It is easy to imagine one of the Cro-Magnon women mentioning to her friends that her favorite recipe for roast leg of bear used cypress wood and dried leaves from a thyme bush.

James V. Kohl and Robert T. Francoeur, The Scent of Eros

ow do we use hydrosols? The short answer is, Any way you want. There is, of course, a longer answer, which makes up chapter 5, but it seemed appropriate to provide some proper recipes also. They cover a whole gamut of applications, from the purely pleasurable to the highly therapeutic.

Hydrosols can be used individually or mixed into blends in exactly the same way that you blend with essential oils. In combinations they create synergies and have increased properties and strength, just like the oils. The aromas of the less-sweet varieties can be dramatically improved by the addition of equally appropriate but sweeter-smelling waters. Although they are not normally incorporated into aromatherapy massage, hydrosols have their place even in this arena. If massage is your primary practice, you can use the hydrosols to compress specific areas before and during the bodywork, use them as a spritz to cool the client during hot weather, wash the feet before a reflexology session, or as described in the monographs in chapter 3 for various other modalities.

Short forms used in the recipes:

A.H.: aromatic hydrosol E.O.: essential oil V.O.: vegetable (or carrier) oil gm: gram kg: kilogram ml: milliliter (30 ml equals approximately 1 ounce)

THERAPEUTIC RECIPES

The Head

HEADACHES

50 Ml a.H. Peppermint

50 Ml a.H. Roman chamomile

100 Ml water (if headache is severe, omit water)

Take 2 teaspoons undiluted hydrosol orally; add remainder to the water and compress forehead and nape of neck simultaneously with cloths soaked in blend. Lie down for 15 to 20 minutes. You can add 2 to 4 drops E.O. peppermint to the blend for migraines.

The Eyes

TIRED OR BLOODSHOT EYES

A.H. chamomile (Roman or German), green myrtle, or cornflower

Spritz the hydrosol directly into eyes from a safe distance, keeping eyes open. I have put these hydrosols into sterilized dropper bottles and put 2 or 3 drops in each eye at a time. I prefer chamomile for everyday use; myrtle for irritation from pollution, dust, and so on; and cornflower for computer eyes.

CONJUNCTIVITIS (PINK EYE)

5 Ml a.H. Roman or German chamomile

Place in eye cup and bathe eye, blinking several times. Throw away hydrosol and disinfect eye cup after each use. Do not use the same water for each eye; conjunctivitis is very contagious. If the eye is swollen shut: Put the hydrosol on a cotton pad and place it on eyelid; change every 10 minutes until swelling is reduced and eye can be opened. Usually takes less than an hour.

A sterilized eyedropper can be used to drip a few drops of hydrosol into the eye.

BLACK EYE

30 ml A.H. immortelle

Put 5 ml A.H. on a cotton pad and apply to site of impact; repeat every 5 minutes for 6 applications. Follow with:

5 ml A.H. immortelle

5 ml A.H. German chamomile or yarrow

5 ml Greenland moss

Soak a pad with the blend and place on eye. Wrap lightly with a dry cloth and leave in place while you lie down for at least 30 minutes. Replace the pad frequently.

Homeopathic remedy of Ledum palustre (a relative of Greenland moss) can be taken as well; this is particularly good if there is a puncture wound associated with the black eye.

Ear, Nose, and Throat

NOSEBLEED