Bug Bites, Bruises and Helichrysum

I love the summer.  I particularly love sitting outdoors at night and reading.  I find the muggy, humidity reassuring and soothing.  I am though, a nipping post for anything that bites.  Usually, they itch a little and then disappear. This time something vicious got its teeth into me, in a few areas around my ankle.  The bites were weepy and my ankle swelled to double its size, most unattractive.  The glands near the bottom of my foot began to swell and the area was hot and red and very inflammed. So inflammed, I couldn't walk.

I spent hours with my foot elevated.  I sprinkled tea tree and lavender directly on the bites.  I soaked a soft cotton wash cloth in a basin of lavender and tea tree and applied it to my ankle.  It didn't help. I took advil.  I used over the counter anti-itch cream and and calamine lotion.  My ankle continued to swell, became more and more tender to the touch, and the skin surrounding the bites became hotter and redder.  Finally, I remembered Helichrysum, which I know, is excellent for bruising and inflammation.  It is an expensive oil running about $15 a ml. In my refidgerator I keep a selection of hydrosols - the water steamed from the flowers, herbs and plants during the distillation process of essential oils.  Hydrosols contain about 0.5% of essential oils. 

I sprayed the the icy helichrysum hydrosol on my ankle and immediately the bites began to cool down. Within minutes, I felt complete relief from pain, and it lasted several hours.  So how does this work? 

Helichrysum chemical structure sets it apart from other essential oils. It contains di-ketones which is excellent for fading brusies and regenerating the skin.  Helichrysum italicum, which is a herb also known as everlasting or immortelle has a strong analgesic effect due to its high content of sesquiterpenes and esters.

A woman in her mid 30's consulted me about her hormonal acne which was leaving bluish, greenish bruises on her jaw line.  I blended helichrysum withaloe vera and these bruises disappeared. 

Helichrysum is more anti-inflammatory than chamomile and is probably the most effective skin rejuvenator.  Here is how you can incorporate helichrysum into your life:

Skincare:  Wounds, antiaging, rejuvenation, bruising, under eye circles.
Emotions;  Used to unblock emotions. High content of esters relax the nervous system.
Spirtiual: Helichrysum connects the body with spirit.
Detoxifying:  In a 1:1 ratio add helichrysum to a carrier oil such as jojoba and blend on the reflex points of the feet that correspond to the liver.

They hydrosol has a unique aroma which can only be described as toasted coffee.  It i s quite pleasant and relaxing.  Do not use helichrysum if you are pregnant or nursing or under 12 years old.

Recovering from Casey Anthony

Casey Anthony was acquited.  Many people gasped in astonished horror.  The jury said there was not enough evidence to convict her.  Some people believe Anthony got away with murder.  Some people view this as the triumph of evil and blights their hope for a better world.

The opposite of evil is good.  Pleasure is good. Essential oils can help restore pleasure to life, especially in the face of depression and loss of hope. Of course essential oils cannot rectify people who are cruel and destructive, however they can help you feel good and massage the areas of the brain that feel hope.  Any oil that you find pleasing will help, but I truly recommend neroli.  Neroli is the oil of orange blossoms, the flowers that were carried in a bride's bouquet in Italy.  It is gentle yet sweet.  It calms heartache, disappointment and relieves insomnia.

Just one inhalation of this oil will remind you of the beauty in this world. Other benefits include reduction of stretch marks, acne, broken capillaries soothing of dry and mature skin.  I

Neroli is a very expensive oil, so use it with care.  It can also be diluted in jojoba to extend its quantities.
If you find yourself feeling down, and broken hearted over the state of the world, or something you just don't think is right or fair, break out the neroli, and put a drop or two in a small amount of jojoba. Dab on your temples and close your eyes and think of the gorgeous gardens of Italy.

Ten Seconds to Younger Looking Skin. Added Bonus This Oil Has a Great Aroma

Yes, ten seconds is all it takes to get on your way to younger, smoother skin for spring.  This miracle essential oil is palmarosa. Its a fragrant straw colored grass with a sweet aroma spiked with notes of rose. 

Gentle and excellent for all skin types, palmarosa is used in formulations designed to address mature and aging skin.  As a skin rejuvenator it smooths wrinkles, and works on red capillaries that "decorate" the areas around the nose and somtimes can be found on the skin. It also is recommended for adult acne, especially for sensitive skin. 

At OmStone Aromas we specialize in creating high quality, customized products with essential oils to work with your specific skintype.  A lovely therapuetic blend to consider would be palmarosa and frankincese.  Visit us at http://www.omstonearomas.com/ and see how lovely skincare can be.

Threes Secrets to Younger Looking Skin with Three Secret Essential Oils

Skin ages.  It blotches, it browns, it scabs, it reddens.  Lots of things happen to skin over the years.   We wear our hearts on our sleeves and our years on our face. 

There are three secrets to keeping your skin younger looking longer.  They don't involve alot of money or time or sophisticated equipment. 

