Mind & Body Works

Super Food Smoothie

2012-01-20T12:09:00.001-05:00

It is freezing in New York, I currently have no heat in my apartment, and I'm battling with an upper respiratory infection. Enough reasons to give my body some extra needed TLC. Actually, my body always deserves extra TLC yet I tend to neglect this wonderful vessel I was given.

So, in an attempt to start the new year healthier than in previous years, I decided to try something that I've avoided like the plague thus far: KALE! I figured I go with a smoothy to ease my way into this leafy green super food.

The drink in the picture looks more like a witches brew but this is all a matter of perception. While the general idea of a witches brew is something less pleasing and with eyeballs and a toad floating around in the green and smoky liquid (maybe I'm exaggerating a tad bit), in ancient times, a witches brew was actually medicinal as it included healing herbs.

In this case, I strongly go with the saying "don't judge a book by its cover" as I was surprised how amazingly good this smoothie tasted! It tasted fruity, refreshing, and it lacked any traces of kale. Had I not seen the green color prior to tasting it, I would have guessed maybe a berry or yellow color.

Ingredients:

2 cups of kale, washed and chopped into pieces
1 cup of pineapple, fresh if possible
1 banana
handful of frozen berries
1 tbsp honey
6 drops of Propolis Extract
1/2 cup of water

Mix all in a blender until smooth!

You practically can mix anything you want into this smoothy! The other day I made one and added a kiwi and Acai Powder. Other variations that I can think of include the use of orange essential oils (make sure they are Food Grade, Grade A, 100% pure!) or Ningxia Red Wolfberry Juice...

Stay healthy and Happy Smoothie Day!

Self-Talk or How We Communicate

2011-11-14T09:34:00.001-05:00

Did you wake up with a smile today or did you more feel like you wanted to disappear under the covers in your bed?

It seems that some people are just genuinely predisposed to a more happy attitude than others. Some people are just perky in the morning, smiling all day as if nothing every affects them. They greet you with a "Hello Dear" or "Have a sunny day" attitude while others are just down and feeling blue, barely able to mumble a grumpy "Hi" especially on a Monday morning. Nothing seems to be going right as if they got up and jumped out of bed with the wrong leg first (you know... I always step out of my bed with my right leg first. Don't you also have this one-leg-routine that seems to define how your day is going?!).

I heard different theories for those two different types of people. One theory is connected to the day one was born, e.g. Sunday children have a sunny attitude and things go smoothly for them. Sunday children drew the joker card (yeah right!). While e.g. a child born on Wednesday would then naturally be predisposed to difficulties in life; a life where nothing comes easy and hard work determines the faith of the individual.

Another theory, and one that I can relate to a lot better than my birth-day-influence, is in the thoughts I think. Buddha stated,

"The mind is everything. What you think, you become."

Picture taken from
http://apageofmyown.com/

Now that is a very powerful concept! It also is very true! It took me a long time to reframe my thinking and it still is a conscious effort to choose my words wisely (just FYI: I was born on a Sunday). I used to think "my life sucks," or "I'm terrible at doing xyz," or "I'm totally stressed and burnt out." Everything I felt was "translated" into something negative; simply because I did not feel positively about my life or myself. It never occurred to me that by switching the way I think I also would be switching the way I feel. So instead of saying "my life sucks" I am telling myself that "my life is less than perfect" - I am reframing a negative statement or thought into something more pleasant simply by the words I use.

Just the other day I really did not sleep well, had nightmares and woke up after only 4 hours of sleep. I instantly thought, "Crap! I have a long day ahead of me and I slept lousy. I'm so tired." Having just attended an Energy Kinesiology class where I learned a lot more about the power of the words we use in every day life, I "erased" my initial thought and instead said, "Even though I could have slept better, I make the best out of this day." Just by using different words I got enough energy to jump out of bed (with my right leg first) and started the day. And, it turned out to be a pretty good day! Was it because I used my right leg to get out of bed?! Hm... I do wonder :)

So, think about the words you use in your daily communication with yourself as well as with others. Instead of saying "I've had a terrible day." - say "I've not had a good day." Use positive words to describe something that was less than good or less than perfect (previously stated as something "bad"). Another very powerful thought would be instead of "I cannot do this" to say to yourself "I have yet to master it."

If you are "sick and tired" of your negative self-talk or communication with others, say that you "had enough" of it and adopt a new vocabulary.

Create the life that you want by choosing your words aka thoughts wisely. The choice is all yours!

Divine Light ღ

Lovingness for my Skin

2011-10-12T14:40:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, I made a new batch of facial & body cream in one, as I had run out of my all-time-favorite Lavender Cream. I was using a hand cream I had made with Jasmine which is lovely but not as good for my face as the Lavender Cream I had made before.
So I went to my kitchen and started calculating how many milligram (I measure in mg because it is more accurate then ounces) I need for a 3 ounces. I ended up with a pint and 1 oz because what I did not calculate in is that by whipping the ingredients together, you get a fluffy consistency and just like whipped cream is getting more by whipping it, cream is reacting the same way.

Anyway, I ended up with a wonderful cream that is going to last me until the beginning of next year :)

Here is a list of ingredients that I used:

60% Liquids

Distilled Water

30% Organic Oils & Butter:

Almond, Apricot, Borage, Wheat Germ, Hemp Seed, Calendula, Vitamin E, and Shea Butter.

10% Waxes & Emulsifiers:

Beeswax & Vegetable Emulsifying Wax

Essential Oils by Young Living:

Australian Blue, Chamomile, Frankincense, Geranium & Lavender.

Extras:

I also added a little bit of Aloe Vera.

The consistency of the cream is light, not oily and non-greasy, spreads easily and has an incredible aroma.

Treat yourself to something special & homemade!!!

Shopping at the Universal Love Grocery Store

2011-10-06T22:32:00.000-04:00

For about three weeks now, I meditate daily. It is something I always wanted to do but never "found the time for it." How silly because now that I am actively doing it, it only takes about 10 to 15 minutes. So, every morning I sit down and start focusing on my breath. First I just breathe, focusing on each breath as it fills my lungs and leaves my body again. I feel the coolness of the morning air transform into a comforting and centering massage of my internal organs.

Once I found my rhythm, I start to consciously breathe in Only Good Energy and Universal Love Energy. I keep on breathing in only this vibrant energy that is available to all of us.
I breathe out all my fears and worries, my negative thoughts that I had the day before, the nightmares I might have had over night, and the anticipated negative thoughts I might have over the present day. I breathe out prejudices I have against myself and others, and I breathe out all self-doubt. Any negative chatter that goes on in my mind has to go! I no longer want it because I no longer need it. It does not serve any purpose! I release all that I no longer want or need, everything that keeps me from living in the present and that holds me back from going forward.

