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About Clary Sage Essential Oil

Belle — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 05:12:23 +0000

Do you know that Clary Sage essential oil has a particular affinity for the female cycle? Its scent, said to be the most euphoric of all essential oils, gives it calming and soothing qualities that relieve painful periods, premenstrual tension, and abdominal cramps. Other female problems it treats are irregular and absent menstruation.

This delightful oil, distilled from the flowers of the European herb, Salvia sclarea, has a sharp, nutty herbal uplifting aroma that makes it very useful for treating the mind and emotions. It promotes communication; helps with frigidity, depression, and stress-related problems. In fact, it helps to uplift the most despondent person and release depressed thoughts.

It soothes and eases tension in troubled times and is relaxing when faced with apprehension.

In skin care, Clary sage is helpful as an anti-wrinkle application, especially for older skins; promotes cell regeneration, and regulates sebum production providing treatment for premenstrual facial blemishes.

Use this essential oil as a massage blend, a vapourisation, therapeutic bath, diluted for direct application such as rubbing in to the temples to ease headache, and as a facial oil.

Warning: Do not use during pregnancy or combined with alcohol. It may cause drowsiness so do not use before driving. Always follow the directions on the label.

Roman Chamomile Essential Oil

Belle — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 11:09:13 +0000

This is a delightful essential oil that helps to calm and sooth the mind and body and ease irritability.

As a massage blend it’s very useful for balancing the female reproductive organs helping to regulate menstruation, ease premenstrual tension, and relieve painful menstruation.

Because Roman chamomile (Anthemis nobilis) essential oil is anti-inflammatory it can be used in a massage oil blend to treat skin allergies such as eczema and to relieve skin irritations. It’s also deodorizing and helps to lighten fair hair.

Make a massage oil blend and rub in to the neck and shoulders to help relieve insomnia, migraine headache, stress and tension. It can also be massaged in to any part of the body to help relieve aches and pains and over the abdomen in a clockwise direction to help ease the discomfort of indigestion.

Add a few drops to a child’s bath to help relieve upset tummies, teething, and fretful moments.

Other conditions that benefit from applications of a massage oil blend made with this essential oil are flatulence, rheumatism, and gout.

Warning: Use with care if suffering from low blood pressure.

Cedarwood Essential Oil

Belle — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 05:09:41 +0000

Highly valued since ancient times, Cedarwood essential oil has calming, astringent and drying actions that make it useful for the treatment of many conditions and beneficial for skin care.

In ancient Egypt beauticians valued this oil for its preserving qualities so it comes as no surprise that it’s still used today for regenerating and preserving the skin as well as restoring hair.

Derived from two species, Juniperus virginiana and Cedrus atlantica, genuine Cedarwood essenital oil has the aroma of a freshly cut tree that gives a delightful restful effect of being in a forest. Its relaxing and regenerating properties help to release long-term anxiety and reduce stress.

Conditions this remarkable oil benefits include hair loss when combined with rosemary, psoriasis, dermatitis, eczema, and dandruff as well as those that affect the respiratory system such as catarrh, bronchitis, mucous congestion, and sinusitis. It’s also an excellent deodorizer, which makes it ideal for foot baths.

Other uses for Cedarwood essential oil include direct application to help oily skin and heal shaving nicks; diluted it can be used to treat pimples and acne as well as part of a blend for skin and facial applications. After washing hair add a couple of drops of the oil to the final rinse water to treat dandruff, seborrhoea and maintain a healthy scalp. For respiratory problems and to calm tension and stress use the oil in a vapouriser, a therapeutic bath or as a steam inhalation. Its refreshing woody aroma makes it a popular ingredient in men’s toiletries.

Warning: Do not use during pregnancy.

Basil Essential Oil

Belle — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 07:00:55 +0000

Not only one of the best essential oils for relieving mental fatigue basil (Ocimum basilicum) also has a wonderfully clarifying effect on the brain helping to focus thoughts and promote clear thinking. Other benefits of this uplifting oil include adding it to a vapouriser to help with decision making and improve concentration. It can also be used as an all-round nerve remedy and is very effective when applied as a compress to help relieve migraines.

Use basil essential oil for all manner of respiratory ailments by adding it to a vaporiser, as an inhalant or as a chest rub. This oil can also assist digestion, induce menstruation, and be used as an anti-spasmodic. Other conditions it treats are indigestion, whooping cough, colic, and scanty menstruation. Basil oil can also be used on wasp stings, as a mosquito repellent, and to add shine to hair.

