South Africa: change in 'therapeutic' legislation:

The term "therapeutic" might be removed from the names of the professions of aromatherapy, massage therapy and reflexology.

Traditional Ratus-V terbuat dari rempah dan akar pilihan seperti patchouli, cempaka putih, menyan madu yang diramu secara tradisional yang berfungsi untuk perawatan kewanitaan seperti mencegah keputihan, gatal-gatal

& aroma tak sedap.

Kegunaan Ratus:
* Mencegah keputihan

* Mencegah kanker leher rahim
* Mengurangi gatal-gatal dan menghilangkan bau tak sedap

(tidak dianjurkan untuk wanita hamil )

PRICE : Rp 17,000

tanpa cawan dan arang Rp. 16,000

RATUS BAKAR RAMBUT

Bahan :Vetiveria zizandides, citrus, ginger, ganystulus bancanus, sandalwood, sugar incense.

Kegunaan: menjadikan akar rambut kuat, hitam & mengkilat

Cara Pakai : letakkan 1 buah ratus diatas lepek / wadah tanah liat. Bakar sisi atas ratus ( seperti membakar obat nyamuk bakar). Gunakan asapnya untuk mengasapi rambut seminggu sekali. Gunakan setelah keramas.

PRICE : Rp 20,000

a. Go for a jaunt on the bike path along the Schuylkill while elbowing past the crowds of bikers and joggers. b. Hunker down for some quality time with my battery eating bottom of the line digital camera or c. Shop. Financial considerations usually eliminate the third as a viable option, but when the bank account gets a boost and the goin gets tough, the tough go shopping. I realize that to some, shopping as a means of relieving stress is antithetical. To those folks I say, if the idea of shopping stresses you out you're just not doing it right. Maybe I've watched one too many episodes of What Not To Wear (yes, Stacey and Clinton are bitchy and make people spend ridiculous amounts of money in overpriced stores but they do manage to teach people a thing or two about looking and feeling good) or read one too many design books such as The Sensual Home by Isle Crawford, which draws attention to the senses as being intricately linked with objects and design while expanding on the worthwhile practices of aromatherapy and incorporating taste, smell and color into the process of creating balance and beauty not only in your home but in your life. Because let's face it, Americans have to be taught the meaning of living well. As the cornerstone of our culture and our economy, consumerism is so deeply ingrained it often leads to its own stress inducing scenarios such as waste, tackiness and debt.

Cultural criticism aside, shopping is fun. This blog doesn't exactly get overrun with traffic so hopefully I can boost someone's day without giving away these cool finds to everyone under 30 with a computer.

Yummy Smells

I recently discovered the Tranquil Mint Aromatherapy line at Bath & Body Works, which comes in a lotion, handsoap, body scrub and shower gel. Since I've moved away from scented lotion and body scrubs are a once in a while thing, the shower gel is my favorite. I use it both as a body wash and a foaming bath which leaves a slightly perfumed and minty scent on my skin. Once you get a whiff of this stuff you will feel relaxed.

I also found out that the website where I buy my favorite incense sells shampoo that comes in the form of a powder made in India by R-Expo's Song of India brand, which has been making fragrances, essential oils, and other personal and home items since 1937. Fragrances include Rose, Sandalwood, and one of my all time favorite combinations...Patchouli & Amber. One tin lasts for up to 30 washes and costs $4.45 at theKrishnaStore.com

Another product I really love is Dermalogica's Stress Relief Oil. As a body oil it can be used for massage, bath therapy and deluxe skin conditioning but I have found the scent is absolutely amazing when I rub it into my hair (wet or dry). It's got that really aromatic earthy vibe without being overpowering. Main ingredients are sandalwood, lavender, orange and clary sage, extracts of tea tree, lemon and ylang-ylang all of which help to counteract the negative mental effects of stress. Get some!

My third recommendation is a splurge but the scent stays with you and their products are pretty awesome. Origins Matcha Tea Body Lotion is $40 bucks a pop and belongs to their new line of products created by the alternative health guru, Dr. Andrew Weill. Lotion doesn't cause a shift in consciousness but the combination of ginseng, jojoba seed and sweet almond oils is one of the nicest I've laid my nose buds on.

