Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Home Remedies for an Upset Stomach using Ginger and Lemon

 If you have neither of these remedy ingredients: fresh (lemon or ginger)
it is possible to substitute one drop per 8 oz glass of liquid of therapeutic grade essential oils instead, but if you have it, fresh is better.

Ginger & Soda Remedy;
This is my personal family tradition. Whenever someone in my household came down with an upset stomach, my Mother would brew up a pot of her homemade ginger tea. This relates to and is based on the well known fact that the soda ginger ale is a naturally soothing to the stomach and can help calm nausea. The main ingredient in ginger ale that soothes the stomach is of course the natural ginger root, so it makes sense to go to the source!

Here is the recipe. You take a whole fresh ginger root and peel off the skin to help release the natural enzymes, minerals and flavor. Boil a pot of hot water in a medium saucepan. 4-6 cups of water is good and will make a decent pot from one ginger root. Place the ginger root in the water before it is boiled and bring the water and ginger root to a rolling boil together for a minimum of 10 minutes. Usually closer to 20 minutes is better, but if you're stomach is aching and you need relief quick, 10 will do just fine. The longer you brew the tea, the more potent the mix will be. Ginger is strong and you do not need to over do it. Often when I had an upset stomach, my mother would boil for 10 minutes, poor me a cup and let the rest boil for another 10 minutes or so, so while waiting I could drink a cup.

If you have club soda in the house, you can mix a small portion of club soda into your more potent ginger brew mix to create a carbonated homemade ginger tea remedy and what you would recognize as a homemade ginger ale. This is a great mix because the bubbles in the carbonation also helps to ease a sore stomach. Sometimes drinking a carbonated substance can help release bodily gasses through burps and can also help cut through harsh stomach acids that often make you feel queasy or bloated. Don't overdue it on the carbonation though, the ginger is more than enough to soothe and calm your stomach.

Lemon Recipe:
This drink contains lemon juice squeezed from fresh lemons, cayenne pepper, maple syrup and water. The combination of these ingredients offer everything you need to get a complete set of nutrients and minerals and because of this actually give you enough supplemental value that you could live off of this combo for up to month with drinking water alone. It is actually a common safe fast recipe (along with drinking plenty of water), however I do not suggest trying this fast at all, especially for an upset stomach. We just use the recipe around the house to help cure an upset stomach or replacement a meal when you are feeling to nauseous to eat.

Maple Syrup is packed full of important nutrients and mineral, while the cayenne pepper has the strength to cut through any stomach acids, throat phlegm or mucus that may be upsetting your stomach. Lemons acts as a natural PH balancing food when entered into the body even though lemons themselves are an acidic based unit; when digested they neutralize your PH levels. All of these items mixed together are a combo that can help cure many stomach aching ailments or at least help soothe and get you back on the road to recovery.

Here is the recipe. You can mix this recipe in an 8 or 12 ounce glass or multiply the ingredients to a fair mix for a larger juice jug or pitcher full of this homemade remedy. I actually quite enjoy the taste of this drink, as I it was a comfort to me when I was sick as a child, and I find you will be pleasantly surprised with the outcome in flavor and calming and healing properties.

In a 8-12 oz. glass mix 2 tbsp of maple syrup, a good pinch of cayenne pepper and half to one whole lemon juice freshly squeezed. Mix with warm water to help break down the ingredients and combust the minerals into a soluble mixture. You can drink this remedy either hot or cold and which ever way you choose it tastes great.

I prefer the warm drink when I have an upset stomach caused from nausea or diarrhea. When suffering from an upset stomach from a cold or mild food poisoning I usually prefer this remedy cooler. I find that both the hot and cold remedies have heat sensitive healing properties in the right kind of upset stomach.

Friday, September 17, 2010

Essential Oils and Chakras Part Three; Using Essential Oils for Balancing Chakras; The Sacral Chakra


This helpful article will be of use for those interested in using natural therapies for balancing their chakras.

If you missed part one, see it here; Essential Oils and Chakras Part One; Introduction to Using Essential Oils for Balancing the Chakras , it will help you understand the basis of this series of articles on  balancing the chakras with essential oils. Also, see Essential Oils and Chakras Part Two; Using Essential Oils for Balancing Chakras; The Root Chakra.

To read the rest of my article on Yahoo/AC click here

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Can Essential Oils Help with Depression & Anxiety? Using Aromatherapy as a Mood Regulator

Can Essential Oils Help with Depression? Using Aromatherapy as a Mood Regulator
More and more these days, plants are finding a medicinal purpose in our lives, people like natural cures rather than subjecting themselves to harsh man-made chemicals and pills.

