A close look at Frankincense

From the Epoch Times, comes this great article. Epoch Times is a good source for news is you aren’t familiar with them.

The Healing Powers of Frankincense

Frankincense, a popular essential oil, has been revered for millennia for religious, medicinal, and beautification purposes. A literal testament to its value comes from the Bible, where many know it as one of the three gifts the wise men brought to the birth of Jesus.

Frankincense comes from the Boswellia tree, which is native to Africa, much of the Middle East, parts of India, and Pakistan. An incision is made in the trunk of the Boswellia tree, which exudes a milky sap that hardens upon contact with the air, turning it into a resin. The resin also can be steam-distilled, producing a fragrant essential oil.

Frankincense Throughout History
The ancient Egyptians used frankincense resin as incense in religious rituals and for beautification by charring it and grinding it into a powder for eyeliner and tattoos. The Egyptian Ebers Papyrus, dated to 1500 B.C., prescribes frankincense resin for throat infections and asthma attacks.

The Iranian physician Avicenna (980–1037) recommended frankincense for tumors, ulcers, and fevers in his ancient medical texts.

There are earlier medicinal references to frankincense in the Chinese herbal manuscript, the Ming Yi Bie Lu, in the 6th century.

Several mentions of frankincense are found in both the Old and New Testaments of the Judeo-Christian bible, sometimes in regard to its use as an offering, and other times as a metaphor for what it means to endure without grievance.

Frankincense also had various uses in everyday life. Melted incense resin was used to repair pots and jars, creating a watertight seal, and the bark of the Boswellia tree made dye for cotton and leather clothing.

Frankincense in Chinese Medicine
In Chinese medicine, frankincense is the herb ru xiang and has been used medicinally for thousands of years. It has pungent, bitter, and warming properties and works specifically on the liver, heart, and spleen. Frankincense is in a class of herbs that move blood, strongly stimulating blood flow.

In the Eastern view, many health problems are caused by a “stagnation” or blockage of either qi (energy) or blood flow. When qi and blood are flowing freely in our bodies, the system is balanced, and we are healthy. But, when there is a blockage in this flow, problems arise. Pain is one example. Pain is a symptom of a blockage or “stagnation” of the qi or blood flow. Frankincense is often prescribed for pain because of its strong blood-moving properties and ability to break up stagnation.

Tumors, cysts, and other masses are considered accumulations of blood in Chinese medicine. The thinking is that if the blockage goes untreated for long enough, it will accumulate into a mass or tumor. Because of its powerful blood-moving actions, ru xiang is used to treat tumors and other masses. A lot of scientific research is being dedicated to its cytotoxic, anti-tumor effects.

Frankincense and Cancer
Research has been affirming frankincense and its potential effectiveness against cancer. In one study published in BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies, frankincense essential oil induced cell death in human pancreatic cancer cells. This research is hopeful as it might offer a more natural alternative to chemo and radiation therapy for pancreatic cancer, an often aggressive cancer with a poor prognosis. In a research review published in 2016, researchers noted that the boswellic acids of frankincense have an antiproliferative effect on tumors.

“They inhibit proliferation of tumor cells of the leukaemia and glioblastoma subset. They have an anti-tumour effect since they inhibit topoisomerase I and II-alpha and stimulate programmed cell death (apoptosis),” they wrote.

Contraindications
Frankincense shouldn’t be used in pregnancy and should be used with caution for those with digestive problems because of its strong moving actions and potential toxicity. For these reasons, long-term use isn’t recommended.

As an additional warning, if you are considering taking frankincense internally, be sure that you are using a 100-percent pure oil that is labeled for internal use and not an aromatic or scented oil, and do so under the supervision of a health care professional.

Frankincense’s Everyday Uses
Frankincense is an incredibly versatile oil with many practical uses. You can use the oil topically on the skin, or put a few drops in a carrier oil such as coconut, jojoba, almond, or avocado for pain or inflammation. To reap its beneficial effects, you can also add a few drops to an essential oil diffuser or vaporizer.

Frankincense and Health
Frankincense has antiseptic, astringent, anti–inflammatory, disinfectant, digestive, diuretic, and expectorant properties. It’s known as the king of oils because it benefits every system in the body. It strengthens the immune system and helps the body to absorb nutrients. Frankincense helps healthy cell regeneration and keeps existing cells and tissues at optimum levels, giving it a wide variety of applications in medicine to treat a multitude of conditions.

Here are some ways you can use frankincense essential oil at home.

