Elegant Rose

How to use Activated Charcoal

Have you ever tried activated charcoal? Or are you saying “What in the world would I use that for?” Well, I’ll tell you. Activated Charcoal has been used effectively in the healing arts for centuries. Doctors still use it today as a healing agent, an antidote for poisons, and an effective treatment for indigestion and gas. Many industries rely on Charcoal to deodorize, and decolorize. Charcoal can do these tasks because of its amazing ability to attract other substances to its surface and hold them there. This is called adsorption. Charcoal can adsorb thousands of times its own weight in gases, heavy metals, poisons, and other chemicals, thus making them ineffective or harmless.

Today doctors, paramedics and medical centers use Activated Charcoal in a number of different ways:
1. to eliminate toxic by-products that cause anemia in cancer patients
2. to disinfect and deodorize wounds
3. to filter toxins from the blood in liver and kidney diseases
4. to purify blood in transfusions
5. to cut down on odors for ileostomy and colostomy patients
6. to treat poisonings and overdoses of aspirin, Tylenol and other drugs
7. to treat some forms of dysentery, diarrhea, dyspepsia, and “foot and mouth” disease
8. to treat poisonous snake, spider and insect bites

So, what does this have to do with you? Well, activated charcoal comes in 3 forms and I keep all three forms on hand, powder, capsules and chewable. Here is how we use it. We first keep the chewable tablets on hand for the younger children, we have many allergies and I was once told to combat a food reaction, put 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda in a small amount of water, it neutralizes the acidity in your body and somehow alleviates gas. Well, at some point I ran across an article saying to use charcoal to pull poisons from your body. So, I correlated that if I am having a reaction to a food, my body is calling it a poison or a bad thing. That being said, I stared using Activated Charcoal for my many and varied reactions, all related to food. I had been tested and was allergic to beef, chicken, lettuce, wheat, yeast, chocolate, soy, dairy, pretty much all of the basic stuff. So, when I couldn’t stay away from the food, I used charcoal as a bandaide I guess, allowing me to enjoy a food I otherwise could not. My children also have many allergies and would use the chewable charcoal tablets after visiting friends or going on outings, for their stomach aches. It is very affective, with no side affects except to take away your reaction. Occasionally, I would have to take a second dose. I took the capsule myself. I also used it or baking soda for colic or gas in my babies, it worked wonderfully. I just put a small amount in a bottle with water and down it went. A few minutes later they were belching up the excess gas.

The activated charcoal powder comes in very handy for bee stings. One of my sons swells up terribly to bee stings, so we put the powder on a wet paper towel and apply it to his sting, it removes the poison. I know it works because his reactions are very bad. He may stay swollen for a few days, but it stops it from being a run to the hospital situation.

Please always consult your doctor before trying charcoal and be aware that it will pull any prescription medication out of your body, thus making the medication useless. I believe that you can take it 2 hours before or after, but always double check. Of course if you are reacting to a medication as I have, go ahead and take it to alleviate your symptoms.

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Coconut Oil??

Coconut oil is an amazing oil, not an essential oil. The health benefits of coconut oil include hair care, skin care, stress relief, maintaining cholesterol levels, weight loss, increased immunity, proper digestion and metabolism, relief from kidney problems, heart diseases, high blood pressure, diabetes, HIV and cancer, dental care, and bone strength. These benefits of coconut oil can be attributed to the presence of lauric acid, capric acid and caprylic acid, and its properties such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-fungal, antibacterial, etc. It’s funny, years ago, I had candida and didn’t know about coconut oil, I was taking a product with caprylic acid in it. Coconut oil may have done the trick, had I known.

Coconut oil comes in 2 basic forms, organic virgin coconut oil, and expeller pressed. The organic virgin oil is the oil that still retains the flavor of coconuts, some people can handle the coconut taste, some can’t. The expeller pressed has no coconut flavor. I have read that it may not work as well as the virgin coconut oil for ailments, but I’m not sure that there have been any studies to that affect. Obviously, it is easier to get used to taking the coconut oil without the flavor, but if you’re not seeing results, go for the gusto! Oh, by the way, the virgin oil is more expensive, but I always have some on hand.

Also, coconut oil is very good for skin problems, including psoriasis, dermatitis, eczema, and other skin infections, in addition to being good for you. Your skin is your biggest organ and absorbs whatever you put on it. Should you be putting things on your skin that you wouldn’t eat??? I don’t think so. Look for skin care products such as soaps, lotions, creams, etc that have coconut oil in them.

Coconut oil is very useful in reducing weight. It contains short and medium-chain fatty acids that help in taking off excess weight. It is also easy to digest and it helps in healthy functioning of the thyroid and enzymes systems. Further, it increases the body metabolism by removing stress on pancreases, thereby burning out more energy and helping obese and overweight people reduce their weight. There have been many studies done on this very thing. If you have a hard time believing that coconut oil will work for weight loss, give it a try, what do you have to lose?? (pun intended)

Coconut oil helps in improving the digestive system and thus prevents various stomach and digestion related problems including irritable bowel syndrome and Crohn’s. The saturated fats present in coconut oil have anti microbial properties and help in dealing with various bacteria, fungi, parasites, etc., that cause indigestion. Coconut oil also helps in absorption of other nutrients such as vitamins, minerals and amino acids.

