by Craig Weatherby
The idea behind Mother's Day has roots among the ancient Greeks, who kept a festival dedicated to Cybele, a great mother of gods, around the vernal equinox, observed today on March 31.
The Greek tradition was adopted by ancient Romans, who moved the celebration to the Ides of March (March 15 to March 18). Ancient Romans also honored their mothers on the feast day of Matronalia, which was dedicated to Juno, the goddess of childbirth.
The predecessor to today’s holiday was first envisioned after the American Civil War by English social activist Julia Ward Howe, with the purpose of uniting women against war.
But it was the efforts of Philadelphia woman Anna Jarvis -- never a mother herself -- that led directly to broad celebration of Mother's Day.
Ms. Jarvis came up with the concept on the first anniversary of her mother's death in May, 1907, and actually trademarked "Mother's Day" in an attempt to defend, unsuccessfully, against rampant commercialization.
In 1914, President Wilson issued a National proclamation establishing the holiday: a watershed moment that made flower stores, candy makers, restaurants, card makers -- and, one hopes, many mothers -- quite happy. Everyone that is, but the modern holiday's creator!
While Mother’s Day grew to its current proportions largely in response to a persistent marketing push, mothers richly deserve a day dedicated to honoring their sacrifices ... no matter how the holiday came about!
*
Monday, April 30, 2007
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Essential Oils :
Aromatherapy Use Growing in Hospitals
By BOB GROVES
STAFF WRITER
The Record, www.northjersey.com
The fragrance of lavender and sweet almond was as soothing as the dreamy voice of Enya coming from the CD player. By the patient's bedside a dialysis machine beeped quietly.
The scents arose subtly from oils that Mary Mazzer, a registered nurse and aromatherapist, was rubbing gently on her patient's knuckles, palms and fingers. Next, she poured more oil from a small cup into her latex-gloved hand and applied it to her patient's shins, calves and toes, and to the balls of her feet.
"She has a lot of anxiety related to her illness," said Mazzer, in the patient's room at Valley Hospital in Ridgewood. "We've been working together a couple months. She falls asleep with the touch therapy."
"Lavender allows me to relax," said the patient, Shelly Lomberg of Fair Lawn. She was hooked to the dialysis machine with wires, tubes and monitors.
"A lot of it is the touch," Lomberg said. "The aroma definitely takes me somewhere else." Her head lolled, and she drifted off.
At-home practice
If you try aromatherapy at home, make sure you purchase 100 percent essential oils [therapeutic-grade] – not oils mixed with synthetics.
How to use organic therapeutic-grade essential oils:
Essential Oils can be inhaled, or oils can be applied directly to the skin.
Scents are dispersed in the air by oil drops on a gauze pad or handkerchief, or from an electric fan diffuser, or a cold-air diffuser.
Essential Oils are applied to the surface of the skin by gentle touch therapy or in bath water dispersed by one ounce of milk or vodka. A skin allergy test may be required before application.
Essential oils from fruit, flowers, plants and trees can help relieve nausea, anxiety, pain and other symptoms by acting on the limbic system of the brain, associated with feelings and emotions.
Essential oils should be stored away from heat and light.
Aromatherapy is the use of so-called essential oils -- extracted from flowers, fruits, plants and trees -- to relieve anxiety, nausea, insomnia, pain and other symptoms. Scents from the oils are inhaled and stimulate the olfactory nerves in the nose. Or oils are applied to the skin, where they are absorbed and enter the bloodstream. Either way, they act on the limbic system of the brain, including the hippocampus and the amygdala, associated with feelings and emotions.
The treatment is used in many hospices and nursing homes and is beginning to catch on in hospitals. It can also be practiced at home.
Aromatherapy, which goes back to ancient Egypt, should not be confused with synthetically scented soaps and candles sold in New Age boutiques, practitioners maintain.
"We see aromatherapy everywhere," Mazzer said. "It's in dish detergents. But we're not talking about commercial fragrance use. (Note: there can be up to 1,000 different synthetics and/or chemicals allowed in the formulation of "fragrances.")
"We're not just going to make it smell nice, which is fine. We're talking about essential oil used in a specific way to obtain a specific, measurable clinical outcome," she said.
Valley added aromatherapy two years ago to its holistic services program and now has seven nurses certified to administer it, Mazzer said. But it took a while for some of the doctors at the hospital to get used to the idea, she said.
"Oh, you're that voodoo nurse," one physician said to her early in the program.
"Yes, you'll have to be careful," Mazzer replied with a laugh. "I'll put a spell on you."
Acceptance grows
But as the idea caught on, doctors, nurses, social workers and others began asking Mazzer to use aromatherapy on their patients, she said. Although she does not need a physician's order, Mazzer will consult with a patient's doctor, who can overrule using aromatherapy.
Mazzer limits her oils to a select few, such as lavender for anxiety and healing insect bites, and ginger for nausea. Black pepper is a blood-vessel dilator, which can be helpful in starting an intravenous line, she said. Peppermint is good for headache, rosemary for bursitis, neroli oil from orange blossoms is a fragrant relaxant, and eucalyptus is good for colds.
She puts a couple of drops on a gauze pad and wafts the scent toward the patient. She can also use an inhaler. Oils applied topically to the skin are often diluted with sweet almond extract to avoid irritation. Touch therapy is a light caress, not a deep muscle massage.
Mazzer is versed in 33 essential oils and hopes to expand the menu at Valley. "I'm not here to replace anyone" in traditional medical care, she said.
Holistic therapies should not be considered alternative or even complementary medicine. "We look at it as integrative" with standard care, she said. Treatment involves a patient's mind, body and spirit.
Aromatherapy is used in hospices and nursing homes throughout New Jersey, said Susan Coppola of Care Alternatives, a Cranford-based home-care provider in several states. The treatment helps terminally ill patients and families, said Coppola, a registered nurse and aromatherapist who lives in Wyckoff.
"We're looking at comfort in whatever form it comes," she said. "The wonderful thing about aromatherapy is its effectiveness with multiple issues. It's used in different areas of the body for different purposes."
The power of touch
Coppola puts a blend of grape seed, lemon, frankincense and juniper oil on different parts of the body. "The scent relaxes, and it's good for the skin," she said. "Usually these patients have very dehydrated, old skin."
The agency she works for requires a doctor's order and a skin test for allergic reaction, Coppola said.
"It's a wonderful thing to teach families to do, especially if there's been an estrangement," she said. "Touching each other brings closure. Oil has very positive multiple effects."
The scent of essential oils can reduce the stress of patients headed for surgery, said Charisse Gigli, an operating-room nurse at Barnert Hospital in Paterson. She recommends a blend of rose, bergamot (Turkish orange rind), sandalwood and frankincense.
"I carry an inhaler for myself," said Gigli, who is New Jersey director of the National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy. "As a patient myself, it really relaxed me before surgery."
Everyday consumers can purchase essential oils commercially, but they should be cautious about quality, she said.
"The thing to worry about is, a lot of so-called fragrance oils are fake or might be a mixture of extract and a synthetic," Gigli said. "You have to be sure it's 100 percent essential oil."
Buy organic therapeutic-grade Essential Oils here!
~ Read more about essential oil quality in my previous posts:
Essential Oil Quality Tid-bits
Why Essential Oils Heal and Drugs Don't by David Stewart, Ph.D.
Purchase 100% pure, therapeutic-grade essential oils at The Very Essence.com
Smell Testing an Essential Oil
STAFF WRITER
The Record, www.northjersey.com
The fragrance of lavender and sweet almond was as soothing as the dreamy voice of Enya coming from the CD player. By the patient's bedside a dialysis machine beeped quietly.
The scents arose subtly from oils that Mary Mazzer, a registered nurse and aromatherapist, was rubbing gently on her patient's knuckles, palms and fingers. Next, she poured more oil from a small cup into her latex-gloved hand and applied it to her patient's shins, calves and toes, and to the balls of her feet.
"She has a lot of anxiety related to her illness," said Mazzer, in the patient's room at Valley Hospital in Ridgewood. "We've been working together a couple months. She falls asleep with the touch therapy."
"Lavender allows me to relax," said the patient, Shelly Lomberg of Fair Lawn. She was hooked to the dialysis machine with wires, tubes and monitors.
"A lot of it is the touch," Lomberg said. "The aroma definitely takes me somewhere else." Her head lolled, and she drifted off.
At-home practice
If you try aromatherapy at home, make sure you purchase 100 percent essential oils [therapeutic-grade] – not oils mixed with synthetics.
How to use organic therapeutic-grade essential oils:
Essential Oils can be inhaled, or oils can be applied directly to the skin.
Scents are dispersed in the air by oil drops on a gauze pad or handkerchief, or from an electric fan diffuser, or a cold-air diffuser.
Essential Oils are applied to the surface of the skin by gentle touch therapy or in bath water dispersed by one ounce of milk or vodka. A skin allergy test may be required before application.
Essential oils from fruit, flowers, plants and trees can help relieve nausea, anxiety, pain and other symptoms by acting on the limbic system of the brain, associated with feelings and emotions.
Essential oils should be stored away from heat and light.
Aromatherapy is the use of so-called essential oils -- extracted from flowers, fruits, plants and trees -- to relieve anxiety, nausea, insomnia, pain and other symptoms. Scents from the oils are inhaled and stimulate the olfactory nerves in the nose. Or oils are applied to the skin, where they are absorbed and enter the bloodstream. Either way, they act on the limbic system of the brain, including the hippocampus and the amygdala, associated with feelings and emotions.
The treatment is used in many hospices and nursing homes and is beginning to catch on in hospitals. It can also be practiced at home.
Aromatherapy, which goes back to ancient Egypt, should not be confused with synthetically scented soaps and candles sold in New Age boutiques, practitioners maintain.
"We see aromatherapy everywhere," Mazzer said. "It's in dish detergents. But we're not talking about commercial fragrance use. (Note: there can be up to 1,000 different synthetics and/or chemicals allowed in the formulation of "fragrances.")
"We're not just going to make it smell nice, which is fine. We're talking about essential oil used in a specific way to obtain a specific, measurable clinical outcome," she said.
Valley added aromatherapy two years ago to its holistic services program and now has seven nurses certified to administer it, Mazzer said. But it took a while for some of the doctors at the hospital to get used to the idea, she said.
