![]() Do you use Hydrosols? Share your experience with us! My pre-meeting ritual just got a revision. Purify and protect your space before you sit down for meditation, studying, coaching… with sweet grass hydrosol. Hydrosols are aromatic waters produced when fresh leaves, fruits, flowers or other replant materials go through the steam distillation process. They are softer and gentler than the essential oil equivalent - often recommended for infants and pets. Hydrosols contain all of the plant, so they differ from the essential oil in aroma and benefits. My hesitation using them in the past has always been - I can just use the eo safely and seemingly more effective and trusted source. For confidence I rely on clinical expert consensus. For more targeted health benefits, I will use the essential oil (possibly even in combination with a hydrosol). You may want to consider a hydrosols for air freshener, skin care, linen spray, perfume sprays, relieving stress, insect repellent, skin cooling, lymph support.
0 Comments
You can't force outcomes, but you can think and act in a way that allows them access to your life. What would it look like today if all you did is enjoy the day and consider possibilities - instead of making resolutions - and take the pressure off? You may even want to write them in present tense as statements of fact dated January 1, next year. For example, instead of "I will work out every day", you could consider "I am healthier than I have been in years, I move more, eat better, sleep better and am less stressed" - possibility fulfilled. Keep in mind through the month of January that all manner of amazing is possible, and that you are a possibility!
How to use our essential oils - aromatherapy for embracing possibility: I can make suggestions, but aromatherapy is also very much about personal preference.
Once you’ve chosen your aromatherapy oils,
Full Potentiality Blend To create 1 ml of an undiluted essential oil blend to add to an aromatherapy diffuser combine the following essential oils in a glass bottle:
For a diffuser roller blend, add to carrier oil in a 10ml roller bottle. Frankincense has been used for its anti-aging benefits since antiquity, that’s before the middle ages! It’s truly an anti-aging supplement that stands the tests of time.
One of the simplest, purest ways to use it and experience the anti-aging benefits from this fabulous oil is to simply add 6 drops of Frankincense oil to a roller bottle with one ounce of jojoba oil and use it as a great aid for age spots and damaged skin. Another simple remedy is to add a drop or two of Frankincense to your daily moisturizer to reduce the appearance of blemishes and rejuvenate skin. Enjoy this everyday healthy habit and see the benefits for yourself. You don’t have to just take my word for it. By necessity, I start my day very early. Many nurses do. Working a shift that requires you to be ready to work with people at 5:30am does not make you a morning person. I know, I encounter them every day - still sleeping on the shuttle, at the coffee pot, headphones in so not to have to interact, For some, I just know better than to say "Good Morning!"
If you have to hold yourself back when someone says "Good Morning" too early... this may be for you. How we get our day started is sometimes crucial to how the rest of the day will go. It's easy to stumble into the day, waking up as we go - shower, dress, coffee... not necessarily in that order. That’s normal for most people. What if there were ways to start your morning.. that eliminate the need to every remind anyone that you are not a morning person? a more pleasant way to wake? Would you be open to trying something new? If you’re willing to change things up some, you may still be more of a nightowl than a morning person, but you may be able to experience morning in a whole new light. (wink) In fact, you may wonder why you didn’t change things sooner! The following suggestions help, they may lead to an entirely enjoyable morning - believe it or not! 5 Steps to a marvelous morning!
Everyone deserves a Good Morning! Inhale from a your hand: 1 drop Wild Orange 1 drop Peppermint Diffuse: 2 drops each Spearmint and Lime In the shower: 3 drops Eucalyptus 3 drops Wild Orange Cleaning can be such a drag! And it can feel like it sucks up all your time. But not with this little routine. You'll have things cleaned up in no time at all!
