Q- What are some quick, easy ways to enjoy aromatherapy on a daily basis?

A- The possibilities are only as limited as your imagination. Try perfuming a room by placing 1 or 2 drops of a favorite essential oil onto a damp piece of cotton, then place on the radiator, or add the drops to water in an old pot on the wood stove or regular stove. Uplift the mood with an oil like Geranium or Ylang Ylang or try Eucalyptus or Tea Tree for the cold and flu season.
Another easy tip would be to put a couple of drops of essential oil onto a COLD light bulb - when the light is turned on, the heat will release the scent into the air. You can put a drop of essential oil on a tissue and carry with you to inhale and enjoy the scent whenever you wish. It will last for several hours. I like to carry a tissue in the car to sniff from time to time. Lemon or peppermint are great for keeping you alert. At night, a tissue with a couple of drops of Lavender essential oil is very nice when placed under your pillow. Really helps you relax and fall asleep.
There are so many ways to use essential oils and other aromatherapy items. We have added a new Tips page to our website to give you lots of ideas and recipes. You can check it out at: http://www.ItsMyNature.net/html/tips.html

Q- How long have you been in business?

A- It's My Nature has been in business since January, 1996 and we are growing each year. Our website is really expanding too. We now have an interative tips page, a large shopping section and lots of Aromatherapy information, including this newsletter.

Includes: 1 Muslin Eye Pillow and
3 washable covers. $30

Choose from:
· Peppermint & Lavender Headache Blend
· Mint & Eucalyptus Sinus/Allergy Blend
· Lavender Stress Blend

Washable Eye Pillow Covers
No zippers, no velcro.
Choose from Celestial Prints or MonoTones $7.00

Herbal/Folk Tradition
Catnip is famous for its stimulating effect on felines. However, it produces the opposite, sedative effect on humans.

Throughout history the leaves and shoots have been used in sauces, soups, and stews. Herbal tea has been made with its leaves and flowers. Catnip tea was a regular beverage in England before the introduction of tea from China.

Catnip (Nepeta cataria) is a wild English plant belonging to the mint family Labiatae. Cats love the scent of this plant, it acts as an aphrodisiac to the felines. They roll in it, chew the leaves and then lay in the plant to sleep when they have had enough.

Folklore says cats never meddle with the plants raised from seed. They are only attracted to it when it is in a withering state, or when the leaves have been bruised from gathering or transplanting.

Catnip is a perennial growing from 1 - 3 feet, with silvery green leaves and aromatic blue flowers. It is easy to grow, does well in dry, poor soil conditions and does not require a lot of attention. Don't plant where cats can be a nuisance. To harvest, simply cut tops off and hang in a cool dry place.

Dispite all the uses for the fun loving felines, Catnip has excellent nutritional properties and is very beneficial to man. It is a good source of iron, selenium, potassium, manganese, chromium and contains moderate amounts of other vitamins and minerals.

Catnip's strong sedating properties make it useful for insomnia, restlessness and headaches.

Its carminative properties have a relaxing effect on the digestive system and make it great for relieving upset stomach, indigestion, flatulence, diarrhea and colic. Its anti-spasmodic properties relieve menstrual cramping and chronic coughing.

Catnip is a traditional cold and flu remedy. By promoting sweating it is helpful in any feverish condition. Its antibiotic and astringent properties are also beneficial for treating colds and bronchial infections.

In the USA, it was used as an enema to cleanse and heal the lower bowel.
Catnip is a great herb to use with children. It is calming to the nervous system and helps to get a restless child off to sleep. It soothes upset stomach, counteracts diarrhea and controls fever.

The essential oil in catnip contains a monoterpene similar to the valepotriates found in valerian, an even more widely renowned sedative. Animal studies (except those involving cats) have found it to increase sleep. The monoterpenes also help with coughs.

Parts used for medicinal purposes: Leaves and flowering tops.
Properties Include : Carminative, anti-spasmodic, diaphoretic, nervine, mild astringent, antibacterial, sedative.
Skin Care - Hair rinse for dandruff.
Circulation, Muscles and Joints - Relieves spasm in skeletal or smooth muscle.
Respiratory System -Colds, flu, bronchitis, coughs.
Digestive System -Upset stomach, indigestion, flatulence, diarrhea, colic, hemorrhoids, spastic bowel.
Nervous Systems - Insomnia, nightmares, mild tension.

There are two types of Bergamot used in Aromatherapy. One is a prolific perennial herb, the other is the oil that has been extracted from the peel of a pear-shaped Mediterranean citrus fruit.

To avoid confusion between the two, we will address each by names they are often called. Bee Balm, the perennial herb and Citrus Bergamia, Latin for the citrus fruit.
It's My Nature uses and offers the Citrus Bergamia in our products. But we also grow the beautiful bee balm at our homes.

Bee Balm - Also Known As: Bergamot, Monarda, Monarda Didyma, Scarlet Monarda, Oswego tea and Red bee balm.

Bee balm is a perennial herb that adapts to a broad range of environments, but prefers a light moist soil in either sun or shade. The dense cluster blossoms last for several weeks and make the plant an attractive addition to gardens. Bees are especially attracted to the blossoms, hence the name bee balm. Bee balm is a member of the mint family, so it can be very invasive. It does makes a nice potted plant.

The entire herb (leaves and flowers) are quite fragrant, and resemble the Bergamot orange in scent. That is why it is often referred to simply as Bergamot.

Bergamot is a rich source of thymol, a strong antiseptic, and is used against fungi, bacteria and some parasites. It also is a carmative and often used against colds.

