First off, when buying Melissa hydrosol, look for one that is distilled in the US. You want to find a distiller that distills the herb just for the hydrosol and not for the oil. The reason for this is the extremely low yield of essential oil. Because of this, most distillers will often (more so then not) cohobate the water. Cohobate means that they reuse the water over and over to increase the extraction of essential oil. When this is done, the hydrosol loses most if not all of its therapeutic value.
This is one of the most stable of the hydrosols, and has been known to last upwards of two years. But to be on the safe side I would still keep in it the refrigerator and freeze what you will not be using within the next 3 or 4 months.
Like the herb, it is good for stress, soothing anger, antidepressant and just about all emotional crises. Melissa can be useful for helping to relieve insomnia. It is more calming to the mind than the body so it works best when the insomnia is caused by an overactive mind. Mix Melissa with Neroli (last week’s hydrosol) for childhood hysterics and work with ADHD.
During pregnancy it can be sipped (1/2 hydrosol 1/2 water) to help with morning sickness, stomach upset (mixed with peppermint hydrosol) and water retention. It is a very gentle and general digestive drink, it aides digestion, reduces spasms and cramps. Melissa has been shown to help with colitis and crohn’s disease. It can have a laxative affect on some, if the dose it to high. For babies, you can spray it topically for cradle cap and diaper rash and as a soothing mist at bed time, it’s even better with German chamomile and Yarrow.
For skin, Melissa is a good antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. It’s good on its own or in blends for irritations, eczema and other rashes. Use full strength ASAP on poison ivy and oak. Mix in lotions and creams or just spray right on the skin for antiaging and after-sun care. It works well as a compress for inflamed and tired eyes.
What Melissa stands out for its strong anti-viral powers of the uncohobated hydrosol. Apply undiluted to herpes sores every hour or so as soon as you feel it coming on as well as taking ½ tbsp every hour. It is a good prophylactic in the flu and allergy season, it has immune-stimulating and some infection fighting properties.
If you have questions or want to know more just let me know.
Love and Light
Dannie
Wolf’s Aromatics Massage and Bodywork
AromaTheraputics Medicinal Aromatherapy
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Monday, August 30, 2010
Weekly Hydrosol, 8/30/2010 NEROLI (aka Orange Blossom)
Neroli hydrosol is distilled (mostly) in France from organic blossoms of the bitter orange tree.
The scent is extraordinary, floral and sweet, with a light green and citrus notes mixed in.
On the physical level it can help: calm anxiety, relieve depression and balance dry and oily skin. It is a major anti-stress and calming agent, with a mild sedative affect on the central nervous system, but without causing sleepiness. One of the things that I LOVE about this hydrosol and why EVERY Parent should have it…hysterics in children and babies. At a job I had in a health food store we would have a small child or two come in and just go off. I would walk up to them, ask the parent if I could try something and then give them a quick spray of Neroli hydrosol. In a minute or two the kid would be calm and smiling (This also works on adults). It has shown to be of some help with ADHD, when used both topically and internally. It is somewhat bitter so it helps with digestion, stimulating bile and helping with heartburn, reflux and spasms.
On an energetic level this is (as we have seen) extremely effective for emotional work. One of the best uses I have used it for is in cases of sudden emotional trauma. Once I used this on a woman who came in for a massage. During the massage I started to smell Neroli, so I got out the 10% Neroli essential oil and mixed some in when I was doing neck work. Next thing I knew she was crying. She told me that two days before, she had gotten home from a business trip and walked in on her house being robbed. The robbers pushed her down and ran. She told me that this was the first time she felt safe and could let out all the emotions that she had been holding in. Not only did she let out all the emotional pain she was holding in, but the neck and upper back pain went away as well when she let it all go.
You can use Neroli during detoxification to help you “let go” of things. Adding about 1 tbs to 16oz of water and drinking that through out the day. It is supportive to the physical as well as the emotional bodies. It can be sprayed in rooms to “sweeten” the mood as well as on yourself and others.
This is also one of the hydrosols that is very safe to use on animals, even birds!
If you have questions or want to know more just let me know.
Love and Light
Dannie
Wolf’s Aromatics Massage and Bodywork
AromaTheraputics Medicinal Aromatherapy
The scent is extraordinary, floral and sweet, with a light green and citrus notes mixed in.
On the physical level it can help: calm anxiety, relieve depression and balance dry and oily skin. It is a major anti-stress and calming agent, with a mild sedative affect on the central nervous system, but without causing sleepiness. One of the things that I LOVE about this hydrosol and why EVERY Parent should have it…hysterics in children and babies. At a job I had in a health food store we would have a small child or two come in and just go off. I would walk up to them, ask the parent if I could try something and then give them a quick spray of Neroli hydrosol. In a minute or two the kid would be calm and smiling (This also works on adults). It has shown to be of some help with ADHD, when used both topically and internally. It is somewhat bitter so it helps with digestion, stimulating bile and helping with heartburn, reflux and spasms.
