Lovely Jasmine

I just recently purchased some Jasmine essential oil - my dad always grows confederate Jasmine on a trellis in the backyard and it smells sooooo heavenly on summer nights.

image from Floracopeia

Since the Jasmine flower is so small, it takes over 8 million flowers to produce one kilo of oil!  Therefore they sell it as an "absolute" mixed with a carrier oil.  Usually it's about 10% essential oil and the rest is carrier oil.  It is still very strong smelling and therapeutic - but it makes it more affordable.  I was researching some of the things Jasmine essential oil does, and I was surprised at what I found.  Here's what it can do:

• Expectorant: helps to clear the accumulation of phlegm in the respiratory tract
• Mild Anti-depressant:  It has an uplifting affect on the nervous system
• Anti-microbial: it has anti-viral and bactericidal properties
• Aphrodisiac: it has long been used to enhance feelings of love
• Labor and Postpardum:  Helps to ease labor pains and tone the uterus
• Menstrual Aid:  Can reduce cramps and nausea

and Sedative:  A recent report from German researchers stated that Jasmine is as strong or stronger than prescription sleeping/anxiety pills such as Valium. Two of the Jasmine fragrances have the same neurochemical mechanism of action as barbiturates!  Isn't that amazing?
This is from Dr. Weil's Blog

             The investigators from Ruhr Universität in Bochum, Germany tested hundreds of fragrances to determine their effects in humans and mice on the neurotransmitter GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid), which helps control nervous system activity. The two jasmine fragrances that were strongest increased the GABA effect by more than five times, making the scents as powerful as some pharmaceutical drugs. One of the investigators noted that the results could be seen as supportive evidence of a scientific basis for aromatherapy. The researchers have been granted a patent for their discovery. The study was published online in May by the Journal of Biological Chemistry.

I think that's pretty cool!  Anyway, consider using Jasmine the next time you are sick or anxious.  At least you'll smell lovely.  Be well and have a great day.
jessica

Sleep in Heavenly Peace

Do you have trouble sleeping?  I do.  and I have several friends who struggle as well.  It seems I can't quite turn my brain off.  The house is finally quiet and I can think - and so I do - but I can't stop.  Sometimes I just have trouble falling asleep, and sometimes I just can't seem to get into a deep, restful sleep.  If you struggle too - here are a few natural remedies that you can try.

• Essential oils:  Lavender and Chamomile are excellent choices to use as a sleep aid.  I have a mixture of them in a bottle by my bed - I rub some on my wrists and neck every night.  You'll find that Chamomile is a little pricey, but it lasts a long time because you only need a drop or two.  
• Warm bath:  It's difficult to fall asleep when you are cold.  Your body can't relax.  A warm bath will relax muscles and increase circulation warming you up so you can drift off.
• Full Belly:  You'll read in a lot of places that you shouldn't eat right before bed.  Perhaps that is true for some people. I like to eat a small snack though, because it is very hard for me to fall asleep if I am hungry.  I sleep more soundly as well.  Just remember to eat something sensible - like a piece of whole grain bread with peanut or almond butter, or a handful of almonds.  Combine that with a warm cup of Chamomile tea and you should be good to go.
• Distraction:  Since I have trouble turning my mind off - I often listen to something to keep my brain occupied long enough for me to fall asleep.  Music doesn't work for me - it's not distracting enough.  I need to focus on other people talking - like a movie or tv show.  I have a small portable dvd player that I hook headphones into - I close it and it will continue to run so I don't bother my hubby with the bright light.
• Eye Mask:  Helps tell your brain - "hey, it's dark so go to sleep".  Plus the routine of putting it on is another signal to your mind and body that it is time to turn off.

I hope you find these helpful.  If any of you have tips for finding dreamland, please share in the comments!

jessica

Stress and Anxiety Anyone?

...so it's almost half way to Christmas and it's getting kinda crazy.  I am going to a party at 10am on Saturday, and throwing a party at 5:30pm Saturday.  I have been a little stressed.  I don't want to be - as usual there is this disconnect between who I actually am and who I long to be.  So if you are like me and busy, stressed, or anxious about holiday events, here are a few natural remedies to ease your mind and body.

