Coconut Oil: Should You Eat It or Wear It

Photo Source:  United Coconut Associations of the Philippines

Coconut oil has been purported to be kind to your heart, slimming to your waist, and good for your skin and hair. So should you eat it or wear it?  Or both?

Let’s start with your heart.  While coconut oil is 100 percent fat, it’s the type of fat in oil that causes the heart problem.  All fats are made up of a combination  of fatty acids.  Most saturated fatty acids will raise your LDL “bad” cholesterol.  The one exception is stearic acid, which is saturated but doesn’t impact your bad cholesterol.  It’s like Switzerland: it has a neutral impact on your LDL cholesterol.  It doesn’t raise it or lower it.

While coconut oil does contain some stearic acid, unfortunately, 60 percent of its saturated fatty acid content is the type that will wreak havoc with your blood cholesterol levels.  For this reason, the latest recommendation from the report of the 2015 Dietary Guideline for Americans Advisory Committee is for you to replace saturated fat from animal foods  (butter, cream) and tropical oils (coconut, palm, and palm kernel oils) with unsaturated fat from veggie oils (soybean, canola, olive, and corn oils).  Translation: Eat more heart-healthy vegetable oils in your diet.

Let’s move on to your waist. A lot of the buzz around coconut oil is that it also contains MCTs (medium-chain triglycerides), a technical name for a fat of a certain length or size. MCTs are absorbed differently in the body.  Very limited research, mostly in animals, has suggested that MCTs are more readily burned as fuel than other dietary fats, are less likely to be stored in the body, and may also slightly raise your metabolism causing you to burn some extra calories.  “The jury is still out as to whether MCTs will have an impact on your waistline or even your body weight.  Much more research is needed, particularly in humans.  Since coconut oil is high in saturated fat, at this point, I would not suggest anyone start using it," states Alice H. Lichtenstein, D.Sc., Director and Senior Scientist of the Cardiovascular Nutrition Laboratory at Tufts University.

Let’s finish with your outer body:  Coconut oil does have a number of benefits for both your skin and the hair.  According to Whitney Bowe, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor of Dermatology: Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Medical Center and member of the American Academy of Dermatology, coconut oil has a combination of hydrating,  anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antibacterial properties that make it a wonderful ingredient to incorporate into your skin care and hair care routine.   “The MCTs in coconut oil help to repair the skin barrier and trap water, thus, hydrating the skin and also reducing inflammation.  Coconut oil has also been shown to contain antioxidants that are capable of quenching free radicals.  Lastly, coconut oil has been shown to have antibacterial properties, meaning it is capable of killing potentially harmful bacteria and fungi that try to invade the skin,” claims Bowe.

Since the fine lines and wrinkles around your eyes can result from dehydration, a dab of coconut oil around that area of thin skin can help trap water and plump up the wrinkles, according to Bowe.  The oil is also great for keeping hair healthy and shiny.  Rub coconut oil into your hair as a hydrating mask and then wash it out after 10 minutes.

Look for "unrefined" or "virgin" coconut oil, which is the best quality for skin and hair.  Cold-pressed coconut oil is also more likely to maintain its health benefits as treating the oil with high heat can alter some of the natural compounds in the oil.  A 32-ounce tub costs less than $20.

Bowe cautions that people with acne-prone skin should avoid coconut oil as it can potentially clog your pores.

The Take-Home Message About Coconut Oil:  While consuming coconut oil for your health and waist may not be what is it cracked up to be, applying coconut oil to the outside of your body may a cheap beauty trick.

Thanks for Reading.

Be Well,

Joan

Twitter:  @JoanSalgeBlake

Which Essential Oil Company is the Best? Information on the Aura Cacia Essential Oils

Which Essential Oil Company is the Best? Honestly, I believe it is your personal preference which company you feel comfortable with. There are many good essential oil companies out there. I personally chose to purchase and use the Aura Cacia Essential Oils. I have researched this company on their website and searched the reviews on Google. I have provided my research in this blog but again, I believe it's your choice and your research and due diligence on the company and your decision on which company to purchase essential oils from.

Other Essential Oil Companies

DoTerra 

Young Living

Heritage Oils

Native American Nutritionals

Now Essential Oils 

Edens Garden

Mountain Rose Herbs 

Aura Cacia (research included in this blog) 

and so so so many more out there. 

Another great site to check out is HERE at www.wholenewmom.com. She has researched a few of the EO companies I mentioned above and actually has a 2 Part article on her extensive research. It's worth a read if you are looking for research on other essential oil companies.  

Why do I Use Essential Oils? 

I was originally introduced to essential oils by a friend of a friend who invited me to an "Oil Party" for DoTerra. I was intrigued by the presentation on the natural effects of essential oils on the body and how the body reacted to such small amounts of the oils and how powerful they are and how they can help with common ailments and more complex ailments.  Then came the sales pitch......I call it Multi-Level Marketing (MLM) however many of the oil companies don't call it that. They pitch it as a savings program. But you have to pay an annual fee to get the discount and still those discounted prices were out of my budget. I did purchase the OnGuard Oil Blend. I liked it however I thought it was very expensive. I would liked to have purchased additional oils at the time but again, many were out of my budget.

Some of my friends, family and co-workers suggested I use essential oils during cold/flu season for my little one who had a horrible winter 2013. She was sick from October - February with coughing spells until she puked. She would be sick for 2-3 weeks then okay for 1 week then it would start all over again. Finally, after mom's intuition of saying "no, this is not a cold or allergies" and being persistent with the Dr. to find out what the heck was wrong with my 3 year old daughter, the Dr. finally ordered a chest x-ray which came back as viral pneumonia. After all the pokes and prods, blood draws, 2 rounds of 2 different antibiotics, an inhaler of Albuterol, which she had an allergic reaction to (her lungs spasmed and she coughed until she would puke, turned pale in face, blue lips and couldn't breath)....... OMG! I about lost it! My poor baby! Ok, deep breath........ that was then and it's over now. I started her on a probiotic and organic multivitamin along with a daily dose of Zyrtec.

After all of this I decided to research these essential oils to see what they were all about and be prepared for the next year of cold/flu season. The 2014 cold/flu season to say the least was nothing like 2013, thank God.  I'm a paralegal so I love to research and that is exactly what I did and am so glad to have found these oils. I honestly believe running the Thieves Oil and Allergy Trio during cold/flu season cut down on our family getting sick. It has helped all of us,not just my little ones. I can only remember when we all got sick just before Christmas 2014 but that was about it, no continued bouts of coughing, or runny noses and I believe using the oils aromatically and topically cut down on the severity and length of the sickness.

So, what essential oils do I use and Why????..........

My Research  on Aura Cacia Essential Oils 

(Information taken from their websites)

Aura Cacia was founded in 1982 in Weaverville, CA. When Frontier Natural Products Co-Op purchased the company in 1993, Aura Cacia was well-established as the market leader in aromatherapy.

Frontier Co-Op had been selling essential oils in response to member requests since 1978 and already had expert quality testing and sourcing capabilities in place.

