Essential Oil Uses

As I’ve been studying aromatherapy over the last two years and starting my business, I’ve found some tips on essential oil uses that make life a little easier! I thought it might be helpful to share with you a few of the tools that I use when creating butters, balms, salves, synergies and all kinds of other fun things for my product line.

If I can save you you some time and frustration, then I’ll know I’ve done my job. Just click on my Facebook Live video to see some of my favorite suggestions. Let me know what you think and please share any of your favorite items in the comment section.

Botanically yours,

SaveSave

SaveSave

Over the last week, I’ve seen them peeping from behind their heart-shaped leaves. Little flower faces shyly stretching up to the sky. Could there be a sweeter flower than violets?

Certainly one of my favorites, violets are a joy to behold when spring arrives. Their aroma fills the air when warmed by the spring sunshine. They’re so lovely I can’t help but think of this quote from L.M. Montgomery in Anne of Green Gables,

 “Do you think amethysts can be the souls of good violets?”

Beauty and All That?

Besides being beautiful, violets can add variety to life as we candy, infuse, tincture, press, and otherwise use them in ways that are a delight. To be clear, I am talking about Viola odorata, not African violets, which are not edible and a different plant entirely.

This spring I’ve decided to gather violets from my yard to make my own infused oil. They are anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, and antifungal, which make a potent healing oil suitable for use right out of the bottle or in creams, lotions, and salves.

Their leaves also contain Vitamin C and can be infused along with the flowers for a hot or cool tisane. But today I’d like to focus on making an herbal oil with violet flowers and leaves. For your oil, you can use either fresh or dried material. (Note: garlic, cottonwood, St. John’s Wort, and mullein flowers should always be infused fresh).

Preparing the Violets

If you’re using fresh, we need to address the topic of how to prepare them for infusion. Herbalists handle this differently. Some herbalists wash fresh herbs before using, some don’t. I think it depends upon several factors:

1. Where have the herbs come from? If they’re from your own yard and you know you didn’t use any chemicals on them, you may feel ok not washing them. Do you have pets (or neighbors’ pets) that may have contaminated them? That also plays into the equation.
2. Will you be selling your products or giving them away? Then for your own protection and peace of mind, I would wash them.
3. If you’ve purchased them elsewhere and don’t know how they were grown/handled, wash them.

To wash them, gently spray off if they are not too dirty, or you can immerse in a cool water bath with a drop or two of organic veggie/fruit cleaner added, swish them around or soak for a few minutes if very dirty, rinse off, and pat dry. Once you have done this, you now need to let them fresh wilt for 24-48 hours so that the moisture evaporates; if you don’t do this, you could likely end up growing mold in your oil. They will become limp but not totally dry when fresh wilted. Thinner plants will dry wilt faster than thicker, so keep an eye on them. Some plants may wilt in just 6-8 hours.

Choose Your Oil

Next, choose your oil. If you’re using the oil for medicinal or culinary purposes, organic olive oil is your best choice. If you will be using the oil for beauty products, you may want to try organic sweet almond oil, organic coconut oil (warm infusions only), jojoba, sesame, or sunflower.

Add your fresh-wilted or dried violet flowers and leaves to a dry, sanitized glass jar and cover with oil so that the plants are completely submerged with one to two inches of oil over the top. Cap. If you are using fresh wilted and are still concerned about moisture, cover the jar with a thick layer of cheesecloth instead of the cap and rubber band it to let any moisture evaporate. Let sit out for about 2 weeks in a warm spot. You can let it sit in the sunshine for a solar oil, as herbalist Rosemary Gladstar calls it.

Alternative: Use Your Slow Cooker

You can also use a small slow cooker to infuse the violets. I’ve found that my little crockpot turned to the “warm” setting (not low or high) is about the right temperature-between 110-120F. Infuse in a crockpot one week for fresh wilted (two weeks for St. John’s wort) and two weeks for dried.

