I love castor oil for many reasons. It is rich in vitamins, minerals, Vitamin E, Omegas and proteins. First of all, it is anti-everything.  It is anti-bacterial, anti-microbial and anti-fungal.  Second, it makes hair shine and moisturized.  I use castor oil in my shampoo bars which are the most wonderful shampoo ever.  Third, castor oil is a main staple in my Castor Oil Belly Packs.  Castor oil packs are great for indigestion, upset stomach, menstrual cramps and generalized belly aches. 

​Many of you may recall the picture of a child holding his/her nose while taking a teaspoon of something into the mouth.  That was castor oil!  Historically, castor oil was given internally for gastrointestinal distress.  That practice has disappeared over the years because there is evidence that castor oil can cause serious illness/death if ingested.  In fact, castor oil taken internally is now considered a poison.  Don't drink it!!

​If you have ever touched castor oil you know that it is viscous (thick).  It is so thick that it won't freeze no matter how hard you try.  In fact it was used as a lubricant in World War 1. It is ideal for cold weather climates as a spot moisturizer (like those little cuts on the sides of your fingers).

​As a reminder there are side effects to everything.  If you use castor oil on your skin make sure you watch for redness, itching, rash....any skin irritation.  If this happens, discontinue use. 

Taken from the SKOY website because they tell their story best!  See my tips for use at the end.  We sell these cloths in the shop! 

Skoy Cloth Description   GET TO KNOW!!
Wet
Wipe
100% Biodegradable and Natural
New From Europe
       One Skoy Cloth Saves 15 Rolls Of Paper Towels
       Use instead of Paper Towels & Sponges
       Kitchen • Bathroom • Office • Auto • Boats • Camping • Golf Clubs and more...
Skoy cloth is...
100% Biodegradable
Absorbent
Re-usable
European-made
Machine Washable
Skoy cloth saves time, money, and trees

Skoy is an environmental advance in cleaning cloths. This European Made product is 100% biodegradable and is made from a natural cotton and wood-pulp cellulose. Skoy cloth is non-toxic, chlorine-free and made using water-based colors and inks. Skoy utilizes original artwork designs to add fun as well as function to your home.

Skoy cloth is a reusable product due to its amazing durability. Using one Skoy cloth is the equivalent to using 15 rolls of paper towels in an average home. With the high cost of paper towels, Skoy cloth is the obvious choice for your wallet and the environment.

Skoy dries quickly, so it is not a breeding ground for bacteria. "Have you ever used your sponge, then smelled your hand and it reeked of horrible bacteria?" That won't happen again if you microwave your Skoy cloth regularly.

Suggested Use
Wet your Skoy cloth before using. Be sure to squeeze out the excess water for optimal absorption. Skoy can be used with popular household cleaners, but works just as well with water.
Skoy cloth can be cleaned in your dishwasher and is washer/dryer safe. Chlorine use is not recommended. Another option to keep your cloth healthy and germ-free is to microwave it wet for 1-2 minutes.

Warnings
Caution: Skoy cloth must be wet when microwaving. Please wait a minute or two before removing cloth from microwave, as it will be extremely hot.
Cleaning wipes designed to fit electrostatic mops for cleaning floors have become popular.  Making your own wipes for the floor depends on using the right materials to make the wipes from and storing them properly.  To make the wipes environmentally friendly, use cellulose cloth.  It is sturdy and made from tree fibers.  It is also free of petrochemicals and biodegradable unlike typical store bought wipes.  Use these on linoleum, sealed wood floors or tile.

​My Skoy are kept in a vinegar blend which includes essential oils of Tea Tree, Lemon, Honey Myrtle, Eucalyptus, Lavender and a hint of Clove.  This blend keeps them moist, sanitary and ready for use.  In addition, they smell great too!  When they are nearing the end of use with the essential oil blend I pop them into the washing machine and start over.  They are amazing!  

Instructions:  The Skoy Essential Oil Blend is a terrific mix to keep your Skoy cloth fresh.  If you rinse your Skoy cloth in the blend it will stay super clean and essential oil fresh.  To Use:  Dump contents of Skoy Cloth Essential Oil Blend in a quart bag and store Skoy between uses in mix after it is done cleaning your surfaces and been rinsed.  When solution becomes discolored, discard. 

I love unrefined sesame.  It is such a skin pampering oil and relatively inexpensive.  The Vitamins E and A are excellent for aging skin and said to reduce fine wrinkles.  Sesame is nourishing, warming and has a light pleasing aroma. Add a bit of avocado oil and reap the benefits of vitamins, minerals and proteins.  Avocado is also exceptionally soothing.  Carrot Seed Essential Oil is wonderful for cell regeneration.  Carrot Seed is a great tonic for the skin.  Try out this recipe:

​8 ounces unrefined Sesame Oil
​4 ounces Avocado Oil
60 drops of Carrot Seed Essential Oil

​Use it in the bath, on your skin as a moisturizer or after showering.  Enjoy!

