Natural Tooth Powder

Why You Should Switch to Natural Tooth Powder

Let me give you the low-down on why you should make the switch. Here are three chemicals that are in most of the conventionally available toothpastes on the market today. Now, there may be other harmful ingredients in your toothpaste, but these are common in most.

1. Sodium Flouride

Despite the fact that dentists and doctors have touted the miraculous benefits of flouride for years now, these accolades are quite unfounded. Indeed, there is more to be lost than gained from fluoride. Fluoride is toxic and studies have certainly not proven that it helps your teeth (fluoride in water saving THAT for another topic).

2. Glycerin

Most toothpastes both conventional and “natural” toothpastes have glycerin in them. Glycerin is a pretty controversial ingredient – some say it’s completely benign and others argue that it coats your teeth which in turn starves teeth of minerals. Either way, I can find no evidence that glycerin actually helps your teeth in any way. The only reason it appears to be included in toothpaste is to improve the texture of the paste. I’d rather err on the side of caution and keep the glycerin off my teeth and give them the best chance at remineralizing. Would you?

3. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate

This ingredient is used in your toothpaste as a thickener and to help create that nice lathery soap you get in your mouth. Unfortunately, this chemical has been linked to a number of different health and environmental dangers. In addition to causing skin and eye irritation, sodium lauryl sulfate also alters the structure of skin which may mean more toxins are able to absorb into your body. It’s also a known aquatic toxin—which isn’t so good considering the amount that is washed down our sinks every year.

What Can You Use as an Alternative?

Are you convinced now? Ready to make the switch? We made the switch not long ago, towards the beginning of this year. There are a number of different options you have.

Make Your Own Toothpaste

There are a TON of recipes out there but I want to caution you on one main problem with homemade toothpaste out there. Most of the recipes I found include Coconut Oil. It binds the ingredients together and creates a pleasing texture for a homemade toothpaste, HOWEVER, lets not forget it is an oil, it WILL clog your pipes.  

OR

If you truly want an excellent tooth cleanser that is all natural and won't harm your homes pipes, I strongly suggest a tooth powder.

Try Opti Mall Life's Natural Tooth Powder for example, It has all the ingredients you would choose to include in your own tooth powder but for a LOT less than the expense of making it yourself, unless you want a 30 year supply. 

If you choose to make this amazing tooth powder yourself, here are the ingredients:

Bentonite Clay, Calcium Powder, Aluminum Free Sodium Bicarbonate, Magnesium Citrate Powder, Xylitol Powder, Ground Cinnamon, Trace Minerals, Ground Cinnamon and Ground Cloves and  Essential Oils to taste or smell.

When I took the dogs in for check ups our vet even said that these ingredients are all safe and beneficial for them as well but the get their OWN jar! 

How to polish a Siddhis Cube.

How to properly polish your Siddhis Cube

My intention for creating this how to explanation of polishing a Siddhis Cube is to help those who are seeking this knowledge. There is likely many ways to get the same effect but I am sharing what I do to polish and protect my cube.

First, I would like to explain that oxygen is the enemy here and why your cube may turn dark quickly. Copper tends to darken with exposure to oxygen, and being that our cubes are copper the follow tutorial should help you to better take care of, polish, shine and protect your cubes.

You are going to want to have a towel or newspaper to work on because the patina (dark color) tends to get on everything when you are polishing your cube. I have a couple of clothes, one is a wash cloth and I often use a treated soft cloth that I found on Amazon. HERE. I use Brasso cleaner, which can be found at your local grocery store along with coconut oil. You can use some other kind of oil, I just happen to prefer this one. I have a dedicated toothbrush or two for this chore but a finger nail brush or small brush of this type is extremely useful to get into the tiny spots around the raised designs of your cube.

I like to start out putting a little Brasso on the toothbrush and rubbing it in to every little nook and cranny, especial if the cube has an intricate design. I work my way around the four sides first and then the top and bottom so I don't miss any sides. Elbow grease required, but it will be worth your effort in the end.

When all the sides have Brasso worked into them, take a little water and add it to the toothbrush, continue brushing and thinning out the Brasso. You can even hold it over the sink and carefully brush out the cleaner while intermittently dipping your brush under running water. I would not run water directly onto the cube, just carefully remove as much residue as possible and move on.

Next dab off the cube with a clean soft cloth to remove any excess water droplets or cleaner. Lightly buff and polish all the raised impressions of the cube and wipe down the edges.

After the cube is dry and clean, I take my jewelry cleaning cloth and a dry toothbrush to polish all the lower impressions of the designs, moving my way around the cube one side at a time, taking the time necessary to buff every little spot.

It doesn't seem to matter how clean your cube is or how shiny you got it last time, it always turns the jewelry cloths black. That's normal, Your fingers and clothes may be turning black by this point in the process as well, but that just means you're doing a good job. Keep going!

HERE IS MY BIG SECRET!! to give your cube a shiny glow and protect it, use coconut oil!!

What you are going to want to do is apply a small pea size blob of coconut oil (or oil of your choice) to a toothbrush. The oil should be applied very thin and buffed into every nook and cranny as you go. What you want here is a super thin "film" all over your cube to protect it from oxygen so it will 

1. stay shiny and

2. stay protected. 

Continue brushing in the oil all over to every single side of your cube and go back over with your jewelry cloth to remove any excess and to give it that final buff.

