Linen Spray

I am pretty new to aromatherapy.  Or, perhaps I should say, I am pretty new to using essential oils correctly for aromatherapy.  I spent too long using them the wrong way, taking no time to consider possible side effects, contraindications, etc.

When I decided to extend my knowledge base of essential oils and learn how to use them properly, one of the first things I wanted to accomplish to find an alternative way to treat my allergies which trigger my asthma.

Several months back I was introduced to Blue Tansy (Tanacetum annuum) as a means to deal with allergy flare ups.  I decide to experiment by using it in an aroma-inhaler and had a lot of success with dealing with my allergies through the day.  The one problem I had was waking up congested, with itchy, irritated eyes.  I was not about to wake up during the night to use my aroma-inhaler so I wanted to come up with something I could use just before bed that would carry through to morning.

One morning, I was reading a blog post on linen sprays written by a friend who is a certified aromatherapist and became inspired to create a linen spray that would put an end to night time allergy issues and help me sleep.  The following recipe is what I came up with...

It has worked so well for me that I gave it (along with an aroma-inhaler) to my dad to help with his allergies and ihe noticed an immediate difference.  Since then, I've shared it on a few Facebook groups I participate in geared towards aromatherapy and several people have come back and told me how much success they've had with it.

How it works --

•  Green Mandarin (Citrus reticulata) is high in monoterpenes which are known for being effective airborne deodorizers and respiratory decongestants.  Green Mandarin is also known for its sedative properties.  
• Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) has a long, documented history of helping with sleep and decreasing stress which makes it great for any kind of night time sleep blend.  Lavender is high in esters and monoterpenols.  Esters are known for their anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic and sedative capabilities.  Esters are also adaptogenic which is why Lavender helps the body deal with stress.  Monoterpenols are also antispasmodic and have been shown to help with immune boosting.
• Cedarwood (Cedrus deodara) has anti-inflammatory properties.  It is also a mucolytic, meaning it works to break down mucous.
• Blue Tansy (Tanacetum annuum) contains a number of ketones and monoterpenes.  It's therapeutic actions include being an immune stimulant, being anti-inflammatory, anti-spasmodic and a mucolytic.

Another bonus to these (and most essential oils) essential oils is that they all have anti-septic, antiviral and bactericidal properties.

*If you would like to learn more about chemical constituents in essential oils, check out the chemical family page on Aromatics International.*

How I use it --

I use my spray nightly.  Before getting into bed, I spray down the pillows and linens.  I also spray the curtains right next to my side of the bed just to be on the safe side.  :-)


If you give this linen spray a try, let me know how it works for you in the comments below!  :-D

Have a wonderful day!

As always - I am sharing with you things that have worked for my family and friends. While I am passionate about herbalism, natural health and aromatherapy, I am NOT a trained professional.  I am not here to diagnose or as a substitute for your primary care provider (PCP).  You should discuss all natural treatments with your PCP.  

Ginger Tincture

 Fall is now upon us which means it is, again, that magical time of year that involves loads and loads of celebrations with friends and family, comfort foods that remind us of our childhoods and holidays past, mulled drinks to keep us warm and, inevitably, upset stomachs from overindulging.

Ginger Tincture is our go-to for all stomach related issues.  

Here's how you make it -- 

Ingredients - Fresh Ginger Root, 100 Proof Vodka, Quart Size Mason Jar

Use a spoon to scrap the skin off of your ginger root.  If you've never worked with ginger before, the skin is paper thin and will come off with little to no effort.  After your ginger root is peeled, slice it up and place it in your mason jar.  I fill my jar about 3/4 way full with ginger slices and cover with with your vodka.  NOTE - You could throw the vodka and ginger in a Vitamix or food processor if you wanted.  I have never done so because fresh ginger is relatively soft and peeling and slicing provide plenty of surface area. 

      

All jarred up!

Do not forget to leave about an inch of head space!

Don't forget to label your tincture!!!!

Store your tincture in a cool, dark place for 4-6 weeks.  Be sure to shake the jar everyday for the first week and check that the ginger is covered by the vodka.