"Oh, you're that voodoo nurse," one physician said to her early in the program.
"Yes, you'll have to be careful," Mazzer replied with a laugh. "I'll put a spell on you."
Acceptance grows
But as the idea caught on, doctors, nurses, social workers and others began asking Mazzer to use aromatherapy on their patients, she said. Although she does not need a physician's order, Mazzer will consult with a patient's doctor, who can overrule using aromatherapy.
Mazzer limits her oils to a select few, such as lavender for anxiety and healing insect bites, and ginger for nausea. Black pepper is a blood-vessel dilator, which can be helpful in starting an intravenous line, she said. Peppermint is good for headache, rosemary for bursitis, neroli oil from orange blossoms is a fragrant relaxant, and eucalyptus is good for colds.
She puts a couple of drops on a gauze pad and wafts the scent toward the patient. She can also use an inhaler. Oils applied topically to the skin are often diluted with sweet almond extract to avoid irritation. Touch therapy is a light caress, not a deep muscle massage.
Mazzer is versed in 33 essential oils and hopes to expand the menu at Valley. "I'm not here to replace anyone" in traditional medical care, she said.
Holistic therapies should not be considered alternative or even complementary medicine. "We look at it as integrative" with standard care, she said. Treatment involves a patient's mind, body and spirit.
Aromatherapy is used in hospices and nursing homes throughout New Jersey, said Susan Coppola of Care Alternatives, a Cranford-based home-care provider in several states. The treatment helps terminally ill patients and families, said Coppola, a registered nurse and aromatherapist who lives in Wyckoff.
"We're looking at comfort in whatever form it comes," she said. "The wonderful thing about aromatherapy is its effectiveness with multiple issues. It's used in different areas of the body for different purposes."
The power of touch
Coppola puts a blend of grape seed, lemon, frankincense and juniper oil on different parts of the body. "The scent relaxes, and it's good for the skin," she said. "Usually these patients have very dehydrated, old skin."
The agency she works for requires a doctor's order and a skin test for allergic reaction, Coppola said.
"It's a wonderful thing to teach families to do, especially if there's been an estrangement," she said. "Touching each other brings closure. Oil has very positive multiple effects."
The scent of essential oils can reduce the stress of patients headed for surgery, said Charisse Gigli, an operating-room nurse at Barnert Hospital in Paterson. She recommends a blend of rose, bergamot (Turkish orange rind), sandalwood and frankincense.
"I carry an inhaler for myself," said Gigli, who is New Jersey director of the National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy. "As a patient myself, it really relaxed me before surgery."
Everyday consumers can purchase essential oils commercially, but they should be cautious about quality, she said.
"The thing to worry about is, a lot of so-called fragrance oils are fake or might be a mixture of extract and a synthetic," Gigli said. "You have to be sure it's 100 percent essential oil."
Buy organic therapeutic-grade Essential Oils here!
~ Read more about essential oil quality in my previous posts:
Essential Oil Quality Tid-bits
Why Essential Oils Heal and Drugs Don't by David Stewart, Ph.D.
Purchase 100% pure, therapeutic-grade essential oils at The Very Essence.com
Smell Testing an Essential Oil
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Essential Oil Sugar Body Scrub
This is effective for your whole body. Do not rub as hard on your face as you would on your feet, facial skin is much more sensitive.
Use a plastic container to mix - glass may break in the bathroom. For storage, use glass.
Combine:
1/2 cup olive oil (or coconut oil)
1 cup of sugar
Few drops of your essential oil (sandalwood is nice!)
Do this in the bathroom. Use small amounts at a time and massage gently on the skin. You can leave it on for a minute or two for a tightening effect. Rinse.
Buy pure organic Young Living Essential Oils
*
Use a plastic container to mix - glass may break in the bathroom. For storage, use glass.
Combine:
1/2 cup olive oil (or coconut oil)
1 cup of sugar
Few drops of your essential oil (sandalwood is nice!)
Do this in the bathroom. Use small amounts at a time and massage gently on the skin. You can leave it on for a minute or two for a tightening effect. Rinse.
Buy pure organic Young Living Essential Oils
*
Monday, April 23, 2007
Cooking with Essential Oils
May Health and Wellness Seminar
Cooking with Essential Oils
Presented by Young Living NW
May 15, 2007 • 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Edmonds Conference Center
201 Fourth Avenue North
Edmonds, WA 98020
Free to the general public, $10 for YLEO Members
Pre-register through Evelyn Vincent at:
Young Living NW Online Registration
Add unique dimensions in flavvor & nutrition to your favorite recipes!
Everyday Cook? Professional Chef?
If your answer is “yes,” you will want to meet “Chef To Go,” Debra Lane, as she demonstrates the many easy ways that essential oils add an exquisite flair to enhance food preparation and daily nutrition.
Debra Lane's Chef to Go, is a whole foods gourmet meal delivery service Chef To Go serving the Seattle area. Debra's 17-year career in Seattle restaurants includes the Space Needle and the Seattle Yacht Club. Debra has certificates from the Le Cordon Bleu Culinary Academy, US Personal Chef Institute, and Personal Chef Network. As a certified Nutritional Consultant, Debra is qualified to serve clients with specific dietary needs. She has recently completed a 3 series Diabetic course at Joslin Diabetic Center.
Chef Debra taught classes at 6 National Chef conventions in the US and Canada, and helped to develop training materials for 2 National chef associations. She is co-founder of the Puget Sound Personal Chefs and received a National award as the president of that group. Debra is presently active in Personal Chefs Network, and is a Sous Chef for the Washington State chapter. She was awarded the Pacesetter award in November 2004. Chef Debra is also a member of Slow Food USA, Women Chefs and Restauranteurs and the Personal Chefs Network.
Taste samples of Chef Debra’s essential oil recipes!
PRE-REGISTER WITH EVELYN VINCENT AT:
Young Living NW Online Registration
UPCOMING HEALTH AND WELLNESS SEMINARS
June 19th, 2007
Summer Skin Care
Learn about summer skin care and how liver health relates to the condition of your healthy glow!
July 17th, 2007
Young Living NW Open Forum
Bring your Young Living questions to this open forum. Get practical answers about using essential oils and more!
PRE-REGISTER WITH EVELYN VINCENT AT:
Young Living NW Online Registration
Get to know us... Meet the Young Living NW Team
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Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Article Writing -
Wildly Successful Article Writing & Marketing
with Jeff Herring
The Article Guy
We are just 2 days away from the preview call for the Article Writing & Marketing Secrets TeleCourse.
Get VIP access to a 90-minute teleseminar and discover Jeff Herring - The Internet Article Guy's "4 Pillars of Wildly Successful Article Writing & Marketing.”
Jeff Herring - The Internet Article Guy is hosting a 90 minute teleseminar on:
THE 4 PILLARS OF WILDLY SUCCESSFUL ARTICLE WRITING & MARKETING
This is a FREE Article Writing & Marketing Secrets 90+ minute Tele-Event for those interested in writing and marketing articles. Jeff Herring will share a lot of information that you can begin using immediately.
Date - Monday April 23, 2007
Time - 5:30 pm Pacific/8:30 pm Eastern
I've attended many of his past teleseminars and Jeff provides such great value and information that I know you will walk away with tools and strategies you can immediately use.
Here's just some of what you'll get in this 90 minute plus teleseminar:
> The 3 mistakes even experienced article writers make and what to do instead.
> The most powerful article writing template.
> How to write articles for more traffic, prospects, publicity & profits.
> The 3 most common near fatal article submission mistakes.
> 5 strategies to get your articles picked up and published over those of the competition
> The 3 most limiting article marketing mistakes.
> How to get creative when marketing your articles to beat the competition.
> The 3 most profit killing mistakes just about every article writer makes.
> How to monetize your articles.
> How you can turn just one article into multiple products!
> And Of Course Much More!!!
I invite you to visit ARTICLE WRITING AND MARKETING SECRETS and register for this tele-event right now to learn how to write articles that search engines love!
Jeff's TeleSeminars are terrific, he's articulate, easy to follow and has a wealth of information to share that will help you learn how to write articles that search engines and people love to read!
Sunday, April 15, 2007
Essential Oil Seminar, Edmonds, WA:
Kids, Pets, Fleas & Pests
APRIL HEALTH AND WELLNESS SEMINAR
Kids, Pets, Fleas & Pests
Presented by Young Living NW
April 17th, 2007 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Edmonds Conference Center
201 Fourth Avenue North
Edmonds, WA 98020
Free to the general public, $10 for YLEO Members
Is your First Aid Kit as good as it could be?
If you answered no, join the Young Living Northwest team in this lively and informative seminar and learn what we do to help our kids and pets when discomfort arises. We will also share how we have used essential oils on our kids, grandchildren, cats and dogs.
Our special guest speakers will include:
Debby Gallie-Miller founder of High Country Outfitters and Camp Wahoo a childrens horse camp, and her camp cook Jeani Krogstad.
Pre-register now,
reserve your seat through
Evelyn Vincent, go to
Young Living Northwest
GET EXCITED ABOUT LIVING WITH YOUNG LIVING,
ESSENTIAL OILS ARE SCENTS-SATIONAL
Upcoming Health and Wellness Seminars
May 15th, 2007
COOKING with ESSENTIAL OILS
Chef Debra Lane, of Chef To Go at mychefdelivers.com, will demonstrate how to expand your cooking repertoire!
June 19th, 2007
Summer Skin Care
Don't let sunburned & sundried skin ruin your summer, learn how we use essential oils to maintain lovely skin.
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Tuesday, April 10, 2007
The Benefits of Peppermint Essential Oil
PEPPERMINT (Mentha piperita)
BOTANICAL FAMILY: Lamiaceae or Labiatae (mint).
PLANT ORIGIN: North America.
EXTRACTION METHOD: Steam distilled from leaves, stems, and flower buds.
CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS: Monoterpenes: á pinene, â.pinene, limonene: Monoterpenols: menthol (38-48%); Monoterpenones: menthone (20-30%); Terpene oxides: 1,8 cineol; Terpene esters: menthol acetate; Coumarins, Sulfurs: dimenthalsulfide.