Lastly, a great everyday fresh scent that comes in oil as well as spray is Kiehl's Original Musk. No muss, no fuss (get it? musk/muss)

Yummy Wears

Ah, Old Navy. After years of loyal shopping there I've developed a love-hate relationship with the Clearance rack, which is usually the closet from hell or a treasure chest of really cheap cute clothes depending on the day and the location. This summer I decided to skip it and give myself the gift of bargain denim and camouflage instead:

• The Sweetheart Twisted Seam Jeans $6.99-are one of the cutest pairs I've ever owned. Slightly strechy, really flattering straight leg which wraps tightly around the ankle, light/dark wash and the best part of all only $6.99! Unfort. the bigger sizes are sold out online. Check out the Flirt Twisted Seam which comes in Short, Reg & Long in different sizes for $19.99, still not bad for a nice pair of jeans that fit and flatter.
• Mens Authentic Cargo Shorts $20-I love men's clothes. They're made and priced well, unlike much of the poorly sewn crap on our side of the store. I'm short and somewhat wide in the middle but these camos still fit me reasonably well and have the potential of being a comfy or funky ensem with a tank top and heels. 20 bucks and they come in other patchwork styles. Yay!

  

Yummy Shoes

• Urban Outfitters Canvas Cutout Sneaker $14.99-get your summer and hipster on at the same time. Check out the other flats and sandals on sale through their website.
• Payless Peep Toe Espadrille $19.99-stretchy strap, soft cotton, comes in black and rustic brown. Height, width, comfort and style. It's probably one of the best shoes they've ever sold. I'm also digging the peep toe flats in lavender by American Eagle.
• Target Women's Elsa Slide Sandals $19.99-they sell these at the Birkenstock store for four times as much. Nothing beats a classic bohemian cork bottom sandal with a soft leather strap in silver or brown. Laid back but still stylish. They kinda remind me of Shira, my super cool counselor from summer camp who wore crinkled skirts, had a nose ring and went to Yale. 

Yummy Accessories

If you live near a mall and that mall has a store called Forever 21... go there and get thee some great accessories. Better yet go online and shop for items that the stores don't carry. I know the name is corny but their earrings, bangles and scarves are the bizness and on average cost only $3-$10 :)

To be continued...

Eucalyptus can be diffused in sick rooms to help support the respiratory system. Cool, slightly bitter and pungent, this essential oil has a camphor-like quality that may assist your body’s efforts to help maintain general respiratory health. One of the most cleansing essential oils.

Product usage
Body Spritzer: Add 10 to 20 drops of Essential Oil to 50ml bottle of Bio-Mist. Avoid spraying into the eyes.

Item code
15ml Item Code 2808GB

Cedarwood is one of the most ancient oils known and is considered to be an all-purpose oil. It may be used for calming, soothing and uplifting, and as an astringent for oily and irritated skin conditions or an insect repellent. A good, all-round essential oil with a pleasant, woody aroma.

