From Ayurvedic point of view Lavender is the perfect oil that is suitable for any person. And I truly believe that no medicine cabinet or pantry should go without it.

Lavender has been used continuously for centuries to enhance food and for health as dried flowers, herbed oils, and essential oils. People were using Lavender from washing linens to soothing teas, from hiding under the corset of beautiful ladies for a pleasant smell to healing wounds of a soldier.

It is important to say that among various species of Lavender only Lavandula officinalis (other names: Lavandula angustifora, Lavandula vera) can be used therapeutically. Therapeutic Lavender is not cheap and is the most often adulterated oil. There are more than 30 different types of Lavender oils for sale. Not all of them are of a therapeutic and organic grade. Some species of Lavender contain too much ketones and are too toxic to be used in aromatherapy. Buy your lavender only from the reputable sources.

Medicinal properties of Lavender:

• Analgetic (arthritis/rheumatism, muscle pain, bruises)
• Antibacterial (according to some research it is effective against: diphtheria, pneumonia, acute sinusitis, otitis media, meningitis, sepsis, septic arthritis, endocarditis, peritonitis, pericarditis, cellulitis, brain abscess, urinary tract infections, E. coli, septicemia, ankylosing spondylitis, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus, salmonella, staphylococcus, streptococcus, gastrointestinal illness to name a few)
• Antifungal (candida, nail infection, chlamydia, tinea capitis)
• Anti-inflammatory (eczema, insect bites, sinusitis, cystitis, bruises, spraines, acne, otitis)
• Antiseptic (acne, bronchial secretions, cystitis, otitis, skin infection, influenza, sinusitis, tuberculosis)
• Antispasmodic (cramps, coughing)
• Balancing (nervous system)
• Calming, sedative (headaches, migranes, anxiety, insomnia, sleep problems)
• Cardiotonic  (tachycardia)
• Carminative (flatulence, colic)
• Cicatrizant (burns, scars, varicose ulcers, wounds)
• Emmenagogic (scanty periods)
• Hypotensor (hypertension)

At this point you might feel completely overwhelmed.

Not to worry. Follow these simple rules to be on the safe side:

• Always consult doctor if you have any serious problems. Never self-diagnose or self-medicate.
• Never drink essential oils.
• Never put essential oils in your eyes, nose, or on private parts.
• Only use essential oils from the reputable sources

The following are a few suggestions on how safely use lavender for your family.

• Insect repellent:

o   Add few drops to a skin lotion, apply just before your daily walk in the park

o   Put a few drops on your hands, rub together, than rub your body just before going out

o   While traveling, put a drop on your bed and a drop on the pillow

Note: for outdoor use you will need to reapply essential oil every few hours.

• Insect bites – apply one drop and rub in.
• Burns – apply one drop immediately, do not rub if the blister appears. For the bigger burns: soak gauze and gently cover the injured place, and go to the hospital.
• Skin rushes – apply a few drops, gently rub. Contact the doctor if the rushes persist and no improvements show in the next day or two.
• Small cuts – apply 1-2 drops. It will disinfect, ease the pain and help with healing.
• Cough, cold, flu, sinus infection – diffuse the oil in the room for a couple of hours or as long as you want. 20 drops to 1 cup of water.
• Ear infection – 1 drop of Lavender massage around the ear. 1 drop of Lavender (can be mixed with 1 drop of Chamomile) on the cotton ball, place a cotton ball into the ear. Must be applied to both ears even when the pain affects only one.
• Insomnia – diffuse the oil in the room during the night. 20 drops to 1 cup of water. Puts restless babies to sleep like a charm.
• Headache – 1 drop of lavender (can be mixed with 1 drop of Peppermint) applied around the hairline.
• Muscle pain, arthritis, back pain – ease the pain by applying 1-2 drops of Lavender directly to the affected area.
• Depression, anxiety, mood swings – diffuse the oil in the room for a couple of hours or as long as you want. 20 drops to 1 cup of water.
• Ice-cream – yummy.  Only use therapeutic or food grade oil for it. Instead of vanilla flavoring add 1 drop of Lavender oil for 2 cups of ice-cream mixture before putting it in the ice-cream maker. It adds unforgettable flavor.

A word about diffusers: Only use cold diffusers (ionic diffusers) because heat destroys therapeutic properties of essential oils.

