Terpenes and Air – Germs Beware
Mothers around the world know that fresh air is good for you–or as a scientist could tell you, bad for bacteria. That’s because when terpenes (a class of hydrocarbons produced by plants and contained in many essential oils) react with air (atmospheric ozone) it creates germkilling radicals, consisting of a neutral but highly reactive OH molecule with an unpaired electron, preventing bacteria from absorbing nutrients properly.
What is a Terpene?
In general, pure essential oils can be subdivided into two distinct groups of chemical constituents; the hydrocarbons which are made up almost exclusively of terpenes (monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, and diterpenes), and the oxygenated compounds which ar mainly esters, aldehydes, ketones, alcohols, phenols, and oxides.
- Terpenes – inhibit the accumulation of toxins and help discharge existing toxins from the liver and kidneys.
- Sesquiterpenes are antiseptic and anti-inflammatory. They work as a liver and gland stimulant and contain caryophyllene and valencene. Research from the universities of Berlin and Vienna show increased oxygenation around the pineal and pituitary glands. Further research has shown that sesquiterpenes have the ability to surpass the blood-brain barrier and enter the brain tissue. other sesquiterpenes, like chamazulene and farnesol, are very high in anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial activity. Chamazulene may be found in chamomile, tansy, and yarrow.
- Farnesene is anti-viral in action.
- Limonene has strong anti-viral properties and has been found in 90% of the citrus oils.
- Pinene has strong antiseptic properties and may be found in high proportions in the conifer oils such as pine, fir, spruce, and juniper.
- Other terpenes include camphene, cadinene, cedrene, dipentene, phellandrene, terpinene, sabinene, and myrcene.
Germs Beware
Hospitals, lately worried about the threat of ’superbug’ epidemics–infections of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, by diffusing essential oils could reduce a heavily contaminated room to below infectious levels in minutes. And now doesn’t that smell sweet?
Shaving cream??
The other day I noticed that Josh was out of his shave lotion (the kind that foams with water and a shave brush). It had lasted such a long time but is still pricey. So, I thought, why not make some. I must be crazy but I attempted a small batch using beeswax, jojoba oil, castile soap and doTERRA essential oils (lavender and basil). Both Josh and I love the idea of making the shave cream but are not too impressed with how the cream set. I think I will go back to the drawing board…
An etsy site may pop up in the future so you can purchase the wonderful deoderant we use and the awesome shave cream (once the recipe is perfected).
Boutique Pics!
The boutique on Jan. 23 was slower than last time but I think it was still a success. I think that as we get a schedule in place to figure out what time of the year works for us it will become more successful. However, when I dropped off all the donations to the Ronald McDonald house they were very happy. The woman at the front desk was just looking for some of the things we dropped off so that alone makes the event successful!
Below are pics from the boutique. I forgot to take a picture of the doTERRA booth!! 
Thanks to all that participated.
Chelsea owner of SoaperHero
Megan owner of Raw Strand – rawstrand@gmail.com
Brooke owner of Nashers – brookewoffinden@yahoo.com
Teresa from Mary Kay
Jodi from Scentsy
Linda owner of Eclectic
Jessica from Roller Chiropractic and Craig from UpZen BodyWorks
Revellie (me!) from doTERRA Essential Oils
Here is the pic from dropping off the donations to the Ronald McDonald House.
How to Use Essential Oils to Fight Germs
In general, reducing our exposure and enhancing immune protection is our best defense. At the first indication of a symptom, strike back quick and hard. Oils that are an important part of your germ fighting arsenal and that are good to have around are; On Guard, Oregano, Cinnamon, Myrrh, Thyme, Basil, Clove, Lemon, Peppermint, and the aromatouch oils. These essential oils have the ability to kill bacteria, fungi and viruses, get down into the cellular level and make things right. Essential Oils are proven natural combatants to boost the immune system and protect us from and combat against flu strains including the swine flu.
1. Establish the daily routine of applying On Guard on the bottom of feet (for yourself as well as family members) both morning and night, which creates long-lasting and consistent protection.
