Did you know that the grapefruit is thought to be a hybrid between pomelo (citrus maximus) and the sweet orange (Citrus sinensis)? Captain Shaddock cultivated the pomelo and sweet orange seeds in Jamaica (18th century) which soon led to its hybridization! Grapefruit oil may help with cancer, eating disorders, fatigue, jet lag, liver disorders, migraine headaches, and premenstrual tension. Its fragrance is mood elevating and has been used to help with depression. It may also have the ability to cleanse the kidneys, the lymphatic system, and the vascular system.
Category Archives: Did You Know
Ylang Ylang-Did You Know?
Did you know Ylang Ylang is the oil of the Inner Child? Ylang Ylang has a strong effect on the heart. It also is a powerful means for releasing emotional, distressing, or disturbing experiences from the past. Ylang Ylang also helps people let go of bottled up emotions such as sadness and anger.
Ylang Ylang is a tall tropical tree that grows up to 65 feet high with large delicate flowers that come in shades of yellow, mauve, or pink. The yellow flowers are preferred for the extraction of the essential oil, which is steam distilled from the freshly picked flowers. It is indigenous to tropical Asia, but the most prized oil comes from Madagascar and the Comoro Islands.
Ylang Ylang means “flower of flowers” or “fragrance of all fragrances.” This fragrance is traditionally used in aromatherapy to sharpen the senses and for various other purposes. For these reasons, the flowers are spread on the beds of the newly married in Indonesia. Ylang Ylang is used to calm breathing, it may help high blood pressure, and also treats impotence (frigidity). Interestingly enough the original wild flowers had no fragrance. The fragrance we know today came from cloning.
Helichrysum-Did You Know?
Did you you know Helichrysum is the oil of pain? It removes pain quickly with not much effort. It helps people with difficult life circumstances, such as trauma, addiction, loss or abuse. These souls need the spiritual strength that helichrysum offers. It can help teach an individual to be thankful for their trials and face their adversities with courage. Helichrysum brings hope to the most discouraged of souls.
Helichrysum is derived from the Greek word helios meaning sun and chrysos meaning gold? This is a reference to the golden color of many of the flowers from this botanical genus. Helichrysum has been used since the time of the ancient Greeks for its great wound healing ability, and was used often after battles.
The oil of Helichrysum has been found by European researchers to generate tissue. Helichrysum is best known for its restorative properties to the skin. It is used in anti-aging products for its rejuvenating benefits to the skin, liver, and nervous system, circulatory function, helps regulate cholesterol, reduces scarring and discoloration.
Helichrysum is highly valued and sought after for its many health benefits. It’s frequently consumed to help detoxify the body. Also referred to as Everlasting or Immortal Flower. It is anticoagulant, anticatarrhal, mucolytic, expectorant, and antispasmodic. It has been known to help in improving certain types of hearing loss.
Vetiver-Did You Know?
Did you know Vetiver dates backs to the 12th century? Vetiver herb and its essential oil have been used in many cultures around the world for thousands of years together. The massive amount of people that use this sacred herb is often attributed to its uplifting, soothing, healing, calming and protecting properties.
Vetiver oil is know as the ‘Oil of Tranquility’ in India and Sri Lanka. Ayurvedic treatments, which are the traditional Hindu system of medicine which are based on the idea of balance in the body systems and the use of diet, herbal treatment, and yogic breathing. This way of life involves the use of this oil to treat the imbalances of an individual’s constitution, and to heal health disorders like muscular aches, fevers, arthritis pain, loss of energy, heat strokes, joint disorders, skin problems, headaches and to cool the body during extremely high temperatures. Vetiver essential oil was also used in massaging brides to sanctify them before their marriage.
Basil-Did You Know?
Did you know basil is helpful for addiction recovery? It gives hope, and confidence to the tired soul. Basil is the essential oil of renewal, and supports those who are under a great deal of mental strain. Basil oil may strengthen the adrenals, and restore the body to its natural rhythms of sleep, activity, and rest. Basil in summary strongly implies to help those who are tired in mind, body, and for those in need of strength, and renewal.
Basil is contained in Hildegard’s Medicine Book. Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179) was known as the first herbalist and naturopath of the middle ages. Her book documented over 12,000 remedies for symptoms and diseases. Some documented basil benefits, and uses are migraines, insect bites, throat/lung infections, mental fatigue, menstrual periods (scanty), hair (dandruff), aches and pains, insomnia, depression, anxiety, bronchitis, insect repellant (housefly and mosquito) and bites. Basil is amazing.
In Romania there is an old custom that if a boy accepts a sprig of basil from a girl, he is engaged to marry her. It is also tradition that basil was found growing around the tomb of Jesus. In medieval times it was thought that scorpions grew up under pots of basil. in most countries, basil is thought to be a royal herb. “Basil” in Greek, does mean “royal” or “kingly”. This may be because in many regions it was used in perfumes reserved for kings. Basil came to Massachusetts Bay Colony where it was introduced in 1621. From there its cultivation spread through the American Colonies. It has long been used to flavor food in the western world, but was used primarily for its aroma in India.
