It's My Nature February Newsletter

It's My Nature's Aromatherapy and Herbal Comforts
Newsletter - March 16, 2006 - It's My Nature

Welcome to It's My Nature's Newsletter

Spring is just around the corner and ... and ... and we just can't wait. I'm sure the state we live in (Oregon) broke some rainfall records this year. If you are an outdoor person living here, the stress level is a bit high. We get excited when going to a large indoor store just because we're out of the home. We want everyone to be ready for Spring and that's why this month's Tea of the Month is our own House Blend which includes St. John's Wart. It doesn't take long to work it's magic.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Monthly Tip:

Essential Oils carry the energy of the original plant or flower yet have undergone transformation through fire and water in the distillation process. Added to bath water, they help cleanse the energetic field of the water and add healing energy...

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

25 Uses for Essential Oils in Your Daily Life
by: Paula Polman (Revisited from March, 2005 Issue)

Aromatherapy is a growing area of interest as North America continues its search for alternative and complimentary applications of natural medicines. The use of herbal supplements in our daily lives is one excellent example of this.

Aromatherapy, however, is still in the realm of uncertainty. People are familiar with the term, most have heard of essential oils, but still few know how to use them in practical applications.

Here's a short list of some examples of ways to enhance your daily life with essential oils:

Diffuse in air with a ceramic or electric diffuser to clean or fragrance the air.
Facial steam - add a few drops of oils to boiling water, place your face over the bowl and drape your head with a towel and breathe deeply.
Bath water - add 4-10 drops to your bath or jacuzzi.
Skin spray - add 4-10 drops of oil to 60 mls (2 oz) distilled water in a misting bottle then spray skin for a fresh uplift to the day.
Linen spray to freshen sheets & towels - same as the skin spray but mix 20-30 drops to 60 ml (2 oz) and spray your sheets.
Remove the cap from the oil bottle and breathe deeply for a quick pick-me-up.
Room spray - same as linen spray but the concentration is 50-75 drops to 60 ml (2 oz) of distilled water.
Hand or foot bath - add 4-6 drops of oil to warm water and soak your hands or feet in it. For tired feet, also add 2 tablespoons of epsom salts to the water.
Massage oil is easily made by adding 10-20 drops of oil to 30 ml (1 oz) of carrier oil, such as grapeseed, olive, sweet almond, jojoba, etc. Cut the amount of essential oil in half for children.
After your shower, put a few drops of oil on a washcloth and rub vigorously over your body.
Put a few drops of eucalyptus oil on a cloth by your pillow at night to help breathing when struck by a cold or flu.
Hot compresses are wonderful on sore, tired muscles. Add 5-10 drops of oil to hot (not boiling) water. Soak a cloth in the water, wring it out and place on the affected area. Repeat as needed.
Cold compresses - for headaches and swelling. Same as hot compresses but use cool to cold water.
Sniff lavender or peppermint for headaches.
Dab tea tree on acne pimples to help clear up the infections.
Revive old potpourri mixes by adding 10-20 drops to the mix and stirring.
Create your own perfumes by blending favorite oils in beeswax or oil bases and apply.
Sniff peppermint oil for nausea, including morning sickness, motion sickness and carnival rides.
For infant colic, apply a warm - not hot - compress with roman chamomile on the tummy.
Massage menstrual cramps with clary sage diluted in a vegetable carrier oil like grapeseed or jojoba.
Gently massage varicose veins with a massage oil containing cypress.
Add a few drops of eucalyptus to your shampoo to help dandruff problems.
Help smooth wrinkles by massaging nightly with a few drops of frankincense diluted in sweet almond oil or rosehip seed oil.
For depression diffuse jasmine or rose in the air.
After a long night on the town, add juniper to your bath to help detoxify your body.

Remember, that essential oils are generally too concentrated to use directly on your skin. They need to be diluted for application. As with anything, there are exceptions. Lavender and tea tree are the most commonly used oils that can be applied directly on the skin (neat) in small doses. There are many excellent resources on essential oils and their effects on body, spirit and mind. Some oils have contra-indications so it is important that you learn about any oil before using it. Essential oils are great companions to enhancing your daily life, when used appropriately. Break out a bottle of oil and sniff it today!

About The Author
Paula Polman, B.Sc. is the owner of Basic Scents & Supplies. She has been making natural care products for over seven years and practising aromatherapy for more than nine years. She can be reached by email at paula@basicscentssupplies.com or visit http://www.BasicScentsSupplies.com for more information.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Tea of the Month: It's My Nature's "House Blend"

A hardy combination of English Breakfast and St. John's Wort. Light and delicate flavor describes this herbal tea. It blends easily with many other teas to increase variety. Studies have shown the effectiveness of St. John's Wort for mild to moderate depression. Getting upset easily, emotional ups and downs from stress, menopause, and PMS are all alleviated with this herbal tea.

Unlike the St. John's Wort capsules on the market, the herbal tea consists of parts from the entire plant. Not just root or leaves. You will notice a positive change in your emotions. And best of all it's caffeine free.

Our jar of House Blend is $8.95 and makes 50-60 cups. This Month's Online Special $7.61

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

On Sale - 15% off - Prices effective now

Sweet Shoe Sachet - What a Great Treat for You and Your Closet!
Two embellished silk sachets filled with Rosebuds & Petals, Lavender, and Lemongrass Botanicals; Palmarosa & Lavender Essential Oils for heavenly scented shoes! Elegant presentation and an excellent gift. $17.95 pair. Sale $15.26 pair.

Infused Oils - Soothing and Effective Olive Oil Extracts
Choose from St. John's Wort gathered in the wild or Organic Calendula Infusion. St. John's Wort is an excellent oil for wounds, stiff muscles, back pain, bruises, nerve spasms, rashes and sunburn. Price too low to mention out loud.

Black Walnut - Tea Tree Salve - Antifungal
A soothing antifungal salve for persistent skin rashes. A natural alternative to strong steroid creams. Use liberally on a daily basis for eczema, psoriasis, herpes, boils, ringworm and other difficult skin conditions. Excellent Ingredients Include: Olive Oil extracts of Black Walnut Hulls & Leaf, Slippery Elm & Birch Barks, Calendula, Chamomile, Nettle & St. John's Wort Leaf & Flowers, Comfrey, Licorice & Yellow Dock Roots & Tea Tree Oil. 1 oz. $10.50. Sale $8.92.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Recipes

Office Air Freshener
A great blend to cleanse the air while uplifting your mood.

6 drops Bergamot essential oil
8 drops Lavender essential oil
1 drop Tea Tree essential oil

Diffuse in an aroma lamp or electric diffuser.

Scalp Stimulator
1 teaspoon Jojoba oil
2 drops Rosemary essential oil
2 drops Clary Sage essential oil

A refreshing conditioning blend. Massage into scalp, then rinse thoroughly.

Skin Toner
2 oz. Green Tea
5 drops Lavender essential oil
5 drops Geranium essential oil

Mix up this bottle of tea and essential oils to balance the pH of your skin after cleansing. It's easy ... it's cooling ... and it leaves your skin feeling refreshed! Place the ingredients in a glass bottle. Essential oils do not dissolve in water or tea so be sure to shake this mixture well before each use to make sure the essential oils are dispersed. Use a cotton pad to apply to face and neck area after cleansing.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Ordering Information

Call Toll Free 1-888-997-5057, 10 to 5 PST
Online secure shopping website.
Orders are processed and shipped quickly from Oregon via US Mail and UPS Ground.
Visa - Mastercard - American Express - Discover - Debit Cards - Paypal - Personal Checks

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~