Beautiful Summer Skin

The newspapers and magazines (Hello and OK are equally guilty) were once again hinting at the lifestyle issues connected with Kate Moss, Lily Allen & Naomi Campbell.

Who is to say what is truth and what is press hype, however I can recommend a healthy option to alcohol (for those feeling a little sensitive about the subject):

Enjoy the euphoric effects of clary sage (it has an relaxing/uplifting effect) hence it is an excellent alternative to alcohol. Historically it was added to low alcohol wine to increase the intoxicating effect! It smells of rich woodland grass so it benefits form being blended with a softer oil which can also relax the mind without sedating the body.

My suggestion is to fragrance a room with a blend of essential oils of clary sage and geranium. Three drops of each in a burner or if you don’t have a burner pop on a tissue or cloth and place above a radiator.

Whilst the celebrities work through their issues the rest of us can enjoy some much appreciated summer weather over the weekend and I know from my e mails that thoughts are turning to preparing that skin for summer exposure. Whether you are a soon to be “prom princess” or bride, it is certain that your thoughts have turned to skin exposure. Don’t worry I have some professional tips to help

Exfoliate for Radiance
There are a huge range of fashionable salt scrubs on the market but it is easy to make your own. Try making your own body scrub with 50% ground rice and 50% oatmeal (both available from supermarkets). Mix into a paste using my finest almond oil, available from my online shop, Potions and Possibilities. Apply to towel dried skin in a circular motion using your fingers. It is important to use your fingers rather than a cloth or brushes as different areas of skin have different levels of sensitivity and your fingers will give you full control. The rice is gentle but effective and the oatmeal contains high levels of vitamin E to nourish the skin.

Moisturise for Youthfulness
Whilst the skin is still warm apply a good plant based moisturiser preferably in oil rather than cream form. Plant oils have much smaller molecules and they penetrate into the upper layers of the skin. This offers a longer term nourishing effect rather than simply sealing the moisture in. For a particularly luxurious treat choose Potions & Possibilities body souffle.

Home Spa
If you suffer from dry areas which have a grey fish scaly appearance (often on the front of shins where there is a relatively poor supply of blood) apply almond oil with a domestic paint brush so that it lies wet on the skin and then lay cling film over the top and wrap the legs in towels. Raise legs and then leave for 30-40 mins. Then remove the wrapping, and then massage any residual oil into the surrounding area. Try this once per week for a month and see the difference.

Treat Problem Areas - Thread Veins
When you unwrap your body from the winter layers you may see little areas of spidery blue lines. They can often be found across the ribs or on the thighs. Thread veins are in fact capillaries ie the smallest blood vessels in our bodies which have become damaged. Their delicate walls have lost elasticity or even broken, maybe because of the winter influences of alternating heat and cold. Lifestyle issues, such as poor diet or alcohol, are also a factor. The most usual treatment for my clients would be a gentle nightly massage with a cream containing starflower oil. I use star flower as a base because it has a high level of GLA’s. GLA’s are part of the Omega group of essential fatty acids and are responsible for building and maintaining healthy cell walls. Hence they may help in strengthening the capillary walls.

Puffiness
Areas of the skin such as the abdomen and upper arms and ankles can appear to have lost their firmness over the winter and have a soft puffy texture. In terms of treating puffiness (usually sluggish lymph drainage), regular massage using oils known for their diuretic effect and stimulating influence on the circulation are the most effective. I recommend adding 2-4 drops of essential oil to a tablespoonful of good quality base oil such as almond oil. My recommended oils would be geranium for its diuretic effect and palm rosa for its stimulating character and beneficial effect on the skin. Use long firm upward strokes and keep as much of the hand in contact with the skin as possible. Cutting down on caffeine rich drinks i.e. coffee, tea and cola can help as well as regular exercise.

Cellulite
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. I have also noticed that women who come to the clinic complaining of hormone related discomforts eg PMT, sore breasts, post menopausal symptoms often also complain of cellulite.

I therefore generally recommend a massage blend that includes fennel. Fennel is particularly effective in treating female related abdominal and breast puffiness and for cellulite because it is believed to soothe hormone imbalances. I also find that my clients like fennel because it is an appetite suppressant.

