Do you know about Ashwagandha??!!

Ashwagandha literally means "smell of a horse", because the roots smell like a horse! It belongs to the nightshade family. It's an ancient medicinal herb & been used for over 2,500 years!! It is a small shrub with yellow flowers & native to India & North Africa. Other names for this amazing herb are Indian ginseng (though the 2 aren't related), winter cherry or somnifera root. The numerous health benefits of this herb are attributed to the high concentration of withanolides which are a group of steroids that have been shown in laboratory tests to suppress cancer cells and act as an antioxidant. There has been more than 200 studies done on the healing benefits of this herb!! Ashwagandha is one of the most commonly used & most extensively researched adaptogens around. It contains restorative & rejuvenating properties and helps the body to remain in balance. It can be used long term as it is gentle & mild, yet a powerful adaptogen. It's highly prized in Ayurvedic medicine!!

The list of benefits for this amazing herb is quite extensive, so here goes!!!

*Adaptogen
*Promotes new nerve growth & is a neuro protective
*Anti-inflammatory
*Brain rejuvenator
*Thyroid balancing
*Helps neurological function & has been tested to help MS
*Anti-depressant
*Anti-malarial properties
*Reduces stress
*Treats adrenal fatigue
*Anti-anxiety
*Increases strength, stamina & endurance
*Can prevent & treat cancer
*Lowers & stabilizes blood sugar
*Lowers cholesterol
*Boosts immunity
*Anti-tumor agent
*Promotes death of tumor cells
*Anti-oxidant
*Reduces cortisol (stress hormone)

*Nerve Tonic

*Soothes frayed nerves

*Reduces spasms

According to research, one should take 500-1,000 mg daily.
Caution: NOT to be used during pregnancy

Essential Oils & Chemotypes

Do you know what an essential oil specialist is? Do you know what an essential oil expert is? How about an aromatherapist? Apparently the 1st two do exist, who woulda thunk it, right?? At certain aromatherapy schools/institutes, etc. you can take certain classes to achieve the 1st two, then go on to get your certification. Well, I am certified, plain & simple. So does that make me an expert, a specialist?? Who knows? I know what I know! I have studied, read & researched for years. It is an ongoing learning experience!

The more plant material required for an essential oil, the higher the price of said essential oil will be!

Most reputable essential oil suppliers will send sample of new shipments to labs for the GC/MS. This test provides a breakdown of every component in the essential oil or a basic list of ingredients. It can also tell us if the oil has been adulterated...which are additives to make it less active. It also identifies the chemotypes in the oil.

To make sure you get the essential oil you want, check out the Latin name. In this Latin name is the genus (1st name), the species (2nd name) and most times the ct which is the chemotype.

Chemotypes are different chemical components depending on where they are grown, which includes environmental factors. These plants have the ability to produce different chemical components depending on where they are grown & other factors. The different components within the plant/essential oil are called chemotypes. Because of these chemotypes, the essential oils contain different therapeutic properties.

The following are different types of chemotypes. Now there are probably more, but here's some main ones. These explain how & why essential oils can do what they do!

*Aldehydes: strong antiviral, calming & a sedative to the nervous system, anti-inflammatory, skin irritant.

*Camphor: good for muscle aches & pains
*Carvacrol: strong anti-bacterial & anti-fungal agent.
*Chamazulene: a beautiful blue obtained only during the distillation process & only in 1 essential oil.
*Cineole: stimulant, expectorant, very good for respiratory issues.
*Eugenol: anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, antioxidant, anti-fungal, antipyretic (fever reducer) & analgesic.

*Esters: relaxing & a tonic to the central nervous system, balancing, antispasmodic, soothing to dermal inflammations.

*Furanocoumarins: photosensitizers, antifungal, antiviral.

*Keotones: strong mucolytic which breaks up & thins the mucous, promotes skin/tissue regeneration, wound healing, calming to the nervous system, sedative.
*Linalol: eases anxiety, calms nervous system, emotional balance, provides immune support, calms muscle spasms, reduces pain, anti-microbial.
*Menthol: decongestant, analgesic.

*Monoterpenes: antiseptic, antiviral, stimulating, mild expectorant/decongestant, drying/dehydrating effect on the skin.

*Oxides: antiviral, expectorant, respiratory stimulant.

*Phenols: strong antibacterial activity, antiseptic, stimulating to the immune system, strengthens yet stimulates the nervous system.

*Phenylpropanoids: strong antibacterial, antiseptic, stimulates immune system, anti-spasmodic, stress-modulating, strengthens yet stimulates the immune system.
*Pinenes: ability to reduce germs, calm inflammation with strong respiratory support.

