10:
Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus is an extremely versatile oil and is great to have around the house. It not only eases muscle and joint pain, helps coughs and kills bacteria, it can be used for almost anything.
Here are some tips and tricks for Eucalyptus oil.
- Freshen the air. Diffuse Eucalyptus during and just after times of illness to clear the air and freshen the space. To do this yourself use up to 6 drops in a diffuser. Chinese herbalists often used Eucalyptus as “sick room” oil in this way.
- Remove sticker/decal residue from glass with a few drops on a cloth and scrub away.
- Freshen laundry. Add 1-2 teaspoonfuls of Eucalyptus oil to your load of wash for a fresh scent along with the anti-microbial benefits.
- Remove paint, grease and ink from clothes. Use a few drops on a cloth to rub the area.
- Mix up a bug repellent for plants. Add half a teaspoon of oil to half a liter of water and spray on plants.
- Use as a stainless steel cleaner. Drop a few drops on a cloth and scrub away.
- Make a room air freshener. Mix a quarter of a teaspoon or 15 drops of eucalyptus oil with a half teaspoon of vodka, place in an atomizer/spray bottle and add 2 cups of water. This should be quite subtle, so you may need to add more.
26:
Relaxing Lavender
I went downtown to visit some of the Olympic attractions last night, WOW! I walked around and acted like a tourist in my own city and tried to take it all in. I grew up in Vancouver and never would have dreamed that we would be hosting the Olympics or that the city could get so busy, and be transformed so quickly.
The crowds and lineups were large and after walking for hours, getting home was like an oasis - a little piece of heaven away from the chaos. At home I didn’t know whether to sleep or eat, or work. So, I tried out a new lavender heat pack that I had been given from a lavender farm in the Olympic peninsula in Washington State. I heated it up and put the pink terry, lavender filled pack around my neck.
The intoxicating scent of pure lavender and the heat extracted all the tension from my head and body. Totally dizzy with serenity, I was ready for bed and the craziness of the day was gone. The cliché is true, use lavender oil and your stress will literally ‘melt away’.
I often find it hard to slow down enough to put a diffuser on, take a lavender bath, or spray my sheets with lavender or chamomile. When I do though, I am immediately reminded that instead of reaching for that chocolate, or the remote, it is much better to relieve stress using aromatherapy, and I want to share the benefits of the wonders of essential oils with everyone.
Just try it, go on, reach for nature!
-Jacqui
24:
aromatherapy for pregnancy
I am a mother of two toddlers that keep me pretty busy! During my first pregnancy I was very ill, morning sickness for months on end, leg cramps that would last 10 minutes, headaches and feeling exhausted, as this was before I discovered the power of essential oils to heal and cure ailments. I was lucky enough to be working at Escents during my second pregnancy. Every time I had a pregnancy related issue I would look up cures in our on site recipe binder or I would use the great recipes in the Fragrant Pharmacy by Valeri Ann Worwood. These recipes helped me and I thought I would share the three top recipes’ that saved me from discomfort and pain.
MORNING SICKNESS
Spearmint saves the day! Drop two drop onto your pillow and/or into your diffuser when you go to bed. After 3 days your morning sickness will be cured. During the day I would put two drops onto a tissue and inhale to ease off nausea! I had morning sickness for less than a week.
Spearmint eases the digestive system, relieving vomiting, constipation and nausea.
LEG CRAMPS
I used lotion and rubbed on my legs every night when I got home from work after working 8hours on my feet. I only had one night with leg cramps because the next day I found this recipe and used it diligently.
5 drops of geranium
10 drops of lavender
2 drops of cypress
Blend into 50 ml of any unscented carrier oil
-Geranium eases tension, stress and is very healing.
-Lavender has a calming scent which makes it an excellent tonic for the nerves and helps in treating migraines, headaches, anxiety, depression, nervous tension and emotional stress.
-Cypress is helpful in relieving muscular spasms in limbs. It also induces a calming, relaxing and sedating effect on the mind and the body.