Did you know:- Roman soldiers used to chew fennel seeds on their long marches to counteract hunger pangs and because the stimulant effect was believed to enhance their feelings of strength and courage.

Cracked Heels
If the cracks are so deep they are wounds then see a chiropodist immediately, see yellow pages or ask your GP for a list of reputable chiropodists in your area or call in a Scholl shop.

If however it is just the outer layer of hard skin that has cracked then use a pumice stone or file to remove the hard skin and then treat by covering the heels in a mix of 1 tablespoon of an inexpensive almond oil blended with 2 drops of tea tree and 1 drop of benzoin. Benzoin is an antiseptic which is widely used by chiropodists and was historically used by Victorian ballet dancers to heal cuts. If you would prefer an ointment that is already made , apply finger and heel relief balm from Potions and Possibilities (Available online. Price - £3.99, visit www.potions.co.uk or telephone 01394 386161).

Discoloured Feet
Take a large firm bristled toothbrush and dip it into a small dish of almond oil that contains 1 tablespoon of almond oil, 3 drops of pure lemon essential oil and 1 drop of tea tree. Then touch the oily bristles into a small dish of table salt and brush the effected area firmly. Rinse off with water and moisturise with your favourite foot cream or almond oil.

Stained Nails and Cuticles
Fingers or toes can look dirty after the winter months despite regular bathing. Recondition them ready for the light transparent summer nail varnish shades by applying a “white” coloured clay face mask to the fingers and toes massaging the clay under the nails and deep into the edges of the nail and the cuticles. Leave for at least 20 mins and then remove using the shower head on full power. The mask will draw out the impurities and minuscule pieces of debris which have escaped from your clothing and socks, tights and shoes over the winter. Repeat weekly.

If you have any questions please email me at julie@potions.co.uk.

Gardening Facts - Chamomile & Lavender

I am delighted to report that the wild flowers are appearing in the rough meadow area of my garden – my favourite part. The insects can be seen hovering above as the children race their bikes along the winding path. The positive effect is an increase in garden birds feeding on the insects – the downside is my neighbours cats pouncing and massacring at least two birds.

On a more positive note my poem for the week:

But Flowers distilled

Though they with winter meet

Lose but their show

Their substance still lives sweet

- Shakespeare

Last week I introduced the onion as a humble garden plant with medicinal properties. This week, two more garden favourites, lavender and chamomile.

Chamomile has been used for over 2000 years for treating nervous complaints. Its name derives from the Greek ‘Kamai’, meaning ground apple because of its fresh fruity scent. It was called ‘Maythen’ by the Saxons and was revered as one of their nine sacred herbs. It was later adopted by the Christians and dedicated to Saint Anne, the mother of the Virgin Mary. In the language of flowers chamomile stands for “Patience in adversity”. It is often known as the “Plants Physician” because it seems to improve the health of the plants within its immediate vicinity.

Lavender derives from the Roman ‘Lavare’ which means “to cleanse”. In Pagan times it was burnt as sacred protection against harmful spirits. Lavender was popular in the monastic medicinal gardens of the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. Gerard in his sixteenth century publication ‘Herbal Garden’ said that flowers helped to cure “lovesickness” and all pains as well as “maladies of the head”.

The Victorians lined their hats with it to ward of headaches. In the First World War it was used as an antiseptic for wounds and as a drug to ease psychological pain and and induce sleep. Lavender has also been part of the household cleaning routines particularly in the laundry area.

If you would like to know about any humble garden plants in your garden and their medicinal history email me at julie@potions.co.uk.

In the meantime here are this weeks tips:-

1. For ingrained dirt in the hands and cuticles prepare two saucers the first containing 1 teaspoonful of water, 6 drops of tea tree and 4 drops of lemon. The second containing 1 dessertspoon of table salt (fine). Dip toothbrush in liquid then into salt and gently scrub (if skin very sensitive reduce or avoid lemon). Moisturise well afterwards with gardeners hand cream.


