Citrus Essential Oils prevent cancer and more!

    Citrus essential oils have been used for centuries for relief from colds and flu. These oils have also been used for cleansing, purification, digestion, skin complaints, disinfecting and so on.

    Citrus essential oils contain an interesting array of natural phytochemicals that have anti-cancer properties. Scientists have been studying the phytochemicals found in citrus essential oils for decades.

    At first it was thought that the anti-cancer activity of citrus essential oil was mainly due to the high levels of antioxidants they contained. Closer inspection found that it had mainly to do with one special phytochemical found in citrus known as limonene. There are now over 200 research studies on limonene discussing its anti-cancer benefits.

Limonene Content in Citrus Essential Oils

Grapefruit essential oil: 88-95% limonene
Lemon essential oil: 59-73% limonene
Lime essential oil: 50-60% limonene
Orange essential oil: 85-96% limonene
Tangerine essential oil: 85-93% limonene

    Put a drop or two of grapefruit, lemon, lime, orange, or tangerine essential oil into your water to encourage the elimination of wastes and toxins as well as a cancer prevention. The limonene content stimulates white blood cell production, improves the body’s ability to combat infection, and helps to detoxify the liver. *

    Feeling stressed or depressed? Just open the lid of your favorite citrus essential oil and breathe it in. Grapefruit is uplifting and helps with depression, increases self-esteem and bolsters confidence. Lemon calms nervousness. Lime is helpful for apathy, anxiety, nervousness, depression, listlessness and refreshes tired mind. Orange helps to balance the emotions, either relaxing or stimulating as needed. Tangerine refreshes and brings clarity of thought.

    My son carried around a bottle of lemon essential oil in his pocket when he was in junior high school. It was a great way for him to treat himself using something that he wouldn’t get in trouble for bringing to school. I’m sure other kids benefited every time he took it out to smell it.

    A breast cancer coach recommends: To improve breast health I recommend massaging the breasts daily using a combination of a favorite citrus essential oil with either frankincense, lavender, or sandalwood. A few drops of each mixed with a carrier oil is sufficient.*

Citrus Essential Oils are very affordable and easy to use. They are my favorites of any of the oils and have many more properties besides the ones we have talked about here. If you haven’t used essential oils yet, order a few to try. It won’t take long for you to get hooked on these amazing natural healing oils.
     

Order online at Herbs First, or phone in your order 801-228-1901.

Have a great month!
Kathryn

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Adaptogen Essential Oils

   There is group of essential oils called adaptogens that are unique because they have opposing healing properties like being both stimulating and relaxing. They adapt to your needs.

    The use of adaptogen essential oils are pivotal for hormonal imbalances where glands may be under-functioning in one system, while over-functioning in another. Adaptogenic essential oils are capable of balancing opposing conditions without creating further imbalance, as many pharmaceuticals would cause. Using them together further strengthens their healing properties.

Seven Adaptogen Essential Oils For Hormone Balance

1. Basil
2. Clary Sage
3. Geranium
4. Lavender
5. Lemon
6. Lemongrass
7. Myrtle

Balance the Adrenals with Basil and Lavender

   
    The adrenal glands are responsible for how people cope with stress. In trying to juggle a job, family and the demands of everyday life, people are likely to have overworked adrenals.

Cortisol, the “stress hormone” is produced by the adrenal glands and regulates the body’s response to stress. It works on a schedule — good sleep, starting at 10 pm, maximizes adrenal hormone function. Out of balance cortisol levels lead to:

•    feeling exhausted upon waking even after a long night’s sleep
•    high energy late in the evening or waking up at 2 or 3 in the morning
•    an inability to calmly deal with stress
•    food cravings
•    brain fog

    Basil essential oil increases the body’s natural response to both physical and emotional stress while conditioning the system to cope better.

    Basil essential oil soothes feelings of anxiety, overwhelm and exhaustion. Rub a couple of drops of high quality organic basil oil daily into forearms or the ear’s adrenal gland point at the tragus (the cartilage above your ear lobe) to bring balance to the adrenals.

Life is demanding — the key to adrenal balance is to allow yourself more restorative relaxation time and sleep. Improve the quality of your sleep with Lavender.

