Lemon (Citrus Limonum)

The smell from fresh juiced lemons is amazing!! When I discovered that I had a juicer attachment for my mixing machine, I was ecstatic! Here it'd been squirreled away with all my other kitchen gadgets, gathering dust. But when we moved to Arizona, juicing fresh citrus was the THING!!! I love getting fresh lemons from my mother-in-law's tree, from neighbors, from anyone with surplus lemons! Then I juice them and freeze the surplus. My house smells wonderful at this time of year.

When lemons are too expensive, you can easily put a drop of lemon essential oil into your glass. Voila! So if your body tends to run too acid, drinking a few drops of lemon oil in water two to three times a day is a healthy practice. I regularly add lemon essential oil to my diffuser to uplift the spirit, stimulate alertness, and help cleanse the air of little no-see-'ems.

When doing the Daily Cleanse (below), you can freeze the juice for later use in ice cube trays and then pop them out and into baggies (abt 1 Tbl. each), or pour 1 c. fresh juice into a baggie, lay flat and freeze and stack. A one cup baggie can be thawed in the fridge, then portioned out for use that week.

Although lemons are acidic, they are considered to be a high alkaline food due to their alkalizing effect on the body when digested. Like all high alkaline foods, lemons leave an alkaline-ash residue after being digested. This ash residue aids in supplying the blood with more oxygen, which results in an optimally functioning body.

[Other alkalizing foods include most veggies, some fruits, some seeds, nuts, and grains, herbal tea, vegetable broth and water. ]

PS: Testing your pH: You can easily test your pH at home by purchasing small litmus-paper strips at your drug store or pharmacy.  To get the most accurate reading, expose the strip to a sample of your saliva immediately after awakening in the morning and before eating breakfast.  Colour changes on the litmus paper will determine pH; check the instructions of your kit for specific details on how to read the litmus paper.

Daily Liver Cleanse:

• 1 Tbl. Freshly-squeezed organic lemon juice (or more if preferred)
• 1 drop peppermint essential oil
• 1 drop lemon essential oil
  • Combine lemon juice with oils and drink – preferably on an empty stomach, first thing in the morning. [Peppermint helps drive oils into the system. An excellent digestive aid, circulation, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic so good in digestive. Lemon aids in cleansing and the juice promotes body alkalinity (pH balance). It has a tonic action on the lymphatic and stimulating on the digestive.] Do 3-4 wks, then 7 days off, to judge how you feel w/cleanse, repeat.

Lemon Essential Oil

Botanical Name: Citrus Limonum

Extraction Method: Cold Pressed

Origin: Italy

Description: GRAS- The Lemon tree was originally a small thorny evergreen tree native to India. It is now common in Southern Europe, Florida and California. The pressed peel always contains more therapeutic properties but it has a short shelf life of about three years.

Common Uses: Lemon Essential Oil has been historically recognized as a cleanser. It is reputed as being antiseptic, and as having refreshing and cooling properties. On skin and hair it can be used for its cleansing effect, as well as for treating cuts and boils. Research has also shown Lemon Essential Oil to enhance the ability to concentrate. Aids digestive problems, cleansing of the lymphatic system, mouth ulcers, herpes, stimulating to the brain, clears thought, aids concentration, fever reduction, infectious diseases, colds, throat infection, asthma, anemia, heart-burn, varicose veins, tightens blood vessels, gout, rheumatism, uterine infections and intestinal parasites. Beneficial for an air disinfectant, the immune system (may stimulate red and white blood cell formation), acne, brittle nails, boils, corns, gland stimulation and purification, warts, arthritis, cellulitis, nervous conditions, high blood pressure, nosebleeds (stops bleeding), obesity (congestion), poor circulation, rheumatism, gallstones, bronchitis, dyspepsia and flu. Also debility, anxiety, astringent, antiseptic, anti-infectious, antibacterial, blood thinner, emotional clarity, apathy, awareness, bringing joy, relieving touchiness, grudges, resentment, concentration and focus

Consistency: Thin 

Blends well with: Bergamot, Lime Orange and Mandarin.  

Aromatic Scent: Lemon Essential Oil has a strong citrus scent.

History: The fruit was well known in Europe by the middle ages, and Greeks and Romans were advocates of its therapeutic properties. Lemon essential oil reached the height of its fame when the British began using the citrus fruit to counteract the effects of scurvy. 

