Essential oils can heal, soothe and refresh. Essential oils also carry much hope for the eventual treatment of cancer, autoimmune disorders and many more common ailments. These articles explore the value of essential oils in considerable detail. We also have a range of essential oils diffusers and jewelry, and essential oils wraps and more in our collections. Please also make sure to look at our US Collections.
The benefits of lemon essential oil are wide, deep and medically profound.
The mere hint of lemon odor can be quite invigorating and lemon products have been used for purposes as diverse as teeth whitening, laundry freshening, cellulite treatment and face washing. But what is lemon’s capacity to heal us of common ailments and does it have medical credibility for the claims made for it?
The lemon fruit is native to Asia and may actually be a hybrid of orange and citron rather than a uniquely evolved species. For about a hundred years, lemon has been used extensively in Ayurvedic medicine, which is where the article below from DrEricz.com (full accreditation band link below the article), begins.
We hope you enjoy the article – and do visit the authors’ original site using the link below for the full text.
Ayurvedic food and medicinal preparations use lemon and lemon essential oil heavily, giving us an excellent basis for discovery and use of Lemon Essential Oil.
Assistant professor of Alva’s Ayurveda Medical College, Dr. J.V. Hebbar, relays the 13 key benefits of lemon and lemon essential oil in the Ayurvedic model:
- Oral health
- Digestion.
- Thirst quencher.
- Remedy for abdominal colic pain.
- Cough relief.
- Calms stomach and relieves nausea, excessive salivation and vomiting.
- Relieves chest pain due to gastritis.
- Relieves bad breath
- Promotes digestion, it is a naturally detoxifying.
- Improves complexion and skin tone.
- Nourishes the skin.
- Weight loss.
Other notable benefits of lemon essential oil include the regulation of cholesterol deposits in the circulatory system, which can help to reduce risk factors for heart disease!
Hundreds of studies have referred to the benefits of lemon essential oil, exploring the dozens of traditional uses. Its most prominent component, limonene, is likely the key to its potency, found in many citrus oils but none so strongly as lemon. Its cancer-fighting antioxidant power is impressive, as well. With such a strong foundational composition, it’s not surprising that the science is catching up to 1,000-year-tradition at breakneck speed!
Benefits of Lemon Essential Oil for Nausea and Vomiting
An interesting study came out the spring of 2014, highlighting the benefits that lemon essential oil has for pregnant women dealing with nausea and vomiting. This was actually the first study of its kind and they discovered some promising results. Basing their research findings on the personal report 100 women provided to the researchers, they learned that the majority were significantly more satisfied with aromatherapy (i.e. simply smelling lemon essential oil out of the bottle) than with the drugs that they were given or the placebo.
Benefits of Lemon Essential Oil as an Antioxidant
Another component of lemon that researchers have recently validated is geraniol. To evaluate the antioxidant ability to reverse damage from inflammation and oxidative stress, scientists in India gave geraniol to rats with diabetic neuropathy (nerve damaging disorder). Over the course of the 8-week study, markers of sciatic nerve damage and mitochondrial enzymes were both restored significantly. As a bonus, they also observed restored dopamine levels, the neurotransmitter that is associated with healthy functions like movement and unhealthy functions like addiction.
We’ve already walked through quite a range the benefits of lemon essential oil, so there’s no surprise at the long list of practical applications. Here’s a sample of a few more:
1. Freshen Clothes – Just add a few drops of lemon EO in a rinse to prevent that awful smell.
2. Remove Gum and Sap – Remove pine gum or tree sap from clothes and carpet with an essential oil application.
3. Wash Greasy Hands – With a couple of drops of lemon essential oil added to your soap, the grime should wash right off!
4. Disinfect (Without the Toxins!) – Add 40 drops lemon oil to 8 oz pure distilled water and 8 oz witch hazel or white vinegar to clean the moldy shower and germy countertops.
The above article is extracted from a post by drericz.com and some information is the property of that site. You can see the original here.
Frankincense for arthritis – urban myth or reality? This ancient substance has been known for millennia and most of us are familiar with its prominence in the story of Christ’s birth, at which event it was a precious gift of kings:
Wisemen traversed from afar,
Guided by a radiant star.
Bearing costly gifts, we’re told,
Frankincense, and myrrh, and gold
By Sandra Graham at Christart
So what is this wondrous substance that we have known so well for more than five thousand years, and why is it still considered to be so valuable? In Egypt it was used in the embalming of mummies, aiding the deceased in his or her journey to the afterlife; Christians have used it to cleanse holy spaces of evil spirits, and in ancient Arabia it was valued as highly as gold for its incredible fragrance. In India it has been used to treat stiff joints and general health for millennia – particularly by the Ayurvedic school of medicine who maintain that burning it in the home provides health benefits for all the family. It was this history of using it for stiff joints that alerted researchers to the potential benefits of frankincense for arthritis.
In the Middle East, Frankincense is chewed in its resinous form, which exploits its antimicrobial properties and greatly assists the maintenance of healthy teeth and gums. One can only imagine that in those days, long before we understood the underlying causes of tooth decay and periodontitis, poor oral health must have been a major cause of suffering. By trial and error and observation, people learned that Frankincense could help – and so it became a part of folklore and natural medicine.
Frankincense improves circulation and blood flow through blood vessels suffering from inflammation, which also helps joints that suffer from arthritis. Frankincense’s powerful anti-inflammatory effect also helps with Crohn’s disease and cysts. Some studies have shown that the frankincense may help in the treatment of several types of cancer – malignant melanoma, bladder cancer, and brain tumors.
Other studies have confirmed that extract of frankincense, incensole acetate, has the ability to reduce neurological damage, ease depression, and to prevent vascular disease.
