10 Recipes with Himalayan Cedarwood – Cedrus deodora

Posted on July 23, 2014 by suzannerbanks

Stunning pic of Himalayan cedarwood via www.efloras.org credit KK Shrestha

Stunning pic of Himalayan cedarwood via http://www.efloras.org credit KK Shrestha

Himalayan cedarwood has a deep history in Hindu traditions, as a tree that creates sacred forests, spurring a closer connection to Shiva through meditation. In Ayurveda the oil has been used to treat bronchial and lung disorders, urinary tract infections and to release fluid from the body. The oil is also considered a spiritual oil which helps to expand consciousness. In modern aromatherapy it is used for the same issues, and has a much softer, creamier scent than Atlas cedarwood or Virginian cedarwood (which is actually a juniper tree).

Let’s check out some recipes –

Face mask it!

1. Face Mask

Usually I add 1 or 2 drops of oil to 2 teaspoons of clay, and add water, floral water or hydrosol. Keep the mask on for 5 minutes then rinse off with cool water. Mist with a hydrosol or floral water and moisturise.

Great for oily or acne skin add 1 drop of Himalayan cedarwood to some pink clay for a clarifying and toning mask.

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

2. 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”

“I’m the One and Only”

Respect yourself –

Himalayan cedarwood 2 drops

Orange 4 drops

Lavender 2 drops

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“Forest of Dreams”

Click into the vibes of the sacred Deodora forests –

Himalayan cedarwood 2 drops

Rosewood 3 drops

Bergamot 3 drops

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“Energy Now!”

Himalayan cedarwood 3 drops

Lemongrass 4 drops

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

3. 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!)

“Portable Sacred Space”

Himalayan cedarwood 8 drops

Mandarin 10 drops

May Chang 4 drops

Sage 3 drops

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“Meditation Anywhere”

Himalayan cedarwood 6 drops

Frankincense 12 drops

Lime 7 drops

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“Overthinking, 0: Feeling, 1”

Himalayan cedarwood 8 drops

Peru balsam 8 drops

Ginger 4 drops

Geranium 4 drops

Vetiver 1 drop

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Anoint yourself with pure essential oil blends

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!

“Thankful”

Himalayan cedarwood 1 drop

Lemon 1 drop

Ylang Ylang 1 drop

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“Changing my Epi-Genetic Markers”

Himalayan cedarwood 1 drop

Jasmine 3% 4 drops * see my article for more info on 3% blends in jojoba

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“Inter Stellar Travel”

Himalayan cedarwood 1 drop

Roman Chamomile 3% 4 drops * see my article for more info on 3% blends in jojoba

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

Himalayan Cedarwood – Cedrus deodora

Posted on July 21, 2014 by suzannerbanks

The shaggy Christmas tree type of Cedrus deodora – pic via plants.plantcrazy.ca

While I was searching for some good pics of Himalayan cedarwood I came across a few species variations, but they all look gorgeous – especially the one above which looks like the perfect Christmas tree to me. This cedarwood comes from the Pinacae family and the genus Cedrus (like Atlas and Lebanon cedars but not Virginian cedar which is actually a juniper).

The essential oil of Himalayan cedarwood is steam distilled from the wood, however I can’t find any evidence to support the notion that the needles are also used. I would have thought some twigs and leaves would also be used in the distillation process, but at any rate it’s a bloody gorgeous oil. It has an almost creamy, spicy, woody scent which seems much more rounded than Cedar Atlas and has roots in Ayurvedic medicine and spirituality on the sub-continent of India. Traditionally in India, the forests of Cedrus deodora have been regarded as sacred places, maybe even where one could reach a clearer connection with Shiva. In one of my Ayurvedic Aromatherapy books, the author Farida Irani claims the wood is offered to Ganesha, the remover of obstacles. Both these Gods are part of the Hindu religion.

It’s also the national tree of Pakistan.

In both Ayurveda and traditional aromatherapy this cedarwood is indicated to treat –

* respiratory tract infections, particularly the lungs as it is a drying oil

* urinary tract disorders

* fluid retention

* oily and acne skin.

