All the tree oils will support the immune system and these are the cedarwoods, the eucalyptuses, cypresses, firs, juniper, pines, tea trees, and spruces. Cinnamon Leaf, Cassia Bark, Basil, Black Pepper, Laurel Leaf, Cardamon, Grapefruit, Lemon, Niaouli, Peppermint, Ravensara, Rosemary, and Thyme are usually on the list of powerful antivirals and lymph supporters.

Now that we have a list of oils. The next question is which one and how many drops? Unfortunately many people believe that you need to be a perfume blender to put a blend together. Therapeutic blending is not about the perfect combination of notes to create the balanced fragrance. Therapeutic blending is about putting oils together that will achieve the results you want. It may smell great and it may not.

Blend for Supporting the Immune System

This will be a blend for a massage or bath to encourage lymph movement.  We know that the immune system is dependent on the lymph system to kill and eliminate invading organisms. We will want one oil to stimulate the circulation (Black Pepper, Cinnamon Bark or Leaf, and Cypress), one oil to encourage fluid elimination (Grapefruit, Lemon, Juniper), and one oil to stimulate the lymph system (Grapefruit, Peppermint, Rosemary).

Cinnamon Bark is also a powerful antibacterial and a very hot oil. Care must be taken with it especially in the bath. Since we are not dealing with infection and want the blend to be bath friendly, we can pass on the cinnamon. We may want it in our environment by diffusing it especially if we are concerned that we could “get something.” Black Pepper is considered good for increasing blood cells, supports the spleen, and helps to remove blocked emotions. Since we do not perceive any problems just want to support the immune system, we can pass on this oil. Cypress is considered a premier circulatory stimulant especially with the veins. Arteries carry blood from the heart and the veins return the blood. The veins will be carrying toxins for elimination. We want to support this and relieve any venous congestion, so we choose cypress.

For fluid elimination, grapefruit is considered an excellent diuretic as well as a lymphatic stimulant. This is probably an oil we want to use. Lemon has similar properties to grapefruit, but considered better at detoxing which is what we are also encouraging. Both oils could work and we can use them both. Juniper is considered an excellent diuretic but it can stress the kidneys and we must be sure that who uses this blend has strong kidneys, so we will pass on this oil.

Grapefruit we have mentioned. Peppermint is a premier lymph stimulant. It has a chilling effect and if put into warm water, the person may only feel cold. We would prefer warmth to stimulate the system. Rosemary is also a good stimulant for circulation but probably more famous for its ability to stimulant the brain. Let’s go with Grapefruit since we are wanting this to go into a bath, as it is also very relaxing.

We have chosen Cypress, Lemon, and Grapefruit for our blend.

We will use a 1oz bottle which is 750 drops. What percentage of essential oils do we want in our blend? If this is for the retail market, we would stay with 1% which is 7-8 drops essential oil to 1oz carrier. An aromatherapist would probably blend from a 10% ration or 75 drops but the aromatherapist would be supervising the treatment. Retail must be much more careful.

Which carrier are we going to use? I like Calendula for lymph and skin issues. Calendula grows here and we make the maceration here at Gritman. Calendula Maceration has astringent properties and reduces venous congestion while being very good for the skin.

In a 1oz bottle, we will use how many drops of cypress, lemon, and grapefruit? Since the lemon and grapefruit are so similar in properties, we can emphasize the cypress. We can drop 35 drops of cypress with 20 drops of lemon and 20 drops of grapefruit. We now have 75 drops in our bottle. We fill the bottle with calendula. Cap. Shake. Label.

We can use 30 drops of this in our bath and use the rest for a massage. The bath needs to be as warm as we can take it and once out of the tub, we wrap in towels and sweat. Drink, drink, drink water.

For the massage, we think about starting at the extremities and going towards the heart. Lymphatic massages are not deep as the touch is light. The relaxing and tightening of the muscles can stimulate the lymph, so as you massage encourage the person to contract and relax.  This can be done before the massage or during.