In aromatherapy, frankincense is used primarily for relieving stress, tension, anxiety and depression. Using Frankincense for a bath or massage can also help with menstrual pain and inflammation of the bladder.
Aromatherapy with frankincense oil has a beneficial effect on the respiratory system and helps with bronchitis, asthma, sinusitis, colds and allergies.
Western medicine has now discovered the composition of Frankincense and identified the components responsible for its anti-inflammatory properties. These constituents are:
Here’s a brief description of each of these important elements that explain the use of frankincense for arthritis:-
Sesquiterpenes – These substances found in plants are defensive mechanisms – deterring some species from eating the plant. In mammals, they have been shown to delete bad information in cellular memory. In varying quantities, they are present in almost all essential oils. They are very viscous (less volatile) so they are often used as fixatives in the perfume industry. Viscous oils have a longer half-life and blend well with lighter, more volatile oils.
Some oils have a far higher concentration of Sesquiterpenes than others- particularly Cedarwood, Sandalwood and Myrrh.
monoterpenes – Monoterpenes – are present in almost all essential oils. their action is to inhibit the accumulation of toxins. Monoterpenes also enhance the therapeutic values of other components and are the balancing portion of the oil; they restore the correct information in the DNA of the cell once the sesquiterpenes have done their job. Grapefruit, Orange, and Balsam Fir contain high amounts of monoterpenes.
Diterpenes Therapeutically, diterpenes have the same properties as sesquiterpenes, but they also act as anti-fungal agents, expectorants, hormonal balancers, and are useful in treating hypertension. Research has also shown that diterpenes may provide some protection against colorectal cancer, although more research is needed.
Boswellic Acid Boswellic acid is a terpene and is the most powerful ingredient of frankincense. It has a strong anti-inflammatory effect and effectively relieves pain caused by arthritis with no known side-effects. Like many other terpenes, boswellic acid appears in the resin of the plant that exudes it; it is estimated that it makes up 30% of the resin of the frankincense tree, Boswellia serrata.
In China, Frankincense and Myrrh are often used together due to the synergistic effects of pain relief and activating blood circulation, especially for the treatment of inflammatory diseases A study done on arthritic rats showed that that frankincense and myrrh combined helped to suppress inflammation and intensity of joint inflammation.
We hope you enjoyed this article on the use of frankincense for arthritis. Check out come of our other articles below and on our blogs.
Ingestion: One or two drops of frankincense oil under the tongue
Diffusion: use an essential oil diffuser – Choose a good and follow the instructions for using your frankincense oil to fill your space.
Rub into the skin (topical application): Rub a few drops into your skin around affected areas thoroughly.
NOTES:
(1)NEVER INGEST ANYTHING THAT ISN’T MARKED AS SAFE FOR INGESTION – IF IN DOUBT ASK A QUALIFIED MEDICAL PERSON FIRST.
(2)USE 100% PURE OILS – AND DON’T FALL FOR THE THERAPEUTIC GRADE SCAM!
(3) WE ARE NOT DOCTORS – ALWAYS CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR BEFORE EMBARKING ON OR ENDING ANY COURSE OF TREATMENT.
Although most scientists remain diffident when discussing traditional medicine and herbal remedies, the evidence sometimes becomes so compelling that they have to re-examine their prejudice and see what is really happening. That is where Essential oils stand today – under re-examination by science for the benefits claimed by aromatherapists and other healing professionals outside the mainstream. In this article we look at the potential for using lemon essential oil for cancer.
For all of its wonderful benefits, I do sometimes wonder where science went wrong and became so blind and arrogant – after all, solving the mysteries of the universe should make us rather humble!
Here in this article, using data from from thetruthaboutcancer.com (full accreditation and link below the article), the benefits of Lemon Essential Oil in fighting cancer are discussed.
Now we know from humanity’s long struggle against this dread disease, that there is no simple or easy cure – it’s too complicated for that. But that doesn’t mean that some things won’t help a little – and that’s what this article is all about. Enjoy – and if you like the story, click on the link and visit the source!
Why Science is Hopeful and Curious about Lemon Essential Oil for Cancer
Native to the Middle East, lemon (or at least it’s modern variation), has gained considerable attention in scientific literature. It’s been used to make everything from simple lemonade beverages and lemon liquors to vinegar and fermented healing elixirs. But perhaps its greatest potential is in essential oil form, which is where lemon really shines.
Can Lemon Halt Cervical Cancer – A Chinese Experiment?
Long recognized as a remedy for cold symptoms and other respiratory ailments due to its high vitamin C and antioxidant content, lemon oil has more recently been identified as possessing a wealth of other nutrients that work together to target cancer cells. A 2010 review published in the Journal of Medicinal Plants Research identified essential oil of lemon as possessing the capacity to stop human cervical cancer cells.
Using hydrodistillation, Chinese scientists extracted lemon essential oil and tested it on a series of human cervical adenocarcinoma cell lines (cencerous cervical cells). They found that the oil not only blocked the cancer cell lines from spreading, but also inhibited oxidizing free radicals from harming healthy cells.
Lemon Essential Oil Offers many Benefits in the fight against Cancer
Another research team found that essential oils, including that of the lemon, acts in multiple ways to target cancer. Lemon and other essential oils, utilize multiple pathways and mechanisms to thwart cancer, including through cell cycle arrest, cell suicide, and stopping tumors from growing blood vessels activities.
A mixture of lemon essential oil combined with eucalyptus, melaleuca, lemongrass, clove leaf, and thyme, in a 40 percent ethanol base, demonstrated anti-tumor effects when administered to patients with ulcers. Cancer patients have also found relief from pain, anxiety, nausea, and vomiting by using lemon and other essential oils.
Lemon Essential Oils for cancer of the Liver
Another study in the journal Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics reveals that citronella terpenes in lemon essential oil stop the growth of cancers, including those of the liver, through olfactory activation. In other words, citronella terpenes activate smell receptors located throughout the body in order to prevent the spread of cancer.
