People often confuse essential oils and flower essences. Although both essential oils and flower essences have therapeutic benefits they are, in fact, different commodities. They are extracted in different ways and are also used in different ways. This article outlines the differences and similarities between these two popular natural products – and when you should each one.

Essential Oils

Essential oils are natural oils that are extracted from plants. They are used in aromatherapy for therapeutic purposes for common conditions such as asthma, arthritis, back pain and stress. Essential oils are extracted from the hairs, glands or sacs of plants and plant parts such as bark, roots, leaves, flowers, grasses and seeds. The two most common extraction methods for essential oils are distillation and cold expression. Most citrus essential oils are cold expressed in comparison to other types of oils. Examples of essential oils include lemon, lavender, orange, rose, peppermint, rosemary, cypress, clary sage and eucalyptus.

Flower Essences

Dr. Edward Bach (1886 – 1936) is the most well known name accredited with the discovery of the therapeutic benefits of flower essences. However, in addition to The Bach Flower Remedies, there are also other types of flower essences in practice today such as the Australian Bush Flower Essences. Flower essences correspond to a virtue, or emotional imbalance, in the body that causes dis-harmonization; a suitable flower essence is chosen to address and re-balance the body (source: The Encyclopedia of Bach Flower Therapy, Mechhthild Scheffer). Although essences are referred to in general as flower essences, the essences do include trees too; examples of flower essences include rock rose, elm, impatiens, walnut, mustard, honeysuckle, heather and oak.

Plant material is collected from the plant, placed in a bowl of water and allowed to infuse the natural elements of the sun (or other heat source) and air. Once the plants have been infused for a period of time, the water infusion is bottled and stored, ready for use. Flower essences also contain alcohol (usually brandy) as a natural preservative for the infusion. Flower essences contain the vibration, or energy, of the plant which is used to heal the imbalances in your body.

Therapeutic Benefits of Essential Oils

Essential oils are used to treat both physical and emotional ailments. However, essential oils are predominately applied to the outside of the body and are not recommended for internal use without a comprehensive and lengthy training and understanding of the oils from a qualified and experienced practitioner. Use essential oils in skin care, for muscle pain, digestive problems, respiratory problems, nervous system disorders, for circulatory problems, and to boost your immune system. Essential oils possess many different therapeutic properties, depending upon the oil; common properties of essential oils are analgesic, anti-inflammatory, calming, digestive, anti-viral and bactericidal (source: The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils, Julia Lawless).

Therapeutic Benefits of Flower Essences

Use flower essences to treat emotional problems such as fear, loneliness, uncertainty, despair, insufficient interest in present circumstances, over-sensitivity and over-care (source: The Essential Writings of Dr Edward Bach. Dr Edward Bach). Different essences are used for different imbalances; for example, honeysuckle flower essence can help with transitions from the past to the present and elm flower essence can help build confidence.

Use of Essential Oils and Flower Essences

Always dilute an essential oil in a carrier oil or lotion before use before applying it externally to your body. In addition, pay attention to any contra-indications for certain groups of people such as in pregnancy or with the elderly or children. Be aware that some essential oils might interact with certain types of medication or other therapies, such as homeopathy or high blood pressure. Consult a trained aromatherapist for advice on how to use essential oils for a specific problem.

In general, you can use flower essences with other medications and other types of therapies such as homeopathy. You usually use flower essences internally via the mouth. Consult a qualified professional, trained in the use of flower essences, for advice on how to use for a specific problem.

Essential Oil or Flower Essence?

Both flower essences and essential oils are suitable for both people and animals (but be aware of any different reactions). They both have similar uses but there are differences in the way that they are administered, the safety issues regarding use and the types of plants (and methods) that they are extracted from. If you understand the basic differences between flower essences and essential oils, you can use both products to the best of your ability and knowledge.

Author is a trained and certified clinical aromatherapist with level 1 training in Bach Flower Remedies

Photo by Mike Gilbert Photography

So I recently did some digging trying to find some recipies for homemade plant fertilizer and these are a few of what I found. I was looking for something simple to make that I could use with cheap and easy to find household ingredients. My favorite plant food recipe that I found was this one…

I took a old gallon milk-jug and filled it near the top with de-fluoridated tap water and added the following ingredients…

• 1 tablespoon Epson Salts
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1/2 tsp. household ammonia

I have been using it now for about a month and I have seen noticeable growth in my houseplants. I hadn’t been using any fertilizer at all previously, so some of these fertilizer recipes could be better, but with the ingredients I had around the house, this one seemed to be the best option.

