Nature's Gift May Newsletter

and speaking of bottles:

• 6 oz  Shea Butter
• 1 oz Virgin Coconut Oil
• 1 oz Orange Blossom Wax
• 2-6 drops Neroli Essential Oil.

Let the Shea Butter warm to room temperature, cut in small pieces in the bowl of an electric mixer. Start beating and beat until fluffy.

Meanwhile, warm the VCO and the Orange Blossom Wax together over very low heat (or in a double boiler!) just until the wax is melted.  Try not to over heat this! When the wax is melted pour the mixture into the whipping shea butter.  Add optional drops of Neroli, Continue beating until light and fluffy.

Note, if whipped shea, alone, is a bit too greasy for you, you may sift one or two tablespoonsful of cornstarch over the mixture and beat in thoroughly.  The Shea, and Coconut are available on our carrier oils page,   The Orange Blossom Wax may be found on our Floral Waxes page.

HINT:  Freshen that Microwave

I thought it was just me.  After a few days of heating leftovers, or boiling water, my microwave starts to smell like last week's dinner.  I thought there was something wrong with the machine, until I saw a note on a list, somewhere, saying that to freshen the Microwave, just put a measuring cup of water, with a few drops of lemon oil in it.  Microwave on high for 2 minutes, and let stand in the oven until cool.  I haven't tried this one yet, but am going to after dinner tonight.

Sun Protection:

With the long holiday weekend coming, a lot of us are going to be out in the sun for hours.  Remember to protect yourself with sunscreen. 

I'm not certain whether any natural product will protect from those dangerous UV rays, but there is some evidence that some carriers, and, oddly enough, my beloved helichrysum might help.  I have been unable to track down the research studies, but I keep seeing them referred to.

On "Mothernature.com" there is a report saying "According to skin specialists, sesame oil decreases the impact of the sun's burning rays by about 30 percent, while olive and coconut ... oils and aloe vera block out about 20 percent of the rays. This is lower than the high rates now achieved with commercial sun-screens, but suitable for less intense exposure. Research shows that a 3 to 6 percent dilution of an extract of helichrysum, sometimes called immortelle, makes an effective sunscreen. " 

 (note, they don't say essential oil, they say 'extract' so who knows.)  I have seen this same reference to a 2% dilution of helichrysum used in suncreens in other, non commercial sites, who were not selling the oil. So who knows.  At any rate, I thought this might be helpful.

If you or yours DO overdue the sun there are several 'sunburn treatments' in our skincare hints and tips file.  High Altitude Lavender, German Chamomile and Helichrysum are what I would reach for.  In my favorite carrier oil, added to a bath, or if I was too sore to touch...chilled hydrosols for spritzing.  But prevention is better than treatment!

Updated information pages:  

We've been busily researching and adding information to some of our pages...specifically the 'suggested remedies' page, the emotional page, and the aromatic skincare page.

regarding the sun protection, Cindy, who asked us not to use her name wrote:

I do make my own facial oils and I have loved
the Seabuckthorn berry very very very much.  I once got very
sunburned everywhere except my face.  I could not figure out why
since I had no sunscreen on my face.  The only difference was I
had been using the seabuckthorn berry in the make-up of my
daytime face oil for a while.  I don't want to burn my self to
prove that point, but I feel safer knowing my face has an added
protection.  Thank you.

(well, this is sort of a reader...it's my big brother, who I think is in training to grow up to be a Dirty Old Man!)

He was intrigued our Virgin Coconut Oil, so the girls sent him a wee sample.  (Probably a mistake!)  He emailed:

"Hi Marge,  My thanks to Courtney and Debi and you for the lovely thought sending us the coconut cream.
 
I immediately went out looking for a virgin to rub it on.. Francoise corrected me on three counts, one that it's called virgin cream not necessarily to be rubbed on a virgin, secondly she doubted I'd find a virgin of legal age in Pennsylvania and third was a private conversation which I will not share with you. 
 
Any how thanks to all, I'm glad to see you're still supported by a good staff.  Love to all Allan and Francoise"

(and, as most of you know, I am supported by a WONDERFUL staff...but it's nice to see other people recognize them.)
 
Our old friend Ruth Gilbert recently wrote (in response to the newsletter where we mentioned running low on Clementine Petitgrain):

Special Instructions / Comments: Please, please don\'t discontinue the clementine petigrain.  It's my husbands all time favorite for relieving anxiety, smells wonderful, is great in diffuser and bath. 

We told Ruth we would reorder the Clementine Petitgrain if we could quote her. I always use Neroli for anxiety, and tend to forget that a sweetly scented petitgrain will also be effective, and perhaps less feminine than my beloved orange blossom.

Skin Rash and Helichrysum.

Madeline Reiss of NYC wrote a few months ago about a friend "who had had a weird scaly patch on her face for  about twenty years and ....and has tried every single thing to heal it.  She ordered some diluted Helichrysum for another use, and decided to try it on her face.  she said "I figured, let me try some of that oil on my scaly patch, what the Heck!" Well, the next day she noticed a slight difference, kept using it and by Wednesday (she began this on Sunday morning) it was greatly reduced!!

Madeline, that was a few months ago...do you have a followup so I can post this on the Helichrysum Healing page?

and...more heli feedback:

Catherine Grice wrote to Courtney:

My super uppity face is loving your Clarifying Soap!  EOs are a whole new wonderful experience for me.  I read about someone's great healing experiences using Helichrysum infused products on their face .  I wanted to try some of that bottled magic too.  And magic it's been!   While I'm still a work in progress and taking things slowly, my pores are obviously enjoying all the wonderfully gentle pampering.

Aromatic Quote for May:

I sing of brooks, of blossoms, birds and bowers,
Of April, May, of June and July-flowers;
I sing of May-poles, hock-carts, wassails, wakes,
Of bridegrooms, brides and of their bridal cakes;
I write of youth, of love, and have access
By these to sing of cleanly wantonness;
Robert Herrick . The Argument of His Book

Enjoy!

Links used in this Newsletter, if the links above don't work for you, just cut and paste into your browser.:

• New and Specials Page:
• http://www.naturesgift.com/special.htm?source=Maynws
• Sandalwood Oils:
• http://www.naturesgift.com/essential/descriptions-y.htm#SANDALWOOD?source=Maynws  
• Perfume and other bottles:
• http://www.naturesgift.com/oilbottles.htm?source=Maynws
• Seaweed Essential Oil: 
• http://www.naturesgift.com/essential/descriptions-y.htm#SEAWEED?source=Maynws
• Aromatherapy Accessories:
• http://www.naturesgift.com/aromatherapyaccessories.htm?source=Maynws
• Special Books Page:
• http://www.naturesgift.com/specbook.htm?source=Maynws
• Carrier oils
• http://www.naturesgift.com/aromatherapycar_ord.htm?source=Maynws
• Floral Waxes:
• http://www.naturesgift.com/floral_waxes.htm?source=Maynws
• Skincare Hints and Tips
• http://www.naturesgift.com/hints_skincare.htm?source=Maynws
• Suggested Remedies:
• http://www.naturesgift.com/physical.htm?source=Maynws
• Emotional Uses:
• http://www.naturesgift.com/emotbl.htm?source=Maynws
• Aromatic Skincare Ideas:
• http://www.naturesgift.com/essentialoil-skincare.htm?source=Maynws