Aromatherapy Models are Very Different / Issue #154 - November 5, 2008

Home Spa Lady's
Tips of the Week
Issue # 154 - November 5, 2008
Publisher: Marilee Tolen RN
mailto:marilee777@aol.com
http://www.homespalady.com/

Home Spa Lady (TM)

Circulation: 4548

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Home Spa Lady ~ Simple Solutions for Self-Care At Home
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In This Issue
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1. Who Taught Martha Stewart Aromatherapy?

2. Essential Oil Tip: Reduce Stress
(Video 8 min 19 sec)

3. Success Tip: Joan Didion

4. Recipe of the Week: Seared Ahi Tuna with Lavender-Pepper Crust

5. HSL's Joke or Cute Quote of the Week

6. The "Green Tea with Marilee" Show


>>>> Special Information on National Hospice Month <<<<<<

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1. Who Taught Martha Stewart Aromatherapy? ==========================================

I wasn't aware that Martha Stewart had an
"Ask Martha" column, nor was I aware that
Martha used essential oils. In her column
Martha was asked to describe essential oils.

Here's her response: (Note my comments as to
where I think Martha learned about essential oils).

Dear Martha Stewart: What exactly are essential oils?

"Dear Reader: These oils are called "essential"
because they are the very essence of plants, the
volatile oils that give plants their fragrance and
flavor. Most often, they are extracted from a plant's
leaves or petals, but in some plants they are found in
the seeds, roots or stems. Highly aromatic, they are
used commercially in perfumes and lotions. They also
are sold on their own for such uses as aromatherapy.

Different oils are said to have different therapeutic or
soothing qualities. For example, rosemary may stimulate
circulation. Eucalyptus may help clear the chest when
you have a cold. Essential oils are administered in
various ways, such as through massage therapy or
application to an affected area; by inhalation
(dab a few drops onto a handkerchief or add to
hot water, and breathe it in); in the bath; and
in diffusers, which disperse the scent into the air."

(from Marilee: the following comment from Martha gives me a
strong hint that Martha learned under the British Model of
Aromatherapy - see my notes below)

"These potent oils are very concentrated and should never be
applied at full strength directly to skin. Dilute two to three
drops in a tablespoon of almond oil first. They should never be
taken internally, or used in greater quantities than
recommended."

Martha goes on to answer: "Some oils should not be used by
children or pregnant women. If you are pregnant, always consult a
doctor before using essential oils or any medications."

"You'll find essential oils at shops that specialize in herbs and
at some health-food stores. Don't confuse essential oils with
products labeled "fragrance oil" or "craft oil," which are
usually synthetic. A good shop also can be an excellent source
of information on essential oils."

Okay - that was all Martha...........
...now please read what I have to say
about this...............

From Marilee:

There are three models of Aromatherapy:
French, German, and British.

--The French model suggests and prescribes
using the essential oils neat (undiluted)
on the body as well as ingestion. These oils
of course are therapeutic grade essential oils.

--The German model focuses on the inhalation of
the essential oils. One of the highlighted uses
of aromatherapy in Germany is for
psychological/emotional balancing.

--The British model stresses diluting small
drops of essential oils in larger amounts of
a carrier oil such as vegetable oil for mostly
full body massage. I have used essential oils
sourced out of the British model and found them
to be mostly perfume grade as opposed to therapeutic.
Therefore the emphasis on dilution. Never put a perfume
grade essential oil on the body neat.

It looks like Martha Stewart learned about essential
oils under the English model of aromatherapy. Her cautions
are important when using a perfume grade essential oil.

Many Home Spa Lady readers are users of Young Living Essential
Oils. Young Living is the premier essential oil company in the
world with the highest quality therapeutic grade essential oils
on the market.

Young Living fulfills the international standards for therapeutic
grade essential oils. The two most popular standards are
European, ISO (International Standards Organization) and AFNOR
(Association French Normalization Organization Regulation).

There are no American standards for therapeutic grade essential
oils. The FDA also oversees essential oils and approves some oils
for ingestion via the GRAS (Generally Regarded As Safe) List.

You will find "Supplemental Facts" on the labels of most Young
Living Essential Oil bottles which tells you they are safe for
ingestion.

And by the way, if you have any questions for Martha here's how
to contact her:

Address your questions to
Ask Martha, c/o Letters Department,
Martha Stewart Living,
11 W. 42nd St., New York, NY 10036.

