Labeling Blends: TOP On-Line Shopping Catalog
Q. Dear Dr. Power, All of my aroma therapy books suggest a myriad of custom blends to make for various purposes. My problem is that I can't remember which blend is in which of my glass bottles. I'm trying to understand the best way to label my bottles? I want to make sure I don't use insect repellant as a facial massage or diaper rash oil. Any suggestions? The best thing - I can come up with is a standard file label and a waterproof pen. Does anyone sell labels that don't discolor from the oil that you can write on? Thanks, H. White
A. Dear H., Making your own labels for the oils is indeed problematic. Our EO labels are, of course, mass produced and have a clear UV coating that makes them almost impervious to oils. But, we do make our own labels for our massage oils and carrier oils.
You may wish to try our method: We generally use standard sized address or shipping labels that you can find at most office supply stores. We print them on our color ink jet printer and then give them a light spray (either glossy or matte) of clear acrylic. We prefer the brand: "Patricia Nimocks" Clear Acrylic Sealer (Matte) which you can usually find a craft stores. Or, a more commonly found alternative is Krylon Acrylic Crystal Clear.
Instead of printing your labels, you could write on them using a permanent marker such as a "Sharpie" and then spray them.
One last alternative is to put clear packing tape over the printed label so that it more than covers the label and attaches to the glass.
Give these techniques a try and let me know how they work for you.
Best Regards, Joie Power, Ph.D. Labor / Laboring Moms: TOP On-Line Shopping Catalog
Q. Dr Power,What kinds of oils are good to use with a Laboring mother, to ease her pain and help her to relax through contractions? What is the best delivery system to use, to deliver the aromatherapy in a hospital setting? What would you recommend for massage oils for laboring mothers?
A. Dear Denise: Essential oils are great to use with laboring moms and a lot has been written in this area. Check out Shirley and Len Price's book, Aromatherapy for Health Professionals - it has a great chapter on this subject. In order to use essential oils effectively in the labor room you need a good understanding of the properties of the oils you are working with and this is more than I can give you in an e-mail response. In general, the person using essential oils in the labor room needs to understand the stages of labor as well. Some eo's are uterotonic and can be used in the final stages of labor to help support contractions but you need to do some reading on this. In general, it should be safe and helpful in any normal delivery to use a little lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) to help ease pain and manage stress. Make a massage oil using two drops of lavender in a teaspoon of a gentle carrier oil (such as sweet almond oil) - you can apply this amount about once every two hours. It is imperative to insure well before hand when using this - or any other essential oil blend- that your patient is not allergic to any of the ingredients. Some people are allergic to nut oils so be careful. Also, be aware that lavender and other relaxing oils can make other people in the labor room feel drowsy so don't over do it. For delivery systems, it is usually desirable to deliver a specifically chosen eo or blend to each individual patient and so most of the time I like to use a small fan type diffuser that can be set close to the patient's bed and charged with only one or two drops of eo. If you use a larger diffuser - such as a nebulizer - everyone in the vicinity will be getting the eo's and this isn't always desirable. If you do want to use eo's in a large diffuser in such a way that everyone on a ward or in a room will be getting the same mix, stick with oils like grapefruit and lemon which are very gently uplifting but not stimulating and which will not make anyone drowsy. Don't over do it - the nose gets used to the aromas very quickly and after a few minutes, no one in the room will be able to smell it - but it is still there and still having an effect. Before using any essential oils in any method, make sure that you know the properties and any potential side effects of the oils. I hope that you will be able to get the Prices' book and check all this out further. You can do so much to make labor a better experience for women using essential oils. Please feel free to call me if you have any questions or just want to chat about this. Best Regards, Joie Power, Ph.D. Linden Blossom: TOP On-Line Shopping Catalog
Q. Dear Dr. Power - I'm hoping that you can answer an as yet unanswered question that I've put forth to a few authoritative practitioners of aromatherapy who either can't or won't supply an answer: why is it that one is advised to not use Linden Blossom over a prolonged period of time? Can it induce irreversible neurological damage? does it make one more susceptible to developing skin cancer? Please tell me Dr., if you possibly can, what is ill-advised about long-term use of Linden Blossom? Many thanks. April D.
