I find such peace in this season, because it is a sacred one. Christmas represents a hope of a tangible faith, a birthing of love, and a time to celebrate those gifts. In that same thought, for those of us who believe the ancient texts, frankincense was among one of the precious gifts given to baby Jesus. This anointing, pure resin oil is a staple in my apothecary. Its healing properties are irreplaceable. There are two main varieties of frankincense, in its botanical na

You may have heard of the therapy of Reflexology, based on a system of meridians and nerve pathways in the feet, hands, head, and face. Foot reflexology seems to be the most common type of this bodywork, however, facial reflexology is gaining some new ground. The theory is that our face yields a map of our body/anatomy. Massaging or putting gentle pressure on these areas (called reflex points) can possibly stimulate the corresponding anatomical areas. For example, the kidn

I've been making infusion oils since college. It's a wonderful way to learn wild foraging and natural medicine crafting. On our property in Maine, we have the gift of naturally growing cedar, birch, spruce, fir, and pine surrounding us. We also have gardens of lavender and organic garlic! I enjoy creating infused oils from all of these plants, using them topically. Garlic is the only plant that I create and use for a culinary infused oil. Possible Uses: - Culinary (please

FOCUS ➡ Dermatitis, Eczema, & Rosacea SYMPTOMS: ➡ Dry, irritation, flaking, inflamed, red, warm, skin sores, itching, scaly, rough, advanced rosacea will cause pimple/blister-like bumps, and painful skin. Dermatitis is a general term for inflammation of the dermal layers (skin). Within that category are the skin conditions of eczema, psoriasis, and rosacea. These conditions have many symptoms in common, and often times they can overlap in the methods of helpful treatments/int

These two resins have been valued for thousands of years. Historically, they were associated with divine healing and considered to be more precious than gold. Today, herbalists and aromatherapy practitioners continue to value the benefits of frankincense and myrrh. Both substances are actually derived from the bark of a tree, known as resins. They may be used in the form of extract, tea, essential oil or in the raw resin form. Read on for how these two majestic substances c

Cedar, nutmeg, cloves, pine, cinnamon, oh my! The scrumptious smells of Christmas! If you are a sensory person (one who is very keen and aware of all five senses), then likely you are super sensitive to smells. If perfumes provide you with a mean headache-like they do me, you may have good luck with trying 100% pure essential oil-infused options. I use essential oils every day and have for over 20 years- they've proven their therapeutic value to me. So, instead of buying a

WHAT ARE ESSENTIAL OILS? Substances extracted from species of flowers, plants, fruits, leaves, roots, and trees. There are presently about 310 different essential oils manufactured. These are powerful substances. It’s extraordinary that it takes 1,000 pounds of oranges to produce 10 pounds of pure orange essential oil! Knowing this, we must apply these oils with care. SOME METHODS TO USE ESSENTIAL OILS: Massage oil blends, home cleaning, drops on handkerchief or tissue for A