Up close and personal with Himalayan cedarwood - pic via www.arbolesyarbustos.com

Up close and personal with Himalayan cedarwood – pic via http://www.arbolesyarbustos.com

As with many essential oils Himalayan Cedarwood is used to treat anxiety and stress related conditions and isn’t it interesting that many essential oils are used for the same thing.

Why?

By smelling an essential oil your brain responds almost immediately to the stimulus and starts to bring about change. This change could be anything from a change in emotion, a stimulus to the hormone producing centres in the brain and/or a shift in consciousness. These moments can start to breakdown resistance to the flow of life and therefore be interpreted as lessening stress. The outcome will be stronger the more you like the scent of the oil, and the more you are willing to release negativity.

One type of Himalayan cedrawood – pic via loneelder.7thcrow.com

Enhanced connection to spirit is often a claim when using essential oils and I wholeheartedly agree with this surmise. Essential oils are little drops of coded information, on which the future of the universe rides. Delve into a scented paradise and try to disprove me; you won’t be able to as you continue to expand exponentially!

Stay tuned for 10 Recipes with Cedrus deodora!

Caraway Essential Oil – What’s That Used For?

Posted on July 14, 2014 by suzannerbanks

Caraway botanical drawing from Kohler’s Medizinal Pflanzen

Caraway essential oil is steam distilled from the caraway seed of the plant Carum carvi. This belongs to the Umbellifrae (also known as Apiacae) family and the genus Carum. Other similar plants belonging to the same family are fennel, parsley, carrot, angelica, anise, celery, chervil, coriander, cumin, dill, and parsnip, just to name a few.

I have never used this oil in my practice because it doesn’t have many traditional uses in Aromatherapy and other more common oils are usually used for therapeutic value, like fennel. I couldn’t find a typical analysis, which gives the breakdown of chemical constituents in an oil, but I have found some basic information naming the major active ingredients.

Carvone – pic via http://www.scienceforums.net

According to Wikipedia:

“The fruits, usually used whole, have a pungent, anise-like flavor and aroma that comes from essential oils, mostly carvone and limonene.^[10] Anethole, generally regarded as a minor product in the essential oil of this species, has also been found to be a major component.”

And from a paper 1994 UPDATE ON ESSENTIAL OILS IN SASKATCHEWAN SPICE CROPS by F. Sosulsk$, A.E. Slinkard and G. Arganosa:

“Carvone contributes the typical aroma of caraway seed and the carvone to limonene ratio in the essential oil should be 60:40”

Limonene

It is important to note that even when we have a chemical breakdown of an oil, we must consider it as a whole and remember the old adage “the whole is greater than the sum of it’s parts”. This means we can expect an oil to behave in a certain way when we find out what molecules it contains, but there will also be a unique signature that lends itself to other properties too.

Caraway essential oil could be used for digestion, as for fennel and aniseed. Regulating menses and attendant pain could also be helped by caraway oil, but I would probably just stick with fennel. In these instances I would dilute a drop or two in some carrier oil and rub all over the stomach and lower back. I would also use caraway for coughs and lung problems (especially catarrh) in a steam inhalation

Caraway seeds - they look like fennel seeds don'y they? pic via bhleurope.blogspot.com

Caraway seeds – they look like fennel seeds don’t they? pic via bhleurope.blogspot.com

According to Aromatherapist Danielle Ryman, fossilized caraway seeds were found in Neolithic dwellings in Switzerland, and in Mesolithic sites, which means that it was in use up to 8,000 years ago. She also says the Ancient Egyptians used the spice in religious rituals, (like many aromatic plants and flowers) and in cooking to make foods like bread and onions more digestible.

So it seems the modest caraway seed has similar properties to other Umbellifrae seeds and you can check out my article Star Anise, Aniseed and Fennel Essential Oils – What’s the Difference? to understand more about those oils -their similarities and differences.

10 Essential Oil Recipes to Help Deal with Road Rage and Traffic

Posted on July 9, 2014 by suzannerbanks

Traffic!

When looking for inspiration for articles one of my readers suggested I apply the 10 Recipes series to minimising road rage and dealing with traffic. Great idea so here goes.

