29:
Immunity Booster
This week, Michelle from Escents Commercial Drive submitted this recipe for a natural immunity booster. She had a lingering cold from the holidays and this blend finally shook of her pesky cough. Since then, she has been using this spray around her home and keeps it with her for a little ‘boost’ mid-day. Here is the recipe and how it works:
120 ml Unscented Aroma Mist
8 drops – Lavender essential oil
10 drops – Frankincense essential oil
10 drops – Lemon essential oil
12 drops – Myrtle essential oil
This blend works wonders for a weakened immune system. If you are trying to shake a lingering cold or infection or if you suffer from chronic allergies this is a great mist to have on hand.
About the Oils:
The oils for this blend are combined to balance and boost your immune system.
- Lavender is used here for its’ anti-septic qualities and its ability to treat bronchitis, sore throats, coughs as well as balance the immune system thus bolstering a weak one or calming an over-reactive system.
- Frankincense commonly used for meditative benefits this popular oil is chosen here for its’ ability to regulate mucus secretion, treat bronchitis and laryngitis and thus ease respiratory difficulty.
- Lemon, like most citrus oils, Lemon is anti-septic and astringent and it is also soothing to the throat.
- Myrtle can be used to treat lung infections and is also beneficial for treating: Asthma, bronchitis, coughs and even tuberculosis. Additionally, it works on the immune system to protect against colds, flus and infectious disease. This oil is antiseptic and astringent, it is also and expectorant and regulator with slightly sedative qualities.
How to Use:
- In a mist this works well blended into our unscented Aroma Mist, to be sprayed on body, linens and clothes as well as in the your living space throughout the day.
- In an unscented roll-on to be applied topically (hairline, temples etc).
- Recipe can be doubled or tripled to work as a pure oil in a 5 ml amber bottle for use in a diffuser or inhalations.
29:
Natural Anxiety Relief Recipe
This week I have been flipping through our aromatherapy recipe bible and I’ve noticed that we’ve been blending a lot of anti-anxiety recipes lately as many people seem to be suffering from post-holiday stress. Many people find January the most arduous month to get through, not only because of the post-holiday blues, but because the hours of sunlight can be few and spring seems like eons away! We are most commonly blending this recipe into a roll-on format as most people want to have this remedy to use on the move.
100 ml Carrier Oil
15 drops – Bergamot Essential Oil
5 drops – Lavender (France) Essential Oil
7 drops – Geranium Essential Oil
2 drops – Frankincense Essential Oil
5 drops – Neroli (pure) Essential Oil
5 drops – Rose (pure) Essential Oil
Note: This blend is excellent in an oil, apply onto body regularly; Also good as a roll-on for relief on the move. If the geranium is too strong, add rosewood to round out the blend. If you don’t have all of these oils on hand (understandable), just come into any Escents Retail Location and have us blend it for you at the Blending Bar.
About the oils:
The essences used in this oil work expertly to aide in the treatment of anxiety.
- Bergamot is a popular citrus and known to relieve depression, anxiety and stress related conditions and is beloved for its’ refreshing and uplifting aroma.
- A familiar scent to most everyone, Lavender is an aid to the nervous system treating depression, hypertension, insomnia, nervous tension and stress related conditions such as vertigo and shock.
- Geranium stabilizes ones mood and helps treat nervous tension and relieve stress.
- Frankincense is often used in meditation and has the power to slow down and deepen the breath.
- Neroli, the essence of a sweet type of Orange Blossom, was used historically in the arrangements of bridal bouquets and was thought to calm the nervous apprehension. It treats anxiety and depression as well as nervous tensions, shock and stress and is especially helpful with treating emotional problems.
- Rose is healing to the heart chakra alleviates grief, depression , insomnia, nervous tension and stress. Above all things Rose creates a sense of well-being , even happiness.
Usage:
- As recommended this blends nicely into a massage oil and 2 tablespoons can be added to a bath or massages over hands body.
- For daily use and for unexpected bouts of anxiety it is highly beneficial to add this blend to a an unscented roll-on which is applied along the hairline to temples, neck and behind ears. This should be carried on ones person for immediate access and relief.
- This blend of oils can be added straight into a 5ml essential oil bottle and used in a diffuser, or as a special remedy, add 2-3 drops of this pure blend to a large bowl of boiled and still hot water (ensure your face is cleansed) put a towel over your head and around the hot water and oil. Take slow deep breathes in through both the mouth and nose, keep your eyes gently closed.