Responsible Cautions: Lemon Essential Oil is non-toxic, but may cause skin irritation in some. Lemon is also phototoxic and should be avoided prior to exposure to direct sunlight. Avoid during pregnancy.

 

Peppermint (Mentha Piperata)

A peppermint candy by the side of your restaurant dinner check actually has a purpose. When I was a kid, I just thought it tasted good at the end of my meal. Turns out, the peppermint oil stimulates the gall bladder and bile secretion, helping your digestive system work smoothly. Who knew!! Well, certainly not me, not then.

Peppermint was used as a medicinal back in ancient Egypt, Rome, and Greece. In Greek mythology, Pluto turned the nymph Mentha into a peppermint plant so she could be enjoyed and appreciated for many years to come.

As it turns out, Peppermint is a sterile hybrid of the water mint and spearmint plants. True! So if you're planting in your garden, get a start from a friend or go to a nursery. It'll spread out with runners. Peppermint is one of the mints that can tolerate part shade.

A peppermint sprig or two is amazing put in water to flavor and give it that little “umph”! Experiment by adding a drop of essential oil and see how you like it.

I love the scent. To stimulate, to relieve, and to help me breath. It's also my “go-to” medicinal for headaches, putting a drop on my finger and rubbing at the nap of my neck where needed. This one's a keeper. Always have it on hand.
 

Peppermint Essential Oil

Botanical Name: Mentha piperata 

Extraction Method: Steam Distilled 

Origin: India 

Description: GRAS- The Peppermint plant is a summer-growing perennial with upright square stems reaching three feet in height at maturity.

Common Uses: Peppermint benefits the respiratory system, opens the sensory system, for stimulation, strengthening, shock, fever, headache, migraine, antiseptic, throat infection, colds and flu. Beneficial for asthma, bronchitis, itchy skin, anti-spasmodic, inflammation, swelling, sinuses, anti-bacterial, jet lag, chronic fatigue syndrome, colic, cramp, fatigue, nervous stress, vertigo, toothache, acne, ringworm, heartburn, diarrhea, indigestion, motion sickness, nausea, halitosis, varicose veins, arthritis, menstrual regularity, hot flashes, liver problems, dispels pride, inferiority. Peppermint leaves contain menthol, which is a proven aid to digestion. The familiar aroma of Mentha piperita is known for both its warming and cooling properties. Friendly to the sinuses, peppermint is also useful to the muscular system, especially for women during monthly cycles or menopause. Properties include being refreshing, a mental stimulant and energizing. It relieves bad breath and is a good nerve tonic that helps with mental fatigue and nervous stress. 

Consistency: Thin 

Blends well with: Peppermint mixes well with most oils. Eucalyptus, Lavender, Marjoram and Citrus Oils. 

Aromatic Scent: Peppermint Essential Oil has strong minty notes with herbaceous warm undertones. 

History: Peppermint oil is one of the world's oldest medicinal herbs with documented use in ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome. 

Responsible Cautions: Peppermint Essential Oil should be used well diluted since high concentration can cause a burning sensation and sensitization. It is an emmenagogue, which means it stimulates menstruation. This means pregnant women should not use Peppermint Essential Oil. Spearmint, diluted, is a possible alternative. Diluting some spearmint is also a possible alternative on young children.

Lavender (Lavendula Agustifolia)

Ok - I have to say that before I started learning about herbs, lavender was not my favorite smell. Give me a lilac bush in full bloom and I will immerse myself in its fragrance!  And there's nothing like fresh roses from the garden -- not the bought-at-the-store kind that have been in a fridge for who knows how long.  Peppermint and spearmint and catnip made fun and therapeutic additions to teas and sachets and for the cat to play in.  Lavender.... grew on me. And then I learned some of its history.

Although scented oils, distilled waters, perfumes and the like have been around for centuries, it wasn't until Dr. Rene Maurice Gattefosse, a French chemist, rediscovered the therapeutic value of essential oils in his family’s perfumery business laboratory.  When he burned his arm quite severely and stuck his arm in a vat of lavender essential oil, he thought he was sticking it in water. Gattefosse reported that he applied the essential oil of lavender frequently to his “gangrenous burn” causing the pain to cease, and the burn healed without leaving any scar.

