Author: admin

Nothing says Summer like the fresh, zesty aroma of the ripened citrus fruits Bergamot, Orange, Lemon, Lime and Grapefruit. Citrus essential oils are a great way to enhance the qualities of Summer, as they are bursting with warmth, vitality and optimism, like the essence of Summer itself bottled. But you can have too much of a good thing, as citrus oils despite sharing similar qualities to the Summer Sun are not entirely compatible with it. This is because many of the citrus essential oils, contain organic molecules known as furanocoumarins (FCs). Under normal circumstances these molecules are perfectly harmless, but when exposed to UV light they have the potential to cause photosensitivity, resulting in skin irritation, hives, burning, blistering and hyperpigmentation. In other words, when the two come together, their warmth and brightness becomes overwhelming, creating too much fire energy.

However, if you are a citrus lover all is not lost. Here are a few ways that you can use citrus essential oils safely during the summer months.

• Use the oils at the end of the day, after the Sun has set and make sure you leave at least 12 – 18 hours before going out in the Sun the next day.
• Avoid tanning beds for 12 – 18 hours or any other source of UV lighting.
• If you cannot avoid going out for a full 12 – 18 hrs, fully cover your skin to block UV exposure.
• Use the essential oils in a diffuser, so they don’t come into contact with the skin.
• Use a personal essential oil inhaler, so you can smell the citrus scent periodically throughout the day, with no risk to skin.
• Use distilled versions of the citrus oils. Citrus oils are typically extracted by expression but steam distilled versions are available in some cases and these have a much lower risk of photosensitivity. Wildflower Aromatics uses distilled Lemon and Lime essential oils in the bath salt and perfume products.

NB: Not all citrus oils are phototoxic but advice can be conflicting as to which ones are. So, I personally use caution with all citrus essential oils with regards to UV exposure. Better to be safe than sorry. Also, phototoxicity is not exclusive to citrus essential oils, other oils such as Angelica, Tagetes and some less commonly used oils, also raise phototoxic concerns. Always check for safety concerns before using any oil for the first time.

REFERENCES

1. https://tisserandinstitute.org/phototoxicity-essential-oils-sun-and-safety/

Sleep is the foundation on which your whole day stands.

A restful nights sleep gives your body the opportunity to renew and restore, ready for the day ahead. So, not getting a good nights sleep, can really have an impact on the rest of your day, both physically and mentally.

Ideally you need to get between 7 – 9 hours of restful sleep every night. Preferably between the hours of 10pm – 8am. This is because your circadian clock works more effectively to repair and renew during this time.

So, if you’re feeling sluggish, tired, foggy headed or just below par, during the daytime hours, it may be a sign that you need to improve your sleep pattern.

Heres a few simple tips you can use to improve your sleep:

• Get lots of daylight exposure, during your waking hours. This will help to regulate your circadian clock and restore your light / dark cycle (1).
• Take a relaxing bath about an hour before bed or even just a warm footbath, to relax your muscles and mind.
• Do a relaxing yoga routine about an hour before bed, to help regulate breathing, calm the mind and relax muscles.
• Rub a blend of essential oils into your shoulders, so that you can inhale the relaxing scent as you sleep. Wildflower Aromatics Lavender & Ylang Ylang Massage oil is perfect for this but other sedative oils include Jasmine, Neroli, Cedarwood, Frankincense, Sandalwood, Patchouli and Vetiver (2).
• Place a lavender sleep pillow underneath your regular pillow, so you can inhale the relaxing aroma through the night.
• Have a relaxing cup of chamomile tea
• Avoid caffeinated drinks after 2pm
• Don’t eat after 7pm at night, so that your digestive sytem can switch off for the night.
• Make sure your bedroom is a comfortable temperature and also dark and quiet.
• Listen to a guided meditation

REFERENCES

1. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/348461022_A_pilot_study_on_essential_oil_aroma_stimulation_for_enhancing_slow-wave_EEG_in_sleeping_brain#:~:text=Lastly%2C%20we%20found%20that%20lavender,poor%20sleep%20quality%20and%20insomnia.
2. Dr Satchin Panda 2018 The Circadian Code Ebury Publishing