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Essential Oils Recipes

Jennifer — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 14:48:28 +0000

Recipe to Make Your Own Essential Oil

Essential oils are the oils obtained from plants by various methods, such as distillation. They are called essential oils because it carries a distinctive scent, or essence, of the plant. The use of essential oils has a history dating back at least a thousand years and has been used for medicinal uses, skin care and aromatherapy.

If you are fortunate enough to have an herb and/or flower garden, or have access to fresh cut herbs and flowers, you can make your own essential oils quite easily. Sweet almond oil with Vitamin E will be the base of all your essential oils. Vitamin E will act as a natural preservative. You essential oils will last 6 to 12 months if kept in a dark, dry, and cool place. Remember to sterilize your containers and start with clean utensils.

Ingredients: Day 1, Repeat for days 2 through 4

1/2 Cup Sweet Almond Oil
couple of drops of vitamin E
1 Cup packed fresh herbs OR 1/4 cup chopped fruit peel, such as orange, grapefruit, lime, lemon, etc. or 1cup freshly cut flowers. Rinse herbs, fruit or flower petals thoroughly.

Day 1
Every day for four days place 1 cup of flowers or 1/4 cup herbs or chopped fruit peel in the plastic bag.

Close the bag securely and lightly tap the materials in the bag. Do not beat them to a pulp, as this is a gentle process.

Add the sweet almond oil and the flowers, herbs or citrus peel into one wide mouth glass jar. Close and shake gently to distribute the almond oil thoroughly. Place bottle in warm place.

Day 2:
Transfer the materials in the jar into a cheesecloth or gauze and strain the oil into the second glass jar. Squeeze as much as possible to extract all the oils. Discard material.

Day 3, Repeat Day 1

Day 4, Repeat Day 2

On the 4th day, when all oils have been extracted into jar 2, strain the oil one last time. Pour into pretty bottle

Below are some fun recipes.

Scented Rocks (A Nice Alternative to Potpourri)

1/2 cup plain flour
1/2 cup salt
1/4 tsp. essential oil in your favorite scent
2/3 cups boiling water
Food coloring, if desired

In bowl, mix dry ingredients well. Add essential oil and boiling water to dry ingredients. (Scent will be strong, but will fade slightly when dry.) For colored stones, blend in food coloring, one drop at a time, until desired shade is reached. Blend ingredients and form balls. Allow stones to dry. Place rocks in a bowl or dish to scent a room.

Oriental Nights Perfume

4 drops sandalwood
4 drops musk
3 drops frankincense
2 tsp. jojoba oil

Mix all the ingredients together and shake well. Allow perfume to settle for at least 12 hours. Store in a cool dry place.

Luscious Body Polisher

2 C. plain yogurt
1 T. wheat germ
1 T. honey
1 T. almond oil

Omit almond oil if skin is acne-prone. Mix all ingredients. Dampen skin in shower and massage mixture all over. Rinse with warm water. Rinse immediately with cold water to boost circulation.

Lemony Lavender Toner

3 drops lemon oil
3 drops lavender oil
3 teaspoons of distilled water

Use a soft cotton ball to massage mixture into the skin after cleansing. Follow with a moisturizer if desired.

Carol Belanger, author of 300+ Skin Care Recipes.

For wonderful homemade skin care recipes, including body scrubs, facial peels and masks, etc., visit Complete Skin Care Therapy

Essential Oils – A Holy Anointing Recipe For Christmas

What’s in a holy anointing recipe? Essential oils and hopefully therapeutic grade essential oils are the ONLY ingredients. I have thought about this in regards to a “spiritual” recipe for aiding you in your holiday celebrations particularly spiritual celebrations honoring the birth of the Christ child. Let’s first look in the Bible. There are only a few oils that the biblical writers deemed holy enough to call them “holy.” They are frankincense, myrrh, spikenard, galbanum and onycha. There are actually 35 different plants named by name in the scriptures but only these five got the special designation of holy. Of these five, only frankincense and myrrh have traditionally been used by churches in their incense.

A Recipe for Anointing

Frankincense will lend a particularly holy fragrance to your recipe and the myrrh will give a musky tinge to the body of the blend. Galbanum is actually a wonderfully earthy oil and will add a bit of grounding to the recipe. Onycha is styrax benzoin and can render a sweet vanilla-bean like fragrance to the recipe. Should you choose to add the spikenard, I would do so very sparingly since it is in the valerian family of plants and will give a “dirty socks” kind of aroma to your blend.