ACTION: Anticarcinogenic, supports digestion, expels worms, decongestant, antiinfectious, antibacterial, antifungal, mucolytic, stimulant, hypertensive, cardiotonic, stimulates gallbladder, pain-relieving, expectorant, and anti-inflammatory for the intestinal and urinary tract. It can heighten or restore the sense of taste by stimulating the trigeminal nerve.
FOUND IN THESE YOUNG LIVING BLENDS: Aroma Siez, Clarity, Di-Gize, Legacy, M-Grain, Mister, PanAway, Raven, RC, Relieve-It, Cinnamint Lip Balm, Dentarome Plus Toothpaste, Fresh Essence Mouthwash, Satin Scrub-Mint, NeuroGen, Regenolone, Satin Body Lotion, Morning Start Bath Gel, Peppermint-Cedarwood Soap, Morning Start Soap, Ortho Ease Massage Oil, Ortho Sport Massage Oil, Relaxation Massage Oil, ComforTone, Mineral Essence, Pro-Gen, ProMist, ThermaMist, and Thyromin. These essential oils and products can be found at my website The Very Essence.
TRADITIONAL USES: Peppermint is one of the oldest and most highly regarded herbs for soothing digestion. Jean Valnet, M.D., studied peppermint’s effect on the liver and respiratory systems. Other scientists have also researched peppermint’s role in affecting impaired taste and smell when inhaled. Dr. William N. Dember of the University of Cincinnati studied peppermint’s ability to improve concentration and mental accuracy. Alan Hirsch, M.D., studied peppermint’s ability to directly affect the brain’s satiety center (the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus) which triggers a sensation of fullness after meals.
INDICATIONS: Asthma, bronchitis, candida, diarrhea, digestive aid, reduces fever, halitosis, heartburn, hemorrhoids, hot flashes, indigestion, menstrual irregularity, headaches, motion sickness, nausea, tumor growth, respiratory infections, shock, itchy skin, throat infections, and varicose veins. Other Uses: This essential oil may help arthritis, indigestion, depression, skin conditions (eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis), food poisoning, headaches, hives, hysteria, inflammation, morning sickness, nerve regeneration, rheumatism, elevate and open sensory system, toothaches, and tuberculosis.
APPLICATIONS: Diffuse. Massage on the stomach or add to water or tea. Apply to bottom of feet or rub on the temples to treat headaches. To improve concentration, alertness, and memory, place several drops on the tongue. Add to food as a flavoring and preservative.
Buy Young Living Peppermint essential oil here!
• Rub 4-6 drops in the palm and rub over stomach and around the navel to relieve indigestion, flatulence and diarrhea.
• Add a drop of Peppermint essential oil to herbal tea to aid in digestion and relieve heartburn.
• Massage several drops of Peppermint essential oil on the area of injury to reduce inflammation.
• Apply Peppermint oil immediately to an injured area (bruised shin, hit on the foot or hand) to relieve pain. If there is a cut, apply the Peppermint essential oil around (not on) the open wound.
• Rub several drops of Peppermint oil on the bottoms of the feet to reduce fever.
• Apply a drop of Peppermint essential oil topically on unbroken skin to stop itching.
• For poison ivy or poison oak, apply Peppermint oil on location neat or dilute with V-6 Vegetable Mixing Oil.
• Inhale Peppermint essential oil before and during a workout to boost your mood and reduce fatigue.
• Massage several drops of Peppermint essential oil on the abdomen to relieve nausea.
• To relieve a headache rub a drop of Peppermint essential oil on the temples, forehead, over the sinuses (stay away from the eyes) and on the back of the neck.
• To stop hiccups, apply a drop of Peppermint essential oil on each side of the fifth cervical vertebra (up three notches from the large vertebra at the base of the neck).
• Diffuse Peppermint essential oil in the room while studying to improve concentration and accuracy. Inhale Peppermint oil while taking a test to improve recall.
• Rub 4 drops of Peppermint essential oil on chest and stomach to relieve travel sickness.
• Add Peppermint essential oil to food as a flavoring and a preservative.
• To deter rats, mice, ants or cockroaches, place two drops of Peppermint essential oil on a cotton ball and place along the path or point of entry for these pests.
• Mix one 15-ml. bottle of Peppermint essential oil into a 5 gallon can of paint to dispel the fumes.
• Place a couple of drops of Peppermint essential oil in a cup of hot water and enjoy in place of coffee or dried teas.
• To kill aphids add 4-5 drops of Peppermint essential oil to 4 ounces of water and spray the plants.
• Drink a drop of Peppermint essential oil mixed in a glass of cold water to cool off on a hot day.
• Rub Peppermint essential oil on joints to relieve arthritis or tendonitis pain.
• Inhale the fragrance of Peppermint essential oil to curb the appetite and lessen the impulse to overeat.
• Remove ticks by applying a drop of Peppermint essential oil on a cotton swab and swabbing the tick. Wait for it to unhedge its head and remove from your pet.
• Mix Peppermint essential oil with a carrier oil such as Almond or Olive Oil in a footbath to relieve sore feet. Keep water agitated while soaking feet.
FRAGRANT INFLUENCE: It is purifying and stimulating to the conscious mind.
Experience pure organic Peppermint essential oil for yourself Contact me if you have questions.
SAFETY DATA: If currently under a doctor’s care or pregnant, consult physician prior to use. Avoid contact with eyes, mucus membranes, or sensitive skin areas. Do not apply neat to a fresh wound or burn.
Information found here refers solely to products from Young Living Essential Oils and is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. We urge you to do the health related research necessary to learn what is right for you. Young Living uses only therapeutic grade oils. Perfume grade or poor quality oils may possibly be harmful due to unknown additives and poor plant or distillation conditions.
*
BOTANICAL FAMILY: Lamiaceae or Labiatae (mint).
PLANT ORIGIN: North America.
EXTRACTION METHOD: Steam distilled from leaves, stems, and flower buds.
CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS: Monoterpenes: á pinene, â.pinene, limonene: Monoterpenols: menthol (38-48%); Monoterpenones: menthone (20-30%); Terpene oxides: 1,8 cineol; Terpene esters: menthol acetate; Coumarins, Sulfurs: dimenthalsulfide.
ACTION: Anticarcinogenic, supports digestion, expels worms, decongestant, antiinfectious, antibacterial, antifungal, mucolytic, stimulant, hypertensive, cardiotonic, stimulates gallbladder, pain-relieving, expectorant, and anti-inflammatory for the intestinal and urinary tract. It can heighten or restore the sense of taste by stimulating the trigeminal nerve.
FOUND IN THESE YOUNG LIVING BLENDS: Aroma Siez, Clarity, Di-Gize, Legacy, M-Grain, Mister, PanAway, Raven, RC, Relieve-It, Cinnamint Lip Balm, Dentarome Plus Toothpaste, Fresh Essence Mouthwash, Satin Scrub-Mint, NeuroGen, Regenolone, Satin Body Lotion, Morning Start Bath Gel, Peppermint-Cedarwood Soap, Morning Start Soap, Ortho Ease Massage Oil, Ortho Sport Massage Oil, Relaxation Massage Oil, ComforTone, Mineral Essence, Pro-Gen, ProMist, ThermaMist, and Thyromin. These essential oils and products can be found at my website The Very Essence.
TRADITIONAL USES: Peppermint is one of the oldest and most highly regarded herbs for soothing digestion. Jean Valnet, M.D., studied peppermint’s effect on the liver and respiratory systems. Other scientists have also researched peppermint’s role in affecting impaired taste and smell when inhaled. Dr. William N. Dember of the University of Cincinnati studied peppermint’s ability to improve concentration and mental accuracy. Alan Hirsch, M.D., studied peppermint’s ability to directly affect the brain’s satiety center (the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus) which triggers a sensation of fullness after meals.
INDICATIONS: Asthma, bronchitis, candida, diarrhea, digestive aid, reduces fever, halitosis, heartburn, hemorrhoids, hot flashes, indigestion, menstrual irregularity, headaches, motion sickness, nausea, tumor growth, respiratory infections, shock, itchy skin, throat infections, and varicose veins. Other Uses: This essential oil may help arthritis, indigestion, depression, skin conditions (eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis), food poisoning, headaches, hives, hysteria, inflammation, morning sickness, nerve regeneration, rheumatism, elevate and open sensory system, toothaches, and tuberculosis.
APPLICATIONS: Diffuse. Massage on the stomach or add to water or tea. Apply to bottom of feet or rub on the temples to treat headaches. To improve concentration, alertness, and memory, place several drops on the tongue. Add to food as a flavoring and preservative.
Buy Young Living Peppermint essential oil here!
• Rub 4-6 drops in the palm and rub over stomach and around the navel to relieve indigestion, flatulence and diarrhea.
• Add a drop of Peppermint essential oil to herbal tea to aid in digestion and relieve heartburn.
• Massage several drops of Peppermint essential oil on the area of injury to reduce inflammation.
• Apply Peppermint oil immediately to an injured area (bruised shin, hit on the foot or hand) to relieve pain. If there is a cut, apply the Peppermint essential oil around (not on) the open wound.
• Rub several drops of Peppermint oil on the bottoms of the feet to reduce fever.
• Apply a drop of Peppermint essential oil topically on unbroken skin to stop itching.
• For poison ivy or poison oak, apply Peppermint oil on location neat or dilute with V-6 Vegetable Mixing Oil.
• Inhale Peppermint essential oil before and during a workout to boost your mood and reduce fatigue.
• Massage several drops of Peppermint essential oil on the abdomen to relieve nausea.
• To relieve a headache rub a drop of Peppermint essential oil on the temples, forehead, over the sinuses (stay away from the eyes) and on the back of the neck.
• To stop hiccups, apply a drop of Peppermint essential oil on each side of the fifth cervical vertebra (up three notches from the large vertebra at the base of the neck).
• Diffuse Peppermint essential oil in the room while studying to improve concentration and accuracy. Inhale Peppermint oil while taking a test to improve recall.
• Rub 4 drops of Peppermint essential oil on chest and stomach to relieve travel sickness.
• Add Peppermint essential oil to food as a flavoring and a preservative.
• To deter rats, mice, ants or cockroaches, place two drops of Peppermint essential oil on a cotton ball and place along the path or point of entry for these pests.
• Mix one 15-ml. bottle of Peppermint essential oil into a 5 gallon can of paint to dispel the fumes.
