Cedarwood

According to Jenny Hill at "ahealthyandnaturalworld.com:"

Cedarwood is an essential oil that is extremely versatile, it can be used to heal the body, as well as provide emotional balance. The oil is derived from the bark of a number of trees from the same family, including the Virginian, Red, Eastern Red and Southern Red Cedar through a process known as steam distillation. These trees are native to North America, especially cold climates and high altitude areas, and can grow to reach heights over 100 ft. These evergreen trees have been known to age up to 1,000 years and feature needle-like leaves.

The Cedar is the same tree that was used by Solomon to build the Temple of Jerusalem, and the oil derived from cedar wood has been used for centuries by the Egyptians and Native Americans for both cosmetic and medical benefits. The oil gives off a sweet, deep woody scent that has been widely used in incense, perfumes and colognes.

Uses for Cedarwood Essential Oil

The oil derived from cedar trees is so useful because it contains various components that may contribute to an individual’s health. These natural ingredients such as alpha-cedrene, beta cedrene and cedrol, as well as several sesquiterpenes, may be used in the treatment of a variety of health conditions that affect the mind and body.

Skin and Hair Benefits

This essential oil can be used in a number of ways to benefit the skin. It can relieve itching, eczema, psoriasis, treat acne and cure oily skin issues. The oil can also be used to treat dandruff and greasy hair that tends to look dull and lifeless.

For rashes, irritated skin or fungal infections rub a few drops of the essential oil mixed with a tablespoon of carrier oil (such as sweet almond, jojoba, avocado oil, coconut oil) into the affected area every few hours. Don’t use cedarwood oil if you have any broken skin and don’t apply it to a rash that is open or oozing.

If you have oily skin you can use it as a cleanser and toner. Blend a few drops of the essential oil with an ordinary unscented cleanser, mild liquid soap or tissue-off lotion/cream and to rebalance the skin. For acne add a few drops to a quality moisturizer and put on at night before you go to bed. You can find more information in my article How to Use Essential Oils for Healthy Skin.

To control greasy hair or dandruff add 10 drops of essential oil for every eight ounces of shampoo in the bottle. Then shake the shampoo bottle to distribute the cedarwood oil thoroughly. Rub the cedarwood shampoo into your scalp and hair and let sit for 3-5 minutes. This process may also be used to stimulate hair follicles, and increase circulation of the scalp in order to prevent hair loss. Then rinse with water. You can find more information in my article How to Use Essential Oils for Healthy Hair.

Relieves stress

Cedarwood oil also has a calming and soothing effect on the mind and body. It can help to relieve stress caused by anxiety. It is often used in aromatherapy treatments as it provides a soothing and relaxing effect that can help an individual unwind after a long, stressful day.

Use a few drops of the oil in your hands (or a piece of cloth), and then place your hands over your nose and breathe deeply for at least thirty seconds. The aromatic scent will instantly trigger the endorphins in your brain and calm you down.

You can also use several drops of the essential oil in a diffuser (like this one or like this one) – the pleasant, aromatic scent is ideal for use as a natural deodorizer, and will help to create a warm, relaxing  and inviting atmosphere.

Pain Relief

Cedarwood essential oil has also been known to alleviate pain and stiffness association with arthritis and and other muscle and joint conditions. Use about 10 drops of essential oil per 1 ounce of carrier oil and massage this oil blend into any body part where your muscles are sore (also read my article about The Top 16 Essential Oils to Relieve Pain and Inflammation).

You can also use it as a bath soak to soothe tired, aching muscles. Put a few drops of essential oil in a hot bath (you can also add 2-3 cups of Epsom salt to enhance the effect). It’s a good idea to mix the essential oil drops in a small amount of carrier oil first and then add to the bath.

Chest Infections

Cedarwood oil can help to remove phlegm from the lungs and respiratory tract. Asthma, bronchitis and congestion sufferers can use 2 to 3 drops of oil in a steam inhalation for instant relief. You can also rub two drops of diluted oil onto your throat and chest area before bedtime for relief. For more natural remedies, read my post about the best home remedies for chest congestion.

