Rosemary essential oil is derived from the attractive, evergreen, shrubby herb found growing wild throughout Mediterranean countries where it is believed to have originated. Known botanically as Rosmarinus officinalis and belonging to the Lamiaceae family, the upright form of this herb can reach a height of 1.8 metres, although there are other forms of the plant such as R. officinalis var. prostratus, which is a creeping variety that is often grown in rock gardens or for ground cover. Read more…

Essential oils that have aphrodisiac properties are great for instigating romance! Whether it’s Valentine’s Day, an anniversary or a loved one’s birthday, you can use one of several essential oils to set the mood for love.
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As is often the case at this time of year here in the UK, we seem to be suffering from a deluge of flu, sore throats, coughs and colds. Almost every other person that you speak to has either just got rid of a cold, or they are coming down with one.
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German chamomile (Matricaria recutita) is a flowering medicinal plant that has truly stood the test of time, with over 2,000 years of documented medical use by luminaries such as Asclepius, Galen, Hippocrates and Culpepper. It would be almost impossible to find a herbal book published during the past 500 years that does not include the virtues of this amazing healing herb. Read more…

It was recently estimated that in the United Kingdom more working days are lost each year through back problems than through any other physical ailment. Around 90% of the population experience neck pain or shoulder pain at some point in their lives, and a huge proportion of working adults suffer some form of back pain every year. I suspect that this percentage would apply to most people in the western world.
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Clove bud essential oil is derived from the small reddish-brown, unripe flower buds of the tropical evergreen tree known botanically as Syzygium aromaticum. Like all spices, clove has a long and rich history of use in both culinary and medicinal applications, having first been put to use by the ancient Chinese and then later imported into Alexandria for use throughout Egypt and Europe. Clove bud was also used in Indian Ayurvedic medicine over 2,000 years ago. Read more…

Vaporisation, massage, steam inhalation, and compresses are all popular ways of using essential oils at home, to suit your needs. One of the many joys of aromatherapy is that essential oils can be used in a multitude of ways.
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Stress is part of normal life for everyone today, and there seems to be no escape from it. Bizarrely, research has shown that some stress is actually beneficial because we all need a certain amount of stress to stimulate us and add excitement to our lives. On the other hand, too much stress can have a seriously damaging effect on our physical and emotional well being if it continues for too long. Read more…

Usually when people think about the subject of hair loss, they tend to just have men in mind. However, there are plenty of women who suffer from premature hair loss too, and some experts estimate that as many as 1 in 4 women will experience hair loss at some time in their lives.
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