Oils on Deadline

By Jeanne Ruczhak-Eckman

The diffuser is working overtime today! I have classical music playing and the diffuser going strong as I work on finishing up laying out our Winter issue. I am so excited about our premiere issue – and a bit stressed! Hence, the diffuser today. I am using a combination of a recipe I found and another oil that I know to be comforting.

 

yl-groundingDIY Aromatherapy, a great reference book by Rockridge Press, offers a “Take a Deep Breath Calming Diffuser Recipe” which I adapted slightly. Their recipe was simply two drops each of Orange Essential Oil and Peppermint Essential Oil. I added Grounding Essential Oil. It is a nice blend of White Fir, Spruce, Ylang Ylang, Pine, Cedarwood, Angelica, and Juniper.

 

Ingredients:
2 drops Orange Essential Oil
2 drops Peppermint Essential Oil
2 drops Grounding Essential Oil

 

I combined the oils in my diffuser although an oil burner would work as well. The diffuser is set up on the other side of the room for two reasons. First, it is my only free outlet. Second, sometimes during my experiments the oils and my stomach do not always agree! So far, this is combination is doing exactly what I hoped for, although the orange smell is stronger than expected. That said, I am not a big citrus person so it may just be me. Back to finishing up the layout and prepping for a business-related class tonight.

 

© Therapeutic Thymes, 2016

Wounded Warrior Project Hosts Essential Oils Event

JACKSONVILLE, FL – Veterans and their family members were given the opportunity to explore the benefits of essential oils during a recent Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) program. Participants were able to make their own creations using a variety of ingredients.

essential-oils-medical-flowers-herbs-herb-46629883Essential oils can be used for numerous purposes, from detoxifying the air and all-purpose cleaning to reducing stress and anxiety. Each participant made their own custom room spray and sugar scrub. They also learned about different essential oils, their popular uses, and the positive effects they can have on injured veterans.

“This particular event caught my attention because I’m quite fond of oils, especially since my two children suffer from seasonal eczema,” said Army veteran and Army spouse Ingrid Mateo. “Making the scrub and room spray from scratch was a really neat and fun learning experience.”

“I noticed something very interesting during this gathering,” she continued. “In spite of the fact that it was mostly spouses, we all wanted to create scrubs and room spray scents that would be accommodating to our veterans at home. It just further proved that even when we are doing something for ourselves, we are still a team – one with our warriors.”

Logo WWPDuring program event activities, WWP staff closely interact with attendees and advise them of additional services that can assist their recovery. Generous donors make it possible for wounded veterans to participate in a variety of activities that empower them to take control of their lives, and these programs and services are offered free of charge, for a lifetime.

WWP is a national, nonpartisan organization headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida. To get involved and learn more, visit woundedwarriorproject.org.

 

Note: The above was a press release from PR Newswire.

© Therapeutic Thymes, 2016

Starting Out with Lavender Oil

LavenderLavender is a great starter essential oil. There are so many uses for it. It is great for treating minor wounds, burns and insect bites. It is a relaxing oil, a mood stabilizer, and a stress reliever … and so much more!

Have sleeping problems? Try putting a drop or two of lavender essential oil on your pillow before bedtime. One of my daughters has problems sleeping and we have tried everything from lavender room sprays to those lavender scented eye masks. She found them to be too strong a scent. A couple drops on her feet though at night and she seems to sleep much better.

Summer is here and so are the bees and insects. If you are prone to bee stings, carry a lavender roll on with you. Just a touch can take away the sting and reduce that awful swelling.

Lavender helps with minor burns too. I am a klutz in the kitchen some days enough so that I used to have an aloe plant next to the stove for when I burnt myself. In my defense, before I got my diabetes somewhat under control I simply could not feel some days so without thinking I would touch things I shouldn’t. Two to three drops of lavender oil on my burn though did the trick. My husband couldn’t even tell where the burn had been! It works for cuts too.

These are just a few properties of this incredible essential oil. Lavender is said to also be used for chickenpox, depression, earache, flatulence, hypertension, irritability, oily skin, panic attacks, stress, stretch marks, vertigo, and whooping cough.

Lavender can be diffused and used aromatically or it can be used topically. Mix a few drops with another oil or use it by itself in your diffuser for a nice soothing time to unwind. Mix the lavender oil with a carrier oil, such as coconut oil, to create a homemade facial scrub

There are so many ways to use lavender oil. Mix and match. Experiment and find out what works best for you. Enjoy!

© Therapeutic Thymes, 2016

Starting out

Everyone has to start somewhere and, since Therapeutic Thymes is also just starting out in its zine form, it makes sense that June’s theme is Starting Out. So, this month we will touch on the basics.

essential-oils-medical-flowers-herbs-herb-46629883There are three different ways to use essential oil, regardless of the type. They are topically, internally, and aromatically. Not all oils should be used in each manner so always be sure to read labels or product information.