BEFORE                                       AFTER

                           

                                                                     After final buff

Gorgeous isn't it?? Now that you have cared for your cube, gushed over it's loveliness and gazed upon it with all the love in your heart you are ready to meditate with it. Keeping your cube clean and polished regularly help to build that bond and you will see your cube preforming increasingly well with continued regular care. I would do a buff now and then between regular polishes and do a full polish once ever 10 to 12 weeks. That's about 4 times a year or once per season. 

Good luck to you all and happy meditating!!

Chaga Mushroom

Chaga Mushroom (Inonotus obliquus)

One of the coolest things about chaga is that its the most powerful adaptogen on the face of the planet. Thats pretty awesome. Now an adaptogen is a plant or an herb that has the ability to "adapt" which means it reaches right up your ass and fixes any part of your body that is having difficulty adapting, like knee pain, or liver disease, cancer and too many other examples to give. I'm not going to say this is Wikipeda's definition, but it's MINE. It might not be the BEST definition but you get the idea. I've even had people who started taking my chaga extract to ward off the oncoming onslaught of flu, and reported that, not only they didn't get the flu when everyone else in the house did, but their chronic knee pain disappeared. 

I've been studying Chaga for over two years and I get pretty excited about it. It grows on lots of varieties of trees but the best quality chaga grows on birch trees. Birch bark has a lot of pretty awesome benefits for your body in itself and so if you are looking for chaga tea you definitely want one that has some bits and pieces of birch bark in the mix.

Now look at that picture, you can probably guess that the chaga mushroom is anything but a soft squishy fungus that grows on a tree. Its hard and crusty with a dark outer part full of melanin which is good for your skin and protects you from sun exposure. The inside is a nice rusty looking orange and varies in color from rusty orange to almost a turmeric looking color. 

So you've probably guessed already that there are a lot of ways to use chaga. I already mentioned tea. Other cultures all around the globe have been drinking chaga tea for THOUSANDS of years. It's not "new" so you might just want to get on board and get some tea. Its time to catch up with the times, Honey. Another good way to get chaga into your daily habit is to take an extract. The best extract to take is a double extract. I know what you're thinking, "What's a double extract?" 

A double extract means that the constituents (good parts) are extracted from the mushroom in two different ways and then combined. I like to drink the tea so after I have exhausted my grounds with numerous cups of tea, I pack the grounds into a jar and pour alcohol over it. Plain unflavored alcohol like vodka. I like my vodka organic but it wouldn't HAVE to be. I let it sit in the jar (shaking it every couple of days) for at least 6 to 8 weeks but honestly the stuff in my kitchen right now has been there for 6 or 7 months. When I am ready to make the extract I will pull the chaga out and squeeze as much of the alcohol out as I can and set it aside. Then I will brew more tea. There's a pretty exact science to the recipe and Im just giving you a general idea of double extraction. So you measure closely and combine a 50/50 ratio of chaga tea to chaga infused alcohol and that is your double extract.

The chaga releases some of it wonderful constituents in the water steaming process of making tea, and other, different wonderful constituents in the alcohol sitting process. When you combine the two you are actually putting the best of both worlds into a little bottle of magic that you can then take sublingually (under your tongue) or add to any drink you want and be none to the wiser that you are even taking anything. Chaga gives you an energy that is like nothing else. Its not caffeine, and it doesn't contain caffeine either but it just gives you a nice "Im wide awake and ready to get my game on now!" kind of energy that lasts all day long with out all the ups and downs of caffeine. 

So why don't you just grind it up and put in capsule form and ingest it? That would be pretty easy huh? But scroll back up, remember the part where I said this isn't a soft and squish fungus? The truth is your body just won't absorb it that way. You can't digest chaga, you have to either drink it as a tea or take the double extract. That's it, no other way to do it.  However I am taking some of the used grounds today and making some nice homemade soap and THAT will definitely be pretty awesome. I don't know how much of it will be "absorbed" into the skin but it would make and excellent exfoliating soap. Last week I put a (reusable) tea bag full of chaga grounds into a jar with almond oil and I am letting that sit for a week or two. The idea is that the wonderful constituents will infuse into the oil and I will get a pretty fantastic puffy eye serum (couple of other ingredients needed) and I can't wait to try that out!

So far I have given you several ways to consume chaga and even some ideas for other uses, so lets talk about some of the actual benefits you can expect to see when you are taking chaga.

Yup, here is the main thing you need to know. Chaga is a health food which supports the entire system. The Siberians drink it daily. This is why they are long-lived.  The chaga drinker lives 85 to 100 years, while the non chaga-drinking person, the Inuit, lives only about 50 years. This proves that natural phytochemicals, the ones found in chaga, do make a difference. Yet, there is more traditional use that offers evidence. Ancient Chinese regarded it as a longevity factor, which is why they deemed it the most complete of all growths. Japanese and Koreans use it regularly, and look how powerful they are today. In much of Siberia, Russia, and Eastern Europe it is an essential beverage. While the U.S. government restricts medical claims, here is what can be said: chaga has been used as an essential whole food supplement for many years by Russia’s long-lived peasants, as well as long-lived villagers of Japan and Korea. These village people consume it as a daily beverage. They prefer it over common drinks such as tea and coffee. Because of its cleansing properties, in primitive Siberia the chaga drink was known as “soup water,” although its taste is a pleasant combination of tea and coffee.

