Eucalyptus Essential Oil Reduces Spread of Tuberculosis

Research from the University of Illinois’ College of Pharmacy has found that eucalyptus essential oil can be used to stop the spread of tuberculosis from those who are contagious.

The researchers tested essential oil from the Eucalyptus citriodora – also called Corymbia citriodora – with airborne tuberculosis. The researchers found that the essential oil significantly inhibited the spread of airborne tuberculosis using eucalyptus essential oil with inhalation therapy.

The researchers then quantified 32 different anti-tuberculosis constituents – medicinal compounds that included eucalyptol, spathulenol, linalool, citronellol, isopulegol, terpineol, eudesmol, cadinol and others.

The researchers found that a combination of citronellol, linalool and eucalyptol inhibited airborne tuberculosis transmission by more than 90 percent.

Eucalyptus is antibacterial

This is not that surprising a result because eucalyptus essential oil has been found to be significantly antibacterial. A study from Germany’s Heidelberg University found that Eucalyptus essential oil from the Eucalyptus globules fruit was found to be significantly antibiotic against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

One of the main compounds found in this oil included aromadendrene at 31 percent. They found the eucalyptus leaf oil was not as antibiotic as the fruit essential oil.

In a study from Italy’s SOC Microbiology and Virology Clinic, researchers found the Eucalyptus smithii was srongly antibiotic against biofilms of Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

This is not surprising to herbalists, who have used eucalyptus for healing bronchial infections for centuries.

Tuberculosis Bacteria

Tuberculosis is spread mainly by an infection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, but other bacteria can also be involved. TB can be spread via breathing, coughing or sneezing by an infected person. At least 10 percent of those who contract the bacteria will succumb to an active infection, which can be spread to others.

Signs of an active infection include fever, coughing, and blood in the sputum. While antibiotics are the conventional treatment, more TB bacteria are becoming resistant to multiple antibiotics.

Commentary

Preventing the transmission and an active infection requires preemptive action. This means avoiding people who cough or at least asking them to cover their coughing with their forearm if they are not already.

It is important to note that according to the World Health Organization (2002) nearly a third of the world’s population is already infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and about 80 percent of Asians and Africans test positive for TB.

Since this many people do not have active forms of the infection, this means that avoiding an active infection of TB relates directly to the strength of the immune system and the lungs. This can be done before or after being infected.

Read The Full Article HERE 

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Study: Essential Oil of Lemon Effective Against Candida Yeast Infections

A new study just published in the journal, Mycopathologia, showed that the essential oil of lemon can be used as a very effective natural remedy against candidiasis caused by C. albicans.

Candida albicans is a yeast (or fungus) that normally inhabits our digestive system. In healthy people, candida does little harm because it’s kept in check by beneficial microorganisms or probiotics.

These “good” bacteria, however, can be easily destroyed by antibiotics, prescription medications, birth control pills, poor diet, and daily stress, allowing Candida yeast to grow out of control and produce infections. Thought to affect more than 40 million Americans, Candida can cause uncomfortable symptoms such as vaginitis, weight retention, bowel disorders, ear and sinus irritation, intense itching, canker sores, and ringworm.

To determine if you might suffer from candida, Dr. W. G. Crook has developed a questionnaire that you can fill out. Click here to view or print out the questionnaire.

In the present study, conducted by the Faculty of Chemistry of the University of Opole in Poland, six commercial lemon essential oils were tested against five Candida yeast strains (Candida albicans 31, Candida tropicalis 32, Candida glabrata 33, Candida glabrata 35 and Candida glabrata 38).

The six different lemon essential oils had different chemical compositions, but all of them contained almost exclusively “terpenes and oxygenated terpenes.” Their tests showed that the antifungal potential of lemon essential oils against Candida yeast strains was related to the high content of monoterpenoids and the type of Candida strains. The authors concluded in the abstract: “Our study characterizes lemon essential oils, which could be used as very effective natural remedies against candidiasis caused by C. albicans.”

Read the Abstract here.

Another study on lemon essential oil published in 2013 found similar results. Researchers looked at the essential oil derived from lemon peels in the Faculty of Pharmacy at Zagazig University in Egypt. They found that Limonene occurred in higher amounts in the fruit peel of the lemon.

