Here are some of the best essentials oils for anxiety:           
 
1. Bergamot (Citrus bergamia)
With its distinctive floral taste and aroma, on one hand Bergamot oil is calming and often used to decrease feelings of depression by providing energy. On the other, it can also help with insomnia induce relaxation and reduce agitation. Applying Bergamot essential oils inducing feelings of being “more calm” and “more relaxed.” 

2. Chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile)
Long known for its support to benefit inner harmony, Chamomile has been used in teas and tinctures.  Like the peaceful, calming scent of the tea, Chamomile essential oil have been shown to ease anxiety symptoms, while also decreasing irritability, overthinking, anxiousness and worry. Interestingly, a study  conducted at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine found that Chamomile oil “may provide clinically meaningful antidepressant activity that occurs in addition to its previously observed anxiolytic activity.”

3. Frankincense (Boswellia carteri or boswella sacra)
Frankincense is great for easing depression and anxiety because it provides a calming and tranquil energy as well as spiritual grounding. In aromatherapy, it helps deepen meditation and quiet the mind. Combines with Bergamot and Lavender essential oils, Frankincense has been found o have a positive effect on reducing pain symptoms and depression. Many studies have shown how Frankincense produces changes in the brain chemistry, and produces feelings of comfort and happiness.

4. Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
A most common essential oil, lavender benefits include having a calming, relaxing effect. Lavender helps with inner peace, sleep, restlessness, irritability, panic attacks, nervous stomach and general nervous tension, and is considered to be restorative for the nervous system.

5. Rose (Rosa damascena)
Like the flower it comes from, Rose essential oil is settling to the emotional heart and perhaps the second most popular after lavender for relieving anxiety and depression. In this way, Rose essential oil is helpful for panic attacks, grieving and shock.

6. Vetiver (Vetiveria zizanioides)
Ahh, Vetiver oil has a tranquil, grounding and reassuring energy. A favorite for many, its often used after traumatic experiences, helping with self-awareness, calmness and stabilization. As a nervous system tonic, it decreases jitteriness and hypersensitivity and is also useful in panic attacks and shock syndromes.  

7. Ylang Ylang (Cananga odorata)
Ylang Ylang's calming and uplifting effects helps with increasing cheerfulness, courage, optimism and soothes fearfulness. It is considered calming for heart agitation and nervous palpitations. Moreover, it is a moderately strong sedative that may help with insomnia.

RESOURCE: http://info.achs.edu/blog/depression-and-anxiety-can-essential-oils-help

Essential oils have been used for thousands of years, even before the pilgrims landed on the tip of Cape Cod, and before the closing celebration of a great harvest. Even though our Thanksgiving holiday isn't exactly how it used to be with Pilgrims and Indians sitting around a table in Plymouth, it sure is an awesome holiday to gather with friends and family in thanks, to enjoy a game of flag football and a traditional meal with loved ones. Turkey, mashed potatoes, green beens, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie and essential oils - count me in!  Here are some easy, fun and delicious recipes to share for the holidays... 

Essential oil of orange has a wide variety of domestic, industrial and medicinal uses.
 
Domestically: used to add orange flavor to beverages, desserts and sweetmeats.
 
Industrially: used in soaps, body lotions, creams, anti mark and wrinkle lifting applications, concentrates for soft beverages, room fresheners, sprays, deodorants, biscuits, chocolates, confectionary and bakery items and many more uses.
 
Medicinal uses:
Anti Inflammatory: It gives quick and effective relief from inflammations, internal or external and caused by any reason such as over intake of spices, fever, infections, side effects of antibiotics, gas, ingestion of toxic substances, narcotics etc.
 
Anti Depressant: The very smell of it reminds you of the happy moments and brings happy thoughts to mind. That is why it is very much used in aromatherapy. This gives a happy, relaxed feeling and works as a mood lifter.
 
