How do you define ‘mental wellness’? What does it mean—and what does a person who is mentally stable look and behave like? The name of this month’s second-essential-oil-blend special came to mind immediately! Resilience! YES! Such a person would be well-balanced and able to handle—and handle well—whatever life (and people and/or circumstances) may send their way! Such a person would be known for their kindness, their compassion, and for the genuine love they have for themselves and those around them. I am fortunate—and very blessed—to have many such people in my life.

Personal note: I recently had a birthday. It could have been hard due to grief and loss that will be forever associated in our family with that day and with Thanksgiving day and week. However, my phone kept ‘beeping’ with messages, and every time I opened my e-mail or social media, there were a dozen friends or so checking in and lifting my spirits, and offering me courage and peace. What a beautiful few days I have had!

This month’s specials targeting ‘mental wellness’ and the things I will try to teach you about these remedies that I consider nothing less than ‘gifts from Heaven’ are my way (and Butterfly’s way) of telling you how much we love and appreciate you all and your faith in us as you let us try to provide for you some of the things that have blessed the lives of my family (and so many others) for so long!

See the full list of topics.

In This Issue

New Indian Helichrysum Essential Oil
Featured Supplements
January Essential Oils
Featured Herbs
Natural Forces Essences Blessed Waters
Featured Liquid Minerals
Blend – ^LeBlack Velvet
Blend – ^LeUnity
Singles – Yarrow
Singles – Fragonia
Arnica Carrier Oil
^LeHeartsong, ^LeLetting Go, ^LeTranquility  3-Oil Kit

Indian Helichrysum Essential Oil

An ‘absolutely essential’ fact about essential oil quality needs to be understood before we begin a discussion of this ‘new’ Helichrysum now available at Butterfly Express, LLC. Actually, there are several such ‘facts’ that need to be mentioned in the discussion of this absolutely beautiful new Helichrysum that has come to Butterfly’s attention.

First, Helichrysum plants are grown in many areas of the world, much of it in Mediterranean countries such as Italy. Helichrysum is also grown in Africa and, as the name of Butterfly’s newest Helichrysum indicates, in India.

Second, the aroma and the therapeutic properties of an essential oil can be seriously affected by the climate in which the plant is grown. There is even a difference in the properties of an oil grown in the same place two years in a row if there have been significant differences in the overall weather patterns from one year to the next. Growing conditions, such as the amount of rain, can have a tremendous impact on the delicate Helichrysum blossoms. This is also true of other plants, such as Lavender, for example.

Third, there is a bit of confusion about Helichrysum species among essential oil distributors. Helichrysum angustifolia and Helichrysum italicum are prime examples of this. Some distributors make the claim that Helichrysum angustifolia and Helichrysum italicum are the same plant. The aromas and healing properties of these two essential oils are certainly similar. However, the aroma of the angustifolia carried by Butterfly over the years is noticeably different (to an experienced nose) from the aroma of the italicum that is, and has been, available for some time, at Butterfly.

Does the difference in aroma affect the healing properties, emotional and physical, of the essential oil? Of course it does! But the differences in healing properties, like the aromas, are very subtle! I prefer, slightly, the aroma of italicum. There is a subtle, mellow sweetness in the italicum that I miss in the angustifolia oil. However, I would not hesitate to use either when I wanted the benefits of Helichrysum for anything at all.

Now, this new Indian Helichrysum. I am absolutely in love with the aroma of this Helichrysum! It was brought to our attention by a world-traveling-to-purchase-oil buyer we have known and trusted for many years. (I trusted and learned from his mother before him, and I miss her now that she is gone!) All of the subtle notes of Helichrysum are there, but there are both some very mellow lower notes as well as some amazing high notes. I have never experienced such a Helichrysum in all my years involved with essential oils! Perhaps the difference is the growing conditions in India. I hope that it is not a fluke of this growing season. I look forward to a long enjoyment of this essential oil over as many years as I have left on this earth!