The combination of established quality expertise and the market leadership of the Aura Cacia brand melded into a popular, premium-quality aromatherapy line.

Aura Cacia continues as the quality leader in aromatherapy today via their Source to the Shelf (TM) Strategy. Their ethical and sustainable sourcing program, Well Earth(TM), and their in-house sophisticated testing capabilities, which allows them to guarantee the quality of their essential oils.

In the face of increasing adulteration and quality exaggeration in the marketplace, they believe this is peace of mind for their customers.

Who is Frontier Co-Op? 

Frontier was founded in 1976. It is organized as an Iowa cooperative, owned by more than 30,000 wholesale customers. Each member has one share and one vote. The members elect a Board of Directors that hires Frontier's CEO and oversees the business in the interest of the members. Member/owner investment provides the capital for the business to operate, and the Co-op's annual net income is divided among the members according to patronage.

They offer more than 82,000 products across more than 260 brands -including their own brands of Aura Cacia, Simply Organic and Frontier.

Products sold under their own brands are: Frontier bulk herbs, spices, teas, food ingredients, and seasonings; Frontier bottled spices, seasonings, and flavors; Simply Organic spices, seasonings mixes, and flavors; and Aura Cacia essential oils, skin care oils, and personal care products. They also manufacture private-label spices and essential oils.

The Aura Cacia Philosophy 

 Aura Cacia's goal is to make aromatherapy easy! They offer an extensive selection of high quality essential oils and aromatherapy products for all ages and spaces.
They accomplish this with:
Source to the Shelf (TM) Strategy.  This is their own ethical and sustainable sourcing program, Well Earth (TM), in addition to their in-house sophisticated testing capabilities, allows them to guarantee high-quality essential oils that deliver true aromatherapy benefit. Aura Cacia refuses to carry anything less.

Full Ingredient Disclosure. Every ingredient used in Aura Cacia products - down to the individual essential oils - is listed in order of its quantity in the ingredients. You will never see vague terms such as "botanical fragrance" in the ingredient lists. They want customers to know exactly what they are getting when they purchase the products.

Environment-Friendly Policies. Environment is top-of-mind when selecting ingredients and packaging materials for their products. They strive to use recyclable packaging, minimize excess packaging, and utilize post-consumer recycled (PCR) materials when possible.

Animal-Friendly Policies. Aura Cacia products are not tested on animals any no animal by-products are used with the exception of beeswax


Aura Cacia Gives Back
The Aura Cacia Organic 1% Fund. "At Aura Cacia, we give back 1% of the sales of our organic products to support organic farmers and their communities."

The money from individual purchases provides opportunities for the people whose skill and commitment is essential to the high quality Aura Cacia aromatherapy products you enjoy.

The 1% Organic Fund originated with the re-launch of organic essential oils in 2010. Their first project was to build a preschool in Madagascar, where they source organic Ylang Ylang EO. The school helps hardworking parents realize their dreams for their children's education and offers a new world of opportunity for generations to come.

Aura Cacia 1% Organic Fund includes all of their organic products. Click here to view a video of the preschool Aura Cacia 1% Fund build in Madagascar.

Sourcing Matters to Aura Cacia 

Aura Cacia is able to find and develop ethical sources of high quality products because they travel directly to the source of the ingredients around the world. This helps to ensure that the ingredients meet their high quality standards and that the suppliers are committed to:

• Worker Safety and Fair Treatment 
• Sustainable Growing Practices
• Environmental Stewardship
• Community Involvement 

Direct Sourcing allows Aura Cacia to establish personal relationships with the farmers. At the core of these relationships are their shared values - not just about quality and the environment, but about people as well. Aura Cacia shares the belief that it's important to respect and care for others in life and in business. 

Aura Cacia Essential Oil Quality 

Every Aura Cacia essential oil must pass a battery of tests to ensure its authenticity and quality. They perform four major tests in the scientific analysis on every essential oil. 

The Four Test are: 

1. Gas Chromatography/mass spectrometry (GCMS) 
2. Specific Gravity 
3. Optical Rotation
4. Refractive Index

HERE is a link to their website for more information regarding the quality testing.

Aura Cacia tests every pre-shipment sample of essential oils before making a purchase. Then, after purchasing the essential oil, every shipment is tested again to make sure it continues to meet all quality and purity standards. Their extensive testing provides complete confidence that the Aura Cacia brand of oils are 100% pure and authentic, and they offer a quality guarantee to their customers.

Many other oil companies market "therapeutic grade oils" however, there is no such grading system for essential oils. Companies use this term in marketing to try to differentiate aromatherapy oils from essential oils used in flavoring and food. Aromatherapy oils should be pure, complete and unadulterated high quality oils. But because the term "therapeutic grade" isn't based on established standards or regulation, it can be - and often is - used without regard to the quality of the oil.

You can also view their FAQ page which answers a lot of questions regarding their oils and the quality and testing practices.

Conclusion 

From my research on the company and their sustainability and the information they provide on their websites www.auracacia.com and www.frontiercoop.com, I feel very comfortable using the Aura Cacia Essential Oils. I like that the company has been around for a number of years (longer than other EO companies) and they give back to the communities in which the oils are farmed.

** Also, a HUGE factor for me in choosing the Aura Cacia brand of essential oils was the price. I have joined their buyer's club and receive discounted pricing which is even better! 

One Example of Pricing between Aura Cacia and 2 other top Essential Oil Companies: 

                          Aura Cacia (SRP)          Top Company 1 (SRP)                 Top Company 2 (SRP)

Lavender 15ml     $12.29                          $28.00                                           $30.92

Really!? WOW! That is a HUGE difference in price. For a mom on a budget wanting to help out her family in a more natural way this is a big savings.

I hope this information has helped you to have a little more understanding of the Aura Cacia Essential Oils brand.

I have not been paid by Aura Cacia or Frontier Co-op for this blog article. This blog contains my own findings and research. I am not a retailer of the products at this time, just a mom wanting to spread the word about the benefits of using essential oils!


References: https://www.auracacia.com/ and http://www.frontiercoop.com/


   

Disclaimer:The information on this site is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose or prescribe any of these products for you or your family. In the case of illness you should contact your health care professional. In no instances shall the owner of this website or its affiliates be responsible or liable for any damages whatsoever resulting in connection with the use of this information, products, or its publication. The decision to use any information from this site is the sole responsibility of the reader.

   

Vetiver Essential Oil - SO many uses; Insomnia, Depression, Inflammation, ADHD, Acne, Anxiety......

For the longest time I was calling this oil Veviter, of course after I actually purchased it and "read" the label it's called Vetiver. I think everyone reads a little too fast sometimes, oh well.

One thing I will tell you before we get too far into the SO many great uses of this oil........ it is VERY thick. I was about to call the company and tell them my oil was bad. It wouldn't come out of the bottle so I took off the cap and looked inside and tilted the bottle over. It is darker in color and the oil and has the consistency of let's say pancake or maples syrup. It is much too thick and won't  "drip" out of the oil cap you will need to remove the cap and use a dropper. It has a very strong "earthy" aroma.

