Apothecary Shoppe Blog
Using essential oils in the kitchen will not only spice up your cooking… it’s also incredibly fun and an easy way to add flavor and flair to your recipes! But there are a few key things you should always keep in mind. We’ve just released a new eBook, Top 10 Culinary Essential Oils (follow this link or click the image at the bottom of this blog post to download your free copy!), so to celebrate, here is a sneak peak at some of my quick tips for cooking with essential oils: Tip 1 – Use Certifie...
READ MORE
Posted September 11, 2014 at 09:12 AM
Ah, summertime! It’s that time of year to relax out on the porch, sip some lavender iced-tea, and watch the sun slowly dip behind the tree line. But if there’s one thing that can snap you straight out of that soothing summer bliss, it’s mosquitos and other creepy crawlies found around your home! If you’ve read my first blog on tips for green cleaning with essential oils, you know I strongly discourage the use of chemical cleaners and pesticides. But living with colonies of unwanted critters i...
READ MORE
Posted September 11, 2014 at 09:07 AM
Essential oils can be used in the home as antiviral cleaning products. A diffuser used with essential oils like eucalyptus Eucalyptus globulus, lemon balm Melissa officinalis, peppermint Mentha piperita var. vulgaris, or thyme Thymus vulgaris may reduce the airborne viruses in a room. Essential oils can also be added to hand creams to help reduce the spread of viruses by contact. Of course, these should be used in addition to the common sense CDC recommendations to wash your hands frequently,...
READ MORE
Posted February 23, 2011 at 09:57 AM
Ginger Zingiber officinale is a member of the Zingiberaceae family and is cultivated in many tropical and subtropical countries. Commonly called common ginger, Jamaican ginger, and ginger root, it should not be confused with galangal oil, Alpinia officinarum, which is also called ginger root. Ginger oil is produced from dried, whole rhizomes, as well as peelings and shavings if used immediately. The oil has a green or yellowish color and a fresh, spicy, and pungent aroma. The aroma is long-la...
READ MORE
Posted February 23, 2011 at 09:55 AM
Just like wine, a number of factors affect the quality of an essential oil, including: Where the plant was grown. What part of the plant was used. How it was grown. What the climate was like. How it was harvested. When it was harvested. How it was produced. How it was stored following production. The quality of the finished product may be compromised if any one of these steps is not carried out optimally for that particular plant. So, how can we ensure that the essential oils we buy are of a ...
READ MORE
Posted February 04, 2011 at 09:37 AM
Summer is here! That means, it's time to get outdoors and enjoy some relaxation and sun time with friends and family. For many of us, though, summer fun can come at a price (so to speak!). Bug bites! Ouch. Ick. Yuck! If you're swarmed by cookout invites and gardening have-tos, don't fear your time outdoors ... with a little pre-planning, you can protect your skin and fun-time from potential discomfort caused by bug bites. This summer, make aromatherapy part of your outdoor fun. These essentia...
READ MORE
Posted June 28, 2010 at 09:33 AM
BY ACHS Instructor Scott Stuart If you ever played in the woods as a kid you probably got stung by nettles. It itched and burned for a few hours and then faded away. That's because nettles have stinging hairs like tiny hypodermic needles. The toxic juice in the nettle hairs is a combination of acid and antigenic protein under pressure. When the needle penetrates the skin the tip breaks and the juice is injected. But did you know that nettle is not only one of the most useful medicinal herbs, ...
READ MORE
Posted May 06, 2010 at 11:14 AM
BY Laura H. Hatton, M.S., C.C.N., C.P.T., ACHS Instructor Recently there has been a lot of information being published purporting the evils of soy. I have been very concerned about this information and responded to a specific set of myths that were published on a popular website. The following is a summary of that research. Myth #1―High levels of phytic acid in soy reduce the assimilation of calcium, magnesium, copper, iron, and zinc. Phytic acid is not neutralized by ordinary preparation met...
READ MORE
Posted March 02, 2010 at 09:40 AM
Common oregano, Origanum vulgare, "has long been used as a remedy for digestive, respiratory and rheumatic problems and as a treatment for stings and bites," according to the article "Natural Solutions to Drug-Resistant Infections," which appeared in the September/October 2009 edition of Well Being Journal. Author CJ Puotinen provides a detailed list of recommended uses for Origanum vulgare based on the text The Cure Is in the Cupboard: How to Use Oregano for Better Health by Cass Ingram, who...
READ MORE
Posted October 13, 2009 at 02:54 PM
"Many foods an nutrients are known to improve brain function," according to NaturalNews. "Fish has long been known as 'brain food' because of the omega 3 fatty acids, but many other foods can improve and maintain healthy mental function and improve memory." Adaptogens, for example, help brain function by reducing stress caused by the "fight or flight" response (such as, ginseng and rhodalia), while other plants work to detoxify the blood and brain (such as cabbage, broccoli, collards, kale, b...
READ MORE
Posted October 09, 2009 at 10:46 AM