Since I let go of so much, I need to fill the space with good and positive energy. So this is when I start my shopping spree. I go shopping at the Universal Love Grocery Store. It is my favorite store because it has everything I could possibly want and need. I fill my shopping cart with Love, Peace, Harmony, Faith, Creativity, Joy, Happiness, Financial Abundance, Passion, Self-Confidence and everything else I want to nourish my body and soul with. I take all these things because it is my birthright to feel amazing and great! I breathe them in and I feel how I live this amazing life.

I breathe in all the goodness the Universe has to offer and I breathe it out. In and out. In an out. I can feel this continuous cycle of Only Good Energy flowing. I take each breath to nourish myself. I take each breath for the greater good of myself and others.

Namaste ॐ

What is Buddhism?

2011-08-13T07:45:00.000-04:00

In my life I have made many serious mistakes, disappointments, lies, and have hurt many people. For me the very essence of my spirituality relies on me learning to see the good in bad, no matter how difficult it may be. When I first started to study Buddhism, I learned that the true path to a good life first begins with facing your past. Karma is everywhere, no matter how little or big the evil deeds were. If you want to cleanse your spirit, you have to own up to your past. This to me was horrifying, to have to face all the shit that I have done, but I knew in my heart this was the only way. Buddhism has taught me to face my fears, and never regret. If there is one thing I know in life to be true, it’s that accidents don’t happen. Everything happens for a reason, good or bad, these circumstances in our lives are there to teach us lessons. I can look back at every hardship in my life and appreciate it and can honestly say I have learned from it. Although at the time my lesson learned may not have been clear, I always trusted in my heart that with faith I will always survive. I am the person that I am today, and proud of it, because of my past. You cannot stress over problems you have no control over, for example; if you do not have money to pay rent, worrying yourself sick will do you no good. Instead of worrying…why not take action, so you can’t pay rent….ok …what are your next available options? Another major part of Buddhism I learned is never be afraid to ask for help. Western culture teaches us to suffer in silence, not to let people know your problems, pretend everything is ok, look like a happy family. If you live your life like this then you will truly never know how many people around you were suffering right along with you. We must communicate and express our feelings openly and honestly.
It’s ok to be imperfect; and make mistakes, it doesn’t matter what you look like, it doesn’t matter who you love, it doesn’t matter how much or how little money you have, there is no such thing as being smart or dumb, it’s not about bad or good. In Buddhism we are all equal, we are all reflections of one another, in every person lies a piece of yourself. Buddhism is about loving yourself just the way you are, loving one another with openheartedness. It is being honest even when everything important to you is on the line. It’s about finding happiness within yourself, regardless of your circumstances. Only you can fill the emptiness that lies within you, we all have the capability to do so. As soon as you realize that true happiness comes from within, then you will be able to conquer all of life’s challenges with a smile. Suffering is a state of mind, not surrounding circumstances.

Previously posted by Firemonster on the blog Naturally on 10/5/09

Peace & Calming Essential Oil

2011-08-04T08:32:00.000-04:00

Peace & Calming is one of my favorite Essential Oils and it is part of the Essential 7 package that Young Living offers as August promotion. The name "Peace & Calming" says it all :) It is one of the oils that I carry with me wherever I go.

Peace & Calming has this lovely citrusy scent (Tangerine and Orange) with a hint of Patchouly, Ylang Ylang, and Blue Tansy. Whenever I smell this scent, I am reminded of freshly peeled oranges, a fresh breeze, and a bed of wildflowers growing in a valley. It has earthy qualities and I find it extremely grounding. Yet at the same time, the floral spiciness makes it very uplifting.

Tangerine is a sedative, diuretic, and decongestant. It helps stimulate the lymphatic system to release toxins.
Orange releases stagnant energy, is an antidepressant and sedative. It is excellent for calming the nervous system. It also is an antispasmodic and releases tension, frustration, anxiety, or fear.
Patchouli is a balancing oil. It helps bring body and mind together. It is grounding and a great oil to counteract a "spaced out" feeling.
Ylang Ylang is restorative and has a calming effect on the circulatory system. It also brings out feelings of joy and even euphoria. It is an analgesic, anti-depressant, and has sedative qualities.
Blue Tansy has a soothing effect on the respiratory system. It is an analgesic and sedative. It is great for muscle tension as it releases and breaks down stress.

I use this oil every time I feel stressed or whenever I need a calming influence. During the day, at the end of a long day, or for a good night sleep, this oil is wonderful! It calms the nervous system, relieves anxiety and tension, promotes relaxation, and helps with insomnia. It also may be good for hyperactive children since it has calming effects.

The way I use this oil is multi-fold. I diffuse it, inhale it neat directly out of the bottle, and/or I drop one drop on my wrists and rub both wrists together. At night before I go to sleep, I rub a few drops into the soles of my feet for a blissful and rejuvenating sleep. Also rub it into the back of your neck to get a good effect of the calming sensation. Nerve endings along the spine are very receptive and responsive. Use it in meditation and visualization. I frequently diffuse it (with permission of clients) during Hypnotherapy sessions. It allows the mind to go deeper into relaxation and aids in visualization and goal achievement. A friend of mine is using it in massage therapy as well as reflexology. It is a wonderful addition to any massage to foster relaxation.

As with any essential oil, please use caution to avoid an allergic reaction. Also, if you are pregnant or suffer from a medical condition, consult with your physician prior to using - especially if you are using an essential oil for a specific purpose.

Feel calm and at ease at all times and flow with the rhythm of life ૐ

PS: If you are interested in ordering Young Living Products, here is a link that explains How to and how to become a member now. In case you stumbled across this blog by pure coincidence (and by the way, there are no coincidences) then I would appreciate if you used my number 1017600 as enrolled and sponsor.

Conscious vs Unconscious Minds

2011-08-01T07:30:00.000-04:00

Did something like the following every happen to you:

You get in your car because you want to drive to the supermarket. You start driving and all of a sudden, you become aware that you have parked your car at the parking lot of the supermarket. This may seem nothing out of the ordinary except you cannot remember how you got there.

You start thinking ... and even worry because you know that on the way there were at least three traffic lights ... Did you blank out because regardless of how much you try to figure it out, you cannot fill in the blanks.

You start thinking and wondering if you stopped at each light? Chances are high that you did stop ... that is unless you received a bunch of traffic violation tickets in the mail later on.

So how is this possible? How do we loose track of time and how did we get safely to the supermarket?

The picture below (Freud's Mental Ice Berg) shows a simplified version of our mind. 10% of our brain is what we are aware of (consciousness): It is the seat of our ego and it is where we make our decisions. About 90% of our brain is our unconsciousness (sometimes also called subconsciousness).

