Re: oil info and an aside about pennyroyal

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Posted by Anne Beltestad on September 10, 2001 at 15:00:10:

In reply to: oil info and a bit at the bottom about oils and pregnancy posted by Darlahood on September 10, 2001 at 06:20:06:

Yeah, be very very careful with thyme...I've often used it for
bronchitis or asthma in a bath, but unless it is mixed VERY well the
bath can be an unpleasant experience indeed!
I'd make sure that Lilac and the others actually are essential oils,
and not perfume oils. I think fragrance oils are diluted with a
carrier oil or other things you might not want to add to henna.
Also, Geranium can keep me awake; I don't know about others but any
Mint does the same.
Speaking of oils that can help PMS, I have found the ONLY thing that
stops my cramps is essential oil of pennyroyal, applied EXTERNALLY.
Unfortunately some very misguided people drank this oil in an attempt
to give themselves abortions (an argument for donating to Planned
Parenthood if ever I heard one!) and it's really hard to find, but
worth it. It should also come first on a list of oils not to use
when pregnant, as it does speed up uterine contractions, from what I
understand. Most books don't address it, or say never to use it. I
use it only when I am unable to function from cramps, sparingly, and
would never put it in henna!

: Okay, first off, when purchasing thyme, make sure it IS the white
: thyme, because the other variety, red thyme has toxic amounts
: of "phenols" whatever those are, I'm just taking this from my
: aromatherapy text. White thyme is somewhat safer to use because
more
: often than not the oil has been adulterated, lowering the
toxicity.
: As a rule, use thyme sparingly and do not use it during pregnancy.
: As for the terpine element in thyme, it's like the second or third
: ingredient, varying upon the quality of the oil.
:
: Okay, second bit, geranium: the difference between plain geranium
: (bourbon?) and egyptian geranium is simply where it comes from.
: Geranium for essential oil purposes is produced in Reunion (isn't
: that an island somewhere?), Egypt, Russia, and China. The effect
and
: smell between the two variations of oil may be slightly different
due
: to the differences of plant cultivation. So you'll just have to
: test 'em and see! Terpine element isn't too high, but it's a good
: oil to have around for PMS!
:
: Okay, now for the other oils you mentioned.
:
: Lilac: um, this one isn't in my aromatherapy book, which leads me
to
: believe that it is simply a fragrance oil. As for blending it with
: other oils, it will work with other floral essences, such as
geranium
: or rose.
:
: Bay Berry: Does this oil smell like eucalyptus or tea tree, if so,
: then it is a derivitive of myrtle. Or does it smell more sweet and
: spicy? If the latter then it is they kind of bayberry they use in
: the west indies to make rum and condition their dreadlocks. Use
the
: first bayberry liberally, it's safe and has plenty of terpine
: action. The other one, West Indian bay, is a little on the toxic
: side and should not be used undiluted, no terpine action.
: ***special aside note to Nick, "Dude! we should get some of this
: stuff, it's listed as being good for 'scalp stimulant, hair rinse
for
: dandruff, greasy, lifeless hair, and promoting growth.' That
pretty
: much describes my dreadlocks right now!"***
:
: All of the oils above except for the flowery ones will help your
: terpine-henna action. Remember when blending oils that flowery
: scents will go good with other flowery scents and spicy scents go
: well with their other spicy brothers and sisters. Lavendar and
: rosemary are good oils to have around because they do tremendously
: good works by themselves and also help bridge the gap between spicy
: and floral scents.
:
: Also another little aside note about oils and pregnancy, the reason
: why you shouldn't use them when pregnant is because some of these
: oils stimulate the uterine muscles!!! So just because someone is
: visibly pregnant (i.e. showing), doesn't excuse us as artists to
: inquire about a person's health condition as far as this goes.
:
: Oils that should not be used during pregnancy are: ajowan,
angelica,
: anise star, aniseed, basil, bay laurel, calamintha, cedarwood (all
: types), celery seed, cinammon leaf, citronella, clary sage, clove,
: cumin, fennel (sweet), hyssop, juniper, labdanum, lovage, marjoram,
: myrrh, nutmeg, parsley, snakeroot, Spanish sage, tarragon, thyme.
:
: These oils are best avoided during the first four months of
: pregnancy: peppermint, rose, and rosemary.
:
: Hope this helps.

