~ Lavender ‘N Chocolate ~

This has been an incredible year for me. I have had my fair share of ups and downs, but I can honestly say there has been many good teachings and my Life is in Balance. I have learned much and taken my earthly experience to a whole new level.

Having begun a new journey into great health and energy, something I have always paid particular interest to throughout my life, I feel so alive! My thanks in this go to my daughter and her good thoughts which brought me Qigong. The Universe just seems to open up a path to what we need, and most times we just need to learn how to ask. My energy level is so high that I am able to keep up with a clan full of children and grandchildren, as well as the furry four legged friends who dwell in our home. Most days I am the one still moving, when everyone else is taking a break. I am never exhausted, and I sleep better than I have in YEARS! What a wonderful feeling it is to be alive!!

Although everything cannot be totally perfect, I feel as if my life is entering a gentle, peaceful, and happy stage. The world around us is in turmoil, yet I am ready to face what each moment brings with courage, fortitude, and the grace my spirit brings forth. We have much to be thankful for, and while I am warm and dry (my family sheltered during the cold season), and we are provided that which keeps our bodies strong and healthy, well then everything is as it should be.

I wish to send out much Love and good thoughts for all the spirits dwelling on this planet as the New Year opens up a new Journey. May you all be filled with the wonder of Life, the good health of a natural lifestyle, and may you enjoy the warmth and comraderie of true friends to help Light your Path as you move forward into the year of 2009.

Enjoy!

Teri
~

A gentle and tender touch is essential in passing along our feelings of love to those who are dear to us. Adults are fond of massage, so you may be certain that babies respond with pleasure to the soothing touch through gentle massage. This will help create a foundation which is secure, loving and giving as well. Let us consider the tremendous value and everlasting benefits in caring for our babies in this way. I have always loved touching and kissing my babies, and they have never gone without feeling my love and care.

Baby massage - helps circulation and enhances body function, however the most important factor is providing you and your baby with very enjoyable moments and memories. It is natural for a mother to give a massage and natural for a baby to receive it. The most suitable oils for babies are Lavender and Roman chamomile. Both oils will help with most aspects of your baby’s problems. Massage may help calm an over-active child and can help promote healthy sleep, ease stomach problems, prevent diaper rash, and soften skin. Use 2 to 3 drops of essential oils in a small cup of warm mixing oil.

Studies are showing that massaged babies are more alert, sleep better, gain weight faster, and look happier. Use this knowledge to spend more memorable and quality time with your precious one.

Hmmm… have you ever considered what makes oranges so special besides their vitamin C content, and delightfully delicious taste? We always have a fairly large supply of fresh oranges on hand in our house, being a favourite. I have always known these luscious, lovely little fruits bring more to us humble beings than meets the eye. What I didn’t know, was what a treasure we have in such a simple fruit. Now I have a bit of history, traditions, and scientific studies to back up my inner sense of this jewel of a fruit. Let’s explore the lovely scents and taste of the orange.

Nature’s Jewel

Orange (Citrus sinensis) - Orange is a small tree with shiny oval leaves, fragrant white flowers, and sweet, very nutritious fruits. It yields orange essential oil from its fruit, neroli oil (one of the main constituents of Eau-de-Cologne) from its flower, and petitgrain oil from its leaves. The orange is native to China and India, however it is cultivated today in many warm climates in the USA, Europe, Mexico, or Brazil.

The orange’s main chemical components are 90% Limonene, while the remaining 10% is made up of odorous constituents such as citral, citronellal, auraptenol and acids. The essential oil is located within the small sacks in the outer part of the skin. If you pinch the skin close to the candle flame, the released oil will burn producing tiny stars. The flash point for orange essential oil is 75 degrees Fahrenheit (23C).

Oranges symbolize innocence and fertility. In Chinese medicine, it was used to help with colds, coughs, and appetite problems. Traditionally it has been used as a tonic and as a support for the digestion system. It may influence one’s mood, create positive and happy feelings, and awaken activity. Orange oil will help you brighten gloomy feelings, dark thoughts and stressful situations. The oil is very beneficial and soothing for dry, irritated, and non-cystic acne prone skin. It has great regenerating properties and is valuable for mature skin. It may stimulate the lymphatic fluid, and it is a very good choice in massage procedure for helping swollen tissue.