Other homemade plant food options

Doing my research, it was clear that there are a million and one ways to fertilize your houseplants. Some people suggested boiling vegetables and after allowing the water to cool using that as a fertilizer. Others just let old tea bags soak in water and poured that water as a liquid plant food, and broke up egg shells and let them sit in water for a month or so (that must be stinky!).

Other suggestions I found…

• Once a month pour a can of room temperature beer into each of my plants.
• If you have fish always save the water when you clean or change your tank. Water your plants with this.
• Dry out empty eggshells, and crush them into powder. Work approximately five crushed eggshells into the soil around every plant. Outdoor flowers, fruits, and vegetables will benefit greatly from this homemade fertilizer.

For even more ideas to create a simple plant fertilizer check out these links…

• Home-made plant fertilizer
• Homemade plant food
• Homemade fertilizer
• A better way to fertilize your garden
• How to make homemade plant fertilizer
• Plant lovers homemade fertilizer
• Homemade plant fertilizer from the Helpful gardener

Do you have any plant-food recipes that you love? Let us know!

Health Benefits from Raw Honey

People are turning to alternative medicines for treatment of diseases despite the modern advances in synthetic drugs. We are looking to nature for safe, healthy, time tested remedies. Honey is one of nature’s purest foods for promoting general health. There are so many health benefits to honey; it truly is nature’s super food.

You might be surprised to learn that it is a natural antimicrobial and antioxidant. In terms of antioxidants, darker is better when it comes to honey. Processed honey is heated and filtered, robbing it of natural nutrients. Honey has also been used throughout the ages as an all natural beauty product.

Honey is a powerful booster to the immune system.

Raw honey contains 27 minerals, 22 amino acids and 5,000 live enzymes. It keeps you healthy by fighting disease and boosting the digestive system. One daily spoonful in your tea or spread on your toast is all that is needed to reap these benefits.

Honey is great for cuts and wounds

Honey has been used to treat wounds for thousands of years. The antiseptic properties of honey will clean wounds and inhibit bacterial growth. Its natural antibiotic and antibacterial properties aid in treating cuts and burns. It promotes healing, reduces swelling and prevents infections. Grocery store honey will probably not have the healing benefits you want. Manuka honey contains the most potent antibacterial properties. Manuka bushes are a type of evergreen plant grown in Australia and New Zealand.

If you are trying to lose weight honey can be a beneficial additive to your diet.

Unlike refined sugar, honey contains vitamins and minerals. Refined sugars are void of vitamins and minerals. The body must utilize its store of valuable nutrients to digest refined sugar. This process depletes the supply of minerals essential to dissolve cholesterol and fats. Honey helps metabolize cholesterol and fatty acid preventing obesity. Make a diet drink by adding honey and lemon to a glass of water.

Cleopatra Queen of Egypt was no stranger to the skin enhancing properties of honey. She regularly took milk and honey baths to maintain her youthful appearance. Honey as a natural beauty product has unlimited possibilities. It can be used as a facial mask, hair conditioner, skin moisturizer and more. It is has natural humectants with the ability to replenish the moisture level in skin without adding oil.

Honey is a popular anti aging skin care ingredient in many commercial moisturizers. Using honey as a facial mask will exfoliate, clarify and unclog pores. Honey is a wonderful deep conditioning treatment for dry hair. After shampooing, smooth honey through your hair from root to tip. Be sure to rinse it out completely. Your hair will be left soft, bouncy and full of shine

There are very few foods in the world that can rival honey as an all natural health aid. It is antibacterial, antiviral and will keep your immune system strong. Used on cuts and burns it will promote healing and deter scarring. Honey is also an age old beauty product that will keep you looking young and beautiful. It never expires and can be found in every grocery store.

The Bible even tells you to eat honey!