This (extract) article is based on an article in the truth about cancer where you can read more articles of this type. The information in this article is wholly their property.
Essential Oils are the quintessence of the plants from which they are derived. Of course, from the dawn of human thought, when afflicted by illness, we have looked to the world around us for cures for our illnesses, and plants have always been there. Through long processes of trial and error with sometimes deadly results, we learned through the generations which plants can help us and which are harmful or useless.
This knowledge is perhaps the most ancient knowledge possessed by mankind and we see evidence of it in everything from European folklore to ancient Chinese medicine, which is the subject of the article below. Modern science seems to have taken a retrogressive, indeed fairly stupid stance with respect to the healing properties of plants, although this is now changing – slowly. For reasons rooted in arrogance, science decided that all folk-lore and traditional healing derived from it was nonsense. But how could this be? After all, modern science often takes its lead from nature and looks to nature for ‘miracle’ substances which humans can’t imagine or conjure into existence with a chemistry set!
This article extracted from acupuncturetoday.com (full accreditation and link below) discusses the vital role of Essential Oils in Chinese Medicine. Enjoy! And do visit the owners of this article via the link provided below.
As we look for ways to meet viruses without causing mutation or resistance, essential oils have become an important resource.
As a massage therapist in 1985, I was reading some of the seminal works in the aromatherapy world by Robert Tisserand and Jean Valnet, as well as experimenting with essential oils in my practice. At the same time, I became interested in Chinese medical thinking, drawn to the seamless way humans and their world were integrated in the poetic language of Chinese medicine. I became especially enchanted with the way that Chinese medicine used herbs, speaking to both the tangible and intangible aspects of experience in one stroke.
Then, 15 years ago, thwarted for the moment, in my aspiration to enroll in a two-year Chinese herbal medicine program, I found myself in an essential oils class with Daoist master and teacher, Jeffrey Yuen, and I saw that one stroke embodied in the single substance of essential oils. The Chinese medical view of essential oils added a dimension and an elegant simplicity to clinical practice that I had yet to imagine.
Unique in the pantheon of plant medicinal preparations, essential oils capture both the substance, yuan qi and the spirit, wei qi, of a plant. Inherent in plants in the same way that blood is inherent to the human body, oils carry the nutrients and the genetics to every corner of the plant. When we extract oils from plants and plant parts, we change both the concentration and nature of a plant’s natural oil content, yielding a compact, powerful, and previously unborn substance.
Providing the presence of plants in the treatment room with the capacity to move the spirit in a moment, an essential oil renders an immediacy to herbal treatments not available through other preparations. When I began to experiment with the essential oils in the treatment room, I saw that even patients with extensive experience with needle treatments found essential oil treatments energetically powerful and moving.
How Do Essential Oils Work?
When an aroma enters the nostrils, it communicates directly with the brain; in ways that science has yet to fully explain, aromas have the capacity to activate emotion and memory, stimulating brain activity of many kinds. In Chinese medicine, the brain is thought of as the “sea of marrow,” a sea of jing. An essential oil concentrates the DNA, the essence of the plant. Resonating with the jing in our bodies, essential oils can then confer a unique plant message for growth and change, informing our human essence with the particular messages of the plant world. In activating the essence in our bodies, an essential oil can awaken a powerful potential for deep evolution and substantive change in each of us.
While an essential oil’s substance embodies the essence, tapping into the yuan qi, the aroma is an expression of its spirit (wei qi). The volatile oils captured in the creation of essential oils and released upon smelling provoke our wei qi, evoke the spirit, open the portals and alter our perceptions in an instant. Volatile oils — the natural way that plants protect themselves and communicate with their environment — proffer change for even the most impatient among us. As the recipients of these volatile oils, we can easily see a change to our mood, our thoughts, our feelings and even the pain in our bodies with a simple inhalation. In one moment, we go from feeling vulnerable and weak to feeling open and strong, from congested to breathing easily, from stuck and annoyed to fluid and free.
How Are Essential Oils Applied?
The magic of the essential oil lies in its ability to meet the movement of the moment without hesitation or further preparation, an especially useful feature when treating wind disorders of any kind. As an ideal match for treating any type of wind, the aroma moves quickly to the places where the action often begins and plays out, right under our nose! Inhalation, the oldest and simplest method for applying essential oils, is easily accomplished with a little hot water or a cotton ball. Front line oils for any kind of wind attack include Eucalyptus globulus, Tea Tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) and Peppermint (Mentha piperita), all of which are easy to obtain these days even in your local health food store.
For inhalation, you can simply place a drop of oil on a cotton ball and inhale the aroma for a minute or two. In a pinch, you can just open the bottle and smell. Alternatively, though carefully, you can use hot water to activate the aroma and diffuse it into your nostrils. Place one to two drops of oil in a cup filled halfway to the top with hot water. Use a dish to help you regulate the flow of steam, by covering the cup with it. Then, place a towel over your head and lower your face to near the cup, lifting the dish to allow steam to escape for a few moments. Inhale the aroma for a minute, then replace the dish and take a rest.
For other easy and effective ways to use the oils you have chosen frequently, you can make a blend of oils into a chest or back rub, a smelling salt or a bath. Start with a Eucalyptus (globulus for cold, radiata for heat), then add something like Tea Tree as your deputy. Tea Tree will both strengthen the lungs and clear heat. Next, add an assistant and an envoy. As assistants in your formula, for cold, add something like Zi Su Ye (Perillae folium), for heat Chai Hu (Bupleurum radix) or for something stuck in the head, add Chuan Xiong (Ligusticum wallichii) or Jing Jie (Schizonepetae herba seu flos), all newly available in this country as essential oils made from Chinese medicinal herbs.
