After the Holidays - from Nature's Gift

Happy New Year everyone!

This Newsletter contains:

• Post Holiday sales: cold and flu season remedies, buy two get one free, and other sales.
• Comments from our clients
• "Feel Better" formulas
• Blog updates
• Links of interest
• A new Charity of the Quarter
• and the List of Links, in case you can't just click through.
   

New Sales and Specials:

On our "New and Specials" page you will find special savings on our favorite cold and flu fighting Essential Oils,  the Cool Mist Diffuser, and recommended carrier oils for dry, chapped winter skin. There are some "buy two get the third free" sales as well.  All sale pricing is only available on our Specials page.  We've also made available some more packaging options that will eventually end up on our Bottles and Jars page, but for now, are still only on the Specials page.

Our Client's Say:

Eczema - Cranberry Seed Oil:

Regina De Spain recently wrote (and said I could quote her!)

I purchased Cranberry seed oil (carrier) for my dry hands & cuticles. My hands and cuticles are markedly improved.
Your site mentions it may be helpful for eczema & psoriasis conditions. I would like to confirm it does just that. I suggested my husband use it for his eczema and his skin looks so much better. We will continue to use this great product.
I have ordered other products from you and been very pleased with them as well.
I also enjoy your monthly newsletter. I am a customer for life.

We absolutely love hearing feedback like that!  Thanks, Regina!

Seborrheic Dermatitis:

Clacina wrote us:

Goodmorning Marge

I ordered your calendula cream a while ago, (actually for my husband's dry feet - have not tried it for that yet!) I have seborrheic dermatitis -   I was going through one of my cycles again - patches on my forehead, eyebrows and nose, when I thought I might as well try your cream if just to relieve the dry, flakiness. Well it works! I have not used anything before that clears up the patches so fast. Just a little bit twice a day, and its fantastic!
Thank you

Clacina Tanner
Norfolk, VA

That is great news...  and I thank Clacina for giving me permission to quote her!

More on the Calendula Cream:

Ruth Gilbert wrote:

Your calendula repair cream is another winner.  I have  used (A trademarked brand) Calendula cream for many, many years--made by a Canadian homeopathic company and the best Calendula cream I've ever found.  But this has the advantages of those wonderful oils you've included.   Very soothing and healing.  Thanks.

More Helichrysum Healing:

Carole Bland recently wrote:

 >Special Instructions / Comments: Broke my ankle back in March. Had surgery
 >to repair both the tib and fib (w/hardware). The helichrysum has helped
 >tremendously with both the pain from the injury and fading the
 >scar.  Thank you for offering such a great product.

and Barbara McBee wrote:

I had a benign cellular tumor removed from my neck nearly three years ago.The scar was 4 inches, very  tight and inflamed. Nothing over the counter worked-I am very sensitive to chemicals and additives. My doctor thought this was the best I would heal, though I never keloid. I searched around and found your sight approx. one and one half years after my surgery-I have ordered helio with rosehips, (my orders have included peppermint and argan oil.but for this purpose I stuck with helio and rosehips).
 
I applied religiously for several months at night-I could not wear anything against my neck, and had trouble sleeping because my poor skin seemed to be pulled so tight.I am small, and great care was taken to pull everything back together.I am back to wearing turtlenecks, and the scar(including the turkey-wobble that brought the sutures to a complete close) are so minimal that one has to search for it.

I love sharing stories like that!!!

Feel Better Formulas:

(All of the oils listed below may be accessed on our Quick Order page.  Just click on the name of the oil to the link to a fuller description of each oil.)

Super Respiratory Blend:

Years ago my friend and mentor Michel shared his favorite respiratory formula - great for any sort of chest congestion.  I've blended it for my own use, and shared it with friends. We don't offer it for sale, but do have all the components.  One caveat.  When I first used it (to help me through a really debilitating chest cold) it gave me insomnia.  Helped me breathe, but, since I was diffusing it in my bedroom, gave me two or three sleepless nights. When I stopped and thought about the *other* qualities of the ingredients, I had an AHA moment.   This is a great DAYTIME respiratory blend. One of my son's uses it in his car diffuser while traveling on business. Keeps his chest clear, and keeps the driver awake and alert.

Hyssop decumbens
Balsam Fir
Niaouli
Eucalyptus Globulous
Sea Pine Needle
Ravensara aromatica
Scotch Pine

I blended equal parts of the above.

Night time Respiratory Blend:

Hyssop decumbens
Lavender angustifolia (either Mailette, High Altitude, or Bulgarian)
Myrtle

All three are safe, gentle and relaxing oils that will ease respiratory discomfort in children or adults.

