Aromatherapy -- answer to a Question

I was recently asked if aromatherapy actually works.  Although I do not believe it will cure all that ails you, I do recognize that the scent of herbs in my home gives me more energy and does help my husband and I fight illnesses.  

What is aromatherapy?

Imagine if a whiff of a particular scent—from lemon to lavender—could shift your mood, reduce stress levels, or provide you a dose of much-needed zen. This is the fundamental belief behind aromatherapy, an ever-growing wellness trend. While this practice has become more mainstream in recent years, there are a few items to keep in mind if you want to partake.

In most cases, people diffuse essential oils, made by distilling the oil from botanicals, to create various scent profiles in their home. In their best form, essential oils are 100% plant oils, pure and not mixed with other oils.  So stay away from extracts which are alcohol extractions or perfume oils which are usually an essential oil mixed with a base oil.

Avid aromatherapy fans use their oils for a variety of purposes, but some popular wellness goals for the practice include:

• Improving mood

• Providing calmness 

• Clearing sinuses

• Reducing stress

• Setting a tone of a room (think: relaxing or energetic) 

• Scent diffusion alternative to candle-burning 

Plus, it's worth noting that The Food and Drug Administration does not regulate essential oils, so paying attention to ingredients is very necessary. Organic essential oils are distilled directly into an oil, but contamination from chemicals is widespread in non-organic products.

Why to use the scents

As The Mayo Clinic points out, some studies have suggested that aromatherapy can benefit our sleep patterns, help us cope with anxiety and depression, and improve the quality of life for those with chronic health conditions and pain. That said, if you have any worrisome symptoms, you should always discuss your concerns with a trained medical professional.

One big drawback of aromatherapy is the idea that it's a cure-all. Some ardent DIY-ers may be inclined to reach for oils when they should be reaching out to health professionals. So while aromatherapy shouldn't be considered your only resource when dealing with specific issues, proper use of aromatherapy does provide many meaningful benefits.

It can help you relax.

For nights when your mind is racing, consider diffusing or applying lavender essential oil. This can help calm your senses and cut down on distractions, Fowler explains. In fact, she calls lavender's ability to soothe legendary, and believe it or not, accidental.

It can help you sleep more soundly.

If you're having trouble catching Zzzs at night, you're not alone. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in three adults do not regularly get enough sleep. Choose a soothing, comforting aroma like lavender oil, which has been proven to decrease blood pressure and heart rate when inhaled. Add a few drops to your aroma diffuser about an hour before you're ready to go to sleep. Choose chamomile or peppermint oil

The soothing effects of chamomile oil and its benefits in bringing about sleep are more general than specific. When diffused in the air, the subtle floral aroma has a calming and relaxing effect on the mind. Roman chamomile in particular--with its fresh, apple-tinged fragrance--is ideal for staving off anxiety. Peppermint oil is great for promoting restfulness by clearing your head, both figuratively and literally. The pleasant aroma of peppermint oil can be relaxing, but more to the point, if you suffer from any seasonal allergies or dust sensitivity, nothing will ease your symptoms better or more quickly than diffusing some peppermint oil in the air of your bedroom. Once you finally find relief for those sore nasal passages, the move to relaxation and then sleep is sudden and satisfying.

 It can help you manage stress.

For those days when the meetings pile on and your to-do list never gets shorter, fighting stress is vital to make it to the end of the day. Certain oils are ideal to try, depending on what's causing your stress. If your personal stress has an element of anxiety, then you might be best suited toward citrus oils, which have been shown to help relieve anxiety. If your stress leaves you feeling off-centered or disconnected, oils from wood like frankincense and sandalwood may be best. If stress has an element of depression with it, you might want to choose something more uplifting in the mint family.

It can boost energy and focus.

Scent is such a powerful sense, it can stimulate surprisingly strong reactions in your body.  Just as lavender promotes calmness and relaxation, bright or spicy scents like citrus, peppermint, and ginger are energizing.  Diffusing these scents can help promote focus, alertness, and productivity, making them great for the morning or as a midday pick-me-up.