I purchased it to try it out. I knew it would come in handy for something at sometime and that it did! With 2 little ones at home of course there are toys every where. I was picking up toys before I left for work and low and behold I stood up and knew that I threw my lower back out. One of the many dangers of toys! LOL. The pain wasn't too bad, at least I could still walk. Through out the day at work it progressively worsened. Just the dull ache and you can't quit get comfortable except bending yourself in half and staying that way. Yeah that's not gonna work. Finally, 2 days later dealing with the uncomfortable pain I checked my oil cupboard and didn't have any Pain Away made so I grabbed the Vetiver bottle and said let's give this one a try! That's when I discovered the consistency of the oil as mentioned above.

I dipped my finger in the bottle and applied a little of the Vetiver oil along with some Coconut carrier oil and rubbed it on my lower back. I also added a few drops of Peppermint. Holy Moly! My back pain was subsiding. I didn't have that constant dull ache and I could almost stand up straight again. I immediately called my sister who suffers from a back injury (slipped disk, bulging disc, arthritis, etc.) and told her we needed to try this on her. She is so ready to find something to help with the pain. If it works for her I'll make her a roller bottle so she can roll it on whenever needed.

What is Vetiver Oil? 

Vetiver is a perennial grass which is native to India. It has a strong initial aroma and is described as woody, smokey, earthy, herbaceous, and spicy. The most valued quality of vetiver oil is that it is deeply grounding, and often used for promoting sleep It is said to also be equally helpful for restlessness.

Uses of Vetiver Oil 

Its aromatic effect on the mind is grounding, calming, and balancing, while its other notable actions are antiseptic, antispasmodic, immune-stimulating, warming, sedative to the nervous system, and stimulating to the circulatory system.

Vetiver Essential Oil provides the following health benefits:

• Enhances libido and awakens sexual desire
• Provides relief to insomnia patients 
• Speeds up eradication of scars and other skin marks 
• Has antiseptic properties 
• Provides relief from all types of inflammation 
• Improves and maintains good nerve health 
• Rejuvenates the body and helps boost immunity 
• Helps heal wounds by promoting growth of new tissues
• Acne
• Anxiety
• Absentmindedness 
• Arthritis
• Depression
• Mental Fatigue
• Menstrual Cramps
• Tentonitis
• Sore Feet
• Joint Stiffness
• ADHD 

One specific area that Vetiver Oil can potentially address is ADHD, in large part because it is a calming essential oil. A 2001 study conducted by Dr. Terry Friedman found that the oil's aroma improved the performance of children with ADD and ADHD by 100%. The results emerged much stronger than Lavender's performance increase of 53% and Cedarwood's 83%. 

WOW, 100% improved performance! Now why are so many prescription drugs being given to young children when all they can use is a simple essential oil? There are so many benefits and less side effects when using essential oils. 

To harness these benefits, Vetiver Oils can be administered different ways. It can be applied topically (recommended diluted with a carrier oil), directly inhaled, or diffused. The oil blends well with the essential oils of benzoin, grapefruit, jasmine, lavender, and ylang-ylang.  

As I was researching the many uses of Vetiver I did come across a lot of articles and posts regarding how helpful Vetiver has been with ADHD and ADD in children and even adults. If you have ADHD, ADD, or know someone that does pass this along and have them give it a try. See for yourself how amazing essential oils can be.

Some Easy Recipes to Try

Injury Blend 
4 drops Vetiver
3 drops Lavender
2 drops Bergamot
1 oz carrier oil.
Massage into affected area

TMJ Blend
4 drops Helichrysum
3 drops White Fir
2 Drops Vetiver
1 oz carrier oil
Massage into jaw muscles morning and night

Arthritis Blend
4 drops Frankincense
3 drops Marjoram
2 drops Rosemary
2 drops Vetiver
1 oz carrier oil
Massage into affected area.

ADHD and ADD Blend
5 drops Vetiver
3 drops Cedarwood
2 drops Lavender
1 oz carrier oil
Diffuse, dilute into a spray bottle and mist on, or apply topically.



Reference: http://articles.mercola.com/herbal-oils/vetiver-oil.aspx 



Disclaimer:The information on this site is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose or prescribe any of these products for you or your family. In the case of illness you should contact your health care professional. In no instances shall the owner of this website or its affiliates be responsible or liable for any damages whatsoever resulting in connection with the use of this information, products, or its publication. The decision to use any information from this site is the sole responsibility of the reader.

Rosemary Essential Oil

I love rosemary! And rosemary essential oil smells just like it. Plus it has some incredible health benefits. Find out more about rosemary essential oil here.

Quick Glance at Rosemary Essential Oil

Pros: Rosemary oil can improve hair growth, boost your mood, neutralize free radicals, reduce inflammation, and kill microbes.

Cons: Oral intake of rosemary essential oil can cause genotoxic and mutagenic effects; meaning the oil can damage cell DNA.

Precautions: You should not use rosemary essential oil if you are pregnant, epileptic or suffer from high blood pressure. And do not swallow it for the above reasons.

Rosemary Essential Oil Properties

Before getting into the benefits of this oil, you should know some of these properties of rosemary essential oil.

Name

The plant's botanical name is Rosmarinus officinalis. Pretty obvious, right? Verify this name on the bottle before buying rosemary oil.

Color & Scent

This oil is usually colorless but may have a pale yellow tinge. And what does rosemary oil smell like? Well, it is pretty unique with woody, camphor-like tones.

Compounds

There are about 29 compounds in rosemary oil. The main compounds include: 1,8-cineole (45%), camphor (13%), alpha-pinene (12%), beta-pinene (8%), camphene (5%), beta-caryophyllene (4%), limonene (3%), and borneol (3%).

Benefits of Rosemary Essential Oil

These compounds make rosemary essential oil great for hair, skin, and more. Here are just some of the benefits of rosemary essential oil.

1. Rosemary oil for hair growth

The oil can help with male-pattern baldness, hair thinning and more. So you can definitely use rosemary oil for hair growth. And studies prove it!

A 2015 study compared the topical use of rosemary oil to 2% minoxidil on 100 men with androgenic alopecia (the medical term for male-pattern hair loss).

Side note: minoxidil (sold as Rogaine) is an FDA approved drug that stimulates hair growth and it's actually believed to be one of the more effective hair loss drugs.

Back to the study: the researchers asked the men to either use rosemary oil or minoxidil on their scalp for 6 months. They also checked the men's hair growth progress using microphotographic assessment before, 3 months into and 6 months after the study.

The results were remarkable. At the 3-month mark, neither group showed any major change with respect to their mean hair count but both groups experienced significant increases at the end of the 6 months. In fact, both groups had similar results, meaning rosemary oil was just as powerful as the effective, FDA approved minoxidil for improving hair growth. And minoxidil actually caused more irritation to the scalp than rosemary oil!