When your 4-6 weeks is up, strain your tincture through cheesecloth or unbleached muslin and store in a dropper bottle such as this....

Eric and I usually take two droppers full as needed either straight or mixed in tea or water.  For the kids, we use 1 dropper full.

How it works -- 

According to The Herbal Drugstore by Linda B. White, M.D. and Steven Foster, "Ginger stimulates digestions and dispels gas.  It also helps move food through the intestinal tract and reduces irritation."  Ginger is able to do this due to two chemical constituents, gingerols and shogaols.  

The Green Pharmacy Herbal Handbook by James A. Duke, Ph.D says the following about the actions of gingerols and shogaols, "It's gingerols and shogaols quell stomach upset and gently but effectively encourage the muscle contractions that move food through your intestines.  At the same time, oddly enough, they inhibit spasms, curb diarrhea and deter the urge to vomit." 

While most resources list ginger are being safe for consumption, the University of Maryland Medical Center list the following precautions and possible interactions:

Precautions

The use of herbs is a time-honored approach to strengthening the body and treating disease. Herbs, however, can trigger side effects and interact with other herbs, supplements, or medications. For these reasons, herbs should be taken with care, under the supervision of a health care provider qualified in the field of botanical medicine. 

It's rare to have side effects from ginger. In high doses it may cause mild heartburn, diarrhea, and irritation of the mouth. You may be able to avoid some of the mild stomach side effects, such as belching, heartburn, or stomach upset, by taking ginger supplements in capsules or taking ginger with meals. 

People with gallstones should ask their doctor before taking ginger. Make sure to tell your doctor if you are taking ginger before having surgery or being placed under anesthesia for any reason. 

Pregnant or breastfeeding women, people with heart conditions and people with diabetes should not take ginger without asking their doctors. 

Do not take ginger if you have a bleeding disorder or if you are taking blood-thinning medications, including aspirin.

Possible Interactions 

Ginger may interact with prescription and nonprescription medications. If you take any of the following medications, you should not use ginger without first talking to your health care provider. 

Blood-thinning medications -- Ginger may increase the risk of bleeding. Talk to your doctor before taking ginger if you take blood-thinners such as warfarin (Coumadin), clopidogrel (Plavix), or aspirin. 

Diabetes medications -- Ginger may lower blood sugar. That can raise the risk of developing hypoglycemia or low blood sugar. 

High blood pressure medications -- Ginger may lower blood pressure, raising the risk of low blood pressure or irregular heartbeat.

Source: Ginger | University of Maryland Medical Center http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/herb/ginger#ixzz3FPoXPaFA
University of Maryland Medical Center

As always - I am sharing with you things that have worked for my family and friends. While I am passionate about herbalism, natural health and aromatherapy, I am NOT a trained professional.  I am not here to diagnose or as a substitute for your primary care provider (PCP).  You should discuss all natural treatments with your PCP.  

Are you going to make a ginger tincture for your family?  Do you already use it?  If so, how does it work for you?  Let me know in the comments below!

HAVE A GREAT EVENING!

Garlic and Mullein Ear Oil

When I decided to start taking a more natural approach to our health, this was one of the first items I learned to make.  

As a child, I suffered from chronic ear infections and I remembered my mom using Sweet Oil in my ears because it always seemed to take the pain away.  As I begun researching Sweet Oil, I came across articles about using garlic ear drops instead.  I was immediately sold for no other reason than I always have fresh garlic on hand which meant that when late night ear pain hit, I wouldn't have to worry about whether or not I had forgotten that I ran out of Sweet Oil at some point.

Before we jump into the recipe itself, lets talk about the ingredients a bit.

Garlic - Garlic is a part of our everyday lives.  We eat it in all manner of foods and those of us who know the healing ability of this food make a concerted effort to consume even more of it than most folks.  Garlics is said to be antimicrobial, antibiotic, antifungal, and immune-stimulant, anti-oxidant, diaphoretic, cholagogue, hypotensive, antispasmodic, anthelmintic, expectorant, anti-thrombotic and anti-diabetic.  According to Practical Herbalism by Philip Fritchey, "In laboratory studies, Garlic has been shown to have direct anti-microbial actions equivalent to many antibiotic drugs, but without those drugs' tendency to create resistant strains of pathogens."  In his book, Herbal Antibiotics - Natural Alternatives for Treating Drug-Resistant Bacteria, Stephen Harrod Buhner states, "Garlic is perhaps the most extensively tested herb in the world; in vitro, in vivo and human trials have shown its powerful effectiveness against bacterial and viral infectious agents."