So here is the recipe:

12 drops of frankincense

6 drops of myrrh

2 drop of galbanum

1 drop of onycha (optional)

1 drop of spikenard (optional)

To use this blend for anointing in a spiritual service, I would add it to 1 teaspoon of virgin olive oil. Better yet, I would add it to a clear vegetable oil since olive oil tends to be greasy. You can use jojoba oil or fractionated coconut oil or almond oil. This will make about a 50% dilution. If you want to diffuse this blend rather than use it as an anointing oil, then don’t add the vegetable oil since it will clog up your diffuser. Just diffuse the frankincense/myrrh/galbanum mixture. The fragrance will give an “old world” kind of churchy aroma.

Essential Oils – Creating Another Festive Anointing Recipe For Christmas

Christmas is a beautiful season to celebrate with healing fragrances such as those described in the Bible. There are several references to anointing with “myrrh, aloes, and cassia.” Psalm 45:8 and “I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes and cinnamon.” Proverbs 7:17

These are actually quite exotic fragrances and when put together in a blend can be very powerful physically and spiritually. At Christmas the fragrance of spices fill our homes, why not our churches as well?

First let’s examine the healing properties of these single oils.

Myrrh (Commiphora myrrha) was mentioned between 14-16 times depending on your Bible translation. This was the midwives oil in the Old Testament since it was used in childbirth to prevent infection. There are several references to its use for skin conditions, oral hygiene and embalming. Women believed it preserved a youthful look and is found today in some of the more expensive face creams. It is anti-infectious, antiviral, antiparasitic, anti-inflammatory, hormone-like and it supports the immune system. Myrrh is used for emotional releasing since it has a gentle calming effect and can instill deep tranquility, inner stillness and peace.

Aloes is actually the ancient name for Sandalwood (Santalum album). The sandalwood tree is actually a parasitic tree that grows off the roots of other trees. It was Nicodemus in the New Testament who came bringing a “mixture of myrrh and aloes, weighing about a hundred pounds” to embalm the body of Jesus. John 19:39 Sandalwood proved to be a great assistance in meditation and was considered an aphrodisiac. This is one of the oldest oils known for its spiritual qualities. It too is excellent for skin care and it enhances deep sleep. For the mind and spirit it can be clarifying and stilling.

Cassia (Cinnomomum cassia) is related to cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum) but is much sweater in its fragrance. Traditionally the ancient world used both cassia and cinnamon as ingredients in the holy anointing oil given to Moses and considered cassia and cinnamon as “oils of gladness” and “oils of joy” since they both have mood elevating effects. Cinnamon is the stronger of the two oils and tends to be harsh by comparison. Both are highly antibacterial, antiviral, anti-fungal and immune system builders.

Creating the Recipe

To create an anointing oil, be sure to use only therapeutic grade oils. Perfume oils can have alcohols, extenders and artificial fragrance. Myrrh and sandalwood are very gentle and can be used on the body without diluting. This is not true for either cassia or cinnamon which are both high in aldehydes and can burn the skin when used alone and not diluted. Since we will be adding enough myrrh and sandalwood to our blend recipe, it is not necessary to dilute with a vegetable oil unless you are creating an anointing oil for a healing service or Christmas service. In that case you can add the oils to a teaspoon of carrier oil like almond, jojoba or other vegetable oil.

12 drops of myrrh
10 drops of sandalwood
2-3 drops of cassia

Want to learn more about anointing with healing oils? I’d like you to claim your free instant access to a Special Report on Five Biblical Oils when you subscribe to my free short ezine newsletter on energy healing and aromatherapy at http://www.ISHAhealing.com

This Free Report includes descriptions of myrrh and sandalwood. Look for the subscriber box on the left-hand side of the page.

The Institute of Spiritual Healing and Aromatherapy teaches classes throughout the United States on both aromatherapy and energy (spiritual) healing. I’d like to invite you to explore our educational offerings.

From Linda L. Smith, Director of the Institute of Spiritual Healing & Aromatherapy, a national program in Christian healing.

Aromatherapy And Weight Loss

Jennifer — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 14:19:32 +0000

All of us will like to see ourselves well groomed and fit enough to look great and flaunt those athletic physiques among friends and relatives.

Unfortunately, it is not always possible for the most obvious reasons; we simply can not maintain our body weight. For some people the dilemma of being overweight starts first in the mind: It is all psychological and once the mind is healthy, the slimmer body will automatically follow. Mentally, aromatherapy can help you to fight stress and lift your mood.

