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The most powerful, evidence-based essential oil therapy.

9/21/2017

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Nature's Alternative To Anxiety and Sleep Drugs Is A Flower.

Written By: Linda Woolven & Ted Snider
Originally posted by GreenMedInfo LLC, 2017


Lavender is not only beautiful but one of the most medically useful essential oils. Recent research is proving its power and versatility to provide effective and safe alternatives to pharmaceuticals for common physical and psychological challenges. 

Lavender: Relaxed & Alert 
A remarkable feature of lavender is that it can simultaneously relax you and wake you up. A review of studies on lavender concluded that scenting a room with lavender essential oil can improve feelings of well being, sleep and alertness while decreasing aggression and anxiety (Psychother Res 2002).

This incredible ability of lavender to promote relaxation and alertness simultaneously has been noticed before. In a 1998 study, people given lavender had increased drowsiness, less depression and were more relaxed, but also performed math calculations quicker and more accurately (Int J Neurosci). Another study found that lavender oil made people feel both more active and fresher and more relaxed compared to a placebo oil. The lavender also significantly lowered their blood pressure, heart rate and skin temperature (J Med Assoc Thai 2012;95(4):598-606).

Insomnia, Depression & Anxiety 
A small but promising study found that inhaling lavender essential oil is as effective as tranquilizers in helping elderly people with insomnia sleep (Lancet 1995;346:701).
A double-blind study included 170 people who suffered from restlessness, anxiety, tension, and insomnia. Some were given a placebo; others were given 80mg capsules of lavender essential oil. At the end of the 10 week study, people taking the lavender oil improved their anxiety more than those taking the placebo, according to the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAMA). The lavender group’s scores improved from 25.5 to 13.7 while the placebo group improved from 26.5 to 16.9: a significant difference. 48.8% of the lavender group responded versus 33.3% of the placebo group. 31.4% of people on lavender achieved remission from anxiety versus 22.6% on the placebo. Side effects in the 2 groups were comparable, and the lavender—unlike antianxiety drugs—did not cause drowsiness (European Neuropsychopharmacology 2015;doi: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2015.07.024).

A review of 4 controlled studies of seniors confirmed that lavender essential oil is significantly better than a placebo at reducing anxiety (Wien Med Wochenschr 2015;165(11-12):217-28).

Not only is lavender oil better than a placebo for reducing anxiety, it is as good as the strongest drugs. Lavender oil capsules were compared to the benzodiazepine lorazepam in a 6 week study of people with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). The results were the same for both treatments: lavender produced a 45% improvement on the HAMA and lorazepam produced a 46% improvement. Unlike benzodiazepines, the lavender oil was safe, non-sedating and non-addictive (Phytomed 2010;17(2):94-9). Lavender oil is also more effective and safer than the SSRI paroxetine for GAD (Int J Neuropsychopharmacol 2014;17(6):859-869).

Lavender can also compete with antidepressant drugs. People suffering from depression were given 60 drops of lavender tincture and a placebo or 100mg of the antidepressant drug imipramine and a placebo or 60 drops of lavender and 100mg of imipramine. After 4 weeks, all 3 groups improved significantly. The group taking both imipramine and lavender experienced a significantly greater improvement than those taking either treatment alone, suggesting that people on imipramine may be able to reduce their dose of the drug--and, therefore, its side effects--by adding lavender (Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2003;27(1)123-7).

And what if you suffer from anxiety and depression? When people with Mixed Anxiety & Depressive Disorder were given 80mg of lavender oil or a placebo for 70 days in a double-blind study, scores on the HAMA dropped significantly more in the lavender group: 10.8 points versus 8.4. Depression scores also dropped significantly more in the lavender group: 9.2 points versus 6.1. People on lavender had better clinical outcomes and better improvement in daily living skills and quality of life (Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 2016;26:331–40).

Lavender & Old Age
Many elderly people with dementia manifest agitated behaviour that interferes with daily activities. In a study of people with severe dementia and agitated behaviour, their long stay unit was diffused with lavender essential oil or water. With the lavender, 60% did better than they did with the placebo (Int J Geriatr Psychiatry 2002;17:305-8).