Making aromatherapy part of your daily routine by diffusing energizing oils like citrus, peppermint, ginger, eucalyptus, or lemongrass immediately after you wake up.

Ways to use the Scents

• So add your essential oils to reeds and place in a small vase to diffuse into the air.

• Add a few drops to a piece of terra cotta in a dish or a decorative piece of clay.

• Inhale them, either directly out of the bottle or by using a diffuser or humidifier. 

• Dilute essential oils with a carrier oil and apply it directly to your skin. 

• Get creative and add the mixture to a body wash, shampoo, or bath.

• Search essential oil in the blog search box for numerous recipes using essential oils for these things and more.

Bath Melts - Bath Blend of the Month

Enjoy these moisturizing cocoa butter bath melts in a wonderful bath and add some sweet luxury to your day, or make them for your friends for Gal Spa Day. They are made with ingredients so natural that you could eat them. The aroma of cocoa, coconut, and lemon is uplifting and can brighten a gray day in March. These bath wonders are perfect for a pick-me-up-bath, as the silky soft oils melt in the warm water and soak into your skin, leaving it moisturized and soft.

 

I got this recipe through Stephanie Rose at Garden Therapy and added my own twist to it.  Her version used lavender essential oil and flowers, but I like a lemon scent in my bath, so I swapped in my favorite lemon herbs.

 

The main ingredient, Cocoa butter, is hydrating and soothing for your skin. At room temperature it is solid but as you add it to a hot bath it melts and the oil disperses into the water and absorbs into your skin while you soak. An edible fat extracted from the cocoa bean, it smells and tastes like chocolate because it is the main ingredient in chocolate. High in antioxidants it is ideal to use in bath items.  As a moisturizer it is perfect when combined with lemon herbs because lemongrass is known to enhance overall skin texture by cleansing and detoxifying, eliminating excess oil from the skin making it more supple while lemon balm is known to be an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory with antibacterial qualities. 

 

Coconut oil also becomes liquid at body temperature.  It is smooth and smells of coconut and is so moisturizing that it is often used to treat eczema.  It has the ability to reduce the inflammation caused by sun exposure and can fight bacteria without drying.

 

Lemon and Cocoa Butter Bath Melts (Makes 12 1-ounce bath melts)

·      2 Ounces cocoa butter (measure it by weight to get the best ratio or use 3 1/2 Tablespoons)

·      2 Tablespoons coconut oil

·      20 drops lemon or lemongrass essential oil

·      1/2 Tablespoon dried lemon balm

·      1/2 Tablespoon dried lemongrass

·      Silicone soap or ice cube mold to use as a mold

 

Melt the oils in a double boiler over hot water. Stir constantly and keep a watchful eye on the oils. You want them to just reach the melting point and not overheat.

 

Immediately pour into silicone molds. Sprinkle the dried herbs on top of the hot oil, dividing the tablespoon up evenly between the bath melts.

 

Move the silicone mold to the refrigerator to cool for two hours, and you’re done. Store the finished bath melts in the fridge or a cool place if your house is warm so that they don’t melt before you want to use them or gift them.

 

To Use: Pop one or two bath melts into a tub filled with hot water and soak for at least twenty minutes. Although designed for the bath, these melts can also be smoothed on the skin in the shower, just beware of a slippery floor when you rinse the oils off.

 

Hey it is Margarita Day! Weekend Recipe Early

In keeping with my Mocktails research... I love to do programs on Mocktails and Cocktails using herbs and just set a few this week! (check out the Programs page)

I am working on blender drinks for a new version for 2023 and have been creating faux margaritas as a result.  Since it is National Margarita Day, here is one of my favorites.  You will have to let me know what you think.  Is it program worthy?