There are some easy natural ways to beat the bugs in the summer.  An essential oil based bug spray not only smells great but is effective in deterring common pests.  Another beautiful thing about a natural repellent is that you don't have to wash it off in order to sleep well at night and it doesn't contain chemicals.  Winner!

​I have made a natural insect spray for years.  The ingredients are:
Distilled Water
Raw Apple Cider Vinegar
Patchouli Essential Oil
​Cedarwood Essential Oil
Rosemary Essential Oil
Eucalyptus Globulus Essential Oil
Lavender Essential Oil
Rose Geranium Essential Oil
​Lemon Essential Oil

​Blended together this is a terrific smelling BUG-OFF!  Don't have time to create it?  Order it online in my Etsy Shop or stop by the farm store.  By the way, in appropriate dilutions it is great for your horse, child or dog.  One stop shop!

I'm pretty excited about this!

​News Release
Simple, Effective Aromatherapy With New Aroma Sticks         From The Healing Place Farm

Sussex, WI (June 23, 2016)—A new line of Aroma Sticks from The Healing Place Farm makes the practice of aromatherapy quick and easy.  The Aroma Sticks let users inhale the pure essential oils that can help maintain and promote health and well-being.
            Aromatherapy triggers changes within a person’s limbic system, the part of the brain associated with memory and emotion.  It may assist with pain control, anxiety, depression, insomnia, lack of concentration, headaches, fatigue, or be used to augment immunity. 
            “Essential oils are natural products made from various plants, roots, resins, branches, flowers and leaves,” says Polly Huenink-Schellinger, RN, BSN, Board Certified Holistic Nurse and owner of The Healing Place Farm.  “Simply smelling the oil is considered a safe and effective way of taking the oil into the body.  The Aroma Stick lets you do that in one easy step.”
            The Healing Place Farm offers 16 different Aroma Sticks, each with specific therapeutic uses.  They include: Immune, Sleep, Anxiety, Headache, Focus/Calm, Allergy, Congestion, Woman’s Comfort, Deep Relax, Lavender, Concentration, Energize, Feeling Good, Sinus, Stress and Uplift.  Proprietary formulas are available and encouraged.
            “In many ways, the Aroma Stick is aromatherapy on-the-go,” comments Huenink-Schellinger.  “It’s small, portable and the dosage is always correct.”
Aroma Sticks retail for $5.00 to $7.00 and lasts four to six months, depending on use.  For more information or to place an order on-line, visit www.thehealingplacefarm.com.
 
 
About The Healing Place Farm
            The Healing Place Farm is dedicated to sharing the gifts that nature has provided. While essential oils are the mainstay of The Healing Place Farm, numerous items are crafted on the farm.  Products include sundries such as fresh soaps, lotion bars, calendula balm, trauma oil, itch sticks, aromatherapy inhalers, baby products, cleaning essentials, a men's line, body love essentials and now molded soaps in a variety of shapes.  The “Farm” also hosts open houses, offers classes teaching the learner to be self-sufficient and to truly consider the effects of products utilized within the home and provides personal consults. 
###
Media Contact
Polly Huenink-Schellinger, RN, BSN, Owner
(262) 370-3810
Rschellinger@wi.rr.com

​Trauma Oil is one of my favorite products.  I craft it here on the farm with organic ingredients.  The base oil or carrier oil is an extra virgin olive oil which is infused with organically grown Calendula, St. John’s Wort and Arnica. The St. John’s Wort and Calendula are grown and dried here on the farm.
 
Why is Trauma Oil so special?  It is well known for pain relief.  As we all know pain can come in many forms.  Trauma Oil is wonderful for muscular pain as well as nerve pain.  The synergistic blend assists with reduction of swelling and augments healing.  If you feel a strain from over-doing it, Trauma Oil is great. 
 
Although Trauma Oil is great all by itself I like to add a few essential oils to create a different blend for people that feel they might need just a bit extra for pain control.  Balsam Copaiba, Helichrysum and Black Pepper make a great combination with the Trauma Oil.  Together they are very effective and I am seeing especially great results in arthritic pain. 
 
 

​In your pocket or in your purse, the Aroma Stick from The Healing Place Farm uses pure essential oils to positively affect your health and well-being.
The simple inhaling of the oils is a safe, effective way of taking them into your body in one easy step. The Aroma Stick assures the right dose every time.
Importantly, each Aroma Stick is targeted to help with the management of a particular symptom.  There are 16 Aroma Sticks in all.
Whether it’s to relieve pain, reduce stress, conquer an allergy or boost your energy, there is an Aroma Stick for you.
 
