Essential Oils 201: Art of Blending Oils

How to Blend Essential Oils

Blending essential oils is an art and usually requires a little bit of training and experimentation. If you choose to create your own blends, it is important to understand that the order in which the essential oils are blended is key to maintaining the desired therapeutic properties in a synergistic blend. An alteration in the sequence of adding selected essential oils to a blend may change the chemical properties, the fragrance, and thus the desired results. In general, essential oils that are from the same botanical family, usually blend well together. In addition, essential oils that share common constituents also mix well.

There are four blending classifications. The following information explains the characteristics of each classification, the order in which they should be added to the blend (Personifiers first, Enhancers second, Equalizers third, and Modifiers fourth), and the amount of each type of oil as a percentage of the blend.

• The Personifier (1-5% of the blend) essential oils have very sharp, strong and long-lasting fragrances. They also have dominant properties with strong therapeutic action. Essential oils in this classification may include: angelica, birch, cardamom, cinnamon bark, cistus, Clary sage, clove, coriander, German chamomile, ginger, helichrysum, mandarin, neroli, nutmeg, orange, patchouly, peppermint, petitgrain, rose, spearmint, tangerine, terragon, wintergreen and ylang ylang.

• The Enhancer (50-80% of the blend) essential oil should be the predominant essential oil as it serves to enhance the properties of the other essential oils in the blend. Its fragrance is not as sharp as the personifiers and is usually of a shorter duration.Essential oils in this classification may include: basil, bergamot, birch, cajeput, cedarwood, cumin, dill, eucalyptus, frankincense, galbanum, geranium, grapefruit, hyssop, jasmine, lavender, lemon, lemongrass, lime, marjoram, melaleuca (Tea Tree), melissa, myrtle, orange, oregano, palmarosa, patchouly, petitgrain, ravensara, roman chamomile, rose, rosemary, sage, spruce, thyme, wintergreen.

• The Equalizer (10-15% of the blend) essential oils create balance and synergy among the essential oils contained in the blend. Their fragrance is also not as sharp as the personifier and is of a shorter duration.Essential oils in this classification may include: basil, beramot, cedarwood, cypress, fennel, fir, frankincense, geranium, ginger, hyssop, jasmine, juniper, lavender, lemongrass, lime, marjoram, melaleuca (Tea Tree), melissa, myrrh, myrtle, neroli, oregano, pine, roman chamomile, rose, rosewood, sandalwood, spruce, tarragon, thyme.

• The Modifier (5-8% of the blend) essential oils have a mild and short fragrance. These essential oils add harmony to the blend.Essential oils in this classification may include: angelica, bergamot, cardamom, coriander, eucalyptus, fennel, grapefruit, hyssop, jasmine, avender, lemon, mandarin, melissa, myrrh, neroli, petitgrain, rose, rosewood, sandalwood, tangerine, ylang ylang.

Depending on the topical application of your blend, you will want to add some carrier/base oil. When creating a therapeutic essential oil blend, you may want to use about 28 drops of essential oil to 1/2 oz. of carrier/base oil. When creating a body massage blend, you will want to use a total of about 50 drops of essential oils to 4 oz. of carrier/base oil. Remember to store your fragrant creation in dark-colored glass bottles.

Here are some helpful charts on blending properties, smells and dilutions:

How to dilute for various methods of application...

Perfume: 15-30% essential oil, 90-95% alcohol, 5-10% water

*sources: three books....

Advanced Aromatherapy by Kurt Schnaubelt

Modern Essentials, DoTerra

complete Guide to Essential Oils and Aromatherapy by Valerie Worwood

Kitchen & Living Room: Crafting and Color Fun

So, it's hard to create without inspiration and motivation. My motivation is that I'm going to have a second kid soon and then what extra time will I have to do silly little things like I'm posting about that make me feel like I'm creative. (j/k...I'll still have/find time, but it will take more effort, that's for sure). Anyway...allow me to continue...