If you are someone that has to deal with traffic congestion on a daily basis, and gets frustrated by it, then these oils may be for you.

Or, are you someone that just can’t handle what others do on the road and then completely freak out about it? Road rage? It seems sad that we now have a widely accepted term for this anger on the roads and that’s not good at all. This is just a reflection of how angry we are as a society, and how we are not coping with modern day life. You definitely need some oils.

Look people, just calm down ok? Release anger, and have a more “go with the flow” attitude when driving. If you can’t do that then stop driving. If you really hate the traffic on your way to work try and find solutions that put you in a less stressful situation (public transport, car pooling).

If you must drive and tend to get a bit stressed then try these 10 recipes to start your day;

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.

Peppermint – clarity, happiness

Tea Tree – cleanse your aura and energy

Mandarin – happiness, allowing

Lemongrass – stimulating and refreshing, happiness

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Rub oil into your body – it’s good!

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”

By doing this in the morning, while using your good intention, you will start your day with scented positivity. Allow this feeling to infuse good vibes all day long.

“Patience is a Virtue”

Sure is –

Lemon 3 drops

Frankincense 3 drops

Patchouli 2 drops

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“I Wonder What Good Things Are Coming My Way?”

Open up to possibility –

Lavender 4 drops

Petitgrain 2 drops

Cedarwood Virginian 2 drops

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“I Heart You Even Though You Didn’t Let Me Merge”

Ylang Ylang 3 drops

Orange 2 drops

Rosewood 2 drops

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“Repeat the Happy Mantra”

Lemongrass 3 drops

Peru Balsam 2 drops

Spearmint 2 drops

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

3. Personal Aura Cleansing Mist & Room Mist

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

“Smile and Wave, Smile and Wave”

Let others drive the way they drive, practice being kind anyway –

Basil 6 drops

Mandarin 12 drops

Lemon Myrtle 7 drops

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“1, 2, 3”

Count to 3 and then breathe deeply, release anger –

Juniper 8 drops

Lime 10 drops

Vanilla CO2 6 drops

Vetiver 1 drop * see my article for more info on CO2 extracts What are CO2 Extracts in the World of Aromatherapy?

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“Bubble of Love”

You’re in control of your little space (and headspace) –

Bergamot 10 drops

Black Spruce 7 drops

Marjoram 6 drops

Clary Sage 2 drops

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Anoint yourself with pure essential oil blends

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!

“Sniff and Go”

A quick natural perfume for your wrists to sniff in the middle of traffic to help release anxiety –

Neroli 3% a few drops straight from the bottle

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

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“Sniff and Go Too”

You are the benevolent Queen –

Rose 3% a few drops straight from the bottle

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

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10 Recipes with Marjoram Essential Oil – Oreganum marjorana

Posted on June 25, 2014 by suzannerbanks

Marjoram - pic via www.podgardening.co.nz

Marjoram – pic via http://www.podgardening.co.nz

Marjoram is an essential oil I use frequently with clients as it has a beautiful scent and some wonderful qualities. It hails from the Lamiacae family (along with many other herbs), the genus Oreganum and the species marjorana. It has a much more pleasant scent than oregano and therefore has more uses in aromatherapy.

In aromatherapy today marjoram is used for –

* aching and sore muscles

* general body pain and as a warming tonic

* to help someone deal with grief and as a sedative for distraught emotions

* to help with falling asleep

* to counteract stress and generally for calming and soothing

* to reduce coughing

Let’s try out 10 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

Marjoram in the shower will help you unwind at the end of a very stressful day, or give you warming shower before bed on a cold night.

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Anoint yourself with pure essential oil blends

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!

“Planning My Day”

Start out nice and calm –

Marjoram 1 drop

Bergamot 2 drops

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“Kindness”

Marjoram 1 drop

Nutmeg 1 drop

Mandarin 1 drop

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“Warm Heart”

Marjoram 1 drop

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

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“Serenity Now”

Marjoram 1 drop

Roman Chamomile 2 drops * see my article for more info on 3% blends in jojoba

Lavender 1 drop

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Classic oil burner with a twist – pic via top3.com.au

3. Scent Your Space

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

“HEAD.ACHE”

Please go away –

Marjoram 8 drops

Lavender 8 drops

Peppermint 5 drops

Orange 4 drops

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“Chill Out Sunday Sessions”

Marjoram 6 drops

Petitgrain 10 drops

Peru Balsam 6 drops

Patchouli 3 drops

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Rub oil into your body – it’s good!