Stress
A few drops of frankincense essential oil in the bath will calm the nervous system and help you relax, making it a great thing to do right before bed to ensure a restful, rejuvenating sleep. This aspect of frankincense also has been studied by researchers. In one study on rats published in the Journal of Oleo Science in 2019, researchers declared, “Frankincense essential oil can counter the effects of stress by effectively relieving sleep debt and maintaining antioxidant capacity without increasing oxidative stress, and, therefore, may be beneficial in the management of stress.”

Skin Conditions
Known for its ability to treat skin conditions and heal wounds, frankincense is also an astringent and helps protect skin cells. It reduces acne and the size of pores, heals blemishes, prevents wrinkles, and lifts and tightens skin naturally. You can use it topically anywhere you have loose skin (six drops to an ounce of carrier oil on the skin). Frankincense also strengthens gums and hair roots, stops bleeding from wounds on the skin, speeds healing of cuts, acne, insect bites, and boils.

Oral Hygiene
Frankincense prevents tooth decay, cavities, bad breath, as well as oral infections. Reseach published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology in 2018 found that “The antimicrobial properties of essential oil derived from frankincense, a compound with well-known traditional use, showed that it possesses a clear potential as a natural antimicrobial agent.” It also helps to strengthen gums. You can add a drop of Frankincense oil to your toothpaste to help improve oral health.

Anti-Inflammatory
Research has shown that frankincense reduces inflammation, in particular helping to inhibit the breakdown of cartilage and painful swelling associated with both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Pain Killer
You can use frankincense oil directly on the skin or with a carrier oil such as coconut or jojoba for pain relief because of its blood-moving, as well as anti-inflammatory, properties.

Colds and Respiratory Health
Frankincense breaks up phlegm in the respiratory tract and the lungs, relieves congestion, and eases bronchitis. Add a few drops of the essential oil to a diffuser or vaporizer to clear the respiratory tract. Diffusing frankincense will also deodorize and disinfect your home of germs, bacteria, and viruses.

As you can see, frankincense has many health benefits. The fact that so many cultures have been using it for centuries is a testament to its healing prowess. When using essential oils externally, always ensure that you are getting high-quality, organic oils. They are very concentrated, so a drop or two goes a long way. If you are interested in using frankincense internally, be sure to do so under the supervision of a health care practitioner. Frankincense is a wonderful addition to your life and your home and is yet another example of how nature can heal us, body, mind, and spirit.

Young Living essential oils has excellent frankincense oils, as well as blends that contain frankincense. If you have questions or need to order, just use the contact form. I’ll be glad to help you.

 

 

Intentional Spaces

Sharing a email that could be helpful in these crazy stressful times.

Enhance your space with the aromas of essential oils. Why essential oils? Smell is the only sense that has a direct connection to the limbic lobe of the brain, the emotional control center. A scent can evoke an emotion or memory before we are consciously aware of it! Now visualize the room or space you want to focus your intentions on. What type of environment do you want create? What are you using this space for? Then think of aromas you love that will support your desired outcome. Add a few drops in your diffuser and enjoy the benefits! Here are a few essential oils to consider as you create intentional spaces.

The Versatile Cucumber

1. Cucumbers contain most of the vitamins you need every day, just one cucumber contains Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6, Folic Acid, Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium and Zinc.

2. Feeling tired in the afternoon, put down the caffeinated soda and pick up a cucumber. Cucumbers are a good source of B vitamins and Carbohydrates that can provide that quick pick-me-up that can last for hours.

3. Tired of your bathroom mirror fogging up after a shower? Try rubbing a cucumber slice along the mirror, it will eliminate the fog and provide a soothing, spa-like fragrance.

4. Are grubs and slugs ruining your planting beds? Place a few slices in a small pie tin and your garden will be free of pests all season long. The chemicals in the cucumber react with the aluminum to give off a scent undetectable to humans but drive garden pests crazy and make them flee the area.

5. Looking for a fast and easy way to remove cellulite before going out or to the pool? Try rubbing a slice or two of cucumbers along your problem area for a few minutes, the phytochemicals in the cucumber cause the collagen in your skin to tighten, firming up the outer layer and reducing the visibility of cellulite. Works great on wrinkles too!!!

6. Want to avoid a hangover or terrible headache? Eat a few cucumber slices before going to bed and wake up refreshed and headache free. Cucumbers contain enough sugar, B vitamins and electrolytes to replenish essential nutrients the body lost, keeping everything in equilibrium, avoiding both a hangover and headache!!

