FOODS WE EAT - CURE IN NATURE

Essential oils are added to many skin care products as a natural way of looking after your skin. However, there are many different essential oils to choose from; some essential oils are more suitable for certain skin types than others. Here’s a look at some suitable essential oils for different types of skin.

You can add essential oils to various skin care products; these includes facial scrubs, moisturizing lotions, foot creams and sugar scrubs. You can make your own skin care products at home or use a cosmetic base to which to add the essential oils. If you know little about using essential oils, consult a qualified aromatherapist for further advice on the amount of essential oils to use in your products and any contra-indications for using a specific essential oil. In addition, pick up a good book on the subject.

Different parts of the body require different types of base products; for example, you wouldn’t normally use an essential oil blend for your feet on your face. The following is a quick guideline to the types of bases you should choose for the different parts of the body:

feet – choose a richer, thicker emollient cream for your feet, particularly if you are treating dry skin. In addition, if you are making up a foot scrub, try a salt scrub, or a sugar scrub with large, abrasive particlesface- choose a gentle exfoliant for your face. If you are using a scrub, choose ground oatmeal or apricots over sugar and salt scrubs. Try a gentle moisturizing lotion that has been specifically blended for the facebody – use a general lotion or oil base for your body but pay attention to your skin type and any specific problem areas that might need extra care.

If you have oily skin, you will probably suffer from spots and blemishes on your skin. Oily skin is caused by the over production of sebum by the sebaceous glands. Teenagers are prone to oily skin, in addition to women suffering from PMT, or as a result of an illness. Oily skin can produce acne.

Essential oils that are antiseptic and anti-bacterial are a good choice for dealing with oily skin; these include:

tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia)geranium (Pelargonium graveolens)cypress (Cupressus sempervirens)cedarwood (Cedrus atlantica)lemon (Citrus limon)grapefruit (Citrus paradisi).

Dry skin is the opposite problem of oily skin; the sebaceous glands do not produce enough sebum. In addition, environmental factors, such as weather, can cause your skin to dry out. Dry skin can lead to itchy, red patches on your skin and it is likely that you could suffer from sensitive skin too if you have dry skin.

Use essential oils that are balancing and are gentle on the skin, if you have dry skin; these include:

rose (Rosa damascena)lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)jasmine (Jasminum officinale)neroli (Citrus aurantium var. amara).

If you have mature skin, it is likely that you will also have wrinkles. Essential oils encourage the re-generation of skin cells by stimulating the circulation of blood (source: The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy, Valerie Ann Worwood). Essential oils for mature skin include:

myrrh (Commiphora myrrha)rose (Rosa damascena)clary sage (Salvia sclarea)fennel (Foeniculum vulgare).

Adding essential oils to skincare bases are a natural way to take care of your skin; however, you need to understand your skin type and the type of product base that you are using to choose the most suitable product for your body. Used correctly, essential oils are a useful tool for skin care.

The Complete Guide to Essential Oils and Aromatherapy, Valerie Ann WorwoodAromatherapy: An A-Z, Patricia DavisAromatherapy for Women, Shirley PriceAuthor is a certified aromatherapist.

Photo by QuintanaRoo

View the original article here

There are various recipes and blends for Thieves oil in circulation today. In addition, the origins of the original Four Thieves Vinegar (or blend) vary wildly. However, the common consensus today is that the essential oils of rosemary, lemon, eucalyptus, clove and cinnamon are the basis of any Thieves blend recipes. All of these essential oils possess the antiseptic and anti-bacterial properties that make the blend popular for use against cold, germs and any other nasty diseases that might be lurking in you home.

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) belongs to the Lamiaceae botanical family. It is an evergreen bush or shrub that has pale blue flowers and silver-gray leaves shaped like needles. It flowers in the spring.

Rosemary has been used for medicinal purposes since ancient times. In Medieval times, sprigs on rosemary were hung in doorways and carried for protection against the Plague, a devastating epidemic that wiped out millions of lives.

Rosemary essential oil is used for its anti-microbial, antiseptic and anti-bacterial properties, amongst others. Rosemary was effectively used in a blend with pine, thyme, peppermint, lavender, clove and cinnamon oils to purify the air and reduce the existence of pre-existing microorganisms in a laboratory test (Valnet 1980) (source: Aromatherapy for Health Professionals, Shirley Price, Len Price).

Lemon (Citrus limon) belongs to the Rutaceae plant family. The lemon tree is native to Asia but is now found in many different places, such as the Mediterranean region, South America and some states of North America.

Lemon has traditionally been used in Europe to treat many types of infectious diseases. It has been used for malaria, typhoid and to treat scurvy on English ships (source: The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils, Julia Lawless). Franchomme and Penoel, 1990, state that lemon essential oil has anti-viral properties (source: Aromatherapy for Health Professionals, Shirley Price, Len Price).

There are various species of eucalyptus essential oil which are used in aromatherapy practice; Eucalyptus radiata and Eucalyptus smithii are two of the most common species used. Eucalyptus is native to Australia and belongs to the Myrtaceae plant family.

Eucalyptus oil is predominately used for its antiseptic, anti-viral and and anti-bacterial properties in aromatherapy practice. According to Valerie Ann Worwood, in The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy, the disinfectant properties of eucalyptus oil actually improve with age.

Clove (Syzygium aromaticum) also belongs to the Myrtaceae botanical family. The clove tree is cultivated in tropical places such as the Philippines and Indonesia. Common as a spice, clove has traditionally been used as a tincture for skin and digestive problems, in addition for the treatment of intestinal parasites.

Clove essential oil is a potent essential oil and should be used with care in aromatherapy practice; use in low dilution and be aware that it might cause skin and mucous membrane irritation in some individuals.

Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) is a member of the Lauraceae plant family; it is tropical tree which is native to Sri Lanka, southern India and Indochina. Just like clove, cinnamon has traditionally been used as a spice. However, it has also been used medicinally since ancient times in the treatment of colds, flu and digestive problems.

Cinnamon essential oil is also a potentially toxic oil if not used correctly and in moderation. However, it has strong antiseptic and anti- microbial properties. The essential oil is extracted from both the bark and the leaf of the plant, with a difference in the percentage of chemical components.

The majority of essential oils possess antiseptic and anti-bacterial properties and therefore there are several other essential oils that can also be used effectively in an anti-bacterial blend such as that of Thieves. However, the above essential oils are commonly used for this particular blend. Consult a qualified aromatherapist for advice on how to use Thieves blend for a particular problem.

Photo by CocteauBoy

View the original article here