So you can use rosemary oil for hair growth, reducing hair loss and male-pattern baldness without the terrible irritation associated with current topical drugs.

2. Rosemary oil increases alertness

Several clinical trials have proven these effects. For instance, a 2003 study asked 144 healthy volunteers to do a series of tests while inhaling rosemary essential oil. The results revealed rosemary oil significantly improved memory, alertness and mood.

A similar study was also done in 2013. This study measured the heart rate, blood pressure, and mood states of 20 volunteers before, during and after smelling rosemary oil. At the end, the volunteers said they felt more active, alert, and fresh. Their measurements showed increases in blood pressure and heart rate; which is also indicative of greater alertness.

So use rosemary essential oil to boost your mood, re-energize yourself and help you concentrate!

3. Rosemary helps with depression

Animal studies, including this 2013 one, have proven rosemary essential oil has antidepressant benefits.

4. Rosemary essential oil is antioxidant

Multiple studies suggest rosemary oil has very good free radical scavenging properties. Free radicals can damage cells which may lead to many health problems including cancer. And antioxidant compounds or free radical scavengers can neutralize these radicals and so protect cells from potential damage.

A 2010 study demonstrated rosemary essential oil's high antioxidant effects. And it was found to be far more potent than the compound 1,8-cineole by itself. This means there are many free radical scavenging, antioxidant compounds in the oil.

5. Rosemary oil may have anticancer properties

There are several cell culture studies that suggest rosemary oil has antiprolific, cytotoxic and anticancer properties. However, remember that results from cell cultures may not always translate to the human body since the body is far more complex than a petri dish.

That being said, a 2012 study used rosemary oil on three human cancer cell types. The results showed very little concentrations (below 0.1%) were needed to kill the cancer cells.

Isn't rosemary oil truly amazing?

6. Rosemary essential oil is anti-inflammatory

A 2008 study tested rosemary oil on mice edema. Researchers found the oil significantly inhibited the edema between one to four hours after use. This makes rosemary essential oil a powerful anti-inflammatory agent. And the study also went on to show the oil has pain-killing properties too.

Of course, this means you can use rosemary oil to reduce redness, acne, inflammed spots and painful areas on your body.

7. Rosemary is antibacterial

There are a lot (and I mean a lot) of studies that prove rosemary oil has antibacterial properties.

And a 2012 study showed these properties are due to the compounds: 1,8-cineole, alpha-pinene, and beta-pinene. In fact, the compounds have a synergistic effect, meaning they are stronger together than separately.

8. It is anti-fungal too

Typically, essential oils with strong antibacterial properties also have good anti-fungal effects. And rosemary essential oil is no different.

9. Rosemary oil is an insecticide

The final benefit of rosemary essential oil is that it has insecticidal, insect repellent, larvicidal and ovicidal properties. And there are several studies that show these effects on mosquitoes, moths, and other insects.

A 2008 article went further to show 1,8-cineole, camphor, beta-pinene and borneol were the compounds responsible for rosemary's insecticidal benefits.

Summary of Rosemary Essential Oil Benefits

Rosemary Essential Oil Uses

Here are a few rosemary essential oil uses for you to try.

Inhaling

Add a few drops of rosemary essential oil to your vaporizer to boost your mood, improve your concentration and keep away depression. That woody, camphor-like smell is sure to help you focus and study.

Rosemary oil can also be blended with lavender, sandalwood and other earthy oils.

Massaging

Before using rosemary essential oil on your skin, be sure to do a skin patch test. This test will verify if you are allergic to the oil or not. If you aren't allergic, be sure to dilute the oil. Add about 3-5 drops of rosemary oil to 1 teaspoon of a carrier oil (like coconut or avocado oil) and apply to your skin and hair.

You can also blend rosemary, sandalwood, and lavender oils (in a 1:1:1 ratio) with 1 tablespoon of carrier oil and use this mix on your hair.

More Precautions

This is really important! Do not ingest rosemary essential oil! A 2010 animal study showed high levels of ingested rosemary oil caused cell DNA damage in the animals. That means the oil does have genotoxic and mutagenic capabilities.

So keep the oil out of the reach of children, pets and anyone that can accidentally swallow the oil.

Also do not use rosemary oil if you are pregnant, epileptic or suffer from high blood pressure. And be sure to check with your doctor before trying this oil.

Get Rosemary Essential Oil:

What's next?

Return to:
- Essential Oils Listing
- Carrier Oils Listing

Should You Weigh Yourself Daily?

Photo Source: CDC

If weight loss is your goal, jumping on the bathroom scale daily may help you shed more weight, according to a new study in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.  In this study of over 90 overweight adults, half of them were asked to weigh themselves daily for six months.  The other half weighed themselves whenever they wanted.  At the end of the six months, those that weighed themselves daily lost about 20 pounds.  Those that weighed themselves less often lost less than 7 pounds.

Before you start making a weigh-in a morning ritual, you need to know that in this study, those who were instructed to weigh themselves daily were also provided with weekly emails tips and strategies for weight loss.  Basically, they had a weekly virtual coach to cheer them on.  This could have made a difference in the outcome.

Based on my years of counseling folks who were battling the bathroom scale, a daily weigh-in could sometimes backfire.   So often, my clients who were adhering to a weight loss diet, stepped on the bathroom scale only to see the number shockingly escalate in the wrong direction.  They had not lost weight, but rather, gained weight.  Often times, this surprising change of events caused them to become discouraged and want to start scooping out the ice cream.  This is when I had to quickly intervene.

Your body weight can fluctuate based on what you eat.  For example, many folks retain temporary water weight when they eat a large amount of sodium, such as chowing down a salty pickle along with a deli lunchtime sandwich.   A salty meal can cause you to temporarily retain fluids in your body.   When you stop eating the salty foods, the temporary water weight will leave the body and the numbers on the scale will start declining and become friendlier.

If maintaining your weight is your goal, you may want to consider weighing yourself only weekly.  A recent study showed that a weekly weigh-in was adequate to help folks maintain their weight.  In my experience, people tend to do a better job of sticking to their diet during the week so a Friday morning weigh-in may give you a better chance of seeing a kinder number on the scale.  It can also provide you with some positive motivation to reel in your weekend eating.

Another tip: consider journaling your food intake and activity level to see where or when the problems may be.   Keeping a food journal has been shown to help folks lose weight.

How often do you weigh yourself?  What works for you?  Please comment below.

Be well, Joan

Twitter:  @JoanSalgeBlake

What is an Essential Oil Diffuser and How to use one

What is an Essential Oil Diffuser? 

I have been asked many times what is a diffuser? I compare it to a humidifier but it is a little different. Essentially, essential oil diffusers fill the air with microscopic particles of the chosen essential oil and water. The essential oils and water are diffused by ultrasound waves while adding humidity to the air and filling the room with aromatics. This is extremely beneficial when you or someone in your family is sick.