Suggested sources of good quality essential oils:

Young Living: https://www.youngliving.org/harmony66

Tisserand: http://www.tisserandusa.com/

admin, Reiki http://www.surchange.com/437/lavender-the-wonder-oil/

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2. Essential oils for depression and anxiety
3. Tasty Water while Fighting Cancer

Each of our organs runs on… electricity. In 1924 the Nobel Prize was awarded to W. Einthoven for discovery of heart’s electricity. And as we know electricity produces magnetic field. Nowadays numerous devices from EKG to fertility monitors use readings from our bio-magnetic field to give doctors valuable information about the state of our health.

Using bio-magnetic field for evaluation is actually not very 21 century. For millenniums it was used in different healing systems throughout the world. In the East, for example, the Seven energy vortexes that float over our body like flowers are called Chakras, which in Sanskrit means “wheels”. As a part of Ayurveda, the wellness system originated in India, they were successfully used by Indian doctors and their patients for over 5,000 years to help the body heal itself.

According to ancient texts Chakras effect our body, emotions and mind in the most profound way. When all our Chakras are balanced we perform at the top of our abilities.

Chakra 1 – Base/Root

Location: base of the spine

Function: sense of security, survival instinct, stability

Color: Red

When blocked may manifest in: Weight problems, constipation, sciatica, arthritis, knee problems, fear, and powerlessness.

Essential Oil: Cypress

Chakra 2 – Sacral/Sexual

Location: lower abdomen

Function: Desire, pleasure, sexuality, creativity

Color: Orange

When blocked may manifest in: Importance, frigidity, kidney problem, lower back problem, lack of purpose, jealousy

Essential Oil: Ylang Ylang

Chakra 3 – Solar Plexus/Power

Location: solar plexus

Function: Will, power, joy, anger

Color: Yellow

When blocked may manifest in: Digestive problems, lust for power, luck of will and discipline

Essential Oil: Chamomile

Chakra 4 – Heart

Location: heart

Function: Love, compassion, friendship

Color: Green

When blocked may manifest in: Heart disease, lung problems, loneness, isolation, and feeling of separation

Essential Oil: lavender

Chakra 5 – Throat

Location: throat

Function: communication, ideas

Color: Blue

When blocked may manifest in: Colds, shoulder and arms problems, communication problems, difficulty expressing our feelings

Essential Oil: Tea Tree

Chakra 6 – Third Eye

Location: between eyebrows

Function: Intuition

Color: Indigo

When blocked may manifest in: Eye problems, headaches, state of denial, fear of the feature

Essential Oil: Basil

Chakra 7 – Crown

Location: top of head

Function: Understanding

Color: Violet

Malfunction: Depression, alienation, confusion, apathy, inability to learn, desperation

Essential Oil: Frankincense

Seven Chakras, seven notes, seven colors. Seven smells? Essential oils can be used to balance Chakras and bring harmony to our life.

Why essential oils have such en effect? Essential oils are not just combination of alcohols, phenols and terpenes. Each has its own pranic/chi energy or frequencies and these silent sounds (“magnetic waves”) make Chakras “sing” again.

They work the same way as tuning forks. Hit one of the forks and the other one of the same note that was silent just a moment ago began to sing in unison.

Essential oils change our emotional profile easily and not just because their sweet smell is associated with blooming meadows, but also because their small molecules penetrate blood brain barrier effortlessly targeting different parts of the  brain on biochemical level. By effecting emotions we effect Chakras and by effecting Chakras we remove hidden blockages fine-tuning our emotional and physical harmony.

Recommended sources for essential oils:

Young Living

Tisserand Aromatherapy

admin, Reiki http://www.surchange.com/247/essential-oils-for-chakra-balancing/

Related posts:

1. Chakra System – Basic Intoduction
2. Hemophilia and Essential Oils Safety
3. Essential Oils: How to choose – Part I

Essential Oils that might assist in reducing hemorrhages: Rosewood, Labdanum, Myrrh, Cypress, Lavender, Geranium, Rose, Sandalwood, Helichrysum

Essential Oils that might assist in contracting blood vessels: Chamomile, Cypress, Rose

Essential Oils that might ease stress: Lavender, Melissa (diffusion only), Frankincense, Labdanum, Neroli (diffusion only), Bergamot (diffusion only), Coriander, Cypress, Helichrysum, Chamomile, Geranium, Scots Pine, Ravensara, Rose, Sandalwood, Valerian, Spikenard, Basil, Patcholi

