Essential Oil Spotlight Sunday: Eucalyptus!

**Promotes Feelings of Relaxation

**Supports Respiratory System and Clear Breathing
**Anti-Bacterial Properties
**Stimulates Immunity

~~ How do you use Eucalyptus EO?!? ~~
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Check out this article that discusses the uses, benefits, and research surrounding Eucalyptus Essential Oil!

Top 10 Eucalyptus Oil Uses

Interestingly, small towns in Australia discovered that eucalyptus oil could be converted into a gas to light their homes, hotels and shops. Little did they know that they stumbled upon one of the most powerful forms of natural medicine ever.

Today, eucalyptus oil uses have a broad range of health benefits including:

1. Colds & Flu 

Eucalyptus works as an expectorant and helps cleanse your body of toxins and harmful microorganisms that can make you feel sick. One of the most effective ways to utilize eucalyptus for colds is to drop several drops of the essential oil into your diffuser before going to sleep so you can take advantage of the healing benefits all night long.

For more acute situations, you can make a steam bath by pouring a cup of boiling water into a bowl, and then mix 10 drops of eucalyptus EO, place a towel over your head and inhale deeply for five–10 minutes.

2. Hair Nourishment 

A few drops eucalyptus oil with some coconut or olive oil gives your hair a nice moisturizing pick-me-up. This is especially great to ward off dandruff and an itchy scalp. Also, eucalyptus is used as a natural remedy for lice in replacement of chemical treatments.

3. Hand Cleaner 

Eucalyptus EO is an excellent cleanser to remove grease and grime from your workday and can rejuvenate sore hands and feet when mixed into your salt bath. Simply mix sea salt, epsom salt and eucalyptus oil to remove grease and dirt for good.

4. Sinus and Allergies 

A study from NYU Medical School found that using eucalyptus was effective at treatingsinusitis. Patients experienced faster improvement when supplementing with eucalyptus oil for allergies and sinus issues. The study had participants take eucalyptus oil internally, and it’s also recommended to gargle with it to clear the throat.

5. Natural Home Care  

Not only does eucalyptus give a nice, fresh fragrance to your home products, but it adds vital anti-microbial properties as well. You can’t go wrong putting several drops into pretty much everything: soap, laundry detergent, mop water, toilet cleaner, window cleaner … the list goes on!

6. Odor Remover  

Whether you’re battling smelly shoes or a stinky dog bed, topically wash items to remove odors with a wet rag soaked in eucalyptus oil-infused water, and place outside to dry in the sun. This can prevent odors as well as keep the shape intact! You may also mix it with lemon oil or tea tree oil for an anti-stink spray.

7. Air Cleanser

Try putting a few drops into your vacuum and clothes dryer filters to freshen them up and sanitize them a little. Also, it’s great for killing mold in your home, and you can mix eucalyptus with other oils like clove and tea tree oil to cleanse the air and maintain a mold-free home.

8. Spot Remover 

Like lemon essential oil, eucalyptus oil is highly effective at removing spots on your carpet, clothes and basically every fabric you have in the house. It even works to get gum off your shoes! Make sure to “test” it on an inconspicuous place first just to make sure the oil doesn’t react strangely with the material you treat. You just don’t know what’s in the synthetic materials nowadays!

9. Respiratory Problems 

Eucalyptus essential oil is highly effective for treating respiratory problems, such asasthma, bronchitis, COPD, pneumonia and even tuberculosis. Using eucalyptus for asthma is a proven treatment that dilates the blood vessels and allows more oxygen into the lungs. Simply mix eucalyptus oil, peppermint oil and coconut oil for a Homemade Vapor Rub, and put on upper chest.

10. Wound Treatment 

Eucalyptus oil has antimicrobial and antiseptic properties that are effective at treating wounds, burns, cuts, abrasions, sores and scrapes. It also can be made into a salve or healing ointment and put on bug bites and stings. Along with acting as a natural pain reliever to the area, it also keeps the area from getting infected, which speeds healing.

The list goes on, but don’t forget to use eucalyptus on your pets! It’s proven to be safe in pretty much any way that you would use it on yourself. Just be sure to keep it out of eyes and any open wounds!

For the full article visit: http://draxe.com/eucalyptus-oil-uses-benefits/

EO Spotlight Sunday: Melaleuca (Tea Tree)

>>Cleanses and rejuvenates skin
>>Promotes healthy immune function
>>Aids in healthy hair and scalp

***Comment below: How do you use this oil?!***

EO Spotlight Sunday: Peppermint!

