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AromaLiving, Issue #001 -- Oct 2007
October 10, 2007

Healthy Home

For this first issue of AromaLiving Newsletter,I'm going to start with our lovely home. Home is the place where you can fell warm and relax. I believe your home should be a safe and sanctuary for you and your loved ones.

Definition of home should be different from one another but I bet yours is not just a roof over your head, but something more than that. And that’s makes you want to create a lovely and healthy home. Everyone deserves a healthy home. And It’s YOU that can make it happen!

CONTENTS:

  1. How Healthy is your home ?
  2. Profile of the month : Fir Needle
  3. Aromatherapy Tips
  4. Reviews book of the month
  5. Quote of the month





1. How Healthy is your home ?

I always believe that a healthy body and mind comes from our lovely home. So it’s definitely important to have a healthy home. So what’s a healthy home? How can one home called healthy and others not?

Let’s face it. We buy household cleaners and products consisted of chemical ingredients. Products that contain bleach, ammonia, phosphate and sodium benzoate to name a few of the basics, are destroying your immune system and can cause allergic reaction to sensitive skin.

Not only household products but indoor pollution also gives credit to make one as a healthy home. Some people would feel sick if they smell a very strong synthethic perfume comes from household products or even a fragranced toilet roll!

Indoor air pollution, or 'Sick Building Syndrome', can be responsible for all kinds of health problems from headaches, nausea and itchy eyes to more serious illness such as respiratory problems and even some kinds of cancer, according to the Buildings Research Establishment (BRE). Chemicals hazardous to human health are present in all kinds of domestic products, from flame retardants in sofas, carpet stain treatments, cleaners, mothballs and scented air fresheners.

These chemicals can build up, along with mould spores, in unventilated homes, and indoor air pollution is thought to be responsible for much of the recent sharp increase in childhood asthma.

Five Simple Ways to Create a Healthy Home using aromatherapy:

  • Get rid of synthetic air fresheners. If you must scent a room, use essential oils of lavender, rose and geranium instead.
  • Replaced insecticide-laden mothballs with cedar wood balls. or you can place a few drops of Lavender oil on a cotton ball and place in your linen closet to scent the linens and repel moths and insects.
  • To deodorize and sterilize the air, you can Add several drops of lemon oil to your water bucket before mopping, to your dust rag, to your dishwater, and several drops to your laundry. Diffuse or add a few drops to a spray bottle filled with water
  • Use natural cleaners. Alternatively, simply use vinegar, lemon juice and borax. For cleaning carpet sollution, you can put 10-15 drops of Lemon oil in each gallon to help pull out stains and brighten the rug. This also leaves a fresh smell in the room.
  • Replace your insect repellent with a natural ones. You can get recipe in Aromatherapy Tips.


How to Choose a Green Cleaning Product :

  • Citrus or hydrogen peroxide based sanitizers or disinfectants better than chlorine based ones. Generally, a citrus-based or hydrogen peroxide formula has less potential to harm the environment because chlorine can form organic compounds that are toxic even at low doses.
  • Product packaging that is recyclable. The recyclability of a package is often indicated on the bottom of a bottle, with the chasing arrows symbol; plastics labeled 1 (PET) or 2 (HDPE) are recyclable in many areas, whereas 3 (PVC) is not.
  • Buy Biodegradable products, because biodegradable products decompose in the environment into minerals and carbon dioxide and water.
  • Avoid products containing potentially harmful but commonly-used ingredients such as alkylphenolethoxylates (APEs), certain glycol ethers (such as 2-butoxyethanol), or heavy metals (such as chromium or selenium). Also avoid products with any significant amount of phosphate above 0.5%.

21 Things You Didn't Know You Can Recycle.

Garbage. Americans produce more and more of it every year, when we need to be producing less.

Even the most waste-conscious among us can feel overwhelmed by the amount of household waste that goes beyond what municipal recyclers and compost bins can handle. Continue to read more.

