Allspice Essential Oil

Allspice is an incredibly unique flavoring used in Caribbean jerk seasoning, chilis and desserts. Allspice essential oil is also incredibly unique. I mean it smells like a combination of cinnamon and clove. Just wonderful! Anyways, here's more about allspice essential oil.

Quick Glance at Allspice Essential Oil

Pros: Allspice essential oil may be antioxidant and is antibacterial, anti-fungal, insecticidal and acaricidal.

Cons: This essential oil can irritate your skin and mucous membranes like those in your nose and throat.

Precautions: Allspice essential oil should be used at very low concentrations. Avoid if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. And, as always, talk to your doctor before using this or any other essential oil.

Properties of Allspice Essential Oil

You will find some properties of allspice essential oil listed out below.

Name

Allspice has a lot of botanical names. I mean a lot! The two main ones you will see are Pimenta officinalis and Pimenta dioica.

Other names include:

• Caryophyllus pimenta
• Myrtus aromatica
• Myrtus pimenta
• Pimenta pimenta

• Eugenia pimenta
• Myrtus dioica
• Pimenta aromatica
• Pimenta vulgaris

Be sure to verify these names when buying allspice essential oil.

Color & Scent

The color of allspice essential oil varies from pale yellow to brown to slightly reddish brown. The smell of this essential oil is unique and amazing. It is spicy, sharp and sweet - very reminiscent to clove and cinnamon.

Compounds

The compounds in allspice essential oil are pretty straight forward. The main compound is eugenol which can make up more than 75% of the essential oil. That explains why allspice smells so much like clove and cinnamon essential oils.

Other noteworthy compounds in this oil are methyl eugenol and beta-caryophyllene.

Benefits of Allspice Essential Oil

With the main compound being eugenol, we can expect allspice essential oil will have similar benefits to cinnamon and clove bud essential oils. And several studies prove this to be true! So here are the proven benefits of allspice essential oil.

1. It may have antioxidant benefits

Multiple studies have explored the free radical scavenging, antiradical, antioxidant benefits of allspice essential oil. Take for instance this 2011 study. It used several antioxidant tests to show the essential oil had "very high radical scavenging activities." And these effects were comparable with pure eugenol. That means eugenol is responsible for allspice's possible antioxidant benefits.

Similar findings were mentioned in this 2015 study. For this one, the antiradical properties of clove bud and allspice essential oils were compared. The results? Both essential oils had similar strong antioxidant effects.

So allspice essential oil may be antioxidant. I use may here intentionally because there isn't any concrete, clinical research showing the oil is free radical scavenging and antioxidant when used on our bodies.

2. It is antibacterial

Allspice is among the list of antibacterial essential oils. And this great 2002 study reaffirms this. The study explored the bactericidal activity of 96 essential oils including oregano, thyme, clove bud, bay, palmarosa, lemongrass, and marjoram against four bacteria species. Allspice was among the most active oils for two of the four bacterial species under investigation.

What does that mean? Allspice has great antibacterial benefits but it isn't one of the most powerful antibacterial oils out there.

3. Allspice essential oil is also anti-fungal

Yep! It's anti-fungal too according to this 2009 study.

The study tested 25 essential oils (like angelica, roman chamomile, Ceylon citronella, caraway, lavender, basil, marjoram, sandalwood, clary sage, thyme) against six pathogenic and toxic fungal species. These included Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium verticillioides, Penicillium expansum, Penicillium brevicompactum, Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus fumigatus. The study proved allspice essential oil had the best anti-fungal effect on the species even at concentrations of one microliter per milliliter.

Those are incredible results! Allspice truly exhibited powerful anti-fungal benefits. Thyme is the only essential oil that came close allspice's effects. That's pretty impressive!

4. It is insecticidal

A 2009 study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry looked at the insecticidal activities of 26 essential oils against the Japanese termite, Reticulitermes speratus Kolbe.

The findings showed the essential oils of ajowan, allspice, caraway, dill, geranium and litsea had the strongest insecticidal activity.

So... allspice essential oil has anti-termitic and insecticidal benefits.

5. It is acaricidal

Here's the final benefit of allspice essential oil. It can help kill spiders, mites, and ticks. And the proof comes from this 2011 study.