Many health issues can be helped by taking 1-3 tablespoons of coconut oil per day. It does taste oily, but it also isn’t much, only a tablespoon. If you can’t handle it straight, try using it in stir fries, salad dressings, substitute it for oils in muffins, or baked goods or my favorite way is to use it in making popcorn, the old fashioned way, on the stove top with coconut oil and popcorn, soooo good! Coconut oil is just an amazing oil, check it out!

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Clove Essential Oil

The health benefits of clove oil can be attributed to its antimicrobial, anti-fungal, antiseptic, antiviral, aphrodisiac and stimulating properties. The germicidal properties of the clove oil make it very effective for relieving dental pain, tooth ache, sore gums and mouth ulcers. Clove oil contains the compound eugenol, which has been used in dentistry for many years, because it is very numbing. You can also gargle with diluted clove oil to ease a sore throat or put a drop of oil on the far back of your tongue. The characteristic smell of clove oil helps to eliminate bad breath. As a result, clove oil is added to numerous dental products and medications, including, mouth washes, and tooth pastes. Dentists also mix clove oil with zinc oxide and prepare a white filling material as a temporary alternative to root canal. I have recently tested this out by using clove and thieves oil, alternating them for use on a cavity. It was quite affective. It is best to alternate your oils so that you don’t become immune to them, so to speak. Just as with the idea of rotating your food, it is wise to rotate your oils.

Clove oil is aphrodisiac in nature and thus serves as an excellent stress reliever. It has a stimulating effect on the mind and removes mental exhaustion and fatigue. When taken internally, in appropriate amounts, it refreshes the mind. Clove oil also induces sleep and is helpful to insomnia patients. It is useful for treating mental problems such as loss of memory, depression and anxiety. For the most part, you will want to dilute clove oil before using and it definitely shouldn’t be used straight on people with sensitive skin. If a problem arises, for example, your skin gets irritated, put olive oil or whatever oil you have on hand, on the irritated skin. It should help to ease the irritation.

Clove oil can be used for indigestion and nausea, typically by putting a few diluted drops on the stomach or back of the neck. It is useful in blood purification and helps in controlling blood sugar levels, thus being useful to diabetics.

Clove oil is often added in cosmetic creams and lotions. It is a good massage oil providing relief from pain and stress. Due to its characteristic aroma, soothing effect and antiseptic properties, clove oil is added to homemade soaps and in making perfumes.

As always, use caution when using essential oils, consult your physician or someone knowledgeable in essential oil use.

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Lemon Essential Oil

Like many essential oils, the constituents of lemon oil have antiseptic properties. What makes these properties noteworthy in lemon oil is that here they’re combined with a delightful aroma. Lemon oil is uplifting and cleansing. It replaces negative emotions by creating a cheerful atmosphere of freshness and purity. It can help dispel mental fatigue and psychological heaviness. The aroma of lemon can inspire increased concentration and awareness. A Japanese study suggested that after diffusing lemon oil throughout a busy office building, typing errors decreased by 54%.

Lemon Essential Oil is a powerful antiseptic. Not only has it been used to clean contaminated surfaces, such as a butcher’s cutting block, but it has a powerful antibacterial and antiviral effect attributable to its limonene content. I mix lemon oil with water to clean my carpets, leaving them smelling nice and cleaning them. You can also mix with water and spray on counter tops as a disinfectant. It can also be diffused, if you don’t have a diffuser, put a few drops on a cotton ball and put it over your heat vent or put some on your furnace filter to put the smell throughout the house.

Lemon Essential Oil also contains anti-fungal compounds. Some people have even used lemon to disinfect questionable drinking water. Because of its vitamin content, Lemon Essential Oil offers strong support to the immune system. We often use lemon or peppermint essential oils to flavor our water in the summer, by putting a few drops in a gallon of water. Lemon Oil works as an excellent stabilizer of the body’s acidity - alkalinity content.

As you can see, most essential oils can be used for many purposes. You will also find that certain oils may work for you, but not for someone else. Experiment and see what works for you!

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Thieves Essential Oil - A must have oil!

I have to say that the most used oil, besides the above 3 in our house is Thieves Oil. Thieves oil is a blend of highly antiviral, antiseptic, antibacterial, and anti-infectous essential oils. It was created based on the research of a group of 15-century thieves who rubbed oils on themselves to avoid contracting the plague while they robbed the bodies of the dead and dying. When caught, they disclosed the formula of herbs, spices and oils that they used in exchange for a lesser punishment. Thieves oil blend consists of Clove, Lemon, Cinnamon Bark, Eucalyptus, and Rosemary. We use this oil for many things. As soon as we feel something coming on , we take a drop and put it on our finger and then put it on the inside of our cheek. It is a bit strong and if you touch your lip, it will numb due to the cloves and cinnamon. You can do this as often as you like. We use it for toothaches and teething pain, you may need to dilute if with olive oil before using it on younger children.