The connection between smell and emotion are thought to be extremely close. Taking a deep breath of pleasant smells triggers positive reactions in the brain, resulting in a sense of wellbeing and goodness. We are all very unique. If oil works well for one person it doesn’t necessarily mean it will work the same for the next person. The way the oils are used could also make a difference; one person might benefit more by using the oils in the bath, rather than inhalation, massage or burning the oils.

The same theory holds good in case of human weight; more you feel good and hale, the more will be the care towards your physical well being. A regular aromatherapy session may help you achieve weight loss campaign, by increasing your sense of well-being and relaxation. However, aromatherapy cannot produce desired weight loss without you creating your own calorie deficit regime, either by eating a calorie-reduced weight loss diet, or by increasing calories burned through rigorous exercise, or more ideally by a combination of diet and exercise. Aromatherapy has proven to be very useful for this weight loss. This natural way of treating has no side effect at all as compared to other treatments.

Certain essential oils are very useful in weight loss trial, like Birch, Grapefruit, Juniper, Lemon, Orange, Tangerine, and Fennel. Massage is probably the best method and oils must be used with base oils like sweet almond, which makes oil less strong and easy to use. Applying oil to those places were fatty tissues are more, will really help to reduce the fat level and make your physique well shaped.

Essential oils used here are not only sweet smelling but have also the capacity to make your digestive system good, that in turn also helps in weight reduction. How ever, one must see that the oils used should be in moderate amount and mixed with carrier oil before using.

A calculated dosage, rigorous exercise-workout and a strict diet will go a long way in achieving a significant weight loss.

Find more great aromatherapy information at http://www.essentialaromatherapy.co.uk

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Spring Cleaning — Keep it Pure and Simple

Jennifer — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 15:34:22 +0000

The best part of spring cleaning is opening the doors and windows to welcome fresh air and sunshine. Why not add to that spring freshness with natural cleaners?

Taken from the flowers, bark, leaves, and other parts of plants, essential oils are as natural as fresh air and sunshine. Many have their own properties as disinfectants, grease cutters and deterrents to pests — and they impart fresh and pleasing aromas that linger long after your chores are finished.

Natural cleaning products are increasingly available in stores, but you can also easily and economically make your own mixtures with just a few basic ingredients. Chances are some of these ingredients, such as baking soda, white vinegar and borax, are already in your cupboards. One hundred percent pure essential oils can be found at natural products stores or online at www.auracacia.com.

Homemade natural cleaning products are versatile; many can be used for a variety of tasks. Because essential oils are in a highly concentrated form, often only a few drops are needed for a solution that can take you through several cleaning cycles. Not only do you save money — your homemade cleansers will work just as well as commercially produced cleaners without harming the environment.

“Choices abound,” says Tom Havran, aromatherapy product developer. “From pine or lemon oil, whose essences suggest more traditional cleaning aromas, to tea tree and grapefruit, which people might not think of as cleaning ingredients.”

Not sure which oil to start with? Here are some of Havran’s suggestions:

* Pine is inexpensive and clean smelling. It is effective as both a disinfectant and deodorizer.

* Lavender has a pleasing scent, is anti-bacterial and deters insects such as moths.

* Tea tree oil has a sharp, spicy scent and is a good disinfectant and deodorizer.

* Lemon is fresh and clean smelling. It’s also acidic, providing antibacterial and antiseptic cleaning properties.

* Grapefruit has a clean and uplifting aroma that eliminates odors — even strong pet odors.

Making your own cleaning products with essential oils can be as simple as mixing 15 to 20 drops of any essential oil into a cup of baking soda, letting the mixture stand overnight so the oil can be absorbed, and then sprinkling the powder on carpet before you vacuum.

You can also make a quick and easy disinfecting toilet bowl cleanser by combining one cup of water, one-quarter cup of liquid castile soap and 20 drops of white thyme, lavender or lemon essential oil in a 22-oz. spray bottle.

Spring is a time of renewal that offers a perfect opportunity to replace chemical cleansers with pure and natural essential oils. Your whole family, including your pets, will benefit.

