Thursday, April 28, 2011

Learning About Base OIls & Essential Oils: Lesson in Aromatherapy



Carol Gay Sklenar
12 Oct 06 9:52 PM MST

Take a survey of the saturated and unsaturated fats in your kitchen which could be used as a base oil for Aroma Therapy? Blend one base oil with Lemon or Lavender essential oil and apply to skin. Then repeat with a different base oil. Which do you prefer? As you will study, each base oil has its own purpose.
I thought that this would be a fun experience. I gathered all the saturated and unsaturated fats in my kitchen that I could use as a base for essential oils and took a small sample of each. I added two or three drops of lavender essential oil to the base and applied it to my face. Just for kicks I even took the jar of Hellmann's real Mayonnaise and my Raw Cow butter. I collected a variety of oils that may or may not be a good base in applying essential oil. Each base had a distinct feeling and aroma on my face as a carrier base for the Lavender essential oil I used. My list included; Hazelnut oil, Organic Extra Virgin Coconut oil, Organic Virgin Olive oil, Organic Pumpkin oil, Organic Safflower oil, and Vegetable Glycerine. I started with the Mayonnaise. I took a teaspoon of mayo in a small dish and dropped in three drops of Lavender essential oil. I really didn't think I would like this, but it was actually very refreshing. I could smell the oil real well over the mayo smell. The mayo smell disappeared all together after about ten minutes of it soaking into my skin. The mayo became clear and made my skin feel very soft and refreshed. I thought that it would be a lot heavier feeling but I was wrong. It worked quite nicely as an 'Aroma Mayo Facial'. Next I took the Olive oil, Pumpkin oil, and Safflower oil and Hazelnut oil and mixed an amount of each into a small dish. I dropped three drops of Lavender essential oil in and mixed it up. After applying to my face it felt a bit greasy. I rubbed it in and let it soak. I wiped the excess through my hair and on my neck. The Lavender scent was apparent but not as distinct of a smell. I think the Pumpkin and Olive oil scent contended a bit with the EO. After about ten minutes my face was soft yet still a bit greasy. I did not wash it off but let it soak in before I went to sleep. Next I took the Extra Virgin Coconut oil and softened it over a flame briefly to take of the hard edge. It has been cold the last couple of days in Kansas City and the oil was a bit hard sitting in the cupboard. I dropped two drops of Lavender oil in the base and smoothed it over my face. The Lavender oil was very strong smelling in this base. I could feel the volatiles evaporating before my eyes. It was a lovely smell the two together, Coconut oil and the Lavender, very aromatic and full body scent of the lavender in the milky coconut flavor. I let it set in for ten minutes it was very smooth feeling and my face felt very soft. Next I layered the Raw Cow Butter over the Coconut base. I melted the butter and added a drop of Lavender to a small amount. It was slightly sour smelling because it was raw butter. I didn't smell the Lavender at all and it was a very weird sensation spreading the butter on my face. I think that the coconut layer prior made a bit of a difference in a good way. The two combined together left a very nice silky smooth feeling to my skin. Finally I took the Vegetable Glycerine and added two drops of Lavender oil to it. I didn't know that the veggie glycerine was so sweet. I could taste it in my mouth. It was not easy to spread over my face, but it tasted very sweet and florally with the Lavender oil added. It did smooth over my face, but it was an odd sensation because it was so sweet. I felt as if I was spreading sugar candy all over my face. After about ten to fifteen minutes it soaked in leaving a very tacky feeling on my skin. Out of all the oils I used I think they all can be used as some sort of base in Aroma Therapy, however, I don't think the Vegetable Glycerine could. I am not sure, but I think that it is more of an additive to base oils or products rather than a base in itself. It is just to tacky and sweet, not smooth and definitely not easy to spread or massage into the skin. The glycerin did not feel moisturizing on my skin, it was sticky and sweet. I preferred the Coconut oil and believe it or not the Mayonnaise. I suppose that the Mayo could be likened to a lotion. Both the Mayo and Coconut oil were refreshing and moisturizing especially with the Lavender essential oil added.

Wednesday, April 27, 2011


One thing I look forward to in the Spring time are Dandelions. After a long Winter without fresh wild and home garden grown foods my body is CRAVING these blood purifying greens. When I spy a good looking Dandelion plant I immediately begin to pluck those leaves while I'm drooling on myself. The roots of Dandelions can be dug up and slow dried or roasted then ground into a powder for a coffee substitute. I ,personally, have yet to try this but lots of people do. You can look it up on You Tube sometime. I use a blend of Dandelion root, chicory root, red beet root, barley and rye called 'Dandy Blend' found at http://www.dandyblend.com/ I love this blend it contains over 64 trace minerals and other healing and nutritional qualities. While traveling to work one day with a friend in the morning I shared this wonderful hot drink. He was surprised later to find out that it was NOT coffee and he said that it was even better than coffee. I would agree as I have been drinking it for years and do not even like the taste of coffee anymore. Over the years I have become very fond and appreciative of the Dandelion 'Weed' as some call it. The way I look at it is if they think it is a weak weed and they continue to try to eradicate it why is it so prolific. If I can be as strong as a weed then I'll surely eat them. I think that Dandelions know that I favor them because right now if you were to look at my front lawn it seems to be more Dandelions then grass. Their blooms have gone to seed and in the morning light with the dew ever so lightly set upon them they appear to be an existence of a certain utopia themselves. I have heard that you can make Dandelion Wine from the yellow blossoms and also a Dandelion honey kinda more like a jelly, really. I always feel so clean inside after I eat a Dandelion salad. I love to pick a bunch early in the morning ,while playing ball in the back yard with Max, and stick them in a bowl ready for an early morning salad or lunch. Early in Spring you could pick the leaves before the blossoms come out. The greens are less bitter then. I have gotten used to the more pungent leaves after the blooms by covering them up with the sweetness that comes from the Balsamic Vinegar I use to dress them. I love to chop them up well with maybe some Violet Greens , some Day Lily Greens and some fresh Chard from the Garden. Sometimes I'll throw in some fresh mint or cilantro as well. I'll add some green onion or wild garlic a hard boiled egg, some nutritional yeast (for a Parmesan like feel & taste) and some dried prunes or other dried fruit like raisins or cherries and a few walnuts or raw pumpkin seeds. Dandelion greens are packed with Calcium, Magnesium, Potassium,Vitamin A, Iron, and other minerals. Adding Wild Green Salads to your diet is something that might take some getting used to , but once you do. . there is NO turning back you will rarely go to the grocery store again for your greens. Your body will crave their medicines. Eat them up YUM !