BREATHE

It's that time of year when those colds and flu's are knocking people down left and right. I just made some Breathe shower fizzies to help open my sinuses and invigorate me in the morning.  The essential oils in this blend are known for their abilities to combat airborne bacteria and viruses and for their ability to open and soothe the tissues of the respiratory system. It is one of my most used oils and I combine it with On Guard when I'm feeling under the weather. It is also a wonderful nighttime diffusion oil.

Body Systems Affected: Effective in alleviating and aiding various problems related to the Respiratory System.

Breathe  a respiratory blend
Blend Ingredients Eucalyptus radiata Laurel leaf Lemon Melaleuca alternfolia Peppermint Ravensara   This Blend Addresses Asthma Bronchitis Congestion Cold and flu Cough Respiratory stress		Application Techniques Use at the onset of cold, flu, and congestion. Apply topically with thorough massage to the back, neck, shoulders, chest, and feet. Combine with hot compresses for best results. Use cup and inhale or diffuse when possible and carry a tissue cup on the go. For young children or infants, use a carrier oil like fractionated coconut oil, apply with massage to chest and back, and cover with clothing or socks after finishing. This blend can be helpful in a bath using salts or a dispersing agent. During a steamy hot shower, plug the drain for a few minutes and use several drops with a wash cloth in the bath area. Follow guidelines under “Asthma” for asthma conditions.

http://www.everythingdoterra.com/

DIGEST ZEN

With those holidays upon us, here's the oil to have on hand before the overindulging begins. It's fabulous for belly aches, gas, bloating, pretty much any stomach issues really. I will apply topically to my belly and take internal--so a few drops under the tongue. Otherwise, you can always encapsulate (a few drops in empty gelatin capsule), or a few drops added to water.  For your little ones, apply 1-2 drops on the soles of the feet (can be mixed with olive oil or a carrier oil) or 1 drop in the belly button...again use caution and mix with a carrier oil, so it won't be too spicy for sensitive areas. 

Can be applied to animal paws for parasites. My pup gets essential oils in her water. Usually lemon, peppermint or a blend, and I use a smaller drop from a 5/8 dram bottle or a toothpick in the oil and then swirled in water. 

Properties:  Oils in this blend are known for their abilities in balancing the digestive system and in soothing many ailments associated with the digestive system. Anti-inflammatory, Anti-parasitic, antispasmodic.

Caution: not for those with epilepsy and use with caution during pregnancy.
Body System Affected: Balancing and strengthen to the digestive system

http://www.everythingdoterra.com/

DigestZen  a digestive blend
Blend Ingredients Anise Caraway Coriander Fennel Ginger Peppermint Tarragon   This Blend Addresses Congestion Constipation Diarrhea Heartburn Indigestion Motion sickness Nausea Stomach aches		Application Techniques Typical ingredients used in these types of blends are certified GRAS by the FDA. Take 1-2 drops in 1/4 cup of warm water or juice for stomach issues or heartburn. For infants and small children, apply topically to the stomach area with a carrier oil to protect their sensitive skin. Combine 1 teaspoon of fractionated coconut oil with a drop each of a digestive blend and Lavender and apply the dilution for diaper rash. Add 2-3 drops of digestive blend and 1 drop of Lemon in 1 tablespoon of olive oil and take internally every hour up to 8 hours while relief comes from gallbladder attacks. One can apply similarly using guarding blends.

Geranium

Let's talk Geranium. This is my go to oil for bruising. My little Luna keeps giving me some playful puppy nips that hurt and bruise. I put Geranium on these nips and the bruising is minimal if any. Geranium also is great to add to a bath for calming and balancing. I like to blend it with Clary Sage, Bergamot, and Frankincense in salts for a bath.

Properties: Antibacterial, anticonvulsant, antidepressant, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, astringent, diuretic, insect repellant, refreshing, relaxing, sedative, and tonic.

Body Systems Affected: Emotional Balance, and Skin.

