Essential Oils for Christmas

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note from Jenn,Iam not sure if this was already posted to this group by someone else, if so sorry, thought it was worth sending it again.

Essential Oils for ChristmasIf the aroma of pine is what brings back memories likegoing out andcutting your own tree, we have a top list ofmemory-joggers that youare going to love! With nature's essential oils, thearoma ofChristmas need not be forgotten. Simply spray the treewith a mixtureof 1 cup of water and 6 drops of essential oil ofpine, or put a fewdrops of pine oil on an absorbent material and tuckaround the baseof the tree. Here are several essential oils that youmay use to helpre-create your Christmas memories.CINNAMON : Cinnamon comes from the dried bark of treesin the laurelfamily. Cinnamon has a rich history in Chinesemedicine as well asWestern herbal medicine. A holiday favorite, this darkscent is oftenused to accent cookies, cakes and cocoa. Cinnamon teais not onlydelightful but helpful for relieving nausea andindegestion. Cinnamonoil is great for colds. Add a few drops of cinnamonoil to boilingwater and inhale the steam. Cinnamon oil is also usedas a massageoil and has a warming effect on skin.CLOVE : Clove is a hot oil. A holiday favorite, thisdelicious scentis often used in warming recipes. It can be used in acarrier oil forany infection. It has been used in the dental industryfor years todeaden pain. Clove oil can be applied topically with acarrier. Ithas been used for arousing and fortifying. Accordingto a study atthe University of Iowa, compounds in clove oil haveshown "strongactivity" against bacteria associated with plaque andgum disease.PINE : Pine Needle was used by the ancient Romans andGreeks to treatrespiratory problems and muscular aches. A holidaystaple, thisfantastic scent is often used to accent potpourri anddiffused intothe air. It promotes a healthy immune andmusculoskeletal system.Distilled in Austria from the finest pines, PineNeedle can bediffused to help strengthen the respiratory tract andmaintain sinuspassages. When massaged into the skin, Pine Needlesupports healthycirculation and soothes the discomfort of sore jointsand muscles. Atrue disinfectant, a strong germ killer, excellent forviralinfections and for muscular aches, rheumatism andarthritis.CEDARWOOD : A holiday favorite, this fragrant scent isoften used inaccenting closets and cupboards. Cedar is a versatileoil that actsas an astringent and a cleansing agent. Believed tohave originatedfrom the famous Lebanon cedars, this essential oilprovides anexhilarating tonic for the scalp and face to help thebody deal withdandruff and acne. It can also be massaged into theskin forsoothing, relaxing muscle rubs. Cedars are thought toofferlongevity, and the oil it yields was used forembalming in ancientEgypt, and as an incense by Tibetan monks to aid inmeditation.NEROLI : A holiday favorite, this rich citrus scent isoften used inthe scenting of perfumes. Neroli oil has a sweet,floral and slightlyhaunting aroma, the color is pale yellow and theviscosity is watery.This essential oil is also known as 'orange blossom'and it takesabout 1000 lbs. of orange blossoms to make 1 lb. ofNeroli oil.Thename Neroli is said to originate from the Italianprincess, Anne-Marie de la Tremoille, Countess of Nerola, who usedthe oil as aperfume and to scent her bathwater and gloves.Theorange petals wereused in China in the making of cosmetics and are stillan ingredientfor making traditional smelling Eau-de-cologne.Orangepetals areoften associated with marriage, purity and brides whotraditionallywore it in their hair.SWEET ORANGE : The orange in itself is a highlightnutrias fruitcontaining many vitamins including A, B, and C. Beingthat essentialoils are extracted directly from the peel of theorange, it containsall of these natural nutrients as well. Thisyellow-orange oil isquite sweet in fragrance and is used in "fruity"fragrance blends.Orange may also be used by itself for a light personalscent.Orangehas been touted as a beauty oil especially for theneck to helpprevent and reduce the appearance of crepeness andlines. Being thatit is a citrus essential oil, it may cause irritationin people withsensitive skin.FRANKINCENSE : Frankincense rejuvenates skin, so it'sused on matureand aging complexions and to fade old scars, reduceinflammation,moisturize dry hair, and cure acne. A holidayfavorite, this pungentscent is often associated with Christmas and is saidto be one of thegifts of the Magi. Its antiseptic properties fightbacterial andfungal skin infections in a salve, lotion, or as acompress. It alsotreats infection of the lungs, the reproductiveorgans, and theurinary tract, and it increases the menstrual flow.the oil works intwo ways to help the body fight infection and pain. Itfirst numbsnerve endings to reduce the amount of pain sensationsthat reach thebrain. And then it boosts the body's immune system toaccelerate thehealing process. As an added bonus, the oil's aromarelaxes thebrain, which helps bring on sleep.MYRRH : Myrrh has been used since Biblical times totreat manyailments. A holiday favorite, this pungent scent isoften associatedwith Christmas and is said to be one of the gifts ofthe Magi. It isa sap that dries into hard crystals. The sap is usedby some formaking tinctures. Myrrh is both antiseptic andastringent. It is usedtoday as a mouth wash and used for treatment of mouthulcers, sorethroats and even for the relief of sore gums. To useit as amouthwash, drop a few drops of the sap into a glass ofwater.Andrew Pacholyk LMT, MT-BC, CAPeacefulmind.comAlternative medicine and therapiesfor healing mind, body & spirit!