1. Throw Away the Visual Clutter - Clutter makes the home feel chaotic, complicated and less welcoming. So throw away what you don’t need and find a place for things you need to keep. Create a 5 minute habit of practicing this simple task each day. 2. Take the 12-12-12 Challenge - If you really want to declutter your home, use the 12-12-12 challenge • Discover 12 items that need to be thrown away • Track down 12 items to be donated • Find 12 items that need to be returned to their proper storage place 3. When your home smells clean, it feels clean - As you tidy up, use this recipe to clean surfaces. It has a citrusy aroma that is refreshing and effective. SPARKLY CLEAN HOME CLEANER • 4 drops Lemon • 3 drops Peppermint • 3 drops Eucalyptus Add Lemon, Peppermint, Eucalyptus oils and water to a glass spray bottle. Spray on surfaces to clean. This recipe can be scaled to make more if desired. BONUS: This recipe can also be used as a diffuser blend. Add oils to your diffuser to help freshen your home while cleaning. ![]() Yes, Niaouli oil! This essential oil is used in medicinal preparations, in cough drops, vaporizer liquids, mouth sprays, gargles and to flavor toothpastes. Why is that? The therapeutic benefits of Niaouli essential oil are amazing - this is one that belongs in every "medicine cabinet".. It's an excellent choice for use with respiratory concerns, skin infections and acne. Niaouli is a large evergreen tree widely found in Asian countries. The trees have five-inch long leaves and yellow-tinted flowers that flourish in tight spikes at the ends of the branches. The flakey look of the tree gave it various nicknames such as paperbark or paper bark tea tree, and bottle brush. A relative of Tea Tree, Niaouli has a sweeter, yet woody aroma. Niaouli Essential Oil is also known by its botanical name,Melaleuca quinquenervia. This is an essential oil that you want to pay attention to chemotypes -if you are using doTERRA essential oil, they have taken the guess work out of it. Some chemotypes of this same oil, Melaleuca quinquenervia can be high in 1.8 Cineole - a component that warrants a little extra caution for use in children, application to the skin.... This is what I love about teaching oils when we are talking about doTERRA - the safety margin allows for amazing therapeutic benefit with very minimal risk. Niaouli essential oil has a stimulating aroma due to its eucalyptol content and composition of monoterpenes. It has been used in a variety of cosmetics such as lotions, creams and soaps. Due to its limonene content, Niaouli essential oil may help keep skin looking healthy. It may also be beneficial as part of a relaxing massage. USES • Add one drop to an adult facial cleanser. • Add to your favourite cleaning spray. • Include as part of a soothing massage. • Combine with Eucalyptus, Bergamot or Lavender essential oils in your dōTERRA diffuser. It is known to be an excellent expectorant and it also has antiallergenic and anti asthmatic properties according to Kurt Schnaubelt, DIRECTIONS FOR USE Diffusion: Use three to four drops in the diffuser of choice. Topical use: Apply one to two drops to desired area. Dilute with a carrier oil to minimise any skin sensitivity. See additional precautions below. PLANT PART: Leaf EXTRACTION METHOD: Steam distillation AROMATIC DESCRIPTION: Earthy, sharp, pungent MAIN CHEMICAL COMPONENTS: Eucalyptol, α-pinene Valerie Ann Worwood, The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy, 25th Anniversary Edition (Novato, CA: New World Library, 2016, 609. Schnaubelt K. Advanced aromatherapy. Healing Art Press, Canada, 1995 Plants have been used for centuries to help us maintain or restore health. The human body knows what to do with components found in plants. Essential Oils are components found in plants - we are more and more learning the benefits for health care.