1. Jasmine (bunga melati), sari minyaknya diambil dari bagian bunga yang Mempunyai efek menyejukkan, meningkatkan keseimbangan, pikiran positif, gairah seksual, kepekaan, kejernihan pikiran, harapan, keterbukaan, kebijaksanaan, ketenangan jiwa, rasa bahagia, romans, dan cinta. Juga dapat mengurangi depresi, rasa cemas, batuk, rasa sakit saat menstruasi, stress, sedih, kecewa, dan rasa iri.
2. Lemon :  aromanya menyegarkan, bersih, bersemangat. Sari minyaknya diambil dari bagian buah yang berasal dari Sisilia. Mempunyai efek menjernihkan dan stimulasi, juga baik untuk penanganan pertama digigit ular dan serangga. Selain itu memberikan efek meningkatkan tenaga, kewaspadaan, perasaan bahagia, vitalitas, pandangan positif, motivasi, keyakinan dalam mengambil keputusan, dan stabilitas. Juga mengurangi masalah gangguan pernafasan, tekanan darah tinggi, pelupa, stress, pikiran negatif dan rasa takut.
3. YLANG-YLANG (kenanga) :  sarinya diambil dari bagian bunga dan bunga dengan warna kuning memberikan essential oil yang terbaik. Memiliki efek menyeimbangkan hormon, memberi semangat, meningkatkan sensualitas, perasaan gembira, kehangatan, rasa percaya diri, keterbukaan, relaksasi, rasa nyaman dan tentram. Mengurangi depresi, kesulitan tidur, rasa tegang, stress saat menstruasi, lemah seksual, perasaan frustrasi, rasa labil, dan rasa bersalah.
4. Green tea :  wangi yang satu ini dapat membantu menyeimbangkan fungsi sel tubuh, membantu mencegah kanker, memperbaiki sistem peredaran darah, membantu menguraikan asam lemak, menurunkan kadar gula dalam darah, meningkatkan fungsi lever, membantu mengeluarkan dahak dan membersihkan paru2, memperlambat proses penuaan. Juga berguna membangkitkan semangat, melancarkan sistem pencernaan dan urine, memperbaiki konsentrasi, menurunkan kolesterol, membantu mengatasi tekanan darah tinggi dan mengurangi resiko terkena kanker
5. Lemongrass : untuk menghilangkan fatique, sangat baik untuk menyembuhkan JET LAG . Membantu proses penyembuhan, sebagain tonic, menstimulasi pencernaan, dan meningkatkan sistem .
6. Lavender : Menenangkan, rasa nyaman, mengurangi, sakit kepala, strees,frustasi,  insomania. Menghaluskan kulit .
7. Pepermint : Untuk meningkatkan vitalitas, konsentrasi, pikiran , positif percaya diri, seksualitas, mengurangi rasa lelah, takut,histeria, putus asa, membantu penyembuhan, demam flu, melegakan nafas, relaksasi, otot-otot kaku. Bagi ibu hamil hindari penggunaan essential oil Pepermint.
8. Sandalwood (cendana) :  Dengan aromanya yang khas dan sari minyaknya diambil dari bagian kayu, sandalwood ternyata memiliki efek memberi ketenangan jiwa, perasaan cinta, sensualitas, rasa nyaman,  Juga mengurangi stress saat menstruasi, & gangguan konsentrasi.
9. Stoberi, Orange, Apple : untuk  relaxing
   Lavender : Menenangkan, rasa nyaman, mengurangi, sakit kepala, strees,frustasi,  insomania. Menghaluskan kulit .
10. Flower : dibuat dari sari bunga indonesia memberikan efek relaksasi yang exotis.

Here's what you'll need:

1 jar Young Living's Animal Scents Ointment

1 tube Young Living's KidScents Tender Tush

In your palm, take about 1/4 teaspoon of each the Animal Scents Ointment and Tender Tush and mix them together well. Apply anywhere on your body.

I know what you're thinking, an animal ointment and Tender Tush!? You'll need to keep in mind that Young Living makes their products much differently than other companies. The animal ointment is human grade, we won't make or use any product for an animal that we cannot apply to a human! 

Try this little concoction and you will be immediately amazed - plus you WILL save a fortune. One jar of Animal Scents Ointment and one tube of Tender Tush lasts me a full year! 

Get Animal Scents Ointment and Tender Tush here!

Related articles:

Vegetable vs Fish Oil - a skin cancer link?

Sunlight, Vitamin D, and Your Skin

Young Living Therapeutic Grade A essential oils differ from essential oils, which can be bought at the malls [and health food stores]. AFNOR is an acronym for a French testing laboratory that sets standards for essential oils in Europe under the organizational name of International Standards Organization (ISO). Dr. Herve Casabianca heads the ISO Essential Oil Standards Committee and is also Director of the AFNOR Laboratory. Translated loosely, AFNOR stands for Association of French Normalization Organization Regulation.

Whenever you seen an oil with the designation EC AFNOR on its label, samples of that oil have been sent to France for testing to see if it measures up to the European standards for therapeutic grade oil. In order to satisfy such a grade, the oil has to meet a certain chemical profile as determined by a gas chromatograph.

For example, most lavender oils are fragrance grade and may be a high quality, grade A oil for that purpose, but not necessarily therapeutic. To be therapeutic, there must be no traces of pesticides, herbicides or other chemicals. It must be extracted by steam distillation and not by solvents. It must contain 25-38% linalool and 25-24% linalyl acetate and less than .05% camphor. There are levels for a dozen other components as well. If oil does not fit the profile, then it is not therapeutic.