Through essential oils, we tap directly into the elements that create the power of the plant itself. Often requiring no more than a pinprick amount of oil with direct application, a plant confers its wisdom, allowing each of us to become the “offspring,” so to speak, of the plant world. In many ways, we are, indeed, the offspring of the plant world, made of the same substances — the sun, the wind, the water, and the air — that nourish all living things.
The original article from which we extracted this data is from acupuncturetoday – do use the link to visit them – it’s an interesting site.
Appropriate moisture levels in the home and office help considerably to prevent and remedy dry skin, coughs and irritated throats. It also helps to prevent wooden floors and furniture from becoming desiccated and brittle. And of course, your indoor plants simply thrive on moisture.
If you live in a particularly dry climate, you will need a humidifier to help you with this.
Types of humidifier
There are two types of humidifier:-
Cool Mist humidifiers break down into two further categories:-
We’re most interested in the latest, greatest type, which is ultrasonic humidifiers, which have a range of characteristics and advantages over the older types.
How Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifiers Work
The first thing to note is that ultrasonic devices don’t use fans. The word ultrasonic has two components – ultra and sonic. The ultra means ‘extreme, beyond’ and the ‘sonic’ means ‘sound’. So ‘ultrasonic’ really means ‘sound beyond’ that which you can hear – it’s a very, very high frequency disturbance of the air around you.
Because they don’t have fans, ultrasonic humidifiers are extremely quiet and have extremely low maintenance needs. They work instantly on switch-on and use minimal electricity. The ones we are promoting here on Mystical Breath actually run of a computer’s USB plug – or a mains driven USB plug.
Even though they are small, ultrasonic humidifiers produce impressive amounts of vapour and so they are an ideal choice for maintaining proper moisture levels in smaller rooms, cars and offices.
Millions of people suffer from allergies – some of them serious and debilitating. This can only be a powerful, natural reaction of our biology to what has become and increasingly unnatural and toxic environment. The allergies show clearly that our immune systems are fighting back and trying to combat the toxicity in which we live. We can’t easily change our environment, but what we can do is to give our bodies a little help in adapting to the way we live. This article on essential oils for allergies might help you.
Essential Oils can help us in this fight, and that’s what this article using facts from from DrAxe.com (see full accreditation below) is all about. Enjoy!
Top 5 Essential Oils for Allergies
Over the last 50 years, the rise in prevalence of allergic diseases and disorders has continued in the industrialized world. Allergic rhinitis, the medical term for hay fever and what’s behind the unpleasant seasonal allergy symptoms we all know so well, develops when the body’s immune system becomes sensitized and overreacts to something in the environment.
Today, 40 to 60 million Americans are affected by allergic rhinitis and the numbers continue to grow, especially in children. When left untreated, allergies can cause blocked and runny nose, sneezing, watery eyes, headaches and an impaired sense of smell — but this is in less severe cases. For some people, allergies can be life threatening, leading to inflammation and shortness of breath.
People who suffer from allergies are often told to avoid triggers, but that is nearly impossible when the seasons are changing and our immune systems are impaired by the food industry and environmental toxins. Thankfully, some powerful essential oils serve as a natural and safe way to treat the symptoms of allergies and boost our immune systems. These essential oils for allergies have the ability to chemically support the body and help it to overcome hypersensitivity.
How Do Essential Oils for Allergies help?
An allergic reaction begins in the immune system. An allergen is a substance that tricks the immune system — making it think that the allergen is an invader. The immune system then overreacts to the allergen, which is really a harmless substance, and produces Immunoglobulin E antibodies. These antibodies travel to cells that release histamine and other chemicals, causing the allergic reaction.
The most common causes of an allergic reaction include:
- Pollen
- Dust
- Mold
- Insect stings
- Animal dander
- Food
- Medications
- Latex
These allergens will trigger symptoms in the nose, throat, lungs, ears, sinuses and lining of the stomach or on the skin. The question here still remains — if these common causes have been around for thousands of years, then why have the allergy rates increased in recent history? And can essential oils for allergies help?
One of the theories behind explaining the increase in allergies has to do with inflammation, the root of most diseases. The body responds in a certain way to an allergen because the immune system is in overdrive. When the body is already dealing with high inflammation, any allergen sets off an increased reaction. That means that when the body’s immune system is overworked and stressed, introducing an allergen sends the body into overreaction.
If the immune system and inflammation within the body was balanced, the reaction to the allergen would be normal; however, today these reactions are exaggerated and lead to the next unneeded allergic reaction.
One of the most amazing benefits of essential oils are their ability to fight inflammation and boost the immune system. Essential oils for allergies will help to detoxify the body and fight infections, bacteria, parasites, microorganisms and harmful toxins. They reduce the bodies susceptibility to outside sources and reduce the overreaction of the immune system when it is faced with a harmless intruder. Some exceptional essential oils even work to relieve respiratory conditions and increase sweat and urination — helping with the elimination of toxins.
Top 5 Essential Oils for Allergies
1. An essential oil for allergies – Peppermint Oil
Inhaling diffused peppermint oil can oftentimes immediately unclog the sinuses and offer relief to scratchy throats. Peppermint acts as an expectorant and provides relief for allergies, as well as colds, coughs, sinusitis, asthma and bronchitis. It has the power to discharge phlegm and reduce inflammation — a leading cause of allergic reactions.
A 2010 study published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology investigated the effects of peppermint oil in the tracheal rings of rats. The results suggest that peppermint oil is a relaxant and exhibits antispasmodic activity, inhibiting contractions that causes you to cough.
Another study published in the European Journal of Medical Research suggests that peppermint oil treatment has anti-inflammatory effects — reducing the symptoms of chronic inflammatory disorders such as allergic rhinitis and bronchial asthma.