The study tested cumin, allspice, and basil essential oils on the larvae of cattle ticks (Rhipicephalus microplus). The concentrations of the oils ranged from 1.25% to 20%. While, cumin exhibited the best results, allspice essential oil still killed 100% of the larvae at higher concentrations. Therefore, allspice does have tick killing or acaricidal benefits.

That's it! The proven benefits of allspice essential oil.

Uses of Allspice Essential Oil

While the benefits of allspice essential oil are wonderful, you should use this oil with caution. Like all essential oils that contain high amounts of eugenol, this oil can irritate your skin and mucous membranes. So always dilute the oil properly.

It would be best if you do not use this oil on your skin. If you do decide to use it, then mix a blend with a dilution of 0.1%. That means you can add one drop to about one ounce (30 milliliters) of carrier oil.

You can also diffuse small quantities of this oil but remember it can irritate your nose, throat, and lungs. So use with caution.

Allspice essential oil blends well with other spicy oils too like black pepper, cinnamon, clove bud, geranium, patchouli, and ylang ylang.

Finally, avoid this oil if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. And always talk to your doctor before using this or any other essential oil.

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Why is rosehip oil good for acne?

Yes, it may sound strange that an oil can benefit when you have acne prone skin. But do not ever judge a book by the cover, ever! Rosehip Oil , is an oil indeed, but, it is the most light weight oil I have ever tried. I know I have already said this in my previous posts, but I just cannot stress it enough. So, why is this oil good for your acne? Well, acne means sensitivity, skin irritability, inflammation and a lot if frustration of course. Rosehip oil can and will treat all these unpleasant effectsthat acne leaves on your face due to its wonderful fatty acids and vitamin E elements it contains that basically regenerate derma.   And, more specially, it will not leave greasy effect on your skin, even though you have an oily skin type. I know, it is unbelievable, but you just need to try it to see with your own eyes. J

They always say to use astringent solutions on your face when you have acne. WRONG! Astringent will only tell the skin that it needs to release more sebum to balance the PH, fact that will bring even more acne.

Now, when you suffer from acne, you need to be careful what you EAT. Yeah, it is always about what we eat seems like it. Also, do you drink enough water per day? It is recommendable to drink about 33 ml of water/kilogram of body weight on a daily basis. For example if your weight is 50 kg, you multiply 50 by 33 and the result would be 1.65 l per day. If you drink coffee or other drinks that contain caffeine, you need to drink an extra glass of water each time as caffeine dehydrates the body. However, from my own experience, I can say it is hard to drink that much but I have a tip that I usually use. Always have a 500 ml glass with water on your desk and sip it every 15 minutes even though you do not feel the need. It helps and you will see the difference, at the end of the day you won’t even know you actually drank enough water without too much fuss. JDrinking enough water helps with digestion. A slow digestion releases toxins in your body that can show on your face.

Another trigger for acne can be MILK. Try for 1 month not to drink milk/milk derivate (cheese, chocolate etc) and replace it with soya milk, cashew, almonds etc. At the beginning the difference you sense will be major, as the taste is really different because the cow milk is much tasty due to the fat it contains, on the other hand, the plant milk will have a waterish taste, but don’t get discouraged by that. The more you drink it, the more you’ll like it, it is a matter of habit. Do not worry about calcium, eating beans, potatoes, oranges and sesame seeds on a daily basis will do. It is scientifically proven that vegetable have calcium abortion rate of 50%, compared with about 30% for milk.

Tips

Always use gentle ingredients on your face such us: clay powder, honey, chamomile tea and natural masks. NEVER use lemon or baking soda! They will ruin your skin PH level. Instead, use Rosehip Oil for anti-ageing and healing properties.

When you apply rosehip oil on your face, don’t just apply it. Massage it gently all over your face until you can see that is has been absorbed by the skin entirely.

Apply Rosehip Oil around your eyes (Of course be careful not to introduce it into your eyes, BUT you already know that, because ALL my readers are smart anyway. HAHAH!) The eyes area is the most sensitive and has a very thin skin that ages the first and the worst if we do not take good care of it from an early stage.

Anti-Acne advices

Go to dermatologist and ask for a set of analysis including blood analysis and pustule analysis to test your level of bacteria on your face.

