AromaHelp Tip of the Week: Arthritis

Arthritis is a term used to describe inflammation of the joints specifically; there are 2 main types.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammation of the connective tissue around joints which causes pain, swelling, and stiffness, and is often accompanied by weight loss and tiredness. It seems to affect women more than men and, unlike osteo-arthritis, usually attacks pairs of joints. In severe cases, the joints can become crippled and deformed.

Osteo-arthritis is a progressive wearing away of cartilage which results in severe pain and reduced mobility. The connective tissue thickens and fluid may fill the joint, causing swelling.

Aromatherapy can help to relax muscles and relieve pain, but it cannot renew worn cartilage nor can it always help to relieve pain in the bone. A change in diet plus adding whole food nutritional supplements to reduce inflammation can support and nourish the body on a cellular level.

One of the most effective natural supplements for reducing the pain associated with arthritis is MSM which is an exceptionally bioavailable source of sulfur that restores flexibility to cell membranes and slows the breakdown of cartilage. Young Living Essential Oils Sulfurzyme capsules combine the power of MSM with the nutrients of the Ningxia wolfberry to enhance proper assimilation and metabolism of sulfur.

Below are just a few essential oils useful for arthritic conditions:

German and Roman Chamomile,Wintergreen

for inflammation.

Juniper, Eucalyptus, Cypress, Lemon, Rosemary, Helichrysum

are useful for swelling.

Black Pepper, Marjoram, Ginger, Nutmeg

are warming, help relax muscles, relieve mild pain.

Peppermint has been studied for its ability to kill pain by blocking substance P and calcium channels. *

*Gobel et al., "Effect of peppermint and eucalyptus oil preparations on neurophysiological and experimental algesimeteric headache parameters."Cephalalgia. 1994 Jun;14(3):228-34;discussion 182

Bath: Warm soaking baths can help to relax muscles and relieve pain. Sprinkle 2 drops each of Lavender, Rosemary, and 3 drops of Eucalyptus with several drops of carrier oil and/or a cup of sea or epsom salts in the water. If pain is severe, add a further 2 drops of Roman Chamomile.

Massage: Blend 5 drops each of Juniper, Eucalyptus, Roman Chamomile, and Lavender in 2 oz carrier oil or unscented lotion and apply a generous amount regularly to affected areas.

Caution: Apply only gentle pressure and avoid massage of painful or inflamed joints.

Be Well,

Jennifer

Prayer And Healing Of MRSA: Madeline's Story

I haven't participated in the MckLinky Blog Hop for a while. When I saw that the theme this week is "Answered Prayer", I couldn't resist sharing this story of how God used Oils For Wellness to heal a little girl that I have never met.

Back in August of 2008, I had only been blogging for barely a month. As I began to explore the blogsphere for ways to promote my blog, I put an announcement on a Christian women's network offering free essential oil samples. Shortly after that, I received an email from a woman named Rebecca from the West coast. I could sense the weary and desperate tone in her email as she shared her situation with me.

She had a daughter who was almost 2 years old at the time, ironically the same age as my son. Little Madeline had an environmental illness since she was a newborn. She could only eat 25 safe foods at the time and was allergic to almost everything including antibiotics. What was worse was that she had developed bleeding lesions in her diaper area that were infected with MRSA. I couldn't imagine the pain that little girl went through. Rebecca shared that she had found me online immediately after being told by her naturopathic doctor that Young Living Essential Oils might be something to investigate.

This mom is a faithful Christian who believes in the power of prayer! Rebecca had started a blog to chronicle her struggle with infertility and grief over a miscarriage of a baby boy at 12 weeks. Now she began to use her blog as also a vehicle for partnering with other Christians from all over the country to pray for Madeline. I joined the others who were storming the gates of heaven while developing an essential oil protocol that Rebecca could use to battle the MRSA.
Since Madeline was so sensitive to everything, it was a step of faith to even try aromatherapy. I had learned about the use of melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree species) and eucalyptus globulus for killing antibiotic resistant infections in my clinical aromatherapy studies. Samples of these oils plus lavender and a Young Living EO blend called Melrose were sent priority mail. Rebecca applied these four oils diluted in organic olive oil or jojoba oil, rotating them with each diaper change. To make a long story short, within weeks of consistant use of the oil protocol, Madeline's swab test came back from the lab negative for MRSA. Eventually the email that I had been praying for came in from Rebecca praising God that for the first time in months, she could see normal skin during Madeline's diaper change! Later I received the following notes from her:

I am SO thankful I found you when I did - and that you gave me the samples. I couldn't have made that investment without knowing if it would work. I think of the MRSA ordeal often and thank God for His provision. When I look back, I think of how you just took charge for me. You researched, got samples, gave me the jojoba, mailed them out at your expense - I didn't even have to think, which was good b/c I wasn't doing it very clearly (dealing with the fear and all). Even the bug bite thing. I have NO other recourse. Madeline just can't have anything, not even for a minute. I can't believe how well we've been able to cope with just the oils.

