The newspapers are full of recent incidents of schools and other public buildgins being infected by MRSA, the staphylococcus aureus 'superbug' that is resistant to treatment by most antibiotics.  The fact is that MRSA and other staph infections have been around for years., but appears to be increasing its effectiveness at causing infections.  Experts recommend frequent hand washing as the first line of defense.

The GOOD news is that aromatherapy offers additional options!  Several essential oils have been shown to be effective in combating staph infections, including both s. alba and s. aureus.  Cinnamon bark, clove bud, oregano, savory and thyme all have significant anti-staph properties.  In 1979, Dr. Paul Belaiche published his 3-volume masterpiece, Traites de Phytotherapie et d'Aromatherapie, in which he lists his Aromatic Index - a scientific analysis of the sensitivity and effectiveness of 40 different essential oils against a number of infectious agents, including s. alba and s. aureus.  Oils of oregano, cinnamon bark, savory, thyme and clove bud were categorized as having strong germicidal effects against a broad range of microbes.  Specifically, against s. aureus, oregano and cinnamon bark scored highest with savory and clove coming in next.

No Evidence that Bacteria develop Resistance to Essential Oils

Interestingly, there is no evidence that bacteria, viruses or fungi develop a resistance to essential oils.  There are many theories as to why this may be:  since essential oils are derived from living planst, they contain a 'life force' that lab-created antibiotics can never hope to capture.  In essence, we are using one form of nature to control another - a balanced ecosystem, if you will.

My own theory is that plants, who live in the same world as the 'bugs' do, are better able to keep up with the 'infectious disease arms race' better than we are.  For one reason, most herbs have a much shorter life-span than we do - enabling them to mutate to adjust to changes in bacterial, viral or fungal mutations that would make them resistant.

Carrier Oils as Infection Fighters

In addition, at least 2 carrier (vegetable) oils have been used by indigenous peoples successfully against all types of infection;  from acne to malaria, gangrene and leprosy!  Neem oil (azadica indica) is native to the Indian subcontinent.  Its history as a medicinal tree goes back as far as 2000 to 4000 BC.  Ayurvedic medicine calls the neem tree ' the curer of all ailments' because each part of the tree is used medicinally.  From the seeds, we get a cold-pressed, oil/wax mixture that is used topically to combat every known kind of ailment.  Considered anti-bacterial, anti-viral, antifungal, antiseptic and anti-parasitic, neem oils is alos high in vitamin E and essential fatty acids.  It is cooling and anti-inflamatory as well.  Neem oil has a distinctive scent which is why I often use essential oils  and dilute neem with another carrier oil (olive oil).

Another carrier oil with anti-microbial properties is Tamanu oil (calophyllum tacamaca or c. inophyllum).  Tamanu is native to South East Asia and Polynesia.  It has been used medicinally for hundreds of years by indigenous peoples to treat all sorts of skin ailments as well as shingles and leprosy.  Tamanu is considered to have pain-relieving properties as well.

These two carrier oils have also be proven to help boost our immune function - another critical component, especially as we enter the flu and cold season.

Visit our Home page to download our November Newsletter containing holistic suggestions for using essential oils to combat superbugs this Fall and Winter.

I'm reading The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan (which I highly recommend along with his previous book, The Botany of Desire).  In one section he describes the difference between industrial farming and artisanal farming methods.  I'm sure you can imagine the industrial model where the goal is to be the least-cost producer through magnifying economies of scale to cut costs.  This is the dominant type of farming done in the US these days and the reason why our food is shot full of hormones and antibiotics.

Artisanal farming is small-scale farming where the goal is to produce an exceptional product rather than the least-costly item.  Pollan references an article by Allan Nation in the Stockman Grass Farmer comparing the two approaches and advising that any attempt by the artisanal farmer to incorporate an industrial model will be doomed to failure:  "The biggest problem with alternative agriculture today is that it seeks to incorporate bits and pieces of the industrial model and bits and pieces of the artisanal model.  This will not work...In the middle of the road, you get the worst of both worlds."

Very interesting, you might be thinking, but what does this have to do with essential oils?  Everything!

I'm often asked what makes OmnEssence Essential Oils different from other lines of essential oils?  Everyone says their oils are 'pure', 'therapeutic', 'the highest qualty', etc.  Well, what differentiates OmnEssence's oils is that we work only with artisanal producers - typically small distillers working to produce an exceptional product rather than be the low cost producer.  If you are looking for the 'Wal-Mart' of essential oils, then you have come to the wrong website.  If you want an exceptional oil, produced by artisans rather than industrial farms, Welcome!

 
 

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month....

Almost all of us have been touched by cancer-if not personally, then by family members and/or friends who have/had cancer.  Today, the emphasis is on living with cancer and so those with cancer often face multiple types of treatments as well as many cycles of treatments.  Traditional treatments are difficult but the good news is that essential oils provide a holistic approach to relieving many of the unpleasant effects of traditional cancer treatment. 