Do not buy expensive creams that some doctors may suggest to treat acne. Acne CANNOT be treated by using expensive creams! You must discover the trigger from within the body (what you eat, hormonal level etc). You are definitely doing something that your body does not like and reacts through acne.

For more details, do not hesitate to leave a comment below, my pleasure to answer them all.  

Seasonal Allergies Got You Down? Evoke Aromatherapy Has Natural Effective Solutions

Whether you call it allergies, hay fever or allergic rhinitis the experience of living with these conditions eventually affects our overall feelings of daily wellness and joy.

Typical symptoms for these conditions are: itchy, puffy or red eyes.  Nasal congestion, sneezing, runny nose or postnasal drip.  Wheezing while breathing, pain in the ears, throat irritation, headaches and fatigue.  The range of symptoms is broad with each symptom translating into discomfort for the allergy sufferer.

Essential oils such as Lavender, Lemon, Eucalyptus, Roman Chamomile, Peppermint, Juniper, Frankincense, Basil or Tea Tree can each greatly help to soothe, calm or boost the immune system during this time with allergies.

Did you know that 40-60% of American people are affected by Allergic Rhinitis yearly?  Also the number of children showing signs of allergies is dramatically increasing.

Allergies are most commonly a reaction to pollen, dust, mold and animal dander.  It’s not known why more people are being affected by these commonly occurring allergens.  One theory points to the body being overworked and run down with stress which causes an increase of inflammation within the body and results in a lower immune system.  So when the body experiences an allergen it will now react to this allergen with symptoms like sneezing, runny nose and fatigue.

To alleviate our strong reaction to allergens we can use essential oils that are specific to reducing inflammation, essential oils that detoxify the body and essential oils that boost the immune system.

With the help of these allergy soothing essential oils we can reduce our allergic reactions to these common molds, pollens and dander and increase our overall wellness and joy.

5 Essential Oils that Naturally Help Reduce Allergies and Boost Our Everyday Wellness And Joy

1.   Lavender- helps to reduce inflammation.  Lavender can bring calm to the mind, which helps the whole body to relax and unwind.

Can be used for:  Topical skin applications (in body oil)

Baths (mixed with Epsom salts)

Vaporization

2.   Roman Chamomile- a very effective anti-inflammatory essential oil, Roman Chamomile calms the body’s response to irritating allergens.

Can be used for:  Topical skin applications (in body oil)

Baths (mixed with Epsom salts)

Vaporization

3.   Juniper- an excellent essential oil to encourage gentle detoxification and elimination.  Especially suited to encourage elimination of waste by increasing urination.

Can be used for:  Topical skin applications (in body oil)

Baths (mixed with Epsom salts)

Vaporization

4.   Lemon- a refreshing and cleansing essential oil, Lemon helps to encourage the body to break down fat and release toxic build up while supporting drainage of the lymphatic system.  Lemon also boosts the immune system and inhibits bacteria growth.  These properties make Lemon a good choice for use as a household disinfectant.
   

 Can be used for:  Topical skin applications (in body oil)

Baths (mixed with Epsom salts)

Vaporization

5.   Frankincense- a wonderfully mild sweet smelling resinous essential oil that has an affinity with the respiratory system.  Frankincense helps us to be calm which allows for deeper breathing and greater relaxation.

Can be used for:  Topical skin applications (in body oil)

Baths (mixed with Epsom salts)

Vaporization

Evoke Aromatherapy uses these above mentioned essential oils in effective, easy to use and great smelling products that aim to improve our lifestyle Wellness and Joy.

Tame the Pain- a product for arthritis, painful joints, past ligament tears or strains and allergy relief.  Helps ease inflammation, which helps to ease pain and discomfort.
Contains Lavender, Frankincense, Juniper and Lemon
Use topically on the skin
http://evokearomatherapy.com/adult/tame-the-pain/

Spring Fling Body Oil Blend- a refreshing body oil to help you get moving while feeling nourished and loved.  Contains Juniper, Cypress, Lemon and Pink grapefruit.  This oil blend helps "clear out" winter stagnation.  It can also help soothe allergies.
http://evokearomatherapy.com/adult/spring-fling-body-oil/

Allergy Inhalation Stick- an easy to use stick of cotton encased in a plastic tube for ease of use, easy to carry in a pocket or purse for on the go inhalation.  The essential oils in this stick help to soothe the respiratory tract so that breathing is calmed, and sinuses open up.  A gentle yet effective way to combat allergies that affect the sinuses and Respiratory System.