And when 70 people with dementia--44 of them with Alzheimer’s--and significant agitation were given lavender essential oil or a placebo oil in diffusers on either side of their pillow while they were sleeping, the agitation decreased significantly in the lavender group, but not at all in the placebo group (Int J Geriatr Psychiatry 2007;22:405-10).

Lavender & Relationships
In one of the most unusual studies we’ve seen, lavender aromatherapy was shown to improve people’s trust in each other. 90 people played what is known as The Trust Game. Different groups played it in 3 different rooms: one was lavender scented, one was peppermint scented and one was unscented. Trust scores were significantly higher in the lavender group than in the peppermint group or the placebo group (Front Psychol 2015;5:1486).

Lavender, Mothers & Babies
After giving birth, many new mothers struggle with poor sleep quality. That struggle to sleep is not only frustrating, it can also contribute to depression and lack of concentration that can affect the mothers’ ability to perform the tasks of daily life. So, a study looked at 158 women who had recently given birth and who had a sleeping disorder. 4 drops of either a 10% lavender essential oil in a sesame seed oil carrier or the sesame seed oil alone were placed on a cotton ball beside their pillow. The women inhaled the aroma in 10 deep breaths before bedtime for 4 consecutive nights a week for 8 weeks. By the end of the study, the improvement in sleep quality was significantly better in the lavender group than in the placebo group (Iran Red Crescent Med J 2015;e25880).

Anxiety, stress and depression during pregnancy can have a negative effect on the health of both mother and child. Researchers asked 141 healthy pregnant women to rub either a placebo cream or a lavender cream onto their legs for 10 to 20 minutes an hour and a half before going to bed in a double-blind study. The lavender cream contained 1.25% lavender essential oil. At the end of the 8 week study, there was significant improvement in anxiety, stress and depression in the lavender group compared to the placebo group. By the end of only the fourth week, there was already significant improvement in stress and anxiety (J Caring Sci 2015;4:63-73).

As for labour itself, a single-blind study of 120 pregnant women shows that inhalation of lavender essential oil significantly reduces labour pain compared to a placebo (Complement Ther Clin Pract 2016;25:81-86).

And a controlled study found that babies given abdominal massage with diluted lavender oil spend significantly less time crying from colic (Int J Nurs Practl 2012;18(2):164-169).

Lavender & Hormonal Problems
A double-blind study found that lavender aromatherapy significantly reduces hot flashes when given to menopausal women for 20 minutes twice a week for 12 weeks. The women in the lavender group had 10.58 hot flashes a week compared to 19.7 a week in the placebo group (J Chin Med Assoc 2016;79(9):489-492).

Lavender aromatherapy may also offer help to women suffering from PMS (Biopsychosoc Med 2013;31;7(1):12) and painful periods (Pain Manag Nurs 2012;13(4):236-40). When 80 women used a lavender essential oil aromatherapy massage during the first days of menstruation, there was a significant decrease in menstrual pain 30 minutes later compared to a placebo oil massage (Iran J Nurs Midwifery Res 2015;20(1):156-60).

Lavender & the Hospital
Lavender’s soothing properties can also help soothe pain: specifically post-operative pain. A study included 50 people who had just undergone open-heart surgery. Some of them received oxygen through a breathing face mask for 15 minutes and some of them had 2% lavender essence in an olive oil carrier mixed in with the oxygen. At each time after the 15 minute intervention the people were tested—5 minutes, 30 minutes and 60 minutes—the lavender group had significantly less severe pain (Adv Biomed Res 2015;4:127).
​

Patients in hospitals often suffer from pain, nausea and anxiety that require treatment. But those treatments have side effects and are often ineffective. In an uncontrolled study, patients given lavender aromatherapy had reductions in anxiety (Complement Ther Med 2016;25:164-169). In patients about to undergo open-heart surgery, inhaling lavender oil reduced anxiety by 10% more and decreased cortisol by 69.9% more than inhaling a water placebo, again showing its antianxiety properties (Iran J Nurs Midwifery Res 2016;21(4):397-401). Other research has also shown that lavender aromatherapy can significantly reduce stress and the pain from inserting a needle (J Altern Complement Med 2011;17(9):823-826).

