Making My Own Soap - Importance of Scents?

The next step of my soap making journey revolves around choosing the proper fragrance.  Smells do many things - bring back cherished memories from childhood - help aid in pain relief - energize us - relax us - I think you get my point ... so it is important that you consider what you want your soap to do for you.  This is the great thing about soaps - you can use one for morning showers to get you energized for the day - and a different one when you need a stress relief / a relaxing moment away from the craziness of the day. 
Always try to find organic supplies for soap making.  Remember that your skin is the largest organ you have and is the entry point for everything.  Be very careful what you choose to include in your soap.

For me, I have some favorite scents that I will be using in my first trial run of soap making... but for you, let's give you some more ideas for what scents will offer you...my post from a couple days ago will give you some more good information on other scents...

Rosemary - Rosemary is a very ancient herb of the evergreen family.  In ancient times it was known as sacred.  There are many medicinal benefits of rosemary.  It is known to activate the brain and clear away cobwebs.  It helps with headaches, migraines, pain, mental fatigue, nervous exhaustion.  It is also effective for bronchitis, whooping cough, and asthma.  It also encourages hair growth and helps fight any skin maladies. 

Benefits: http://www.essentialoils.co.za/essential-oils/rosemary.htm

Sage - Sage boosts short term memory, balances hormones - reducing hot flashes, decreasing excessive menstruation, and lactation.  In a recent study, sage was found to protect your genetic DNA from damage. Sage also has a relaxing affect.  There is a difference between Clary Sage, and Sage.  Clary sage has been used for centuries medicinally for labor.  Many women say that they do not need additional pain killers with the addition of Clary Sage.  It can be put under the pillow or directly into the skin.  Caution though is needed when using it directly on the skin as it is very strong.

Benefits: http://www.anniesremedy.com/herb_detail52.php

Basil - Basil has many of the same benefits as Rosemary.  Do not use during pregnancy.

Benefits: http://www.livestrong.com/article/198886-basil-in-aromatherapy/

Orange - Sweet orange helps calm and relax one.  It is a sedative, and is also know for its ability to lower high blood pressure.  It can aid in bronchitis, asthma, muscle cramps, anxiety attacks, congestion, and insomnia. 

Benefits: http://www.essential-oil-recipes.com/orange.html

Lemongrass - Ivory soap has a lemongrass base.  It is an astringent, antiperspirant, and an antiseptic.  Caution - it is quite strong - a little goes a long way and can be an irritant to skin.  It has been used for respiratory infections.  Lemongrass is great for slightly oily skin and is a great boost for mental well being.

Benefits: http://aromatherapy.savvy-cafe.com/the-benefits-of-lemongrass-essential-oil-properties-2007-10-01/

Jasmine - There are many nuances to jasmine that I love.  My favorite is a night blooming jasmine... just thinking of the smell relaxes me.  Jasmine is well known for its relaxing capabilities as well as it's ability to take the edge off migraines.  It also is known to relieve muscle cramps, depression, and anxiety.  It has been used to relieve impotency and frigidity in both men and women. 

Benefits: http://www.essential-oil-recipes.com/jasmine.html

Rose - Rose water has many benefits - not only the scent but the oil itself.  It is an anti-depressant, aphrodisiac, astringent among others.  It also helps lower fevers, reduces scarring, purifies the blood, aids in regulating menses.  The list goes on and on. 

Benefits: http://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/essential-oils/health-benefits-of-rose-essential-oil.html

Vanilla - Vanilla is a comforting aroma for both men and women.  It is one of the scents that will aid you in falling and staying asleep faster / longer.  It is an antidepressant - with tranquilizing and sedating properties.  It is known to be an aphrodisiac for men. 

Benefits: http://theresaann.hubpages.com/hub/the-benefits-of-using-vanilla-essential-oil-in-aromatherapy

Of course, I could have missed many, many of your favorites, as I know I haven't touched on a couple of mine... start paying attention to how scents affect you and make a list of the ones you may want to incorporate into your own soaps one day!  Blessings... E

Windowsill Herbs

We tend to eat WAY too much salt. This only increases our probability of dehydration.  Replacing table salt with sea salt helps, but herbs are a wonderful way of helping you reduce your salt intake.  These windowsill herbs - easy to grow inside or out, very fragrant, easy to harvest, easy to dry - should be standard in your daily cooking, menu planning. 

Cilantro - Cilantro is now one of my most favorite herbs.  For most you will either LOVE it, or HATE it.  When I first tasted it, I was one of those that HATED it.  We were in Hawaii, and I was being introduced to Vietnamese food (Yumm!!) and we ordered Cha Gio (tiny spring rolls) and received the full platter of herbs and vegetables.  We also ordered Pho (soup) and this too came with lots of herbs and vegetables.  I kept tasting this one STRONG flavor that I was unfamiliar with and started picking at the herbs until I found what it was that I kept tasting - Cilantro.  We find Cilantro in lots of things - but it isn't as strong, if it isn't fresh.  Salsa, Mexican foods, Thai, Vietnamese, etc.... It is a very versatile herb and once your palate is used to its strong flavor, you too may learn to love it in many things.  I season my quesadillas and salads with lots of cilantro.  As a medicinal, it helps to remove heavy metals and toxins from the body. It is an anti-inflammatory antiseptic, and an antifungal.  The oils in Cilantro are beneficial to our digestive tract, aids in normalizing hormone levels, balances sugar levels, among others.