Remedy: Diffuse five drops of peppermint essential oil at home to unclog sinuses and treat a scratchy throat. This will also help to relax the nasal muscles, enabling the body to clear out mucus and allergens like pollen. To reduce inflammation, take 1–2 drops of pure peppermint essential oil internally once a day.
It can be added to a glass of water, cup of tea or smoothie. Peppermint oil can also be applied topically to the chest, back of neck and temples. For people with sensitive skin, it is best to dilute peppermint with coconut or jojoba oil before topical application.
2. An essential oil for allergies – Basil Oil
Basil essential oil reduces the inflammatory response of allergens. It also supports the adrenal glands, which are involved in producing over 50 hormones that drive almost every bodily function. Essentially, basil essential oil is helping your body to react appropriately to a threat by rushing blood to your brain, heart and muscles.
Basil oil also helps to detoxify the body of bacteria and viruses, while fighting inflammation, pain and fatigue. Studies prove that basil oil shows antimicrobial activity and can kill bacteria, yeast and mold that can lead to asthma and respiratory damage.
Remedy: To fight inflammation and regulate the overreaction of the immune system when faced with an allergen, take one drop of basil oil internally by adding it to soup, salad dressing or any other dish. To support the respiratory system, dilute 2–3 drops of basil oil with equal parts coconut oil and apply topically to the chest, back of neck and temples.
3. An essential oil for allergies – Eucalyptus Oil
Eucalyptus oil opens up the lungs and sinuses, thereby improving circulation and reducing symptoms of allergies. Studies have shown that it produces a cold sensation in the nose that helps to improve airflow.
Eucalyptus contains citronellal, which has analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects; it also works as an expectorant, helping to cleanse the body of toxins and harmful microorganisms that are acting as allergens.
A 2011 study published in Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine found that eucalyptus essential oil was an effective treatment for upper respiratory tract infections. Patients who were treated with eucalyptus spray reported an improvement in the severity of their most debilitating respiratory tract infection symptoms compared to participants in the placebo group. Improvement was defined as a reduction of sore throat, hoarseness or cough.
Remedy: To treat respiratory issues associated with allergies, diffuse five drops of eucalyptus at home or apply it topically to the chest and temples. To clear the nasal passages and relieve congestion, pour a cup of boiling water into a bowl and add 1–2 drops of eucalyptus essential oil. Then place a towel over your head and inhale deeply for 5–10 minutes.
4.An essential oil for allergies – Lemon Oil
Lemon oil supports lymphatic system drainage and helps with overcoming respiratory conditions. Studies have shown that lemon essential oil inhibits the growth of bacteria and boosts the immune system. When diffused at home, lemon oil can kill bacteria and eliminate allergy triggers in the air.
Adding 1–2 drops of lemon essential oil to water also helps with pH balance. Lemon water improves immune function and detoxifies the body. It stimulates the liver and flushes out toxins that can lead to inflammation and an overreactive immune system. Lemon water also stimulates white blood cell production, which is vital for immune system function because it helps to protect the body.
Lemon essential oil can also be used to disinfect your home, without depending on alcohol or bleach. It will remove bacteria and pollutants from your kitchen, bedroom and bathroom — reducing the triggers inside of your home and keeping the air clean for you and your family. This can be especially helpful as the seasons change and allergens from outside are being brought into your house on shoes and clothes.
Remedy: Add lemon oil to your laundry detergent, mix a couple of drops with water and spray it on your couches, sheets, curtains and carpets.
5. An essential oil for allergies – Tea Tree Oil
This powerful oil can destroy airborne pathogens that cause allergies. Diffusing tea tree oil in the home will kill mold, bacteria and fungi. It is an antiseptic agent and it has anti-inflammatory properties. Tea tree oil can be applied to the skin to kill bacteria and microorganisms; it can also be used as a household cleaner to disinfect the home and eliminate allergens. (9)
A 2000 study conducted in Germany found that tea tree oil exhibits antimicrobial activity against a wide range of bacteria, yeasts and fungi. These microbes lead to inflammation and force our immune system to work on overdrive. (10) This is a strong indicator of the potential efficacy of essential oils for allergies.
Remedy: Use tea tree oil on skin rashes and hives or as a household cleaner. When using tea tree topically, add 2–3 drops to a clean cotton ball and gently apply to the area of concern. For people with sensitive skin, dilute tea tree with a carrier oil first, like coconut or jojoba oil.
How to Use Essential Oils for Allergies
Food Allergies — Take 1–2 drops of lemon or peppermint oil internally to relieve the symptoms of a food allergy. This will help to detoxify the body and eliminate the allergens through sweat or urination.
Skin Rash & Hives — Use tea tree or basil oil topically to treat skin rashes and hives. Add 2–3 drops to a cotton ball and apply to the affected area. Layering oils over the liver area is another way to treat skin irritations because it helps the liver to flush out toxins that burden the skin. Dilute 3–4 drops of tea tree oil with coconut oil and rub it into the liver area.
Seasonal Allergies — Disinfect your home with lemon and tea tree oil; this will eliminate triggers and cleanse the air and your furniture. Add 40 drops of lemon oil and 20 drops of tea tree oil to a 16-ounce spray bottle. Fill the bottle with pure water and a little bit of white vinegar and spray the mixture on any area in your home.
To reduce respiratory issues associated with seasonal allergies, try my Homemade Vapor Rub; it delivers a soothing feeling that will open up the airways and make it easier to breathe.
Allergy Blend — Combine 2–3 drops of peppermint, eucalyptus and lavender oil with one teaspoon of coconut oil and massage the mixture into the temples, behind the ears and into the bottoms of the feet.
Accreditation and Acknowledgement
The article above uses information from Dr. Axe. We thank them and encourage you to visit the site via the link provided.
