Tag: Peppermint

9 Essential Oils with Huge Health Benefits

9 Essential Oils with Huge Health Benefits

Samantha, selected from TreeHugger

 

Essential  oils have their place secured in a natural beauty routine: They’re   natural, chemical-free alternatives to everything from traditional  cosmetics to  potentially toxic fragrances.   But many can do a lot more than just smell good:  While we can’t say  with authority the 10 oils highlighted here are miracle  cures,  throughout history they’ve been credited with treating problems   including digestion issues and acne; increasing concentration; killing  germs  and much more.

Peppermint

The bright scent of peppermint does more than freshen your breath: It is also  used to soothe nausea and other stomach issues, help stop itching, and cool  overworked  muscles (thanks to the menthol).Add drops of peppermint oil to a  bowl of hot water and breathe in the  steam to fight congestion, or rub diluted  oil into sore muscles. And  that’s not all: Peppermint is a key ingredient in oil mixtures that fight  PMS, act as an  all-natural alternative to VapoRub, cool sore throats, and quiet  headaches — and it’s often credited with increasing concentration, so  ideal  for a mid-afternoon alternative to coffee pick-me-up.

Lavender

For Anita Boen, who runs an organic farm that provides  herbs and oils to  upscale spas, lavender is a go-to oil for almost any situation: Not only  is it one of the few  oils that is gentle enough to use undiluted, it’s a  “virtual first aid  kit in a bottle.”The antibacterial  properties allow it to fight germs (which is  why it’s also such an  important ingredient in many all-natural  cleaning products for home and body), and, like  peppermint, it’s  often credited with aiding digestion and helping fight  headaches.

Lavender oil’s soft scent is said to help calm the nervous system,  improve  sleep quality, combat joint pain, and fight everything from  urinary disorders  and respiratory problems to high blood pressure and acne.

Sesame

Sesame  oil may be best known for its moisturizing  qualities, which make it  a favorite ingredient for hair  and skin treatments.But the health benefits go beyond  beauty: Sesame oil has a slight SPF  factor, contains fatty acids believed to  lower stress and blood  pressure, and has been shown to help  slow the growth of cancer in cells.

Rose

This rose by any name will smell as sweet: Look for it  labeled as Rose Otto,  rose oil, or rose  essential oil, and choose oils produced in Bulgaria  and Turkey for  the highest quality. These slightly-distilled oils won’t have  the strong  scents of oils used for perfumes, but they are more popular with   aromatherapists.  Nature’s  Gift calls rose oil “the ultimate woman’s oil,”  because it has a  reputation for improving hormone balance, treating PMS and  menopause,  counteracting problems in the bedroom, and improving the look and  health  of your skin.

Geranium

Planet Green suggests including geranium  oil as an ingredient in a PMS-fighting  solution,  but it’s also  well-known for its astringent properties —  which allow it to  refresh  skin — and its styptic aspects, which calm  inflammations and stop   hemorrhaging.You can also use geranium  oil to treat acne, and oily skin, boost   circulation, and decrease  bloating. The oil can reduce the appearance  of scars  and blemishes, get  rid of body odor, and contract  blood  vessels to diminish the appearance of lines  and wrinkles.

Pine

The sharp tang of pine   oil may call up Christmas trees and rugged aftershaves, but this   tree’s  needles also offer antiseptic, antibacterial, and analgesic   properties that  make it a favorite of holistic health experts.Pine oil  is said to help treat  skin issues — including psoriasis,  eczema, and  pimples; speed up metabolism;  act as an antidote to food  poisoning;  ease joint pain and arthritis; kill  germs; and battle  respiratory  problems that go along with cough and cold  season.

Clove

Spicy clove  oil is one of the main ingredients in Tiger  Balm, an all-natural remedy said to temper hangover  headaches —  but holistic health practitioners find other uses for it, too.It’s  a popular choice for dental issues, including tooth and gum  pain, and some  sites recommend using it for bad breath (although whether  you’d rather have  your breath smell like cloves is up to you).

Clove  oil is also antiseptic, so diluted versions can treat  bug bites,  cuts, and scrapes; other suggested treatments help clear up  earaches,  digestion problems, nasal congestion, stomachaches, and headaches. As  an  added bonus, it’s an aphrodisiac — and therefore a popular form of  stress  relief.

Black Pepper

It might not be as  sweet-smelling as the more floral entries on this list,  but black  pepper oil still has its place in your natural health  arsenal.Pepper had its day as one of the world’s most valuable spices, in  part  because of its healing properties, which include aiding digestion,  undoing  cramps and convulsions, warming muscles to ease joint pain and  arthritis, and  curing bacterial infections.