Mock Citrus Margarita

• 1 6-ounce can, frozen limeade concentrate
• 3/4 cup orange juice
• 2/3 cup unsweetened grapefruit juice infused with lemon balm
• 25 to 30 ice cubes (about 4 cups)
• Course sugar or salt and lime slices

To infuse the grapefruit juice, add 1 cup juice and 1 cup lemon balm (fresh or dried) to a jar and let steep overnight in the refrigerator.  To make the mocktail, combine frozen limeade concentrate, orange juice and 3/4 cups of infused grapefruit juice in a blender container.  Cover and blend till smooth.  With the motor running, add ice cubes, a few at a time through the hole in the lid blending until slushy.

Rub the rims of 8 rocks glasses or 4 margarita glasses with lime and invert in a dish of sugar or salt. Shake off the excess.  Pour the margaritas into the glasses and serve with a lime slice.  Will make 4 8-ounce servings or 8 4-ounce servings.

What a way to celebrate February - Garden Expo!

I know that I have followers in many different locations, so I thought if you live in Wisconsin you might be interested in the PBS Wisconsin Landscape and Garden Expo which is being held  Feb 11 to 13 in Madison, WI

I will be presenting my special program Infusion on the Demonstration stage at 12:30 pm each day. I will be demonstrating how to infuse herbs into water, oil, vinegar, sugar, salt and more!

I hope to record at least one of the programs to rebroadcast. But we will see how that goes....

I have not been to a garden expo since 2019.  My last set of programs at a garden expo was to be March 2020 in Chicago, but that was cancelled never to return, so I am looking forward to this.  Plus the chance to get out of town is nice also.

You can join me in Madison, WI (a short 2 hour drive from the Chicago suburbs) and enjoy presentations, deonstrations and vendors in all topics of gardening.  The celebrties of PBS gardening programs will also be on hand and Master gardeners to answer all your gardening questions.

Here is a little sample of some great infusion ideas!

Homemade Mustard

• 4 tablespoons mustard powder
• 2 tablespoons vinegar
• 2 teaspoons warm water
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt

In a small, nonreactive bowl, combine all of the ingredients. Whisk the ingredients together to form a smooth paste, adding more water if needed.

Let the mixture sit for up to 10 minutes at room temperature to incorporate all ingredients. Store the homemade mustard in the refrigerator for up to three weeks.

Ways to Use Mustard

Here are some easy ways to incorporate mustard into your cooking.

Add to salad dressings: Mustard is a popular addition to vinaigrette for the burst of tangy flavor it adds and the emulsification properties of mustard seeds, which help keep the oil and vinegar from separating.

Add to glazes: Combine homemade mustard with brown sugar, raw honey, or maple syrup (1 part mustard to 2 parts sweetener) and brush the mustard mixture onto baked chicken thighs during the last 30 minutes of cooking.

Make honey mustard: Combine mustard with honey in a 1:1 ratio to make an easy honey mustard dipping sauce.

Add to barbecue sauce: In South Carolina, the predominant style of barbecue is pork slathered in a mustard-based sauce. You can make your own South Carolina–style barbecue sauce by diluting homemade mustard with extra vinegar.

Herbed Butter

• 1 stick (4 oz.) butter
• 2 Tbls. fresh or 1 -3 tsp. dried herbs
• 1 t. lemon juice

Have butter at room temperature.  Mince herbs with a sharp knife.  Stir them with the lemon juice to moisten, especially if working with dry herbs.  Then using a fork mix herbs thoroughly into butter.  Put into custard cups or butter tubs (or if you have them butter molds) for serving.  Refrigerate or freeze.  Make 1/2 cup.

Foaming Tea Soap - Bath Blend of the Month

The dry indoor weather of Illinois in winter and washing hands can be a harsh combination, so this month we thought we would recommend a foaming soap made with herb tea.  This allows you to choose herbs that will help or soothe the skin and combine them with a gentle castile soap yet still get the cleaning and germ fighting you need.

You can use all sorts of different herbal teas for this recipe, and I encourage you to experiment until you find something that you love. You can use fresh herbs from the garden, loose tea, or teabags.

