Self-Care in Grief...soothing essential oils

"The Leaf",(1897/1898) by Elizabeth Forbes

When someone dear to us dies, friends often encourage us to take care of ourselves, to be gentle with ourselves. I have given this advice to many people over the years but now I am the recipient of this sympathetic support. You see, my mother passed away the day after Christmas. Mama had lived with us for the previous two years as she fought against ovarian cancer, first detected six years before. She was briefly hospitalized at the beginning of December and then came back home to us under Hospice support. She achieved her two goals, celebrating her ninety-third birthday on December 16th, and seeing her great-grandchildren on Christmas Day. Those accomplished, she gently slipped away with my husband, my brother, my sister-in-law, and me, by her side.

Even when expected, even at the end of a very long life, losing someone so loved and integral to our lives is hard. Really, really hard. So how do I follow my own advice of self-care? I should remember to eat healthy food and stay hydrated, even when I don't think I can swallow it down. I should take walks even though I just want to sit here in my chair with Mama's blanket over my lap. I should allow myself to cry when

the tears well up and allow myself to laugh when humor gently nudges my funny bone.

What other things can I do? When a caring neighbor gave me some hand lotion that smells just like sugar cookies, I noticed how comforting it was each time I smoothed it on. Although I liked the feel of the lotion, I realized it was the scent that was soothing to my spirit. Of course. It was a form of aromatherapy. So I've done a bit of research and found some essential oils that are especially helpful for the kind of self-care I need at this time. (I discovered these in a blog post by Marika Fleri on the School of Aromatic Studies website.)

"Fresh Cut Lavender Flowers" by Lexipexi via Wikimedia Commons

Use these combinations in a bath, diffuser, or aromatherapy inhaler:

3 drops Sandalwood
2 drops Melissa
2 drops Frankincense

or

3 drops Mandarin
2 drops Lavender
2 drops Clary Sage

or

"Mama and Me" photo by William Ahearn, the author's husband

3 drops Lavender
2 drops Roman Chamomile
2 drops Jasmine

Thanks for stopping by...y'all come back now.  
Kate

Things That Go Bump in the Night...essential oils for Halloween

As Halloween draws nigh, our thoughts turn to all things spooky. And, yes, there is an

"Pumpkin King at Disneyland" By Imperpay at English Wikipedia
via Wikimedia Commons

essential oil for that. Lots of them, actually. Although we most often think of essential oils as means to promote physical healing and mental/emotional stabilization, they have also been used over the centuries and throughout myriad world cultures for protection against negative energies and evil spirits. 

Essential Oils traditionally thought to aid in protection:

Star Anise

Anisee (against disturbing dreams) 

Cajeput

Camphor

Carnation Absolute

Cedarwood Virginian (protection and purification of magical spaces, dispelling negative energies, exorcism and banishing rites)

Citronella (protection against Vampires! Well...bloodsucking mosquitoes, anyway) 

Clary Sage

Clove

Cumin

Eucalyptus (banishing negative energies)

"Cedarwood Essential OIl"
By Itineranttrade via Wikimedia Commons

Sweet Fennel

Frankincense

Galbanum (and banishing negative energies)

Geranium

Ginger

Hyssop

Juniper (and dispelling negative energies and entities)

Lime

True Melissa

Mimosa Absolute

Myrrh (and dispelling negative and harmful energies, psychic sensitivity, protection on journeys to the spirit realm)

Niaouli 

Oakmoss Resinoid

Palmarosa

Black Pepper

Pimento Berry 

Pine

Rosemary (and to assist transition into the spirit realm)

Spanish Sage

Spearmint (protection against negative energies during dream work)

Spikenard 

"Family Resemblance" by the author, KLWood

Tea-Tree

White Thyme

Vetivert 

Yarrow

So, regardless of your personal beliefs along the subject, you just may want to heat some of these up in your essential oil burner come Halloween night. It couldn't hurt. And, you never know, it just might help against: 

"Ghoulies and ghosties, And long-leggedy beasties, And things that go bump in the night!"

