The Ojai Lavender Festival this year in June was just marvelous! I had the distinct pleasure of being their keynote speaker and enjoyed every second of it! I had a lot of fun with the interactive crowd and willing volunteers to create blends with me!

There is no end to the extensive uses of all of the varietals of Lavender – from Fine Lavender to Lavendin to Spike. Really. If you just had those essential oils in your kit, you’ve got almost unlimited uses for them with kids, pets, skin care, first aid…and on and on! Clearly, Lavender is UNDER-rated!

The 90+ degree heat really brought out the floral and woodsy notes of the lavender from all of the blossoms among the 100+ vendors that were there, and the thousands of attendees! I purposefully sprinkled dried lavender on the walkway right in front of my booth so the fragrance wafted while people walked on it!

Mojo was a hit, and many people just wanted to pet her…well…who wouldn’t!

Sweet Mojo!

A special thanks to Sandy Messori for coordinating things for me. Her Rivendell Aromatics products are truly divine, and she grows all of her own lavender at her farm where I shot the “Lavender” episode of my show. Thank you to the co-chairs of the event as well, they did a great job!

Several people have recently asked me how they can use essential oils to bolster immunity and help prevent picking up the bug.

First, use some common sense. Cover your mouth when you sneeze or cough. Keep your hands clean. Hot soapy water works just fine, but for quick access when you are out and about, use HEALTHY hand sanitizers. What? Aren’t they all healthy? Not really. First of all, many of them contain high percentages of ethyl alcohol, which definitely kills bacteria, germs and viruses, but it also eliminates some the good bacteria we need on our skin. Using ethyl alcohol on your hands to kill bacteria is like using a blow torch to light a candle.

So what else to use? If you are going for a store brought item, my favorite is, Clean Well. It uses a derivative of Thyme as its base. (and no, I do not get paid to endorse the product).

Of course, I recommend making your own essential oil based hand sanitizers as well. They are so easy, kids can do it, just like the Lavender and Tea Tree blend with Harper here. This blend is great for adults, too.

Other anti-viral essential oils include: Melissa, Cinnamon Bark, Lavender, Thyme Linalool, the Citruses, Geranium, and of course, the all-encompassing Tea Tree. A blend of these oils diffused in your office, home or car will help to diminish viruses. Check out these other blends to stay healthy and feel better: Office Germ Control; On the road; Decongest.

Keep breathing and stay healthy!

1719, from Gk. aphrodisiakos “inducing sexual desire,” from aphrodisios, “pertaining to Aphrodite” (q.v.), Gk. goddess of love and beauty.

Are aphrodisiacs just the stuff of folklore…or is there something to them? Is there really a “Love Potion #9”? I did an entire Romance episode of my show, “ Everybody Nose “, and I delved into the details of scent and psyche.

Our sense of smell sets off many reactions all leading to impulses sent to the brain. The instinct of smell bypasses logical thought processes concerned with language – the hypothalamus connects us to the limbic system which is the home of the emotions and the sex center of our brain. This is why fragrance is so captivating and moving. Consider that with the wonderful properties of essential oils, and you’ve got yourself a powerful tool for romance!

It’s no surprise that many of the reputed aphrodisiacs are spices – and the reason why, “spicy” doesn’t just refer to too much Tabasco! Spices like cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, coriander and oregano used to be imported not only for fragrant foods….but for fragrant bodies. The essential oils of these particular spices are stimulating, warming and sweet.

Add to that the sultry Sandalwood and Jasmine essential oils, and you’ve got yourself a love potion that not only gets you in the mood…but gives you an extra kick of energy!

For your Valentine’s Day pleasure…here is one of my favorite “Love Potions”:

Vim Love Potion #8 – Aphrodisiac Massage Oil

3 drops      Coriander essential oil

2 drops      Ginger essential oil

6 drops      Sandalwood essential oil

4 drops      Jasmine essential oil

4 oz           Base: Sweet Almond Oil – or your favorite carrier oil with a lot of slip!

Blend in a dark glass or essential oil safe plastic bottle. Have your Valentine apply liberally…and enjoy!

CORIANDER

Is THE aphrodisiac of the Middle East, Egypt and Palestine. It’s used in the classic tale, “The Arabian Nights “as an aphrodisiac.

GINGER

St. Hildegarde, a 12^th century healer, extolled the virtues of its aphrodisiacal properties, recommending it for older men married to energetic young women.