**Comment below to tell us your favorite use for Peppermint Essential Oil!**

Peppermint is one of the most commonly used essential oils:
*Promotes healthy respiratory function
*Promotes digestive health
*Reduces stomach aches & Soothes nausea
*Relieves headaches
*Helps with muscle pain relief

Peppermint is even being researched for its amazing benefits!

1. HEADACHES: A study from researchers in Germany, found that a combination of oils, including peppermint oil had “significant analgesic effect with a reduction in sensitivity to headaches.” The oils were applied to the forehead and temples for pain relief.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/7954745/

2. DIGESTIVE SYSTEM: Some studies have shown that peppermint oil is effective in improving the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/2856502/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/17653649/

Additional Resources:
https://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/herb/peppermint

EO Spotlight Sunday: Lavender!

Lavender is a must have essential oil!
**Used for its calming and relaxing qualities
**Soothes occasional skin irritations and reduces acne
**Eases feelings of tension
**Reduces anxiety and emotional stress
**Improves sleep

EO Spotlight Sunday: Lemon!

Lemon is such a versatile essential oil! 

**Cleanses and purifies the air and surfaces
**Aids in digestion and relieves nausea
**Supports healthy respiratory function
**Promotes a positive mood
**Supports a healthy metabolism
**Nourishes skin and reduces blemishes

Lemon is even being researched for its amazing benefits!

1. NAUSEA: One study found pregnant women who used Lemon EO has less nausea and vomiting episodes.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4005434/
2. ANXIETY: One study done on rats showed that the animals exposed to Lemon had lower levels of stress hormones in their blood when compared to control rats.
http://www.sciencedirect.com/…/article/pii/S0006899303041180
3. MICROBES: Lemon EO has been sudies for its anti-bacterial and anti-fungal effectes.
http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6882/6/39%20
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3915084/

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Check out this article discussing the Benefits, Uses, and Research associated with Lemon Essential Oil!

Lemon Oil Benefits

According to Alva’s Ayurveda Medical College assistant professor Dr. J.V. Hebbar, the benefits of lemon include:

• Cleansing and purification
• Oral health and remedy for halitosis (bad breath)
• Digestion
• Thirst quencher
• Remedy for abdominal colic pain
• Cough relief
• Calms stomach and relieves nausea
• Prevents malabsorption
• Improves digestion
• Nourishes the skin
• Promotes Weight loss

Lemon and lemon essential oil are also used to decrease cholesterol deposition in the blood vessels and prevent heart disease!

Top 10 Lemon Essential Oil Uses

As you’d probably expect, there is a laundry list of lemon oil uses in addition to all of these medicinal effects. Here are some of my favorites:

1. Laundry – In case you leave your laundry sitting in the washer too long, just add a few drop of lemon EO and your clothes won’t get that nasty smell.
2. Teeth Whitener – Mix lemon essential oil, baking soda and coconut oil and rub on your teeth for 2 minutes and then dense as a natural teeth whitener.
3. Clean Hands – Got greasy hands from working on your car or bike and regular soap isn’t doing the trick? No worries, just add a couple drops of lemon EO with your soap and get your clean hands back!
4. Natural Disinfectant – Want to steer away from alcohol and bleach to disinfect your countertops and clean your moldy shower? Add 40 drops lemon oil and 20 drops tea tree oil to a 16-oz spray bottle fill with pure water (and a little bit of white vinegar) for a traditional cleaning favorite.
5. Face-wash – Lemon essential oil uses for skin can can improve your complexion and leave your skin soft and supple.  Lemon oil benefits skin by deeply nourishing.  You can make lemon oil with baking soda and honey for a natural acne free face wash.
6. Wood and Silver Polish – A lemon oil-soaked cloth will also help spruce up your tarnished silver and jewelry!  Lemon oil for wood cleaning is also great.
7. Goo-Be-Gone – Un-stick the sticky goo your kids leave behind with stickers and gum with lemon oil.
8. Promotes Fat-Loss – Putting 2 drops of lemon oil in your water 3x daily can support metabolism and weight loss.
9. Improves Mood – Diffusing lemon essential oil in the air can lift mood and fight depression.
10. Immune Support – Lemon oil can support lymphatic drainage and help your overcome a cold fast, mix it with coconut oil and rub it on your neck.

Lemon Oil Research 

At the time I wrote this article, there were 519 scientific studies referring to lemon essential oils. The secret to lemon’s success appears to be d-limonene, a powerful cancer fighting antioxidant.

Some reports even speculate that lemon oil contains up to 70% d-limonene! It’s no wonder that science is quickly catching up to 1,000 years of therapeutic use and is finally confirming many of the various Ayurvedic medical applications of lemon essential oil.