Basil has a warm, spicy, yet herbal aroma known to enhance memory function while reducing stress and tension. Basil provides restorative benefits to both the mind, and body due to its high linalool content, making it an ideal application for sore muscles, and joints, and to reduce tension when applied to the temples, and back of the neck. Basil is commonly used in cooking. Basil is cooling to the skin, and can be used to soothe minor irritations. When diffused, Basil helps promote clear breathing, and healthy respiratory function while sharpening focus, and lessening stress.
Geranium-Did You Know?
Did you know Geranium is the oil of love, and trust? Geranium brings back the confidence, and the genuine goodness of others, and in the world. It helps bring about trust easier when a person has lost trust in others due to challenging life altering events. Geranium gives support with emotional honesty, love, and forgiveness when there has been a loss of trust with relationships.
Geraniums were discovered in South Africa, the first geranium plants quickly gained acceptance in England in the 17th century. But it wasn’t until Thomas Jefferson shipped the plant from France to America in 1786 that the plant gained popularity in American gardens.
Geranium essential oil is well-known for its deep positive effects on various skin disorders like acne, rashes, eczema, dermatitis, fungal infections, etc. The best thing about the Geranium essential oil is that it is a cicatrisant which means this oil has the ability to address wound issues. So, it can help scars fade away gradually and make our skin flawless.
The Geranium essential oil is a natural cleanser. It can be used directly onto the skin for cleaning or added to the water for bathing. You can have healthy radiant skin both ways. The astringent properties of geranium are also very beneficial for our skin. Our muscle contractions get significantly boosted with these. Consequently, we get a firm and toned look.
Peppermint-Did You Know?
Did you know Peppermint is the oil of a buoyant heart? Peppermint brings happiness, and optimism to the heart and soul. It gives strength to the body, mind and spirit, and reminds us that life can be filled with happiness, and there is nothing to fear. When a person uses Peppermint they feel as though they are moving smoothly through life.
Peppermint (Mentha piperita) is one of hundreds of species in the genus Mentha which also includes spearmint, water mint and forest mint originating in North America and the Mediterranean area of Europe. Peppermint is actually believed to be a naturally occurring hybrid of spearmint and water mint. While some claim peppermint was not hybridized and cultivated until the 18th century in England, peppermint is referenced in ancient texts.
Peppermint oil can also calm the spasms that cause muscle cramps? Menthol which is in peppermint provides effective relief from many respiratory problems including nasal congestion, sinusitis, asthma, bronchitis and the common cold and cough. It is often included as an ingredient in natural chest rubs to help with congestion.
Lemongrass-Did You Know?
Did you know Lemongrass essential oil is the oil of cleansing? It is a cleanser of energy. It drives away feelings of despair and hopelessness. Lemongrass helps people to enter a healing or cleansing state. Lemongrass encourages people with hoarding behaviors to bravely let go of things they no longer need.
Lemongrass is a tall perennial grass that is grown in Southeast Asia and Sri Lanka. Lemongrass also known as Citronella Grass or Fever Grass is a tall perennial grass belonging to the Africa and Old Eurasian countries. It is a widely used herb in Asian and Caribbean cooking. The grass has a lemony flavor.
In a very clear sense Lemongrass oil is a tonic because it is an agent that tones up and boosts health. It tones all the systems functioning in the body, such as respiratory system, digestive system, nervous system and excretory system and facilitates absorption of nutrients into the body, thus providing strength and boosting the immune system.
Ginger-Did You Know?
Did you know Ginger is the oil of empowerment? It teaches that to be successful in life you must be totally committed to it. Ginger addresses extreme patterns of victim mentality or way of thinking. The victim may also feel stuck, as they transfer or disown responsibility and blame others for their misfortunes.
Ginger is indigenous to Southern China from where it is spread to the Spice islands and other parts of Asia, and subsequently to West Africa and to the Caribbean. Ginger appeared in Europe via India, in the 1st century CE as a result of the lucrative spice trade?
In China, it is strongly believed that ginger boosts and strengthens your heart health. Many people use ginger oil as a measure to prevent various heart conditions. Preliminary research has indicated that ginger may be helpful in reducing cholesterol levels and preventing blood clots. With reduced cholesterol levels and blood clotting, the chance of blood vessel blockage decreases, thereby reducing the incidences of heart attacks and strokes.
Stories About Lessons Learned
These are personal experiences or stories that have had a profound effect on my life. I hope you enjoy them as much as I have enjoyed retelling them.
Remembering The Alamo and Beyond
Exchange the Word Luck for Blessed
Len's Oils 