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As aromatherapy practitioners (or aromatherapy beginners), we have so many far-out oils available to us, getting the most exotic oils in the world shipped to us in days via internet shopping. All these fancy sounding oils easily lure our attention, and we sometime forget the gems available in simple oils like Lemon. Cold pressed lemon essential oil is inexpensive, readily available, and has an amazing array of truly therapeutic uses, with science to back them up. Here’s a wrap up of this wonderful oil, and how you can easily make use of it.

The most common use of Lemon oil, and how many people get introduced to it (and to aromatherapy in general) is adding it to drinking water. Folks have been adding the oil to tap water just to add some flavor for a long time, before the idea of purifying your water was a big deal. With a little more understanding of what the oil does, however, now we know we’re NOT just making it taste better, but we’re purifying the water AND ourselves.

In terms of making the water cleaner, Lemon essential oil is noted to kill Diphtheria bacteria at a 0.2% concentration. This converts to 10 drops in about 8 ounces of water. This is a little bit strong — a very lemony flavor — and 5 drops at any one time is a more common amount to consume (unless you feel your water is really in need of purification). The oil is also thought to be an excellent detoxifyer for the liver and the lymph system. For this, add 5 drops to a cup of water and drink on an empty stomach. This can be done first thing in the morning, an excellent time for purification of the body. So you can see, adding a little Lemon to your water is a great idea just for taste, for purification of the water itself, and for personal detoxification — easy to do and very worthwhile!

Lemon has excellent antiseptic properties, which means it kills bacteria on our skin’s surface. For this reason, it can be used for acne-prone skin — because of its photo-toxicity however, this should not be done if the skin is to be exposed to direct sunlight in the following 48 hours. Yet you CAN still use the oil to remove warts — putting one drop on location 1 to 3 times per day can dissolve warts effectively. Want to use this antiseptic quality, but don’t want to use it on your skin? Do the same thing on your kitchen counter tops! For a super eco-friendly cleaner, mix 2 cups water with 2 cups white vinegar, then add 20 to 30 drops of your essential oil. You can use this to clean nearly everything, with a really appealing fresh scent when you’re done.

How about a great mood lifter? Lemon oil is a perfect choice — being the oil that is considered the highest note, the brightness has a direct brightening on our moods. It’s really the perfect choice for those mid-afternoon doldrums, where our minds and bodies really seem to get stuck in slow gear. This is the time to break out the diffuser and get a little lemon oil going! Its ability to lighten up has been backed-up by scientists noting its stress reducing and anxiety relieving action by working with our dopamine and serotonin systems.

It’s not just an emotional pick-me-up Lemon offers, but one to our calculating brains as well. Research in Japan showed office workers reducing their errors by nearly one-half when inhaling the aroma. The essential oil has been the focus of university research which clearly indicated chemical changes in our gray matter: Lemon essential oil reduces the rate at which acetylcholine is broken down, making more available for use. Acetylcholine is the primary information-processing neurotransmitter — so whether its from putting a smile on our faces or making more neurotransmitters available, simple lemon oil is a great choice for students when studying, the office environment, or anytime a little mental clarity is called for.

As you can see, there’s a lot more to lemon essential oil than we usually give it credit for. We can ingest it for detoxification, purify our water with it, clean with it, and inhale it for mental and emotional stimulation. Who would have thought!

The author has made available much information about aromatherapy, such as using geranium and other therapeutic essential oils.

Manuka Honey has proven to be a very versatile ingredient which benefits a wide array of ailments. Its astounding antibacterial properties have been proven to be just as powerful and in many cases a lot more beneficial than a number of the medicinal industries most powerful antibiotics. This honey like standard honeys is produced from the nectar of flowers. Manuka Honey is a mono-floral honey, produced from the Manuka Bush which is native to New Zealand and renowned for its therapeutic properties.

This product is an excellent addition to any first aid kit due to it wide array of uses. It is both beneficial for external as well as many internal health conditions. All honeys do contain antibacterial and antioxidant properties though this honey is a far superior and much more stable blend due to its factors which have become widely known as the Unique Manuka Factors UMF. UMF is a formula devised and proven by scientists which matches the antibacterial capabilities alongside convectional antibiotic solutions. When treating any inflection it is advised that anything with a UMF 10+ or above is recommended.