4. 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”

“Achey Breaky Body”

Marjoram 3 drops

Ginger 2 drops

Rosemary 2 drops

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“Pre Yoga”

Marjoram 3 drops

Lemongrass 3 drops

Black Pepper 1 drop

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“Apre Run”

Marjoram 3 drops

Rosewood 3 drops

Fennel 2 drops

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

Essential Oils for Summer Wellness

Posted on June 23, 2014 by suzannerbanks

Summer is helped by essential oils

As promised, here’s a summer guide to essential oils for all my northern hemisphere buddies. There are lots of cooling oils and these can be used so well in summer to take the heat off your skin and cool down your energetic flow.

Lavender is the most versatile essential oil we have and it can be used all through the year

1. Lavender

Why?

* perfect for sunburn when diluted with a carrier oil. Lavender is great for all burns and I apply a drop direct for a small heat burn coming from the toaster or stove or anything you can think of

* takes the itch or sting out of an insect bite

* helps relax you and may help induce sleep on a hot summer’s night

* brings solidarity and strength so you can get all the summer fun things you want squished into a day

The divine scent of the rose is not the only thing it has going for it

2. Rose

Why?

* wonderful for cooling the body in an oil, and even rosewater has cooling effects and that’s why in Indian cuisine you can drink a rosewater lassi, made not only for the beautiful taste but for helping the body deal with heat – delicious! Remember NOT to drink the essential oil though.

* it’s a self-nurturing oil so remember to treat your self first and then everyone will benefit – just like Cleopatra did!

* great for a facial oil if you’ve had a bit too much sun (for all the reasons above)

* usually comes (in retail) in a 3% blend in jojoba ready to use direct on your skin as a perfume (see my article on 3% blends in jojoba for more info)

Hairy vetiver root that makes the essential oil

3. Vetiver

Why?

* called the “Oil of Tranquility” in India this oil is not only very grounding and calming, it is also another oil that can be used to cool the body down

* only use a drop or two in any formula as it is so strong it can take over any of the other oils you have used

* wonderful to cool down over-heated kids throwing tantrums – use a drop on yourself and cuddle your child as they begin to settle

Bergamot – pic via globalhealingcenter.com

4. Bergamot

Why?

* this oil has a fresh summery citrus scent and can help release tension and anxiety

* wonderful for a body oil blend to nourish your skin, but only use AFTER sun not before, as it has some photo toxic properties

* brings an aura of cool and calm

A jasmine blossom in Sydney

5. Jasmine

Why?

* enhances summer sensuality

* brings a beautiful feminine scent to your aura and helps confidence in your sexuality – wear it as a scent when you go out for a dance and watch your magic unfold

* usually comes (in retail) in a 3% blend in jojoba ready to use direct on your skin as a perfume (see my article on 3% blends in jojoba for more info)

Delicious lemongrass

6. Lemongrass

Why?

* a great insect repellent either for cleaning, vapourising or wearing on your body in an oil blend

* lemon myrtle and citronella can also be used in place of lemongrass to ward off the biters

* gives a fresh boost to your energy if you are lagging in the heat

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 summer, not only to create a lovely scented atmosphere, but to lend a little bit of cooling anti-bacterial magic to the mix. When using essential oils, remember they exist to not only help you create a wonderful feeling, but they can help you feel a little better, more comfortable and a little cooler 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.

10 Recipes with Rose Geranium – Pelargonium graveolens

Posted on June 4, 2014 by suzannerbanks

Rose geranium – pic via commons.wikimedia.org

So what is the difference between Rose geranium and Geranium?

Good question.

Both Rose geranium and geranium come from the same species. They are from the family Geraniaceae, the genus Pelargonium and then the species Pelargonium graveolens. It seems that the common name Pelargonium roseum is actually just another term for graveolens too.

