June’s Essential Oil of the Month…The Chamomiles!

Botanical Name: Matricaria recutita (German chamomile) & Anthemis nobilis (Roman chamomile)

Source: Flowers

Overview:

German and Roman chamomile come from two different plants.  The properties of these essential oils are somewhat similar however their chemical make- up are very different.  Both German and Roman chamomile are somewhat similar in odor,  herbaceous and sweet.  German and Roman chamomile have been used medicinally since ancient times.  Roman chamomile was used up until World War II as a disinfectant and antiseptic in hospitals and surgeries.   The chamomiles are some of the gentlest essential oils.

Uses & Facts:

• Roman chamomile essential oil is used in Your Body Needs… Hydrating Hand and Foot Cream and in our Better Baby Oil.
• German chamomile is used in our Lavender & Chamomile Aromatherapy blend for massage.
• The chamomiles are gentle and soothing essential oils, use with infants and children.
• Dried chamomile can be used to make a soothing tea, pick yours up today at Your Body Needs…!
• German chamomile essential oil is blue in color and has a slightly stronger odor than the Roman variety.  The blue color, known as chamazulene, occurs naturally during the steam distillation process.
• German chamomile is a strong anti-inflammatory.
• German chamomile is useful in skin care.  It helps with eczema, dry skin, itchy skin, burns, diaper rash, use on healing tattoos.
• German chamomile is also useful in a massage blend to help relieve aches and pains.
• Roman chamomile is soothing to the skin.
• Use Roman chamomile to calm the nervous system, has found to help ease anxiety, stress and insomnia.

Recipes:

 After Sun Soother

4 drops German Chamomile essential oil

5 drops Lavender essential oil

1 drop Peppermint essential oil

Combine the essential oils with one ounce of Sweet Almond Oil.  Massage into skin for relief.

Breathe Better Diffuser Blend

4 drops German Chamomile essential oil

3 drops Eucalyptus essential oil

5 drops Frankincense essential oil

Add essential oils to a tea light diffuser or nebulizer.

Stress Ease Diffuser Blend

4 drops Roman Chamomile essential oil

4 drops Orange essential oil

4 drops Lavender essential oil

Add essential oils to a tea light diffuser or nebulizer.

 

 

Come on in and shop our studio or on-line! For the month of June receive 10% off your German and Roman Chamomile Pure Essential Oil purchase!

As always, check out our website at www.YourBodyNeeds.com for more information and recipes!

Essential Oils for Travel

Memorial Day weekend is around the corner and before you know it, summer will be here.  The travel season is fast approaching   Before you pack your bags and head out the door make sure you have essential oils on hand for your travels.  Weather you are traveling by car, plane, train or boat  essential oils will come in handy for you and your family.

The Essential Oil Travel Kit

Pick and choose what you need from this list.  You may want to take them all or just a few, decide what works best for your needs.

• Peppermint: cooling, headaches, motion sickness, keeps you a
  lert
• Ginger: motion sickness
• Lavender: sunburn, burns, calming, bug repellent, a good all-purpose essential oil
• Lemon: disinfecting, purifying, uplifting
• Lemongrass: bug repellent
• Eucalyptus: cooling, respiratory issues
• Tea Tree: disinfecting
• Chamomile, Roman: calming, soothing
• Grapefruit: uplifting, energizing, cheerful
• Thyme: comforting, helps the immune system

Travel:

Motion sickness

• Ginger and Peppermint essential oils.  
• Inhale peppermint or ginger essential oil.
• Ginger essential oil can also be diluted in a small amount of carrier oil and massaged over the abdomen for relief-  to a teaspoon of grapeseed oil add 3 drops of ginger essential oil.
• Use a car diffuser with one drop of lavender, eucalyptus and peppermint essential oils to stay cool, calm and alert.  

Flying

• Calm the children by massaging Your Body Needs… Better Baby Oil into the legs and feet of your little ones.  Our Better Baby Oil is blended with calming essential oils of lavender, mandarin and Roman chamomile - this will come in handy other times during your vacation too!
• To get some shut-eye on a flight have a blend of lavender and Roman chamomile made in a carrier oil.  Massage this blend over your shoulders, neck and chest.  Be sure to breathe it in from your hands too.

Blend one ounce of grapeseed oil with 7 drops of lavender essential oil and 3 drops of Roman chamomile essential oil.