Orange oil is a good source of vitamin C. It’s a good idea to add essential oil into a diffuser at times of flu or colds. It may help relieve tiredness, promote energy, and support the immune system.

Orange was also traditionally used to help the digestion system, alleviate occasional bloating or pressure, and prevent nausea associated with motion.

Use essential oil in combination with your daily skin care products and as an essential part of inhalation to help regulate your psyche and mood. If you use it as a necessary part of your massage procedure, you can aid digestion and help the muscular systems.

Lavender is a versatile and much underused herb for cooking. In today’s up market restaurants and bistros, fresh edible flowers are making a comeback as enhancements to both the flavour and appearance of food.

Try adding a few to your Herbes de Provence mixture - you’ll be amazed at the subtle yet extraordinary difference Lavender will make.

As a member of the same family as many of our most popular herbs, it is not surprising that lavender is edible and that its use in food preparation is also returning. Flowers and leaves can be used fresh or dried, and both buds and stems can be used dried. Lavender is a member of the mint family and is close to rosemary, sage, and thyme. It is best used with fennel, oregano, rosemary, thyme, sage, and savory.

English Lavender (L. angustifolia in general and Munstead/Hidcote varieties, in particular when freshly picked) have the sweetest fragrance of all the lavenders and is the one most commonly used in cooking. The uses of lavender are limited only by your imagination. Lavender has a sweet, floral flavor, with lemon and citrus notes. The potency of the lavender flowers increases with drying. In cooking, use 1/3 the quantity of dried flowers to fresh. The key to cooking with lavender is to experiment; start out with a small amount of flowers, and add more as you go.

NOTE: Adding too much lavender to your recipe can be like eating perfume and will make your dish bitter. Because of the strong flavour of lavender, the secret is that a little goes a long way.

The lavender flowers add a beautiful colour to salads. Lavender can also be substituted for rosemary in many bread recipes. The flowers can be put in sugar and sealed tightly for a couple of weeks then the sugar can be substituted for ordinary sugar for a cake, buns or custards. Grind the lavender in a herb or coffee grinder or mash it with mortar and pestle.

The spikes and leaves of lavender can be used in most dishes in place of rosemary in most recipes. Use the spikes or stems for making fruit or shrimp kebabs.

Flowers look beautiful and taste good too in a glass of champagne, with chocolate cake, or as a garnish for sorbets or ice creams. Lavender lends itself to savoury dishes also, from hearty stews to wine-reduced sauces. Diminutive blooms add a mysterious scent to custards, flans or sorbets.

IMPORTANT - PLEASE READ: Do NOT eat flowers from florists, nurseries or garden centers or do so at your own risk. In many cases these flowers have been treated with pesticides, not labeled for food crops. Edible Lavender has been tested for microbial activity and is almost always greyish blue, not the bright blue of the dried Lavender bunches you see in florists which have usually had their colour augmented (dyed in other words) Such dyed Lavender is not suitable for ingestion.

As my family grows, it seems the traditions in which are celebrated grow as well. When I was a child, I remember having such a big family, and Thanksgiving Day sticks in my mind as a time when we all got together, and there was much laughter as we all gathered in our finest fashions and feasted until our bellies were totally full, and then some.

My views on this supposed ‘Holiday’ have changed somewhat, as I firmly believe the natives of America would have hidden quite well from the Pilgrims if they could foresee what would follow these friendly and peaceful folk. Why would I celebrate the beginning of the end for such a wonderful, earth-loving culture?

Now I just allow this time to gather my family together for a feast, music and laughter, in my home. Although we got together at a relatives house on the official ‘Thanksgiving Day’, to satisfy those of a spiritual connection in these matters, I had my own feast a few days thereafter to celebrate our family and our lives. This just seems to be so much more special, as it represents our love for each other, and celebrates us as a strong family unit. We have so much to be thankful for, and our children grow richer for the unity we offer them in our teachings.