(image from Hostess with the Mostess)

• Peppermint Essential oil - a popular and festive flavor found in many recipes this season.  Coincidence?  perhaps.  But peppermint essential oil has many indications for a busy time of year.  It relieves headache, mental fatigue, nervous stress, muscle pain, and migraines.  It is antiviral (helping to fight colds and flus), anti-inflammatory, expectorant, and analgesic.  I like to mix a few drops with safflower oil and rub it on the bottoms of my feet, then slip on some cozy socks.  If you have a cold - application to the chest will both reduce inflammation in the bronchial area and reduce the urge to cough (it is an antispasmodic too).  It is a stimulant, so I wouldn't use it before you go to bed - great to use right before a party or in the morning though.  NEVER put it in your bath. I did that once and it will freeze you.  You won't be able to warm up for quite some time.  Also children under 2 and pregnant women should avoid peppermint - it is a very strong oil.  
• Accupressure - unlike acupuncture, this is something you can do at home.  Again I would focus on the feet.  There is a point right beneath the ball of your foot that can calm overactive adrenal glands and reduce stress.  

Put a few drops of peppermint on this spot and press with your thumb

(or have your hubby massage it for you :)

• Massage - go see your massage therapist!!  You can buy a gift certificate while you are there for a gift - so not only can you relax, but you can knock one gift off your list.  Massage not only relieves the physical tension in your muscles, but provides you with an hour all to yourself to just lie still.  Mmmmm...sounds nice to me.  The therapist's caring touch can also relieve depression, calm anxiety, and boost your immune system (it moves fluid through the lymph system).
• Find the Joy -  remember WHY you are throwing that party or making that gift.  I love to have people in my home, be surrounded by friends, and bring them joy by fixing cute foods or planning fun games.  I want to find or make that perfect gift because I care about the people in my life so much and I want them to know how much I love them.  When you center yourself and remember the reason you are doing the things you do, it can remove some of the pressure.  

 (image from Craftily Ever After)

So I hope you all have a lovely weekend - free from stress and anxiety and filled with Joy, Peace, and Love.
joyfully yours,
jessica

Feminine Essential Oils

As women, we have our own special set of physical discomforts and emotional fluctuations.  Today I wanted to share with you some of my favorite essential oils that aid in womanly discomfort.

Clary Sage - has a calming effect on the nervous system, lifts minor depression, and, as an anti-inflammatory, it eases the discomfort of premenstrual cramps.  You can add a few drops to a warm bath, or mix with a carrier oil and massage into your lower abdomen.

Rose Geranium - relieves mild depression and anxiety, and balances hormones.  It is anti-fungal and anti-bacterial.  This is the first oil I turn to when I am having PMS.  I usually put a drop on the inside of my wrist, rub my wrists together and inhale deeply.  This fragrance of rose geranium is quite strong, but the more you use it the more you will love it.

Rose Geranium and Lavender at the Keys Creek Lavender Farm which I visited in CA.

Lavender -  of course.  Lavender heals all.  If you never know what to use or if you have never used essential oils before, start with lavender.  It is safe for all ages and produces feelings of peace and calm - aiding in balancing those dreadful mood swings.  I like to put a drop on the outside of my eye mask, pull it down over my eyes and go to sleep.

So those are my top 3 essential oils for women.  Just a note - if you have never smelled essential oils before, they can seem very strong and some people think they are downright stinky.  Unfortunately we are used to more synthetic fragrances (dish soaps, lotions, shower gels, shampoos).  Essential oils are in their pure state and can be very overwhelming.  I want to encourage you to keep trying them anyway.  The more you use them, the more you will come to appreciate the potency - and certain oils will become your favorites.  If you have any questions about this post, or about essential oils in general, check the Contact Me section for my email or leave a comment on this post.  Have an aromatic day!
jessica

p.s. A good place to purchase quality essential oils is Floracopeia.

Treating Insect Stings

Some of you already know that last week sweet little Charlotte was attacked by yellow jackets.  She was stung about 10 times, which is painful for anyone, especially a little one.  After she was stung, I jumped online to find any remedies that I could apply right away, while Ryan went to the store to buy Children's Benadryl.  Here are some things I found that could apply to any insect sting.