These are a few little things I've been doing for my kitchen and Living room...

INSPIRATION: the colors and the leaves above back sliding door...

I forgot to take a before picture, but this was a $5 shelf at a garage sale and I just stained it to match our carpet tack strip wood trim thing, so it's subtly black and matches our bamboo curtains (black and beige). Then I modpodged paper onto each shelf to match the three leaf colors (the inspiration photo).

The green paper is cool because it's design isn't all over, just on one side of the paper, so it's adds a fun flare, but I'm not sure if you can tell that from the photo.

LIVING ROOM INSPIRATION: No, not Ethan, although he is inspiration enough for other areas of my life. :) It was the colors and busy patterns of curtains... 

I just adore these crazily-busy patterned curtains. Don't ask me why, but I do. Such funk and logic combined into one hanging wall art (we don't need a tapestry on this large wall when we've got these curtains!) Though I admit, I know a lot of people probably don't care for them. Oh well. It's my living room and even Paul had to adjust a bit--not too much though. He rather likes them now. :)

I had scrap scavenged wood from the construction dumpster a few houses down. So I cut them, sanded and stained them to match the same shelf and carpet tack trim stuff (blackish-beige). Then I modpodged on colored paper that exactly match the curtain colors, plus the black of the mantel. All the patterns vary and I admit, I did spend money picking out the perfect paper. Each one was about $1. So I spent $6 for this. I know, it's not amazing, but it's small and simple and a way to tie in colors frugally and a good creative way to pass time. I was going to put a letter on each block, but I'm not sure what I want to emphasize. I was going to do FAITH in five blocks, but I had to add a sixth, and then thought FAMILY...but I kind of like it plain. so...who knows.

And by the way, I adore the teal block and pattern which goes so well with the vase! Now I want to paint a wall teal to match! But that will be next year I think. And also make teal pillows, but I might do a scrap pillow that includes all these colors to, that I can throw on our couch.

Ok, that's it...for now.

More Bathroom Creativity

Ok, like I've been telling some of you, I'm in this "project-craze" mode of pregnancy and just want to be doing crafts and colorful things and such. So here are a few things I've done to add little touches to my two bathrooms.

Found a $1.50 scale at Thrift Store and modpodged paper onto it, since it was ugly before. Now it matches and looks feminine (subtly).

see these little boy shorts..hand-me-down for Ethan. So I cut them up and made a spare toilet paper roll holder--thank you pinterest. I just used a shoelace, because I had a spare, but the one below is different (I'll explain). This one is in the guest bathroom with the modpodged footstool I did last month.

This is the toilet roll holder I made for our bathroom. I cut some of the extra African wrap we got from my Mom and put on our window and used that, so they match. I then used ribbon to tie it on, and would've loved to have added some wooden beads to dangle down on the ties, but that was too much hassle, since the beads I wanted to use needed a neeedle to get that ribbon through. If I ever feel up to it I'll add some cool chunky wooden beads later.

Garden Highlight: Asparagus Patch

So, I've never known a thing about asparagus until I read Animal, Vegetable, Miracle and read about this family that lived for a year on all local or homegrown things. And I thought, wow...a perennial asparagus plant would supply our desire for garlic roasted asparagus and asparagus soup.

So, I looked into it and planted an asparagus plant recently. And because we bought it mature, we've already been able to harvest one spear (though they can grow up to 6 inches in a day if you don't watch them--like this one grew four inches before I realized I should've cut it the day before).

In case you're unsure of how it works, you generally plant these dead looking long roots that look octupus-ish in a 12 inch deep trench and barely cover, then water. Each day you add more soil until it's back to ground level. They start shooting spears out of the ground. You cut them when 6-8 inches tall and 1/4-1/2 inch think. But don't cut the thin ones, because they either are the male spears that haven't gotten big enough this year, or the female spears that pollinate the other. So leave those all to reseed this fall and you'll start having a "weed patch" of lots of asparagus.