"A depressed emotional state is a common reason for using complementary and alternative therapies today. A wide range of psychological, physical, and energetic issues can lead to feelings of depression and a pervasive outlook of negativity. Moreover, once in a state of depression, patterns can arise that make relief all the more difficult to find. The use of essential oils for uplifting the psyche and spirit is becoming more widespread because of the oils' broad and dramatic effects. While the oils themselves may not directly affect the underlying cause of depression, they may help individuals break free from depressive cycles - they may provide the impetus to 'get off the couch', so to speak, and begin creating long lasting change. Many natural healers believe depression to be a result of, like many other ills, of being out of balance; being unable to 'synch up' with the natural state of harmony that permeates the universe. For relieving this is-harmony, aromatherapy can be a very powerful means to infuse one's body and mind with the most concentrated, sublime botanicals nature has to offer."- Ananda Apothecary

Can essential oils help with anxiety?
The short answer is yes. The how and why are a bit more scientific, but suffice to say that it's true what they say, "your nose knows". You've definitely experienced this before. A good example would be smelling a freshly baked apple pie and remembering Grandma's house in the country when you were just a kid. That's your limbic system at work. Basically, your sense of smell is the shortest and quickest way into your brain, including your memory banks, through the limbic system ( which is the seat of the emotional center and is partly responsible for our our emotional reaction to something, our fight or flight response, our hormonal secretions, motivation, pain reflex and our mood fluctuations). Some essential oils have thousands of chemicals contained within a tiny drop, and some have only a few, but they all have purposes, and can all cause strong reactions when inhaled or used on the skin.

Can essential oils help with depression?
Again, the short answer is yes they can, in the same way they can help with anxiety, essential oils can also aid in reducing melancholy and heightening happy feelings or uplifting your mood by pure science of chemistry. Just knowing what chemicals to use, and that they are pure therapeutic grade essential oils can really 'make or break' the deal. Essential oils are really just natural science by God, given to us as "medicine" whether it be for the body (physical), mind (mental), or spirit (emotional and spiritual).

Read the rest of my article on Associated Content

Natural Holistic Remedies for Anxiety, Stress and Depression ALTERNATIVES to PROZAC, VALIUM & RITALIN

More and more these days, plants are finding a medicinal purpose in our lives, people like natural cures rather than subjecting themselves to harsh man-made chemicals and pills, also keep in mind that around 30% of the ingredients that are added in conventional medicine are extracted from natural resources like plants and herbs. Holistic remedies are becoming more commonplace in the medical field and even many scientists after years of testing are concluding that alternative medicine is making headway as a tool in the "every-man's preventative medicine chest".
Anxiety, stress and depression are almost at record levels in our country, who knows if it's because of the economy, the stressful atmospheres and workplaces we subject ourselves to, or even home-life? Most people don't think about it, but our diets, especially an excess of sugar, sugar substitutes, coffee, alcohol and/or junk foods can add to imbalances in our mental and physical states of being. No matter the cause, there is hope...and without resorting to dangerous synthetic drugs. Anxiety, stress and depression can have real life consequences and devastating effects on our spirits, minds and bodies that affect not only the entire scope of our lives, but those around us as well.
Natural Holistic Remedies for Anxiety, Stress & Depression: read the rest of the article here at Associated Content

Friday, June 11, 2010

Perfumery and Aromatherapy Glossary of Words - Making Sense of Scents

The aromatherapy and perfume industries have adopted a language of thier own.And sometimes trying to decipher the terms seems a daunting task when you have no idea what they mean by and absolute, or a chypre or a tenatious scent. So when you’re buying fragrances, you need to understand what the salesperson is saying when the perfume’s being described to you. Below you will find some of the more commonly-used words in the aromatherapy and perfuming world... this glossary will help you make wise and informed choices. 

