Essential tips on how to combat sleep deprivation

Who can claim to never have had any trouble falling asleep or sleeping through the night? Actually, sleep deprivation is one of the most common problems people experience in our modern society.

It is not just a matter of how uncomfortable all this tossing and turning can be; insomnia and/or poor sleep can be really dangerous if not treated at all.

It has been proved that these sleep disorders can increase people’s chances of suffering from hypertension and blood clots.

Sleeping pills do bring a temporary solution to these problems; however, they can be dangerous in that they add other risks, such as memory problems, drowsiness during the day and even dangerous falls.





You surely don’t want to run the risk of falling victim to one of these problems… If you are already experiencing some minor sleeping disorders, Here are some natural, easy to follow suggestions that can make it simple for you to sleep better.

• Do not spend so much time in bed. Remember: the bed should only be used for sleeping. Your brain should not associate it with watching TV, paying bills, and, above all, you should never use your bed as your personal office!

• You should wait until you are really sleepy to get into bed. If you don’t you will most probably be tempted to start doing all the stuff previously mentioned in it.

• Have plenty of exercise in the morning, this never fails to make you feel sleepy at night.

• Do not try to stay in bed forcing your eyes closed if you cannot fall asleep. Get up and do some stuff that will make you drowsy, such as reading a (boring) book, or doing some gentle stretches.

• Aromatherapy is known to work miracles in these cases. Lavender for example usually causes a soothing effect. Other options is you can buy a pillow spray with lavender oil inside. or make it your own. Here is how -- Sleepy Time Bedtime Spray

• Stick to a regular sleeping schedule. Try to go to bed and wake up at roughly the same time every day. Remember: your body does benefit from a consistent sleep rhythm.

To know more about sleep and aromatherapy, please Read our AromaLiving, Issue #009 -- June 2008

A healthier way to reverse Type 2 Diabetes

What is Diabetes Type 2?

Regarding type 2 diabetes two major organs are involved: the liver and the pancreas. These are the two organs that need to be healed in order for the diabetes to be reversed.

Traditional medicine makes use of prescribed drugs, such as Glucaphage and Metformin, to try and heal this disease.

However, all these drugs do is mask type 2 diabetes. There is a much more natural and healthier way to successfully heal the pancreas and liver: by means of Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils.

There are actually 3 different Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils which have been proven to successfully treat Type 2 Diabetes in a large group of patients.





These Essential Oils do not damage your organs, nor do they cause adverse reactions such as diarrhoea, vomiting, drowsiness, abdominal pain (just to mention some of the typical harsh reactions experienced when taking prescribed chemical medicines). On the contrary: not only are they helpful in healing your damaged organs, they are known to do that without causing you any harm.

Ocotea essential oil from young living is extracted from the Ocotea tree (actually it is contained in the plant’s stem and leaves) in Ecuador. This essential oil is known to have the highest level of alpha-humulene (higher even than the levels found in copaiba); alpha-humulene successfully balances the body’s internal response to irritation. Ocotea also has Eucalyptol (which works on the lungs).

Among its advantages, Ocotea can successfully balance the pancreatic and liver enzymes, thus being a wonderful solution to diabetes. The recommended dose is 1 to 3 drops of Ocotea under the tongue 3 times a day: it has been proven to reduce glucose levels, making them drop to up to 30 points in an amazingly short time. How does it work? By lowering cortisol, which in turn lowers insulin.

Dr. Jed Adamson tested Ocotea, and some of his investigation was actually videotaped. One of his most impressive achievements was the drastic reversal of the disease in a patient who was suffering from diabetes’ most upsetting symptoms, such as cold feet, low energy and, of course, high blood sugar. After taking Ocotea for a week, his blood sugar went from 330 to 212, and then down to 140 (the normal level being 150). Absolutely impressive!


More on Aromatherapy Treatment for health problems

How to get rid of bed bugs

Bed bugs are tough to eliminate because some are highly pesticide resistant, and can live for a very long time without food. Recent studies have shown that among all pests, bed bugs are unfortunately one of the toughest to control.

Among the many products available for pest control a very effective one is the spraying of alarm pheromones –which can make chemical treatments work in a more effective way; however, such pheromones are not available in the market yet.

There are also some natural products available, such as diatomaceous earth and using essential oils like orange oils, and lemongrass essential oil. Essential oils are very natural because it didn’t leave any residue and you can mixed them to reduced-risk chemicals.

How to use aromatherapy to influence the way you feel

People tend to associate certain smells with experiences they have had throughout their lives. Some specific odors have the capacity to elicit memories from the past, be they good or bad.

It is very common to hear women refer to some smells that made them feel nauseous during their pregnancy as still arising similar feelings –even though they are no longer pregnant.

Likewise, a positive experience from the past –such as a wedding, a party or a trip- can be brought back to the present by smelling an odor which was present during that event.

Psychologists and psychiatrists can –and some most certainly do- also take advantage of this strong bond, in that they can help their patients recall specific memories or events by using aromas that have a strong connection to these episodes.





Some experiments have been carried out in which the professional "trains" the patient to experience a specific feeling by linking this feeling with an aroma, in this way conditioning the patient to elicit this state at their will.

People can enjoy the benefits of aromatherapy at home without the need of professional training; it is just important to bear some issues in mind so as to avoid having a negative experience.

Above all it is essential to choose natural substances rather than synthetic ones, which can even have a toxic effect. Then it would help to try and identify which odors are related to nice, soothing experiences in your life, and also which ones could bring about negative memories, so as to favor the former and avoid the latter.

