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Newsletter - September 2007

The arrival of the long overdue British summer sunshine has for now pushed away the dull grey clouds, and for many of us this means its time to dig out the sandals and finally get outdoors - but will our feet stand up to the scrutiny?

Whether we take a modest stroll around the countryside or embark on a serious hike, we will be relying on a much neglected part of our anatomy to get us there - we're talking of course, about our hard working feet. Where would we be without them?

To pamper these vital anatomical assets, our resident aromatherapist Sue brings you lots of aromatherapy recipes to soothe and cool them after your outdoor adventures, plus some great foot-care tips that will help keep them in good health.

September sees the launch of a brand-new Hair Care Collection from Quinessence, all packed full of natural and organic ingredients to keep your hair in tip-top condition. To be honest we are a bit late with this launch as many of you will know because stocks of our current line ran out a few weeks back!

Read all about them below in New Products, along with the new additions to both our Candle and Vaporiser Collections. Regular customers may also notice we have expanded our range of Hydrosols too, so you might want to check those out too when you have a minute too.

Thanks to all who emailed to give feedback about our latest website updates; please do keep the feedback coming. And a very special thank-you if you were one of those who provided suggestions for future products - we were amazed at some of your suggestions. It seems quite clear that you would like to see articles and even products from us that fall a little outside mainstream aromatherapy, but still within the field of health and wellbeing.

And that makes perfect sense, since aromatherapy is all about taking a holistic view to life and means incorporating all manner of things to maintain health and wellbeing.

We're already on the case!

 

Holiday Skincare Pack Offer!

To ensure you get the very best from the last of the summer sunshine, we've put together a great selection of essential skin care items that will cool, protect, moisturise and care for your skin whilst on your holidays.

Organic Essential Oils and skin-friendly botanicals are expertly blended to create these great hypoallergenic skin care lotions. And best of all - during September we are offering over 18% Discount off our normal price when you order online!

Worth £31.15, this month you can buy our Holiday Skincare Pack online for only £25.55 - saving you more money to spend during your holiday!

And that's not all - when you order your holiday Skincare Pack online the price even includes delivery to your door! This great Special Offer includes:-

Organic Rose Otto Hydrosol 100ml
Revitalise your parched, thirsty skin whilst out and about with this natural, organic facial spritzer. Complete with aerosol dispenser for quick and easy application, the divine fragrance of pure rose brings a totally uplifting and enlivening experience.

After Sun Lotion 100ml
A cooling lotion containing Aloe Vera and Lavender to balance lost moisture whilst soothing the skin after exposure to the sun. Helps promote soft, comfortable skin that is less likely to peel.

Moisturising Insect Repellent Lotion 100ml
Keep those pesky bugs at bay with this all-over body moisturising lotion containing 4 essential oils to provide long lasting protection.

Foot Balm Lotion 100ml
This cooling and refreshing lotion containing Peppermint and Benzoin is ideal to soothe tired or sore feet after a hot day outdoors.

Draw-string Bag
A handy lightweight plastic Draw-string bag to keep all your Summer Skin essentials together.

Price includes delivery!

But don't delay - stocks of this Special Offer are limited to the first 100 orders, so take advantage of this heavily discounted price and place your order today - before stocks run out!

 

Steppin' Out

Here's a question for you. When was the last time you spent more than just a few fleeting moments pampering your hard-working feet? Hmmm, I thought so. I'm just as guilty myself.

Despite us spending hours and hours every year applying luxurious beauty treatments to the face, neck and hands, our poor old feet are lucky to get more than a quick toe-nail clip or a lick of nail varnish! Given the tremendous pounding that our feet have to take every day, it is genuinely surprising that we do not lavish much more care on them.

But did you know that damaged feet can have a serious effect on our lives? Very few people are aware of how important it is to look after feet properly - that is or course until you feel them starting to complain!

Negative effect

Make no mistake; foot injuries can have a huge negative effect on your health because problems that start in the feet can result in bad posture and poor circulation if they are not corrected. Bad posture can then lead to pain in the knees, lower back and even the neck if left untreated. Believe me, I see this all the time in my clinic.