It’s cold outside and we are indoors. The flu season begins. The best way to prevent the flu is to take care of your immune system. A good immune system can fight off most viruses. Essential oils can help boost the immune system. Try the Gritman Immune Boost Blend.

Here are some tips from Gritman on how to keep your immune system in good health. The immune system uses the skin as its first line of defense. Sweat, sebum, and mucous membranes all have a pH balance and some white blood cells to discourage and cleanse bacteria from entering the body. Getting into a warm bath with essential oils, deeply smelling the oils, soaking, and relaxing help to boost the immune system and support the adrenals. Once out of the tub wrap the body in towels and sweat. Drink water. It is important to hydrate as you are loosing fluids as you sweat.  This is much like taking a sauna. If you have sauna facility, oils can be used in the water that creates the steam.

Friction can also be used to increase the bodies immune system by encouraging the lymph system to remove toxins. Entering a shower that has been sprayed with essential oils and breathing them while cleaning your skin with a loofah. Also after leaving the shower, briskly towel dry and rub the skin with vegetable oils (We recommend Fractionated Coconut Oil)  containing essential oils. This allows the lymphatic system to remove toxins and unwanted invaders. Another blend that can be used is from the Pharaoh Line. It is called Imhotep.

Supporting the white blood cells in the body is another way to support the immune system. The body depends on certain white blood cells to engulf and kill invading microbes. The lymph system then removes them. Simply breathing the oils will allow them to enter the lungs and then into the blood system.  A quick way to get a blend into your lungs is to drop a few drops of the blend into a bowl of hot water. Cover your head and bowl with a towel, close your eyes, and breath in the vapors for about five to seven minutes.

There are also lymphocytes called T and B cells.  B cells live in the lymph nodes and their purpose is to kill cancer, virus, and bacterial agents and then  produce antibodies creating immunity. The nice thing about essential oils is that the body does not create immunity against them as your body does with antibotics.

To encourage lymphocytes within the lymph nodes, rub essential oils that are in carriers onto the neck, under the arms, and the node area where the legs are attached to the torso. This is especially effective after a warm shower or bath. A warm body receives the oils rapidly. Natural deodorants made with essential oils are another way to stay fresh and encourage a good immune system. Try Rosalina Deodorant Roll On.

Negative or depressed emotional states can depress the immune system. As Candance Pert in Molecules of Emotions explains that emotional states trigger the adrenal glands to create adrenaline and cortisol. This can suppress the lymphatic system decreasing the bodies defenses. Essential oils in carrier can be rubbed onto the back in the area of the adrenals to support them and help the adrenals defend against stress. Of course any method to support relaxation and good sleep supports the adrenals. Passion Flower Maceration is a good choice for a sleep aide.

Now that we know how to support the immune system. What are the essential oils that we want to use.  Tea Tree is probably the most famous essential oil for supporting the immune system. Most essential oils have some antiviral properties, but some are stronger than others. All the tree oils will support the immune system and these are the cedarwoods, the eucalyptuses, cypresses, firs, pines, and spruces. Cinnamon Leaf, Cassia Bark, Basil, Black Pepper, Laurel Leaf, Cardamon, Grapefruit, Lemon, Niaouli, Peppermint, Ravensara, and Thyme are usually on the list of powerful antivirals.

Now that we have our list. How do we decide which oils to choose for blending? We will discuss this in the next blog.

Dear Friend,

We love you. Your friend is an aromatherapist. Thank you for allowing me to write to you like this. From an aromatherapy perspective, we look to support your immune and lymphatic system. There is so much research on limonene and its effectiveness on the web, so just do a google search to access it. Limonene is found in orange, grapefruit, and lemon rinds. The essential oils are extracted from the rinds and a rich source of limonene. Frankincense is also associated with cancer reversal especially bladder cancer and the reduction of tumors.

