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Cytophylactic Properties of Essential oils

Cytophylactic Properties of Essential oils

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I have mentioned the cytophylactic properties of essential oils several times before, and they are especially beneficial in skin care for aging and mature skin. Cytophylactic means that the oils stimulate the generation of new cells, which will aid in preserving the health of the skin. These oils are also used for treatments of burns. Frankincense, lavender, helichrysum, rosewood, sandalwood, patchouli and myrrh all have cytophylactic properties. Find out more detailed information in my post  myrrh, frankincense and sandalwood- Top three Oils for skin rejuvenation

Facial mists or flower water are very beneficial for aging skin. You can use them during the day to add moisture to the skin, or you can spray on the face right before applying the essential oil blend like I do. So, it works like a moisturizer and a facial toner at the same time. It will  make it easier to apply the massage oil blend when the skin is moisturized by the toner first. Facial toner recipe

Massage oils suitable for  mature skin are jojoba, evening primrose, wheatgerm, avocado, carrot infused oil, and rosehip. Borage and vitamin E oil can be added to enhance their effectiveness.
Other oils to consider are hazelnut, kikui nut, macademia nut and St.John's Wort. Don't get stuck on that you have to use these oils, I just made a oxygenating facial gel with coconut oil and it works wonderfully for my skin. It may also help prevent wrinkles.

My post, Essential Oils for Skin Care - Aging and Mature Skin  has more information about how to treat aging and mature skin.


Thanks for reading!


Before you leave:

I recommend that you always perform a skin patch test when you try a new oil.

Check out my safety page to make sure you are aware of any contrindications before you use essential oils. Some oils are not suitable when suffering from certain conditions. Also, Read this Before You Start Using Essential oils. Some oils should not be applied prior to sun exposure so make sure you check this list before spending time in the sun.

Not sure how to apply the oils? Visit these pages to learn how to apply the oils:
If you're new to essential oils you might want to check out my Getting Started Guide. 

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Johanna is an aromatherapist and she is passionate about educating people about health, essential oils, real food, natural remedies, and nutrition so they make healthier choices in their lives.
Follow Johanna on twitter and facebook for more health tips and information.



6:28 PM | Read more...
Essential Oils & Allergies

Essential Oils & Allergies


The weather here in California has been lovely the last few days and I have enjoyed sitting outside soaking up some sun. Spring is the time when we feel awake and start living again after a long winter. If you suffer from allergies you probably don't enjoy the spring as much as you would like to. You probably suffer from congestion, have watery eyes, runny nose, earaches, and headaches. I know many people that have reduced their suffering by using natural remedies for their allergies. If you haven't tried natural remedies for your allergies yet, then it might be time to give it a try.


Triggers
As most of us know allergies can be triggered by many different things such as environmental chemicals, pollen, food, insect bites dander and dust. People with allergies may suffer from the following:
  • Cramps, diarrhea, vomiting
  • Dermatitis, rashes
  • Itching lips, swelling of the tongue or lips
  • Wheezing and labored breathing
Essential oils may be helpful
Essential oils may be of  help when suffering from allergies but it is also important to look into what is causing the allergy. Looking into the underlying causes of your allergy is important, my post Do You Have Allergies? will give you other natural tips to consider when suffering from allergies.

What we used on our dog
We managed to get our dog's congestionunder control with the help of frankincense, but we also changed her diet. We put a couple of drops of frankincense  on our hands and rubbed them together, then cupped them over her nose so that she could inhale the oil. It was an instant relief from her congestion. Our dog preferred frankincense since it also calmed her from the panic attacks she had when she couldn't breath. 


"An allergy is a damaging immune system response to a substance that does not bother most people." Reference Guide for Essential Oils


 Antihistamines
According to the Reference Guide for Essential Oils,  Roman Chamomile, lavender and Melaleuca (tea tree) have antihistamine properties. It is important to avoid chamomile if you're allergic to the ragweed.  Studies how that luteolin- 7-orutinoside in peppermint  has antihistamine properties.

The Reference Guide for Essential Oils writes that patchouli, elemi (rashes), eucalyptus, melissa - Lemon Balm (skin and respiratory), and spkikenard are other single oils used for allergies.

 What we do for allergies:
  • We apply lavender to the sinuses to work as an antihistamine.
  • We apply to bottom of feet.
  • We put 2 or more drops into the palm of our left hand, rub clockwise with the flat palm or the right hand. Cup our hands together over the nose and mouth and inhale deeply. Don't touch your eyes!
  • We apply oils to a cotton ball, tissue, or handkerchief and place in the air vent of the car. Make sure you don't use any synthetic materials. 
  • Rub 2 or more drops on our wrists, chest, neck, or under the nose and ears. (Indirect inhalation)

Before you leave:

I recommend that you always perform a skin patch test when you try a new oil.
Check out my safety page to make sure you are aware of any contrindications before you use essential oils. Some oils are not suitable when suffering from certain conditions. Also, Read this Before You Start Using Essential oils. Some oils should not be applied prior to sun exposure so make sure you check this list before spending time in the sun.

Not sure how to apply the oils? Visit these pages to learn how to apply the oils:
If you're new to essential oils you might want to check out my Getting Started Guide. 


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Johanna is an aromatherapist and she is passionate about educating people about health, essential oils, real food, natural remedies, and nutrition so they make healthier choices in their lives. 