Featured Supplements

Vitamin D

Vitamin D is absolutely essential for strong bones, teeth, and muscles. This is because vitamin D is essential in sufficient quantity and in a readily absorbed form for the body to uptake calcium and phosphorus from dietary sources. Vitamin D deficiency, accompanied by the resulting calcium and phosphorus deficiencies, contributes to a host of unhealthy conditions in the body. Phosphorus deficiencies are particularly prevalent in those living a Vegan diet since phosphorus is found in milk, cheese, yogurt, meats such as poultry and fish, and in eggs.
Vitamin D is sometimes called the ‘sunshine vitamin’. The body produces Vitamin D when the skin is exposed to sunlight. If you shun the sun, or just don’t have time to play there, you may be experiencing a Vitamin D deficiency without realizing it. Unfortunately, as people age, their kidneys may be less able to convert Vitamin D to its active form in other of the body’s natural processes. This makes taking care of one’s kidneys very important!
A word of caution: Taking more than 4,000 IU a day of Vitamin D might cause such things as:
Upset stomach and vomiting.
Weight loss and not wanting to eat.
Muscle weakness.
Not being able to think clearly or quickly.
Heart rhythm issues.
Kidney stones and kidney damage.
Vitamin D

Probiotics

Probiotic bacteria are critical for healthy digestion. These essential and healthful bacteria help maintain the integrity of the intestinal lining, support proper intestinal motility (movement of feces), and participate in the detoxification process as the bowel uptakes and discards harmful substances. The probiotic supplement carried by Butterfly Express, LLC offers a balanced spectrum of live organisms consisting of acid-resistant probiotic bacterial strains that have been shown to naturally colonize within the human gastrointestinal tract. This supplement utilizes bacterial strains that have been clinically validated for their support of healthy immune system function.

It is my firm belief that healthy gut microorganisms alleviate the symptoms of many common health issues. These include conditions such as allergies, diabetes, obesity, depression, irritable bowel syndrome, kidney issues, and dental cavities and gum disease.

Featured Herbs for Mental Wellness

BT

Formerly, before the need not to ‘diagnose’ on labels, this tincture was called ‘Brain Tonic’. I absolutely love this tincture! It is a part of my everyday herbal nutrition plan. This last year, I haven’t known whether to blame stress, the aging process, or less-than-impressive eating habits for what seemed to be a decline in my ability to remember basic things I had always known. Not to mention, remembering things like appointments and where I had put my phone or my glasses. This tincture, originally designed for children (and adults) with ADHD and anxiety, has been a real blessing to me.

The herbs in this tincture are each known to improve overall brain health. They do this by increasing circulation to and throughout the brain. This improved blood flow helps the brain to maintain focus, improves memory, and makes me feel and behave with more alertness and intelligence! Some of these herbs are well-known to nourish nerves and strengthen the tiny vessels and capillaries that feed the brain and nerve tissues. Other of the herbs contained here are reputed to extend mental clarity into old age. (I hate it when a book I am reading describes someone my age as ‘elderly’!)

Ashwagandha

This great herb is often referred to as “Indian Ginseng,” although it is not a ginseng at all. This term is so common because Ashwagandha accomplishes many of the same things that ginseng is renowned for doing.

Because Ashwagandha improves neuron impulses throughout the nervous system, strengthens and rebuilds nerve cells, and relaxes tension in the neural synapses of the brain, it is considered effective for memory issues as well as for cognitive decline associated with aging. Ashwagandha seems to be especially effective for those who are suffering from overwork or nervous exhaustion of any kind.

Research conducted more than 40 years ago indicated that this herb increases hemoglobin levels, improves both thyroid and adrenal function, stabilizes blood sugar, lowers cholesterol levels (the bad kind), and boosts immune function. What an impressive list of benefits!

A unique feature of Ashwagandha is that research indicates that it helps prevent the depletion of Vitamin C when the body is under stress. (Did you know that stress depletes Vitamin C? It does!) In addition, Ashwagandha contains an active ingredient called withanolides—a chemical that resembles human steroid hormones. This herb, of course, does not have the side effects of laboratory, doctor-prescribed sterioids.

Rhodiola

This herb deserves a whole page! What to tell you here and what to leave out for another day and article? My favorite herbs to learn about are those that have a long history of use in similar situations in a variety of cultures and over a span of years. Rhodiola is one such herb! I will try to limit myself to healing capabilities as they apply to ‘Mental Wellness’, this month’s topic.

Studies have shown that Rhodiola has a positive impact on a person’s ability to quickly understand and remember new concepts. Scientists participating in these studies are even hopeful that his herb will be found useful as part of treatment protocols for ADHD, Alzheimer’s, dementia, and other neurodegenerative diseases. Of course, these scientists are looking for just a few compounds found in this herb to turn into a profitable drug! (My own experiences with herbs and drugs, over many years, have taught me that the herb, in whole form, is more effective and, being in whole form, eliminates the side effects found in prescription medications and other drugs.)