My daughter had a sore throat this morning and I took a chance and put a drop of thieves as far back as I could, she immediately felt better. I have done this before on myself and felt the relief as the thieves numbed the sore throat. This oil is also very affective in minimizing the flu or even getting rid of it. As soon as symptoms begin, put 5-6 drops of thieves oil in an empty capsule and swallow. For those not old enough to swallow, put thieves on your finger and put it on the inside of their cheek. We recently got the 5 day flu that was going around, I took action right away and my son had the flu for less than 24 hours.

I make my own foaming soap using Dr. Bronners and thieves oil and water. You could add any oil that you wanted, I just like the smell of thieves and it is antibacterial. It is a wonderful oil to have on hand. You can diffuse it, however, not for long periods of time as the cinnamon and clove can burn the nostrils. Never put essential oils directly in your ears, you can put them around the outside of your ears or on a cotton ball in your ear.

If interested in this oil, please contact me for further information.

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Peace & Calming Essential Oil - A Must Have!

The next oil I would call essential is Peace & Calming. This oil is actually a combination of oils, namely, blue tansy, patchouly, tangerine, orange, and ylang ylang. This oil is amazing, it has the wonderful ability to help you to relax and be calm. It promotes a deep sense of peace and emotional well-being. I used it for years to help me sleep, with a snoring husband, it isn’t always easy to get a good nights rest. I put this wonderful oil on the bottom of my feet and sleep like a baby. I keep it on hand for those nights when the kids just can’t seem to go to sleep or when they are upset because of a fall or injury. Sometimes I diffuse it to help calm everyone. I also use essential oils on my animals.

This oil is exclusive to Young Living Oils, these are the oils I prefer and have seen such wonderful results with. If you are interested in purchasing some, let me know.

As always, please consult your physician before using essential oil.

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Lavender Essential Oil - Essential to Have!

The second oil I would recommend is Lavender. Lavender is an antiseptic, anti-fungal, relaxant, and anti-inflammatory. It is one of the most useful oils, that is, if the smell doesn’t bother you. I kind of have an aversion to strong flowery smells, but I do use it for my family and when the PMS hits, it works great on the cramps.

Lavender is a very calming and relaxing oil, great for settling the kids down after a long day, especially in the winter when they are wound up from being cooped up all day. Put some on the back of your their necks and then put some on yours to help you relax.

Lavender is a very good pain reliever and actually helps heal the skin faster and reduces scarring. It is used often around here, not only does it take the pain away, but it is calming to the recipient who is in pain, two benefits in one. I have seen things heal up very fast by putting lavender on them. We also use lavender for headaches, as with the peppermint, be careful around the eyes. You should never put oil too close to your eyes or ears or in them. You can use Lavender oil for an earache by putting it around the outside of the ear or a drop or two on a cotton ball in the ear.

Lavender is great in a diffuser, makes for a very relaxing environment, and smells good too. Lavender oil makes a great massage oil, to ease pain and relax the body, mix it with olive oil and massage in.

I used lavender oil as we were rushing to the hospital for my last delivery, I put a few drops on my stomach and rubbed them in, not only did it relax me, but it helped ease some of the pain. I was amazed that it was many hours after delivery before I started asking for something for pain. I should have put more lavender on, but sometimes your mind doesn’t think of these things when you need them. Lavender is not safe for the first 3 months of pregnancy. Please consult your physician before using oils if you are pregnant.

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Peppermint Essential Oil - A Must Have Oil!

Over the next few weeks I will be discussing some of the most important essential oils to keep on hand and all of their properties and uses. If you are just getting started with essential oils, this will help you to decide how to start and what oils would be best for you to start with.

The first oil that I consider essential is Peppermint Oil.

* Peppermint oil has been used for a variety of health conditions, including nausea, indigestion, and cold symptoms.
* Peppermint oil is also used for headaches, muscle and nerve pain, and stomach and bowel conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome.

Properties of Peppermint Oil include being an anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, antiviral, antifungal, pain-reliever, and it can also curb your appetite.

Peppermint has always been a soothing thing for me. I have had Crohn’s disease for 20 years and throughout all of my flare-ups, peppermint has soothed me. Long ago, I didn’t know about essential oils, but I loved Peppermint patties, they were my favorite and I guess a comfort food to me. Well, now, years later, I have found that peppermint is an excellent pain reliever and anti-inflammatory. You can put peppermint in a capsule and take it internally for inflammation, or you can rub it on your aches and pains. Most people would want to blend it with olive oil or some other oil as peppermint can feel tingly on the skin if used neat(without diluting). Everyone is different of course, I prefer to use my peppermint neat, especially for headaches, I just rub some on my forehead and it feels so good. Please be very careful when using peppermint oil around your eyes, if the oil you use is strong enough, it can make your eyes water and you could get some in your eyes. Always be sure to wash your hands thoroughly after applying essential oils so that you don’t inadvertently get any oils in your eyes.

Not all essential oils are created equal. If you purchase a peppermint oil and see that it doesn’t work, it may be diluted. If you are interested in the oils I use, please send me an email.

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