Essential Oils for Ear Ache, Ear Infection, Tinnitus (Ringing of the Ear)

Essential Oils for Ear Aches / Ear Infections

There are numerous single essential oils and blends that can serve well for an Ear Ache. Some oils may not work for one person but work astonishingly for others. It's good to remember that sometimes you have to try different oils, as people have different body chemistries, causing the effectiveness of certain oils to vary from person to person. Give one or a few a try until you feel relief!

I have used Lavender on a Cotton Ball with a warm compress on my daughter and it helped soothe the pain until we could get to the doctor.

These include;

• Melrose
• Lavender
• Rosemary
• Thyme (not to be used if you have high blood pressure) 
• Tea Tree
• Peppermint
• Purification
• Pain Away 
• Wintergreen 

Thieves Blend can also be a good choice for supporting the immune response when there is an ear infection. 

Application of Essential Oils for Ear Aches / Ear Infections

There are a few different ways to apply essential oils when using them as an ear ache. NEVER put essential oil directly into the ear/ear drum and if an ear ache persists, get the medical attention you need.

Swab

Dilute 2-3 drops of essential oil with warm olive oil. Swab the area around the opening of the ear, the outside part of the ear, and the ear lobe. 

Cotton Ball

Put 2-3 drops of diluted essential oil on a piece of cotton and place it over the ear opening and leave it in overnight. Additional relief may be found by applying a warm compress over the ear. 

Vita Flex

Massage 1-2 drops of essential oil on the ear lobes, and on the ear Vita Flex points on teh feet (the bottom of the fourth and fifth toes). 

Essential Oils for Tinnitus (Ringing of the Ears) 

I know several family members and friends that suffer from this. My aunt recently inquired as to what oils she should use and I forwarded her the information. She only had Frank on hand at the time but she applied it and she followed up with me and said, "the ringing volume was lowered somewhat to a hum!!! I was surprised!" Yay! It's always great to hear (no pun intended) that essential oils worked once again!

Application for Tinnitus

1 drop Frankincense

1 drop Basil 

Put behind each ear and run jaw line. Repeat 1-4 hours until the ringing subsides.

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.

Are Eggs The Comeback Kid?

Photo Source:  American Egg Board

What’s not to love about them?  They are a cheap source of protein, contain bone-strengthening vitamin D, and provide choline, a compound needed for healthy cells and nerves, especially during pregnancy.  The only nutrient blemish is that an egg is high in dietary cholesterol.  This may soon be forgotten as the amount of cholesterol that you eat daily may no longer be something you need to worry about when it comes to your health.  In fact, research suggests consuming up to an egg daily will not significantly increase blood cholesterol levels or the risk of heart disease in healthy people.

The latest conclusion from the report of the 2015 Dietary Guideline for Americans (DGA) Advisory Committee is that the amount of dietary cholesterol that Americans are currently consuming in their diets doesn’t have a major effect on blood cholesterol levels. A high blood cholesterol level can increase the risk of heart disease.

According to Alice H. Lichtenstein, a Tufts University professor and vice-chair of the DGA Advisory Committee, “Americans, on average, are currently consuming about 250 to 350 milligrams (mg) of cholesterol daily, which will have little impact on their blood cholesterol levels.  Decades ago, they were consuming over 800 mg daily, which was too high and could cause an increase in blood cholesterol levels and a corresponding elevated risk of heart disease.”

But before you start cracking open the eggs in celebration, those who have diabetes or are at a higher risk for getting diabetes may want to be more conservative in their egg consumption.  Research conducted by Ka He, MD, at Indiana University, found that individuals with diabetes who ate more than one egg per day were 1.7 times more likely to develop heart disease than those who never ate eggs or ate eggs less than once per week.  “While the mechanism isn’t known, individuals with diabetes may be more sensitive to the effect that dietary cholesterol has on raising blood cholesterol levels,” claims He.

Since all the dietary cholesterol is in the yolk, eating more egg whites rather than the whole egg may be a healthier bet for some folks.  When using egg whites rather than whole eggs, substitute two egg whites for one whole egg in the recipe.   Since more than half of the protein in the egg is in the white part, an egg white omelet will serve up a protein-packed omelet.  

Here are some egg tips and recipes from the American Egg Board:

Easy Hard Cooked Eggs

A Farmer’s Market Omelet

Microwave Coffee Cup Scramble

Muffin Frittatas

The Take-Home Message: When it comes to enjoying eggs, consuming up to an egg daily by healthy folks probably won’t be a problem.  However, don’t so hog wild increasing your dietary cholesterol, which historically showed that a high intake was not an asset to your heart.

Be well, Joan

Twitter:  @JoanSalgeBlake

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.

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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