This experience led him into a lifetime of research into the therapeutic benefits of essential oils.   And out of this, Gattefosse coined the term “Aromatherapie” in the 1920’s.  Then in 1937 he published his 2 main works on the therapeutic value of Aromatherapy. Gattefosse’s Aromatherapie, 1937, was translated into English in 1992 and cites more than 200 relevant scientific works completed between 1680 and 1933.

I wouldn't be without it. In essential oil circles, it is the Universal Oil - or - the Divine Mother. As with any essential oil, make sure you have the correct botanical name. There's too many varieties - and they don't have the therapeutic benefits that have been researched. The perfume industry has even synthesized a chemical construct. So - be aware. Be careful. That's why I use Vitruvian brand essential oils. Lavender is grown around the world. Not every batch of high quality comes from or out of France. Gas chromatograph testing and other barometers are used by the better companies to test for the right chemistry. I'll be posting more on that another time.


Lavender Essential Oil

Botanical Name: Lavandula angustifolia 

 

Extraction Method: Steam Distillation 

 

Origin: Hungary 

 

Description: GRAS- This variety of Lavender grows to about 1 meter in height and produces long thin purple- blue flowers. The entire plant is covered with oil glands, which are in the star shaped hairs that cover the plant.

Common Uses: Lavender is beneficial for skin conditions, anti-spasmodic, anti-infectious, anti-inflammatory, acne, arthritis, rheumatism, insomnia (may be excellent), tachycardia, phlebitis, mouth abscess, indigestion, flatulence, nausea, lowering blood pressure, fluid retention. Has assisted in elimination of waste through lymphatic system, pre-menstrual and menopausal problems, thrush, hair loss, dandruff, burns, stretch marks, minimizing scarring, herpes, diaper rash, ulcers, cankers, allergies, asthma, athlete''s foot, boils, bruises, wounds, dermatitis, earache, chronic fatigue syndrome and boost immunity. May assist with tonsillitis, eczema, fainting, cuts, headaches, hysteria, irritability, moodiness, insect bites and stings. Also lice, ringworm, sunburn, muscular aches and pains, abdominal cramps, colic, dyspepsia, flu, fears, change, insecurity, inner child, restlessness, depression, PMS, shock, vertigo, sciatica, nerves and stress (by balancing extremes of emotions, it may contribute to emotional equilibrium). May increase cell growth (apply to wound or before having an operation to area going to be operated on, may assist the skin to heal and rejuvenate). Its antiseptic and analgesic properties will ease the pain of a burn, prevent infection and promotes rapid healing. It can be used with massages oils to effectively relieve joint and muscle pain. When in doubt use this oil. 

 Consistency: Thin

 Blends well with: Lavender is known to blend well with most oils. Bergamot, Chamomile, Citronella, Clary Sage, Geranium, Jasmine, Lemon, Mandarin, Orange, Palmarosa, Patchouli, Pine, Tangerine, Thyme, Rosemary, Rosewood and Ylang-ylang.

 Aromatic Scent: Lavender has a fresh sweet, floral-herbaceous odor.

 History: The use of Lavender has been recorded for more than 2500 years. Records have shown that it was used by the Egyptians as a perfume and also in the mummification process. In the Roman Times, Lavender was so popular that only the wealthy could afford it. Use of lavender was highly revered during the Great Plague of London in the 17th century, when individuals fastened bunch of lavenders to each wrist to protect themselves from the Black Death.

 Responsible Cautions: Lavender is non-toxic, non-irritating and non-sensitizing.

Welcome to Frequency Natural Health

Welcome to Frequency Natural Health! 

Here you will find answers about essential oils, their use and benefits.

What are Essential Oils?

Essential oils are the regenerating, oxygenating, and immune defense properties of plants. 

Why consider using essential oils for yourself and your family now?

Save on office visits~Save time
~Save money
~Save your health
~Works more quickly than most medicines.     

You've heard about oils. You're curious. Maybe you've even been given a small bottle or two by a friend, but you can't remember what you were told to do with them. Sound familiar? As we move along, we'll address all these questions and more.

"Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there." 

— Will Rogers

 

Essential oils are all about movement!Through the air, through water, through our skin, and through our bodies, in mind, body, and spirit, giving and supporting us in health, wellness, and wholeness.

 

It's a great journey to be on.

Welcome!

Frostie