• Place a couple of drops of Peppermint essential oil in a cup of hot water and enjoy in place of coffee or dried teas.
• To kill aphids add 4-5 drops of Peppermint essential oil to 4 ounces of water and spray the plants.
• Drink a drop of Peppermint essential oil mixed in a glass of cold water to cool off on a hot day.
• Rub Peppermint essential oil on joints to relieve arthritis or tendonitis pain.
• Inhale the fragrance of Peppermint essential oil to curb the appetite and lessen the impulse to overeat.
• Remove ticks by applying a drop of Peppermint essential oil on a cotton swab and swabbing the tick. Wait for it to unhedge its head and remove from your pet.
• Mix Peppermint essential oil with a carrier oil such as Almond or Olive Oil in a footbath to relieve sore feet. Keep water agitated while soaking feet.
FRAGRANT INFLUENCE: It is purifying and stimulating to the conscious mind.
Experience pure organic Peppermint essential oil for yourself Contact me if you have questions.
SAFETY DATA: If currently under a doctor’s care or pregnant, consult physician prior to use. Avoid contact with eyes, mucus membranes, or sensitive skin areas. Do not apply neat to a fresh wound or burn.
Information found here refers solely to products from Young Living Essential Oils and is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. We urge you to do the health related research necessary to learn what is right for you. Young Living uses only therapeutic grade oils. Perfume grade or poor quality oils may possibly be harmful due to unknown additives and poor plant or distillation conditions.
*
Friday, April 06, 2007
Natural Dyes for Easter Eggs
Dyeing eggs with natural substances doesn't take much more time than if you used commercial coloring kits - and it's alot more fun.
You can be very creative with what is in your kitchen already and your Easter eggs can come out very unique.
Here are the colors and the substance that makes those colors.
These are either a spice, fruit, vegetable, or foodstuff that will color your Easter in a very safe way:
- Red or Pink: Red beets, cranberries, frozen raspberries
- Light Green: Spinach leaves
- Yellow: Ground Cumin, Ground Tumeric, Shredded carrots
- Blue: Blueberries,blackberries, red cabbage leaves, grape juice
- Purple: Red Zinger® tea (by Celestial Seasonings)
- Brown: Brewed coffee
Here's how to make your Easter Egg dye:
Ingredients:
1 Tbsp. spice or 4 c. chopped fruit or vegetable, or more
4 c. water, or more
2 Tbsp. white vinegar (per 4 c. water)
Directions:
Combine spice or foodstuff with water and vinegar.
Bring to a boil, then simmer for 15 to 30 minutes.
Eggs can be colored and cooked in the dye while it is being prepared. Or, they can be hard-cooked in advance, then dipped into the prepared dye (which can be either cold or hot).
*
Wednesday, April 04, 2007
Lavender Essential Oil
Lavender is often called the "Universal Oil", or "Swiss Army Knife of Oils," because it can be used for so many things. It's nature's burn medication and stress reliever and much more. Lavender is a very mild essential oil that can often be used undiluted on the skin. It is a good essential oil to use with children.
A high quality lavender essential oil is an irreplaceable gift from nature because it provides so many benefits. When you don't know what oil to use, try lavender.
Historical Data: The French scientist Rene Gattefosse was the first to discover lavender's ability to promote tissue regeneration and speed wound healing when he severely burned his arm in a laboratory accident. Today, lavender is one of the few essential oils to still be listed in the British Pharmacopoeia.
Read my previous post on Is There Really "Therapy" in Aromatherapy?
Burns - Apply lavender essential oil* to a burn and experience almost immediate relief. Also use it to cleanse & soothe cuts or scrapes. NOTE: only use "therapeutic-grade" lavender - if the oil you're using is not therapeutic-grade it is adulterated (even if the label says it's 100% pure and organic) and could make a first degree burn a third degree burn - yes, it has happened and continues to happen with those who refuse to accept there are vast differences in quality - don't learn the hard way.
* IMPOTANT NOTE: make sure you have true lavender, Lavendula angustifolia, that has grown organically, not distilled with chemical solvents, and has not been adulterated with extenders. Lavendin is a cheaper oil and is often used to extend the true lavender, and is frequesntly sold in the US as Lavender. Lavendin, a hybrid lavender that is chemically very different from pure Lavendula angustifolia. Lavendin contains high levels of camphor (12 to 18%) and will burn the skin. Imagine applying camphor to an open wound or a second or third degree burn... Big Ouch!!
By contrast, true lavender contains virtually no camphor and does have burn-healing agents not found in Lavendin.
France exports to the US 100 times more Lavender essential oil than they distill. This means that most of the Lavender essential oil on the market is either not pure and true lavender and/or that it contains solvents and chemicals you do not want on your body or to even use for aromatherapy purposes.
University of Miami researchers found that inhalation of lavender essential oil increased beta waves in the brain, suggesting heightened relaxation. It also reduced depression and improved cognitive performance (Diego et al., 1998). A 2001 Osaka Kyoiku University study found that lavender reduced mental stress and increased alertness (Motomura et al., 2001).
Related article: Essential Oils & Dried Herbs
To Calm and Relax - Lavender is well known for its calming and sedative properties. Rub a couple drops on the back of the neck and shoulders. Inhaling also works wonders.
Suffering from insomnia? Try dripping 3-5 drops of lavender down your spine. 1-2 drops rubbed on the bottom of each foot, hop in bed and breathe the remaining oil. Read more on Sleep Disorders and Essential Oils
Headaches - Lavender can be good for headaches. Put a couple drops in your hand then inhale. Then rub a drop on your temples, the back of the neck across forehead or on location (being careful not to get any in your eyes).
Mood Uplifting - Diffuse or put a couple drops in your hand and then inhale. Apply direct application. Lavender may also help PMS symptoms.
Lavender can also be found in the following Young Living essential oil blends:
Dragon Time
M-Grain
R.C.
SARA
And in these Young Living products:
Lavender-Rosewood bar soap
Lavender volume shampoo
Lavender volume conditioner
LavaDerm
ClaraDerm
Buy Young Living therapeutic-grade essential oils here!
Disclaimer: Information found here refers solely to products from Young Living Essential Oils and is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. We urge you to do the health related research necessary to learn what is right for you. Young Living uses only organic and pure therapeutic grade oils.
Sunday, April 01, 2007
Educational Video's on Our Health & Future Freedoms
If you like facts here are some terrific video's explaining what's been going on in our pharmaceutical industry, health care practices, our food industry, and provides some ideas on how you can begin to take control of your future health...
Prescription for Disaster is an in-depth investigation into the symbiotic relationships between the pharmaceutical industry, the FDA, lobbyists, lawmakers, medical schools, and researchers, and the impact this has on consumers and their health care. During this thorough investigation, we take a close look at patented drugs, why they are so readily prescribed by doctors, the role insurance companies and HMO's play in promoting compliance, and the problem of rising health care costs. We examine the marketing and public relations efforts on behalf of the pharmaceutical companies, including sales reps, medical journals and conferences.
Further, we look at alternatives to traditional pharmacology and drug therapy, such as vitamins and nutritional supplements, and why they are often perceived as a competitive threat to the drug manufacturers. Alternative therapies also include diet, exercise and a healthy lifestyle.
Prescription for Disaster takes you on a journey through the tangled web of big business, the way disease is treated today, and the consequences we suffer as a society.
Length of video 1hour 30 minutes.
If you have trouble believing that our health freedoms will be striped before our eyes in 2009-2010 may I recommend takng a look at this...
New Yorkers' Access to Supplements Under Attack - and Consumers Fight Back!
For release: March 30, 2007
March, 2007 - In the March issue of Nutrition Industry Executive magazine (http://vitaminretailer.com/NIE/2007/03/NIE0307FirstWord-WhatHappensNewYork.htm), James Gormley reports that there are four new bills in New York State that have been introduced by NY State Assemblyman Felix Ortiz (D-51st District) - six if you count two companion bills in the NY Senate. These bills take aim at consumers by targeting all supplement companies that sell into New York, which is virtually every manufacturer that exists; if passed, they would set an example certain to spread to other states. Earlier this month Citizens for Health mobilized its members in New York, and so far 1000 citizen activists have made their voices heard in opposition to this bill.
New Yorkers, tell your representatives to vote "No"!
The following is a list of the bills and what they entail:
Bill A3944 would require "that anyone selling dietary supplements that make health or appearance claims possess competent and scientific evidence substantiating those claims"; it would also require a warning statement on the product label or "handout" if the product claim is not approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Bill A4014 would prevent school employees, especially coaches, from recommending dietary supplements to students and would require schools to warn students of the risks of supplements.
Bill A3357 would establish a dietary supplements safety committee that would, apparently, create "adequate standards and enforcement for manufacturing, safety and effectiveness" of dietary supplements.
Bill A2068 would require labeling to indicate which products have been tested by the FDA for "purity."
If enacted, these bills would:
a. Create a completely unnecessary layer of bureaucracy at the state level (attempting to usurp Federal powers)
b. Limit consumers' access, and interfere with their right, to important information about supplements
c. Place an unnecessary economic burden on the nutritional and dietary supplement industry and its customers without providing any additional value to consumers.
These bills are not just bad for consumers of natural products---they are bad for the state of New York, and would set a dangerous precedent for the rest of the country.
For example, A3944 would promote a different, unwarranted, and unnecessary double standard for dietary supplement makers who sell products in New York. The costs of compliance would drive up the costs of products for the millions of consumers statewide who depend upon inherently safe supplements for health and well-being. It would also force many manufacturers to relocate to other states, while those who remain would pass their greater costs on down to consumers, forcing those same consumers to, in turn, look to other states for the supplements upon which they depend. And, if this policy spreads to the United States as a whole, there won't be any other states left to which to turn!
We at Citizens for Health join with the National Nutritional Foods Association-East in strongly opposing these bills, and urge you to tell your friends and family in New York State to do the same.
At best, they are unnecessary because sufficient regulations, enforcement and oversight already exist at the Federal level, like the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA). At worst and realistically, the bills are burdensome and have the potential to create a confusing and unfairly hostile environment for supplements in New York State that would be used as a precedent for the establishment of similar regulations across the country.
~ Contact NY State Representatives and anyone else who can make a difference. Remember, we are up against very large companies and it ain't going to be easy winning this battle... but it will be worth the effort.
