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…
Cleaning with essential oils: To Green Clean with essential oils, all you need is some distilled white vinegar, baking soda, essential oils, water, a measuring cup and some recycled spray bottles or jam jars. Essential oils to have on hand are Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) and Tea Tree (Melaleuca alternifolia), which are known to have strong antibacterial properties, especially when mixed together. More of the effective essences used for cleaning are Lemon (Citus limon), Orange (Citrus sinensis), Pine (Pinus sylvestris), Eucalyptus (E. globulus), Thyme (Thymus vulgaris), Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum), Clove (Eugenia caryophyllata) and others can be added for their fragrance and other properties.
Feet Treat: They come in all different shapes, sizes and we usually don't think about them until they hurt us. Yes, I'm talking about our feet! They do so much for us on a daily basis but for the most part are neglected. It's time to give a little gratitude to our feet and take time out to give them a little attention. Warning: This tip may cause you to relax so do not operate any heavy machinery afterwards:) What you'll need: 1 golf ball, 1 - 1 oz. bottle with a screw top or flip cap, 1 oz. jojoba (or carrier oil of your choice), 7 drops Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) essential oil, 5 drops Geranium (Pelargonium graveolens) essential oil, 2 drops Cypress (Cupressus sempervirens) essential oil.