Contains Roman Chamomile, Mandarin, Rosalina, Lemon 
http://evokearomatherapy.com/adult/allergy-inhalation-stick/

These products and more can be found at www.evokearomatherapy.com

Shipping is FREE for orders over $100 or if you are local to the Sooke B.C. area, shipping is FREE! 

Don’t see a product for you?  Contact me at info@evokearomatherapy.comto talk about getting a custom Aromatherapy product made just for you!

May Wellness and Joy be yours this Allergy Season!

With Love, Wendy <3

Please be advised that the information I share with you is based on my experiences and client experiences.  This information is being shared for educational purposes only.  Information is not intended to replace medical advice or care.

Contact your doctor if you have medical concerns.

Clove Bud Essential Oil

Clove bud essential oil has been used for centuries. But what are the actual, proven benefits of it? Let's find out shall we?

Quick Glance at Clove Bud Essential Oil

Pros: Clove bud essential oil is cytotoxic, antioxidant, antimicrobial, insecticidal and pain relieving.

Cons: In large doses, this essential oil can cause vomiting, diarrhea, internal bleeding, kidney failure, and liver failure.

Precautions: Clove bud essential oil should be avoided if you are pregnant, or suffer from liver and kidney problems. Also, you must consult with your doctor before using this essential oil.

Properties of Clove Bud Essential Oil

I always say it's important to know the properties of an essential oil before buying or using it. So here are some properties of clove bud essential oil for you to consider.

Name
You will find many botanical names for clove, for example:

• Syzygium aromaticum
• Caryophyllus aromaticus
• Eugenia aromatica
• Eugenia caryophyllata
• Eugenia caryophyllus

You may also see clove leaf essential oil for sale. So be sure to check both the botanical name and part of the plant used when buying this essential oil.

Color & Scent

Clove bud essential oil ranges in color from pale, golden yellow to brown. Its scent is very similar to cloves. That means it has a spicy, woody, unique smell to it.

Compounds

The main compound in clove bud essential oil is eugenol. It can make up anywhere from 50% to 90% of the oil. Other compounds that can be found in the oil include beta-caryophyllene, eugenyl acetate, and alpha-humulene.

Note, clove leaf essential oil contains high amounts of eugenol too but little or no eugenyl acetate. So you can expect clove leaf will have similar benefits to clove bud essential oil.

Benefits of Clove Bud Essential Oil

There are many benefits of clove bud essential oil. Here are just a few of them.

1. It may be cytotoxic to cancer cells

A 2010 study found clove bud essential oil strongly inhibited melanoma cells at very low concentrations. And another 2010 study compared the effects of clove essential oil on cancer cells and on normal cells. The oil was found to have significant cytotoxic effects against all the studied cancer cell lines.

What does that mean? Well, clove essential oil is far more toxic to cancer cells than normal healthy cells. So there may be anticancer benefits of clove bud essential oil. But remember, these were lab studies and not clinical trials. We cannot definitively say clove can be used to fight cancer.

2. It is antioxidant

There are many studies that explore this benefit of clove bud essential oil. A 2009 study looked at the antioxidant benefits of fourteen essential oils (including black pepper, cardamom, nutmeg, fennel seed, caraway, cinnamon leaf, marjoram, ginger, garlic and clove bud). The study found garlic, clove bud, and cinnamon leaf essential oils were the most antioxidant oils tested.

A later study (2015) found eugenol was the compound responsible for these clove bud essential oil benefits.

3. It may help with pain

Clove essential oil has been used traditionally to relieve pain (especially toothaches). And these 2011 and 2012 animal studies suggest there may be some merit to this. Both studies showed the animal models exhibited reduced pain responses after being administered clove oil.

There's a catch though - clove oil was injected into the animals. So it is unclear if topical use of clove bud essential oil will have similar pain relieving effects.

