Essential U Blog

You Spoke and Congress Listened

"If I have seen further than others, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants." Isaac Newton

In the original Discussion Draft of the FDA Globalization Act 2008 has gone through some major changes since it was first introduced.  The new Bill HR 759 is the FDA Globalization Act of 2009.  I believe that the voices of the people who are in our industry and who love it passionately were heard by Congress.  Grassroots efforts and good old fashion pounding the pavement paid off.

 

  

 

You wrote letters and called your Representatives, the Committee of Energy and Commerce and the media.  You signed our petition.  You wrote encouraging emails, twitters, blog comments to everyone who went to Washington D.C. to speak on your behalf.  You spread the word to your customers, friends, family and social networks around America.  And more than anything you stayed in business and didn’t back down out of fear.  For all of that I owe you a gigantic thank you. 

FDA Globalization Act of 2009

When the peanut butter recall hit I figured it was only a matter of time for the draft bill of the FDA Globalization Act of 2008 to officially become the draft bill of 2009.  Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. sent out a press release titled Key Energy and Commerce Members Introduce FDA Globalization Act announcing just that.  I found the whole tone of the press release reassuring for the cosmetic industry.  It is clear that the food and drug industry are in trouble.  Cosmetics are only mentioned because we fall under the jurisdiction of the FDA, but we are not the target of this legislation and rightly so because cosmetics are safe. 

  

Anne-Marie of Bramble Berry was on the phone today speaking with Frank Pallone, Jr.'s office.  She was informed that the draft bill is expected to be assigned a number by Friday and made public on the internet.  As soon as that happens we will put it out on twitter, facebook and on our blogs.  On twitter to search for information or post information regarding the FDA Globalization Act of 2009 use #fdag for quick sharing of information. 

It is important that we work together to spread information.  Like Andrew Carnegie said, "Teamwork is the ability to work together toward a common vision. The ability to direct individual accomplishments toward organizational objectives. It is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results."  I believe ordinary citizens have already made in impact when the original draft bill was published and we will see that reflected in the new draft bill. 

A coalition of determined women went to Congress once to speak on your behalf and are ready and willing to return to tell the universal story of small cosmetic companies if we need to. 

"Individually, we are one drop. Together we are an ocean." Ryunosuke Satoro

Updated news January 30, 2009:  The Bill Number is HR 759 and an entire copy of the draft bill FDA Globalization Act of 2009 can be read here.  The pages regarding cosmetics are 115-124. 

Sleep is Overrated

Honestly, over the last week, I’ve been stressed to the point of sleeplessness. I could barely eat because I had hit my tipping point of stress overload. On Monday I was trying to convince myself that no one would notice if I missed a week of the newsletter and if my blog was dormant for a week. By Tuesday I was certain that I didn’t have a wise word left in me to share. Late Tuesday evening the Tigger in me was starting to look for the patch of blue sky. By Wednesday I could see and feel the warmth of the blue sky and the stress fell away.

      

What changed? Did the causes of my stress go away? Did the weight of the responsibility of business ownership fall off my shoulders? Did the waters part for us to pass with ease to the next level of business with the wind at our back? No, none of that happened. But we identified the problem, communicated, made changes to avoid it in the future and moved forward with a solution. Nothing about going through the process was fun. We have been working long hard hours that are wearing us down. But there are silver linings everywhere that are illuminated by blue skies.

Breathe Green

In March 2008 we launched the Breathe Green Campaign.  To scent the products we used an essential oil blend that I had created to use on myself and my two asthmatic daughters.  I actually had not realized that the Breathe Green essential oil blend had never made it onto the Essential Wholesale blends page until today.  Caiden and I were at the doctor’s office and I twittering about using a combination of traditional medicine and aromatherapy to treat my daughter’s asthma.  When I got responses asking what I use I noticed that that blend wasn't on our site.  Within the hour Alex and Dennis solved our dilemma and now Breathe Green essential oil blend is available to everyone. 

 

      

 

Selah, Caiden and I use the Breathe Green essential oil blend in baths and we diffuse it into the air using either a humidifier or diffuser.  I discovered how helpful this blend was when Caiden was having an asthma attack on the way to school one morning.  Her inhaler was not helping at all and I was about to call the doctors office to come in for a nebulizer treatment.  I remembered I had a sample of the newly developed, but untested. Breathe Green essential oil blend in my purse and quickly started my own trial.  I put a few drops on a tissue and put the tissue into the vents of my van.  The scent quickly dispersed through out the van and Caiden's asthma attack ended. 

We have been using it ever since.  What do you think?  Do you believe in using a combination of traditional medicine and alternative therapy? 

Modern History of Aromatherapy

Gattefosse played a major role in the current course of aromatherapy, but do you know the real story?  History was rewritten over time in the telling of Gattefosse's accident.