If the above isn't enough to set you into action, take a look at this video...
The Codex Alimentarius is a threat to the freedom of people to choose natural healing and alternative medicine and nutrition. Ratified by the World Health Organization, and going into Law in the United States in 2009, the threat to health freedom has never been greater.
This is the first part of a series of talks by Dr. Rima Laibow MD, available on DVD from the Natural Solutions Foundation, an non-profit organization dedicated to educating people about how to stop Codex Alimentarius from taking away our right to freely choose nutritional health.
Length 40 minutes.
And, if you really feel like getting up to speed on just how widespread these large companies are going to be controlling your life, your kids lives, and your grandchildrens lives, take a look at this video...
The Future of Food - A Very Important Documentary about the ills of corporate food production. As is typically the case with corporations, it's Quantity over Quality. GM foods are unnecessary and no corporation is really going to feed third world nations. It's a scam to increase corporate hegemony at the cost of humanity. What Nature does, humans haven't even begun to understand, yet we're modifying and engineering what took millions of years of evolution to come about. A recipe for disaster!
Very slowly, over the course of generations, we have been conditioned to fall into line like little ducks in a row. I'm not about to give up my natural and alternative health choices. Those choices have served me well for 50 years and I'm not about to let them go. The ingredients are ones my ancestors evolved with, my body recognizes and knows how to process them. I am not about to give up something that valuable for some synthetic or chemical that ultimately lines someones pocket who doesn't give a hoot about me or you.
Please do what you can to make a difference before it is too late. CODEX is literally right around the corner and it will happen unless we find a way to stop it.
To "our" freedoms!
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Cedarwood Essential Oil
CEDARWOOD (Cedrus atlantica)
Here's some information about one of my favorite oils...
Inhaling the oils of cedarwood increases the ability to think clearly and enhances the awareness needed for effective prayer and meditation. This is because of all the essential oils of the world, Cedarwood contains the highest concentration of sesquiterpenes, which have the ability to pass through the blood-brain barrier and oxygenate the brain directly upon inhalation by way of the nasal passages and the olfactory nerves. It has been suggested that cedarwood oil might prevent senility and Alzheimers disease.
Perhaps this is why the palaces of King David and King Solomon were built of cedar. King Solomon contracted King Hiram to supply all the materials needed (The Cedars of Lebanon) in return for wheat and fine oils for every year as long as it took to complete the temple. Unfortunately, the cedars of Lebanon were nearly forested to extinction and today only small patches exist in the far regions. Cedrus atlantica is believed to the closest in chemistry to the cedars of Biblical times.
Key Chemistry: Cedarwood contains 98% sesquiterpenes which deprogram misinformation written in the DNA due to trauma, abuse, loss and ancestral and limiting beliefs. Sesquiterpenes are considered the antidepressant in this valuable aspect.
Cedarwood may also be useful as a general cerebral stimulant. It may be diffused or applied topically as desired.
Fragrant Influence: Stimulates the limbic region of the brain (the center of emotions) and the pineal gland, which releases melatonin. Terry Friedmann, MD found in clinical tests that this essential oil was able to successfully treat ADD and ADHD (attention deficit disorders) in children. It is recognized for its calming, purifying properties.
Other Properties: may combat hair loss (alopecia areata), antibacterial, lymphatic stimulant.
USES: Hair loss, arteriosclerosis, ADHD, skin problems (acne, eczema)
Application: (1) Apply on location, (2) chakras/vitaflex points, (3) directly inhale, (4) diffuse.
CEDARWOOD FOR COLD/SORE THROAT TESTIMONIAL
I had a nasty cold and sore throat, a couple Sundays ago I woke up with a hacking cough and my wife told me to put Cedarwood on my throat & chest. I did, and it helped immensely. I was feeling rough enough I stayed home from church and read the first few chapters of the Essential Oils Desk Reference.
I also looked up Cedarwood and nowhere does it mention for respiratory problems. But it DOES help with this hacking cough!! I use it through the day.
At night I use Raven & RC (Young Living essential oil blends) in a travel diffuser. I get under the covers with it for about 15 minutes before going to sleep. Helps me sleep through most of the night w/o coughing. ~ Gary ~
CEDARWOOD FOR SLEEP
At night I place a drop or two of Cedarwood on my forehead and temples then dab the rest under my nose or perhaps on the outer rims of my ears. I fall asleep much more easily, perhaps because Cedarwood is known to stimulate melatonin, the sleep hormone. ~ Deborah ~
* Use only the BEST therapeutic grade essential oils. Essential oils from bath shops and natural foods stores are often perfume grade and thus may not yield therapeutic results. Perfume grade essential oils have been rendered toxic by the distillation method, fillers, chemical extractants, etc. and may cause adverse reactions.
To Learn More about Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils and their many uses please contact me through my website: The Very Essence
Information found here refers solely to products from Young Living Essential Oils and is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. We urge you to do the health related research necessary to learn what is right for you.
Saturday, March 24, 2007
Dream Sweet:
Essential Oil recipes promote good sleep
SLEEP TIGHT
3 drops lavender essential oil
1 drop clary sage essential oil
Mix 3 drops lavender and 1 drop clary sage with a teaspoon of milk or cream. Add to a warm bath & soak.
~ o ~
CALM NERVES & PROMOTE SLEEP
4 drops lavender essential oil
4 drops of roman chamomile essential oil
Add lavender and chamomile to a teaspoon milk or cream. Pour into a warm bath and soak.
Or, add lavender and chamomile in a Cold-Air Diffuser and diffuse in your bedroom.
~ o ~
RELAXATION MASSAGE OIL
4 drops Lavender
1 drop Petitgrain
1 drop Frankincense
4 Tablespoons of massage oil, almond or olive oil
This blend may be added to a warm bath (about a tablespoon of the massage oil blend). Or, you can blend the essential oils 4 times the proportions and use in a Cold-Air Diffuser.
~ o ~
To see my online catalog of Diffusers and quality essential oils visit my website:
The Very Essence
Information found here refers solely to products from Young Living Essential Oils and is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. We urge you to do the health related research necessary to learn what is right for you. Young Living uses only organic therapeutic grade oils. Perfume grade or poor quality oils may possibly be harmful due to unknown additives and poor plant or distillation conditions.
Thursday, March 22, 2007
The Flu Season & Essential Oils
Flu is a highly contagious disease, usually more prevalent in the Winter and Spring. It is spread from discharges from the mouth and nose from infected persons. The influenza virus has great genetic variation, which accounts for the frequent epidemics, caused by different strains of the virus. The main target of the virus is the respiratory system. Flu can be highly dangerous for children, the elderly, or people with a weak immune system.
Symptoms of flu include sudden onset, fever, chills, muscle aches and pain, headache, weakness, and physical and mental exhaustion. Sneezing, coughing, and other symptoms of the common cold are usually present, and intestinal complaints are also very common.
Essential Oils to the Rescue
The History of Thieves
Europeans began producing essential oils in the 12th century. During the Plague of the 15th century, certain thieves were able to rob the dead without fear of becoming infected by the terrible disease. After being captured and charged with robbing the dead and dying victims of the plague, the thieves were offered a deal. The magistrate offered them leniency if they would reveal how they managed to avoid contracting the dreaded infection, in spite of their close proximity with the infected corpses. They disclosed that they were perfumers and spice traders, and that they had rubbed themselves with a concoction of aromatic herbs (cinnamon, and clove).
Thieves Blend was found to have a 99.6 percent kill rate against airborne bacteria!
When Ancient Tradition Links with Modern Society: Thieves™ Blend
Fast forward - 20th century, Young Living Essential Oils begins testing Thieves™ Blend, a proprietary combination of cinnamon, clove and rosemary essential oils for its potent antimicrobial properties. Thieves Blend was found to have a 99.6 percent kill rate against airborne bacteria. According to the Essential Oils Desk Reference (Essential Science Publishing, page 125), Studies conducted at Weber State University during 1997 showed the antibacterial effectiveness of this blend against airborne microorganisms."
Thieves Blend Product Line: Kill Bacteria - Naturally.
Thieves Blend is so effective and popular - that there is an entire line of germ fighting products to choose from: Sore Throat Lozenges; Household Cleansing Spray; Bar Soap; Toothpaste; and Mouthwash.
"Our family uses Thieves Blend. It is a more natural way to fight infectious germs - it's good for us, and good for the planet." James Niederland, LCSW, Psychotherapist & Wellness Consultant
you can use the Young Living essential oils topically or internally. For topical application, apply to the bottoms of the feet, the pulse points of the wrist, or to the back, neck, and chest.
For internal use, put 2-4 drops into a vegetable capsule (gel cap) and swallow. Do this three times per day, for at least a week. You can usually purchase gel/veggie caps at any health food store. Young. If you don't have any gel/veggie caps, you can put 2-4 drops in a tablespoon of honey and let it trickle down your throat.
In Europe, doctors use essential oils and herbs as treatment for Infections, Colds and Flu. Some of the essential oils recommended are Idaho tansy, Cypress, Tea Tree (melaleuca alternifolia), Lavender, Thyme, Oregano, Rosemary, Peppermint and Fir, Idaho Balsam.
Idaho Balsam Fir is a conifer oil distilled in northern Idaho. It has been used for treating muscle aches and pains, sinusitis, bronchitis, and other respiratory disorders.
As you probably know, the flu requires bed rest, a well-balanced diet, and lots of liquids )water, homemade Lemonade, vegetable juices, soups and herbal teas.) Fill your diffuser with Lemon, Eucalyptus or Lavender to disinfect the room air and keep the nasal passages clear. If you have a sore throat, place one drop Melrose (blend) essential oil on your tongue and swallow. Do this every half hour until the pain is gone. The Thieves blend is also an excellent choice. Add one drop of Thieves to 1/4 cup of warm water, gargle and swallow. Do as often as needed.
It is important that you are aware of any safety precautions, as some essential oils can sting or burn so they need to be diluted. Cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil may be used as a carrier oil. Please contact me if you have ANY questions about dilution.
Diffusing Essential Oils:
When oils are diffused in a home, office or classroom, they purify the air itself by removing toxins, metallic particles and other harmful microscopic debris. They also increase the atmospheric oxygen of the air, and boost levels of beneficial ozone and negative ions which dramatically inhibit the growth and reproduction of airborne pathogens.