“My son, eat thou honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste” Proverbs 24:13

Traveling can be an exciting activity. You go to places you’ve never been to before, or you visit relatives you haven’t seen in a while. Whatever the reason for your trip, you don’t want to feel tired and sluggish during your time away. When you travel through many time zones, you might experience jet lag. Jet lag is when your internal clock is disrupted by changing time zones. The more time zones you cross, the more pronounced the jet lag will be. There are specific signs and symptoms of jet lag. These signs include:

• Disorientation
• Lack of concentration
• Fuzzy headed feeling
• Irritability
• Fatigue
• Dehydration
• Uncomfortable feeling in the legs and feet
• Disrupted sleep after arriving at your destination

It takes time to recover from jet lag. The estimation from NASA suggests that it takes one day for each time zone you pass through to recover your normal internal rhythm. So if you fly through five time zones, it will take five days for you to feel normal. Flying one or two times zones away isn’t usually a problem, and it shouldn’t effect your internal schedule too much, but any more than two, and you might feel the effects. There are a few natural remedies for jet lag. There are ways to prepare your body for your trip so the effects aren’t as severe as they could be.

Prepare Before Your Trip

If you know in advance that you have a trip coming up that is several time zones away, you can start to adjust your schedule before hand. Go to bed an hour earlier than you normally would (or later depending on which way you’re traveling). Take a natural sleep aid such as melatonin to help you get to sleep earlier. Make sure you set your alarm clock an hour earlier also, so you don’t sleep to your usual time. Keep setting the clock back an hour every day until you’re on the time zone of your destination.

Jet lag can also disrupt your eating patterns. Adjust your eating patterns just like you adjusted your sleep patterns a few days before your trip. Eat meals at times that correspond with your destination. High protein diets can help your body prepare for a long flight. If you’re sitting on an airplane for several hours without moving, the protein in your diet will help fight off fatigue.

During Your Trip

Get plenty of water before, during, and after your flight. The air on an airplane is recycled and very dry. This can quickly dehydrate you and leave you feeling fatigued. Drink water throughout your flight to keep your body alert and hydrated. Avoid caffeinated drinks such as soda, tea, and coffee. Alcohol should be avoided as well. Stick with water the whole way.

While you’re on the plane flying to your destination, set your watch for the new time zone. Once you do this, start thinking as if you’re in the time zone already. Don’t think about what time it is at home, concentrate on where you are now. When you arrive at your destination, get outside and into the sun as soon as possible. The sunlight will wake you up and give you a boost in energy.

If you begin to feel sleepy on the plane, get up and move around. Be sure it’s safe to do so. Stand up, stretch your legs, and walk up and down the aisle to get your blood flowing. The longer you sit still, the more tired your body will feel. If you get up and stretch from time to time, you’ll stay alert and won’t be tempted to nap.

When you land, stay active. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Keep your legs moving, this will help you stay alert and will not have you dwelling on how tired you may be feeling. Stay active until it’s time to get to bed in the new time zone. Again, set your alarm so you don’t over sleep.

If you’ve got a trip coming up, and your destination is in a time zone far from where you live, keep these ideas in mind. The natural remedies for jet lag listed above can help you adjust and have you spending more time having fun with relatives or enjoying new travel sites. Bring along some natural sleep aids, like melatonin, in case you find yourself still having a hard time falling asleep.

What are your tips to help or avoid jet lag?

Photo by Olastuen

In the 1930s, DuPont coined the phrase, “Better living through chemistry”. Today, their early advertising slogan has taken on an ominous, Brave New World tone as we struggle to reduce or eliminate from our bodies and our environments some of the very chemicals we turned to for protection.

Usually, when we think about harmful chemicals, our mind turns to environmental disasters. However, harmful chemicals aren’t always to be found in sprays; sometimes, they are to be found in drugs. In November 2004, during the congressional hearings on the drug Vioxx, Dr. David Graham of the FDA stated boldly: “Today we are faced with what may be the single greatest drug safety catastrophe in the history of this country or the history of the world. In my opinion, the FDA has let the American people down, and sadly, betrayed a public trust” (Source: http://www.oftwominds.com/journal08/Prescription-Drugs.htm). It wasn’t just Vioxx that he was talking about. Graham was also referring to Accutane, Bextra, Crestor, Meridia, and Serevent, some of which are still on the market today.

Considering this information, take a close look at what prescription medications you’re taking. Has the promise of “better living through chemistry” has ever been truly fulfilled? Could you reduce or eliminate some of your medication through a lifestyle or diet change? Here’s one place to get started: blood pressure.