Also, if the arches of the feet are not supported properly it can lead to lower back pain, headaches, and of course flat feet. So let's be brutally honest about this - most of us pay no attention to our feet at all until we experience some sort of a problem with them. And by then of course it can be too late because the damage has bee already done.

Sensible shoes

We all know that high heels contribute to blisters, bunions, corns, calluses, hammertoes, ingrown toenails and posture problems, but did you know they can also contribute to arthritis of the knee? And this damage is not restricted to just wearing high stiletto heels either.

A study of 20 women published in the British medical journal The Lancet a few years back found that even walking on wide heels more than 2 inches high stresses those knee areas that are most vulnerable to the joint damage that causes arthritis. It also puts extra pressure on the lower back area.

Therefore choosing the appropriate footwear for the activity is obviously the starting point for healthy feet. For every-day footwear choose lower heels (3-4 cm) and never wear shoes that are too tight, too short or too pointed. Look out for rubber heels which absorb shock better than either leather or synthetics.

Treat your feet

It doesn't matter how you spend your recreational time, whether its walking, golf, or sports,- adults and children of any age can benefit from a foot and leg massage using essential oils which can relax tired, aching muscles and help improve the body's circulation. Balanced exercise and relaxation, along with regular aromatherapy massage and footbaths can all contribute towards keeping the feet healthy and in the best of condition.

Stimulating essential oils such as Peppermint, Spearmint, Rosemary or Eucalyptus are perfect to use in a warm and relaxing footbath after a busy day. These oils will help to refresh and soothe your tired tootsies, soaking away the stresses and strains of daily life.

Or you can add one drop each of Peppermint, Eucalyptus and Rosemary to a carrier oil or lotion after a long walk or sports activity to make a divine, cooling and refreshing foot rub.

Gently massage the soles of the feet in a small, circular motion to bring them welcome, blissful relief. Or better still, get your partner to do this for you! If they are not too enthusiastic about the idea at first, just swap treatments with each other - believe me, they will soon be back for more once they have experienced it!

Reflex points

After you have been out walking, exercising or perhaps digging in the garden all day and your feet begin to complain, choose some deep-soothing essential oils such as Black Pepper, Lavender, Chamomile Roman, Marjoram Sweet or Rosemary to help to ease those aches and pains away.

Use these oils in a warm footbath and follow up with a refreshing and cooling Peppermint foot rub to bring an extra boost to your treatment. After a footbath I like to add the Peppermint essential oil to a Carrier Lotion so that my feet are left fresh and tingly, and not at all greasy or oily.

Whilst applying the lotion blend to your feet you should take the opportunity to gently but thoroughly massage the soles of the feet. This area is well supplied with nerve endings and reflex points which relate to various organs and systems of the body.

A gentle massage in this area not only soothes your aching feet, but it also improves the function of certain glands and internal organs benefiting the entire body.

If you don't have all of these oils or just prefer your products ready made, try our Foot Balm Lotion that contains Peppermint, Rosemary and Benzoin oils in a comforting and moisturising hypo-allergenic lotion.

Sweet relief

Soothing and cooling hydrosols also bring sweet relief to weary, over-heated, tired aching feet. Nothing quite beats the refreshing and toning feel of Peppermint, Rosemary or Eucalyptus hydrosol when sprayed onto your sorry soles. Having said that, in my opinion luxurious Rose hydrosol is my favourite simply because it smells so beautiful!

And finally, remember that Tea Tree makes an excellent foot-care treatment since it is a powerful antiseptic, and if used regularly it will keep your feet hygienically clean and healthy. Blended with Cypress it is particularly good if the man in your life suffers from sweaty feet, or it can be used alone if he suffers from athletes foot.

Enjoy the remaining summer sunshine, and I look forward to seeing you next time.

 

New Quinessence Products!