Antioxidant & Nutrient Rich

Chaga tea’s exceptionally high antioxidant levels make it a great natural 

resource for helping to counter free radical damage. It is also an excellent 

source for vitamin D, vitamin K, multiple B vitamins, and minerals like iron, calcium, copper and zinc. Its various other constituents include betulin and 

betulinic acid, responsible for much of its positive effects, as well as flavonoids, polysaccharides and other phytonutrients. It's definitely looking pretty good but take a look at this chart and see how the chaga mushroom compares to other 

foods we rank as "healthy

Antioxidant Comparison

Chaga - 1104

Acai - 165

Pomegranate - 105

Blue Berries - 24

Fortifies Immunity

A weakened immune system may benefit greatly from drinking chaga tea. The polysaccharides in chaga, especially the beta glucans, help to stimulate the growth of leukocytes within the body, making the immune system better equipped to fend against infections. Furthermore, it also offers a number of antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal and anthelmintic (parasite-killer) properties that further assist the body in eliminating harmful pathogens.

Cancer-Countering Effects

A number of chaga tea’s effects may be beneficial for cancer patients. Not only

 does the betulinic acid found in chaga help to eliminate cancer cells, but this 

herbal tea can also help to overcome the unpleasant effects of chemotherapy. 

Its immune-boosting effects are especially useful, as many cancer treatments 

can have a negative impact on the immune system, and chaga may also alleviate digestive upset common to chemotherapy.

Supports Healthy Digestion

Drinking chaga tea is also an excellent way to naturally promote healthy digestion. With its anti-inflammatory effect, chaga may relieve digestive discomfort and promote better digestive function. It also stimulates the production of digestive 

bile in the liver, aiding in the breakdown of food to make it easier for nutrients 

to be absorbed. It even offers a natural source of dietary fiber, important for the smooth function of the digestive system.

Promotes Healthy Skin

As I touched on this earlier, skin health may also be improved with chaga tea. Chaga is a natural source of melanin, the pigment that darkens skin and provides protection against solar UV rays. With its anti-inflammatory effects, chaga can

help to clear skin conditions like rashes, acne and eczema more quickly. It even protects the firmness and elasticity of skin, delaying the formation of wrinkles.

Alleviates Feelings of Stress

As an adaptogen, chaga tea can help to abate stressful feelings. Adaptogens function by balancing the body’s various systems, energizing systems that are fatigued and quieting overactive systems. This is especially helpful for stressful situations, when the body releases stress hormones that lead to feelings of 

anxiety and fatigue.

Aids Liver Function

Chaga tea’s ability to stimulate the production of bile in the liver is not only beneficial for digestive function, but for liver health as well. Bile helps the liver to flush out toxins filtered from the bloodstream, preventing them from accumulating in the liver and causing damage to the surrounding tissue.

Benefits Cardiovascular Health

Chaga tea can even promote healthy cardiovascular function. The betulinic acid in chaga can enter the bloodstream, where it assists in breaking down harmful LDL cholesterol, and its beta glucans can 

also have a positive effect on cholesterol levels. By controlling cholesterol, chaga tea may reduce the buildup of plaque in the bloodstream and lower the risk of potentially harmful cardiovascular disease.

If you want to check out the extract or the tea on Amazon and read some of the reviews, you can see that some individuals actually posted their blood work numbers before and after starting chaga and you will see a pretty significant, 

FAST jump to better numbers. Like UNDER 2 MONTHS! So you can really tell 

why I consider Chaga to be my little bottle of magic!

Now here is the fun part, if any of you would like to try the Opti Mall Life brand Chaga Extract that is offered on Amazon, here is a code that will allow you to try

 it out and receive FREE SHIPPING! Here is the code: 8IOKYEUQ and just to sweeten the deal, I will send anyone using that code a FREE sample of the 

Chaga tea as well!

Sources: http://mushrooms4health.com/reishi-mushroom-of-immortality/

http://www.chagaknowledge.com/chagabenefits.htm

http://www.chagatea.org/chaga-tea-benefits/

Little Lemon Lover

Lemon! Ahhhh! The wonderful Lemon. I am such a little lemon lover, I can't even begin to describe the love I have for lemons!! Its uplifting just to LOOK at lemons. They make me smile, pucker, and there is just nothing to describe the freshness they bring to the world!

This is truly one of my favorite essential oils, and FRUITS! It seems there is no end to the uses for lemons or ways you can love one!

I actually make a homemade hairspray at my house and my four daughters use it all the time and no one even questions its origins in my house. Yes, girls, that's a homemade spray you are using. :)

Here are a Few Suggested and Possible

Lemon Oil Uses:

The following are potential uses found in or on Modern Essentials, Aromatic Science, PubMed.Gov, as well as through anecdotal experience and other resources. Use them to inspire your own ideas, experiment, and see what works for you.

Air Pollution
Diffuse after painting (or add some to your Low-VOC paint!), during bouts of illness, or anytime air quality may be a concern.

Allergies
Mix 2 drops of lemon, 2 drops of Lavender, and 2 drops of Peppermint with several ounces of water. Swish in mouth or gargle. (Some oils may be swallowed.) Repeat as needed.

Anxiety
Place a drop in your hands to inhale, rub through your hair, or diffuse through the room during times of anxiety. Be sure to look into Anxiety Blends Too.

