Month: July 2019

3 Essential Oils For Every First Aid Kit

The World Of Health alternative medicine, health, holistic, natural medicine, wellness , , , 3 Comments
3 Essential Oils For Every First Aid Kit

 

3 Essential Oils For Every Home Or Travel First Aid Kit.

Why these 3 essential oils are so common and extremely versatile in helping treat many minor ailments, symptoms, and injury. In this article, I share why as a qualified aromatherapist for over 20 years I choose these natural remedies to replace many over the counter medication.

So What Are Essential Oils?

Essential oils are the concentrated oils of the plants they are extracted from. Essential oils come from a variety of plants, leaves, bark, shrubs, fruits, and flowers. Pure essential oils are unadulterated oils that are regarded as having various therapeutic health and wellness benefits. They are used widely by the pharmacological and cosmetic industries.

Cosmetic And Pharmalogical Use Of Essential Oils

Various research has demonstrated the benefits of certain essential oils to treat bacterial infections. In the study –  Antimicrobial activity and chemical composition of some essential oils  “Origanum onites recorded antimicrobial activity against all test bacteria, and was strongest against Staphylococcus aureus.’

According to Science Direct –A status review on the medicinal properties of essential oils “Essential oils are prescribed for a variety of health problems by traditional systems of medicine, all over the world. Various pharmaceutical and biological activities like antibacterial, antifungal, anticancer, antimutagenic, antidiabetic, antiviral, antiinflammatory, and antiprotozoal properties are assigned to them.” Now as someone who had chronic health challenges from a young age I began to use essential oils to support my health in my early twenties. I used essential oils to boost my immune system, as an aid to treat bacterial and viral infections to treat a bad burn, reduce a high temperature, relieve toothache and cramping and so much more.

Safe Use Of Essential Oils

Now when using essential oils therapeutically for your health and wellbeing. It is important to use only pure essential oils of the highest grade. Sadly not all of these natural oils are unadulterated and of the highest quality. That is why I choose doTERRA oils or Neals Yard Organics.

Important: Do NOT consume or apply essential oils undiluted directly on the skin the only exception is lavender in the case of a burn. Essential oils are always diluted in a carrier or massage oil, added to bathwater, used in inhalation or applied to a compress. No matter the quality of the extraction of these oils they can burn the skin. Always check instructions for correct use and dilution of essential oils 

essential oils for every first aid kit

Natures First Aid Kit

 

Pure essential oils are not only a natural alternative to many common ailment medication. Used to treat a variety of different ailments and injury. For the backpacker or executive flyer who needs minimal luggage, these 3 tiny bottles are worth their weight in gold

Lavender

Lavender Oil is extracted or distilled from the lavender herb plant Lavandula latifolia . Both the flower and the oil of lavender are actually used to make medicine. Lavender’s extremely versatility is probably why it is the most common therapeutic essential oil used today. Lavender oil in the right dosage and dilution can be applied or inhaled by most children and adults. But should not be used on newborns. In another blog, I explain in more detail why lavender should be part of every home first aid kit.

Lavender is commonly used as an aid for bites, bruises, headaches, muscle inflammation, sprains, and stings. Lavender can be applied directly to the skin in case of a burn and can help reduce scarring. Lavender’s analgesic properties help reduce inflammation and pain. Lavender has a deeply soothing, relaxing and gently uplifting scent which makes it helpful for insomnia, anxiety, depression, and stress. My mother and siblings use lavender to help relieve high temperatures in their children.

Like other essential oils, Lavendula has a wide range of psychological benefits. They can have a tremendous effect when inhaled on the olfactory and limbic systems. Lavender has been shown various research as a possible treatment in some psychological and neurological conditionsIt is well-reputed for its benefits on the mood and emotions. Lavender is one of the safest oils you can use on children and those who are highly sensitive.As long as you follow the recommended guidelines by a qualified aromatherapist.

