Archive for ‘Health conditions’

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June 6, 2013

Do Not Use Peppermint Essential Oil in the Bath

Caution when using peppermint essential oil, it is a medium strength remedy.

Do not use with children under the age of two, peppermint is so relaxing it may cause passageways to collapse.

Do not use peppermint essential oil in the bath it may cause hypothermia because it lowers body temperature.

Do not use when breastfeeding unless it is to dry up milk production.

Do not store peppermint essential oil with homeopathic remedies it is really strong.

It is good to use peppermint essential oil to cool hot conditions as long as it is not accompanied by dryness or irritation.

COMMON NAME PEPPERMINT
Latin Name Mentha x piperita
Family Lamiaceae
Country of Origin North America, France, England
Volatility Top/middle note
Extraction steam distilled from leaves and flowers
Colour pale yellow to colourless
Aroma light, sharp, refreshing, a bit pungent, strong
Caution Contraindications Medium strength: Do not use with epilepsy, convulsions, during pregnancy, dry conditions, gastric hyperacidity or with children under the age of two. Do not use if breastfeeding. Do not store with homeopathic remedies. Use in low concentration, may cause skin irritation. Do not use in a bath, it may cause hypothermia.
Primary Uses Digestion: Fortifies liver, stomach, and intestines. Stomach upset, gastritis, indigestion, nausea, colitis, Crohn’s, relaxing digestive, infection, inflammation, spasms

Respiratory: infections, bronchitis, sinusitis, cooling, colds, flu, coughs nasal catarrh, pain,

Nervous: migraines, headaches, stress tension, itching,

Muscular: relaxes smooth muscle, arthritis, neuralgia, aches and pain, sciatica, bruises,
Properties Analgesic, antiallergenic, antibacterial, anticatarrhal, anticonvulsant, antidepressant, anti-emetic, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, anti-galactagogue, antiseptic, antispasmodic (digestive, general, respiratory), antiviral, anxiolytic, appetite stimulant, carminative, cholagogue, choleretic, decongestant, diaphoretic, relaxing expectorant, febrifuge, nervine relaxant, stomachic, tonic tranquilizer, vasodilator, vulnerary,
Constituents Essential Oil: 2%Ketone: menthone,Aldehydes: Esters: methyl acetate,Monoterpene alcohol: Menthol 30%,

Oxide: 1, 8 cineole

Monoterpenes: menthene, phellandrene, azulene, limonene, pinene

 

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June 6, 2013

Healing Properties of Peppermint Herb

Peppermint

Peppermint

Peppermint is best known for its beneficial effects on the digestive system and strengthening action on the stomach and liver.

It calms and relaxes smooth muscles and eases stomach pain, indigestion and nausea.

Its analgesic properties bring pain relief to headaches and all kinds of cramps.

Peppermint is widely used as a flavouring agent in food and cosmetics like shampoo.

Peppermint is a hybrid perennial herb which grows up to 30-90 cm tall. The stems are erect and square-shaped like most mint plants, and it has creeping root stocks called ‘stolons’ that grow rapidly. The leaves are sharply toothed, pointed, and in midsummer dense clusters of tiny pink-purple flowers appear. Mints prefer moist shade with partial sun.

It is invasive and spreads quickly so it is best grown in pots if you don’t want it taking over.

Common Name

Peppermint herb

 
Latin Name

 Mentha x piperita
Family Lamiaceae(Mint Family)
Parts Used Perennial- herb picked all season
Target Organs Digestion, Nervous System, Liver/gallbladder, Stomach, Respiratory, Muscular
Common Uses Digestion: Fortifies liver, stomach, and intestines. Stomach upset, gastritis, indigestion, nausea, colitis, Crohn’s, relaxing digestive, infection, inflammation

Respiratory: infections, bronchitis, sinusitis, cooling, colds, flu, coughs, nasal catarrh, pain,

Nervous: migraines, headaches, stress tension, itching,

Muscular: relaxes smooth muscle, arthritis, neuralgia, aches and pain, sciatica, bruises, inflammation
Properties Analgesic, antiallergenic, antibacterial, anticatarrhal, anticonvulsant, antidepressant, anti-emetic, antifungal, anti-inflammatory (local, systemic), antiseptic, anti-galactagogue antispasmodic (digestive, general, respiratory), antiviral, anxiolytic, appetite stimulant, carminative, cholagogue, choleretic, decongestant, diaphoretic, relaxing expectorant, febrifuge, nervine relaxant, stomachic, tonic tranquilizer, vasodilator, vulnerary.