Here is more info from our friends at Everything Essential.
 http://www.everythingessential.me/Oils/Geranium.html.

GERANIUM  Pelagronium graveolens
Properties Analgesic Antidepressant Antiseptic Astringent Diuretic Sedative   Wellness Uses Calm and Stress Relief Disinfect Living Areas Emergency Salve/Spray Skin Care Common Health Concerns Acne Burns Cuts and Wounds Depression Dermatitis Diarrhea Gum/Mouth Problems Herpes Hormone Support Indigestion Menstrual Problems Skin Disorders Sore Throat Stomach Ache Throat Infections		About Geranium The pelaruonium family includes a wide variety of 'Geraniums'.  Those that are commonly used for household plants are of a different variety than those from which essential oils are distilled.  Even for essential oils there are various plants, countries of origin and variations depending on the harvesting process.  It is considered a native plant of South Africa but is now grown in many regions of the world. Its fresh floral aroma it has just a hint of Rose and is used heavily in the perfume and cosmetic industry.  For this reason it is important to be assured of the purity and quality of essential oil that you are acquiring since there are lower quality products easily available. DōTerra Geranium is selected and tested for quality essential oil usage.  It is of the botanical family Geraniaceae, grown in the Reunion Island, and steam extracted from the leaf of this plant. Typical Applications The variety of Geranium's properties give it a wealth of beneficial uses. It has been used to soothe inflammation, irritated skin, bruises and even burns.  Some report it has a balancing effect on sebum production that makes it great for acne as well as both dry and oily skin problems.  Due to its analgesic characteristics it is often used as a topical agent for individuals suffering with arthritis or rheumatism. Geranium stimulates the immune system, aids in poor circulation, and is anti-mucolytic. It has a pleasing aroma, is uplifting to the mood, and has a calming  effect on the nervous system that is pronounced.  It may be applied directly to the skin, diluted for an ointment or used with a diffuser.

Rosemary

Going forward I will be doing a weekly update of specific essential oils. This will include little tidbits about the oils I use and some general historically know facts.  Over the years, I have found many resources for essential oils.  My favorite books include those by Jeanne Rose, Valerie Ann Wormwood and the Modern Essentials: A Contemporary Guide to the Therapeutic Use of Essential Oils. I want to thank www.everythingdoterra.com for compiling some of the information I'll be posting. This website is a great resource!

Let's begin with Rosemary....

Rosemary is one of my most used oils. I love the strong, herbaceous scent with woody balsamic and evergreen undertones. If I have chest congestion that lingers or any lung issues, I will place a few drops of the doTERRA Rosemary oil on my palm and apply it directly to my chest. It has worked wonders for me for lingering chest congestion. Recently, I suggested this to my sister and she too experienced the relief of Rosemary oil as it helped cleared her lung congestion.

Properties: Analgesic, antibacterial, anticancer, anti fungal, anti infectious, anti-inflammatory,
     antioxidant, and expectorant. 

Body Systems Affected: Immune, Respiratory, and Nervous Systems

ROSEMARY  Rosmarinus officinalis
Properties Analgesic Antioxidant Antiseptic Antispasmodic Astringent Diuretic Stimulant Wellness Uses Calm and Stress Relief Cold and Flu Season Skin Care   Common Health Concerns Arthritic Pain Asthma Bronchitis Colds and Flu Constipation Dermatitis Diarrhea Gout Hypertension Indigestion Menstrual Problems Migraines Muscle Pain Skin Disorders Stomach Ache		About Rosemary Rosemary has traditionally been used for stimulating the mind, enhancing mental clarity, treating skin disorders, relieving stiffness of joints, and stimulating healthy hair growth.  Many find its warming qualities beneficial for arthritic pain and rheumatism.  Some have found it effective in treating colds and flu.  DōTerra Rosemary Essential Oil if from the botanical family Lamiaceae (Labiatae) grown in Morocco and steam distilled from the leaf of the plant. Typical Applications Use compresses and baths when trying to sooth stiff joints, arthritis, or rheumatism.  Use diffusion or other methods of inhalation when treating colds, flu, and as a mind stimulant.  Rosemary is certified as GRAS by the FDA and can be taken internally.  Rosemary has had positive effects being applied neat or with a carrier to the scalp, face, or neck for skin or hair/scalp disorders.   Precautions:  Consult professional advice before use by those who are pregnant or nursing mothers.