Be patient. These plants are perennial and will produce for up to two decades generally, but they take about 3 years to really establish most of the time (except we bought ours already 1-2 years old, which helps. The crowns are just a few bucks and since they proliferate you don't need many. But plant them in full sun, good soil (with extra phosphate and good drainage). But they love water, as long as they don't sit in it and get root rot. And they normally just are harvestable in spring for a few weeks.

So, hopefully it will keep growing well and be a faithful garden keeper and mulitplier. :)

Ladies' Goodreads: April

Siddhartha
by Hermann Hesse

Set in India, "Siddhartha" is the story of a young Brahmin's search for ultimate reality after meeting with the Buddha. His quest takes him from a life of decadence to asceticism, from the illusory joys of sensual love with a beautiful courtesan, and of wealth and fame, to the painful struggles with his son and the ultimate wisdom of renunciation.   

Integrating Eastern and Western spiritual traditions with psychoanalysis and philosophy, this strangely simple tale, written with a deep and moving empathy for humanity, has touched the lives of millions since its original publication in 1922. 


*I remember reading it in middle school and rather enjoying it, though I dont' recall much. So I'm happy to read it again. Please leave your thoughts and comments after reading the book.


(I've switched the Hunger Games book to later, since with the movie coming out this month everyone has the book on hold at the library so most likely it won't be available for a long time. I suggest putting it on hold now for a later date.)

Simple Fix Up Project: Bathroom Foot Stool

Well, I finally got around to Ethan's foot stool project.

I bought an ugly old thing this last summer for $.50 and thought I'd have fun with it someday....

Well, that was this last week. I finally got to sanding it down and painting it green to match the bathroom. (We had this color on hand for the chicken coop I hope to paint that color too). And I found some paper that matches the bathroom pretty well, in my paper supply. So the total cost of this was nothing, but the time to do it...which took an hour when you add up all the time--so not too bad.

So...don't throw away old things if you can paint them and fix them up to match!

And don't underestimante other's junk, if you can see potential in it.

 Ethan is much more excited about it now, so that's good.

A Few Natural Laundry Tips

Here's a list of simple ways to start adding more natural ingredients to your laundry routine: (though I've only used a few, so I can't verify how amazing they all are)
 

Add ½ cup of white vinegar to the rinse cycle to soften fabrics and neutralize odors.

Boost the cleansing and brightening power of detergent by adding ¼ cup baking soda to the wash cycle.

Use a wool dryer ball or roll an un-dyed wool sock into a tight doughnut shape and add to the dryer to decrease drying time, wrinkles and static build-up.

Add fresh scent by placing several drops of lavender essential oil on a clean cloth and tossing into the dryer during the cool-down phase.

Attach a mesh bag filled with sustainable coconut shell-derived charcoal to the inside of the lid of your clothes hamper to absorb odors.

Run an empty wash cycle once a month with hot water and 1 cup each of white vinegar and baking soda. Add 1 teaspoon of tea tree oil to purify and eliminate odors from machine.

Clean and vacuum vents and ductwork of dryer at least twice a year.

Add ½ teaspoon of lavender oil to the rinse cycle if you are line drying clothes.

Use an indoor drying rack (especially during dry winter months).

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Stain-fighting Spray

1 teaspoon tea tree essential oil
1 teaspoon lemon essential oil
16 ounces unscented liquid Castile (olive oil) soap
16 ounces filtered water

Directions: Blend oils into soap, then stir in water. Fill a 32-ounce spray bottle with mixture. Apply to stains and scrub with a soft brush before washing.

*from auracacia.com

Anemic--Low Iron? Where to start?

Ever wondered how to get iron in besides eating meat and taking iron supplements that don't work and make you constipated? Most women should get 18mg iron each day. But for us pregnant women we should get 30-60mg (or in my anemic case 70mg).