7. Looking to fight off that afternoon or evening snacking binge? Cucumbers have been used for centuries and often used by European trappers, traders and explores for quick meals to thwart off starvation.

8. Have an important meeting or job interview and you realize that you don’t have enough time to polish your shoes? Rub a freshly cut cucumber over the shoe, its chemicals will provide a quick and durable shine that not only looks great but also repels water.

9. Out of WD 40 and need to fix a squeaky hinge? Take a cucumber slice and rub it along the problematic hinge, and voila, the squeak is gone!

10. Stressed out and don’t have time for massage, facial or visit to the spa? Cut up an entire cucumber and place it in a boiling pot of water, the chemicals and nutrients from the cucumber will react with the boiling water and be released in the steam, creating a soothing, relaxing aroma that has been shown the reduce stress in new mothers and college students during final exams.

11. Just finish a business lunch and realize you don’t have gum or mints? Take a slice of cucumber and press it to the roof of your mouth with your tongue for 30 seconds to eliminate bad breath, the phytochemicals will kill the bacteria in your mouth responsible for causing bad breath.

12. Looking for a ‘green’ way to clean your faucets, sinks or stainless steel? Take a slice of cucumber and rub it on the surface you want to clean, not only will it remove years of tarnish and bring back the shine, but is won’t leave streaks and won’t harm you fingers or fingernails while you clean.

13. Using a pen and made a mistake? Take the outside of the cucumber and slowly use it to erase the pen writing, also works great on crayons and markers that the kids have used to decorate the walls!!

Ledum essential oil

Ready for a little light reading?

Dr. Scott Johnson: A preclinical study determined that Ledum essential oil causes the death of cells involved in joint inflammation and damage due to rheumatoid arthritis. This suggests that Ledum may be useful for RA if it is duplicated in human research.

Rhododendron tomentosum (Ledum palustre) is an aromatic plant traditionally used for alleviating rheumatic complaints which makes it a potential candidate for a natural drug in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treatment. However, the effects of plants’ volatiles on apoptosis of synovial fibroblasts and infiltrating leucocytes of RA synovia, have not been reported. Volatile fraction of R. tomentosum is chemically variable and chemotypes of the plants need to be defined if the oil is to be used for therapeutic purposes. In the presented work, cluster analysis of literature data enabled to define 10 chemotypes of the plant.

11 reasons you should take CBD on a daily basis

Ever wondered what CDB oil could do for you, or why all the interest? CDB oil has some amazing benefits you may not be familiar with.

Fights bacteria growth – Cannabidiol fights the bacteria that causes things like gum disease and intestinal issues.

Keeps focus – CBD produces no psychoactive results, no hallucinations, no paranoia, and no anxiety.

Reduces inflammation – CBD has analgesic effects, an anti-inflammatory that fights muscle pain, fights arthritis, and treats migraines.

Supports bones – Bones and joints deteriorate over time. But, studies are looking at how CBD helps strength and spur bone growth.

Regulates immunity – For those who suffer from autoimmune conditions, CBD can reduce the activity in the immunity system, allowing systems to relax and recover.

Relieves pain – People have used CBD and CBA-derivatives for centuries to relieve chronic and depilating pain that attaches to arthritis, Chron’s Disease, arthritis, and more.

Represses muscle spasms – Researchers are interested in the benefits of CBD for treating the muscle spasms and seizures connected with epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, infantile spasms, and similar conditions.

Tempers anxiety – CBD will reduce anxiety as a condition. But, it also soothes the anxious nerves that follow from chronic pain, long term disease, and daily social concerns.

Balances blood sugar levels – The chemistry of CBD helps regulate blood sugar. That’s of special interest to diabetics.

Helps insomniacs – People having trouble sleeping will benefit from CBD. Endoca reports on a Brazilian study that “CBD oil affects sleep in a positive way because of the anxiolytic (anxiety-inhibiting) properties more than direct sleep regulation, per se. In particular, it may block rapid eye movement (REM) sleep.”

The best spots for applying essential oils and enjoying their benefits

Essential oils are some of the most potent natural products that can restore health. When used in combination with beneficial lifestyle choices, these volatile oils help restore the body’s natural ability to balance hormones.

Essential oils can also restore calmness to the mind and soothe emotions. Some examples of these are basil, cedarwood, clary sage, geranium, jasmine absolute, lavender, lemon, neroli, peppermint, Roman chamomile, rosemary, sandalwood, and ylang-ylang.

Essential oils also lift the mood and restore energy to the body. Bergamot, lemon and citrus essential oils have the most potent energizing effects.