The ISO committee in Europe has set therapeutic profiles for each oil. True therapeutic grade oils must contain no synthetic ingredients nor can it be diluted. It must be exactly as it was harvested and distilled without any further tampering with the chemistry

The AFNOR-ISO standard is the only standard in the world that specifically sets a measure for an essential oil to be "therapeutic." There are other standards. For example, USP Grade A is basically a food or fragrance grade. USP means United States Pharmacopoeia, which is a set of profiles that oils must meet and which can be met by artificially manipulating the oil by adding synthetic components or refining the oil to remove certain components. Hence, an USP grade oil is, by definition, not therapeutic inasmuch as it has been manipulated to meet a consistent standard for fragrance or flavor. This is okay for oils used in foods, cosmetics, shampoos, deodorants, etc., but not okay for therapeutic usage.

Sometimes you will see a term, "aromatherapy grade" on oil. According to Shirley and Len Price in their book, Aromatherapy for Professionals, the term applies to a massage oil that usually contains no more than 2% of essential oil in a carrier oil base. Hence, aromatherapy grade oils are, by definition, diluted, and are not therapeutic.

Get Young Living therapeutic grade essential oils here!

Related articles:

Cheaper Essential Oils (part 1) - do you really want extended and adulterated essential oils?

Cheaper Essential Oils (part 2) - are there synthetics in your aromatherapy products?

Are Young Living Essential Oils Expensive or a Bargain?

Essential oils, the unadulterated extract of a plant, have been discovered to contribute to both psychosomatic and bodily profits when used properly and carefully. There are commonly over 90 different variations of essential oils. Details for these oils can be found mainly in Internet. Frequently, aromatherapy is consisted of Hydrosols, CO2s and Absolutes. The famous term “essential oils” is used as a blanket to indicate the absolutes and CO2s, although these 3 substances are distilled in completely different ways.

Additionally to the essential oils, aromatherapy stimulates the usage of other modern natural components like the liquid wax of jojoba, the hydrosols; some vegetable oils (cold pressed), many herbs, sea salts, milk powders, clays and muds, and exfoliant sugars.

Products that are consisted of man-made elements are applied in holistic aromatherapy. It is significant to remark that fragrance oils also acknowledged as perfume oils (although habitually listed as "fragrance" on the component tag), are not the identical to the essential oils. The difference is in their qualities. Essential oils provide many therapeutic profits, while the man-made perfume and fragrance oils do not have such qualities, because they contain chemicals.

The healing abilities of aromatherapy were famous to the people even since the time of the ancient civilizations. Then, they didn’t call it “aromatherapy”, but the methods were similar to those we know today. There are many cases in which the practice of this method healed many people, scars, unwanted skin diseases and many others.

Today, the word “aromatherapy” can be rarely met in a product description. However, in the common case, appropriate products for aromatherapy are marked in a specific way. People always have had a great interest in the usage of aromatherapy because of its health and well-being benefits.

History of Aromatherapy

In short, aromatherapy is the use of unstable plant oils, together with essential oils, for mental and bodily health. Although the term aromatherapy was not used until the 20th Century, the fundamentals of aromatherapy trace back their history thousands of years ago. The usage of essential oils itself, traces back its history with around one thousand years.

The Chinese may have been one of the earliest civilizations to apply sweet-smelling vegetation to improve their health. These practices included burning incense to be of assistance in creating the desired harmony and stability.

Later, the Egyptians discovered an elementary cleansing piece of equipment, which made the raw extraction of cedar wood oil possible. Moreover, it’s considered by a number of people that Persia and India have maybe also invented crude refinement equipment, but almost no data remained till today.

Oils of clove, cinnamon, cedar wood, myrrh and nutmeg were used by the Egyptians to mummify the dead. When a burial place had been unbolt in the early years of the 20th century, traces of the aromatic plants were exposed with undamaged parts of the corpse. The smell, although feeble, was still sensible. Even though the cedar wood, used by the Egyptians was extracted by a crude refinement procedure, the other oils the Egyptians used were mainly infused oils.