Dr. Jean Valnet, an ex-army surgeon, used essential oils during W.W.II to treat wounded soldiers. He discovered that they were effective in treating wounds and burns and later found essential oils useful in the treatment of psychiatric problems. Valnet's work brought credibility and authority to the practice of aromatherapy in France. He used classical methodology in his use of essential oils, and due to his diligence and devotion, many medical aromatherapists followed in his footsteps. In France today many medical practitioners prescribe essential oils in place of drugs, and insurance companies pay for them. Valnet published The Practice of Aromatherapy in 1964. It was simultaneously addressed to lay people as well as the medical audience.

      

The holistic approach of aromatherapy can be attributed to the biochemist Marguerite Maury. While she was treating her patients with essential oils for cosmetic problems she discovered that not only did their skin clear up, but they also experienced pleasant and surprising side effects. They had improved sleep, reduced symptoms of rheumatism and increased mental awareness. Madame Maury pioneered the technique of applying essential oils with massage. In her approach she treated the body in synergy with touch and smell, which, in turn, stimulated internal organs and improved the condition of the skin.

Save Handmade in Every Industry

Today is Save Handmade CPSIA Blogging Day.  At Essential Wholesale we want to support all handmade, homemade, crafted and artisan businesses.  Small businesses of all kinds need to work together to protect the creativity and innovation that makes America great.  The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA) will put small handmade businesses out of business overnight when it is enacted in a few short weeks. 

       

What can you do?  Visit Help Save Handmade Toys in the USA from the CPSIA, Reform CPSIA, and use this handy dandy The Etsy CPSIA Action Kit and start walking beside our friends in this closely related industry.  Donna Maria of Indie Beauty has created a new blog called Save Handmade where you can stay up to date on this pressing issue.  The CPSIA does not address the cosmetic industry but if we stand by and allow one handmade industry fall we will allow the domino effect of government regulation destroying home based businesses.   

Spread the word, pass the message, use every social media network you belong, blog about it and talk about it in order to support handmade products in every industry. 

Wordless Wednesday #3: Serious Leadership Skills

Aromatherapy in Rome

The Romans planted herb and rose gardens in the foreign countries that they invaded and settled in. Those Roman crusades helped spread the knowledge and techniques of herbalist and perfumers. The famous English Gardens are the legacy of the conquering Romans. The extravagant Emperor Nero had the first air conditioning system built in his palace in order to deliver the scent of rose throughout the entire palace.

      

By 3 A.D Rome was the bathing capital of the world. There were more than a thousand fragrant watering holes located throughout the city. After their baths, the Romans treated themselves to luxurious and aromatic massages. The Romans used essential oils for cosmetics, hygiene and medical treatments.

Claudius Galen was a Greek physician under Roman employ to treat the wounds of the gladiatiors.  He used medicinal herbs and it is said that no gladiators died of battle wounds while being treated by Galen.  He became the personal physician to the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius.  He conducted extensive research in herbal medicine. 

Arabic History of Aromatherapy

The Arab's played a leading role in the development of aromatic healing by creating an advanced level of chemical and pharmaceutical technology. They had established extensive trade routes, which connected India, China, the Mediterranean and Indonesia with the Arab world. Spices and essential oils were sold and used as precious commodities. Through the trade routes these spices and essential oils were made available to the entire civilized world. Without the Arab world, the knowledge of the Greeks and Romans may have been lost forever.

 

      

Arabic scientists made great improvements in the technique of distillation and established a vast body of research literature regarding essential oils. They created the first solid soap, which was scented with aromatics. Ibn-Sina, known in the West, as "Avicenna" was an Arabic alchemist, astronomer, philosopher, mathematician, physician, poet and wrote the famous Canon of Medicine. He used essential oils extensively in his practice and dedicated one of his over 100 books solely to the use of medicinal plants.

Well Made Decisions are the Result of Thorough Research

Recently I attended two reunions of my Ireland overseas study program.  I can't quite believe that I am old enough to have a twenty year reunion of anything, but in reality I am.  Over twenty years ago I traveled to Ireland with twenty four other students from Lewis and Clark College.  It was an opportunity of a lifetime in so many ways.  The trip was led by Dr. Helena Carlson a professor of psychology from Lewis and Clark College.

  

As a young college student I had no idea that Helena would be the most influential teacher of my entire education process.  Not because she was the leader of my trip, or a professor in the department I majored in, but because Helena taught me to think for myself.  She never taught on any subject without both sides of the story being represented.  I always knew what Helena's opinion was on any topic but she never wanted us to parrot her.  Her desire was for us to research and decide for ourselves where we stood and every topic she taught.  She challenged us to think independently.