Here&Now Botanicals

We are right in the thick of it now, snow, wind, ice ...  well for some places in Canada. In Vancouver it’s damp... really damp. Time to go inside, bundle up and prepare for full hibernation. I have a few tried and true essential oil blends to warm your soul and to comfort you through the holidays. Warm Citrus 3 drops Sweet Orange 2 drops Cinnamon Bark

Hearth 5 drops Fir, Balsam 3 drops Black Spruce 2 drops Cedarwood A. 1 drop Juniper

Mulled Wine 3 drops Sweet Orange 2 drops Nutmeg 2 drop Cinnamon Bark 1 drop Clove

Wise Guys 4 drops frankincense 3 drops Myrrh 2 drops Sweet Orange

Last night was fun! But now it’s morning... Your head is pounding, your stomach turns, and you are exhausted! “I’m never drinking again” you vow as you reach for another glass of water. If only there was some magical way to make your hangover go away.

Well, there isn’t. But there is Hangover, an oil blend designed to lessen the effects of a hangover and bring you back to the world of the living. Whether you were partying hard or just had a bit too much wine, this powerful little roll-on helps with the aftermath. Hangover works to soothe headaches and nausea, while also relieving inflammation. Plus, its invigorating scent restores mental clarity, so you won’t be a zombie the entire day!

Get ready for next weekend! It’s time to do it again!

http://www.hereandnowbotanicals.ca/category/aromatherapy-oils

It’s that time again. You’re cranky, bloated, and exhausted. Between the cramps and migraines, it’s difficult to get anything done without the constant twinge of discomfort gnawing away.

That’s where SHE comes in. A hormone-balancing blend of essential oils, SHE is effective at reducing cramps and inflammation, relieving pain, and evening out those fluctuating moods.

In addition to its palliative properties, SHE smells marvelous. A mix of Sunflower seed oil, Clary Sage oil, Cypress oil, Peppermint oil, Rose oil, and Pine oil, the blend is at once soothing and invigorating, perfect for calming irritability, while giving you the boost you need to get through you day.

Offered in a cute, no-mess roll-on, it’s easy to apply! Plus it’s compact, so you can toss it in your purse for use on the go. Great for keeping unexpected pains and hormonal vexations under control!

You don’t have to get through your cycle alone. SHE is there to offer relief, comfort, and help keep those hormones in check!

hereandnowbotanicals.ca

Family: Rutaceae

Extraction Method: Cold expression  Part of Plant Used: Ripened fruit Aroma: Light, delicate, refreshing Characteristics: green to olive green, mobile liquid Note: Top Effect: Sedative & uplifting Precautions & Contraindications -May cause skin sensitivity -Do not go into sun directly after use (including in body lotions or massage oils). Causes photo-sensitivity because of the bergaptene content. It is the most photo-sensitive of all the oils. You can purchase bergaptene free Bergamot if using for skincare

Chemical Properties: High in Esters (calming), Terpenes & Alcohols.

Therapeutic Functions: Digestive System: eases painful digestion, dyspepsia, flatulence, colic, indigestion, loss of appetite due to emotional stress, great intestinal antiseptic, gall stones, nervous indigestion

Nervous System: Anxiety, depression, nervous tension, cooling ans refreshing can ease anger, sedative to the sympathetic nervous system. Blends:  Lavender, neroli, jasmine, cypress, geranium, lemon, roman chamomile, juniper, coriander, and violet.

Aromatherapist Confession:

Bergamot does NOT have an “N” in it - no need to throw it in there just for fun :)

Family: Lauraceae Extraction Method: Steam Distillation Part of Plant: Leaves and branches Aroma: Sweet and Spicy Characteristics: Pale yellow to green, mobile liquid Note: Top Effect: Warming Precautions & Contraindications: -May cause skin sensitization if used for a period longer than 3 weeks -Do not use with pregnancy -Do not use near mucous membranes Chemical Properties:  High in monoterpenes and monoterpenols which contribute to its antiviral and and anti-inflammatory characteristics. Oxides are the highest chemical constituents in Bay Laurel which make it a great expectorant. 