For massage blends use 5 drops of essential oil to every 10ml carrier oil. To use in a vapouriser add 6 to 8 drops to the water, and for inhalation add 3 to 4 drops to a bowl of near boiling water or 1 to 2 drops on to a handkerchief.

Warning: Don’t use this oil for massage during the first three months of pregnancy.

Herbalism and Essential Oils

Belle — Mon, 24 May 2010 12:06:22 +0000

For most of my life I’ve been involved in herbalism both professionally and in my daily life. To me herbalism – whether practiced by a home herbalist, professional herbalist or someone who just enjoys herbs – embraces all uses of herbs from adding interest and colour to gardens to healing illness.

One very popular and beneficial way to use herbs is utilizing their essential oils for massage, healing, and to provide a pleasant and aromatic atmosphere in the home. Although the term ‘Aromatherapy’ was not adopted until the twentieth century, the use of essential oils for healing has been known for thousands of years. Around two thousand years ago Hippocrates, the Father of Medicine, understood the benefits of aromatic baths and massages for restoring mental and physical health.

Essential oils used in aromatherapy are not only distilled from herbs but also from trees, flowers, and bushes. I frequently use these delightful oils when prescribing treatment for my patients and at times the treatment wouldn’t have been successful without their addition. Balancing mind, body, and spirit is so important for treating all conditions whether the primary concern is physical or mental. All cases must be treated holistically.

Following are some wonderful remedies made with essential oils.

To clean scrapes and cuts add 2 drops each of the essential oils of tea tree, bergamot, and lavender to 90mls of filtered or distilled water.

For minor burns add 10 drops of the essential oil of lavender to 90mls of almond carrier oil.

To ease aches and pains add 20 drops of of lavender, 15 drops of orange, and 10 drops of marjoram to 90mls of olive or sweet almond oil.

Bruises can be treated with 20 drops of lavender, 10 drops of sandalwood and 15 drops of juniper added to sweet almond oil.

To help induce a restful sleep add 2 drops each of lavender, sandalwood, and orange to a warm bath or to 90ml of sweet almond oil to use for a relaxing massage.

Some of my favourite blends include these for babies:

To help heal and prevent nappy rash add 20 drops of lavender to 90mls of olive oil and apply at each nappy change.

For cradle cap blend 20 drops of cedarwood to 90mls olive oil and apply after each bath or whenever baby’s hair is washed. Dry the scalp well before applying.

There are many ways essential oils can be used for treatment in the home so I will add remedies as time goes by.

Essential Oils for the Emotions

Belle — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 12:27:06 +0000

Essential oils are not only very beneficial for physical problems but also for the mind, emotions, and spirit. To know true health is to have the mind, body, and spirit nicely balanced or in harmony.

There is much focus these days on physical health yet the mind, and especially the emotions or spiritual aspects of our being are generally neglected. If there is a problem it’s usually shut away to be dealt with at a later date or when there is more time. There are some lovely essential oils that work on the emotional and spiritual level, which means any problems can be helped in a pleasurable and time saving way. Following is a list of emotional problems and corresponding essential oils that will help to dispel them.

Releasing Anger: Chamomile, Rose, Ylang Ylang

Calming Anxiety: Bergamot, Geranium, Lavender, Neroli, Basil

Relieving Boredom: Basil, Frankincense, Peppermint

Enhancing Confidence: Frankincense, Cedarwood, Sandalwood, Vetiver

Clarifying Confusion: Rose, Lemon, Cypress

Uplifting Depression: Bergamot, Clary Sage, Patchouli, Ylang Ylang

Calming Emotional Instability: Bergamot, Geranium, Neroli

Releasing Jealousy, Envy, and Resentment: Juniper, Thyme, Rose

Dispersing Fears: Frankincense, Lavender, Sandalwood

Releasing Frigidity: Chamomile, Clary Sage, Ylang Ylang

Soothing Grief: Marjoram, Rose

Relieving Insomnia: Bergamot, Lavender, Marjoram, Neroli, Orange

Settling Impatience, Irritability: Lavender, Neroli, Rose, Ylang Ylang

Releasing Mental Fatigue/Helping Poor Memory: Basil, Rosemary, Lemongrass, Pine

Calming Nightmares: Bergamot, Frankincense, Sage

Releasing Stress: Bergamot, Lavender, Neroli, Rose, Sandalwood, Myrrh

Healing Emotional Wounds: Chamomile, Rose

To use these essential oils for their corresponding emotional problems apply them as a single remedy or a blend in a vaporiser, added to pure water as a room spray, or in a carrier oil for massage. They can also be applied to a tissue or handkerchief and sniffed as often as desired.

