator - pic via commons.wikimedia.org

The Equator – pic via commons.wikimedia.org

3. Equatorial

You’re in the middle and hold us together. Whether you’re north or south of this mid line, it’s a bit milder and the seasons are not necessarily as pronounced. Your new year is one of balance and happiness where you can look forward to a 2015 full of laughter and warmth. Your oils are those which can add both introspection and celebration to your new year.

Sandalwood Indian – a classic oil for spirituality this oil gives deep meaning to the times when you can take a moment to look within. It can help raise your energetic vibration from the base of your spine right up to your crown chakra and can help you move through any thing holding you back from 2014. Perfect just to whiff straight from the bottle.

Lavender – solidarity and strength, lavender can be the one oil that can bring your thoughts, feelings and actions together. Lavender can be used for just about any issues whether physical, mental or spiritual. Perfect for a body blend lavender will nourish your skin and your soul.

Bergamot – happiness and bringing a sense of calm, bergamot is a beautiful oil to help you see the possibilities for this year. Remove any anxiety you may have about the future and just breathe! Mix a couple of drops with some carrier oil and anoint your wrists and heart to lift anything that could be holding you back.

For another new year article check this out: 2015! The Universal Number of 8! and also stay tuned for my Chinese Year of the Goat post in mid February.

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

copryright SR Banks 2014

 

Essential Oils for Winter Wellness

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Warm up in winter with essential oils

Warm up in winter with essential oils

It must seem strange to all my northern hemisphere readers that I’d be writing about this subject now. Well it is winter for us in the southern hemisphere, so next week I’ll do an article on essential oils for summer so you guys don’t miss out.

What essential oils to use for winter …… hmmm?

Flowering rosemary in my client's garden

Flowering rosemary in my client’s garden

1. Rosemary

Why?

* Stimulates blood circulation, good for those with cold hands and feet (used in a body oil)

* Works against catarrh and congestion (used in a body oil or a drop in a steam inhalation)

* Works a pain reliever for sore muscles and for aching rheumatic joints (used in a body oil)

* Stimulates the brain and memory so it can wake you up on a cold winter’s day (used in a steam inhalation or a shower steam)

Warming, spicy ginger

Warming, spicy ginger

2. Ginger

Why?

* Warming to the digestive fire and the body in general (used in a body oil)

* Alleviates catarrh (used in a body oil or steam inhalation)

* Soft and gentle to treat people who are very sick with a cold or flu and may help stimulate appetite (diffuse in the sick room or use as a body oil)

Lemon myrtle flower- pic via www.lemonmyrtle.com.au

Lemon myrtle flower- pic via http://www.lemonmyrtle.com.au

3. Lemon Myrtle

Why?

* highly anti-bacterial and anti-viral (diffuse this oil in the home or office to help prevent YOU from getting what THEY have)

* use lemongrass or lemon as a substitute if you can’t find lemon myrtle oil

 

 

Eucalyptus globulus is the most commonly produced essential oil although there are quite a few - pic via www.wildseedtasmania.com.au

Eucalyptus globulus is the most commonly produced essential oil although there are quite a few – pic via http://www.wildseedtasmania.com.au

4. Eucalyptus

Why?

* the number one oil to break down mucous in the sinuses and lungs (used in a steam inhalation and diffuse in the sick room)

* an expectorant (used in a steam inhalation)

* generally helps easier breathing (diffuse in the sick room) and may also help throat inflammation

 

Sage - use in small amounts

Sage – use in small amounts

5. Sage

* analgesic for a sore throat (used as a body oil or a drop in a steam inhalation)

* Clary sage can also be used for a sore throat (used as a body oil or a drop in a steam inhalation)

Ah lovely lavender

Ah lovely lavender

6. Lavender

Why?

* general aches and pains from the cold and/or sickness (used in a body oil or diffused in the sick room)

* analgesic for a sore throat  (a drop in a steam inhalation)

* analgesic in general for headaches and other inflammatory symptoms (diffuse in the sick room and in a body oil)

The fennel plant

The fennel plant

7. Fennel

Why?

* helps with catarrh and lung congestion acting as an expectorant (use in a body oil)

* acts as an analgesic in coughs and colds (used in a body oil)

* digestive tonic to calm an upset stomach (diffuse in the sick room or in a body oil)

 

As you can see these oils can help you feel a bit better if you get sick in winter, or warm you up when your feet are freezing, or help clear the air of unwanted germs.

If you have a few people in your home, especially if you have kids, I recommend you diffuse oils in your home at night during winter not only to create a lovely scented atmosphere, but to lend a little bit of anti-bacterial magic to the mix. Of course when using essential oils they will not necessarily cure an infection or disease, but they can help you feel a little better and more comfortable too.

Remember to treat yourself first, then everyone will benefit.

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

copyright suzanne