Well, my midwife gave me a list of iron foods, which includes whole grains, meats, vegetables/fruits, lentils, etc. (I never realized just eating whole grains can contribute as much as it does.)  Which I will put another list I found online at the end of this post (so I don't have to type of the list she gave me, though I really like it.

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She also gave me these three things (which she told me would help since I have anemia):

1. Chlorophyll (whole food): 1T/day (but she told me 1/4 c now, while I'm pregnant, since I'm so low...otherwise regularly 1 T is fine. Just find it at a natural foods isle by the probiotics most likely. Mine was at smiths, but if not there, then a local health/nutrition store would for sure have it).

To read my post about this great supplement, click here: http://2nourishyourbody.blogspot.com/2012/02/whole-food-chlorophyll-supplement.html

  

2. Ferum Phosphate - a homeopathic supplement which helps carry the oxygen (i use one a day by just dissolving it under my tongue atleast 15 mins before and after I drink anything. And I got it at a nutrition store in the homeopathic isle--not all health food stores have homeopathics.)

3. Iron Supplement - if you have one already, most likely it's iron sulfate (which she says is silly, because it absorbs like 1% and is the most typical people pick up, unless they specifically look for the more beneficial irons). So look for Ferrous Fumerate or Ferrous Glyconate instead --which are organic iron and therefore is absorbed much better than ferrous sulphate.

In addition, a good supplement will also include Bcomplex and vitamin C, which aid iron absorbtion (but you can always take those separately, but at the same time, if you already have those supplements in your cabinet). And don't take with dairy, which doesn't aid iron absorption.

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Iron Rich Vegetables (1/2 cup cooked),

Iron Value in mg

Sea vegetables = 18.1- 42.0

Swiss chard = 2

Turnip greens = 1.6

Sweet potatoes, canned = 1.7

Turnip greens = 1.6

Pumpkin, cooked = 1.7

Potato, baked with skin = 1.7

Turnip greens = 1.6

Watermelon, 1/8 medium = 0.5

Prune juice, 4 oz = 1.5

Spinach cooked = 1.5

Beet greens cooked = 1.4

Potato, 1 large = 1.4

Bok choy cooked = 0.7

Peas, cooked = 0.65

Green beans, cooked = 0.60

Tomato juice = 0.6

Broccoli, cooked = 0.55

High Iron Legumes(1/2 cup cooked)

Iron Value in mg

Lentils = 3.2

Black eye beans = 2.6

Navy beans = 2.5

Pinto beans = 2.2

Lima beans = 2.2

Kidney beans Rajmah = 1.5

Chickpeas (200 g) = 6.2

High Iron Soy foods

(1/2 cup cooked)

Iron Value in mg

Tofu = 6.6

Soybeans = 4.4

Tempeh = 1.8

Soy milk = 0.9

High Iron Nuts & Seeds

(2 Tablespoon)

Iron Value in mg

Pumpkin seeds = 2.5

Figs, dried, 5 = 2.0

Dried apricot, 5 = 1.6

Almond, 1/4 cup = 1.3

Tahini = 1.2

Sesame = 1.2

Sunflower seeds = 1.2

Cashew nuts = 1.0

High Iron Breads, Cereals and grains

Value in mg

Bran flakes, 1 cup = 11.0

Oatmeal, 1 packet = 6.3

Pasta, 1 cup, cooked = 1.7

Semolina, 1/2 cup cooked = 5.5

Wheat germ, 2 tablespoon = 1.2

Whole wheat bread, 1 slice = 0.9

White bread, 1 slice = 0.7

 

*I'm no doctor, but this information was very helpful and I hope it can help broaden your understanding of what else is available to you if you're anemic.

Essential Oils 202: Some Basic Blends

As I've looked around at essential oils and popular blends, I've noted which oils are in what types of blends, so you can recreate your own.

