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President's Letter

Dear Aroma Friends,

I am glad to say that spring is definitely here. We have had a couple of odd days where the sun has been shining one minute and the next minute we are in the middle of a hailstorm. The grass and the weeds certainly like this weather!

This Spring I have finally made the difficult decision to get along without our lavender garden. It was getting to be too much for me. Green Valley is now at that demanding teenage stage, and I am not! We managed to distill some lavender from last year's harvest. Both the process and the product were wonderful. The plants are 4 years old, so they are fairly well established. I am making a small lavender bed, and potting the remaining 400 plants and selling them. My aim is to finish before I leave for England on May 26, so that when I return in June I will have some time to enjoy the garden.

June is going to be a hectic and exciting month for Green Valley. Our One Face skincare line will be launched on June 10th, and all our new products will be photographed. New essential oils are arriving so they are ready when the new catalogue comes out. I know when something has arrived, as I can hear the "oohs", "aahs" and "eewws", as our staff sniff the new aromas.

I was thrilled to hear that I had been elected Vice President of the British Columbia Association of Practicing Aromatherapists. I hope the years of learning with Green Valley will be of use to help the association grow in numbers and in strength. I know I am going to learn a great deal on this board of distinguished aromatherapists. I'm looking forward to the challenges that my new duties will bring.

I must head off now to work on the final preparations for my trip to England. Here's to a June full of sunshine and outdoor activities. Remember to take your essential oil insect repellants wherever you go and if you happen to get sunburnt (if the sun ever stays out long enough!) remember, lavender essential oil and/or lavender hydrosol can help to repair the damage!

Barb Greenwood
President & CEO

Essential Oils in the Great Outdoors

When you think about it, using essential oils outside makes complete sense. We are all so accustomed to using oils for massage and in our baths and body lotions. We diffuse them, we steam with them, and we even inhale them straight from tissues!

So, the next time you are heading out into the wilderness (or even just to the beach or your own backyard) consider keeping an essential oil 'first aid kit' handy. Essential oils of Lavender, Tea Tree and German Chamomile are excellent for bites, scrapes, burns and cuts, with their abilities to help heal and disinfect. They can be blended into jojoba oil, a liquid wax that is very similar in nature to the chemical make up of the sebum that protects our skin. They can be made into a spray with water and a little alcohol (which helps keep the oils emulsified in the water). Spraying this around your head and shoulders can help to keep those annoying little No See Ems from buzzing around. Lavender and Chamomile hydrosols are also wonderful for helping to take the 'burn' out of sunburns and replenish wind-burnt skin.

In this newsletter we will explore ways to use essential oils to deter little critters, help heal bites (if you forgot your deterrent blend) and scratches, and even assist with the irritation that some plants can inflict. Your outdoor adventures should be fun. Keep the oils close and have a great time!

Creepy Crawly Pests

Every year about this time the calls start coming in from our clients wanting to know what can be used (from the essential oil world) as a natural pesticide. While essential oils are not about death and destruction, there are oils that can be used to help deter the little rotters from invading our own personal space.

To stop flying creatures from gaining entry into your living quarters, dot strips of ribbon with any of the below mentioned essential oils and let the breeze do the rest. Your home will smell fresh and the insects should be sufficiently offended by the scent that they will choose instead to fly into your neighbor's house! The same holds true for ants. Drop some peppermint essential oil onto cotton balls (or a strip of material) and lay it out across the bottom of the door frame. They won't cross the line! Remember to refresh the scent every few days to keep the little invaders at bay!

Great Oils for Deterring Insects

• Thyme
• Eucalyptus (citriodora)
• Lemongrass
• Citronella
• Lavender
• Geranium
• Peppermint

Natural First Aid Touches

Bee stings

Apply a cold compress of Chamomile as long as possible and apply 1 drop of Chamomile neat three times a day for two days.

Wasp stings

Wasp stings are alkaline so treat with cider or wine vinegar (1 tsp) and add 2 drops each of lavender and chamomile essential oil. Mix up well and apply to the area three times a day.

Spiders

In a teaspoon of alcohol dilute 3 drops of lavender and 2 drops of chamomile. Blend well and apply to the area three times.

Plant Irritations

After encountering a stinging plant, immediately apply one drop of lavender or eucalyptus neat over the area and wash with cold water as soon as possible. After patting dry carefully apply another drop of lavender essential oil.

Cuts and Wounds

In a small basin of warm water add 5 drops of Lavender essential oil and 2 drops of Tea Tree essential oil. Agitate well with your hand (to blend the oils into the water) and rinse the wound carefully. Pat dry and then put 3 drops of lavender on a piece of gauze and place it over the cut. Change twice throughout the day and on the third day expose the wound to air if possible.