Questions may also be sent by email to
mslletters@marthastewart.com.
Please include your name, address and
daytime telephone number.

Questions of general interest will be answered in this column;
Martha Stewart regrets that unpublished letters cannot be
answered individually.

For more information on the topics covered in the Ask Martha
column, visit http://www.marthastewart.com



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2. Essential Oil Tip: Reduce Stress
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Aromatherapy was discovered through the
use of lavender for a burn. Lavender is
considered the "swiss army knife of all
of the oils" because it is indicated for
many things, not just burns.

I find it to be excellent for reducing stress
and balancing the body, mind, and emotions.

I have a bottle of lavender in every room
in my house.

My favorite place to use lavender
is in my bathtub! and my favorite lavender
to use is St. Maries from Young Living
(did you know there are two types of lavender
in Young Living product line?)

I call my lavender bath "my martini".
I don't drink alcohol but people who do
say martini's help them unwind and relax.

Well, when I'm stressed or frazzled and I just
want to chill out - I go into my bathroom and
have my martini - a lavender bath!

(I must say I have tried this with lavenders
from other companies - like at friends houses
who don't use Young Living - and it is never the
same).

There is something magical about these
oils, and I believe it is the intention,
integrity, and the "seed to seal" process
this company carries out.

Watch this You Tube video from Young Living for a thorough
overview of the Young Living company, philosophy, key products
and how to use:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDaK9J1Q1jA
(this is an 8 minute video - but very educational
if you haven't seen it!)


For more info or to order any of these Young Living
products see your Young Living Distributor or go to
http://tinyurl.com/aenfp


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3. Success Tip: Joan Didion
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The willingness to accept responsibility for one's own life is
the source from which self-respect springs. ~Joan Didion


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4. Recipe of the Week: Seared Ahi Tuna with Lavender-Pepper Crust
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--1 1/2 pounds center-cut Ahi tuna or 4 (4 to 6-ounce) 1-inch
thick sushi quality tuna steaks
--1 teaspoon coarse kosher salt
--2 teaspoons black peppercorns
--1 teaspoon white peppercorns
--2 teaspoons fennel seeds
--1 1/2 teaspoons dried culinary lavender flowers
--3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
--4 cups savory mixed fresh greens and herbs
--Mustard Seed Dressing (recipe follows)

If using the center-cut Ahi tuna, trim and cut the tuna into a
block approximately 2 inches across; then cut into 1-inch steaks.

--Crush the salt, peppercorns, fennel seeds, and lavender with a
mortar and pestle or a rolling pin.

--Lightly oil the tuna with 2 teaspoons of the olive oil; evenly
coat the tuna with the lavender-pepper mixture, patting off any
excess.

--In a heavy bottomed saute pan or a cast-iron pan, heat the
remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil.

--Increase the heat to high and place the tuna in the pan.

--Sear for 1 minutes, then turn over carefully, reducing the heat
to medium.

--Sear the other side for 1 more minutes until medium rare.
--Remove from heat and immediately refrigerate the tuna for at
least 1 hour but no more than 3 hours.

--To serve, arrange the greens on chilled individual serving
plates.

--Drizzle with Mustard Seed Dressing.

--Thinly slice the tuna and arrange on top of the dressed greens.


MUSTARD SEED DRESSING:
4 tablespoons prepared whole-grain mustard
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 teaspoons toasted mustard seed
2 tablespoons seasoned rice vinegar
3 tablespoons vegetable stock or water
1 teaspoon honey (or to taste)
Coarse kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

--Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
--Place mustard seeds in a baking pan.
--Place in oven and roast for a couple of minutes (watch
carefully so the seeds don't burn).
--Remove from oven and let cool.

--Whisk all the ingredients together and season to taste.


NOTE: Adding too much lavender to your recipe can be like eating
perfume and will make your dish bitter. Because of the strong
flavor of lavender, the secret is that a little goes a long
way.


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5. HSL's Joke or Cute Quote of the Week
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A New York woman was at her hairdresser's on Park Avenue getting
her hair styled prior to a trip to Rome with her boyfriend. She
mentioned the trip to the hairdresser, who responded,

"Rome?" Why would anyone want to go there? It's crowded and dirty
and full of Italians. You're crazy to go to Rome. So, how are you
getting there?"

"We're taking Continental," was the reply. "We got a great rate!"

