Category: Aromatherapy

Protect yourself, your kids, and your dog from ticks!

 

 

 

These are 2 products I’ve been making for many years now and they are the best natural products for preventing Lyme disease. Protect Potion is made from all natural ingredients, 6 of which are the most potent organic essential oils to protect you and your kids from ticks, mosquitoes, and other biting insects. Protect Pup is a slightly different formula – safe for dogs – that also repels fleas. The added benefit of these being made with essential oils is that they smell great and have aromatherapy benefits. They are naturally antibacterial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and uplift and balance the mood.

PROTECT POTION ~  $15 per 10 ml bottle

PROTECT PUP ~  $15 per 2 oz spray bottle

Vegan and non-toxic.

FAQs:
1. How long will it last? One bottle will last one person all summer – possibly enough for two people depending on your level of outdoor activity.
2. Is it safe for kids? Yes.
3. Is it safe during pregnancy? Pregnant women should consult an aromatherapist (like myself) or midwife before using as this does contain two types of eucalyptus which can be contraindicated in pregnancy because they have stimulant effects. 

To order: email, call, or text. I will mail you the products or you can pick them up at my office. You will receive a PayPal invoice to pay.

Sinus Blend

Yesterday I made a batch of a therapeutic aromatherapy blend that I call Sinus Blend. After an exciting class last night, as well as handing some out as gifts, the batch is gone and I will be making more! I want to take a moment to explain this blend: what it is and how to use it.

mmelaleuca

ABOUT THE BLEND: This blend is great for clogged or runny sinuses, but more accurately it is a blend that assists the whole respiratory system. This is different than my Dream Drops formula because it is made in a base of what Aromatherapists call ‘carrier oils’ while the Dream Drops is “neat” – which means just straight essential oils (no carrier). The reason I make the Dream Drops without a carrier is that people like to use it on pillows and linens and this way it will not stain or leave an oil splotch. The Sinus Blend uses some more intense oils that work well with the carrier oil to make it non-irritating to use on skin and kids. This is why it is in a dropper bottle – so it can easily come out! Do not take internally.

ABOUT THE OILS: The carrier oil I use is a blend of grapeseed and sweet almond oil. The essential oils in this blend are: certified organic Niaouli (also known as MQV), wild crafted (this is even better than organic!) Rosemary, and certified organic Eucalyptus radiata. The quality of the oils is key. What you can buy in the health food store is a very different grade of essential oils than what I use in all my formulas. The oils I use I order from the shop connected to the Pacific Institute of Aromatherapy and come direct from the distillers all over the world. If you get into aromatherapy, you will start hearing a lot of companies claim that their oils are “therapeutic grade”. A lot of times that is nonsense. The oils I use are beyond therapeutic grade, they are in fact medicinal grade – the same that are used in the hospitals in France and other countries where aromatherapy is highly respected and researched (and even used internally – do not try this on your own).

HOW TO USE: Sinus blend can be used on adults, kids, and even babies (just one drop – and if your baby is super sensitive I can make a more diluted version or you can drop it into unscented lotion to dilute). It is wonderful to massage into your chest and back. It can even be used on your face – massaged over your sinus area (do not get near eyes – it is strong!). You can also put a few drops into a bath (or more if you like). Add it to unscented lotions or massage oils for a lighter scent. If you are sick, it is nice to massage this onto your chest then close yourself in the bathroom and run hot water to steam up the room. Sit in the steam for 10-15 minutes.

WHY I DISSED VICKS VAPORUB: So at the class last night, I mentioned that this is kind of used like Vicks because that is something everyone knows. But then I said Vicks is a horrible product because that is my opinion. The oils are not pure, not organic, and it is in a base of petrolatum (that is the sludge that is left over in the pipes when oil is refined into gasoline). I do not use any petrolatum products on my body – that means no Baby Oil and no Vaseline or anything related. Simply said they are toxic and carcinogenic. There are plenty of studies to read on that if you want to find out more, just do some research and you will see.

Thank you and I hope you can breathe more easily with the Sinus Blend on hand. To order, call me at (619) 405 – 4226 or email me at jessica@wellnessthroughwisdom.com.

With love,

Jessica d’Arcy

PS – The photo above is of Niaouli (MQV) Melaleuca quinquenervia.

Aromatherapy Blend For Coughs And Colds

I put together a blend of essential oils today to help with my son’s minor cough and runny nose. A welcomed side effect was that it made our house smell great and purified the air.

Most of us tend to reach for Eucalyptus for colds, which is great, but sometimes a combination of other oils works better and is an uplifting change. Niaouli, Melaleuca quinquenervia, is also wonderful. If you are unfamiliar with this oil, it is also known as MQV, and has similar qualities to Tea Tree Oil, but is at least ten times more potent. Try inhaling it by putting a few drops on a tissue then breathing in deeply from both the nose and mouth.