A. Dear April, I've been through a number of reference sources and cannot find much on Linden Blossom (tilia x vulgaris). Balocs do not even list it in their widely referenced book on Essential Oil Safety. However, Linden Blossom is available as an absolute, rather from a true essential oil, and many practitioners feel it inadvisable to use absolutes for therapeutic purposes because they contain solvents. Further, because real linden blossom absolute is expensive it is very often adulterated. Even when using essential oils (rather than absolutes) of any kind, most practitioners recommend that you not use a particular oil for more than one to two weeks without taking an equivalent amount of time "off" from it. - While liver toxicity is very rare with appropriate external use of essential oils the "time off" is a precaution that allows the liver to clear all residue of any particular oil. According to Julia Lawless, the main component of Linden Blossom, is farnesol. This is a sesquiturpene alcohol that is not considered to have significant toxicity. Best Regards, Joie Power, Ph.D. Lotions: TOP On-Line Shopping Catalog
Q. Good morning. I was very impressed by your web site. Could you please tell me what exactly what ingredients are included in your Lavender lotion? Thank you for your time and cooperation. - J.
A. Hi J., Thanks for the kind comments about our web site - we try to make it useful and informative.
Re our Lavender Lotion, it just has our pure organic Lavender Provence in our Natural Lotion Base (USA) plus a little vegetable glycerine to make it a little bit "slicker". I should mention that our Natural Lotion Base (USA) is as close to "natural" as we can find. It does have a few additives but they are non-harmful and used to make the lotion flow correctly and remain in a cohesive state. It is water soluble and washes out easily. Here are the ingredients:Deionized Water Minerals (no animal fat)Hope this helps. - Ivan Menopause: TOP On-Line Shopping Catalog
Acetyl Alcohol
Polysorbate 20 (derived from sugar)
TEA (emulsifier - neutralizes acid)
Jojoba
Vitamin E
Vitamin A
Cocoa Butter
Dm. Dm. Hydrastinine (preservative)
Q. Dear Dr. Power, What are some essential oils that offer support for women experiencing menopause? Any input is appreciated. Thank you in advance. R.W.
A. Dear R.W., Thanks for your interest in aromatherapy. Several essential oils are considered helpful for symptoms of menopause. Geranium is considered a hormonal balancer and Rose is traditionally believed to tone and cleanse the uterus and help to regulate the cycle. Fennel oil has also been said to relieve menopausal symptoms. All of the anti-depressant oils, such as Clary Sage, Jasmine, Lavender, Ylang Ylang, Neroli and Sandalwood may help balance emotional responses.
You may use any of these oils in the bath or in a massage oil. For use in a bath, add 4 to 6 drops of essential oil to a teaspoon of milk and put in a warm bath. For massage oil, add 2 drops of EO per teaspoon of "carrier oil" (such as Sweet Almond or Grapeseed or our Massage Base) and massage into the abdominal area. For a full body massage, you may use up to 6 drops EO in 3-4 teaspoons of carrier oil.
If you combine any of the oils to make a blend, do not exceed the total number of drops recommended, i.e. if you're using a combination of Jasmine and Lavender in your bath then add 2-3 drops of Jasmine and 2-3 drops of Lavender.
I would suggest using EOs, either in a bath or for massage up to once a day. More than once a day is unnecessary. You should not use any specific oil for more than two weeks without taking a one week break from it. Best Regards, Joie Power, Ph.D. Metabolism: TOP On-Line Shopping Catalog
Q. i find i have a slow metabolism and that i feel lacking in energy. can you send me an aromatherapy message recipe that would help in these two areas? thanks, E.G.
A. Dear E., ...essential oils will not really change your metabolism in any significant way, but they can be helpful, when combined with other steps, to help with fatigue. First, it is important for you to make sure that you know what is causing your fatigue and slow metabolism. Talk with you health care provider to make sure that you don't have an underactive thyroid or some other identifiable physical cause. If there is no specific illness that needs to be addressed, could there be stress in your life that is contributing to this? Fatigue is a common problem in our society and while it does not always have a specific medical cause, there is usually some lifestyle fact or factors that are contributing. Lack of exercise, stress, and poor diet are often involved. For this reason, to take charge of the situation you need to take action on several fronts. Start slowly, but try to add a little gentle exercise to your life; explore and implement sound nutritional changes; and, explore stress relief strategies. While doing this, it will definitely help to use some essential oils. In general, we do not use real stimulating oils to help fatigue since such oils are overwhelming to a system that is already tired. You want to use gently uplifting and even relaxing essential oils. Here are some suggestions: lavender, frankincense, petitgrain, juniper, orange, roman chamomile (maximum two drops in any application), eucalyptus citriodora (maximum two drops), small amounts of peppermint (one drop in a massage blend or diffuser or bath). Many people who are tired are not sleeping well at night - lavender, roman chamomile,clary sage, and sweet marjoram will help you sleep. You can use these oils singly or in combinations of two or three oils in the following ways:
- make a massage oil using one tablespoon of carrier oil (such as grapeseed or sweet almond oil) and a total of 4 to six drops of essential oil; this is enough for one massage
- mix a total of 5 drops of essential oil with a tablespoon of milk and add to your bath
- put 4 drops of essential oil onto a fan diffuser or in a bowl of steaming water.