4. It is definitely antibacterial

There is no shortage of research proving the antibacterial benefits of clove bud essential oil. For instance, a 2004 study investigated the effects of 17 plant essential oils (including cinnamon bark, cinnamon leaf, clove bud, lemon, lemongrass, and oregano) and 9 oil compounds (including eugenol, carvacrol, geraniol, and citral) on foodborne pathogens like Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica.

Clove bud essential oil was among the ten most active compounds against E. coli. However, its effects were not as strong against Salmonella enterica. So while clove bud essential oil has great antibacterial benefits, it isn't one of the most antibacterial essential oils.

5. It has strong anti-fungal benefits

Clove bud essential oil is a powerful anti-fungal oil. Take the results from this 2007 study as proof. The study tested clove bud on 53 human pathogenic yeasts. And the results showed the essential oil was highly effective against all the tested strains!

6. Clove bud essential oil is a great insecticide

Again, there are lots of studies demonstrating these benefits. A 2005 study tested 29 essential oils (like eucalyptus, cassia, clove bud and garlic) on the Japanese termite, Reticulitermes speratus Kolbe. The study noted clove bud and garlic essential oils exhibited the most potent antitermitic activity among the essential oils under investigation.

That's pretty awesome!

7. It's useful against lice

Clove bud's insecticidal benefits extends to the human head louse, Pediculus humanus capitis. This 2003 study suggested that clove bud essential oil had similar effects to two commonly used pediculicides, delta-phenothrin and pyrethrum. And, of course, eugenol was identified as the compound most toxic to the lice.

8. Clove bud essential oil can kill spiders and mites

Several studies including this 2009 one found clove bud essential oil has acaricidal benefits. The study tested the oil on dust mites and showed that even at very low concentrations, clove bud essential oil was very effective against the mites. Woohoo!

9. Clove bud oil has been used for centuries

This 2007 study details the scientifically-proven and anecdotal benefits of clove bud essential oil. It noted clove bud is used topically to relieve pain, promote healing, and reduce inflammatory. It also reported the oil may have antiviral properties as well.

Clove bud oil and eugenol are also commonly used for toothaches. However, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not believe there is enough research to show clove oil is as effective for toothache pain as originally thought. In fact, a report submitted to the FDA noted:

... eugenol can damage the pulp of a vital tooth and should only be used in teeth with persistent throbbing pain (indicating [already] irreparable pulpal damage)...

So while anecdotal evidence suggests clove bud essential oil is great for a whole host of ailments, the oil should be used with tremendous caution.

Summary of Clove Bud Essential Oil Benefits
Finally, here's a brief list of the scientifically proven benefits of clove bud essential oil.

Uses of Clove Bud Essential Oil

The benefits of clove bud essential oil is pretty awesome. But how do you use the oil? Let's take a look.

Inhaling

You can add small amounts of clove bud oil to your diffuser to get a wonderful spicy scent. It's a strong oil so you only need to use a little.

Clove bud essential oil also blends well with other spicy oils too. So you can use bay, clary sage, geranium, ginger, palmarosa, peppermint and sandalwood oils with clove bud. Citrus oils also work well with this essential oil. That means you can pair clove bud with bergamot, grapefruit, lemon and orange essential oils.

Massaging

Clove bud essential oil must be properly diluted with a carrier oil before using it on your skin. A blend of 3% may be sufficient for your needs. But you should know this oil may irritate your skin. So always patch test first and dilute even further if necessary.

Precautions

Clove bud essential oil is not recommended if you are pregnant or breastfeeding or suffering from liver and kidney problems. In fact, using high concentrations of clove oil may cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, internal bleeding, breathing problems, seizures, liver damage, or kidney damage.

Yep! It's serious! Eugenol is no joke. So use this oil with caution. You should also consult with your medical practitioner before using this essential oil... or any other essential oil for that matter.

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Cinnamon Bark Essential Oil

Doesn't cinnamon smell amazing? It's so good! And cinnamon bark essential oil smells the same way. But that's not all this essential oil is good for. It has some exceptional benefits, backed up by lots of research.

So let's get into the properties, benefits and uses of cinnamon bark essential oil.

Quick Glance at Cinnamon Bark Essential Oil

Pros: Cinnamon bark essential oil is a powerful antibacterial and anti-fungal oil. It also has possible antioxidant, anticancer and insecticidal benefits.