Recommended reading: http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/cilantro.html

Oregano - Most of us are familiar with Oregano - heavily used in cooking Italian food.  Oregano has a wonderful aroma and can be grown indoors or out.  There are many varieties, you may find more to your liking than others.  Oregano is an antiviral, antibacterial, and antiparacitic.  Like Cilantro, it is very high in antioxidants - strengthening the immune system.  The oil in Oregano also helps to strengthen and increase flexibility of muscles and joints.  Fresh Oregano, like most of your green leafy vegetables / herbs are high in vitamins and minerals.  Aids in digestion, stimulates menstrual flow, relieves muscle spasms when given as an infusion, may slow aging, and reduces cancer risk.

Recommended reading: http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=73

Basil - Did you know there are MANY different types of Basil?  And all of them have a very different taste?  Thai Basil - spicy, Sweet Basil - obviously sweet, Lemon Basil - lemony, etc.... Basil is another "windowsill" herb.   Many people grow it in their kitchens as it is frequently used in many dishes and is easy to grow.  Basil has powerful flavonoids to help protect cell structure and growth - meaning it is a natural cancer fighter.  it is an anti-inflammatory and an antibacterial.  It has been shown to fight ecoli and staph infections successfully.  It also fights heart disease, and helps to normalize cholesterol levels.  Play around with the different types of Basil in your dishes for a variety of flavors. 

Recommended reading: http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=85

Dill - While not quite a windowsill herb... it is very fragrant and easy to grow.  Dill is another of my favorites... I regularly get a mix of herbs and leaf lettuces and mix for a salad rather than traditional head lettuce.  The more you mix your colors and types, the better flavor and better nutrition you gain from your salads.  Dill has been long known for its digestive calming.  The flavonoids in Dill also are cancer fighters.  Dill also aids in normalizing menses and fights insomnia.  It is a relaxant, antispasmodic, and a diuretic. 

Recommended reading: http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=71

This is just a short list.. the point I am trying to make is that your fresh herbs are very, very beneficial to day to day health and if you grow your own - fairly inexpensive.  Keeping them in pots in your house will give your home a warm fragrant scent, and will provide you with lasting health!  E

Stressing over Anxiety...

I got a question about anxiety from my cousin last week.  I know several people - adults, teens, and adolescents that suffer from anxiety.  To a certain extent we all do - new situations, having to confess something we are guilty of doing, leaving behind an old life, etc.  And like a lot of things, different people call the same thing different names - anxiety, stress, depression, worry, fear... we are going to talk about real anxiety - the type that can cause phobias, panic attacks, and potentially some life threatening issues.

About 4m people suffer from the most common type of Anxiety - GAD (Generalized Anxiety Disorder) in any given year and more women are typically affected than men.  There isn't any one thing that causes anxiety most agree that genetics, brain chemistry, and life experiences all play a part.  While we can't change anything with genetics - we can make the most of our life experiences (mental attitude) and brain chemistry (diet/exercise).

You will find several things repeated in my blog over and over again.  The three premises of natural medicine are mental well being, diet, and exercise.  As you see, this is a prefect example of this.  Every facet of our lives contain all three of these aspects.  If one is out of whack, you are not well.  Make sense? 

Mental attitude.  Did you know that a positive attitude releases dopamine, tryptophan, and serotonin in the brain - these are "happy" chemicals.  A negative attitude breaks down cells and changes the body chemistry into a more acidic rather than alkaline - which is what you need it to be.  We have all heard that positive people live longer than negative ones.  Music can help with attitude too - too often we don't realize how much music affects us.  Next time you have some quiet, private time (I know - I am dreaming) listen to different types of music and pay attention to your reaction to it... how does it make you feel, what thoughts does it provoke, what colors do you think of, what do you smell... Scent also plays a huge part in a positive attitude.  My favorite scent is cinnamon, it makes me happy.  When I need a quick pick me up - I light some cinnamon candles and relax... it never fails to bring a smile to my face.  My favorite saying to my kids is, "What will be, will be" or "it is what it is."  When a stressful situation arises that I can't change, I repeat that to remind myself that there are things in life that I can't change, and that I have to let go.  It works.  Most people with anxiety disorders allow their every day stresses to manifest into larger issues.  Learning to let go, is very important.  When we get to exercise, we will have some additional help with "letting go."

Diet.  Let's start with the things NOT to eat - Caffeine, chocolate, sodas, processed foods, fried foods, junk food, and dairy.  These are pretty standard for everyone, not just those affected by anxiety - but they WILL exacerbate the situation more radically than for other people.  Everything is building blocks - so don't feel that you must remove all of these things on day one.  So... what should you be eating.  Foods rich in Vitamin B - Tuna, Salmon, Snapper, Scallops, Mushrooms, Sunflower Seeds, Black Beans and other legumes, Spinach and other dark green leafy vegetables, Bananas, Edamame, and Nuts,  And then our herbs - fresh Basil, Passion Flower, St. John's Wort, Ginkgo Biloba, Meadow Sweet, and Kava Kava.  Now, with herbs - if you are unfamiliar with the herb and how much to take, I urge you STRONGLY to get a book about herbs and understand potential allergies, interactions, etc... like pharmaceutical drugs, some herbs can be dangerous in large doses or when mixed with other herbs and drugs.  In addition, you will need to try them out and see what works best for you.

Exercise.  I am addicted to exercise.  As a child, I hated gym class and exercise in general.  My whole world changed when we moved to Hawaii and I was able to exercise every day.  We hiked, biked, bladed, swam and walked every day.  And then when I started studying martial arts... I couldn't believe how addicted I was.  I never realized that exercise was a natural high for me.  The more I did, the happier and healthier I was.  For people suffering from anxiety, you may just need some quiet time and not the full intense workouts that I am used to doing.  Yoga techniques.  Deep breathing techniques. Tai Chi.  These are FABULOUS helps for both stress and anxiety.  You need to really start changing your mental attitude - replace the "I can't" with "Let's see what we can do" and "I think I can."

I KNOW you can make a change... think positively!