But they do smell different! Rose geranium is a lot sweeter with a distinct rosey scent and geranium just smells like geranium. There are many different cultivars and it depends where the plants are grown as to what scent they have. The particular sweet rose scented flowers will be sold as Rose geranium and others as just geranium.

Just to add something else into the mix, hundreds of years ago the Island of Reunion was famous for their geranium which was called Bourbon geranium. It is thought that this could have been Pelargonium capitatum rather than, or as well as P. graveolens. Now the neighbouring island of Madagascar produces geranium which is called Bourbon, but it is listed from my suppliers as coming from P. graveolens.

According to Marcia Elston http://www.wingedseed.com/blog/

“North Africa is a principal producer and includes the countries Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Egypt. Most of the plant stock for North African development came from Grasse from P. graveloens or its hybrids; the French oil produced around Grass having the most rosaceous odor of all.”

Ok let’s get into some recipes!

Sexy black diffuser from puzhen.com

1. Scent Your Space

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

“Party!”

Get the party started –

Rose geranium 8 drops

Orange 8 drops

Cedarwood Atlas 5 drops

Patchouli 4 drops

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“Fresh Saturday House Cleaning Vibe”

Don’t avoid the housework any longer –

Rose geranium 7 drops

Lemongrass 7 drops

Juniper 7 drops

Tea tree 4 drops

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“Cheer Up!”

Add some happiness –

Rose geranium 5 drops

Mandarin 10 drops

Ylang Ylang 5 drops

Sandalwood Australian 5 drops

——————————————————————————————————————

Rub oil into your body – it’s good!

2. 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.

***** 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”

“Happy Days”

Get smiling in the morning –

Rose Geranium 3 drops

Lavender 3 drops

Black spruce 2 drops

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“Cute-Sexy”

Get your cute on –

Rose geranium 3 drops

Peru balsam 3 drops

Vanilla CO2 1 drop * see my article for more info on CO2 extracts What are CO2 Extracts in the World of Aromatherapy?

—————————————————————————————————————–

“I Like Life”

Rose geranium 2 drops

Palmarosa 2 drops

Rosemary 2 drops

Lemon 2 drops

——————————————————————————————————————

get any cute little dish to mix your oils in

3. 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!

“Yee ha Lets Go!”

Rose geranium 1 drop

Black pepper 1 drop

Basil 1 drop

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“Lollipops and Laughs”

Acknowledge your inner child –

Rose geranium 1 drop

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

——————————————————————————————————————

“Sweet AND Determined”

You can do it –

Rose geranium 1 drop

Nutmeg 1 drop

Lime 1 drop

——————————————————————————————————————

“First Class”

You are the Queen –

Rose Geranium 1 drop

Rose 3% 3 drops

—————————————————————————————————————–

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

Essential Oils and Babies – Do They Go Together?

Posted on June 2, 2014 by suzannerbanks

Do essential oils and babies go together? Thats a good question natural beauties. Read on to find out the best way to use essential oils around babies.

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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

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

Precious little person

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Babies – only use essential oils in their environment – not on them!

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Can you use essential oils on babies?

Short answer = YES – but not on them directly.

Long Answer = YES but you must use caution and follow these rules.

Any child up to 3 years I will consider a baby for this article and topic. Babies have extremely new and sensitive skin so

* do not use essential oils, diluted or neat, on your baby unless you seek medical advice.

* do not put essential oils into the bath, diluted or neat.

* always wash you hands before you touch your baby if you’ve been using essential oils

* keep bottles of essential oils away from reach, as even a couple of drops may hurt them

There’s so many easy ways to diffuse essential oils now

You can use essential oils with your baby in the environment around them and the best way to do this is to use a diffuser and vapourise the essential oils in their room. You can buy humidifier from your pharmacy specifically made for children so they can breathe easier, and you may also use calming essential oils so they sleep better too. An ordinary motorised diffuser will be fine for this as well, but as a precaution don’t use a burner with a candle. Refer to the model of your diffuser for amounts of oil and if there is no info I would only use 6 drops.