“I combine massage and the Deep Relax Aroma Stick to help me recover from my long runs.”   Troy B.
“I use the Lavender Aroma Stick after a long day.  It’s great for relaxing.”  Liz E.
“The Aroma Sticks are really convenient and easy to use.  I keep some at home and some in my purse.” Julie H.
“I have been using many products from The Healing Place Farm.  I absolutely love the products and the mission of this business.  Natural products that are free of chemicals is what I want for me and my family,” Kim C.
 
For more information about Aroma Sticks or to order them online, visit www.thehealingplacefarm.com.
 

I have a blanket statement about the ingestion of essential oils.  Don't. Generally speaking, my opinion about ingestion of essential oils is not a popular one. However, safety first. There are many people that approve of, advise to and have no problem with the concept of internal use of essential oils.  My questions would be these:  Are they an aromatologist/clinical aromatherapist working under the care of a physician?  Have they had  years of training?  Do they know all of the side effects/interactions with medications and health conditions and are they willing to be responsible if something goes awry with the ingestion?  Essential oils are considered a medication or a treatment.  Who is the prescriber? Do they know that gender and ethnicity along with genetics play a role in the metabolism of essential oils?  Do you? 

​The first concern about ingestion is determining the purity of the essential oils.  Given the state of the market and that most GC/MS sheets (see my earlier post on these) are not available...what are you putting in your body?  Would you eat a granola bar that didn't list the ingredients or something from a roadside stand that had no sign telling you what it was (perhaps it would just say "food")? When I am looking to live a "whole" lifestyle I want to know everything that I am putting in my body. 

​Has your "prescriber" taken a full history on you?  Have they talked to you about your age, body weight, state of health and medication?  Probably not.  If you read the Tisserand/Young book on safety of essential oils they suggest that there is so little information on the safety of ingestion of oral dosing that a person should be carefully monitored by a primary care practitioner.   

​There is data to suggest that overdose can cause lethargy, difficulty with walking, coma, irritability, gastrointestinal irritation, convulsions and a multitude of other serious conditions (Aromatherapy for Health Professionals, 2007).  There is a table within the source noted above for lethal doses of essential oils.  I wonder if the individual advising you to ingest essential oils has read it.   Further, is the person that has suggested oral dosing familiar with diagnosis and pharmacology of essential oils?    Here is a list from Tisserand/Young of some common drugs which interact with certain essential oils: Warfarin, Aspirin, Heparin, Acetaminophen, Phenobarbital, Citalopram, Fluoxetine, Sertraline, Metformin, Furosemide, Spironolactone....these are just a few of the more "known" medications. 

​Did you know that there are many cases of Eucalyptus poisoning?  Since there are many types of Eucalyptus and the specifics on which one have not been disclosed we can only refer to Eucalyptus oil as a whole.  In 34 cases of Eucalyptus poisoning 50% of them led to coma (Gurr & Sccroggie 1965).  All of them recovered. 

If you are ingesting an absolute or a resin be aware that there is solvent residue remaining in these oils. There is concern also that Peppermint essential oil can cause premature contractions.  In the hospital we do not give Peppermint essential Oil to pregnant women, people with a cardiac history or individuals with contractile disorders (seizure, epilepsy for example). 


​In summary, these are a few of my reasons for having a hard stop with ingestion of essential oils.  I hope that I've given you something to ponder as you consider ingestion of essential oils. There are lots of things to be concerned about with ingestion of essential oils. 

 The humidity of the day left my house smelling a bit stale.  The house and the humans needed a pick me up of freshness.  Enter May Chang diffused over the stove.  It was an immediate lemony wonderful aroma which permeated every corner of the house and our senses.  What is May Chang?

​The wonderful aroma of May Chang is lemony, fresh, exhilarating and inviting.  It is a top middle note.  I could cast a vote for May Chang as a top note too but there just seems to be a slight depth that holds me in the middle category.  The May Chang I purchase originates In India.  The plant that it comes from is an evergreen and the oil is produced from the berries/fruit/seed. 

​May Chang is steam distilled.  May Chang is great for fighting germs, virus' and other

One of my go-to items for itchy horse or dog ears (from the dreaded gnats) is nettle balm.  I find nettle balm a help for itching, irritation and moisturizing.  The beeswax gives it "stick" power so while it spreads easily it also stays put. In addition, it protects ears from further bites!  To soothe those bites just apply sparingly to ears and leave it be.  As with anything, watch for adverse reactions. 

​The common name for nettles is the "Stinging Nettle".  They can be found throughout the world in hedges, fields or along roadways. The best time to collect the nettle is during the flowering stage of the plant.  Of course, be careful when you collect it because the stinging part of the nettle can create an allergic reaction or "sting".  Wear gloves for sure and watch for plants which are 12 inches or more in height. 

​Happy hunting and goodbye gnats!

​