Question:
I have a little bottle of rosemary essential oil, and I spill a few drops in my bath every morning because I think (but can’t really prove) that it’s stimulating. Seems like a nice way to start the day. But some days I feel pretty dozy and I wonder if there’s some kind of a concoction I can take a whiff off to wake myself up. (A whiff of rosemary does seem to help a little.) Something like the smelling salts people used to wave under fainted ladies’ noses. (What was in that stuff anyway?) — Madeline Koch Toronto, Canada
Response:
Every morning I pour a few drops of essential oil of rosemary in my bath because I’ve heard it’s a stimulant. Seems like a good way to wake up and start the day. But some days it’s hard to keep the cobwebs out of my head. Is there a concoction I can take a whiff of periodically to perk myself up a little? Something like the smelling salts of days of yore, which used to revive people from a faint? (What was in that stuff, anyway?) Thanks. — Madeline Koch Toronto, Canada
Response:
> I have a little bottle of rosemary essential oil, and I spill a few drops > in my bath every morning because I think (but can’t really prove) that > it’s stimulating. Seems like a nice way to start the day. > But some days I feel pretty dozy and I wonder if there’s some kind of a > concoction I can take a whiff off to wake myself up. (A whiff of rosemary > does seem to help a little.) Something like the smelling salts people used > to wave under fainted ladies’ noses. (What was in that stuff anyway?)
Smelling salts were/are mostly ammonium carbonate, a bulking agent, and usually some sort of masking fragrance (violets, sometimes). And have you ever smelled them? I have. It’s like the smell of ammonia from a household cleaner, times a hundred. Smelling salts are like a punch in the face inside your nose–no wonder they wake you up! Robert Matthews — "Childbirth, as a strictly physical phenomenon, is comparable to driving a United Parcel truck through an inner tube." –Dave Barry
Response:
>Every morning I pour a few drops of essential oil of rosemary in my bath >because I’ve heard it’s a stimulant. Seems like a good way to wake up and >start the day.
Rosemary IS a stimulant, Madeline… But some days it’s hard to keep the cobwebs out of my head. >Is there a concoction I can take a whiff of periodically to perk myself up >a little?
you might try blending a tad of basil into some rosemary… and Peppermint is a wonderful ‘cobweb clearer’ I try to keep a tiny vial of peppermint in my glove compartment for a wakeup call while driving… Something like the smelling salts of days of yore, which used to >revive people from a faint? (What was in that stuff, anyway?)
argh…ammonia… you don’t WANT to go breathing it if you can avoid it!!! Nature’s Gift Custom Aromatherapy Balancing Body and Spirit with Natural Essential Oils http://www.mindspring.com/~margec/healing.htm
Response:
> Something like the smelling salts people used >to wave under fainted ladies’ noses. (What was in that stuff anyway?)
Ah! How smells and memories are connected! My mother’s smelling salts were in a beautiful green bottle with a scalloped/faceted shape. I think the smell was ammonia, but like many old ‘remedies’ is probably now believed to be dangerous. "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic" (Arthur C. Clarke)
Response:
>Every morning I pour a few drops of essential oil of rosemary in my bath >because I’ve heard it’s a stimulant. Seems like a good way to wake up and >start the day. But some days it’s hard to keep the cobwebs out of my head. >Is there a concoction I can take a whiff of periodically to perk myself up >a little? Something like the smelling salts of days of yore, which used to >revive people from a faint? (What was in that stuff, anyway?) >Thanks.
you can still find smelling salts in any good chemist. I personally prefere lavender to rosemary in my bath with a touch of lemon balm a great morning buzz. but the most popular of all" bring me rounds ", was a smoking bird feather, and you dont have to remove it from the bird. there are plenty lying around. it will certainly wake you up, it would wake up the dead , and you probably will not thank me for the tip, it smells awfull. — The ‘Old Craft’ lady http://www.oldcity.demon.co.uk/
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You can make yourself some "smelling salts" with Jojoba oil, a nd a few drops of anything YOU find stimulating. Rosemary, Peppermint, (mints in general) Basil (very big) Citrus’ … they’re all good, Lemon, Basil and a touch of mint is nice … MY favorite combo for balance … supplying my mind, body, and spirit with what ever it needs at the time is … Rosemary, Lavender and Peppermint. Very nice too! Wishing you Health and Healing Susan Changes Within "Helping People Heal … Naturally"
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Every morning I pour a few drops of essential oil of rosemary in my bath >because I’ve heard it’s a stimulant. Seems like a good way to wake up and >start the day. But some days it’s hard to keep the cobwebs out of my head. >Is there a concoction I can take a whiff of periodically to perk myself up >a little? Something like the smelling salts of days of yore, which used to >revive people from a faint? (What was in that stuff, anyway?) >Thanks. >you can still find smelling salts in any good chemist. I personally >prefere lavender to rosemary in my bath with a touch of lemon balm a >great morning buzz. but the most popular of all" bring me rounds ", was >a smoking bird feather, and you dont have to remove it from the bird.
hehe ! and here is me thinking you meant leave it on the bird and as it flys around it spreads the nasty smell 
>there are plenty lying around. it will certainly wake you up, it would >wake up the dead , and you probably will not thank me for the tip, it >smells awfull.