 
Constituents Essential Oil: 2%

Monoterpene alcohol: Menthol 30-70%,

Ketone: menthone,

Aldehydes:

Esters: methyl acetate,

Oxide: 1, 8 cineole

Monoterpenes: menthene, phellandrene, azulene, limonene, pinene

Other: tannins, bitter
Cautions Medium strength: Do not use with epilepsy, convulsions, during pregnancy, breastfeeding, dry conditions, gastric hyperacidity or with children under the age of two. Older children, seniors take breaks. Essential oil: Do not store with homeopathic remedies. Do not use in a bath, it may cause hypothermia.
Dosage Tincture: 1-4ml

Tea: 1-2 tsp. infuse 10-15 minutes

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April 23, 2013

Boneset Herb

2. White Boneset, july 27 03

Boneset is a native to the Ontario region, but is less common in the northern part of the province in Canada. Boneset grows together with the two species of gravel root or joe-pye but Joe-pye grows in the south-western corner of the province. Both grow in wetlands, riverbanks, marshes and lakes and prefer open sunny areas. Joe-pye root and boneset herb are both wetland plants that boost the immune system.

2. White Boneset, July 27 2003Boneset is easy to identify because of the joined leaves around the stem that are paired opposite. In this picture of white boneset the white flowers are just about to bloom. It is best known for treating fevers and in Traditional Chinese Medicine it treats all three stages of fever, Tai Yang, Shao Yang, Yang Ming. Called boneset not because it knits and repairs bones like comfrey but because it is used for deep, aching bone pain like rheumatic typhoid and “bone breaking fever.” It is extremely bitter, cooling and drying while stimulating the liver and digestion. Caution is advised! This plant is becoming increasingly endangered due to destruction of wetland habitat and over harvesting.

Common Name  Boneset herb
Latin Name  Eupatorium perfoliatum
Family Asteraceae (Aster)
Parts Used Perennial- leaves and flowers
Target Organs immune, circulatory, digestive, respiratory, liver, stomach, throat
Common Uses Immune respiratory: stimulates immunity against infections. Used for fevers, dengue, malaria, colds, coughs, flu, infections, catarrh, sore throat, toxicity, Digestion: liver congestion, constipation, upset stomach, indigestion, gas, bloating Nervous system: debility, pain, neuralgia,
Properties Anticatarrhal, anti-inflammatory(local, systemic) anti-infective, antimicrobial, antineoplastic, antirheumatic, aperient, appetite stimulant, astringent, bitter,  cholagogue, choleretic, digestive stimulant, diaphoretic, diuretic, immune stimulant, febrifuge, nervine, relaxant, stomachic, tranquilizer, peripheral vasodilator, vulnerary
Constituents polysaccharides, flavonoids: quercetin, rutin, astragalin, hyperoside, inulin, sterols, vitamin D1, galic acid, essential volatile oil, glucosidal tannin, tannic acid, diterpenes, bitter glycoside: eupatorin, sesquiterpenes lactones, fatty resin,
Cautions Medium strength: Only use dried herb. Avoid high doses long term use. May cause diarrhoea, vomiting in high doses. Low doses short term use for acute infections. Should not be used by pregnant, nursing women, infants and children under the age of ten. Use in formulation up to 25% for no more than 1 week or two. 
Dosage Tincture: 1-3ml                Dried herb Tea infusion: 3-8g cold infusion for exhaustion and acute fever

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April 23, 2013

Gravel root/Joe-Pye Herb and Root

1. Spotted-joe-pye-weed, Aug 24 2003

Joe-pye or Gravel Root (Eupatorium purpureum) is related to the north american species boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum) and chinese orchid grass (Eupatorium Pei Lan). Sometimes Gravel root is called purple boneset, but do not confuse the two, they are a related but are a different species. Gravel root grows in moist conditions like boneset does, but Gravel root is best known for its use as a urinary tonic, and boneset for its amazing ability to treat fevers.

