Detox

I read a recipe for a bath detox oil, which I wanted to purchase. It
contained:

10 drops of juniper oil
5 drops of mandarin oil
5 drops of fennel
and was mixed with wheatgerm or grapeseed oil base.

Could I buy the oils from you? And, how much of the base do I add to the
formula?

Thank you for your enquiry. Yes I have all these oils available. This amount of oils in your recipe would be suitable for 45ml (3 tablesp approx) of base oil (the strongest it would be safe) or if you wanted it very weak go to 90-100ml of base oil (6 tablespoons approx).

I would recommend almond oil (finer quality & I sell it) rather than the lower grade grapeseed (but they both do the same job). Note both almond & grapeseed will float on top - if you want it miscible i.e. right through the water rather than on top then use milk as the base instead of oil (as long as you do not have a dairy intolerance). If you use grapeseed or almond then use a plant spray with dilute washing up liquid & spray the bath afterwards if you have a problem with the oil remaining on the bath surface & being very slippy for other users.

I supply green mandarin which is harvested when the mandarin is still green & as a result has a more complex scent - more like orange blossom (Neroli) - much better than a normal mandarin.

I am delighted to see someomeone blending their own & experimenting -good luck! Julie

Depression

Help, I’m depressed

There are several essential oils which will help. Geranium, Lavender and Bergamot (known as “Natures Prozac”) are traditionally regarded to be the best. However, there are several additional oils that have risen to prominence in the last five years for treating depression

· Petitgrain - very gentle but strong uplifting and balancing effect on the psyche which can help individuals to “see problems in proportion”.

· Spearmint - ideal for individuals whose stress symptoms are overwhelming them to the point where they cannot “think straight” or concentrate

· May Chang (Oil of Tranquillity) - slows down breathing and can help reduce feelings of panic or the “can’t switch off” phenomenon.

· Palmarosa - refreshing and mentally and physically uplifting

If in doubt which one choose the one/s with the scent which is most comforting to you.

Eczema

Can you tell me how to make/buy ingredients suitable for treating eczema? My Doctor prescribes a moisturiser but I was wondering if there was an oil I could add to improve things?
Lindsey C, Stirling.

Without seeing your excema it is difficult to make a straight recommendation. Some people find just using almond oil helps the skin, as it is soothing as well as moisturising. Another frequent aid is to add a few drops of Chamomile in the bath or blended with the almond oil as a moisturiser. However, the best solution is to find skin products containing St Johns Wort Oil. Whichever route you decide to take, if you are treating excema it is vital to use only the freshest purest oils and spot test carefully.

Dementia

My mother has dementia & is completely uncommunatcative. All I can do is hold her hand. I wonder if she would enjoy some delicious smelling aromatherapy on her hands. What would you recommend? MB, Aldeburgh

Smell is one of the most primitive senses and hence it is often the last to fail.

I suggest that you use a fragrance-free base cream and to every tablespoon of cream (ideally placed in a little rice bowl or a very open cup) add 2 -4 drops of essential oils. Green Mandarin and/or May Chang and/or Geranium with a couple of drops of Lavender will all be good blends to calm an agitated mind and help focus. Cinnamon, Peppermint, Orange Sweet, Eucalyptus and Rosemary can all bring back strong memories and be incredibly effective at bringing the person into the present. However they are all quite stimulating for the skin so must be spot tested carefully.

When my husbands Gran had Alzheimer's and severe cataracts I used to let her mix the mixture herself using a cotton bud - which she enjoyed. I then gently stroked the cream onto her hands (if the person is very frail then a massage can be too much) maintaining contact with both my hands and concentrating on the fleshy pads at the base of her thumb and the pads of her hands. I also massaged up her arms onto what muscle was left. It helps improve circulation and mobility and the moisture was much needed.

Whilst I was massaging her hands I rested her feet on a heated wheat bag (microwave heat cushion) which I had dropped a little Lavender and Peppermint onto. If I had time, I rested her feet in a bowl of warm water into which I had put round pebbles from the beach (that definitely brought back memories). Most of the time we worked in silence but I felt that I was communicating with her and it was noticeable that she relaxed. She also liked having her hair brushed with a real bristle brush onto which I had tissued a hint of Rosemary. Improving the circulation to the scalp can potentially help with circulation generally.