Therapeutic Uses: Immune System: As it is a warming oil, it is believed that Bay Laurel reduces fever through its sweating action, prevents against infectious diseases, reduces inflammation in lymph nodes, fibromyalgia, lupus, viral infections, ear infections.

Lymphatic System: Inflamed lymph nodes, cellulite, improves lymph flow, brings feeling of warmth when cold, bruising.

Blends: 10% dilution in carrier oil and applied to lymph nodes will reduce swelling. Bergamot, clary sage, cypress, frankincense, ginger, juniper, lavender, orange, patchouli, pine, rosemary, ylang ylang 

As the weather is getting colder and I find myself reaching for my pair of gloves whenever I leave the house, I am reminded of chilblains..... $#%#^& chilblains. But what are chilblains?..... the official term for when your skin gets inflamed and itchy (usually on your hands and feet) due to poor circulation, related to exposure to cold. BRR. 

A warming blend can be made with the above.  These oils are quite “strong” in that they can sometimes cause skin sensitization in some, so use the “spice” oils sparingly. Use only a 1% blend of the above - remembering to use a top, middle and base, if you can.

How do you find roughly 1%? Divide the carrier bottle by 4 to figure out the total number of drops of essential oil being use in the blend. I know, I know  this doesn’t always make sense. But, always remember that this will give confidence that the blend will not be too strong for you.

Careful! While these oils are great for warming hands, do no use nutmeg, thyme, black pepper, cinnamon or CO2 ginger in the bath - it can get quite...burny..... 

YIKES! It is this part of Aromatherapy that is the most difficult to understand (well at least, I think it is). So I thought I would break it down so it much much more easily comprehended.

The following information has been grabbed from the Complete Guide to Aromatherapy by Battaglia - Almost all of the molecules found in essential oils are composed of carbon, hydrogen & oxygen. The chemistry of the essential oil is based on two dominant factors: the extraction process & the biosynthesis of the constituent molecules of the plant itself.

Battaglia explains that the steam distillation process extracts only volatile and water-insoluble constituents of the plant such as terpenes and terpenoid compounds and phenyl propane-derived compounds (confused yet?). 

Below are the most commonly found chemical constituents:

Relaxing

Aldehydes: Sedative, antiviral, anti-inflammatory *Melissa *Lemongrass *Eucalyptus citriodora

Ketones: Cell regenerating, mucolytic, neurotoxic (in high doses or prolonged use) *Sage *Spike Lavender

Esters: Antispasmodic, equilibrating, anti-fungal *Lavender *Clary Sage *Roman Chamomile *Geranium *Ylang ylang *Petitgrain

Lactones: Mucolytic *Coriander *Helichrysum

Sesquiterpenes: Anti-inflammatory, anti-allergenic *German chamomile

Stimulating

Sesquiterpenols: Anti-inflammatory, stimulates glandular secretions & liver function. *Patchouli *Vetiver

Phenylpropanes: Antispasmodic, ANS balancing, antibacterial, stimulant, skin irritant, *Basil *Tarragon *Ylang ylang *Clove

Monoterpenols: Antiviral, toners, antiseptic, immuno-stimulants,  *Peppermint *Thyme *Niaouli *Ravensara *Spike Lavender

Oxides: Expectorant *Eucalyptus *Myrtle *Tea Tree

Phenols: Strong antibacterial, immuno-stimulant, warming *Thyme

Monoterpenes: Antiviral, cortisone-like *Pine *Citrus oils *Cypress *Black Spruce

Precautions and Contraindication

It is important to understand the possible precautions and contraindications of the essential oil being used - but first you need to understand the difference between these two terms.

1 - Precaution: means that you must be CAUTIOUS when using an essential oil because it MAY have an adverse effect

EXAMPLES:

Peppermint MAY disrupt sleep patterns so it is best avoided at night Black Pepper MAY cause skin irritation if used topically Bay Laurel MAY cause skin irritation if used for a period longer than 3 weeks

2 - Contraindication: means you must AVOID using an essential oil because it WILL have adverse side effects.

EXAMPLES: