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"I am Grounded" Anointing Oil

4/22/2018

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In honor of earth day I thought I would share one of my newer blends, “I am Grounded”. It is an anointing oil for use on the bottom of the feet to support feeling stable, secure, and well grounded. For energy work, I make most of my blends between a 1-2% dilution, subtle is the way to go! Blending into a roller bottle makes application quick and easy. I like to apply this oil and visualize a tall tree with its roots spreading deep down into the Earth below and branches reaching high up into the sky above.

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Frankincense is a well-respected and wonderfully grounding essential oil often used in meditation and spiritual practices.

Palo Santo is very earthy and my go to for emotional cleansing and clearing negative energy, making it a excellent choice for meditation.

Xanthoxylum adds a great deal of liveliness to the blend aromatically, but it is most admired for its ability to calm and quiet the nervous system. **If you do not have Xanthoxylum you may substitute Juniper Berry or Grapefruit in this recipe for an equally nice blend.

"I am Grounded" Anointing Oil

Build in a 10 ml roller bottle:
2 drops Boswellia carteri [frankincense]
1 drop Bursera graveolens [palo santo]
1 drop Zanthoxylum armatum [xanthoxylum]
Fill with jojoba or carrier oil of choice.
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Tango Mango Lip Balm

4/19/2018

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I was recently tasked with making a lip balm for my nephew quick while he was here one afternoon.  And I mean quick…from the moment he asked until they were cooling in the tubes was literally only five minutes! 
 
Using my standard nourishing lip balm recipe was a given, but I did give him the choice of something minty or something fruity and he chose the latter. 
 
What I ended up with something I truly found to be amazing?  It’s light, fruity, and silky smooth.  I just love playing around with lip balms, I could write a whole book full of lip balm recipes...but for now, just sharing my recipes will do! 

Tango Mango Lip Balm Recipe

​INGREDIENTS:
  • 2 Tbsp. mango butter
  • 1 Tbsp. beeswax
  • 1 Tbsp. jojoba oil
  • 1 Tbsp. sweet almond oil
  • 15 drops tangerine essential oil

​​DIRECTIONS:
  1. Using a glass jar in simmering water (or double boiler if you have it), gently heat the mango butter, beeswax, jojoba and sweet almond oil just until melted.
  2. Remove from heat and cool slightly before adding the tangerine essential oil.
  3. Pour into lip balm tubes, cap, and cool completely.
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You Might be an Aromatherapist if...[13 Humorous Observations]

4/12/2018

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  1. You are known to mutter “what’s that smell?” at least three times a day, as your nose has become a super scent detective!​
  2. You refer to the “community” meaning aromatherapists in general.  This is my favorite one!  It has been truly amazing the connections and new friendships I have made from them (insert various “find your tribe” memes here).
  3. You spend less time on social media playing games or scrolling memes and more time googling random flower and/or herb facts and seeing who’s diffusing what tonight.
  4. AT LEAST one part of your house has become completely overrun by small amber bottles and oodles of other aromatherapy supplies, diffusers, etc.
  5. Every time you empty a glass jar you ponder for a moment what you could reuse it for, then you clean it out and put it in the corner with all the others you have collected “just in case”.
  6. You don’t necessarily fall for the “there’s an oil for that” gimmick but you do consider whether essential oils would be a beneficial remedy before turning to other means, and more importantly you know when they are not (i.e. when medical attention is necessary).
  7. You may have weirded out a few neighbors by picking all of the dandelions or other various “weeds” in their yard.  I doubt they really minded by the way, but you should probably ask first.
  8. Your cooking becomes even better, and NO not because you use your oils in it (which I don’t recommend), but because you have a deeper understanding of herbs & spices and their aromas hence flavor profiles.
  9. You plan your family’s vacation around what botanical gardens are nearby or (ahem…) lavender festivals that may be occurring then!  J
  10. You suddenly become a pro at converting milliliters, grams, ounces, etc. in your head.  Not to mention dilution rates. Hmmm….so maybe learning percentages in high school did come in handy after all.
  11. You forget a million things throughout the day but you NEVER forget to give your herbal infused oils a shake every couple days. 
  12. You have practically a whole entire second kitchen set (possibly nicer than your actual cookware) reserved just for your oily creations.
  13. Anytime you see abbreviations such as EO, CO, etc. you immediately think they are referring to essential oils and carrier oils, when often times…they are not.  Oops!
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Shout Out to Sweet Orange

4/5/2018

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Sweet orange [Citrus sinensis] essential oil is expressed from the peel of an orange. Well…many oranges to be precise!  The essential oil is typically pale yellow-orange in color with a bright, juicy, citrus aroma.  It is rich in monoterpenes, particularly d-limonene. 
 
This high monoterpene content makes sweet orange essential oil highly susceptible to oxidation, so proper storage is a must.  CAUTION: oxidized oils can cause skin irritation and an increased risk of sensitization.  It should be stored in a cool, dark place-refrigeration is best.  If stored properly, it can have a shelf life of 1-3 years. 
 
Otherwise, orange essential oil is rather gentle, with little to no safety concerns.  It is safe for most including children, the elderly, and use during pregnancy/nursing.  It is also one of the few citrus essential oils that is NOT phototoxic!
 
When orange isn’t just orange…

You often won’t find a bottled labeled simply “orange” as there are several many varieties of orange essential oil, each with their own unique aromas and characteristics.  Sweet orange, blood orange, and wild orange [all Citrus sinensis] are often used interchangeably.  Clementine [Citrus clementina], mandarin or tangerine [both Citrus reticulata] are often used as an alternative to sweet orange; while their properties are similar in comparison to sweet orange, they do have their differences as well so please read up on these ones before using them interchangeably.
 
Sweet orange really is all that and a bag of chips!  It is a hard-worker, a team-player, and a jack-of-all-trades!

It can calm you down when paired with essential oils high in esters such as lavender (a really great and simple combo) or it can lift you up when paired with some of its other citrus friends or refreshing essential oils such as spearmint (some of my favorites).  <See recipe cards below!>
 
Therapeutically, sweet orange essential oil has an affinity with the digestive system, immune system, respiratory system, and nervous system.  It is also a popular ingredient in household cleaning blends as well. It is a must have for removing yucky odors and sticky residues, in my opinion! 
 
Just for fun, and to demonstrate what I mean when I say it’s “all that”, I am giving you two of my favorite blends featuring orange, one calming and one uplifting to try out! 
 
As always, enjoy!

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    Megan

    Founder of the Lavender Giraffe, certified aromatherapist, lover of nature, amateur yogi, fit foodie, and boy-mom!

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Disclaimer: All content on this site, The Lavender Giraffe, reflects the thoughts, ideas, and opinions of its author, Megan Hemling and/or guest contributors.  It is intended for general informational purposes only and not to diagnose, treat, or cure.  Therefore, it is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical professional who is familiar with your health history and conidition. We encourage discussing any new therapies with your healthcare provider prior to use.

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