Although primarily know for its external applications this product is also an excellent remedy for many internal ailments and in many case a much more effective and safer treatment. It can be used to settle stomach aches, diarrhoea, heart burn and also many chronic and sever ailments such as stomach ulcers, gastritis, and acid reflux disease. It has excellent capabilities for depleting H pylori bacteria which is a common cause for many of these ailments. When many convectional treatments are not always effective and create a massive list of side effects this amazing product may be the answer or otherwise will benefit taken along side convectional prescriptions.

External applications this product is second to none and is actually what has made this honey so popular today by effectively treating MRSA a common infection which antibiotics have proven to be helpless, this product can treat all forms of external wounds form minor abrasions to much more serious infections by simply applying it directly onto the wound the covering with a sterile bandaging. It will assist in the healing treating infections present and reducing scaring.

As it is completely natural product and free from chemicals which are all too common throughout the medicinal industry today. These chemicals work against the body’s natural balance and offering a wide array of side effects. This honey is a very powerful antibacterial product though mild enough for everyday consumption full of sustenance and goodness the body desires.

Just as Manuka Honey assists in healing infections and wound is also becoming a dominant product with in the beauty industry. Being labelled by many skin care professionals as the best anti-aging ingredient it can be used directly on the skin or is also available in a wide range of skin care and beauty products. The Wild Ferns range is probably the best option as many of toxic chemicals which are so common throughout the skin care industry have been removed making them perfect for all skin types.

Looking to find the best deal on Manuka Honey, then visit www.rydergifts.co.uk for the best advice on Manuka Honey Skin Care for you.

Back pain seems to be the main area that chiropractors are well known to relieve successfully. The truth is that local chiropractors are well versed in all manner of pain relief and work with patients with internal disorders, sports injuries, migraines and even pediatrics. Many offices are home to single practice or group practice operations with a variety of natural healing specialties under one roof.

It’s no secret that chiropractic care works wonders for many suffering from back, neck and spinal related problems. However, many are unaware that chiropractic care also provides excellent results in a number of non-spinal related conditions including those related to the extremities. Manipulative treatments performed by chiropractors are often similarly used on the joints of the extremities including the hip, knee, ankle, foot, hand, wrist, and elbow and shoulder joints.

There are treatments applied by these doctors on specific locations of the body that safely restores joint function and full rotation as well as causes the body to return natural blood flow to the affected area. Several research studies have revealed that qualitative outcomes for patients with joint pain that have had additional chiropractic care after seeing a general practitioner. The majority of cases saw better results even 12 weeks after initial care for neck, shoulder or pain in their extremities.

At 26 weeks, those receiving the additional manipulative therapy had statistically superior outcomes in shoulder pain, shoulder mobility and mobility of the neck. If you’re suffering from extra-spinal problems such as problems with the legs, hips or arms, call our office for an appointment to see if safe, natural and effective chiropractic care might be the solution for you! Chiropractic treatments deal with holistic and natural health care that relieves the stress on the patient’s skeletal structure. The doctors at these clinics specialize in non-surgical, drugless, natural health treatments, depending on the recuperative inherent abilities of the patient’s body.

Doctors have been able to use their knowledge of natural healing, physical manipulation of the muscles and nerves and manipulative therapy to bring about full recovery depending on your body’s ability to heal itself. When you think of natural alternative medicine, chiropractic is at the top of everyone’s list. These talented health professionals are able to remove inflammation and bring about pain lasting relief whether working with the spine or the extremities, chiropractors bring about wellness and healing through manipulating the joints, muscles and ligaments.

The use of massage, and manual manipulation of the joints and ligaments, these doctors are able to restore normal functioning to the deltoid muscles, shoulder socket, scapula, clavicle and trapezius muscles that makes up the shoulder area. This helps to relieve the pain in the shoulder and allows the body to heal itself naturally. Traditional medicine usually gives two options to patients in regard to pain management, surgery or drugs.

With experience and training in dealing with pain relief, chiropractors have been able to use their skills to help patients move beyond debilitating illness and regain wellness and mobility. Talk to a local chiropractor about your problem and get a consultation today.