· Absolute
An absolute is the most potent aromatic product made from a base product. It differs from an essential oil in that it’s produced through an extraction process that uses volatile solvents. The extracted solid material is then combined with alcohol to produce the absolute. Absolutes are also darker in color than essential oils.
· Accord
An accord is a blend of two fragrances to produce a third unique fragrance, with neither of the original two fragrances being detectable. You can compare it to the combining of basic colors, like yellow and blue to make green. When you look at green, you don’t see the yellow or blue – just green. And when you smell an accord, you only smell one distinct fragrance, not either of the original fragrances that were combined.
· Aftershave
Aftershave is a men’s toiletry product that could be classified as a cosmetic or a fragrance. It comes in the form of a lotion, a gel, or a balm. After shaving, men apply it for one or more of a few reasons: It makes the skin look smoother; it soothes sensitive skin; it closes the pores after shaving; and it serves as a light cologne. The cologne usually isn’t strong enough to interfere with the man’s primary cologne. In fact, there are some designer fragrances who’ve introduced aftershave that complements their fragrances.
· Alcohol
Alcohol is used in the process of making perfume. It’s job is to carry the perfume extracts, and release them when the perfume is dispensed.
· Aldehyde
An aldehyde is a highly-reactive chemical compound made by oxidizing different alcohols to make resins and organic acids.
· Aldehydic
Aldehydic comes from the Greek phrase “anointing oil”. In perfumery, it refers to a certain fatty fragrance, and can be found in perfumes such as Chanel No 5.
· Amber
Amber is a term used to describe a heavy, full-bodied, warm fragrance.
· Animalic
Animalic is a term used to describe what would be a bad odor on its own, like a faecal smell. But perfumers have found that, in very small dilutions, and in clever combinations with other ingredients, animalic scents can be quite pleasant. A perfume that uses animalic notes is Civet Absolute.
· Anosmia
Anosmia is the inability to smell. You can have either full or partial Anosmia. If you have full Anosmia, you can’t smell anything. If you have partial Anosmia, there are only certain things you can’t smell.
· Apocrine sweat glands
Apocrine sweat glands are those that give you your unique sexual and body scent. It can interfere with or influence the fragrance in perfumes you wear.
· Aromachology
Aromachology is a fairly new science – one of the new alternative therapies. It’s associated with fragrances and their psychological benefits and/or effects. It was developed by Annette Green, a member of the Fragrance Foundation, in the late 70s. An example of an aromachology-inspired perfume is Shiseido’s Relaxing, introduced in 1997.
· Aromatic
Aromatic, in perfumery, refers to the rich scents of Balsamic notes.
· Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy is a term created by R.M. Gattefosse, a French chemist. It’s the art and science, although not a medically-approved one, of using aromatic substances, usually essential oils, to cure common ailments. It’s also popular as a stress reliever.
· Attar
Attar, or Otto, as it is sometimes referred, comes from an old Persian word meaning “to smell sweet”. It’s an extremely expensive essential oil made from the Bulgarian rose.
· Balsam
Balsam is a sticky resin that leaks out of trees when they’re cut. It’s used in perfume to create a woody scent.
· Balsamic
Balsamic notes are found in some perfumes. They have a warm scent, and are popular in the Oriental group of fragrances, like Shalimar, Opium and Obsession.
· Body
Body is a term used to refer to the main theme or heart of a perfume. It can also be used to refer to a perfume that’s well-rounded or full.
· Bouquet
Not surprisingly, bouquet is a term used to describe a mixture of floral notes.
· Camphoraceous
Camphoraceous refers to a Eucalyptus-like fragrance that’s found in the scent of certain herbs, like rosemary and lavandin.
· Carrier oil
Carrier oil is just what it sounds like – an oil base that carries essential oils. Basically, they’re mixed together to make massage oils and skin care products. Some examples are apricot kernel, grape seed, jojoba and sweet almond.
· Chypre
Chypre is an ancient perfume, originally combining fresh citrus notes with Oakmoss and some animalic notes. About 100 years ago, Coty made a Chypre perfume, which has been currently followed up with similar fragrances, like Miss Dior and Aramis. Today, the most common use of Chypres, because of their leather character, is in men’s fragrances.
· Citrus
Citrus notes are fresh scents, similar to the smell of fresh oranges, lemons, grapefruit, bergamot and pomello.
· Classic
Classic fragrances are – well, they’re classic. They survive the years, remaining popular. They have depth, with a 3-10% floral absolute, much stronger than most modern fragrances.
· Cloying
Cloying is a term used to describe a fragrance that’s sickly sweet and unpleasantly clinging.
· Cologne
Cologne is a city in Germany where the very first modern perfume, as we now know it, was produced. That was about 300 years ago, and it was called Eau de Cologne – a perfume made basically from citrus oils. If you want a classic brand of Eau de Cologne that’s about 200 years old, try Farina Gegenuber or 4711. Today, cologne is a word usually used to describe men’s fragrances.
· Compound
Compound is the term used in perfumery to describe the concentrated fragrance mixture before it’s diluted to make the finished perfume.
· Concrete
Concrete is the term used in perfumery to refer to the hard, waxy substance that’s left after the solvent has been applied to the raw material, and has evaporated.
· Depth
Depth refers to whether a scent is complex, sophisticated, rich or full-bodied.
· Diffuser
A diffuser is an aromatherapy device that gently dispenses essential oils into the air.
· Dry down
Dry down is what perfumers refer to as the final phase of a fragrance. It’s sometimes referred to as the bottom line or bottom note – the character of the fragrance that remains a few hours after applying the perfume.
· Eau de Cologne (EDC)
Eau de Cologne is the term used today to refer to a perfume solution with around a 3% compound in an oil and water base. It’s the lightest of perfumes and, therefore the least expensive.
· Eau de Parfum (EDP)
Eau de Parfum is a perfume solution with a 10-15% compound.