Thank you to Michelle from Escents Commercial Drive for this fantastic recipe!
29:
Natural Carpet Deodorizer
If you’re a ‘dog-person’, or even if you’re not, accidents are always bound to happen… We have a Bernese Mountain Dog and an 18 month old baby girl so we’re always looking for natural sanitizing solutions rather than harsh chemical cleaners. Escents used to make an amazing natural carpet deodorizer but it was discontinued years ago because the quantities just didn’t warrant keeping it on the shelves. Since then, we’ve had so many customers coming in to ask about this product (Murphy’s Law) so we’ve come up with a great ‘compromise’. Chelsea from Escents Coquitlam submitted this fantastic, easy recipe for a do-it-yourself Natural Carpet Deodorizer. Just sprinkle over the carpet before you vacuum and this blend will work to both freshen and sanitize!
10 drops tea tree essential oil
10 drops lemon essential oil
20 drops lavender essential oil
1 - 16 ounce box of baking soda
Mix the essential oils really well in the baking soda, especially the lemon (Lemon essential oil has a yellowish colour that may stain carpet if not blended completely). To use, sprinkle on carpet and let sit for 10-20 minutes, then vacuum up. Store in a sealed container. If you don’t have these particular essential oils on hand, just come into any Escents Retail Location to use the Blending Bar. You can purchase the oils by the drop rather than having to commit to a larger size.
29:
Yoga Mat Sanitizer
January marks the busiest time at yoga studios and gyms alike. Most of us put on the standard ‘December Fiver’ as I like to call it over the holidays and are now looking for ways to get back into shape. Yoga is incredible for both mind and body making it a hugely popular exercise choice to help shed those pounds. Yoga mats can start to give off an unsavory smell after a few classes, especially if you enjoy Bikram’s Hot Yoga. The sweat from the pads of our feet and palms of our hands accumulates on the mat and bacteria can start to build up. It’s important to clean your yoga mat after each use and this great aromatherapy recipe submitted by Alina from Escents Coquitlam will do the trick! Not only will this recipe leave your mat smelling fab, it will also disinfect and sanitize it. This mist is also great for cleaning other gym equipment.
12 drops Tea Tree Essential Oil
15 drops Lemon Essential Oil
9 drops Renewal Aromatherapy Blend (optional)
Mix the essential oils into an unscented aroma mist base. If you have a mister at home, just blend the oils into 125 mls filtered water. Shake and it’s ready for use!
22:
Essential Oils
Sourcing good quality essential oils can be a daunting task. If you don’t know how to decipher between quality oils and diluted imitators, it can be hard to garner the most out of the therapeutic benefits unique to each pure essential oil. Here are a few tips to consider when shopping around for essential oils:
1. Look for pure, undiluted essential oils. Most often, essential oils are sourced for therapeutic use and topical application is common. The oils are diluted by the user right before use in a carrier oil or gel base so it’s not necessary to look for diluted oils. Further, if using the oils in an aromatherapy diffuser, it’s paramount to use pure essential oils. Diluted oils may clog the diffuser and cause it to break down eventually.
2. Make sure the essential oils are therapeutic grade which means they have not been adulterated, changed and are not a cheaper chemical constituent of a pure essential oil. There are no additives or other ingredients other than the essence that comes straight from the distillery by various extraction methods.
3. Do not use the essential oils if you are not familiar with the company. A reputable aromatherapy company takes careful measures to ensure they are sourcing the oils from only the best distilleries and most often, these relationships take years to establish. Further, look for companies that list the botanical name (latin name), the extraction method and the country of origin. There are many varieties of eucalyptus for example and all have varying therapeutic benefits. It’s also important to note the country of origin as the climate and soil properties can also greatly affect the beneficial properties of the essential oil. Companies that are not disclosing this information could be sourcing from lesser quality sources and / or it may indicate that their level of knowledge is not up to par.
4. Choose a vendor that protects the integrity of their essential oils by keeping them at room temperature and protects them from sunlight by storing them in amber bottles rather than plastic or clear glass. These precautions keep the “power” of the essence intact. Given these essential oils are extracted directly from plants, they are delicate just as any botanical is and must be stored appropriately.
