Coriander

This is an oil that I try to use every day.  It's known as a spice but has some other wonderful health benefits as well.  The number one reason I use it is for it's ability to help normalize insulin levels.  I'm pretty sure with my family history and my own lifestyle, I'm most likely going to end up with some form of diabetes.  This may help stave that off for a while.  A Cairo University study found that it does normalize insulin levels and support the pancreas.  So that, in and of itself, is enough for me to use it daily not to mention all the other great benefits.   Coriander Seeds were found in Rameses II and King Tut’s Tomb in Egypt? Coriander was highly regarded and was only used by Egyptian Royals.  I found that out while researching on experience-essential-oils.com website.  There's some great info there.


organicfacts.net says, "it has properties which can be used as an analgesic, aphrodisiac, antispasmodic, carminative (never knew this was the name of gas build up!), depurative, deodorant, digestive, fungicidal, lipolytic, stimulant and stomachic substance.  They have a great page that expands on each of these uses." Make sure to search health benefits of coriander essential oil, not coriander- that one will take you to the page about the seeds.

They do give a warning on this oil.  They say:
"There is nothing serious in terms of health risks, but if taken in excess, coriander oil can make you lose control over your senses for a while, as if you are spell bound. It is a powerful agent that impacts the body, but it can also impact the mind and cause you to lose the ability to think clearly or make decisions, so be careful!"

Experience-essential-oils.com says, "It may cause stupification at very high doses."   I wonder a very high dose is?  Maybe that's why it was only used by the Egyptian Royals?  Hmmm

Here's a great visual they made (but it doesn't even mention helping to normalize insulin levels):

Lemongrass

I LOVE LEMONGRASS!




This is  another of my favorite oils.  This list of benefits is quite long, and it is certainly not complete.  Lemongrass essential oil has many health benefits including, but not limited to: 

·        analgesic

·        antidepressant

·        antimicrobial

·        antiseptic

·        astringent

·        antibacterial

·        anti-gas

·        deodorant

·        diuretic

·        fever reducer

·        fungicidal

·         insecticidal

·        sedative

·        it can  lower cholesterol

·        it helps regenerate connective tissues!!  

And, it's relatively inexpensive as well!

Lemongrass smells lemony, but it is milder and sweeter. This grass is used in beverages (such as tea), desserts and other foods as a flavoring agent. It grows and spreads very fast like any other grass, and to make things even better, mosquitoes don't like it!  To me it has a clean lemony smell.  I plan to make some deck pots next year that include lemongrass.

For more information...

This website got the information that was posted from the Modern Essentials book that I use.  I highly recommend it.  

http://www.sustainablebabysteps.com/lemongrass-essential-oil.html

These websites are quite informative, with some wonderful information on the benefits lemongrass offers:

http://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/essential-oils/health-benefits-of-lemongrass-essential-oil.html

http://www.experience-essential-oils.com/benefits-of-lemongrass.html

Frankincense

The most amazing oil...

Just a few of the very wide and diverse uses...


... can help stimulate repair of damaged DNA.  Damaged DNA can lead to cancer.

... mood stabilizer, especially when combined with citrus oils.  Wild orange and frankincense inhaled can have a huge effect on mood (depression/anxiety)

...helps reduce inflammation when applied topically over the affected area

...use daily as a preventative of illness

Here's what doTerra has to say about it:

"Renowned as one of the most prized and precious essential oils, Frankincense has extraordinary internal and external health benefits. In addition to its notoriety in the New Testament, the Babylonians and Assyrians would burn Frankincense in religious ceremonies and the ancient Egyptians used Frankincense resin for everything from perfume to salves for skin ailments. This centuries- old knowledge contributes to the modern uses of Frankincense today. It’s soothing and beautifying properties are used to rejuvenate skin and reduce the appearance of scars and stretch marks. As the king of oils, Frankincense is known to promote cellular health and immunity and can be consumed daily for these internal benefits. It also promotes a healthy inflammatory response and acts as an overall tonic to the body’s systems, helping them function optimally. When inhaled or diffused, Frankincense induces feelings of peace, relaxation, satisfaction, and overall wellness". - See more at: http://doterrablog.com/essential-oil-spotlight-frankincense/#sthash.3b0JPNbm.dpuf

Primary Benefits:

• Helps build and maintain a healthy immune system
• Promotes cellular health
• Reduces the appearance of scars and stretch marks

Uses:

Rub Frankincense on your hands after a long day of gardening or working to promote a normal inflammatory response

Can help promote youthful, radiant-looking skin and slow the signs of aging by reducing the appearance of skin imperfections.

Can be applied to the bottoms of feet to relax and balance mood swings.

Dry weather can take a toll on your nails. Try applying a drop of Frankincense to strengthen weak fingernails.