Lemon Balm

Lemon  balm essential oil, also known as Melissa essential  oil after the  plant’s Latin name, Melissa officinalis, doesn’t look  like much,  but it has plenty of benefits. It’s an antidepressant, it keeps your  nervous  system working smoothly, it calms anxiety and inflammation, it   counteracts insomnia, it heals ulcers, it fights bacterial infections,  and has  been credited with treating herpes, headaches, and high blood  pressure.

 

Energizing Tonic

This tonic will increase energy and enhance digestion.

1   tablespoon fresh peppermint leaves
1   tablespoon lemon grass leaves
1   teaspoon suma, optional

Steep peppermint and lemon grass leaves in 2 cups of boiled water for 15 minutes, covered. Strain and drink warm or cold.

Optional:  Suma may be steeped in the combination for an extra boost.

Herb of the Day for April 9th – Mint

Herb of the Day for April 9th

Mint

Overview:

Plants in the mint family are very hardy perennials with vigorous growth habits. Mint, left to its own devices, will spread quickly and become a nuisance. However, it is very popular as a flavorful herb and the plants can be grown easily. Just try to chose a spot where you won’t mind the rampant growth or grow it in a confined space.

Latin Name:

Peppermints (Mentha × piperita), Spearmints (Mentha spicata).

Mature Size:

Height – 12 to 18 inches (30 – 45cm).
Width: 18 to 24 inches (45 – 60cm). However plants will spread much further.

Days to Harvest:

Seed germinates in 10 – 15 days. Full size plant depends upon variety and growing conditions. Usually within 2 months.

Exposure:

Sun / Partial Shade

USDA Hardiness Zones:

Depends on variety. Peppermint is very cold hardy, down to Zone 3. Spearmint handles the heat best, up to Zone 11.

Description:

Mint really wants to be a ground cover. The long branches grow upward and then flop over and root, spreading the plant wherever it can reach. The spikes of white or pinkish flowers are attractive, but brief. However, they do attract bees, butterflies and even birds. Most mint plants are hybrids and will not grow true from seed.

Design Suggestions:

Many mints work well in herbal lawns. They will need to be kept mowed, if you plan on walking on them. But this will help control their spread and the scent will make the work more pleasant. Otherwise I highly recommend planting mint in pots and keeping them on patios or paved areas. There will be more than enough to harvest and you won’t have the high maintenance of keeping the plants in check.

Suggested Varieties:

  • Mentha piperita , Peppermint – The best for mint flavoring. (USDA Zones 5 – 11)
  • M. piperita citrata cv., Orange Mint – One of the tangiest of the fruit flavored mints. (USDA Zones 4 – 11)
  • Mentha suaveoloens , Apple Mint – Apple. Mint. What’s not to like? (USDA Zones 5 – 11)
  • Mentha suaveolens variegata, Pineapple Mint – Variegated offshoot of apple mint. (USDA Zones 6 – 11)

Growing Tips:

Mint is one of the few culinary herbs that grows well in shady areas, although it can handle full sun if kept watered.Cuttings of mint will root easily in soil or water and mature plants can be divided and transplanted. However you can start new plants from seed. Sow outdoors in late spring or start seed indoors about 8-10 weeks before the last frost. Keep soil moist until seed germinates.

Mint prefers a rich, moist soil with a slightly acidic pH between 6.5 and 7.0. If the soil is somewhat lean, top dress yearly with organic matter and apply an organic fertilizer mid-season, after shearing.

To contain the roots and limit spreading, you can grow mint in containers, above or sunk into the ground. Be careful to keep container mints from flopping over and touching the ground. Stems will root quickly, if given the chance.

Harvesting: Snip sprigs and leaves as needed.

If you don’t harvest your mint regularly, it will benefit greatly from a shearing mid-season. At some point, you will probably notice the stems getting longer and the leaves getting shorter. That’s the time to cut the plants back by 1/3 to ½ and get them sending out fresh new foliage again. You can do small patches at a time, if you have a lot of mint, and prolong the harvest season. All cuttings can be used, dried or frozen for later use. You can use, dry or freeze the cuttings.

Pests & Problems: Sometimes gets rust, which appears like small orange spots on the undersides of leaves. Use an organic fungicide and try to allow plants to dry between waterings.

