Tag: essential oils & aromatherapy

the big, burning question, part iii of iii: my red flags

the big, burning question, part iii of iii: my red flags

This is part iii of iii in response to “what brand of essential oils I recommend,” focused on the red flags I sometimes see with potential suppliers along with one big, beautiful appeal for peace, love, and understanding… You’ll find part i, my thoughts on the…

the big, burning question, part ii: how I choose my essential oil suppliers

the big, burning question, part ii: how I choose my essential oil suppliers

The big, burning question I so often get is, “what brand of essential oils do you recommend?” The first part of my response to the question, focused on the question itself, can be found in part i of this series here. In this post you’ll find part ii of…

so, how DO I use essential oils?

so, how DO I use essential oils?

While I don’t use essential oils all day, every day, in ALL the things, I do use them often, in many ways, and in many things — I love essential oils. I also love hydrolats, essential waters, absolutes, CO² extracts, and carrier oils. (And herbs.…

put essential oils in ALL the things! (yeah, NO.)

put essential oils in ALL the things! (yeah, NO.)

So, this is me sitting in my house on a quiet Sunday morning. The sun is casting wide beams of warmth and light across my living room and my dogs are blissfully ensconced, each on a dog bed in their own respective beam, at various places on…

guidelines: blending for expectant mamas

guidelines: blending for expectant mamas

I am often asked about blending specifically for expectant moms. Below you’ll find my general guidelines which are either on par with–or more conservative than–guidelines from industry experts on safe use of essential oils. I’ve posted them as a permanent page as well–downloadable pdfs of…

mooning over white fir, sage of the north country

mooning over white fir, sage of the north country

Abundant and varied evergreens are among my favorite things about our new home–our property is dotted with both individual trees and thick stands of various pines and firs. My single favorite trees may be the two White Firs (Abies concolor) that grow here; their silver-green needles on…

lots to like about lemon

lots to like about lemon

Most of us recognize the fresh, citrus note of Lemon: we find it used in foods (from seafood dishes to teas) and products (from bathroom scrubs to wood polish). Lemon (Citrus limon) essential oil offers a broad range of therapeutic and energetic properties that support…

mooning over siberian fir

mooning over siberian fir

Siberian Fir (Abies siberica) is a particularly powerful essential oil from the evergreen family. While it bears the hallmark “pine-y” scent of its family, that is not the aroma that anchors it. Instead, it offers a unique woodiness and richness in its aroma. It is among…

safe use of essential oils

safe use of essential oils

If you subscribe to the notion that essential oils have various medicinal, therapeutic, and energetic properties, you already understand why you must approach them with reverence, respect, and care.  Said differently: if you appreciate that essential oils can powerfully impact the body, mind, and spirit,…

mooning over melissa

mooning over melissa

Melissa, commonly called Lemon Balm, holds a special place in my heart–she has ever since the moment I discovered her name literally means “honeybee”. (Bees are powerful totems for me, my husband, and our farm.) Melissa’s roots go back to ancient civilizations whose ceremonial lives…

five oils for fighting back against cold & flu

five oils for fighting back against cold & flu

Normally, I’d be spending the days leading up to the Autumn Equinox putting some thought and energy into summer’s transition to fall. This year, I was putting everything I had into preparations for Untamed Alchemy’s booth at the Santa Fe Renaissance Fair which happened to…

untamed fact #10 (patchouli)

untamed fact #10 (patchouli)

Whereas many essential oils have a shelf life limited to just a few years under even the best conditions, Patchouli actually improves with age. Many distillers, suppliers, and aromatherapists assert Patchouli has a twenty-year-plus shelf-life. Indeed, I wasn’t much of a fan of Patchouli until I encountered…

untamed fact #8 (pricing)

untamed fact #8 (pricing)

The price of essential oils often reflects the relationship between source material and yield. For example, it takes ~150 to 250 pounds of lavender tops to produce ~1 pound of lavender oil; it takes ~1,000 to 1,500 pounds of chamomile heads to produce ~1 pound…

aromatherapy for infants, toddlers & kids

aromatherapy for infants, toddlers & kids

Many parents are excited to employ aromatherapy with their kids hoping it will serve as a natural way to encourage wellness, address issues, and promote health. However, safe use is critical when entertaining solutions for children as aromatherapy in general, and essential oils in particular, are not without their risks…

broad guidelines for diluting essential oils

broad guidelines for diluting essential oils

To avoid possible skin sensitization and the risk of over-exposure, essential oils should be diluted in an appropriate carrier before being applied topically. Since oil and water do not mix, you should look to an appropriate oil-based carrier to dilute your essential oils. Use these handy…