How to Use Essential Oil in Your Home

You can incorporate essential oils into your everyday life by using them whenever you would use a commercial cleanser or air freshener. You may want to avoid using your precious essential oils, such as neroli (Citrus aurantium var. amara) and rose attar (Rosa damascena), for cleaning and household purposes.

You do not need to invest in diffusers or other aromatherapy equipment, although they can be quick and easy ways to disperse essential oils into the air. The following suggestions do not require an investment in any equipment:

• Use two or three drops on the filter pad of your vacuum cleaner to leave a refreshing aroma around your home as you do the housework.
• Add two or three drops to the edge of the toilet roll before placing on the toilet roll holder.
• Place a few drops on cotton balls that are distributed in drawers, wardrobes, closets, and cupboards. A good night's rest is ensured if placed into pillowcases. This will also help keep moths and insects out of linen.
• Use as a room freshener. Pour directly on cotton balls and leave in a room. This is particularly good for freshening up a room that is stale with cigarette smoke or pet odors.
• Sprinkle a few drops on potpourri to revive the original fragrance.
• Sprinkle a few drops in and around drains, into the trash bin, compost bucket, toilet bowl, and in the dishwasher.
• Add a few drops to the washing machine or dryer when doing laundry. For dryers, add the oil to a dry cloth and place it into the dryer along with the wet laundry.
• Add a drop of lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) to the water that you add to your steam iron or use a hydrosol.
• You can use essential oils in every room in your house: kitchen, living room, bathroom, bedroom, laundry, and even in the garden.

For more information about the history of aromatherapy download our free lecture History of Aromatherapy and our PowerPoint presentation What is Aromatherapy?

Essential Oil of Vitex May Help with Symptoms of PMS and Menopause

ACHS President Dorene Petersen harvests vitex berries for essential oil distillation in the American College of Healthcare Sciences Botanical Teaching Garden on February 17, 2010

Vitex Vitex agnus-castus, also called chaste tree and monk's pepper, is from the family Verbenaceae. A perennial, deciduous shrub, vitex grows to about 6-18 feet high and can spread to about 15 feet. The leaves are dark green, the flowers are small and lilac, and the berries are red-black with a spicy, aromatic flavor and aroma.

Historically, vitex is said to have been chewed by monks to help preserve their celibacy. There are also reports mentioning its use in Greek rituals, as well as the practice of carrying twigs for protection against dangers and to signify chastity.

Vitex essential oil is a pale to dark-yellow color and has a strong aroma, but is not traditionally used in perfumery. The fruit, or berries, are used to produce the oil, which includes the active constituents limonene, 1,8-cineol, pinene, carophyllene, and sabinene.

Therapeutically, vitex essential oil is thought to have hormonal effects, such as support for the relief of common menopausal symptoms[1] and PMS[2], and may have antibacterial and antifungal effects.

>> To learn more about the medicinal benefits of vitex, check out this free education video from the American College of Healthcare Sciences with College President Dorene Petersen: http://www.youtube.com/achstv#p/u/1/V0Mpmgm2sbU

Sign up to follow ACHS on YouTube, ACHStv, to receive automatic updates the moment new videos are posted: http://www.youtube.com/achstv

>> For your vitex essential oil, stop by the Apothecary Shoppe: www.apothecary-shoppe.com

[1] Lucks, B. 2003. Vitex agnus castus essential oil and menopausal balance: a research update. Complementary Therapies in Nursing and Midwifery Vol 9, Issue 3 148-154.
[2] 2009. The premenstrual syndrome: effectiveness of Vitex agnus castus. Med Monatsschr Pharm. May; 32(5): 186-91.

Reduce stress at home with essential oils

Aromatherapy is a very effective tool for stress management. But, if you’re on the go, it can be a challenge to schedule time for a relaxing aromatherapy bath or to blend your own soothing essential oil scent. Don’t worry. Incorporating essential oils into your busy lifestyle is easier than you may think.

Here are four tips for using essential oils at home. They’re simple. They’re effective. And above all, they’re relatively inexpensive. Use essential oils while:

1. Cleaning.
Place two or three essential oils drops onto your vacuum cleaner’s filter pad, and the inhale the fresh aroma as you do your cleaning. Essential oils known for their energizing properties include: bergamot, eucalyptus, and grapefruit.

2. Room freshener.
To keep the aroma fresh and alive, place a few drops of essential oil directly into a light bulb scent ring. These rings are easy to find at most local grocery or drug stores. Essential oils known for their calming properties include: chamomile, lavender, and neroli.

3. Laundry.
Replace your synthetically fragranced detergent with a fragrance-free, natural variety. Then add a few drops of the essential oil of your choice to the wash cycle. Essential oils known for their stress-relief properties include: anise, jasmine, and sandalwood.

4. Drains.
To clear musty smells from around the home, add a few drops of essential oil to drains, the bottom of trashcans, and the inside of toilet paper rolls. Essential oils known for their antibacterial properties include: cedarwood, peppermint, and tea tree.

To learn more about aromatherapy diffusers, click here. For a selection of certified organic, therapeutic essential oils, click here.

ACHS Lavender Open House listed in The Asian Reporter

The Asian Reporter Community Calendar lists ACHS's Lavendar Distillation demo and Open House on Wednesday July 16 from noon - 4:00pm at the college, 5940 SW Hood Ave. Portland, OR 97239.

At the Open House, you can learn about harvesting and distilling lavender into its essential oils, take a tour of the Botanical Teaching Garden, and learn how to grow different types of lavender with Master Gardener and ACHS SVP Erika Yigzaw.

The first five guests to the Open House will receive one free bunch of fresh picked lavender, so reserve your place today!