Enclosing Lou’s Caribbean Breeze Soap which has lime (limonene source) and allspice (immune stimulant). Bathe with the soap and if you can, use with your hair. It is natural loving soap.
Make a Citrus Spray with orange, grapefruit, lemon, and lavender essential oils. Add a small amount of alcohol to the spray bottle, add the oils and shake. Add water. Cap and label. Spray onto pillow before going to sleep. Spray into shower before and during a shower. Breathe in the vapors. Vigorously rub the body to encourage the lymph to move.
Make a Massage Body Oil with Frankincense, Orange, and Silver Fir Needle in Calendula Maceration. Get as many massages as you can. These oils stimulate the immune and lymphatic system. Drink lots and lots of water. Hydrate!!! You can also rub this oil on you after a bath or shower.
You will need a Bottle of Organic Lemon Oil. It needs to be organic as you are taking this internally. Expressed oils can have undesirable substances in them, so organic is a better choice here. Add lemon oil to tea and other drinks. One drop per 8oz. Add to drinking water. The Cancer research is on the internal use of limonene. As the body breaks down the lemon oil it produces the chemicals that seem so effective with the breast cancer. Taking lemon oil internally becomes important for you. Put it in your salad dressings and any food that you think will be enhanced by it. Go to www.gritman.com and search for lemon oil to get more information on lemon if you so desire.
We also want you to have a bottle of Grief and Loss. You are going through so much change that feeling sad is just a normal part of the process. Inhale it when you thinks that you need it. It has a soothing, supportive effect.
The Gritman Rose Cream is a wonderful loving support preparation. It can be used on the body, face, and eyes. This cream holds a loving and nourishing vibration. Enjoy it!
The oils to avoid are those that smell like anise or licorice as they can act like estrogen in the body. Clary Sage and Geranium are also to be avoided as they can have a dramatic effect on the endocrin system. If you have questions on what essential oils you can use, please call or email us at 281-996-0103 or Info@gritman.com.
We are wishing you an easy recovery. There is love pouring out to you from here. Call us if you need anything.
Love, Meg, Amy, Lou, and Ava

At Gritman, we believe that there are many ways to blend. Essential oils act upon many levels. Aromatherapy definitely addresses essential oils and how they can be applied to the physical body and treating disease. 1. This is called therapeutic blending. There is blending to support positive emotional states and clear negative ones. 2. This is called spiritual blending. 3. Stress, detox, and staying young belong to the massage and spa blenders.  4. There is sacred blending that is appropriate for churches and sacred uses. 5. Perfume blenders make thousands maybe millions of dollars a year. 6. Aphrodisiacs are also another major reason to blend and many perfumers belong to this group too. 7. There are many Biblical blenders of essential oils that are devoted to staying true to the Bible. 8. Magical blending is also popular as in love potions. 9. Then there is blending just for fun. You like a scent and wonder what would happen if you combine it with another.

Blending is the most creative part of aromatherapy. It is an art. This means that it takes study and time as well as an intuitive sense to become a great blender. There are some basic rules to blending. Once you get the rules, you are then free to use them or not. Art will take over and often masterpieces are created.

The first rule is to have fun. Amateurs as well as professionals can enjoy blending. You do not have to have a masters degree in essential oils to be a good blender. Your blends will not always be successful and others may find them offensive, but the process can be fun and enjoyable. As you learn, you grow in your knowledge and your intuition if you allow it.

The second rule is to decide what area do you wish to focus. Professional blending for treatment of illness, massage and spa blending, emotional blending for mental health, perfume blending, aphordisiac blending, Sacred blending or Biblical blending, and magical blending. Each different blending category will come with oils that are most associated with the subject under focus. Most blenders are comfortable with 50-80 different oils.

The third rule is that each blend needs time to mature. It can be from 3 days to 3 weeks. As we blend distinct oils together, they begin to blend with one another creating a new scent. When you are successful, the blend will have synergy. Synergy suggests that the parts have created a greater whole and each oil balances the others within the blend. Synergy can just happen or it can be an involved process.  Focus on the subject (person or reason for the blend), on the emotional or psychological underlying causes, on the presenting symptoms, or other factors that seem appropriate to the blending. Bringing this all together requires experience and patience.

