NONONONONO Please don't do this!

A Facebook posting from one of the US's Aromatherapy Pioneers, Doreen DeSerres, founder of Nature's Spirit Aromatherapy, in Melbourne FL, one of the first true Aromatherapy boutiques in the US:

"Yesterday a young mother came by to obtain a remedy to ease the discomfort her little baby is having with teething. She is using my Gentle Analgesic blend which is in a carrier base of jojoba to apply on the exterior of his cheeks after being soothed with a warm wash cloth. Lavender essential oil will be in the atmosphere to ease his nerves. NOTHING is to be internal. I gave her safe guidelines & products to help. She had been told by one of the now popular MLM representatives pushing products to put Clove on his gums! A baby NO !!!!! An adult, in dilution perhaps. And she was also told that he should ingest Lavender. Beware the sales hype of these marketers please. Yes, of course I desire your business, however I do this with 25 years of knowledge & continue to study all the time. Nature's Spirit is my dharma and my goal is to speak for the plants and to the people on how to use them safely and wisely. I do have a catalog on the web. Most cities throughout the US do have a FEW qualified aromatherapists. Nowadays there are more MLM sales pushers who do so without proper knowledge. I wish for the good of all. I had to post this after realizing that some of their hype is downright dangerous!!!! OK Back to being positive. At least there is more awareness coming about. Be safe & be Aromatized in the best of ways!!! From Doreen DeSerres

I read this and asked Doreen for permission to share, which she graciously granted.  The thought of someone putting clove oil on a babies already hurting gums, or having a baby ingest Lavender Oil to calm them is just frightening.  Our little Roxy is going to start teething any time now, and her mom will massage her cheeks with a week dilution of lavender and german chamomile, perhaps from our Baby Bottom Balm, or perhaps in some jojoba or lotion.  Gentle, safe and effective.  PLEASE don't put these innocent children at risk by unwise and unsafe use of these powerful oils.  

Other solutions for teething pain, from old newsletters and our website:

Teething Pains:

Susan Fleet, a practitioner  in New Zealand had been writing about the CO2 extracted German Chamomile and gave me a hint for teething little ones:

"I have found this extract [the German Chamomile CO2] far superior to that of the steam distilled oil for all sorts of inflammations and the aroma is a lot more rounded and truer in aroma to the herb.  I dilute this with roman chamomile to a 5% dilution for teething in babies and mums rave about it." My comment: 5% is a strong dilution for a baby or toddler, but one would need just one or two drops, applied to the exterior jaw line.  Eases the pain, and the fiery redness teething can cause.  The roman chamomile will probably ease the former sufferer off to sleep.  (Hope my daughter's in law are reading!)

Years later, I think I would add perhaps 6 - 8 drops of our German Chamomile CO2 10% dilution to a measuring teaspoon of Jojoba. That would be a safe and gentle dilution. Add one drop of Roman Chamomile if desired, or one drop of Lavender.

Hydrosols:  Jeanne Rose once suggested spritzing Roman Chamomile Hydrosol into a baby's mouth on the gums to ease the pain and inflammation of teething.  Somehow I don't think most babies would cooperate with that, but you could add a splash of one of the Chamomile Hydrosols to a glass of water, wet a small washcloth, wring nearly dry, and freeze it. Most babies would find sucking on this very soothing.

NO Clove, NO internal use.  

Gifts and Goodies - a recipe

First, a bit of background.   Albert Vieille is an essential oil and absolute producer in Grasse.  They started out almost 100 years ago, producing Neroli, since they were surrounded by groves of bitter oranges.  Today they supply many of our most rare and beautiful Absolutes - Rose de Mai,  Osmanthus, our Spanish Mountain Hay absolute, our Cistus and Labdanum.  Exquisite riches.   The sales rep I had been dealing with has left, and his replacement flew to the States to connect with some of his new clients.  Christophe came to Nashville to meet us and we had a delightful visit. (The ladies of Nature's Gift agreed that we would love to have him bronzed and keep him here on a shelf.  Not only was he as charming as a young Frenchman should be, but very handsome as well!)

He came bearing gifts - cookies from an artisan biscuitier in Vallauris.  Delicate cookies and macarons flavored with the Albert Vieille oils and absolutes. 

Bergamot, Rose, Orange,  Ground Hazelnuts, dark chocolate, Cinnamon,  Blood Orange, Lemon - delectable.   And Christophe cautioned me just a drop or two, very little.

Years ago, in the 60's and 70's, I was a huge fan of Julia Child. I have all of her "Mastering the Art of French Cooking" books, and for several years her almond macaroons were among the cookies I baked every year.  I haven't baked them for years, and I don't know why not...they are easy, and delicious when made according to her recipe. The only flavoring the almond paste and a touch of almond extract.  But I am thinking Rose and Almond,  or Bergamot and Almond, or organic sweet orange and almond, or a touch of almost any spice (nutmeg?) with almond.   
I dug out the old tattered recipe last evening.  In total honesty I have not yet made these yet; I am out of Almond Paste and need to do a grocery run.  But I will!

Julia Child's Macarons:

•  8 oz Almond paste
•  1 c  Sugar
•  1/4 ts Almond extract
•  1 pinch Salt
•  2    Egg whites
  
    Cut canned almond paste into 1/2" pieces.  Process on and off in food processor until it's the texture of brown sugar.  Add sugar and blend. Add Extract, salt, and
    1/4 C egg white. Process until no lumps remain. The dough should not be stiff, but hold its mass on an inverted spoon.
   
    For a crisp shell and soft interior, add a bit more egg white up to the full 3/8 cup. (This is how I made them!)
   
    Beat in bowl with a wooden spoon until creamy and flexible.
   
    Line cookie sheet with brown paper.  Drop small blobs on the paper, leave room around them, they spread.  Smooth the tops. (Optional, at this point, you may decorate each with a
    sliver of glaceed cherry)
   
    Bake both cookie sheets at once in a 325 oven for 20-30 minutes, depending on size.  Switch position of cookie sheets after about 12 or 15 minutes. They are done when lightly golden browned and crusty.
   
    Let cool on paper.  When cool, turn paper up side down, dampen the back of the paper to release the macaroons. Dry on a rack for another 30 minutes. Then store airtight or freeze. 
  

When I made these in a previous lifetime I would occasionally dip 1/2 of each cookie in a chocolate glaze. That is most definitely not necessary.   
When I make them this time, I will add perhaps two drops of Bergamot, or a single drop of Rose to the food processer while processing the Almond Paste, to blend it thoroughly into the dough.
Since I no longer have brown paper grocery bags to bake them on, I will probably try using baking parchment.  I can't wait to experiment!

ENJOY.

(I'm thinking, I may also make some meringues, with ground chocolate and ground pecans. They are one of my sons' favorites. What would happen if I were to whip a drop of EO into those egg whites?)

Meringues:

• 2 egg whites
• 1/8th tsp Cream of Tartar
• 1/8th tsp Salt
• 1 tsp Vanilla
• 3/4 Cup sugar
• 1/2 C mini chocolate chips
• 1/4 C finely chopped Pecans

Beat egg whites, cream of tartar, salt and Vanilla (or substitute a drop or two of an appropriate essential oil... Peppermint?... Gradually add sugar while beating, until stiff peaks form.  Fold in nuts and chocolate bits.   Drop on a baking ship lined with brown paper. (Here we go again, more brown paper. Use Parchment!)  Bake in a slow oven (325 F) until dry.  Do not brown.    I use a baby spoon to shape these because I like *little* cookies. They seem fancier, and the recipe makes more.