Chamomile

I am waiting with great anticipation for my aromatherapy course materials to arrive. I’ve enrolled in a distance learning course by the Pacific Institute of Aromatherapy, one of the leading organizations in the field. Once I complete the course and pass the exam, I’ll have a certification from the PIA!  Noelle Katai , the host of Everybody Nose, is a certified aromatherapist educated through PIA.

Of course, since I’ve begun learning about essential oils and aromatherapy, I’ve done a lot of reading and learning on my own through the resources on the Web and books written by some industry leading experts. So now I’m ready to take it to the next level. The chemistry of essential oils and how they effect our various systems will help me to develop blends with more confidence.

The course ranges from scientific facts to the very subjective field of fragrance and emotion.

Part I ESSENTIAL OILS – basics

• Production methods
• Basics of distillation
• Purity and adulteration
• Quality grades of natural essential oils
• Synthetic vs. natural
• Definition of botanical origin
• Chemical races

PART II: STRUCTURE AND ENERGY

In this section, I’ll explore the categories of chemical compounds found in essential oils and their effects on the body.

PART III: TREATMENT OF DISEASE

The therapeutic effects of essential oils exhibit different types of synergistic action. Substantial clinical research demonstrates that a natural, complete essential oil is of higher efficiency than one or more isolated “active ingredients”.  SO COOL!

Part IV SKIN CARE

In this section, I’ll learn exactly how the molecules of essential oils penetrate the skin and the power behind them.

• Emulsifiers
• Typical applications of essential oils in skin care
• Aromatic facials
• Clays
• Hydrosols in skin care
• Natural facial mask compositions

Part V PSYCHOLOGY OF FRAGRANCE

Ooooh….the psychology of perfumery and underlying erotic effects of fragrance materials is in part 5.

PART VI: TOXICOLOGY

The final section will cover all the potential hazards  of essential oils on skin and mucous membranes and how to use them safely.

As I move through the course, I’ll share what I’m learning here for all of you!

– Mehmet Oz, M.D., author of You: On a Diet and You: The Owner’s Manual

Dr. Oz

Mind Power

Aromatherapy is a gift of nature promoting well-being for mind, body, soul, and planet. Discover the incredible healing powers of essential oils for yourself in my new line of aromatherapy mists and oils.  Browse the VimalaScents Shop.

I believe that everyone needs a little time out from their hectic life to pamper themselves. This is a true luxury we should all indulge in, but rarely dedicate the time for. And sometimes we just need a little assistance to get us through a challenging moment, event, exam and I’ve discovered that essential oils can help shift my mood.
 
Aromatherapy is my first line of defense when faced with a difficult day, headache, or allergy attack. Natural aromatic mood enhancers made from essential oils have a positive effect on the brain, body, and emotions. I am excited to share my blends with you through my ArtFire shop.
 
All of my products are hand blended by me in my home. I use reused or recycled packing and shipping materials whenever possible.
Available now:
 
1. So Long, Skeeters!
So Long, Skeeters insect repellent is formulated with the essential oils of Citronella, Cedarwood, Peppermint, and Lemongrass. All natural, deet-free, paraben-free, insect repellent that is safe for you, your kids, and your pets. You’ll say “see ya, skeeters” and smell great too!
 
2. I Love My Job
The properties of Lavender, Geranium, Lemon, and Bergamot are emotionally balancing. They help with anxiety, nervousness, tension, anger, frustration and are naturally uplifting. When you use this blend around the office, you’ll feel ready for anything—with a smile.
 
3. Golfer’s Massage Oil is blended with Roman Chamomile, Eucalyptus, and Peppermint essential oils to ease sore muscles and joints and reduce discomfort after a day on the links.
 
4. Mind Power
This invigorating blend eases mental fatigue and helps focus your mind, so you can concentrate on the task at hand. Perfect for crunch time at the office, an early morning meeting, or studying for exams.
 