Joe pye regulates fluid metabolism and addresses toxicity by moving it out of the kidney bladder urinary system. It has pain-relieving and cooling properties, making it good to use for urinary infections and painful urination. It is also used to harmonize the reproductive system for both sexes.

1. Spotted-joe-pye-weed, Aug.24 03Spotted Joe-pye (Eupatorium maculatum)

1. Spotted-joe-pye-weed, August 24 03         Spotted Joe-pye herb growing in Canada.

Common   Name  Joe Pye / Gravel root
Latin Name  Eupatorium   maculatum/ purpureum
Family Asteraceae
Parts Used perennial herb   blooms summer, harvest top part  summer   later part/fall root
Target Organs Urinary,   prostate, reproductive
Common Uses Urinary system: all   urinary prostate conditions, prostate urinary tonic, gout, rheumatism,   urinary incontinence, stones, oedema,    cystitis,Reproductive tonic: both sexes, delayed irregular
Properties prostate urinary   tonic, diuretic, antiseptic, antilithic, relaxant, anaesthetic, astringent,   antirheumatic
Constituents .07% volatile   oil, resin, yellow flavonoids: euparin, eupatorin; oleoresin eupurpurin,   saponins, tannins, essential oil, calcium oxalate, albuminoids, wax
Cautions mild remedy use   caution with dryness present, best used with urinary demulcents
Dosage Tincture:  2-4 mls take formulationRoot decoction   6-12g: 1-2 tsp 10 min

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April 10, 2013

DIY Aromatherapy Bath Recipes

wild rose hearts

 

Aromatherapy Bath Recipe:

Mix together

½ cup baking soda,

1 cup Epsom salts,

½ sea salt, Dead sea salt or Himalayan salt 

5-10 drops of essential oil

Good for sore muscles, aches, pain and stress

Good essential oil combinations:

Black spruce and Lavender

Frankincense and Mandarin

Add ½-1 cup of mixture to each bath. Relax and enjoy!

Epsom salts increase magnesium levels in the body, which relaxes muscles,   removes lactic and uric acid, and decreases pain and spasms.

Himalayan and Dead Sea salts are for heavy detoxification, fluid balance, and treating infections and skin conditions. ***If you take a salt bath rinse off afterwards.

Baking soda helps prevent the toxins from re-absorbing.

Use this mixture as a body scrub if no bathtub is available.

Foot and Hand baths:  Soak hands or feet in essential oils with medium of your choice. Good to do if you have no bathtub.

Clay bath: Mix ¼- ½ cup of clay with 5-10 drops of essential oils.

lav doc

Directions:

First draw the bath to the ideal temperature. Close windows and doors.

Mix essential oils with the medium of your choice like Epsom salts, himalayan or sea salt, baking soda, clay or any type of milk or oil and put in the bath.

Caution with Essential Oils in the Bath

Do not use essential oils undiluted in the bath, they will float on top of the water because they are not water-soluble, and may cause skin irritation. Dilute 5-7 drops of essential oil in a medium such as carrier oil, bath gel, clay, nutmilk, baking soda, Epsom or bath salts.

Caution: When using carrier oil in the tub it becomes very slippery so make sure you don’t slip and fall. Clean the tub after each use or a greasy ring will build-up when using carrier oil.