Aches and Pains blend:

for the aches and pains of the flu:

Lavandin Super (relaxing)
Eucalyptus Smithii (decongestant, pain relieving)
Ginger (warming, relaxing)

Blend equal parts, up to 7 drops of each essential oil (or 20-22 of the blend) to one ounce of your favorite carrier oil.

I find this helps with the general achiness of a virus, as well as pain in my diaphram from too much coughing.

Dry, unproductive cough?

Nothing I know of is as effective as inhaling Inula Graveolens oil.  I don't diffuse this, as it may trigger coughing attacks in people who don't need it, but inhaling on a tissue, or a steam inhalation over a bowl of warm water will normally loosen a dry, tight cough.

BLOG UPDATES:

We've recently listed the winners of our 12 Days of Christmas gifting, some pictures of my grand children (yes, I indulge myself, I am, after all, a Grandma!), and a research article about driver alertness through aromatherapy.  All articles are available on our blog.

Links of Interest:

I've been working with Wendy, of Sniffle Sleeve, for awhile now.  In total honesty, the idea of teaching a child (or anyone!) to cough and sneeze into their elbow was distasteful to me.  (Mental image of little boys wiping runny noses on their sleeve came to mind!)  But, in order to avoid "contempt prior to investigation" I read and researched more.  And, come to find out, her idea is supported by a long list of authoritative sources.

Wendy is greatly influenced by Valerie Worwood's book The Healthy Child, and has used Worwood's formulas with her own family.  She has designed a safe and effective way to use the healing powers of the oils, as well as washable "over sleeves" (the Sniffle Sleeve) to keep a child's clothes clean.  AND, because she truly cares about the quality of her products, she is reselling our oils, at the same prices we sell them for.  Please visit her site and read the research she has made available.

New Charity of the Quarter:

Midwives on Missions of Service travel to the poorest parts of the world to share information on safer pregnancies and birthing methods, to help improve the lives of women and children.

from their website:

• Prepare women to educate and support their communities, especially the pregnant women in those communities
• Train women in the skills and knowledge they need to support local women in normal birth
• Promote effective maternity care to all women

An old friend/client of mine is on the board of directors, and, by sending me their newsletter, called the group to my attention.  Please help us support them by adding your donation to your next order.

Quote of the Month/New Year's Wishes:

"Cheers to a New Year and another chance for us to get it right."
  Oprah

"Let this coming year be better than all the others. Vow to do some of the things you've always wanted to do but couldn't find the time. Call up a forgotten friend. Drop an old grudge, and replace it with some pleasant memories. Vow not to make a promise you don't think you can keep. Walk tall, and smile more. You'll look ten years younger. Don't be afraid to say, 'I love you'. Say it again. They are the sweetest words in the world."
  Ann Landers

and, the one that touched my spirit

"I will seek elegance rather than luxury, refinement rather than fashion. I will seek to be worthy more than respectable, wealthy and not rich. I will study hard, think quietly, talk gently, and act frankly. I will listen to stars and birds, babes and sages, with an open heart. I will bear all things cheerfully, do all things bravely await occasions and hurry never. In a word I will let the spiritual, unbidden and unconscious grow up through the common."
  William Ellery Channing

LINKS in this Newsletter: 

List of links in this Newsletter: (if you can't just click on the link, cut and paste into your browser.)

Our specials page:   www.naturesgift.com/special.htm
Our Bottles and Jars page: www.naturesgift.com/oilbottles.htm
Cranberry Seed Oil: http://www.naturesgift.com/carrier_oils/cranberry-seed-oil.htm
Calendula Repair Cream: http://www.naturesgift.com/aromatherapyskincare.htm#Calendula-Cream
Quick Order Page (Alphabetical listing of Essential Oils)  http://www.naturesgift.com/aromatherapytable.htm
Sniffle Sleeve:  http://www.snifflesleeve.com/
MOMS - Midwives on Missions of Service: http://www.globalmidwives.org/

Holiday Greetings from Nature's Gift

(We chose a card to delight the child in all of us!)

12 Days of Christmas Gifting:

This year the gifts will include special treasures saved from our little shop,  books, diluted Rose Oil and Absolute, a one of a kind Amphora... we haven't yet decided what else.  The winners (and their gifts) will be listed on our blog.  

To balance that, please remember that our very special "shopping" sale runs only through Christmas Eve and will not be in effect during Christmas Day.   Look for our New Years Sale and new Specials in January.