Another important thing to note, lemon essential oil comes from the cold-pressing the lemon peel and not the inner fruit.  The peel is the most nutrient dense portion of the lemon in terms of fat soluble phytonutrients.

A study was published this past March that evaluated how lemon aromatherapy affects pregnant women during bouts of nausea and vomiting.

Astoundingly, of the 100 women that participated in the study, reports of symptoms dramatically decreased just after 2 days compared to the placebo group. After 4 days the essential oil group experienced an average of 33% decrease in nausea and vomiting!

Regarding lemon oil supplementation, researchers from the Central Food Technological Research Institute in India took a look at how geraniol (a powerful phytonutrient found in lemon) can help reverse diabetic neuropathy.

It was discovered that sciatic nerve damage were markedly reduced by lemon oil (geraniol) supplementation. Interesting, cellular function was also restored during the 8-week study, which suggests that regular lemon essential oil usage can help regulate our energy stores and play a role in preventing disease, cardiac dysfunction and premature aging.

If this weren’t enough, the researchers also observed that depleted dopamine levels were improved which helps people overcome addictions and improves mood to fight depression.

And let’s not forget about cleaning and food protection. In a study conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, it was discovered that by adding lemon essential oils to food it protected the food against human pathogens like E. coli and Salmonella.  Which is another reason why lemon essential oil is an ideally household cleaner.

Finally, lemon oil for skin health is also research and popular today.  Lemon essential oil benefits for skin can include reducing acne, nourishing damaged skin and hydrating skin.  Use lemon oil on the skin with baking soda or with raw honey as a natural homemade face facewash cleanser.

See the full article here http://draxe.com/lemon-essential-oil-uses-benefits/

EO Spotlight Sunday: Frankincense!

Check out this article discussing the Benefits, Uses, and Research associated with Frankincense Essential Oil!

Top 8 Frankincense Uses

1. Stress Relieving Bath-Soak

Frankincense oil will immediately induce the feeling of peace, relaxation, and satisfaction. Add a few drops of frankincense oil to a hot bath for stress relief.  You can also add frankincense to an oil diffuser or vaporizer tofight anxiety and for experiencing relaxation in your home all the time. Some people believe that the fragrance of frankincense can increase your intuition and spiritual connection.

2. Natural Household Cleaner

Frankincense oil is an antiseptic, meaning it will help eliminate bacteria and viruses from your home and to clean indoor spaces. The plant has been commonly burned to help disinfect an area and is used as a natural deodorizer. Use it in an essential oil diffuser to help reduce indoor pollution and to deodorize and disinfect any room or surface in your home.

3. Natural Hygiene Product

Due to its antiseptic properties, frankincense oil is a great addition to any oral hygiene regimen. Look for natural oral care products that contain frankincense oil, especially if you enjoy the aroma. It can help prevent dental health issues like tooth decay, bad breath,cavities, or oral infections. You can also consider making your own toothpaste by mixing frankincense oil with baking soda.

4. Anti-Aging & Wrinkle Fighter

Frankincense essential oil is a powerful astringent, meaning it helps protect skin cells. It can be used to help reduce acne blemishes, the appearance of large pores, to prevent wrinkles, and it will even help lift and tighten skin to naturally slow signs of aging. The oil can be used anywhere where the skin becomes saggy such as the abdomen, jowls, or under the eyes. Mix 6 drops of oil to one ounce of unscented oil and apply it directly to the skin. Be sure to always do a small patch area though first to test for possible allergic reactions.

5. Relieves Symptoms of Indigestion

If you have any digestive distress such as gas,constipation, stomach aches, irritable bowel syndrome,PMS, or cramps, frankincense oil can help relieve gastrointestinal discomfort. It helps speed up the digestion of food, similar to digestive enzymes. Add 1-2 drops of oil to 8 ounces of water or to a tablespoon of honey for GI relief. If you are going to ingest it orally, make sure it is 100% pure oil, do not ingest fragrance or perfume oils.

6. Scar, Wound, Stretch Mark or Acne Remedy

Frankincense oil can help with wound healing and may decrease the appearance of scars. It may also help reduce the appearance of dark spots caused from acne blemishes, stretch marks, eczema and help with healing of surgical wounds. Mix 2-3 drops of oil with an unscented base oil or lotion and apply directly to skin. Be careful of applying it to broken skin, but it is fine for skin that is in the process of healing.

7. Natural Cold or Flu Medicine

Next time you have a respiratory infection from a cold or flu, use frankincense essential oil to help provide relief from coughing. It can help eliminate phlegm in the lungs. It also acts as an anti-inflammatory in the nasal passages, making breathing easier, even for those with allergies or asthma. Add a few drops to a cloth and inhale for the respiratory benefits or use an oil diffuser.