I see essential oils as a complementary modality.  Complementary is defined as ‘serving to fill out or complete; mutually supply each other's lack'.   Essential oils can be a powerful adjunct to cancer care.  Below are some ways we can incorporate essential oils into cancer therapy to support the body, mind and spirit when we face the biggest fight of our lives:

For healing surgical incisions:  I blend helichrysum, frankincense and lavender in a 10% dilution in fractionated coconut oil to be applied directly to the incision.  Fractionated coconut oil is considered sterile and helichrysum, frankincense and lavender are well known for their skin-healing properties and are pain-relieving as well.  I often add another oil that has an affinity to the area that had surgery: carrot seed for liver, other seed oils (cardamom, angelica) for abdominal surgery or a leaf oil such as petitgrain for chest surgeries.  A blend of 4 oz works nicely to heal the incision and reduce scarring.  We'll blend for you - $19

For inflamed skin from radiation:  I blend helichrysum and blue yarrow or blue chamomile oils (about 2mls each)  in 4 oz of distilled water to spray over the affected area up to 6 times daily during radiation treatment and for a month following the treatment.  The oils are cooling, anti-inflammatory and also have pain-relieving properties that can help reduce the pain and irritation of the treatment.  We'll blend for you - $19

For fatigue: I blend clary sage with black spruce, pine or balsam fir along with sweet basil.  For women, I'll add a bit of geranium oil to the blend.  The black spruce, pine and fir oils all support the adrenal glands during what is a physically as well as emotionally stressful time.  We'll blend for you - 5ml $12

For nausea and abdominal pain or digestive upsets:  I blend coriander, sage, s. marjoram (or marigold), myrrh and helichrysum in equal parts to be applied over the abdomen.  We'll blend for you - 5ml $12.  Red mandarin over the abdomen calms and quiets an upset digestive tract.

For pain relief:  I blend powerful analgesic essential oils such as birch, black pepper, ginger, helichrysum, lavender or peppermint to apply topically with carrier oils.  See our Pain Relief Blend - 5ml   $19

To support the immune system:  I use bay laurel, inula graveolens or mountain savory in calophyllum carrier oil. All  have been shown to stimulate the immune system.  See our Immune Boost Blend - 5ml  $30.  For candida outbreaks, I blend 6 parts tea tree (or cajeput or MQV) to 4 parts bergamot and apply topically or use internally, if necessary.

Emotional support is no less important and essential oils are great for stress management (citruses, sandalwood, petitgrain/neroli), anxiety (bergamot, clary sage, rose, petitgrain/neroli) and even insomnia (spikenard, valerian or ylang ylang).  See our Stress Relief Blend (5ml $10) or we'll blend for you!

Please feel free to contact us regarding using essential oils for complementary cancer care:  email us at customersvc@omnessence.com or call us at 1-800-943-6846.

Two new oils for October have arrived!

Frankincense CO2 (boswellia carterii)- Wild-harvested from Somalia. This oil is distilled using carbon dioxide instead of steam distilled.  I think the CO2 distillation allows a sweeter, more frankincense-like scent to emerge than the steam distillation from the same distiller!    5ml $9  10ml $16.20  30ml $37.80


Ho Wood (cinnamomum camphora) - Wild-harvested from China.  While it is named camphora, it is rich in linalool, that wonderfully healing compound!  Considered antiseptic, antispasmodic, it is good for nausea, reflux, flatulence.  Ho Wood has a slightly sweet, slightly woody scent that is considered a good substitute for Rosewood essential oil.  5ml $7  10ml  $12.40  30ml  $29.60

Introducing the following new oils:

Gingergrass (cymbopogon martinii var. sofia) from India.  Less known in the West than other grasses like citronella or lemongrass, gingergrass has been used for millenia in Ayurvedic medicine to open up channels of prana, particularly in the sinuses.  Also used in Ayurvedic massage for its anti-inflamatory properties to reduce pain, inflamation, swelling and stiffness in muscles and joints.  It has a wonderfully warm, spicy, earthy scent with an undertone of wood.

Nagarmotha (cyperus rotundus) wild-crafted from India is another staple to Ayurvedic medicine.  Distilled from the root of the nut-grass plant, it is used to balance pitta disturbances.  We also know it has powerful anti-inflamatory properties and can be used for skin disorders such as seborrhea and psoriasis.  As a root oil, it is cosidered a base note with a woody, oriental scent.

Easter White Cedar (thuja occidentalis) See our posting from August 22nd (below).

Manuka Honey -organic manuka honey from New Zealand with UMF +15!  I began using honey as a 'carrier' for essential oils years ago.  I can use it topically or in teas or gargles.  I add a few drops of my essential oil blend to the honey and apply it to my skin or dissolve in my tea!  I'm using it along with essential oils for my son's acne and it is wonderful as a facial mask!  Look under our Carrier oils or click here to go to the page to purchase Manuka Honey!