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A day spa is a great place to go to relax. You can find many different massage therapies to relieve your tensions and anxieties. For most of us, the use of a day spa may be once a week or maybe a few times a week. The occasional day at the spa helps to relieve stress that has built up over the course of a week or a few days. Unfortunately, the stress reduction from an afternoon at the spa lasts for the rest of the day. Stress and anxiety is ongoing and doesn’t stop at the day spa. You can have daily stress relief with a shiatsu massage chair recliner.

Many studies show that therapeutic massage reduces feelings of anxiety and stress while helping to be more relaxed and alert. A stress relief massage aids in relaxation while contributing to emotional feelings of wellness and greater peace of mind. Shiatsu massage chairs have specialized functons to relieve tired, sore and aching muscles to help you relax and feel better.

The best massage chair manufacturers include music therapy. These manufacturers have functions to synchronize the massage to the music in their MP3 players. The mind has many ongonig pertubations making relaxation difficult. Music therapy induces relaxation by calming and quieting the mind. The top massage chairs provide a total sensory environment with music and massage inducing whole body relaxation.

Doctors and researchers are beginning to discover that in addition to the positive impact of massage on anxiety. It can also help the patient lower blood pressure, increase circulation, heal from injury, sleep better and increase concentration. Shiatsu massage recliners have capabilities to massage the entire back, the thighs and buttocks, the calves and feet and the hands and arms. All of these factors have a positive effect on combating stress and anxiety.

As anxiety and tension decreases with a routine massage chair therapy, the body’s energy and invigoration increases. As one feels better, in turn, an improved self-image, sense of self worth may result. In fact, massage therapy and the depression connection is now being explored. That’s because massage therapy has in some cases helped to reduce feelings of depression and negative self-worth. If your body is stressed and you cannot relax, this can lead to anxiety which may start thoughts of negativity. With the help of a shiatsu massage chair, this cycle could be reversed.

With a shiatsu massage chair, one does not have to give up trips to the day spa. A massage chair will increase the frequency of access to massage therapy which helps to provide daily relief. Day spas offer treatments that you cannot get with a massage chair, such as a sauna or peels or wraps. Maybe we will see these in the future as technology advances, but for now a routine massage or an evening in a massage chair can really work wonders on your physical and mental well-being.

Looking for massage chairs? Read up on massage types, current massage recliner features and peruse a vast assortment articles on massage chair articles and evaluations and reviews at your leisure.

A lot of people have heard about essential oils, and have their own concept of “aromatherapy”, though it’s often the case the truth about these amazing healing agents is still mostly unknown. Did you know essential oil have been shown to eradicate cancer cells in laboratory experiments? Or that they’ve been found effective in treating infections as varied as herpes simplex and MRSA? This incredible research (freely available on the web at www.pubmed.gov) almost instantly opens ones eyes to the potential of essential oils. Here’s a look at the very wide spectrum of applications of these “aromatherapy oils”, and how you might get started using them to improve your health and wellness.

The term “aromatherapy” is very misleading. It implies “aroma” is always involved in the “therapy”. But this is true only in the minority of the time! Aromatherapy is actually the entire branch of botanical and herbal medicine that utilizes the volatile natural chemical compounds extracted from plants for therapeutic use. And is so happens that these volatile aromatic compounds, the “essential oils”, are very diverse in their makeup. Some are made up of hundreds of individual molecules — and these molecules are very compatible with our own physiology. They are easily absorbed by our bodies, and remarkably have an incredible array of healing actions, just “solid” herbs and plant medicines would — just in a very concentrated form.

Many leading aromatherapists believe the greatest health benefits from essential oils come from their anti-infectious nature. Their ability to prevent and cure infectious illness such as colds and flu caused by bacteria and viruses. This potential is supported by a very large body of data from the scientific community, with research noting efficacy against herpes simplex, the SARS virus, the MRSA “superbug”, candida fungus, and a variety of infectious bacteria.