Topically is quite simply on the skin. Some oils require dilution and some can be used directly on the skin. Two to three drops should normally suffice in this application. Where should you apply the oil? Common locations are the crown of your head, the temples (especially if you have a headache), behind the ears, your neck, the back, the abdomen, your feet and ankles, and basically anywhere you have skin! If there is a specific issue (like a muscle spasm) then you should massage the oil in overtop that muscle group. For example, I fell at work awhile back. When I got home, I massaged (ok, my husband did since I can’t reach there!) Marjoram Essential Oil over that muscle group. The fall was hard and it took several repeats over the next week but the spasms subsided and I was able to work through the pain.

cup-tea-herbs-2657515Cooking or tea is usually the most common method of internal application. Both lemon oil and peppermint oil are great to add to various recipes. Run out of the herb basil? Then use a couple drops of basil oil.

Each oil also has a different value in regards to aromatherapy. This means when you use a diffuser, not every oil will have the same effect. Lavender is one of the most popular oils because of its relaxing nature. Trying to concentrate? Then try rosemary.

These three methods of using essential oils may get you started but check back soon for more Starting Out Tips!

Young_Living_independent_distributorInterested in becoming a Young Living member or independent distributor yourself, CLICK HERE or email essesntialoils (at) therapeuticthymes.com.

© Therapeutic Thymes, 2016

Lavender Sunburn Relief

sunburnThe kids will be out of school soon. Summer like weather is finally here. It is pool time and beach time and … time for sunburns. Sooner or later, no matter if you are enjoying the pool or working out in your garden, getting a sunburn will happen. When it does, try this refreshing spray to cool the burn. It also works nicely on cuts and scrapes.

LavenderIngredients:
2 ounces Aloe Vera Liquid
10 drops Lavender Essential Oil

Directions:
Fill a 2 ounce spray bottle to just shy of the top with the Aloe. If your aloe is 100%, then go half aloe and half water. Add 10 drops of Lavender Essential Oil. Replace the lid and shake well.

Use:
Shake well before each use. When first burned, spray every 15 minutes or so.

© Therapeutic Thymes, 2016

Essential Oils Tip: How to Make Roll On Bottles

My daughter confided to me yesterday that “those oils are kind of okay, mom!” Since that was like opening a door for me, I went on in and asked her to elaborate. What did she like? What didn’t she like?

She said she did not like when I used them in my diffuser because then they were all over the air. She did admit though that they worked the other night when she complained of her throat feeling all tight and it hurt to swallow. I asked my Young Living Sponsor what she suggested and she said to take a drop of Thieves on the tongue – she warned me about the strong cinnamon taste – and then massage a drop or two along her jawbone. My daughter did not like the taste at first but admitted the pain and discomfort did go away. She then said she thinks – given her limited experiences so far – that she prefers to use the essential oils topically.

Topically. Why not use them like the roll on perfume bottles my mom used to get from Avon? But how do i make them? Well, I found a great YouTube video by Sage Marie that explained how to create my own roll on bottles!

I found it most helpful. Please feel free to take a moment and share your experiences in the comments below.

(c) Jeanne Ruczhak-Eckman, 2016

Rosemary Mint Foot Scrub

Foot-Scrub--300x200Makes 1 ounce
Prep time: 10 minutes

Ingredients:
1 ounce coconut oil
3 drops rosemary essential oil
3 drops peppermint essential oil
½ cup cornmeal

Directions:
Combine coconut oil with rosemary and peppermint oils in a bowl. Slowly stir in the cornmeal until it forms a thick paste. Apply paste to the soles of your feet in a circular scrubbing motion.

Note: Adapted from a recipe found in the 25 October 1985 Indiana Gazette (Indiana, PA). The original recipe used sweet almond oil instead of coconut oil. Both are carrier oils. Other carrier oils include olive oil, shea butter, cocoa butter, grapeseed oil, canola oil, and walnut oil.

© Therapeutic Thymes, 2016

Aromatherapy Awareness Week is approaching

aromatherapy awareness weekThe International Federation of Aromatherapists (IFA) registered Aromatherapy Awareness Week 6- 12 June 2016 aims to bring more recognition of the benefits of Aromatherapy and its role in the health and well-being of the nation. This year the IFA has chosen Palliative Care to be the theme of the Week.

Palliative Care, in short, attends to the patient’s quality of life and pain management. It is associated with end of life care. According to a new report by the National Council for Palliative Care (NCPC) and Public Health England (PHE) more and more people are being able to die at home – the most preferred place to die for many.

The IFA hopes to raise awareness of the beneficial effects of Clinical Aromatherapy in assisting with the neurological and psychological effects of serious illnesses which have been the subject of several successful research studies.

The IFA is a self-governing body who promote the preservation of health by advancing the knowledge and practice of aromatherapy via education, teaching and training.

Editor’s Note: The above was taken in large part from a press release of the IFA.

© Therapeutic Thymes, 2016