After more than 3 years in development, we are pleased to announce the launch of our reformulated range of luxury aromatherapy hair shampoos and conditioners. And before you ask - no, you will be pleased to learn that they DO NOT contain sodium laureth sulfate (SLES), sodium laurel sulfate (SLS), ammonium laureth sulfate (ALES) or paraben preservatives!

What they do contain is an abundance of the finest natural botanical extracts to deep cleanse, nourish, restructure and protect your hair. Synergistic blends of Certified Organic essential oils are also included to maintain the optimum moisture balance of your hair and scalp, and of course add that all important aromatherapy lift to improve your well-being.

Marketed under the Aroma-botanicals® brand, this new range represents a new dimension in real aromatherapy haircare and as always, none of these products or their ingredients have been tested on animals either by us, or any third party. After over 20 years as manufacturers, we are more committed than ever to supporting cruelty-free products.

Unlike many other sulfate-free shampoos, you will find ours produce a luxurious, creamy lather that deep cleanses without drying out the scalp or causing flakiness. We chose a combination of naturally derived cleansing agents including apple, olive and coconut extracts that are extremely mild and gentle to hair and scalp.

To condition your particular type of hair we offer a selection of solutions that include Shea Butter, Jojoba, Aloe Vera, Henna, Sunflower, Evening Primrose, Calendula, Melissa, Vitamin E and Pro-Vitamin B5 to restructure, nourish and protect.

The Aroma-botanicals® Hair Care Collection includes;-

• Anti Dandruff Shampoo
Specially formulated for the dandruff prone scalp, this advanced natural formula contains Certified Organic essential oils of Cedarwood, Bay Leaf and Juniper Berry oils to combat the itching and flaking caused by dandruff. Extracts of Seaweed, Olive, Rice Protein and Pro-Vitamin B5 add softness and shine. More info

• Tea Tree Shampoo
A luxury botanical shampoo containing Certified Organic essential oils of Tea Tree, Peppermint & Spearmint combined with botanical extracts of Aloe Vera, Olive and Pomegranate to keep your hair and scalp free from flakes, and looking good. More info

• Frequent Wash Shampoo
Infused with conditioning botanicals of Pomegranate, Aloe Vera, Olive and Pro-Vitamin B5 to keep hair from drying from every day use, this soft and gentle botanical shampoo also contains Certified Organic essential oils of Lavender, Geranium and Ylang Ylang. More info

• Balancing Conditioner
This advanced botanical conditioner contains Certified Organic essential oils of Rose Geranium and Palmarosa to balance an oily scalp, plus botanicals of Aloe Vera, Marigold, Melissa plus Pro-Vitamin B5 to condition. More info

• Moisture-Loc Conditioner
A natural botanical conditioner containing Certified Organic essential oils of Ylang Ylang, Lavender and Patchouli infused with softening botanicals of Jojoba, Evening Primrose, Wheatgerm and Pro-Vitamin B5 to moisturise dry, thirsty hair and add softness and shine. More info

• Nourishing Conditioner
Enriched with nourishing botanicals of Shea Butter, Aloe Vera, Calendula and Pro-Vitamin B5 to restructure and strengthen damaged hair, this advanced formula also includes Certified Organic essential oils of Lemongrass, Frankincense and Vanilla to restore strength and elasticity. More info

The Aroma-botanicals® Hair Care Collection is packed full of organic essential oils and natural botanical goodness specially formulated to keep your hair and more importantly, your scalp, in tip-top condition. We think you're going to love them.

If you have been looking for an alternative to the chemical-laden leading brand names and would prefer a more natural approach to caring for your hair, try Aroma-botanicals® luxury shampoos and conditioners. We promise you will notice the difference - and so will your hair!

Soapstone Burners back in stock

Recently re-introduced due to customer demand is the Quinessence Vine Soapstone Burner - plus a new and distinctive addition to the soapstone range that features a handy sliding door.

In case you are not familiar with soapstone; it is quarried like marble and granite, and contains magnesite, dolomite, chlorite and talc, and may be up to 300 or 400 million years old. For thousands of years it has been used for sculptures, karafes, vases, goblets, kitchen countertops, sinks, and due to its ability to absorb intense heat it was used for many years to build fireplaces.