Tea- Tree

Tea tree oil has been demonstrated to have broad-spectrum antimicrobial and ant-viral benefits against Herpes Simples Virus and treating wound infections. Tea-tree is a powerful antiseptic, antifungal and anti-microbial agent that can be used to clean wounds, used in skincare and as a cleaning aid. Add a few drops to a spritzer bottle of warm water to clean surfaces. Tea-Tree is widely used as an antifungal against candida by many naturopaths. It is also used as a treatment aid for nail infections, dandruff, and acne by cosmetic and pharmacological companies. Tea-Tree was used by the Australian army and navy in world war 11 as a germicide. It has also been medically researched on its uses in alleviating eczema

Peppermint

Peppermint oil is widely used by the pharmacological industry as an antispasmodic for the treatment of Irritable BowelSyndrome. It is also widely used in a variety of products used to help reduce headaches, migraines and even neuralgia type issues. Peppermint like tea-tree has good anti-bacterial against various strains of bacteria. It also has demonstrated to have ant-viral properties and ant-fungal activity against Candida. Peppermint is extremely cooling on the skin, it is widely used by the cosmetic, confectionery and food industry. A few drops of peppermint added to a water spritzer bottle makes a perfect cooling spray. Add a few drops of peppermint to a foot bath or added to a base cream to cool down warm achy feet.

Benefits Of Essential Oils

They are all from mother nature’s cupboard, so less risk of allergies and side-effects.

You can make up your own required dosage of application which is ideal for kids.

The ability to mix and blend different these oils.

They can be used in a variety of ways; added to a bath, footbath, compress, added to a carrier oil or even inhaled.

They are in small discrete easy to pack bottles so take-up minimal luggage space.

 Opportunity to save money by replacing a long list of over the counter medicines that you rarely use, but need just in case. With natural remedies that are much more versatile and can often have a much longer shelf-life.

Eileen Burns is a qualified aromatherapist and holistic therapist who has taught aromatherapy for over 18 years.

 

 

 

 

Ayurvedic Medicine – The Origins of Ayurveda

The World Of Health alternative medicine, health, holistic, natural medicine, spiritual, wellness , , , , , , , 5 Comments
Ayurvedic Medicine – The Origins of Ayurveda

Ayurvedic Medicine is one of the ancient forms of traditional medicine which is in practice from over 6,000 B.C. Indian mythological texts, the Vedas refer to this traditional medicine and its importance. Ayurveda focuses on the entire body healing with the help of detoxification. This eastern medicine’s main focus is on boosting the immune system, the energy systems through natural remedies. This world’s oldest holistic healing therapy is believed to bring balance between the mind, body, and spirit for better health.

Ayurvedic medicine is considered as an alternative to many western medicines and treatments. But in fact it is a holistic treatment that can be used alongside modern medicine. In the USA, Ayurvedic medicine treatments are considered a type of CAM (complementary and alternative medicine). The origins of the vedas and ayurvedic treatment are completely holistic.

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How the Vedas and Ayurveda relate to each other?

Ayurveda has its roots originated earlier than the 8th century. The Vedas is the ancient Hindu religious textbooks that deal in healthcare techniques, astrology, spirituality, politics, human behaviour etc. Altogether there are four Vedas, the Rig Veda, Yajur Veda, Sama Veda, and Atharva Veda. Each of these Vedas deals in specific things with relation to society and living.

The Atharva Veda is an ancient book that deals with ancient medical practices. It has a details description of Ayurveda and various types of Ayurvedic treatments using plants with medicinal values. All these books were written in Sanskrit which was later translated into Chinese, Greek, and many other languages.

 

How is Ayurvedic Medicine linked with your life energy?

The yogic theory believes that when the mind, body, and soul connect with each other in harmony, it brings good health. Meditation,   Relaxation and balance helps to keep them working harmoniously. It is also believed that the human body is made up of five basic elements like air, fire, water, earth, and space. These elements combine together in pairs and form life energy or doshas which controls the working of your body. There are three major types of dosha as mentioned in Ayurveda. They are:

  • Vata dosha is a combination of Space and Air.
  • Pitta dosha consists of the two vital elements of fire and water.
  • Kapha dosha consists of elements of water and earth.

 

These doshas control different functions of the body. Whenever there is any disbalance in these doshas, a person falls into dis-ease, becomes sick. An Ayurveda practitioner will first understand a person’s dosha and recommend a specific treatment to balance it.

 

ayurvedic medicine - the origins of ayurveda

What Happens If The Doshas Get Imbalanced?