The results of their study showed that the essential oil derived from lemon peels produced moderate antimicrobial activities against Gram-positive bacteria (Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus capitis, Micrococcus luteus), one Gram-negative bacterium (Pseudomonas fluorescens), and yeasts (Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Candida parapsilosis).

Read the Abstract here.

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Essential Oils Found Antibiotic Against Tonsillitis Bacteria

Research from France’s University of Angers has determined that certain essential oils are effective in killing the bacteria known to cause tonsillitis.

The researchers utilized 18 different essential oils provided by a French manufacturer of essential oils. The researchers tested essential oils of Cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum), Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus), Oregano (Origanum compactum), Thyme (Thymus vulgaris – two species), Winter Savory (Satureja montana), Clove (Eugenia caryophyllus), Palmarosa lemongrass (Cymbopogon martinii), Camphor (Cinnamomum camphora – two species), Peppermint (Mentha piperita), Marjoram (Origanum marjorana), Lavender (Lavandula stoechas), Cajeput (Melaleuca cajuputi), Tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia), Basil (Ocimum basilicum), Naiouli Tea tree (Melaleuca quinquenervia), and Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis).

The researchers extracted the bacteria Streptococcus pyogenes from the throat (pharynx) of a child who had tonsillitis. They incubated the bacteria and then tested each of the essential oils against it.

The researchers found 14 of the 18 essential oils had antibacterial activity against the Streptococcus pyogenes bacterial. Of these the Cinnamon oil, the Thyme oil, the Lemongrass oil, the Marjoram oil, and the Winter Savory oil had the greatest antibiotic activity against the tonsillitis bacteria S. pyogenes.

The zone of inhibition for these five oils with the most antibiotic potential ranged from 48 to 35 millimeters. (Note that the greater the zone of inhibition, the stronger the antibiotic potency.)

Two other oils – Clove oil and Palmarosa lemongrass oil – came in at 18 and 15 mm respectively. The remaining seven oils with antibiotic activity against the S. pyogenes ranged from 13 to 9 mm zone of inhibition. They were Camphor oil (CT linalool), Peppermint oil, Thyme oil (CT thujanol), Marjoram oil, Lavender oil, Cajeput oil, and Tea tree oil.

The obvious question is how this antibacterial activity, measured by inhibition zone, measures up against those of the most successful antibiotics. Well, a 2009 study published in the Journal of Bacteriology measured precisely that: The inhibition zones of the most popular antibiotics against Streptococcus pyogenes.

Zones of inhibition against S. pyogenes of Amoxicillin was 22.3 mm, Ampicillin 34.5 mm, Ampiciox 18.7 mm, Chloramphenicol 22.0 mm, Ciprofolxacin 30 mm, Erythromycin 14.5 mm, Fulcin 6.0 mm, Gentamicin 2.0 mm, Penicillin 39.0 mm, Rifampicin 27.0 mm, Septrin 19.0 mm, Tetracycline 10.5 mm, and Vancomycin 14.5 mm. The average Zone of inhibition for the entire range of 13 antibiotics against S. pyogenes was 20.1, and as mentioned, the greatest was Penicillin at 39.

This compares to zones of inhibition between 48 mm and 35 mm for the Cinnamon oil, the Thyme oil, the Lemongrass oil, the Marjoram oil, and the Winter Savory oil.

And we must add to this that the 2009 study tested antibiotics that many species of bacteria – including some S. pyogenes – have since become more resistant to. During these past four years, many of these pharmaceutical antibiotics have lost some of their antibiotic potency against S. pyogenes and other bacteria.

The researchers noted that the essential oils’ antibiotic mechanisms varied, and ranged from their monoterpene content, aldehydes such as cinnamaldehyde (Cinnamon), phenols such as thymol, carvacrol, eugenol and others, and many other compounds.

Other studies have also indicated some essential oils are significantly antibiotic. Thyme and Lavender oils in particular have been found to have significant activity against some bacteria. In 2011, Moroccan researchers also found that two species of Thyme essential oil were synergistic with antibiotic therapy.

Read The Full Article HERE  

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Oregano Oil Benefits Superior To Prescription Antibiotics

Designed specifically for bacterial infections, antibiotics are medical doctors’ favorite tools against most issues that walk into their offices. But oregano oil benefits are proving to be superior to some antibiotics, without the harmful side effects. 