I actually have two diffusers in our home. I have a small one I purchased at Sprouts which is the Now brand. This particular one runs for approximately 3-4 hours and was about $45.00. I also have a larger one I purchased off of Zulilly but you can find them on Amazon as well. The large diffuser runs about 10-12 hours and has increments of time you can set ranging from 30 minutes to all day.

I use the smaller one in my infant daughters room to diffuse lavender at bedtime and the large one in our family room.

Cleaning your Diffuser

Cleaning your diffuser is fairly simple. They say not to use distilled or purified water and clean it after every use by letting vinegar sit inside for about 10 minutes. I clean mine about every 2-3 days and wipe it out with a paper towel and also clean the magnet part on the inside gently. The magnet is the atomizer and sometimes the output is less when it gets dirty. The vinegar is an important step in maintaining your diffuser.

Using your Diffuser 

During the cold/flu and now allergy season I have been diffusing Thieves Oil and the Allergy Trio on a daily basis. During the weekends when I'm home cleaning or playing with the kids I have diffused Lemon and Lime for a nice fresh aroma throughout the house. Citrus oils are clean, uplifting and inviting aromas. You can also diffuse the Purification blend to clean the air in your home, say after that fish dinner. For relaxation you can also diffuse lavender and chamomile. You can diffuse whatever your heart or nose desires!

Purification Oil Blend
Thieves Oil Blend
Allergy Trio Blend


For the smaller diffuser I add about 3-5 drops of essential oil. For the larger diffuser I add about 8-10 drops. It all depends on how strong the aroma output is of the oil and how sensitive your nose is to scents.

Other Types of Diffusers 

There are many other types of diffusers that are available. They have "plug-in" ones similar to a Glade plug-in that have cotton pads that you drop the oil on and insert into the "plug-in". There are terra cotta rings that you can place oils in and set on top of the light bulb in your lamp. They even have USB plug-ins for the office. There are all different types of diffusers for what works best for you.

Here are the images of the diffusers I use in our home.

Pain Away Essential Oil Blend for Sore Achy Muscles and Joints. Link to Fibromyalgia Pain Relief

  Having achy joints or sore muscles is never fun. Did you work out a little too hard? Do you suffer from arthritis or joint pain? How about just sleeping wrong and you have a kink in your neck? You can make your own Pain Away Essential Oil Blend. The scent is similar to any muscle rub you buy at the drug store but without all the other chemicals they put into the cream. It has a refreshing smell and has cooling sensation on the skin.


    I actually used this on my husbands  back mixed with some coconut oil. After the massage he was so relaxed and actually asked, "What was that?" Yay!! My oils worked!!   You too can mix up your own Pan Away Essential Oil to use and relieve those achy muscles.



What is in the Pain Away Essential Oil Blend? 

Wintergreen - contains 85-99% of methyl salicylate the same active ingredient as birch and is beneficial in massage for soothing head tension and muscles after exercising.

Helichrysum - known for its restorative properties and provides excellent support to the skin, liver, and nervous system. Use for combating minor aches and pains associated with everyday life. Helichrysum can be hard to find and can come at a high price due to its limited availability of the plant it comes from. (I didn't have this EO available and use of only the other three oils is fine).

Clove- helps to boost immunity, and promote oral health an is also the highest ranked known antioxidant. An important ingredient in this blend due to its wonderful immune-enhancing properties, it's principal constituent is eugenol, which is used in the dental industry to numb the gums.

Peppermint- one of the most highly regarded herbs for soothing digestion, it may also restore digestive efficiency. It also provides a cooling sensation on sore muscles.

Uses for Pain Away 

Occasional aches and pain, muscle spasm, charley horse, tension in head and neck; joint stiffness due to exercise, muscles (over exercised, sore, tension or stiff due to exercise or everyday activities). sports; and focus.

How to use Pain Away Blend 

Peppermint, Clove and Wintergreen are "hot" oils this this blend should be diluted 50:50 with a carrier oil.

• Apply 2-4 drops on location to muscles or injury and massage
• Apply to temples for headache 
• Apply to chakras/vitaflex points 
• Apply as compress on spine
• Directly inhale
• Diffuse

****Pain Away DIY Recipe****

1 tsp Wintergreen

1 tsp Clove

1 tsp Peppermint 

1/2 tsp Helichrysum (optional)

1 TBSP Carrier Oil

 If you suffer from debilitating muscle/body aches and pains from conditions such as Fibromyalgia,  HERE is a link to a post from Rocky Mountain Oils that I came across that has some great information on using Essential Oils and Recipes for pain relief, insomnia relief and general information on how to relieve some of the symptoms naturally when suffering from Fibromyalgia.

Disclaimer:The information on this site is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose or prescribe any of these products for you or your family. In the case of illness you should contact your health care professional. In no instances shall the owner of this website or its affiliates be responsible or liable for any damages whatsoever resulting in connection with the use of this information, products, or its publication. The decision to use any information from this site is the sole responsibility of the reader.

Lemongrass Essential Oil

Lemongrass essential oil is one of the most powerful essential oils available. It's like the Superman of essential oils. Really! Find out more about the properties, uses and benefits of lemongrass essential oil.

Quick Glance at Lemongrass Essential Oil

Pros: Lemongrass oil is antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antimicrobial and has insect repellent properties.

Cons: Lemongrass oil may irritate your skin.

Precautions: This oil is potent and may cause skin sensitivity even at low concentrations.

Lemongrass Essential Oil Properties

Here are the lemongrass essential oil properties you should know.

Name

There are several varieties in the lemongrass family that are used to make the essential oil. The botanical names of the most common ones are Cymbopogon flexuosus (East Indian lemongrass) and Cymbopogon citratus (West Indian lemongrass).

The essential oil of the East Indian variety is much more common. But the West Indian type is better researched and is probably the more powerful oil.

You should know these botanical names are also very similar to citronella's and palmarosa's as they are part of the lemongrass family. So verify the botanical names before buying lemongrass essential oil.

Color & Smell

The oil has a light yellow to brownish color. And, as you can expect, it has a lemony, citrusy scent.

Components

Generally, both varieties of lemongrass essential oil contain high concentrations of geranial and neral. Collectively, these two compounds are called citral and make up 80% of the oil. They also give lemongrass its scent.

Other compounds in the oil include: myrcene, geranyl acetate and isopulegol.

These lemongrass essential oil properties make the oil one of the most powerful oils available!

Benefits of Lemongrass Essential Oil

What is lemongrass essential oil good for? Find out right here.

1. Lemongrass oil may be anticancer

Oils from both East and West Indian varieties have demonstrated anticancer properties.

The essential oil of Cymbopogon flexuosus (East Indian) was tested on 12 human cancer cells and mice tumors in a 2009 study. The results showed the oil killed all cancer cells even at very low concentrations.

Another study done in 2011 showed similar effects for the essential oil of Cymbopogon citratus. It went on to suggest the oil also protected cells from DNA damage which is one of the many causes of cancerous cells.

Citral was attributed with the anticancer benefits of lemongrass essential oil.

2. It is antioxidant

Citral is also credited with the antioxidant effects of lemongrass oil. And it's found in both varieties.