Atherosclerosis
Diffuse through the air, or massage with a carrier oil into the chest for faster absorption into the blood stream.

Bites/Stings
Lemon oil promotes healing and decreases likelihood of infection when using a small dab on the site of the bite or sting. Use as frequently as every 30 minutes.

Blood Pressure Regulation
Add a drop to your water or herbal tea, or anytime you're cooking with lemon juice. Start small for such concentrated oils.

Brain Injury
Use a diffuser or add a drop to the shirt collar. Mix with a small amount of carrier oil and massage into neck, shoulders and scalp.

Cold Sores
Add a very small dab directly to the cold sore. Also try diluting it with coconut oil and using it as a lip balm to prevent cold sores during common times of flareup. Melissa Essential Oil is also great for this!

Colds
Add a drop to the pillow, diffuse through the room, add several drops to wet clothes before you line- or machine-dry them, or dilute with coconut oil and massage into the chest.

Concentration
Add a dab to your shirt collar while studying or working, rub through your hair or diffuse through a room (great for teachers!). Be sure to look into Focus Blends Too.

Constipation
Dilute 1 drop of lemon essential oil to 5-10 drops of coconut oil and massage in a gentle clockwise direction over the abdomen.

Depression
Rub through hair, diffuse in a room, or add a drop to the pillow for the aromatic benefits. Use in massage or add a drop to water or tea throughout your day for topical or internal benefits.

Digestion (Sluggish)
Massage into the abdomen or use lemon essential oil in cooking or in your water. Other oils to consider are Digestive Blends, Cardamom, and Rosemary.

Disinfectant
Add to your Homemade Cleaning Products, add a drop to dishwater or 3 drops to bathwater, use in the washing machine or over handkerchiefs during cold season, or apply during massage.

Dry Throat
Add a drop to your water, or gargle with warm water, sea salt, and a drop of lemon.

Dysentery
Dilute in a small dollop of coconut oil and massage over the upper and lower intestines and over the lower back to absorb quickly into the blood stream.

Energizing
Massage over the reflex points of the feet and hands, across the neck and chest, or add a drop to water throughout your day.

Exhaustion
Massage into the areas of the body you can identify is holding exhaustion (physical, mental or emotional). Diffuse throughout the room too.

Fever
Add a drop to cool fluids, or dilute one drop to 5-10 drops or more of a carrier oil and massage over shoulders, neck, forehead, and into ears. I also like Peppermint for its cooling effects.

Flu
Massage into the reflex points of the feet and hands or over the abdomen or aches. Diffuse in the room, add a drop to the pillow or on the clothes for aromatic properties and to help fight illness for the rest of the family.

Furniture Polish
Add several drops to a half cup of olive oil or beeswax. Lime Oil is also great for this.

Gout
Use topically with care, or soak the infected area in warm water with several drops of lemon essential oil. Take internally in water or a tsp of honey 2-5 times throughout the day.

Greasy/Oily Hair
Add a drop to your shampoo, or massage several drops diluted in water into the scalp and hair follicles each time you shower.

Grief/Sorrow
Use this aromatically (rubbing it over the hair, shirt collar, or diffusing throughout the home), or apply to the reflex points of the feet, especially the toes.

Gum/Grease/Sticker Removal
Apply several drops to gun stuck in hair or to clothing, furniture, etc. Apply over grease stains before washing. Use a drop or more over sticker residue to remove from walls or windows. Lime Oil is good for this one too.

Hangovers
Greasy food and more alcohol have always helped my hangovers, but they don't exactly make you feel well. Use lemon essential oil in a bath, inhaling directly, add a drop to water (drink lots of water - hangovers are actually said to be dehydration symptoms), or massage into the chest, abdomen or reflex points of feet and hands.

Heartburn
Massage lemon oil across the arches and pads of the feet and down the throat, sternum and stomach.Digestive Oils are helpful too.

Intestinal Parasites
I suggest using lemon in your water or tea daily to treat and prevent parasites. You can also massage over the stomach and intestines and into the feet for faster absorption.

Kidney Stones
Eat, drink, or take a couple drops of lemon oil in capsules to help fight off kidney stones.

Lymphatic Cleansing
Massage into the body with a carrier oil, moving from your outer extremities toward the heart. Diffuse daily when detoxing is a priority.

MRSA
Lemon's antibacterial properties can be utilized by massaging it directly into the skin for fast absorption to the blood stream. I'd also check out the incredible research on Oregano Oil And MRSA

Overeating
Diffuse or create sachets to place throughout the home, place a dab on your shirt or rub a drop into your hands and then through your hair.

Pancreatitis
Massage into the feet and hands, diffuse or inhale directly, or add a drop to water through the day.

Physical Energy
Lemon essential oil is very uplifting when used aromatically. Try running it through your hair, adding it to the clothes as you dry them or adding it to baking soda as a carpet deodorizer as you vacuum.

Postpartum Depression
Diffuse through the home during and after birth, dry clothes in several drops of lemon, or rub a drop into your hands and run through hair. You might also look into Other Uplifting Blends.

Purification
Great during cold and flu season to diffuse through the home. You can even add a drop to a small pan of warm (not boiling) water on the stove and let the aroma fill the house. (You can then use that lemon water in cooking!)

Relaxation
Although lemon essential oil is known to be uplifting, if energies are running too high it can also bring a person into balance. Diffuse through the air or add a drop or two to a small pan of hot water. Also look into A Calming Blend.