Rhodiola contains a list of components—flavonoids, coumarins, and phenyl glycosides—that have been shown to reduce the damage that medications and chemicals can cause in the liver. At the same time, these components protect the liver against the very debilitating and life-threatening Fatty Liver Disease by preventing and reducing fat buildup in the liver.

Traditional uses of Rhodiola are also backed up by a wide variety of modern scientific and outcome-based studies, which makes Rhodiola all the more impressive. One of the most impressive of these studies was conducted on women who had ceased ovulating at a very young age (Premature Ovarian Failure). It was a small study, but at the end of the study, 25 of the 40 participants had regained normal periods, and 11 of the women were pregnant!

Reishi Mushroom

I have known for years—and remind everyone that I can—that the reason herbs work is because they are nutritious-very nutritious! I think that it would surprise even me, despite my years of study, if I really understood how key a role poor nutrition and poor uptake of nutrients play in most of our health issues, especially chronic autoimmune disorders. The ‘Great American Diet’ of recent years simply does not provide us with the nutrients we need for optimum health! Herbs, used daily for nutrition as well as healing, can make a profound difference!

Reishi mushrooms contain significant amounts of Vitamin D, Vitamin B1 (thiamine), Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin), Vitamin B3 (niacin), Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), choline, astonishingly high levels of potassium, as well as phosphorus, sulfur, and magnesium, and a host of water-soluble proteins. With potassium, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, selenium, iron, zinc, and copper accounting for most of the mineral content, mushroom proteins round out the nutritional content because they contain all the essential amino acids and are especially rich in lysine.

Lysine is a go-to around here for the effects of every summer thing, from sunburn to too much chlorine from water spas and swimming pools. My kids, one in particular, used to break out in blisters on his lips from such activities. Lysine always helped, quickly and efficiently.

Adaptogens, such as those contained in Reishi Mushrooms, are compounds that assist us in coping with stress and becoming more resilient when we face the inevitable stresses and trials of life. This mushroom can act as an antidepressant and help elevate mood when situations and events in life have a negative impact on mental, emotional, and physical health.

In one study, women suffering from fibromyalgia reported improved happiness, satisfaction with daily life, and an increased ability to cope with pain.

Rosemary

Rosemary, as an essential oil, is treated above. Rosemary, as an herb (and as a cooking spice), is just as impressive as the essential oil!

Rosemary stimulates the circulation of blood to the head, which improves memory and concentration. It also eases headaches and migraines, and even encourages hair growth. Rosemary is said to raise low blood pressure and is a valuable remedy for fainting and weakness that is associated with low blood pressure. Rosemary also helps with weakness and feeling incessantly cold, which is associated with poor circulation overall.

Rosemary is also said to improve memory, concentration, and mood by protecting and strengthening nerves throughout the body. The anti-inflammatory properties of rosemary help reduce joint pain as well as support immune system function.

Animal studies indicate that rosemary, both the essential oil and the herb, stimulates bile release. Bile is, of course, essential for the digestion of fats and activates protective antioxidant mechanisms that safeguard the liver.

Yarrow

Yarrow, both as essential oils and as an herb, is treated quite extensively later on in this article. But here is another opportunity in the ‘Collections’ section to talk about yarrow, particularly as a herb.

I have always been skeptical of herbs that someone claims do everything imaginable. However, I have personally used Yarrow for something gone awry in nearly every body system I can think of. I have also used Yarrow with more than a few accident situations where there were cuts or bleeding or every sort. This herb really works! Yarrow is one of the first things I reach for in so many situations. Oh, the stories I could tell you about miracles with this herb!

Internally, Yarrow dries out the mucous membranes but also targets any area of internal bleeding. Yarrow shuts off the blood supply to growths such as fibroids, forcing them to either dissolve or pass from the body. (I experienced this personally and avoided a debilitating and destructive surgery recommended by a doctor who saw no other alternative to my pain and bleeding!) I have suggested Yarrow for this purpose and watched others achieve similar results. A woman should always be prepared with remedies to stop uterine hemorrhage (Cayenne, Shepherd’s Purse, chlorophyll, Bioplasma homeopathic) should the breaking away of the fibroid create more bleeding than is expected! Please remember this if the situation arises!

Yarrow is also a potent circulatory tonic, focusing its strength on the integrity of veins and arteries. When given hot and in quantity, Yarrow will raise the heat of the body, stimulate circulation, and produce perspiration.

Yarrow opens the pores and regulates the function of the liver while toning the mucous membranes of the stomach and bowels, and aiding the glandular system.