A 2005 study tested the free radical scavenging and antioxidant properties of 11 essential oils. And ylang ylang, lemongrass (West Indian), and rosemary oils were found to be the most antioxidant and radical scavenging.

Note, free radicals also contribute to cancer so this study further emphasizes lemongrass' anticancer effects.

3. Lemongrass essential oil is anti-inflammatory

There is tremendous evidence showing lemongrass fights inflammation.

Oils from both varieties were tested on mice in recent studies (C. flexuosus; C. citratus). And the results showed the oils reduced swelling or edema and skin redness. They also acted as painkillers for both sudden and prolonged inflammation. Impressive right!

4. It is antibacterial

Here is another impressive benefit of lemongrass essential oil. It is considered one of the best antibacterial oils. And, according to this study, you only need a little to kill some of the most multi-drug and antibiotic resistant bacteria.

But you should know though C. citratus is more powerful than its East Indian counterpart.

5. Lemongrass oil is good for acne

So you've seen the above benefits of lemongrass essential oil. It is antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial. And when these three properties are combined, you get three ways to fight acne.

As you probably already know, acne vulgaris is an inflammatory disease of the sebaceous glands (or oil glands). The bacteria, Propionibacterium acnes plays a role in this inflammation by damaging the oil glands. And when your skin tries to heal, the damaged oil glands can cause scars to form.

A 2006 study tested lemongrass essential oil (West Indian) on the bacteria, P. acnes. The results showed the oil killed the bacteria at extremely low concentrations (0.25%).

The study went on to suggest that, with these proven effects against the acne bacteria plus its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, lemongrass oil is the perfect acne fighting oil.

6. It is anti-fungal

Just like its antibacterial properties, lemongrass is one of the best anti-fungal oils too.

Oils from both varieties affect the health, shape and growth of the fungi cells. And there are many studies that show these effects on various fungi and yeast species including Candida albicans (which causes Candidiasis or yeast infections, and thrush) and Aspergillus niger (which causes mold on plants).

So lemongrass essential oil is a powerful fungicide that can also be used for cleaning and gardening purposes.

7. Lemongrass oil kills insects

There are a few studies that prove lemongrass' insecticide and repellent effects on flies, mosquitoes and beetles.

One 2006 study showed C. citratus killed mosquitoes, their eggs and larvae, and provided 100% repellent protection for more than 5 hours.

That means it's the perfect oil to make a really good bug spray.

8. It kills arachnids too

Lemongrass essential oil doesn't only kill insects. It works well against arachnids too like spiders, dust mites, and ticks. This 2011 study proved these effects on dust mites.

So what is lemongrass essential oil good for? You can clearly see there are so many benefits of lemongrass oil. It is truly amazing (both varieties). And you can understand why we say lemongrass is the Superman of essential oils.

Lemongrass Essential Oil Uses

Here are some lemongrass essential oil uses.

Inhaling

Add lemongrass oil to your diffuser for a citrusy, wonderful scent. You can also try a one-to-one ratio with cardamom essential oil in your diffuser.

Other oils that blended well with lemongrass are basil, clary sage, geranium, and tea tree oil.

Massaging

Lemongrass essential oil can sensitize your skin even at very low concentrations so you have to test the oil first (via a patch test) before using it extensively.

You should also use conservative amounts of the oil due to its potency.So 1-2 drops of lemongrass oil to 1 teaspoon of carrier is a suitable mix.

Cleaning

Add a few drops of lemongrass essential to your homemade organic cleaners. It actually works really well to mask the terrible vinegar scent while killing microbes and keeping bugs away.

Repellent

Add 10 drops of lemongrass essential oil and 2 cups of water to a spray bottle. Shake well and spray liberally on your skin. Use this same mix to keep insects and arachnids away.

More Precautions

Always check with your doctor before trying lemongrass essential oil, especially if you are pregnant or breastfeeding or planning to use it on small children.

Get Lemongrass Essential Oil:

What's next?

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- Carrier Oils Listing

Grapefruit Essential Oil

Grapefruits are yummy (with sugar)! And grapefruit essential oil smells just like the fruit! Plus it has some wonderful health benefits. Here's more about grapefruit essential oil.

Quick Glance at Grapefruit Essential Oil

Pros: Grapefruit oil can reduce appetite, kill microbes, insects and cancer cells.

Cons: Grapefruit can irritate your skin when exposed to sunlight and can increase your skin sensitivity.

Precautions: You should avoid all citrus oils while pregnant. Also grapefruit oil is very toxic to cats.

Properties of Grapefruit Essential Oil

Here are some properties of grapefruit essential oil for you to consider.

Name

The botanical name for grapefruit is Citrus paradisi.

You may sometimes see grapefruit referred to as Citrus racemosa or Citrus maxima. These names are not really used by the scientific community for grapefruit. In fact, Citrus maxima actually refers to pomelo or shaddock, which is the parent plant of grapefruit.

Note some essential oil companies and blogs use these incorrect botanical names for grapefruit.

Color & Smell

The color of grapefruit essential oil depends on the type of grapefruit used. For white grapefruit, the essential oil is typically yellow to light orange. And for the pink variety, the oil is orange to reddish in color.

Both types have the characteristic grapefruit smell. You know that citrusy, slightly sweet smell.

Components

About 67 compounds have been found in grapefruit essential oil. The most prominent one is limonene which makes up more than 80% of the oil.

Other noteworthy compounds include myrcene, alpha-pinene, beta-pinene, alpha-terpineol, citronellal, decanal, farnesol, nootkatone and z-carvone.

Grapefruit Essential Oil Benefits

So what is grapefruit essential oil good for? And what are some grapefruit essential oil benefits? Let's find out below.

1. Grapefruit oil may reduce appetite

A 2005 study explored the effects of inhaling grapefruit essential oil on mice. The results showed a reduction in food intake after smelling the oil which, in turn, caused a decrease in the body weight of the mice.

Limonene was identified as the compound that caused these effects.

There are other studies, like this 2006 one, that show similar results. But this particular study involved obese persons eating grapefruit before their meals or taking grapefruit juice capsules.

While this isn't exactly an essential oil-based study, the scent of the grapefruit plus its filling effects, may have contributed to the reduced appetite and loss of weight experienced by these obese participants. So maybe you can add grapefruit essential oil to your weight loss routine!

2. Grapefruit essential oil may help fight against cancer

Here's another incredible benefit of grapefruit oil. A 2003 study used citrus oils including grapefruit on human tumor cells. The results were remarkable. They proved the oil caused the cancerous cells to die.

Limonene and decanal were the compounds responsible for these effects.

3. It is antibacterial

You will probably find a lot of evidence proving grapefruit's antibacterial properties. The oil may not be as potent as lemongrass but it is still powerful against many types of bacteria including Staphylococcus aureus. That's the bacteria that can cause skin infections and even food poisoning.

4. Grapefruit oil is anti-fungal

Grapefruit kill fungi too. A 2008 study tested the oil on four types of common molds. The results proved grapefruit's anti-fungal properties.