There is a vast array of aromas to choose from, ranging from flowers to plants, herbs or even food. Which odors will do the trick is of course very personal, you should take your time to smell and let your feelings do the work.

Essential oils are one of the most effective tools aromatherapy uses in that they are highly concentrated, thus just a tiny quantity is required to obtain the necessary results.

They can be applied to many different uses, the most common one being diffusing them; however, they make the perfect complement in a massage or a hot bath.

Aromatherapy has been experiencing a constant growth in the last few years as people become knowledgeable about its many benefits and the simple way in which it can be applied.

Cooking with orange essential oils

Essential oils are known to be highly beneficial, and they can be applied to many different uses, such as diffusing them or turning them into the best complement for a massage or a hot bath.

Now, have you ever considered using them in an actual cooking recipe? You should definitely have a go at it! Here you can learn how to use orange essential oil to prepare just the perfect sauce to go with your fish: Seared Pineapple Salsa. Yummy, right? Try it out and enjoy!

Just cook some fish the way you always do – I recommend poaching it in the oven in a white wine sauce first.

While you are doing this gather all the ingredients you will need to make this tasty “salsa”:





¼ inch slices of a ripe pineapple
½ cup of diced and seeded red bell pepper
2 teaspoons of purée chipotle chile (you can buy canned chipotle peppers and put them in the food processor together with some cilantro)
1 tablespoon of lime juice (fresh)
½ bunch of minced cilantro (fresh)
2 tablespoons of brown sugar
2 to 3 drops of Orange Essential Oil

Caramelize the pineapple slices by cutting them in half first and then sautéing them in a non stick pan over medium heat (no need to use oil or margarine here). Sauté until golden brown (it should take around 8 minutes).

Cut the pineapples into dices and let them cool. Add the rest of the ingredients and blend them together, and… that’s it! It is a very simple recipe, yet it will enhance the flavor –and the therapeutic benefits- of your food.

This sauce can be served together with chicken, pork or fish (it goes well with mahi-mahi, tuna or swordfish).

The Many Benefits of Orange Essential Oil

This oil is generally used as an uplifter and antidepressant. Citrus essential oils have been found to enhance immunity, reduce stress and depression, and have a soothing effect.

Orange essential oil has many medical properties; it can be used as a relaxant, anti tumoral, anti coagulant and body stimulant. It also combats hypertension, arteriosclerosis, insomnia, cancer, wrinkles and fluid retention.

More information on orange essential oils


Recipe source from http://www.essentialoilscooking.com/?p=73

Need to calm your kids during the storm? Try aromatherapy!

Aromatherapy has been recently discovered that, among its many uses, it can be highly effective in helping people who are afraid of storms, especially kids.

Extreme weather conditions can be a cause of great fear among little ones, and sometimes they get so scared they are very hard to soothe. Even if the storm is not a dangerous one it can cause severe emotional strain, which for little kids could be very stressful.

Essential oils have been proved to be of help in coping with emotional stress. Indeed some of them are often prescribed to people who need to calm their nervous system, because they can promote relaxation and soothing. Among these, the most common ones are tangerine, orange and lavender essential oils.






How to use this oil?

Just drop a few drops of oil into your hands and rub them together in a clockwise fashion.
It is also recommended to take a couple of deep breaths to inhale the oil.

Another possibility is to apply some drops of the essential oil on the soles of your feet and rub them with your hand.

Those above oils also works for scared dogs as well. A light brush over their coats with oil infused hands will definitely make them feel better.

So don’t forget to have some essential oils at hand should you learn that a storm is approaching!

Get other tips how to use aromatherapy for children

The Use of Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils in Medical Treatment.

People tend to confuse essential oils bought at health food stores or pharmacies with Therapeutic Grade Essential oils; however, the former are not the real deal, and it is important to know how to differentiate both.

Here are some important tips:


Components

The chemical constituents which make up essential oils, which are usually affected by many different factors (such as soil condition, types of fertilizers used, geography, weather, etc.), are the key factor in determining their purity.

A high quality therapeutic grade essential oil should preserve its aromatic compounds; to achieve so it requires a specific distillation process, where certain levels of pressure and temperature have to be respected.

Pesticides and agrochemicals must of course be avoided, since they can mix into the essential oil and make it toxic.





The efficiency of essential oils resides basically on their purity; this is why synthetic oils can never achieve the same therapeutic benefits, and they can even pose a risk to consumers. Plus, some of the main chemical compounds cannot be manufactured in a lab.

Standards

The AFNOR (Association French Normalization Organization Regulation) and ISO (International Standards Organization) standards in Europe outline the main components and chemical profile of true top quality essential oils.

These standards help scientists study different oils and check them to see if they contain the required balance of constituents. Some labs in the US are slowly starting to adopt these European standards.

How therapeutic grade essential oils are used

Essential oils can be effectively used through ingestion, topical application, inhalation or rectal and/or vaginal retention; however, it has been proved that they bring about the most benefits when they are consumed orally. Topical application is also very common and effective (the most common oils used being valerian, rosemary and bay laurel), as is inhalation.

Therapeutic grade essential oils can be used as antioxidants and stimulants of the brain’s limbic system; they are known to promote emotional balance, appetite control, and perform various immune functions. People suffering from different chronic diseases (such as Systemic Lupus) have experienced the positive effects of essential oils, thus showing that alternative therapies may be of as much help –and sometimes even more- as prescription medicine.