After infusing, strain the mixture through cheesecloth, and use a rice press on the dried herbs. Dried herbs absorb the oil much more readily that fresh wilted plant material does, so a rice press helps to get out every last drop. Also, don’t use the press on fresh wilt because you don’t want to press out any possible moisture that may still be inside the plant cells.  After straining if you prefer, let it sit overnight undisturbed and strain it one more time the next morning. Put the finished oil in a dark, glass jar and store in a cool, dark place. The oil should last for one to three years (dried plant material will yield the longer shelf life). It’s always a good idea to label and date your product.

Use your oil  directly on your skin or to make tinctures, salves, and beauty products.

What do you like to make with violets? Share below. I’d love to hear your ideas!

eScentually yours,

While you’re enjoying the beautiful violets gracing the front lawn, why not try making your own tisane to sip on a spring afternoon? Violet leaves contain Vitamin C and their mild, earthy taste is refreshing. Add a bit of honey to sweeten it up, and you’ll enjoy your pretty and tasty tisane.

Before picking your violets, just a few things to keep in mind: be sure that they have not been treated with fertilizer or pesticides. Only use plants that are safe. And do not use African Violets. That is a different plant entirely.

Ready to start? Here’s the recipe you can print off if you’d like. Let me know if you try the tisane and what you think. Happy spring!

 

 

I have fallen in love with sweet orange essential oil.

I just can’t get enough of it lately. Maybe it’s because it’s early spring, and I am ready for sunshine and balmy breezes to replace the gray, chilly days of late winter in Indiana. Or perhaps it’s because of the uplifting properties of orange. Whatever the reason, I’ve been using orange a lot lately in my synergies and products for clients.

More Than an Aroma

While there’s no denying the lovely aroma of sweet orange, this essential oil doesn’t just smell good; it’s also a valuable addition to aromatherapy products because of its main therapeutic properties:

• Anxiolytic (anti anxiety)
• Antidepressant
• Nervine

Historically, sweet orange has been used for the conditions of  anxiety, depression, agitation, challenging behavior, and disturbed eating patterns. So it’s not a stretch that this essential oil is known for being warming, happy, uplifting, and cheerful. Honestly, it smells like sunshine in a bottle.

3 Ways to Use Sweet Orange

Let’s look at some ways sweet orange can brighten up your life.

1. Sunshine Whipped Body Butter. One of my favorite ways to use sweet orange is in a whipped body butter. I recently made a whipped body butter for a client using sweet orange and lemon essential oils. It’s a bit of a process to make, but, oh my, the results are well worth it. This body butter looks and smells like the lightest, most luscious whipped cream frosting you’ve ever seen. I could barely refrain myself from sampling it! Here’s a picture as I was whipping it in my mixer. I make mine with a mango seed butter, coconut oil, and jojoba seed oil base. I then add the essential oils, including lemon essential oil for its uplifting and immune-enhancing properties as well. The orange and lemon complement each other nicely and create a heavenly aroma.
2. Keep Calm Inhaler. Inhalers are such a convenient way to take aromatherapy with you wherever you go — they’re actually one of my biggest sellers. Compact and unobtrusive, they slip easily into a purse or pocket, yet they deliver a powerful dose of aroma whenever you need it. Inhalers are easily customized to whatever condition you’re trying to address. When you’re feeling uptight, make up this blend of sweet orange, vetiver, and ylang ylang. Its a simple process:
   • Get an empty inhaler and add 2 drops of vetiver, 8 drops of ylang ylang, and 15 drops of sweet orange to the cotton insert. Cap it and you’re ready to go! Here’s the simple recipe. If you’d rather not make it yourself, you can order one at my online store.
3. Diffuser. Sweet orange makes a lovely blend with many other essential oils to diffuse for a quick pick-me-up. One possibility it to diffuse 4 drops of sweet orange with 4 drops of lavender and 4 drops of bergamot for an uplifting home fragrance. Keep in mind that if you use the water type of diffusors, orange oil may stain the water reservoir a bit. I have found that adding about half water and half vinegar to the diffusor and running it for a few minutes cleans it up. Also, take a Mr. Clean Magic sponge and that does the trick too.