Safety Rules:

• Never apply essential oils to the skin without the advice from qualified professional
• Keep oils out of the reach of children, the mentally challenged and pets.
• Keep away from the eyes. If you get essential oils in the eyes, rinse immediately with milk followed by vegetable oil and water.
• Keep oils away from open flame.
• Store in a cool, dark place.
• Always blend essential oils with a carrier oil, cream, water, or other base before using.
• Never use perfume oils instead of essential oils

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1. Pregnancy and delivery with essential oils
2. Essential oils for depression and anxiety
3. Alzheimer’s – making life easier with essential oils

Gin Brunssen

Ayurveda is a 5,000 (yes, five thousand) year old life science and wellness tradition. Ayu – means life, Veda means science.

“The philosophy of Ayurveda is simple: we all, without exceptions, have the birthright to be healthy. Nobody should ever have less than a vibrant healthy life.” – explains Gin Brunssen, BS, LMBT, the founder of Ayurvedic Bodywork Center in Raleigh, NC.

Talking to an Ayurveda practitioner is sometimes absolutely puzzling for a first comer. As somebody once put it: “You come with a health problem, answer questions for an hour, and leave with the shopping list and a schedule”.

Ayurveda is a lifestyle in which appropriate food, regular exercises, and massages keep your body in the best working condition.

Gin is trained in Ayurvedic and Neuromuscular massage, Myofascial Release, Deep Tissue, Pregnancy massage, and Rossiter Technique.

She never dreamed of becoming a massage therapist or learning about Ayurveda. She earned her Bachelor of Science in the field of Human Development and Family Studies in 1999 and for a while worked with children and teenagers with special needs. But the stress level was too high and Gin started to think about changing career.

The desire of helping people made her choose a career in massage therapy. After graduating from the massage school in 2002 she spent a year working at the Chopra Center for Wellbeing in California learning Ayurveda.

It is easy to describe Ayurvedic massage as luxurious, detoxifying and total bliss. These ancient techniques use a lot of warmed herbalized oils and friction strokes to rejuvenate the tissues of the body, and induce the elimination of toxins.

“We choose different oils for different clients based on age honored traditions of Ayurveda. There are three body mind constitutions. First we seek to determine if imbalance exists within these constitutions. By applying oil and massage technique appropriate for a person’s constitution we correct imbalance and assist the body in healing itself.” – explains Gin Brunssen.

Ayurvedic Bodywork Center offers a wide selection of ancient Ayurvedic massage sessions from Gandharva (accompanied by the meditative sounds of the crystal bowl) and Marma therapy to Swedana, an herbal steam treatment.

Gin Brunssen, BS, LMBT is available for questions at:
(919) 609-3368

For more information about Ayurvedic Massage or to book your appointment online:
Ayurvedic Bodywork Center: http://www.ayubwc.com/treatments.html
3402 Hillsborough Street, Suite 106
Raleigh, NC, 27607

Related posts:

1. Stress and Rebalancing from an Ayurvedic Perspective
2. Essential Oils: How to choose – Part I
3. Essential Oil: How to choose – Part II

Alzheimer’s:

• Juniper – promotes nerve function
• Frankincense – helps with anxiety, fear, and anger
• Vitex – promotes nerve function (reduced symptoms of Parkinson’s in animals by 89%)
• Helichrysum – the Royalty of all essential oils helps almost with any neurological disease.

Anxiety/Depression/Stress:

• Frankincense – one of the chemicals in this oil forces the lung to take deeper breath, so increasing the filling of peace,
• Melissa  – was used in Europe for centuries against depression and anxiety

Also helpful: onycha, palmarose, petitgraine, pine, rose, sandalwood, spearmint, spruce, spikenard (yes, the one that was used on Jesus before the last supper), , tangerine, vetiver, and ylang ylang.

Nervous System Support:
Angelica, cedarwood, chamomile, frankincense, ginger, hyssop, lavender, myrrh, nutmeg, black pepper, peppermint, sandalwood, spruce, blue tansy, tarragon, valerian, vetiver.

Immune Support:
Cinnamon, cistus, clove, cumin, frankincense, galbanum, laurel, ledum, lemon, lime, mountain savory, myrrh, nutmeg, orange, oregano, ravensara, sage, tangerine, Idaho tansy, thyme, yarrow.