It’s a simple thing just to use essential oils as a preventative measure. In laboratory research, oils have been shown not only to directly eradicate infectious microbes, but actually increase the ability of our immune system to fend off these invaders. Just by evaporating oils into your space, by use of a specially designed aromatherapy diffuser, on can gain these benefits in two ways: essential oil vapors have been shown to eradicate microbes on contact, and the vapors themselves provide protection to the respiratory system when inhaled. Other means of using oils for immune system support include massaging them into the feet — which happen to be a particularly receptive part of the body for this practice — or into the sternum and/or lymph nodes.

Along these lines are the antiseptic applications in aromatherapy. “Antiseptic” simply means an “antimicrobial” used on the skin’s surface. The most simple application is the use of Tea Tree in place of products like Neosporin, alone or in a 50/50 blend with Lavender (this is choice for use with children). Tea Tree is a very broad spectrum antiseptic, and has a wide variety of uses. It’s excellent for acne, used in a 5% concentration based either in a carrier oil like Grapeseed or Hazelnut, or aloe vera gel. Tea Tree is excellent for athlete’s foot and other mild skin infections, as are Palmarosa, Geranium and many other essential oils. All these make great smelling, healthier choices than pharmaceutical preparations.

High end natural skin care products nearly always contain essential oils. Many, many oils have very therapeutic effects on the skin, and personal formulas can be made for practically every skin condition. Itchy, irritated skin? Go for Chamomile and Lavender. Mature skin? Sea Buckthorn, Carrot Seed and Rose Otto in Rosehip Seed carrier. Dry Skin? Try Lavender or Sandalwood in a base of Apricot Kernel. The combinations of custom formulas here are endless, and for that reason, very exciting. Finally its possible to combine “active ingredients” that precisely match your needs, and all are completely natural, healthy, and effective.

Many people are looking of alternatives to either over-the-counter or prescribed pain relievers. Aromatherapy oils again offer an array of effective solutions. Wintergreen oil is the old stand by, being the natural chemical equivalent of “liquid aspirin” (and should be used cautiously for this same reason!). Ginger and Black Pepper oils have both gentle warming actions, as well as COX inhibitors which have been shown to be potent inflammation reducers in laboratory research. Sweet Marjoram is also an excellent analgesic oil included in many arthritis and sports massage formulas. And at the pinnacle of pain relief is Helichrysum, also known as Immortelle or Everlasting. Distilled from a tiny yellow flower native to the Mediterranean, this essential oil manages to relieve pain, reduce inflammation, and stimulate cellular regeneration all at the same time. Users swear it is the most effective topical pain reliever they have ever used.

The most advanced therapeutic activity is now being elucidated in laboratories around the world. A few essential oils with a long history of medicinal use are being researched for their anticancer activity, with very positive results. Frankincense has been shown to directly eradicate cancerous cells, while leaving healthy cells of the same type unaffected. The oil has been tested with human cell lines from different organs, all showing the same positive results. Lemongrass, also with a long history of medicinal use, is also being examined. This area of research is so exciting, as the “fight against cancer” is not making leaps and bounds in the world of conventional medicine, and the world really needs readily available, effective alternatives that essential oils appear to have the potential to deliver.

This is just a cursory review of the many medicinal applications essential oils are being used for by practitioners around the world. This is in addition to their stress-relieving, invigorating, and/or mind sharpening aromas — the “classic” idea of aromatherapy. Maybe one or more of these uses will give you reason to venture into the world of natural medicine by way of essential oils. They truly have a wonderful array of healing potentials for you and everyone in your family.

Healing flower essences made with love and intention are known to support one’s wellness naturally.

The beautiful reddish-orange liquid of Rosehip seed oil is becoming well-known as useful skin and beauty product around the world, as scientific study has recently validated it’s positive effects on many types of skin conditions. The pure oil has produced miraculous results for some, useful for a great myriad of conditions from premature aging and over-exposure to the sun, to lessening the appearance of many types of scarring. Where does this luscious oil come from, how does it work, and perhaps of greatest interest, can it work for you?

Rosehip seed oil is extracted from the seed within the fruit of the wild thorny rose bush. Native to Chile, the plant is now cultivated elsewhere in South America with many countries producing the oil. Also found under the name ‘Rosa Mosqueta’, the oil has been used by native people for hundreds of years, but only recently became known to the rest of the world.