Can we use essential oils for dogs to help our beloved pooches? A dog relies on its sense of smell to interpret the world, just as much as people rely on sight. Why…? Because a dog’s nose dominates its sensory detection capabilities and provides it with huge amounts of information. Whereas a human has around 5 million scent receptors, a dog can have as many as 300 million – 60 times as many! A dog’s brain reflects this – it is specialized for identifying scents. The percentage of the dog’s brain that is devoted to analyzing smells is 40 times bigger than the percentage in a human! That’s why dogs identify smells between 1,000 to 10,000 times better than humans.
What does this mean when we think about essential oils, some of the most potent and powerful smelling substances in nature? The facts below from Fabulous Farm Girl (see full accreditation and link below), addresses the possible uses of using these oils to benefit your best friend. But don’t be surprised if he finds it a bit overwhelming!!!
Essential Oils For Dogs • Facts from Fabulous Farm Girl
By now you’ve probably heard that essential oils have lots and lots of uses. many communities use them as natural medicine, to clean their houses, to create moods, to enhance our beauty routines and even to flavor our foods (careful!!!). But did you know you can also use essential oils for dogs? That’s right, even man’s best friend can benefit from the amazing power of essential oils for dogs.
There are approximately 80 million dogs in the U.S. and about 40% of all households own at least one dog. If you own a dog you probably love him like a family member and want to give him the best life possible. Amazingly, it is safe to use essential oils on your dog and that they can help with some canine problems.
Essential Oils For Dogs
Lavender–calming, relaxing, occasional skin irritations, repels ticks/fleas
Cedarwood–promotes clear,healthy skin, supports healthy respiratory function, calming, repels tick/fleas
Peppermint–repels insects, alleviates occasional upset stomach
Frankincense–supports healthy immune system, promotes relaxation
Helicrysum–helps skin recover quickly, helps relive tension, promotes circulation
Lemongrass–repels fleas/ticks, purifies and tones skin, soothes aching muscles and joints
Eucalyptus–assists with clear breathing, helps to lessen stress
Wintergreen–soothes achy muscles and joints, promotes healthy respiratory functionOnly 1-2 drops of essential oils are necessary for your dog. His/her powerful sense of smell and sensitive systems respond more quickly to the oils than we humans do. A carrier oil such as extra-virgin olive oil or fractionated coconut oil can be added to extend the oil over a large area or to dilute the essential oils for use on smaller dogs (like our chihuahua, Nico). Please be careful to just try a tiny amount on your first trial and see how your best pal reacts.
Essential Oil for Dogs – Recipes
Many products sold for use on dogs contain nasty chemicals you probably don’t want to use on your best pal. Here are just a few ideas of easy DIY recipes you can make yourself that are natural and safe.
Dog Shampoo
1 cup water
2 tbsp. castile soap
5 dr. lavender
4 dr. peppermint
5 dr. cedarwoodMix all ingredients together in a glass dispenser. It will appear watery but use like any regular dog shampoo.
Insect Repellent for dogs
2 cups water
8 dr. lavender
8 dr. peppermintPut ingredients in a 16 oz. glass spray bottle. Mist dog everyday avoiding eyes and nose. Spray on bedding or dog clothes as well.
Anxiety Blend
An anxious dog is not a happy dog – see if this helps your best pal to relax!
1 tbsp. olive oil
5 dr. lavender
5 dr. roman chamomile
5 dr. marjoramCombine ingredients, then apply a few drops of solution to your palms. Massage into dog’s armpits, toe pads, outer edges of ears and thighs.
Training Tip
Next time your dog is doing something he really enjoys, get out the lavender. Place a drop on your hand and rub it along his neck, on the tops of his paws and the bridge of his nose (being careful to avoid his eyes). Then put a drop on your hands and rub them together. Before he starts the fun activity, put your hand in front of his nose. If he turns his head away that’s okay, don’t force it. Let him start the activity but every few minutes have him stop and smell your hand. You are teaching him to associate the smell of lavender with something that makes him happy. Do this every time he does something he enjoys over the next week or two. You can even add in a few rub-downs with lavender on your hands to reinforce the association because who doesn’t love a rub-down?
The above article on the use of essential oils for dogs is based on an article Fabulousfarmgirl.com – why not visit her?
When our last antibiotic becomes ineffective (and that isn’t far off), we won’t just lose the ability to treat infectious diseases, but also But also the ability to treat cancer, to transplant organs, or indeed conduct almost any major surgery. Yes – it’s that bad! So it’s natural to wonder if we can replace antibiotics – and in this article we ask can (to any extent) essential oils replace antibiotics? the idea isn’t quite as insane as it sounds as we will see.
Treating cancer and doing organ transplants would be particularly effected by the inefficacy of antibiotics because because the surgery relies on suppressing the immune system and willingly making ourselves vulnerable to infection, and any such infection must be treated.
We’d also lose the ability to treat people after traumatic accidents and the safety of modern childbirth: before antibiotics, 5 women out of every 1,000 who gave birth, died. So antibiotics are a cornerstone of our well being, but they are becoming increasingly ineffective due to overuse. So what other options do we have? The article below explains how Essential Oils might at least partially fill the gap. (See accreditation below the article).
Essential Oils Could Replace Overused Antibiotics
Oregano tastes terrible BUT – do you have a runny nose? Then try oregano oil. Do you suffer from earache? Or a sore throat? Aching muscles? I’ve found that Oregano alleviates all of the above. However, there isn’t much in the way of credible science to back my observations up.
While oil of oregano is traditionally respected and used for helping with colds, acne, bloating, headaches, intestinal parasites, allergies, earaches, and fatigue, according to Medical News Today, “further high-quality study results are necessary to confirm these claims.”
How we use essential oils
While inhalation, or aromatherapy, is the most common method of using essential oils (Vicks VapoRub being a well-known example), they are also used topically and internally.