On an energetic level this is (as we have seen) extremely effective for emotional work. One of the best uses I have used it for is in cases of sudden emotional trauma. Once I used this on a woman who came in for a massage. During the massage I started to smell Neroli, so I got out the 10% Neroli essential oil and mixed some in when I was doing neck work. Next thing I knew she was crying. She told me that two days before, she had gotten home from a business trip and walked in on her house being robbed. The robbers pushed her down and ran. She told me that this was the first time she felt safe and could let out all the emotions that she had been holding in. Not only did she let out all the emotional pain she was holding in, but the neck and upper back pain went away as well when she let it all go.
You can use Neroli during detoxification to help you “let go” of things. Adding about 1 tbs to 16oz of water and drinking that through out the day. It is supportive to the physical as well as the emotional bodies. It can be sprayed in rooms to “sweeten” the mood as well as on yourself and others.
This is also one of the hydrosols that is very safe to use on animals, even birds!
If you have questions or want to know more just let me know.
Love and Light
Dannie
Wolf’s Aromatics Massage and Bodywork
AromaTheraputics Medicinal Aromatherapy
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Purifying Basil Water
Want to know a fun and easy way to help remove negative energy from your home, self or other things? Try Basil water!!
There is a saying about Basil: Where Basil is no evil lives. This is a takeoff of an older folk belief about Basil that tells us: where Basil LIVES no evil is. It is thought that Basil will not grow where there are negative energies or “evil”, and that it can be used to remove the negative energy.
So, what is Basil water? This is not a hydrosol; this is more like a cold brew tea. It is very easy to make too. All you need is about a hand full of basil, I like to use the flowers, save the leaves for pesto, a cup or two of cold clean water (rain water works best) and a glass container with a tight fitting lid. Fill the container with the water, add the basil flowers (or leaves if you must) and cover. Put this in the sun for about 15 to 20 min(less if it is very hot out). Strain out the basil (or you can leave it) and I put it in a spray bottle. Then just spray it were you need it. Put the unused water in the refrigerator, it will keep for about a week. I like to use the purple basil, or the basils that have purple flowers, they turn the water a lovely orange / pink.
You can use this as a wash for crystals and other tools, to energetically clean floors and walls (if it is safe to use water on them) and even yourself. I spray it in my treatment room after each client, in my home daily to keep it fresh, and wipe down the door and window frames to help keep out negative energies. How many ways can you think of to use this purifying water?
Love and Light
Wolf's Aromatics Massage and Bodywork
AromaTheraputics Medicinal Aromatherapy
There is a saying about Basil: Where Basil is no evil lives. This is a takeoff of an older folk belief about Basil that tells us: where Basil LIVES no evil is. It is thought that Basil will not grow where there are negative energies or “evil”, and that it can be used to remove the negative energy.
So, what is Basil water? This is not a hydrosol; this is more like a cold brew tea. It is very easy to make too. All you need is about a hand full of basil, I like to use the flowers, save the leaves for pesto, a cup or two of cold clean water (rain water works best) and a glass container with a tight fitting lid. Fill the container with the water, add the basil flowers (or leaves if you must) and cover. Put this in the sun for about 15 to 20 min(less if it is very hot out). Strain out the basil (or you can leave it) and I put it in a spray bottle. Then just spray it were you need it. Put the unused water in the refrigerator, it will keep for about a week. I like to use the purple basil, or the basils that have purple flowers, they turn the water a lovely orange / pink.
You can use this as a wash for crystals and other tools, to energetically clean floors and walls (if it is safe to use water on them) and even yourself. I spray it in my treatment room after each client, in my home daily to keep it fresh, and wipe down the door and window frames to help keep out negative energies. How many ways can you think of to use this purifying water?
Love and Light
Wolf's Aromatics Massage and Bodywork
AromaTheraputics Medicinal Aromatherapy
Friday, August 20, 2010
Weekly Hydrosols, 8/20/2010 German Chamomile
This is the first post on the Hydrosols that I use most often, as well as some of the unusual ones that I have. This week I am talking about German Chamomile Hydrosol. Distilled in the US and Organic. Always look for organic and from some place close to you. I would not want a German chamomile from Germany. If you live in the US, look for hydrosols distilled in the US (or where ever you live).
Ok, this hydrosol can (at times) have a very light green tint but most times it will be clear like water, and the scent is definitely Chamomile. The taste is bitter, like an overly strong tea, but when it's deluded it tastes more like a well prepared tea with just a touch of green to it. I see it as a waste to use this one at a “tea”, only if there is an inflammatory issue that you are working with.