She also had a little Lavender cushion in her room and whenever she had visitors they all knew to drop a few drops on to sweeten the air and help her stay calm. In her bedroom or bathroom where there was occasionally an odour we tucked tissues down the back of the radiator which had a few drops of May Chang and Geranium on. Essential oils are much kinder to a delicate chest than the synthetic chemicals in commercial air fresheners.

Coldsores

Do you have any suggestions for my cold sores?
N Addams, Berkshire

Dab undiluted Tea-tree onto the cold sore regularly. This is perfectly safe, however, you need to sure that it is fresh and good quality. Lemon is also anti-viral but may well sting and be inappropriate if you have sensitive skin.

Your immune system is clearly low so you should review your diet and stress levels. My personal favourite “de-stressing oils” include Bergamot, Geranium, May Chang, Frankincense, Clary Sage and Green Mandarin.

I have circulation problems - will ginger help?

Circulation problems are very common, especially with people whose mobility is limited. Ginger is one of many oils that may help. However, Thyme is actually a stronger and probably more effective Oil.

You could also try using a few drops of a citrus oil on a hanky or in a burner if you have one but take special care with citrus oils in the bath if you have a sensitive skin.

Chemotherapy

Q - My next door neighbour's little boy of 3 has just been diagnosed with Hodgkins Disease and is currently undergoing chemotherapy. I wondered if there were any essential oils of mine that I could mix and which would be of benefit to him at this time.

A - I am sorry to hear about your friends little boy. It must be terribly upsetting for him, his family & people that care such as yourself. Oils that I have found most helpful in helping to ease the trauma of chemo on mind & body include.

Spearmint Mentha Spicata

I love the cool icy aura of Spearmint and often use it to gently comabat nausea. I see it as a “softer” alternative to Peppermint. Peppermint to me is strong masculine oil whereas spearmint has more of an affinity for the female psyche & is more gentle for children.

Palmarosa Cymbopogon martini

Palmarosa is rich exotic oil which combines fresh citrus tones with a warm comforting floral note It is beneficial for nervous tension and stress related complaints and is helpful where one needs to stimulate the body and beat fatigue whilst calming the mind.

Green Mandarin Citrus Reticulata

This little known oil with its gentle citrus scent and floral tones shares many characteristics with Neroli. I use this fabulously scented oil for clients suffering from exhaustion and those who are mentally and emotionally at a “low point”. It is gentle enough to use on children and is superb oil for convalescents. It is a gently cheering oil which is ideal to “lift the spirits” especially when one is facing challenges either work related or perhaps hospital treatment or similar.

May Chang Litsea Cubeba

May Chang known as an “Oil of Tranquility” is recognized for its powerful effect in terms of promoting physical relaxation and mental calm. Historically the oil from this exotic plant has been blended with almond oil and used to perfume the body prior to meditation or prayer in order to impart a sense of strength, calm and mental clarity. I particularly like this oil because its warm almost musky lemongrassy scent is so wonderful to work with. It complements most of the middle notes (herbs and flowers) and works particularly well with Sandalwood or cedar wood.

suggestion

Blend with Tea tree and use in a burner in the home to strenghten the immune system & promote calm. 1 drop of tea tree to every two drops of May Chang. Use Cedar wood , Lavender and May Chang in equal proportions in a base of almond oil for a massage prior to an important event or challenge.

I also tend to think in terms of synergies: A synergy is the technical term for a blend of essential oils. The key point is that the synergy ie the blend is believed to have an energy of its own & an effectiveness that surpasses the effects of the oils if they were to be used individually. There is a spiritual element to the use of synergies which for believers can have a profoundly positive effect. Whether you support the spiritual theories or whether you prefer a clinical approach (like myself) is to some extent irrelevant. The point is that a blend will almost always work better than an individual oil.

A good synergy which I often use to treat individuals who have cancer is frankincense, geranium & green Mandarin. Frankincense slows down the breathing, counteracts panic attacks & induces a calm meditive state. Geranium balances the emotions & adds a delightfully relaxing floral scent whilst green mandarin adds a gentle uplifting edge to beat the overwhelming fatigue that often accompanies illness.