As the odorous molecules drift to the various surfaces of each room they rapidly kill virtually all pathogenic bacteria, viruses, rifles, molds and fungi they come into contact with. And lastly, they completely destroy odors from mold, cigarettes, household pets, bathrooms and more. Fill a 2 ounce glass spray bottle with distilled water, add 6-8 drops of your oil of choice and place one on each toilet (Purification recommended) and other select places.
Perhaps the most popular and effective method of diffusing oils is to buy a product called a (cold) "Diffuser," which sprays an ultra-fine mist of the essential oil of your choice into the air. The millions of misted particles sprayed from a diffuser are so fine they can hang in the air of your house, vehicle, office or classroom literally for hours, spreading from room to room via the normal air circulation that occurs as you walk through the area. For economy and efficiency, it is recommended to attach a simple timer to the diffuser. You can program the timer to be on, for example, for 15 minutes and off for 30 minutes, conserving oils and money.
VERY IMPORTANT POINT ABOUT DIFFUSING OILS:
Whatever you do, DO NOT HEAT YOUR OILS. Keep them around room temperature. Heating the essential oils will not only ruin the therapeutic value of the oil, but it can also harm you. Research shows that high temperatures will change the chemistry. This changed chemistry can be toxic to the human body. This is simply basic organic chemistry 101. If you want to fragrance a room and obtain health benefits, use a cold diffuser. Do not use a light bulb called an Aromalamp or burn oils with fire from a candle.
The Thieves essential oil and over 140 others can be found at my website The Very Essence
Information found here refers solely to products from Young Living Essential Oils and is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. We urge you to do the health related research necessary to learn what is right for you. Young Living uses only therapeutic grade oils. Perfume grade or poor quality oils may possibly be harmful due to unknown additives and poor plant or distillation conditions.
Symptoms of flu include sudden onset, fever, chills, muscle aches and pain, headache, weakness, and physical and mental exhaustion. Sneezing, coughing, and other symptoms of the common cold are usually present, and intestinal complaints are also very common.
Essential Oils to the Rescue
The History of Thieves
Europeans began producing essential oils in the 12th century. During the Plague of the 15th century, certain thieves were able to rob the dead without fear of becoming infected by the terrible disease. After being captured and charged with robbing the dead and dying victims of the plague, the thieves were offered a deal. The magistrate offered them leniency if they would reveal how they managed to avoid contracting the dreaded infection, in spite of their close proximity with the infected corpses. They disclosed that they were perfumers and spice traders, and that they had rubbed themselves with a concoction of aromatic herbs (cinnamon, and clove).
Thieves Blend was found to have a 99.6 percent kill rate against airborne bacteria!
When Ancient Tradition Links with Modern Society: Thieves™ Blend
Fast forward - 20th century, Young Living Essential Oils begins testing Thieves™ Blend, a proprietary combination of cinnamon, clove and rosemary essential oils for its potent antimicrobial properties. Thieves Blend was found to have a 99.6 percent kill rate against airborne bacteria. According to the Essential Oils Desk Reference (Essential Science Publishing, page 125), Studies conducted at Weber State University during 1997 showed the antibacterial effectiveness of this blend against airborne microorganisms."
Thieves Blend Product Line: Kill Bacteria - Naturally.
Thieves Blend is so effective and popular - that there is an entire line of germ fighting products to choose from: Sore Throat Lozenges; Household Cleansing Spray; Bar Soap; Toothpaste; and Mouthwash.
"Our family uses Thieves Blend. It is a more natural way to fight infectious germs - it's good for us, and good for the planet." James Niederland, LCSW, Psychotherapist & Wellness Consultant
you can use the Young Living essential oils topically or internally. For topical application, apply to the bottoms of the feet, the pulse points of the wrist, or to the back, neck, and chest.
For internal use, put 2-4 drops into a vegetable capsule (gel cap) and swallow. Do this three times per day, for at least a week. You can usually purchase gel/veggie caps at any health food store. Young. If you don't have any gel/veggie caps, you can put 2-4 drops in a tablespoon of honey and let it trickle down your throat.
In Europe, doctors use essential oils and herbs as treatment for Infections, Colds and Flu. Some of the essential oils recommended are Idaho tansy, Cypress, Tea Tree (melaleuca alternifolia), Lavender, Thyme, Oregano, Rosemary, Peppermint and Fir, Idaho Balsam.
Idaho Balsam Fir is a conifer oil distilled in northern Idaho. It has been used for treating muscle aches and pains, sinusitis, bronchitis, and other respiratory disorders.
As you probably know, the flu requires bed rest, a well-balanced diet, and lots of liquids )water, homemade Lemonade, vegetable juices, soups and herbal teas.) Fill your diffuser with Lemon, Eucalyptus or Lavender to disinfect the room air and keep the nasal passages clear. If you have a sore throat, place one drop Melrose (blend) essential oil on your tongue and swallow. Do this every half hour until the pain is gone. The Thieves blend is also an excellent choice. Add one drop of Thieves to 1/4 cup of warm water, gargle and swallow. Do as often as needed.
It is important that you are aware of any safety precautions, as some essential oils can sting or burn so they need to be diluted. Cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil may be used as a carrier oil. Please contact me if you have ANY questions about dilution.
Diffusing Essential Oils:
When oils are diffused in a home, office or classroom, they purify the air itself by removing toxins, metallic particles and other harmful microscopic debris. They also increase the atmospheric oxygen of the air, and boost levels of beneficial ozone and negative ions which dramatically inhibit the growth and reproduction of airborne pathogens.
As the odorous molecules drift to the various surfaces of each room they rapidly kill virtually all pathogenic bacteria, viruses, rifles, molds and fungi they come into contact with. And lastly, they completely destroy odors from mold, cigarettes, household pets, bathrooms and more. Fill a 2 ounce glass spray bottle with distilled water, add 6-8 drops of your oil of choice and place one on each toilet (Purification recommended) and other select places.
Perhaps the most popular and effective method of diffusing oils is to buy a product called a (cold) "Diffuser," which sprays an ultra-fine mist of the essential oil of your choice into the air. The millions of misted particles sprayed from a diffuser are so fine they can hang in the air of your house, vehicle, office or classroom literally for hours, spreading from room to room via the normal air circulation that occurs as you walk through the area. For economy and efficiency, it is recommended to attach a simple timer to the diffuser. You can program the timer to be on, for example, for 15 minutes and off for 30 minutes, conserving oils and money.
VERY IMPORTANT POINT ABOUT DIFFUSING OILS:
Whatever you do, DO NOT HEAT YOUR OILS. Keep them around room temperature. Heating the essential oils will not only ruin the therapeutic value of the oil, but it can also harm you. Research shows that high temperatures will change the chemistry. This changed chemistry can be toxic to the human body. This is simply basic organic chemistry 101. If you want to fragrance a room and obtain health benefits, use a cold diffuser. Do not use a light bulb called an Aromalamp or burn oils with fire from a candle.
The Thieves essential oil and over 140 others can be found at my website The Very Essence
Information found here refers solely to products from Young Living Essential Oils and is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. We urge you to do the health related research necessary to learn what is right for you. Young Living uses only therapeutic grade oils. Perfume grade or poor quality oils may possibly be harmful due to unknown additives and poor plant or distillation conditions.
Saturday, March 17, 2007
Health & Wellness Seminar:
Got Mold?
Presented by Young Living NW
Visit Young Living Northwest
March 20th, 2007 • 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Edmonds Conference Center
201 Fourth Avenue North
Edmonds, WA 98020
Free to the general public, $10 for YLEO Members
Do you remember the classic spice scented smell of Grandma’s kitchen? The scent of cloves, cinnamon, and citrus permeating the house helped keep mold, bacteria and viruses at bay. Today household mold is a serious problem.
50% of buildings, both old and new, have Mold resulting in a 50-100% increase of it's occupants having respiratory problems - 2 Studies, Harvard and Johns Hopkins Universities
1 in 7 Americans suffers from acute fungal sinustis, resulting from exposure to mold - Mayo Clinic
Bleach, Ozone, and chemicals typically used for treating mold are ineffective and are hazardous to your health - US EPA and the American Industrial Hygiene Association Bob Franks, a retired Quality Assurance Specialist for the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency with a chemistry degree from WSU, will present the latest science on toxic black mold by Dr. Edward Close, Ph.D, PE. Dr. Close is a recognized expert Environmental Engineer with 40 years experience in the field.
Learn what you can do to prevent and eliminate toxic mold in the home and workplace. Dr. Close’s recent research and important discovery support how we can use nature’s plant kingdom to clean-up and protect our indoor environments.
This solution may surprise you!
It smells like Grandma’s kitchen... and is as safe as eating her apple pie!
- This is an educational seminar on Toxic Mold you won’t want to miss -
Pre-register to reserve your seat, contact:
Evelyn at Young Living Northwest
Upcoming Health and Wellness Seminars in Edmonds, WA
April 17th, 2007
KIDS, PETS, FLEAS and PESTS
Are you ready to get toxic products out of your kids & pets lives? We’ll tell you what we’ve done to make a change!
May 15th, 2007
Cooking with Essential Oils
Chef Debra Lane, of Chef To Go, will demonstrate how to expand your cooking repertoire!
Thursday, March 15, 2007
Sleep Disorders and Essential Oils
This week, I'd like to share some oils for sleep. If you know someone who needs to get some sleep, this message was created with them in mind. Please feel free to share my information with someone you know that might benefit by using an all-natural, more holistic approach to a better nights sleep.
"A friend suggested that I try using the essential oil of valerian for sleep, so I decided to do a little research; the National Institutes of Health has a website devoted to Valerian for Insomnia and Sleep Disorders. I was amazed how much clinical investigation there was on the properties of this oil. What I read about valerian was that it was very highly regarded as an all-natural sedative. What I learned about valerian from using it was that it is calming, relaxing, balancing, and a sleep aid. Just an aside, Valerian Root is generally regarded as safe (GRAS) for ingestion by the FDA. I would make sure the oil you use is therapeutic grade. " ~ John, Washington ~
It is estimated that Americans spend $14 Billion dollars, every year, on our Sleep Disorders!