For external use there are dozens of uses:
Mist the face and neck when stressed and need emotional comforting. It is a very mild Antifungal spray or you can soak your feet in it. Good for skin inflammations and calms sensitive skin, psoriasis and eczema. It can be sprayed on troughout the day or applied as a compress. It can be used as a good sunburn spray when mixed with aloe juice and a good toner for skin with acne and when the skin is red. Pretty much, if it involves the skin and inflammation this would be one of the first hydrosols I would go for. It's also very good to use on babies bottoms for diaper rash.
Just like it brings down physical inflammation, it helps bring down inflamed emotions. Brings back scents of calm and quiet to the mind. Pretty much as with its physical powers, if it’s an inflamed emotional state this one helps. It is considered energetically powerful, but this has more to do with its powerful effect on the emotions. I would (and have) sprayed it in meeting rooms to help keep things calm and used it after an emotional event to clear the energy of a room.
If you have questions or want to know more just let me know.
Love and Light
Dannie
Wolf’s Aromatics massage and bodywork
AromaTheraputics Medicinal Aromatherapy
Ok, this hydrosol can (at times) have a very light green tint but most times it will be clear like water, and the scent is definitely Chamomile. The taste is bitter, like an overly strong tea, but when it's deluded it tastes more like a well prepared tea with just a touch of green to it. I see it as a waste to use this one at a “tea”, only if there is an inflammatory issue that you are working with.
For external use there are dozens of uses:
Mist the face and neck when stressed and need emotional comforting. It is a very mild Antifungal spray or you can soak your feet in it. Good for skin inflammations and calms sensitive skin, psoriasis and eczema. It can be sprayed on troughout the day or applied as a compress. It can be used as a good sunburn spray when mixed with aloe juice and a good toner for skin with acne and when the skin is red. Pretty much, if it involves the skin and inflammation this would be one of the first hydrosols I would go for. It's also very good to use on babies bottoms for diaper rash.
Just like it brings down physical inflammation, it helps bring down inflamed emotions. Brings back scents of calm and quiet to the mind. Pretty much as with its physical powers, if it’s an inflamed emotional state this one helps. It is considered energetically powerful, but this has more to do with its powerful effect on the emotions. I would (and have) sprayed it in meeting rooms to help keep things calm and used it after an emotional event to clear the energy of a room.
If you have questions or want to know more just let me know.
Love and Light
Dannie
Wolf’s Aromatics massage and bodywork
AromaTheraputics Medicinal Aromatherapy
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Lavender Hydrosol
First off what is a hydrosol?
After steam or water distillation of a plant and the essential oil is collected, the leftover water from the distillation is called a hydrosol. Hydrosols are mostly water with the water soluble components of the plant not found in the essential oil. They usually contain a very tiny bit of essential oil, less than 1/100th of 1%. Because they are almost all water, they can be used directly on the skin without dilution. But they are so much more. One of the best things about them, I think, is that that are so much more energetic then the oils. Think of them as the Homeopathy of aromatherapy. There will be more on this and how to use them to come.
I want to talk about Lavender hydrosol.
This is the one hydrosol that is a must have (well I think there are 5 must haves but this is #1). This is your do everything Hydrosol. In and of itself it: Reduces inflammation, soothing sunburns, heat rash, bug bites, cleanse cuts, calming to the mind and body, and helps get a restful night’s sleep. It is one of the best to just spray on the skin for a pick me up. Its anti-inflammatory properties work wonders here.
Now for the more energetic used, lavender hydrosol is one of the strongest energetically of all the hydrosols. It is clearing and cleansing to the energy of a person or place, it calms energy, bringing it back into balance. Lavender will fit itself to what you need. This is why it is the one hydrosol I think everyone should have. Your intention sets this hydrosol to what it needs to help you with. Spray it in the bed room to slow down the energy of the day and help get a restful night sleep. Spry in a room to help remove negative energies from a place and make it more peaceful, use it like a smug to remove negative energies from a person’s aura and help seal holes in it. Put a drop on the chakras to help balance them. The list can go on and on, like I talked about earlier this is a do it all Hydrosol.
Of you want to know more drop me a note..
Thanks for reading.
After steam or water distillation of a plant and the essential oil is collected, the leftover water from the distillation is called a hydrosol. Hydrosols are mostly water with the water soluble components of the plant not found in the essential oil. They usually contain a very tiny bit of essential oil, less than 1/100th of 1%. Because they are almost all water, they can be used directly on the skin without dilution. But they are so much more. One of the best things about them, I think, is that that are so much more energetic then the oils. Think of them as the Homeopathy of aromatherapy. There will be more on this and how to use them to come.
I want to talk about Lavender hydrosol.
