Natures Table (essential Oils) part 1 by Annalies Schmaltz

[Dept of PMM Artists & things]

We often don't stand still by what mother nature has to offer us. Essential oils and their healing properties. Every week I will introduce a different herb that can be used for massages and explain their healing properties.   Depending on the species of plant, essential oils are extracted from petals, leaves, roots, buds, twigs, rhizomes (underground stems), wood, bark, resin or fruit. In a few cases every part of the plant growing above the ground is used. There are several ways of obtaining the oil, the most common being steam distillation. This involves putting the plant material in a large, closed container, known as a vat, and forcing steam through it. The heat and pressure release the tiny droplets of essential oil from the plant, which then rise, with the steam, out through a spiral tube. This cools the steam, turning it to liquid.

CHOOSING YOUR CARRIER OIL
  Grapeseed and sweet almond oil are the best general-purpose carrier oils, and to begin with you will only need one or the other.
Grapeseed Oil
Grapeseed oil has a slight smell, pale green to greenish/yellow in colour. Grapeseed oil is very versatile and easily absorbed. Can be used on most skin types. Avoid using on sensitive skin, eczema and psoriasis.
Sweet Almond Oil
Odourless, colourless to pale golden yellow of colour. Its a nourishing, softening and revitalizing for all skin types. Helps relieve itching, soreness, ddryness, inflammation and wrinkled, dry hands. This is a safe oil to be used on children and babies.

 

Lavendar
Gentle and effective most used essential oil with wonderful healing properties. Most oils have to be diluted Lavendar is exceptional this can be used pure. Example: A drop on the cushion pad of a plaster, will speed up the healing process and can protect the skin from infections. A drop on your pillow
or a few drops in a bath, at night-time can aid sleep and nervousness or even anxiousness. A drop on a handkerchief to keep close by and during the day sniff it to calm the nerves.
It can be used for muscular pain, caused by tension, exercise or rheumatism. For women: massage into lower abdomen, for menstrual pain relief.
Marjoram most valuable uses are as a muscle relaxant and as
an anti-spasmodic oil. Added to a bath of warm water, applied in
massage or on a warm compress, it helps alleviate backache, indigestion, abdominal pain and menstrual problems.

Using Marjoram in a massage blended with another essential oil
is wonderfully soothing for muscles that are tight and sore.
Marjoram has analgesic properties, which also help to relieve general aches, pains and stiffness. Because of its warming and pain relieving   properties, it can ease stiff joints and help mobilize them, its gives relief of rheumatic pains and warm the legs, that feel cold or heavy.

Stress:

Marjoram is most popular because of its ability to relax the body thus relieving stress. It can have a comforting effect on those that suffer from loneliness and grief, it calms the irritability that comes with being in acute or chronic pain. Very useful for elderly people.

History:

Ancient Greek women put marjoram on their heads as a nerve
relaxant and possibly to relieve migraine, so the herb's benefits have been tried and tested far back in history. The origin of the word Marjoram is uncertain but it may come from the Greek word margaron, meaning pearl. It has been highly values ever since the ancient Egyptians used the herb for grief.

Relaxing Foot Bath:
Handful of sea salt
5ml diluted marjoram oil
1 drop pure peppermint essential oil
1 drop pure lavender essential oil

Put round peddles (or flower arrangeing glass beads) in a bucket
or washingup bowl. Half fill with warm water. Add the salt and essential oils. Soak the feet, rolling the soles across the pebbles to stimulate the reflex points.

 

Fragrant Hair Rinse:
500ml water
2 drops pure marjoram essential oil

Bring the water and oil to the boil and then leave to cool.
To absorb any excess essential oil that may be floating on the furface, lightly stroke a piece of kitchen towel across the top. Pour the marjoram hair rinse over your hair, as a final rinse, being careful to avoid contact with the eyes.

Toning foot lotion:
5 drops pure marjoram essential oil
100 ml unperfumed lotion
(this may be bought at your local chemist)

Add the essential oil to the lotion and stir to blend. Massage a small amount well into the feet.

Especially for the women:

PMS Bath oil:
2 drops pure geranium essential oil
2 drops pure marjoram essential oil
1 drop pure lavendar essential oil
Soak every evening during this periode in a warm bath with wich you have added the above essential oils.

PMS massage oil:

 

start this treatment a week prior to the periods:
massage the stomach each day with a little of the following mixture:
30ml grapeseed oil or sweet almond oil
5 drops pure marjaram essential oil
3 drops pure lavender essential oil
2 drops pure geranium essential oil
4 drops pure bergamot essential oil


Especially for the men;

Mens shaving oil:
1 drop pure marjoram essential oil
1 drop pure comomile essential oil
1 drop pure lavender essential oil
20 ml jojoba oil

Add the essential oils to the jojoba oil. Apply to the face and shave as usual.