Thus we are reminded of that which gives us the strength and courage to face the challenges this life puts in our Paths. It is never easy living this earthly Life, yet I am very grateful for my own blessings, and feel quite strongly that there is a Spirit helper, or sweet and strong Angel, who watches out for me and mine. Too many times in my life I have been cared for, or something has occured to pull me out of a sticky situation, not to believe in this. I am ever so thankful for this guidance, protection, and positive energy in which surrounds me as I walk forth. I truly believe this helper is a blessing from the creator, sent here to earth with me to surround me with love and warmth, so I will never feel alone while I learn what I must in my travels upon Mother Earth. For this, along with my family, I am ever so grateful and give much thanks from my heart.

Pilamaye.

In the first part of this article, called Looking into the Psyche of Aromatherapy we touched upon the two different theories about how essential oils affect human psyche. I would like to continue with the following.

Essential Oils - The Gentle Touch and Scent Massage is probably the oldest and simplest method of helping your body. A massage is enjoyable to give and relaxing to receive. It is an ancient therapy; the word “anoint” has almost the same meaning as massage. Ancient people always used essential oils while giving a massage, and the ancient wisdom has not lost its popularity. It is still a pleasant art of touching that is beneficial to the mind and body.

Aromatherapy massage is a traditional form that uses essential oils together with the form of Shiatsu, Neuro-Muscular, Connective Tissue massage, or Lymphatic Tissue massage. A full aromatherapy massage may last up to 1 to 1-½ hours. Its main purpose is to relax and nourish the body. It may also help improve circulation, digestion, and respiration. It can also help speed up the elimination process, while promoting a warm, satisfied feeling of ease that takes away stress and worry. There are just a few basic strokes what you need to learn; everything else can come from your intuition and caring feelings.

Basic Massage Strokes

Effleurage - the basic stroking movement. The meaning comes from the French word “effleurer” which means “to touch lightly.” When done with a fast motion, it is invigorating. There are many variations, such as palm, thumb, pick-up effleurage, and “carresse du poing” that means: “closed hand” effleurage. You can do a few effleurage strokes on each part of the body. Use enough oil for your hands to slide easily over the skin.

Petrissage - often used to soften and relax tired muscles. The technique involves lifting up the muscle and applying compression with both hands.

Kneading - a one handed kneading that is similar in action to the two-handed petrissage - mostly used on short muscles.

Lymph tissue massage - assists lymph passage and helps reduce any minor swelling. This massage requires very little pressure at a slow speed.

Swedish massage - soft tissue massage that incorporates several types of movement - effleurage, kneading, cupping or hacking.

You can also include parts of reflexology massage, shiatsu massage, or acupressure. When you have chosen the right essential oils and carrier oil to serve your purpose, and a room that has been specially prepared, you can start a massage. Blend oils in a small bowl within reach, thus allowing one hand to maintain contact with massaged part. An ideal step-by-step procedure should start with massaging the back, legs, arms, stomach, chest, neck, scalp and face. Massage should always be pleasurable and rhythmical. For a full body massage, add 15-20 drops of essential oils per 1 oz of carrier oil. For a longer massage, use mixing oil; for a shorter massage, use a local application of Tangible lotion.

Good oils for relaxing massage treatments are Lavender, Roman chamomile, Frankincense, Marjoram, Clary sage, Geranium, or Ylang ylang. Oils that may help with minor muscle pain or strains are Helichrysum, Orange, Peppermint, Clove, Pine needle, or Wild rosemary.

Yummm… I am making this for a special treat at our next Family gathering. I just love chocolate in it’s many delectable and delightful forms, and this recipe sounds absolutely mouth watering delicious! I can just see the look on my daughters face when she takes a bite out of one of these sweet and spicy little babies! Caution!! Consumption of these chocolate delights may cause an epidemic of satisfied women and a curious sense of wellbeing…

For the Brownies:

1 Stick (1/2 Cup) Butter, Melted
3/4 Cup Sugar
1 Tsp Vanilla
2 Eggs
1/2 Cup Flour
1/3 Cup Dagoba Xocolatl Drinking Chocolate
1 Tbs Cocoa Powder
1/2 Tsp Baking Powder
1/4 Tsp Salt
1/2 Cup Pecans (optional)

Preheat oven to 325° with rack in centre of oven.
Line a 9″x9″ pan with tinfoil.
Combine melted butter, sugar, vanilla and eggs in a bowl. Stir until
thoroughly blended.
In a separate container, combine flour, Xocolatl, cocoa, baking
powder and salt.

Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and incorporate completely.
Do not over-mix!
Reserve 1/2 cup of this batter and pour the rest in the prepared pan.
Sprinkle pecans on top of the batter.

For the Cream Cheese Topping:

8 Ounces Cream Cheese
1/3 Cup Sugar
1 Tsp Vanilla
1 Egg

Beat the cream cheese with the sugar.
Add the vanilla and the egg.
Blend thoroughly.
Pour this over the brownie batter (and nuts)
Place the reserved batter in small dollops on the top.
Use a knife or an spoon handle to swirl the two batters without
mixing them.

Bake in preheated oven for 25-30 mins or until the brownies start to
pull away from the sides of the pan and the edges of the brownies are
just beginning to brown.

Chill for at least two hours before cutting into squares.

**Credit for this delicious recipe goes to…

Huw Richardson
Buffalo, NY

One historic piece of wisdom proclaims, “Food nourishes the body, however flowers heal the soul”. In many ways, these two needs are inseparable. You have to feed your body to stay physically healthy and you have to feed your psyche to stay emotionally healthy. Essential oils play an important role in affecting mood, emotions, or memory. We already know about the connection between an olfactory cell and limbic brain system. Inhalation is a method by which essential oils quickly enter the body and take effect - to help the body heal itself. Essential oils may influence the human psyche by interacting with the nervous system, environment, and one’s personal will. Essential oils can control psychological changes in the human body through direct interaction with body systems, or they may produce learned psychological response. Learned responses may be different in each person or culture.

There are two different theories about how essential oils affect human psyche

Reflective theory assumes that essential oils influence the olfactory system and the sense of smell. The olfactory nerves have receptor sites that are stimulated by specific chemical components in particular essential oils. The stimulated receptors send signals to the brain, especially to the part of brain (amygdala and hippocampus) where the regulation of emotion, memory, sleep circle, or sexuality are affected.

While the Reflective Theory only requires interaction with olfactory epithelum, the Systemic theory assumes that essential oils interact directly with the brain and other systems of the body. People can also have learned psychological responses to essential oils by relating them with specific pleasant or unpleasant experiences. Memories can create or evoke change in the brain and psyche. For example, pine needle oil may bring back pleasant memories of Christmas, and these enjoyable memories can influence happy emotions.

Thus, the right essential oil may help with human emotions - happiness, anger, fear, sadness. Essential oils may influence the Autonomic Nervous System, which is part of the Peripheral Nervous System, and controls the involuntary functions of organs such as the heart, blood vessels, lungs, bladder, glands and gastrointestinal tract etc. There are three main divisions of the autonomic nervous system: the Sympathetic and the Parasympathetic, Systems which provide a dual mechanism for controlling internal organs, and the Enteric System that regulates the activity of the gut.

The Sympathetic Nervous System can be described as a “fight or flight response.” Stimulation of this part can cause the hands to sweat, the heart rate to increase, or the blood pressure to rise. The Parasympathetic System is often described as a “rest and digest” movement. It may help digestion and relaxation, while decreasing the blood pressure.

Today, human beings are challenged by a stressful lifestyle that leads to tension and stress. Some essential oils may act on the Parasympathetic Nervous System to help the body relax and calm down. Some essential oils may invigorate the body or senses. Examples of stimulating essential oils are jasmine, basil, clove, geranium, lemongrass, and peppermint. Examples of sedative essential oils are lavender, chamomile, marjoram, and sandalwood. We might say that pleasant odors help ease feelings of tension, fear or confusion.

Mood can affect our memory, cognition and behavior. When you are in a good mood, you are more optimistic. You can learn faster and pay more attention to one’s studies. Why not use essential oils to help enhance your behavior, memory or learning process?

Aromas are able to evoke vivid memories of the past. The odors around us can bring about memory retrieval. With the help of essential oils, we may influence the memories of our past. Essential oils can support your children’s study progress and aid in memory functions. The door is open…

**Stay tuned for part two… coming soon!