"Continental?" exclaimed the hairdresser. "That's a terrible
airline. Their planes are old, their flight attendants are ugly,
and they're always late. So, where are you staying in Rome?"

"We'll be at this exclusive little place over on Rome's left bank
called Teste..."

"Don't go any further. I know that place. Everybody thinks its
gonna be something special and exclusive, but it's really a dump,
the worst hotel in the city! The rooms are small, the service is
surly and they're overpriced. So, whatcha doing when you get
there?"

"We're going to go to see the Vatican and we hope to see the
Pope."

"That's rich," laughed the hairdresser. "You and a million other
people trying to see him. He'll look the size of an ant. Boy,
good luck on this lousy trip of yours. You're really going to
need it."

A month later, the woman again came in for a hairdo. The
hairdresser asked her about her trip to Rome.

"It was wonderful," explained the woman, "not only were we on
time in one of Continental's brand new planes, but it was
overbooked and they bumped us up to first class. The food and
wine were wonderful, and I had a handsome 28-year-old steward who
waited on me hand and foot. And the hotel -- it was great! They'd
just finished a $5 million remodeling job and now it's a jewel,
the finest hotel in the city. They, too, were overbooked, so
they apologized and gave us their owner's suite at no extra charge!"

"Well," muttered the hairdresser, "that's all well and good, but
I know you didn't get to see the Pope."

"Actually, we were quite lucky, because as we toured the Vatican,
a Swiss Guard tapped me on the shoulder and explained that the
Pope likes to meet a few of the visitors and if I'd be so kind as
to step into his private room and wait, the Pope would personally
greet me." Sure enough, five minutes later, the Pope walked
through the door and shook my hand! I knelt down and he spoke a
few words to me."

"Oh, really...What'd he say?"

He said, "Where'd you get that crappy hairdo?"


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6. The "Green Tea with Marilee" Show
=====================================

The place for natural health tips, product reviews,
and interview with experts in Alternative Medicine, Holistic
Nursing, Nutrition, Energy Healing, and Essential Oils.

Ask your most important question about natural health issues
and listen to the show for your answers!

Ask your question right now by going to:
http://www.greenteawithmarilee.com/


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>> November is National Hospice Month <<<<< ============================================= For those of you who know my work with "Peaceful Passages: Complementary Therapies in End of Life Care", you know that I have a special passion to help advance the awareness of hospice, especially when it comes to the ability to incorporate natural therapies and comfort and care measures based on holistic modalities, within the framework of hospice. This month you will be hearing from me regarding hospice and complementary therapies in end of life care. I know many of you are health care providers or people in service in one way or another, and I'm sure you often are faced with clients, patients, and even loved ones who are dying. I invite you to visit my website Peaceful Passages ( http://www.peacefulpassages.org/ ) to download a f'ree
special report "17 Natural Ways to Comfort Your Loved One
Who is Sick or Dying".

Also, please look at the Scholarship Fund that is available
for you if you are interested in studying alternative and complementary therapies and plan to use what you studied in an end of life care setting. Applicants are welcome, and so are donations! Application instructions are on the site.

If you are interested in donating please contact me directly
(our link to the site for donations needs to be adjusted) at
marilee777@aol.com

You may be interested in purchasing the small booklet for $10
that goes fully to the fund, contact me directly for that also:
marilee777@aol.com


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Where to Meet, Hear, or Learn with Home Spa Lady:

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November 7 - 9, 2008

"Turn the Internet into Income"

National Nurses in Business Conference
Daytona, Florida

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November 24, 2008 4 PM EST

The "Green Tea with Marilee" Show
featuring
Sheri DeMaris
author of "Macro for the Mainstream"
and Host of "Tea with Sheri"

Subject: Healthy Kids in the Kitchen
(her NEW cook book!)

http://snipurl.com/gtwm_hlthykidkitchen

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Interested in Kick Starting Your Practice?

Great for holistically oriented health care
professionals with a practice!

Purchase this ebook for immediate download

Look at the 99 testimonials on this page -
you are all so beautiful!

http://snipurl.com/8_steps_ebook


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Lady's Tips of the Week" in your own print or electronic
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Reprinted from "Home Spa Lady's Tips of the Week," a free
on how to Make Every Day A Spa Day. Subscribe at
http://www.homespalady.com/.

=======================================================
Marilee Tolen RN
a.k.a. Home Spa Lady
marilee777@aol.com
Phone: 856-857-1799 (East Coast)