I took myself off to my friends woodland yesterday. We cooked lunch over the camp fire and had a lovely wander around. The very first woodland anemones has popped up. The daffodils are still out in bloom and you can just see the carpet of green leaves for the bluebells are coming up just in front of them. Some of you here have visited here when I have held my Wild Women of the Woods days during Spring through to Autumn. I have plans for this year’s outdoor gathering for some Sylvotherapy. Watch this space! 😎

I don't believe it and don't understand what has happened! I had finally finished my Poison's book this morning and was ready to upload it to print. I had saved it...... but it hasn't! It's still there on my desktop, but an older version from way back in January! All the work I have put in over the past few weeks is not there! Can anyone help please..... I am heartbroken!

I really wish when Aromatherapists and other CAM Practitioners write formulations on their websites, books, etc that they would stop using measurements such as spoons and cups and instead use mls (for liquids) and grams (for solids), as this makes formulations more accurate, scalable, and replicable.

Jane, I have bogged down the system. Cannot get my homework to send.

I recently made a bruise cream for a friend of mine, a 42-year-old male who got a bruise on his abdomen out of nowhere. He does not know how it occurred. Admittedly, it was not a large bruise or one as severe as I have seen before, but it was still bothering him, specifically, he had a 'bruising' feeling that radiated outwards from the bruise area towards the lefts heading towards his hip bone. He saw me on Day 2 of the Bruise. I made up a simple yet very effective aromatic cream for him, which he used and was shocked at the results, considering he is a sceptic when it comes to aromatherapy. He told me that from now on, he won't second-guess coming to me. I am a big believer in choosing your bases based on their therapeutics rather than using anything as a means to 'carry' the essential oil. For this bruise cream, I used a mix of Calendula Cream, Arnica Cream, and Sea Buckthorn oil. Because there was a separation (even with well-mixed oil and creams), I added a solubiliser. Both Arnica and Calendula are well known to help with bruises. Arnica works by increasing local blood flow to help reabsorb leaked fluids (blood) under the skin, reducing pain, oedema, and helping to remove the discolouration of the skin faster. It reduces swelling and inflammation mainly due to its active component, helenalin. Arnica should only be applied to intact skin and never applied to mucous membranes, around or inside orifices, or around the eyes. Calendula works due to its anti-inflammatory properties, such as its flavonoids, carotenoids, and triterpene alcohols that lower inflammation and reduce swelling. One of its main active constituents is faradiol. Calendula promotes blood flow and oxygen to the treated area, stimulating new tissue growth. It encourages the repair of damaged skin, aiding in the rapid recovery from bruises, sprains, and strain-related trauma, and has Antioxidant Effects: It helps prevent oxidative stress to skin cells at the site of the injury. Sea buckthorn oil is a nutrient-dense botanical used to support skin repair and reduce inflammation, and speeds up the healing process of minor skin issues such as bruising. Rich in Omegas 3, 6, 7, and 9, plus vitamins E and K, it helps strengthen skin integrity and promote tissue regeneration. A small amount of this oil goes a long way, and keep in mind it can stain skin and clothes due to its high carotenoid content specificially zeaxanthin dipalmitate.