Our conscious mind is filled with every day thoughts. At the point you were driving to the supermarket, you may have had your shopping list in mind. You may even have mentally gone through your home to see if you still needed something that was not on the list. So, you visualized your home instead of concentrating on the road. Your conscious mind was busy mentally checking out if you still had fabric softener or milk in your refrigerator.

With your conscious mind being occupied, the unconscious mind takes over. As for the above case scenario, you have been driving the same route for a long time so your unconscious mind was already familiar with each stop light, with each bend in the road, or with each cross road. Since your conscious mind was busy with going over the shopping list, your unconscious mind took over.

The unconscious mind is the seat of Id and Superego, of our intuition, of our memories and knowledge, as well as our emotions and fears. So every time you remember something, you pull it out of the "storage space" of your unconscious mind. Neurological pathways help you with this retrieval as well with the storage. Lapses in memory are problems with the retrieval. It is like forgetting where you put your keys. At that instant, you cannot remember where you placed (stored) them.

As I said above, the graphic is very simplified because our brain also has several levels. Cognition, for example, takes place in the frontal cortex whereas our emotions are situation in the limbic system, with the fight-or-flight response being triggered from the reptilian brain (the brain stem and cerebellum).

Now bringing it back to our scenario described above. Driving from point A to Be without being fully aware and present would constitute as daydreaming. Going a step further, one could also say that daydreaming or being in deep thought is just another form of being hypnotized. During hypnosis, you are very relaxed thus your conscious mind is "not paying attention" while your unconscious mind is very active. It is like not paying attention when somebody else is talking and all of a sudden you hear your name. Snap ... your conscious mind is being "brought back" to pay attention. While under hypnosis, you have a heightened sense of awareness. This heightened sense of awareness would let you jump into action in case of an emergency.

It never ceases to amaze me how incredible powerful our mind is.

Inspirational Exercise: The Five Great Blessings

2011-07-29T08:08:00.000-04:00

This meditation is from The Relax Deck: 50 Meditations published by Duncan Baird Publishers Ltd.

Four Great Blessings

Longevity

"Chinese thought reveals that each of us is endowed with Five Great Blessings: Happiness, Health, Virtue, Peace, and Longevity. Spend today bringing happiness to yourself and your friends and family; tomorrow, eat especially healthily; the next day, be true to yourself - if something makes you unhappy, try something else. The day after, spend time in quite contemplation and the outer chatter of the world will pass you by. The fifth great blessing, longevity, comes from wealth in the others."

Take a few minutes out of your busy day and allow yourself to become lost in your imagination; at lunchtime, in the bathroom, before you go into a meeting (or possibly even in the meeting - just don't get caught). Sit down and be inspired by the symbols of the Four Great Blessings and Longevity. Look at them every moment you get a chance. The more you practice, the easier it becomes to relax. Or sit down at night before you go to sleep...

Blending Essential Oils (part 5 of 5)

2011-07-28T08:00:00.002-04:00

Combining Essential Oils is a lot of fun and it is even more fun when you know a little bit about blending. When I started blending Essential Oils, I wanted a flowery scent and ended up with a scent that evaporated very quickly because I only used top notes yet neglected to include middle and base notes.

TOP NOTES are what you immediately smell when you open up a bottle of essential oil, perfume, or cream. A top note evaporates very quickly. The aroma is light, fresh, often citrusy, airy, sharp and penetrating. Top notes are uplifting and can be found in e.g. Bergamot, Citronella, Grapefruit, Lavender, Lemon, Lemongrass, Lime, Orange, or Peppermint.

MIDDLE NOTES are harmonizing and balancing any blend. They provide energetic and physical balance. They give the blend a sense of fullness, are the "heart" of the blend, and soften the sharpness of the top notes. They can be found in Chamomile, Cinnamon, Clary Sage, Cypress, Elemi, Geranium, Helichrysum, Neroli, Pine, Rosemary, Spruce, or Ylang Ylang.

BASE NOTES have a grounding quality. They are the base, are deep and warm and often have an earthy aroma. The base notes are lingering. They are soothing and calming and can be found in Cedarwood, Frankincense, Ginger, Helichrysum, Patchouli, Sandalwood, Vanilla, or Vetiver.

Note: When using Beeswax in body products, beeswax is also considered a base note.

An easy way to remember the different notes is by envisioning a tree: the roots and the trunk are your base notes, the stem and the branches make up the middle notes, and the leaves and fruits are the top notes. In the fall, the leaves are falling only to return in the spring. The top notes are evaporating just as the seasons change the tree. The branches are stabilizing the tree and the roots are grounding.

When starting the blending process, start out with 1 drop of each note. Then add 1 drop of the desired scent… go drop by drop and always make note and write down of what you used and how many drops you put into your blend. That way, if you create a scent that you really like, you can always replicate it.

Here is a guideline I found on the internet: 30% top notes, 50% middle notes, 20% base notes.

Storing the blend is best in a dark bottle, e.g. an amber 5 ml bottle.

Have a scentsational day!

Take a Breath

2011-07-25T07:47:00.000-04:00

Take a deep breath in! Breathe out! Sounds easy enough, right? Breathing is natural, it happens automatically. Yes but the question is, are you breathing correctly?

When we are born, we automatically breathe the right way; we breathe deep into our belly. If you have the opportunity to watch a baby sleep and breathe, you will see that the belly is moving up and down. As we grow older though, we start breathing more into our chest. Are you wondering where am I going with this? You may think, "So what?! No big deal. I'm breathing, ain't I?"

Well, breathing into your upper chest vs. your belly (abdomen) does not utilize the entire lung capacity. Therefore, less oxygen is being transported into our body. Our muscles and our brain are not getting the oxygen supply our body needs.

In a few very simple steps, you can find out if you are a chest or abdominal breather:

To do this, sit straight or lie down, then place one hand on your chest and the other one on your abdomen. Take a deep breath in and then breathe out. Repeat for at least 3 times before returning to your own breathing rhythm.

Did you notice which hand was moving up and down while you were breathing? Did the hand on your chest move or the hand on your belly?

Depending on which hand was moving, you are either a chest or abdominal breather.

If you are a chest breather, you may want to know that there are benefits of diaphragmatic breathing (breathing into your belly or abdomen):

Increased blood flow due to the increased oxygen supply to the brain
Lower blood pressure
Slows down breath rate
Releases carbon dioxide
Calmer feeling
Better concentration
Relaxed muscles
Strengthens the immune system
Reduced Anxiety and panic disorders
Better digestion due to the diaphragm moving up and down which functions as a massage for the internal organs

There is a simple technique to re-learn how to breathe correctly:

Start by lying flat on your back with one hand placed on your chest and the other one on your abdomen between your navel and your ribs. Breathe in and out and allow your breath to flow all the way to the bottom of your lungs. Try not to move your chest! If you have difficulty with breathing into your abdomen, try taking a book such as a text book, place it onto your chest to serve as a weight to keep you from breathing into your chest.