Natural Blood Pressure Reducer

According to the FDA, high blood pressure affects nearly one in three American adults. High blood pressure leads many people to start a prescription medication, and it’s a flagship drug for many pharmaceutical companies.

It doesn’t have to be that way. There are many ways to reduce high blood pressure naturally. Start with these nine simple natural blood pressure reducers, and reevaluate after a couple of months to see if you still need prescription medication for your high blood pressure. You might find that a few lifestyle changes allow you to take less medication, or eliminate certain medications altogether.

1. Aerobic Exercise

Aerobic exercise gets your heart rate up and helps you burn those calories. Not only is aerobic exercise good for losing weight (which in and of itself is good for blood pressure), it’s also a good way to make the heart stronger. The heart, after all, is a muscle. When it gets stronger, it pumps more blood with less effort, thus lowering your overall blood pressure (Source: Mayo Clinic, http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/high-blood-pressure/HI00024).

2. Lower Salt Intake

When combined with a healthier diet, even without additional exercise, significantly reducing salt intake can drop blood pressure by several points (Source: eHow, http://www.ehow.com/way_5152534_natural-blood-pressure-reduction.html).

3. Increase Potassium

Potassium can mitigate the effects of salt on high blood pressure. Increase your potassium by eating organic bananas or drinking fresh coconut water.

4. Fish Oil Supplements

A Harvard study showed that people consuming an average of 5.6 grams of fish oil each day were able to lower their blood pressure between 2 and 3.4 points (Source: eHow, http://www.ehow.com/way_5152534_natural-blood-pressure-reduction.html). For vegetarians, crushed flax seeds or flax seed oil, taken relatively in large quantities, can have the same effect.

5. Grape Seed Extract

Meanwhile, on the other coast, a University of California – Davis study showed 300 mg of grape seed extract per day led to a nearly 10 point reduction in blood pressure (Source: eHow, http://www.ehow.com/way_5152534_natural-blood-pressure-reduction.html).

6. Limit Your Alcohol

It’s true that everyone is flocking happily to red wine as the latest health food, but more than one drink per day for women or two drinks per day for men will increase blood pressure rather than reduce it (Source: Mayo Clinic).

7. Limit Your Caffeine

Experts haven’t come to a consensus about caffeine and blood pressure yet, but they do know that caffeine raises blood pressure at least temporarily. Some people who are especially sensitive to caffeine may see long-term effects.

8. Stop Smoking

Between losing weight and stopping smoking, you can solve a huge number of health problems. Also, try to stay away from secondhand smoke.

9. Go To Church

Research has shown that people who attend a weekly church service live longer (Source: WebMD & Live Science)! Find a local church near you and start attending!

Ultimately, many of the chronic health problems we see in the west can be solved through lifestyle change. Ask yourself if you really want to risk “better living through chemistry”, or if it’s time to examine your lifestyle more closely, and change a few bad habits.

Photo by Abdullah AL-Naser

If you own a dog, you will no doubt be aware that your dog can suffer from health problems just as much as you. Some problems are “doggy related,” whereas other problems are similar to those suffered by humans. A dog’s physical make-up and anatomy is not the same as a human, so it is always important to consult a qualified vet in the event of ill health in your dog. However, there are some natural ways in which you can help protect your dog too; just make sure to take advice before using them, if you are unfamiliar with any of the following suggestions.

Essential Oils

Dogs are very open to the use of essential oils in aromatherapy practice. However, there is not much substantial research or evidence in the use of essential oils with animals. In addition, there is little recorded advice on how a dog might react to a particular essential oil, except for those case studies carried out by individuals. If you think essential oils might be a solution to the natural healthcare of your dog, consult a qualified aromatherapist who is experienced in the area of essential oil use with dogs. You can also study an aromatherapy book on the subject such as Holistic Aromatherapy for Animals by Kirsten Leigh Bell.

Essential oils can be used to protect your dog’s natural health for such problems such as flea control, stress, minor cuts and grazes. Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) essential oil is a good essential oil to start with for dogs as it is gentle in its actions and is suitable for a multitude of complaints.

Bach Flower Remedies

There are some Bach flower remedies that are specifically made for animals, such as Bach rescue remedy. Bach rescue remedy is a natural stress aid for pets. It contains the same ingredients as Bach rescue remedy for humans. It can be used by adding a couple of drops of the mixture onto your dog’s food or by adding a couple of drops into the dog’s drinking water. It is recommended for situations where you dog might undergo stress, such as visits to the vet, after a shock or mistreatment or when the dog is causing excessive barking through stress.