Babies love baths

If you really want to add something to your baby’s bath you could use some organic herbal tea (a couple of teaspoons) wrapped in some muslin and make a weak infusion. Chamomile and lavender would be the only herbs I would use. In the same vein you could use organic oats which makes a soft, skin soothing bath which is safe for babies and will help soothe nappy rash and hot skin. A dash of hydrosol would be fine too.

A lovely selection of rosewater

A great alternative to essential oils that works well with babies and kids are hydrosols and floral waters. They have a mild scent and are safe you to be misted all around your baby to help induce a sense of calm and also for cooling them down in summer. The best hydrosols will be rose, lavender, roman chamomile and neroli (or orange blossom). See my article Hydrosols vs Floral Waters – What’s the Diff? for more information.

You will find rosewater and orange blossom water in some food stores and to be on the safe side I would water these down, otherwise buy a good quality (organic if possible) hydrosol from a natural beauty/aromatherapy store.

Essential Oils for Baby’s Sleep

lavender

Roman chamomile

bergamot

marjoram

Essential Oils for Baby’s Better Breathing

frankincense

eucalyptus (sparingly ie 1 or 2 drops in a humidifier only and do not continue the treatment for more than a night or two) *

lavender

* a reader of my blog has asked a question regarding eucalyptus and babies –

“I enjoyed your article. However, why do you recommend eucalyptus? I have read it is not safe for young children. Wouldn’t fir needle, a pine, or spruce be a better option?”

My answer –

I have referenced 3 text books and only one leans towards avoiding eucalyptus with young babies. It has an active ingredient called 1-8 cineole that can be toxic in lethal doses but nothing like a couple of drops you would use in a humidifier. It may be best for me to update this article to be very specific about using eucalyptus with babies. It is still one of the best mucolytic oils. Fir, pine and/or spruce could be used as a substitute for sure, but they won’t be as effective.

Also some oils/formulas that are specific for kids & babies, that are sold with humidifiers, contain many questionable ingredients and could even be potentially more dangerous than a drop or two of eucalyptus.

Sleeping babies are happy babies

Essential Oils For Baby’s Crying

Try putting a couple of drops of oil on your clothes and when your hold your baby, they will just get a small scent of oil, mixed in with your scent, and this may work really well to settle them down. Just be careful not to let the babies face touch against you where the oil is.

vetiver (sparingly as its very strong – just a drop will do. You could also add a drop to the sleep oils too

lavender

Roman chamomile

You can see a pattern here – pretty much just stick with lavender and a few other oils until your baby is older.

Please your you motherly or fatherly intuition with your baby and remember if you use a diffuser the whole family will benefit from the aromatherapy treatment too.

10 Recipes with Lemon Essential Oil – Citrus limonum

Posted on May 28, 2014 by suzannerbanks

According to living.msn.com this Pantone colour Lemon Zest was a top colour for spring 2013 – nice!

Lemons are lovely and so are you. Lemons represent happiness, simplicity and joy and the essential oil has an uncanny knack of doing the same. I love this oil and use it frequently when treating clients. Not only is it a great oil for muscle fatigue but it helps you to feel refreshed and cleansed, ready to go on with a new outlook.

Lemon essential oil is light and sparkly and has many applications. As the molecules of this essential oil are simple, it tends to fly away quickly when used in a vapouriser or burner so it’s important to anchor it with heavier oils. As a perfume or body oil blend it holds its own but has slight photo-toxic qualities – meaning if you go out into the sun you could burn more than you would without it. So just remember not to slather it all over you and sunbake – ok?

Lets check out some recipes with magnificent lemon oil –

Rub oil into your body – it’s good!

1. 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.

***** 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”

“End of the Week Relaxathon”

Get rid of the working week and into a relaxing weekend –

Lemon 4 drops

Peru Balsam 4 drops

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“Anti-Puff”

Release puffiness and a feel a bit lighter –

Lemon 3 drops

Fennel 2 drops

Cypress 3 drops

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“Legs Up The Wall”

When your legs and feet hurt use this blend and then elevate your legs and rest –

Lemon 4 drops

Marjoram 2 drops

Peppermint 2 drops

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Face mask it!

2. Face Mask

Usually add 1 or 2 drops of oil to some clay and add water, floral water or hydrosol.