One of the issues that I get asked about often is managing health blood sugar and helping to manage the effects of diabetes. Coriander is known for digestive support. A study done in 2009 suggests that coriander may also help to reduce blood sugar levels by increasing insulin levels. Now, this was a study in rats, but it does give us clues. The study found that the beta cells in the pancreas were more active after using coriander seed oil. Melissa (Melissa officinalis) essential oil may help people with high blood sugar levels, A study in 2015, found that topical application or even diffusing the essential oil helped glucose metabolism - again not a human study, not too many of those out there, unfortunately. Clove essential oil is another that is known for preventing oxidative stress and helping to minimize cell damage throughout the body. Studies also suggest that the oil reduced levels of enzymes in the pancreas in a way that may help to manage health in those who have been diagnosed with "pre-diabetes" or confirmed diabetes. Black pepper essential oil also is highly antioxidant and can be use internally, as well as aromatic and topical. A 2013 study showed that essential oil from a common kitchen spice, black pepper, might help manage or prevent type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure. Weight management is a key factor in controlling symptoms related to blood sugar. While being overweight does not cause every case of diabetes, it can increase the risk or make symptoms worse. Losing weight is a first-line treatment for many people with diabetes. This involves exercise and changes to the diet, but essential oils may help. Helichrysum essential oil and Grapefruit essential oils have been studied in rats and the rats gained less weight and had fewer signs of inflammation and less excess insulin that the rats who did not take these oils as supplements. You could use these oils as a massage with a base oil that contains these oils - very relaxing and uplifting! One that won't surprise you... Cinnamon Cinnamon has been sited in many studies and found within the supplemental suggestions of diabetes educators. The essential oil also might improve insulin sensitivity and other features of diabetes. It's a great substitute for sugar in flavoring beverages and dishes as well. Lavender essential oil oil has numerous uses in traditional and Western medicine, It is "ALL things calming". It has been found to help balance normal blood sugar levels and protect against oxidative stress, which causes complications in people with diabetes...and well, everyone. HOW TO: Share on Pinterest Inhaling and applying to the skin are the two main ways of using oils. receptors in the nose and capillaries of the lungs pick up the particles of many essential oils and carry them into the bloodstream.
Essential oils are not a replacement for what your health care provider recommends. They may help as an accompaniment to standard methods. If you are wanting more natural options, tell your doctor. Let your provider know your preference, your values and ask them to work with you. Don't expect your doctor to know about essential oils- you do the homework. If nothing else, remember too - there are many health benefits we get from essential oils - managing stress, decreasing oxidative damage, overall health - that would make trying them for more specific reasons worthwhile. Essential oils when used appropriately and in small amounts are safe and we have no evidence that any of the above mentioned oils are contraindicated with pharmaceutical approached. If you have questions, feel free to reach out! I would be happy to give you more guidance on how to safely use essential oils to take control of your health - more naturally! References: Coriander: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/ptr.2642 Helichrysumand Grapefruit: https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/jmf.2014.0088?rfr_dat=cr_pub%3Dpubmed&url_ver=Z39.88-2003&rfr_id=ori%3Arid%3Acrossref.org&journalCode=jmf Here is my Nurse's view of the Coronavirus.
I have received a few messages asking what my thoughts on the coronavirus are. How worried should we be? So, here are my thoughts - for a healthy level of concern. CDC is responding to an outbreak of respiratory disease caused by a novel (new) coronavirus that was first detected in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China and which has now been detected in 37 locations internationally, including cases in the United States. The virus has been named “SARS-CoV-2” and the disease it causes has been named “coronavirus disease 2019” (abbreviated “COVID-19”). I share this so you don't get it confused with other reports of coronavirus. Person-to-person spread of COVID-19 also has been seen among close contacts of returned travelers from Wuhan, but at this time, this virus is NOT currently spreading in the community in the United States. This could change, it could change quickly - which is why health care leaders and government officials are moving into action. We have been through similar things before. The complete clinical picture with regard to COVID-19 is not fully understood. Reported illnesses have ranged from mild to severe - it seems to be hitting adults harder than children. For the general American public, who are unlikely to be exposed to this virus at this time, the immediate health risk from COVID-19 is considered low. Unfortunately, in my opinion, the media creates fear around these threats that bring an unhealthy amount of panic over things that we have little to no control over. This causes an unnecessary stress, and that is not good for anyone. I would go as far as saying that these scare tactics may help ratings