 http://everythingdoterra.com/

ENGAGE 2012

My Top 3 from the ENGAGE CONVENTION 2012

(All info from Product Information Sheets)

InTune Focus Blend (Amyris, Patchouli, Frankincense, Lime, Ylang Ylang, Sandalwood (Hawaiian), and Roman Chamomile)

No matter your age, staying focused on the task at hand is sometimes difficult.  This is especially critical during the formative years when learning and growing create habits and a foundation for life.  There are many factors to consider when researching solutions, including diet, sleep, habits, discipline, medicine, environmental influences, stress, relationships, and others.  Essential oils are one of natures ways to help deal with these kinds of challenges so that you can get things done when you need them done.

The carefully selected essential oils in doTERRA's In Tune Focus Blend work together, supporting your efforts to remain calm and focused on a desired task.  Sandalwood, frankincense, and lime contribute to clarity and focus, while the benefits of amyris, patchouli, ylang ylang, and Roman Chamomile are calming and soothing.  The pleasing aroma of In Tune Focus Blend makes this solution an easy and delightful one to use.

Apply to bottoms of feet and/or the back of the neck. 

Black Pepper 

doTERRA's CPTG black pepper essential oil is a multi purpose oil that is extracted from the unripe red fruit of the Piper nigrum plant.  A stimulating and highly antioxidant essential oil which has been shown to improve circulation, aid digestive system, as well as help curb urges to smoke.  Black pepper is also a wonderful flavor enhancer but a little goes a long way-use sparingly.

DDR Prime Essential Oil Cellular Complex (Frankincense, wild orange, lemongrass, thyme, summer savory, clove, and niaouli. 

As the basic structure of all living things, cells perform three primary functions: they make copies of themselves, they perform a specialized function, and they self destruct when they are not performing their first two functions correctly.  As we age, cellular function can be compromised by poor nutrition, obesity, stress, and the exposure to harmful environmental influences such as infectious microorganisms, and toxic chemicals.  When cellular DNA and other structures are compromised, cells can fail to regenerate, fail to function as programmed, and fail to initiate the normal and healthy process of cellular turnover and renewal.  

DDR Prime Essential Oil Cellular Complex is a proprietary blend of CPTG essential oils that have been shown in clinical studies to help protect cells against free-radical damage while supporting healthy cellular function.  The blend includes clove, thyme and wild orage essential oils, providing powerful antioxidants that help protect cellular DNA from free-radical damage.  It also includes frankincense, lemongrass, summer savory, and nialouli, which have been show to support cellular apoptosis and renewal.

DDR Prime is available as a pure blend in a 30 ml bottle, or in a liquid capsule format that includes doTERRA's Nanosomal Lipid Assimilation System for improved bio-availability and digestion.

Essential oils?

What is an essential oil?

Essential oils are natural aromatic compounds found in the seeds, bark, stems, roots, flowers, and other parts of plants. They can be both beautifully and powerfully fragrant. If you have ever enjoyed the gift of a rose, a walk by a field of lavender, or the smell of fresh cut mint, you have experienced the aromatic qualities of essential oils. In addition to giving plants their distinctive smells, essential oils provide plants with protection against predators and disease and play a role in plant pollination. 
Essential oils are non water-based phytochemicals made up of volatile organic compounds. Although they are fat soluble, they do not include fatty lipids or acids found in vegetable and animal oils. Essential oils are very clean, almost crisp, to the touch and are immediately absorbed by the skin. Pure, unadulterated essential oils are translucent and range in color from crystal clear to deep blue.