Each Quinessence Soapstone Burner displays natural variations in its colouring and pattern because of the way that it was produced by Mother Nature over millions of years. And like all natural materials, soapstone is created across a wide range of colour hues, so our pictures are only able to give an approximation of the colour hue and patterns, since no two burners are ever quite the same!

The Sliding Door Soapstone Burner is crafted in India by hand from the finest soapstone, and this innovative design provides easy access for lighting the candle. All four sides of this hand-crafted burner are patterned with an attractive lattice design through which the candle radiates a soft and gentle glow.

Sensibly, the water reservoir is permanently secured to the body to avoid the possibility of it being dropped and broken. This burner is available in a choice of either dark brown or mid-brown. More info

The stylish Vine Soapstone Burner also features a secured lid and an intricate interwoven vine design which is hand-carved throughout. Due to a lid that is far deeper than usual, this burner can be used for much longer without the need to continually refill with water. Supplied complete with a nightlight candle and instructions for use. More info

'Transitions' Candle Collection

The candles in this new collection are really striking, and feature multi-coloured swirls of marbled patterns that add a wealth of colour wherever you choose to use them in your home.

These Small Pillar Candles feature a unique sloping top that adds a nice touch of distinction, and the fragrance of Ylang Ylang and Geranium will diffuse a soothing atmosphere of peace and harmony throughout your home.

Packaged with a decorative pendant bearing an attractive motif, and available in three different colour combinations as seen on the right. More info

The Tall Pillar Candles feature 3 swirling colour hues and come complete with a decorative pendant bearing a distinctive design, tied with a leather cord. Available in Forest Valley fragrance (left), or Apple Mulberry (right). Both of these striking triple coloured scented candles bring a truly unique touch of style and fragrance to your home.

If soothing and relaxing aquatic colours are your thing, then you will just love these stylish two-tone Surf Breeze pillar candles. These fresh and pleasing aromatic candles come complete with a pendant bearing an attractive motif tied with a leather cord.

The intriguing swirling colour tones of these contemporary candles will form an attractive centrepiece in any location around your home. Let these candles bring an atmosphere of joy, peace and tranquility into your life. More info

There are also other new additions to our Candle Collection, so if you are a candle lover be sure to take a look around this section of our store.

Aromatherapy Incense Sticks

Here's a new concept in Incense Sticks that combines several different aromas in one stick to produce a range of moods; Meditation, Energising, Sensuality, Refreshing, Stress Relief and Relaxing.

This new range is available as individual packs containing 20 sticks, or as seen opposite the entire range is presented in a Gift Pack containing 8 sticks of each type. More info

Nag Champa Incense Sticks

After numerous requests from incense lovers we have finally managed to track down one of the very finest manufacturers of Nag Champa incense sticks. Made by Shrinivas Sugandhalaya, this renowned Sai Baba Nag Champa is the most popular Indian Incense in the world and its exotic and stimulating fragrance exudes a sensual and romantic aroma.

The hand rolled blend of sandalwood and champaka flowers, plus spices, resins and masala all unite together to create the perfect soothing aroma. The unique sweet fragrance of these incense sticks also reveals a spicy and earthy back note, creating a special ambience for all occasions. More info

Soapstone Ash Catcher

Also imported from India, these hand-made soapstone ash catchers make an interesting alternative to their conventional wooden counterparts. Featuring an attractive flower motif inlay and a countersunk channel to catch the ash, these soapstone ash catchers really are great value for money. More info

To see all the latest additions to the Quinessence Aromatherapy Collection in one location, click here. If there any products that you would like us to add to our range, please do let us know.

Oil Profile - Sweet Basil (Ocimum basilicum ct. linalool)

There are over 60 species of annuals, non-woody perennials and shrubs known collectively as ‘basil’. In addition, there are almost 100 cultivars and their various sub-species which display a vast range of physical and chemical variations (chemotypes), often causing confusion to all concerned!