Anti Spasmodic: Spasm can give rise to a lot of problems such as continuous coughs, convulsions, cramps in muscles and extreme diarrhea. To avoid them, spasm must be cured early. This can be done with the help of Orange Essential Oil which relaxes the muscular and nervous spasm and gives relief from the problems discussed above.
 
Aphrodisiac: It has mild aphrodisiac properties, if not strong. Systematic and regular use can cure problems such as frigidity, erectile problems, impotence, loss of interest in sex etc.
 
Anti Septic: Wherever there is a cut or abrasion, there is the fear of the wound getting septic bacterial infection. More so when it is from an iron object. The worry is doubled as there remains a chance of it might getting infected by tetanus germs. Essential Oil of Orange might help us avoid both septic and tetanus as it inhibits microbial growth and disinfects the wounds.

What is Frankincense?

Frankincense is the dried sap of trees in the Boswellia genus, particularly Boswellia sacra. These trees grow in Oman, Yemen and the Horn of Africa, including Somalia and Ethiopia. When dried, the sap is burned as incense and thought to have several medicinal properties.

Frankincense, sometimes referred to as olibanum, is a common type of essential oil used in aromatherapy that can offer a variety of health benefits: helping relieve chronic stress and anxiety, reducing pain and inflammation, boosting immunity and even fighting cancer.

Many know of Frankincense as one of the plant-derived treasures, along with myrrh, given to the newborn Jesus in the New Testament. Its use in a religious context goes beyond Christianity, however. According to the Hebrew Bible, frankincense and myrrh were components of the holy incense ritually burned in Jerusalem’s sacred temples during ancient times.

Harvests are done at various times and the more opaque resins are considered to be the best quality. Gary Young shares his knowledge, and tells us his experience harvesting Frankincense in this video below...

1. Heal wounds from cuts, scrapes, and burns.  For even greater benefit, apply Lavender essential oil first then layer Frankincense on top.  The combination of these two oils together is amazing when it comes to healing wounds.

2. Reduce and fade scars.  Continue use after the wound has healed to reduce and fade scarring.

3. Relieve the symptoms of gout.  Mixed 50/50 with a carrier oil, Frankincense has been known to relieve the painful symptoms of gout.  Apply frank and coconut oil 4 times daily, the pain was all but gone within three days.

4. Foster strong immune system.  The antiseptic properties of Frankincense make it ideal for supporting a strong immune system.  Massage a few drops into the balls of your feet every day.  In addition, try diffusing it throughout your home and especially in the bedroom at night.  This is especially good during cold and flu season.

5. Stress and anxiety management.  Apply a drop at the temples to relieve stress and evoke a feeling of calmness.  You can also rub a few drops mixed in a carrier oil on the back of the neck when you feel anxious. Inhaling the oils produces a feeling of calmness; you can simply inhale the aroma by rubbing a drop or two between the palms of your hands then bringing them up to your nose and taking several deep breaths.

6. Mitigate depression and feelings of helplessness. Apply a few drops to the back of the neck (especially around the brain stem, at the base of your skull at your hair-line) two or more times daily.

7. Anti-aging. No one wants to look old. Fine lines and wrinkles become less noticeable after applying Frank over them. Blend Frank with a carrier oil (fractionated coconut oil, sweet almond oil) at a 50:50 ratio in a glass roller ball and apply over the affected area... even on age spots. You can also add a drop of Frank to your daily moisturizer.

8. Replacement for NSAIDS/Advil. Frankincense is a powerful anti-Inflammatory and can be used to relieve conditions where pain and inflammation are present, such as achy joints and muscles.

9. Colds and congestion.  Put up to six drops in a diffuser, then breathe in the vapors for at least five minutes. 

10. Relieve itching.  A single drop applied to the affected area will bring near instant relief of itching.

11. Relieve arthritis pain and swelling.  Mix with a carrier and rub onto aching joints at night before bed and throughout the day, every couple of hours.

12. Clear acne.  Apply one drop on stubborn spots of acne morning and night. 

13. Relaxation. Add 5 - 6 drops to a diffuser and breath in the oil to open the senses and create a calming atmosphere. Perfect for quiet meditation.