EXHAUSTION
I put this into an unscented roll-on base so I have it with me at all times. During the last trimester I felt tired and fatigued. This recipe gave me the energy I needed to get through my day at work or to play with my toddler who was running around the house while I wanted to sleep.
10 drops of Lavender
10 drops of Grapefruit
10 drops of Coriander
-Lavender is a refreshing aroma which removes nervous exhaustion and restlessness and increases mental activity.
-Grapefruit uplifting effect on the mood and helps with stress and depression. It is used with great success to combat muscle fatigue and stiffness while stimulating the lymphatic system and thereby clearing the body of toxins.
-Coriander is beneficial for relieving stress, anxiety and insomnia.
My second pregnancy was so much easier than my first due to all the aromatherapy I did. This when the power of essentials oils really hit me! Now every time I feel ill I look to essentials for relief!
By Jessica Leavitt
19:
After Shave Balm Recipe
Here is a recipe to add to your DIY bath and body product book! Commercial after shave products are typically very high in chemical additives and alcohol so we find this recipe is commonly asked for at the Escents Commercial Drive Location. Escents used to pre-blend an After Shave Balm but it has since been discontinued due to small production runs. However, fret not! This recipe is easy to blend and works beautifully to freshen skin, prevent in-grown hairs and moisturize skin. Thanks again to Michelle for submitting this must-try recipe.
10 drops Lavender Essential Oil
2 drops Spearmint Essential Oil
2 drops Lemon Essential Oil
About the oils:
Lavender is used here for its ability to quickly heal skin, prevent scarring and soothe chapped, dry or itchy patches. Spearmint adds a refreshing and cooling sensation and tones the skin. Lemon is a strong astringent that will reduce inflammation and help prevent in-grown hairs
How to use:
This recipe can be blended into the 60ml Unscented Face Cream and applied after the skin is shaved and washed/rinsed free from shaving cream. For an extra light and ultra cooling effect multiply the reciepe by 2.5 and blend into a 100ml Comfrey Gel base.
19:
Natural Remedy for Chronic Eczema
Thanks to Michelle from Escents Commercial Drive for submitting this inspiring story. A close friend suffers from chronic eczema. I have tried many a remedy for him. But, for years now, to no avail. Our Eczema Treatment cream offered some relief but not enough for his severe case. Our Eczema Treatment Cream is great for those with spots of eczema, however, those with chronic eczema often fair better with our Skin Repair Butter. Again, this worked better for him but, did not entirely clear it up.
Like most people that suffer from eczema, doctors say to avoid scented topical treatments. However, it is important to note that they are most likely referring to perfumes and synthetic fragrances and not to 100% therapeutic grade essential oils. That being said, my friend began to refuse any offerings of any treatment that had any scent whatsoever. That was too bad, because I was convinced that the right recipe using essential oils could and would make a difference. After a new and terrible rash flared up on his face, I offered up a sample of an “unscented” product for him to try, our Rosa Mosqueta Oil. “It is totally unscented?”, he asked with suspicion. I offered it to him to smell and he agreed to try it. With only the very best of intentions I withheld one little piece of information from him…. there is a small amount of rosewood essential oil in the ingredient listing. This oil is recommended for those with weeping eczema (so dry the skin can crack open) while he does not often experience this, he does at times and it led me to consider oils I had not before such as Rosewood and Juniper Berry. Within 1 day the rash had vastly diminished and within 2 his skin was completely cleared without any redness whatsoever! He was so surprised and thrilled that he has now agreed to try full-out scented blends. The moral of the story is that scent and essential oils are not one in the same. The healing power of essential oils is a biological fact and they should never be dismissed as simply a perfume.
Hope this helps someone else out there, and oh yeah…
GO CANADA GO!!!