2 drops of lemon oil will be great for acne skin, oily skin and if you just need to freshen up dull skin.

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Any bottle with an atomiser top will do!

3. Personal Aura Cleansing Mist & Room Mist

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

“New Ideas”

Lemon 12 drops

Basil 5 drops

Palmarosa 5 drops

Geranium 3 drops

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“Lemon Bubble”

Create your own lemony bubble around you in a non-friendly environment –

Lemon 15 drops

Lavender 5 drops

Marjoram 5 drops

Vanilla CO2 3 drops

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“Vitality”

Keep your interest and energy levels up all day with a regular mist –

Lemon 10 drops

Juniper 8 drops

Mandarin 5 drops

Rosemary 2 drops

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Anoint yourself with pure essential oil blends

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!

“Daisy”

Stay fresh as –

Lemon 2 drops

Cedarwood Atlas 1 drop

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“Truth”

Simplicity is the key –

Lemon 2 drops

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

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Scent your space – the candle and flame will help transform negative energy too!

5. Scent Your Space

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

“Party”

Lemon 14 drops

Ylang Ylang 6 drops

Lime 5 drops

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

Lemon Essential Oil = Refresh and Reload

Posted on May 26, 2014 by suzannerbanks

Lemon – gorgeous simplicity

One of my first stories on this blog was about lemons – The Loveliness of Lemons!.

Lemons truly are delightful and I categorize the essential oil from the rind as an oil of happiness. Sparkly, zingy, zesty, fresh, clarifying and clean, lemon essential oil is a must-have oil for the aromatherapy enthusiast.

I use lemon oil frequently when treating clients as I find it’s a great addition to a body blend for sore muscles. When I was studying, I remember my teacher telling me a therapist she knew used lemon juice with oil for sore muscles and had great results. Not sure if I could do that (you’d smell like a salad after the massage), but the essential oil is definitely the go.

Aw – a baby lemon!

From my earlier article:

Lemon essential oil is an uplifting oil with a sweet innocence about it, but don’t be fooled – it has a solid place in modern aromatherapy.

Some aromatherapists and scientific data claim lemon oil is good for:

stimulating the action of white blood cells

killing bacteria in the gut

soothing and lessening varicose veins

tonifying the circulatory system and aiding high blood pressure

helping the body shed excess fluids

decreasing cellulite

improving concentration

easing rheumatic pain & gout pain

stopping the flow of blood with cuts and abrasions

…… and the list continues.

Mum’s lemon tree with the washing hanging on it

Lemon essential oil is inexpensive and accessible and has a scent that is also easy to inhale. Within the chemical constituents and energy of the drops of lemon oil, lay the coded information of lightness and happiness. I often say the words “refresh and reload” in my mind when I get the bottle of lemon oil out, and it does just that!

* Feeling tired and uninspired? Lemon oil.

* Need a new perspective on life? Lemon oil.

* Want some more joy? Lemon oil.

*Just like clicking on the “reload” icon in your web browser, lemon essential oil can give you a clean slate to start from.

Lemon blossoms – I wonder why they aren’t made into an essential oil like Neroli?

* Add some drops of lemon oil to your water when cleaning surfaces in the house or completely brighten your home with lemon essential oil in the bucket of water for mopping the floors. When cooking with lemons I always keep the rind to rub over the kitchen benches at night to combat bacteria.

Lemons are a fruit of old and have origins in Asia – from Burma and India through to China.

They entered Europe near southern Italy no later than the 1st century AD, during the time of Ancient Rome. However, they were not widely cultivated. They were later introduced to Persia and then to Iraq and Egypt around 700 AD. The lemon was first recorded in literature in a 10th-century Arabic treatise on farming, and was also used as an ornamental plant in early Islamic gardens.^[1]^[2] It was distributed widely throughout the Arab world and the Mediterranean region between 1000 and 1150. Wikipedia

So a big hooray for lemons, and lemon essential oil. They have survived for this long because they are wonderful! Stay tuned for my next article 10 Recipes with Lemon Essential Oil.

suzannerbanks

scent . intention . consciousness . essential oils

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Lemon Essential Oil = Refresh and Reload

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