Jet lag

• Avoid wasting precious vacation time trying to get your sleep/wake schedule back on track.
• Use essential oils of peppermint, eucalyptus and grapefruit in the in morning.  Use these either by placing a drop of each oil on a tissue, in a morning bath or massage onto neck, chest and shoulders.  These oils will help to keep you awake and energized.
• In the evening get sleep with lavender and Roman chamomile.  Use  this combination in the bath if you can.  You may also want to create a spritzer blend to spray in the room and on your linens too.
• For best results keep using these essential oil combinations for the first 2-3 days while your body adjusts.

For energy, blend 2 drops of peppermint, 5 drops of grapefruit and 4 drops of eucalyptus essential oils into one ounce of grapeseed oil.

In the Hotel Room

• Room sprays are a must, make it feel like a home away from home!
• Use tea tree and lavender essential oil to disinfect surfaces.  It’s a good idea to spray this combination on the bed linens too.

Other Uses and Tips

• Place a few drops of tea tree essential oil on a couple of cosmetic pads and place in your suitcase for freshness.
• Be sure to pack tissues and or cosmetic pads, these make the best portable aromatherapy diffusers!
• Small spray bottles with water come in handy for making room sprays, disinfectant sprays and aromatic spritzers for the face and skin.

Enjoy your travels wherever they may be. Your essential oils are essential,  don’t leave home without them!  Safe travels everyone.

Mother’s Day Special!!

Receive a gift certificate for a 50 minute aroma massage AND a 4 ounce luxurious Hydrating Hand and Foot Cream from Your Body Needs…

Only for $109!

LIMIT OF 3 PER PERSON

Offer expires Saturday May 11th.

Purchase online or stop by the studio!

Office Hours: Mon- Sat 10am-5pm

May’s Essential Oil of the Month…Clary Sage!

Botanical Name: Salvia sclarea Source: flowering tops and leaves Overview:  The aroma of clary sage essential oil can be described as earthy and herbaceous.  Clary sage is an excellent essential oil for the nervous system, it truly does induce a calming effect and is useful during times of stress, depression, anxiety and insomnia. While clary sage essential oil is known to be calming to the nervous system, other systems of the body benefit too.  Clary sage essential oil is helpful to the female reproductive system in all stages.  It can be used to help reduce menstrual cramps, when combined with geranium essential oil provides menopausal relief and it can also be used during childbirth (consult with your physician and an aromatherapist before using any essential during pregnancy or childbirth).  

• Clary sage essential oil is also effective for those suffering from asthma; inhaling this essential oil can provide relief to spasms of the bronchial tubes and open up the lungs for better breathing.

It has also been said that clary sage essential oil helps to overcome creative blocks, diffuse while working on a paper, speech or anything else where you need your creativity to soar!
A word of caution, do not combine the use of clary sage essential oil with alcohol as this essential oil can induce a narcotic effect. Don’t miss out on stocking up on clary sage essential oil this month!  And be sure to book your massage and try our blend of the month, “Clarity” featuring essential oils of clary sage, lavender, lemon and juniper berry.

Facts:

• Clary Sage is one of the essential oils in our Essential Oil Starter Kit.
• Used in YBN’s Total Calm candle and massage blend.
• Be sure to experience Clary Sage in our Massage Blend of the Month, “Clarity”.
• One of three essential oils in our Breathe Deep Essential Oils for Yoga kit.
• Clary Sage essential oil is calming to the nervous system; excellent for insomnia, depression and anxiety.
• Clary Sage essential oil is beneficial to the respiratory system and the female reproductive system.

Recipes:

Creativity Blend Use this blend when you have to work on a project, write a paper or anything else where you need to tap into your creative potential!

Clary sage essential oil- 3 drops

Black Pepper essential oil- 5 drops

Grapefruit essential oil- 4 drops

Add essential oils to a tea light diffuser or nebulizer and create away.

So You Can Sleep Blend

Clary sage essential oil- 3 drops

Neroli essential oil- 5 drops

Roman Chamomile essential oil- 3 drops

Add essential oils to an electric diffuser (nebulizer) to use at bed time and during sleep.  Sweet dreams!

Menstrual Cramp Relief Blend

Clary Sage essential oil- 5 drops

Rosemary essential oil- 4 drops

Roman Chamomile essential oil- 5 drops

Add the above essential oils to 1 ounce of grapeseed carrier oil and massage over abdomen 2-3 times a day as needed for pain relief.  

