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by Patrice Green  During this time of holiday cheer, we sometimes find ourselves very far from our usual food regimens. There’s so much temptation at holiday celebrations that we indulge in ways we’re not used to, with less than stellar results. If you’re feeling a little – or a lot – uncomfortable read on for some helpful hints. There is nothing like fennel essential oil to ease stomach upset. You can add a drop to your carrier oil of choice and gently rub it on your stomach and abdomen for almost instantaneous relief. Its anti-spasmodic properties help ease gas and bloating. There are some people who advocate taking one or two drops internally in a tea. I AM NOT ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE. Ok, I’ll stop shouting, and just gently remind you, dear reader, that essential oils are highly concentrated, powerful herbal allies. I’ve seen fennel oil eat through a heavy plastic cap. We are trying to ease stomach upset, not bore holes. Put a drop or two in a carrier oil. Rub it on the affected parts of your abdomen. Add it to bath salts. NO TEAS! If you want a delightful tea that gives you some stomach relief, try a light ginger-licorice-lemon combination with some meadowsweet. Meadowsweet is a premier herb for stomach upset. Lemon helps soothe and alkalize your system, which may be a bit out of whack from eating a lot of sweets or carbs. Licorice and ginger are both stimulants for the digestive tract, so remember, a little bit of these herbs goes a long way. Gentle is key. If you feel like a soothing bath is in order, try adding some bentonite clay to your bath salts to help detox. A lovely combination is Himalayan pink salt, Epsom salts, dendritic salt, bentonite clay, a few drops of fennel, niaouli and lavender. Naiouli is in the Melaleuca family, like it’s more famous relative Tea Tree, but works more gently. According to the Floracopeia website, Naiouli leaves are valued in the Middle East for making a tea that stimulates healthy bowels. Lavender is soothing and relaxing, to help further ease distress. The Epsom salts help replenish depleted magnesium stores. Take a bath, then take a nap. You’ll wake up refreshed and feeling better. Sip some tea while in the bath for even better results. It’s a wonderful time of year to gather with friends and loved ones to celebrate the season, but it’s also nice to schedule an hour or two of downtime for self-care. As always, thanks for reading. May you and your family enjoy the blessings of the season!  Patrice Green is an Herbal Educator, Certified Aromatherapist, Energy Medicine and Reiki Practitioner and founder of Green Aromatics. She is also the Assistant Director at the Boston School of Herbal Studies. She received her herbal training at the Boston School of Herbal Studies, and shamanic training from Isa Gucciardi, Ph. D. at the Sacred Stream in Berkley, CA. Inspired by time spent among the coastal Redwoods of Muir Woods and its beach, Green Aromatics strives to imbue its products and services with the same resilience, joy and equanimity of these majestic beings. Patrice may be reached through the Green Aromatics website.
 by Patrice Green It’s hard to believe we are once again at the end of the year. It’s a time to go inward, reflect, count our many blessings and set our intentions for 2017. It is also a hectic time as we celebrate the holiday season. I would like to use this month’s blog entry to say thank-you to our readers and our community by sharing a recipe for aromatic bath salts to help you relax and rejuvenate during the hustle and bustle of December’s many festivities. You will need Epsom salts, Bathing Salts (my favorite is Dead Sea Salts), Dendritic Salts or Baking Soda, and approximately 25 drops of essential oil. Epsom salts help tired muscles, soothe the nervous system, reduce swelling and eliminate toxins. Soaking for twenty minutes in an Epsom salts bath will significantly raise one’s magnesium levels, aiding in the absorption of calcium. Dead Sea Salts are a great source of potassium, magnesium and bromide. Potassium and bromide are especially helpful in recovering from intense workouts. Potassium helps improve oxidation as well. Potassium is key to the absorption of nourishment as well as aiding in the elimination of toxins. Bromide also helps gently cleanse and detoxify. Dendritic Salt is a very fine-grained salt whose crystals are shaped like stars. The greater surface area in dendritic salt helps extend the shelf life of your bath salts by helping to retain the fragrance for a longer period of time. Baking Soda soothes the skin while also gently cleaning. It can also help to retain the fragrance, but not as well as Dendritic salt. A safety note when using essential oils: These powerful oils can eat through plastic utensils and will penetrate wood. When working with essential oils, always use glass bowls and metal utensils. Do not get essential oils directly on skin as most can burn unless mixed with a carrier oil. How to make Aromatic Bath Salts: In a GLASS bowl, mix one tablespoon of either Dendritic Salt or Baking soda and one quarter cup of Epsom Salt with 25 drops of essential oil. You can use 25 drops of one essential oil - for instance, Lavender - or a combination of essential oils for a fun blend. Use a metal fork to thoroughly mix the essential oils with the Dendritic salts or baking soda. Either cover the bowl with a towel or put in an airtight jar (a covered mason jar works well) and let sit overnight. This “breathing period” allows the essential oils to fully permeate the salts/baking soda. The next day, mix one-half cup of the Dead Sea Salts with the essential oil/salt mixture. Store in an airtight glass jar. This yields a little over three quarters of a cup of Aromatic Bath Salts. You can use as much as you’d like in your tub or footbath and it generally lasts for several months. I shared this basic recipe in a demo at this year’s Wintergreen Market. Special thanks to those participants who attended that talk as together we came up with a beautiful formula for a relaxing and rejuvenating aromatherapy blend. I offer that blend here, in case anyone would like to use a combination of essential oils rather than just one fragrance. Relaxing/Rejuvenating Bath Salt blend: 8 drops of Lavender essential oil 5 drops of Spearmint essential oil 5 drops of Litsea Cubeba essential oil 7 drops of Tangerine (Mandarin) essential oil Lavender is calming, soothing and balancing. Spearmint is gently uplifting and rejuvenating. Tangerine is excellent for stress and calming to the nervous system. Litsea Cubeba has an uplifting citrus aroma that helps to gently energize and refresh. There are many sources for good quality essential oils. Among my favorites are Aromatherapy International and Floracopeia. As always, thank you for your continued support of Herbstalk and reading the blog. I personally feel quite blessed to be part of this herbal community. Wishing you a blessed holiday season and a healthy and Happy New Year!
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