After-Shave Balm:
50ml unperfumed lotion
2 drops pure camomile essential oil
2 drops pure lavender essential oil
1 drop pure marjoram essential oil

Mix together and store in a cosmetic pot or bottle,
apply a small amount of the balm to the face after
shaving. The unperfumed lotion again obtainable at your local

 

Marjoram most valuable uses are as a muscle relaxant and as
an anti-spasmodic oil. Added to a bath of warm water, applied in
massage or on a warm compress, it helps alleviate backache, indigestion, abdominal pain and menstrual problems.

Using Marjoram in a massage blended with another essential oil
is wonderfully soothing for muscles that are tight and sore.
Marjoram has analgesic properties, which also help to relieve general aches, pains and stiffness. Because of its warming and pain relieving properties, it can ease stiff joints and help mobilize them, its gives relief of rheumatic pains and warm the legs, that feel cold or heavy.

Stress:

Marjoram is most popular because of its ability to relax the body thus relieving stress. It can have a comforting effect on those that suffer from loneliness and grief, it calms the irritability that comes with being in acute or chronic pain. Very useful for elderly people.

History:

Ancient Greek women put marjoram on their heads as a nerve
relaxant and possibly to relieve migraine, so the herb's benefits have been tried and tested far back in history. The origin of the word Marjoram is uncertain but it may come from the Greek word margaron, meaning pearl. It has been highly values ever since the ancient Egyptians used the herb for grief.

Relaxing Foot Bath:
Handful of sea salt
5ml diluted marjoram oil
1 drop pure peppermint essential oil
1 drop pure lavender essential oil

Put round peddles (or flower arrangeing glass beads) in a bucket
or washingup bowl. Half fill with warm water. Add the salt and essential oils. Soak the feet, rolling the soles across the pebbles to stimulate the reflex points.

Fragrant Hair Rinse:
500ml water
2 drops pure marjoram essential oil

Bring the water and oil to the boil and then leave to cool.
To absorb any excess essential oil that may be floating on the furface, lightly stroke a piece of kitchen towel across the top. Pour the marjoram hair rinse over your hair, as a final rinse, being careful to avoid contact with the eyes.

Toning foot lotion:
5 drops pure marjoram essential oil
100 ml unperfumed lotion
(this may be bought at your local chemist)

Add the essential oil to the lotion and stir to blend. Massage a small amount well into the feet.

 

Especially for the women:

PMS Bath oil:
2 drops pure geranium essential oil
2 drops pure marjoram essential oil
1 drop pure lavendar essential oil
Soak every evening during this periode in a warm bath with wich you have added the above essential oils.

PMS massage oil:
start this treatment a week prior to the periods:
massage the stomach each day with a little of the following mixture:
30ml grapeseed oil or sweet almond oil
5 drops pure marjaram essential oil
3 drops pure lavender essential oil
2 drops pure geranium essential oil
4 drops pure bergamot essential oil


Especially for the men;

Mens shaving oil:
1 drop pure marjoram essential oil
1 drop pure comomile essential oil
1 drop pure lavender essential oil
20 ml jojoba oil

Add the essential oils to the jojoba oil. Apply to the face and shave as usual.

After-Shave Balm:
50ml unperfumed lotion
2 drops pure camomile essential oil
2 drops pure lavender essential oil
1 drop pure marjoram essential oil

Mix together and store in a cosmetic pot or bottle,
apply a small amount of the balm to the face after
shaving. The unperfumed lotion again obtainable at your local chemist or healthshop.

For in the home:
1 drop pure marjoram essential oil
5 drops pure lemon essential oil
1 drop pure rosemary essential oil
Fill the small bowl of a burner with water, add the oils
Light a candle under the bowl to heat the oils.
(don't leave burning when out of the room)

 

Essential Oils and Animals 

We all know when we have pets that some time or another they come home with fleas, fleas love to nestle in carpets, bedding, and rugs. If you want to use essential oils on them always avoid leaving any neat oil on their fur and avoid the eyes. The best method is to wash your pet's bedding regularly, putting a couple of drops of pure lavender oil in the water and to use it in an aerosol spray on your carpets and rugs.

Treating Dogs:
600 ml warm water
2 drops pure lavender essential oil
2 drops pure cedarwood essential oil
Swish the essential oils around well to disperse them in the water. Take the dog brush and soak the bristles in this solution. Then brush the dog through.
Alternatively, soak a piece of disposable cloth in the solution and rub it over the coat. Make sure you avoid the face and delicate sections of the underneath area. Continue until the whole coat is covered.

 

Treating Cats:
Soak an ordinary fabric collar in the following solution: Allow to dry before using. Repeat every 4-6 weeks.
150 ml water
5 ml alcohol (vodka is good)
3 drops pure lavender essential oil
3 drops pure citronella essential oil

Or use this light spray in a plant mister on bedding. Repeat every week for six weeks.
150 ml water
5 ml alcohol (eg. vodka)
1 drop pure lavender essential oil
1 drop pure citronella essential oil

This last recipe can also be used on your own bedding it helps keep the mosquito's abay.