• Remove the stinger - using tweezers, grasp the stinger right next to the skin.  Do not pull by the end of the stinger - it can squeeze more venom into the skin.  Another method is to scrape a credit card along the skin where the stinger is - this should pop it out.
• Baking Soda paste - make a paste of 2 parts baking soda and 1 part water - apply this to every sting.  It will neutralize the venom.  Apparently plain toothpaste will do this too (i think because it has baking soda in it).
• Lavender essential oil - it eases the stinging and itching sensation, as well as kills any bacteria , preventing infection.  Inhaling the aroma also produces a calming effect.
• Ice - the cold restricts blood vessels, reducing swelling and easing pain.
• Dr. Bach's Rescue Remedy - the cream will disinfect and reduce swelling - the liquid if taken internally - will calm your adrenal system (four drops under the tongue)
• Of course, Benadryl, the obvious option is very helpful in counteracting the histamines - reducing itching and negative reactions.
• Fluids - drinking lots of fluids not only helps your body heal, it flushes the venom out of your system.

I hope that was helpful, and you can reference here if you are ever stung.  Do you have any more suggestions?

Headache Pain Management

Image from Scientificamerican.com

Many, many people suffer from headaches - tension, hormonal, sinus, migraine...sometimes I feel like I get in a rut where I am popping ibuprofen every afternoon.  I don't like doing that.  If you feel the same way, here are some simple, natural ways to ease headache pain, and ward off daily headaches. 
Yes, it means we have to be a little more responsible - but wouldn't you rather be responsible than be in pain? (some people actually answer No to that question - if that is you, this won't help you.)
We'll start with pain management:

• Aromatherapy:  These oils can ease the pain of headaches.  Peppermint, Lavender, Pink Grapefruit.  You can apply one or two drops to the inside of your wrists, rub together, and inhale deeply.  You can even use them all together if you like!  Just mix about 1 drop peppermint, 3 drops lavender, and 2 drops p.grapefruit in 2 Tablespoons of a carrier oil - massage this on your temples, and your neck/shoulders (better yet, have your hubby do that for you).     ***peppermint oil should NOT be used on pregnant/nursing women or children under 2***
• Ice:  This can be one of the most effective ways to treat any kind of pain.  Ice numbs the nerves and causes them to STOP sending pain signals to the brain.  This breaks the pain cycle.  Often when I have a headache, I put an icepack at the base of my neck and it really helps.  Just last night, I had a sinus headache, and the ice pack felt better on my forehead, so that's where it sat as I fell asleep.  Ice also reduces inflammation, which can be a major cause of headaches.
• Shunt:  This involves both ice and heat.  Run a footbath, or a regular tub, with hot water.  Place your feet in the water.  Place an icepack on your head.  This will draw the blood away from your head, to your feet and should ease some of the discomfort.

Headache Prevention:

• Hydration:  I will confess, I am the worst at this one.  I like to drink coffee - not water.  But I do feel  better when i drink water - and dehydration has been proven to be a major cause of headaches (especially ones that occur at the end of the day).
• Exercise:  Doesn't it seem like this is the remedy for everything?  Why can't we just be lazy....I guess we can and that's why we're in pain.  As you probably know, exercise increases endorphins (natural pain killers), it increases circulation, and does a myriad of other important things. (blah blah blah just go exercise.)

• Massage Therapy:  Especially useful for tension headaches, or stress-induced headaches.  Your L.M.T. can release the tension in your muscles, reducing the constraint on your nerves.  This does not have to be painful "deep tissue" massage.  Just a simple, slow massage can melt away many layers of tension.  A light scalp massage can be helpful too - this is a good one to use on your kids.

So there you have it - a few simple tips to headache pain management.  Let's try to be responsible for our health.  Those things I have mentioned are a lot cheaper than Dr. visits and OTC medication.  It IS easier to pop a pill, but is it better?  I don't think so.  It's also very empowering to know that you eased your family's pain.  YOU can change your circumstances.  We do need Dr.s for some things, yes, but let's try to be a bit more responsible in our health care (I'm speaking to myself here too).  I wish you good health today.
jessica

Tea Tree Essential Oil

Good Morning!  I haven't done a post on essential oils in a while, so I figured it was time.

Last time I spoke with you about Lavender, which is the most versatile oil to own.  Next to it would probably be Tea Tree.

Grown primarily in Australia, it has been used for 1000s of years by the aboriginal people.  It is a very strong healing oil, because it is active against bacteria, fungi, and viruses.  It also has a very strong odor - kind of like hay.  You can buy some online here.  They also probably have it at your local health foods store.


