Post-holiday Inventory Update

Happy New Year!  Hope you had a wonderful 2014, and best wishes for 2015. Thanks for buying us out of so many products for Hanukkah, and Christmas 2014. Dead Sea Mud Shampoo bars, Lavender Deodorants, Skin Regeneration Balm, Spearmint Deodorants and Aloe Rosemary Mint Shampoos are back in stock. Rose shampoo bars and Citrus Bay Rum patchouli shampoo bars will be ready January 21st. We are almost out of Neem shampoo bars, Patchouli soaps, Sesame Aloe shampoo bars, and Neem olive oil soaps. More neem shampoo and Patchouli soap will be ready January 28th after we sell out of the last couple that are currently available. We will be making more of the following sold out bars next week and the following week: Gardener's Soaps, Lavender Oatmeal soaps, Neem Olive oils soaps, Sesame aloe shampoo bars, and Lavender Vanilla Shampoo bars. These will be ready in early to mid February. Thanks for your patience!

New Pillows in Stock with Washable Organic Cotton Covers

New GOTS certified Organic Cotton Pillow covers for our Organic cotton-hemp flaxseed microwave pillows.

I just added new Organic fabric options for our line of Organic cotton - hemp flaxseed pillows with washable Organic cotton covers.  All these fabrics shown above are by Cloud 9 Fabrics which are GOTS certified. These pillows make excellent gifts, and are currently shipping next business day. We make them to order either unscented or scented with Organic herbs of your choice. We have one other new item coming soon, and I will share it in a separate blog post.  Hope you are having a great holiday season.

Cory Trusty

president, Aquarian Bath

Plastic Free Holiday Giveaway

Beth Terry at My Plastic Free Life is hosting a holiday giveaway for the EcoEtsy team. Head over to Beth's blog for a change to win 3 Aquarian Bath shampoo bars, or another plastic free prize. Some of the other prizes include items such as 3 catnip pillows from Organic Kitty Land, and bath tea from Shanti Aromatherapy. You can enter the giveaway by posting something you are trying to do to reduce plastic from your holiday season. 

Eucalyptus Spotlight

Did you know there are 300 species of Eucalyptus trees? These trees are indigenous to Australia where the fresh leaves have been used traditionally in wound treatments, and the wood is used for making didgeridoo wind instruments. Trees are also used for making pulp and charcoal.  Eucalyptus essential oil, which is powerfully cleansing, antiseptic, and deodorizing, is steam distilled from the leaves.

Eucalyptus tree in bloom, photo by Starr. Trees can grow as high as 90 meters

Australian Eucalyptus globulus essential oil is the best quality. Due to its camphoraceous, sweet and woody scent, 75% of "Eucalyptus Oil" on the market actually comes from China where the faux oil is made from Camphor Trees. True Eucalyptus oil is refreshing and stimulating; a favorite to use in steams or bath formulas for people with congested sinuses. A 2% Eucalyptus oil room spray emulsion is extremely antiseptic, with the ability to kill 70% of airborne Staph bacteria. The oil provides a cooling and stimulating sensation useful in a congested chest rubs or lip balms for blistered lips. Below is a demonstration from Aromatherapy Oasis on how to use essential oils safely in a steam inhalation. 

There are environmental and safety concerns regarding cultivation of Eucalyptus outside of Australia. Eucalyptus has become invasive in many areas including California, where it is also a fire hazard due to the volatility of the essential oil. The Seminole Indian tribe has taken a stand against the planting of genetically engineered (GE) Eucalyptus trees in Florida. Native pine forests are being cut down to plant GE Eucalyptus, which worsens climate change and is a threat to biodiversity. People living near the GE Eucalyptus plantations are concerned with health risks from altered tree pollen and toxic chemicals used on the plantations. Eucalyptus trees are also require a lot of water. We are against the destruction of native South Eastern forests for Eucalyptus production. 

Eucalyptus globulus trees in Hawaii, photo by Starr

This Neck Exercise Works Wonders for Upper Back Pain and Stiffness

I found this helpful exercise video by chiropractor Dr. Paula Moore of PostureVideos.com at Erin Elizabeth's Health Nut News blog. I have been doing the exercise demonstrated here daily for the past week, and have noticed major improvement with some upper back tightness around the first through third thoracic vertebrae. Maybe the fact that I had only been having that pain for a few months, contributed to this exercise clearing up the tension so quickly, which was after only three days. The exercise itself takes less than 5 minutes a day. After the first day of trying it, I did a few neck rotations and experiences around 10 neck or back pops through out the day. The second day, I felt stiffness like my spine had been replaced with a rod. It felt strange but not painful. The third day, my neck and upper back just felt loose, more relaxed, and more mobile.