14. Remove moles, skin tags, and warts.  Apply a single drop 3 or 4 times a day until gone.  

15. Reduce swelling from insect bites.  A single drop dabbed on an insect bite will reduce the swelling and stop the itching.

16. Enhance vision. Research indicates that Frankincense improves vision and possibly strengthens night vision.  Apply Frankincense along the cheek bone and under your eyes, but please be careful not to get any oil in the eye itself.  It will burn if it gets in your eye. If that happens, apply a carrier oil such as coconut oil and wipe away with a clean dry cloth. After a few minutes the burning will stop.

17. Remove musty odors.  Diffuse 2-3 drops to offer a much fresher smell into a room. 

18. Restless leg syndrome. Apply 2 drops Frankincense with carrier oil to the bottom of each foot and massage each night to relieve restless leg syndrome.

19. Oral Health. Useful as preventative measure against oral health problems such as bad breath, toothaches, cavities, canker sores, and other infections. Try mixing with baking soda and coconut oil to make your own toothpaste.

20. Promote sleep and prevent insomnia. Diffuse frankincense at bedtime to help you slow down your breathing and relieve nervous tension and anxiety.  You will sleep like a puppy after a long walk!

21. Boost the healing power of homemade remedies and beauty products.  Add a few drops of Frankincense to your homemade salves, lip balms, and roller balls to boost the power of everything else! 

22. Enhance the efficacy of other essential oils. Yes, layering Frankincense over other essential oils enhances that oil’s properties and drives the oils deeper into the cells.  This layering will deliver amazing results for those times when you need to kick it up a notch. Consider combining Frank with Myrrh, as Myrrh will enhance the efficacy of Frank by four times!

1. Moussaieff, Arieh; Rimmerman, Neta; Bregman, Tatiana; Straiker, Alex; Felder, Christian C.; Shoham, Shai; Kashman, Yoel; Huang, Susan M.; Lee, Hyosang; Shohami, Esther; Mackie, Ken; Caterina, Michael J.; Walker, J. Michael; Fride, Ester; Mechoulam, Raphael (August 2008). "Incensole acetate, an incense component, elicits psychoactivity by activating TRPV3 channels in the brain". The FASEB Journal 22 (8): 3024–3034. doi:10.1096/fj.07-101865. PMC 2493463. PMID 18492727.
2. Moussaieff, A; Gross, M; Nesher, E; Tikhonov, T; Yadid, G; Pinhasov, A (2012). "Incensole acetate reduces depressive-like behavior and modulates hippocampal BDNF and CRF expression of submissive animals". J Psychopharmacol. 26 (12): 1584–93. doi:10.1177/0269881112458729. PMID 23015543.
3. Drahl, Carmen (22 December 2008). "Frankincense And Myrrh". Chemical & Engineering News 86 (51): 38. doi:10.1021/cen-v086n051.p038. ISSN 0009-2347.
4. "A double blind, randomized, placebo controlled study of the efficacy and safety of 5-Loxin for treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee". Arthritis Research & Therapy. Retrieved 2008-10-09.
5. Frank, MB; Yang, Q; Osban, J; Azzarello, JT; Saban, MR; Saban, R; Ashley, RA; Welter, JC; Fung, KM; Lin, HK (2009). "Frankincense oil derived from Boswellia carteri induces tumor cell specific cytotoxicity.". BMC Complement Altern Med 9: 6. doi:10.1186/1472-6882-9-6. PMC 2664784. PMID 19296830.
6. Skarke, Carsten; et al. (October 2012). "Increased bioavailability of 11-keto-β-boswellic acid following single oral dose frankincense extract administration after a standardized meal in healthy male volunteers: modeling and simulation considerations for evaluating drug exposures.". J Clin Pharmacol. 52 (10): 1592–1600. doi:10.1177/0091270011422811. PMID 22167571.
7. Moussaieff, Arieh; Gross, Moshe; Nesher, Elimelech; Tikhonov, Tatiana; Yadid, Gal; Pinhasov, Albert (December 2012). "Incensole acetate reduces depressive-like behavior and modulates hippocampal BDNF and CRF expression of submissive animals". Journal of Psychopharmacology 26 (12): 1584–93. doi:10.1177/0269881112458729. PMID 23015543.
8. "Olibanum.—Frankincense.". Henriette's Herbal Homepage. www.henriettes-herb.com. Retrieved 2009-01-14.
9. "Farmacy Query". www.ars-grin.gov. Retrieved 2009-01-14.

