Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Cajuput - Melaleuca cajuputii

Cajuput Melaleuca cajuputii is also known as Melaleuca quinquenervia S. T. Blake; Melaleuca leucadendron (L.) L. var. minor (Smith) Duthie; is a member of the Myrtaceae family and is native to Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia and Southeast Asia.

The name Cajuput is derived from the Malaysian ‘caju-puti’ which means ‘white tree’. Cajuput is also known by a few other common names including white tea-tree; paper-barked tea-tree and swamp tea-tree. This evergreen is a shrub or usually single-stemmed tree that can grow up to between 25 - 40 meters tall. It has an extensive root system, a layered, fibrous papery, grey to white bark, alternate, lanceolate, ash-coloured leaves and small creamy white, scentless flowers that are arranged on a long spike terminating in a tuft of leaves.

The leaves are very aromatic and the essential oil is steam distilled from the fresh leaves and twig tips. I find the aroma of the oil to be sweet and herb-like,and according to a source I read recently, the aroma could be described as resembling a blend of camphor, cardamom and rosemary. The leaves and twig tips are collected in autumn, steeped overnight in water, and then distilled in copper vessels. The yield is quite small.

Did you know...
Cajuput oil is slightly greenish due to the presence of traces of copper?
Australian aborigines treated aches and pains with Cajuput. One way was to crush the leaves in their hands, then rubbing them on the affected areas; another was to crush the young leaves and twigs and then steeping them in hot water. This liquid was then used to bathe the affected area and the rest was poured over the head. Crushed leaves were sniffed to cure headaches.

The essential oil contains around 44% oxides (1,8 cineole); 42% monoterpenes (alpha-pinene, beta-pinene, limonene; 8 % alcohols (alpha-terpineol, linalool, terpinene-4-ol) about 5% sesquiterpenes and a small amount of esters. It is a good expectorant, anti-septic and analgesic oil. In dentistry it has been used to relieve discomfort caused by dry sockets.

On a subtle level Cajeput can help one to recognize and overcome dysfunctional and abusive relationship patterns, which in turn enables one to create healthier and more harmonious behaviours. Cajebut can give one a boost when you feel your energy is lagging. It can also help to clear what is getting in the way of your full self-expression. Cajeput is also considered to have the ability to connect us with childlike devotion to the Universe. Generally safe to use. Undiluted it may irritate mucus membranes. Caution in Pregnancy.

Workshops for 2010
These are offered once a month, generally the third weekend of the month so follow the link and browse through the offerings for 2010.

March 20
Advanced Massage Techniques
$150.00 plus GST
Prerequisites: some training in bodywork

As always the self-directed home study Aromatherapy Courses are available. When you are ready they are only a click away, a click that will lead you into a world filled with information, self-growth and delight! Perhaps they will be a gift you give yourself this year!

If you don't want something as formal as a course perhaps you'll find what you are looking for in one of our E-books or our Aroma Massage DVD.

E-books currently available:
Infant Massage,
Subtle Aromatherapy,
Aromatic Gifts for All Ages and All Seasons
Aromatic Lords and Ladies of the Zodiac, an exercise in energetic blending .

The Hawkins Protocol is now available as an E-book.

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Ash Wednesday - Lent

Ash Wednesday, this week marks the beginning of the Lenten Season for many Christians. This is a time that is associated by many people with 'giving up' something pleasurable as a preparation for the coming of Easter. Certainly this is one way to discipline ourselves, however, I believe that if this is all we think of when we think of Lent we are missing the whole point.

My own belief is that from time to time, it is a good practice for all of us to take time to have a closer look at ourselves, at our way of being in the world and contemplate whether we are living our lives in the best way possible. We certainly don't need to belong to any religion to do this, nor do we have to reserve this practice for a particular time of the year. However as Lent is already in most 'Westerners' frame of reference it makes sense to do this at this time of year.