5. Menopause Trio
This trio is great for a woman who suffers multiple menopausal symptoms.
Goodnight, Sweetheart – eases the insomnia that often arrives with the onset of menopause.
Beat the Blues – the hormone fluctuations can really wreak havoc on your emotions. Restore balance with Beat the Blues. Also teriffic for those times when you’re feeling a little on edge. Reach for Beat the Blues before you reach for a pill.
Cool It! – When a hot flash hits, cool it down quickly with Cool It! The naturally cooling peppermint essential oil in this blend will reset your confused body thermostat. 

6. Menopause Duo
Hormonal disruptions during menopause cause a variety of symptoms, among them — hot flashes and insomnia. Sufferers who want natural ways to treat both issues, will find relief in Goodnight, Sweetheart and Cool It!

Coming Soon:

After Shower Skin Conditioner (for men)
After Shower Skin Conditioner (for women) 
Breathe Clearly
Energizer (mist)
Energizer (oil)
Clear the Air
Hand Sanitizer
Neck in Knots?
Open House
Passion Potion
and more!

Shop VimalaScents

Even the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends washing it off after returning indoors. They tell us to avoid breathing it in and not to spray it directly on the face. Hmm…. The EPA also shows DEET as harmful to our environment. It’s ”slightly” toxic to birds, fish and aquatic invertebrates. Slightly toxic…is that like being a “little pregnant?”

Get the facts. The activist group Beyond Pesticides keeps its own list of documented DEET health and environmental effects:

• Cancer: Not documented
• Endocrine Disruption: Not documented
• Reproductive Effects: Not documented
• Neurotoxicity: Yes
• Kidney/Liver Damage: Yes
• Sensitizer/Irritant: Yes
• Birth/Developmental Defects: Yes
• Detected in Groundwater: Yes
• Potential Leacher: Yes
• Toxic to Birds: Not documented
• Toxic to Fish/Aquatic Organisms: Not documented
• Toxic to Bees: Not documented

Luckily, we don’t have to poison ourselves (or smell like deet!) just to keep those skeeters from biting! Check them out.

The Daily Green recommends seven products to consider.

Grist has tested some deet-free repellents for us!

You can also create your own repellent with essential oils of  Citronella, Cedarwood, Peppermint, and Lemongrass. You’ll say “see ya, skeeters” and smell great too!

Did we have a mild winter here in New Jersey? No.

Aromatherapy Pedicure

Did I have pedicures all winter to keep my feet soft? No. (Too darn cold!)

I won’t be visiting my neighborhood nail place for a pedicure any time soon because my feet are softer than a baby’s bottom– well maybe not…but pretty darn close! How is this possible? Ha, ha!! Essential oils! Simply by applying a dime-sized amount of essential oils in a carrier oil to each foot before bed, within a week the calluses, rough patches, and dry skin have disappeared from my tootsies. Just a mini-foot massage with a blend of chamomile and lavender essential oils in a base of sweet almond oil and I’m off to dreamland. The best part is waking with super soft feet. Give it a try and let me know how it works for you!

Signs and Causes of Insomnia

If you are experiencing insomnia (difficulty falling asleep or maintaining sleep), you may be having difficulty falling asleep at night, awakening during the night, or awakening too early — or any combination of these symptoms. The causes vary from person to person –stress, travel, illness, medications, or hormonal changes can cause insomnia.

bergamot-orange-drawing

Menopause and Insomnia

For women in menopause, insomnia is just one among the multitude of symptoms associated with menopause–it’s inconvenient, frustrating, and we feel the effect during our wakeful hours.

• Not feeling well rested after a night’s sleep
• Daytime fatigue
• Irritability, depression or anxiety
• Difficulty paying attention or focusing
• Increased accidents
• Headaches
• Gastrointestinal problems

Doctors often treat menopausal insomnia by first treating the overall menopause symptoms. For example, hot flashes can bring a woman out of a deep sleep into a lighter sleep stage, making the sleep less restful. A hot flash can waken a woman who then has a hard time getting back to sleep. In theory, as the hot flashes ease up, so will the insomnia.

OTC or prescription aids can create further side effects ranging from next-day drowsiness the next day, confusion, forgetfulness and dry mouth to more severe side effects such as drug dependence and memory loss.