- See more at: http://doterrablog.com/essential-oil-spotlight-frankincense/#sthash.3b0JPNbm.dpuf



Great webinar from doTERRA on Frankincense

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FH5hE41CkSs

Doterra Tuesday tip off...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtbhSz8Uz7E&list=PLp3VbOdUkkm3TH0YNYS4Ad5an7TZq-JRX

Another great website on frankencense and essential oils in general:
http://www.sustainablebabysteps.com/frankincense-essential-oil.html

On Guard Blend

On Guard is an antimicrobial blend of essential oils.  It is an extremely powerful immune-boosting and sickness-preventative agent, it can also be used to increase overall health, to deal with a wide range of infections, and to even sanitize surfaces in your personal space.  It's made of wild orange essential oil, combined with clove, cinnamon, eucalyptus and rosemary oils.  It offers a wonderfully fragrant, organic and effective alternative to synthetic options for immune support.  DoTerra produces only Certified Therapeutic Grade oils.

My top ten favorite ways to use it are:

1. Mix a drop with 1 T of water, gargle for 1 minute then spit, at the on-set of a sore throat.  Gargle with 1 T of water and 1 drop each of on guard and lemon hourly for laryngitis.

2. Mix a drop with 4 T of water and swallow.  Do this 4 times a day when in the immediate vicinity of sick people, or dd to orange juice to help congestion and fight flu and cold.

3.  Mix a drop in with your tooth paste and brush with it to prevent and treat gum disease.  Speaking of toothbrushes, why not soak your toothbrush in a cup of water with a couple drops of On Guard, to kill bacteria.

3.  Put a couple drops in the palm of your hand and rub in.  Cup your hands around your nose and mouth and inhale, coating your mucus membranes with the wonderful immune boosting scent.  Studies have shown that a virus will not grow in a petri dish that has On Guard essential oil in it.

4. Put on the soles children's feet at night during cold & flu season to support immune system.

5. Put 50 drops in a glass spray bottle with 30 oz of distilled water. Shake often and use to sanitize kitchen and bathroom surfaces.  Add to: dishwater, dishwasher, mop water, water in your carpet cleaner or floor steamer.

 6. Diffuse in homes or business to kill air borne pathogens, inhibit mold and build immune systems.  Use a cool air- diffuser, as heat can change the chemical composition of this wonderful oil blend.

7. Put a few drops in the vacuum bag and on furnace air filters when changing them to kill pathogens in the duct work.  And, when away from home be sure to put several drops on the HVAC vents of a hotel room or office to kill airborne pathogens and germs.  This can easily be done by adding a couple drops to the surface of a tissue and placing it over the vent.

9.  Speaking of hotels and vacations, take a spray bottle with you to; Spray on shower stalls and bathroom walls to disinfect, spray on wall switches and remotes (they often don't clean those EEE-YUCK!) and spray the pillows and bed sheets if you are using the ones they provide.  I'd basically spray it all, those places are so full of germs.  have you ever watched 60 Minutes or 20/20 when they do the spot on germy hotels.  EEEWWWW!

10.  You can even use it to help curb smoking cravings!

While looking at the DoTerra blog to see if they have done a "Spotlight" on ths oil, I found several posts that were interesting.  Since I am a teacher, and go through about a pint of hand sanitizer each day, I plan to make this:

You can find the directions on their blog at:

http://doterrablog.com/diy-make-your-own-on-guard-hand-sanitizer/

Cinnamon Bark

I have read so much about cinnamon lately!  On the Mayo Clinic website I read about recent studies that were done on blood sugar levels and the effect that cinnamon had on reducing them.  One study published in 2009 found that a 500 mg capsule of cinnamon taken twice a day for 90 days improved hemoglobin A1C levels — a reflection of average blood sugar level for the past two to three months.  They say more research is needed to determine how cinnamon supplementation leads to this type of benefit. One theory is that cinnamon increases insulin action.

cinnamonvogue.com is a website with a boatload of information about cinnamon.  There I found that, there are basically four types of cinnamon used commercially, and two main varieties that are the most widely used; Cassia and Ceylon.  here's a visual I found on their website showing the difference between the two:



It seems that the Ceylon variety is the one that is best used for decreasing blood sugar.  The Cassia variety should not be confused as it has very high coumarin, a substance that could cause liver damage, or even complete failure if taken in large quantities.


doTerra has a blog.  They have a spotlight on a specific oil every so-often.  June 30th they posted a "Spotlight" on cinnamon bark. They use Ceylon Cinnamon (although they do sell Cassia, but it is labeled as Cassia, not cinnamon).   To save you from having to leave this page and go to their blog (http://doterrablog.com/), this is the post:

EO Spotlight: Cinnamon Bark

Posted on June 30, 2014

Cinnamon is derived from a tropical, evergreen tree that grows up to 45 feet high and has highly fragrant bark, leaves, and flowers. Extracted from bark, cinnamon oil contains strong cleansing and immune enhancing properties. Due to its high content of cinnamaldehyde, Cinnamon should be diluted with dōTERRA Fractionated Coconut Oil when applied to the skin and only one to two drops are needed for internal benefits. Cinnamon is very purifying to the circulatory system and it helps promote circulation, both internally and when applied to the skin, helping to ease sore muscles and joints. Cinnamon helps maintain a healthy immune system, especially when seasonal threats are high. When diffused, Cinnamon promotes clear breathing while purifying the air. Cinnamon is frequently used in mouth rinses and gums for its oral health benefits. Cinnamon has a long history of culinary uses, adding spice to desserts, entrees, and hot drinks.