References:

Normal Breathing

American Medical Student Association

Authentic Breathing

Inspirational Exercise: The Pomegranate

2011-07-22T08:15:00.000-04:00

This meditation is from The Relax Deck: 50 Meditations published by Duncan Baird Publishers Ltd. I found this meditation very fitting especially in today's world where people migrate from one place to another and where, once you bought a new technological gadget you get the feeling it is already outdated. Our mind is constantly challenged and in conflict if we are not practicing compassion and understanding of each other. Since we cannot change another person but only ourself, having tolerance toward each other is essential. Our own thoughts affect not only ourself but all the people we come in contact with.

"New technology and the ease of modern travel mean that, inevitably, we sometimes come across views at odds with our own. Think of them as the countless seeds in a pomegranate fruit - many tiny parts which together make up a whole reflecting the rich diversity of all creation. Remember, criticism generates discord but tolerance and compassion create peace and harmony."

Take a few minutes out of your busy day and allow yourself to become lost in your imagination; at lunchtime, in the bathroom, before you go into a meeting (or possibly even in the meeting - just don't get caught). The more you practice, the easier it becomes to relax, to be accepting and compassionate. Or sit down at night before you go to sleep, let your mind wonder of how each person is different from the next yet we are all united... read the text and let your mind wander...

Essential Oil Chemistry (part 4 of 5)

2011-07-21T09:25:00.000-04:00

Today’s entry is about Essential Oil Chemistry. Don’t worry, it is not as frightening as it sounds. The reason why I’m writing about the chemistry of Essential Oils is because it is so diverse in their effects, very unlike their synthetic chemical counterparts. No two oils are alike.

Essential oils are constructed from long chains of carbon and hydrogen atoms. Essential oils are chemically different from fatty oils or fatty acids. Fatty acids have a linear carbon-hydrogen structure whereas essential oils have a more complex ring-like structure.

Amongst the most common chemical constituents of Essential Oils are the following as well as their properties:

Alcohols are antiseptic, antibacterial, anti-fungal, and antibiotic. They can stimulate the immune responses of the body and function as tonic to the nervous system.
Aldehydes: antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, calming when inhaled, can also be irritating when applied topically. They are also antispasmodic, antifungal, cooling, and serve as tonic/sedative to nervous system.
Carboxylic acids: stimulating, cleaning, react with alcohols to make esters.
Coumarins: antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal
Esters: soothing, balancing, antifungal, emotionally releasing (calming to nervous system). Anti-spasmodic, healing for the skin, sometimes anti-inflammatory
Ethers: balancing, calming, help release emotions, antidepressant effects. For both Esters and Ethers high doses can be uplifting such as in Bergamot or Lavender.
Furanoids: can have benefits of lactones or coumarins.
Ketones: decongesting (respiratory infections - mucolytic, expectorants - e.g. Rosemary, Peppermint), analgesic, promote healing (cell generation), cleanse receptor sites. Have a circulatory effect e.g. peppermint, rosemary, and/or sage. In small doses, ketones can be relaxing and sedative. In small doses, they may promote healing, are anticoagulants, and mucolytic. In large doses, ketones can be overly stimulating thus having the opposite effect. They may be cause miscarriage, convulsions, and epileptic attacks. NOTE: Do not use Rosemary or Spike Lavender when pregnant, have a fever, or are prone to epileptic seizures. Furthermore, if you have a liver problem, use essential oils with low levels of ketones. Ketones are difficult for the liver to metabolize.
Lactones: antiseptic, antiparasitic, anti-inflammatory.
Oxides: respiratory-decongesting, sinus-clearing benefits. Anti-viral, mentally stimulating.
Phenols are antiseptic, antibacterial, antioxidant, can be helpful to the immune system, are very strong thus can cause skin irritation. Anti-infectious, analgesic, anti-inflammature. Used in acute illnesses and infections. Large doses can cause skin irritation or be toxic to the nervous system
Terpenes are a tonic and stimulant, antiviral, increase oxygenation around pineal and pituitary glands when inhaling sandalwood & frankincense.

***Monoterpenes: Mild antiseptics, decongestants, pain relief for muscle pain and stiffness, anti-inflammatory, mild antibacterial, penetrate into tissues of body easily, effective airborne deodorizer and purifiers.
***Monoterpenols: anti-infectious (antibacterial, antifungal, sometimes antiviral), long-term support for immune system, anesthectic, useful in skin care due to antiseptic properties, tonic for nervous system (support emotional balance), nourish & strengthen immune system by detoxifying. deodorizing effect (e.g. blends of geranium, lavender, bergamot), antispasmodic for smooth muscles.
***Sesquiterpenes: It is said that oils high in sesquiterpenes can be anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiseptic, analgesic, antispasmodic.
***Sesquiterpenols: grounding, antispasmodic, antibacterial, skin healing, anti-inflammatory.

Now, another terminology to be familiar with is the ORAC Score. ORAC stands for Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity. It measures the antioxidant levels of chemical compounds such as found in essential oils. The higher the score, the higher the protection against free radicals.

Below are some ORAC scores from Young Living Essential Oils, expressed in TE/L (micromole Trolox equivalent per liter). As a quick comparison and to give you an idea...

Clove = 10,786,875 - it is the highest tested oil

Thyme = 159,590

Frankincense = 6125

Lavender = 3669

Rosemary = 3309

Sandalwood = 1655

I hope this gives you a basic idea about the delicate structure and components of essential oils as well as their properties. The diversity of the chemical structure and the components of Essential Oils makes it even more important that you look for Grade A, 100% pure and organic Essential Oil.

Have a scentsational day!

Skin 101

2011-07-18T07:30:00.000-04:00

Years ago, when I started making my own body products, I became interested in not only the ingredients of cosmetics but also why it was so important to me to make my own pot of cream. I needed to know what I put onto my skin. With having been unable to read most of the ingredient list that was printed on a label, I felt the need to keep it simple. So in an effort to write about topics that pertain to wellness, I also feel it is important to understand the functions of our skin. Today’s entry is dedicated just for that…

Recently, I had downloaded an iPod application about different toxins or pollutants found in my neighborhood. Curious as I was, I was shocked to see that there are 63 pollutant sources, ranging from Air to Water to Ground and Radio Waves in my neighborhood! Wow! All of these affect us one way or another. We either eat or drink pollutants, breathe them in, or absorb them through our skin.