2. For dry hands add generous layer of hand cream then place hands in the poly gloves (free at garages near the diesel pump) or sandwich bags. Wrap carefully in a towel and rest on a hot water bottle or an aromatherapy wheat bag for half an hour. Remove bag then rub in any excess. Do this once a week and in-between moisturise hands twice daily with hand cream.


3. To prevent mosquito bites drop neat citronella and geranium onto a hairbrush and brush through hair. You can also use the Insect Repellent Balm with aloe vera and citronella.


4. To repel insects add gardening clothes to the dryer onto a hankey on which geranium and citronella has been dropped so clothes are impregnated.


5. To draw a thorn mix up a paste with a tablespoonful of oatmeal (rich in vitamin E and kind to the skin), water as hot as you can bear it and tea tree. Apply to the affected area and when the paste has cooled wash off and gently tweeze out the thorn.

Tackling Asthma The Natural Way

Whilst asthma cases are on the increase nationally, year on year, hospital sources report that 2008 has seen a worrying surge in new referrals of asthma following attacks. I am an asthma sufferer myself and certainly much can be done simply to help alleviate the problem by changing everyday habits and reactions.

One treatment that I recommend is frankincense, traditionally used in church because it is so effective at putting people into a relaxed and meditative state. Frankincense slows and deepens the breathing and it can also interrupt ‘mental chatter’ - the repetitive thoughts of worry and anxiety. On its own it is not a popular scent with everyone, so I recommend mixing it with palma rosa (again good for anxiety) or with orange sweet (uplifting for those who become depressed about their condition).

My recommendations for application are:

Put three drops of each oil into the bath each night. This is beneficial for people with sensitive skin, and is best mixed with milk or vodka before, because it will disperse better. My tip is to run the hot tap first and then add the oils. Close the bathroom door for three minutes to let the steam fill the room, this is an additional help to sufferers. Add cooler water before bathing, and inhale the healing aromas while you relax in the bath.

Add two drops of frankincense and one of palma rosa into a shampoo or shower gel. (As a general rule bathe rather than shower, since the stimulating effect of a shower can actually aggravate anxiety).

Use one of Potions & Possibilities Lavender Body Sprays and add 12 drops of frankincense, six of palma rosa and six of orange sweet. Shake well and spray onto chest and neck as required. N.B. – Our sprays contain grain alcohol, which enables them to disperse the oils. An alternative would be 80% water, 20% vodka and then add the essential oils.

By putting drops of the oils on a tissue or clean handkerchief and placing by a radiator, you can disperse the aromas into the air as an alternative.

If you dry clothes and bed linen in a tumble dryer, put a few drops of oils on a handkerchief then add that to the load. N.B. - Asthma can be aggravated by grass pollen if laundry is dried outdoors, personally I dry all the children's laundry in the dryer. It's not widely known but you can wash clothes without washing powder, particularly if you are only "freshening" them. Instead turn the dial to 60 degrees, hot enough to kill house dust mites and other pathogens.

If you have any tips to help asthma or any other questions please email me at julie@info.co.uk.

What Have Carla and Camilla Got In Common?

What have Carla Sarkozy and the Duchess of Cornwall got in common in terms of beauty?

Well, they both have quite thin hair and work hard to hide it. An expert stylist has told me that Carla hides it by maintaining an amazing shine and blunt lines to draw attention away, whilst the Duchess uses a combination of hairspray and heat to introduce and hold air (rather like candyfloss), giving the impression of volume.

Thin hair is usually heredity but can be caused by illness, stress or some aggressive drug therapies, for instance those used to treat cancer. Certainly where stress, illness and cancer treatment are the cause - aromatherapy can help. Ylang ylang is my professional choice with a touch of tea tree to delete any trace of infection whether bacterial or fungal.

Ylang Ylang was historically the main ingredient in a Victorian hair preparation called ‘Oil of Madagascar’. In fact the origin of white cloths over the back of chairs, such as those you still see in first class travel compartments, was to protect Victorian chairs from staining from the hair oil.