Disinfectant Wash

Lavender (10 drops), Thyme (20 drops) and Eucalyptus (10 drops). Blend together and keep to use in the same manner as the wash for cuts and wounds (use 5-7 drops of blend). Follow with application of Lavender essential oil.

Product Highlight - One Face

One Face Natural Skincare

Almost one year in the making we are very proud to be able to announce the launch of our new skincare line, One Face. Each batch is hand made using all natural ingredients and therapeutic grade essential oils creating a delightful treat for your skin.

Cleansing without stripping your face of its emollience, exfoliating without the harsh, cutting edges of some nut scrubs, One Face keeps your skin glowing with fresh radiance. To feed that healthy glow further it is our pleasure to offer our One Face moisturizer and should your skin tends to be dry or mature, needing more of a nourishing 'drink', we highly recommend daily use of 'The Hydrator'; a rejuvenating blend of evening primrose oil, lecithin, neroli pure essential oil and vitamin E. For a touch more hydration may we suggest the use of our hydrosol toners. These living waters are created when essential oils are steam distilled, carrying with them the water soluble benefits of the plant material and are a fabulous addition to any skincare regime.

One Face has a line for Dry skin, Normal/Combination skin and Sensitive skin as well as an Exfoliator (with a hint of lavender essential oil), an unscented Glacial Clay mask, and 'The Hydrator'. Blended with ingredients like Seabuckthorn oil, Honey, Aloe Vera and Lecithin, One Face promises to treat your one face with the tender respect it deserves.

The Reading Room

The Fragrant Mind
by Valerie Ann Worwood

The Fragrant Mind presents the latest scientific research about aromas effects on the mind, showing how these findings are increasingly entering into the mainstream.

Worwood introduces her Aroma Genra system of personality types and advises readers on which oils and methods can prevent stress, depression, moodiness and insomnia, and which can promote self-esteem, confidence and well being, all without synthetic drugs or chemicals.

The first in-depth exploration of essential oils and the mind, The Fragrant Mind is a pioneering reference work that gives both the casual user and the experienced aromatherapist the information they need to explore the emotional benefits of natural oils with safety and confidence.

This book is excellent for providing a wealth of new information on the human mind as it responds to essential oils.

Please check out our on line shop. This book and others like it are available for purchase.

Book Update

"Green Valley Aromatherapy Essentials" has been to the proof-readers and editors for final adjustments and is now on its way to the printers! This hands-on guide will be invaluable to anyone wanting a book that is easy to read and easy to use. For more information regarding our July launch please watch our website www.57aromas.com.

Did You Know?

Ants and other creepy crawlies (as well as mice) detest the smell of peppermint! Last summer Bobbi's hummingbird feeder sprung a slow leak, creating a small sticky puddle on the sidewalk. She didn't notice it until the day she went out to her garden and noticed a conga line of black ants happily trailing to and from this succulent Mecca they had discovered. With no desire to stomp them into oblivion, she decided this would be an excellent opportunity to test out the peppermint oil theory. After observing their pattern of advancement and retreat she dropped a line of peppermint oil directly across their path. The ensuing melee was astounding.

Ants were running back and forth in front of the line completely thrown off by the penetrating scent. Next morning she ventured back out to look at the aftermath and what to her wondering eyes did appear? A tidy sidewalk and no ants, all clear!

Oil Profile: Cardamom Elettaria cardamomum

The Cardamom plant belongs to the same plant family as Ginger (Zingiberaceae) and as such offers much of the same warming qualities. It is steam distilled from the seeds of the fruit and has been utilized in Eastern traditional medicine for over 3,000 years. Mainly grown in India, Sri Lanka and parts of the Middle East, it has a long and interesting history. The Egyptians used the oil from Cardamom in the making of the now famous "Kyphi" perfume. One of the main uses of Cardamom is as a digestive aid, helping to ease nausea, heartburn and flatulence and may offer relief to those with diarrhea by helping to ease the sharp stomach cramping that sometimes accompanies it. It is interesting to note that this spice is also one of the ingredients that make up curry. Due to its warming properties, Cardamom has also been used in helping to relieve muscular aches and pains. One of the most widespread uses for this oil in India is as an aphrodisiac, although there is no real physiological evidence to support this. It is wonderful when used in the bath: its warm, sweet and spicy aroma wraps around you to create a feeling of relaxation and rejuvenation. Keep in mind that this oil is a spice oil and may cause skin irritation in some people. A little goes a long way.

General properties: aphrodisiac antiseptic antispasmodic astringent digestive stimulant diuretic Aromatherapy uses: May help with coughs, nausea, headaches, colic, stomach cramps, mental fatigue and impotence. Cardamom can stimulate digestion.