Homeopathy for Dogs

Just as human problems can be treated with homeopathic remedies, so can a dog’s problems. Homeopathy is based on the principle of “like cures like” and helps to stimulate the dog’s natural immune system. Dog problems that can be addressed with homeopathy include allergies, arthritis and skin irritations (source). If you are unfamiliar with homeopathic remedies, consult a qualified homeopathic and ask your vet about the suitability of such a remedy for your dog.

Environmental Dangers for Your Dog

You might think that a dog who lives in the country is safe from less dangers than a dog who lives in the city, where noise, pollution and other dangers exist. However, country living is not without dangers for a dog, depending upon where you live. To use an example, I live in Arizona where spider and snake bites are high risk areas for my dog. In addition, foxtails, spikelets of grass with seed heads that can detach and lodge themselves in a dog’s ear, can cause pain, discomfort and infection and more for a dog.

To protect your dog from dangers such as these, make sure he is supervised when outside or contained in an appropriately fenced in area to protect him from these dangers. Dogs are naturally curious and will poke their nose into something and ask questions later – perhaps at the price of a bite or more.

Your Dog’s Natural Health

There are various natural health remedies and solutions to protect your dog from illness and other dangers. Just make sure that you take appropriate advice and know how to use the product on your dog before giving it to him.

References

• Natural-Dog-Health-Remedies: Homeopathy for Dogs
• Author is a certified aromatherapist
• Author has studied Bach Remedies (level 1 training)

Photo by  jpctalbot

In the past year, more and more farmer’s markets have sprung up in local communities, especially during the summer months. Farmers’ markets offer the opportunity to find fresh, local produce grown by local farmers and growers. However, some farmers’ markets also offer the opportunity to find handcrafted products such as natural skincare products. As a buyer, there are a few things that you need to be aware of (and what you should ask for) when searching out natural skincare products at these venues.

Read the Label

The term “natural” is used widely on many types of skincare products (both those in large stores and handcrafted products), although it can mean many different things. Some natural skincare products contain preservatives, whereas others are free of all preservatives. Preservatives are used to prolong the shelf life of a handmade product. A product without preservatives might be more “natural,” but it is more open to bacterial growth, particularly if it is not used within a certain time or stored under certain conditions. Read the label on the product and ask the seller for more information if you are unsure.

Experience and Knowledge of the Seller

There are no legal qualification requirements to set yourself up as a natural skincare product business. Therefore, you should ask the seller about the experience and knowledge they have to make the products they are selling if there is no information displayed. A seller with good training, experience and/or knowledge will be more than happy to talk about the process of making their products.

Range of Products

Look at the range of natural skincare products that a seller offers. It might be that they are just starting out with their business and currently only have a limited range of products. Alternatively, the seller might not be that knowledgeable about their product and has no qualitative information to offer other than that in front of you.

Licensing and Insurance Requirements

Farmers’ markets usually require a seller to have the appropriate business licensing, insurance and/or other legal requirements in place before they are given permission to sell at a farmers’ markets. Make sure that you are purchasing your products from an appropriately licensed and insuranced vendor in case of any future problems that might arise from the purchase and use of your product. A reputable seller will also have business cards/leaflets on display with contact details of where to find them.

Sample Products

If you haven’t purchased any natural skincare products from the seller before, it is difficult to know whether a particular product is right for you. Ask the seller if they have samples available, either to try now or take away. A sample product will help you decide if a particular product is right for you. However, don’t go overboard and take every sample that you can see, as this makes it harder for the seller to budget future samples for other customers.

Shop Naturally at Your Farmers’ Market

Shopping for natural skincare products at a farmers’ markets is a fun thing today and is a good way to support local businesses in your community. Just make sure you know what you are actually buying before purchasing. If you frequent your local farmers’ market on a regular basis, you will become familiar with the vendors and their products – and you will know exactly where your product came from, who made it and what is in it, unlike many commercial products on grocery store shelves.

References

• Local Harvest: Farmers’ Markets
• Author is a certified aromatherapist and makes natural skincare products

Photo by Plan for Opportunity