Skin (Toning)
Dilute 1 drop of lemon essential oil to every 1-2 ounces of purified water, shake well each use, and spritz on the face, avoiding the eyes.

Stress
Add 1-2 drops of lemon oil to a steam tent, or add to your shirt collar.

Throat Infection
Diffuse through the room, use in massage, and gargle in warm sea salt with a drop of lemon.

Tonsillitis
Can be used in the same manner as a throat infection. You might also apply to the neck, or check out An Antiviral Blend.

Uplifting
Diffuse lemon essential oil through the room or drop 1-2 drops into a pan of hot, steaming water to fill the house with the aroma.

Varicose Veins
Very gently massage equal parts lemon oil with Peppermint, Lemongrass, Cypress, and a carrier oil in an upward motion (always toward the heart).

Water Purification
Where clean water (or just good tasting water) is a concern, add a drop of lemon essential oil to each glass of water, stir, and let sit for 5 minutes before drinking.

Other uses we've heard include: Fighting food poisoning, preventing scurvy, malaria, lowering blood pressure, liver function, joint problems (such as arthritis), muscle aches, anemia, use as a germicide, red and white blood cell formation, ureter infections, cellulite, clarity, gallstones, strengthening nails, nervous system function, complexion and more.

I think I am going to have to come back to this blog and update it cuz I donno about YOU but I want to go make some stuff now!!

Which Carrier Oils To Use With Essential Oils?

Top 3 Carrier Oils

The Carrier Oils used most frequently when mixing Essential Oils for Aromatherapy purposes are:

• Sweet Almond oil
• Fractionated Coconut oil
• Olive oil

to be honest, there are actually lots of great choices when it comes to Carrier Oils.

Figure any of the vegetable, nut, and seed oils that people regularly use for cooking and food preparation could be used. However, it is important to note that most of the oils you typically find in grocery stores are highly refined and they contain solvents and petroleum residues. On the other hand, unprocessed oils such as those marked “organic” and “cold-pressed” are the best for Aromatherapy. Unprocessed oils are the absolute best as they are the richest in vitamins, minerals, and proteins which nourish the skin.

Other Great Carrier Oils To Consider

Each of the following Carrier Oils is good for one reason or another. Most people who use Essential Oils for Aromatherapy purposes find a handful of Carrier Oils that they like and use at different times for different purposes.

Here are some other popular Carrier Oils:

Apricot Kernel oil – good facial oil; high in Vitamins A and B which aid in healing and rejuvenating skin cells

Arnica oil – good for inflammation and bruising, but do not use on broken skin

Argan oil - excellent for moisturizing dry or damaged skin, frequently used in many natural skin care products.

Avocado oil – good for dry & aging skin types; rich and heavy with minor sunscreen effects

Calendula oil – good as a body oil; speeds up healing and moisturizing for dry or damaged skin

Canola oil – good for massaging; absorbs easily; light in texture; odorless; very long shelf life

Castor oil – good for sealing in moisture; a heavy oil that seals and protects

Corn oil – good medium-weight oil; contains vitamins and minerals that are good for skin

Evening Primrose oil – good as an antioxidant oil so it’s often added to other Carrier Oils to prolong their shelf life

Grapeseed oil – good as a massage oil and facial oil; very light and penetrates the skin quickly

Hazelnut oil – good for facials; loaded with vitamins, minerals and proteins

Jojoba oil – good for very dry or very oily skin conditions; often added to other Carrier Oils to prolong their shelf life

Olive oil – good for most preparations; “extra virgin” has the highest amount of vitamins and minerals

Peanut oil – good basic aromatherapy oil; rich in vitamins and proteins

Safflower oil – good for softening the skin; it’s a light-to-medium weight oil

Sesame oil – good for a number of skin conditions; loaded with Vitamin E, minerals, and proteins; has an SPF of 4

Soy oil – good as a massage oil; high in Vitamin E

St. John’s Wort oil – good for muscle and joint inflammations; healing properties are good for first aid uses

Sunflower oil – good for massage, body lotions, and body oils; rich in Vitamin E

Sweet Almond oil – good as a massage oil; loaded with protein; absorbs into the skin rapidly; odorless

Vitamin E oil – good for prolonging the shelf life of other Carrier Oils; very thick; antioxidant; heals scar tissue and rejuvenates skin cellular activity

Walnut oil – good for the nervous system; medium weight; absorbs easily

Wheatgerm oil – good for healing scars, burns and stretch marks; loaded with Vitamins A, D, and E

…They all work well as Carrier Oils in Aromatherapy. Just take your pick!

You can also use an unscented body lotion as a Carrier for your Essential Oils. Especially good are Vitamin E lotions and those loaded antioxidants like Vitamin E.

The Carrier Oils I Use:

Sweet Almond Oil
Argan Oil
Fractionated Coconut Oil
Vitamin E Oil

Do This To Your Carrier Oils

It’s a good idea to open up a few capsules of Vitamin E and add that to whatever Carrier Oil you choose — 400IU of Vitamin E for every 1 oz. of Carrier Oil.

In addition to prolonging the shelf life of your Carrier Oil, Vitamin E has a variety of healthy benefits for your skin… it helps heal scar tissue, and it prevents aging by rejuvenating skin cellular activity.