Excerpt taken from my ebook Essential Oils and the Five Elements

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February 12, 2013

Ginger

Ginger is such a staple at my house, especially in the colder months because of its warming capabilities. I cook with it, make tea, use the tincture and essential oil. Ginger essential oil is the best anti-nausea remedy for travel sickness and upset stomach. I always travel with ginger essential oil especially if I’m travelling by boat. I mix it with peppermint essential oil to balance the heat with the cooling of the peppermint which is a great anti-nausea in its own right. It is my favourite combination for travel.

Ginger is very popular in many culinary arts and is also used medicinally as a warming stimulant to treat all kinds of digestive and respiratory complaints. It treats colds, digestive upset, soothes the stomach and is especially good for cold conditions like chills, colds, flu, and poor circulation.

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Common Name

 

 Ginger rhizome
Latin Name

 

 Zingiber officinale
Family Zingiberaceae
Parts Used Perennial – rhizome
Target Organs circulatory, cardiovascular, digestion, liver, stomach, spleen, pancreas, reproductive
Common Uses Digestion: stimulates appetite, relieves cramps, indigestion, ulcers, constipation/diarrhoea, liver congestion, motion/travel sickness, nausea, heartburn, gas

Circulation: warming, stimulating,

Cardiovascular: regulates blood pressure,

Respiratory  Immune: fever, flu, colds,

arthritis, fatigue

 
Properties Antiemetic, anticonvulsant, antifungal, antihepatotoxic, anti-inflammatory(local, systemic) antioxidant, antirheumatic, antispasmodic(digestive) antithrombotic, antiulcerogenic, aperient, appetite stimulant, blood pressure normaliser, cardiac, warming carminative, cholagogue, circulatory stimulant, diaphoretic, stimulating expectorant, febrifuge, hypocholesterolemic, hypolipidemic, immune stimulant, nervine, pancreatic, rubefacient, stomachic, neural peripheral vasodilator, hot stimulant,
Constituents Sesquiterpene: camphene -50% bisabolene,

Monoterpenes: zingiberene 20-30% pinene, limonene, phellandrene,

Monoterpene alcohols: >.5% gingerol, gingerone, zingebernol,

Sesquiterpene alcohols:
Cautions mild remedy: Hot stimulant
Dosage Tincture: 5-10% in formulations

Tea: 2 tsp. Grated fresh steep 10 min

Essential Oil

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December 27, 2012

DIY Myrrh Tincture

myrrhMyrrh resin is an age-old remedy from the Middle East with a long history. It was one of the gifts given by the wise men to baby Jesus along with golden frankincense resin. It is so healing it gets rid of any kind of infection, wounds, ulcers, pain and inflammation internally or externally. 

The Greek physician, Claudios Galenos, known as Galen for short, used myrrh to heal the wounds of gladiators in ancient Greco-Rome.

Myrrh is like camphor and tea tree essential oil in that it has amazing antiseptic action of being antiviral, antifungal and antibacterial. Used world-wide to heal wounds internally and externally myrrh gets rid of infection and excess mucous in the digestive and respiratory tracts, eases pain, inflammation and spasms.

Use Myrrh tincture internally and externally in compresses. The tincture turns a milky golden colour. The resin sticks to the bottom of the jar so stir it with a chopstick if this happens, and shake the tincture everyday until ready to press.

myrrh tincture

Soothing myrrh gargles, mouthwashes, douches relieve pain and infections internally. Use swabs, liniments and compresses  for external injuries and wounds.

Myrrh essential oil is for external use only! Never take essential oil resins internally.

Learn how to make your own tinctures or buy them from myself or other natural health places. If interested in using herbal tinctures book a consultation with me.