The oil can be solvent extracted or cold-pressed, though pressing is the optimal method, as there is no chance of chemical traces being left in the final product. The cold-pressed oil is the most natural; the oil has an exceptionally high essential fatty acid content (‘essential’ meaning the body cannot make it on it’s own from other oils), and is considered quite delicate. Rosehip seed oil should be kept in a cool place, perhaps even under refrigeration, away from light, and should be used within one year of storage.

The oil is one of nature’s best sources of vitamins E and A. Retinoic acid, the acid derivative of vitamin A, is the active ingredient found in Retin-A, which has been used for years as a wrinkle cure because of its ability to speed the time it takes for your skin to regenerate. Rosehip seed oil has been studied for many of the same actions attributed to this pharmaceutical preparation, and has been shown effective without side effects that the man-made version may have.

The first major study on rosehip seed oil was performed in 1983 by a team of researchers at the University of Santiago, Chile. The study’s participants included individuals with diverse forms of skin damage: deep wrinkles and other premature aging, UV damage, radiation damage, acne scarring, burn scarring, dermatitis, and other problems of this type. The oil was shown to have significant, noticeable effects in regenerating the skin, reducing wrinkles and scars, and helping the skin to regain its natural color and tone.

A separate investigation was performed on women with noticeable premature aging of their skin. As before, rosehip seed oil has a major, positive impact on the appearance of wrinkles and sun spots after daily application for four months. Research has continued on the oil, with one study noting: “After 16 weeks of treatment, wrinkles and spots become imperceptible.”

In addition to its skin healing effects, rosehip seed oil is also a perfect moisturizer due to it’s high content of essential fatty acids (EFAs). The oil penetrates the skin quickly and does not leave the skin feeling greasy or oily.

Rosehip seed oil is very gentle – it can be used daily undiluted; because of it’s relative high cost, it may also be diluted in other oils like jojoba or shea nut, and will produce it’s regenerative effects in dilutions as low as 1 tenth of the total concentration.

To smooth scars on the skin, blend of twenty drops of Helichrysum Italicum essential oil in each ounce of rosehip seed and applied daily to the area. Helichrysum Italicum essential oil is well known for its content of regenerative di-ketones, and has long been used for this purpose. For a more luxurious beauty blend, experiment with this combination in four ounces of rosehip seed: five drops Helichrysum, five drops Lavender angustifolia, 3 drops Sandalwood (Pacific Island Sandalwood is an excellent choice), three drops Neroli (bitter orange flower oil), three drops Carrot Seed oil (a very moisturizing essential oil), three drops Geranium (also for hydration), two drops Roman Chamomile (for it’s anti-inflammatory properties), two drops of Jasmine absolute and one drop each of Palmarosa and Ylang Ylang essential oils. This blend is very much appreciated by those using it on a regular basis. Even a simple blend using the Helichrysum and Lavender essential oils will go a long way.

So, whether using rosehip seed oil for healing your skin, or simply giving it a little nourishment, you will almost certainly be happy with the results. This luscious oil, with its broad range of positive effects, is sure to take a prominent place in your natural beauty botanical collection.

For more resources on using essential oils and Bach flower essences therapeutically, visit the Ananda Apothecary.

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Therapeutic grade essential oils hold the promise for a great many people of stimulating the growth of bountiful healthy hair. Whether one is regrowing hair after hair loss, preventing the loss of hair, or just looking to make their hair more beautiful and lustrous than ever, essential oils and the carrier oils that comprise therapeutic aromatherapy formulas are very much worth investigating. We’ll first look at how and why you “build” your recipe, and conclude with a couple excellent formulations.

So What Essential Oils Have The Greatest Potential To Stimulate Hair Growth?

The oils used for hair growth are also those used for skin care in general — the health of the follicles is of course closely related to the health of the scalp and skin. Essential oils for your most effective, custom recipe can be selected from one of three general categories. These are: stimulating (may signal new hair to grow), nutritive (offers important nutrients), and balancing (helps over-oily or over-dry conditions become normal). The most deeply therapeutic means of using essential oils for hair growth is to make an oil treatment formula — a blend of essential oils and carrier oils that is massaged into the scalp and left for some period of time (rather than simply just adding to your conditioner or shampoo).

