Bryan Sumner
As consumers, we are truly embracing the natural health movement. We’ve taken a good hard look at our medical system, and realize there must be something better — and it turns out that Nature has been offering it this entire time in the myriad forms of plant medicine. Using plants and herbs for healing has been happening the whole during the whole of human civilization. Researchers have now even discovered animals in the wild eating particular plants to cure their ills. We are now seeing an explosion of interest in “aroma medicine”, the use of pure and natural essential oils as powerful healing tools. And these tools are readily available to you and your family to improve your health and wellbeing.
The body of evidence published in peer-reviewed scientific journals proclaiming the valid medical effects of organic essential oils is growing by leaps and bounds. A search on Pub Med, an on-line database of the US National Library of Medicine, for “essential oil” returns 8808 results as of April 10th, 2009. The very first listing describes the anti-dementia (Alzheimer’s) effects of Lemon essential oil! The diversity of actual medical applications of essential oils is truly incredible — more diverse than just the plants themselves, as many essential oils have multiple applications. The inhalation of lemon has been shown to improve mood, improve mental accuracy and even act as an antimicrobial, perfect for general household cleaning.
Perhaps the most important effects of all are those seen in the treatment of serious illnesses. Many modern medical aromatherapists believe the greatest promise of essential oils still lay in the development of protocols for treatment of infectious disease. The MRSA “superbug”, referring to one of several strains of Staphylococcus bacteria that are resistant to the powerful antibiotic drug Methicillin, has become an overwhelming problem in the world’s hospitals. Folks go in for care of one condition, and while their immune defenses are low, they come down with an infection that’s very hard to cure (because man-made antibiotics don’t work). Enter essential oils: Pub Med is filled with studies showing the efficacy of essential oils like Tea Tree and Geranium against MRSA (particularly when combined with another potent natural antibacterial, Grapefruit Seed Extract).
Future medical applications even include treatment of Cancer, the most feared disease of all. Natural medicine doctors have been admonished for years by proclaiming that “nature has a cure”, yet the body of evidence continues to grow with the many studies showing the anti-tumorial action of oils like Frankincense and Lemongrass. These plants have been used for centuries for healing — now, the essential oils offer us very concentrated medicine that happens to be very compatible with our physiology. Essential oils easily penetrate our cell membranes, travel safely through our bloodstreams, and can play a dual role of eradicating tumors while enhancing the ability of our immune system to do its job (other studies are showing essential oils actually “tune” the electrical state of our white blood cells such that they do a better job of removing unwanted microbes from our bodies).
And for the really big one: pure essential oils are showing great promise in the treatment of many cancers. Frankincense and Lemongrass are just two of the oils that have been shown anti-tumorial, and Sandalwood has been show to specifically prevent skin cancers from UVB radiation exposure. Searching for “Frankincense tumor” gives a first result of: “Frankincense oil derived from Boswellia carteri induces tumor cell specific cytotoxicity”. The conclusion states: “Frankincense oil appears to distinguish cancerous from normal bladder cells and suppress cancer cell viability…” There are many more results like this, with a variety of oils and a variety of cancer cell lines. This is a very exiting time for natural medicine, as a combination of new extraction techniques, and faster turn around times in research facilities made lead to new, life saving protocols in the very near future (and it’s important that we as members of the world community keep voicing our opinions, and making these changes in our available medical treatments — it’s not only good for us, it’s good for the world as well, as the production of natural medicines takes SO much less energy than their pharmaceutical “equivalents”).
It’s important to note that essential oils don’t just effect serious medical conditions — they have a place in our everyday lives, too. Tea Tree essential oil is a wonderful, effective antibiotic, especially useful when combined with soothing Lavender for childhood cuts and scrapes (if you’re tough, just use the Tea Tree to prevent infections). Essential oils have been shown to reduce bacteria in the mouth which reduce tooth decay. Helichrysum essential oil is one of the most profound pain relievers and inflammation-reducers for muscular injuries, and makes small kitchen burns heal almost instantly (just a drop on that little hot spot and you’ll be quickly convinced!). Sea Buckthorn heals wounds and reduces wrinkles. Chamomile or Mandarin have been used for years in Europe to soothe the traumas of childhood, and lend a hand to parental sanity. The scent of many pure essential oils just makes folks happier (and it’s important to note this same results do not occur with “fragrances”, a term for man-made smells — they do not have the same make-up as natural plant aromatics do — and in fact, many people are allergic to them).
