Aromatherapy 101

Aside from smelling wonderful, some essentials are actually helpful! I keep a few of these handy:

ROSE: romance, love, joy, sensual pleasure, happiness, passion, desire, soothes emotions, lifts depression, eases anxiety and stress, insomnia

JASMINE: decreases anxiety, depression, nervous exhaustion, stress, elevates spirits, balances moods, encourages optimism, self-confidence, diminishes fear, emotionally and physically relaxing, spurs creativity, inspires artistic expression, awakens intuition, sensual stimulant, promotes feelings of beauty and allure, confidence
Warning: do not use if pregnant

LAVENDER: eases feelings of depression, fear, insomnia, irritability, melancholy, mood swings, nervousness, stress, worry, anger; helps balance emotions and provide mental well-being

ORANGE & TANGERINE: emotional balance, revitalizes, energizes, calms nerves, optimism and positivity especially in wintertime, subdues stress and depression, encourages adventurous attitude, tangerine especially helps sooth me to sleep

CINNAMON CASSIA: warming and uplifting, encourages inner-strength, courage, confidence, promotes healthy digestion and immune system, stimulates metabolism
(sometimes I add a drop of cinnamon to my lipgloss, it stings my lips a little, and plumps them :-)

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I am not a doctor and I cannot advise what will/won't work for you, but...
Here are essential oils I use organized by need/mood/emotions:

Appetite Stuff
grapefruit: boosts energy, curbs cravings, endurance
bergamot and lavender helps keep me calm and alleviate stress, positive emotions, motivation
orange, lemon: emotional support, energizing
peppermint: relaxes stomach muscles, calm mood, mentally alert, energizing
patchouli: sedative/relaxation
cinnamon: regulates blood sugar levels to reduce mood swings (emotional balance)
ylang ylang: helps mind think clearly

Fear
essential oils: cedarwood, sandalwood, patchouli, thyme

Confidence, Self-Worth
essential oils: jasmine, ylang ylang, rose, bergamot, clary sage, frankincense, lavender, basil

Nervous Energy
essential oils: rose, chamomile, clary sage, jasmine, lavender, rosemary

Calming when I'm Stressed Out, Negative Emotions
essential oils: frankincense, lavender, chamomile, sandalwood, ylang ylang, clary sage, rose, bergamot

Grief and Sadness
essential oils recommended: bergamot, chamomile, jasmine, rose, basil, lavender, peppermint, thyme

Depression
essential oils: bergamot, rosemary, jasmine, juniper, peppermint, chamomile, sandalwood, ylang ylang, frankincense

Need an Uplifting Mood
essential oils: bergamot, rose, basil, sandalwood, orange

Stimulating, Get Up and Go
essential oils: peppermint, rosemary, basil, lemon, grapefruit

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IMPORTANT NOTE: Fragrance oils are NOT the same as essential oils. Fragrance oils are most often synthetic, they are for fragrance purposes only. Fragrance oils do not have natural healing properties like essential oils do.

Where to buy: if ordering online, I like http://www.gardenofwisdom.com  If you want to smell the essential oils before buying, I suggest checking out your local Sprouts because they often have better sales than Whole Foods. Walmart and Rite Aid carry some essential oils now. I also see "100% pure essential oil" bottles at TJ Maxx/Marshalls/Ross stores sometimes.

How I Use Them:
---take a whiff directly from the bottle cap
---a few drops into a cup of boiling water, inhale the steam

---in a diffuser or humidifier

---in shower steamers
---on an aroma locket necklace


WARNING! these essential oils are poisonous to cats: Oregano, Bay Leaf, Parsley and Savory, Cedar Leaf, Sage, Hyssop, Cyprus, Lavender, Eucalyptus, Mint ,Caraway, Citronella, Clove, Ginger, Chamomile, Thyme and Rosemary, Pine, Peppermint, Lemon, Melaleuca and Tea Tree Oil, Cinnamon Bark Oil, Wintergreen

Natural Hacks: Hair Coloring & Highlights

Sometimes I want to enhance my hair color and the hippie in me wants to do it naturally

Hair Rinse Hacks: make these teas and soak hair for 30+minutes; then allow to air-dry

 

Different methods for hair rinses include filling a bowl with the tea and sitting there while hair soaks; plugging up a sink and using a cup to continuously rinse tea through hair; spraying tea into hair and wearing a shower cap; or simply spraying into hair.

 

Hair rinses need to be repeated often, results are not immediate nor permanent :-( it's just like a self-tanning lotion: repeated use builds up the color change and then casual use as necessary to maintain/upkeep the color

 

Brunette Hair:

Sage (darken hair)

Coffee

Black Tea (chestnut highlights)

Clove (chestnut highlights)

Rosemary (warm tones)

Parsley (lightens)

Marigold (gold and red highlights)

Cinnamon (dark lowlights, red tone)

Hibiscus Flower (red highlights)

 

Blonde Hair:

Marigold (golden highlights)
Lemon juice- mix with water & spray on hair before blowdrying or going in the sun
Chamomile Tea [I've tried this and it made my blonde hair very yellow]
Saffron
Rhubarb
Catnip
Sunflower Petals
Calendula
Honey [I've tried this and it turned my blonde hair orange, do not recommend!!]
 

Red Hair:

Cranberry juice

Rosehips

Calendula (auburn highlights)

Red hibiscus

Carrots (for golden tone)

Beet juice

Saffron (yellow/orange hue)

for Grey Hair wanting it's color back:

Brown hair: black tea, rosemary,

boiled potato water

Dark Brown: sage

Medium Brown hair: tag alder bark chips

Blonde: rhubarb root, licorice root, catnip