Lent traditionally lasts 40 'fast days', not counting Sundays and interestingly enough the number 40 throughout the Bible signifies the preparation for something special:
  • The rain lasted for 40 days in the mighty flood - Noah
  • Moses stayed on the Mount Sinai forty days (Ex 24:18)
  • Jonah gave the people of Ninevah forty days to repent (Jon 3:4)
  • Jesus, before starting his ministry, spent forty days in the desert in prayer and fasting (Matt 4:2)
You might be wondering what has any of this to do with aromatherapy or the use of essential oils and I am here to remind you of how versatile the essential oils are and how well they can be incorporated into every facet of our lives, physical, mental, emotional and spiritual.

For those who choose to spend a little time each day reviewing who they are and where they are in their lives each day, the addition of an essential oil or essential oil synergy could be invaluable.

Firstly, there are the oils that facilitate the quietening of our minds and help us connect to that inner place in ourselves where we can commune with the Divine. The article on the main website on Meditation and Essential Oils could give you some ideas on oils to use for this purpose as can the Meditation Blends page.

Secondly, as we are only human, as we look at ourselves and our lives there are sure to be emotions and feelings that come up for us to examine and release. Once again the essential oils can be very helpful in assisting up on this journey. The article on creating Your Own Special Blend lists oils that are helpful for enhancing things like Courage, Serenity, while there are others that will help with understanding other moods and emotions that need to be addressed and released such as Aromatherapy and Anxiety and Anxiety Blends; Aromatherapy and Depression and Depression Buster Blends; Stress and Aromatherapy and Stress Buster Blends.

Workshops for 2010
These are offered once a month, generally the third weekend of the month so follow the link and browse through the offerings for 2010.

February 21
Reiki Level 1
$170.00 plus GST
includes William Rand's book, Reiki, The Healing Touch.
Prerequisites: None

As always the self-directed home study Aromatherapy Courses are available. When you are ready they are only a click away, a click that will lead you into a world filled with information, self-growth and delight! Perhaps they will be a gift you give yourself this year!

If you don't want something as formal as a course perhaps you'll find what you are looking for in one of our E-books or our Aroma Massage DVD.

E-books currently available:
Infant Massage,
Subtle Aromatherapy,
Aromatic Gifts for All Ages and All Seasons
Aromatic Lords and Ladies of the Zodiac, an exercise in energetic blending .

The Hawkins Protocol is now available as an E-book.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

February 2010

I can't believe how quickly time seems to fly by. Here we are and its February 2010 already. Those of you who are Winter Sports enthusiasts will of course know that the 2010 Winter Olympics are just around the corner with the opening ceremonies happening on Feb 12. I'm not much into sports myself but even I got caught up a bit in the buzz when the Olympic Torch made its way through Tsawwassen yesterday afternoon.

No doubt a lot of people will be caught up with all things Olympic for the next 2 - 3 weeks and if you are one of those people, I hope that you won't forget to incorporate the benefits of essential oils into your Olympic experience. After all there are essential oils one can use to help keep one calm when the competition heats up and one is rooting for that special team or individual. Then there are the oils that will lift one's spirits, if the the team or individual one is rooting for has a disappointing showing. There are oils to help combat the ravages of staying up late to watch all the competitions; and oils to help one hop out of bed refreshed ready to enjoy the new days offerings or oils that can help if we eat or drink too much while we are watching.

Tucked in there this Sunday is Valentine's Day. If you are looking for a nice gift to make that special person in your life there are some easy suggestions on the blog posts I did for Valentine's Day last year and on the Origins of Valentines Day the year before. There are some synergies and a recipe for some special Chocolate Mint Truffles on these pages. There are lots of other recipes in my e-book Aromatic Gifts for All Ages and All Seasons.

Workshops for 2010
These are offered once a month, generally the third weekend of the month so follow the link and browse through the offerings for 2010.

February 21
Reiki Level 1
$150.00 plus GST
Prerequisites: None

As always the self-directed home study Aromatherapy Courses are available. When you are ready they are only a click away, a click that will lead you into a world filled with information, self-growth and delight! Perhaps they will be a gift you give yourself this year!

If you don't want something as formal as a course perhaps you'll find what you are looking for in one of our E-books or our Aroma Massage DVD.

E-books currently available:
Infant Massage,
Subtle Aromatherapy,
Aromatic Gifts for All Ages and All Seasons
Aromatic Lords and Ladies of the Zodiac, an exercise in energetic blending .