Have a good couple weeks, dear Reader. Thanks for stopping by...y'all come back now! (And Happy Halloween!)
Kate

Olympian sized muscle pain?...try these essential oils

"Sgt Hillary Bor Runs 3000m Steeplechase" by US Army via Wikimedia Commons

Watching the 2016 Summer Olympics, I am continually amazed at the stress these athletes heap upon
their muscles. Sometimes it shows on their faces. Sometimes it shows by their use of wraps and kinesio tape. This is definitely the year of The Tape-- sometimes boldly apparent, sometimes subtle, blending with the athlete's skin tones. Are there essential oils suitable for soothing muscle pain? You betcha! Take a gander at the ones, below. Massage them in with your carrier oil or lotion of choice. Soak them in through full body and foot baths. They are a wonderful, natural means of soothing overworked muscles, whether from running a 10km marathon or pulling weeds in the garden.

Essential Oils of:

-Lavender- (what an herbal workhorse, this is!) Anti-inflammatory, analgesic, circulation aid

"Freshly Cut Lavender Flowers" by Lexipexi via Wikimedia Commons

-Black Pepper- (and, no, you can't just shake it from a box) Warming, pain relieving, circulation aid

-Rosemary-Analgesic

-Ginger-Warming, antispasmodic

-Eucalyptus- Analgesic, anti-inflammatory

-Marjoram-Warming, antispasmodic, circulation aid

"Eucalyptus" by Toby Hudson via Wikimedia Commons

-Cypress-Antispasmodic

-Thyme- Warming, pain relieving, circulation aid

-Peppermint-Analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic

So, next time you need some blessed relief from aching muscles, try reaching for an essential oil instead of just popping a pill. Fragrant oils have a way of lifting your spirits as they ease your pain.

Have a good couple weeks, dear Reader. Thanks for stopping by...y'all come back now! (Go Team!)
Kate

(As always: this post is for information only for adult use and does not replace medical advice. Тest out an oil first by placing a small diluted amount on your arm as a patch test. In particular, those who are or could be pregnant should always refer to their physicians before using any essential oils.)

Cool Your Heels...with these essential oils

"Sun in Celestia" Public Domain per Wikimedia Commons

The 4th of July has just passed and it's hot as a firecracker here in North Carolina with heat indexes well over 100 degrees F. So here is a lovely, natural way to cool off. Take a few minutes, glass of iced beverage of your choice in hand, and soak your feet. When your feet are cool, it spreads upward throughout the rest of your body (and, of course the opposite is just as true.)

To a foot basin of luke-warm water, add several drops of any one or combination of the following cooling essential oils:


Eucalyptus

Foot Bath by John Frazier, Brooklyn Museum

Peppermint (a little goes a long way)
Spearmint
Lemon 
Lemongrass
Lavender
German Chamomile
Cypress
Vetivert
Juniper

Simple solution, complex benefits. Sit back, sip your drink, and soak those feet. You'll be glad you did!

Have a good couple weeks, dear Reader. Thanks for stopping by...y'all come back now! (And keep cool!)

Kate

"Peppermint" Public Domain per Wikimedia Commons

(As always: this post is for information only for adult use and does not replace medical advice. Тest out an oil first by placing a small diluted amount on your arm as a patch test. In particular, those who are or could be pregnant should always refer to their physicians before using any essential oils.) 

Going to the Dogs...essential oils for canine comfort

"Sophie Selfie" photograph by KL Wood

Exciting news around our house! We have recently adopted a rescued seven month old female, wirehaired terrier mix. Nine pounds of love, joy, and some emotional baggage. She was brought to the Humane Society by an Animal Cruelty Officer from a home in which another dog had died of starvation while bound to a short rope. Heartbreaking. We have named her Sophie and are amazed at her intelligence and rapid adjustment to our family. She does, of course, have some fears that we are working through together so I thought I'd check on essential oil use for canine anxiety. 

It is important to remember that dogs react, physically and emotionally, differently to some oils than do we. So what's good for the goose isn't necessarily good for the gander...or what's good for Kate isn't necessarily good for Sophie! And the information here is only for dogs. Not for cats. Felines respond differently than canines and can have fatal reactions to things that are just fine for dogs. Instead of listing oils that are not safe for dogs, I am going to give you some recipes that are helpful for them. (If you're like me, you might remember the good and the bad but not recall which was which!)

With all of these recipes: Never spray near eyes, nose, or mouth and if your dog doesn't like it, don't use it! The good thing about all of these mixtures is that they all smell lovely and have similar

"Sophie with her New Grandma" photograph by KL Wood

therapeutic properties for us humans.