The Stimulating Essential Oils: Sage and Rosemary

We call them “stimulating” essential oils because they manage to signal the cells in the dermis to increase their metabolism. This means the follicles may become more active at growing new hair. This is the result of these specific oils containing natural “ketones”, chemicals with a “growth stimulating” type of signal. Rosemary Verbenone (a very specific type of Rosemary essential oil) and “Common” or “Dalmatian” Sage are the two most commonly used oils for stimulating hair growth. Of all the oils discussed here, Sage is the one that must be used by a limited population: it should not be used by pregnant or nursing mothers. Use at one percent or less in your total formula (these concentrations will be explained later with the recipes).

The Deep Colored Nutritive Oils: Carrot and Sea Buckthorn

Chock full of growth supporting nutrients Carrot Root, and the new kid on the block Sea Buckthorn Berry essential oils are amazing at supporting follicle health. They each have a diverse collection of antioxidants and growth enhancing vitamins and vitamin-like compounds (the only difference between a vitamin and a vitamin-like compound is a scientific designation — early on, the “vitamins” are the ones you would die without having — though you wouldn’t do so well without having the other either!). You almost can’t have too much of these oils — use at a 2% concentration.

Bringing Balance to Those Follicles

Many, many people have either over-dry or over-oily scalp conditions which wreak havoc on hair growth. Balance is what’s needed here, and here’s the oils to do it. Lavender is the most widely used “balancing” oil, that has a wealth of therapeutic effects. If you do not have an outstanding skin condition that really needs clearing up, add a little Lavender to your blend — it is thought to really tie all the components together to help them work most effectively. If you’ve got an over-oily condition, a little Myrtle essential oil is thought to do the trick. It’s cleansing and balancing at the same time, restoring sebaceous output to proper levels. Finally, for mature women, be sure to use a little Clary Sage, thought to restore cellular estrogen levels to their optimum for the most beautiful skin and hair.

Your Formulation’s Foundation: The “Carrier” Oils

Once you’re essential oils are selected, you can create your own oil treatment formula by adding them to one or more carrier oils. The most popular carrier oils for hair care are: Jojoba, primarily used for moisturizing and giving hair a wonderful luster. Virgin coconut, while needing to be gently melted first to blend with other carriers, is fast becoming one of the most highly-praised therapeutic carrier oils. It is thought to have a very positive effect on hair loss all by itself, and like jojoba, will also result in wonderful hair texture. Evening Primrose is a very important carrier, offering essential fatty acids that we may easily be deficient in. This is best used by mature women, and also where the scalp is generally irritated. Hemp may also be used here. Finally, another very therapeutic carrier oil is Rosehip seed. It, like the nutritive essential oils, has vitamin-like compounds in it that have been shown in studies to promote youthful skin development. While it has not been as extensively researched for hair growth, there’s no reason to think it shouldn’t have as profound an effect on the scalp and follicles.

Putting Your Blend Together

Often folks are a little intimidated by blending. Really, it’s no big deal — far easier than baking virtually anything in your kitchen (and if you’re a raw food fan, it’s about THAT easy!). First, determine your base mixture. Equal parts of the carrier oils you choose is a fine way to go. If you’re using virgin Coconut, Rosehip Seed and Evening Primrose, just use equal parts of each. Making one-ounce of oil treatment? Just estimate filling a 1oz dropper bottle about 1/3rd full with each oil. Then add the essential oils. Each 1 percent essential oil is equal to 8 drops per ounce of total mixture. Using 1 percent Rosemary? Add 8 drops to your blend. Two percent Sea Buckthorn? Use 16 drops. Making 4 ounces instead of 1? Multiply all these numbers times four! Still unsure? Here’s some clear recipes…

High End Botanical Extract Hair Growth Stimulating Formulas

Each recipe will make four (4) ounces total formula, which should last 2-4 months with regular use. For women, use equal parts of all four carriers — that’s 1 ounce each Coconut, Rosehip, Evening Primrose and Jojoba (of course you’re free to modify this !). Add the following essential oils: 16 drops Sage, 16 drops Rosemary, 64 drops Sea Buckthorn, 32 drops Lavender and 16 drops Clary Sage. This will be an absolutely amazing formula. For men, use 2 ounces each Coconut and Rosehip Seed (if you are prone to acne, use Hemp instead of Rosehip). Add the following essential oils: 32 drops Rosemary, 16 drops Sage, 64 drops Carrot Root, 32 drops Lavender. Again, a truly excellent formula!

