Essential Oil Spotlight: Peppermint

Peppermint essential oil ( Mentha piperita) is a well known oil. Most are familiar with its aroma which is fresh, minty, and cooling. It is very popular around the Yuletide season, making appearances in teas, hot chocolates, and candies. It is a common oil that people use daily and don't even realize it! Your toothpaste probably has some sort of peppermint oil depending on the brand you use. If you use a non natural paste, it's likely to be a synthetic form of peppermint. If you use natural paste, you will probably see Mentha piperita in the ingredients. It isn't used just for its minty goodness in paste though, it also used in it for its antibacterial, anti microbial, antiseptic, and antiviral therapeutic values ( plus a wide variety of other therapeutic actions). (ACHS, 2013). 

Besides toothpaste, what is this oil used for? Like other oils, a lot! My favorite use is for headaches, fatigue, and migraines. I like to add a  drop or two to a carrier oil like sweet almond and use the blend on my temples when I have a headache, migraine, or even if I just feel a bit fatigued. 

I also add this oil in my homemade chest rub for cold season. It blends well with other essential oils that have menthol in them, helping to break away congestion and giving a relaxing aroma at the same time! Always remember that peppermint, like all oils, is strong and a little goes a very long way. 

 

Peppermint blends well with many oils, making it a great addition to a variety of products. I love adding it to my Free Spirit room spray blend, which has citrus, lavender and peppermint......it is an amazing combination and really helps to uplift the spirit. 

This oil is also the star ingredient in my Bees Knees Lipbalm, which will soon be back up in my shop!  So keep an eye out! 

www.etsy.com/shop/solsticenight 

www.facebook.com/solsticenight1

Solsticenight1@gmail.com.  (Feel free to email me any questions)

****Essential oils are very powerful and there are cautions when using essential oils. All essential oils should always be diluted when using because it can irritate skin, especially if you are prone to have sensitive skin ( avoid if you have sensitive skin). Peppermint oil is not recommended to be used if you are pregnant (1st trimester) or breastfeeding, or in children under two. Do not use if you have medical conditions such as heart disease or epilepsy. Keep away from eyes ( that cooling effect will not feel nice in the eyes!). Always do a skin patch test before using oils .*****

****** this post is for educational purposes only. It is not meant to diagnose, cure, or treat any condition. If you have a medical condition, please speak to a medical professional before using aromatherapy.*****

Reference

Peterson, D. (2013).  Essential Oil Monographs. ACHS. Portland,OR. 

Photo from Pinterest via tumbler. Com

Positive vibes

You often hear the saying "when life gives you lemons, make lemonade", But what if those lemons are hard and dry with no more juice to be squeezed? Can you toss them back at life? Silly thought perhaps, but today is a day of reflection. Someone I care for deeply is in need of some major positive vibes. I like to think the people who follow this blog and my Facebook page are spiritually open and understand what it means to send good vibes. Sometimes the only hope we have is clinging to that good energy that people sent to us in times of need. Often times things happen for reasons that we can't understand and honestly probably never well. We go through moments of sadness and anger, denial and so forth. In reality, those things don't do anything for us but harbor negativity. It is then that we realize that being positive helps in one way or another. It may not cure an illness, but it can help a person feel that they are loved and that their life means something. In my hour of reflection, I envisioned this person as how I have always seen them. Sending so much love and light that I needed sunglasses for shade. We may not always understand why the universe does what it does, but we can't understand why love and light and positive vibes are important. Actually, there are a couple people I do this for often. However, today I am focusing on this one person. He needs it a little more today. 

(Photo from Pinterest)

Essential Oil Spotlight

Immortelle essential (Helichrysum angustifolium) 

A simple question on Facebook sparked interest on essential oils for scars. It is a good question! When one thinks about aromatherapy, they mostly think of candles and lavender room spray. What most don't realize is that aromatherapy is so much more than just smelling lovely essential oils. It is about healing both emotionally and sometimes physically. There are many essential oils out there that can help do just that!  I learned about immortelle in school and found it fascinating. Just the name alone makes it seem some what mystical. The oil comes from the vibrantly yellow flowers of the helichrysum. They are actually very beautiful yet simple flowers that look like bursts of sunshine. A very happy flower is how I see them!  The essential has many uses including skin healing. It is a great essential oil to have in your holistic first aid kit because it has antibacterial, anti-inflammatory,anti hematoma, & cicatrizant...just to name a few! It is an oil that is great for disinfecting wounds, bringing relief to bruising, helping to calm inflammation, healing scars by tissue regeneration, and even great for minor burns. And easy way to use this oil is to add a couple drops to a base oil or even aloe vera gel. Aloe Vera would be my choice base because it is also healing to the skin and very soothing, making this an amazing healer! 

I am happy to create special blends for people at reasonable prices. Contact me for more info at:

solsticenight1@gmail.com

www.facbook.com/solsticenight1

www.etsy.com/shop/solsticenight

(Remember, essential oils are powerful and not everybody should use them. Because this essential oil maybe anticoagulant, those who are on anticoagulant medications should avoid.)

******This post is for educational purposes only.It is not meant to diagnose,cure, or treat any condition. If you have a medical condition, please speak to a professional before using aromatherapy.******