One of the best features of Yarrow is that it is plentiful all around me. I can find some in my yard, and nearly everywhere I may be if I am out in the woods anywhere in this valley. Yarrow contains vitamins A, C, E, F, and some vitamin K. It also contains manganese, copper, potassium, iodine, and iron.

Lavender

Here, Lavender is being listed as a part of the Herbal Collection for this month. However, like Yarrow (even more so than Yarrow), Lavender is one of the most versatile and well-loved of the essential oils produced around the world! As an herbal remedy, the mention of Lavender use goes back more than a thousand years. Some ‘experts’ place this number of years at 2,500.

The German Commission E (Health Commission) praised Lavender for treating insomnia, nervous stomach, and anxiety. The British Herbal Pharmacopoeia lists Lavender as a treatment for flatulence, colic, and depressive headaches. Many herbal practitioners worldwide use this herb to treat migraines that sometimes occur with menopause.

The calming aroma of Lavender alone is often enough to soothe the respiratory system, and it is often suggested that Lavender be diffused—either the essential oil or the flowers in hot water—to calm coughs and colds. Lavender has natural antibacterial properties that may protect against airborne viruses and bacteria. (I can think of a lot of stronger remedies for that, but not too many that would smell as good!)
Lavender is absolutely amazing when applied to the skin for burns as well as for minor abrasions and rashes. Not only does it soothe the skin and the emotions, but lavender is also antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, and cleansing. All this, while being calming to the emotions of the injured child or adult! Lavender is part of programs for everything, including insomnia, headaches, memory and cognitive issues, and hyperactivity—to name just a few items. The list of physical maladies that Lavender has proven useful for is even longer. The aroma of lavender even repels bugs!

NOTE: I found, over my years as a foot-zone therapist and midwife, that if the aroma of lavender is offensive to a person, there is usually some sort of sexual or, at the very least, serious physical abuse in the past. On occasion, this was a heads-up to me to proceed gently—even to recommend some counseling and assistance beyond what I felt I could provide.

Damiana

Damiana is a very versatile herb and a delightful and very useful essential oil! Used either way, herbal or essential oil, Damiana is a potent stimulant and balancer of the parathyroid gland. The parathyroid gland is a key player in the absorption of calcium and in the body’s determination of what to do with that calcium—whether to store it nicely in the “bank of the bones,” or turn some of that wonderful and badly needed calcium into kidney stone and/or gallstones, or mess up the muscles and nerves by placing it there in overabundant quantities!

In the past, before doctors understood the immense importance of these little glands—usually four of them—they were simply removed if it was suspected that they had become troublesome. In a very short time, it was realized that patients were dying, all of them. In my experience, if there is more than one of an organ (kidneys, for example), they are of critical importance in maintaining life! The heart is, of course, an exception. We only get one of those!

In the past, Damiana has been seen as an essential tonic herb for men because of its effect on the male reproductive system and the prostate in particular. Somehow, I (and apparently some other midwives) missed that piece of information and discovered that it is an excellent herb for women, also. Both men and women have parathyroid glands, after all, and calcium imbalances create a number of disturbances, both physical and mental, in everybody!

Natural Forces Essences Blessed Waters

If you are new to Homeopathic/Blessed Water healing, you will most likely be both dazed and amazed at the healing capacities of such remedies. I have often been heard to say that if I could have only one of the many healing modalities that I love, it would have to be Homeopathics/Blessed Waters. Purely energetic, they work immediately and heal deeply, and because they can be extended and remade forever, I need never worry about running out of any of the hundreds of such remedies I have collected over the years!

Natural Forces Essences are an example of these types of energetic preparations (Homeopathics/Blessed Waters). Natural Forces Essences Blessed Waters are made from both specific places and/or events in nature. They capture the healing capacities of the location or of the events from which they were collected or made. The four elements of nature — air, wind, water, and fire — nourish all living things. These remedies provide the energy we need to make and sustain change at the center of our beings.

There are 19 of these preparations and they cover a wide gamut of places and energies. Included are volcanoes, glaciers, springs, tidal forces, eclipses, the energy of the Northern Lights, ice caps, and even a typhoon, and several other interesting areas and things. I am sure that we can all agree that different areas of the earth and different climates and events have very different energies that are easily felt, and often responded to, in various ways.

Like all Blessed Water preparations, the Natural Forces Remedies act first on the structures of the energetic body—and, secondly, on the physical body. In doing so, they balance and harmonize every aspect of our emotions and mental capacities, as well.

Featured Liquid Minerals for Mental Wellness

Iron

Iron is an absolutely essential/vital mineral for a healthy life! Below are a few of the reasons why this is so.