The fourth rule is keep it simple. In the beginning, do not blend more than three or four oils. The oils selected by you have been studied by themselves. You have an appreciation and understanding of each oil. You have used each oil by itself to treat or create the mood desired. Professional perfumers can blend with over a 100 oils in one blend, but this is often not for the sake of the perfume, but for the uniqueness of the blend and difficulty in duplicating it.

The fifth rule is blend complimentary oils. If you want someone to sleep, blending with a stimulant and a sedative may not be the best idea. You need to  complement each oil within the blend. Therefore, you need an understanding of each oil’s properties.

The sixth rule is keep a record of everything you do. Putting a blend on the shelf for several days thinking that you will remember what you did is fool hardy. Also record the oils and proportions so that you can duplicate in the future. You can label your bottles with this information, keep a notebook, or organize a card catalog. Computers now have wonderful spread sheets and formulas and procedures can also be kept there.

The seventh rule is pleasurable scent or not. I believe too many blenders believe that blending is always about perfume blending. That the notes of an oil are what is important when you blend and that the pleasure of scent is all important. Some times this is important, but when you are blending for therapeutic reasons, it is far more important that the oil function as needed. Spending your time perfecting the scent and not its effectiveness can be a waste of time. Determine if pleasurable scent or effective scent is important. A blend for fighting a cold will combine an army of powerful oils to get the job done. This can create a medicinal scent that is not very pleasing but fights the cold and helps the person feel better.

Eighth step is know your carriers. Once you have a scent created, how are you going to carry it? Which fatty or vegetable oil are you going to use. Of course water and alcohol can also carry the  oils but they need shaking before use. Stability is important when choosing a fatty, fixed oil. Because fatty oils go rancid, care must be taken in their choice. Fractionated Coconut Oil is our favorite choice. It has been distilled like an essential oil, it is liquid at room temperature, does not go rancid, and is sterile. Jojoba being a wax does not go rancid either and is also a good choice. Avocado and Foraha or Tamanu are also some other choices that tend to be stable and can be added to the other two for more complexity and healing power.

Fennel is related to parsley and dill. It looks a lot like dill with feathery leaves. The bulbs of the plant are eaten and the essential oil comes from the seeds. Long used in Chinese, Indian, and Egyptian cultures as a great digestive, for coughs, asthma, and rheumatism. This oil comes for the Foeniculum vulgare. There is also a Foeniculum azoricum which is popular in Italy, Greece and Spain. It’s bulb is smaller, but more flavorful and aromatic.  Fennel is highly priced in fish dishes, salads, marinades for pork and veal. The seeds have a nice liqurice taste and pair well in cookies, sweet pickles, and seafood.

Sweet Orange Essential Oil I prefer organic since most citrus plants are pressed to remove the essential oil from their skins. Pesticide residue can be left in the essential oil. Orange Oil can be used in the place of the orange zest. I find most citrus oils be very handy in the kitchen when I do not have the fruit or I am in a hurry.

This salad I recently made for class here at Gritman. If you ever take a class with us, you not only get to experience how to use essential oils medicinally, but also taste them in the food for lunch. Arugula is in season right now and fresh. This recipe uses the bulb of the fennel for the salad as well as the Fennel Seed Essential oil in the dressing. The arugula gives it a nutty green flavor, hazelnuts the crunch, and the dressing a nice citrus sweet finish. I hope you enjoy. Can make a wonderful appetizer course at Thanksgiving too.

1/4 cup of fresh orange juice

1 T. fresh lemon juice

1 T. minced shallots

1 clove of minced garlic

1/4 t of Dijon Mustard

3 T. Fractionated Coconut Oil

1 small fennel bulb

5 oz. (5 cups) arugula, trimmed. washed. and dried

1/4 cup hazelnuts, coarsely chopped

2-3 drops of Fennel Seed Essential Oil

5 drops of Sweet Orange Organic Essential Oil

Salt and Pepper

Combine the orange juice, lemon juice, shallots and garlic in a small bowl. Let sit for 20 minutes. Stir in the Dijon mustard. Slowly pour the coconut oil into the citrus mixture while whisking vigerously.  Salt and Pepper to taste.