and the upcoming vaccination promo - but do more harm than good when it comes to health. So, let me bring some reassurance - not that you won't ever get sick. But that you only can do what you can do to take the best care of yourself and your loved ones. The coronavirus is a respiratory infection that spreads by droplets - exactly like the flu. So do all the things to be proactive every day - you are probably already doing them!. Here is what we can do, that will actually help - but not just right now, all year - whether we are aware of the name of a threat or not Get the facts, but when the media begins to build up hype around anything. When you being to feel the fear - turn off the TV, get off google - celebrate how smart you are for not having to be full of fear because you are already doing the things, you are proactive! right? If you are not fist pumping right now and declaring "THAT"S RIGHT" - then we need to talk! Here are the things you should already be doing:
SO, bottom line - don't panic, there are simple things that you can do - all day, all year - to prevent illness, We can't do anything about the more global situation, so leave that to the Health Organizations - that is their job. You already know where you can find them if you feel you need to check in and see how it's going. You don't need a fancy emergency preparedness plan. You can still move about, enjoy time with friends and family... with really, the same level of concern you should have every day. Eat right. Move more. Rest and Manage Stress Reduce toxins. Be proactive, If you get sick, stay home. Let me know your take aways! Drop a comment - questions? comments? I would love to hear from you! ![]() I hear this said every day at work by Anesthesia providers as they explain what their role is in making this experience more tolerable. Years ago, i discovered essential oils - which brought new meaning to organic chemistry. Did you know a group of essential oils classified as esters may be a solution - research has found it to be so- to one of the top 3 health concerns mentioned in every one of my classes, and polls I’ve taken among my fellow nurses. . . Stress, in itself, is not a bad thing. Unmanaged stress is a problem. Nurses (people in general really) are experiencing an unhealthy constant level of unmanaged stress. There are many safe, natural stress management tools - that don't require advanced skill or a large budget. There are very common tools that are popular today - that have somehow gained value in our culture, despite their cost to long term health as well as the hit financially that adds up over time. Just one, and maybe one of my favorites - essential oils. Better living through chemistry. One class of chemical compound, Esters are not just important for beer flavor - Essential oils high in esters are antispasmodic, often sedative and some are analgesic Common esters found in essential oils are methyl salicylate, linalyl acetate. These are found in lavender, clary sage, Roman chamomile, bergamot, helichrysum, and for methyl salicylate-we have wintergreen and birch. Essential oils are amazing tools for managing stress. My favorite "reset" stress management tool - combining Frankincense with Wild Orange for the uplifting qualities with one of my favorite Esters - Lavender. One drop of each in a personal inhaler, applied to aromatherapy jewelry or even just in the palm of my hand - rubbed together, applied to the back of my neck or chest... breathe it in. There are many ways manage stress, meditation is one that honestly surprised me in the impact it made once I was practicing daily - and for only 10 minutes each day. The National Institutes of Health reports studies show us that meditation practice may reduce stress, blood pressure, anxiety, depression, and insomnia, while increasing feelings of happiness and well-being. Meditation can be intimidating for some, others think its all a bunch of hocus pocus that works as much as you believe it does. Science is telling us otherwise and if it helps to reframe the story about it.- think of it more like a discipline, an exercise for the brain. What is meditation anyway? According to Psychology Today, meditation is the act of turning your mind away from distracting thoughts and focusing on the present moment. The practice can involve turning your attention to a single point of reference, focusing on the breath, bodily sensations, or for some, a mantra, a quote, or Bible verse. How is it done? One of the biggest barriers to meditation is that people don’t know where to begin. I suggest starting small - maybe even just 2 minutes, then 5, work up to 10 and if you love it - keep going. If all you ever do is 2 minutes every day, I believe you will still see a difference that makes it worth it. And of course, if you want to power boost this discipline - add in essential oils to help your brain and all those neurotransmitters get the right signals out to your body - to relax, everything is going to be ok. Ok, here are some tips: One of my favorite tips is to just go to headspace.com or download the app. I have learned tons of science and tips on mediation for various goals and seasons here. I love it! Just do the free trial... and then start out with a 3-5 or 10 minutes every morning. By the time you have completed the free trial, you will see the difference it makes and can decide if you need a guide or not. Essential Oils known for their value in meditation: Frankincense, Lavender, Neroli, Sandalwood, Eucalyptus (great for clear breathing). Any essential oil can be great for meditation though. I don't think you can choose the wrong oil. A couple other tips I learned from other nurses:
|
Juli ReynoldsBSN,RN Archives
April 2022
Categories |