5. It is an insecticide

Grapefruit essential oil has shown repellent and insecticidal properties against mosquitoes, house flies, and beetles. A recent 2013 study on mosquitoes also revealed low levels of grapefruit oil can kill insect eggs and larvae.

Grapefruit Essential Oil Uses

You have just seen the proven grapefruit essential oil benefits. But how do you use the oil? Well there are a few ways.

Inhaling

You can simply add a few drops of grapefruit oil to your diffuser. I mean why not try it as part of your healthy, weight loss routine?

Grapefruit also pairs well with the other citrus oils like bergamot and orange. So get that wonderful citrusy scent in your room.

Massaging

Yes grapefruit oil is awesome, but you have to be careful when putting it on your skin. It is known to cause skin irritation when exposed to UV and sunlight. And it can also cause skin sensitivity.

So it is especially important to do a patch test if you are using the oil for the first time. This is incredibly important!

Once you are not sensitive, you can mix 1-2 drops of grapefruit with any carrier oil. But, this is crucial! Don't apply the oil to areas exposed to sunlight. Or, if you do, cover up those areas well like with long sleeves.

Personally, I wouldn't use any grapefruit oil blends on my skin - covered up or not. I prefer not to risk the irritation or sensitivity.

More Precautions

Citrus oil are not recommended during pregnancy so be sure to consult your doctor before using grapefruit essential oil.

Get Grapefruit Essential Oil:

What's next?

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- Essential Oils Listing
- Carrier Oils Listing

Essential Oil Allergy Trio Blend

   I know much of the country still has winter weather bombarding them but living in sunny, warm Arizona our Spring has pretty much started. With that being said the trees, plants and flowers are starting to blossom bringing with it our dreaded allergy season.

    The Allergy Trio was the oil blend that was my turning point and made me a believer in essential oils. I, along with everyone else in my house suffer from seasonal allergies. Spring time is horrible in my house for allergies. I was taking all kinds of over the counter medications for allergies and nothing really worked. Finally, I said “there’s got to be something else I can try.”

    I searched online and found the Essential Oil Allergy Trio recipe. I headed up to Sprouts and purchased these 3 little miracle workers, which were fairly inexpensive ($5-$8 each) along with a diffuser and made the mixture. Holy moly, within 10 minutes of it diffusing my nose opened up! I could breathe!! I asked my daughter (3 yrs old) how her stuffy nose was and she said, “It’s good mommy, I’m not stuffy.”

                

    We ended up having to leave the house that evening and within an hour of being away from the diffuser/home we both were stuffy again. However, I didn't apply on my chest or feet but I do now if I have to leave the house and can’t bring my diffuser along!

Three simple essential oils changed allergy season in my house and made me a believer in them! I hope it helps you too!

Essential Oil Allergy Trio Blend

Lavender

Lemon

Peppermint

*equal parts of each. 

I typically measure out 1 tbsp of each.

Application

Diffuse, mix with a carrier oil and rub on feet, chest, forehead and behind your ears. You can also purchase a diffuser necklace. It’s similar to a locket and has a small cotton pad you apply a few drops to. I have also seen leather bracelets that you can put a few drops on to inhale when needed. 

**UPDATE**

See the following LINK for additional information on using Essential Oils for Allergy Season. 

Also, see the LINK here to track the pollen count in your particular area. 

Disclaimer:The information on this site is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose or prescribe any of these products for you or your family. In the case of illness you should contact your health care professional. In no instances shall the owner of this website or its affiliates be responsible or liable for any damages whatsoever resulting in connection with the use of this information, products, or its publication. The decision to use any information from this site is the sole responsibility of the reader.

Top Essential Oils for Skincare

    I have only tried the tea tree oil on my skin but you bet I will be trying more!! I'm in my early 30's and seeing those smile lines and expression lines settling in, ahhh! I also suffer from adult cystic acne and can't wait to find something that actually works rather that prescription medication. I tried a Dr. prescribed medication about a year ago and researched the effects of it and did not like what I was reading. I only took the medication for about 2 months. I would rather suffer with a few "monster's" on my chin than the ill effects of the medication on my body internally.

    Essential oils are great for wrinkles, sagging skin, stretch marks, dark spots, acne and also great moisturizer. There are also oils for oily skin. Who knew that applying an essential oil helps with oily skin?! You can also use EO's for diaper rash and chapped skin. My girlfriend has a 10 month old daughter that sucks her thumb and her skin is chapped around her thumb, poor baby. I hope she has tried the recipe I sent over to her.

For Extremely chapped skin
    **Mixture of Coconut Oil, Shea Butter, Frankincense and Lavender**

I'll update you when I try these oils on my own skin and get back to you about my friends baby's chapped thumb.

Top Essential Oils for Skincare 

1. Carrot Seed Essential Oil has a rejuvenating effect on the skin. It not only works to help smooth skin, but assists with cell regeneration. For this reason, it can help to fade scars and improve the tone of aging skin.

2. Frankincense Essential Oil has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory benefits to the skin, making it ideal for acne-prone skin. It is also a natural toner, decreasing the appearance of pores and evening skin-tone. It is cytophylactic, which means that it helps protect existing cells and encourage new cell growth. For this reason helps reduce wrinkles, tighten skin, and reduce the appearance of scars. It also helps soothe chapped, dry skin.

3. Geranium Essential Oil helps regulate oil production and reduces acne breakouts. It also helps improve skin elasticity and tighten skin, reducing the appearance of wrinkles. It also promotes blood circulation to the areas where it is applied, helps to heal bruises, broken capillaries, burns, cuts, dermatitis, eczema, ringworm and other skin conditions. This one seems to be a great overall skin healer!

4. Lavender Essential Oil I personally have this one and is my go to for almost everything. It is safe for baby and children. It helps regenerate skin cells so it is great for mature skin, sun spots and scarring. It's also great for all skin types. I have used this on cooking burns, scrapes etc. If my 4 year old has a boo-boo she says, "mommy I need some lavender."

5. Lemon Essential Oil is a wonderful natural astringent and antibacterial. It is extremely beneficial to those with oil skin and acne-prone complexions. It also helps tone the skin and reduce the appearance of pores.

6. Myrrh Essential Oil greatly benefits aging skin. It has strong anti-inflammatory properties that help improve skin tone, firmness, and skin elasticity, reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Myrrh can also help heal sun damage, chapped skin, rashes and eczema.

7. Neroli Essential Oil is great for oily, sensitive and mature skin. It helps to smooth fine lines and tone sagging skin. This rejuvenating oil contains a natural chemical called citral, which helps regenerate cells. For this reason, it is said to be very good at preventing and healing stretch marks. Its antiseptic properties also balance oil production and shrink the appearance of pores without drying the skin.

8. Patchouli Essential Oil is great for aging skin. It promotes new cell growth and smooths the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It is also has properties of an antiseptic, antifungal, and antibacterial, it can also benefit skin conditions such as eczema, dermatitis, psoriasis, and acne.