Breathe Easy:  Eucalyptus, lemon, peppermint, rosemary

Theives: (based on 5 theives during black plague surviving with this cleansing blend: highly anti-infectious, antiviral, antibacterial, and antiseptic) cinnamon, clove, eucalyptus, lemon, rosemary

Deep Blue: (Sore muscles) wintergreen, peppermint, etc.

Headaches: lavendar, peppermint, wintergreen, basil, rosemary

Purify: (bugbigs or air) lemon, lime, teatree

Outdoor bugs: lemongrass, lemon eucalyptus, etc.

Which Oils for Baby: (over two years old) lavendar, lemon, bergamot, chamomiles, tangerine/mandarin

Which oils for Pregnancy: lavendar, flowery ones, citruses, frankinsence, spearmint

Ladies' Goodreads - March 2012

To Kill A Mockingbird
Harper Lee

The unforgettable novel of a childhood in a sleepy Southern town and the crisis of conscience that rocked it, To Kill A Mockingbird became both an instant bestseller and a critical success when it was first published in 1960. It went on to win the Pulitzer Prize in 1961 and was later made into an Academy Award-winning film, also a classic.

Compassionate, dramatic, and deeply moving, To Kill A Mockingbird takes readers to the roots of human behavior - to innocence and experience, kindness and cruelty, love and hatred, humor and pathos. Now with over 18 million copies in print and translated into forty languages, this regional story by a young Alabama woman claims universal appeal. Harper Lee always considered her book to be a simple love story. Today it is regarded as a masterpiece of American literature.
*please leave your comment and thoughts about the book--or movies based on the book

Herbs to Help Tummy Troubles

Taken from an article in Mother Earth News

Is your belly upset? Indigestion?
Here are some herbs that may help your tummy troubles....

Chamomile (Matricaria recutita)
Commission E, the German group of scientists that makes recommendations on herbal safety and effectiveness, considers chamomile effective for relieving many gastrointestinal complaints, including indigestion. Dr. Andrew Weil, author of Natural Health, Natural Medicine, says the best home remedies for an upset stomach are chamomile and peppermint tea. I prefer peppermint, but both are effective and easy to grow in your garden.

Peppermint (Mentha piperita)
Most herbalists, myself included, have a special regard for peppermints ability to relieve indigestion. I've needed peppermint more often since 1990, when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration gave me a bad case of indigestion by ruling that peppermint is ineffective for stomach distress. This does not mean peppermint is useless: It means the FDA's evaluation was.
Commission E endorses peppermint tea for treating indigestion. Given a choice between an FDA pronouncement and a Commission E endorsement, I'd go for the German decision. Those folks did some research and seem to know what they're talking about.
Peppermint tea works well, but being a native son of Alabama, I'm also partial to mint juleps (bourbon, spring water, sugar and mint), which, it turns out, work even better. Varro Tyler, dean and professor emeritus of pharmacognosy (natural product pharmacy) at Purdue University, notes that most of the carminative oils in peppermint and other mints are relatively insoluble in water. As a result, mint tea doesn't contain much of the plant's stomach-soothing constituents. It does contain enough to make it effective, but a peppermint tincture, which is made with alcohol, contains more. So if you don't want to drink a julep, you can use a tincture instead. Angelic (Angelica archangelica). Angelica root is good for treating indigestion, mild stomach cramps and lack of appetite, according to Commission E. The suggested daily dose is a tea made with 2 to 3 teaspoons of dried herb per cup of boiling water, or up to 1 teaspoon of tincture.

Ginger (Zingiber officinale)
Ginger's benefits for motion sickness and nausea have been amply proven, so it should come as no surprise that Commission E approves taking 2 grams (about 1 teaspoon) of ginger in tea for indigestion. Ginger contains certain chemicals that not only soothe the gut but also aid digestion by increasing the wavelike muscle contractions (peristalsis) that move food through the intestine. As noted in my new medicinal spice book, ginger, cinnamon, hot pepper and turmeric are just a few of the spices that can settle a distressed stomach.