Come on in and shop our studio or on-line! For the month of May receive 10% off your Clary Sage Pure Essential Oil purchase! As always, check out our website at www.YourBodyNeeds.com for more information and recipes!

Meditation Date Change!

Please note, the date has changed for May’s Guided Aromatherapy Meditation!!

The meditation was originally scheduled for Wednesday May 15th and has been changed to Wednesday May 8th.  Please mark your calendars.

To register for our meditation class call the office at 443-292-4395, space is limited.

Got Allergies? Try Essential Oils for Relief.

These past few weeks we have seen a lot of clients at the studio suffering from seasonal allergies.  With that in mind we decided to pull this blog from our archives to help you out!  May you seek relief soon.

Using essential oils is a great way to help bring some relief to allergy suffering.  If you have been a sneezy, itchy, watery eye mess this season you are not alone.  Let’s take a look at which essential oils will help bring some relief and how to use them.

Itchy watery eyes soother

Use a compress.  Place a small amount of cool water in a bowl (about 1/4 cup) add to it 2 drops of Roman Chamomile (anti-inflammatory) and 3 drops of Lavender (anti-inflammatory).  Soak a washcloth in the water and wring out.  Place over eyes (5-10 minutes) for soothing relief.

Runny nose, sneezing relief

Use essential oils for decongesting: Cedarwood, Eucalyptus, Peppermint, and Rosemary.

Inhaling any one of these essential oils directly from the bottle can provide quick and easy relief.  You can also put a few drops of the oils on a tissue to take with you.

Hay Fever Diffuser Blend

Cedarwood: 5 drops

Eucalyptus: 3 drops

Peppermint: 2 drops

Rosemary: 3 drops

Place the above essential oils into a tea light diffuser or nebulizer.  Breathe in the aroma to find comfort and relief.  For best results diffuse for at least two-hour intervals.

*Use this blend in an electric diffuser at bedtime.  Omit the Peppermint essential oil (too stimulating for sleep) and add a total of 7 drops of Cedarwood essential oil in its place.

Steam inhalations are a great way to clear up nasal passages if you are congested or experiencing sinus congestion and pain .  A great blend is 1 drop of Peppermint and 2 drops of Eucalyptus in a bowl then add to it about a cup of boiling water.  Breathe in the steam; keep eyes closed when doing this as Peppermint can irritate the eyes.

Asthma and lung congestion

Cedarwood, Frankincense, Eucalyptus, Peppermint, Rosemary and Sandalwood.  These oils help to open and soothe the lungs and expand breathing.

Breathing Expansion Diffuser Blend:

Frankincense: 4 drops

Cedarwood: 3 drops

Sandalwood: 4 drops

Rosemary: 2 drops

Place the above essential oils into a tea light diffuser or nebulizer.  Breathe in the aroma to find comfort and relief.  For best results diffuse at two-hour intervals.

*Use at bedtime with and electric diffuser for relief while you sleep.

Stay Healthy Tips

In addition to using essential oils make sure you are drinking water to keep your body hydrated.  Also ensure you are getting adequate amounts of sleep.  Allergies can take a toll on our immune systems so rest is important.  Because our immune system is working hard Thyme is another essential oil to keep handy as it provides support to our immune system.

Try using a tea light diffuser  or electric diffuser in your bathroom during your morning shower routine using one of the above blends or with Thyme essential oil.  The steam of the shower and the diffusion of the essential oils help to clear nasal passages and open your lungs.  Be sure to place the tea light diffuser in a safe place so nothing comes in contact with the candle flame.

Here’s to finding some allergy relief this season!  Take care everyone.

…And one last quick tip…place one to two drops of Eucalyptus essential oil on your shower floor right in front of where you are standing.  The aroma will envelope you and open your respiratory system!

YBN News Flash!

DISCOUNTED MASSAGES

Here’s the scoop:

Don’t miss out on our aroma massage package series, this offer only comes around a couple of times in the year.  For a limited time you can purchase your massage series and keep up with those regular sessions.  Remember, massage is good for you!

Buy five or more (50 minute with aroma) $100 massages for $90 each.

OR

Buy five or more (75 minute with aroma) $125 massages for $115 each.

When to purchase: 

Begins Wednesday April 10th – ends Thursday April 18th at 5 pm.