Usually, combinations of essential oils are more effective than a single oil. I especially like lavender and orange or lavender, orange and frankincense. I also like juniper, petitgrain and lavender or lavender and peppermint (daytime only, since peppermint will keep you awake). Chamomile and eucalyptus citriodora are also nice. The amounts I have given are maximums; less is often effective so try and see. Do not expect dramatic results. Overcoming fatigue takes time, patience, and a gentle approach.
Finally, I also want to add that if you have the resources, I think that acupuncture is the single most effective intervention for fatigue that does not have a specific medical cause.
I hope that this helps.Please feel free to write or call if you have any questions or just want to chat.
Best Regards, - Joie Power, Ph.D. - '02 Mixing Essential Oils (EOs): TOP On-Line Shopping Catalog
Q. Under your aphrodisiac you say that you can mix it with your base in order to use for a massage. In what quantities should you mix the two? In other words, is there a certain proportion in which one should mix the base and the other?
A. A little goes a long way - with the Essential Oil Aphrodisiac Blends, you use 2 or 3 drops per teaspoon of massage base or carrier oil (12 to 18 per oz.). This is the same proportion that you should use for most (but not all) essential oil to base oil formulas. Mixing EOs: TOP On-Line Shopping Catalog
Q. What liquid is compatible to mix with scented oils and will not separate but blend.
A. First, I assume that by "scented oils" that you mean essential oils like Cypress & Lavender and not synthetics. We don't deal in synthetics in any way and do not recommend them.
So, the answer is that all essential oils can be mixed (diluted) into any carrier oil. Carrier oils are oils like Sweet Almond, Grapeseed, Olive, Safflower, etc. For most aromatherapy blends, the ratio is approximately 2 drops of essential oil to 1 teaspoon of carrier oil. Essential oils will also mix with alcohol but this is generally not done. Essential oils will not mix with water without other additives.
Hope this answers your question. Please let me know if you need additional info. - Ivan Mouse Repellent: TOP On-Line Shopping Catalog
Q. I have a problem with mice getting in our house. Is there an organic solution?
A. Believe it or not, pure Peppermint Essential Oil is the best rodent deterrent we've found. Our friends had a terrible problem with mice eating the wiring harness in their cars. Since using the Peppermint Essential Oil, they've had no problem. Try to find where're they're getting in and just sprinkle a few drops around every week or so. You'll probably need a 4 oz. or 8 oz. bottle. You can order our Mouse Repellent at: Natural Pest Control Products - Good Luck. UPDATE 2003: We've done additional research and come up with an even better formula - It's our exclusive blend of mint oils, Mouse Away, that's even more powerful than Peppermint alone. MS (Multiple Sclerosis): TOP On-Line Shopping Catalog
Q. Dear Dr. Power; A friend of mine has had multiple sclerosis for about 3 years, and it is getting worse quite quickly. I am in massage therapy school right now and have been using aromatherapy for almost 7 years, off and on. My question for you is, what can I do to help ease this time in her life? Is there any way to help the body produce more myelin? Thanks & blessed be, R.
Nausea: TOP On-Line Shopping Catalog
A. Dear R., Thanks for your question and for your interest in using aromatherapy to help your friend. The best discussion of aromatherapy and MS that I have found is in Shirley Price's book, Aromatherapy for Health Professionals. In this book, she reports that essential oils have been used to improve sleep, strengthen muscles and relieve muscle tension and spasm in people with MS. The oils used for these purposes (which have been reported to have good results) include Sandalwood, Geranium and Lemongrass. Rosemary has also been reported to help with muscle fatigue, balancing immune function, and memory. Most interestingly, Price reports a specific case study in which an aromatherapist had wonderful success in helping a 46 year old woman with MS who came to her with spasms, headaches, pain in the neck and shoulder, and poor sleep.