Other great antioxidants to add to Carrier Oils: Wheatgerm oil, Jojoba oil, or Evening Primrose Oil — in a quantity of about 10%.

Lavender and Tea Tree Oil are the only Essential Oils which can be applied directly on the skin “neat” (or undiluted) and therefore don’t require a Carrier Oil.

How Much Carrier Oil & How Many Drops of Essential Oil?

As a rule, for every 1/2 oz. (1 tablespoon) of Carrier Oil, you’ll want about 9 drops of Essential Oil(s) to use that mixture as a body lotion or massage oil.

To give you an idea… 
I bought a 4 oz. (1/2 cup) bottle of Sweet Almond oil as a carrier oil, to which I added 50 drops of various Essential Oils that were mentioned in a recipe for a stress-relieving aromatherapy blend.

For the bath… “Some popular oils used as carrier-agents are sweet almond, canola, soy and safflower. These are wonderful for their moisturizing abilities, leaving a thin film of oil on the surface of the water which will envelope your body as you sink in. However, they also tend to leave an oily ring in the bath tub. I personally prefer using carriers like sweet cream, honey, Castile soap, or a bath salt mixture.”

IMPORTANT: This information pertains to the normal use of Essential Oils for aromatherapy purposes, as used by the average human being. When using these oils with children or senior citizens, only use half of the amount recommended. Furthermore, women who are pregnant and people who have skin or health issues should conduct further research as to which Essential Oils should be avoided for your condition. Not all Essential Oils are harmless. In fact, several are quite dangerous when used improperly. Always keep your bottles of Essential Oils out of the reach of children and pets, as many are poisonous if ingested!

Makin' sense of Frankincense

Frankincense Oil: The King of Oils

 Frankincense oil is a pretty amazing oil, this is definitely one to have around the house! I have been researching this oil for over a week now and I guess the best way to get into it is to just give it right to you, so here ya go!

   

The health benefits of Frankincense Essential Oil can be attributed to its properties as an antiseptic, disinfectant, astringent, carminative, cicatrisant, cytophylactic, digestive, diuretic, emenagogue, expectorant, sedative, tonic, uterine and vulnerary substance. I don't  know what all those big words mean but I'm already impressed.

Frankincense Oil is extracted from the gum or resin from Frankincense or Olibanum trees, whose scientific name is Boswellia Carteri. The main components of this essential oil are Alpha Pinene, Actanol, Bornyl Acetate, Linalool, Octyl Acetate, Incensole and Incensyl Acetate. Frankincense has been a popular ingredient in cosmetics and incense burners for centuries. It has even been found in the remains of ancient Egyptian and Anglo-Saxon civilizations. In addition to THAT, It is closely associated with religious traditions and rites, particularly in the Christian tradition.

Health Benefits of Frankincense Essential Oil
Thanks for taking the time to learn with me and please post comments or questions below!
Apart from being used as a cosmetic and as a fragrance, frankincense oil has numerous medicinal uses, which I am about to dish out to you now.

Immune System: Frankincense Oil is effective as an antiseptic, and even the fumes or smoke obtained from burning it have antiseptic and disinfectant qualities that eliminate the germs in the space where the smoke filters out. It can be applied on wounds without any known side effects to protect them from tetanus and becoming septic. It is equally good on internal wounds and protects them from developing infections.

Astringent: The astringent property of Frankincense Oil has many benefits, because it strengthens gums, hair roots, tones and lifts skin, contracts muscles, intestines and blood vessels, and thereby gives protection from premature losses of teeth and hair. This astringent quality also reduces the appearance of wrinkles, and combats the loss of firmness of intestines, abdominal muscles, and limbs associated with age. Above all, frankincense acts as a coagulant, helping to stop bleeding from wounds and cuts. This astringent property also helps to relieve diarrhea of various types. 

Oral Health: Those same antiseptic qualities also make frankincense oil a useful preventative measure against oral issues, like bad breath, toothaches, cavities, mouth sores, and other infections. Look for natural oral care products that include frankincense oil if you enjoy the flavor or aroma, and want to include a strong antiseptic in your health regimen. You can even create your own all-natural toothpaste with frankincense oil and baking soda, or a mouthwash with water and peppermint oil.

Emenagogue: Frankincense essential oil reduces obstructed and delayed menstruation and delays the advent of menopause. It also helps curing other symptoms associated with menses and Post Menstrual Syndrome, such as pain in the abdominal region, nausea, headache, fatigue, and mood swings.

Carminative: Frankincense oil eliminates gas and prevents it from building up in the body. This removal of excess gas from the intestines also gives relief from associated problems like stomach aches, pain in the abdominal region and chest, abnormal amounts of sweating, uneasiness, indigestion and many other related conditions.

Cicatrisant: This is an interesting property of Frankincense Oil, and since skin health and anti-aging are such hot topics these days, this essential oil has become even more important! When applied topically or inhaled, it can makes the scars and after marks of boils, acne and pox on the skin fade at a much faster rate. This also includes the fading of stretch marks, surgery marks, and fat cracks associated with pregnancy and delivery of children.

Digestive: Suffering from indigestion due to that turkey last night? A patient of chronic indigestion and acidity? Fed up with those antacids? Then you should try Frankincense Oil instead. This oil has digestive properties without any side effects, and it facilitates digestion the way most medicines should, unlike common antacids which only suppress the symptoms. This oil speeds up the secretion of digestive juices (gastric juices, bile and acids) in the stomach and facilitates movement of food through the intestines by stimulating peristaltic motion. This means an all-around improvement in the digestion of food.