For massage oils always use the ratio of 5 drops of essential oil to 10 ml carrier oil; don’t use them directly on the skin and follow directions on the labels.

Comfrey, a Great Healer

Belle — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 07:38:41 +0000

Many years ago when I first started studying to be a medical herbalist my husband badly injured his little finger at our shop; it was almost cut right through and only had a small amount of flesh still holding it together. He phoned me at home and told me he’d hurt his finger. Not realizing how bad it was I told him to go across the road to the ambulance and I’d drive straight to our shop, which was only a minute or so away.

Back then the ambulance used to dress wounds and attend to minor injuries but they haven’t done that for quite some time now. When I got there the ambulance officer on duty had told my husband it was too bad an injury for him to do anything with it and to go to the hospital. When I realized that it wasn’t just a deep cut but a severed finger I felt terrible; I should have told him to go to the hospital not the ambulance!

I had to mind the shop so my husband drove himself to the hospital where he was admitted straight away and taken into surgery as soon as the surgeon could get there. Refusing to follow my husband’s wishes and amputate the finger, the surgeon pinned the severed half back on to the remaining stump.

Two weeks later my husband had to go for a check-up and have the pin removed. When the surgeon pulled the pin out the finger came apart! So he pushed it back together and sent my husband away telling him to give it another two weeks to heal.

When I was told what happened I suggested we rub the comfrey ointment I had made in to the finger. We did this for the two weeks and when the surgeon pulled the pin out the finger remained intact. He was totally amazed so my husband told him that we had applied comfrey ointment to the finger. At that stage comfrey had been banned for internal and external use in Australia. There was such an uproar over this that the ‘powers-that-be’ eventually allowed us to use the herb externally. Anyway, getting back to the surgeon, he couldn’t get over how well the comfrey ointment had healed the finger and said to my husband, “How were you able to get it?” To which my husband laughingly replied, “Can’t tell you that.” “Well anyway,” said the surgeon,” just keep using it – it’s a great healer.”

One of comfrey’s common names is Knit Bone and this story certainly adds credence to such a name. If any of you have stories about using comfrey we’d love you to share them with us.

Medicinal Herbs at the Markets

Belle — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 10:46:16 +0000

Thyme, Dogbane, Aloe vera, Soapwort

Once a month when the popular Nanango Markets are held it’s very difficult to find a parking space. People come from a widespread area to purchase all manner of items but one of the most popular stalls is the one selling medicinal herbs and garden plants. This stall is usually my first port of call, I just cannot resist buying more herbs and they are usually of very good quality.

This morning I bought Pet Grass for my little elderly feline and eight year old cockatiel; I have written about it in a separate article. I also bought some beautiful quartz crystals to use for making orgonite, which is a project for next week.

Other items of discovery were a couple of books about gardening and herbs (of course), and a beautiful enameled dress ring I bought from an Asian lady who ran after me when I left the stall; she gave me a complimentary CD of Buddhism chants. To receive such an unexpected gift really made my day.

Below are some more photos of the herbs for sale at the markets. Market stalls selling herbs like these give those interested in herbalism the chance to have a very useful herb garden.

Various Varieties of Basil

Mexican and French Tarragon

Lovage

Lamb's Ears

Herbal Teas

Belle — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 07:10:44 +0000

Over the years I have tried many herbal teas, I call them teas because they are tea substitutes made the same way as tea. Herbal infusions are used to extract the medicinal properties from herbs so they can be used therapeutically while herbal teas are used for a ‘quick fix’ or just to have a refreshing drink.

Lemon balm tea is great when you’ve had a big day and need to relax and unwind. Add a little mint to it to help you rejuvenate if you still need to prepare dinner and so-on. Taken just before bed, lemon balm will give you a restful sleep.

Chamomile will help ease an upset tummy caused from stress or nervousness and it will help calm nerves as well as help you sleep. It’s also very good for children and you can add honey and milk to it if they prefer.

Sage tea made with hot milk and sweetened with honey is excellent for those sleepless nights and it’s also another good one for restless children.

Cinnamon tea is delicious and is very warming when feeling chilled or feel the need for comfort. It will also help warm the stomach and digest food after a heavy meal.

Ginger tea is great for a bloated and/or a nauseous tummy and for warming the body. It’s also a good pick-me-up and helps with morning sickness.

Lemon grass tea tastes delicious and is very refreshing. I like it on its own or added to tea leaves in a pot. It’s also very refreshing on a hot day and is useful when feeling a little tired.

Mints make lovely refreshing and cooling teas. They are particularly good in summer for refreshing and rejuvenating a tired, hot body.