Wednesday, February 03, 2010

Rosalina - Melaleuca ericifolia Smith

Rosalina (Melaleuca ericifolia Smith), is one of the newer oils coming out of Australia. It doesn't have a long list of traditional uses to draw from and information on this oil is not as readily available as others that we use on a daily basis.

Melaleuca ericifoli
a (Swamp Paperbark) is a shrub or small tree, belonging to the Myrtaceae family and is native to Australia. The small tree or bush will grow to a height of between 2 to 9 meters and has a pale papery bark. It has dark green linear leaves and its white flower spikes appear from October to November, which are followed by woody capsules. In 1797, the English botanist, James Edward Smith, was first to formally describe this in Transactions of the Linnean Society of London from material collected in New South Wales. Melaleuca ericifolia occurs beside creeks, in coastal swamps and behind sand dunes along the coast to Northern New South Wales, Southern Victoria and Northern Tasmania.

The essential oil is steam distilled from the aerial parts of the plant i.e. leaves and small stems and its major chemical constituent is the alcohol linalool, which occurs in the range of 35 - 55%. The next major ingredient is the oxide 1,8-cineole, which is found in a range of between 18 - 26 %. In his book, Bush Sense, Mark Webb says that :
The essential oil of M. ericifolia is similar to tht of M. alternifolia except that the major constituent is loinalool and not terpinene-4-ol, this makes the oil more pleasant smelling and less irritant on young skin.
He also says that, he has found from personal experience, that Rosalina is a very good local anaesthetic for insect bites and tooth ache, numbing only the area to which is was applied, unlike clove which has the tendency to spread, numbing a much larger area.


In his book, Natural Home Health Care using Essential Oils, Daniel Penoel says:
Because of the significant presence of 1,8-cineole, we can deduct that Rosalina oil will be helpful in treating the respiratory system, especially for infections of the upper respiratory system. For children who are prone to ENT infections, Rosalina is a good choice, either by itself of in a synergistic blend that will reinforce its action.
He also suggests that because of the high linalool content in this oil, it will be soothing to the nerves, calming and might even be sleep-inducing. Interestingly enough, both my grandchildren really like Rosalina and when they come to visit, they always remind Nana, that they want their "own special smelly cotton ball" to take to bed with them.

Penoel also suggest that Rosalina can be used on a more energetic basis for the Heart, Throat and Third Eye Chakras. As this is a relatively new oil that we are still finding out about, one could look at the Doctrine of Signatures to try and figure out some other possible spiritual uses for this oil.

The doctrine of signatures is a philosophy shared by herbalists from the time of Dioscurides and Galen. Simply stated is says that looking at the plant, its shape, where is grows, how it grows, its name can all give one indications of what and where on the body that plant could be used for. The concept was developed by Paracelsus and published in his writings. The doctrine of signatures was further spread by the writings of Jakob Böhme (1575 - 1624), who suggested that God marked objects with a sign, or "signature", for their purpose. For instance, a plant bearing parts that resembled human body parts, animals, or other objects had useful relevance to those parts, animals or objects. The "signature" may also be identified in the environments or specific sites in which plants grew.
An example of this might be to look at where Melaleuca ericifolia Smith likes to grow, along creeks, in coastal swamps and behind sand dunes and its name, Swamp Paperbark. From this we might consider using Rosalina for people who are 'water-logged' physically or emotionally.

Workshops for 2010
These are offered once a month, generally the third weekend of the month so follow the link and browse through the offerings for 2010.

February 21
Reiki Level 1
$150.00 plus GST
Prerequisites: None

As always the self-directed home study Aromatherapy Courses are available. When you are ready they are only a click away, a click that will lead you into a world filled with information, self-growth and delight! Perhaps they will be a gift you give yourself this year!

If you don't want something as formal as a course perhaps you'll find what you are looking for in one of our E-books or our Aroma Massage DVD.

E-books currently available:
Infant Massage,
Subtle Aromatherapy,
Aromatic Gifts for All Ages and All Seasons
Aromatic Lords and Ladies of the Zodiac, an exercise in energetic blending .