2. . Diffuse essential oils in your home. Studies have shown that diffusing essential oils is highly effective with regard to killing airborne bacteria and viruses. Improving the air quality in your home is an important step in keeping your family healthy. Consider asking your child’s teacher to allow a diffuser in the classroom. Diffused oils don’t just mask odors; they actually alter the structure of the molecules that create odors – rendering them harmless. They also increase the available oxygen in the room and produce negative ions which kill microbes. Testing at Weber State University proves conclusively that diffusing essential oils kills life-threatening airborne micro-organisms. A few essential oils that top the list for enhancing immunity and killing airborne bacteria are On Guard, Purify, Lavender, and Melaleuca.
Put the the blend – Breathe™ in a diffuser and run every other ½ hour till symptoms subside.If symptoms have already come on strong, consider adding several drops of the blend breathe to a pot of boiling water, then place your head over the pot with a towel over our head, making a “steam tent”. Use caution when around the hot water, especially with children.
3. Drink plenty of water. Adding a few drops of your favorite citrus oil will enhance your body’s natural defenses. Put about 1 drop of lemon oil or peppermint for every 8oz of water you and your family drink. Over time this will greatly strengthen the immune system.
4. Disinfect. Viruses and bacteria are found in staggering numbers on surfaces. Use essential oils to thoroughly clean and disinfect all surfaces you and your family come in contact with. A mixture of Wild Orange, On Guard, and Thyme is especially potent. Diluting the mixture with water in a small glass spray bottle can easily be used anywhere, anytime. Simply spray and wipe for germ-free surfaces on the go.
You can also combine several drops of Citrus Bliss™ in a small spray bottle with distilled water and spray bed linens before bed time, or car interiors, bathrooms or office areas. This will kill airborne virus and strengthen the immune system, and deodorize the area with an unbelievable aroma.
5. Wash Your Hands. Wash and wipe your hands using essential oils or On Guard soap or hand wipes Adding essential oils to your favorite soap increases effectiveness. Purify, On guard or lemon in a spray bottle used for cleaning will assure pathogen free surfaces.
Wipes recipe #1
15-20 drops on guard or purify essential oil blend
1 cup distilled water
Take a roll of quality paper towels rip about 20-25 of them into single squares, then cut them in half. Put the towels in the bottom of a bowl or casserole dish and add the mixture. Let the liquid soak up, then lightly ring out some of the moister. You can now place the wipes in a discarded wipe container or a plastic sealable bag. If there is liquid left over, make some more wipes.
Teach children to use them often, and to be careful of their eyes after use or if they use them on their face.
Wipes recipe #2
12-15 drops of on guard or purify essential oil blend
¼ cup of natural baby shampoo
1 cup distilled water
This wipe will have a little cleansing action for extra dirty hands.
6. Internally. Use essential oils in combination to enhance their germ fighting benefits. The essential oils of On Guard (dōTERRA’s natural defense blend), Oregano, and Thyme are a critical part of your family’s protection plan. At the onset of any infection this combination used internally by capsule ingestion or on the bottom of the feet can offer quick relief and elimination.
- Make 00 size capsules of 8 drops oregano, 5 drops on guard and 3 drops frankincense. Then take the capsules internally twice daily. Remember, you want to start taking essential oils at the very onset of a little tickle, before the microbes proliferate to have the best results.
- Quickly ingest some On-guard™. For the bold, drop a couple drops in your mouth and swallow hard. For the less bold, put two drops in two tablespoons of water or juice and “shoot it”. For children you can add the drops to a tablespoon of honey. For those used to taking your medication in a sugary, syrupy, alcohol base, you can add two drops to a sugar cube and eat it (Mary Poppins calls it a spoonful of sugar). Take internally every two hours as symptoms persist.
- Another essential oil often effective for fighting cold and flu, especially because of it’s anti-viral and anti-pathogenic qualities is “oregano”. Oregano is a hot oil, and if you use it externally, it’s best to use it on the bottom of the feet with a carrier, especially with children. If you take it internally, place 3 drops in a gel cap. For the bold, you can drink it with a small amount of water or juice, but be prepared to chase it with some milk, as it is not comfortable to take internally. Take a gel cap 3 times per day till symptoms subside. To make it even more effective, add a drop of on-guard to the gel cap as well.
- Also consider one or two drops each of peppermint, melaleuca and lemon
- Gargle twice daily with 1 drop oregano, 2 drops on guard, and 2 drops lemon in 1 or 2 tblspns of pure water. After gargling for 5-10 minutes, swallow the mixture.