Unfortunately, the antibiotics prescribed by most medical doctors today have horrendous side effects including: causing antibiotic resistance, destroying good bacteria (probiotics), reducing vitamin absorption and damaging the digestive lining causing leaky gut.

Essentially, taking this broad-spectrum approach is similar to dropping a nuclear bomb on a city instead of sending a special ops sniper team to take out the few enemy targets.

The good news is there is an incredible natural alternative to prescription antibiotics and that is oregano oil (also called oil of oregano).  Oil of oregano contains two powerful compounds of carvacrol and thymol that have powerful anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties.

Common Medicinal Oregano Oil Uses
Used to treat toenail fungus	Put directly on area 2x daily
Natural anti-biotic	Take internally, mixed in water or coconut oil
Treat candida, yeast infections and UTIs	Combined with Ketogenic Diet and probiotics
Treat ringworm and athletes foot	Mix oregano oil with coconut oil and apply topically
Treat sinus infections and allergies	Dilute in water and drink
Treat gingivitis	Combine oregano oil with coconut oil and use for oil pulling
Used to treat bronchitis and croup	Dilute in water and drink

The Problem with Prescription Antibiotics 
Last August, the Wall Street Journal printed a fantastic article highlighting this horrible dis-service to trusting American patients:

Overuse of antibiotics, and prescribing broad-spectrum drugs when they aren’t needed, can cause a range of problems. It can make the drugs less effective against the bacteria they are intended to treat by fostering the growth of antibiotic-resistant infections. And it can wipe out the body’s good bacteria (probiotics), which help digest food, produce vitamins and protect from infections, among other functions.

In a July study published in the Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, researchers from the University of Utah and the CDC found that 60% of the time physicians prescribe antibiotics, they choose broad-spectrum ones….

A similar study of children, published in the journal Pediatrics in 2011, found that when antibiotics were prescribed they were broad-spectrum 50% of the time, mainly for respiratory conditions…

Both studies also found that about 25% of the time antibiotics were being prescribed for conditions in which they have no use, such as viral infections.

Oregano Oil Benefits Are Unstoppable!

A member of the mint family (Labiatae) oil of oregano is not what you put on your pizza sauce. Found in the Mediterranean, medicinal grade oregano is distilled to extract theessential oil and to preserve its healing compounds.

Taking over 1000 pounds of wild oregano to produce just 1 pound of oregano oil, it has been precious commodity for over 2,500 years in folk medicine expanding the globe.

The predominant healing compound, carvacrol, is arguably the most important component explaining why oil of oregano is so potent.

Over 800 studies reference carvacrol in PubMed, the world’s #1 database for scientific evidence-based literature, which emphasizes that research is quite supportive of its healing capacity. To give you a sense of what I mean, carvacrol has been proven to reverse or reduce:

• Bacterial infections
• Fungal infections
• Parasites
• Viruses
• Inflammation
• Candida
• Allergies
• Tumors

Antibiotic Power

This past December, Journal of Medicinal Food published a study that evaluated the antibacterial activity of oregano oil against 5 different types bad bacteria. After evaluating the anti-bacterial characteristics of oil of oregano it showed significant anti-bacterial properties against all 5 species of harmful bacteria.

Interestingly, the highest activity was observed against E. Coli, which suggests that oregano oil should be routinely used to promote gastrointestinal health and to prevent deadly food poisoning.

Two years prior, researchers from Pakistan published similar results in the journal Revista Brasileira de Farmacognosia in addition to proving oregano oil’s ability to kill cancer cells of various types!

Oregano Oil is More Than Just An Antibiotic

In a nutshell: Dozens of other studies confirm the fact that oregano oil can be used instead of harmful antibiotics for a number of health concerns. The rest of the research cited is supporting the fact that oregano is more than just an antibiotic. It’s the ultimate natural antibiotic!

For instance, late last year, a study out of European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences helped put the predominant phenol in oil of oregano in a league of its own. Shown to protect against methotrexate toxicity in rats, carvacrol was shown to prevent side effects to some of the world’s most dangerous drugs!

Methotrexate (MTX) is a drug commonly used to treat a wide array of issues from cancer to rheumatoid arthritis. Well-known to have dangerous side effects, researchers from Turkey evaluated oil of oregano’s ability to keep these factors at bay because antioxidants and anti-inflammatory drugs have proven to be ineffective at providing full protection against MTX.