When we think of essential oils we think of “aromas, spas and beauty products,” says Dr. Lynn Anderson, Doctor of Natural Health, author and yoga/exercise professional. “But essential oils are so much more. Essential oils are healing modalities.” Their antiseptic power comes from phenolic content, and oils with higher phenolic content, like oregano, thyme, cinnamon and clove, are more potent, she adds.
Essential oils recognized as ‘antibiotics’ before we knew what microbes are
Essential oils have been recognized for centuries as a remedy for various maladies due to their antimicrobial, antibacterial, and antifungal properties. However, to date, “there is little published research on many of them,” according to the University of Minnesota.
“Research studies on essential oils” that do exist, the University of Minnesota website explains, “show positive effects for a variety of health concerns including infections, pain, anxiety, depression, tumors, premenstrual syndrome, nausea, and many others.”
Clearly, both these universities are researching essential oils can replace antibiotics.
Where we find essential oils used today
Most studies so far have been conducted by the food, flavoring, cosmetics and tobacco industries — essential oils are commonly found in personal care products and food stuffs (for preservation). The oils of rosemary, mint, cinnamon, peppermint, clove, lemongrass and others are also used in natural pest control formulations.
The medicinal applications of essential oils and essential oils to replace antibiotics are currently being studied in the United States, Europe, Japan, Canada, Australia and India. Aromatherapy has been more widely studied than other medicinal applications of essential oils. Some clinical trials have explored aromatherapy’s effectiveness in helping cancer patients.
Of essential oil’s many uses, perhaps its most promising is as an alternative to antibiotics. This potential is earning more attention than ever because of growing resistance to existing antibiotics — a natural phenomenon that occurs when bacteria come to resist antibiotics that are widely used.
Studies on the use of essential oils are being conducted on animals and humans mainly in response to the loss of antibiotics’ effect due to antimicrobial resistance. What this means is that the overuse and abuse of antibiotics in both treating humans and animals is creating a resistance to antibiotics as new ‘superbugs’ are developing. These superbugs’ then need something different to destroy them.
Essential oils replace antibiotics in animal feed
Some research is now looking at the role essential oils may be able to play in reducing antibiotic use in animal feed. A study published in Poultry Science, for instance, found that diets that included oregano oil reduced chickens’ mortality rate due to infection.
Companies like Modesto Milling, in California, are bringing this solution to the marketplace. Their certified organic poultry feed includes anise oil and juniper berry oil among its blend of herbs and grains.
Slow progress in the medical profession
Unfortunately, the medical profession has been slow to embrace these therapies, and good scientific data are still scarce. However, as we approach the ‘post-antibiotic era’ the situation is changing and we might well find an increasing trend that essential oils replace antibiotics.
The above article uses material and data from reset.me – visit them too – they have a great website!
The benefits of frankincense to our mental and physical wellbeing are now being recognised by mainstream science; but this beautiful natural substance has a history long preceding our modern-day knowledge:
“And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.”
So it is said of the three Magi who attended the infant Jesus. That’s probably the verse that first brought the precious substance frankincense to the attention of most people. Clearly, it was indeed regarded as a treasure if it was brought as a gift to celebrate the birth of the king of kings! But what is it? What are its uses and benefits? This article (full accreditation below) examines frankincense and its role as an aid to mental health it our modern world.
One of the Benefits of Frankincense is as A Psychoactive Antidepressant
For centuries, burning the resin of Boswellia tree has been a component in religious services. It’s said the aroma of Boswellia, otherwise called frankincense, contributes to greater spiritual exaltation. It comes up numerous times in ancient texts.
A team of scientists from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem and Johns Hopkins University examined claims that frankincense has mysterious impacts on the human mind. For the first time, these befits of frankincense are being understood in scientific terms.
Frankincense regulates emotions and sense of warmth
Researchers administered incensole acetate, which is the primary constituent to Boswellia resin, to mice. The team found that incensole acetate impacts the part of the brain that deals with regulating your emotions.
Specifically, frankincense activates the TRPV3 protein that’s found within mammalian brains and is known to play a role in the perception of warmth.
The effect, altogether, is a soothing, anti-depressant type psychoactive one. It may be one of the most powerful, all natural anti-depressants you can find and one of the greatest benefits of frankincense known so far.
Ancient texts are now being taken seriously
“In spite of information stemming from ancient texts, constituents of Boswellia had not been investigated for psychoactivity,” said Raphael Mechoulam, co-author of the findings. “We found that incensole acetate, a Boswellia resin constituent, when tested in mice lowers anxiety and causes antidepressive-like behavior. Apparently, most present day worshipers assume that incense burning has only a symbolic meaning.”
Hope for young Americans with depressive disorders
The leading cause of disability in young Americans is major depressive disorder, impacting some 15 million Americans. 40 million suffer from anxiety, which is often associated with depression. It turns out, the benefits of frankincense can play an important role in unwinding and soothing the depression of millions of people.
Of course, don’t give up any medicinal treatments you may be on. Burning a little frankincense definitely couldn’t hurt, but if you feel like your depression is out of control, please, see a physician.
Of course, frankincense presents us with many other benefits, which we will explore in other articles as time progresses.
Data in this article appeared in dailyvibes.org/frankincense and is their property. We thank them. We had to remove the working link because the site appears to be no longer operational.
Many claims are made for the generally beneficial effects of Essential Oils, many of which are either medical or at least implicitly medical. this has brought essential oils advertising to the attention of the FDA, which is there to protect us from invalid claims. And yet, it’s hard not to conclude that they are being a little heavy-handed in some cases. After all, if I find that using oils has a direct beneficial effect on my condition, be it stress or an allergy or whatever, am I not entitled to say so?