SANDALWOOD

It is considered an aphrodisiac throughout the Eastern world – India’s ancient text, the Kama Sutra, suggests that a man “give her your jasmine garland, lie her back gently and massage her body with sweet sandalwood oil.”

JASMINE

Sweet and heady, it is a euphoric scent that tend to dull the keenness of the logical thought processes.

Whatever you are doing tonight, pay attention to your senses. What do you hear? People chatting at a party? Loud music at a club? Quiet contemplation at home? What about taste and smell? Indulge your senses tonight by savoring the snacks, and distinguishing the tangy, grapey, nutty, floral and yeasty notes of the bubbly you toast with at midnight. Let the fizz tickle your nose!

When you wake up tomorrow, make a point to notice things differently. Even if you have a raging headache, stop and breathe deeply. What scents are there? Any? Just your pillow? What do you see? Even if you just look at the ceiling, notice the details of the stucco…or whatever treatment you have up there.

And as a public service, here are my Hangover Prevention and Recovery tips and recipes. While they are not guaranteed, I can tell you from experience that they certainly make a difference:

New Year’s Eve:

1.       Before you head out for the evening, take a Milk Thistle capsule. This helps your liver process the alcohol.

2.       Drink a lot of water in between libations. You know this already, but just do it

3.       Don’t mix too many random alcohols. You know the old saying, “liquor than beer you’re in the clear,” “beer than liquor, never sicker.” I think there could be one like, “tequila before wine…forget it.”

4.       According to Dr. Oz and Dr. Roizen in, “YOU, The Owner’s Manual”, you can help delay the absorption of alcohol by eating healthy fats while you drink, i.e. a handful of walnuts or almonds, or some guacamole. Honey and tomato juice also do the same thing as they help your body to metabolize alcohol more effectively…who knew. Hooray for Bloody Mary’s. They also say that clear alcohols are less likely to cause hangovers than those that are dark – so choose the vodka or gin over the whiskey and red wine.

5.       According to my favorite medical reference, “Prescription for Nutritional Healing”, by Phyllis A. Balch, CNC, it says that you can take a pro-biotic like Lactobacillius acidophilus before bed to help deter the hangover. You can find capsules in the refrigerated section in your local health food store.

6.       Also, an aspirin before bed with a lot of water can help as well, but only if your system can handle aspirin.

New Year’s Day:

1.       Wake up and drink the juice of a ½ a lemon in warm water. This kick starts your digestion, but most importantly helps to detox your liver.

2.       Drink a lot of water!!

3.       According to my friends who study Ayruveda, drink a glass of room temperature water with the juice of one lime and 1 teaspoon of raw sugar (or agave syrup). This helps to cool down your system that has been overloaded.

4.       Get some Detox or Dandelion Root tea from your local health food store, and drink at least 3-4 cups throughout the day.

5.       Dr.’s Oz and Roizen recommend caffeine and water – so go for coffee and tea, just drink extra water since the caffeine is a diuretic.

6.       Detox your system with essential oils.

Detox Bath

                                                               i.      3 drops Fennel Seed

                                                             ii.      3 drops Juniper

                                                            iii.      3 drops Lavender

                                                           iv.      3 drops Pine, or any other needle oil like Black Spruce

                                                             v.      2 T. honey

Blend together in a small bowl. Run your bath water, and just before getting in, swish the essential oils and honey into the water so the honey melts. The smell will be fantastic and this blend will help to rev up and detox your system while the honey will nourish your skin. Soak for about 2 min. Drink some cucumber and lemon water when you get out of the tub.

7.       Take it easy. Contemplate manifesting great things in the New Year! 

I wish everyone a very safe New Year’s Eve, and a happy and prosperous New Year! Resolve to Live with Vim!

Although the Vim Essentials story began with aromatherapy, it now encompasses a lifestyle as holistic as essential oils. I want you to come to understand what Living with Vim means to you.

I love essential oils, and how they really do evolve your sense of smell. But their inherent holistic nature lends itself to a holistic conversation – which is a much bigger story. I am interested in that story.

Everyone has a Vim Story – of how they embraced their passion, overcame their fears or made choices that propelled them to a new level and evolved their senses. See it is all connected!

I look forward to hearing your Vim Stories as I am sure they are bound to inspire, and will share those from my world…and we will definitely have a lot of fun along the way.

Enjoy!