15 Ways to use Hydrosols

Whether the plants have been steam distilled mainly for their essential oil content, or in fact to produce the hydrosol, being able to incorporate these wonderfully gentle distillates into our daily lives enhances our lives.

Here are 15 Easy Ways to Use Hydrosols on a regular basis.

1. When making creams, lotions, perfumes or colognes use a hydrosol, or combination of hydrosols instead of water in your recipe.
2. Need cooling down?  Whether it's because the weather is hot outside, or you're experiencing a 'hot flash' or because of a fever, spraying with a cooling hydrosol like Peppermint is very effective.  
3. Need refreshing?  Try Rose.
4. Need waking up?  Try Peppermint or Rosemary.
5. Instead of using a store bought skin toner, spray on a hydrosol before applying any make up. Rose is good for all skin types, Neroli is good for combination and sensitive skin types, Lavender is good for normal and sensitive skin types, Chamomile is good for dry, sensitive and inflamed skin, Witch Hazel is an astringent and ideally suited for oily skins. Rose Geranium is my own favorite and is a good all-round choice for most everyone as it is balancing and adaptogenic for oily, dry, acne and sensitive skins.
6. Looking for a refreshing night's sleep?  Spray Lavender or Roman Chamomile on the pillows and sheets before going to bed.
7. Face needs moisturizing or hydrating?  Spritz on your chosen hydrosol and immediately feel refreshed.
8. No time to shampoo your hair?  Mist your hair, then comb and you're ready to go.
9. Too much sun?  Spray Lavender hydrosol on the affected areas and experience immediate relief.
10. Eyes feeling a little tired.  Pour a little Roman Chamomile or Green Myrtle hydrosol on a cotton pad and apply the relaxing eye pads.
11. Feeling stressed out?  Calm down by spraying a relaxing hydrosol like Lavender, Rose, Geranium or Roman Chamomile.  
12. Spritz your linen with your favorite hydrosol for a nice fresh smell.
13. Been bitten my mosquitoes, horse flies or other insect bites?  Spray with Melissa hydrosol to relive the itch and calm the inflammation.
14. Add Rosemary hydrosol to shampoos or conditions to promote healthy, shiny hair.
15. Hydrosols work very well as compresses as well.  They would be chosen depending on their desired action.

I hope you are all having a wonderful summer despite the strange weather we appear to be experiencing right across the continent.

Always available:

• The self-directed home study Aromatherapy Courses. 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!
• Aromatherapy Caddy Chemistry Home Study Course
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  • Infant Massage
  • Subtle Aromatherapy
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Willpower - Pine

Willpower is the key to success. Successful people strive no matter what they feel by applying their will to overcome apathy, doubt or fear.  Dan Millman

Human potential is the same for all. Your feeling, "I am of no value", is wrong. Absolutely wrong. You are deceiving yourself. We all have the power of thought - so what are you lacking? If you have willpower, then you can change anything. It is usually said that you are your own master.   Dalai Lama

In their book Daily Aromatherapy, Transforming the Seasons of Your Life with Essential Oils, Joni Kein and Ruah Bull say that Pine is the best essential oil for willpower. They say that Pine:

Restores and builds willpower and self-confidence.  Energizes, relieves anxiety and stress.

They suggest that one could sit quietly and slowly inhale the aroma of Pine with slow relaxed breaths. Then pause and ask oneself some important questions and jot down your answers and reflections on a piece of paper:

What does "willpower" mean to me? In what areas of my life do I exert my willpower?  When I exert my willpower, how do I feel?  What enhances my willpower?  What decreases my willpower?  How do I benefit from having willpower?

Inhale the aroma of Pine again and intend that you are breathing in willpower. Review your answers to the questions, reflect and add any additional notes. Pine helps to build your willpower and to understand its dynamics in your life.

In Spiritual PhytoEssencing, Pine is seen to be useful for many of the physical and emotional conditions caused by the inner conflict of letting go or holding on (particularly dysfunctional relationships).

Other oils that can be helpful with willpower include:

• Juniper Berry - Aids in strengthening willpower and eases fear of failure.
• Rosemary - Can promote self-confidence and strengthen willpower.

If you enjoy using crystals in her books The Crystal Bible and Crystal Prescriptions, Judy Hall suggests the following for willpower:

Rose Quartz -enhances positive affirmations and helps to remind one of their intentions.
Black Onyx - helps impart self-control.
Tiger's Eye -helps heal issues of self-worth, self-criticism, and blocked creativity.  It aids in recognizing one's talents and abilities and supports an addictive personality in making changes.
Ruby - helps overcome exhaustion and lethargy and imparts potency and vigor.

New (There as still a few spots available)

Indian Head Massage 
Tuesday, July 19th, 2011
9.00 am - 5.00 pm Cost $150.00 plus HST

Always available:

• The self-directed home study Aromatherapy Courses. 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!
• Aromatherapy Caddy Chemistry Home Study Course
• E-Books and DVD
  • Aromatic Gifts for All Ages and All Seasons
  • Infant Massage
  • Subtle Aromatherapy
  • Aromatic Lords and Ladies of the Zodiac
  • The Hawkins Protocol Book
  • Aroma Massage DVD

Essential Oil Safety - Internal Use

I am often asked about my thoughts on cooking with essential oils or using them internally.  This morning I updated the Newsletter on my website with an article on Essential Oil Safety - Internal Use and I thought that it would be a good idea to mention it on the blog as well.

I love my essential oils, they are wonderful and can be used for so many reasons, but I respect their potency as well. When it comes to using these highly concentrated substances less is always more and a very little goes a long way.  It is when essential oils are used indiscriminately, without the proper knowledge of their complexity and safe use, that problems can arise.

Certainly anyone who is in a position to recommend the use of essential oils to anyone else, particularly in a professional capacity and to my mind this includes people who are selling essential oils, better be really sure that they know what they are doing.  It also helps if you have Professional Liability Insurance.  The phrase "First do no harm", taught in medical school and often attributed to Hippocrates, holds good for the use of essential oils, just as much as it does for the practice of medicine or any of the healing arts.

New (There as still a few spots available)

Indian Head Massage 
Tuesday, July 19th, 2011
9.00 am - 5.00 pm Cost $150.00 plus HST

Always available:

• The self-directed home study Aromatherapy Courses. 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!
• Aromatherapy Caddy Chemistry Home Study Course
• E-Books and DVD
  • Aromatic Gifts for All Ages and All Seasons
  • Infant Massage
  • Subtle Aromatherapy
  • Aromatic Lords and Ladies of the Zodiac
  • The Hawkins Protocol Book
  • Aroma Massage DVD