2. Profile of the month : Fir Needle

Botanical name : Abies Balsamea

Origin : Canada

Extract Method : Steam distillation from branches.

Scent : Fresh, clean, balsamic, sweet.

Note : middle.

Blends well with cedarwood, cypress, frankincense, lavender, juniper berry, pine needle, sandalwood, lemon.

Effects on the mind :

  • It creates a feeling of grounding, anchoring and empowerment. It can stimulate the mind while relaxing our body. This is a wonderful oil for home or cabin fragrances.

Effects on the body :

  • It has been found to be very effective for soothing over worked or tired muscle, tendons and joints . It also good for muscle aches and rheumatism. Fir is used by massage therapists instead of pine as it is much easier on the skin.
  • Excellent for the respiratory system aiding in treatment of bronchitis, coughs, sore throats, colds, flu, sinusitis and asthma.
  • Excellent for the nervous system helping treatment in stress related condition, tension, depression.

Special Precautions :

  • May be irritating to sensitive skin. Avoid direct sunlight for 3 to 6 hours after use.
  • This oil is safe for oral use. It has been approved by FDA. You can dilute 1 drop of oil in 4 tbsp of honey or 4 oz of beverage. Not for children under 6 years old.

Methods of use: for bath, massage or add a drop to steaming water.

Please remember : Fir Needle essential oil is really strong and don’t need much. I only need a little or it takes over blends. For me, 2-4 drops of Fir Needle is enough to give an underlying hint of evergreen smell without taking over. Try to put this essential oils drop by drop so you can get a pleasant smell.

As you know that Fir Needle is also identic with Christmas season. So prepare your oil this month and save it for Christmas time. Fir Needle essential oil is nice during the holiday season. I will use this oil again to make a Christmas tree diffuser blend, which I will give the recipe in the December issue.

Special offer only for this month.

Get 25 % off for Fir Needle essential oils.

3. Aromatherapy Tips.

Anti-Bacterial Spray Room

You will need :

  • 2 drops Fir Needle
  • 3 drops Lemon
  • 3 drops Tea Tree
  • 2 cups of water.

Directions : Put the water in the spray bottle and add the oils. Shake it and use in spray bottle to spray down sick room surfaces. Multiply recipe to make larger amounts and store in airtight container between uses.

If you have a dog, you can add Fir needle essential oils to a base shampoo for your dog. Fir Needle can repels ticks and fleas.

For muscle relaxer massage :

  • Thyme - 5 drops
  • Lavender - 4 drops
  • Black Pepper - 3 drops
  • Fir needle - 3 drops
  • Carrier oil - 15 ml

Mix essential oils then add carrier oil. Warm slightly and use for massage.

Natural Homemade Insect Repellent :

  • 3/4 ounce Jojoba or Soy Oil
  • 3 ounces Vodka
  • 25 drops of Eucalyptus citriodora
  • 25 drops of Citronella
  • 25 drops of Lemongrass
  • 13 drops of Lavender
Directions:

Add ingredients to a 4 oz spray bottle, shake well before each use.

4. Review Books of the month

Home Enlightenment: Practical, Earth-Friendly Advice for Creating a Nurturing, Healthy, and Toxin-Free Home and Lifestyle
By : Annie B. Bond

An excellent book! This book was easy to get through. Lots of information that was displayed easily. Each chapter gives you practical advice for healthier living with the elements. In this book you will find information on creating a toxin-free living environment, and also information on bringing harmony between yourself and the earth you live in.

The author will show you which colors to use to bring about feelings of peace or joy in our home decorating. Also, some helpful tips on ways to fight head-lice , repel insects and keep our outside environment as clean as possible all in a non-toxic way.

Get this book with the cheapest price

5. Quote of the month

Every house where love abides
And friendship is a guest,
Is surely home, and home, sweet home
For there the heart can rest.
-Henry Van Dyke

All the best,
Liani Widjaja

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