Cassia (Cinnamomum cassia) essential oil 

Due to its high level of cinnamic aldehyde please use caution when using this oil. It has historically been used in the flavoring industry and studies that have shown its very beneficial properties, as detailed above, have been with oral use. This oil makes a very good antiseptic mixed with water or in a diffuser. It is, however, one of the strongest skin irritants and skin sensitizers in the field of aromatherapy. Previously most aromatherapists, including myself, would tell you to never, ever use this oil topically. However, after listening to a webinar by Robert Tisserand, who wrote the classic textbook on aromatherapy safety, said that it could possibly be used because of how highly antibacterial it was but at no greater than 0.5% usage. His book has stated that it is "not useful for aromatherapy", but he did change his view point during this webinar. I would say do not use it without the guidance of a qualified, trained clinical aromatherapist. Having seen so many horrible wounds and so many cases of MRSA during my nursing career, I have to be excited about the possibilities of this particular essential oil and hope to do some studies in the near future. For what it's worth - and I think it's worth a lot - China has been using this essential oil medicinally for several thousands of years. They are so far ahead of us where healthcare is concerned.

Also please note: If used concurrently with any other anti-platelet and/or anti-coagulant medications this essential may increase the risk of bleeding. 

The perfect synergy - a thick, emollient cream to soothe sun-parched skin that includes our powerful blend of herbal insect repellent essential oils proven effective literally all over the world. Simply smooth this cream over your entire body and enjoy the double benefits of an insect repellent and top notch cream. Always do a patch test on the inside of your elbow prior to first time using a new product.

Immune Enhancer blend - newly reformulated to be even more effective. This blend contains clove and cinnamon, both of which are high in the chemical constitutent Eugenol which is an anticoagulant. That means they thin the blood, so should not be used with anyone who is presently on other blood thinners, either pharmaceuticals such as Coumadin or Plavix, over-the-counter, or supplement such as Nattokinase. Also do not use prior to or immediately following surgery. Keep all essential oil bottles tightly closed when not in use, leave dropper cap in place, and keep out of reach of children or pets. DO NOT USE THIS BLEND UNDILUTED. INTENDED FOR EXTERNAL USE ONLY.

This blend can be used as simply as placing a couple drops onto a tissue and sniffing the aroma-therapy. They are very effective when used in our ultrasonic diffuser that is adequately described here. This blend also contains some oils known to be skin irritants; however, this blend when diluted can safely and effectively be used as a chest rub, back rub or foot rub. I don't recommend this blend as a full massage blend. As little as 2 drops in one ounce of carrier vegetable oil is sufficient.  We also find it very effective to use this, or any of our blends or oils, in our personal nasal inhaler soon to be added to the website. These are very convenient as they are the size of a lip balm and can be carried easily in your pocket or purse.

See our Essential Oil Database (currently under construction) and our Disclaimer page for more information.

Cold and Flu #2 Blend

Is for those who are on blood thinners or prior to or after surgery. We have formulated this blend for those who may be on blood thinners or are getting ready for or have recently had surgery. Although this blend contains cinnamon leaf, which contains a large percentage of the chemical constituent Eugenol and is a potent blood thinner, we have reduced the percentage of cinnamon leaf and have completely left off clove bud and clove leaf, both of which also contain a high percentage of Eugenol. We believe this makes this blend a much better choice for anyone on blood thinners such as aspirin, Nattokinase, Coumadin, or Plavix. Ask your doctor if you have any questions.

Asthma sufferers - please take note. Although the research shows that Eucalyptus globulus is an effective essential oil for you, please note that when using this blend, the single oil or any blend containing Eucalytpus, be mindful that you do not directly inhale the oil as it may elicit a cough reflex which could trigger an asthma attack. We have also formulated our Breathe Easy blend which is also very effective for inflammation and lung discomfort experienced by asthma sufferers, but not as effective in fighting cold and flu bacteria and viruses.

As with any essential oil or new product, we ask that you do a patch test on the inner aspect of your elbow by putting a drop of oil that has been diluted in your choice of vegetable oil onto your skin, cover it with a bandaid and wait 24 hrs to see if you have any redness, itching or inflammatory reaction. The oils in this blend are inherently skin irritants, so they must be properly diluted prior to use. Our recommendation is 1 to 2 drops from the dropper cap bottle to 1 oz or 3 tsp of vegetable oil. This oil may be added directly to your ultrasonic diffuser and we recommend 5 to 10 drops per 24 hours.

This blend and our regular Cold and Flu blends are very beneficial for cold and flu symptoms. We like to use them as chest rubs, back rubs and foot rubs. Did you know that your feet are one of the best places to put your essential oil mixture for the best absorption? It's true. Cover your chest, back and/or feet after applying for enhanced absorption and reduced evaporation of the oils. You can use any vegetable oil you choose. Please do not use occluding oils such as animal-based oils, lanolin, vasoline, or mineral oil. These will not allow for good absorption of the essential oils. We also highly recommend that topical application be augmented with the use of the ultrasonic diffuser.