• 58% of adults experience symptoms of insomnia a few nights or more per week
• 35% of adults report at least one symptom of insomnia every night or almost every night
• For those looking for a safe, effective, and cost-effective alternative, Young Living's beautiful essential oils stand alone.
• Try some oils tonight before you go to sleep. You may be pleasantly surprised!
"I use Essential Oil of Cedarwood on my feet before I go to bed and sleep like a baby! It stimulates the pineal gland which releases natural Melatonin. I feel this is also good for the brain since Cedarwood is high in sesquiterpenes [brain food]. I have also used Alkalime and Lavender for sleep....love it." ~ Jackie, Texas ~
"When my sister died last year, I found myself facing insomnia for the first time in my life. I'd go to bed as normal but would have trouble even getting 2 hours sleep a night. I had heard that Valerian could be good for insomnia, so I ordered a bottle from Young Living. I'd put a few drops under my tongue and then - because it didn't smell great - I put a drop of Lavender on the tip of my nose which masked the smell. It was a wonder! I was sleeping again and never was groggy in the morning. The National Institutes of Health has a website devoted to Valerian for Insomnia and Sleep Disorders. Just as an aside, I'm a big fan of 19th century Russian literature and one of my favorite writers is Anton Chekhov, who was actually a country doctor as well as a writer. In one of his plays, The Sea Gull, the doctor in the play named Dorn asks his patient if he'd like some Valerian drops for his insomnia. So this has been a traditional remedy. Valerian Root is generally regarded as safe (GRAS) for ingestion by the FDA. I would just make sure the oil ingested is therapeutic grade. I highly recommend the Valerian/Lavender combo for insomnia." ~ Kathryn ~
"I put my daughter to sleep every night with a story and a kiss. Recently, I have added some reflexology techniques and the rubbing of Peace and Calming essential oils to the bottom of her feet, and some in her palms to smell deeply. The two of us become so relaxed and sleepy that we had to change our nightly ritual to stories first and oils last. She sleeps so soundly her blankets stay perfectly neat until she wakes up in the morning. Wonderful!" ~ Stacy ~
"Last year I was having problems with sleeping at night so I decided I would try the Valor oil to see if it would help me out. I tried putting 2 drops on the bottom of both feet and then with the oil on my hands, I would cup them in front of my mouth and nose and take 6-8 deep breaths. Since I started with this routine I have been getting a full night's sleep and waking up very refreshed. My husband has been using it also and is sleeping better with a lot less snoring." ~ Anne ~
Suggested Essential Oils for Sleep:
• Valor
• Lavender
• Dream Catcher (For Nightmares)
• Peace & Calming
• Valerian (Strong)
All of the essential oils for assisting in better sleep are available at my website The Very Essence, once there, click on "Create an Account" to place an order. If you have questions please contact me.
Information found here refers solely to products from Young Living Essential Oils and is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. We urge you to do the health related research necessary to learn what is right for you.
Sunday, March 11, 2007
Spring Cleaning Indoor Air
The easiest and simplest way of putting essential oils into the air for inhalation is to use an aromatic diffuser. A cold air diffuser uses room-temperature air to blow the oil up against some kind of nebulizer. This breaks the oils up into a micro-fine mist that is then dispersed into the air. The oils, with their oxygenating molecules, will then remain suspended for several hours to freshen and improve the quality of the air. The anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and antiseptic properties of the oils kill bacteria and help reduce fungus and mold. Essential oils, when diffused, have been found to reduce the amount of airborne chemicals and metallics as well as help to create greater spiritual, physical, and emotional harmony.
Recommended Diffusing Time
While a diffusers can run continuously until it is out of oil, the greatest therapeutic benefit is received by diffusing oils for only 10 minutes out of an hour so that the olfactory system has time to recover before receiving more oils. This also helps to conserve your oils. A simple way to do this is to use a programmable timer that can automatically turn on your diffuser each hour for 10 minutes.
Essential Oils for Air Purification
Diffusing essential oils in the home or work place is one of the best ways to purify our environment. The anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and antiseptic properties of the oils, along with the negative ions and oxygenating molecules that are released when essential oils are diffused, all help to reduce chemicals, bacteria, and metallics in the air.
Cinnamon bark, mountain savory, oregano, and Theives (a blend by Young Living Essential Oils), were all tested by Weber State University and were shown to kill 99.96% of the airborne bacteria present when diffused into the atmosphere.
The information above is from the Reference Guide for Essential Oils by Connie & Alan Higley, and from KID-Radio broadcast, March 5, 1996 with Lance Richardson & Gary Young
Negative Ions
Negative ions are produced naturally by wind and rain. They help stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system which controls rest, relaxation, digestion, and sleep. If you live in a stressful environment, or an environment full of electronic equipment (which produce positive ions), the diffusion of negatively ionizing oils can help balance the ions in the air and produce a more stress free environment.
Essential oils that ionize negatively when diffused include: bergamot, cedarwood, citronella, eucalyptus (citriodora), grapefruit, lavandin, lavender, lemon, lemongrass, mandarin, orange, patchouly, & sandalwood.
Positive Ions
Positive ions are produced by electronic equipment and are typically found in man-made environments. They help stimulate the sympathetic nervous system, necessary for recovering, strengthening, and energizing. If you live in an environment with an over-abundance of negative ions, such as in the country or by the ocean, you may benefit greatly by diffusing positively ionizing oils.
Essential oils that ionize positively when diffused into the air include: cajeput, clove, cypress, eucalyptus, frankincense, helichrysum, juniper, marjoram, melaleuca (quinquenervia), palmarosa, pine, ravensara, rosemary, thyme, & ylang ylang.
Essential oils for the Season: Spring/Summer
Spring and summer connote a light, airy scent, full of life, energy, and possibly a hint of romance!
Essential oils that work well during this time include: cardamom, citronella, coriander, eucalyptus, geranium, ginger,
grapefruit, jasmine, lemon, lime, palmarosa, peppermint, rose, spearmint, & ylang ylang.
The Benefits of Diffusing Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils
1. Increased cell oxygen.
2. Increased secretions of endorphins.
3. Increased secretions of antibodies.
4. Increased production of ATP (energy fuel used by cells).
5. Increased secretions of seratonin.
6. Increased secretions of hormones.
7. Increased histamine release, which speeds up the healing process.
8. Increased circulation and supports immune function.
9. Increased conversion of amino acids and proteins.
10. Helps in dealing with emotional trauma.
11. Helps in promotion of secretion and receptivity of human growth hormone (HGH).
12. They smell wonderful.
If you're ready to do some spring cleaning of your indoor air with essential oils using a cold air diffuser go to my product website, have a look around at the essential oils and diffusers (under "Accessories A-M you will find the diffsers) I offer, and then Create an Account.
~
Friday, March 02, 2007
Using Essential Oils for Natural Gardening
Every year we produce and use larger amounts of the most unhealthy toxic chemicals on our food crops and soil. Some of these deadly substances will remain in our food chain for hundreds of years. Our precious soil as well as our water and air become more and more contaminated each day. Our bodies not being able to cope with the assault of these poisons, cry out for help as the break down with physical and mental disorders.
Many of the pesticides, herbicides and other toxic chemical compounds in use today were developed during World War II by scientists seeking to create the most lethal poisons to annihilate opposing military forces. These harmful substances interfere with vital body processes by destroying enzymes, blocking oxidation, restricting the functions of various organs and initiate cellular changes and mutations that can lead to malignancies.
The September 14, 1992 issue of U.S. News and World Report Magazine reported:
"In the past four decades, as the use of pesticides rose thirty fold to nearly a billion pounds annually, more and more insects have adapted to fight the poisons.... [insect] species resistant to insecticides [in] 1948 [were] 8, [and in] 1989 [were] 504."
The late Robert Rodale who was chairman of the Rodale Press and the foremost authority on organic gardening wrote the book "Save Three Lives" which talks about a plan for sustainable agriculture through simple, non-toxic, natural methods. He writes: "Our work at the Rodale Research Center has proven the merits of a technique known to many gardeners for generations: Interplanting food crops with certain (often aromatic) plants repel damaging insects and thus protects the crops.
In some cases the odor of the essential oil from the repellent plant does actually repel insects that would otherwise feast on the food crop. In some other cases, however, the repellent plant simply masks the odor of food crops nearby, and the insect cannot locate the food by smell. If repellent plants were used on a massive - enough scale, there's every reason to believe that many insects would be unable to find food and would die hungry. The numbers of many pest species could be greatly reduced."
Insect problems can be handled in a non-toxic way using essential oils. Select one of the formulas. Combine the ingredients in a fine mist spray bottle, shake well and mist the plant. Use as minimal amount as possible, more is "not" better. Several applications may be necessary a few days apart.
Lavender............40 drops
Sage...................40 drops
Water................. 8 ounces
* * *
Coriander.............30 drops
Cinnamon leaf......30 drops
Citronella.............20 drops
Water.................. 8 ounces
* * *
Sage................... 65 drops
Chamomile......... 15 drops
Water.................. 8 ounces
* * *
Sage.................... 40 drops
Cajeput................ 25 drops
Cedarwood........... 15 drops
Water................... 8 ounces
The Native American people respected nature and held the land sacred. When they were faced with making decisions on important matters they would first take into consideration how the outcome would effect the well-being of future generations who would inhabit the land and rely on it for sustenance.
Each one of us also has an obligation to do our part to help maintain and preserve the integrity of our natural environment and to make this planet a cleaner and better place to live - our sacred and precious mother earth!
Pure Essential Oils catalog can be found here The Very Essence
*
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Snake Oil & Other After Bite Remedies
by David Stewart, Ph.D., R.A.
Therapeutic grade essential oils are not only good insect repellants, they are also excellent after you have been bitten. Essential oils are great detoxifiers for insect bites because their chemistry can break down the poison and render it harmless.
Because the molecules of essential oils are all lipid soluble and very tiny (less than than 500 amus) they all transdermal. Thus, when applied to a bite, they pass through the skin in seconds, reacting with the toxins injected by the insect and reducing their toxic effects.
I was stung by a wasp recently and, within a few minutes, put Purification oil on it the area that had become red and swollen.
The stinging sensation soon resided and within a few hours I could not tell that I had ever been stung.
Do You Sell Snake Oil?
Those who sell good therapeutic grade essential oils are sometimes accused of "selling snake oil." If you are ever so
accused, your response should be, "Yes, I do. Would you like a bottle?"