By evaluating various markers in the sciatic nerve in mice, it was observed for the first time that carvacrol decreased the pro-inflammatory response in mice being treated by MTX. Being a relatively new concept in the research world, I expect to see more studies testing these results because “groundbreaking” doesn’t even begin to describe the significance of this study.

In a similar way, researchers from the Netherlands have even shown that oregano oil can also “prevent bacterial overgrowth and colonization in the large intestine during oral iron therapy.” Used to treat iron deficiency anemia, oral iron therapy is well-known to cause a series of gastrointestinal issues like nausea, diarrhea, constipation, heartburn and vomiting.

It should be noted that these two studies give hope to people who long to manage the horrible suffering that accompanies drugs and medical interventions. For someone on chemo or taking iron therapy, these “little” things mean all the world.

source

For more information on Essential Oils and Young Living Essential Oils, check out my Web site at Essentially Oiled

What Benefits Do Pure, Therapeutic-Grade Essential Oils Provide?

What benefits do pure, therapeutic-grade essential oils provide?

1. Essential oils are the regenerating, oxygenating, and immune defense properties of plants.
2. Some essential oil constituents are so small in molecular size that they can quickly penetrate the tissues of the skin.
3. Essential oils are lipid soluble and are capable of penetrating cell walls, even if they have hardened because of an oxygen deficiency. In fact, essential oils can affect every cell of the body within 20 minutes and are then metabolized like other nutrients.
4. Essential oils contain oxygen molecules which help to transport nutrients to the starving human cells. Because a nutritional deficiency is an oxygen deficiency, disease begins when the cells lack the oxygen for proper nutrient assimilation. By providing the needed oxygen, essential oils also work to stimulate the immune system.
5. Essential oils are very powerful antioxidants. Antioxidants create an unfriendly environment for free radicals. They prevent all mutations, work as free radical scavengers, prevent fungus, and prevent oxidation in the cells.
6. Essential oils are anti-bacterial, anti-cancerous, anti-fungal, anti-infectious, anti-microbial, anti-tumoral, anti-parasitic, anti-viral, and antiseptic. Essential oils have been shown to destroy all tested bacteria and viruses while simultaneously restoring balance to the body.
7. Essential oils may detoxify the cells and blood in the body
8. Essential oils containing sesquiterpenes have the ability to pass the blood brain barrier, enabling them to be effective in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, Lou Gehrig's disease, Parkinson's disease, and multiple sclerosis.
9. Essential oils are aromatic. When diffused, they provide air purification by:
   1. Removing metallic particles and toxins from the air.
   2. Increasing atmospheric oxygen
   3. Increasing ozone and negative ions in the area, which inhibits bacterial growth
   4. Destroying odors from mold, cigarettes, and animals
   5. Filling the air with a fresh aromatic scent
10. Essential oils help promote emotional, physical, and spiritual healing.
11. Essential oils have a bio-electrical frequency that is several times greater than the frequency of herb, food, and even the human body. Clinical research has shown that essential oils can quickly raise the frequency of the human body, restoring it to its normal, healthy level.

Source

For more information on how you and your family can benefit from the Essential Oils check out our Web site at Essentially Oiled

Creating Young Living's Idaho Blue Spruce

                                                                                            Young Living Essential Oils

This oil is quite honestly the hubs favorite oil, he whines every time we run out!  (Like right now).

 The video below shows the process to produce Young Living's Idaho Blue Spruce Essential Oil.

                                                                           Source


For more information on Young Living Essential Oils and how you can begin enjoying the wonderful benefits of these oils, check out our Website at Essentially Oiled

Rosemary Is For Rememberance - Science Confirms Wisdom of the Ancients

             

                    "There's rosemary, that's for remembrance..."

~ William Shakespeare

Since ancient times, herbs have been appreciated for their profound therapeutic effects.Science as a form of evidence-gathering did not take the epistemological pole position until quite recently in cultural history, with the evidence of direct experience and the senses being the method and the means for ascertaining the medicinal value of plant medicines and foods for countless generations stretching back to the dawn of the human experience. 

Rosemary, a small perennial shrub in the mint family, is one such example, a plant woven deeply into ancient history and mythology, providing clues and hints to its particular value in cognition, memory and enhanced sensorial awareness, and ultimately its sacredness, which literally means "holy," a word that also shares etymological roots with "whole," "healthy" and "heal."