Finally, a group of 60 coronary artery disease patients in ICU who inhaled lavender essential oil had significantly improved sleep quality and anxiety compared to a control group (Nurs Crit Care 2017;22(2):105-112).

About the authors: Linda Woolven and Ted Snider are the authors of several books on natural health and of the natural health newsletter, The Natural Path.

To get the world's purest therapeutic grade lavender at wholesale cost, click here: 

​
http://www.thewholeessentiallife.com/get-your-starter-kit.html

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Using Essential Oils to Heal the Gut

9/12/2017

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Written By: Dr. Eric L. Zielinski
(Originally published on GreenMedInfo)

Not only can essential oils heal your gut, but they also play a role in maintaining gut health!

For decades we’ve been hard on our digestive systems, and it just keeps getting worse. The food we consume plays a direct role, and also our lifestyle factors, such as the stress, can cause damage to our gut. Gut health can be fostered by using essential oils, but what if there is already damage? If you have already reached adulthood, there is a high possibility that this applies to you.

This is where natural therapies like essential oils come into play, which can not only heal the gut, but also help prevent damage from occurring in the first place!

Common Problems in The GutYour gut may already be damaged without you knowing it. This may be because the bacterial balance is off due to your diet and your immune system is now malfunctioning. It may also be because your immune health has been off kilter due to environmental toxins and even negative thoughts.

The gut serves as the central part of most of our body. If you think you don’t have gut problems or related issues, it’s always best to look at your history, lifestyle, and diet. Then do a quick scan of symptoms, keeping a look out for the cardinal signs of leaky gut:
  • Seasonal allergies
  • Chronic digestive upset
  • Brain fog
  • Autoimmune disease
  • Chronic fatigue
  • Chronic pain
  • Skin outbreaks
  • Mood disorders (especially depression)

Addressing 5 Common Gut Issues with Essential OilsThere a number of natural approaches one can take to mitigate these symptoms and I have found that essential oils top the charts for these specific five conditions.

1.   Leaky Gut - Leaky gut syndrome is a common gastrointestinal problem that has been gathering a lot of attention lately because research continues to link it to a number of other health issues and diseases. The SAD (Standard American Diet), stress, toxic overload, and bacterial imbalance people battle has certainly contributed to the epidemic that now affects millions of people globally. 

The gut is tricky to treat because it's so far down the GI tract so leaky gut is a good one to start off with. The only way to ensure that essential oils can reach the gut is to use an enteric coated, time-release capsule.
  • Peppermint and caraway oils have been proven to soothe information like no other blend – taken internally. (1) This combination is also highly effective at promoting healthy gastrointestinal motility. (2)
  • Thymol and carvacrol (thyme and oregano oils) are fantastic for promoting intestinal integrity and immune responses. (3)
  • Additionally, oregano essential oil has been proven to repair the gut lining – thus preventing chemicals from leaking out of the gut. (4)

All these can be applied topically over the abdomen. 2-3x per day. At a 5% dilution (30 drops of essential oils per one ounce of carrier oil).

2.  SIBO & Dysbiosis - The microbial balance in the gut can be shifted in many ways, and it’s usually categorized as dysbiosis. A particular form of dysbiosis is that of SIBO (Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth), which occurs when bacteria is found in the small intestines. Dysibiosis and specific conditions of SIBO are related to other health issues such as IBS and metabolic disorders. (5)

When essential oils are able to exhibit symptom relief without damaging good bacteria, then it is usually recommended to use them for SIBO and other gut flora issues. In 2012, a probiotic study (beneficial bacteria in supplement form) found certain essential oils to work well with their formula, and was able to create a synergistic effect which had increased benefits.  (6)

A few years before that, eight essential oils were analyzed to test their effects on gut dysbiosis (bacterial imbalance). The findings included caraway, lavender, and bitter orange which became examples of essential oils that work well with beneficial bacteria in the body. (7)

The studies showed that essential oils are affecting detrimental bacteria without harming the body and beneficial strains. Further research for dosing and ideal treatments methods would be very exciting!