Marjoram (Origanum onites)
The British munch on marjoram sandwiches to treat indigestion and use diluted marjoram tea to relieve colic in infants. Marjoram is an aromatic mint, so it has digestion-soothing benefits that are similar to peppermint's.

Coriander (Coriandrum sativum)
No wonder coriander helps soothe indigestion: Its essential oils are carminative, antiseptic, bactericidal, fungicidal and a muscle relaxant. Traditional herbalists valued coriander, especially to counteract the stomach-upsetting properties of laxative herbs such as buckthorn, cascara, rhubarb and senna. In the Amazon, wild coriander (Eryngium foetidum), with nearly the same chemistry, is added to their daily bean ration, perhaps to alleviate the flatulence the beans could generate.

Papaya (Carica papaya) and pineapple (Ananas comosus)
Both of these fruits contain enzymes that break down protein, called proteolytics. Naturopaths and people who advocate juicing liar health maintain that papaya and pineapple juice are good for relieving indigestion. If they're right, you should also get benefits from eating other fruits that contain proteolytic enzymes, such as kiwifruit or some figs, after meals. If I had chronic indigestion, I might have these fruits for dessert more often.

Red pepper (Capsicum, various species)
Americans often believe that hot spices upset the stomach. But much of the rest of the world knows better—that hot spices like red pepper help soothe it. Red pepper also stimulates digestion.

Assorted carminative herbs
Carminative medicine prevents the formation of gas in the alimentary tract or eases its passing. If anything, there are too many herbal ca carminatives. In my database, I have more than 500 carminative entries, including all of the plants already- mentioned. Most are supported by at least some research. Also included are agrimony, allspice, apples, hasil, bay, bee balm, buckwheat, burdock, caraway, cardamom, catnip, celery, chervil, chives, cloves, cumin, dill, fennel, garlic, horehound, hyssop, lemon balm (also known as melissa). lemon-grass, lovage, nutmeg, onions, oregano, parsley, parsnips, rosemary, sage, savory, tarragon, thyme, turmeric, vanilla and yarrow. Feel free to try any of these herbs to relieve indigestion.

Assorted essential oils
Aromatherapists often recommend a few whiffs of a number of different carminative oils to settle a troubled tummy, including aniseed, basil, bergamot, chamomile, cinnamon, clove, coriander, fennel, garlic, ginger, hyssop, juniper, lavender, lemon, lemongrass, onion, peppermint, rosemary, sage, savory, tarragon and thyme. Do not ingest these oils pure, as the undiluted Oil can he fatal even in small doses. They are only meant to be used externally or drastically diluted.

Essential Oils 301: Chemical Properties

In general, pure essential oils can be subdivided into two distinct groups of chemical constituents; the hydrocarbons which are made up almost exclusively of terpenes (monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, and diterpenes), and the oxygenated compounds which ar mainly esters, aldehydes, ketones, alcohols, phenols, and oxides.   (find more info like this in Advanced Armoatherapy Book by Kurt Schnaubelt)

These charts show the properties for the chemical components of essential oils and the next chart shows which oils belong in which area. Super cool to visualize where the oils fit.

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Terpenes - inhibit the accumulation of toxins and help discharge existing toxins from the liver and kidneys.

• Sesquiterpenes are antiseptic and anti-inflammatory. They work as a liver and gland stimulant and contain caryophyllene and valencene. Research from the universities of Berlin and Vienna show increased oxygenation around the pineal and pituitary glands. Further research has shown that sesquiterpenes have the ability to surpass the blood-brain barrier and enter the brain tissue. other sesquiterpenes, like chamazulene and farnesol, are very high in anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial activity. Chamazulene may be found in chamomile, tansy, and yarrow.
• Farnesene is anti-viral in action.
• Limonene has strong anti-viral properties and has been found in 90% of the citrus oils.
• Pinene has strong antiseptic properties and may be found in high proportions in the conifer oils such as pine, fir, spruce, and juniper.
• Other terpenes include camphene, cadinene, cedrene, dipentene, phellandrene, terpinene, sabinene, and myrcene.