1) Iron is key to the production of hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is the protein in red blood cells responsible for carrying oxygen from your lungs to meet the needs of your body’s organs and tissues. Lack of hemoglobin and the resulting inability of the blood to carry oxygen are what is going on with certain types of anemia.

2) Iron is also essential for the storage and release of oxygen in muscle cells. (Think avoidance of muscle fatigue when working, running, or doing any type of physical activity!)

3) Iron is also essential to certain enzyme reactions that convert the food you eat into energy. Without sufficient Iron in the diet, even a diet that is excellent in many ways will leave a person feeling tired and run-down.

4) The brain needs Iron in order to produce essential neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin. These are necessary for mood stabilization, to be sufficiently motivated to do anything at all, and to be able to focus one’s thoughts. I wonder how much of what we call ADHD and other learning disabilities could accurately be attributed to Iron deficiency or the inability to uptake Iron.

5) As if the above list is not enough, Iron is essential to the function of the immune system in both resisting and warding off infections and chronic health issues.

6) Iron is, as you probably already know, very much needed for proper thyroid function!

7) Iron is used in the creation of necessary hormones by the thyroid gland. Hormone imbalances too often begin, or are a result of, troubles in the thyroid gland.

8) Because of monthly blood loss during menstruation, women during these years have far higher Iron needs than men. Pregnancy and the nursing of babies also require higher Iron intakes. Unfortunately, most iron supplements do more harm than good as they are not natural and build up in the liver!

9) Any growth spurt, during childhood or adolescence, too often results in serious Iron deficiencies. This is true of both males and females. For too many, this tendency to Iron deficiency lasts a lifetime. Throughout the world, Iron deficiency is one of the most common problems in both men and women.

Selenium

Deficiency of Selenium, according to medical science, is supposedly quite rare. This is not what I have seen or experienced personally!

One of the most important functions of Selenium is preserving and enhancing the elasticity of muscles and tissues throughout the body. Think about that for a moment or two! The heart is a muscle, as are the large and small intestines. Selenium has been shown to be absolutely essential for a healthy and productively pumping heart and for the elimination of constipation issues, and for proper absorption of nutrients, some of which occur in the intestinal tract.

Selenium is also a powerful antioxidant. Antioxidants prevent oxidative stress and other types of cell damage. It has also been shown in the reviews of a great number of studies that higher blood levels of selenium lowered the risk of cancers such as breast, lung, colon, and prostate cancers. Research suggests that selenium supplements also reduce radiation-induced diarrhea during cancer treatments.

Oxidative stress is thought to be a factor in tragedies like Parkinson’s, Multiple Sclerosis, Alzheimer’s, and other forms of degenerative neurological dysfunctions! This, and Selenium being essential to my thyroid and to my immune system as a whole, are sufficient reasons for me to concentrate on including Selenium-rich foods in my diet and supplementing according to need.

Can you overdo Selenium intake? Of course, you can, but you would have to work at it more than just a bit! As always, be sensible and follow advice that is backed by real science, and use supplements from sources that you trust.

Zinc

Zinc is second only to iron as the most prevalent trace mineral in a healthy, well-functioning body.

Immune system and healing functions

1) Zinc is essential for the development and function of immune cells, helping the body fight off pathogens.

2) Zinc is important to skin integrity overall and accelerates the healing process when cuts, burns, and other injuries have occurred.

Skin and vision

1) Zinc is vital for maintaining healthy skin. It is especially useful for teens in managing acne.

2) Zinc supports eye health by assisting the body in the production of melanin. Melanin protects the eyes, especially against UV rays.

3) This protection against UV radiation is seen as zinc oxide is a common ingredient in popular sunscreens.

Growth and development

1) Zinc is involved in cell division and growth! This makes Zinc critical for proper growth during childhood and adolescence.

2) This mineral is vital during pregnancy for the proper development and growth of the fetus in so many ways.

3) Zinc is essential for male and female fertility! Seriously, a deficiency here is, too often, the problem, and supplementation is the answer to fertility issues. Too often, this is not understood or recognized by either doctors or by midwives, I suppose.

Other health benefits

Zinc, as you probably surmised from #3 above under Growth and Development, is essential to the proper and comfortable balance and regulation of hormones. Oh, so much more could be said about that and the benefits to both men and women!

Zinc is essential to both the production and release of thyroid hormones. In other words, Zinc is essential to thyroid health!

Zinc also plays an important role in regulating blood sugar levels.