Aphrodisiac: It arouses and increases the libido, as well as cures temporary impotency, frigidity of both males and females, erectile dysfunctions, and general loss of interest in sex. It stimulates specific hormones and puts you in a frisky or playfully naughty mood.
 
Lipolytic: Want to lose weight? Pay attention to this property of coriander oil to stimulate lipolysis, meaning the breaking down of fats and cholesterol. The faster your lipolysis, the faster you get slim and lose fat. 
 
Carminative: provides the gases built up in your body a healthy outlet.
 
Depurative: cleanses your blood of toxins and thus acts as a detoxifier or blood purifier. It helps to remove regular toxins like uric acid, heavy metals and certain compounds and hormones produced by the body itself, as well as other foreign toxins. Great for sports recovery!
 
Analgesic: It reduces pain. This oil has been found to be effective for alleviating toothaches, headaches, joint and muscle pain, as well as those resulting from injuries or collisions. It reduces pain by desensitizing the affected area.
 
Deodorant: Like coriander, coriander oil is a good deodorant. It reduces bad breath and eliminates mouth and body odor when used either internally or externally. When consumed or ingested, the typical aroma of coriander oil mixes with sweat and fights body odor as well as oral odor coming up from your stomach, filling your mouth.

Want to learn more about therapeutic grade essential oils and their uses? Check this out...

​More than 32 million pounds of household cleaning products are poured down the drain each day nationwide. The toxic substances found in many of these are not adequately removed by sewage treatment plants. 
​There are more natural ways to prevent pest. 

Every homeowner dreams of weed-less, bug-free, perfectly manicured grass surrounding their suburban castle. A multibillion-dollar industry caters to this dream, offering a calibrated poisoning that keep the outdoor yard lush yet silently threatens the family’s health. Is it worth the risk?
 
I’m one of those people who LOVES a green lawn. I always have... odd as it sounds, as a kid, I’d ride my bike around the shoreline of Hyannis, MA and rate each yard I passed on a scale of 1-10, all the while dreaming of the day I had my own yard to tend. Sounds ridiculous. I had a creative, inquisitive young mind. Most every yard was between and 8 or 10, I mean they're all gorgeous. How could I one day have a lawn like that...?
 
If I rated my own yard on the standard I set as a child, I’d say it was about a 2 out of 10. Unacceptable in my book. It needed LOTS of work: more flower beds, stone bed boarders, stone walkways, flowers, perennials, herbs, roses, and more flowers and perennials...

I’ve never been more in tune with my garden than the past several years. After creating new beds with borders, I began growing veggies and herbs. When I ran out of space in the beds, I built wooden flower planters. I even made a wicking bed. While the flower beds looked nice, the grass was plagued with grubs: bare patches all over as if my lawn was balding. 
 
Well, two years ago I was contacted by the monster TrueGREEN.  A very nice elderly gentleman rang the doorbell asking if he could help me with my grass. I was already outside, and welcomed him into my garden. We toured the yard, I pointed out the problem areas I knew needed help, and he told me he could. He was very charming, and I took a liking to him.
 
When he told me he could get rid of all the weeds, and have my yard a plush 10, I immediately signed a full year contract with TrueGreen. I envisioned a bunch of people coming over, diligently on their knees pulling the weeds and tending to the bald areas with new seed. In my mind it was ideal! I knew the yard needed major help and I couldn’t do it all myself.
 
