Aroma Therapy, part five: Healthful Aromas
isn’t aroma therapy, I don’t know what is!
I find it very practical to keep a bottle of lavender essential oil around. The aroma is both relaxing and refreshing, and I most often add a few drops (not droppers) to the wash and rinse cycle of my washing machine for fresh smelling laundry, it really does smell “clean” (I also use unscented laundry soap). Spruce essential oil is nice to use when mopping floors; just add a few drops to a bucket of warm water (or directly on the sponge) and mop away. I like it better than pine, although a small piece of pitch from either tree smells great when melted on the wood-burning stove.
I use an old-fashioned vaporizer laced with essential oils throughout the winter. This year, I haven’t come down with a cold or the flu, not even once. I don’t know if the herbal vapor has anything to do with it, but it doesn’t hurt. Plus, it smells really good. I use everything from citrus and eucalyptus oils, to rosemary, sage and tea-tree oil. Peppermint oil is very sweet smelling, and clove is downright enticing. I like them all.
You can use floral essential oils such as rose or ylang ylang in your vaporizer if you want to set a more romantic atmosphere to your living space, and a simple splash of vanilla extract or rose water can work wonders as well. The aromatherapeutic benefits of these essences are that of lifting the heart and engendering the light from within. Very useful during the grey days of winter.
http://www.llewellyn.com/product.php?ean=9780738719078
http://www.amazon.com/The-Wild-Weedy-Apothecary-Concoctions/dp/0738719072
http://www.onespirit.com/the-wild-weedy-apothecary.html
I kinda figured that the charcoal briquettes would be a bad idea, wasn't sure..but since I have a pretty small apartment (and about 5 smoke alarms) I don't think ill be burning it on those (they came with the sampler)
hmm. Smoking it would probably be the only choice, since the herb is finely cut already..can't really make a smudge stick of it.
Now when you say "cleans the lungs" does that mean its good for someone with a chest cold?
Ahh the arnica flowers will come in handy then!
Thanks so much for the info..I plan on getting your book as soon as I get some extra money. I definitely need it in my library!
Hey AHWF.ORG
Let's hope for a good huck-pickin' year. The deer have eaten most of our blueberry plants, the little pot-likkers!
I know you'll take care of the winged one, she's in good hands.
Hi Jennifer… yeah, the pie, heavy sigh…
About mullein, the old way was to actually smoke the herb, but I do not recommend smoking for obvious reasons. However, the smoke IS healing to the lungs, so, you decide. I have rolled it up and smoked it myself, but I think burning it like a smudge stick, and NOT on a charcoal briquette (they have nitrates which could be irritating), would be a good alternative.
As for the arnica flowers, I would simmer them in olive oil to use as a muscle rub before or after hard work. Avoid getting it on any cuts or scrapes (could cause a rash).
Ooooh…lovely bubbly pie. :d
Interesting bit of info on the mullein…I just got a bit in an herb sampler, and have never come across it before..was wondering what it could be used for.
So a bit on a charcoal briquette, that would "clean" the air?
Also, any other suggested uses for "arnica flowers" would be great. I tried looking it up in Scott cunninghams encyclopedia of herbs and its not even listed.
Is it possible to smell through the computer screen? Well anyway thanks for the wonderful posts to chase away the Spring Drearies…Now that You have me craving Blueberry pancakes and a wishing for a house full of flowers I better get busy! BTW We just received our first patient fo the year – a Western Meadowlark. I've posted info on our blog.