 

Vata Dosha

Vata Dosha is believed to the strongest among the three doshas. This traditional medicine theory underlines the fact that Vata Dosha controls cell division which is the fundamental of life. It controls your bowel movements and other organs of the body like heart, blood flow, etc. Vata Dosha also controls your mind and breathing rate. There are various reasons for which disbalance occurs in its functioning. Like unhealthy and improper diet, less sleep, fear, grief, etc. Once there is disbalance, there are high chances to develop conditions like heart disease, blood pressure, stress, anxiety, and even rheumatoid arthritis. Ayurveda deals with these health issues and offers natural remedy with the use of herbal medicines, detoxification techniques, etc.

 

Pitta Dosha

When there is a problem with regards to your digestion, it is believed that there is a disbalance in Pitta Dosha. The energy center in Pitta Dosha controls your metabolism. Once it functions properly it helps to break down the food with the help of various digestive hormones. If you are suffering from digestion problems, acidity or constipation, it means there is a disbalance in Pitta Dosha. If Pitta Dosha stops functioning properly there are high chances for these conditions to develop. When you eat too much junk food, drink less water or expose yourself to excess heat, you are likely to develop this problem. Ayurveda deals with these health issues and offers a natural remedy to treat them.

Kapha Dosha

Kapha Dosha, which is a combination of water and earth, controls your muscle growth and body strength. It also gives you stability, makes your immune system strong and keeps your weight under control. An unhealthy lifestyle like improper sleep, eating too much sugar and fast food, etc. can disrupt it. In case it gets disturbed, patients are seen to develop many health issues like cancer, diabetes, obesity, etc. The natural herbal healing techniques used in Ayurveda can help solve the root of these problems by rebalancing Kapha Dosha.

 

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How Do You Become An Ayurvedic Medicine

Ayurvedic medicine practitioners are called Vaidya which is a Sanskrit word. In English it means physician. If you wish to learn Ayurveda and become a Vaidya there are various approved training programs. The course-curriculum covers a detailed study of dosha, yoga, meditation, and various herbal treatments. It is important you choose a properly accredited and recognized course in this area.

 

What are the different branches in Ayurveda?

Ayurveda medicine has eight different branches of treatment. They are listed below:

  • Internal medicine or Kayachikitsa – It deals with the overall treatment of the body with the use of herbal oils, lotions, and creams.
  • Treatment for children or Baala Chikitsa – It focuses on all treatment with regards to a child’s development.
  • Psychiatry treatment or Graha Chikitsa – It focused to cure various mental problems with the help of yoga, meditation, and deep breathing.
  • Urdhyaanga Chikitsa – This branch of Ayurveda emphasis to cure health issues with regards to eyes, ears, nose, and throat.
  • Surgery or Shalyaroga Chikitsa – Deals with any kind of surgery using surgical instruments.
  • Toxicology or Damstra Chikitsa – Deals to remove toxic elements from your body.
  • Geriatric or Jara Chikitsa – Deals with various therapies on anti-aging.
  • Reproductive health or Vajjikaran Chikitsa – Deals with infertility and sexual health.
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Benefits of Ayurvedic Medicine

Centuries ago there was no such thing as cosmetic or modern medicine. People only had access to natural medicine. Ayurvedic treatments focus on eliminating the root of these health issues. Using nature and a state of balance. It can be a slow but effective process to cure various illnesses using natural medicine. We all know plants have medicinal properties. Ayurveda uses those medicinal properties to give relief from different illnesses without the usual side effects associated with modern medicine.

 

Low Cost Holistic Health Course

Would you like to know your Dosha body type?

One of our guest bloggers Rochelle  Marie Lawson has this Free Assessment Dosha Quiz | Body Type Assessment

Know your unique body type to get your own personalized formula to living blissfully.

 

 

 

Understanding Stress And Disease

Eileen Burns health, holistic, stress, wellness , , , , , , , , 5 Comments
Understanding Stress And Disease - Why Stress Causes Disease In The Mind, Body And Emotions - The World of Health

Stress and Disease.

Why Negative Stress Increases Your Risk of Disease, Illness, and Unhappiness.

Stress and disease. Why stress causes dis-ease, increases inflammation and reduces our immune system. Why stress is a modern-day killer.

The body’s stress response is our body’s innate life-saving system that effectively responds to dangerous and life-threatening situations. That is why it is known as the survival response or fight or flight response.

