tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20430406331916476962009-09-17T20:17:06.407-07:00A regular discussion of clinical aromatherapy, essential oils and related topicsLiisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05689488378881905111noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2043040633191647696.post-23270573999775794532009-09-14T12:10:00.000-07:002009-09-14T12:40:12.247-07:00

I missed August's posting (oops!), so I'm making extra sure to give September's flowers their due!We have some old favorites (roses and poppies) in the garden who have been with us all summer, and there are some late summer newbies too! Without further ado...Oh Rudbeckia! Would you believe carrots are underneath there? How did this all begin? Oh yes, the idea was veggies in the center and

Liisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05689488378881905111noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2043040633191647696.post-90841637232462318052009-09-13T12:38:00.000-07:002009-09-13T13:08:55.082-07:00

I recently read a common sentiment on Facebook: summer colds suck. Not clinical terminology, but it is accurate nonetheless.There is no "cure" for the common cold, due mainly to the wide variety of symptoms and the staggeringly large number of types of rhinovirus. Viruses are amazing (from a technical standpoint) due to their ability to change their coating constantly. This means they can "

Liisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05689488378881905111noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2043040633191647696.post-34795729118670900522009-07-16T08:32:00.000-07:002009-07-16T09:17:05.140-07:00

These two topics have nothing to do with each other, but both needed addressing.SEEDSSeeds are amazing. To think that this:Comes from these:I grow almost all of my vegetables from seed. I'm also fond of mixed flower seed packets, like the Pacific Northwest Wildflower mix I've dedicated a whole box to or the Beneficial Bug mix. My general rule seems to be annuals from seed, perennials from

Liisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05689488378881905111noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2043040633191647696.post-29561122709787554482009-07-15T08:27:00.000-07:002009-07-15T08:39:19.213-07:00

Or is it Garden Blogger Blooms Day? Today is the glorious day that Carol of May Dreams Gardens has set aside for everyone connected on this wonderful Intrawebs to show off their flowers. Summer's heat has dried up many of the blooms we enjoyed back in June, but we have some new entries for July:Out by the street we have daylilies. Planted by the previous owners, I don't know what variety.

Liisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05689488378881905111noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2043040633191647696.post-43089919834602833782009-07-09T18:00:00.000-07:002009-07-09T18:03:48.966-07:00

Mountain Rose Herbs is the #1 place I purchase essential oils and hydrosols, and they also sell dried herbs and teas too. But I'd say their best offering is the wealth of experience and knowledge they offer... for free.Check out this article from their newsletter this month on how to make your own Eau de Cologne, Rose Water and other goodies you can make right from your garden!Don't grow roses

Liisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05689488378881905111noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2043040633191647696.post-77038019479600649932009-07-02T11:02:00.000-07:002009-07-02T11:12:16.448-07:00

Blending essential oils for perfumes or remedies is like conducting an orchestra -- you are creating by bring out the harmonies and nuances of each essential oil you use. There are not only scent harmonies between oils but also therapeutic synergies: it is believed (and only beginning to be studied) that sometimes oils work together (or even cancel each other out).But what if you want your

Liisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05689488378881905111noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2043040633191647696.post-68967884308314262222009-06-14T19:59:00.000-07:002009-06-14T20:20:40.861-07:00

Happy GBBD for June, the first month of Summer! The whole garden is blooming, and everything smells fantastic... well, not the chicken coop.First off are the roses. We have 32 rose bushes that were planted by the original owners of our 1924 home, so some of these beauties are very, very old. This is just one of two rows of rose bushes.There are yellow rosesAnd another type of yellow roseRed

Liisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05689488378881905111noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2043040633191647696.post-14636756517662035542009-06-05T16:18:00.000-07:002009-06-05T16:19:52.128-07:00

Now, weren't we just trying to decipher the ingredients in health & beauty products? Best In Beauty is taking it one step further and urging the FDA to get involved. Read all about it here!

Liisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05689488378881905111noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2043040633191647696.post-16269402343550187042009-06-01T12:01:00.000-07:002009-06-01T12:11:46.118-07:00

Part two of our series on different ingredients found in health & beauty products finds us foaming at the mouth... Why? We're looking at Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and Sodium Laureth Sulfate, the products that make the bubbles in your shampoo and toothpaste.As always, the goal in these entries is not to chastise any brand(s) or to tell you which products to buy; the aim is to help you be a smarter

Liisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05689488378881905111noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2043040633191647696.post-27703825650919942342009-05-25T16:30:00.000-07:002009-05-25T16:31:32.472-07:00

I am often asked what health & beauty products I use and why. What people are really asking is, "Are the products I use OK?" There is no right or wrong answer, because not everyone has the same needs. Different products provide different solutions to some common... and some unique... problems.This entry begins a discussion on the various ingredients found in health & beauty products. Some of the

Liisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05689488378881905111noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2043040633191647696.post-35697646917225947632009-05-22T08:58:00.000-07:002009-05-22T10:26:38.818-07:00

I am often asked what health & beauty products I use and why. What people are really asking is, "Are the products I use OK?" There is no right or wrong answer, because not everyone has the same needs. Different products provide different solutions to some common... and some unique... problems.This entry begins a discussion on the various ingredients found in health & beauty products. Some of

Liisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05689488378881905111noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2043040633191647696.post-55733397347573314652009-05-15T07:34:00.000-07:002009-05-15T07:48:54.801-07:00

In celebration of Spring and its bountiful glory, Lavender Notes begins our participation in GBBD. GBBD is a monthly ritual begun by May Dreams Gardens. Since no essential oils would exist without plants, and since many are distilled from flowering tops, we are pleased to take part in GBBD.Without further ado...We begin in the wildflower box, which is filled with greenery and tiny flowers.

Liisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05689488378881905111noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2043040633191647696.post-25723365782039035082009-04-26T09:19:00.001-07:002009-04-26T09:27:57.083-07:00

Yesterday was the first of what will be several Yoga Aromatherapy Chakra Balancing Workshops. I co-led the class with The Chi Room Yoga Studio's Tina Tonkin, and we had 5 attendees. The class went great! We all learned a lot... which of course shows us how much more we have to learn!The class was meant to be an introduction to both chakras and clinical aromatherapy. We addressed each of the

Liisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05689488378881905111noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2043040633191647696.post-67388538693401770632009-04-09T11:08:00.001-07:002009-04-09T11:42:33.843-07:00

I posted a welcome message when I first started this blog. Back then, I thought I could write up a posting a week. Reality sunk in, and I realized monthly postings were more in line with reality.But look at that last posting... JULY! I'm so sorry!All has not been quiet on the aromatherapeutic front, though, and this is what Lavender Notes is up to:1. In conjunction with Tina Tonkin at The Chi

Liisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05689488378881905111noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2043040633191647696.post-87872164446972538472008-07-29T13:34:00.000-07:002008-07-29T13:55:03.799-07:00

In this final installment on the essentials of essential oils, we look at 10 commonly used essential oils. Using the facts from parts 1 and 2 on distillation, quality and chemical constituents, we explore why these essential oils do what they do, what the different variants are (if any) and briefly discuss the concept of "safe."1. LavenderOne of the first and most prevalent essential oils,

Liisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05689488378881905111noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2043040633191647696.post-85563821966198570132008-04-21T15:30:00.000-07:002008-09-16T17:56:35.776-07:00

What are essential oils made of?If you look at a bottle of shampoo, you may see among the ingredients listed: essential oil of Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) or essential oil of Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia). Essential oils are some of the basic ingredients of many products: shampoo, toothpaste, liqueurs, perfumes, and foods. Each essential oil, however, is a product itself, composed

Liisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05689488378881905111noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2043040633191647696.post-80915561408918180932008-03-03T10:56:00.000-08:002008-09-16T17:56:35.776-07:00

Just as with the topic of safety, LavenderNotes will revisit other basics of aromatherapy. Over the next few entries, we will look at the essentials of essential oils: how they are made, what they are made of, and why they work.Getting the essentials: Methods of extractionThere are 4 basic ways to get an essential oil: steam distillation, cold expeller pressing, chemical extraction, and

Liisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05689488378881905111noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2043040633191647696.post-3431130678500496732008-01-15T11:20:00.000-08:002008-01-15T11:52:54.020-08:00

"Helichrysum italicum subsp. microphyllum (Asteraceae)",Giancarlo Dessi, GNU Free Documentation LicenseImmortelle (aka Helichrysum Angustifolium)At $100 per ounce, you'd think helichrysum's essential oil really does make you immortal! While no essential oil can perform that trick, helichrysum does seem to turn back time: healing wounds, vanishing bruises, and disappearing scars. If you have

Liisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05689488378881905111noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2043040633191647696.post-22633291872863326712008-01-03T15:51:00.000-08:002008-01-07T09:40:08.478-08:00

Winter is known as cold and flu season. Some of you have written to me about the flu, although the symptoms I am hearing most appear to be the cold and not the flu. It is hard to tell the difference sometimes. We will be looking at the cold, which is generally characterized by a stuffed up (or constantly running) nose, swelling of the sinus tissue, sore or raspy throat, and oftentimes the

Liisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05689488378881905111noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2043040633191647696.post-6647464868356898212007-12-28T08:46:00.000-08:002007-12-28T08:47:50.041-08:00

The Lavender Notes aromatherapy blog will be back the second week of 2008. Many new things are planned for the new year, including a store! So, enjoy a healthy holiday season and come visit us in January.

Liisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05689488378881905111noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2043040633191647696.post-69667297966684787692007-11-29T11:17:00.000-08:002008-01-07T09:47:28.901-08:00

Photograph by Liisa ShunnSweet FennelIf you've been to an Indian restaurant, you might have noticed what looked like a bowl of caraway seeds where a bowl of peppermints would normally be. Those are fennel seeds, and they do what a peppermint wheel does, only better -- freshen your breath. Fennel, as a plant, is odd to Americans: its bulbs resemble a fat celery stalk, but its flavor is subtly

Liisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05689488378881905111noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2043040633191647696.post-15934305320454686582007-11-21T14:52:00.000-08:002008-01-07T09:42:14.958-08:00

With Halloween behind us and Thanksgiving upon us, we are firmly entrenched in the season of overindulgence. Whether you eat too much, drink too much, or just do too much, the holiday joy can really feel joyless. Let me offer a few solutions to help get you through to next year."I ate too much"Thanksgiving feasts, Christmas dinners, Hannukah latke parties, and the non-stop snacking can take

Liisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05689488378881905111noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2043040633191647696.post-57099988673754881262007-11-14T16:52:00.000-08:002007-11-14T17:06:31.334-08:00

Safety is an issue Lavender Notes will revisit many times I am sure. Essential oils are, quite simply, unregulated, plant-based pharmaceuticals. As such, people are given the freedom to treat their own health issues (or seek the assistance of someone other than their physician), but with freedom always comes danger. In the case of essential oils, the danger can come with misuse, misinformation

Liisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05689488378881905111noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2043040633191647696.post-6359823789901110662007-11-12T11:43:00.000-08:002008-01-07T09:43:56.159-08:00

Vaginal yeast infections are commonly caused by a variety of the candida fungus, candida albicans. The remaining 10% are caused by a different species of candida. Two common ways of treating vaginal candidiasis are over-the-counter azole-based creams and boric acid suppositories. The first works on c. albicans, and the latter works on other varieties.Why do yeast infections occur? Environment

Liisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05689488378881905111noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2043040633191647696.post-76922149479646062362007-10-31T21:37:00.000-07:002008-01-07T09:44:43.044-08:00

With the exception of the lips, palms and bottoms of the feet, our body is covered in hair. Each hair grows through a hair duct, and each duct is attached to a sebaceous gland that secretes sebum, which lubricates the hair and skin. While sebum is beneficial in terms of preventing dryness, too much of it causes oily skin and can lead to acne. During adolescence, times of stress (physical or

Liisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05689488378881905111noreply@blogger.com0