Try this at home: Squeeze the peel of a ripe orange. The fragrant residue on your hand is full of essential oils.

In addition to their intrinsic benefits to plants and being beautifully fragrant to people, essential oils have been used throughout history in many cultures for their medicinal and therapeutic benefits. Modern scientific study and trends towards more holistic approaches to wellness are driving a revival and new discovery of essential oil health applications.
dōTERRA (CPTG) Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade^® essential oils represent the safest, purest, and most beneficial essential oils available today. They are gently and skillfully distilled from plants that have been patiently harvested at the perfect moment by experienced growers from around the world for ideal extract composition and efficacy. Experienced essential oil users will immediately recognize dōTERRA's superior quality standard for naturally safe, purely effective therapeutic-grade essential oils.

CPTG

Essential Oil Quality Grades

There are a growing number of products claiming to be or to contain essential oils. They range in price and quality and are found in skin care, cosmetics, aromatherapy, and other products. However, many of these products do not use 100% pure essential oils and often use fragrant synthetic chemical substitutes to dilute or replace more expensive essential oil extracts. Furthermore, there are no current regulatory standards for the descriptive use of the “therapeutic grade” for products labeled as essential oils.
The CPTG Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade^®* mark represents dōTERRA's own internal standards for sourcing and testing 100% pure aromatic botanical extracts using  independent testing laboratories. The dōTERRA brand and registered CPTG mark represent dōTERRA's guarantee of 100% pure essential oil extracts that meet high standards for both purity and material composition and accurate product labeling.

dōTERRA's therapeutic-grade essential oils are 100% pure natural aromatic compounds carefully extracted from plants. They do not contain fillers or artificial ingredients that would dilute their active qualities. Proper extraction and quality control methods also ensure that dōTERRA's essential oils are free of any contaminants such as pesticides or other chemical residues. In addition to being 100% pure and natural, dōTERRA's Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade essential oils are subjected to further quality testing that ensures the correct composition of the active natural compounds found in each oil. Even though an essential oil may be 100% pure, if the right species or part of a plant has not been used, or if the plant has not been grown in the right environment or harvested at the right time, or if it has not been distilled under the right conditions, the natural chemical makeup of the extraction will not provide as predictable and powerful a benefit. In some cases, the wrong plant harvested at the wrong time may result in an extract that contains harmful levels of some constituents.
dōTERRA's Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade essential oils are guaranteed to be 100% pure and natural and free of synthetic compounds or contaminates. They are subjected to rigorous mass spectrometry and gas chromatography testing to ensure extract composition and activity. dōTERRA's 100% pure essential oils represent the safest and most beneficial essential oils available today.

(Try this at home: Compare the smell of dōTERRA's 100% lavender essential oil to another lavender oil or product in your home. If your product's fragrance is overbearing in any one note it may contain synthetic chemical substitutes. A 100% pure therapeutic-grade essential oil should have a balanced, broad fragrance profile and should smell crystal clean. Now, compare the feel of your product to dōTERRA's essential oil. A pure essential oil should not feel slick or oily but rather absorb cleanly and completely into your skin.)

Using Essential Oils Safely

*CPTG Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade^® is a registered trademark of dōTERRA Holdings, LLC representing internal standards of quality assessment and material control. The CPTG testing protocols require the use of independent laboratories for CPTG standardization and quality testing. The CPTG protocol is not administered by government or industry regulatory agencies and does imply regulatory approval of dōTERRA products.

And it continues....

So it's been over a year since I started this site. I continue to grow and expand my knowledge of essential oils and herbal remedies. This site is a dedication to what I learned. I find balance in the duality of us all. Our own little Gemini's lives within. Our Great Earth Mother (GEM) has many resources for us to utilize to promote health and wellness. This is a place for seekers to find the knowledge they may be looking for.  *Namaste*