To treat hair loss add 5 drops of ylang ylang and 2 drops of tea tree to a 15 ml (1 tablespoonful) of our gentle top to toe wash (either sleepy prince or sleepy princess). As well as the benefits of the ylang ylang and the tea tree, the chamomile in the top to toe wash with also help. Chamomile is known as nature’s steroid and in the language of flowers stands for patience in adversity, so it is a very meaningful blend. My instructions are to wash with this blend a minimum of three times a week. Another tip is to mix the ylang ylang and tea tree with almond oil and rub into the hands until there is no residue, then massage the scalp thoroughly taking care not to drag the hair.

If you have thin hair (male or female) you are in royal company (have you seen Prince William lately). Why not give my remedy a try - it may well help and it certainly will not harm you.

If you have any questions about hair loss or thinning hair please email me at Julie@potions.co.uk.

Julie

Hangover Remedies

Kelly Osbourne was pictured in the press this weekend looking like she was suffering from the "hangover from hell", and I noticed that I had several emails asking questions about hangover cures. Easter might mean overindulgence in chocolate for some, but it is alcohol for others.

As an aromatherapist there are several remedies for hangovers that I can suggest. Use peppermint and chamomile as a gentle headache cure, grapefruit to focus the mind and a touch of lime to rebuild your energy levels. Use a few drops on a diffuser or on a hanky just to smell. If you are not sensitive to the citrus fruits then using this blend in a shampoo or shower base will be very helpful. Also in a bath disperse the oils in milk first and remember to test for sensitivity, especially when citruses are being used.

Partying Without Alcohol

Clary sage* is an oil that historically was added to increase the intoxication effects of cheap wine. When I entertain I like to use it in a burner with bergamot, orange and frankincense. The resulting scent is subtle with a relaxing and slightly euphoric effect - very similar to the effects of alcohol without the negative aspects. Apart from getting everyone in the party mood without copious amounts of alcohol another point to note is that using a burner instead of a candle is a lot more effective, in that the fragrance is natural and is dispersed straight into the air rather than being diluted by the wax. It is also much less expensive than using candles. If you do not like using the burner with its flame you can buy an electric diffuser or add the oils on a ribbon tied on to the bar of a domestic fan.

Other oils that will give you that "just enjoyed a few drinks" feeling without the alcohol are may chang, cedarwood, ylang ylang, green mandarin and palmarosa.

If you have any questions I would love to hear from you julie@potions.co.uk.

*(not suitable during pregnancy)

I count my blessings with the flowers,
never with the leaves that fall.

- Lady Johnson 1912

Thank you for all your quotes and comments on the subject of gardening. The interest in the pre-war gardens which contained plants for medicinal purposes as well as cooking, certainly generated memories of parents and grandparents in the garden. One plant of interest is the humble onion.

Introduced and named by the Romans, the name onion comes from the Latin word “unio” meaning large pearl. From the Middle Ages onwards onions were often hung in the home, as it was believed that the scent protected the inhabitants from the “curse of infection” which prior to antibiotics would often kill whole families. In Victorian times the antiseptic properties of onion were recognised and its juice was often used as a disinfectant. Also slices of onion were applied to ulcers and wounds. They were often laid into the ill-fitting shoes and boots of the poor, to heal the inevitable blisters or industrial wounds that regularly occurred before the days of shoe fitting, steel toecaps and modern comfortable materials.

There is certainly scientific evidence to back up the old wives tale that onions could cure infection and I can remember my grandma poaching onions in milk to feed to granddad when he had flu. I had a family history completed by Brian Drescher of www.english-roots.com and was quite upset to find out that three of my great great Granddad’s children all died of scarlet fever within one month of each other. The overuse of antibiotics is a great concern for my generation but it must have been so much worse before we had them, to live in a time when nothing could be done to stop the spread of infection throughout a family. The thought that boiled onions were the only medicine that could be afforded is desperately sad.

On the subject of sad thoughts I unashamedly admit I was and am a great Diana fan. Yes she was flawed but that’s integral to the human condition! Somehow the flaws made her seem more real. The pictures of her on the television this week, as the trial came to an end, brought some of the acute feelings of sadness, at her early loss, back to me and reminded me that death is an ever present part of all our lives. I think that the best we can hope for is acceptance and positive memories. This poem read at my Gran’s funeral (no idea of the author) always cheers me up when I think of special people who have died

I’d like to leave an echo, whispering down the ways
of happy, laughing times & bright & sunny days
I’d like the tears of those who cry, to dry in the sun
of happy memories that I leave when life is done
To someone greatly missed

My Gran was a very keen gardener and loved her little back garden and shed in Blackburn, Lancashire. As children we certainly enjoyed the produce – her raspberries were divine but we never really appreciated the scraggy lettuces.