Several examples include:

• "Greek scholars wore rosemary in their hair to help remember their studies, and the association with remembrance has carried through to modern times. In literature and folklore it is an emblem of remembrance." [Source]
• "On ANZAC Day, a national day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand, the wearing of small sprigs of rosemary in the coat lapel, pinned to the breast or held in place by medals is thus synonymous with remembrance and commemoration." [Source]
• "Rosemary (R. officinalis L., Family Lamiaceae) is native to the Mediterranean region, where the ancient Greeks revered it for stimulating the brain and assisting memory; Dioscorides wrote of rosemary: "the eating of its flower in a preserve comforts the brain, the heart and the stomach; sharpens understanding, restores lost memory, awakens the mind, and in sum is a healthy remedy for various cold ailments of the head and the stomach." [Source]
• "Legend says that the Virgin Mary, while resting, spread her cloak over a white flowering rosemary bush. The flowers turned the blue of her cloak, and from then on the bush was referred to as the "Rose of Mary". [Source]

Today, through the optic of science and human clinical studies, we can further test the wisdom of the ancients through placebo-controlled and randomized trials. This is the 'holy grail' of so-called"evidenced-based" medicine, and confers a type of gravitas in today's medical practice that is considered essential in informing treatment decisions and establishing their legality vis-à-vis the regulatory bureaucracies (e.g. FDA, AMA) that increasingly attempt to control what you can and cannot do with your body.

Science Grows Up: Remembering The Wisdom of the Ancients

All the more reason why a recent study published in The Journal of Medicinal Food, titled "Short-Term Study on the Effects of Rosemary on Cognitive Function in an Elderly Population," is so important and confirmatory of traditional plant-based medical practice.

The study sought to investigate the role of rosemary in reducing cognitive decline in elderly subjects (average age 75 years).

Subjects enrolled in this randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded, crossover study were administered several different dosages of dried rosemary leaf powder and evaluated for changes in cognitive performance.

The study design was as follows:

"Twenty-eight older adults (mean age, 75 years) were tested using the Cognitive Drug Research computerized assessment system 1, 2.5, 4, and 6 hours following a placebo and four different doses of rosemary. Doses were counterbalanced, and there was a 7-day washout between visits."

The results were reported as follows:

"There was a biphasic dose-dependent effect in measures of speed of memory: the lowest dose (750 mg) of rosemary had a statistically significant beneficial effect compared with placebo (P=.01), whereas the highest dose (6,000 mg) had a significant impairing effect (P<.01). There were significant deleterious effects on other measures of cognitive performance, although these were less consistent. Speed of memory is a potentially useful predictor of cognitive function during aging. The positive effect of the dose nearest normal culinary consumption points to the value of further work on effects of low doses over the longer term."

Continue Reading HERE

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Dr. HK Lin Discusses His Research on Essential Oils and Cancer

Dr. HK Lin has been researching essential oils and cancer since 2007.  In this video he discusses his work.


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COPAIBA BENEFITS SUPPORTED BY SCIENTIFIC STUDIES

Although this plant is not new to Brazil, the modern world is only coming to understand its vast effects in healing a variety of conditions. Copaiba ( C. langsdorffii, officinalis, reticulata) has long been used in South America, predominantly in the Amazons. The 35 species of Copafeira are found in Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, Guyana, Colombia, Peru, and Venezuela (1).

The medicinal oleoresin is harvested by drilling or tapping the cavity of the tree trunks, making this a sustainable rainforest resource. The ancient traditional use came about as indigenous tribes observed injured animals healing their wounds on the stems of the trees. The tribes began using Copaiba on the navels of newborns and wounds (2).

Since its first recorded medicinal use in 1625, Copaiba has grown more and more in popularity. Its curative benefits have led it from being used by Brazilian Amazonia healers for pain, inflammation, skin disorders and insect bites, to its modern popular use in cosmetics and soaps. (1)

Many studies have been done proving Copaiba’s oleoresin scientific healing properties. Chemical compounds including sesquiterpenes and diterpenes are what makes up a great portion of the oleoresin. Studies show the varying biological activities, ranging from acne relief to anticancer and anti-tumor effects (2).

Full Article HERE

Did you know that copaiba oil known to have some of the highest levels of beta-caryophyllene in the world?