7. Topical. Consider other protocols for specific symptoms. Breathe to the chest, neck and back for respiratory issues, digest-zen (often in a capsule with frankincense) for nausea or digestive problems. Oregano or Cinnamon and Lemon as a gargle for sore throats.
- Topical Chest rub: Create a chest rub by mixing 2 drops each of peppermint, eucalyptus and cypress. For children add to a teaspoon of carrier oil (fractionated coconut oil). Apply to the chest with a massage and use a lymph node massage. (under the jaw, and along the length of the neck) Apply every two hours; continue for 2 applications even after symptoms subside. Use caution with children. Keep out of eyes. Also apply the mixture to the bottom of the feet.
- Topical Chest rub: Breathe™ or a blend of lemon, peppermint and lavender.
- For miserable fever, massage several drops of peppermint oil to the bottom of the feet. You may apply to the forehead as well. (Use a carrier with children, use caution not to get in eyes.)
7. Supplements. Maintain the basis of personal health through appropriate supplementation. Using dōTERRA Lifelong Wellness pack has immune sustaining benefits for your entire family. With an ORAC score of nearly 6000 per serving, every cell in your body is fortified.
8. AromaTouch Technique. Do twice daily aromatouch treatments. Look up the method on http://www.aroma-touch.com and use Virgin Coconut oil as a carrier for the recommended oils. Add the blend breathe and single thyme to Inflammatory reduction phase.
9. Proper rest.
One of the most important rules of prevention is getting plenty of proper rest. Sleep disorders, including not getting enough deep sleep (REM) time, Dysomnias, Hypopnea, Parasomnias, and Anxiety are all dangerous disorders that can at the least reduce the effectiveness of the immune system, and cause other far more dangerous and complex problems. This is a topic for another meeting in more detail, suffice to say that Lavender, Ylang Ylang and the blend Serenity™ are oils that can be topically applied or diffused to aid in getting proper rest.
10. Minimize Stress
Again a topic for another day, however consider that essential oils are well known for improving feelings of well-being and attitude. Elevation™, Balance™, Lavender and several other essential oils have proven very effective.
For children that can’t take internal treatments, use appropriate oils on their feet, chest and using the spinal treatment.
Note for infants
Essential oils are great for infants; they are very effective on the bottoms of the feet. If you apply topically to the chest or back, be sure to use a carrier oil, and cover the area with clothing so the infant cannot transfer oils to his/her eyes. Using diffusers in infant’s rooms is fine.
15 uses for Frankincense
Here you go— the Frankincense Fifteen! There are so many ways to use Frankincense essential oil on a daily basis, but we polled our readers and have listed the top 15 Ways to Use Frankincense:
doTERRA Exclusive Omani Frankincense
15. Beautiful Skin (use neat or mix with lavender and apply to face morning and night)
14. Caring for Cuts (apply a few drops on cuts and scars)
13. Immune Support (take a few drops in a gelatin capsule)
12. Jaw Comfort (mix with Deep Blue Soothing Blend to provide relief)
11. Bedtime Lullabies (mix with Fractionated Coconut Oil and apply to children’s feet at night)
10. Back Relief (apply neat on lower back for soothing comfort)
9. Pick-Me-Up (mix with Peppermint and apply to bottom of feet)
8. Stress Relief (apply to temples for soothing comfort)
7. Cough Comfort (apply on neck and throat to soothe irritations in throat or with coughs)
6. Forget Frustrations (apply behind the ears and on wrists to erase frustrations)
5. Home Sweet Home (diffuse in the home for a pleasant aroma)
4. Bug Bites Beware (apply on itchy, scratchy skin to soothe irritations)
3. Walk With Me (apply and follow with heat on knees to ease discomfort)
2. Anxiety Anyone? (apply a few drops to cupped hands and breathe deeply)
1. Mood Balancer (diffuse or apply to neck to find harmony and clarity)
How are oils different than pharmaceutical products?
The reason resistant strains of bacteria develop is because of antibiotic drugs. They cause them. What happens is that when an antibiotic is used and billions of bacteria are killed, one or two may survive. Eventually, these one or two can multiply until there are billions of them that are resistant to or unaffected by the antibiotic that stimulated their creation.
In response, pharmaceutical companies continually strive to develop new, more powerful antibiotics that can destroy the resistant strains. But until such antibiotics are developed, the resistant bacteria can attack and make us sick and we are defenseless. Some such strains are so strong that they can be fatal. Virtually all of these strains live in hospitals where massive amounts of antibiotics of every variety are administered every day.