When zinc levels are abnormally low in the body, the senses of taste and smell are negatively affected.

Because Zinc reduces oxidative stress as described above, it is essential to prevent and reduce inflammation. Inflammation is a factor in so many of the chronic and debilitating illnesses in today’s world, including Parkinson’s and Multiple Sclerosis.

Gold

The study of this mineral has only just begun. However, I do know from working with Aurum metallicum (Gold) in homeopathic protocols that it appears likely a deficiency in this mineral is linked to serious states of depression. When Aurum homeopathic is indicated for a person, I consider very strongly that the depression they are experiencing may be deep enough that I need the family to be aware that suicidal thoughts are likely a part of the picture.

Other symptoms of insufficiency of this mineral—once again according to Homeopathic/BlessedWater theory—include: deep anguish, sorrow, frustration, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD-great abbreviation as it describes this debilitating malady very well), circulatory problems, digestive disorders, glandular malfunctions, night sweats, hot flashes, arthritis and various other joint issues and pain, puncture wounds, burns, chills.

^LeBlack Velvet Essential Oil Blend

The relatively new ^LeBlack Velvet essential oil blend was created from essential oils suggested by Val and LaRee Westover as a tribute to their son’s memory and to aid family and friends through the healing process following his death a year ago. Val specified the oils, and LaRee formulated the blend. Val chose the name “^LeBlack Velvet,” with Black symbolizing mourning and Velvet representing softness and comfort.

Healing from grief is a journey towards peace, to a time when memories bring joy rather than a painful stab to the heart and soul! Thoughts and little incidents in the life of my son pop into my head many times a day, and his children speak of him often! ^LeBlack Velvet, worn or diffused, helps me feel both peace and, more times than not, joy and a chuckle or two at the memory.

The gift of this blend has brought me a great deal of comfort as my mind fills with thoughts of my son’s unique personality and place in our family dynamics! At times, and I think this blend contributes to those feelings as I utilize it often, the aroma seems to bring him near once again. I sometimes feel him smiling with his crazy sense of the ridiculousness—in his opinion—of something I have just said or expected of him (while on his way to fulfill my wishes, I must add!).

The ButterflyExpressions.org website provides a description of the emotional impact of each of the ingredients in this blend. Please remember that a blend is, very literally, far more than the sum of its parts. While I am constantly in awe of the healing properties of single essential oils, properly done blends are far more comprehensive, powerful, and can reach deeper than any one of the oils of which they are comprised does singly. This blend literally came together as if by magic or, more accurately, by inspiration! Some day, maybe sooner rather than later, I will make an attempt to describe this blend, as a whole, further.

^LeUnity Essential Oil Blend

This blend is comprised of 16 different essential oil singles! This alone, along with the fact that these singles are themselves beautiful oils and near perfectly balanced, makes this one of my favorite and all-time most often used essential oil blends!

^LeUnity promotes harmony within ourselves, with others around us, and with our Creator. It helps us work with others in a relationship of cooperation, patience, and tolerance. During my years as a homeschool mother of five sons and two equally dynamic and energetic daughters, I diffused this essential oil daily as I tried to keep them working together on their school subjects around the kitchen table with a bit of harmony and helpfulness toward each other!

In addition to helping maintain peace and foster cooperation, the older ones learned (teaching is, after all, one of the best ways to learn oneself) by assisting the younger ones with questions. This blend provided each family member (myself included) a sense of physical and mental well-being. Even my stubbornness (for which I am well-known) seems to moderate into a desire to cooperate and bring unity to the family circle instead of having things done my way! This essential oil blend has to be experienced to be believed.

^LeUnity can be used to eliminate or minimize reactions to oils that are caused by suppressed emotions or toxicity in the physical body. Surprisingly, it is very effective at minimizing reactions when children (or adults) are suffering from too much essential oil at one time. Yes, this can happen! Especially if careless adults leave essential oils lying around on the side of the bathtub after using them for themselves!

Simply apply a few drops of ^LeUnity oil to the palms of the hands. Place one hand over the navel and the other hand over the thymus area (high, just under the sternal notch, a couple of inches below the throat on the chest). Hold for 20 seconds and then reverse the position of the hands and hold for another 20 seconds or more. This really works! This procedure is also effective for grounding and balancing in a multitude of situations.

Yarrow Essential Oils

Yarrow is one of my favorite essential oils and certainly one of my favorite and most frequently used herbs. The Yarrow featured in this month’s article is two different (slightly) Yarrow essential oils. I will be including information about Yarrow as an essential oil and, somewhat, as an herb since the healing properties are, of course, similar (and yarrow has been mentioned previously under the herbal collection (Collection #1) in this article.)

