Tag Archives: essential oils

Bathtub Medicine

My last pregnancy was long and painful. Often the only relief from the pain was found submerged in the depths of our wonderful jetted bathtub where I spent literally hours a day surrendering and healing. My son, Noah, was born in the water, in fact. Perhaps it is no coincidence that he has always been a water baby. One of our first major bonding moments was just a day after giving birth when, on my midwife’s orders, we found our way into that same jetted tub to relax and heal while sharing an herbal bath soak. This is where Noah … Continue reading →

Ten Things to do With Essential Oils

1. Add a few drops to your bathwater for a fragrant, skin softening experience! Try lavender if you need to unwind, or a citrus scent to energize. 2. Put a drop or two on a cotton ball and tuck it into your clothes drawers. 3. Have a humidifier? A drop of essential oil near where the mist comes out will make the air lightly fragrant. You shouldn’t add the oil directly to the water in the tank; humidifiers are designed to process only water! 4. Mix up a quick air/body spray! Fill a bottle with 4oz water and add 4 … Continue reading →

Aromatherapy Safety Basics

You might think that because essential oils are natural, they couldn’t possibly be harmful. But just like any medicine, essential oils can be harmful if they are not used carefully or properly. Here are some things to keep in mind: 1. Essential oils are highly concentrated plant essences. Do not use them undiluted on the skin. Mix a drop or two of your desired essential oil into a carrier oil or lotion. 2. Do not take essential oils internally. They are not food! They are not drink additives! They are for external use only. 3. Be sparing with your use … Continue reading →

Essential Oils: Eucalyptus

Did you know? Some Australian Aborigines bind serious wounds with eucalyptus leaves. Eucalyptus essential oil is beneficial through scent alone. You know those “menthol-lyptus” cough drops that soothe your sore throat, ease your cough, and help clear your stuffy nose? Just the scent of eucalyptus is enough to cut through the most stubborn congestion! Even the least sensitive nose could probably pick eucalyptus out of a lineup. It has a sharp, medicinal smell that can bring tears to your eyes! If you prefer a less overwhelming scent, try lemon eucalyptus. It has many of the same properties with a gentler … Continue reading →

Essential Oils: Tea Tree

Tea tree essential oil is one no home aromatherapy kit should be without! It is a great all-around oil with antiviral, anti-fungal, anesthetic, and antibacterial properties. Tea tree is also a great natural deodorizer. You may find the scent of the essential oil a little medicinal, but you can always combine tea tree with one or two of the other oils in your kit for a more pleasant smell! NOTE: There are artificial products that have greater antibacterial or anti-fungal properties, but as far as natural remedies go, you can’t beat tea tree oil! Tea tree is one of the … Continue reading →

Essential Oils: Lemon

A great oil for your aromatherapy starter kit is lemon essential oil. If you love the bright, fresh scent of citrus fruits, you will love using lemon oil! It takes a lot of lemon rinds (about 1,500 lemons worth) to make a pound of lemon essential oil, but lucky for us, lemons are abundant! You should be able to get 10 milliliters of lemon essential oil for less than five dollars. Personally, I like shopping at Soapbox U.S.A. for my essential oils. Aromatherapy Properties Lemon (and the other citrus scents like lime, grapefruit, and orange) are uplifting and energizing. Studies … Continue reading →

Essential Oils: Lavender

When you’re stocking up your aromatherapy starter kit, one of the first oils to add to your collection is lavender. It’s affordable! Because lavender is easy to grow and harvest, the essential oil is very inexpensive. It takes around a hundred pounds of flowers to produce one pound of oil… compare that to jasmine, that needs more than a thousand pounds of flowers to produce one pound of oil! You should be able to get a 10 milliliter bottle of lavender essential oil for under five dollars – and its cousin lavandin will be even cheaper. Lavandin (spike lavender) has … Continue reading →

Essential Oils: Frequently Asked Questions

What are essential oils? Basically, essential oils are concentrated plant essences. Some are extracted by pressing (similar to how olive oil is made!). You can collect your own essential oils from the rinds of citrus fruits with a press. Most essential oils are extracted with steam, a more complicated process that more or less breaks down the plant material by cooking. How much do essential oils cost? The prices can vary widely. Certain oils are easier to obtain, and therefore will cost less. You should be able to buy basic oils like lemon, lavender, eucalyptus, orange, grapefruit, peppermint, lime, and … Continue reading →