The Centers for Disease Control estimates that chronic pain affects 50 million adults in the United States. Trying to manage pain is difficult and trying to manage pain without drugs, even more challenging. Harvard Medical School recently identified several natural methods that are effective. Obviously, pain is an indication that something is wrong in the body, so be sure that you consult a doctor if pain persists.
It’s not a surprise. We know it’s happening…certain antibiotics are no longer effective against antimicrobials. In humans, antibiotics have been over-prescribed and taken incorrectly or prescriptions are left unfinished. In livestock, the drugs are often added to feed to decrease the chance of illness as well as increase weight. These factors have led to Dr. Cyril Gray, the senior national program leader at the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Research Service to conclude: “The loss of antibiotics due to antimicrobial resistance is potentially one of the most important challenges the medical and animal-health communities will face in the 21st century.”
Whether exercising or simply planting your Spring garden, essential oils can help to soothe your muscles–before or after your hard work. Many people use pain killers to cure muscle aches, but these can take a toll on your liver and kidneys. Instead, consider essential oils as a great way to keep your muscles healthy. You can often find blends of oils that will specifically address muscle concerns, or you can fix your own. For some of the must-have oils to help muscles perform well, read on. Read more
With Thanksgiving fast approaching, you are likely already well into planning your holiday meal: turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce, pies—the works. As an Essential Oil aficionado, you’re probably wondering how to incorporate your favorite oils into your cooking and baking, and rightly so. Not only will these Essential Oils provide amazing health benefits, they also add a variety of flavors ranging from sweet to savory. Read more
There are few things more irritating than a poorly timed break out. It never fails, right before a major event, your skin develops splotches, spots, or dry patches. Of course, if you would rather not suffer from these bothersome skin blights, you can turn to a variety of Essential Oils for all manner of skin afflictions. You can cleanse, tone, and nourish your skin to bring out the best of your complexion.
While it may seem counterintuitive to put oils on your skin to cleanse it, it is actually highly effective. With the proper combination, Essential Oils can help balance the oil your skin naturally produces. It does so by removing the impurities and dirt trapped in your pores. These impurities are often stuck in the oils already existing on your face. Since oil dissolves oil, the pure Essential oils remove the dirty oil in your pores, thus restoring balance.
An excellent option to cleanse the skin is Melaleuca Oil, also known as Tea Tree Oil. This Essential Oil is known for its antibacterial properties. This means that Melaleuca is able to stop acne-inducing bacteria before it can get a foot hold in your pores. However, bear in mind that Melaleuca Oil can dry out your skin, so be sure to provide your skin the moisture it needs with an Essential Oil such as Rosewood.
While Rosewood Oil is known to help combat dry skin, it is also an excellent option for aging skin. As we age, our skin care needs change so this Essential Oil is vital for preserving the youthful look of your skin. Not only that, but this Essential Oil contains anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties to help improve the texture of your skin.
Another Essential Oil to improve the look and feel of your skin is Peppermint oil, particularly if you have oily or greasy skin. Peppermint Oil is also an effective cooling agent due to its menthol content, so if you are suffering from sunburn you can use this oil to relieve the sting and promote faster healing for your skin. Read more
With summer in full swing, many individuals are looking for ways to keep cool. While it may seem like the only option is to turn the air conditioning up to full blast and deal with the costly electricity bill later, this is not the case. Certain Essential Oils are excellent at helping you naturally cool off without breaking the bank.
While many individuals use the mint based Essential Oils to flavor candies, they are also excellent for keeping you cool due to their light and refreshing qualities. The science behind this benefit is the menthol content in theses oils. Menthol can trick brain receptors into thinking your body is cooler than it actually is. Spearmint and Peppermint Essential Oils both contain menthol and are great for combating the relentless summer heat. Plus, these oils are both excellent at helping you relax, combat headaches, and reduce muscle fatigue. Read more
When it comes to caring for your body, you want to be sure you are only using the best quality soaps, hair products, lotions, etc, so why wouldn’t the same hold true for your wound care? Like many personal hygiene products available on the market, several first aid options contain chemicals that are questionable to use on the skin. Many individuals feel the benefits outweigh the risks, but for the naturopath at heart there are other more holistic options.
In addition to the homeopathic benefits many Essential Oils possess, they are also much faster acting as they are not water based. This means they will permeate the skin more quickly than traditional remedies. Therapeutic grade oils carry a number of healing properties an individual would expect and want for wound care. These include antifungal, antibacterial, analgesic (pain reliever), antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, and more. This post will cover wound care with essential oils. Read more
May 14, 2015
Essential Oils, Healthy Living, Nutrition 
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essential oils, healthy living, nutrition, wellness
Many of the Essential Oils available on the market today are extracted from plants that often double as spices or flavoring agents. This leads many to wonder if they can cook with their Essential Oils and the answer is yes! Food grade Essential Oils can be used to flavor candies, baked goods, soups, and other savory dishes.
However, because these oils are incredibly potent you will need to use a great deal less than you would with regular spices. For example, herbal based oils such as basil and thyme have a ratio of one drop of oil for every teaspoon of loose spice.
When using citrus based oils such as lemon, lime, or grapefruit in place of a peel or zest, the flavor is a little more forgiving and you need not fear overpowering your dish. In your given recipe, replace one tablespoon of zest with 1/8 of a teaspoon of your corresponding oil.
You can even use Essential Oils for baking as a replacement for alcohol based extracts (i.e. using peppermint oil instead of peppermint extract). Essential oils are significantly stronger than these extracts; a good place to start would be using ¼ of a teaspoon of oil for every whole teaspoon your recipe calls for. If you are using the oils to flavor chocolate, you will want to be very careful with measuring your Essential Oils. Aim for ¼ to ½ of a teaspoon per pound of chocolate to avoid overpowering the candies. Below are more tips for how to cook with essential oils. Read more
April 14, 2015 Essential Oils, Healthy Living Leave a comment essential oils, healthy living, nutrition, wellnessWith spring around the corner, many people are looking forward to a break from the dreary cold of winter while others are dreading the allergies that come with the changing seasons. However, there is no need to live in a haze of itchy, water eyes, clogged sinuses, and headaches. There are numerous Essential Oils that can help ease the worst of your allergy symptoms to let you enjoy the warmer weather and blooming flowers. Here are some tips for using essential oils for allergies. Read more
Stress, anxiety, and effects of depression plague a large number of us in today’s society. Whether this is due to environmental or psychological factors, the timely use of certain essential oils can vastly improve our emotional well being. The effects of stress on the body are numerous and largely not good for our health. While a little stress can be beneficial, excess or chronic stress can contribute to heart problems, ulcers, and worsen depression.
Essential Oils for Stress
Thankfully, there are a number of Essential Oils we can use to help reduce anxiety. One stress fighting oil is Patchouli. This potent oil not only relieves stress, but it also can control extreme emotions to help keep us feeling composed and serene. Read more