Thanks for taking such good care of our oil needs! Yours is a friendship that I thank the Lord for. Who would have thought the Internet would lead me to someone I would come to consider dear. Maybe someday we will even get to meet in person....before we get to heaven. :)

Thanks again, Rebecca

This experience was the highlight of 2oo8 to say the least. I keep praying that God will create more "Divine appointments" through my work here on Oils For Wellness! I will leave you with a couple of my favorite scripture verses that inspire me to diligently serve others and touch lives with these healing essential oils~God's love manifest in molecules.

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God."

2 Corinthians 1:3,4

In Service of the Anointed One,

Jen

Which Eucalyptus Essential Oil is Best?

With such a large selection of great eucalyptus products offered by Young Living, it can be confusing to know which one is best for you. But once you understand more about the unique properties of each eucalyptus essential oil, you’ll have no problem picking one that fits your specific needs.

Let’s start with a brief history lesson: For centuries, native Australian aborigines traditionally used eucalyptus for body pains, sinus congestion, fever, and colds. It wasn’t until the mid 1800s that English doctors started experimenting with the oil and shared it with the rest of the world. Not surprisingly, most eucalyptus species are found in Australia. Have you heard of the famous “blue mists” in Australia? It happens because the eucalyptus sap exudes from the trees and wisps into the air, creating a hazy blue mist seen for miles around. Historically, it is said the blue mist keeps down fevers in nearby communities. A recent study might suggest that is wasn’t the eucalyptus that took down the fever, but inhibited the fever-carrying mosquitoes in the area.[1] Now that’s what I call an essential oil diffuser!

So what makes eucalyptus essential oil work? Each eucalyptus species has its own unique combination of naturally-occurring plant chemicals, which are what produce an effect on the body. One of the major active ingredient in most eucalyptus species is eucalyptol (also called 1,8 cineole). Scientists are only beginning to validate the many positive effects of this constituent. In one study using rats, researchers saw significant anti-inflammatory effects in the gut in rats.[2] Another laboratory experiment looked at the reduction effects of eucalyptus essential oils on specific respiratory pathogens.[3]

Of the five eucalyptus essential oils Young Living offers, the most popular are Eucalyptus globulus and Eucalyptus radiata. These two oils smell most like traditional eucalyptus oils (kind of like the vapor rub my mom lathered on my chest when I was kid). These oils also have a high percentage of 1,8 cineole: E. globulus has up to 80 percent eucalyptol and E. radiata can contain up to 75 percent of that active ingredient.

When speaking about eucalyptus options, I always suggest Eucalyptus polybractea as well. E. polybactea has high levels of 1,8 cineole and has the comforting medicinal scent one might expect from a eucalyptus product. It also is low in a compound called isovaleric aldehyde, which can irritate mucus membranes.

Interestingly, Eucalyptus dives has large amounts of eucalyptol and also high amounts of piperitone, which gives it a slight pepperminty and citrus scent. E. dives is excellent for use in a Young Living diffuser to purify the air. E. dives is considered the strongest of the eucalyptus species and generally should not be applied to those with skin sensitivities.

Lastly, Gary Young rediscovered a eucalyptus species in Ecuador he named Eucalyptus Blue.™ Eucalyptus Blue has significant amounts of eucalyptol plus high levels of alpha pinene. In fact, because of its levels of alpha-pinene, Eucalyptus Blue can be considered a natural R.C. blend. So, if you are looking for an R.C. alternative, Eucalyptus Blue is a great choice.
Eucalyptus Blue is my favorite eucalyptus because of its deep, warm aroma. I also like it because it doesn’t make my eyes water as much as some of the other eucalyptus oils (think of when you get peppermint close to your eyes).
As general guidelines, Eucalyptus globulus and E. dives are best applied topically or on the reflex points of the feet while Eucalyptus radiata, E. polybractea, and Eucalyptus Blue are more suitable for diffusing and inhalation.

If you still can’t decide which eucalyptus to try, a great place to start is with our Breathe Again™ Essential Oil Roll-On. This convenient product has a powerful punch of four eucalyptus essential oils (including Eucalyptus Blue)—perfect for supporting respiratory health and invigorating the senses.

Which eucalyptus essential oil is your favorite? Share how you use eucalyptus in the blog’s comments section.

—Toby Palmer Young Living Essential Oils Product Marketing

[1] James A. Klocke, Mark V. Darlington and Manuel F. Balandrin. 1,8-Cineole (Eucalyptol), a mosquito feeding and ovipositional repellent from volatile oil ofHemizonia fitchii (Asteraceae). Journal of Chemical Ecology. Volume 13, Number 12/December, 1987. 2131–2141.
[2] Juergens U R, Dethlefsen U, Steinkamp G, et al. (2003) anti-inflammatory activity of 1,8 cineole (eucalpytol) in bronchial asthma: a double blind, placebo controlled trial. Resp Med 97 250–256.
[3] Claudio Cermelli. Anna Fabio. Giuliana Fabio. Paola Quaglio. Effect of Eucalyptus Essential Oil on Respiratory Bacteria and Viruses. Current Microbiology. Volume 56, Number 1/January, 2008. 89–92.

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