This aromatherapist initially used a massage oil containing 2 dr Roman Chamomile, 1 dr Lavender and 5 dr Sweet Marjoram (this should be diluted in 4 teaspoons carrier oil). In between visits, the patient's husband applied the oil mixture at night before bed. After several weeks, the aromatherapists changed to the following formula: Rosemary - 2 dr, Roman Chamomile, 2 dr, Lavender - 2 dr, and Cedarwood Atlas - 2 dr (again, this should be diluted in 4 tsp carrier oil).
The first formula she used is very deeply relaxing and would help to release stress and fear from the body and promote good sleep. The second formula would be a little more energizing and strengthening while still retaining the stress reducing benefits of the Lavender and Chamomile. I like the way in which this aromatherapist used the more deeply relaxing and comforting formula first ( so that her patient's body could get some rest) before using a somewhat more energizing formula. It is a common mistake, when people are experiencing fatigue, to apply energizing oils before the body is ready and/or to use too much of an energizing formula. I am not aware of any essential oil that has been shown to regenerate myelin. However, many experts feel that there are dietary measures and supplements that can slow the progression of the illness and reduce the number of attacks. Dr. Roy Swank, professor of neurology at the University of Oregon Medical School recommends a diet low in saturated fats. The Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine by Murray and Pizzorno has an excellent discussion of this and other holistic approaches. Here's Dr. Swank's dietary recommendation as presented in their book:
- saturated fat intake of no more than 10 grams per day
- daily intake of 40 to 50 grams of polyunsaturated oils (margarine, shortening and hydrogenated oils are NOT allowed)
- at least 1 tsp of cod liver oil per day
- a normal allowance of protein
- consumption of fish three or more time per week (especially cold water fish)
A diet low in saturated fats significantly restricts animal sources of protein, which must be found in other sources (legumes, grains and vegetables).
Essential oils containing large proportions of esters and aldehydes have been recommended for MS patients (always dilute with carrier oils). Esters are found in high proportions in Lavender, Clary Sage, Bergamot, Sweet Marjoram and Roman Chamomile, which are all relaxing and antispasmodic. Aldehydes are found in Melissa, Lemongrass, and Eucalyptus citriodora. These are also often relaxing as well as uplifting but can cause skin irritation or sensitization so it is especially important to do two consecutive patch tests over at least 2 days and use very low concentrations in massage (maximum 1 drop per application to start).
I spoke today with my acupuncturist, who is a third generation traditional Chinese doctor, and he tells me that he has had much success in using acupuncture to help people with MS. Best of luck. Let me know how your friend progresses and, of course, feel free to call or write if you have further questions. Best Regards, Joie Power, Ph.D.
Q. What aromatherapeutic scent would be helpful to prevent nausea? .... - M.
A. Ginger is the classic remedy for nausea that is a symptom of motion sickness. Essential oil of ginger can be inhaled from a handkerchief that has a couple of drops on it but do not allow the oil to contact the skin or come too close to the eyes as it is very strong. Also, eating a piece of candied ginger may help. Other cases of nausea may be relieved by Coriander or Lavender, which may be inhaled as described above or used in massage (put 2 drops essential oil in a teaspoon of carrier oil (such as sweet almond oil, olive oil, or grapeseed oil), mix well, and rub over the abdomen using a circular, clockwise motion. - Joie Power, Ph.D. Newsletter: TOP On-Line Shopping Catalog
Comments:
- This newsletter is excellent! Keep up the good work! - Dr. M.C., Healing Arts Center, NY .
- I like your newsletter very much........... May I reprint your article on Immune System Balance in a little newsletter I put out here in NJ? ......I would put credit and a link you your site....... Thank You, A.
- I was just going through the newsletter... I think it's GREAT!!! I'll write more when I'm finished going through everything. Thanx for your speedy response!! Smiles & Angels! - N.
To review past issues of the Essential News, click: Essential News
For a free subscription to the Essential News, click: Newsletter Ordering On-line: TOP On-Line Shopping Catalog
Q. .....this is my first time access on line purchase, could you explain the process I will need to go through? - C.
A. Ordering on-line is fairly simple once you get used to it. If you use a credit card, your order goes through a secure server and comes to us encrypted. Only we have the code to decrypt the order and process it. If you don't want to use a credit card, you canprint an off-line order and send it with a check, money order or your credit card #. Or, you can just call or fax your order.