The Egyptians applied infused oils and herbal medication for spiritual, therapeutic, aromatic and makeup usage. It is considered that the Egyptians created the word “perfume”, from “per fumum”, which means “through the smoke” in Latin. During that time, the men of Egypt used fragrance as frequently as the women did. An attention-grabbing technique that the men applied to perfume themselves was to put a decent cone of aromas on their skulls. Then it slowly melted and covered them with pleasant perfumes.

The Greeks erudite an immense knowledge from the Egyptians, but the Greek folklore in fact takes the gift and information of aromatherapy from the legends about their gods. The Greeks in addition, acknowledged the therapeutic and sweet-smelling benefits of the plants. For instance Hippocrates, usually considered as the "father of medicine" accomplished fumigations for both fragrant and therapeutic profits.

A Greek perfume- maker, named Megallus invented a perfume called”megaleion”. The ingredients of this Megaleion admitted myrrh in a base of fatty-oil and were used for quite a few purposes- its fragrance, anti- excitatory assets on the surface of the skin and also for healing many aches and diseases.

Consequently, the Romans built upon the information gathered from the Egyptians and Greeks. There was a book named “De Materia Medica”, written by Discorides. It illustrated the qualities of around 500 plants. It is also known that Discorides studied the refinement processes of the plants used in aromatherapy (although then they didn’t call it aromatherapy). However, during that period, the refinement process focused on extracting sweet-smelling floral waters. The essential oils weren’t used in that period.

However, a main event for the refining of essential oils came with the development of a corkscrew cooling cylinder in the 11th century. Avicenna, who was a Persian scientist, discovered a corkscrew tube which made possible for the plant to vapor and steam for more effective cooling down than prior distillers, which used a straight cooling cylinder. The contribution of Avicenna advantages in acquiring better focus on essential oils and their profits.

During the 12th century, Hildegard (an Abbess of Germany) developed and purified lavender for its therapeutic qualities. During the 13th century, was established the pharmaceutical manufacturing. This scientific discovery gave confidence to the development of essential oils extraction.

Within the 14th century, literary millions of people died, because of the Black Death hit. Aromatherapy was applied comprehensively to assist fighting this awful destroyer. It is even considered that some perfumers, who avoided the plague, succeeded because of their steady contact with the natural fragrances.

In the 15th century, more plants were refined to produce essential oils together with frankincense, rose, juniper, rosemary and sage. An enlargement in the quantity of books on aromatic plants and their possessions also begins later on in the century. Paracelcus, an alchemist, therapeutic doctor of medicine and radical philosopher is accredited with inventing the word Essence and his scientific studies fundamentally challenged the character of alchemy and he centered upon using vegetation as remedy.

Within the 16th century, one could start obtaining oils at an "apothecary," and lots of more essential oils were brought in. In the 16th and 17th centuries, aromatherapy was accepted and being considered as a form of art, and it was to a greater extent defined clearly as its own sphere.

Through the period of the 19th century, perfumery still proceeded to be a successful manufacturing. Women would have their jewel maker create them an extraordinary bottle to hold their precious aroma. The 19th century also was significant technically as major ingredients of essential oils became inaccessible.

Throughout the 20th century, the awareness of sorting out the components of essential oils was used to produce artificial substances and drugs. It had been considered that by sorting out the main elements and then using the components separately or in artificial variety, would be advantageous in therapeutic and economical attitude. These innovations assisted leading to the "contemporary medicine" and artificial aromas. This in reality destabilized the usage of essential oils for therapeutic and sweet-smelling advantages.

Through the time of the beginning of the 20th century, a French scientist, named René-Maurice Gattefossé became interested in the putting into practice the aromatherapy for its medicinal usage. Up to that time, he emphasized on the fragrant usage of essential oils and aromatherapy, but his attention in their therapeutic usage developed after a mishap finely tuned his interest. In the process of working, he burned his limb quite badly. By impulse, he plunged his burned upper limb into the nearest fluid that appeared to be a huge container of lavender essential oil. The burn he underwent was healed rapidly and didn’t leave any scars.

Since the late 20th century and on into the 21st century, there is an increasing rebirth to make the most of more the natural products admitting aromatherapy with essential oils for healing, makeup and perfuming advantages.

Not only are oils psychologically soothing, aesthetically pleasing, and useful for everyday tasks such as doing dishes and laundry, soothing sunburn or bug bites, they can also have a physiological affect on the nervous system and incite deep changes within the body.

