Staying Healthy Using Essential Oils rich in 1,8 cineole: Certain essential oil components provide an impressively wide range of well-researched therapeutic properties. 1,8 cineole stands out as a particularly effective chemical component worth considering in your aromatherapy blending-especially during the winter season.

Throughout the history of spiritual practice, fragrance is repeatedly associated with the Divine. Aromas are an invisible expression of love and spirit. Aroma, prayer, and meditation are all cross-cultural and languages of no words...and move us to a place of stillness and solitude. It is no wonder we find them together since the beginning of time. As we all yearn to commune with God and place ourselves in the presence of the Divine, combining our concentration with a sense of wonderment can be greatly assisted by fragrance and aroma. We strive to transcend our worldly concerns, be still, and find the Holy Joy of the innocent. It is by grace that we are given these momentary releases from restlessness and the mundane.

Scents and Flavors for the Autumn Season: Autumn is upon us and here in New England it is the fall foliage that draws many people to this area of the country for leaf peeping. It is also the time of year when we start to think of the warming herbs, spices and scents. The last day of this month is when children and adults alike celebrate Halloween. For an alternative to the regular trick-or-treat candy, consider hosting a Halloween party offering a selection of harvest/seasonal delectables. One of the main courses could be pumpkin or squash soup that includes seasonal apples. All of our orange vegetables and fruits are loaded with beta-carotene and Vitamin A. I always include spices such as ginger and nutmeg for flavoring. You could also include or substitute with clove, cardamom and cinnamon. Being an herbalist as well as an aromatherapist, I alternate between using fresh or dried herbs as well as essential oils. But remember a little bit goes a long way.

Back to school with aromatherapy: Every school year I add another essential oil to my arsenal of therapies I use to deal with the "sickies and ickies" that the kids pick up at school. My kids are totally healthy all summer long but once they hit the classroom it seems the germs accumulate overnight. With aromatherapy we encounter less and less sick days as the years go on. There are several lines of defense that a mother can take. It takes a combination of being proactive and reactive to get through a school year successfully.

Flu Virus and Essential Oil Awareness

By Marge Clark

Concern continues over the possibility of contracting the H1N1 (Swine) Flu virus, particularly for those in the higher risk categories as determined by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC): children, young adults, and pregnant women, as we move into the traditional…