For General Anxiety:
Mix these essential oils-
5-10 drops of Lavender and
5-10 drops of Roman Chamomile into
10 ounces of purified water
Pour into a spray bottle and lightly mist over your dog's coat.

For Hyper Sound Sensitivity:
Add any of these essential oils to your home diffuser-
Lavender 
Melissa 
Neroli

For Separation Anxiety:
Add these essential oils to your home diffuser-

"Happy Tail Wagging" photograph by KL Wood

8-10 drops of Sweet Orange and
4-5 drops of Lavender and
4-6 drops of Ylang Ylang

For YOU! For Odiferous Dogs:
Mix these essential oils-
10 drops of Lavender and
 6 drops of Sweet Orange and
 6 drops of Peppermint and
 3 drops of Eucalyptus into
 8 ounces of purified water
Pour into spray bottle and lightly mist over your dog's coat.

When buying essential oils, always buy the highest quality. You really do get what you pay for and you don't want to use oils that may be diluted with products unsafe for use with your dear pups. (Speaking of pups, wait until your puppy is older than 10 weeks to use the oils.)

"All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small..." are deserving of our love and care.

Have a good couple weeks, dear Reader. Thanks for stopping by...y'all come back now! 

Kate (and Sophie Rose)

       

Spring Allergies...essential oils to the rescue

To quote Nanki Poo in Gilbert and Sullivan's Mikado:

"Pink Azaleas" photo by KL Wood

"Fresh Cut Lavender Flowers" by Lexipexi via Wikimedia Commons

"Lemons" by By Zeynel Cebeci  via Wikimedia Commons

"The flowers that bloom in the spring,
Tra la,
Breathe promise of merry sunshine..."

But for some of us, the flowers that bloom in the spring (tra la) breathe promise of runny noses, itchy eyes, and headaches. There are several essential oils that can bring relief to these less-than-welcome signs of spring. Three of the most popular and effective are:

Lavender- 
A natural antihistamine and anti-inflammatory. It also has the added bonus of cleansing the air and relaxing mind and body.

Lemon-
A natural antihistamine and anti-inflammatory. Helps relieve excess mucus and its fresh, citrus scent is uplifting. (Lemon can add to photosensitivity so go sparingly if you are going out into the sunlight.)

Peppermint-
An anti-inflammatory that helps open breathing passages. Its fragrance is energizing.

"Peppermint Plant" by By Gürkan Sengün  via Wikimedia Commons

These three are great individually and fantastic when combined with each other. Diffuse them in a home essential oil diffuser, mix them with a carrier oil of your choice (such as jojoba) or lotion and massage into your skin, add a few drops to your soaking bath, place drops on a cotton ball and inhale, mix with carrier oil in a roller ball bottle and apply to temples, back of neck, and pulse points.

So go out, breathe in Spring, (and carry an essential oil roller ball with you!)

Have a good couple weeks, dear Reader. Thanks for stopping by...y'all come back now! (Tra la!)

Kate

(As always: this post is for information only for adult use and does not replace medical advice. Тest out an oil first by placing a small diluted amount on your arm as a patch test. In particular, those who are or could be pregnant should always refer to their physicians before using any essential oils.) 

Caraway Seed Essential Oil...a nod to the Irish

"Caraway" photo by H. Zell , via Wikimedia Commons 

'Tis St. Patrick's Day week so I searched for an essential oil with an Irish connection and decided upon caraway seed. Although caraway seeds are actually an American addition to traditional Irish soda bread, caraway seed cake is indeed authentically Irish. Sometimes called "seedy cake," it is a lovely, gently sweet cake perfect for afternoon tea, especially spread with some wondrously creamy Irish butter. (I've included a recipe at the end of today's post.)

Caraway Seed essential oil has a sweet, spicy, mildly peppery fragrance. It can be dropped into an infuser for inhalation, bath water for soaking, carrier oil/ lotion/ or shampoo for massaging into the skin or scalp. The following are benefits widely

"Caraway Seeds" by Slick, via Wikimedia Commons

attributed to caraway seed oil:

Emotional Wellbeing-- its warming fragrance aids stress relief, mental strain, and emotional fatigue.

Respiratory Health-- acts as an expectorant and useful for coughs, bronchitis, and other respiratory ailments.

Skin and Hair-- as a tissue regenerator, it can help fight oily skin, clear acne, heal bruises and boils, and clean infected wounds. It also soothes itchy skin, as well as dandruff and other scalp problems.