Sweet orange is a versatile essential oil and can be used in myriad ways. Use my ideas as a starting point and let me know what you come up with in the comment section below.

Contraindications

Important: Always keep essential oils out of the reach of children as they can be dangerous and even fatal if ingested in large amounts. Treat essential oils as you do medication: safely stored away from little hands.

Some citrus essential oils are phototoxic, especially the ones that are distilled, rather than being extracted through cold expression. Be careful of sun exposure if you are using citrus oils dermally.

I hope you fall in love with sweet orange as I have. It is a cheerful addition to any home. If you don’t want to experiment with the oil yourself, you can order from my store. Products are available for both shipping and local pickup if you live in the Indianapolis area!

Escentually yours,

 

Warm, spicy, exotic. Three words that come to mind when I think of a favorite herb and oil of mine: ginger, or Zingiber officinale by its nomenclature. A perfect choice for winter wellness, ginger has a rich history as a medicinal, healing botanical.

I first became familiar with it years ago when I was juicing and would add a thumb-size piece of the root to my current juicing recipe. You can’t miss its spicy flavor and aroma. Ginger tisane (tea) became my go-to favorite, and it’s especially comforting in the fall and winter. If I feel the chills or flu symptoms setting in, it is the first thing I reach for to help me fight off any nasty bug. It’s also know for being soothing to the stomach.

Besides all of these properties, when it’s used topically, ginger is a pain reliever. Last year I developed a blend for my weight-lifting son to use, and ginger is one of the main ingredients in it to help increase circulation and relieve aches, pains, and strains.

Let’s explore a bit of the science behind this herb.

Therapeutic Actions of Ginger

While there are several others, here are the main therapeutic actions of ginger.

• Analgesic (pain relieving)
• Anti-emetic (reduces nausea and vomiting)
• Antispasmodic
• Aphrodisiac
• Carminative (soothes and settles the gut wall, relieves gas)
• Digestive
• Stomachic (tone and stimulate the action of the stomach)

Core Applications

While this list is not comprehensive, I’ve highlighted a few of the main systems of the body that ginger can affect.

1. Digestive System. Historically ginger is know to help ease and prevent nausea, vomiting, , gas, stomachaches, and loss of appetite.
2. Musculoskeletal System. When added to a cream or oil blend, ginger can help relieve muscular aches and pains from arthritis, sprains, rheumatism, joint pain, and stiffness.
3. Respiratory System. Historically, ginger is indicated for colds, fevers, sore throats, sinusitis, bronchitis, congestion, and catarrh (excessive mucus in the nose or throat).
4. Reproductive/Endocrine System. May be helpful for reduced sex drive, menstrual cramps and pain, amenorrhea, and dysmenorrhea.

Two Ways to Use Ginger for Winter Wellness

Whether you’re using the essential oil or the actual root, ginger is a delightful botanical to try. Here are two of my favorite ways to use it:

Ginger Tea

Even thought it is a rhizome, ginger is so juicy that we can infuse it in water.

Directions

1. Thinly slice or chop about one inch of fresh ginger root .
2. Add to a Fresh press or put the ginger into an infuser and set in your teacup. Add 8 ounces of just-off-the-boil water.
3. Steep for 10 minutes.
4. Strain and drink.

Variation: To add a lovely note of lemon plus get all the health benefits, add dried or fresh lemon balm or lemon verbena leaves. It also complements ginger nicely, as it is known to help digestive and respiratory complaints too. Honey and fresh lemon juice are two other wonderful additions if you want a sweeter version with additional lemon flavor. Add these directly before drinking.

Ginger Salt Glow

With it’s warming qualities, ginger makes a lovely salt scrub, especially for the winter months. You can also sub sugar for the salt. I like to use brown sugar.