With so many different pollutants and especially with the recent natural disasters and the radioactive scare in Japan, it is easy to understand why we are leaning more and more toward purchasing organic products. However, do we apply the same wisdom to our skin care products? Not so much. Commercially available skin care includes many ingredients that are borderline harmful. While some of the ingredients listed may not be harmful in a single application, using the product over a longer period of time may then be a different story. In order to understand why it is so important to use organic products not only for the foods we eat but also for our skin care, it is important to know how our skin works and functions.

Our skin is the largest organ of our body. 8 pounds (3.6 kilograms) and 22 square feet (2 square meters) cover an adult body. Our skin is elastic and flexible yet tough enough to withstand environmental influences. It is protecting our body from germs, viruses, from cold or heat, from damaging sun light, or harmful chemicals. We are "wearing" our skin our entire life. Not only is the skin guarding our body and our organs, it also is constantly repairing and renewing itself.

Our skin has 3 important layers: the epidermis, the dermis, and a subcutaneous layer.

The epidermis is the so-called "waterproof" (misleading term!) and protective layer (physical barrier to chemicals and pathogens including viruses, bacteria or fungi). The cells that form the epidermis are called keratinocytes, which are made from Keratin, a tough protein which is also found in hair and nails. Keratin reduces moisture loss thus maintaining skin hydration. The epidermis has several layers of keratinocytes. These layers grow outward with the exterior (top) layer of the cells (epithelial cells) dying and shedding off. The stratum corneum is a horny layer of dead skin cells and varies in its thickness; thin around the eye and a lot thicker on the bottom of our feet.

The dermis, lying underneath, is connected to the epidermis. The dermis has several functions: a) it provides support and cushioning to the body via the subcutis (the base layer of the dermis which holds fat reserves in case of fuel shortage); b) fibers of collagen and elastin found in the dermis gives the skin (the organ) its strengths and elasticity; c) body temperature is regulated through increasing blood flow to the skin which allows the heat to escape or by restricting flow to keep the body heat inside; d) nerve receptors send messages to the brain when they pick up feelings such as touch, temperature, and/or pain. Hair follicles and glands with ducts pass through the skin are part of the dermis.

And while I wrote that the outermost layer of the skin is "waterproof", water and other liquids as well as toxins are absorbed through the skin. How is this possible? Remember the terms osmosis and selective permeability of membranes from your Biology 101 class? Have you ever taken a long bath or shower and wondered why your fingertips or your hands shriveled up? The outermost layer of the epidermis is exposed to prolonged immersion of water which allows water to penetrate (permeate) into the epidermis.

It is obvious that our skin is a complex organ that protects us from many environmental influences, chemicals, pathogens and/or sun exposure. Little thought goes into the function of the skin and even less thought goes into what our skin is absorbing. A study done in 2009 reported that silver nanoparticles absorption through intact and damaged skin was very low but detectable. Silver nanoparticles could be detected in the stratum corneum by electron microscopy.

That all said, whatever you put on your skin will be absorbed sooner or later by your body through the blood vessels in your skin. In making your own body products and by using organic ingredients, you can be sure that whatever you put on your skin is safe and nourishing so that you have a functioning organ for a very long time.

Resources:

(1) National Geographic

(2) Earth Mama Angel Baby Organics

(3) Toxicology: Human skin penetration of silver nanoparticles through intact and damaged skin.

Inspirational Exercise: The Treasure Chest

2011-07-15T08:00:00.001-04:00

Hello again! I hope you had a wonderful week and wish that your weekend will be exquisite! Today I have another meditation from The Relax Deck: 50 Meditations. It is about trust. Trust in ourself, in who we are and what we have.
As you become lost in your imagination, relax, and trust the process of what is happening in the moment. Only too often do we get carried away by mistrust not only of other people but mistrusting ourself, our intuition, or our strength. So focus on the positive :)

"If our thoughts are dark and our view of life is bleak, our lives will be starved of richness and only dark and bleak will find us. Make a point of focusing your mind on positive thoughts, and learn to trust and love all that you have and all that you are. In these ways the treasure chest of inner peace falls open and enlightenment comes within our grasp."

The more you practice, the easier it becomes to relax.

History of Essential Oils (part 3 of 5)

2011-07-14T08:00:00.002-04:00

Essential Oils have been used throughout the ages from ancient Egypt through biblical times into the here and now. Oils were used as incense, perfumes, in rituals and ceremonies, as ointments, or for therapeutic benefits. The usage of plant substances date back to 4500 BC. Ancient Egypt was known to fill essential oils into alabaster vessels to be used for rituals, healing yet also for the embalming process. References were made in the bible or in the multi-volume Herbarius and oils were used by Hippocrates, the father of medicine. Merchants kept their trading routes a secret as they brought cinnamon from India or rose from Syria. The Romans started using essential oils as perfumes, to fragrance their bodies and clothes; Cleopatra used them in her baths and after bathing. Later, around 330 AD – 1400AD, rose water was a highly regarded scent that was brought from the East to the West along with other exotic essences, known as Perfumes of Arabia.

In the 19^th century, a process called enfleurage was developed in Southern France. Cold and odorless fats where used to capture the fragrance of plants that were crushed. Herbal prescriptions was the only medicine known in the past. Cedar bark, stripped from trunk and branches, was ground into powder. This powder was then soaked with olive oil. The mixture was put into a woolen cloth, which then was heated. Through this process, essential oils where pulled out of the bark into the olive oil that was captured in a container. The same technique was used for many other plants and flowers. It was only in the early 19th century that polio and penicillin were discovered. Up until that point, people heavily relied on and trusted nature to provide whatever would be needed.

Today, we have forgotten the ancient ways. We are instead focused on quick-fixes and expect miracles from chemistry. The concept of western medicine is more that of illness whereas the eastern concept of medicine is that of wellness. In Western medicine, we go to the doctor when something is not quite right or outright wrong, when we feel pain and then we expect the doctor to "fix" us. Eastern philosophy teaches us to be responsible for our own health, take pro-active steps and choices geared towards wellness. In ancient times, the doctor was paid to keep the people healthy versus today, the doctor is paid to make us well. It is time that we take charge of our own health and find our way back to the wisdom of the past.

My absolute favorite, Lavender essential oil (English lavender is Lavendula angustifolia; Spanish lavender is Lavendula stoechas) was used not only as a scent or in perfumes but also in balms, salves, as it was known for its skin restorative properties. The Romans used it in their baths, during the middle ages it was thrown on the floor to fumigate the homes, the plant was carried around to ward off the plague, it was used by hospitals during WWII to disinfect floors and walls, and it was used as a first aid for burns. In fact, René-Maurice Gattefossé, Ph.D. was a French cosmetic chemist who, wrote in 1937 in his book “Aromatherapy” about the use of lavender essential oil for serious burns.