Lastly, essential oils can help with mental grounding and balancing hormones. Cedarwood, rosemary, sandalwood, and thyme essential oils are the best oils for this. (Related: Essential oil of bald cypress can prevent food spoilage).

To get the most out of them, apply essential oils to the skin directly above the parts that need them or as close to those spots as possible. For example, people who want to remove tension from their backs can apply essential oil to spots that feel sore. A headache, on the other hand, can be alleviated by applying the oil to the forehead or temples.

Pulse points are spots where the heartbeat is felt the strongest. They are located behind the ears, on the ankles, neck, temples, wrists, and over the heart. Applying essential oils to these spots speeds up their absorption into the bloodstream.

Another way to accelerate the absorption of essential oils is to apply them to the soles of the feet, the ears, and the wrists (FEW). The FEW points host the largest pores of the body, so applying essentials oils to these spots will make it easier for oils to enter the skin and make it into the blood.
Safety reminders when picking and using essential oils

Geranium, lavender, sandalwood, and ylang-ylang essential oils are safe for aromatherapy, but other oils may be more restrictive. Lemon and thyme need to be diluted first before they can be applied to the skin.

Patients with epilepsy or high blood pressure must avoid basil and rosemary oils. Along with thyme, these essential oils are not suitable for people with hemophilia and other blood clotting problems.

Clary sage essential oil may trigger contractions in the uterus. Women should not use it while they are pregnant, but it might be helpful during childbirth.

Jasmine essential oil contains benzyl acetate that can cause mild allergic reactions. This compound can also be found in geranium, citronella, lavender, petitgrain, and sweet marjoram.

Bergamot and lemon essential oils are phototoxic. They react poorly to ultraviolet rays, so avoid sunlight and sources of UV light for 12 hours after using lemon oil and for 72 hours after using bergamot oil. Diabetics who are taking medications are also advised to avoid bergamot oil as it reduces blood glucose levels.

Neroli clashes with monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), a class of synthetic antidepressants. People who are taking MAOIs should not use this essential oil.

People taking iron supplements must remember to wait for three hours before using peppermint essential oil. Those with hypertension or are taking medications for digestive problems must also be cautious. Additionally, peppermint oil contains menthol that can slow breathing, so it is not recommended for children below six years of age.

Basil, cedarwood, peppermint, Roman chamomile, and rosemary essential oils can affect the production of breast milk. Pregnant women and mothers who breastfeed should avoid using them.

Alkalime and Apple Cider Vinegar

I would like to pick your brain…. with the world understanding more the benefits of ph balance, how much better is the YL Alkalime vs the wonders of Apple cider with the mother? Would you please educate me?

Sonya: Great question! They do similar and different things.

Raw Apple Cider Vinegar is great to sip in some water WITH a meal to aid in digestion, pour on your head for hair (diluted with water), it’s great to dissolve what the book “Apple Cider Vinegar: Miracle Health System” calls “acid crystals ” in the neck and spine and some say it’s been their saving grace with arthritis and many other conditions. So I LOVE raw apple cider vinegar!

And yes, it does seem to help with the acid/alkaline balance in the body. There is a great old book called “Folk Medicine: A New England Almanac of Natural Health Care >From a Noted Vermont Country Doctor” and he treats so many conditions with ACV and kelp/iodine and a few other natural substances. It actually helps turn the urine more acidic, which is important to keep a healthy functioning kidney and bladder. When these organs get too alkaline, infections can grow more easily.

Alkalime, on the other hand, is taken either at bedtime, after a meal, or at least an hour before a meal. Why is this? Because it has the effect of neutralizing the occasional excess stomach acid. And believe it or not, we actually do want stomach acid (HCL) right before we eat. So an over acid condition, is actually not enough acid at the right time, which is before a meal. Since ACV is acidic when it enters the body, it can be taken with meals, Alkalime should be take apart from meals.

It also may soothe the occasional upset stomach, relieve occasional heartburn and indigestion.

Alkalime also is awesome for body hydration. The body needs minerals for the water to uptake into the cells (so the speak). Alkalime contains nine biochemical mineral cell salts (different forms of calcium, potassium, and sodium) Lemon and Lime essential oils, and organic lemon powder. So it’s also great to put into a water bottle when hiking, or any time your body needs extra electrolytes.

An over acidic body has also been linked to occasional panic attacks and anxiety along with more serious chronic conditions.

So either way, they are both a great addition to a healthy diet and lifestyle!