• 1 cup fine-grain sea salt
• ¼ cup vegetable oil (for example: almond, apricot, or sunflower)
• 12 drops Ginger Essential Oil

Directions: 

1. Pour salt into a bowl and add the vegetable oil. Stir well.
2. Add the essential oils. Stir until evenly dispersed. Add more oil to adjust to your liking.
3. Store in a glass or PET plastic container.

To Use: Apply 2-3 times per week. Wet skin. Rub salt mixture in a continuous motion over body, avoiding cuts and the face, as salt is too rough for this delicate skin. Rinse off. Follow with a body lotion, cream, or oil.

Once you’ve experienced this exotic herb, you’ll want to find more ways to use it.

What’s your favorite way to use ginger for winter wellness? Be sure to share in the comments below!

Cautions:

The information here is provided for adults, not children. Pregnant women should also consult their doctors before using any essential oils. According to the Gale Health and Wellness, “dosages over 6 g could cause gastric problems and possibly ulcers. Ginger may slow down blood clotting time. Before taking ginger, consumers should check dosages with a healthcare provider. Additionally, consumers should not ingest the whole ginger plant; it has been found to damage the liver in animals. Ginger root is not recommended for people with gallstones.”

Resources:

Gale Group Health and Wellness Resource Center

It looks as if winter has finally decided to arrive in Indiana. We had one of the warmest Decembers I can remember, and my family was actually outside playing basketball on Christmas Day! That has changed, however, and the cold has arrived whether it was wanted or not, along with about three inches of snow.

It seems that cold weather seasons also bring germs and illnesses that aren’t so widespread throughout the rest of the year. For wellness purposes, I’ve found that essential oils help me throughout the winter. One of my favorite oils to use is *Eucalyptus globulus for its affinity with the respiratory system.

Main Therapeutic Benefits of Eucalyptus Globulus

Historically, the following properties are attributed to eucalyptus:

• Analgesic
• Antibacterial
• Anti-inflammatory
• Antitussive
• Decongestant
• Expectorant
• Stimulant

Eucalyptus for Body Systems

While these is not a comprehensive list, here are three main body systems that eucalyptus supports.

• Respiratory System. Eucalyptus globulus has been used for bronchitis, asthma, sinusitis, nasal congestion, throat infections, colds, and flus. It is an ingredient in the perennial favorite, Vicks Vapor Rub. I love to make my own version of this salve, and I start using it at the first sign of colds or congestion.
• Circulatory System. Eucalyptus helps to increase circulation and can be beneficial when undertaking a detox program for health and wellness.
• Musculoskeletal system. The analgesic properties of eucalyptus make it a logical choice to be included in a blend for massage oils/creams and muscle rubs.

Two Simple Ways to Use Eucalyptus

Here are two simple ways you can start using eucalyptus essential oil right now.

1. Oil Chest Rub. In 1/2 ounce of carrier oil such as almond oil, olive oil, or sesame oil, add 15 drops of Eucalyptus globulus. Shake gently to mix. Rub a small amount to the chest area. Store the rest for later use.
2. Inhalation. Diffuse 5 drops of eucalyptus in a water-based diffusor. Use on and off throughout the day as needed. If you don’t have a diffusor, add a few drops of the oil to a bowl of steaming water (out of the reach of children) or put a drop or two on a tissue or washcloth and tuck it under your pillow.

Do you have a favorite way to use this powerful essential oil? Please share in the comments.

*Precautions: the information here is provided for adults, not children. Children should not use eucalyptus; Rosalina (Melaleuca ericifolia) is a better choice for children. No one should ingest Eucalyptus, as it is toxic when taken internally. According to the Gale Health and Wellness Resource Center, pregnant or breast-feeding women should not use eucalyptus. People with digestive problems, stomach or intestinal inflammations, biliary duct disorders, or liver disease should not take eucalyptus.

Resources

The East-West School for Aromatic Studies: Aromas 101

Gale Health and Wellness Resource Center