I am using Lavender oil for just about anything. I love to diffuse it in the evening before I go to bed for its calming effect, I put it on chapped skin, on cuts or bruises for its healing properties, I use it for mosquito bites to stop the itching, I rub it over pillows and bed sheets, I use it when I'm stressed, for studying and test taking, and I use it for tension headaches. I even love lavender oil in melted chocolate.

Gratitude

2011-07-11T07:39:00.000-04:00

This entry was originally published on Naturally by Lavenora (the blog that I am integrating here). This contribution was written by "Blisspapi"

Thank you for the opportunity to share information & experience about health (body, mind & spirit). You're providing space for us to educate and inform ourselves & others on massage, essential oils, hypnotherapy and many other topics.

I'm Lorenzo (blisspapi), New York State Licensed Massage Therapist with an Associates Degree in Occupational Studies from the Swedish Institute In New York City. I am a regular yoga practitioner, enjoy meditation and continuing education in the fields of Health & Wellness. I've had the pleasure of working and studying with Heike in various settings. I've totally enjoyed our session where Heike has provided Hypnosis and I provided Reflexology using Young Living Essential Oils, we refer to the session as Hypno-Reflexology. I know that this work offers many benefits to the clients as well as the therapists. We have the opportunity to connect to our breath (life force) on a level that we may not be aware of in our daily routines. We not only connect to our breath, we connect with each others energy on a level that is a gift. When "we" as the therapist stay in our intention to provide client centered work we are connecting on a level that includes trust and life affirmation. The gift is mindfulness to the connection.

I look forward to reading other posts on this blog and contributing future posts about benefits of massage, reflexology and breath work.

Inspirational Exercise: The Window to the Future

2011-07-08T08:25:00.000-04:00

This meditation is from The Relax Deck: 50 Meditations published by Duncan Baird Publishers Ltd. I chose it for this week(end) because a good friend of mine wrote many entries on her blog about dwelling in the past and the fear that grips us by the thought of moving forward. It got me thinking of the many times I think back and that thought paralyses me and I stay exactly where I am. Change is inevitable so why not embrace it?!

"We often dwell on the past because we are fearful of the future, but in order to progress we have to move on. Imagine yourself looking out through the window of the present at a peaceful stretch of beautiful countryside. This is the land of the future. In your mind's eye, open the window and let in the gentle winds of change. There is nothing to fear; you can embrace the future with confidence."

Take a few minutes out of your busy day and allow yourself to become lost in your imagination; at lunchtime, in the bathroom, before you go into a meeting (or possibly even in the meeting - just don't get caught). The more you practice, the easier it becomes to relax. Or sit down at night before you go to sleep, look at the picture or a favorite landscape picture that of your choice, read the text and let your mind wander...

What are the Differences in Essential Oil Grades? (part 2 of 5)

2011-07-07T08:01:00.000-04:00

Have you come across Grade A or Grade C descriptions of essential oils (EOs) yet had no idea what the differences were? Well, the answer is pretty simple: just like school grades (A for excellent work = 90-100%; B for good work which ranges from 80-89% and so on), essential oils also receive a grade depending on their quality.

Grade A Essential Oils are also called 100% pure or High Grade as they have therapeutic qualities. It means that these are 100% plant essence without any additional chemicals, solvents, or base oils to stretch the oil. The plants are usually organically grown and the various parts are mostly steam distilled. Grade A Essential Oils are non-greasy and will not leave a stain as they evaporate completely.

Side Note: If you are using essential oils in your creams, Grade A is what you want to be looking for. While Grade A is more expensive, it is undiluted, and you will need less oil to achieve a desired result.

Grade B Essential Oils are food grade. They may include synthetics, chemical/synthetical extenders, base oils, pesticides, or fertilizers.

Grade C Essential Oils are perfume grade. They have basically the same synthetics as food grade with the addition of solvents that are used to get more out of the distillation process.

Floral Water is not an essential oil, rather it is a byproduct of Grade A essential oil’s distillation process. Nevertheless, floral waters can be of poor quality if it comes from poor quality of raw materials as well as poor distillation processes. If you know where your floral water is coming from, it is nice to use for your skin and hair products.

Depending on the company you purchase your EO from, you may find quality differences. I can't remember where I read it but the article stated that almost 90% of essential oils that are sold in the U.S. is considered to be fragrance or food grade.

If you would like to be certain of the quality of essential oil you are purchasing, ask the company to provide you with a Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) report. A respectable company will provide you with this information. Not to go too much into the chemistry of an essential oil but each essential oil has a "fingerprint" and their volatile compounds are separated into their individual components (GC report) and their percentages (MS report). With this process of identifying the individual components, it is easy to identify whether or not a particular essential oil has been adulterated. The chemical makeup of an essential oil determines to a great extend the therapeutic qualities of the particular essential oil. The entry on July 21st will cover the chemistry of essential oils.

Have a scentsational day!

I'm leaving on a jet plane...

2011-07-04T08:30:00.000-04:00

The beginning of the song always makes me want to jump on an airplane and leave... visit family and friends, learn about new cultures and countries. The summer is here, school is over or almost over, and many will go on vacation. Unfortunately, that also means Jet Lag for some. If you ever have gone overseas, you probably know about the feeling of jet-lag. Your body has not quite yet adjusted to the new time of your destination. You feel tired during the day and are wide awake at night depending on the direction you traveled.

To bring your body clock back into its normal rhythm, you can try aromatherapy with three great essential oils that help with the synchronization of your body's natural pattern.

Grapefruit Essential Oil has uplifting qualities and combats depression, stress, headaches, or tiredness. It helps your body and mind detoxify which also helps with adjusting to the new time setting.

Bergamot Essential Oil is a natural anti-depressant. It's balancing properties make it a great travel companion. With its relaxing and calming benefits, it is great for insomnia.

Geranium Essential Oil is stimulating the lymphatic system. Stagnant energy is being transported out of the body which is great while traveling and after long flights. Its floral and rosy scent is uplifting and restores vitality to body and mind.

Mix 10 drops of grapefruit, 8 drops of bergamot, and 5 drops of geranium into 5 ml of any carrier oil (e.g. Apricot Kernel Oil, Almond Oil, Jojoba Oil etc) and fill into a roll-on vile. Use on your forehead, on the base of your neck, on your wrists, or on your feet. You can also diffuse the essential oils in a travel diffuser.