Holiday Hours Reminder:

We will be here for most of the day Wednesday, Christmas Eve. (I wanted to take the day off, but was outvoted. Almost everyone here wanted a four day weekend.)   Orders placed by midmorning on the 24th will ship that day.     We will be here next week (Monday through Wednesday) to take inventory.  Emergency Express Mail orders may be processed, otherwise all orders placed will ship next year, starting Monday, January 5th. 

Have a safe and blessed Holiday season, everyone.  Thank you for the gifts you have given us through this year.

Special Sale pricing &
Last Minute Gift Ideas

(If you have trouble reading this version, the newsletter is available online here.)  http://www.naturesgift.com/NewsDec08.htm

This newsletter contains:

Special sale pricing and promotional code good for 10% off all discountable items.
A new page of bargain shopping ideas.
A quick holiday decorating idea, and holiday scented cleaning blend.
USPS Shipping deadlines for your planning.

NEW Specials and a 10% off discount code:

We've added to our Specials page, and put other products on special sale for your Holiday Shopping.

JUST Received:  The most beautiful aroma lamps we have ever seen - true ceramic works of art especially commissioned for Nature's Gift. We've taken 10% off their regular retail price - and extended the 10% discount to every aromalamp we offer. (Discount will be taken in the shopping cart, we've not shown the discounted price on the website.) See the new lamps, and our full array on our accessories page.  NOTE: If you use our special discount code, that's a savings of 20%!)

Save $10 on my favorite diffuser - our Cobalt Aroma Stone.

Holiday oil samplers and kits, our holiday synergies, Frankincense and Balsam Fir Hydrosols, Gift sets for the women in your life, from mother-to-be to grandmother and all ages in between.  All at 10% off on our Specials page. Don't forget our featured "just for men" page for the special men in your life.

To increase your savings - for a brief period we have a special holiday shopping promotional code posted at the top of our Specials page.  Enter the code in the box labeled "Gift Cert./Promo Code" at checkout and save an additional 10% on these already discounted goodies.

All of these special sale prices and the discount code are available on our New Items and Special Sales page.

BARGAIN HUNTING?

Christi suggested, and came up with, a page of gift ideas at Nature's Gift featuring gifts and products for $10.00 or less, and $25.00 or less.  The page is still a work in progress, we're adding goodies as we think of them.

HOLIDAY DECORATING:

Taken from P. Allen Smith's Gardening newsletter...

1-2-3 Done! Cinnamon Pine Cones

1. Apply a few drops of cinnamon oil to each pine cone with a cotton swab.
2. Store the pine cones in a plastic bag for a few days.
3. Place the pine cones in a bowl and enjoy the festive scent of cinnamon.

And that started me thinking. Of course one could use Cinnamon Bark or Leaf oil, but what about the conifers?  What about our Holiday Synergies? 

And in the back of my mind is a recommendation that I read years ago (and haven't tried!)  Melt paraffin wax (left over candles would work.).. while still warm and liquid add your favorite 'winter scented" essential oil.   Dip pine cones in the melted wax.  Instant fire starters for the fireplace.  Pretty and aromatic in a basket beside the fireplace.

Holiday Cleaning:

From earlier newsletters:

Pomander Ball Cleanser

(adapted from a recipe from Barbara Lucks)

Not only does this preparation clean but the essential oils disinfect and
provide a natural, festive fragrance.

1 teaspoon Sweet Orange or Mandarine essential oil
a few drops of Clove Oil and Cinnamon Leaf oils
1 teaspoon washing soda
2 teaspoons borax
1/2 teaspoon liquid soap or detergent
2 cups hot water (to dissolve the soda and borax)

Combine the ingredients in a spray bottle.  Shake to dissolve and blend the
minerals.  You can spray this cleaner onto a surface then leave it for 15
minutes before wiping it off, to give the essential oils antiseptic
qualities time to work  (makes 2 cups).

It will leave your house smelling like an old-fashioned, clove studded pomander ball!

HOLIDAY SHIPPING DEADLINES:

The Postal Service claims that Priority Mail (our default shipping) will be delivered on time if mailed by Saturday, December 20th  (Order before noon on Friday the 19th and we'll get it out the door.)

EXPRESS MAIL:   December 23 (Tuesday)

Cyber Monday Special Sale Starts NOW!

We were going to wait until Monday, but some folks browse their email during the day on Sunday, and after a long weekend, who has time to go online on Monday? So, we are starting the Cyber Monday Special Sale right now.