Welp, that’s not at all what happened. The guys in their big truck parked out front, drew a hose, and walked around the house spraying all sorts of who-knows-what all over the yard. Now, first let me say that it DID kill the weeds, though the dead weeds remained and I had to pull eventually bend over and  pull it out myself.
 
But worse was the fact that NONE of the flower, herb or veggie seeds I planted sprouted. Not a single one! After three treatments I cancelled my yearly plan and sacrificed my payment to them. I realized the chemicals were not the solution I was looking for. I still had to pull my weeds anyway, and that wasn’t what I had in mind.
 
I’m hard pressed to find a landscape service that actually would come to my house and pull weeds, the old fashion way I know that it best.
 
Two years after these three yard treatments, my doggie began developing tumors in his body. Though he is otherwise very healthy, he has several "lumps" under his chest and at the elbow of one of his front legs. Even with visits to the  Vet, we couldn't determine the cause. Until we found a bunch of research articles that suggests the chemicals in the yard could have affected him. Even long after the exposure. We believe the development of his tumors could be directly related to the chemicals used in our yard. Check out this article.
 
Since that experience with TrueGreen, we don't use anything toxic whatsoever in the yard. We use natural remedies to conquer the grubs, and pull the weeds manually. We’ve learned several great techniques of deterring pests from eating our plants and destroying our lawn. From companion planting to Microbial insecticides. Check out the suggestions below and see if they help you.

I wouldn't say I've achieved the heights of a 10-score for my yard, but I'm comfortable knowing I'm keeping my doggie and family safe by avoiding pesticides and toxic chemicals.
 
Another suggestion for preventing weeds from overtaking your yard is to pull your weeds early before they go to seed and spread throughout the yard.  Now’s the time, get out there! And let us know how your yard is coming along. Send us pictures! 

If you have pesticides at your house, disposing of them properly is important to protecting the environment. Here are a few resources. 

Managing pesticides: For detailed guidance on pesticide management see Guides to Pollution Prevention: Non-Agricultural Pesticide Users, United States Environmental Protection Agency, 1993, document EPA/625/R-93/009. This 58-page guide, which includes nine worksheets, is available from the National Center for Environmental Publications and Information, P.O. Box 42419, Cincinnati, OH 45242-2419. Fax: (513) 489-8695.
 
Protective Clothing When Using Pesticides: See BCERF Fact Sheet #21 on Avoiding Exposure to Household Pesticides: Protective Clothing that should be worn when using pesticides in home and garden.
 
Disposal: Call the manufacturer or contact your local government or sewage treatment facility. Also, many communities sponsor hazardous household products pick-up days. Check to see if containers are recyclable.


How to build a Wicking Bed...

There are really three main essential oils that I really believe can help your body with weight loss.
 
1. Grapefruit Oil
Grapefruit essential oil actually works with your body in activating enzymes that help your body break down brown body fat. We know that grapefruit can benefit weight loss and that the essential oil of grapefruit actually comes from the grapefruit peel, which is very high in certain compounds like D-limonene and helps support the metabolism as well as the cleansing and drainage of your lymphatic glands.
 
When applied topically to the skin in small amounts, grapefruit essential oil is an excellent diuretic and lymphatic stimulant. This is one reason why it’s included in many cellulite creams and blends that are used for dry brushing. For that reason, grapefruit essential oil is the number one oil that can help your body in burning fat and losing weight because of how it activates enzymes in your saliva, which helps break down body fat in your body.
 
When mixed with patchouli oil, grapefruit oil is known to lower cravings and hunger, which makes it a great tool to lose weight fast in a healthy way. Add several drops to your water, diffuse it in your office or home, or massage some onto your chest and wrists when a craving strikes.
 
2. Cinnamon Oil
The second best essential oil to support weight loss is cinnamon oil. Cinnamon oil has been shown time and time again to help regulate blood glucose levels and something in your body called GTF, glucose tolerance factor. For that reason, cinnamon oil is also fantastic for anybody with diabetes.
 