When you combine Ancient Oriental knowledge of the Five Elements with essential oils, their efficacy becomes that much greater. The Five Elements are Water, Wood, Fire, Earth and Metal. Each of these in a harmonious, energetic dance with one another. Neither being separate, but all working as a whole.

When these elements are in balance, health abounds. When one of these elements becomes out of balance, the potential for a "cycle of destruction" to take place occurs. Because each of these elements work with one another, if one is out of balance, it follows that the next will become out of balance and so on.

Knowing your client's health history, psychological history and where they are spiritually, can help you find out which element is out of balance, seek out the associated bodily system, and choose an oil accordingly.

There are many oils that have the same or similar affects, and the role of intuition in choosing an appropriate oil is important.

Not all oils are created equal. Make sure you heed their safety warnings as many are not indicated for pregnancy, breastfeeding women or children. The only oil that can be used "neat" safely - meaning, straight out of the bottle, without dilution - is lavender. All other oils must be diluted in a carrier.

I am enjoying the new role my oils are playing in my home and for the health of myself and my family. Later, I'll post some new and practical recipes for things like bug spray, perfume and bath salts.

1 roll of better quality Paper Towels (cut in half)

1 1/2 cups water (boiled)

1 plastic air-tight container (large enough to hold 1 half of the roll above)

2 tsp. Young Living's KidScents Lotion

2 tsp. Young Living KidScents Bath Gel

2 tsp. Young Living's V-6 Mixing Oil

Boil 1 1/2 cups water and mix in the Young Living KidScents Lotion, Bath Gel and V-6.

Take one roll of "nice quality"  paper towel and cut in half (to make 2 small rolls) take the core out of the middle of one of the small rolls and put into a airtight container.

Mix together with a wire whisk and pour over the paper towels in the container, let sit until it has absorbed the liquid.  When you're ready to use pull wipes from the center of the roll. Keep in airtight container!

Buy the Young Living products here!

(click on "Product Line" to find everything)

More chemical-free recipes for Young Living essential oils and products:

Herbal and Essential Oil Bath Tea

Essential Oil Bath Melts

Goji Berry Smoothie

Dish Soap

Lavender-Peppermint Foot Soak

Learn why essential oil quality is so important

More on Young Living KidScents products

Here is a short video introduction of one of my favorite product lines (see youngliving. com webpage link below to order products)
;

Also, you can live a healthy lifestyle AND overflow in abundance.......the secret is affiliate programs...Conscious One "provides the most comprehensive collection of inspirational tools, products and online interactive courses by some of the world's most prominent self-help and spiritual authors"....and also has a super affiliate program...

<a href="http://consciousone.directtrack.com/signup/CD1633">ConsciousOne Partners Program - Make Money!</a>

In Abundance,

Shawna Walker,
BSW,
Spiritualpreneur/ Holistic Wellness Coach

The other really awesome aspect of Soul Purpose is the fact that our products nourish from the outside in. People don't realize that what we put on our skin gets into our body... actually into our bloodstream. I have read that if you were to rub garlic on the sole of your feet, you would smell garlic on your breath within hours. That's how aromatherapy works.  So, it makes sense to use products that are natural, that are organic, that are good for you.  Our new shower gels have acai berry, green tea, vitamin D, all having antioxidant properties. And get this... It's vegan! Talk about a green company!

If you are interested in obtaining some of these great products, give me a call at 240-447-1814, or email me at moyasoulpurpose@mac.com. But better yet, if you are interested in being a part of this revolution, check out www.soulpurpose.com then go to divinesoulpurpose.net.  We are the ones we have been waiting for!!! Get on board NOW!

Moya Harris

Lifestyle Entrepreneur #200212, Soul Purpose Inc.

1. Stressed because of your period? Having the usual stomach cramps? Drinking chamomile tea may help you as its anti-spasmodic properties makes it a great treatment to various pains like stomach cramps, menstrual cramps, diarrhea, and other stress-related pains. Drinking chamomile tea has also been associated with increase in urinary levels of glycine, an amino acid that relieves muscle spasms and which is also known to be a nerve relaxant.

2. Having a hard time sleeping because of some problems that worry you? Try drinking chamomile tea which is used to relieve anxiety and insomnia.