Yes it has been documented to contain 50 percent beta-caryophyllene.Helichrysum and Clove essential oils that are praised for their anti-inflammatory compounds have 5 to 12 percent of the same compound!

What is beta-caryophyllene?

Beta-caryophyllene has been extensively studied for its ability to modulate the inflammation process. The significance is that it is approved by the FDA as the first dietary cannabinoid (substance that naturally occurs in the nervous and immune systems).

Other essential oils besides helichrysum and clove that contain beta-caryophyllene are basil, oregano, black pepper, rosemary and cinnamon bark oils.

Copaiba also contains alpha-humulene and gamma elemine. Alpha humulene is known for its ability to minimize the body’s response to irritation.

Most Interesting Historical Reference?

Did you know that copaiba resin is used by indigenous tribes as a wound healer, to stop bleeding, and for skin sores and psoriasis? Yes, and today healers of the Amazon use copaiba resin for skin disorders, pain, insect bites and to cool inflammation!

What are the Plant Properties? Analgesic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, stimulant (circulatory and pulmonary systems).

What are the Documented Uses and Benefits of Copaiba Oil? Inflammation (external and internal), respiratory problems (bronchitis, sinusitis), skin disorders, urinary tract, bladder and kidney conditions (cystitis, infection) bleeding, hemorrhages, sore throats, stomach ulcers, tonsillitis, tumors, herpes gonorrhea, pain and insect bites.

For more information on Young Living Essential Oils and how you can order Copaiba check out my Essentially Oiled

How Many CEOs Do You Know That Drives a Tractor And Harvests The Fields? Ours Does!

Gary on a tractor at our farm in France from Young Living on Vimeo.

Gary Young, Owner and CEO of Young Living Essential Oils, talks the talk and walks the walk. Hands on from seed to seal, he is very involved in the day to day processing of the best quality therapeutic oils in the world. For more information on essential oils, check out our Web site at www.myoilsite.com/essentiallyoiled

Myrtle Essential Oil: Normalizing the Function of Thyroid and Ovaries

Do you have myrtle essential oil in your medicine cabinet?  How about in your kitchen cupboard? This essential oil can help your family’s health in many ways.

Myrtle (Myrtus communis L., Myrtaceae) is a medicinal herb that is used in traditional medicine in many parts of the world. Its berries, leaves and fruits have been used extensively as a traditional folk medicine for the treatment of disorders such as diarrhea, peptic ulcer, hemorrhoids, inflammation, pulmonary and skin diseases. Clinical and experimental research studies suggest that the essential oil of myrtle possesses an even broader range of benefits, which include antioxidative, anticancer, anti-diabetic, antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal properties. It also protects the liver (hepatoprotective) and the nervous system (neuroprotective). [1]

Myrtus communis [common myrtle], is a native shrub in the Middle East. It grows in all the countries that border the Mediterranean. Countries where myrtle is native include: Turkey, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, France, Spain, Greece, and Italy. It has been brought to southern Britain and southern France.

The oil can be extracted from the leaves, branches, and berries. The oil that is most commonly used medicinally is extracted from the leaves. This oil will be liquid at room temperature. The color will range from clear to greenish-yellow to yellow-very-light-orange. Its aroma is reminiscent of frankincense or bay. Some examples of myrtle oil have a slight hint of camphor or eucalyptus. The oil from the myrtle berries is used as a flavoring for drinks and alcoholic beverages throughout the Mediterranean Area.

The name “myrtle” is also used for several other unrelated plants commonly found in the United States. These unrelated plants are called crepe myrtle, wax myrtle, and creeping myrtle.

Uses of Myrtle Oil

Myrtle Oil Normalizes the functioning of the Thyroid and Ovaries

Dr. David Stewart describes the amazing way that the human body and this essential oil work together to promote thyroid health.

(Myrtus communis) is an adaptogen that can stimulate an increase or a decrease in thyroid activity depending on a person’s condition. Drugs are incapable of such intelligent discriminations and act only in preprogrammed directions, like robots, whether beneficial or not. [2]

Myrtle oil has been researched by Daniel Penoel, M.D. of France for normalizing hormonal imbalances of the thyroid and ovaries. It also has benefits for decongesting the respiratory system and the sinuses. [3]

Adaptogen: an adaptogen will increase the functioning of a gland when its functioning is low, or will lower an overactive  gland. The same oil will bring the functioning of the gland to a more normal state whether it is underfunctioning or overfunctioning. This is quite different than pharmaceutical drugs, which are more similar to a bulldozer or sledge hammer that forces the body to move in one direction or the other. Most pharmaceutical drugs do not possess the ability to help our bodies naturally achieve better balance.