How to use it:

I use tea tree oil when it seems one of us is getting sick.  Like any other natural remedy, it is important to use it as soon as you feel symptoms.  You can add 3-4 drops of tea tree to about a Tablespoon of carrier oil.  Massage this on your chest and neck - especially around the glands under your jaw bone.  Do this three times a day, when you feel you are getting sick.

My second favorite way to use tea tree is on the skin.  It is very effective in killing minor infections (like around your finger/toe nails), and also in reducing breakouts on your face (which we know are caused by bacteria, which it kills).  To treat these symptoms,  you can get a q-tip and put a drop or two on the tip - apply directly to your skin at the site of infection/blemish.

For more information I suggest this book:

The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils: The Complete Guide to the Use of Oils in Aromatherapy & Herbalism
For more information online you can go here.
Have a naturally healthy day!
jessica

Ayurvedic Approach

Being a massage therapist, it should not surprise you that I am into all kinds of natural medicine and healing.  I love using what God has given us on the earth to heal ourselves - essential oils, herbs, spices, nutritious foods.

( I also believe that God gave doctors the genius minds to come up with wonderful Rx and cures for horrible diseases.  We must have a balance between the old, natural way of healing and the new modern cures.)  Anyway, one of the methods I like to study is called Ayurvedic Medicine (pronounced  I-yur-vay-dic).  It is one of the oldest forms of medicine and it originated in India.  Now before you go worrying that I am getting all voodoo on you, remember this - God put these things on the earth for us to use.  Just because some cultures connect God's medicinal solutions with their religious beliefs does not mean that you are a part of that religion if you use these methods. Ayurvedic medicine is about balance and using the plants and foods indigenous to your region as a way of healing.  One of the main principles of Ayurvedic medicine is the dosha.  There are three doshas and they determine the type of constitution you exhibit. 

If your dosha is out of balance,  you can become ill.  Here is a great quiz (it's fun to take even if you think all of this is hullabaloo) that will determine your dosha and tell you how to become more balanced.  I have been trying to balance my dosha lately (are you laughing?) and I really feel like it has helped.  So there - light your incense, go meditate, balance your dosha ;)
namaste
jessica

Lavender Part 1:

I love lavender so much that I have to talk to you about it in two or three parts- Today we are going to talk about the oil itself and what it does.

Therapeutic Grade Lavender Essential Oil

• It is distilled from the French, sweet, or true lavender plant
• It takes 250 lbs of raw lavender to make 16 oz of essential oil
• Once distilled, the essential oil must be kept in a dark container and away from direct sunlight

Therapeutic Uses for Lavender

• Stress-relief
• Relieves Insomnia
• Heals skin abrasions such as: burns, sunburns, infections
• Relieves mild depression symptoms
• Anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-microbial

How do essential oils work?

• Essential oil molecules are so small that they are able to cross the blood/brain barrier
• Only alcohol, drugs, and essential oils can do that
• This means they can affect the signals your brain sends to your body - helping the body to naturally heal itself
• Most effective when inhaled and absorbed through the skin

Lavender is the safest and most versatile oil. It can be used on infants, pregnant and nursing women and all other children and adults (there are a few adults who are allergic so it is always important to test a small area first). Next time we will talk about how to use this oil - but I wanted to give you time to buy some first. You can try your local health food stores or order some at these websites:

Cosmicflower

Mountain Rose Herbs

If you are interested in learning more about all of the essential oils this is my favorite reference book by Julia Lawless:

Kiss me- I'm Irish!

It seems that the cold weather is dragging on and on this year! I don't know about you, but it has greatly affected my skin this year. I especially have a difficult time keeping my lips soft and shiny - so in the spirit of St. Patrick's Day here is a simple lip scrub to exfoliate those lips! This combination of ingredients works because the sugar sloughs away dead skin, while the honey, which is a humectant, helps your lips retain moisture. The Olive oil is also moisturizing, while the peppermint and orange lift your spirits out of the never-ending winter gloom! Just mix these ingredients together, massage into lips and wipe with a warm cloth. Follow with your favorite lip gloss!

1 Tablespoon of Sugar

1 Tablespoon of Honey

1 Tablespoon of Olive Oil

3 drops of sweet orange essential oil
2 drops of peppermint essential oil

Essential oils should be available at your local health food stores - if not, you can buy some at my favorite shop, Cosmic Flower. Have fun and go kiss your sweetie! (only if they're wearing green of course! :)