Regulates Menstruation

If you have irregular menstruation you can benefit from using cedarwood oil, as it regulates the monthly period and stimulated the blood flow in the pelvic regions. It also helps with the side effects like pain, nausea, fatigue, and mood swings associated with menstruation. Apply 1-2 drops of the essential oil mixed with a tablespoon of carrier oil to the lower abdomen or the soles of the feet for hormone balancing and pain relief.

Diuretic Properties

Cedarwood oil is capable of increasing the frequency of urination which can help to remove harmful toxins, and excess water from the body. To use as a diuretic, rub two drops of oil into your hands and massage the bladder and kidney areas. For relief from urinary tract infections, cystitis or kidney disorders add 8 to 10 drops of oil to bath water.

Bug Repellent

Use cedarwood oil as a bug repellent by adding 2 to 3 drops to a diffuser, or using a few drops on cotton balls and placing them in highly infested areas. It is known to be highly effective in repelling mosquitoes, as well as a number of other insects.

Natural Air Freshener

Since cedarwood oil has a strong base note, it naturally eliminates / neutralizes all types of odors: pet, smoke, mildew, etc.It blends well with other oils to create a variety of scents. Try blending this oil in a diffuser with jasmine, rose, sandalwood, pine or lavender to create a customized aroma to freshen up the air in your home.

Precautions

Pregnant women should avoid using cedarwood oil. This essential oil could be an irritant for individuals with severe sensitive skin issues. It is best to do a patch test first before applying to problematic areas.

While some essential oils can be ingested or added to food, it is not safe to take cedarwood oil orally. Since it is such a strong oil, it could cause severe side effects such as vomiting, nausea, thirst or damage to the digestive system. It should not be used by individuals who have high blood pressure or certain heart conditions.

Got ADHD?

I've read a lot about ADHD and essential oils.  I've also read many testimonials about the effectiveness, but have not had any experience with it since I do not have ADHD.  This is what Brain Balanced Achievement Centers says about essential oils and ADHD:

Essential Oils for ADHD Children

Specific essential oils for concentration that are believed to help children with ADHD include:

• Roman chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile): soothes and comforts
• Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia): calms and reduces anxiety
• Mandarin (Citrus reticulata): quiets, especially when combined with lavender

Here are some other essential oils that have been used with some success:

• Ylang ylang (Cananga odorata): sedates and calms the emotions
• Vetiver (Vetiveria zizanioides): calms, focuses the mind
• Frankincense (Boswellia frereana): supports the immune system
• Patchouli (Pogostemom cablin): soothes the nervous system

This is what Green living ladies.com says about essential oils and Hyperactivity, Focus and Attention:

Recommendations for Hyperactivity, Focus and Attention – Balance, clary sage, cedarwood, frankincense, lavender, rosemary, peppermint, lemon, Serenity, vetiver, ylang ylang and In Tune.

In Tune – This is a blend of essential oils carefully selected for their ability to enhance focus and support healthy thought processes.  

The oils amyris, patchouli, frankincense, lime, ylang ylang, sandalwood (Hawaiian) and Roman Chamomile were selected for their ability to enhance focus and support healthy thought processes. 

The technique for applying In Tune is to roll it up the spine and rub it on the triangle on two points at the base of the neck behind the ears, then massage it in. 

For Focus - Vetiver  Oil or Frankincense Oil carried with the child during the day can help them if they find themselves losing focus or needing to calm down.  Clay necklaces with the preferred oil or applying some oil to the area of the hand between the thumb and first finger allows an easy quick technique to inhale during a busy school day.

Vetiver – For improved concentration, apply vetiver to the feet, focusing on the big toe. You can also use a necklace with a pendant that will absorb the oil that can be smelled all day.

Roman chamomile and lavender can be used for hyperactivity. Diffuse the oil or apply it on the insides of the wrists or behind the ears.

Balance, Serenity, frankincense, lavender and ylang ylang –can all be used for frustration, impatience and anger.  Apply to feet, back of the neck, behind the knees and diffuse into the air.

Study -There was a case study published in the American Medical Association Journal by Dr. Terry Friedmann M.D. that found significant results when children who had previously been diagnosed with ADD/ADHD inhaled essential oils of vetiver, lavender and cedarwood.  