Secret number 1:  Don't smoke.  If you do quit.  Right now. Get a patch, get hypnotized get anything that will help you. Try inhaling an essential oil - esspecially bergamot to help contain the compulsion to smoke.  Add a bit of chamomile to resist the urge to smoke and cypress to stregnthen your purpose.  Smoking does awful things to the skin.  Smoker's lips develop little fine lines, and lipstick gets caught in them.  Dehydrates the skin.  It deepens the dreaded marionette lines around the mouth.  


Damage control: If you continue to smoke don't bother doing anything to correct or repair your skin as smoking
can either hinder healing or shorten the length of time temporary correction can last. Once you have given up
up your cigarettes you might think about Botox, dermal fillers or peptide products. Deep chemical peels and
mild chemical peels can brighten fatigued looking skin and exfoliate dead skin cells.
Secret number 2:  The sun.  The sun can cause photoaging and unattractive brown spots on your hands and face.  Use sunscreen every day, even when it is overcast and don't forget your hands.

Damage control: Of course, sun screen to prevent further aging. Mild chemical peels combined with microderm
abrasion conducted in a series gets nice results. There are natural fading lotions and of course hydroquinone
which is somewhat controversial -- and available without a perscription up to 2%. It is not recommended for more
than a few weeks use. Hydrorejuvenation, again a series is recommended to help rejuvenate the skin and at home
care can help refresh and brighten your face.
Secret number 3:  Facials and professional exfoliation on  regular basis and orchid extract.  Add 7 drops of orchid oil, 2 drops rose geranium and 6 drops of frankincense to unscented organic or natural hydrating cream and use day and night prior to your sunscreen.  Frankincense and rose are great oils to use to hydrate and restore and youthful glow to the skin.

Check out our new UrbanOm Collection.

A Hot Cocktail for a Cold Night-Mix These Oils with This Beat and you Won't Be Chilly for Long

Here's  a sure fire antidote better - hotter than a hot toddy to heat up a cold winter night.  Add 2 drops of essential oil of jasmine, 2 drops rose absolute, 1 drop patchouli, 4 drops sandalwood to distilled water. Shake and mist.  Play this clip and wow! Better set the alarm for late next morning.

One Girl's Phyte Against Sagging Skin (Yeah, Essential Oils!)

This girl has been waging a one person battle against sagging skin.  You don't even have to be older to have it... no fair. Sometimes at 20 the skin around the knee begins to sag somewhat.wrecking the eye view between the thigh and the calf.  Thankfully there are leggings that can be worn all year round, which give a glimpse of the shape of the leg if not the skin itself.

There are those who believe that phytodyanmic and botanical products can lift sagging skin on the body and face so it could be worth a try.  Won't happen over night.  On another disappointing note, excerise just can't tighten these little flaws. So what exactly is sagging, when its sagging?

The answer is elastin.  Elastin is a protein which gives skin its elasticity, or its  "bounce back," after being stretched or maniuplated.  It tends to diminish as the body ages.  Sadly there really isn't anything that can reliably restore elastin.  Aromatherapists though believe that oil of primrose can help address or at least slow the deterioration of elastin with evening primrose oil.

Evening primrose oil is express from the seeds of evening primrose and is high in GLA or gamma-linoleic acid which improves cell structure and stregnthens the elasticity of the skin. It also contracts blood vessels. 

A mix of essential oils such as cypress and lemon and blended with evening primrose oil, might be a good combination to try to see if it impedes further elastin loss and rebuilds the skin.  Visit http://www.omstonearomas.com/ to view products and blends.

When They're Hot and You're Not

Its happened us all. This horrible feeling.  You think: They look great, they are poised and polished, or they are professional  or down right sexy.  You feel insecure. Left out. Overlooked and insignificant. Doesn't matter if you are married, single, alone and want to be alone, straight or gay, tall or short, heavy or thin. Although you have tried your best, you still feel you are missing the elusive "it."   

The "it" is the thing that makes people tick around you. The "it" is confidence.   The "it" comes down to how you feel about yourself, not how others feel about you.  People who radiate confidence, happiness and security are the sexiest people alive.  Self-confidence is a gift.  Confident people are secure in their abilities to win jobs, friends and success in life.  Some lucky people are fortunate to be born with it, others need to develop it.  Essential oils can help. 

Whoa, baby , don't laugh! essential oils have been shown to work on the brain.  The tiny molecules of essential oils reach way back into the deepest recesses of our thinking parts- the limbic system through our olefactory system.   So if you are feeling down and out and lack self-esteem, try the following oils:  basil, neroli and some lime to for happiness. If you would like to boost your sex appeal think about jasmine or ylang ylang.  While these oils can impact the mind, they can also react on the skin and need to be blended with carrier oils, waxes or butters.

Seek the guidance of a professional, certified and might we add-insured- aromtherapist.  An aromatherpist can make you just the product to fit your lifestyle.  For those insecure moments on the go an inhaler or roll-on might be just the thing.  Or an Omstone personal inhaler, a charming customized terra cotta stone embraced in copper and worn as a necklace or braclet can deliver the benefits of the aromas all day long.  At night you might soak in the pleasures of essential oils in a bubble or epsome salt bath.  Other options include a room mister, creams and gels.  Get customized, chic aromatherapy products including Omstones for yourself and your home at www.omstonearomas.com 

(This article is not intended to provide medical information.)