Ways to purchase:

1.  Come into the studio during office hours Monday-Saturday 10 am-5 pm.

2.  On line at YourBodyNeeds.com

3.  Call (443-292-4395) during office hours to order over the phone.

Conditions:
1) Must be purchased during the offered dates.
2) No refunds or exchanges.
3) You will receive one card per package – not multiples

NEW CLASS!

Aroma Yoga- Enhance Your Experience, our latest class, was introduced early this spring.  Each week features a different theme where the poses and essential oil blends work hand in hand with the other.  This yoga class truly does enhance your experience and is for all levels; come see for yourself.  Classes are held every Monday at 5:30 pm with talented yoga instructor Kim Murphy.

 Classes include:

“Breathe Deep”, “Happiness in a Pose”, “Still the Mind”, “Stretch, Flow, Focus”, “From Energy to Ahh…” and “Wring it Out”.

If you haven’t attended yet what are you waiting for?

Please call the office to register for Aroma Yoga at 443-292-4395  (space is limited).

Cost: $28 each OR $150 for a package of six classes

*Please bring your own yoga mat to class.

April’s Essential Oil of the Month…Geranium!

Botanical Name: Pelagonium graveolens

Source: leaves and stems

Overview:

Geranium essential oil has an up-lifting  fresh and floral aroma; welcome spring with this lovely essential oil!  Geraniums are a popular plant, that come in a variety of colors; in fact, there are over 250 different species of this plant.  Geraniums originated in South Africa and were introduced in Europe during the 17th century.  An interesting fact about geranium plants is their beautiful aroma comes from the leaves not the flower!

Geranium essential oil is extremely balancing to the body this includes hormones, skin and the nervous system.  Because geranium essential oil is a hormone balancer it is useful for relief of PMS and menopause.  In skin care, geranium is an excellent choice as it balances sebum (oil) production therefore  helpful for those with dry skin, oily skin or combination skin types.  On an emotional level geranium essential oil is both calming and uplifting.  Geranium essential oil can be used in massage, bath, a compress, skin care, diffused or through direct inhalation.

Don’t forget to book your massage  this month and try geranium essential oil in our blend of the month, “April Blossoms“.  This month we bring you a delightful happy blend of Geranium, Lavender, Ylang Ylang, and Jasmine essential oils.

Uses & Facts:

• Geranium essential oil is one of the nine essential oils in our Essential Oil Starter Kit.
• Geranium & Orange is one of the Aromatherapy Blends Your Body Needs… offers for massage treatments.
• Geranium essential oil is balancing; whether you need it for skin care or for emotions.
• It is a hemostatic which means it helps stop bleeding. Keep geranium essential oil on hand for first aid.
• Geranium essential oil has a cheerful and up-lifting aroma.
• The aroma of the geranium plant is found in the leaves, not the flowers.

Recipes:

Spring Clean Window Cleaner

8 ounces distilled water

8 ounces white distilled vinegar

20 drops geranium essential oil

16 ounce spray bottle

Add all ingredients to a spray bottle.  Shake before each use.

Use this to clean windows, mirrors and other surfaces that are dusty and grimy.

Happy Spring Cleaning!  Learn more about how to clean your home with essential oils and other products in the Clean Your Home Naturally workshop.

Cleansing Spring Bath Salt Blend

1 cup sea salt

1/4 cup baking soda

1/2 cup rose petals (available for purchase in our studio!)

10 drops orange essential oil

5 drops geranium essential oil

Combine sea salt, baking soda and rose petals in a bowl, stir well.  Gradually add the essential oils being sure to stir well after every few drops.

Store your bath salt in a sealed jar.  Use in bath by either adding a few generous scoops to your water or place the amount you are using in a muslin bag so the petals do not clog your drain.  Soak and enjoy!

Come on in and shop our studio or on-line! For the month of March receive 10% off your Geranium Pure Essential Oil purchase!

As always, check out our website at www.YourBodyNeeds.com for more information and recipes!

Aromatherapy for a Good Night’s Sleep

We have all been there.  Long nights  laying there with thoughts zooming around in your head, your mind won’t stop, the to-do list just keeps going and going with endless thoughts churning like an ocean during a storm.  You simply cannot sleep and time keeps ticking by leaving you awake while the world is at rest.  A sleepless night is miserable to say the least.