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Pennyroyal also keeps bugs at bay! txilar 17:26:22 9/10/2001 (0)

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: Yeah, be very very careful with thyme...I've often used it for : bronchitis or asthma in a bath, but unless it is mixed VERY well the : bath can be an unpleasant experience indeed! : I'd make sure that Lilac and the others actually are essential oils, : and not perfume oils. I think fragrance oils are diluted with a : carrier oil or other things you might not want to add to henna. : Also, Geranium can keep me awake; I don't know about others but any : Mint does the same. : Speaking of oils that can help PMS, I have found the ONLY thing that : stops my cramps is essential oil of pennyroyal, applied EXTERNALLY. : Unfortunately some very misguided people drank this oil in an attempt : to give themselves abortions (an argument for donating to Planned : Parenthood if ever I heard one!) and it's really hard to find, but : worth it. It should also come first on a list of oils not to use : when pregnant, as it does speed up uterine contractions, from what I : understand. Most books don't address it, or say never to use it. I : use it only when I am unable to function from cramps, sparingly, and : would never put it in henna! : : : Okay, first off, when purchasing thyme, make sure it IS the white : : thyme, because the other variety, red thyme has toxic amounts : : of "phenols" whatever those are, I'm just taking this from my : : aromatherapy text. White thyme is somewhat safer to use because : more : : often than not the oil has been adulterated, lowering the : toxicity. : : As a rule, use thyme sparingly and do not use it during pregnancy. : : As for the terpine element in thyme, it's like the second or third : : ingredient, varying upon the quality of the oil. : : : : Okay, second bit, geranium: the difference between plain geranium : : (bourbon?) and egyptian geranium is simply where it comes from. : : Geranium for essential oil purposes is produced in Reunion (isn't : : that an island somewhere?), Egypt, Russia, and China. The effect : and : : smell between the two variations of oil may be slightly different : due : : to the differences of plant cultivation. So you'll just have to : : test 'em and see! Terpine element isn't too high, but it's a good : : oil to have around for PMS! : : : : Okay, now for the other oils you mentioned. : : : : Lilac: um, this one isn't in my aromatherapy book, which leads me : to : : believe that it is simply a fragrance oil. As for blending it with : : other oils, it will work with other floral essences, such as : geranium : : or rose. : : : : Bay Berry: Does this oil smell like eucalyptus or tea tree, if so, : : then it is a derivitive of myrtle. Or does it smell more sweet and : : spicy? If the latter then it is they kind of bayberry they use in : : the west indies to make rum and condition their dreadlocks. Use : the : : first bayberry liberally, it's safe and has plenty of terpine : : action. The other one, West Indian bay, is a little on the toxic : : side and should not be used undiluted, no terpine action. : : *special aside note to Nick, "Dude! we should get some of this : : stuff, it's listed as being good for 'scalp stimulant, hair rinse : for : : dandruff, greasy, lifeless hair, and promoting growth.' That : pretty : : much describes my dreadlocks right now!"* : : : : All of the oils above except for the flowery ones will help your : : terpine-henna action. Remember when blending oils that flowery : : scents will go good with other flowery scents and spicy scents go : : well with their other spicy brothers and sisters. Lavendar and : : rosemary are good oils to have around because they do tremendously : : good works by themselves and also help bridge the gap between spicy : : and floral scents. : : : : Also another little aside note about oils and pregnancy, the reason : : why you shouldn't use them when pregnant is because some of these : : oils stimulate the uterine muscles!!! So just because someone is : : visibly pregnant (i.e. showing), doesn't excuse us as artists to : : inquire about a person's health condition as far as this goes. : : : : Oils that should not be used during pregnancy are: ajowan, : angelica, : : anise star, aniseed, basil, bay laurel, calamintha, cedarwood (all : : types), celery seed, cinammon leaf, citronella, clary sage, clove, : : cumin, fennel (sweet), hyssop, juniper, labdanum, lovage, marjoram, : : myrrh, nutmeg, parsley, snakeroot, Spanish sage, tarragon, thyme. : : : : These oils are best avoided during the first four months of : : pregnancy: peppermint, rose, and rosemary. : : : : Hope this helps.
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