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1. Hemophilia and Essential Oils Safety
2. Essential oils for depression and anxiety
3. Pregnancy and delivery with essential oils

Marina Lando, MS, RM, 1059 CRP

Expectant mothers were always looking for safer alternatives than pharmaceuticals to help them cope with pregnancy challenges.

These essential oils are frequently used by British midwifes to assist ladies during pregnancy:

* Headaches – eucalyptus, peppermint, lavender, chamomile
* Insomnia – diffuse lavender, bergamot, lemon, ylang-ylang, rose
* Mood swings and baby blues – diffuse neroli, ylang-ylang, cypress, lavender, lemon, grapefruit, rose
* Nausea – diffuse melissa, chamomile, peppermint, lemon, ginger

Labor:

* Jasmine – stimulates contractions and speeds uterus contraction after the delivery,
* Frankincense – calming,
* Lemon – uplifting,
* Lavender – calming,
* Rose – uplifting and calming,
* Clary sage – stimulates contractions and assists labor

Essential Oils to avoid during pregnancy:

Ginger (in the last month of pregnancy), myrrh, juniper, German chamomile, cajuput, basil, marjoram, rosemary, clary sage, vetiver.

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2. Hemophilia and Essential Oils Safety
3. Alzheimer’s – making life easier with essential oils

Marina Lando, MS, RM, 1059 CRP

Single oils:

* Bergamot – uplifting
* Chamomile for relaxation
* Clary sage – natural antidepressant
* Dalmatian Sage – balancing and uplifting
* Frankincense – balancing, natural antidepressant
* Geranium – balancing
* Grapefruit, mandarin, sweet orange, lemon – uplifting
* Jasmine – emotionally warming and uplifting, natural antidepressant
* Melissa – natural antidepressant
* Neroli – natural antidepressant
* Peppermint – uplifting
* Rose – calming, uplifting, natural antidepressant
* Rosemary – uplifting
* Rovensara – balancing
* Sweet thyme – relaxing
* Tea-Tree – uplifting
* Ylang ylang – sedative

Blends:

* Mix lavender, marjoram and clary sage to ease anxiety.
* Blend grapefruit and ylang ylang for a lift.
* Blend bergamot (uplifting) with vetiver (known in India as oil of tranquility) and rose

More advice:

“Lavender plant is the best. You can carry a piece of it in your pocket and smell it when you’re stressed. Also Lavender Oil drops mixed in with any Lavender spray. I spray my pillows and myself with it!!”, – suggested Rachel Lynne

Or

“Cook something with lemon and basil then take a nice calming bath with lavender and eucalyptus”,- wrote Kasey Marie

So what to choose? It is simple. Trust your senses. Choose the smell you like most and enjoy your life.

Contributors:Marina Lando, Heather Thomas, Angela Jane Adams, Farida Moolla, Rachel Lynne, Kelly Finbow, Ewa Majchrzak, Kasey Marie, Renee Zepeda, Barbara-Lynn Freed, Cherie Tice. Farida Moolla, Jam Chang

More info:

Join the group or read recent posts
Purchase therapeutic grade essential oils

Related posts:

1. Pregnancy and delivery with essential oils
2. Anxiety and Depression: a simple change might save the day
3. Hemophilia and Essential Oils Safety

Marina Lando, MS, RM, 1059 CRP

Once upon a time practitioner found a REAL deal on Rose essential oil.

Oh, boy WHAT a deal! … The oil developed slight, tiny-winy, insignificant glitch in a few months, but it was not very important. No honestly, do you see any problem if Rose oil smells like a fish?

In aromatherapy quality, integrity and potency of essential oil is a paramount.

Many expansive oils are faked by blending cheaper one together. They are also diluted with base oils to make bigger profit. The smell might be similar, but therapeutic properties are very different. Cheaper oils might also cause irritation and photo-sensitivity.

The distillation process is also very important: essential oils must be distilled from organic material under very low temperatures without use of harsh solvents.

How to find a reputable supplier?

The simplest way is to ask your favorite aromatherapy practitioner about his/her favorite brand.