I recommend loose herbal or green tea to make this recipe in winter, but switch to fresh cut herbs to make the tea during the growing season. Any kind of loose tea will work well in this recipe, but I personally love teas with lavender, rose or green tea.  They are good for skin, relaxing and you can drink as well as make soap with them. 

For this batch I decided to use my Summer Iced Tea blend.  it is a great combo of flowers and lemongrass so I get the germ fighting of lemongrass as well as the soothing properties of the flowers.

Now that you’ve chosen your tea, you’re ready to make your hand soap.

Ingredients

• 60% brewed herbal tea 
• 20% liquid castile soap
• 20% air

Directions

First, choose a foaming soap dispenser (look for a foaming dispenser as this soap is too liquid for a regular pump). You can buy a nice reusable one, do as I do and reuse one that once contained store-bought foaming soap or make your own pump with a mason jar and plastic pump top.

Fill your chosen container 60% of the way with brewed herbal tea. Allow the tea to cool to room temperature before combining in the jar. Top that with 20% liquid castile soap. Choose a soap that is natural and gentle on skin. Leave the top 20% of the container empty and screw on the top. Give it a good shake and you’re done!

To use: pump onto your hands and lather up.

Breakfast Sangria - Weekend Recipe

For Dry January I took a typical Sangria recipe and made it into the perfect alcohol-free item to serve at a brunch.  It goes well with breakfast food and sandwiches.

This is light, bright and perfect for the morning.  It is a good make ahead beverage for entertaining. The sprigs of herbs can be removed before serving so as not to clutter the beverage.

Breakfast Sangria (makes 4 to 6 servings)

• 1 pink grapefruit
• 1 navel orange
• 2 limes
• 2 sprigs lemon balm or 1/8 cup Lemon verbena leaves.
• 3 to 4 sprigs lemon thyme
• 1 cup orange juice
• 1 750 ml bottle of TOST (a sparkling alcohol alternative made with white tea, cranberry and ginger)
• 12 to 24 ounces plain or grapefruit flavored sparkling water.

Slice the citrus fruit into half moons.  Mix with the orange juice in a pitcher that holds at least 2 quarts.   Add herb sprigs, fresh is best, but dry is fine depending on season. Mix in the Tost and cover the pitcher tightly with plastic wrap.  Chill overnight or at least 8 hours before serving.

When ready to serve, remove the herbs, top off the pitcher with sparkling water and serve with lime or orange wedges.

 

 

Dry January Treats - Winter Mocktail Punch

I love Mocktails.  I do a program on making mocktails and I enjoy them in my entertaining. The key to a good Mocktail is creating a rich selection of flavors that will give you the richness of alcohol without the alcohol.

The key for this Mocktail Punch is to make your own grenadine.  Generally grenadine is just a colored sugar water when you buy the store bought stuff.  Some companies will make it with lemon juice and the original pomegranate juice (which is how it got the name, as grenade is pomegranate in French.). But a homemade grenadine can have so much more depth of flavor as you use pomegranate juice and lemon balm.

To do that you need: 

1 cup Pomegranate juice

1 cup sugar/honey

1 cup fresh or 1/2 cup dried lemon balm

dash of lemon juice

Warm the pomegranate juice in a saucepan and add 1 cup sugar or honey and stir until dissolved.  Then add the lemon balm stir until combined.  Remove from heat add a squeeze of  lemon juice and allow to cool to room temperature before straining out the lemon balm. Bottle and use within 2 weeks and keep refrigerated.

Winter Mocktail Punch

2 cups apple cider

1 cup sprite or 7up

2 Tbls handmade pom-grenadine

Combine apple cider and pom-grenadine with ice in a shaker and shake 30 seconds to chill.  Then add chilled Sprite or 7UP.  Top off with a few skewered cranberries or sliced apples.

Make it a bit more fun by stirring in a couple spoonfuls of raspberry syrup to make it more like a wintertime party punch.