Herbalists use an infusion for upset stomach, nausea, and vomiting.
Skin Care: A facial steam with the dried leaves is great for all skin types.
Culinary Uses: Young leaves are a good addition to fresh salads.
Potpourri: Adds great color and fragrance.
Blends well with: Clary Sage, Coriander, Frankincense, Geranium, Jasmine, Juniper Berry, Lavender, Lemon, Neroli and Orange.

Citrus Bergamia - Also Known As: Citrus Aurantium.

Native to tropical Asia and named after an Italian city in Lombardy. It comes from a small tree that produces round fruit that resembles oranges, but ripens yellow.
Citrus Bergamia is hand-picked in winter when the fruit is still green. The Bergamot oil is produced by cold expression from the peel and then stored in special containers.

Because of its clean, fresh and citrusy scent, it is used extensively in aromatherapy and the perfume industry. It is the classic ingredient of eau-de-cologne and Earl Grey tea.

The oil is known to have about 300 components, the main being linalyl acetate, linalol and other alcohols, sesquiterpenes, terpenes, alkanes, and furocoumarins.
Bergamot's uplifting scent is valuable for tension, anxiety and depression. It can be used in the treatment of tensions causing dietary problems such as over and under eating.

Its antiseptic qualities make it ideal for the treatment of skin complaints such as acne, oily skin and all infections of the skin.

Bergamot oil works especially well on the urinary tract and is valuable in the treatment of cystitis and urethritis. It should be used in the bath or as a local wash at a 1% dilution.

Bergamot is cooling to feverish conditions, can lighten the pain of shingles and ease chicken pox in small children. It has an inhibiting effect on certain viruses, in particular, Herpes simplex 1 which causes cold sores. It also has effective insect repellent properties.

The fragrance blends well with: Lavender, Neroli, Jasmine, Geranium, Chamomile, Lemon, Cypress and Juniper.
Skin Care: Acne, boils, cold sores, eczema, insect bites, oily complexion, psoriasis, scabies.
Respiratory System: Mouth infections, sore throat, tonsillitis, halitosis.
Genito-urinary system: cystitis, leucorrhea, pruritis, thrush.
Immune system: Colds, fever, flu, infectious diseases.
Nervous System: Anxiety, depression and stress related conditions.
Caution: Bergamot essential oil should never be taken internally, and can cause sensitivity and skin pigmentation when exposed to sunlight. Therefore, exercise caution when using Bergamot in sunny weather. Bergamot should never be used undiluted on the skin. Severe burning may result.

Book Review

The Woman's Book of Healing Herbs

Prevention Health Books for Women by Sari Harrar and Sara Altshul O'Donnell This is a Great book that no woman should be without. It is the ultimate book on herbs for female-only health problems. There are teas, tinctures, supplements, formulas, masks, compresses and more. The step-by-step directions and color photos are a wonderful addition.

Learn about special blends for relaxation, rejuvenation and healing. Tonics than prevent or relieve colds and flu, hot flashes and menstrual cramps, digestive upsets, mood swings, pelvic pain, urinary tract infections and so much more. Based on modern scientific evidence, this book profiles 50 of the top healing herbs for women. It has a special section arranged alphabetically that offers herbal remedies for more than 80 health complaints, from altitude sickness to water retention. Safe and effective use of herbs for problems ranging from everyday complaints (like sage for bad breath and rosemary for headaches) to long-range concerns (like hawthorn for heart health and astragalus for immunity). Of course, popular herbs like echinacea, St. John's Wort and kava kava are well covered. A major section on botanicals that beautify spells out exactly which herbs can help with everything from clearing up blemishes, healing chapped lips and moisturizing dry skin, to smoothing crow's feet and other fine wrinkles, relieving puffy eyes and revitalizing dry, oily, or graying hair. Special attention is given to herbs valued for their power to lift mood and bolster emotional health; botanicals that boost energy, enhance sexual desire, improve memory, sharpen concentration, reverse mid afternoon slump, and take the edge off stress and tension. This is one book that women can rely on to help them explore "nature's pharmacy" and select remedies for their unique needs. Now available in Hardcover $32.00

A note from us.
Thinking about Aromatherapy for the next millennium is very exciting. We look forward to the day when aromatherapy and herbal healing are used first for preventing and treating ailments. Then the alternative will be the pharmaceutical synthetic medicines we use today. Education and practice have always been the best way to learn. Broaden the mind and experiment. This can become a fun and educational hobby.

Aromatherapy and herbal healing are infinite and can seem overwhelming. As always, we suggest starting slow. Learn a few herbs and essential oils at a time. Most have many uses and benefits. Learn each of them, one by one. Practice and use them in your daily life. This is the only way to truly get to know them. When you are comfortable, start to expand by introducing yourself to a new herb or essential oil and see if it blends well with some you are already familiar with.

Aromatherapy is a fun and rewarding hobby that can turn into a passion when nurtured. Who knows where it will take you.
~Susan & Vicki

There is no sense in fighting the lack of daylight. Let aromatherapy improve your mood and make up for light deprivation.

Candles are naturally soothing. Add a few drops of your favorite essential oil to the hot wax. Choose citrus, mints and florals for uplifting moods.

Simmer herbs on the wood stove to stimulate the senses.

Add a muslin bag of dried herbs in the airducts. Each time the air turns on, the scent will be dispersed throughout the home.

Natural Anti-depressants:
Lavender, Bergamot, Geranium, Ylang Ylang, Patchouli, Sage, Rosemary, St. John's Wort.