Cut off the top and bottom of the fennel bulb. Cut it in half lengthwise. Lay one half flat on a cutting surface and slice crosswise as thinly as possible. Stop slicing when you hit the core. Repeat with the second half. You should have about 1 1/2 cups.

Put the sliced fennel in a large bowel with the arugula, hazelnuts, and dried blueberries.  Add the Fennel and Orange Sweet Essential Oil to the citrus dressing.  Stir. Toss the salad in enough dressing to lightly coat the leaves. (You may not use all the dressing. Season with salt and pepper serve. Serves 4.

Next time we will talk about Nutmeg and Cardmom in a Pumpkin Stew.

Happy Cooking!

Presently Gritman carries three different Fir Essential Oils. They are Fir Needle Essential Oil from Canada (Abies balsamea), Fir Needle Oil from Siberia (Abies sibrica), Silver Fir Essential Oil from Albania (Abies  alba).  Chemically when we look at these oils we see that the Canadian and Silver Fir Needle are similar in that they contain high levels of terpenes. The Siberian Fir Needle is different and is high in esters.

Terpenes have anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antiviral, anti-fungal, and antibacterial therapeutic properties. Some terpenes can be analgesic or stimulating with a tonic effect. Others have stimulating effect on the mucus membranes and are called decongestants.  Terpenes are not valued for their scent and often removed in perfume oils.  They are considered mostly  medicinal. Almost all essential oils have terpenes in them and it is a huge catagory so making generalizations for this group is difficult.

Esters are formed from alcohols and acids, and are named after both their original molecules. Esters tend to be fragrant with fruity notes. Primarily they are sedative and antispasmodic. Some esters also have anti-fungal and anti-microbial properties. Esters are gentle and tend to be very safe to use.

In talking to the Albanians, their favorite oil is Silver Fir Needle. They like using it for all kinds of complaints. The Albanians said that they use it like the Father in My My Big Fat Greek Wedding used Windex. Oils high in terpenes are like that. They seem to have a wide and varied effect.  Being antiseptic and antiviral, it can be used on skin infections, broncial infections, and to boost the immune system. The Albanians say that if you use Silver Fir Needle, you stay well and happy. You can see chemically that this is true.

Siberian Fir Needle since it has high content of esters is calming and sedative. With antispasmodic properties, it can be used with the onset of asthmatic symptoms and to help relief tension within the body and muscular system. In this way it is called a pain reliever. Siberian Fir Needle also has terpenes can have have similar properties to the other firs but just not as strong. Mild, soothing, and relaxing are words most associated with Siberian Fir Needle.

Energetically these oils have very distinct differences. Siberian Fir Needle is used to ease transitions like changing jobs and the challenges coming from the every changing economic climate. The Gritman Guide says that it calms and rejuvenates the nervous system and energetic field.

Silver Fir Needle is the tree most associated with European Christmas. Energetically it is used to balance giving and receiving. For those that give too much and get too little or for those that give little and take much, this oil can heal these imbalances. The Gritman Guide says that receiving is the major bridge to living in a cooperative world and Silver Fir Needle can lead the way to a new reality. I like to think of it as the oil of Santa Claus.

Canadian Fir Needle energetically is used to unblock and clear the nervous system. It has a powerful ability to ground and as the earth moves into new energy dynamics, it is greatly needed at this time. The Gritman Guide says that Canadian Fir Needle helps the energy field from overheating  and causing problems physically.

Fir Essential Oils play an important role in our leading healthy productive lives. They can heal our energy field and soothe and comfort us as we change and grow in new ways. Fir trees grow in many different parts of the world and each oil provides us with different but similar properties.

What is Arthritis? In simple terms, it is inflammation of the joints.  In healthy joints, the cartilage covering the joints is smooth, there is fluid easing movement, and the membrane within the joints is thin. If the cartilage is damaged or diminishes, the fluid decreases, or the membrane thickens, this can lead to arthritic symptoms. There are several different types of arthritis with ostheoarthritis and rheumathoid arthritis being the most common. .