Read More HERE

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Study: Essential Oils and Coconut Oil Effective For Skin Disorders on Dogs

Does your dog suffer from itching skin? Would you like to help your pet with natural therapies?

One of the most common problems that dogs experience is pruritus or itchy skin. In a study published in April, 2014, veterinary researchers confirmed that essential oils could be successfully used to resolve one of the common causes of itchy skin in dogs.

Pruritus is the medical term used to define a dog’s sensation to itch, or the sensation that provokes its desire to scratch, rub, chew, or lick its hair and skin. Pruritus is also an indicator of inflamed skin. Intense scratching can eventually lead to partial or full hair loss.[1]

Causes of Itching and Scratching

There can be many causes for itching and scratching. These include external parasites such as “fleas, Cheyletiella, scabies, Demodex, lice or poultry mites”[2] and fungal/yeast growth on the skin. The diagnostic services of a veterinarian are helpful for determining the exact cause of the itching. Different causes will require different treatments. You can learn more about the causes of itching by using the resource links at the end of this article.

Pruritus is most commonly found in dogs, but can sometimes be present in cats. The skin in certain areas can become red, inflamed, and infected. This situation can make pet quite miserable.

Malassezia Dermatitis is One of the Common Causes of Itchy Skin

I will be discussing the exciting findings of a new research study published in France, which used a blend of essential oils to eliminate the itching that is caused by Malassezia dermatitis. Malassezia dermatitis is a reaction to a specific fungus/yeast called Malassezia, which is normally present on the skin of dogs. Under certain conditions the population of Malassezia can either become too great, which causes the itching, or the dog develops an immune system reaction, which causes the itching and scratching.

Research Using Essential Oils to Treat Malassezia Dermatitis

The results of research [5] published in April, 2014, in the Journal of Medical Mycology demonstrated the benefits of using essential oils for treating Malassezia dermatitis. The researchers treated 20 dogs with dermatitis caused by Malassezia pachydermatis. They used a blend of essential oils containing bitter orange (Citrus aurantium) 1%, lavender (Lavandula officinalis) 1%, oregano (Origanum vulgare) 0.5%, marjoram (Origanum majorana) 0.5%, peppermint (Mentha piperita) 0.5% and Helichrysum (Helichrysum italicum var. italicum) 0.5%. These essential oils were mixed into a base of sweet almond oil and coconut oil.

This mixture of oils was topically applied to twenty animals twice daily for 1 month. Another group of ten animals was treated with a conventional therapy based on ketoconazole given at a rate of 10mg/kg per day and 2% chlorhexidine given twice a week for 3 weeks. At the end of the treatment periods, researchers found that both groups of animals had significant improvements in their clinical status without adverse effects. They conducted follow-up visits 6 months later to observe whether there was a recurrence of the original disease condition, and found that both groups retained their clinical improvements.

The overall minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) when used on the fungus/yeast of the skin was 0.3%. O. vulgare showed the lowest minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC), being active at 0.8%, followed by M. piperita (1%), O. majorana (1.3%), C. aurantium (2%) and L. officinalis (4%) while H. italicum [Helichrysum] did not yield any antimycotic effect up to 10%. Active major compounds were thymol, carvacrol, p-cymene, 1,8-cineol, limonene and menthol.[6]

Read Full Article HERE

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Using Essential Oils to Bring about Homeostasis and Cure Diseases

Did you know that you can use the fragrant essential oils of plants to cure diseases? The spicy aroma of fresh basil, the sweet fragrance of a rose, the savory smell of oregano, and thousands of other volatile oils from plants are not just pleasant to smell, but are powerful medicines. Many plants can help us heal, but those which contain aromatic oils occupy a special place in natural medicine. Here is some basic information that will help you select and use the healing essential oils.

Dr. David Stewart, Ph.D., D.N.M. Integrated Aromatic Science Practitioner, indicates that there are approximately 500,000 plant species on planet earth, but only 18,000 (3.6%) have the means to produce essential oils. He describes the function of these fragrant essential oils in his book, The Chemistry of Essential Oils Made Simple: God’s Love Manifest in Molecules.