The most commonly used basil oils in aromatherapy are derived from Sweet Basil (O. basilicum ct. linalool), Exotic Basil (O. basilicum ct. methyl chavicol), and Holy Basil (Ocimum sanctum) which is also known as Tulsi or Tulasi. Oils from other species are mainly used in the perfumery and flavouring industries and for various reasons are best avoided in aromatherapy.

General description

Sweet basil is a low growing, tender annual plant, that reaches between 40cm to 80cm in height at maturity. It has square, branching stems, slightly serrated fragrant leaves that are smooth, shiny and paired opposite, and flowers that cluster in terminal spikes. The colour of leaves and flowers varies according to the climatic and soil conditions under which it is grown. Essential oil cells are located underneath the broad leaves and in the flowering tops.

Originally native to India and other tropical regions of Asia as another form, sweet basil has adapted well to growing throughout Europe and the Mediterranean where it thrives under warm, sunny, dry conditions in well drained soil. Sweet basil is grown for the production of oil in several European countries, but the main producers are found in Bulgaria, Egypt, France and the USA.

Traditional uses

One of the worlds oldest medicinal herbs, basil was used in ancient India to treat colds, coughs and mucous discharges, diarrhoea, dysentery and gastric conditions, headaches, heart disease, inflammation, malaria, poisoning and venomous bites, skin diseases and vomiting.

It would be administered as a juice or in teas, infused for massage, or the fresh leaves were applied to wounds. The Roman naturalist, philosopher and writer, Pliny (24-79 AD), considered basil to be an aphrodisiac and good for treating flatulence and fainting fits, whilst the Greek physician Dioscorides prescribed basil for headaches.

Herb of protection

In Egypt, Malaysia and Iran, basil was planted on graves as protection against evil spirits, and in medieval England the leaves were used in doorways for the same purpose. It still has religious significance in the Greek Orthodox Church, where it is used to prepare holy water – perhaps because it is claimed to have been found around Christ's tomb after his resurrection. The heart-shaped leaf of basil still serves as a symbol of love in Italy.

Harvesting and extraction

In France, harvesting takes place throughout July and August as the flowers reach full bloom, and both the flowering tops and upper leaves are collected for processing. Extraction is by steam distillation, yielding a pale straw coloured essential oil with a fresh, sweet, herbaceous and spicy odour. The sweet basil oil produced in France is generally considered to possess the finest fragrance.

Uses in aromatherapy

Sweet basil is an outstanding oil with a vast array of healing properties, and in my experience virtually every one of its uses in traditional medicine have proven effective in aromatherapy. It is unsurpassed at bringing clarity and strength of mind to those suffering from stress, fatigue, mental exhaustion and headaches.

Unfortunately, it has received considerable bad press over recent years due to the presence of of methyl chavicol (a natural constituent), which has been shown to produce hepato-cellular carcinomas in mice. Further research on humans concluded there was virtually no risk at normal dietary levels because humans excrete the carcinogenic metabolites much more efficiently than animals.

However, since we don’t normally use essential oils internally, the external use of sweet basil ct. linalool at the correct concentration should therefore pose no risk whatsoever. I would avoid using it on your pet mouse though, just to be safe.

Putting my sarcasm aside - force feeding an isolated component of an essential oil to an animal in large quantities and discovering (surprise, surprise) that it causes cancer, does not predict that the same thing will happen in humans when the natural oil is used diluted down to 2% and used externally.

So just to be clear on this point; there are no known contraindications when this essential oil is used externally and used at normal levels. Furthermore, many books state that this oil should not be used during pregnancy but they offer no evidence in support of these statements either. There is none that I am aware of.

Sweet basil essential oil adds a fresh lift to any blend, and works particularly well with bergamot, clary sage, frankincense, geranium, lavender, orange sweet, palmarosa, peppermint, pine and rosemary.

Sweet basil is a versatile, highly therapeutic oil, and so long as you use the linalool chemotype in aromatherapy it is perfectly safe - so enjoy using it. I'll see you again next month.

All articles are Copyright: © Quinessence Aromatherapy Ltd. All rights are reserved.

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