Follow Johanna on twitter and facebook for more health tips and information.




7:29 PM | Read more...
Make Your Own Natural Eye Care Products

Make Your Own Natural Eye Care Products



With an initial investment in essential oils and vegetable oils you can make a pretty good eye care product instead of purchasing expensive products. A good quality essential oil cost more than the inferior products, but you will see fine results in a healthier way. The same goes for vegetable oils; never purchase cheap unrefined massage oils in a clear bottle since they need to be stored dark like the essential oils.
I was looking at some eye creams online and since I make my own  skin care products  I had no idea that they were so expensive.

I decided to take a closer look at this Caudalie Eye Cream for 95 dollars to see what I would get for my money:
  • They don't use parabens, triclosan, phtalates, or petrochemicals so that's pretty impressive.
  • The product focus on revitalize and renew skin on the delicate eye area for transformational results is amazing according to the claims.
  • It contains viniferine, which according to the product information, reduces dark spots.
  • Grape seed polyphenols have been added to protect the skin and delivers antioxidant properties.
  • It contains tetrapeptides which fights puffiness, dark circles, and wrinkles.
I don't even know if this product lives up to its claims, but according to testimonies it does. The ingredient list is long, but is it necessary to put all those extra ingredients on the skin? I don't think so!
 

Let's see what we can use for our eye product:
  • Carrot seed oil is considered one of the strongest revitalizing essential oils for the skin, frankincense, sandalwood, patchouli, and neroli are also recommend.
  • Geranium, helichrysum, and spikenard have historically been used to  regenerate the skin.
  • Ylang Ylang blended with lavender, or rosewood blended with lavender have historically been used to restore skin elasticity.
  • Lavender, spikenard, and myrrh have historically been used to retard wrinkles.
  • Frankincense is the most commonly used essential oil for age spots on the skin. Geranium  mixed with patchouli have historically been used to reduce the appearance of dark spots. Virgin coconut oil is said to reduce them as well.
  • Essential oils have a superior ORAC value to most foods. For example, according to the Essential Oils Integrative Medical Guide,  German chamomile's ORAC, antioxidant capacity, is 218,600 while blueberries' ORAC value is 2,400. You can also make your own antioxidant serum with essential oils, green tea, and aloe vera.
I do not design a special eye cream often, but I use ingredients in my facial products that are supporting my aging skin. Frankincense, myrrh, and Sandalwood are my favorite oils for skin rejuvenation.  Learn more about what oils to use for aging and maturing skin. The facial oil I made the other day was also designed to care for my aging skin.

If you want to target the eye area specifically:

Make your own oil blend specifically for the eyes. According to Valeri Worwood, the basic blending guideline would be something like this:
  • Use 2 teaspoons of a suitable base oil such as hazelnut, avocado, rose hip, or wheat germ.
  • In addition to your base oil, add a few drops of evening primrose, borage seed, or jojoba oil.
  • Add 2-4 drops of suitable essential oils. Valeri Ann Worwood suggests lemon and lavender for ages between 25-40, and lavender and palmarosa for ages 40-45. For the mature age group she suggests to use lavender and lemon as well. 
  • In addition to the regular essential oils, include a couple of drops of carrot seed oil.
  • Add vitamin E capsules. One capsule if you are under 45 years of age, and two capsules if you are older.
Blend the base oils, add the vitamin E capsule, and add the essential oils last. Make sure you mix well and apply very gently around the eyes. Leave if for a while, and if needed gently wipe off any excess. 

What about puffiness?

Valeri Worwood suggests in her book, The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy, that you mix hazelnut oil with witch hazel, fennel and German Chamomile essential oils for puffiness and dark shadows. 
  • Mix the 2 drops each of the essential oils with one tablespoon of witch hazel, cover and put in the fridge to cool.
  • Wrap an ice cube in a cotton wool ball, dip it in the essential oil and witch hazel mix, and apply over a closed eye and the puffy area.
  • Remove the ice cube after a few seconds and apply a small amount of the hazelnut to the moist skin.
Worwood also recommends to dab cold green tea or rose hip tea to the area. Keep the tea in the fridge to keep it cool.

As you can see, it's not really necessary to purchase your own eye cream. Of course, there's the convenience of buying something pre-made, and essential oils may seem expensive. True, essential oils can be expensive for a small bottle, but it lasts a long time.


You can't use the eye cream to make perfume, facial toners, acne products, anti-stress relief, lotions, soaps, or cold and flu remedies like you can with one or two bottles of essential oils.

You are not exposed to the unnecessary ingredients added to a store bought product either. So, you can't lose making your own fancy skin care products. Remember, you don't have to do it exactly like it is described here; modify and use the things your budget allows.



Before you leave:


I recommend that you always perform a skin patch test when you try a new oil.


Check out my safety page to make sure you are aware of any contrindications before you use essential oils. Some oils are not suitable when suffering from certain conditions. Also, Read this Before You Start Using Essential oils. Some oils should not be applied prior to sun exposure so make sure you check this list before spending time in the sun.

Not sure how to apply the oils? Visit these pages to learn how to apply the oils:
If you're new to essential oils you might want to check out my Getting Started Guide. 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Johanna is an aromatherapist and she is passionate about educating people about health, essential oils, real food, natural remedies, and nutrition so they make healthier choices in their lives. 
Follow Johanna on twitter and facebook for more health tips and information.

  Photo credit
7:26 PM | Read more...