Anti-Aging: As a Cytophylactic, Frankincense Oil promotes regeneration of healthy cells and also keeps the existing cells and tissues healthy. When you combine this aspect of frankincense oil with its powerful astringent capabilities, you have a potent anti-aging quality that frankincense oil is often used for. It can help you to eliminate sun spots, remove micro-wrinkles around the eyes and cheeks, and generally tone and tighten skin all over your body, while simultaneously replacing old or dying cells with new, healthy ones!

Tonic: Overall, frankincense essential oil tones and boosts health and is therefore considered a tonic. It benefits all the systems operating in the body, including the respiratory, digestive, nervous, and excretory systems, while also increasing strength by aiding the absorption of nutrients into the body. Furthermore, frankincense oil strengthens the immune system and keeps you strong and protected for the future.

Diuretic: If you thought that Lasix and its variants were the only drugs that could help you release water from the body through urination, you were incorrect. Those pharmaceutical options may be instantaneous, but not very safe. Frankincense essential oil is a natural and safe alternative. It promotes urination and helps you lose that extra water weight, as well as fats, sodium, uric acid and various other toxins from the body, with the added advantage of lowering blood pressure. The best part about this is that frankincense essential oil is completely safe and has no adverse side effects.

Respiratory Issues: It soothes coughs and eliminates phlegm deposited in the respiratory tracts and the lungs. Frankincense essential oil also provides relief from bronchitis and congestion of nasal tract, larynx, pharynx, bronchi, and lungs. Its antidepressant and anti-inflammatory properties also help relax the breathing passages, which can reduce the dangers of asthma attacks, and its antiseptic qualities are what give it the reputation of being an immune system booster! It also eases body pain, headaches, toothaches and balances the rise in body temperature commonly associated with colds.

Stress and Anxiety: Frankincense Oil is very effective as a sedative, because it induces a feeling of mental peace, relaxation, satisfaction and spirituality. It also awakens insight, makes you more introspective and lowers anxiety, anger and stress. When feeling anxious or if you anticipate some sort of stressful episode, add some frankincense oil to a diffuser or a vaporizer. Frankincense essential oil promotes deep breathing and relaxation, which can open your breathing passages and reduce blood pressure, moving your mental state back to calmness.

Uterine: This oil is very good for uterine health. Since it regulates the production of the estrogen hormone, it reduces the chances of post-menopause tumor or cyst formation in the uterus, also known as uterine cancer. In terms of the pre-menopause period, it keeps a woman’s uterus healthy by regulating proper menstrual cycles. It also treats or regulates gynecologic conditions or stressors that can lead to complicated dysfunctions in certain women.

Vulnerary: Simply apply a diluted solution of this oil on wounds, or use it blended with a skin cream, and your wounds will heal faster and be protected from infections. This oil is equally beneficial in healing internal wounds, cuts and ulcers.

Other Benefits: It relieves pain associated with rheumatism and arthritis. It helps heal boils, infected wounds, acne, circulatory problems, insomnia and various types of inflammation.

A Few Words of Caution:  There are no known adverse side effects. That being said, frankincense essential oil should not be used during pregnancy, since it does act as an emenagogue and astringent.

Blending: Frankincense Oil blends well with Lime, Lemon, Orange and other Citrus oils as well as Benzoin, Bergamot, Lavender, Myrrh, Pine and Sandalwood oil. This makes it a popular element of many herbalists for various aromatherapy combinations.
How to use Frankincense
Frankincense has plenty of uses.
Fundamentally, it promotes calmness, serenity and relaxation. These indications will always be present, no matter how frankincense is used, and for what.

Skin Care: Frankincense essential oil is great for skin care and nearly everything related to skin; burns, rashes, cuts, scrapes, and oozing sores. It’s also fabulous for mature, prematurely aging, and environmentally challenged skin.

To use as a night (or day) cream: just add a few drops to the base of your choice. This can be as simple as something like a bottle of Whole Foods unscented lotion, liquid soap, shower gel, or moisturizer. Or it can be as complex as you like. If you are making your own creams or oils, frankincense will be an excellent and appropriate addition. Percentages will vary but a reasonable rule is about 6 drops per oz. That’s not set in stone! Feel free to experiment. Here are some general rules regarding use on the skin:
You can use more drops in lotions meant for body --they can be stronger. Use less drops for facial creams--they should be less strong, as your face is usually more sensitive.
Making a blend for massage of a specific (limited) area--such as feet, hands, lower legs, can be stronger in general than an all-around massage blend.

Soaps, shampoos, conditioners (things that you wash off) can be stronger in general than products you leave on your skin.

Frankincense oil can be added to pure water and used as a toner or refresher. You can add a little vodka to help it blend if you like. If you don’t have any way to mix them, don’t despair. The oil will float on top, yes, but all that means is you have to shake the bottle before you spray it.

In the Shower:  No need to add frankincense oil to your bath gel if you don’t want to, or have something other blend in there. Just add a few drops to your washcloth and run it over yourself during your final (hot water) rinse. The steam will infuse with frankincense and you will enjoy a quick and intense frankincense steam bath. refreshing and relaxing at the same time!