I think slugs were the problem with the lettuces and my Gran’s tip for dealing with slugs was to sink saucers into the soil and fill them with beer slops form the local pub into which the slugs were drawn out and drowned. We have tried it in our garden with beer at 15p a can in the supermarket – surprisingly effective – try it!

I have a few other tips to share:

1. For calloused feet, mix ground rice (from pudding section in supermarket) with foot relief cream or massage oil and massage in vigorously.
2. For bruised hands apply arnica cream.
3. As an insecticide on delicate plants tie a rag gently around stem and add a few drops of tea tree, please avoid contact of the oil on the plant.
4. If you have a rodent problem, you need to be careful not allow any infection from the germs they carry. To lessen the risk, make sure you bathe regularly in a bath into which 12 drops of tea tree have been added.
5. For post gardening fatigue use fatigue relief balm or add citrus oils to a ribbon and tie to a domestic fan.

If you have any poems or garden tips I would love to hear from you julie@potions.co.uk.

Helpful Garden Tips

I am always so glad to get your feedback and I have been asked to try and give some helpful hints when I can so here are some more:-

1. To freshen the garden (or kitchen) bin mix salt with peppermint and eucalyptus and sprinkle in the bottom.


2. For sunburned skin apply aloe vera and lavender.


3. For smelly wellies (or trainers) mix sea salt (course) with lemongrass, tie up into little bundles using an old hankey. The bundles will draw out the smell and any dampness.


4. For poor quality sleep on warm nights, add a few drops of spearmint and green mandarin to the bath or choose a relaxing bath oil prior to bed.


5. To improve the smell of the boot room, outside toilet or utility room, tie a ribbon to a domestic fan and drip on some may chang essential oil.

To link to my previous tips please click here. If you would like to get in touch with me please email me at julie@potions.co.uk and keep reading my blog for further garden tips.

Julie

Rosemary Facts and Uses

Thank you for the feedback regarding my last gardening blog. I am delighted to hear that I am not the only one inspired by the link between literature and the joy of the garden.

This week I am starting with a quotation rather than a poem - I hope that you enjoy it too.

I count my blessings with the flowers,

never with the leaves that fall. - Lady Johnson 1912

I had an email from Mrs Kenton in London asking about rosemary, which she enjoys looking at in her garden as well as using it in her cooking.

The name 'Rosemary' comes from two words ‘Ros Marinus’ meaning ‘Rose Of The Sea’ and was considered a sacred plant by the Romans. Christians believed that the flowers were originally white but turned blue when the Virgin Mary hung her cloak on a bush on the journey to Bethlehem. Throughout the ages rosemary has been carried to ward off evil spirits and protect against illness. It's medicinal properties were documented as early as 1370 and it has been used throughout the ages since.

In the west rosemary has always been associated with the love of friends as in Ophelia's much quoted line from Hamlet “That's rosemary for remembrance". As an aromatherapist I use rosemary because it has a stimulating effect on the mind and body. It is helpful for work related fatigue and it can improve concentration whilst driving or studying.

Rosemary is also an effective hair tonic and is reputed to promote growth and improve condition. The scent of rosemary essential oil is very similar to eucalyptus but it is gentler so it is excellent for treating colds, flus and clearing the sinuses. It is also a warming oil which is helpful in treating muscular aches, pains and arthritis. I like to blend rosemary with lavender, geranium, cedarwood or bergamot.

When using essential oils choose any of the following methods:

1. Add 4-10 drops to the bath after it has finished running.
   
2. Add 2 drops to a tablespoon full of sweet almond oil or fragrance free moisturiser and massage into the affected area or back.
   
3. Put 2 drops onto the pillow or the front of night clothes or onto a handkerchief.
   
4. Put 4 drops into a small dish of water on top of an aromatherapy burner.
   
5. In a car or bedroom or whilst travelling oils can be dropped onto a hanky and kept close by.

Please Note: Avoid in pregnancy or if epileptic.