It helps balance blood sugar, which long-term will help with weight loss and help reduce those cravings for sugar. Unstable blood sugar can lead to overeating, low energy and weight gain, but adding cinnamon oil to fruit, tea, oats, baked goods or smoothies helps slow the rate at which glucose is released into the blood.
 
3. Ginger Oil
The third essential oil that supports the body in weight loss is ginger essential oil. Ginger works because it also reduces sugar cravings and helps reduce inflammation in the body. It’s so important that if you’re going to lose weight, that you’re also reducing inflammation, and supporting digestion and absorption of nutrients.
 
The compounds in ginger are called gingerols. Gingerols have been scientifically proven to reduce disease-causing inflammation in your intestines and overall improve absorption of the vitamins and minerals you’re consuming. If you’re absorbing more vitamins and minerals, then you’re helping to support your body’s cellular energy and create weight loss.
 
A 2013 study published in the Indian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology concluded that ginger essential oil possesses antioxidant activity as well as significant anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive properties. After being treated with ginger essential oil for one month, enzyme levels increased in the blood of mice. The dose also scavenged free radicals and produced significant reduction in acute inflammation.

Essential oils are a curiosity to many folks -- they smell nice, but they're just not sure what to do with them, never mind how to get the most from aromatherapy's science-proven benefits (like antiviral, antibacterial and stress-reducing actions). So where to start?! Inhale! Breathe them in! By using a diffuser to accelerate the evaporation of oils in the air around you, not only does your place smell great, but its the best way to use the most sought-after uses of aromatherapy: immune system and emotional support. 

Our mind creates powerful connections between scent and our emotions, surroundings, and memories. Diffusing essential oils is a simple and effective way to access those connections. Inhaling the luscious scents of essential oils may also help build new and positive memories and experiences.

​Because diffusion distributes essential oil molecules into the air so effectively, it's an excellent way to maximize the beneficial properties of essential oils. There are many different ways to diffuse...
My two favorite diffusion methods:

1. Direct Inhalation - You may simply open a bottle of essential oil and inhale or put a few drops of oil on the palm of your hand, rub your hands together, and then cup your hands over your nose and mouth and inhale. You can even add a few drops of oil to a bowl of hot (not boiling) water and inhale the vapor.
2. Cold Air Diffusion - Place 8-10 drops of essential oils into your diffuser with purified water and inhale the vapors, and let the scent fill the atmosphere of the room. 

What's your favorite diffuser blend? Let me know in the comments! I love learning new combinations of oils.

Recent evidence suggests that some people give off masking odors that prevent mosquitoes from finding them. Recently, scientists at Rothamsted Research in the UK discovered that some people produce chemicals that smell bad to mosquitoes, masking the chemicals that usually attract the mosquitos.

James Logan and John Pickett (Vince, 2006) devised some unique ways of testing body odor. First, they had two different people put one hand into each end of a chamber and the investigators watched which hand the mosquitoes preferred. Then they selected the person who was not preferred (who felt lucky up to this point) and sealed their body in foil to collect their sweat. Talk about an unpleasant experiment. The researchers set about analyzing the body chemicals and are now waiting to patent the results in hopes of producing a natural insect repellent.

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While it takes thousands of years for the earth’s forces to build good soil, we can help do this in 5 – 10 years by adding compost—which adds microorganisms, arthropods, worms, and humus to the soil. The word “compost” comes from Latin where it meant “to put together.” This is what we do when we compost—we put together the correct amounts of compostable materials to make a great soil amendment.

1. Composting provides a partial solution to an issue of great concern in many communities. All around the world, landfills are filling up, garbage incineration is becoming increasingly unpopular, and other waste disposal options are becoming ever harder to find. Composting provides a way not only of reducing the amount of waste that needs to be disposed of, but also of converting it into a product that is useful for gardening, landscaping, or house plants.