Dr. Stewart describes the role of essential oils, their regulation of bodily functions, and how they create homeostasis in plants and in humans:

Essential oils have been called “the life blood of a plant.” They circulate through plant tissues and pass through cell walls, carrying nutrition into cells and carrying waste products out. [Page 59]

When essential oils are applied to people, they do the same thing, carrying oxygen into cells and carrying waste products out. In fact, essential oils are one of nature’s best body cleansers. They can cleanse our cellular receptor sites of pharmaceutical drugs, petrochemicals, and other disruptors of intercellular communication. They can also chelate heavy metals and other toxins, helping to remove and flush them through the liver, colon, sweat, lungs, and kidneys. They can also increase our ability to absorb vitamins and other nutrients. [Page 59]

Essential Oils are Regulators of Many Functions 

Essential oils act as plant hormones, regulating plant functions and orchestrating the production of vitamins and enzymes. They act as messengers and supervisors within the plant that help coordinate and initiate vital plant activities. Essential oils can also do the same when applied to humans. They can act as neurotransmitters, peptides, steroids, hormones, enzymes, vitamins, and other message-carrying molecules (called ligands) which intelligently assist our bodily functions and help to restore or maintain wellness. [Page 59]

Essential Oils Possess Homeostatic Intelligence

Homeostasis is that state where every vital biological process within a living organism is functioning as it should. It is a state of perfect wellness. Essential oils always work toward restoring and maintaining balance and homeostasis, first in the plants who create them, and then in the humans who apply them. [59]

To say that an essential oil works toward balance and homeostasis means that the same oil can work in different directions depending on the needs of the plant or person. Oregano oil (Origanum vulgare) will kill hostile microbes while nurturing those that are friendly. Angelica oil (Angelica archangelica) can stimulate a uterus to contract or to relax depending on the need. Myrtle oil (Myrtus communis) is an adaptigen that can stimulate an increase or a decrease in thyroid activity depending on a person’s condition. [Pharmaceutical] drugs are incapable of such intelligent discriminations and act only in preprogrammed directions. [Pages 59-60]

What exactly is an Essential Oil?

Dr. Stewart answers this question:

An essential oil is the volatile lipid (oil) soluble portion of the fluids of a plant containing odiferous compounds produced by steam distillation of vegetable plant matter. Plant matter can be any part of a botanical species including stems, branches, fruits, flowers, seeds, roots, bark, needles, leaves, etc. During the distillation process, the vapors are condensed, collected, and separated from the condensation water. The residual water, containing traces of oil constituents, is called a “floral water” or “hydrosol,” and has therapeutic applications of its own. [Page 51]

Essential oils are mixtures of hundreds of compounds. For example, it has been found that orange oil (Citrus sinensis) contains 34 alcohols, 30 esters, 20 aldehydes, 14 ketones, 10 carboxylic acids, and 36 varieties of terpenes, including mono-, sesqui- , di- and tetraterpenes. And this is not a complete analysis. In fact, no essential oil has ever been completely analyzed to reveal its every constituent.  [Page 51]

Essential oils are so complex, it may never be possible to discover everything that is in even one of them. [Page 52]

Only High Quality Essential Oils can Heal

Only the highest quality essential oils have the capacity to promote healing. The plants that are used as the raw material for essential oils must be healthy and clean. The processing methods must preserve the natural qualities of the essential oil. The essential oil that results must be 100% natural and 100% pure. Nothing should be added and nothing should be removed from the essential oil after it is processed.

Quality of Plant Materials

First, the quality of the plant material that is used to produce the essential oil is critical. Plant sources should be either certified organic or wild. Wild plant sources should be from a clean environment, and plants should not have been exposed to chemical fertilizers, herbicides, or pesticides. Chemicals applied to conventionally grown plant materials can end up in the essential oil and be part of the final product that is sold to consumers. This should always be avoided.

Quality of Processing

The process that is used to extract the essential oil from the plant material is critical. High quality essential oils are processed using a low temperature distillation method. When low temperature distillation is used, the temperature of the volatile elements in the plant material will be kept below its boiling point, which prevents decomposition of the essential oil. This means that the characteristics of the essential oil molecules that result from distillation will be very similar to those that were in the plant. A few essential oils, such as citrus oils are mechanically pressed from the peel of the fruit.

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