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Showing posts with label oils. Show all posts
Showing posts with label oils. Show all posts

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Monthly Herbal: Tea Tree Oil Uses

My Tea tree Face Wash:
In a spray bottle I mix equal parts water and rubbing alcohol (wich hazel can be used too).
To this I add 8-10 drops pharmaceutical grade tea tree oil.
To use, I shake the bottle then spray a bit on a dry cloth.
I rub the cloth on my face in circular motion to exfoiate the skin.
The wash reduces and prevents acne as well as refreshes me after a day out, at work, or simply when waking up in the morning.

Room Cleanser
I've also read that a mix of Eucalyptus and Tea Tree oil mixed in an oil burner can rid a home of mold.
Mix a few drops of each Eucalyptus and Tea Tree (use pharmaceutical or aromatherapy grade, as always) in the bowl of an oil diffuser.
Add enough water to fill the bowl almost to the top then, light a tea-light candle beneath the bowl.
Place the diffuser in any room with mold.
These oils can also be diffused in a room where someone is sick or to cleans the air in a new house or a room that has been uninhabited for some time.


Essential Energy has a few oil mixes that include Tea Tree oil.

Rejuvenating Blend: boosting the immune system as well as bringing clarity to the mind, this blend is great for an instant pick-me-up or long-term rejuvenation.
2 drops each eucalyptus, tea tree and geranium with 1 drop sage oil in a carrier of primrose oil or grape seed oil for massage or bath.

Traveler's Best Friend Blend: every traveler knows the perils of traveling without a fully equipped medicine kit. This blend is the perfect companion for adventurers, a trusty cure-all for those icky things you pick up on the road towards nirvana.
2 drops each lavender and tea tree with 1 drop each peppermint and basil in a carrier of grape seed or wheatgerm oil for baths.
(Use tea tree as a general topical antiseptic)

Monthly Herbal: Tea Tree

I am soooo sorry I haven't posted the much awaited August Monthly Herbal! My life is sooo hectic right now, I even forgot my friend's b-day (Sorry Edward!) with the mess of wedding planning and prep, moving stress, visiting the parentals, so on and so forth.
Anyways...

Tea Tree is this month's featured herb! For those of you who don't remember, I did a poll 2 months ago on last months herb and Tea Tree and Dandelion tied! So, making an executive decision, I made Dandelion July's Herb and, to keep the peace, Tea Tree this month's herb.

Tea Tree (Melaleuca alternifolia)

I wanted to get a few things across before going in depth on the benefits of Tea Tree. First, Tea Tree is NOT Tea (Camellia sinensis), like the type that we drink.
Tea Tree is commonly used as an oil (I've never seen it in any other form myself).
An anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-viral, and anti-septic, tea tree oil was found in the 1920's to be a better medicine than most available.

The Melaleuca alternifolia plant is a small tree native to Australia. Commercial plantations were founded in the 1970s.

The oil comes from the leaves of the Melaleuca alternifolia.
Perfume note: Middle
Aroma is strong and medicinal

Tea tree oil is one of the most potent oils for treating bacteria, viruses, and fungal infections. It permeates and kills invading organisms in the body while stimulating the system.

Tea tree oil addresses:
abscesses, acne, athlete's foot, cold sores, insect bites, woulds, infections, asthma, dermatitis, bronchitis, congestion, colds, coughs, fevers, flus, sinusitis, whooping cough, thrush, vaginitis, cystitis, lethargy, debility, vulnerability, and shallow breathing.

Safety Information
According to the American Cancer Society: "Tea tree oil is toxic when swallowed. It has been reported to cause drowsiness, confusion, hallucinations, coma, unsteadiness, weakness, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach upset, blood cell abnormalities, and severe rashes. It should be kept away from pets and children."
The oil can cause skin irritation in high doses, so it is best to do  skin patch test before adding the oil to soaps, baths, oils, or washes. 

Monday, July 19, 2010

My Weekend

So, I had a busy weekend full of errands, shopping and cleaning. In all of this doing, I was able to do a few new, healthy things I thought I would share with you all.
First, I made my first batch of guacamole ever and its yummy!
Why guacamole? Why, Avocados of course!
Avocados are packed with nutrients including fiber, potassium, B-vitamins, and folic acid. They are also nutrient boosters, meaning they enable the body to absord fat-soluable nutrients like alpha and beta-carotene. Avocados even aid in cardiovascular disease by helping those on a healthy heart diet reach their quota of fruits as well as being a source of monosaturated and polyunsaturated fats.
The best part is they are tasty either with organic tortilla chips, on tacos or even sandwhiches.
My guacamole recipe was super simple:
1 avocado (peeled, pitted and mashed)
1 Tbsp lemon juice (lime juice can be substituted)
Mix together and store in a sealed container or use.