Digestion-- helps relieve upset stomach, colic, and gastric spasms.

So, as if that isn't enough, toss some caraway seeds into a cake recipe and enjoy their unique texture and flavor. You might say you "can have your cake and eat it, too!" Thanks to edible-ireland.com for this culinary treat:

From Edible-Ireland.com

Caraway Seed Cake

adapted from Make, Bake, Love by Lilly Higgins

Serves 8 to 10

175 g (1 1/2 cups) self-raising flour
150 g (1 1/4 cups) caster sugar, plus extra to sprinkle
125 g (1/2 cup + 1 tablespoon) butter, softened
2 eggs
1 tablespoon caraway seeds

(If you’re worried that your batter looks too dry, add in 1 or 2 tablespoons of milk.)

Preheat the oven to 170°C (340°F). Grease and line a 1 lb loaf tin.

Cream the sugar and butter together, then add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Add in the flour and mix just until smooth, taking care not to overmix, then fold in the caraway seeds. Pour the batter into the tin, level the top and sprinkle with sugar.

Bake for about 1 hour (check it after 50 minutes), or until risen and an inserted skewer comes out clean. Leave to rest in the tin for 5 minutes before turning out onto a wire rack to cool

"Rugby Union Flag of Ireland" [Public domain], via Wikimedia Common

Have a good couple weeks, dear Reader. Thanks for stopping by...y'all come back now! 

Sláinte!

Kate

(As always: this post is for information only and does not replace medical advice. Тest out an oil first by placing a small diluted amount on your arm as a patch test. In particular, those who are or could be pregnant should always refer to their physicians before using any essential oils.) 

Setting a New Course...and getting cozy

Illustration unknown

Over the past several months I've shared my research into diverse figures of cultural mythology, from Scotland's Kelpie to the Cherokee Little People. The purpose of this intellectual adventure was to aid in the writing of my current work-in-progress, Murmuration, a novel woven with threads of magical realism. And although I've found the subject fascinating, I've decided to set this project aside for a variety of reasons. Not abandoned. Just on an indefinite leave of absence while I pursue a different literary direction. 

Bath Oil with Herbs and Leaves in Glass Bottle
Photo by Matte via Wikimedia commons

My creative compass is pulling me toward a genre that feels right for me at present; one in which my natural tendency toward gentle humor and love of puzzling out solutions is at home-- the Cozy Mystery. Think Agatha Christie's "Miss Marple" series, Alexander McCall Smith's The Number 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, and Lilian Jackson Braun's "The Cat Who" books. I'm in the very beginning stage of bringing this book to life but I do know a few facts: the main character is a female (age to be determined,) living in Edenton, North Carolina, who works as an aromatherapist/perfumier. My amateur sleuth's occupation will both lead her into and help her solve crimes that boil to the surface of this quaint southern town. My days as a certified massage therapist introduced me to the world of aromatherapy and the power of fragrance and essential oils. We all know how our sense of smell can affect our moods, transport us to a different time and place, rekindle memories (pleasant or un.) So! For the next several weeks, my blog posts will introduce us to the qualities and uses of essential oils. Of course, this information is never meant to be a replacement for appropriate medical care and if you try any of these oils, start with a small test amount to be sure you have no allergies to them. There are many great online sources of information regarding the use of essential oils and sources from which to purchase them. Always be sure your oils are pure essential, not the extracts you buy from the grocery store. A couple good online suppliers are Aura Cacia and Plant Therapy.

With all the "chill-you-to-the-bone" weather we are experiencing, I found several oils that

Ginger,  Photograph by Frank C. Müller, Baden-Baden
via Wikimedia Commons

warm us up, physically and emotionally. One of those is ginger. Pure essential oil of ginger root has been used for thousands of years to aid circulation, ease indigestion, and relieve muscle aches and pains. It has a lovely warm, citrusy fragrance that is a comfort on these cold days. There are many ways to use ginger oil but two easy and lovely methods are to add about 6 drops to your bath water just before you step in and add 6 drops to 10 ml of a carrier oil or lotion that you massage into your skin. I like to use pure jojoba oil as a carrier since it is very similar to our natural skin oil and is generally at home with any skin type.

Have a good couple weeks, dear Reader. Thanks for stopping by...y'all come back now! (And stay cozy.)

Kate