Rosemary tea gives a clearer head when doing bookwork, studying, or anything that needs a great deal of concentration. It’s also warming and calming.

Parsley tea is great if you feel that you’ve eaten or drunk too much of the wrong thing as it helps to flush out toxic material from the body system. It’s also very refreshing and nutritious.

Sometimes I like to blend my teas, for instance, I will add mint to parsley tea if I feel my digestion is sluggish and need a general pick-me-up. I also like to combine ginger and cinnamon when I feel chilled – I wouldn’t have them on a hot day as they are very warming.

Milky tea with a good sprinkle of cinnamon is a delicious night-cap that helps give a relaxing sleep; it’s also very good throughout the day to help calm the nerves.

Dill is another herb that can be taken as a tea to help expel gas and relieve a bloated stomach.

Parsley leaves combined with chopped shallots and made as a tea will help flush out and cleanse the urinary tract when suffering from cystitis.

Pregnant women should be careful of how much herb tea they drink; always check to see if any particular herb is safe during pregnancy before having too much of it.

I’ll add more herbal teas here as time goes by.

Until my next post stay healthy, happy and wise!

Sunflowers Are More Than Flowers

Belle — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:49:30 +0000

“Bring me then the plant that points to those bright Lucidites swirling up from the earth, And life itself exhaling that central breath! Bring me the sunflower crazed with the love of light” Eugenio Montale

Sunflowers (Helianthus annuus) are a favourite of mine and when my new herb and vegetable garden is ready to plant I’ll have rows of these happy and bright flowers along each side. I love the way their heads follow the sun. Not far from where I live farmers grow fields of sunflowers for their seeds; when we drive past the farm in the morning their heads are turned east toward the sun and on our return in the afternoon they have followed the sun and are facing west.

Do you know that their petals can be added to salads and a decoction of the seeds can be taken as a tea to relieve dysentery, coughs, and inflammation of the kidneys? Eating sunflower seeds is said to remove radiation from the body; a woman researcher in the Soviet Union, Dr Dr. A. A. Rubanavskaya, used sunflower seeds to bind and eliminate radiation from the system.

First cultivated around 3,000 years ago by the American Indians, this beautiful large flower is dedicated to the Greek sun god, Helios. Because of their colour and appearance they’ve continually been associated with the sun. In the fifteenth century sunflowers were used to crown the heads of Aztec sun priestesses who also carried them in their hands and even wore gold jewellery adorned with sunflower motifs. They became popular in Europe after they were introduced by Spanish explorers in the sixteenth century and in Russia large scale cultivation began that resulted in the seeds being offered in large bowls at railway stations and sold on street corners.

Every part of this remarkable flower can be used. The Chinese have cultivated the plant for thousands of years and have used it for making coarse ropes, as a moxa in acupuncture, and in the making of silk. Because the pith is one of the lightest substances known it is used in scientific laboratories but one of the plant’s most interesting uses is its ability to absorb water from the soil. So successful is this process that the plant was used in the reclamation of marshy lands in the Netherlands.

Cultivation

Grow in full sun and any well drained loamy soil. Sow seeds in their shell in spring and avoid planting near potatoes otherwise their growth becomes stunted. Place seedlings or thin plants to 30 to 45 cms apart ( 12 to 18 in). Harvest leaves and flower buds as required, and stems in the autumn. Cut flower heads when they droop and hang until the seeds fall. Preserve by drying the leaves and seed; petals wont’ dry well so use while fresh.

Uses

Sunflowers can be grown as a windbreak or an attractive focal point in the garden such as a central ciruclar bed or background. Shell and eat the kernels roasted or raw; make nibbles or a snack by browning 25 g (1 oz) of seed in 2.5 ml (1/2 tsp) oil, drain well then toss in salt. Sprout seeds and when they’re about 6 mm (1/4) long add to salads and sandwiches. Raw buds can be eaten in salads or steamed and served like globe artichokes.

Grow sunflowers near the house to drain wet ground or help deter rising damp. Flowers can boiled and used as a yellow dye, and whole seeds fed to chickens will increase egg laying. Ashes from the burnt plant can be used as potash fertilizer. The pressed oil contains Vitamin F, which is very beneficial for the skin so use it in home-made skin care products.

To treat the above conditions eat a handful of seeds or boil for 20 minutes and take as a tea, alternatively take 15 drops of sunflower seed oil three times a day.

Magical Properties

Use for protection and fertility. Grow flowers in the garden to bring blessings of the Sun. For help with conception women often eat the seeds during the waxing moon.

Parts Used: Seed

Temperament: Hot

Planet: Sun

Element: fire