Besides having so many healing properties and affecting so many body systems for good, Yarrow has some unique emotional/mental healing characteristics that set it apart. But before I go into all of the physical healing properties of these great essential oils and the herb from which they are derived, I would like to explain why it is included in this month’s topic of Mental Wellness, and focus on some emotional/mental characteristics of this great healer.

Around the world and for centuries, (think Greek mythology), this versatile herb has been known as the ‘wounded healer’. So many of us who are deeply involved in and love the ‘alternative’ healing arts fit too closely to what is meant by this strange term. Many ‘healers’ are who they are because they have known pain personally, been wounded, and not always just by physical pain. They have experienced disappointment, deep grief, betrayal by those who should have been friends and supporters, as well as many other kinds of painful emotional adversities… but, somehow—and deliberately on their part, usually—they are the ones that those around them tend to lean on and turn to in their own times of crisis.

‘Wounded healers’ are the ones standing strong, providing support, knowledge, and compassion when everyone else is falling apart. However, they are also secretly wishing—hoping and praying—that someone will simply show up and shore them up for a day or even for just a moment. A cup of warm Yarrow tea or applying Yarrow essential oil to a cut always brings with it, for me and for others that I know, a sense of well-being and the ability to move forward once again.

Yarrow is one of the truly great healing oils and herbs for so many physical complaints! Applied topically to a cut, even a very deep one, Yarrow will pull the edges together and help the cut to heal almost miraculously. Yarrow’s antiseptic properties are strong enough to prevent infection, no matter how dirty or contaminated the conditions were at the time of the injury. Yarrow, known for centuries as an herb to stop bleeding, is even more effective in the concentrated essential oil form, although I have seen the herb work incredibly in a variety of situations!
Yarrow contains all of the usual vitamins and minerals found in plants that are used medicinally, but it also contains vitamin F. Vitamin F is an essential fatty acid that is necessary for the good health and integrity of all of the membranes throughout the body, including those that surround the brain and within the brain itself.

Vitamin F is partially responsible for Yarrow’s ability to seal and heal wounds. Yarrow’s homeostatic and wound healing properties work both inside and outside of the body. Yarrow will staunch bleeding from a wound and, if it is a deep, clean cut, will pull the edges together and knit them there. This feature is positively amazing and has to be seen to be believed. This ability is the same for crushed plant material placed against the wound as for the use of the essential oil.

Just as Yarrow oil pulls together the edges of a deep wound, Yarrow pulls together and heals the damaged places in our energy and psyche. Yarrow, emotionally, is for those times when we feel that there are important parts of ourselves that have become lost or fragmented. We feel the pain of loss, like the pain of a wound, in every part of our body and spirit. Yarrow pulls the emotional and energetic edges together and allows us to heal. Folklore of several countries states that Yarrow is associated with love and fidelity.

In Chinese folklore, the aroma of Yarrow is said to bring about the meeting of Heaven and Earth in our lives. With our head in the clouds, we have far-reaching vision and inspiration to guide us, but we have the stability and common sense of having our feet firmly planted on the ground.

Studies have revealed that plant-based compounds in yarrow reduce the secretion of corticosterone, an elevated stress hormone that can contribute to depression and anxiety symptoms.

Blue and Green Yarrow essential oils are both derived from the Achillea millefolium plant, which is so well-known in herbal circles. The differences in color and healing properties are the result of processing methods—the amount of heat used, primarily. I prefer the Blue, but only slightly, for healing wounds and controlling bleeding. The Green seems slightly more hormonal in nature. However, I would not hesitate to use either one at any time, and for so many other things I simply didn’t have room to include here!

Fragonia Essential Oil

Fragonia is a relative newcomer in the essential oil world and is carried by only a rare few essential oil companies. Butterfly, however, carries a very robust line of both single essential oils and well-formulated blends.

Fragonia is one of those less well-known but very special essential oils that Butterfly carries. Fragonia has been shown to have similar properties to Tea Tree essential oil. However, Fragonia’s aroma is much more pleasant than that of Tea Tree—the aroma of which I have never cared for.

Besides being useful for respiratory disorders of every kind, Fragonia is very relaxing and calming. The aroma has been, for me and for others, beneficial for coping with grief. Fragonia is also a great oil for anxiety and finding calm in emotionally stressful situations.