Primary Benefits:

Promotes circulation both internally and when applied to skin

Helps maintains a healthy immune system

Promotes oral health

Helps alleviate sore muscles and joints

Long used to flavor food and for its internal health benefits

Uses:

Put 2 drops in empty veggie capsule for immune support.

Place 1 drop of Cinnamon essential oil in hot water or tea and drink slowly to soothe your throat.

Put 2-3 drops in a spray bottle for quick and effective cleansing spray.

Place one drop on your toothbrush then add toothpaste.

Dilute with dōTERRA Fractionated Coconut Oil then apply to cold, achy joints during winter time.

- See more at: http://doterrablog.com/eo-spotlight-cinnamon-bark-2/#sthash.umYwFDQd.dpuf


I'm surprised that doTerra's information does not even mention the blood sugar lowering benefit that has been studied.

What are essential oils?

I'm figuring it's about time I start a blog on this part of my life as well.  I guess it's kind of like a way to organize the information, thoughts, and ideas I want to share with people.

I usually find that when I begin to share about essential oils, people often believe it's just fragrance in your home to help relax you.  It usually takes me several minutes to briefly explain that they are more than that.  

So, what exactly are Essential oils?  According to  dōTERRA 's website; (or watch this video  http://vimeo.com/86167476)

"Essential oils are natural aromatic compounds found in the seeds, bark, stems, roots, flowers, and other parts of plants. They can be both beautifully and powerfully fragrant.  In addition to giving plants their distinctive smells, essential oils provide plants with protection against predators and disease and play a role in plant pollination." They are kind of like the essence, or life blood of the plant.  Essential oils are not really oils in the way that we think of them.   dōTERRA 's blog goes on to say, "they are non water-based phytochemicals made up of volatile organic compounds.  Although they are fat soluble, they do not include fatty lipids or acids found in vegetable and animal oils. Essential oils are very clean, almost crisp, to the touch and are immediately absorbed by the skin. Pure, unadulterated essential oils are translucent and range in color from crystal clear to deep blue. 

In addition to their intrinsic benefits to plants and being beautifully fragrant to people, essential oils have been used throughout history in many cultures for their medicinal and therapeutic benefits. Modern scientific study and trends towards more holistic approaches to wellness are driving a revival and new discovery of essential oil health applications."

The way I view essential oils is this; essential oils are my first stop to try and "fix" anything that has gone wrong, from headache, to bad mood, to muscle pain, GERD or burn.   They are also what I use every day to prevent illness.  Most of the oils I'm familiar with can be used for a variety of reasons and in a variety of ways.  Oils can be used aromatically, applied topically and absorbed through the skin, or most dōTERRA CPTG Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade^® essential oils are "generally recognized as safe" and can be ingested.   They can be therapeutic in relaxation or arousal, and in elevating moods or they can have medicinal benefits.  The really cool thing is that your body uses the oil in the way that it needs to.

Crunchy Betty has a blog that has a wonderful list about essential oils, titled:  21 Things You Should Know About Essential Oils.

http://www.crunchybetty.com/21-things-you-should-know-about-essential-oils

Keep in mind that on this list she's talking about essential oils in general.   dōTERRA CPTG Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade^® essential oils represent the safest, purest, and most beneficial essential oils available today.  Crunchy Betty advises people not to take them internally.  However, most dōTERRA essential oils are safe to use internally, but always use caution.

She also says that most should never be used directly on the skin.  Well, I also disagree with that.  Most of dōTERRA's oils can be used "neat" or undiluted directly on the skin.  I use a variety of oils on the bottoms of my feet (and hubby's) nearly every day.  And, I use dōTERRA Deep Blue blend directly on the source of pain.  

There are so many oils, and so  much information out there.  The website below is also a great source of information.  

http://www.aromaweb.com

Just keep in mind... dōTERRA is where you want to purchase the oils.  Specifically, mydoterra.com/rachelveilleux  

If you think that this is something you would like to purchase on a regular basis, you can join the loyalty reward program and earn points toward future free product.  Or, even better- become a wellness advocate and share with others.

Here's a good video; Six Doctors discuss dōTERRA and Western medicine:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yBWJldwFas

Check out this website:

http://www.everythingessential.me/ 

It lists many oils and their benefits and you can type in your symptom in the search box  :).

The book Modern Essentials is a wonderful resource.  I would definitely recommend it!