Sunday, December 24, 2017

Relief from Restless Leg Syndrome with Essential Oils

Liz Fulcher, AromaticWisdomInstitute.com
March/April '16 issue The Essential Herbal Magazine

Ask anyone who’s ever experienced RLS (Restless Leg Syndrome) if it makes them crazy, and I’m sure they’ll answer with a resounding “yes!”  I know because I’m one of those people.  Fortunately, it doesn’t bother me at night as is common with RLS, but I do experience it when I’m the passenger in a car (but not when driving which I find interesting) and during air travel.  There is something about the vibration of both these forms of transportation that causes my legs to feel like ants are crawling under my skin.

What is Restless Leg Syndrome? 
According WebMD, “People with restless legs syndrome have uncomfortable sensations in their legs (and sometimes arms or other parts of the body) and an irresistible urge to move their legs to relieve the sensations. The condition causes an uncomfortable, “itchy,” “pins and needles,” or “creepy crawly” feeling in the legs. The sensations are usually worse at rest, especially when lying or sitting.”

Yep, that’s exactly how I’ve experience it.

As a Clinical Aromatherapist and 25-year veteran of using essential oils, they were the first thing I turned to for my own relief from the weird, crawly, itchy sensations, and I’m happy to report that I’ve had wonderful results.

The oils which I have found to have the greatest soothing effect on restless legs are those high in molecules from the Ester chemical family.  Ester-rich essential oils are also highly anti-inflammatory which may be why they work well to calm the spastic sensation that one experiences with restless leg. 

Examples of essential oils high in Ester molecules are: Bergamot, Bergamot Mint, Cardamom, Roman Chamomile, Clary Sage, Geranium, Helichrysum, Ho Wood, Jasmine, Lavender, Petitgrain, Siberian Fir, Ylang Ylang.

Below are 3 recipes that have really helped calm my own restless leg discomfort.

1. Sleepy Legs Night Cream
Ingredients:
12 drops Lavender
10 drops Marjoram
5 drops Roman Chamomile
Unscented Lotion
2 oz glass jar
Directions: Add the essential oils to 2 ounces of unscented cream and stir.  Rub this blend into your legs  anytime you experience jumpy legs. Apply as often as needed.


2. Happy Legs Travel Spray
Ingredients:
9 drops Petitgrain
8 drops Sweet Orange
8 drops Siberian Fir
Lavender Hydrosol
2 oz Spray Bottle
Directions: Simply add the essential oils to the hydrosol in the 2 oz bottle and shake well before each use.  Spray in your legs and rub vigorously, then spray again.

 3. Grateful Gams Bath Salt
Ingredients:
10 drops Frankincense
5 drops Marjoram
5 drops Clary Sage
3 drops Ylang Ylang
Epsom Salts (high in magnesium which is also helpful)
2 oz glass or plastic jar
Directions:  Add the essential oils to the salt and blend well together.  Sprinkle the full 2 ounces into the already-full bathtub.  Step in and relax.  Follow up with the Sleepy Legs Night Cream.

Sunday, December 17, 2017

January/February 2018 Essential Herbal

We've got a great issue in the mail to subscribers to start the year off right.
This magazine makes a great holiday gift, by the way.  Print in the US and PDF worldwide, we include a gift card, and if you put a message in the comments section when ordering, it will be in the card.  ORDER HERE

Here is the table of contents:
Field Notes from the Editor, Tina Sams
Off we go into another great year. We’re looking at what’s important, what’s coming up, and what it means to us.
Citrus in Winter, Miranda Hoodenpyl
There’s a lot more to citrus than that glass of homogenized, flavored pulp! Plus there are cranberry orange scones.
Tinnitus—A Holistic Approach, Jackie Johnson
Find out what triggers tinnitus, and some ways to try to remedy the problem.
Herbs as Houseplants, Kathy Musser
Apparently some people can bring their herbs inside. Good advice, plant specific for you determined types. Heck, maybe I’ll even give it a shot.
Hops—Herb of the Year 2018, Kristine Brown
So much more than a beer flavoring! Learn about some of the many, many uses and talents of hops.
Plantago Major… Little Leaf, Major Impact, Cathy Calfchild
Stories of plantain coming to the rescue and a couple wonderful, convenient recipes to try out.
Molly of the West, Where do you get Licorice Around Here?? Molly Sams
It isn’t always easy to find what you need… especially after moving away from a well-stocked private apothecary.
Presidents’ Day and Tea, Marcy Lautanen-Raleigh
The tea habits and tea sets of America’s First Families.
My Grandmother’s Kitchen, Angela Dellutri
Timeless memories of an Italian grandmother’s kitchen.
The Case for Cannabis—A Natural (R)Evolution, Lisa Camasi
Do you know the components of cannabis that work in different ways? Are you aware of the many benefits and methods of use? Part 1 of 2.
Cottonwood Buds—Infusion Methods and Soap, Marci Tsohonis
Resinous, sticky, healing balm of Gilead, aka cottonwood buds, infused and eventually used to make soap. Learn about how to infuse them.
Men’s Facial Hair Care, Janet Gutierrez
A discussion on various base oils and their respective usefulness, and a luscious beard oil recipe.
Onions (Allium cepa), Sandy Michelsen
Their flavor can add to just about everything savory, but what else can they do?
Winter into Spring Dessert & More with Mints, Rita Richardson
Mint can brighten up even the darkest day. Particularly if pound cake and strawberries are involved…
List Article—What would you take along in an emergency?
We got a lot of really good answers to this thought-provoking question.
If you aren't a subscriber, start today.  We're the magazine for the "everyday herbalist."

Wednesday, December 06, 2017

The Magazine for the Everyday Herbalist

For at least the last 15 years, our tagline has been, "By, for, and about herbie people and the things they love - HERBS!"
It's time to leave that behind.  It doesn't describe us. 
For one thing, we try not to feed into the current climate of herbal celebrity.  We've always felt that there are many brilliant herbalists working alone, quietly and without fanfare.  In fact, that's exactly what most herbalists are doing.
Also, we realized we've outgrown it.

Our new tagline is, "The magazine for the everyday herbalist."  That's exactly what The Essential Herbal is.  Really, it's who we've always been.

DOWNLOAD MiniMag #1promotional sample from 2012
Over the weekend, we set up a table at a small winter fair, and had the opportunity to repeatedly explain who we are writing for.  That's a great exercise, by the way.  It's been quite a while since I really gave it a lot of thought.  As the years rolled by and the rut deepened, I hadn't really examined whether we were adequately describing the content one might find.

Our generous and talented contributors share information that everyone can use everyday.  They share our goal of helping everyone find some confidence in the knowledge that their grandparents used to take for granted, but that somehow fell by the wayside.
DOWNLOAD sample mini mag from 2016
The Essential Herbal teaches you to bring herbs into the house for all kinds of reasons.  Often it is for food or medicine.  Sometimes it is for the sheer joy of sharing our living space with plants; their scents, appearance, or a combination of all of these things!
We share how to find the plants around you, which ones to look for, and what to do with them.  Teas, salves, tinctures, elixirs, lotions, and literally thousands of recipes and ideas have graced our pages during the past 17 years.  We expect that to continue. 

Because The Essential Herbal is the magazine for the everyday herbalist.  Subscribe today!  Print in the US, PDF worldwide.