As as always, please see our disclaimer here.

Carrot Seed Essential Oil

An easy do-it-yourself way to incorporate the antiwrinkle, cell-renewing properties of this essential oil is mix the following blend into any of your favorite unscented cream (our unscented hand & body cream would be good for this purpose.)

Add to 8 oz of cream or your favorite carrier oil. See our carrier oil benefits page to help you decide which one to use for your skin type.

5 drops Geranium (Pelargonium graveolens) essential oil
5 drops Patchouli (Pogostemon cablin) essential oil
5 drops Carrot Seed (Daucus carota) essential oil
5 drops Rosemary, ct Verbenone (Rosmarinus officinalis)
5 drops Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
5 drops Clary Sage (Salvia sclarea)

Safety or Cautions: Carrot seed essential oil is considered to be non-toxic, and non skin-sensitizing. As with all oils, this oil must be diluted with a carrier prior to use. Please check the link to the individual essential oils noted in the recipe for safety/usage information. See our Essential Oil Database for more information.

Bergamot (Citrus bergamia) essential oil

Bergamot is by far one of my favorite essential oils. If I feel anxious or pushed to meet a deadline, but need to focus - I reach for bergamot and/or geranium, but I particularly like the bergamot if I'm feeling "hot" either mentally or physically. It has so many amazing qualities that you can find detailed in our expanding essential oil database. 

In particular the chemical constituents in this oil attribute to it's calming and sedative properties. Predominately you will find the monoterpene (d-limonene), monoterpenol (linalol) and the ester (linalyl acetate). The percentages of each of these constituents will differ from batch to batch due to the many variables involved in growing and distilling the plants. These three, however, should be the predominant features in any Bergamot essential oil.  Linalool (you'll see it spelled linalol also) provides the antibacterial as well as the sedating, relaxing properties to this oil. Linalyl acetate is also known to provide very relaxing properties, which is also one of the constituents seen in Lavender essential oil and why high altitude lavender has the most relaxing properties. The monoterpene, d-limonene, according to Kurt Schnaubelt in his book, Advanced Aromatherapy, has anti-viral properties. Other sources recommend Bergamot for issues related to the herpes virus. The d-limonene also contributes significant anti-inflammatory properties to this oil. Buyer beware - according to Kurt Schnaubelt, this is one oil that is often adulterated in the marketplace, which is why we so carefully source ours.

Highly phototoxic if not used according to guidelines. Bergamot is one of those oils that the IFRA recommends to not exceed 0.4% in "stay-on" products, which would include a massage oil or a body cream. Bergamot is a particularly nice perfume as a stand-alone oil and, therefore, should be diluted prior to use. This percentage would equate to approximately one drop of the oil to one ounce of a carrier oil. When used in a diffuser, 2 to 4 drops would suffice. The safety issues are more related to the skin and direct UV light. We previously carried a bergapten-free oil which is rectified to remove the phototoxic qualities, but the last sample we received just didn't hit the mark that we strive for. I recently received the sample of the oil we have now which is not bergapten-free and does carry the issues of phototoxicity, but it smells truly wonderful.

A few of our favorite uses for this oil:

Can be added to a face mask for acne due to its antiseptic and astringent properties or add to your regular bottle of shampoo and conditioner if you have oily hair. The literature also recommends this essential oil for eczema. I'm having my daughter test this new shipment to see how her eczema responds to it.

Body powder (deodorizing and refreshing)

2 parts tapioca starch (or cornstarch, organic preferred)
1/2 part orrisroot (fragrance fixative, easily found at health food stores)
1 part baking soda
1 part zinc oxide (deodorizing due to antibacterial properties)
Bergamot essential oil - using the dilution of 0.4%, which would be approximately 1 drop per 1 ounce of powder.
Lovely and uplifting, refreshing powder. Can be placed in a shaker bottle (we will be carrying these) or just a glass jar with a tight lid.

Perfume: (Put in a 2 oz sprayer bottle if using vodka, a roller ball if using a carrier oil)

1 tsp vodka or 1 tsp carrier oil (such as almond oil or olive oil)
8 drops of lavender essential oil
2 drops of rose absolute or rose otto
4 drops of bergamot essential oil
8 drops of vanilla essential oil
1 drop of ylang-ylang essential oil

Safety/Cautions: Bergamot contains furocoumarins, notably bergapten, which causes skin sensitization and skin pigmentation when exposed to direct UV light for up to 12 hours. It can and has caused severe burns when used on sensitive skin that is subsequently exposed to sunlight or sunbed rays. The maximum concentration for most oils in concentration with a carrier is somewhere around 5%, but the IFRA recommends Bergamot to not exceed 0.4% in products that will not be washed off. We follow those guidelines in our products that contain Bergamot.
Avoid in cases of liver problems. Not for use when pregnant or nursing. Possible skin irritant – dilute well.