The inhalation of the oils proved to settle the children’s brain waves back into normal patterns and improved their scholastic performance and behavioral patterns. The final results were:

Lavender increased performance by 53%

Cedarwood increased performance by 83%

Vetiver increased performance by 100%

Memory/Concentration: The part of the brain responsible for interpreting aromas is closely tied to the part of the brain responsible for long term memory and emotions.  Studies have demonstrated the ability of essential oil aromas such as rosemary andpeppermint to help enhance memory and alertness in human trials.  

Try inhaling rosemary, peppermint, or frankincense when studying or learning; then inhale the same aroma when you need to recall the information.  Try diffusing lavender, lemon, or rosemary oils to help aid concentration. 

Why use essential oils?

Here's a clip from the news about the use of essential oils. A woman and her son are spotlighted.

http://www.khou.com/story/news/health/2014/07/29/12680906/

A blend for focus performance

Stacy, over at common scents mom.com said this about the parts of the blend: 

In the following study conducted in 2001 by Dr. Terry Friedman, several essential oils were used to determine their effectiveness for common behavioral challenge in children. Vetiver was found to be the most effective in observations and brain wave scans – showing improvements in 100% of subjects! Cedarwood essential oil was 83% effective, and lavender 53%.CASE STUDY DR. TERRY FRIEDMAN, M.D. This case study was conducted for two years, from 1999-2001. Using Children between the ages of 6 to 12 years. Twenty subjects [without diagnosed behavioral challenges] were used as the control group.

Twenty subjects with a [doctor] confirmed [behavioral challenge] of ADD/ADHD were used as the study group. Each group was pre-tested using a baseline evaluation with real time EEG and The T.O.V.A. Scale. The essential oils chosen for the case study were Lavender, Vetiver, Cedarwood and Brain Power (a blend of Frankincense, Sandalwood, Melissa, Cedarwood, Blue Cypress, Lavender and Helichrysum.) The oils were administered in this fashion: one of the oils were administered by inhalation 3 times a day for 30 days.An inhalation device was also used at night to administer a continuous inhalation of oil. The subject then inhaled when needed, about 3 times during the day when they began to feel “scattered”. The inhalation of the oils proved to settle the brainwaves back into normal patterns and improved their scholastic performance and behavioral patterns.

Each subject was tested on each oil for 30 days and then reevaluated by testing. Then another oil was used for 30 days and reevaluated, until each of the oils had been tested. Lastly, oil combinations were used, each for a 30 day period. (Brain Power with Lavender, with Cedarwood, and Vetiver.) The final results were: Lavender increased performance by 53%,  Cedarwood increased performance by 83% and Vetiver increased performance by 100%. This study was published in the American Medical Association Journal.

Cedarwood
One of the most ancient of all the essential oils, Cedarwood helps to oxygenates the brain, resulting in clarity of thought. This oil comes from the Cedar tree (see picture below) and stimulates limbic region of the brain which helps to balance emotions. It also stimulates the pinneal gland which helps regulate melatonin. Moreover, Cedarwood has a calming effect, especially when diffused into the air.
- See more at: http://www.phillipsessentials.com/2013/01/oils-to-help-reduce-add-and-adhd-symptoms/#sthash.H3SunJg0.dpuf

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The Essential Oils Pocket Reference has this to say about using Cedarwood to help people with ADD and ADHD type symptoms:

Terry Friedmann, MD, found in clinical tests that this oil was able to successfully treat ADD and ADHD (attention deficit disorders) in children. It is recognized for its calming, purifying properties.

VetiverThis single oil is psychologically grounding, calming and stabilizing. It thus extremely helpful for centering and focusing.In 2001 Terry Friedmann, MD, completed pioneering studies using essential oils to combat ADD and ADHD. He was able to achieve clinically significant results in 60 days. Vetiver was one of the oils he used.

Lavender  

In research conducted in 2001 at Osaka Kyoiku university, lavender was found to increase alertness and reduce mental stress. It improves concentration and researchers have found that inhaling lavender increased beta waves in the brain, helping the brain to relax at the same time as improving cognitive performance.

Among the many benefits of Lavender is that it helps with calming and concentration.

This was another oil that Terry Friedmann, MD, found could reduce ADD and ADHD symptoms.