*Sesquiterpenes: antiseptic, antibacterial, powerful anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, calming & soothing to the nervous system, anti-microbial, expectorant, mucolytic (breaks up & thins mucous), smooth muscle relaxant.
*Thymol: decreases pain, reduces swelling, calms muscle spasms, anti-viral, anti-microbial, reduces infections.

Very interesting, eh?? I thought so & I wanted to share!!!

Healing Herbs Webinar

Recently I listened to a highly informative herbal healing webinar. I, of course, took notes and am sharing the highlights of a couple of the webinars. Mostly these 2 had to do with the immune system, healing herbs, cancer and such. I found it fascinating!!

IMMUNE SYSTEM:
*Astragalus (found at Herbs 4 Health in tincture form!) works best when taken over time, consistently. It's a broad spectrum immuno activating herb. There's data that it rebuilds bone marrow. Long term, it can balance the glandular system.
*A polysaccharide is a sugar that helps build the immue system. The symptoms of a virus, etc. is how the body gets rid of illness!!
*An immunomodulator helps balance the immune system weather one has a low one or an over active one, such as those with auto immune disorder and it also addresses inflammatory issues. 1 in 5 have an autoimmune disorder...it's out of balance.
*Mushrooms!!! Awesome immune system builders. Reishi, Shitake, Mitake, Cordyceps & Chaga to name a few. Teas, soups, salads. Protects the systems and organs same as astragalus.
*Known causes: toxic environment, water, food, heavy metals, stress. Which is why detoxing is so very important!!
* Inflammation is a healing response from the body

MICROBIOME:
*Contained in the gut
*Programs our immune system.
*Helps to maintain the gut/wall lining
*100-400 different species of bacteria in our gut
*80% of our immune function is in our microbiome
*MRSA is a result of overuse of antibiotics
*Excessive hygiene in our society
*Antibiotics, weather it's pharmacology or food, ruin the microbiome environment
*Fermented veggies can re-organize the microbiome
*Probiotics
*Prebiotics: garlic, onions, leeks, dandelion, burdock, chicory
*Lack of bacteria affects the microbiome

BRAIN HEALTH:
*There are herbs to help our brains & neurological cognitive functions
*Gotu Kola....a clean source! Heals connective tissue, enhances memory, clarity of thinking & more
such as MS, Parkinson's, Dementia, need in high doses to help rebuild the myelin sheath
*Rosemary tea, walnuts, bacopa, ashwaganda, andographis, hyperzine, flavonoid rich foods: sage, turmeric, ginger
*NO pharmaceuticals are working on dementia

CANCER FACTS:
*Imbalance of cells, what they do, how they act causing tumors
*Causes: toxins, dysfunction of immune system, environment, genetics, stress, foods & more
*Inflammation is a healing response from the body
*Parasites or worms can be major cause of cancer
*Helpful alternative approaches: Ginger, turmeric (likes to stay in the gut), noni, coconut, juice from choke cherries..pits contain B17 (laetril), apricot kernel...B17, soursop or graviola...fresh is best, astragalus, CBD with THC, medicinal mushrooms including chaga

Essential Oils Webinar.....

I recently did a master aromatherapist webinar and took some great notes. I have decided to put them all in ONE blog. In my opinion it's easier for me & for you! I want to share this information and this is the best way my feeble brain could come up with!!!

~Science of Aromatherapy~

1...ONE...drop contains up to 300 powerfully life changing chemicals.

Topical application is the most effective way of using essential oils...done properly. Within 20 minutes the oils are into your blood. In about an hour & a half none are detected as the body has used them, then excreted them. Which is why one needs to use them every few hours.

Up to 75% of all oils on the market today are adulterated. Our bodies can't synthesize chemicals. Organics can't be guaranteed of purity simply because of acts of nature, drift wind, water run off. Even processing affects them.

Essential oils can actually work on what the body needs at that particular time.

They can work through the limbic system which leads directly to our brain, so they can help with  mood, memory, anxiety, ADHD & neurocognitive disorders such as Alzheimer's & cancer.

"Cupping" is a term used where you put 1 drop in your hands, rub together, inhale! It's helpful for people who battle anxiety attacks, stress, even nausea.

Inhaling essential oils can change brain chemistry. The chemicals in them have been linked to autoimmune diseases.

Examples of some uses are: grapefruit can help with decreased food intake, orange helps with depression, clary sage can help decrease cortisol. Adrenal fatigue: orange, lemon, bergamont, spikenard, neroli, ylang ylang, geranium, lavender, rose, roman chamomile.

In terms of cellular biology: fat surrounds cells, that's why scripts don't work. Essential oils work because they are a type of fat.

Since they easily evaporate, the more you open & close your bottle the faster they can go bad & become oxidized. All drops from different essential oils is not always the same size...imagine that!!!

Taking essential oils internally is NOT advised, except for a very very few!!! The molecules are very strong and can damage sensitive tissues in the body!!!