If you will remember a former post where I mentioned that removing plastic bottles from your life is a good way to rid yourself of toxins, let me rephrase that.
Removing plastic bottles from your life is a good way to remove toxins IF those bottles are not Bisphenol A (BPA) free. BPA is a compound used to make plastics. Health concerns include dangers to fetuses, infants and children (according to the FDA). BPA may even cause breast cancer as well as problems with the thyroid and reproductive organs. So BPA is bad to say the least.
Now, not all plastics contain BPA! My fiance and I bought re-useable plastic water bottles from the supermarket yesterday that are labeled BPA-free. They were also made locally at the chemical company, interestingly enough.
If plastic still has you worred, there are many stainless steel and aluminum bottles available through companies like Gaiam.

Lastly, I made soap!
I've had a glycerin soap making kit for over a year, tucked away in my craft supplies. Finally, I took it out and decided to do something with it.
I made 4 soaps, one green cucumber melon for my fiance, a green and pink rose soap for his mom, a pink rose soap for me, and a green tea tree oil soap to wash my face with.
Rose oil is soothing, especially for women. It can be used to ease skin irritations and is said to even sooth PMS and other menstrual issues.
Tea Tree oil aids in releaving skin problems, including acne, and aids wounds.
Word of warning, don't over-use the essential oils (the whole area still smells like rose oil).
The whole mess was really easy, except for extracting a round soap from the mold. I definately plan on making more soaps in the future. Its cheaper than buying soap and you can decide on the scents and colors.

Monday, July 5, 2010

The Oil Story

I recenly bought
Natural foods;: Eat better, live longer, improve your sex life
at the local used book warehouse. The book so fare has been very informative with information about food and nutrients as well as why the body needs nutrients and what foods have them in abundance.
Wendy Pritzker, author, also includes some literature from Organic Merchants of Los Angeles, CA that informs the natural shopper about oils, called The Oil Story by Ezra Hendon.

In The Oil Story, the three ways of extracting vegetable oils from nuts, grains, beans, seeds, or olives.
First is by hydrolic press, an ancient and best method. Only olives and sesame seeds can be pressed without being cooked first and they are the only ones that can be truely considered cold pressed.
Secod is expeller pressed. "This used a screw or continuous press with a constantly rotating worm shaft. Cooked material goes in one end and is put under continuous pressure until discharged at the other end with oil squeezed out." (Lowdown on Edible Oils)
The last methos is solvent extraction, which is dangerous as it used petroleum based solvents to extract the oils from the plant. This method is universally used by big oil companies because it gets the oils out faster and cheaper.

The terms like "cold pressed" and "virgin" are meaningless in most cases as there is no legal definition adn mean whatever the manufacturer wants them to mean.

So how do you tell if the oil you are buy is crude, cold pressed, and unrefined if the label isn't always truthful?
Buy from a trusted consumer. Make sure your local health food market is legit by asking questions about their products.
Buy trust products. Research brands and companies to see exactly how they make their oils and foods.
Buy local when you can, talk to the manufacturer, even take a tour through the factory if possible.
It all comes down to educating yourself about what it is you are putting in your body.

Saturday, June 26, 2010

How to Find Good Essential Oils

I have been asked by several people where and how to find good essential oils.
Now, I am no oil expert. I do not claim to be. I am simply a student of herbalism and aromatherapy. What I know about essential oils is self taught through experience and books.
That being said, here is what I learned:

First, oils are expensive because they are expensive to make. It takes pounds and pounds of plant material to make one little bottle of oil. If an oil is cheap, I would question why because it might be cut with other materials.

Ways to know if an oil is pure:

Know the scientific name.
Make sure that the oil you are looking at is the actual essential oil needed. Sometimes, there will be two oils of the same name but different scientific name and different properties. Take Lavender for example. There are many different types of Lavender but only Lavendula augustifolia is considered True Lavender and is the best to use in aromatherapy. However, Lavendula inermis, a type of lavender known for its long lasting flowers and coloring, are used to make a cheaper version of lavender oil.

Make sure you are buying Essential Oil:
Oils are a big business as Better Homes and Gardens and similair magazines show celebrity secrets of how they keep their homes smelling lovely. You can find oils to scent yourself and your home everywhere from Walmart ot Pier1 (they aren't just found at head shops anymore).
This does lead to a small problem in that many people buy fragrance oils thinking they are obtaining essential oil and visa versa.
Read the Labels!
Another few words to look for on the labels is therapeutic or pharmaceutical grade. If the bottle does not have these words, do not use them for aromatherapy.

How to test oils:
you can test essential oils by putting a drop on a piece of white paper and let dry. If there is a residue then the oil has been cut or polished with other material.