The reason bacteria can become resistant to specific antibiotics is because an antibiotic drug consists of a specific chemical makeup and is identical in every batch that is manufactured. This consistency of product is called “pharmacological purity” and is something in which drug companies take pride. They want a physician using their product to know that when he or she prescribes a drug, it is going to be exactly the same year in and year out, without fail.
Another reason for consistency in manufacturing is research. In order to conduct research under the usual rules of science, the variables must be controlled as much as possible. By having identical batches of a given medicine every time it is produced, you have removed one variable. You know that the patients you test today for a given drug are receiving the very same drug you used in testing last month or ten years ago. Medical scientists don’t like to test things like oils because they introduce an uncontrollable variable into the equation. (However, there are those who DO conduct research with essential oils with remarkable results. Just type in an essential oil in the PubMeb website)
Unfortunately, the “purity” of synthetically or commercially produced drugs is also their Achilles heel. It is their weakness. Because of the predictability and consistency of every batch of a specific antibiotic, the bacteria eventually learn to recognize it and adapt in ways that protect them and make them resistant. It is only a matter of time before the secrets of every antibiotic are unraveled by the intelligence of the bacteria they were designed to attack.
The main reason drug companies don’t produce or sell essential oils is because they can’t be patented to create a profitable monopoly. Some companies try to produce synthetic versions of essential oils, manufacturing the main components of, say, lavender, and then combine the ingredients to make a fake lavender.
The problem is that while such oils may have a fragrance satisfactory for perfumes, they have no healing properties. Therefore, another reason pharmaceuticals don’t deal with therapeutic oils is because the only way they can be produced is to let nature make them.
Essential oils are like fine wines, because dirt, wind, sun, rain, etc. changes consistently from year to year. This unpredictable variation is undesirable and disadvantageous to the druggists and doctors, but a benefit to oil users. Because of their variability and unpredictability, bacteria can never anticipate ways to resist an essential oil. Therefore, resistance to essential oils can never develop.
Research has shown essential oils are most effective for:95% infections, 75% psyche, nerves, hormones, 50% chronic inflammation allergies, 25% and metabolic conditions.
Why do essential oils work? (Part 4)
still more awesome info from my friend…
Aromatic
Essential oils are all aromatic even when their aromas are not strong. Only molecules that can vaporize and leap into the atmosphere can enter the nose and be smelled. All essential oils do easily evaporate, because their molecules are so small and energetic. This is also why they can so easily penetrate human tissue, pass through cell membranes, and access our body through our lungs, brain, and blood. When you breathe oil molecules into the back passages of your nose, they go straight to the brain in a central part called the amygdala (or diencephalons, the central headquarters for your limbic system).
Doctors don’t know for sure, but is seems that in order to cross the blood-brain barrier, only molecules less than 800-1000 atomic mass units in molecular weight can get through. Lipid solubility seems to be another factor, which facilitates passing through the blood brain barrier. Water-soluble molecules don’t usually penetrate into brain tissue, even when very small. The molecules of essential oils are all not only small, but lipid soluble as well.
One drop of essential oils contains approximately 40 million-trillion molecules.
We have 100 trillion cells in our bodies. One drop of essential oils contains enough molecules to cover every cell in our bodies with 40,000 molecules. Considering that it only takes one molecule of the right kind to open a receptor site and communicate with the DNA to alter cellular function, you can see why even one drop or inhaling a small amount of oil vapor can have profound effects on the body, brain, and emotions.
Why do essential oils work? (Part 3)
Side Effects
The beauty of oils as medicines is that they don’t have negative side effects like the synthetic drugs and chemicals of modern pharmacology. For example, the tinctures of iodine, merthiolate, mercurochrome, and other antiseptics may by effective in killing organisms that could invade an open lesion, but they are toxic, destructive to human tissues, and retard healing. Oils are not only just as effective in their antiseptic powers, they are non-toxic, harmless to human tissue, and promote healing.
