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Hester AbaFebruary 6, 2018

Hester AbaFebruary 6, 2018

Hester AbaFebruary 6, 2018

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So I’m five weeks post partum and finally getting back out into the world. *

I really started to crave outdoors, the smells, sights and sounds of birds and animals.
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Made me realise I should make more use of our balcony. The old adage we forget what’s right in front of us. Sitting out here, feeding the baby peacefully when the other two are at school in the morning, under the whirl of the fan, the sound of birds and the smell of green when we get a tropical downpour has been very healing.
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Having a baby is really back to basics. With each child I have had, it teaches me to appreciate all the small things and the juxtaposition of slowing right down in some ways and of course speeding up in other ways. But really being with young children is so much about ‘stopping to smell the flowers’ taking time and appreciating the moments. *

#postpartumhealth #aromatherapy #plants #citygarden #appreciatewhatyouhave #slowdown #breastfeeding #olfactory #3kidsmama

People often ask ‘should I buy organic essential oils?’ .
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Well of course in an ideal world none of our food and products, indeed wider environment would be contaminated with pollutants. But such is the times we are living in. It’s actually quite hard to get all organic oils all the time. Much like food, there are some you should always buy organic or at least wild crafted. .
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Citrus oils, lemon, grapefruit, orange and so on get subjected to a lot of pesticides and insecticides. As the peel is cold pressed to produce the oil a great deal of toxins can taint the product. They are also one of the most adulterated oils. Meaning synthetic and natural compounds are added to the oil to enhance its aroma and preserve shelf life.
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How do tell if the oil you buy is 100% plant based genuine? It’s actually pretty hard for the lay person and even professionals. Testing can be done on the oils determining the chemical compounds but in many cases it won’t detect the synthetic ones. .
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A few things to remember: Buy your oils from small specialist suppliers who you trust. Price: if it’s too cheap high chance it’s been adulterated. Availability: like foods certain oils are harvested in certain seasons, if your supplier doesn’t always have an oil in stock this is good news! They are probably waiting for the distillery to harvest and produce the oil, rather than mass production which leads to more adulteration and heavier use of pesticides. Labelling: oils should have botanical name as well as common name, 100% natural. Shelf life: Citrus oils should only last approx 1 year in room temperature and 2 years in the fridge. If it lasts 5 years chances are it’s been adulterated in some way. Aroma: as your ‘nose’ develops you might be able to detect dubious quality. Certainly the oils should not always smell exactly the same. .
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Please note citrus oils are photosensitive and skin irritants. Please do not go into the sun after applying and be careful with dilutions and repeated regular use. Sensitivity builds over time.
#essentialoils #essentialoilmama #citrusoils #organicskincare #organicessentialoils #essentialoilsafety #orangeoil #lemonoil #organic #aromatherapy

Pregnancy, a time of joy, celebration, preparation? Well yes for sure it is and then you have the darker days. It’s all valid and part of the unique adventure of motherhood.
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I have a post coming up soon on how aromatherapy and essential oils can support you during you’re journey of pregnancy. .
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There is quite a lot of crossover between the oils and the challenges they can support. .
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Roman Chamomille, Lavender, Peppermint, Rosemary, Ginger, Black Pepper, Sweet Orange, Grapefruit, Rose, are some oils I will discuss. Each of them supporting common ailments experienced like nausea, tiredness, muscular aches, insomnia anxiety, stress, digestive issues, lack of concentration & forgetfulness...
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I will also address safety concerns and contraindicated oils for pregnancy with sound scientific data to back it up not just my own experiences....such as...’oh I always used it and it was fine’ which I hear a lot.
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Mamas we need as much support around us as possible, use what resources are available to you. We can’t do this alone. This third pregnancy has been the hardest for me, many moments of doubt and the physicality and psychological stresses and strains of already parenting two young children really takes it toll some days. .
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#essentialoils #essentialoilmama #aromatherapy #aromatherapyandpregnancy #essentialoilsforpregnancy #pregnancy #pregnancysupport

Been posting lots of info lately. Time for a pretty picture! .
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Hyacinthus Orientalis is our oil of the month for April. It is generally used only in professional aromatherapy and not that frequently. It is technically an absolute so not an essential oil as it’s obtained through solvent extraction. So for the purists out there you might want to forego it. .
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The plant is native to parts of Asia,
Turkey, Syria, Lebanon & Israel. It was introduced to Europe. It flowers early spring and it’s highly fragrant flowers attract insects for pollination. It is often used in the perfume industry. .
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It is used for emotional burnout, addictions, grief, loss and initiation rites. It has the power to stir some deep emotions. .
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Make sure to blend with some earthy grounding oils to temper its hypnotic energy.
#hyacinth #absolutes #solventextraction #aromatherapy #flowerpower #flowers #anniesprattphotography #hyacinthusorientalis

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