If you have any other views or questions you would like to share with me please email me at julie@potions.co.uk.

Julie

Marathon and Triathlon Advise

Q My brother is training for the London Marathon and is looking for a rub that he can apply, prior to exercising, to loosen up the muscles and help prevent injury. Can you please recommend one?
Sam Reiss, Wolverhampton

A When I was building my business and studying for my qualifications I also qualified as a personal trainer, so this is an area of interest for me. Warming the muscles prior to exercise is vital and massaging to create friction helps, but is not an alternative to a physical warm up and stretch routine.

Once you have stretched thoroughly, applying massage oil can help to warm the muscles and will also offer some protection against skin on skin or clothing on skin chafing as well as wind burn if it is cold. I recommend combining a tablespoonful of premium non greasy almond oil with 2 drops of each of the following - ginger, tea tree and spearmint. Remember to spot test on a small area of skin for sensitivity first and do not be tempted to use baby oil which is synthetic and can block the pores as well as giving an unattractive shiny appearance.

Q I have just started completing marathons and mini triathlons and I keep hearing about the use of tea tree. Why?
Roberta Long, London

A Tea tree is a powerful anti viral, antibacterial and anti fungal medium. Triathletes and marathon runners use it routinely because the level of physical exertion they undergo leaves the immune system seriously compromised for around three weeks after the event. Individuals, new to exercise, are likely to be affected in the same way, particularly if they are living fairly stressful lives.

As tea tree has a very pungent smell I would add extra oils to a blend for massage. My choice would be may chang (for courage and calm) and/or geranium (very good for hormone related puffiness and, again excellent, for stress). You would need 1-3 tablespoons of carrier oil, ideally almond oil, depending on how big a body area you are covering and how much moisture the skin will absorb. To every one tablespoonful of carrier oil add 2 drops of tea tree and up to 2 drops of the other essential oils. Don't exceed the maximum dose and always spot test first.

Q My husband has decided to do the London Marathon despite being of mature years and having very stiff, sometimes painful joints. I have tried to stop him but to no avail. What can I put in his bath afterwards to help with the inevitable stiffness and discomfort (which he tries, but fails, to disguise)?
Mrs Jenson, Nottingham

A There is something about marathon running that brings out the "triumph over adversity" spirit in many people. I think seeing that spirit is one of the reasons why I love watching the London Marathon. With regard to his after training bath, I recommend 3 drops of chamomile (nature’s steroid), 3 drops of lavender for the pain (if he thinks that's too sissy just remind him in the first world war, on the french battlefields, lavender was all they had to treat pain), and 3 drops of frankincense (encourages deep breathing and relaxation). For maximum dispersal add the oils to a tablespoonful of milk before dropping in the filled bath. If he is cold I would also add a few drops of rosemary to warm the muscles and joints.

Q Most marathon runners go through the "wall" at about the half way mark – I feel it physically and also mentally to the point where I have in the past dropped out - can you help?
Mr Lennard, Tunbridge Wells

A The "wall" is a formidable challenge for most marathon runners. There is a technique that works for some people by harnessing the power of smell, which is your most powerful and primitive of all the senses.

Choose a stimulant oil that you like the scent of - my suggestions for women are green mandarin, grapefruit or lemon eucalyptus and for men rosemary, basil, lemon eucalyptus or spearmint. On your training runs, tune into your mind and body and identify when you are feeling euphoric and on top form both physically and mentally. At that stage take out of your pocket a tissue that has had several drops of your chosen stimulant oil on it and smell it. Repeat regularly (when you are feeling really good and on form). As you do this repeatedly there will be a physical and psychological association between the smell and feeling great. During the marathon when you hit the wall take out the tissue and smell it and you will be amazed how your sense of smell can have a remarkable effect in terms of re-energising you physically and mentally. I would also advise learning some visualisation techniques. If you live in East Anglia and would like to learn more then please contact us at www.academyofhealthandbeauty.co.uk.

If you have any other questions please email me at Julie@poitions.co.uk.

Julie