essential oils and insomnia...some thoughts

[Guest guest]

Greetings,

I recall that one of the recent threads regards insomnia. I've suffered

insomnia on and off throughout my life though recently I seem to be getting

quality sleep - perhaps this is due in part to radically cutting back on

coffee some weeks ago. Anyway, I've long had an interest in essential oils

and have had success using such oils as tea tree, lavender and a few others.

But I do not use them very often as I've always felt that they are potent

and what one breathes in or applies to one's skin goes directly into one's

system...that said, lavender is perhaps my favorite because it smells so

good and is multi-purpose - it has certainly helped me (applied 'neat')

recover from several insect and spider bites over the years. Lavender *in

low amounts* is a relaxant...in higher amounts, it is a stimulant. I grow

lavender for the blossoms to make sachets (I do not use any pesticides). I

would love to have a lavender farm - though this is not likely...I would

also love to learn how to extract the essential oils from the blossoms. An

idea for insomnia: put the dried blossoms in a little muslin bag and keep

underneath the pillow - give it a squeeze before retiring to press out the

fragrance. A sachet seems like a gentle way to release and use the essence.

Ann Worwood's book _The Complete Book of Essential Oils and

Aromatherapy_ provides a list of essential oils that can be used for

insomnia: benzoin, clary-sage, vetiver, hops, valerian. In low doses,

lavender, marjoram, Roman chamomile, and nutmeg are useful. (My comment:

benzoin and clary-sage smell wonderful...vetiver and valerian, well, they um

smell really earthy lol - I don't know about hops.) These oils can be used

in combination for a total of 3 drops in a bath or 2 drops in 1 teaspoon for

a body rub.

Another thing that Worwood suggests is the use of either a pink or green

lightbulb in the bedroom to relax. Red and blue lights should be avoided as

they are too stimulating.

I'm sure that there a web search would yield many essential oil suggestions

pertaining to relaxation.

Regards,

Holly

[Guest guest]

Holly Cratty wrote:

> Greetings,

>

> I recall that one of the recent threads regards insomnia. I've suffered

> insomnia on and off throughout my life though recently I seem to be

> getting

> quality sleep - perhaps this is due in part to radically cutting back on

> coffee some weeks ago. Anyway, I've long had an interest in essential

> oils

> and have had success using such oils as tea tree, lavender and a few

> others.

> But I do not use them very often as I've always felt that they are potent

> and what one breathes in or applies to one's skin goes directly into one's

> system...that said, lavender is perhaps my favorite because it smells so

> good and is multi-purpose - it has certainly helped me (applied 'neat')

> recover from several insect and spider bites over the years. Lavender *in

> low amounts* is a relaxant...in higher amounts, it is a stimulant. I grow

> lavender for the blossoms to make sachets (I do not use any

> pesticides). I

> would love to have a lavender farm - though this is not likely...*(and

> why not? You create your own reality. Visualize it and hold that

> visualization, then continue to build on it. It will become a reality

> if you truly wish it to)*I would

> also love to learn how to extract the essential oils from the blossoms. An

> idea for insomnia: put the dried blossoms in a little muslin bag and keep

> underneath the pillow - give it a squeeze before retiring to press out the

> fragrance. A sachet seems like a gentle way to release and use the

> essence.

>

> Ann Worwood's book _The Complete Book of Essential Oils and

> Aromatherapy_ provides a list of essential oils that can be used for

> insomnia: benzoin, clary-sage, vetiver, hops, valerian. In low doses,

> lavender, marjoram, Roman chamomile, and nutmeg are useful. (My comment:

> benzoin and clary-sage smell wonderful...vetiver and valerian, well,

> they um

> smell really earthy lol - I don't know about hops.) These oils can be used

> in combination for a total of 3 drops in a bath or 2 drops in 1

> teaspoon for

> a body rub.

>

> Another thing that Worwood suggests is the use of either a pink or green

> lightbulb in the bedroom to relax. Red and blue lights should be

> avoided as

> they are too stimulating.

>

> I'm sure that there a web search would yield many essential oil

> suggestions

> pertaining to relaxation.

>

> Regards,

> Holly

==================================

You really should consider studying aromatherapy along with herbology,

light therapy and other vibrational therapies.

Distilling your own essential oils can be done but you do need the

proper equipment in order to achieve quality oils. Yes you can make some

at home now with what you have but they won't be very quality. Still

better than nothing. You really need a distillation device to properly

distill oils. They are not cheap either. Then again, maybe DH is very

handy with things like this and can whip you up one in the garage in a

weekend or two. Just a thought. Not much different than the moonshiners

of the 20's.