There are those in Australia who know what "snake oil" really is because 100-200 years ago the Australians exported "snake oil" to America because it was in great demand from miners, trappers, and families who were moving into the wild and untammed West.
Early pioneers had to contend with many dangers which included not only their exposure to the weather and the threat of hostile Indians, but also the daily peril of rattle snake bites.
But there was a remedy. Traveling salesmen who serviced those early pioneers had an oil that, when applied to a snake bite, would penetrate the skin and detoxify the poison. That oil was Tea Tree (Melaleuca alternafolia). And that is how the traveling merchants of the West came to be known as "Snake Oil Salesmen." In the beginning, it was a good name implying a good and effective product.
Unfortunately, back in the pioneering days, some of the traveling salesmen acquired bad reputations, not because their oils did not work, but because they were dishonest in other ways. But that is no reflection on the efficacy of melaleuca oil as an on-site detoxifyer.
So there you are. Many of you really are snake oil salespeople after all. And you can be proud of it.
~ o ~
I do sell "Snake Oil" and I am extremely proud to be offering it to people who know Snake Oils do work. I personally turn to the Snake Oils whenever I have a cut, bite, wound, ache, pain, and for a nutritional flavoring in my water or in cooking.
NOTE: do NOT use other brands of essential oils in the same ways we use Young Living essential oils as most are not distilled properly and only contain 5% of a poor quality essential oil, the other ingredients that go into filling up the rest of the bottle god only knows.
This link will take you to my product website: The Very Essence
*
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Could Common Scents Snuff Out the Superbug?
Feb 28 2005
Madeleine Brindley, Western Mail
Research conducted at the University of Manchester has found that three oils usually used in aromatherapy destroyed MRSA and E.coli bacteria in two minutes flat.
Scientists are now suggesting that the oils could be blended into soaps and shampoo which could be used in hospitals to stop the spread of the superbug or MRSA.
Jacqui Stringer, complemen-tary medicine clinical leader at Christie Cancer Hospital, who instigated the research, believes essential oils are so effective because they are made up of a complex mixture of chemical compounds which MRSA and other superbug bacteria find difficult to resist. She is not alone in this belief.
I believe this research could lead to a very practical application which would be of enormous benefit to the NHS and its patients.
MRSA and other hospital- acquired infections kill about 5,000 patients a year in the UK. Many more suffer unpleasant complications to the illnesses for which they were first admitted.
Dr. Peter Warn, from the University of Manchester, who carried out the research, said the essential oils could be used to create much more pleasant inhalation therapies - which are likely to have a much higher success than current treatment, which is only effective in around 50% of cases.
The present treatment for MRSA involves the unpleasant application of disinfectant on the affected area.
The resistance to penicillin of certain strains of bacteria, including the antibiotic-resistant MRSA bug, has been named as one reason for the growth in infection, but there is little doubt that this is not the only reason.
Falls in cleanliness standards have also been blamed by many within the health professions and external commentators. The reduction in hospital cleaners in the past 20 years gives this theory credibility.
But irrespective of why, we need to find a solution, and wipe out the superbug.
Could aromatherapy essential oils be the essential ingredient in this fight? After all, the therapeutic benefits of these oils have been known and harnessed for about 5,000 years.
The ancient Egyptians recognised their antiseptic properties and harnessed their potential for medicinal purposes as well as for embalming their dead, by slowing down their decomposition.
Aromatic bonfires were lit to cleanse the air from the 14th to the 17th centuries in plague- ravaged Europe. Doctors wore nosebags of aromatic herbs (including cinnamon and cloves) to kill germs.
The medicinal action of smells was often associated with religious rites and magical incantations, and at first popular healing developed separately in different parts of the world.
This is known as ethnobotany and one aspect of this is the study of remedies and drugs, known as pharmacoethnography.
Recent research has been mostly in tropical regions, studying drugs used by peoples still living in close contact with nature and relatively untouched by modern civilisation.
Modern aromatherapy is primarily associated with the French chemist Rene Maurice Gattefosse, whose family owned a perfumery business.
While working in the lab he burnt his hand and plunged it into a vat of lavender oil.
His burn healed quickly without scarring and he subsequently discovered the excellent antiseptic qualities of many other essential oils.
His first book, Aromatherapie, in 1928, was the first use of the word "aromatherapy".
Modern science is gradually explaining superstitions and removing errors from popular healing. At the same time, chemical analysis and biological study are frequently confirming things which were formerly known only from experience and which had no rational explanation. This phenomenon is now reaching aromatherapy.
In France today, many medical doctors and hospitals prescribe essential oils as an alternative to antibiotic treatment, whereas in most countries the idea of using natural aromatics as a form of medical treatment is still very radical.
Essential oils are highly concentrated and in the UK they are usually only used externally by qualified aromatherapists, combined with massage to provide a very effective treatment for stress-relief and a host of other well-documented therapeutic benefits.
With this latest Manchester research, we can not only prove the centuries-old belief in the benefits of essential aroma- therapy oils, but also move positively towards finding a simple but effective solution to a growing problem in our health service.
It took Kryptonite to subdue Superman in his comic adventures. Maybe in essential oils we will find the means to subdue the superbug.
Eleanor Burnham is Liberal Democrat AM for North Wales. She is a qualified aroma- therapist.
Source: ic Wales-The National Website of Wales
To learn more about pure essential oils explore my blog here and visit my essential oil website The Very Essence
To learn more about me (Evelyn), what I do and why, visit My Freedom
~
Madeleine Brindley, Western Mail
Research conducted at the University of Manchester has found that three oils usually used in aromatherapy destroyed MRSA and E.coli bacteria in two minutes flat.
Scientists are now suggesting that the oils could be blended into soaps and shampoo which could be used in hospitals to stop the spread of the superbug or MRSA.
Jacqui Stringer, complemen-tary medicine clinical leader at Christie Cancer Hospital, who instigated the research, believes essential oils are so effective because they are made up of a complex mixture of chemical compounds which MRSA and other superbug bacteria find difficult to resist. She is not alone in this belief.
I believe this research could lead to a very practical application which would be of enormous benefit to the NHS and its patients.
MRSA and other hospital- acquired infections kill about 5,000 patients a year in the UK. Many more suffer unpleasant complications to the illnesses for which they were first admitted.
Dr. Peter Warn, from the University of Manchester, who carried out the research, said the essential oils could be used to create much more pleasant inhalation therapies - which are likely to have a much higher success than current treatment, which is only effective in around 50% of cases.
The present treatment for MRSA involves the unpleasant application of disinfectant on the affected area.
The resistance to penicillin of certain strains of bacteria, including the antibiotic-resistant MRSA bug, has been named as one reason for the growth in infection, but there is little doubt that this is not the only reason.
Falls in cleanliness standards have also been blamed by many within the health professions and external commentators. The reduction in hospital cleaners in the past 20 years gives this theory credibility.
But irrespective of why, we need to find a solution, and wipe out the superbug.
Could aromatherapy essential oils be the essential ingredient in this fight? After all, the therapeutic benefits of these oils have been known and harnessed for about 5,000 years.
The ancient Egyptians recognised their antiseptic properties and harnessed their potential for medicinal purposes as well as for embalming their dead, by slowing down their decomposition.
Aromatic bonfires were lit to cleanse the air from the 14th to the 17th centuries in plague- ravaged Europe. Doctors wore nosebags of aromatic herbs (including cinnamon and cloves) to kill germs.
The medicinal action of smells was often associated with religious rites and magical incantations, and at first popular healing developed separately in different parts of the world.
This is known as ethnobotany and one aspect of this is the study of remedies and drugs, known as pharmacoethnography.
Recent research has been mostly in tropical regions, studying drugs used by peoples still living in close contact with nature and relatively untouched by modern civilisation.
Modern aromatherapy is primarily associated with the French chemist Rene Maurice Gattefosse, whose family owned a perfumery business.
While working in the lab he burnt his hand and plunged it into a vat of lavender oil.
His burn healed quickly without scarring and he subsequently discovered the excellent antiseptic qualities of many other essential oils.
His first book, Aromatherapie, in 1928, was the first use of the word "aromatherapy".
Modern science is gradually explaining superstitions and removing errors from popular healing. At the same time, chemical analysis and biological study are frequently confirming things which were formerly known only from experience and which had no rational explanation. This phenomenon is now reaching aromatherapy.
In France today, many medical doctors and hospitals prescribe essential oils as an alternative to antibiotic treatment, whereas in most countries the idea of using natural aromatics as a form of medical treatment is still very radical.
Essential oils are highly concentrated and in the UK they are usually only used externally by qualified aromatherapists, combined with massage to provide a very effective treatment for stress-relief and a host of other well-documented therapeutic benefits.
With this latest Manchester research, we can not only prove the centuries-old belief in the benefits of essential aroma- therapy oils, but also move positively towards finding a simple but effective solution to a growing problem in our health service.
It took Kryptonite to subdue Superman in his comic adventures. Maybe in essential oils we will find the means to subdue the superbug.
Eleanor Burnham is Liberal Democrat AM for North Wales. She is a qualified aroma- therapist.
Source: ic Wales-The National Website of Wales
To learn more about pure essential oils explore my blog here and visit my essential oil website The Very Essence
To learn more about me (Evelyn), what I do and why, visit My Freedom
~
Sunday, February 25, 2007
Non-Toxic Bathtub Cleaner - Silky Scrub
There's a good-looking recipe for non-toxic bathtub cleaner from Natural Home Magazine. They call it "Silky Scrub," and it's a simple mixture of baking soda, liquid castile soap, and a little antibacterial essential oil.
Here's the recipe:
1 cup baking soda, in a medium sized mixing bowl
1/2 cup liquid castile soap
5-10 drops of antibacterial essential oil, such as lavender, tea tree or rosemary
Procedure:
1. Pour baking soda into a medium size bowl.
2. Add soap a little at a time, stirring continuously, until your mixture has begun to resemble frosting.
3. Mix in drops of essential oil.
4. Store in an airtight jar for up to a year
Of course, the only essential oils I speak for, use and recommend are the Young Living essential oils because of their purity.
To learn more about why I am passionate about Young Living essential oils browse my blog here and/or visit my website:
The Very Essence
~
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