Cons: Cinnamon bark essential oil is a known skin irritant and sensitizer so it is not recommended for use on your skin.

Precautions: You should only use this essential oil at low concentrations (< 0.1%). You should also avoid it if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or suffer from any serious conditions. And be sure to consult with your doctor before using this oil.

Properties of Cinnamon Bark Essential Oil

Take a look at some of the properties of cinnamon bark essential oil.

Name

You will actually find two botanical names for cinnamon. The older one is Cinnamomum zeylanicum and the current botanical name is Cinnamomum verum. Both refer to cinnamon or 'true cinnamon.'

You may see another type of cinnamon called cassia cinnamon or Chinese cinnamon. The botanical name for this is Cinnamomum cassia. Its essential oil is inferior to true cinnamon.

You may also come across cinnamon bark essential oil and cinnamon leaf essential oil. Although, both come from true cinnamon, the composition of the two oils are very different. So when buying cinnamon bark essential oil, you have to verify both its botanical name AND the part of the tree used to make the oil.

Color & Scent

Cinnamon bark essential oil has a golden color and I'm sure you can guess its scent. Spicy, rich, warming cinnamon!

Compounds

The main compound in this essential oil is cinnamaldehyde. It can make up about 70% of the oil. Eugenol, beta-caryophyllene, linalool, benzyl benzoate, limonene, alpha-terpinene, beta-terpinene, and gamma-terpinene can also be found in this oil.

Eugenol makes up about 50% of cinnamon leaf essential oil. That's why the two oils differ.

Benefits of Cinnamon Bark Essential Oil

You can find lots of studies proving the incredible benefits of cinnamon bark essential oil. Here are just a few of them.

1. It is antibacterial

Cinnamon bark essential oil has exceptional antibacterial benefits.

Consider this 2008 study. It tested thirteen essential oils (cinnamon bark, cinnamon leaf, lemongrass, palmarosa, clove, eucalyptus, tea tree, cajeput, oregano, thyme, orange and ajowan) on 65 bacteria samples with varying sensitivities to antibiotics. The results? Cinnamon bark had the highest antimicrobial activity of all the oils tested. And it was especially potent against the antibiotic-resistant strains.

A later study (2014) agreed with these findings. It found that, at very low concentrations, cinnamon bark inhibited the antibiotic-resistant Acinetobacter sp., the bacteria responsible for most hospital infections.

Awesome right? Well that's not all. This 2001 study found the vapor of cinnamon bark essential oil had strong antibacterial benefits too!

2. It is also anti-fungal

Again, there are so many studies proving this essential oil has incredible anti-fungal benefits. For instance, a 2006 study tested 75 essential oils on Aspergillus niger, the common fungi responsible for black mold in fruit. The study found cinnamon bark, cinnamon leaf, cassia (cinnamon), clove and lemongrass were the top five anti-fungal essential oils. Yep it's powerful!

And here's another interesting study (2010). It found the anti-fungal activity of cinnamon bark and ginger essential oils were comparable with amphotericin B, an anti-fungal drug used for serious fungal infections.

Finally, this 2005 study identified cinnamaldehyde as the main anti-fungal compound in cinnamon bark essential oil. So it's pretty safe to say cinnamon bark is a powerful antimicrobial oil.

3. It is antioxidant

Lab studies like these from 2010 and 2015 have confirmed the essential oil of cinnamon bark has good antioxidant benefits. In fact, these benefits were comparable with the antioxidant activity of alpha-tocopherol, BHT and BHA.

The studies went on to suggest both cinnamaldehyde and eugenol were responsible for cinnamon bark's antioxidant effects.

4. It may have anti-cancer benefits

There's a 2010 study that demonstrated the cytotoxic, apoptotic and anti-carcinogenic effects of cinnamon bark essential oil on mutated and normal cells.

What does that mean? Cinnamon bark oil is toxic to both mutated cancer cells and normal cells. So that's why it is not recommended for use on your skin or at high concentrations.

5. Cinnamon bark oil is insecticidal

A 2011 study looked at the effects of cinnamon bark and cinnamon leaf essential oils on three mosquito species. Both oils showed good 'knock-down' and mortality against the species.