In order to function and perform daily tasks we need good quality sleep.  We spend an average of one-third of our lives asleep.  Sleep is necessary in order to recharge our minds and our bodies.  According to Harvard Medical School the average American adult gets 6.9 hours of sleep on a weeknight and 7.5 hours of sleep on  weekends and about 70 million of us sleep poorly and for more than half of Americans poor sleep is a long-term problem.  Sleep helps with memory function, attention and awareness to our surroundings, reduces stress, makes us less prone to accidents, increases  our creativity and more.  If you are not getting adequate sleep or if you want to enhance your sleep, the use of essential oils can truly help.

How Aromatherapy Can Help

Diffusing certain essential oils in your bedroom can help you get the restful sleep you need.  Essential oils will not cure insomnia or the cause of it however, using essential oils with therapeutic properties for calming the nervous system can help to promote a good night nights sleep.  Many of us are familiar with tea light diffusers however nebulizers (electronic diffusers) are perfect to use while you sleep; there is no candle and they turn off automatically.  You can fall into a slumber and not worry about a thing!

Here’s a list of essential oils to use for a restful nights sleep:

Chamomile, Roman- Helps to promote calm and restful sleep.

Clary Sage- Balancing to the mind, calming.

Frankincense- Helps to reduce anxiety and stress.  Also

helps with the respiratory system.

Lavender- Calming.  Helps to reduce mental stress and anxiety.  Very helpful for insomnia.

Neroli- Has sedative properties, soothing.  Useful in times of insomnia.

Orange-  Calms the nervous system.

Rose- A sedative for the nerves.  Helps to alleviate irritability and insomnia.

Sandalwood- Helps to relax the nervous system.  Useful for insomnia.

Aroma Blends for a Good Nights Sleep

Here’s a few sleep inducing blends to get you started.  These blends are based on using a nebulizer- in each case add distilled water to your nebulizer along with the essential oils.

• 5 drops Neroli essential oil, 3 drops Orange essential oil and 4 drops of Lavender essential oil
• 3 drops Clary Sage essential oil, 4 drops Frankincense essential oil, 5 drops Sandalwood essential oil
• 3 drops Roman Chamomile essential oil, 6 drops Sandalwood essential oil, 4 drops Rose essential oil

Tips for a Good Night’s Sleep

• Place an aromatic blend in your nebulizer about 15-20 minutes before turning in; the aroma will fill your room before you get there making it a sanctuary for sleep.
• Take an aromatic bath using essential oils listed above.  Use no more than 6-10 drops total in your bath.
• Avoid caffeinated beverages after noon.
• Avoid rigorous exercise at least 3 hours before bedtime.
• Avoid falling asleep with the television on, better yet, remove the television from your bedroom completely.
• A few minutes of meditation can help and gentle yoga stretches can also help you relax after a busy day.

Take time to wind down before bed so your body has time to switch gears from the activity of the day.  Perhaps spend some time reading or writing out your to-do list for tomorrow.  Find a routine that works for you.  You may find that you look forward to bedtime with the use of a nebulizer and essential oils and wonder how you lived without it!  Combining the use of aromatherapy with an evening routine to wind down is a healthy habit in which you will be rewarded with shut-eye, a well rested body and mind to take on the day!  Good night and sleep well everyone!

 

Aroma Yoga- Enhance Your Experience

Your Body Needs… is excited to announce our newest class, Aroma Yoga!  Aroma Yoga will be starting Monday March 18th at 5:30 and will be held every Monday thereafter.

Description:

Your yoga experience is about to get better.  We have crafted yoga practice to complement the therapeutic benefits of pure essential oils. If it is your first or 100th yoga class, the use of these precious oils will  enhance your experience.

Classes include: 

• Breathe Deep- Focus on combining  breathing techniques and  yoga poses to open and expand all the muscles that help us to do what the body does naturally, breathe.
• Happiness in A Pose- Yoga poses and postures to lift the spirits; you will leave feeling uplifted.
• Still the Mind- Explore poses to change your focus and clear your mind.
• Stretch, Flow, Focus- A great class designed to stretch out and move your body.
• From Energy to Ahh…- Explore postures and challenge yourself.  This is a class where postures are held a bit longer taking you to your edge then followed by a well-earned release!
• Wring it Out- Experience a series of twists to wring it all out!

Experience Aroma Yoga at Your Body Needs… with true aromatherapy, you won’t want to miss out on this fantastic class!

Cost:

$28 for an individual class or $150 for a package of six classes.

Registration:

To register call the office (443-292-4395) or come in to the studio during business hours (Monday-Saturday 10 AM-5 PM).  Please make sure to register, space is limited for each class.