Tea Tree essential oil, used very carefully because of some caustic components, is known to be useful to fight thrush in babies and candida in adults. The milder Fragonia also has a great reputation in these areas, while being less harsh and a bit less temperamental to deal with. There are claims made, based on a sparse number of studies, that fragonia stimulates and enhances the immune system.

Arnica Carrier Oil

I love writing blogs, newsletters, and even books! Why? Because I either learn some new things or I am reminded of things I once knew and should have remembered!

Arnica is useful for bumps, bruises, and inflammation. Arnica works on sore, tight muscles and helps to reduce swelling of injured areas. Applying Arnica Oil immediately after the injury can prevent swelling; application later on can reduce swelling that has already taken place. Arnica is also effective in relieving the pain of arthritic joints and swollen feet.

Claims are made that Arnica Oil in herbal/oil form is to be used externally and carefully. It has been claimed in herbal books as far back as I have record to cause swelling in exposed muscle tissue, so it is not to be used on open wounds, deep cuts, or even deep abrasions except in homeopathic form. However, I have not found this to be true when I have violated this stated principle on several occasions over the years.

In fact, Arnica is being used by knowledgeable midwives as the oil of choice during exams for dilation during labor. (Now there is an example of some tender muscle tissue under stress!) It is absolutely incredible how the application of a little bit of Arnica oil “melts away” any swelling of tissues that may be occurring, and prevents bruising and trauma to those very delicate tissues, even when a small tear has occurred. This is one of the most important things I learned in the last few years of my midwife practice. (Thanks to Laura Lechner, friend and trainer, for discovering and sharing this.) Our experiences together with Arnica oil at births have had a profound impact on the way I use Arnica oil in first aid situations to this day!

Emotionally, Arnica is said to increase introspection and intuition, making it a potent aid to emotional and spiritual healing. Arnica—as an essential oil, as an herb, and certainly as a Homeopathic/Blessed Water remedy—is calming and grounding. This is especially true if there is a fear of further emotional or physical wounding. Such fear can bring out aggressive defensive behaviors, making a person easily irritated, quarrelsome, opinionated, and just plain angry and difficult to live with!

Another keynote of the need for Arnica is that the ‘patient’ will be telling you repeatedly that they are just fine when it is obvious to any observer that they are not!

^LeHeartSong, ^LeLetting Go, ^LeTranquility 3 Oil Kit

Anxiety and stress create havoc with the body’s ability to uptake vitamins and minerals, among other negative effects. The use of these three oils, while renowned for their impact on emotions, always results in the improvement of the body’s ability to uptake vitamins and minerals. This, of course, leads to better health physically as well as emotionally.

^LeHeartSong

What a powerful emotional healing combination of single essential oils! ^LeHeartSong is discussed above, but I want to add just another word or two here from the Butterfly Express website. “^LeHeartSong allows the heart to find its joy and learn to sing again.” What a perfect description of this combination of essential oils!

^LeHeartSong is a remedy for deep sorrow, grief, and life-altering disappointments. This blend is a wonderful gift to share with someone who has lost a loved one. Grief does not have to be recent to be deep and deeply disturbing to health and to the ability to feel joy!

^LeLetting Go

This beautiful aromatic blend should be used as an aid in letting go of any emotion that is not serving us well or helping us to become the person we would like ourselves to be. Such emotions? Anger, frustration, resentment, despair, debilitating grief, insecurity, selfishness, and greed, to name just a few. The list could go on and on since each of us is mortal and has not yet reached perfection, despite our best efforts.

Regular use of the ^LeLetting Go blend can help us replace these negative and destructive feelings with the more positive emotions of trust, feelings of safety, and feeling secure in ourselves and in our relationships. During my years as a foot-zone therapist, I was frequently amazed at how much physical healing was accomplished in the body when negative emotions were replaced with the emotions of positive, “let’s move forward”, mental and spiritual attitudes and momentum.

^LeTranquility

^LeTranquility is the ‘big guns’ of the Butterfly line of essential oil blends for use in the elimination of panic attacks and other anxiety-based disorders. I have seen ^LeTranquility, breathed in deeply, stop a panic attack absolutely cold in seconds. I still remember very well the first time I used this oil, in the middle of the night, with a post-partum mother who had been brought to me in the throes of such a full-blown attack. I had never seen such a one before! I knew that I had blended ^LeTranquility with the intent to ameliorate such feelings based on a great deal of study and some experience with the single oils in this blend. But, even so, I was absolutely amazed at the immediacy and depth of the calm that came over this young woman!

This may have been my first such experience, but not the last!

 

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