There are many other synergies some well established & some that you literally arrive unexpectedly at when you are really in tune with your client & treating them as a whole and with someone so young their family.

Another of my favourites is Chamomile, Bergamot, Sandalwood with a touch of May Chang & of course some tea–tree. The tea-tree strengthens immune systems compromised by chemo or the stress of being a carer.

You may also find my Courage Balm a helpful gift for the parents as it contains chamomile, Jasmine & May Chang & has an amethyst suspended in it. I recently lectured to the nursing staff at the local hospice & they were very keen. Also the lip balm with tea tree & propolis if the chemo makes his lips dry & cracked.

Hope this helps

Julie

Cancer

Q - Top of the day to you ... may this email find you in good health and spirits. I am Melissa M from green bay WI USA HI! Love your magazine! I have several questions some you can prob answer, others you will probably need to redirect me...

I am a Licensed Massage Therapist. I am Licensed in Swedish massage and massage for people with cancer...... My question to you, Julie, have you discovered/ heard / used/ a synergy while working with people who have cancer?

Julies answer: A synergy is the technical term for a blend of essential oils. The key point is that the synergy i.e. the blend is believed to have an energy of its own & an effectiveness that surpasses the effects of the oils if they were to be used individually.

There is a spiritual element to the use of synergies which for believers can have a profoundly positive effect. Whether you support the spiritual theories or whether you prefer a clinical approach (like myself) is to some extent irrelevant. The point is that a blend will almost always work better than an individual oil.

A well known synergy for instance is lavender & mint for headaches. Lavender on its own is a great painkiller but it has a sedative effect which may mot be welcome when for instance you are driving or working. If however a synergy is made by using Lavender & Peppermint the blend is much more effective because the stimulating action of the mint negates the sedative effect of the lavender whilst improving focus & clearing the senses.

Another good synergy which I often use to treat individuals who have cancer is Frankincense, Geranium & Green Mandarin. Frankincense slows down the breathing, counteracts panic attacks & induces a calm meditive state. Geranium balances the emotions & adds a delightfully relaxing floral scent whilst Green Mandarin adds a gentle uplifting edge to beat the overwhelming fatigue that often accompanies illness.

There are many other synergies some well established & some that you literally arrive unexpectedly at when you are really in tune with your client & treating them as a whole. By this I mean listening to & understanding the client. For instance cancer is unlikely to be their only problem.

I treated a client recently who had cancer but he was also troubled by his mothers death 10 years ago. His own illness had facilitated the resurfacing of all the unacknowledged grief. He also had lower back pain & athletes foot. The synergy that I created for him included Chamomile, Bergamot, Sandalwood with a touch of May Chang & of course some Tea–Tree. The Tea-Tree not only treated his athletes foot but it strengthened his immune system which was compromised by chemo & the disease itself.

Do essential oils work with my body lotion or do I have to use a carrier?

You have to use a carrier such as almond oil because plant oils have small molecules and they sink into the skin.

Most lotions, such as baby oil, are synthetic petroleum based substances that sit on the surface. The whole point of aromatherapy is to allow the Oils to reach the blood stream – it therefore needs to get under the skin so a carrier is vital.

Cellulite - Julie's suggestion

Q - If I blend fennel in baby oil into my thighs will it cure cellulite?! Martha Jones, by e-mail

A - An interesting question! Firstly, from a clinical point of view massage can help with lymph drainage and it can help improve the circulation. It is particularly good for the period after extreme exercise for helping disperse lactic acid but it is no more effective than the action of your own muscles when you are doing rhythmical sustained activity.

In terms of cellulite there is nothing clinically proven to help - despite what the beauty industry may have us believe. I massage a lot of women and I generally find their mental picture of it is far in excess of the reality.

Using a carrier oil such as almond oil is much better than baby oil because it has much smaller molecules so it sinks in and allows the masseur to really manipulate the muscles. It allows some slippage i.e. it prevents any drag on hairs etc but not so much slippage (as with baby oil) that your hands just end up sliding around the skin and tickling the recipient, which is irritating rather than soothing.