☀ Wishing you happy travels ☀

Meditation: The Garden

2011-07-01T08:00:00.001-04:00

With this weekends 4th of July being a long weekend, I thought it might be a nice start to introduce a weekly meditation series. Today's meditation is called "The Garden" and was inspired by a hypnosis script that I regularly use and by "The Relax Deck - 50 Meditations" ... With many weekend activities to be outdoors, this meditation can be done anywhere and anytime. It can be done once or daily, for just a few minutes or longer... it is all up to you what you want to achieve...

Cultivate a beautiful Garden in the depth of your mind ...

Imagine your mind as a garden. You are the gardener and landscape artist. You decide what to plant, where and how to plant it. You are the creator of a beautiful garden that needs to be tended to in order to prevent overgrowth and cultivation. Spend a few moments each day pruning the garden of your mind. Sow new seeds (new thoughts) and grow them in the garden of your mind.
Remember that with each discarded flower head, you give a new bloom a chance to grow; with each weed that you pull up, you make room for fresh green grass. Picture it in your mind, clearly visualize it... smell the different scents of the flowers, the grass, the trees ... See yourself walking through the garden, looking at each plant, touching it and speaking to it. See yourself taking care of each plant, growing new seeds, and nurturing each seedling.
You may have statues in your garden; those may represent your achievements; daily or otherwise. A fountain may flow as a symbol of positive energy... the gentle flow of water may be refreshing, replenishing and may stand for new ideas, thoughts, feelings...

What are Essential Oils? (part 1 of 5)

2011-06-30T08:00:00.001-04:00

This is the first of a series of 5 entries about Essential Oils posted each Thursday. Essential Oil is such a buzz word these days but what exactly are they? What is meant by “pure” or “Grade A” when people talk about an Essential Oil. Is any essential oil safe to use even internally? (The answer is NO but we'll get to it later). What is an adulterated oil and what should I watch out for? Why is an Essential Oil more potent than a regular oil, e.g. olive oil or almond oil? These and many more questions will hopefully be answered within the next few posts. And if you have any questions, please feel free to post them :)

So what exactly is an Essential Oil? Essential Oils are oils that hold the essence or the life force of a particular plant. It is an “aromatic, volatile liquid that is within many shrubs, flowers, trees, roots, bushes, and seeds and that is usually extracted through steam distillation” (EODR). These oils are highly concentrated, much more than dried herbs, and therefore should be used with caution such as any other herbal remedy.

Essential oils range from their usage in a variety of ways, from deodorant or insect repellent, to antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, or anti-fungal properties. Most oils are derived through a “distillation” process in which often an entire plant is needed in order to produce one drop of essential oil. Just as an example, 5000 pounds of rose pedals are needed to produce approximately 1 pint (470 ml) of rose oil.

Other production forms are:

Expressed oils – e.g. lemon, grapefruit, orange – the oil is pressed from the rind of the fruit. It is important that these oils come from organic farmers that do not use pesticides on their products.

Solvent-extraction: an oil-soluble solvent is used to extract the essence of the plant.

Absolutes: These are not considered to be “essential oils” yet they are hold the essence of the plant. For example, Jasmine and Neroli Essential Oils need a different form of extraction, grain alcohol extraction in order to capture the fragrance and the therapeutic part of the plant.

In the United States, Essential Oils need only contain 5% of the plants essence in order to be labeled "pure". (On July 7th, the post covers the different essential oil grades, e.g. Grade A, B, or C, therapeutic grades etc.) Many companies dilute the essence (the essential oil) and sell them for cheap. Those oils can give you a headache or cause some severe unwanted reactions because they are adulterated. While a cheap oil may cut down on the overall price for i.e. making a body product or in the use of a massage oil, you are still running the risk of an allergic reaction. If you make your own lotions and creams and are using all natural ingredients you may want to use a really good and pure essential oil that will be safe to use for yourself, family and friends, as well as enhance the cream or lotion you are making.

You will find that the really good and pure oils (Grade A, therapeutic grade) are more expensive than those that are cut and mixed. Just as an example and indicator: if 15ml Lavender Oil sells for anything less than USD 12.00 – 18.00 (and that is cheap!), you may want to find out more about the production of the oils, what grade the oil is, if it is organic, if it can only be used in aromatherapy or if it is safe to use topically etc. I do not recommend going with the cheapest oils. You will not know what the oil is "cut" with or diluted with. There are many companies that sell essential oils so you would have to research and browse around. Be cautious! If you feel it is "too good to be true" it probably is!

Personally, I only buy Young Living Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils (YLEO). With YLEOs I know that I'm getting a high quality Essential Oil; 100% the plants essence, unadulterated, organic, therapeutic grade oils that are safe to use externally and internally.

Staying safe this Fourth of July

2011-06-27T07:00:00.000-04:00

By now, the integration of the blog "Naturally by Lavenora" is in full swing. On this note, I hope that you are in full swing preparing for next weeks 4th of July. Outdoor events such as BBQs can often lead to unwanted surprises such as minor burns, bug bites, stings, scratches and whatnot. Of course, all of this can also occur indoors...

So, with 4th of July just being one week away, I thought to include some First Aid tips with Essential Oils. I never travel anywhere without my Essential Oils (I only use Young Living) and always have the following with me:

Lemon is a great anti-bacterial oil and is a multi-tasking oil. I love it in my drinking water, as it is not only refreshing but also functions as antacid and digestive. So after eating one too many burgers this weekend, you may want to put a few drops into your drinking water.

Lavender is my all-time favorite for cuts, burns, and especially sunburns. It already helped me prevent blisters after I got too close to the fire once, and it also helped me with a severe sunburn that I got on the beach a couple of weeks ago even though I used SPF 30. Just a few drops of Lavender EO will soothe your skin, take the sting and pain of the burn away, and make you feel better in no time.

Purification is a must have in my First Aid Kit because it is great for insects and mosquitos. Not only does it keep those buzzing nuisances at bay and away but if for some reason you got bit and lost your blood to one of those tiny suckers, then Purification soothes the itching by neutralizing your pH-level again. You can also pee on yourself which neutralizes the pH-level as well but who wants to do that at a party? Also, if you went hiking or camping and you got a splinter, clean the area with a drop of purification so that the skin does not get infected.

Peppermint is another great essential oil and a multi-tasker. It helps with digestive problems after having eaten too much and it helps overcome tiredness of the mind and the body. Whether you spent the entire day scorching out in the sun or you played baseball or volleyball or whatever with your friends, peppermint inhaled as well as diluted with fractioned coconut oil or jojoba oil and massaged into tired muscles will do wonders.