Ostheoarthritis is caused most commonly by wear and tear of aging, diet, and life style. It can also be due to genetic factors or injury. The cartilage breaks down within the joint and once smooth becomes irregular causing pain primarily in the knees, hips, hands, knuckles, and back.  Tends to be diagnosed later in life. Relieving toxic build up in joints is often most beneficial. There is less inflammation with this kind of arthritis and pain management is encouraged.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a type of inflammatory autoimmune disorder. It is a called a self against self disease. The body attacks its joints especially the membranes causing damage in and around the joints. As the body attempts to heal scar tissue is formed forcing normal spaces within the joints to become narrow and the bones to fuse together. This causes stiffness, swelling, fatigue, anemia, weight loss, fever, and often crippling pain. Tends to be diagnosed early in life.

Arthritis can be reversed with proper diet and life style changes, although many in the medical community consider it incurable and must be managed with anti-inflammatory and pain relieving drugs.

The natural community believes that arthritis can be helped by the reduction of uric acid within the system. This happens through diet, massage, and sweating. Correct diet prevents the formation of uric acid, massage increases circulation to encourage waste removal and repairing damage, and the sweating helps to remove toxins.

A diet with cherries and celery help the reduction of uric acid. Avoid alcoholic beverages. Avoid red meats. Vitamin A, the B complex, and E vitamins plus calcium pantothenate are often recommended supplements. The herbal Cat Claw has also been found helpful.

Essential oils can be used in a variety of ways. To detox use cypress, fennel, lemon, helichrysum, pine, and juniper. Use in bath and massage. In the bath make the water as warm or hot as you can take it. Get in and add your oils to the water. Stay in the bath at least 20 minutes. Once out wrap in towels and allow your body to sweat. Have water available to drink. Filtered or spring water is best. Drink water, drink water, drink water. Whenever heat is applied to a stiffened joint in the form of baths, hot compresses, or warming massage, the joint should be moved as much as possible immediately afterwards. The heating can cause congestion which will make the condition worse rather than better.  Movement is often beneficial in arthritis and can help relieve pain, although it is painful to move especially in the beginning.

Gentle exercise is recommended and yoga is encouraged.

To help manage the pain use peppermint, cayenne pepper maceration, blue chamomile, wintergreen, rosemary, or the Gritman Arthritic Cream. I use this cream with my own mother and she feels it greatly reduces her discomfort and allows greater mobility. Put oils in a carrier of choice, we use fractionated coconut oil, and gently rub into site.

Emotionally arthritis is associated with grief, rage, inability to express oneself creatively, and rigid ideas about life. The releasing of personal pain and suffering is important to recovery. Forgiveness and knowing that all experience is good experience leading to the love of self and life.

Essential oils can help help you move through the negative emotions and support your movement into more self acceptance of yourself and life. Goldenrod, Gurjum, Hyssop, Marigold Absolute, Rose, Storax, and Winter Savory can help you move through these emotional issues. Consult a Spiritual Aromatherapists for more guidance.

All blue oils are anti-inflammatory. Blue Chamomile, Blue Cypress, Spikenard, Inula, Yarrow, and Wormwood.

We start with the soil. We support organic gardening at Gritman. This means that we will not be using chemical fertilizers or pesticides. You can make your own soil by composting; thus shredded paper (mail, bills, newspaper),  garden and food wastes are recycled into the garden. Composting is easy and can be done in apartments, although this is a bit tricky.

There are two methods of composting, with air (aerobic) and without air (anaerobic). The first is smells good, the second stinks.  If your compost starts to stink, mix it up, breaking wet clumps apart, and it will sweeten.  When composting in containers make sure it has holes for air.  If the container is plastic it needs to handle heat without warping; compost can reach high temperatures as it cycles, enough to heat water (low-tech green energy), and large compost piles have been known to spontaneously combust.

We have two compost bends in the Gritman garden. One is cooking the waste material turning it into soil while the other is ready to be used in the garden. There are several different systems for making compost. Choose the one that fits you. Everyone can garden and growing plants in pots is fun and rewarding. You do not need to have a garden plot.