Esters - are the compounds resulting from the reaction of an alcohol with an acid (known as esterification). Esters are very common and are found in a large number of essential oils. They are anti-fungal, calming and relaxing.

• Linalyl acetate may be found in bergamot, Clary sage, and lavender
• Geraniol acetate may be found in sweet marjoram.
• Other esters include bornyl acetate, eugenol acetate, and lavendulyl acetate.

Aldehydes - are highly reactive and characterized by the group C-H-O (Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen). In general, they are anti-infectious with a sedative effect on the central nervous system. They can be quite irritating when applied topically (citral being one example), but may have a profound calming effect when inhaled.

• Citral is very common with a distinctive antiseptic action. It also has an anti-viral application as with melissa oil when applied topically on herpes simplex.
• Citronellal is also very common and has the same lemony scent as citral. Along with citral and neral, citronellas may be found in the oils of melissa, lemongrass, lemon, mandarin, lemon-scented eucalyptus, and citronella.
• Elements of aldehydes have also been found in lavender and myrrh. Other aldehydes include benzaldehyde, cinnamic aldehyde, cuminic aldehyde, and perillaldehyde.

Ketones - are sometimes mucolytic and neuro-toxic when isolated from other constituents. However, all recorded toxic effects come from laboratory testing on guinea pigs and rats. No documented cases exist where oils with a high concentration of ketones (such as mugwort, tansy, sage, and wormwood) have ever caused a toxic effect on a human being. Also, large amounts of these oils would have to be consumed for them to result in a toxic neurological effect. Ketones stimulate cell regeneration, promote the formation of tissue, and liquefy mucous. They are helpful with such conditions as dry asthma, colds, flu and dry cough and are largely found in oils used for the upper respiratory system, such as hyssop, Clary sage, and sage.

• Thujone is one of the most toxic members of the ketone family. It can be an irritant and upsetting to the central nervous system and mey be neuro-toxic when taken internally as in the banned drink Absinthe. Although it may be inhaled to relieve respiratory distress and my stimulate the immune system, it should only be administered by an educated and professional aromatherapist.
• Jasmone (found in jasmine) and fenchone (found in fennel) are both non-toxic.
• Other ketones include camphor, carvone, menthone, methyl nonyl ketone, and pinacamphone.

Alcohols - are commonly recognized for their antiseptic and anti-viral activities. They create an uplifting quality and are regarded as non-toxic.

1. Terpene Alcohols stimulate the immune system, work as a diuretic and a general tonic, and are anti-bacterial as well.

• Linalol can help relieve discomfort. It may be found in rosewood and lavender.
• Citronellol may be found in rose, lemon, eucalyptus, geranium, and others.
• Geraniol may be found in geranium as well as palmarosa.
• Farnesol may be found in chamommile. It is also good for the mucous.
• Other terpene alcohols include borneol, menthol, nerol, terpineol, (which Dr. Gattefosse considered to be a decongestant), vetiverol, benzyl alcohol, and cedrol.

2. Sesquiterpene Alcohols are anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-mycotic, and ulcer-protective (preventative).

• Bisabolol is one of the the strongest sesquiterpene alcohols. It may be found in chamomile oils where it also functions well as a fixative.

Phenols - are responsible for the fragrance of an oil. They are antiseptic, anti-bacterial, and strongly stimulating but can also be quite caustic to the skin. They contain high levels of oxygenating molecules and have antioxidant properties.

• Eugenol may be found in clove and cinnamon oil.
• Thymol is found in thyme and may not be as caustic as other phenols.
• Carvacrol may be found in oregano and savory. Researchers believe it may possibly contain some anti-cancerous properties.
• Others in the phenol family include methyl eugenol, methyl chavicol anethole, safrole, myristicin, and apiol.