Bay Rum Essential Oil

Synergistic recipe for Back Pain: (from Aromatherapy Solutions by Veronica Sibley)

Bay Rum 2 drops
Clove 1 drop
Lemon 2 drops

Sunflower oil 15 mls (1/2 ounce)
Hypericum oil 15 drops

According to Veronica Sibley in her excellent book, Aromatherapy Solutions, she notes that this synergy works because of the following properties of each of these oils:

Bay Rum - Helps nerve-end pain with a warming effect where there is "coldness within the muscles."
Clove - Has "pain relieving properties affecting the nerve end pathways."
Lemon - Is a "superb tonic to the circulatory system, cleansing the body of waste, and works well with neuralgic pain."

Now, she doesn't state specifically the botanical names for the oils in this recipe which would be helpful. The lemon is not a problem, but there are different types of "bay" essential oil. We believe since she profiles Bay Rum (Pimenta racemosa) later in the book that's the one she is referring to. Also clove is available as the oil from the bud, bark and leaf. We are assuming she means clove bud. Both clove and bay rum can be very irritating to the skin if not diluted properly so test this recipe as you go and possibly do a patch test prior to applying over a large area such as your back. I think it sounds like a winner though and will try it on my foot where I had a neuroma surgically removed that has left me with a high degree of nerve pain. CAUTION: Both Bay Rum and Clove Bud are anticoagulants and should not be used by anyone who is taking blood thinning medication such as Coumadin.

For additional in-depth information about Bay Rum essential oil look at our Essential Oil Database. We would also recommend our Spicey Muscle Oil for any nerve pain or back pain issues - already blended and ready to go. And for additional recipes using essential oils, take a look at our Aromatherapy Recipes section. We will be adding to that almost daily.

Safety/Cautions: Bay Rum should be used in moderation due to the high levels of eugenol content, as mentioned above, and can be a mucous membrane irritant. We repeat, use caution if taking any anticoagulant drugs such as aspirin, heparin or Coumadin. We have been using this particular essential oil more and more as we discover new and practical ways to use it other than just the fact it smells so wonderful and is a favorite for many. Bay Rum should never be taken orally.

Basil Essential Oil, ct Linalool

For more in-depth information on this particular essential oil and how to incorporate it in your wellness program and aromatherapy-at-home use, refer to our Essential Oil Database.

My favorite use of this particular chemotype of basil is to relieve the neck pain that starts at my cervical spine (from too many years back in the days we had typewriters), moves to the base of my skull and then radiates up and out into a full-fledged tension headache. Now a good massage would work wonders, but for a do-it-yourself quick and effective fix, I keep a bottle of Tamanu oil with just basil essential oil mixed in it - the linalool chemotype.  I use about 8 drops (using the dropper type bottles we sell our essential oils in) to 15 grams (by weight) or 1/2 ounce of Tamanu oil. You could use any oil, but I've found the Tamanu to be very effective for this application. Arnica infused oil would also be a good choice. Check out our Aromatherapy Recipes blog for more ways to use basil - we will be adding more and more recipes. I keep a small bottle of this mixture handy, but if you wanted to make up just enough for one application it would be easy to do with the treatment type bottle we offer with the Tamanu oil. Using the treatment bottle you would be safe with one or two pumps of the Tamanu oil and then add 1 to 2 drops of the basil essential oil.

If you haven’t been reading about the absolutely amazing properties of Rooibos, take a look at our Rooibos benefits & properties page where we go into some detail. You will be seeing more of this extract in many of our formulas. Rooibos is a very effective anti-inflammatory & antioxidant and added to that is our usual DMAE & MSM. We include these two ingredients in most of our facial products because they have been proven to work consistently to tighten, firm and improve the health of your skin. I use this serum after washing my face while my skin is still warm and slightly moist. I like to gently rub it in using upward outward circles - this also increases circulation to your facial skin providing additional benefits. After this is absorbed, I then put on a dab of either the organic  Every Day Facial Cream or the organic Skin Intensive Renewal Cream.

Learn more about the proper usage and benefits that come with using all of our Facial Regimen Products.

This balm slides on easily, absorbs quickly and soothes and calms the painful inflammation from diaper rash, heat rash, or any other “boo boo’s” that are common with babies and young children. The beeswax provides a natural barrier that protects babies tender skin. Beeswax is also a well-known antibacterial. Be sure to allow your baby's skin to completely dry before applying the diaper ointment. Never trap moisture under diaper balm as this will hold the moisture against the baby's skin and can cause additional irritation. Our granddaughter has a habit of licking her bottom lip and invariably this causes a rash on her chin – the boo boo balm is our answer. The ingredients are all natural, organic, food-grade oils, totally and completely non-toxic.