Natural Sleep Aids

Aside from the standard advice for easing the pain of insomnia, such as exercise, avoiding heavy meals and caffeine before bedtime, and following a sleeping schedule, the natural essences of botanicals used in aromatherapy can be effective for some people.  Throughout history, essential oils have been used to alleviate anxiety, calm, act as an aphrodisiac, and relax.

Some essential oils to try:

• Bergamot
• Chamomile
• Lavender
• Vetiver

Sprinkle a few drops in a warm bath before bed for a wind-down bath. Don’t forget the calming candles and relaxing music.

Even if you don’t have time for a soak, aromatherapy can still help you ease into a restful sleep – and stay there. Try a few drops of lavender on your pillow case or on a tissue placed near your pillow or even inside the pillowcase.

Peppermint

Those first months of your new baby’s life can be both joyous and exhausting. New parents are more than familiar with the state of sleep deprivation. The effects of sleep deprivation are cumulative – night after night of waking every few hours to care for your newborn can impact energy level, your ability to concentrate. It can impact your mood and emotions, and even physical coordination.

Aromatherapy is a healthy and natural way to help new parents cope with their state of sleep deprivation. If you know a new mother, why not give her the gift of aromatherapy? Add a few drops of these essential oils to a mist bottle of distilled water: lavender, lemongrass, rosemary and peppermint.

Sleep deprived parents can mist the air around them whenever they need a lift!

Swine Flu Virus H1N1

As of today, we are beginning to see a slow-down in reported cases, but this doesn’t mean the virus may not reappear next flu season with a vengeance, like the infamous 1918 flu pandemic. That bug killed 50 million people worldwide. It kicked off in the spring, then became dormant in the summer off-season and returned in the fall to do its deadly damage.  

We’ll watch as the CDC continues its work to prevent the fall resurgence of H1N1 with a vaccine. I’ll be first in line.

With the seasonal flu, we generally know what to expect and how we can prevent it. (Hand washing, covering sneezes and coughs with tissues). Bird flu, swine flu…new viruses linked with the words death, outbreak, and pandemic are frightening. It’s the unknown that scares us, right? Well, we KNOW how to prevent the spread of infection, don’t we?

No doubt your awareness of germs in your environment has been heightened. I know mine has, and I’m pretty germ-a-phobic. Common sense tells us that the numbers of people you interact with is a factor in your risk of picking up any virus, so we worry about confined spaces like airplanes, busses, and subways. We wash hands after shaking hands and other situations where we are in close contact with anyone coughing or sneezing. Grocery stores provide anti-bacterial wipes at their entrances so customers can wipe down the shopping cart handles. Before this innovation, I bet I picked up more than a couple of colds or stomach bugs from grocery carts.

Just as important as killing germs is doing everything possible to keep our immune system strong, such as good nutrition, exercise, rest, and stress reduction. These days, it’s easier said than done! Folks are hurting economically which causes heightened stress levels and stress has its impact on our bodies as well as emotions.

Like any self-respecting germ-a-phobic, I carry around my arsenal of protective antibacterial lotions, sprays, and wipes. I take my multivitamin and extra vitamin C during cold and flu season. I’ve recently added aromatherapy to my germ-fighting routine.

We generally think of aromatherapy as something used at a spa to create a soothing environment. But aromatherapy is so much more. Aromatherapy offers some powerful ways to protect us from all sorts of germs AND help to support our immune systems. The majority essential oils used in aromatherapy preparations have powerful antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal properties. Essential oils derive their antibacterial effect from their unique chemical makeup. Each pure essential oil consists of several, sometimes hundreds of distinct natural chemicals distilled from the essence of botanicals. Used properly, aromatherapy is one more tool of prevention in your kit.

Blend this anti-microbial mist in a 2 oz mist bottle and take it with you help keep those germs at bay.

• 2 drops of Clove essential oil
• 5 drops of Lemon essential oil
• 5 drops of Cinnamon essential oil
• 4 drops of Eucalyptus essential oil
• 4 drops Tea tree oil
• Fill the remainder of your bottle with distilled water and go!

Shake the bottle before spraying to mix the oils with the water. Spray on hands, car steering wheel, office phone, the air…anywhere!