You can buy dirt in a bag or you can take the dirt you already have and make it better or more organic. Any kind of green material leaves, weeds, garden debris can be put back into the soil. If your soil is too acid or sandy, you can amend your soil with lime.  Most clay soils are alkaline and need more acid. Adding gypsum (source of calcium), Epsom Salts (magnesium), coffee grounds, sulfur, and organic green material help to acidify the soil. Finished compost tends to be neutral. Most herbs like soil that is neutral. Do not believe it when books say herbs are weeds and can grow any where. I find herbs can be particular and they like good soil.

There are soil tests on the market if you want to test and know exactly what you have (i.e. acid, base, phosphorus, magnesium, nitrogen).  Most nitrogen tests test for chemically based nitrogen which pollutes our waterways; so be sure your test measures the organic nitrogen available via the web-of-life synergy between microorganisms and plant roots.

What do you want to plant? Fall is an ideal time to put herbs in the garden. They can winter over and be ready to pop in the spring. As the heat builds most of your herbs growth will slow down, and their well established root systems will see them through. Next fall you will have wonderfully large productive plants.

Most herbs are perennial which means they will come back year after year. Herbs do not tend to produce great flowers but flower they will. Many herbs are culinary and you can use them in your food. They love to be snipped and touched.  The touching will release the essential oils and you will be greeted with their scent.

Plant nurseries often offer a good variety  of herbs. Feed stores can also offer herbs and other plants that grow in your area. I would stay away from large stores, what they offer may not be right for your area, and the care of the plants may not be the best. Local family owned stores will tend to offer the best service and plants.

Seeds are another way of getting herbs especially the ones you cannot find locally. At Grtiman, we are constantly trying new herbs and seeds are the only way to can get these plants. Seeds need the right environment and some will do better sprouting the fall or in the spring. Gritman is on the Gulf Coast and we like planting many seeds in the fall. What needs to be planted in the spring for most areas can be sprouted in the fall here. You need to know your area.

When you buy plants from the nursery, the plants are often root bound which means that the roots have started going around the plant in a ball instead of down and away from the plant. When you see this, you must release the roots or the plant will choke itself to death. Releasing the roots of a root bound plant can look like a violent act. You take your fingers and run them through the roots pulling, like untangling hair. It can look and feel harsh but please know that this is the best thing that you can do.  Then  straighten the roots as much as possible to expose and encourage the roots to grow into the soil. Adding compost in the hole can also be beneficial to its growth. Water with a solution of seaweed to help the plant recover from the planting ordeal.

For those of you wanting to grow essential oil plants try calendula, dill, fennel, thyme, oregano, helichrysum, lemon balm (melissa), mints, mugwort, and parsley. Calendula, dill, parsley, and fennel are annuals for us.   The others are perennials. These plants are easy to grow from seed or from nursery stock. Most herbs require six hours of light and good drainage. Many herbs are drought tolerant, but occasional watering is good especially if you know the plant has good drainage.

Cumin is derived from the Hebrew word kamon, with origins in Bablyonian, which became kuminon in Greek. It has a long medicinal and culinary history. The spice comes from the seeds of the plant. One of my main ingredients in curries and paired with bland cheeses in Europe. A famous Middle Ages cook book, Les Menagier de Paris, uses chickens baked with cumin seeds. Today cumin is an important commerical crop for Russia, Japan, France, Egypt, China, and Mexico. Highly valued in Mexican cooking too. In India it is a symbol of fidelity. Cumin is sometimes mistranslated into Caraway. If you see it used in an Indian dish it is most likely Cumin. Caraway is rarely used.

This a great sunday meal. Perfect for the Fall as the weather gets more chilly.

Amy’s Cooking Class

Amy has decided to emphasize wine pairing in her cooking class in October. Craig, her husband the wine connoisseur will help with the pairing. She has been blogging about cooking with essential oils.  However it can be a real treat to have personal instruction with Amy. Plus the exceptional experience of eating the food from class.

The menu: http://www.gritman.com/essential-oil-classes/fall-evening-with-scent-and-good-taste.html