Mullein - This you may not be as familiar with but I am willing those of us who live in the United States have seen it growing along the road and in fields.  Mullein's actions are said to be expectorant, demulcent, emollient, diuretic, anti-inflammatory, nervine, antispasmodic, vulnerary, alternative, astringent, pectoral, nutritive, antiseptic, hemostatic, anodyne, narcotic, anti-asthmatic, germicide and vermicide.  Studies are not available to show the efficacy of Mullein against earaches and infections but it has long been used in folk medicine as a treatment for both.  It is likely that its anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties are the key players in its usefulness against problematic ears.

ON TO THE RECIPE!

1 head of garlic

.75 ounces of mullein leaves Where to Buy

4oz Oil (approx)

Ignore the scale.
I grabbed this shot before I finished weighing out the Mullein.

The Process is very straight forward.

Peel and crush your garlic.  There is no need to chop it up.

Combine Mullein, Garlic and Oil in a food processor.
How much oil you need will depend on how dry your Mullein is.

Now, you may be wondering why the food processor.  This is a little trick I learned in an Herbalism 101 Course I took through Divine Journeys.Mullein is a very fluffy plant.  Processing it ensures that everything gets covered in the oil without having to use more oil than necessary.  You can choose to either cut it up by hand into smaller pieces or even skip this step.  Even if you have to add extra oil, your ear oil will still be effective.

Pour into a glass jar with a tight fitting lid.

At this step you are going to want to add about an inch of oil for head space.  This will help keep the herbs covered and decrease the risk of your oil molding.

Label your concoction!!  I can't tell you how many things I have had to throw out
because I just knew I wouldn't forget what it was.  I was wrong!

Once your oil is labeled you can do 1-2 things.  You can sun infuse your oil.  This entails placing your oil into direct sunlight generally for 24-72 hours, allowing the heat from the sun to infuse the oil with the herbal constituents.  Though 24-72 hours is the general time frame for sun infusions, I let my sun infusions sit for a week. 

You could also cold infuse your oil.  To do so, you just place your jar in a cool, dark place being sure to shake it once a day for the first week.  With this type of infusion, your oil will be ready in 4-6 weeks.

Regardless which infusion method you choose, the last step is the same.  Strain your oil through unbleached muslin or several layers of cheesecloth (Mullein has tiny hairs that can be irritating if left in), place into a dark colored, glass bottle and label.

How I administer - 

1/2 glass dropper full to the affected ear, twice daily for a week.  If both ears are affected, allow 2-3 minutes between ears to ensure the oil has made it down the canal.  After the oil is applied to the ear, place a warmed (NOT hot) cotton ball in the ear or have them lay down with a warmed rice pillow over their ear.

NOTES - 

• You do not need Mullein for this oil to be effective.  Some people even use Calendula in place of or along with the Mullein.
• This is NOT appropriate for pain related to water in the ears.  In fact, using this oil in that case can cause molding in the ear.
• Without treatment, many earaches and infections will resolve themselves.  However, if you notice a worsening of the symptoms or there is no improvement after a week see your primary care provider (PCP).
• If you or your child suffer from chronic ear infections, you may find a chiropractic realignment helpful.
• If the ears are draining, there is hearing loss or bleeding from the ears DO NOT use this oil. Instead, contact your primary care provider (PCP).
• Always remember - I am sharing with you things that have worked for my family and friends. While I am passionate about herbalism, natural health and aromatherapy, I am NOT a trained professional.  I am not here to diagnose or as a substitute for your primary care provider (PCP).  You should discuss all natural treatments with your PCP.  

HAVE A GREAT DAY!

Questions?  Comments? Share them below!