· Eau de Toilette (EDT)
Eau de Toilette is a perfume solution with a 3-8% compound in an oil and water base.
· Earthy
Earthy is a term used by perfumers to describe notes that resemble earth, dirt, moss, and other such scents.
· Essential oil
Essential oils are the concentrated essences that are the product of the distillation or expression of plants, including flowers, leaves, wood and grass.
· Evanescent
Evanescent is a word used to describe a fragrance that disappears quickly.
· Expression
Expression, or cold press extraction, is the process of removing essential oils from plant material, like citrus peel, consisting of forcing the oil from the plant material.
· Extraction
Extraction is the process of removing essential oils from plant material using solvents, which are then evaporated, leaving just the oil.
· Extract
An extract is a perfume that has 15-45% compound in an alcohol base.
· Fixative
A fixative is an ingredient added to perfume to make it last longer, similar to a preservative.
· Flat
A flat fragrance is like a flat beer – no body, no lift, uninteresting.
· Floral
Floral is a fragrance scent that resembles flowers, and is usually described as smooth or natural.
· Flowery
Flowery is a fragrance with flower or flower petal notes.
· Forest blends
Forest blend perfumes have earthy, woodsy, natural notes.
· Fresh
Fresh is a term often used to describe citrus or green notes, found in light perfumes.
· Fruity
Fruity is a term used to describe a fragrance that has fruit scents, but not citrus fruits. It’s usually a kind of sweet-sour scent, like apples, strawberries, pineapples or bananas.
· Full-bodied
Full-bodied refers to a fragrance that’s rich and has depth.
· Fungal
Fungal is used to describe a fragrance that has notes of mushrooms, fungus, or mould, like oakmoss.
· Fragrance
Fragrance is often used interchangeably with perfume, but they’re not quite the same thing – fragrance is the scent of the perfume; perfume is the product itself.
· Green
Green is a fragrance note that resembles freshly cut grass, or leaves, and it gives the perfume a vibrant scent.
· Gums
Gums are the resins that are extracted from the bark, branches and leaves of trees.
· Harmonious
Harmonious is a word used by perfumers to describe a fragrance that’s well mixed and well balanced.
· Heady
Heady fragrances make you feel light-headed, exhilarated or stimulated.
· Heart
Heart refers to the main theme, or the middle of the perfume.
· Heavy
Heavy refers to a fragrance that’s potent and not vibrant, and is often described as sweet or balsamic.
· Herbaceous
Herbaceous refers to a fragrance that’s natural and hay-like, maybe even a little therapeutic. Some examples are chamomile, lavender, rosemary and sage.
· Honey
Honey is a term used to describe a fragrance that has a very sweet, almost medicinal scent – very heavy and syrupy.
· Jasmine
Jasmine is an absolute used in perfume. There are two kinds – European, and South Asian.
· Lift
Lift is a term used to describe a fragrance that has life and brilliance.
· Light
Light refers to a fragrance that’s not heavy – go figure!
· Middle notes
The middle notes are the fragrances that make up the main theme or the heart of a perfume. They usually appear about 10-20 minutes after the perfume is applied.
· Modern
A modern perfume would be the opposite of a classic perfume – usually using new aroma chemicals, rather than natural materials. It usually has a light fragrance.
· Mossy
Mossy refers to fragrances that have earthy notes, like the forest floor.
· Muguet
Muguet is the French word for Lily of the Valley, one of the most popular florals used in perfumery.
· Narcotic
Narcotic is the term used to describe the fragrance of some floral notes, said to be intoxicating.
· Note
Note can refer to a single scent in a perfume, or it may be used to refer to one of the three stages of evaporation of a perfume, which are the top note, the middle note and the bottom note, the top being the first to evaporate.
· Oriental
Oriental is a term that, in the past, was used to describe fragrances with balsamic, vanilla, oakmoss and animalic notes, but more recently has been used to describe fragrances that are heavy and full-bodied. Some examples of oriental perfumes are Opium, Obsession, Shalimar, and Samsara.
· Perfume
Perfume, or parfum, as it is sometimes called, is the highest concentration of oils, with 20-50% compound, which makes it last longer than others.
· Perfumer
Perfumer is a multi-use word, used to describe a person who either creates, mixes, or sells perfume.
· Powdery
Powdery is a word used to describe a fragrance produced by a combination of a heavy, sweet or woody note with a citrus, fruit or light green note.
· Resinoids
Resinoids are extracts from gums or resins that are used as fixatives in perfumes.
· Rose
Rose is used to describe one of the most common notes in perfumery which, of course, comes from rose petals.
· Spicy
Spicy describes fragrance notes that have a warm or hot character, as opposed to the neutral or cool Herbal notes. Their scent is pungent, similar to those of cinnamon, or clove and thyme oil.
· Stability
Stability refers to how long a fragrance lasts, either in the bottle with the other ingredients, or exposed to heat, light or air.
· Strength
The strength of a fragrance refers to how intense its scent is.
· Substantivity
Substantivity refers to how long a fragrance lasts on a particular surface, and how it’s affected by temperature, humidity, and other such conditions.
· Sweet
The sweetness of a fragrance can be described in several ways – it can be used to refer to a vanilla sweetness, a floral sweetness, or a fruity sweetness. Whichever one is used, it refers to a rich, sweet taste.
· Synthetic
Synthetic is a term that’s used to refer to a substance that’s man-made, with the specific purpose of duplicating a particular scent. Synthetics are sometimes better than natural materials because their properties can be controlled, but for therapeutic use NEVER use a synthetic!
· Tenacious
A tenacious fragrance will last a long time, keeping it’s main theme or scent.
· Thin
A thin fragrance lacks body or depth.
· Top note
The top note of a perfume is the fragrance that you initially smell. Top notes are usually light, citrus notes.
· Velvety
A velvety fragrance is smooth and mellow, without any harsh notes.
      · Woody
         Woody fragrances are those that have forest notes, like freshly cut dry wood such as        cedarwood and sandalwood.