When you are in a state of stress. Your hypothalamus stimulates the release of stress hormones, especially adrenaline and cortisol.  Now, this rush of hormones will increase your heart rate, respiration rate, blood pressure, and muscle energy. This will help you react quickly and effectively (fight or flee) in a life-threatening or emergency situation.

Now, the stress response is supposed to be an occasional response. So, after the stress response, your body is designed to naturally go back into a relaxed state of being.

But today for too many people the stress response, has become their more normal everyday way of being. They are now in a state of chronic stress and disease. When your mind and body become habitually exposed to high levels of stress hormones. Your body then finds itself in a state of dis-ease, a state of imbalance.

 

Disease caused by stress, what stress does to the physical body

Stress And Disease

Too many believe Chronic Stress is something you just live with, that it is a necessary by-product of modern life. But that is so not true, no-one needs to live with chronic long-term stress.

If you find it difficult to switch off, you cannot relax and find you always need to be busy. You are probably suffering from long-term or chronic stress.

Long-term stress sufferers find themselves in a constant state of hyperarousal or hypervigilance. They become constantly alert to the threat of possible danger and they are at increased risk of developing an anxiety disorder.

This chronic state of overstimulation can lead to a variety of physical, mental, and emotional health issues. The Immune System, for example, is a connection of systems, processes, cells, tissues, and organs. They all need to be working in harmony to protect the body against “foreign attack of viruses, bacteria anything that causes disease.

“Inflammation is partly regulated by the hormone cortisol and when cortisol is not allowed to serve this function, inflammation can get out of control,” said Cohen, the Robert E. Doherty Professor of Psychology within CMU’s Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences – ScienceDaily.Com

Cortisol stops and slows down unnecessary essential body functions during emergency situations ( the fight or flight stress response) so when we are regularly overexposed to cortisol. Certain body functions are impacted especially the digestive and immune system, growth, and reproductive system.

Adrenaline increases heart rate and blood pressure. So in long-term stress, there is a higher risk of heart disease and high blood pressure. That is why stress and disease is so interconnected.

 

Long-Term Stress And Disease

Here are just some examples of how much long-term stress wreaks havoc with your mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing.

  • Anxiety
  • Concentration and memory challenges
  • Depression and mental health challenges
  • Digestive Issues
  • Headaches
  • Heart disease
  • Hormone imbalances
  • Insomnia
  • Lowered immune system
  • Weight gain

Increased Stress Risk

Many factors can increase our stress exposure and many variables that can make us more stress resilient.

  • Present Health Challenges
  • Genetics, Hereditary Factors
  • Personality Types and Traits
  • Life Experiences and Life Challenges
  • Life Skills, Communication Skills
  • Location

 

The above can all increase our risk of stress and disease. But fundamentally most modern STRESS is triggered by our beliefs. By what we Fear or Resist persists.

Most chronic and long-term stress can be eliminated and reduced when we learn how to let go of and manage our stress.

 

stress management course for life coaches, therapists, holistic practitioners

Stress Management Advice

Learning how to manage, reduce, and let go of stress is key to making you more resilient to life’s challenges.

Learn To Relax – Relaxation Techniques are a powerful way to move the body off the stress response into the relaxed response.

Live In The Moment – Learn how to stop be in the moment, and be more mindful,  meditation and mindfulness can be extremely helpful.

Live A Balanced Life – A more balanced life leads to a more balanced mind, body, and emotions.-

Reduce Stimulants – Internal and external stimulants cause havoc on the body from caffeine, sugar, drugs, and nicotine too much EMF’s, noise and technology.

Hydration – Dehydration can seriously impact your stress levels

Eat Healthily – Fueling and flooding your bodies with healthy nutrients will help cushion your body system from the free radicals and disharmony that stress causes.

Healthy Communication- Healthy communication and assertiveness skills are extremely helpful in having healthy relationships. Making healthier decisions, asking for help, delegating, and creating healthy boundaries.

Purpose And Passions – Purpose and passions give people the optimum motivation to make healthier choices to live a more stressless life.

 

Would You Love To Learn How To Experience More Peace, Deep Meditation, And Deep Soul Connection?

 

meditation course for less stress more peace and deeper spiritual connection