9. Tea Tree Essential Oil is one of the more well-known essential oils for acne-prone skin. Its antibacterial properties help ward off acne-causing bacteria. It also helps regulate oil production, which can decrease the severity and incidence of breakouts.

10. Ylang Ylang Essential Oil has a rich floral fragrance. It helps to control oil production and minimize breakouts. It also helps regenerate skin cells, smooth fine lines and improve skin elasticity. Another oil great for all skin types.

11. Rosehip Essential Oil is full of vitamins, antioxidants and essential fatty acids tht are know to correct dark spots and hydrate dry, itchy skin, all while reducing scars and fine lines. with skin rejuvenating properties like vitamin C and lycopene, rosehip oil is a good solution to repair the skin's surface, restore elasticity and protect against sun and pollution stressors that can lead to wrinkles.

12. Helichrysium Italicum Essential Oil has a wide range of remarkable medicinal properties. However, it is very costly and scarcely available but it is a great essential to have. A few of the properties include, anti-allergenic, anti-inflammatory,  helps heal wounds quickly and scars disappear faster, antimicrobial, antiseptic, emollient, it helps promote cell health, stimulates new cell production.

Photosensitivity and Essential Oils

You should avoid sun exposure for 12 to 48 hours, following the application of photosensitive oils.

These include:
Angelica, Bergamot, Grapefruit, Lime, Ginger, Tangerine, Lemon, and some other citrus oils.

These oil compounds known to be photoxic - making the skin more susceptible to damage by light exposure. Exposing your skin to UV rays or sunlight after applying a photosensitizing oil could result in pigmentation, blisters, rash or even serious burns.

Carrier Oils for Skin Application

Borage Seed Oil - Borage seed oil is often taken internally to support skin health, but external application also has therapeutic benefits. It has high levels of gamma linolenic acid which make it very suitable for damaged and dry skin, stretch marks, eczema, or psoriasis. It is also useful for relieving female productive complaints, such as PMS, endometriosis, and menopausal symptoms. Borage seed oil may promote a youthful glow to the skin, and its scent is uplifting.

Caprylic Capric Triglycerides - Caprylic capric triglycerides are a specialized esterification of coconut oil with a very light, silky, and non-greasy feel. Several key benefits include, nourishing the skin, helping to extend the shelf life of products due to its antioxidant properties, and provides noticeable silkiness to the skin. Caprylic capric triglycerides encourage rejuvenation of the skin and form a protective barrier for the skin. In addition, it is non-allergenic making it an excellent choice for sensitive and oily skin.

Coconut Oil - Virtually odorless, coconut oil is a very popular carrier oil because its scent doesn't compete with the essential oils that are added to it. It softens the skin and helps reduce dry, inflamed, and itchy skin. However, some people have reported that it clogs their pores and creates additional breakouts when used on the face.

Grapeseed Oil - Grapeseed oil is suitable for all skin types and non-allergenic. It is a very gentle moisturizer and leaves the skin feeling smooth. It is odorless, tasteless, and easily absorbed. Grapeseed oil contains the potent antioxidant flavonoid oligomeric procyanidin (OPC), which helps protect against cellular and tissue damage. Grapeseed oil also contains high levels of vitamin E and helps promote healthy circulation, aids the healing of wounds, speeds up cell regeneration, reduces the appearance of blemishes and scars, and encourages a youthful flow of the skin. It also has anti-inflammatory properties making it a great choice to add to a soothing aromatherapy blend.

Jojoba Oil - Jojoba is a liquid ester similar to the one in our skin and not an oil. It rapidly penetrates the skin, is non-allergenic, and is beneficial to all skin types. It doesn't go rancid and has a very long shelf-life. It balances the skins pH, helps unclog pores, hydrates the skin, and may prevent stretch marks. Jojoba is popular for acne blends because it helps unclog pores and helps control the buildup of excess sebum. It contains a waxy substance that mimics collagen and is antibacterial to prevent or treat skin infections. It is also popular for the hair, where it increases its luster, reduces the appearance of gray hair, encourages healthy hair growth, and decreases scalp dryness.


Dilution Ratios
0.3%           1 drop EO per 2 tsp Carrier Oil
1.5%           2 drops EO per teaspoon
3.0%           4 drops EO per teaspoon
5.0%           7 drops EO per teaspoon

Maximum Strength Dilution Ratios
20%            30 drops EO per teaspoon
33%            48 drops EO per teaspoon
50%            73 drops EO per teaspoon

*Not all oils have the same consistency and it also depends on the dropper used. But this gives a good reference on where to start with your dilutions. It is best to start out small and always check for skin sensitivity, therefore try the 0.3% dilution ratio first.

    As for a dilution ratio for babies or treating young children always use the least dilution percentage (0.3%) babies and children skin is very sensitive. ALWAYS check to see if the essential oil is safe to use on them. Lavender is an all around safe EO for children and great for treating diaper rash.


    Personally, I will be trying Ylang Ylang and Frankincense with Jojoba Carrier Oil on my skin. I'll keep you posted! Hopefully, my youthful fine lines,wrinkles and acne will disappear before my eyes! I'm looking forward to it!



References: Surviving When Modern Medicine Fails A definitive guide to essential oils that could save your life during a crisis  2nd Edition Dr. Scott A. Johnson

www.bodyunburdened.com 


Disclaimer:The information on this site is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose or prescribe any of these products for you or your family. In the case of illness you should contact your health care professional. In no instances shall the owner of this website or its affiliates be responsible or liable for any damages whatsoever resulting in connection with the use of this information, products, or its publication. The decision to use any information from this site is the sole responsibility of the reader.

Good News About Peanuts

Pass the peanuts and schmear on the peanut butter as a study published today in JAMA Internal Medicine showed that eating peanuts, as well as nuts, such as walnuts, almonds, and pistachios, may help you live longer.   While other studies have shown that nuts may help you reduce your risk of heart disease, the No. 1 killer of Americans, this study also looked at the consumption of peanuts.  Peanuts are a nutritional dietary ringer as they are a good source of protein, healthy unsaturated fats, vitamin E, fiber, and phytochemicals, all of which can help to keep you healthy.   

Researchers at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine analyzed the diets of over 200,000 subjects living in the southwestern United States and in China and uncovered that those who consumed more peanuts, as well as nuts, had over a 15 percent reduced risk of dying, particularly from heart disease, as compared to those who consumed minuscule or none daily. 

While peanuts are actually not a nut, but rather, a legume, this is good news as peanuts and peanut butter comprise over 65 percent of the “nut” consumption by Americans:

Why is this study so important?  An editorial by Mitchell Katz, MD, in the Journal sums it up for us: “peanuts are cheap and ubiquitous…..[so may] help us live longer at an affordable price.”

Here are some ways to swap out some food and swap in nutritious peanuts and peanut butter during the day to potentially reap this inexpensive benefit:

Enjoy!

Be well, Joan

Twitter: @JoanSalgeBlake