Home | Health | Dental Care

Recent Science Literature Validates the Use of Essential Oils

By: Erica Allen


Read More About Dental Care

Returning to Nature

The use of aromatherapy has increased in the last few years mostly as an ingredient in air fresheners, soaps, shampoos and often with massage. Yet in many western cultures, the therapeutic and even medicinal use of these volatile oils is still in its infancy.

You have probably read at least one or two articles in magazines talking about essential oils and their heath supporting properties for such maladies as fungus, stress and in the cooler months for colds and influenza. That maybe all fine and well, but what might one do with this information? In the paragraphs below, we have selected a few applications that have been validated by the most recent science studies.

Anxiety

Living in an intensely changing world, a growing percentage of the population is experiencing high levels of sustained anxiety and worry. Medical treatments for this disorder are commonly psychotropic drugs; however, long term use of pharmaceuticals is now being discouraged due to their side-effects. An alternative treatment may be warranted from the citrus family – Citrus sinensis or sweet orange. A 2010 study conducted in Brazil looked at the potential of sweet orange essential oil to reduce anxiety behaviors in lab animals. They found that this oil had significant anxiety reducing effects on tested rats.

Such findings are medically significant and even noteworthy, but how can one apply this scientific study to practical use? A few suggestions might be the following: put some drops on a handkerchief and breathe the aroma when necessary or, at the end of a work day, add 4-6 drops of sweet orange oil to your bath water.

Supporting Healthy Microflora

Most if not all of us have experienced an upset stomach. Yet for those with dysbiosis, an imbalance of intestinal microflora, such a condition can be on-going with various levels of severity. It is now widely understood that disbiosis is a probable cause of inflammatory and autoimmune disorders, food allergies, fatigue and possibly even colon cancer.

Researchers from Australia published findings in 2009 on the value of using essential oils to treat disbiosis. Their study found that lavender, caraway and neroil were highly effective against the major disbiosis-causing intestinal microorganisms. What was impressive in this study was that these essential oils not only had significant impact on the pathogenic bacteria but also left the health-supporting microflora untouched.

To apply such findings, we recommend making a mixture of these oils in equal parts (3 drops each) and blend into a tablespoon of coconut oil. After each meal, dissolve one-half teaspoon of the mixture in a warm liquid and drink it down. Save the mixture in a jar for subsequent meals.

Oral Heath Support

We all know that brushing and flossing promote healthy teeth and gums by removing harmful bacteria. If such bacteria are not removed from such measures, they may form a biofilm – a slime covering. Working together, biofilm bacteria are known to cause plaque which leads to decay as well as gum disease.

A 2009 study out of Thailand found that American basil (Ocimum americanum L.) was effective at reducing oral microbes that form biofilms.

To bridge this information to practical use, we suggest swishing a solution of 1-2 drops in a cup of water in your mouth for 1-3 minutes. (It is wise to use only the specified amount and refrain from using during pregnancy.)

Conclusion

Searching the latest research on essential oil effectiveness is promising. The studies we reviewed in the last two years indicate that essential oils are a viable choice for treating ailments such as anxiety and disbiosis and are capable of supporting oral health – a key to overall wellness. Such news makes one want to breathe a sigh of relief knowing that there are feasible choices to drug treatments.

Article Source: http://depositarticles.com/

Visit the website for more on using pure essential oils, the benefits ofLavender essential oil and more.

Please Rate this Article

 

Not yet Rated

Click the XML Icon Above to Receive Dental Care Articles Via RSS!

counter easy hit

Powered by Article Dashboard