For more spring-cleaning formulas you can make yourself with essential oils visit www.auracacia.com/springcleaning. While you’re there, be sure to get more information about Aura Cacia’s live web chats with host Tim Blakley, and download previous chats to learn more about using essential oils that benefit you and your family, naturally.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Some Interesting Facts about Lemon Oil

Author — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 10:22:42 +0000

Lemon oil is an extract from the common lemon or the Citrus limon which is the fruit of the lemon tree. This tree originated in Asia and has found mention in the chronicles of history as long ago as 200 AD. The popularity of the lemon went through the roof when it was found (in Europe) that it could cure scurvy which was one of the most dreadful problems at that time.

However, though it was extensively used against scurvy making it a favorite and must have item for any sailor, it was also used to fight fevers caused by infections, digestive disorders, skin problems, arthritis and skin care.

The Application of Lemon Oil

This fruit and its extract is used in the modern world for curing many ailments based on its antiseptic properties, such as the cold, flu, asthma and bronchitis. Since it has excellent anti-bacterial and anti-septic properties, you could and you should use it in places where it is important that you have assured cleanliness, such as homes where babies crawl on the floor, government hospitals, private nursing homes, laboratories, etc. The extraordinary fragrance of the lemon oil makes is the best among all types of disinfectants making it the number one choice for hospitals and toilets.

Cures High Blood Pressure

You would need to apply lemon oil on the soles of the feet and watch the problem disappear as you wait. This is an incredibly effective remedy for the silent killer.

Reverses Weight Gain and Fights Obesity

This oil is very effective against weight gain. Massage with this oil reduces cellulite and cleanses the skin as well.

Cosmetic Uses

Lemon oil is a natural astringent. Hence, applying one drop of this oil to the face twice a day has an amazing effect on the skin. It promotes cleansing of the skin, tightening of the pores and reverses wrinkles.

Concentration and Memory

Inhaling the fragrance of this oil can reduce anxiety and depression and increase your concentration and memory power. It also makes you more lively and raring to go.

Cures Indigestion and Gas

Lemon oil is an excellent digestive aid. It also detoxifies the liver promoting fast healing from inside.

However, always ensure that you do not go in the sun after you apply this essential oil to your face as this would create burned patches all over the exposed skin. This oil is phototoxic and hence it should be used for only indoors, even so with caution. Would you have known or thought in your wildest dream that the modest and tiny lemon has so many great uses?

The Best Essential Oil Recipes

Jennifer — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 02:56:40 +0000

Of course you can go out to a store and purchase your essential oil recipes, but if you really want to have some fun and be creative and make your own essential oil recipes, then you should know that the process involved here is really not all that difficult, as long as you have at least a basic idea of what you are doing and where to start.

Exotic Recipes

Arabian Nights

This is one exotic essential oil recipe in particular that is sure to create a romantic mood, for which you will need 3 drops Coriander, 1 drop Frankincense, 3 drops Juniper, and 4 drops Orange.

Egyptian Empress

Another exotic essential oil recipe, this one can really make you feel as though you are in another world, and all you need to do for it is mix 2 drops Cinnamon, 3 drops Lime, 4 drops Rose, and 5 drops Ylang Ylang.

Happiness Recipes

Besides exotic essential oil recipes, there are also happiness essential oil recipes that you can create, which will help you to feel that warm and blissful state of pure happiness and joy. These particular recipes can help to brighten the start of every day

Bliss Recipe

You need: 2 drops Bergamot, 1 drop Jasmine, 1 drop Rose, and 2 drops Sandalwood.

Joyfulness Recipe

You need: 2 drops Basil, 1 drop Geranium, 3 drops Melissa, and 2 drops Sandalwood.

Confidence Recipes

Then there are also various confidence essential oil recipes to choose from, with the four most popular recipes in particular being: Poise, Decisiveness, Self Belief, and Wedding Nerves.

Poise

For the first, Poise, you need 2 drops Basil, 3 drops Bergamot, 1 drop Coriander, and 4 drops Petitgrain.

Decisiveness

For the Decisiveness recipe you need 2 drops Benzoin, 3 drops Frankincense, 1 drop Geranium, and 3 drops Orange.

Self Belief Recipe

You will require 2 drops Ginger, 3 drops Myrtle, 4 drops Rosemary, and 3 drops Verbena.

Wedding Nerves

You need 4 drops Jasmine, 2 drops Lemon, and 1 drop Patchouli.

All of these essential oil recipes work very effectively, and have a pronounced relaxing and soothing effect that no other recipes in the world can offer. Essential oils are truly profound and wonderful, and regardless of whether you make your recipes from scratch or go out and buy them from a store, the point is that you are going to be doing yourself some serious good by using them.