Goldenrod, often considered a roadside weed, offers many healing properties. It is a familiar face in North America’s late-summer landscape and one of the continent’s humble yet potent aromatic plants.
If Goldenrod is an aromatic plant, does that mean it creates essential oil? Absolutely! Continue reading for plant highlights, key therapeutics and personality of Goldenrod essential oil and aromatherapy blending ideas.
Butter Bar vs. Lotion Bar? Do you find it ironic how “lotion bars” have nothing to do with lotion? By definition, “lotion” contains an aqueous component. Lotion bars are, rather, more like harder salves that incorporate butters (e.g., cocoa, mango, shea) into wax and liquid oils. Definitions matter, because they help everyone get on theContinue reading “Make Your Own Lotion Bars”
Breaking Through the Coconut Oil Barrier I ran out of my last stash of home-made lip balm the other day, which presented an opportunity to make a new batch to share with friends and clients. I wanted a vegan friendly option with shine that doesn’t rely on castor oil or coconut oil. Why? Those oilsContinue reading “Glossy Vegan Lip Balm”
Wild Carrot or Domesticated Carrot? Sometimes classified as a noxious weed by some states in North America, Queen Anne’s Lace has naturalized across fields, disturbed ground and along roadsides since the plant was introduced to North America. Although related to the edible carrot (Daucus carota subsp. sativa), “carota” has a small, inedible, tough and whitishContinue reading “Carrot Seed Essential Oil”
What is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the words “Juniper Berry”? Maybe it’s “gin” or “cleansing” or even something like “wisdom”. This article features Juniperus communis, the most wide-spread conifer of the northern hemisphere whose plethora of berries may instill us with gifts of clarity, patience, wisdom & more. Continue reading for plant highlights, therapeutics and personality of the essential oil and aromatherapy blending ideas.
Linking the Sacred & Profane Have you ever been enthralled by a pine tree? Pine tree, you say? Yes. Those evergreen beings who embody the sacred states of immortality, grace and fortitude. Yet they also give so much of the tangibly profane: wood, resin, essential oil and more. This article (and soon to be associatedContinue reading “Plant Talk: Scots Pine”
The Mystery of Myrrh Of all of the well-known resinous bearing plants in the world Myrrh may be the one known to penetrate mental, physical and emotional cracks. Myrrh and its sought after oleo-gum-resin (aka: gum-resin or resin) bears the signature of oldness, inner wisdom and depth. But what exactly is Myrrh and how mayContinue reading “Myrrh Essential Oil”
You Are Not Your Emotions Emotions seem to be some sort of mystical trickery don’t they? They make the heart race or slow down, change the breath and overall seem to get the best of us. But that is not the case. No, really. The basic needs of our bodies directly impact our AFFECT whichContinue reading “Myth of the Emotional Brain”
Have you ever felt “out of sorts,” like you’re “living in your head,” “ungrounded” or tightly clenching to concepts, ideas or possessions? It may be a sign to start tending to the roots of your private garden, your root chakra. Some ways to support the root chakra is connecting with the Earth, which includes workingContinue reading “Root Chakra Rituals”
Rosemary has been recognized as a powerfully cleansing and regenerative herb for centuries. But Rosemary goes deeper than that by stirring the heart’s soul and more. Spend a few minutes getting to know Rosemary the plant and the essential oil including recipes and an episode of “Plant Talk” where I’m distilling rosemary leaves!