Thyroid Dysfunction and Myrtle and Lemongrass

    The thyroid controls important functions like the body’s metabolism and temperature regulation. Out of balance thyroid function symptoms include:

•    Depression
•    Uncontrollable weight gain or loss
•    Dry hair and skin
•    Cold or heat fluctuations
•    Insomnia

    Myrtle oil is an adaptogen that can stimulate thyroid activity. Myrtle has the natural ability to balance and normalize hormonal imbalances of both the thyroid and ovaries, regardless of whether they are under or over performing.
Rub a few drops of organic myrtle oil into the big toe and the reflexology point for the thyroid located at the base of the foot in the fleshy area below the big toe. Another area where myrtle oil is effective is the thyroid area below the Adam’s apple, at the base of the throat.

    Magnify the thyroid-healing effect of myrtle oil by blending it with Lemongrass oil, another thyroid-boosting adaptogen, or alternate between each.

Ovary Balance with Lemon, Clary Sage and Geranium

    While menstruation and menopause are natural processes of womanhood, some of the side effects are not. The ovaries produce the hormones estrogen and progesterone, which when imbalanced, lead to several symptoms including:

•    PMS
•    infertility
•    difficult or irregular menstrual cycles
•    lowered libido
•    difficult menopausal symptoms like sweats and hot flashes

    Start the day with a simple liver detox to keep hormonal imbalances from wreaking havoc. The liver regulates the sex hormones, primarily estrogen. Add 2 – 3 drops of Lemon essential oil into a cup of warm water and drink it first thing in the morning.

    A Dutch study has found that the compounds in lemon peels, a large component of lemon essential oil, improve liver functions like hormone regulation by lowering liver cholesterol.

    Clary Sage has been used since Medieval times to treat the list of symptoms above. It’s quite helpful in not only balancing hormones but for also relieving pain. Dilute a few drops a carrier oil and rub the dilution into the ankles daily. If menstrual cramps are painful, rub the mixture on the stomach and ovary area for pain relief. Add the adaptogen oil geranium to the blend to enhance pain relief.
To soothe PMS and other feminine discomforts, add a few drops of Clary Sage and Geranium to a warm bath and enjoy a soak.

    Hormonal imbalances can be treated with essential oils safely and holistically. As with all new health regimes, consult with a trusted practitioner and start gradually. Using these eight essential oils is an enjoyable way to work toward hormonal balance and better body, mind and spirit awareness.

You can purchase these and other Garden Essense Oils at Herbs First.

Order online, or phone in your order  801-228-1901.

Have a great month!
Kathryn

Get more for your money with Garden Essence Oils

    Garden Essence Essential Oils are always on sale at Herbs First and people are finding the quality to be the same as the big names without the high cost. When my son was in junior high he asked me to get him a bottle of lemon oil. He loved the smell and would carry it around with him and smell it throughout the day.  Lemon is a great mood lifter and aids people with depression. The perfect oil for a junior high aged child! 

    I like to get a few oils  I haven't tried when we have the extra sale. With hay fever in the air I decided to get a few blends that may help with the symptoms.  Garden Essence Alpine contains Juniper, pine, peppermint and niaouli. This blend helps to relieve headiness and nasal congestion.  I’m excited to try it.

    Garden Essence Respiratory Congestion contains Eucalyptus (4 kinds), Myrtle, Marjoram, Pine, Cypress, Lavender, Spruce, Peppermint and it will be fun to compare how it works vs. the Alpine.  These two blends have a similar use, but have very different oils in them.

    I am also getting Garden Essence Healing that contains Tea Tree, Niaouli, Rosemary and Clove. The oils in this blend make it excellent for cleansing and healing cuts, bruises, insect bites, cold sores, canker sores, tissue regeneration, and candida.  Sounds like a good one to have around!

    Being that summer is around the corner I am also getting the Garden Essence Cellulite blend which  contains Grapefruit, Cypress, Lavender, Juniper and Basil. Make a massage oil using 30 drops per ounce of carrier oil and massage into the desired area to aid in breaking up cellulite.

    Trying new oils is how we learn to use them.  Get more for your money with Garden Essence Oils.  Order oils online or by phone 801-228-1901.

Have a great month!
Kathryn