Anyway, that said, you just go to the shopping cart and choose a category to start with. Go down the list of items, pick the size (if appropriate), enter quantity and select "add" to cart. You will then view the shopping cart. If that's all you want then check out. If you want more items then click "back" or "continue shopping". This will take you back to the category you just left. You can shop more in that category or go to another.
To go to the shopping cart click: ORDER. Hope this helps - Ivan. Organic / Wildcrafted: TOP On-Line Shopping Catalog
Q. Tell me more abour your therapeutic essential oils. Are they organic certified? Wild? Ethically farmed? - D.B.
A. Hello D., Thanks for your interest. Some, but not all of our oils are certified organic although many others are organic but not certified and others still are wildcrafted. Our biggest seller is an organic French Lavender, our Lavender, Provence. We sell over 4 times more of it than any of our other essential oils. It is truly a great Lavender. We wish that all of our oils were certified organic, but that is simply not possible. Many come from countries where there is no certification body. They may well be organic but there is no unbiased party who can show that to be true. Also, many essential oils are still wildcrafted and there is no one to certify them as being either wildcrafted or organic. There are certainly more certified organic essential oils than our organic Lavender, Provence but, so far, we've not found them to have therapeutic properties that are as good as the ones we now obtain (that are not certified organic). You may ask, "are not all 'organic' oils better than 'non-organics'?" Unfortunately, the answer is "no", they are not, not always. When we select an essential oil, we choose it based on many factors, including, aroma, source, and priceing but primarily on the MS/GS report that we obtain on each oil. These reports show us all the chemical components of the oil and we use this to select those that have the "right" chemical profile. (To see Dr. Power's article on MS/GS interpretation, click: . So far, most of the "organics" we've analyzed have fallen short. We suspect that this is primarily caused by them being grown our of the native region of plant and also perhaps because alternative growing methods are used. Whatever the case, the non-organics seem to have superior therapeutic values. Personally, we choose organic food for ourselves and think that "organic" is the way to go as far as food is concerned. Perhaps that will also be true of essential oils one day.
If you wish to see how we use an MS/GS report to choose and essential oil, you may like to review Dr. Power's article: http://www.dreamingearth.com/gas_chromatographs.h tml and read her article on quality: http://www.dreamingearth.com/reference.html.
One thing we believe is very important is obtaining essential oils from their native or traditional growing regions. The soil and climactic conditions are critical to the distribution of the chemical components of the oil. Another advantage of the use of MS/GS reports is that we can look for contaminants in the oils, perhaps from fertilizers, pesticides or fungicides. We do not accept any oils that have adulterants. Finally, one factor that is important is the process of essential oil extraction itself. Steam distillation of the oils separates out many impurities that might otherwise be in or on the plant.
Your last question asks if the plants are ethically farmed. We do hope so but have no way of knowing what methods are used on a particular farm even when we buy direct since almost all of our oils come from overseas. Some of our oils are obtained through brokers who do have people "on site" around the world. All the brokers we deal with have fine reputations and long histories of fair dealing but, again, I do not have any proof one way or the other.
I do hope that this answered your questions, please do not hesitate to contact me if I may be of further assistance. - Ivan Overuse of Essential Oils: TOP On-Line Shopping Catalog
Q. Last night I went to a class and read that if you are smelling an oil while you study and bring the same oil to a test it may help you remember the answers, So I put Geranium on my skin, Not to mention I had 3 testers in my purse under the heater in the car, (geranium, benzoin, and lavender) So my friend could pick one out to use while studying, She chose lavender, ...when I got in the car and smelled the oils, I moved my purse because I felt ill. Do you think it had to do with smelling the combination of 3 oils or from putting geranium in my skin? Could it go through your skin and effect you that way? I woke up still feeling a little icky but a better. (Minnesota)
A. Use all EOs in moderation. Do not smell more that 2 or 3 at any one time. Heating really puts the aromas in the air. Yes, the "smell" trick works because it links the two things - memory & smell. But, it may be a good idea to use "UP" EOs such as Peppermint or Citrus EOs (Bergamot, Lemon, Sweet Orange, Tangerine, etc.) and then only in small amounts. Peppermint will also help you stay alert while Lavender will relax you and may make you feel drowsy. Remember, this is STRONG stuff. One drop can be quite sufficient for many applications. Yes, it does penetrate straight through the skin. In fact, you get much more response from skin (massage) application than through smell. Perhaps putting a drop or two on a facial tissue and then placing that in a plastic baggie would be a better way to carry the "memory" with you.