Or you can follow these easy rules:

1. If all essential oils are approximately of the same price – it is a fake.
2. If essential oils sold in clear bottles (not dark brown or blue) – it is a fake. Light kills essential oil.
3. If it is too good to be true – it is a fake.
4. If it is too cheap – it is a fake.
5. If it is sold in plastic bottles – it is a big fake.
6. If all bottles are the same size – it is a fake.

Local (Raleigh/Durham, NC) businesses where you can have an aromatherapy session and get advice about essential oils:
Harmony Life – Raindrop, Reiki and Aromatherapy sessions
Ayurvedic Bodywork Center – Ayurvedic massage
Healthy Steps – Raindrop
Aromatherapy Celebrations - Spiritual Healing with essential oils

For more info on aromatherapy:
Aromatherapy Facebook page
Purchase therapeutic grade essential oils

Related posts:

1. Essential Oils: How to choose – Part I
2. Aromatherapy: What it is and what it is not
3. Effective Prevention of Swine Flu (H1N1) with Essential Oils.

Marina Lando, MS, RM, 1059 CRP

There is a lot of confusion about the quality of essential oils.

So to simplify your life you need to know that….

Essential oils can be of:
1. Food grade
2. Perfume grade
3. Therapeutic grade

The production of food and perfume grade is focused on keeping the smell/taste constant from year to year and from batch to batch. It is a little tricky: essential oils as wines are different from harvest to harvest. Unfortunately, some of the health benefits are lost due to production process.

Therapeutic grade essential oils produced under lower temperatures from organic plants without the use of harsh solvents. They are more expansive, because the process is less “efficient”.

So which one you have to use?

The answer is simple:
1. If you want to make food with essential oils and do not intend to get any therapeutic result besides pleasant taste and smell, go with “food grade”. As usually these oils have a label that says “food grade” – it means they are safe to consume in small quantities.
2. If you just into creating your own perfumes or air freshener go with perfume grades.
3. If you are looking for therapeutic results – find a local aromatherapy practitioner. She/he already made all the research, fell in love with some reputable company, uses oils that produce results and will choose essential oils that will work for your particular case.

To learn more read Part II

Local (Raleigh/Durham, NC) businesses where you can have an aromatherapy session and get advice about essential oils:
Harmony Life – Raindrop, Reiki and Aromatherapy sessions
Ayurvedic Bodywork Center – Ayurvedic massage
Healthy Steps – Raindrop
Aromatherapy Celebrations - Spiritual Healing with essential oils

For more info on aromatherapy:
Aromatherapy Facebook page
Purchase therapeutic grade essential oils

Related posts:

1. Essential Oil: How to choose – Part II
2. Effective Prevention of Swine Flu (H1N1) with Essential Oils.
3. Aromatherapy: What it is and what it is not

Marina Lando, MS, RM, 1059 CRP

The Swine Flu (H1N1) can be treated with common antiviral drugs – which is a good news. Everything that can be treated can be prevented.

Many essential oils with anti-viral properties can be used everyday by children, adults and elders for prevention.

The safest way is to defuse essential oils it in the room (cold diffusion is preferable as this method does not destroy integrity of essential oil).

Diffuser can be used during the night in the bedroom or in the living room when your family gathered together for a chat, dinner or a movie. Diffusers are very effective in preventing the spread of infections among family members.

If you teach classes or work in the room with other people don’t hesitate to bring diffuser with you. Therapeutic essential oils are hypo allergic as they contain no protein and no man made chemicals. People also find essential oil smell non-offensive.

The following is the list of single essential oils that might be useful. Use them along or in combination (NB: essential oil must be of therapeutic grade to be effective): cinnamon bark, grapefruit, myrrh, coriander, cypress, eucalyptus globulus, eucalyptus radiate, helichrysum (everlasting or immortale), hyssop, lavender, bay leaf, cajuput, spearmint, Scots pine, revensara, rosemary, sage, clove bud, thyme, Idaho tansy, lemon, mountain savory, myrtle, peppermint.

Having an aromatherapy session on a regular basis is a very good preventive approach.

Local (Raleigh/Durham, NC) businesses where you can have an aromatherapy session:
Harmony Life – Raindrop, Reiki and Aromatherapy sessions
Ayurvedic Bodywork Center – Ayurvedic massage
Healthy Steps – Raindrop

Related posts:

1. Essential Oils: How to choose – Part I
2. Hemophilia and Essential Oils Safety
3. Alzheimer’s – making life easier with essential oils