Oxides - According to The American Heritage™ Dictionary of the English Language, an oxide is "a binary compound of an element or a radical with oxygen".

• Cineol (or eucalyptol) is by far the most important member of the family and virtually exists in a class of its own. It is anesthetic, antiseptic, and works as an expectorant. Cineol is well known as the principal constituent of eucalyptus oil. It may also be found in rosemary, cinnamon, melissa, basil, and ravensara.
• Other oxides include linalol oxide, ascaridol, bisabolol oxide, and bisabolone oxide.

All pure essential oils have some anti-bacterial properties. They increase the production of white blood cells, which help fight infectious illnesses. It is through these properties that aromatic herbs have been esteemed so highly throughout the ages and so widely used during the onsets of malaria, typhoid, and of course, the epidemic plagues during the 16th century.

Research has found that people who consistently use pure essential oils have a higher level of resistance to illnesses, colds, flues, and diseases than the average person. Further indications show that such individuals, after contracting a cold, flu, or other illness, will recover 60-70 percent faster than those who do not use essential oils.

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Iridology: What Your Eyes Say About Your Body's Health

Here is a chart that maps your eye with your body. Find your dark/fuzzy spots....mine corresponds to the stomach/digestive health issues I have because I have a huge fuzzy dark circle around the blue color ring around the pupil (intestines area on map).

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Basically if you can change your diet to be more real whole foods (instead of sugary, processed foods and such, then that can help all sorts of the areas of nutritional deficiency--since so many overlap.)
It's important to be honest about your health and to take one step at a time in a balanced approach.

Nutrition is one step. But physical exercise, positive mental attitude, spirituality, setting goals to become who you desire to be, and many other areas play a role in your overall health.

Find one way to start improving your health and seek guidance in other ways as you go--one step at a time.

See our nutrition blog for healthy food info, substitutions and recipes.
And check out our posts on how to start eating well:
1. Guidelines to Eating Well
2. List of how to eat better
3. Good, Better, Best (and Avoid) List

Ladies' Goodreads 2012: February

North & South
Elizabeth Gaskill

When her father leaves the Church in a crisis of conscience, Margaret Hale is uprooted from her comfortable home in Hampshire to move with her family to the north of England. Initially repulsed by the ugliness of her new surroundings in the industrial town of Milton, Margaret becomes aware of the poverty and suffering of the local mill workers and develops a passionate sense of social justice. This is intensified by her tempestuous relationship with the mill-owner and self-made man, John Thornton, as their fierce opposition over his treatment of his employees masks a deeper attraction. In North and South, Elizabeth Gaskell skillfully fuses individual feeling with social concern, and in Margaret Hale creates one of the most original heroines of Victorian literature.

LOVE THE MOVIE!

Feel free to comment on the book and your thoughts, or even the movie. It's great (but I think it's 4 hours).

Ladies' Goodreads 2012: January

The Goose Girl
Shannon Hale

Goodreads rating: 4.25 of 5

She can whisper to horses and communicate with birds, but the crown princess Ani has a difficult time finding her place in the royal family and measuring up to her imperial mother. When she is shipped off to a neighboring kingdom as a bride, her scheming entourage mounts a bloody mutiny to replace her with a jealous lady-in-waiting, Selia, and to allow an inner circle of guards more power in the new land. Barely escaping with her life, Ani disguises herself as a goose girl and wanders on the royal estate. Does she have the pluck to reclaim her rightful place? Get ready for a fine adventure tale full of danger, suspense, surprising twists, and a satisfying conclusion. The engaging plot can certainly carry the tale, but Hale's likable, introspective heroine makes this also a book about courage and justice in the face of overwhelming odds. The richly rendered, medieval folkloric setting adds to the charm.

Recommended by Charise

*Feel free to comment on your thoughts about the book...