In the bath: For a quick frankincense bath, it’s best add the essential oil to something so it dissolves a bit in the bath water. Frankincense is not usually sensitizing for most people, but it depends on the amount and circumstances. Putting a few drops of neat essential oil in a hot bath is not recommended. For anyone. With any oil. Even old friends can burn you in that environment. The situation is that the oils, not being water soluble, remain on the surface of the hot water in original and exclusive drops. Your pores open from the hot water and the frankincense might cause an irritation. If it’s ever going to burn you, this would be when. If you add frankincense oil to a vegetable or nut oil, meaning a massage oil, like olive oil, jojoba, coconut, etc, then it will still float on top of the water but it will be diluted in amount, if not in placement. Some people will be ok with this. Some not.
You can add your frankincense to alcohol (vodka) or honey and this may be better, as it will dissolve, at least partly, in these mediums. Epsom salts work well too. Bath soap or solubulizer will work the best, if you have them. If in doubt, stick with a couple of drops of the oil, maybe make the water not so hot, and don’t stay in for hours. Don’t forget, you can always take a normal bath, and rinse yourself with frankincense on a washcloth afterward.

It’s always possible to add frankincense hydrosol to the bath water. It’s completely water soluble and a nice change. Although it varies in composition from frankincense essential oil (it’s hydrophilic and oil is hydrophobic) it still promotes many of the same effects.

As a facial steam:  Frankincense is a great mini-facial. Just take a pot or pan of boiling water, add a drop or two (no more) frankincense oil to it. Lean over it and cover your head with a towel, breathing deeply. Your lungs will be so happy! And your face will rejoice! You can also try one drop frankincense and one drop lavender.

For lung support & during Yoga: The best ways are by inhalation, see above, and massage of head and neck, breathing in deeply. You can even just put a few drops in your palm, rub your hands together, and breathe the oil directly from them. This is great to do before or after yoga, particularly during pranayama. The experience will calm you, centering your energy and elevate your spirit even as it connects you to the earth. You will be able to give more presence to your yoga practice, and concentrate more fully on your breathing through each asana.

Meditation: It’s the same as listed above. Whether your meditation is sitting, standing, walking, yogic or even very active, such as martial arts, frankincense will enable you to deepen the experience and aid your focus so that you benefit as much as possible from your practice, whatever it is. Just take a few drops on your palms, rub them together, breathe in deeply, and enjoy.

Compresses:  Fill a bowl with cool water (or warm water if desired) add a few (3-5) drops frankincense and toss a washcloth in, then wringing it out and placing the cool cloth on your forehead. This is so nice and relaxing in the heat and after exercise. A warm compress will be beneficial for sore muscles and anywhere heat is desired.

Joint and Muscle Pain: Frankincense can help both of these conditions. Just add it to your mix of oils, and that mix will depend on what you are mixing for. If you are a beginner mixing for yourself, consult an aromatherapy book, or have your blend done professionally. The practical application of this will depend on where you live. Frankincense will always be a valuable addition to your blend. In addition to its anti-inflammatory property, it will calm, soothe and relax you, don’t forget!

Stomach problems: There is a lot of talk these days about frankincense being a cure for stomach tumors. Let’s get something straight--this research may or may not be conclusive, but it’s research on a constituent of frankincense called boswellic acid.

Boswellic acid is a heavy molecule and doesn’t come over in distillation. If someone claims to have it in their oil, they are most likely mis-informed. It’s not in our oil, it’s not in anyone’s oil.

Boswellic acid can be found in supplements, and also in the gum itself. The traditional Omani use for frankincense is to soothe the stomach. Very high quality green frankincense tears are soaked overnight in water and the water drunk upon waking. If you have access to green frankincense, this is a lovely thing to do. The water is delicious, enlivening and refreshing. And it will soothe your stomach for sure. Gas, nausea, billiousness, reflux, frankincense will help.
Green frankincense is not usually available in stores unless they are very specialized. Green frankincense is expensive, rare and fleeting, with a comparatively short shelf life. Sunlight destroys the freshness and it will fade to white or yellow. 

Eating it: Sure you can eat it. In additional to what I’ve written above, regarding drinking the water of green gum, you can drink the hydrosol and even a drop or two of the oil. Hydrosol is a new thing in Southern Oman. There is not a history of distillation here so there is no history involving hydrosol or essential oil, but people are experimenting with our hydrosol and so far they say it makes them happy, it makes their wives happy, and it’s an integral part of peoples lives immediately. if you want to try it, just make sure you dilute it at least 10:1 in water. Otherwise it will be too strong.

You can have a drop or two of essential oil in honey if you like. It’s probably not the most efficient way to use frankincense, but you might enjoy it. Don’t do more than a drop or two, it’s very strong. You will probably sweat frankincense for a while after. Don’t drink a lot of it every day. Remember, it’s going to pass though your liver. No need to make your liver work too hard. As with all things, moderation.

You can also add them for flavor, hydrosol as a substitute for water, essential oil as an addition in ice cream, shortbread...let your imagination take you! My wheels are turning but I have not yet concocted a recipe to share, however, when one does crop up as they usually do I will be sure to update this post and share it with my loyal readers.

I just can't say enough about Frankincense, if you are starting to build your own alternative home medicine cabinet, you must include Frankincense, as I listed above, it can do so much and as I discover more uses for it, I will be sure to update this post!