Using pure, therapeutic grade essential oils will have the most beneficial impact on our bodies and emotional states and are more effective in helping us achieve our goals of total health. Essential oils are an investment in yourself - Do your homework before you buy! At Escents Aromatherapy, we are always willing and enthusiastically prepared to answer any questions about the efficacy of our essential oils. Please feel free to comment with other tips when buying oils, or e-mail us directly with any questions at sales@escentsaromatherapy.com.
22:
This microscopic bacterium MRSA was responsible for more deaths in 2006 than AIDS
I recently came across a powerful article posted on BBC News about a study conducted at the University of Manchester on the affects aromatherapy can have on ’superbugs’ like E. coli and MRSA commonly contracted in hospital settings. They found that three unnamed essential oils destroyed the deadly bacteria in two minutes! Dr Peter Warn, who carried out the research, said: “When I tested the oils in the lab, absolutely nothing grew. Rather than stimulating bacteria and fungi, the oils killed them off.” Hospital-acquired infections, such as MRSA, kill an estimated 5,000 a year.
Traditional anti-bacterial practices may not work on patients with weakened immune systems due to cancer treatments or autoimmune disease, and further, they may be apt to cause more harm than good. It’s no wonder that this research team wanted to look into a more natural solution. Essential oils are extracted directly from plants and flowers found in nature. The word ‘aromatherapy’ wasn’t coined until the 1920’s but the healing properties of these extracts have been used for centuries for healing and wellness by cultures all over the globe. If I had to waiver a guess, I would say these ‘unnamed oils’ could be Tea Tree, Geranium and Oregano. They all have notoriously anti-bacterial properties and each have been tested in other MRSA studies. Any other guesses?
20:
Detoxifying Bath Salts
Feeling sluggish? Having aches and pains, digestive issues or skin problems? It might be time for a detox! Detoxification is about cleansing, resting and nourishing the body from the inside out. By eliminating toxins, then feeding your body with healthy nutrients, detoxifying can help protect you from disease and renew your ability to maintain optimum health. The liver is the body’s central cleansing unit. When the blood in the liver is high in toxins, the side effects mentioned above can become prevalent. The body can also eliminate toxins through the kidneys, intestines, lungs, and skin.
A warm bath in a detoxifying blend of essential oils can help the body stimulate the liver to drive toxins out and improve circulation of the blood. This amazing recipe was submitted by Vida from the Escents Coquitlam team! Try blending this at home or come into any Escents Retail Location to make it at the Escents Blending Bar if you don’t have all the ingredients at home.
Ingredients:
2 cups Baking Soda
1 cup Epsom Salt Bath
Grapefruit Essential oil
If you want more fragrance you can pick any of your favorite essential oils to add to this bath. (In my case I use Escents Tahitian Vanilla Bath Melts for extra moisture and aroma). Just add a cup of Epsom salt and two cups of baking soda into your bath. Salt and baking soda are composed of minerals that can aid in the body’s detoxification process. In fact, it can make the water feel silky, thus leaving your skin velvet smooth. Add Grapefruit to fight cellulite and to rejuvenate your skin. You will see the color in the water change in no time… Bye Bye toxins!
Note: After mixing these ingredients well, you can store them in a glass jar with a screw-on lid. You only need about ¼ cup of the mix per bath so this recipe makes enough for about 16 uses.
19:
Natural Acne Treatment Recipe
Recipe:
100 ml Comfrey Gel
15 drops Tea Tree Essential Oil
12 drops Lavender Essential Oil
2 drops Lemon Essential Oil
5 drops Bergamot (free) Essential Oil
2 drops Benzoin Essential Oil
The oils chosen for this blend have been carefully balanced to treat acne. Tea Tree acts as a strong anti-bacterial agent while Lavender helps ease inflammation redness and itching. The citrus oils act as astringents to balance oil production and Benzoin eases irritated skin. Comfrey Gel is chosen as the base for this spot treatment or weekly mask for its healing and regenerative properties, it also stimulates new cell growth so that healthy skin can emerge. Extra benefit: Comfrey is very cooling to the touch!
To use as a daily spot treatment:
This blend should be applied to cleansed and toned face while still moist. Apply a thin layer of this gel over the acne, apply your daily moisturizer to the unaffected areas of your face. It is best to wait 20 minutes if you wish to apply make-up.
To use a Face-Mask:
This recipe makes a great weekly or bi-weekly mask. Apply to cleansed and toned face while still moist, avoid the delicate eye area. Wait 5-10 minutes before rinsing clean with warm water. Follow with toning and an application of your daily or nightly moisturizer or serum.