Stressed plants may also be bothered by whitefly, spider mites, aphids, mealybugs

Recipe Suggestions for Enjoying Your Fresh Mint

  • Make a Mint Julep Video
  • Kentucky Derby Mint Julep Cake Recipe
  • Pea and Mint Soup Recipe
  • Chocolate Mint Syrup
  • Mint Tea Recipe – Mint Tea with Lemon and Orange Juice
  • Fennel and Orange Salad With Mint

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Healing & Uplifting Body Soak

Healing & Uplifting Body Soak

2 cups dead sea salt (can improvise with sea salt)
2 cups of fine sea salt (crushed not the large granules)
2 cups epsom salt
1/8 cup pulverized orange rinds
1/4 cup crumbled peppermint (the leaves not the candy)
2 tbsp of these: Myrrh, sweet orange, and sandlewood essential oils (easy to get and pretty cheap)

Begin on a Friday during the waning moon. Mix salts in large nonreactive bowl. Recite:
“Precious gift from the Mothers of river and sea,”
Grind orange rinds and say:
“Uplift my spirits with your blessed fruit.”
Add to salts and mix well. Stir in crushed peppermint saying:
“In honor of Mother Earth, please hear my plea.”
In seperate bowl blend essential oils, then pour over salt mixture. Put into a screw top container, mixing well. Shake all ingrediants for three days, mixing them well. Do you have a crystal ball or something like one? Try to find something to concentrate on, a mirror, or maybe a shiny object. Focus intently on conjuring up healing power as you mix the soak.
Use two cups per bath. Use cool water. If possible place a gardinia petal or plant on silver or white silk cloth by window or table. Take bath in the evening of the Friday of a waning moon. Burn soothing incense in a sea shell over a hot charcoal.
Now, open your spirit and release your grief, sorrow, despair, whatever you are feeling into the water and into the smoke. As you watch the tub drain when finished, visualize your anguish, pain, sorrow leaving along with the water.

Peppermint Refreshing Gel

Peppermint Refreshing Gel

This lotion is good for oil skin and will give a tingly feeling after it is applied.

½ cup aloe gel (100%)

1 tablespoon witch hazel

1-½ teaspoons cornstarch

3-4 drop peppermint essential oil

Mix the aloe, witch hazel and cornstarch in microwave safe bowl. Microwave on High, stirring every 20 seconds.

When the mixture returns to a clear like gel instead of opaque, you are done. The cornstarch will turn a clear aloe gel to an almost white cream color. Stir until the gel has cooled a bit. Let mixture rest until quite cool. Add peppermint drops and stir well. Store in a glass jar with a well-fitting lid.

Prosperity Floor Wash

You will need:

  • A bucket or similar container
  • A handful of fresh or one teaspoon dried basil leaves
  • The peels of one orange
  • Peppermint essential oil
  • A mop
  • A pot or cauldron
  • A mister (if you have carpet)

Put the basil and orange peel in the pot, fill it with water, and bring to a boil. Cover, reduce the heat, and allow the brew to simmer for 5 minutes. Put water in the bucket and add the brew. Put 7 drops of peppermint oil in the water and stir. Hold your hand over the water, close your eyes, and visualize a very bright green light with sparkly gold dust floating around in it coming down from the sky as in a beam of light, entering your head, going into your heart, and moving out through our fingers and the palms of your hands to generously fill the mixture. In your mind’s eye, see this light powerfully swirling around in the bucket. If you have caret, put some of the mixture in the mister. Mop all the hard floors with the mixture. If your doorstep or front porch is made of mop-friendly material, you might want to mop the area too. Then lightly mist the carpets with the mixture as well. You can also mist your doorstep with the mixture if you can’t mop it.

Magick Stress Eraser Mix

Simple. It erases stress magickally. If stress is a challenge for you,  it might be a good idea good to keep a travel mister of this is your purse or  at your desk!

Ingredients:

Bach Rescue Remedy

Essential oil of lavender

Rose water in a mister

Put 4 drops of Rescue Remedy, 6 drops of lavender, and r drops of peppermint in the mister. Shake. Hold the bottle in both hands, and empower it with your intention to erase stress and create a peaceful uplifting and serene atmosphere

Visualize very bright white light filling the bottle.

Magickal Goody for May 10th: Lighten Up Sparkle Spray

Lighten Up Sparkle Spray

This one is a good one to have on hand for after an argument or for anytime things get too serious, heavy or overwhelming. It’s also a great support in times of grief or trauma. It creates perspective, loose stuck energy, lifts the spirits and enhances harmony and joy.

Ingredients:

Lepidolite essence or an actual lepidolite

Apophyllite essence or an actual apophyllite

Bach Rescue Remedy

Essential oil of Lavender

Essential oil of peppermint

Essential oil of spearmint

Rose water in a mister

Put 3 drops of lepidolite essence or the lepidolite, 3 drops of apophyllite essence or the apophyllite, and 4 drops of Rescue Remedy in the mister. Put 4 drops of lavender, 3 drops of peppermint, and 4 drops of spearmint in the mister. Shake. Hold the bottle in both hands and visualize very bright, sparkly, robin’s egg blue light filling and surrounding the bottle.