3. Had a little too much to eat? Is your digestion all messed up? Chamomile can be used to treat bowel inflammation, digestive disorders and heartburn because of its anti-inflammatory properties. It soothes the muscles lining the digestive tract to relieve pain.

4. Suffering from skin and eye problems or bacterial infections? Chamomile has also been found to be a great treatment to skin disorders, sunburns, and eye problems. If you want to relieve tired or puffy eyes, you can soak a wash cloth or cotton on a cool cup of chamomile tea and place the cloth over your eyes a few times a day.

5. Having a bad day? One glass of chamomile tea may be all you need to relax and improve your mood. Studies have shown that not only does chamomile tea relax; it can also lighten up a bad mood.

6. Feeling a bit weak? Not too conditioned lately? Drinking chamomile tea regularly may help you get in your normal top condition as studies have shown that chamomile’s antibacterial properties boost the immune system and fight infections associated with colds.

Care to share your knowledge on chamomile tea?

Image from this site.

The Perfect Gift has a wide selection of the best aromatherapy diffusers, scents and fine candles.

Not everyone gets hot flushes, or flashes as the case may be, and how this plays out is highly personal. I get waves of feeling really hot, as though my skin is way too tight, and I'm going to burst any second. I also get weird sensations as though things are walking on me and what I can only describe as electric shocks and rivers of electricity running across my skin.

As you can imagine, this is somewhat disturbing; and I'm convinced a lot of is directly from the energy body as it undergoes a major transformation.

One day I came in from an outing, heart racing, really going quite mad with it all and I found in the fridge a big container of Clary Sage Floral Water.*

* Floral waters or hydrosols are the water that is left over after the essential oil has been extracted; it is very resonant of that essence but is of course, water so you can use it in many different ways.

Now Clary Sage is particularly kind and good for women in menopause as are all the sages; so I grabbed it, got some cotton wool pads, and started to apply the ice cold Clary Sage floral water to my person.

Oh MY! What a fabulous experience!

Instant relief, and I mean INSTANT relief. I started with my face and neck and worked my way through the most affected parts and literally within minutes, calm and a wonderful refreshed clarity had been restored.

And I could really feel that this was both physical, certainly, the wonderful cooling and refreshing floral water directly on the skin; but also energetic, as I could really feel the energy tension drain away and be soothed most perfectly by the Clary Sage.

So that's it. Standing order for litres of Clary Sage hydrosol for the next couple of years!

In general, you can put a bottle of cold water into your fridge and add perhaps a couple of drops of any oil of your choice for a wonderful and very holistic soothing of your person and your energy system if it runs too hot for whatever reason.

A beautiful, uplifting experience!

* I get my hydrosols from Norfolk Essential Oils http://www.neoils.com/ - organic UK grown hydrosols at a really good price.

* More about Clary Sage here

A New Moon starts tomorrow.

I gave that a try today... wow, she's right... it does work and it works REALLY well too!

What I really like is the scent of the Thieves hand purifier. It's a combination of the Young Living Thieves essential oils blend and peppermint - the addition of peppermint gives this blend a very nice scent.

I think that the Thieves hand purifier works so well that I'm going to continue using it... I wonder how long it does last. I'll update this post and let you know. I won't apply anymore until... I begin to notice that not so fresh odor  : )

I just love my Young Living essential oils and other products. I love that they're all nontoxic, extremely effective and soooo much fun to use. Oh, and you don't have to worry about any harsh ingredients or toxic chemicals with Young Living products. 

I wonder if this would work on smelly feet too??? I'll have my boyfriend test it out for us! 

Get the Thieves Waterless Hand Purifier and other fine Young Living products here!

7/2/08 Update: I'm finding that using the Thieves Waterless Hand Purifier works extremely well all day as an underarm deodorant. What I really like about the Young Living essential oils and products is their versatility. I can buy one oil or product and use it in place of so many other products.

Forget fabulously designed spa treatment rooms. There are days when my subway car requires some serious aromatherapy. (Soaring summer temperatures, festering puddles the size of kiddy pools on the platforms, and train cars packed with sweaty New Yorkers can test your olfactory limits more quickly than the blue cheese selection at Whole Foods.) Capitalizing on the way the rest of the country gets to work, and the limited amount of time women have to themselves, is Car-Ma. The company has created an aromatherapy equivalent of a Glade PlugIn for the car, only with mellowing lavender pebbles, rejuvenating eucalyptus mists, or vanilla discs that sit in a cupholder, rather than in the able hands of a skilled spa therapist.