Again, cinnamaldehyde was the active insecticidal compound for cinnamon bark essential oil.

6. It is also effective against lice

A 2005 article published in the International Journal of Parasitology tested cinnamon bark essential oil on the eggs and adult females of human head lice (Pediculus humanus capitis). The oil was found to be slightly less effective than two chemicals used to kill lice - phenothrin and pyrethrum. But these chemicals have no effect on the eggs. On the other hand, the study found cinnamon bark essential oil prevented egg hatching even at very low concentrations.

Amazing right?

Summary
This essential oil really is potent. Here is a quick look back at the benefits of cinnamon bark essential oil:

Uses of Cinnamon Bark Essential Oil

The benefits of cinnamon bark essential oil are amazing. But there's a catch. Remember when I said the oil was found to be toxic to both mutated cancer cells and normal cells? Well, that's why no one uses this oil on their skin. It can seriously damage it. It's a known skin irritant. And it's sensitizing.

Bottom line? Don't use it on your skin. Period!

I would suggest instead using low concentrations of the oil when you are cleaning, disinfecting, and fumigating your home. You have seen it is a powerful antimicrobial and insecticidal oil. So use it for such purposes. Be sure to handle the oil with proper gloves and safety clothing.

Finally, even the vapor of this essential oil is potent. So check with your doctor before using cinnamon bark essential oil.

Get Cinnamon Bark Essential Oil:

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Why You Should Be Taking a Folic Acid Supplement

Photo Source:  CDC.

Folic acid is an essential nutrient that is needed to create the cells needed in the growth and development of a baby.  If a pregnant woman’s diet is inadequate in this B vitamin, devastating birth defects can occur in the baby.  

Here’s the issue. Women need to consume adequate amounts of folic acid prior to conception as well as during in the first two to three months of pregnancy, when these cells are working overtime to create a healthy baby.  A deficiency of folic acid during this critical time period can increase the risk of neural tube defects, such as anencephaly and spina bifida, in the baby.  In anencephaly, the brain doesn’t completely form so the baby is born not being able to move, hear, think, or function, and death will likely occur soon after birth.  Babies born with spina bifida have a backbone and spinal cord that isn’t properly developed, which causes physical disabilities, such as the inability to walk.

Here’s the problem:  50 percent of the pregnancies in the United States are unplanned.

No. It’s not a typo.  

By the time that a woman finds out that she is pregnant, the window of opportunity to consume enough folic acid to prevent these birth defects has passed.  Because of this eye-opening pregnancy statistic, the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) recommended in 1992 that all women of childbearing age who are capable of becoming pregnant consume 400 micrograms of folic acid daily to help prevent these birth defects.  Leafy green veggies, citrus fruits, and beans are good sources of this B vitamin.

To further help women reach this targeted amount of folic acid in their diets daily, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) stepped in in 1998 and established manufacturing guidelines in that enriched all refined, cereal and grain products, such as bread, cereal, pasta, and corn grits with folic acid to automatically boost a woman’s consumption of this vitamin.   

Here’s the new problem: In spite of all of these efforts, recent researchsuggests that many women are still falling short of this folic acid daily.   The popularity of fad, low carbohydrate and gluten-free diets could be causing women to eliminate grains, an excellent source of folic acid in the diet.  The other push to eat more whole grains (which are not automatically enriched with folic acid) rather than enriched grains (which are automatically enriched with folic acid), could also be feeding into this diet shortfall of folic acid among women. 

Here’s the solution:  A USPHS task force is now proposing that all women planning or capable of becoming pregnant take a daily supplementcontaining 400 to 800 micrograms of folic acid daily. (Note:  Women who have a personal or family history of neural tube defects, should consult with their health care providers regarding the appropriate dose of folic acid that should be consumed during this critical period.)  The USPHS task force is currently accepting public comments on this issue before publishing a final public announcement.

Here’s the good news:  A folic acid supplement, containing 400 micrograms can be purchased for as little as $0.02 a pill.  While we await the final USPHS recommendation, all women should consult with their health care providers about this issue.  If you want my 2 cents, I think this supplement investment make perfect sense to help protect future pregnancies.  

Be well, Joan

Twitter: @JoanSalgeBlake