I made this blend today and dropped it into the vaporizer with the water. It is diffusing nicely and is less medicinal in scent than the usual Eucalyptus route. I order all of my oils from Original Swiss Aromatics because they are the highest quality oils in my opinion.

Add 5 drops each (or play around to create your own recipe):

DILL WEED, Anethum graveolens: Dill essential oil is great for bronchial infections and is considered mucolytic, which means it breaks up mucus.

CYPRESS, Cupressus sempervirens:  It is important to buy real Cypress oil because a lot of what is available is not authentic and therefore will not have the qualities you are looking for. This oil is excellent for respiratory conditions and I find it helpful for runny noses.

ROSEMARY, Rosmarinus officinalis: Wonderful oil for upper respiratory conditions and even the flu. Again, making sure you have true Rosemary oil is key.

MARJORAM, Origanum majorana: This oil is another good herb for the respiratory system and is considered “antiinfectious with spamolytic qualities.” The Pacific Institute of Aromatherapy recommends it for treating Whooping Cough.

I hope you enjoy this blend as much as we are! I am a Certified Aromatherapist and available to make custom blends for people as well as all natural perfumes tailored to your emotional, spiritual, and physical needs.

Be well ~

Jessica

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An Introduction To Aromatherapy

WHAT IS AROMATHERAPY?
Aromatherapy is the art of using scents – more specifically essential oils, which are distilled or extracted from plants – to create health spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and physically.

There is much debate about why plants produce essential oils because plants do not appear to use these oils for their own functions or survival. In fact, some plants produce hundreds of extra substances that scientists cannot determine uses for within the plant. One of the theories in herbalism is that plants are producing these substances as medicines for humans.

THE EVOLUTION OF AROMATHERAPY
Evidence of the use of aromatic plant oils can be traced back thousands of years to the ancient Egyptians who used the oils in the mummification process. Aromatic plants were used in ancient times in Chinese, Indian, Middle Eastern, Greek, and Roman cultures, to name a few, for both cosmetic and medicinal purposes. Though the popularity of using aromatics declined after the fall of the Roman Empire, the art of using herbs / aromatics was preserved in the monasteries.

Avicenna (AD 980 – 1037) was an Arab scholar and physician who invented the refrigerated coil which was considered a break-through because it allowed essential oils to be steam distilled, though archaeological discoveries in Pakistan have discovered that this process was being used around 3000 BC in the ancient Indus Valley. Avicenna’s invention spread through Europe. Herbs and spices from all parts of the world were then being discovered and and traded and distilled for perfumes, alchemy, and medical interests.

The term “aromatherapy” was coined by a French Chemist named Rene-Maurice Gattefosse in 1928. He accidentally discovered the healing effects of lavender oil after he burned his hand severely during his work at his family’s perfume business and plunged his hand into the nearest container of liquid – lavender essential oil. He was amazed to discover how the lavender healed the burn and left him without a scar. He went on to publish many works on the healing properties and psychotherapeutic benefits of essential oils. Lavender oil is still used in hospitals in France and other parts of Europe to treat burn victims.

PURCHASING ESSENTIAL OILS
Essential oils can be purchased at many health food stores, as well as online. Always use pure (organic if possible) essential oils – buying cheap oils is a waste of money because they may contain solvents or other chemicals. If you are pregnant, you should not use essential oils without consulting an aromatherapist, as certain oils are considered abortifacients. Some essential oils also cause phototoxicity for some people, so it is best to use sunscreen or avoid harsh sun if you are using the oils directly on your skin, especially if you are sensitive to the sun.

When buying oils, check the label for the botanical name of the plant which should be listed by genus followed by species. For example, Jasmine is the common name for the plant whose botanical name is: Jasminum (genus) officinale (species).

INTERESTING STUDIES IN ENGLAND
In England, aromatherapy has been studied for as means of lessening anxiety and stress for intensive care patients. See article: http://internethealthlibrary.com/HealthinHospitals/intensivecare.htm

Recently, scientists researching essential oils have found that it is effective for killing ‘superbugs’ such as MRSA which are present in hospitals and responsible for thousands of deaths per year, effecting people with weakened immune systems. According to the BBC article, http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/1/hi/health/4116053.stm, “The team then tested 40 essential oils against 10 of the most infectious agents found in hospitals, including MRSA (methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus). Two of the oils were found to kill MRSA and E.coli almost instantly, while a third was found to act over a longer period of time.”

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN STUDYING AROMATHERAPY….
My aromatherapy teacher was Francoise Rapp, a Licensed Aromatherapist and Perfumer living in Paris. She offers webclasses and has excellent material to purchase and download on her site: http://aromalchemy.com/

Another wonderful Aromatherapist whose books and articles I rely on is Jeanne Rose. She is the Director of the Institute of Aromatic Studies. She offers home study courses and classes in the San Francisco area. She also sells high quality oils on her site: http://www.jeannerose.net/