Well, yes – but not to advertise a product from which money is made, as relating my personal (and often subjective) experience can be misleading for others and giving such latitude to many people results in scams. So I do have some empathy wit the FDA on this one. This article (accredited below) covers the issue in some detail – enjoy!
In September of 2014, the FDA began a coordinated attack on companies that market essential oils. The top brands are dōTERRA and Young Living. Both companies offer essential oils to help manage a variety of symptoms ranging from headaches to anxiety to hyperactivity.
Many essential oil users claim to have eliminated the need for over-the-counter medications due to using specific combinations of essential oils to target common maladies.
Back in 2014, Young Living received a warning that you can see on the FDA’s website. It seems they had conducted a thorough search of the Internet, including websites, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest, and cited instances that Young Living essential oils were mentioned in conjunction with a medical diagnosis.
For example, “Eucalyptus Blue essential oil has antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties.” And, “Since I have become an avid Young Living essential oil user I have learned all about the anti-microbial properties of so many oils, including ANTI-VIRAL constituents in many of our essential oils.”
The FDA requested:
That you notify this office in writing within 15 working days from your receipt of this letter of the current status of your corrective actions and the specific steps you have taken to correct the noted violations. In your response, include documentation of your corrective actions. If you cannot complete all corrections before you respond, we expect that you will explain the reason for your delay and please include a timetable for the implementation of any remaining corrections.
It seems that dōTERRA had received similar notification, as they released a public letter to their Wellness Advocates on July 13th, 2015 explaining that they continue to review concerns presented by the FDA last September and have instituted new policies effective immediately.
For example, Wellness Advocates can no longer maintain independent websites listing the ways essential oils have benefited them – all websites must be cookie-cutter sites issued by dōTERRA with approved language on them. They asked the advocates to “scrub” their PERSONAL and business social media accounts of any mention of dōTERRA products as well.
A Wellness Advocate from dōTERRA reported on 7/17/15 that PRIVATE and PASSWORD PROTECTED pages of her blog had been accessed by the FDA, which had made a complaint to dōTERRA requiring that the pages be edited or eliminated. Let me put that another way. Private citizens may not share written information on the Internet about how essential oils have improved their health, the health of their families, or the health of their clients.
Now let’s be fair…
In the FDA’s complaint to Young Living, they cited several instances where essential oils were being marketed for their ability to kill the Ebola virus. If all it took to kill the Ebola virus was waving some cinnamon bark and oregano, the death toll for the latest outbreak would not have surpassed 10,000. It IS the FDA’s job to protect consumers from claims that products can cure us of diseases. But it is also our First Amendment right to share how anything has helped or harmed us. If an essential oil has helped me reduce my dependence on pain medication or antibiotics, shouldn’t I be allowed to tell you about it? No matter who I work for?
A large percentage of the population is interested in natural remedies and natural health. Many times, natural remedies can reduce our symptoms without side effects and at a fraction of the cost of a doctor visit and a prescription. But natural remedies come at a cost, and that cost is to Big Pharma.
Pharmaceutical companies are losing big money as researchers show what humans have known for a long time: by improving our health through diet, exercise, and natural remedies, we can avoid most reasons to go to the doctor and consume both over-the-counter and prescription drugs.
The FDA differentiates between cosmetics and drugs on its website:
If a product is intended only to cleanse the body or to make a person more attractive, it’s a cosmetic. So, if a product such as a shower gel is intended only to cleanse the body, or a perfume or cologne is intended only to make a person smell good, it’s a cosmetic.
If a product is intended for a therapeutic use, such as treating or preventing disease, or to affect the structure or function of the body, it’s a drug. For example, claims that a product will relieve colic, ease pain, relax muscles, treat depression or anxiety, or help you sleep are drug claims.
Such claims are sometimes made for products such as soaps, lotions, and massage oils containing “essential oils” and marketed as “aromatherapy.” The fact that a fragrance material or other ingredient comes from a plant doesn’t keep it from being regulated as a drug.
Under the law, drugs must meet requirements such as FDA approval for safety and effectiveness before they go on the market. To find out if a product marketed with drug claims is FDA-approved, contact FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER), at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
The FDA argues that dōTERRA and Young Living are marketing their products as drugs without being FDA approved. Almost a year after their initial probe, these companies now risk armed federal marshals coming to their warehouses and seizing all of their inventory. But the companies have argued that their consultants are not employees and are allowed to say whatever they want about these products. If I buy chocolate chip cookies from a wholesale distributor and then set up a website claiming that these cookies cure infertility, is it the wholesale distributor’s fault? Are they responsible for how I market their cookies?
The FDA has added information on its page about the toxicity of essential oils. Yet the American Association of Poison Control Centers has 0 deaths on record from essential oils. How many people die each year from FDA regulated drugs? Have you ever heard of anyone becoming addicted to essential oils? Do any drug dealers sell essential oils on the street corners of your city? Have you ever heard of anyone being murdered because of the sale of illicit essential oils?
If the FDA gets their way, they will either silence the essential oil companies or they will force them to get their oils FDA approved. What does that mean for consumers? Big money and long waits. If oils are to be approved for the relief of specific symptoms, they have to undergo lengthy and expensive testing which will ultimately be paid for by us.
Aromatic plant oils precede medicine and pharmaceutical products by thousands of years. The National Institutes of Health’s website has published thousands of peer-reviewed studies proving the benefits of these oils. There is big healing, but not big money in essential oils. You can’t patent a plant, so paying for an FDA study for a product that anyone can create at home is out of the question.
Only time will tell the future of the essential oil industry. Humans have been using essential oils safely and effectively for thousands of years, let’s hope the FDA doesn’t succeed in taking down one of nature’s biggest gifts to us.
This article was based on an article appearing in homespun-life – which has since disappeared from the web.