DIY herbal tincture blog:
http://earthelixir.ca/2012/01/10/make-your-own-herbal-tinctures/

Common Name Myrrh resin
Latin Name  Commiphora myrrha
Family Burseraceae (Torchwood family)
Parts Used Tree resin and essential oil
Target Organs Lungs, intestine, uterus, urinary organs, arterial circulation, skin
Common Uses Infections: viral, bacterial, fungal infections (especially of mouth, gums, throat, vagina)chronic inflammation, mouth ulcers, internal and external pain, swelling, sore throat, loss of voice,

Skin: infections, wounds, ulcers, any tissue trauma

Female reproductive: balancing female cycles, painful difficult labour, retained placenta,

Lungs: cold lung phlegm, productive cough, chronic bronchitis, wheezing, fatigue, chills

Intestines: microbial dysbiosis, candida, parasites, chronic gastritis, indigestion, volcano belly, mucous damp pain, congestion
Properties analgesic, antiseptic, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antineoplastic, antiulcerogenic, antithrombotic, antispasmodic, antirheumatic, bitter, carminative, diaphoretic, immune stimulant, lymphatic, nervine, stomachic, vasodilator, antidiarrheal, astringent, decongestant, stimulant, hemostatic, vulnerary, oxytocic parturient, stimulating secretolytic expectorant, systemic (internally) warming, locally (externally) cooling,
Constituents Essential oil 2.5-10%(hydrocarbon methylisopropenyl furane 4%, sesquiterpenes-(elemene, copaene, curzerene), methyllisobutyl ketone, aldehyde, resin 25-40% (commiphoric acid, commiphorinic acid, heerabomyrrhol), gums 50-60%, salts, sulphates, oxydase, xylose, galactose
Cautions Do not use during pregnancy it is a uterine stimulant
Dosage Tincture 2-3 ml

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December 18, 2012

DIY Siberian Ginseng (Shigoka root) Tincture

Siberian ginseng/Shigoka root has demonstrated in studies that it normalizes blood sugar and blood fat cholesterol levels, increases resistance to infection, protects against drug and radiation toxicity, potentiates sex hormone activity in both sexes improving reproductive capacity, and reduces blood clotting. It helps to balance and restore immune, endocrine and reproductive systems being a tonic to the body over-all.270px-Eleutherococcus_senticosus_leaves

  Siberian ginseng/Shigoka root is native to North east Asia and Russia but does grow in North America, just not commercially. It has some of the same constituents as ginseng, looks similar and has the same family but it is not classed as a true ginseng. Siberian ginseng is not from the (Panax) Ginseng Genus like Ginsengs but it is used in similar ways like all adaptogens. The other common name is Shigoka root. All Ginsengs improve adaptive response to any type of stress, boosts immunity, balance sugar and fat levels in the body and provides antioxidants and phyto-nutrients. It is commonly used by Russian athletes.

Common Name  Shigoka/ Siberian ginseng root
Latin Name  Eleutherococcus senticosus
Family Araliaceae
Parts Used Perennial- older root picked in the Fall
Target Organs Endocrine adrenal pituitary, circulatory, immune,
Common Uses Adaptogen Tonic for fatigue, chronic stress, adrenal exhaustion, reproductive tonic, diabetes, immune tonic, toxicity, normalize blood sugar levels, normalizes blood pressure, normalizes blood fats, chronic fatigue syndrome, drug radiation toxicity, artheroschelorosis, UTI, HBP /LBP, pancreatic
Properties Adaptogen, immune tonic, adrenal tonic, male/female reproductive tonic, anti-toxic, antineoplastic, antiallergenic, anticatarrhal, antibacterial, anticarcinogenic, antidepressant, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiviral, astringent, blood pressure normalizer, cardiac, diaphoretic, hypocholesterolemic, hypolipidemic, nervine, pancreatic, nervine, vasodilator, circulatory stimulant, thyroid tonic,
Constituents triterpenoids saponins: eleutherocosides
Cautions mild remedy: Do not use with extremely high blood pressure, pregnancy or lactation
Dosage Fresh or Dried Tincture: 1-4ml Tea: 1-2 tsp infuse 10-15 minutes

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December 7, 2012

DIY American Ginseng Tincture

Classed under yin tonics because of its ability to tonify lung yin, American ginseng treats dry cough, inflammation, irritation and insomnia. Asian ginseng is considered a yang tonic in Chinese pharmacopia. Modern research has found Oriental varieties have a higher proportion of glycosides, the exception is Japanese ginseng which is closer to American ginseng. American Ginseng is more expensive than Asian ginseng.