--

Peace, love and light,

Don Quai

" Spirit sleeps in the mineral, breathes in the vegetable, dreams in the animal

and wakes in man. "

[Guest guest]

Hi Don,

I wrote:

> would love to have a lavender farm - though this is not likely...

Don wrote: *(and why not? You create your own reality. Visualize it and hold

that

> visualization, then continue to build on it. It will become a reality

> if you truly wish it to)*

Don also wrote:

You really should consider studying aromatherapy along with herbology,

light therapy and other vibrational therapies.

Distilling your own essential oils can be done but you do need the

proper equipment in order to achieve quality oils. Yes you can make some

at home now with what you have but they won't be very quality. Still

better than nothing. You really need a distillation device to properly

distill oils. They are not cheap either. Then again, maybe DH is very

handy with things like this and can whip you up one in the garage in a

weekend or two. Just a thought. Not much different than the moonshiners

of the 20's.

.............................................................

Thank you for your response and I'll strongly consider these suggestions.

Natural healing interests me and I would love to study/explore the uses of

light and color in addition to plant essences! Lavender seems to flourish

in my locale, does not require special treatment (just adequate water,

enough sun, fresh air, appropriate soil - not too humus-y, not too sandy)

and is, on top of it all, deer-resistant. The only insects that visit

lavender that I've seen are honey bees and bumble bees. An excuse for not

looking into it more was that I just this summer read an article in the

local paper regarding persons growing masses of organic lavender at an

organic winery not far from us...on the other hand, can there be too much

organic lavender in the world? I don't think so! LOL. After harvesting a

bumper crop of stalks from our three year old plants in June, we did put in

a couple more young lavender plants.

DH assisted with the harvest this year...it was a pleasant thing for both of

us and a change of pace for him. After spending the morning and part of the

day in front of the computer, he said he felt 'refreshed'.

I'll try out a solar infusion soon with quality olive oil and vitamin E. I

am wondering if virgin coconut oil might not also be a good base

oil...here's why I ask: since we've switched from butter and margarine to

organic oils, I just had to try out some organic coconut oil the other day

to see what the fuss is all about. So far, I put a little of it on our

noon-day salad...nice! I also applied about a teaspoon or less on to my skin

after bathing and really liked the way it made my skin feel and look...it

looks smoother and I also noticed this morning that some small

scrapes/abrasions on my legs/arms/hands are diminished! Any thoughts about

this would be appreciated.

I enjoy that image of the moonshiners of the 20's...and who knows, I feel

that since the quality of the blossoms are excellent that they might yield a

barter-worthy concoction. (So far, I've only made one sachet as a gift to a

friend.)

Thanks again.

- Holly

PS: Here's a link for those interested in lavender:

http://www.ashburys.com/oil/eo_lavender.htm

[Guest guest]

Don wrote:

My pleasure Holly,

Your only limits are self imposed. There are plenty of books and schools

out there that go into great detail about color therapy, light therapy,

aromatherapy. Here is a link for flower essences if you are intersted. I

find some of their information priceless and quite informative:

www.floweressencemagazine.com/

There is far from being even enough organic lavender in the world. Not

even close as a matter of fact. There is way less true lavender growing

than there is oil that is being sold as lavender. Hmmmm, makes one

wonder. This is true. There is more lavender EO on the market than could

possibly be distilled from world wide crops. Gotta be careful in this

industry. Not too ethical yet.

Lavender is such a wonderful scent. I love it. It is very refreshing

too. There is no reason why you cannot use virgin coconut oil for your

infusion. Coconut oil and olive oil are the only two oils that have been

used for millenia. They are both a monounsaturated oil too. Coconut oil

just happens to have more beneficial properties than olive oil but don't

discount olive oil. They are both very good for diet, complexions, hair,

etc. Both have healing properties. There is a reason they have been

around longer than any other oil.

Lovely idea about bartering your lavender for whatever you may need.

When you get the whole valley planted in lavender let me know and I will

come over and help with the harvest. LOL

Peace be with you Holly.

.......................................................................

Don, thank you for the thoughts and the link. I just shared the above with

DH who gave me the proverbial 'green light' and a thumbs up sign, too.

Well, we'll start slow...we looked around the yard and saw a number of

plants that really ought to be replaced in coming months with things we have

chosen, things we want to be growing there...like lavender.

Next, we'll move our plantings into the valley - yes, we do have a valley

here lol, in fact, Ukiah (the name of the city that we live on the outskirts

of) - is derived from the Pomo Indian word " Yokayo " which means " deep

valley. " Please do feel free to visit - oh, and bring your own straw hat!

(Clippers will be provided.)

Thanks also for the remarks on olive oil and coconut oil. Good stuff! I

also think olive trees are beautiful to see...

Have a great weekend.

-Holly