I suppose a room of one’s own for many women is now a Toyota Prius, the commute providing the only personal space between home and work. So I can see how this product would appeal. I just wish I liked the ingredients used in it, which stray from the pure essentials oils and hydrosol distillations that aromatherapists craft. They're more cloying than a Bath & Body Works store but less sneeze-inducing than a taxicab's scented rearview-mirror pine tree. But even if the execution isn’t well done, the idea is an excellent one. Someone should strike a deal with the city to pipe aromatherapy into the subway system. I vote for rosemary mint.

New aromatherapy products are flooding the market daily. The thing is, most of them don't even have any real essential oil in them. They are scented with either perfumes and scents made from chemicals that smell similar to an essential oil by the untrained nose, or they contain a tiny amount of a poorly crafted essential oil that has been adulterated. Not a single one of them use a therapeutic grade essential oil - not even the products you find in the health food stores.

Because there is no government regulation in the US stating what exactly constitutes a truly pure essential oil I could go into a lab and mix up something with chemicals that smells like frankincense, or any other number of essential oils, and put a label on the bottle of the finished product that reads, "pure essential oil" and it would be legal. How convenient for all the megga companies out there who don't give a hoot that the chemicals used in formulating those products are going to give you or your kids cancer.

To make matters even worse, these same companies have everyone brain-washed into thinking they need a different product for every single problem or chore. Then, they talk about how cost effective their product is or some other form of advertising marketing charade (an absurd pretense intended to create a pleasant or respectable appearance). 

When I hear someone comment on the price of Young Living's products I don't even try to convince them that they're simply wrong. I just shake my head and think... that's it's your loss not mine, I'm not poisoning myself and you're spending a small fortune poisoning yourself. 

Sure it seems expensive at first glance. When you take into account the effectiveness, versatility, and safety of the Young Living oils and products the savings surface visibly in the long haul.

Here's one example using the Young Living essential oil of peppermint:

Peppermint - a drop in my glass of water for a refreshing healthy drink, a drop on sore achy muscles, several drops in a spray bottle with water as an air freshener, a drop rubbed on the back of my neck and feet to cool me down when I'm too hot or have a fever, a drop carefully rubbed on my temples and back of my neck when I have a headache, to flavor food... and those are just the ways I've used peppermint so far.

That means I don't have any of these products in my house: aspirin, achy muscle ointment, air fresheners, soda or junk juices. Those items, if I had one each of them would cost about $20 (I'm guessing because I haven't bought them in at least 8 years). 

One bottle of peppermint costs me $19.75 (wholesale) per bottle and there's about 250-300 drops per bottle. That means, figuring conservatively (250 divided by 7), I could refill my 32 ounce air freshener spray bottle about 35 times! 

If the toxic chemical air fresheners in the store cost $5 a can and I bought 35 of them I'd be spending $175 on something that's slowly poisoning me! Not to mention those products smell NASTY!

How many tablets are in a bottle of aspirin, 90, 200...??? With one bottle of Young Living peppermint essential oil I can treat 250 or more headaches at a cost of... 8 cents a drop! 

I don't know how much aspirin costs these days so you can do the math. I think the YL peppermint oil is a lot less, plus you're not getting drugs and chemicals you and your body do not need!

It's like that with all the Young Living products. When you compare them to store bought and do the math... those of us who know already are spending a LOT less than people who don't. 

To make it even more of a bargain, we can get our favorite products (we choose what we want and change items every month if we want) on auto-delivery every month and save even more! 

It seems expensive at first to make the switch at the beginning but once you do, I'm not kidding - it's a lot cheaper than even the cheapy brands in the stores. 

Another benefit... those store bought products are poisonous and toxic to our bodies, they do and will make us sick... which means more days of missed work, more visits to the doctor, more days that you just feel crappy and maybe don't know why.

Seriously, people across America are spending a fortune poisoning themselves and they don't even realize it. It doesn't have to be that way. 

Get Young Living essential oils and products here.