– Graham Sorenson http://www.fragrant.demon.co.uk
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Oh Dear … in my last post aboutr smelling salts I forgot the most important thing … the SALTS. Of Course I’m not talking about the ammonia based salts. Plain ordinary table salt, or epsom salts, sea salt etc. will do. It is the scent of the essential oils that have the effect. Jojoba will help the scent stay a bit longer, (acts somewhat as a fixative) and the salts just take up some room. Use a wide opening vial for best effect.
Response:
>Every morning I pour a few drops of essential oil of rosemary in my bath >because I’ve heard it’s a stimulant. Seems like a good way to wake up and >start the day. But some days it’s hard to keep the cobwebs out of my head. >Is there a concoction I can take a whiff of periodically to perk myself up >a little? Something like the smelling salts of days of yore, which used to >revive people from a faint? (What was in that stuff, anyway?)
Generally a mixture of inert salts, such as magnesium sulfate, sodium chloride (salt), etc., mixed with an essential oil, usually lavender, and ammonia, which acted as a respiratory, and over-all general stimulant. "Everything has its beauty, but not everyone sees it."
Response:
n% says… >Every morning I pour a few drops of essential oil of rosemary in my bath >because I’ve heard it’s a stimulant. Seems like a good way to wake up and >start the day. But some days it’s hard to keep the cobwebs out of my head. >Is there a concoction I can take a whiff of periodically to perk myself up >a little? Something like the smelling salts of days of yore, which used to >revive people from a faint? (What was in that stuff, anyway?) >Thanks. >– >Madeline Koch >Toronto, Canada
– Just as an addition to this thread: This is an old idea apparently, but for purposes of data exchange and open discussion, I am posting it, since there are many instances where this harmless addition to cpr could prove the difference between the loss of a few to several million brains cells: The following was recently recorded in the Office of the County Recorder, Clark County, Washington & in the Offcie of the County Coroner, Clark County, Washington: Common Law Declaration of the discovery of …. process of ammonia activated cardio-pulminary resuscitation (AMAC-CPR or CPR-WAM: With AMmonia)by Lyle Hartford Van Dyke, Jr. Reversal of Asphyxia and "Brain Death" (This notice is not copyrighted – Please reprint and distribute.) Notice: To all CPR Medical Resuscitation Units and Anesthesiologists. (Dec. 5, 1995) –snip– METHOD: Experimental—Involves use of smelling salts or some other source of ammonia gas as a stimulant in combination with CPR. PROBLEM:……Carbon dioxide, in excess, blocks the flow of oxygen to the muscle cells and brain cells and thereby causes fatigue, cell asphyxiation, [apoptosis] and brain biostasy. Brain biostasy is a biostatic condition of the brain improperly termed "brain death". If the biostatic condition becomes irreversable, then the condition would be properly termed "brain death". SOLUTION: Ammonia, a gas, reacts with the above mentioned carbon dioxide to produce urea (carbamide) which is a normal waste product of the body and which is easily absorbed and carried off by the body fluids, thus reversing the PROBLEM stated above. ACCESS: Ammonia can reach the brain by two access paths. Ammonia which is taken into the lungs can be absorbed and carried to the brain and other parts of the body by the blood stream. Ammonia which is taken into the nose can be transferred directly to the frontal lobe of the brain from the upper sinus cavity, the brain’s second respiratory system……. SOURCES OF AMMONIA: Smelling salts (active ingredient=ammonium carbonate, inactive ingredient=perfume), other ammonium salts, ammonium hydroxide or aqua-ammonia (also known as household ammonia), or any ammonia generator…. WARNING: Ammonia gas combines with the water in the mucous membraines of the eyes, nose and throat to produce a base known as ammonium hydroxide which is caustic …..Therefore avoid prolonged contact of ammonia gas with any moist area of the body. Use ammonia very carefully, with great moderation, and preferably under medical supervision when application is medical, such as resuscitation. RESOURCES:……A general information package (Death vs Biostasy, about 35 pages plus updates) is available for ten Resuscitation Information, c/o Hartford Van Dyke, P.O. Box 3100, Battle Ground, Washington. 98604, or telephone(360)687-5680. [signed] Hartford Van Dyke, 95-12-13. Roger Cathey, Director Robert Cathey Research Source http://www.europa.com/~rsc/