Antibiotics started being used a lot more in medicine after World War II, in the 1950’s. Antibiotics can treat bacterial infections (they are not effective on viral colds, flus, etc.) and destroy pathogens in our body, but they also destroy the friendly bacteria in our bodies that support metabolism and immune functions. The antibiotics kill the bacteria that have invaded our bodies, but our immune systems are left more depressed. This makes us more susceptible to the next invasion of a bacteria, fungus, or virus. When you are sick again your system may require stronger and stronger antibiotics, which continue the cycle and can leave your body ripe for a chronic problem. Antibiotics days are numbered, when bacteria become resistant to the final and most potent antibiotics man can produce, then their era will be over. Antibiotics can be very helpful and effective, but they should be used with caution and sparingly.
By contrast, when essential oils are used to attack bacteria that have invaded our bodies, they are selective. They know which are the bad guys and which are the good ones so that when they have killed off the bacteria causing the sickness, the good bacteria are still alive to serve us. Using essential oils to fight bacterial illness leaves our bodies stronger after the illness than before, thus working toward the prevention of future disease.
Why do essential oils work? (Part 2)
ORAC Score
The ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorption Capacity) assay is a laboratory procedure developed in 1992 at the National Institute of Aging in Silver Springs, Maryland. It is used to measure the antioxidant capacities of many foods, juices, and oils. The higher the ORAC score, the more capable that particular food or oil is of destroying free radicals (Free radicals can cause disease and aging by changing the structure of the body’s cell walls, DNA, and protein, disrupting their important functions), thus retarding the aging process and preventing cancers and other diseases.
Foods with a high ORAC score may be able to protect cells and their components from oxidative damage. Oxygen radicals are chemicals that form naturally inside the body through the process of oxidation. Everyday functions such as digestion and physical activity produce oxygen radicals. Daily exposure to polluted air, rancid food and oxidizing radiation from the sun and electrical appliances also contribute.
An easy to understand example of oxidation is to imagine rust attacking metal. When the rust eats away at the metal, the metal starts to weaken and decay until it can no longer work. This is what happens to our body when free radicals attack it. Organs, cells and other parts of the body can be weakened by oxidation. This leads to diseases such as cancer, skin and heart diseases, senile dementia and osteoarthritis.
Studies have shown that eating foods with a high ORAC score will raise the antioxidant levels in the blood by around 10 to 25%. The ORAC figure suggested by experts is around 5,000 units per day to have a significant effect on plasma and tissue antioxidant levels. Eating eight to ten servings of brightly colored fruits and vegetables or dark greens will help achieve this level.
Here are some examples of ORAC scores:
| Fruits and Vegtables | Essential Oils |
| Carrots 210 | Sandalwood (Aloes) 160 |
| Oranges 750 | Frankincense 630 |
| Beets 840 | Rose of Sharon (cistus) 3,860 |
| Raspberries 1,220 | Cinnamon 10,340 |
| Strawberries 1,540 | Spikenard 54,800 |
| Blueberries 2,400 | Myrhh 379,800 |
| Wolfberries 25,300 | Clove 1,078,700 |
Most essential oils score higher than most fruits and vegetables, as the two tables above suggest. In fact, essential oils have the highest ORAC scores of all substances in the world. An ounce of Clove Oil has the antioxidant capacity of 320 pounds of carrots, 28 quarts of blueberries, or 10 gallons of beet juice. The exceptionally high ORAC scores of essential oils partially explains why living with them in your daily environment – to breathe, eat, and apply to your body – can support all of your systems and contribute effectively towards long healthful living, even when used in very small quantities, and even when only inhaling them.
Why do essential oils work? (part 1)
Some cool and info about essential oils was shared with me so I am passing on this great info!!
First, essential oils work because of their size.
Size
Essential oils are composed of tiny molecules, all less than 500 atomic mass units in molecular weight. By contrast, fatty oils are composed of much larger molecules, many weighing 100 atomic mass units and more. This is crucial to understanding why essential oils heal and fatty oils do not, at least not in the same ways.
Vegetable oils cannot enter the blood stream nor cross the blood brain barrier.
The molecules of fatty oils are too large to evaporate and too large to penetrate cellular dimensions and circulate through the tissues of the body.
Most seeds contain both fatty and essential oils. When the seeds are pressed or distilled the lighter essential oils separate from the heavier fatty oils, hence you can get both types of oils from the same plant.
Because of there infinitesimal sizes, essential oil molecules can easily pass through all our tissues into every cell, passing right through cell walls. They can bring nutrition and information into the cell and carry waste products out. Any essential oil placed anywhere on the body is trans-dermal and can reach every part of your body within minutes.