11:
Aromatherapy for Bronchitis
There is something inherently wrong with seeing the first signs of spring (a la cherry blossom trees) and simultaneously suffering from a terrible bought of bronchitis! The two just don’t seem to go together. I thought the worst of the cold and flu season was over… Not in my house. My husband had it first just after the holidays and I now I’ve been suffering with it for the past two weeks. For those who don’t know, bronchitis is an acute inflammation of the bronchial tubes lining in the lungs. This inflammation can be caused by a number of environmental factors such as bacteria, mold, chemical particles and other equally savoring aggressors. This inflammation can quickly turn into an infection if not taken care of immediately so don’t let your symptoms slide.
Low grade bronchitis, if left untreated can turn into chronic bronchitis, so of course I turned to essential oils to try and curb this inflammation before it gets serious. Eucalyptus and rosemary are at the top of my list as the best home remedy oils for bronchitis and other chest related viruses. The following are the best ways to use essential oils at home to try and naturally fight a nasty cough:
1. Take 2-3 drops each of rosemary and eucalyptus and apply them one after the other on the chest giving each a few minutes to work into skin before layering the next oil. Then apply a hot compress over the chest and cover with blankets, letting the compress cool. This layering technique should allow for hours of restful sleep and open lungs. Rest and sleep are the most important remedy. Your body needs this time to recover and heal itself minus the dry coughing fits, which just further irritate the inflammation.
2. Run any aromatherapy diffuser constantly in your room and throughout the house, adding oils like peppermint, lemon, tea tree and / or lavender to relieve swelling and minimize bacterial infection. Diffusers effectively clean the air of irritating particles that may be the underlying cause of asthma, congestion or allergies.
I always turn to my collection of essential oils to try and remedy common ailments before turning to traditional medicine or antibiotics. The oils mentioned above are an amazing start to any ‘natural medicine cabinet’ and are great to have close at hand. Tap into them as soon as symptoms arise.
Note: This advice is based on traditional uses of essential oils and is for reference purposes only. It is not intended to treat, prescribe or diagnose. The information contained herein is in no way considered a substitute for consultation with a duly license health care professional.
08:
Natural Cure for Smelly Feet
Just like a million other people, I too experience some unpleasant odor coming from my shoes now and then. There is a great recipe that I use to get rid any unsavory aromas coming from my shoes, but want also to share a story on what not to do. About a week ago, I deodorized my shoes with an amazing blend we have made up in the store. And it works great for me and my smelly shoes.
Use 100ml Unscented Aroma Mist
To the above base, add the following:
20 drops of tea tree
10 drops of lemongrass
10 peppermint
10 drops of lavender
That was the right thing to do. Here is my story on what not to do… The other day we where trying to prepare for our annual inventory. Due to being so busy I forgot that week to add my “makes shoes not smell” spray into my shoes. I was sitting down at the computer entering data for the inventory when all of a sudden I got a wiff of some unpleasant odor coming from my shoes. I tried to ignore it, but the smell was over powering and also distracting. Embarrassing as that was of course, I really did not want to take my shoes off for obvious reasons. Instead, I grabbed a vile of 100% pure lemongrass and put a couple of drops on the side of my shoes. Wow instant gratification. The smell was gone and I could focus on my inventory count once again.
Until that night…
When I got home that night I took my shoes off and was amazed on how much I could still smell the lemongrass. Sat on the sofa and my fiancée commented on it as well. “Wow you smell lemony”, he commented. Later on that night when we where getting ready to go to bed, I noticed something on my foot when I took my socks off. Where I dropped the lemongrass in the shoes, the skin that was exposed to that bore now 2 large brown/yellowish spots. I went into the bathroom to scrub my feet but to no avail. I managed to stain my feet. I had to go wedding dress shopping the next day with 2 large brown spots on my feet!! Lemongrass is a 100% pure essential oil and should not be used directly on the skin. This just served as a reminder and I sure learned my lesson the hard way. I would definitely recommend Nina’s Wonder Spray rather than the pure lemongrass. Thanks Nina from Escents Park Royal for this great 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.
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.
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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