This is the one hydrosol that is a must have (well I think there are 5 must haves but this is #1). This is your do everything Hydrosol. In and of itself it: Reduces inflammation, soothing sunburns, heat rash, bug bites, cleanse cuts, calming to the mind and body, and helps get a restful night’s sleep. It is one of the best to just spray on the skin for a pick me up. Its anti-inflammatory properties work wonders here.
Now for the more energetic used, lavender hydrosol is one of the strongest energetically of all the hydrosols. It is clearing and cleansing to the energy of a person or place, it calms energy, bringing it back into balance. Lavender will fit itself to what you need. This is why it is the one hydrosol I think everyone should have. Your intention sets this hydrosol to what it needs to help you with. Spray it in the bed room to slow down the energy of the day and help get a restful night sleep. Spry in a room to help remove negative energies from a place and make it more peaceful, use it like a smug to remove negative energies from a person’s aura and help seal holes in it. Put a drop on the chakras to help balance them. The list can go on and on, like I talked about earlier this is a do it all Hydrosol.
Of you want to know more drop me a note..
Thanks for reading.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Remembering Ritual for Halloween.
This is a very simple but powerful ritual for remembering all the loved ones and friends that have passed on this year (or when ever). All you need is a tea light and incense for each person you want to honor. The best time to do this is just after midnight on the 31st / 1st; for this is the time when the gate between the worlds is open the widest, up till sunrise on the 1st. The door between the worlds stays open to some extent all the way till the winter solstice. It is also good to have some type of food to sit out, but no meat, milk and something sweet works well. So this is what you do…..
At the right time, sit out some food and drink, just like someone was going to be physically there. Light the tea light and the incense and think or talk about the person, remember them, the good and the bad. Talk to them; say all the things you did not or could not say to them before. When you are finished say good bye or till we meet again (that’s the one I like best). That’s it, do this for everyone that has past this year or in your life. Levee the food and drink outside (it’s better to do this ritual outside to begin with), till after sunrise.
Don’t be surprised if something happens when you are doing this. You might get the feeling that someone is there, here someone talking that’s not there, ETC. Just go with it.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
When you work with the energies of essential oils some strange things can and do happen. This is just one story.
The other day I has a lady come in to Massage Envy to get a massage, she had a lot going on and the girl in the front suggested me. She knew I did Reiki and was thinking that would help this lady. When I talked to her she only told me she was under a lot of stress and to work on her back and shoulders. About 15 min into the massage I start to smell neroli and I get the feeling she has had something tragic happen in her life not to long ago. After about 10 more min I was smelling palmarosa and I got the feeling of insecurity from her. Then bergamot and I was pulled to do reiki over her heart. After about 45 min I could not take it, the smell s were over powering. I was getting noshes from it all. The thing is, we cannot use essential oils at massage envy. This was all in my head. I finally yield in my head “stop it, I cannot use the oils here” and then it was all gone. After the massage she started talking, she told me that her home was broken into 2 day before and she got home right as the burglar was leaving. To me this explained the oils I smelled. Neroli is good for traumatic events that bring grief; Palmarosa helps with feeling of insecurity, helping to make them feel they are safe. Bergamot is good for opening and protecting the heart chakra. I started talking to her about using essential oils and told her she should try the ones I smelled, I did not tell her I smelled them when I was working on here, she told me she would look into them.
This smelling oils when I’m working on someone, thinking about them or even just talking to them started about 4 years back, but in the last 6 months it has been going strong. This just shows that there is just some much more to the oils and us then we know about yet. In time……
The other day I has a lady come in to Massage Envy to get a massage, she had a lot going on and the girl in the front suggested me. She knew I did Reiki and was thinking that would help this lady. When I talked to her she only told me she was under a lot of stress and to work on her back and shoulders. About 15 min into the massage I start to smell neroli and I get the feeling she has had something tragic happen in her life not to long ago. After about 10 more min I was smelling palmarosa and I got the feeling of insecurity from her. Then bergamot and I was pulled to do reiki over her heart. After about 45 min I could not take it, the smell s were over powering. I was getting noshes from it all. The thing is, we cannot use essential oils at massage envy. This was all in my head. I finally yield in my head “stop it, I cannot use the oils here” and then it was all gone. After the massage she started talking, she told me that her home was broken into 2 day before and she got home right as the burglar was leaving. To me this explained the oils I smelled. Neroli is good for traumatic events that bring grief; Palmarosa helps with feeling of insecurity, helping to make them feel they are safe. Bergamot is good for opening and protecting the heart chakra. I started talking to her about using essential oils and told her she should try the ones I smelled, I did not tell her I smelled them when I was working on here, she told me she would look into them.
This smelling oils when I’m working on someone, thinking about them or even just talking to them started about 4 years back, but in the last 6 months it has been going strong. This just shows that there is just some much more to the oils and us then we know about yet. In time……
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