I sincerely hope this list helps describe any perfumery or aromatic questions you may have about their definitions. If there is one not listed here, please email me and I'll add it to the list...
thanks and happy scenting!

Friday, June 4, 2010

Excellent Resources for Serious Scientific Studies of Essential Oils

The Essential Oil Resource and the International Journal of Essential Oil Therapeutics are Both  excellent sources for those serious about the scientific studies done with essential oils and aromatic substances.
http://www.essentialoilresource.com/
http://www.ijeot.com/shp/index2.php

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES FOR MIND, BODY and SPIRIT by American Cancer Society

Here are a few alternative and complementary therapies that can aid health in mind, body and spirit.
A good attitude and healthy spirit may have positive physical effects on the whole body :)

Aomatherapy 
Aromatherapy is my favorite of these. I love making purfumes and remedies with essential oils. It's also one of the fastest growing health mediums in the scientific world
Art Therapy
Art is always a great release of the spirit...letting it fly, persay is one of the healthiest things you can do for yourself.
Ayurveda
an old tradition that still has merit in today's modern alternative healing arts
Bioenergetics
Biofeedback
Breathwork
Crystals
Curanderismo
Cymatic Therapy
Dance Therapy
dancing is a wonderful way to be fit and is a great workout for the spirit as well, just boogie around the kitchen next time you're cooking and tell me you didn't smile!
Faith Healing
a miracle could be out there for you, if you believe in it.
Feng Shui
Holistic Medicine
I believe this should be practiced by every doctor, and layperson that calls themselves a healer. Treating the body, mind and spirit as a whole is the only way to really "heal".
Humor Therapy
everyone could use a good laugh!
Hypnosis
Imagery
Kirlian Photography
Labyrinth Walking
Meditation
super way to increase health by reducing stress on a daily basis
Music Therapy
music to me is a connection of the physical world to the spirit world, it can be a magical healing  tool for anyone.
Native American Healing
Naturopathic Medicine
Neuro-Linguistic Programming
Psychotherapy
Qigong
Another one of my faves...the art of using breath and breathing techniques for healing work is underestimated
Shamanism
Spirituality and Prayer
never underestimate the power of prayer, it can work miracles!
Support Groups
we all need a little support now and again. 
Tai Chi
this ancient art of the eastern people is a fabulous and fun way to keep a healthy mind, body and spirit
Yoga
 another favorite of mine! Yoga is a fabulous fitness for every part of you, physical, mental and spiritual.

This blog is for those interested in understanding aromatherapy, essential oils, natural remedies, and healthy living tips.

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