Aromatherapist Laura Lease is expanding her class offerings. Starting this month, her series of 10 essential oils classes will be offered in two locations in South Kona. She started her series with a class on lavender, then last month offered
Aromatherapist Laura Lease is expanding her class offerings. Starting this month, her series of 10 essential oils classes will be offered in two locations in South Kona. She started her series with a class on lavender, then last month offered a class on using oils in cleaning products. This month her focus will be on oils to help with colds and the flu. With cooler weather and holiday germs fast approaching, now is a good time to learn ways to use herbs to help you through the upcoming season.
The class will cover one of the best known preventive concoctions using herbs and essential oils mixed with vinegar: “Four Thieves Vinegar.”
In 1630, while a plague raged in France, looters robbed the graves and homes of those who were ill or had died. When caught and questioned about their resistance to the disease, the robbers reported that vinegar infused with a variety of herbs was their preventative secret. Recipes for “Four Thieves Vinegar” abound today, but with today’s understanding of the antibacterial properties of some of the herbs used as well as the vinegar, it remains a reliable product to help prevent the spreading of disease germs.
Lease’s recipe and advice for use of this classic formula will be part of her class. Lavender is usually included in the formula, and this class will follow up on the earlier lavender class by reiterating the powerful stimulation that lavender offers to the immune and respiratory systems. Including it in the vinegar product as well as implementing it in sanitation practices can be helpful in preventing disease.
Tea tree is another powerhouse herb that is useful in all stages of colds and flu. Tea tree oil can be used in prevention, in a gargle for sore throats, in inhalers for relief of congestion and to massage achy muscles. Tea tree’s many properties will be reviewed in Lease’s class.
Eucalyptus oil also can help ease cold symptoms. As part of an inhaler or vapor rub, this aromatic herb can penetrate and clear sinus congestion and provide relief from other issues brought on by a cold or the flu.
Lease’s classes are a good way to get a lot of information in a short time. Each class is scheduled for two hours, and in that time you not only learn about the properties of the herbs and their oils and their best uses, but your also have a chance to make items that use the herbs. In this next class, participants will have the opportunity to make a hand sanitizer to lessen the chances of catching the flu, a steamer for releasing oils though your shower or bath and a rub that can be used to release healing vapor through your chest or feet. These healing items will be available to take home.
This month’s class is offered from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday at Tropical Edibles Nursery in Captain Cook and again at 6 p.m. Sept. 25 at Ginger Hill farm. The class fee is $30. Register by emailing laura@whereveriaroma.com or by signing up at her booth at the South Kona Green Market any Sunday.
Watch for notifications of future classes or write Lease requesting a schedule. In the next few months she will cover topics including essential oils for skin and hair, those for holiday use as well as those that are useful in cooking.
Diana Duff is a plant adviser, educator and consultant living on an organic farm in Captain Cook.
Tropical gardening helpline
Email plant questions to konamg@ctahr.hawaii.edu for answers by Certified Master Gardeners.
Some questions will be chosen for inclusion in this column.
Phyllis asks: Recently, banana trees showing signs of bunchy top virus have appeared in our neighborhood. Apparently, this isn’t uncommon in the Kona area. What control measures do you advise?
Answer: Banana bunchy top virus is a disease that kills banana plants. It stunts the growth of the plant, produces yellow, stiff, bunched up leaves, and may eventually halt fruit production. It was first identified in Kona in 1995 and although a campaign to eradicate it was launched, some diseased plants probably were not identified or eradicated.
The disease vector is the banana aphid. Controlling the spread of the disease involves killing the aphids which carry the disease and removing infected plants. Ways to do this for homeowners and commercial growers are outlined in a University of Hawaii publication that can be found at ctahr.hawaii.edu/oc/freepubs/pdf/PD-12.pdf.
Accurate identification of the disease is crucial to its control. The publication noted above as well as several videos are available to help with identification and control of bunchy top. Scot Nelson has also suggested that folks send him photos of their plants through his “Plant Doctor” app for identification help. His website, hawaiiplantdisease.net, includes links, photos and other information.
Before you begin destroying your banana trees, be certain you have bunchy top. Whether you have bunchy top disease or not, controlling the aphid population is important in any area where bananas grow.
The Big Island Banana Growers Association has produced several videos relating to bunchy top disease that are available on YouTube.
Free copies of a 14-minute video on Banana Bunchy Top Virus are available at the UH College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources office in Kainaliu. It was made in 2006 but the information is still accurate.
It is up to people who have the disease to participate fully in its control which may involve vigilance in controlling the aphid and sacrificing some of their banana trees. Doing this serves the greater good of protecting other banana trees from the disease. If everyone had fully participated in the eradication efforts 10 years ago we might not be seeing the recurrence of the disease today.
This column is produced by Diana Duff.