8. Helps Relieve Inflammation and Pain

To improve circulation and lower symptoms of joint pain or muscle pain related to conditions like arthritis, digestive disorders, and asthma , try massaging frankincense oil to the painful area or diffusing it in your home. You can add a drop of oil to steaming water and soak a towel in it, then place the towel on your body or over your face to inhale it to decrease muscle aches. Also diffuse several drops in your home, or combine several drops with a carrier oil to massage into your muscles, joints, feet, or neck.

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Frankincense Essential Oil Benefits

1. Helps Reduce Stress Reactions & Negative Emotions

When inhaled, it has been shown to reduce heart rate and high blood pressure. It has anti-anxiety and depression reducing abilities, but unlike prescription medications it does not have negative side effects and does not cause unwanted drowsiness.

2. Helps Boost Immune System Function and Prevents Illness

Studies have demonstrated that frankincense has immune enhancing abilities which may help destroy dangerous bacteria, viruses, and even cancers. (1) It can be used to prevent germs from forming on the skin, mouth, or in your home too. This is the reason many people choose to use frankincense of naturally relieving oral health problems; the antiseptic qualities of this oil can help prevent gingivitis, bad breath, cavities, toothaches, mouth sores, and other infections from occurring. (2) (3)

3. May Help Fight Cancer, or Deal with Chemotherapy Side Effects

Frankincense oil has been shown to help fight cells of specific types of cancer. (4) A 2012 study even found that a chemical compound found in frankincense called AKBA is successful at killing cancer cells that have become resistant to chemotherapy.

4. Astringent, Kills Harmful Germs and Bacteria

Frankincense is an antiseptic and disinfectant. It has the ability to eliminate cold and flugerms from the home and the body naturally and can be used in place of chemical household cleaners. (5)

5. Heals Skin and Prevents Signs of Aging

 Frankincense has the ability to strengthen skin and improve its tone, elasticity, defense mechanisms against bacteria or blemishes, and appearance as someone ages. It helps tone and lift skin, reduces appearance of scars and acne, and heals wounds. (6)  It can also be beneficial for fading of stretch marks, surgery scars or marks associated withpregnancy, and for healing dry or cracked skin.

6. Balances Hormone Levels

Frankincense oil reduces symptoms associated with menstruation and menopause by balancing hormone levels. It can help relieve pain, cramps, constipation,headaches, anxiety, nausea, fatigue, and mood swings. Frankincense oil also helps with regulating estrogen production and reduces the risk of tumor or cyst development in pre-menopausal women.

7. Eases Digestion

Frankincense helps the digestive system to properly detox and to produce bowel movements, reduces pain and cramping in the stomach, can relieve nausea, helps to flush out excess water from the abdomen that can cause bloating, and even relieves PMS-related stomach pains.

(7) It does this by speeding up the secretion of digestive enzymes, increasing urination production, relaxing the muscles of the digestive tract, and also helps to improve circulation which is needed for proper digestive health. It has been shown to be beneficial in reducing symptoms of leaky gut syndrome, chronic colitis, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, and IBS. (8)

8. Acts as a Sleep Aid

Frankincense essential oil is useful in lowering levels of anxiety or chronic stress that can keep you up at night. It has a calming, grounding scent that can naturally help you to fall asleep. It helps open breathing passages, allows your body to reach an ideal sleeping temperature, and can eliminate pain that keeps you up.

9. Helps Decrease Inflammation and Pain 

Frankincense can inhibit the production of key inflammatory molecules associated with conditions like arthritis, asthma, painful bowel disorders like IBS, and many more conditions. (9) It can be useful in helping to prevent the breakdown of the cartilage tissue and has been shown to significantly reduce levels of dangerous and painfulinflammation, making it a natural treatment option for pain-related conditions that effect the muscles, joints, and tendons.

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Frankincense Interactions/Side Effects

Frankincense essential oil is extremely well tolerated, especially compared to prescription medications. To date there are no reported serious side effects of using Frankincense oil, as long as you do not ingest large quantities which can result in it becoming toxic.

 Rarely frankincense oil can cause certain reactions for some people- including minor skin rashes and digestive problems like nausea or stomach pains. Frankincense is also known to have blood thinning effects, so anyone who has problems related to blood clotting should not use Frankincense oil or speak with a doctor first. Otherwise the oil may have potential to negatively react with certain anticoagulant medications.

To read the full article and get even more information plus DIY projects, visit http://draxe.com/what-is-frankincense/