Sure, this can sound a little overwhelming…where, really, to start when you’re new to it all? Well, that’s the trick: just get started. Anyone in your family not sleeping well? Rub a drop of lavender on each foot at bedtime for a few nights and see what happens. Someone with athlete’s foot or other similar rashes? Mix 30 drops of Tea Tree and 30 drops of Palmarosa into a fluid ounce of Jojoba oil and massage into the area a couple times a day. Just get a simple diffuser, some Black Spruce essential oil and make your house smell like the middle of the forest. Dab a drop of Rose, Amber, Jasmine or Sandalwood oil to your wrist, rub them together and smell like heaven. It’s that easy. It helps to find a supplier of truly therapeutic grade oils, like the good folks at Synergy Essential Oils as well. And these simple ideas get you ready for when you might need to tap into the serious medicine available. Essential oils won’t be foreign anymore, and you’ll start to trust their real medicinal value. Also, there are tons of great books, and very qualified teachers. Open your eyes and heart to the world of Aroma Medicine, and you’ll be sure to find your way.
Tags: aromatherapy, aromatherapy diffusers, essential oils, massage oils, pure essential oils
Posted in Healthy Living · December 26th, 2009 · Comments (0)
Whether you are on business trip, a romantic holiday, a family trip or simply want to experience outdoor life, aromatherapy essential oils come useful along the way. Take along carrier oils for diluting the essential oils.
Are you going away on business trip? Whether you have to meet clients, give presentations, hold seminars, business meetings, etc, one can surely feel stressed out. Take along with you lavender, peppermint, marjoram and Neroli essential oils.
- Massage your body with 1 drop of marjoram and lavender oil each mixed with sweet almond or calendula oil after a warm bath to lessen the jet lag effect.
- Are you jittery before a big presentation or a meeting? Inhale few drops of Neroli oil to settle all the butterflies and ease all the nervousness.
- For headaches or migraines, concoct 1 drop of peppermint & lavender oil each with 1 tsp of sweet almond oil and massage it on your forehead, temples, sides and base of your neck. It will ease the headache away and let you stay alert. Few drops of lavender oil on your pillow will allow for peaceful night of sleep.
- Eating out and upset stomach go hand in hand. Massage 1 drop of peppermint & lavender oil each with 1 tsp of sweet almond oil on your stomach to help you with indigestion. Or you can try a peppermint tea.
Holidaying with your sweetheart or going for your honeymoon? Make sure you smell desirable all the time. Rose & jasmine oil are considered romantic oils.
- 1 drop of rose and jasmine oil each in 100 ml of jojoba oil makes a nice personal perfume for your holiday.
- A single drop of Ylang Ylang with its oriental scent is heady potent seduction perfume.
- For a romantic bath, add little of your personal perfume to the bath gel or water. You can use the perfume as massage oil on your partner.
Out with the kids. Calendula oil, lavender oil, chamomile essential oil and tea tree oil are some of children’s oil that comes handy.
- Inhale a drop of lavender or peppermint oil from kerchief or tissue to ease the nausea and travel sickness.
- Got a tired kid on hand. Get your child to relax and inhale lavender oil.
- For small babies, apply lavender oil on your neck and shoulders so when you carry your little one around, the fragrance stays with baby.
- Stomach upset or colic trouble – 1 drop of chamomile mixed with 1 tsp of sweet almond oil rubbed clockwise on tummy will ease the stomachache.
- Lavender oil rubbed on the body helps to keep insects away.
- Few drops of calendula, lavender & chamomile oil is good for cuts and bruises.
- Aloe Vera gel or lavender oil applied to sun burn will soothe the pain.
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Tags: aromatherapy, body, Health
Posted in Healthy Living · December 10th, 2009 · Comments (0)