Rosemary Essential Oil

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essential oil, essential oils, hair care, health, memory, Rosemary

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) essential oil is one that I use frequently in my personal hair care products. Distilled from the leaves of the plant, it has a lovely earthy smelly. It is part of the Labiatae family which includes thyme, peppermint, and marjoram to name a few.

Rosemary has several documented medical uses. There are several studies looking at links between rosemary and memory. Indications are that rosemary can help improve your memory. It has been used in schools and by students individually to help with studying for and writing exams as it seems to help keep the mind focused. Currently there are studies happening to see if it is helpful in treating patients with Alzheimers.

As I mentioned above, I am using it in my hair care products. It helps strengthen your hair. It is also thought to help slow hair loss. And it is useful for treating dandruff.

There are numerous other documented uses for rosemary – respiratory issues, rheumatism, skin care. It will definitely be a staple in my supplies when I look at doing aromatherapy treatments!

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Sandalwood Essential Oil

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essential oil, sandalwood, skin care

This past week my fellow aromatherapy students and I were finalizing an order of supplies from our teacher, Jan Benham. We know that she has high grade EOs from reputable suppliers. One of the items we have been wanting to get for a while is Sandalwood (Santalum album) EO. And finally (fingers crossed), we may actually get some!

Sandalwood EO comes from the Santalaceae family. Sandalwood trees are found in India and the EO is distilled from the heartwood of the tree. The trees must be mature – 40 to 80 years old, the older the better. It is great for skin care, especially dry, chapped skin and acne and can be used on all skin types. Sandalwood EO encourages a state of deep relaxation. It helps stimulates the pineal gland which produces melatonin. Melatonin helps regulate your sleep and is beneficial for the immune system.

So why is it such a difficult EO to obtain? In addition to the many healing uses of Sandalwood, it is also used in many spiritual ceremonies. It has been highly sought after for years. And the sources are dwindling. It is a difficult tree to grow. Sandalwood is a parasitic evergreen tree – growing off of other plants. The Indian government does have strict regulations in place concerning production and export to help protect Sandalwood but the demand has lead to the illegal cutting of trees and often trees being cut too early.

Fortunately Jan does have an supplier of ethically produced Sandalwood. And while the price is high, it is also one of few EOs that gets better as it ages so there is not the same concern about having it sit on your shelf. And it is a powerful EO – a little goes a long way – and we can use it effectively in a 10% jojoba dilution. So fingers crossed that it will be here soon!

Glacial Marine Clay

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clay, clay masks, facials, glacial marine clay, kaolin clay, skin care

Clay masks are a great thing to add into your weekly facial skin care routine, especially if you have oily, combination, or mature skin. They can be a bit messy to apply but I think the end result is worth it!

Why use a clay mask? Clay helps draw out the impurities that have gathered in the skin. It helps tighten pores and removes dead skin cells giving your skin a smoother feel and look. As the clay dries, it helps stimulate circulation, helping bring back that healthy glow to your face.

I’ve written about Kaolin clay previously. I have very much enjoyed using it for the past few months. It is a great generic base clay as it is suitable for most skin types. Recently one of my colleagues came across glacial marine clay. I’m using glacial marine clay harvested from the coastal water of the Pacific Ocean by Glacial Bay. http://glacialorganicclay.com/  On its own, I find it too fine to make a good mask for me. However, mixed in with other clays like Kaolin, it makes a great mask that leaves my skin feeling refreshed and looking great!

At the moment I am testing out a variety of clays in different combinations and am aiming for one mask a week. Aside from keeping my skin healthy, it is a great excuse for a little pampering during these cold and dark winter months!

Oregano Essential Oil

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essential oils, health, Oregano, Qi Drop Therapy

Oregano (Origanum vulgare) is another very powerful EO! It is also one of the oils used in Qi Drop. Like marjoram, it is part of the Labiatae botanical family. It is distilled from the leaves of the plant.

Oregano EO is antiviral, antibacterial, and antiparasitic. It helps fight free radicals in the body. One of its key properties is the phenol, carvacrol. It inhibits the growth of several bacteria like staphylococcus (staph infections), streptococcus (strep throat), and pneumococcus (which can result in pneumonia).

I have used it in an oral solution for the past couple of years – helping to ward off or lessen the impact of colds and flus. This year I didn’t buy any of the oral mix as I’ve been using it with the Qi Drop and have been getting lots of exposure to it that way. You can find it mixed and ready to use in most health food stores. It is very spicy (peppery) and hot so be warned! You definitely only want to start with a drop – usually placed under the tongue. And if you don’t like peppery hot spice have some milk or bread handy just in case.