This awesome recipe was submitted by Michelle from the Escents Commercial Drive Team! Post comments if you have any other great ideas to help avoid and treat acne breakouts.
18:
Aloe Vera (aloe barbadensis) is one of the only known natural vegetation sources of Vitamin B12 making it incredibly useful for topical skin care applications. The soothing, cooling gel found in the core of the aloe plant has healing and anti-inflammatory properties. This natural healer has been used for centuries on burns, minor scrapes and to retain moisture. The vitamins and minerals it contains are known to promote healthy skin, explaining why it is such a popular ingredient in skin care products today. The extract is very mild making it a great choice for care in sensitive areas such as the skin under the eyes.
I was lucky enough to have had the opportunity to live in Grand Cayman for a number of years and Aloe Vera grew rampantly there. I was diving one day and received a nasty cut from some sharp coral reef. Once on shore, I went directly to the galley of plants we had growing outside of our apartment for my ‘natural healing tonic’. I just cut off a single leaf and broke off a small piece. I rubbed the gel from the inside of the leaf directly on my cut and I felt immediate relief. I wrapped the rest of the leaf in plastic wrap and it kept beautifully in the fridge. I repeated this process twice a day and my cut was practically healed within 3-4 days. Cuts from coral reef are notorious for scarring and infection but I didn’t suffer from either!
Escents Aromatherapy products that contain Aloe Vera include:
Organic Intensive Hand Care
Antibacterial Gel
Matcha Tea Body Scrub
Wash & Bubble
13:
The famous lavender fields of France
Lavender is well knows as one of the most popular and versatile essential oils used in aromatherapy today. Not only is the sweet, floral aroma a staple in most perfumeries because of its ability to compliment and enhance other floral notes, but it is also widely used for its therapeutic health benefits. Lavender is most commonly harvested from the fields of Provence in the South of France. The oil is extracted directly from the flower buds by means of steam distillation. Although lavender is one of the few essential oils that can be applied pure to the skin, it’s always recommended to dilute The physical health benefits of lavender essential oil are far reaching but the most common uses include first aid applications for minor cuts and scrapes and insect bites and treatment for mild pain relief. This cure-all has also been known to relieve minor sunburns and muscle / joint aches. In terms of the physiological benefits of lavender, the aroma can have an immediate calming effect and aid with relaxation and reducing mild anxiety.
Many people are intimidated by aromatherapy and may not be comfortable ‘diving in’ as there are so many levels of information available. Everyone has to start their journey somewhere and if I were to only have one essential oil in my medicine cabinet, it would most certainly be organic lavender essential oil. There is no need to jump head first into the world of aromatherapy, rather, start by dipping your toe in one oil at a time! Here are three common therapeutic uses for organic lavender essential oil that you can try at home:
1. Relieve Muscle Aches & Pains
This is certainly not a new therapeutic remedy! Lavender was used in the battlefields of both World Wars directly on soldiers wounds to help relieve pain on the fly. Today, lavender essential oil can be used very effectively on joint and muscle pain as it’s known to improve circulation. Simply blend 5 drops of the pure essential oil with a tablespoon of any carrier oil such as almond or olive, then massage directly into the affected area. Apply as often as needed.
2. Treat Insect Bites
Insect bites can be incredibly itchy and if scratched often enough, they can get infected opening up a host of other problems. Nip those little bites in the bud by applying a little lavender essential oil to the area to relieve itching. Lavender is comprised of over 200 antiseptic compounds making it the perfect choice for minor bites, burns and abrasions. It is one of nature’s best multitasking oils! Lavender will both help prevent microbial growth and infection while soothing skin. Amazing.
3. Trouble Sleeping?
Lavender essential oil helps induce sleep which is why it is commonly recommended as a natural alternative to treat mild insomnia. There are many ways to add lavender to your bedtime routine. Try adding a few drops to a warm bath. The soothing aroma will trigger your mind to start calming and relaxing, preparing you for good night’s rest. If you don’t have time for a bath every night, try a cup of warm lavender tea (use dried lavender leaves - most specialty tea houses carry this). Lastly, add 2 drops of lavender to your pillow. The sweet aroma will soothe you to a restful slumber and the more you can make this a ‘routine’, the more lavender will trigger this same emotional and physical response.
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