I am also frequently asked where to buy oils.
This is a tricky question as there is no one place I can point out and say They have the best of all of them! I haven't tried ever oil seller and cannot pretend to know.
However, here is what I do:
I buy local so I can ask the vendor about their oils and get a specific amount of what I want. Recently, I bought 1.5 drams of Rose oil from Dillys in Elizabethton, TN. I wanted the smallest bottle they had and without the roller ball they have for the oils used on skin. The proprietor was happy to oblige and even gave me a discount.
I also have a little secret for buying Tea Tree oil and have decided to disclose it to the public:
Walmart has pharmaceutical grade Tea Tree Oil 2 fl. 0z for just $8!!!! Its excellent and I've used it on wounds, bites, and a face wash thet cuts through fast food grease!

My best advice is look around you, READ, research, and test. Don't stress over it too much of course, especially if you are only using the oil to scent your home.
Go for what you like best, what feels right for you. Don't worry about what a book or ad says is hte best oil out there.

Monday, June 21, 2010

Health in the Fast Food Industry

Many of us, no matter how health concious and natural living we are, have to get by with jobs that don't necessarily reflect our lifestyles, like working in the fast food industry.

Below is a list of ways to help stay healthy not only in fast food jobs but in any job.

Nikki Goldstein in her book Essential Energy gives a recipe for the
Stressed Out Employee Blend:
2 drops rosemary
1 drop roman chamomile
1 drop geranium
2 drops lemon
1 drop sandalwood
Mix the above drops of essential oils in 1/2 fl oz of sweet almond or evening primrose carrier oil.
This blend can be applied on the body as a massage, used in a bath, or diffused in an office.
For fast food employees, perhaps keep a hanky dabbed with this oil in your pocket or locker, pull out and inhale when needed/able.

Eating in the fast food industry...
Many workers in the fast food industry find themselves eating where they work for many reasons:
Time
Availability
Sometimes its even free.

So how to stay healthy when eating junk?
If you are eating at work, try eating the healthy options. Wendies has mandarin oranges instead of fries, most places have salads, and if neither are available, try the common chicken sandwhich.
Opt out when it comes to sauces. Ketchup, mayonaise, even mustard add unnecessary fats and processed ingredients to your meal.
Opt in for veggies. Load your sandwhich with lettuce, tomato and onion.
Do Not drink the sodas! Opt for water, milk, or juice.

When eating:
Pray over your food. In I Chose Happiness, I discuss the health of prayer in many posts nad would like to reiterate here. Prayer has been scientifially proven to have relaxing and healing effects. Even if its just a simple thanks for the food or an acknowledgement of what you are about to recieve, its worth the few moments.
Eat slowly, allow your stomach time to accept and digest what you're putting in it.
Think about the food, the animal it came from, the fields the veggies were grown in, the way it was made even. This knowledge will allow the brain to process just as much as the stomach.

When you can, Bring your lunch to work.
Pack a brown bag or a reusable tote with a healthy lunch. Not only is it better for you but your fellow employees will get jealous (I've had several coworkers drool over my dried fruit and crisp veggies then look at their hamburgers in disgust).

Mental Health in the Workplace:
Don't spend the time before work dreading the hours about to come. This will only put you in a bad mood and mindset that will form the rest of your day.
Don't watch the clock while you are at work. This will make the day seem like it lasts forever.
Smile! A good attitude not only will make you feel better, but could brighten the day of a coworker, boss, or customer.

Saturday, June 19, 2010

Oil Distillation!

I've always been curious as to how oils are produced. I know they come from a plant and are distilled and the oil is seperated from the hydrosol. That is about all I could say when I first started wondering.

In my research I have found that there are actually many different ways to create essential oil.
Maceration, an ancient method which impregnantes fat with floral scents and the fat is used in things like ancient Egyptian pomades and cosmetics.
Enfleurage is the prcess of soaking the plants in oil and then heating it until the plant's essential oil is in the carrier.
Expression is used exclusively for citrus oils to press out the oils from the peels.
Solvent extracts is used for sensitive fragrances with low yeilds. Its a complicated process involving low boiling point solvents and grain alcohol.
Synthetics...made in a lab...
Steam distillation is the most common form.
Below is a series of videos from YouTube about how to creat LAVENDER essential oil, in keeping with this month's herbal theme.







Stills can be bought at copperstills.com
Buying a still can be a bit pricy.
For home use, if you're handy or have a handy friend, there are a lot of sites that explain how to create your own still using items found at your local Lowe's.

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Household Cleaning

When I sat for a lecture on Curing Dis-Ease by Gisella Hoffman earlier this year, one of the points that she offered (there were so many including a scolding for all of us using aspartame and high fructose corn syrup) was an anecdote about a patient of hers suffering with cancer.
One of the things Hoffman told this client to do is rid her house of chemical cleaners. She told us all that we coudl easily clean our homes with lemon juice, baking soda and white vinegar rather than these chemical cleaners that not only kill pets and cause serious illness for children but can cause all kinds of problems for the cleaning home owners.

Herb Companion offers a variety of cleaning recipes to use in the home combining things like tea tree and lavender oil, lemons, and herbs.
Make Your Own Natural Cleaners is a must read for home owners/cleaners not wanting those horrible toxins.