Gently invert or “spin” the mixture until you feel it’s blended. The best absorption occurs right after the scalp has been immersed in warm water and lightly dried. One dropper-full distributed evenly over the scalp is often enough for complete coverage. Massage in, and leave as long as you like. Overnight is great, just make sure to cover your pillows! And there you have it, your very own, custom, high-end botanical extract formula for stimulating the growth of bountiful, healthy hair.

The author has made available much information about aromatherapy, such as using patchouli essential oil and other wholesale essential oils.

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Why Disease is Prevalent

All of us have experienced sickness one time or another, some to a larger degree than others. It is widely accepted that the body’s own immune system, a complex network of specific cells created to ward off sickness and disease, is greatly compromised when we eat a poor/acid-causing diet, side-step exercise, surround ourselves with environmental toxins, create continuous stress and have unkind attitudes/thoughts about oneself and others. All of these choices lead to toxic build up in the body. At a certain level, the body can no longer juggle such an overload, resulting in weakened defenses and possible disease.

Using Essential Oils for Immune Support

Essential oils are commonly associated with reducing mental stress (triggering areas of the brain such as the amygdala) as well as being stimulating (boost the “get up and go” attitude). When taken internally, essential oils can detoxify and tone the body, and as research indicates, are excellent antimicrobials. All these characteristics support a healthy body and thus benefit the immune system. Yet, few realize that essential oils can also bolster the immune system specifically.

Mechanisms to Support the Immune System

When we bang our leg, get a sliver in our hand or cross paths with infectious entities the immune system is recruited and responds with inflammation – a tool to heal damaged cells and tissue. This initial inflammatory response is vital to restoring the injured area, yet prolonged inflammation can lead to a number of debilitating and often painful diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and even cancer. Research has established that essential oils have the ability to inhibit detrimental inflammatory processes that contribute to disease. Scientists are now investigating the actually mechanisms by which essential oils can enhance the immune system directly.

Melaleuca Gives a Boost

At the Laboratoire de Botanique in France (2006) researchers were able to identify that Melaleuca alternifolia was able to regulate the amount of inflammatory-causing secretions found in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). In so doing, natural anti-inflammatory agents, known as cytokines, were still able to be created and thus boosting the body’s ability to protect and restore itself. This in itself is quite a finding, especially for individuals suffering from conditions associated with chronic inflammation.

Swallowing Pathogens

In our magnificently crafted bodies, we have what is called natural killer cells, or NKs. Their job is to kill viruses and diseased cells such as cancer cells. At Nippon Medical School in Tokyo, Japan (2006), scientists found that phytoncides (essential oils from wood) increased NK activity and restored activity when cell lines were damaged (purposely induced). Researchers proposed that the reason for this effect is that phytoncides induce immune cells that destroy unwanted cells and microbes – perforin, granzyme A, and granulysin respectively.

Ginger EO Controls Immune

At Zhejiang University Medical School in China (2006), scientists looked at the ability of ginger essential oil to regulate immune system functions. Using mice (bless them for their sacrifice), these researchers were able to identify that ginger essential oil can exert suppression of T lymphocytes (a component of the cell-mediated immune response) in cases where such a response is actually harmful to the body, such as with chronic inflammation and autoimmune diseases (like Crohn’s disease).

Conclusion

The level of complexity of our immune system is astounding. This collective network composed of organs, cells and proteins seeks to protect the body from bacteria, parasites, fungi and viruses, as well growth of tumor cells. Those designated with such a task need to remain healthy and fully capable. When the well-being of this system is compromised, recent research suggests that essential oils are capable of stimulating the immune response or redirect its energies when necessary.

The author is a regular contributor to natural ezines on essential oils and aromatherapy . She may be contacted through www.anandaapothecary.com/essential-oils.html.

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