Thieves is another oil I do not leave my house without. It is the best disinfectant and anti-bacterial oil I came across. Whenever I go to somebody else's swimming pool or an outdoor shower, I rub a few drops of thieves into the soles of my feet to prevent bacterial or fungal infections. Too many times when I was a kid I had warts on my feet because I was using public pools all the time.

And if by the end of the day you are so tired but wired up from the events and you cannot fall asleep, inhale Lavender and Peace & Calming. Rub them into the soles of your feet and you will drift into a pleasant slumber in no time.

★ ☆ ★ Have a happy and safe Fourth of July ★ ☆ ★

You ARE what you THINK

2011-06-23T07:30:00.000-04:00

There is great power in our thoughts. I am studying kinesiology and I can see it as well as feel that this is true. Words and thoughts have great power over us. Not only do words and thoughts affect ourself, they also affect all we do come in contact with greatly and severely. We may not even become aware of the effect until much later. So in kinesiology, I feel how a positive thought results in strong muscle testing while a negative thoughts results in a weaker test result of our body. That means that we literally internalize words and thoughts.

Since I am in the process of combining two blogs to make one, I came across this fantastic entry which was originally published by ZenGirl on Naturally by Lavenora on 10/7/09.

We all have it; self talk or the thoughts we think to ourselves. You may already know what I’m referring to. If you don’t, I’ll give you an example: you’ve said something you shouldn’t have or you’ve made a mistake. You start to think “why did I do such a thing” or “I’m so stupid.” This is harsh and extreme but these are the very thoughts we are having. We are our own toughest critics, often demanding more than others expect. We need to enforce new habits and retrain our mental processes to do different. Why? Well, because we eventually begin believing our own negative self talk and what we emphasize will ultimately grow. If you think about it: what precedes any action, well, why a thought doesn’t it? It must begin as a thought or idea for it to finally become reality.

I believe the cure to this is in affirmations.

Affirmations are statements declared to be true; always in the positive and in the present, as if it already exists. So, let’s (literally) convince ourselves of ways to benefit and grow. I suggest we learn to accept our own self worth, first believing we are loved and deserving of all the good the universe has to offer. Without this basic and primary belief, nothing more is possible or can grow from within us. Once the foundation is set, we can believe and learn to trust anything is possible. And anything is possible; as long as you first plant that seed. When the seed is nurtured and reinforced with repetition, it can and will come true!

Some affirmations I like are:

I love you, I really really love you!
I love and approve of myself.
I am loving and lovable.
I love the world and the world loves me.
(taken from Louise L Hay & Shakti Gawain)

When said in the mirror, they become even more powerful. Make this a habit; perhaps it’s first thing when you get up in the morning. Incorporate it into your routine when you wash your face or brush your teeth. Paste it to your mirror until it becomes something you do naturally and most of all…. believe.

Eventually expand this to other areas in your life as you’d like to see become reality.

I’ll be there right along with you…. Good luck!

Shea Butter Treatment Stick

2011-06-20T07:00:00.000-04:00

As promised, here is the entry about this lovely Shea Butter Treatment Stick. It also is taken from "Naturally by Lavenora" (my other blog that I'm integrating here).

Just a week ago, a friend of mine and I participated in an 18-mile walk to support "Out of the Darkness - Overnight" in order to raise awareness about depression and suicide. In hindsight, I guess I was not as well prepared for the walk as I should have been. Walking 18 miles was more straining on my feet and body than I had thought it would. Therefore, I must have over extended either the ligaments or tendons in my foot and leg because ever since then I was in slight pain.

Then yesterday, while walking around a craft fair, I got the idea to make my own Shea Butter Treatment Stick. Not only is this treatment stick a great moisturizer, it is also wonderful for On-the-Go and is "airplane friendly" due to its solid texture. That means, you can carry it in your purse and not in a zip-lock bag :)

I used very few yet powerful ingredients for the base:

Beeswax: anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and heals wounds

Shea Butter: moisture spending; it is also anti-inflammatory and great for sprains, and

Jojoba Oil: penetrates quickly into the skin and rejuvenates the skin.

To the base, I added the following essential oils that soothes muscle pains and sprains:

Peppermint (YL) is great for tired muscles and legs and a wonderful pain reliever.

Roman Chamomile (YL) is antispasmodic and soothes the nerves.

Rosemary (YL) stimulates the circulation and has anti-inflammatory properties.

Verbena is also an anti-inflammatory oil and is good for the neuromuscular system.

I've applied the Shea Butter Treatment Stick only twice and my foot feels so much better!

What a wonderful gift from Nature!!!

Enhancing Memory with Essential Oils

2011-06-18T07:36:00.000-04:00

I came across an article that talks about how "aromatherapy works to stimulate memory" and that Rosemary Essential Oil is associated to our memory. Rosemary improves mental clarity and is great to overcome mental fatigue.

Other Essential Oils that are good for enhancing Memory are Lemon Essential Oil, Peppermint Essential Oil (check out entry on 06/16/11), or Sage Essential Oil. In the upcoming months, I will write about these essential oils in greater detail.

Receptors and cilia in our nose help break down scent and transport the message to our brain. There, the message gets "translated" by the frontal lobe in order for us to distinguish between a sweet or sour smell, the smell of a flower or foul odor. We also connect emotions to the scent and a particular scent can trigger memory recall. Click here to learn more about How Aromatherapy works.

Just think about a lemon, how it looks, feels when you touch a lemon, is it firm? Now you cut the lemon and juice is running over your fingers, you squeeze the lemon juice out ... what happens to you? Well I can tell you that just by writing this, saliva formed in my mouth and I could almost taste the lemon. Or the smell of baked good may awake fond memories of your childhood, the smell of motor oil how you helped fix a car, the smell of suntan lotion brings back memories of vacation ... we attach emotions to the various scents and our memory is triggered. We remember what we did on that vacation or how we made a hole in the middle of the pie and got a slap on our wrist.

When I studied Cognitive Psychology in college, our professor told us to diffuse a scent while studying for an exam. She said it could be our favorite scent, e.g. from a perfume. However, I found that the scent of an essential oil works best (at least for me). We then should sniff on the same scent before and during the exam. It is a technique used for effective retrieval from long-term memory - encoding specificity principle. The stimulus (essential oil) is encoded along with the experience (study material) which can trigger the memory of the experience.

Since I am applying for jobs and have to go on interviews, I am preparing for the interview by diffusing essential oils in my home. You can also smell your favorite scent before studying for a test, an exam or if you have to prepare a presentation. Next, I carry the scent with me for each interview. Just before I go in to meet with the person who will conduct the interview, I smell the essential oil again (neat = straight out of the bottle). Smell and inhale your favorite scent before you take the exam (even during the exam), or give your presentation. It will trigger what you have studied and prepared for so diligently.