3.  IBS – Irritable Bowel Syndrome was once considered a non-diagnosis. This was the term given when doctors had no idea what was going on to begin with. Now, we know that IBS not only affects more than 10% of the global population, but that fewer than 30% will consult a doctor for a diagnosis. (8) IBS is usually managed with diet and medication, but using essential oils have been proven helpful to control the symptoms, especially the ones with enteric coated capsules to help make it past the stomach.  

An extensive review conducted in 2008 shows peppermint oil exhibiting significant improvement over a placebo, along with dietary fibers. Both of these stood alongside antispasmodic medications in efficacy. (9) This study shows that it is best to use enteric coated capsules to ensure that the oil reaches the intestines.

4. GERD – Technically the “gut” is the intestines, but we usually use the term interchangeably with our digestive system. Digestive trouble can start quickly in the esophagus as acid reflux or GERD. These are problems related to stomach acids (both too much and too little) as well as a faulty “flap” that keeps the acid out of the esophagus. One way to treat GERD is with essential oils that protect the stomach and improve digestive processes.

Ginger goes along well with turmeric as indicated in a study released in January 2015. (10) The researchers tested the antioxidant levels in rats with and without turmeric and ginger essential oils and compared the results. The oils seemed to increase antioxidant levels and reduced damages to the stomach wall. Knowing this fact, culinary skills would serve as a benefit to help boost your digestive system in your meals.

5. Nausea – Nausea is a common problem within our stomach, it is associated with a number of other ailments and can have symptoms that are unpleasant to debilitating. People who experience nausea know that a scent has a major impact on how you feel, which may be positive or negative. Essential oils that can be inhaled are a useful tool for managing nausea. Research studies show that peppermint and ginger help alleviate nausea. (11)

Citrus oils can also be beneficial. Lemon is very helpful for morning sickness as well as nausea in pregnancy. (12) Aroma sticks are also very helpful and can be a quick help when you are feeling nauseated.

5 Key Essential Oils to Heal the GutEssential oils can be beneficial to your health; however, you have to be cautious as well. Always dilute them properly, enjoy diffusing them regularly and be sure to only consume them in a capsule to protect the mucous membranes in your mouth and esophagus.
  • Peppermint – Peppermint essential oil is well known for its digestive healing capabilities. Peppermint has always been indicated for IBS via enteric coated capsules. (13) This was again revisited in 2013, and was mentioned along with coriander and lemon balm for their effectiveness. (14)
  • Thyme – is antimicrobial by day, and a gut healer by night, and thyme is marked as a superhero in the world of gut health. For SIBO, thymol and geraniol are “effective in suppressing pathogens in the small intestine, with no effect to beneficial commensal colonic bacteria in the distal gut.” (15) Thymol is the major component of thyme, while geraniol is found in rose oil.
  • Lavender – We have seen that lavender is effective against dysbiosis; it also has anti-inflammatory and healing properties as well. Lavender is one of the most effective anxyolitic (anti-anxiety) essential oils, and has been tested as a commercial internal preparation. (16) Lavender is a key component to any healing protocol whether to calm anxiety, to improve gut health, or be a major part of nearly any healing regimen.  
  • Cumin – Recent studies on IBS symptoms and essential oil treatments analyzed 2% of cumin essential oils in 57 patients with IBS. At the end of the four-week trial, symptoms including pain, bloating, and elimination problems decreased drastically. (17)
  • Oregano – As mentioned above, oregano essential oil has been proven to repair the gut lining, which is key because so many people suffer from leaky gut. Try consuming 2-3 drops with olive oil in an enteric-coated capsule two times per day as a remedy.
​
If you’re serious about rebuilding your gut, then spend some time researching essential oils and make them part of your healing protocol. 

To get therapeutic essential oils at wholesale cost, go here: 

http://www.thewholeessentiallife.com/get-your-starter-kit.html
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  • Home
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