Used for centuries by the Native Americans American ginseng went largely unnoticed by early settlers because its long-term restorative qualities were lost among the short-term instant eliminating purging type herbs.

Make your own American ginseng tincture, it is cheaper and healthier than herbal pills.

220px-Panax_quinquefolius

Common Name  American Ginseng root
Latin Name  Panax quinquefolius
Family Araliaceae (Ginseng)
Parts Used Perennial- older root +5 year old picked in the Fall
Target Organs endocrine, adrenals, immune, nervous, lungs, digestion, stomach, reproductive systems
Common Uses Endocrine tonic: for fatigue, stress, malabsorption, Nervous system tonic:  debility, exhaustion, insomnia, convalescence

Immune: tonic, boost nourish,

Digestion: stomach upset

Liver: cleanser and protector

High cholesterol and diabetes support.

 Lowers blood fats, lowers sugar levels

Heart: protects and nourishes
Properties restores and strengthens, Adaptogen, adrenal tonic, immune tonic, male/ female reproductive tonic, antiallergenic, antihepatotoxic, anti-inflammatory, aperient, cardiac , hypertensive, hypolipidemic, nervine, anxiolytic, relaxant, anti-toxic, stomachic, pancreatic, diaphoretic, antineoplastic, vasodilator, warming carminative, blood pressure normalizer
Constituents Essential Oil 3%: saponin glycosides: ginsenoside, panaxosides 5-7%;  camphor substance, arabinose, starch, glucose, panaxin, panacic acid, panacene, panaquilin, ginsenin, sapogenin, sitosterols, mucilage, polysaccharides, 18 amino acids, resin, trace minerals: copper, zinc, selenium, iodine, manganese
Cautions Do not use with high fever or damp cold indigestion
Dosage Tincture: 1-4ml                Decoction: 3-10g   3 x a day empty stomach –

3 weeks take 1 week off cycle

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December 7, 2012

DIY Asian Ginseng Tincture

Asian Ginseng root (Panax ginseng) is an adaptogen that helps the body adapt to any kind of stress. Asian ginseng is like American ginseng, both have similar medicinal actions are used in the same way. Ginsengs are a tonic to the immune, endocrine and nervous systems and reduce stress by balancing and cleansing. The roots are picked the 2nd year, but 5 year or older roots are more desirable and are more expensive.  It’s easy to make your own ginseng tinctures for health purposes and they are better than store-bought pills.

asain ginseng

Common Name Asian ginseng root
Latin Name Panax ginseng
Family Araliaceae
Parts Used Perennial- older root 2+years picked in the Fall. Older roots are more expensive and desirable. 5+ year old more desirable
Target Organs endocrine, immune, heart, nervous, lungs, digestion, reproductive systems
Common Uses Endocrine: tonic for fatigue, stress, malabsorption, Nervous system: tonic, debility, exhaustion, insomnia,Immune: tonic, boost,

Digestion: stomach upset

Liver: cleanser and protector

Lowers High cholesterol and diabetes support.

Lowers High blood fats and sugar levels.

Heart: protects and nourishes
Properties Adaptogen, adrenal tonic, pituitary tonic, immune tonic, male/ female reproductive tonic, restores strengthens, antiallergenic, antihepatotoxic, cardiac , hypertensive, hypoglycaemic, hypolipidemic, nervine, anti-toxic, stomachic, antineoplastic,
Constituents E.O. 3%, saponin glycosides: ginsenoside, panaxosides 7%<; sitosterols, mucilage, polysaccharides, 18 amino acids, resin, germanium, minerals, starch,
Cautions Do not use with high fever
Dosage Tincture: 1-4ml                Decoction: 3-10g   2-3 x a day on an empty stomach – Cycle-3 weeks take formula, then take 1 week off

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