The best part of spring cleaning is opening the doors and windows to welcome fresh air and sunshine. Why not add to that spring freshness with natural cleaners?

Taken from the flowers, bark, leaves, and other parts of plants, essential oils are as natural as fresh air and sunshine. Many have their own properties as disinfectants, grease cutters and deterrents to pests — and they impart fresh and pleasing aromas that linger long after your chores are finished.

Natural cleaning products are increasingly available in stores, but you can also easily and economically make your own mixtures with just a few basic ingredients. Chances are some of these ingredients, such as baking soda, white vinegar and borax, are already in your cupboards. One hundred percent pure essential oils can be found at natural products stores or online at www.auracacia.com.

Homemade natural cleaning products are versatile; many can be used for a variety of tasks. Because essential oils are in a highly concentrated form, often only a few drops are needed for a solution that can take you through several cleaning cycles. Not only do you save money — your homemade cleansers will work just as well as commercially produced cleaners without harming the environment.

“Choices abound,” says Tom Havran, aromatherapy product developer. “From pine or lemon oil, whose essences suggest more traditional cleaning aromas, to tea tree and grapefruit, which people might not think of as cleaning ingredients.”

Not sure which oil to start with? Here are some of Havran’s suggestions:

* Pine is inexpensive and clean smelling. It is effective as both a disinfectant and deodorizer.

* Lavender has a pleasing scent, is anti-bacterial and deters insects such as moths.

* Tea tree oil has a sharp, spicy scent and is a good disinfectant and deodorizer.

* Lemon is fresh and clean smelling. It’s also acidic, providing antibacterial and antiseptic cleaning properties.

* Grapefruit has a clean and uplifting aroma that eliminates odors — even strong pet odors.

Making your own cleaning products with essential oils can be as simple as mixing 15 to 20 drops of any essential oil into a cup of baking soda, letting the mixture stand overnight so the oil can be absorbed, and then sprinkling the powder on carpet before you vacuum.

You can also make a quick and easy disinfecting toilet bowl cleanser by combining one cup of water, one-quarter cup of liquid castile soap and 20 drops of white thyme, lavender or lemon essential oil in a 22-oz. spray bottle.

Spring is a time of renewal that offers a perfect opportunity to replace chemical cleansers with pure and natural essential oils. Your whole family, including your pets, will benefit.

For more spring-cleaning formulas you can make yourself with essential oils visit www.auracacia.com/springcleaning. While you’re there, be sure to get more information about Aura Cacia’s live web chats with host Tim Blakley, and download previous chats to learn more about using essential oils that benefit you and your family, naturally.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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There are literally hundreds of different essential oils that you can choose from, but by far the effects of the almond essential oil are some of the greatest. Almond essential oil is extracted from the bitter almond and is most commonly used in the practice of aromatherapy. Almond oil is actually known as being a carrier essential oil, which is one of the oils that help to carry the essential oil into the skin.

Almond oil application is the best therapy for conditioning the skin and reviving its natural glow, and as well it helps by improving the complexion and taking years off of your appearance.

General Information

Almond essential oil is an excellent emollient because it helps to soften and smooth the skin, and as well it helps to relieve irritation, inflammation and itching. It is also a great lubricant and helps the skin to balance water loss and absorption of moisture, meaning that it will not make the skin too dry or too oily.

Almond essential oil is fantastic for protecting the surface of the skin, even in summer from the harmful UV rays of the sun. It is also suitable for all skin types, even sensitive and allergen prone skin, and can even be used on children.

Uses

There are a few different ways that you can use almond essential oil, with the most popular choice being to apply it directly onto the skin. This is not something that can be done with all essential and carrier essential oils, as most are too strong and potent and would have an undesirable effect on the skin if applied on its own.

Benefits

The benefits of almond oil are truly incredulous, and this includes the fact that it is all natural, that it helps to soften and soothe the skin without clogging the pores, helps to boost the vitality of the skin, and how it nourishes the skin and works great as a massage medium.

There are various other essential oils that you can use as well and it is important that you determine what type of effects you are looking for and which scents you prefer, as this will help you to decide on the particular oil that is going to be most suitable. You may also want to speak to an aromatherapy professional who is specially trained and knowledgeable in the practice of aromatherapy and can help you choose the right products.

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Essential oils have been used for centuries in healing and only recently have found credibility in Western medicine. Essential oils can provide the same relief that over the counter medicine does for everyday aches and pains and less serious illnesses such as colds and coughs.

Violet essential oil is not commonly used but it is a very useful essential oil and can be used to treat a number of illnesses. It is very useful for people who suffer from arthritis and other ailments that cause swelling and inflammation. Violet essential oil can be used in different ways depending on what it is being used to treat.

Versatile Properties

Violet essential oil is a mild analgesic, and is suitable for minor sprains and bruises. If you have a sprain then mixing some violet essential oil with carrier oil and massaging it onto the area is a good way to ease the pain. Because of the anti-inflammatory nature of violet essential oil it is also suitable for someone who suffers from arthritis as a pain reliever. In this case the essential oil can be massaged onto the affected joints or a few drops of essential oil can be put into a bath to give relief.

The analgesic properties of violet essential oil are also suitable for easing migraines and headaches. Inhaling steam that has been infused with violet essential oil will help to relieve headaches or simply placing a few drops of the oil in an essential oil burner and let the vapors soother you. Although not guaranteed to ease all headaches this is an effective remedy for headaches brought about by sinus problems.

Violet essential oil is also an effective decongestant. If you have a bad cold and blocked nose then inhaling steam with violet oil is a good way to ease the stuffiness. It is a good alternative to eucalyptus oil that is recommended for colds. This is also a great substitute if you don’t like the strong smell of eucalyptus, as the scent of violet oil is much milder and lot more pleasant than the more medicinal eucalyptus.

You can also use this essential oil when you have a cough; particularly a chesty cough where you need to bring up the phlegm. This essential oil is known to be a good expectorant and can help you produce phlegm when you cough to get over your illness faster. The most effective way to use it in this case is through inhalation. 

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Essential oils have long been touted for use in aromatherapy but what about health issues like cholesterol? Essential oil for cholesterol has been a focus of medical research for quite some time because if these oils can make an impact in other areas of your health, why not cholesterol? For thousands of years, essential oils have been used for everything from arthritis, muscle aches and nausea to colds, flu and blood pressure. There really could be an essential oil for cholesterol which could lower the bad cholesterol in your blood which could cause heart attack and stroke.

Cinnamon Is Quite Popular

Cinnamon as an essential oil is derived from the leaves and bark of the cinnamon plant which is usually only found in Indonesian countries and Sri Lanka. From an aromatherapy standpoint, cinnamon gives you a feeling of comfort and well-being as well as has the ability to perk up a depressive mood.

As an essential oil for cholesterol, cinnamon has shown great promise in reducing overall levels, particularly the bad LDL cholesterol.  No one knows exactly why cinnamon works for patients with cholesterol problems but the fact is that many people who consume just ½ a teaspoon can reduce their cholesterol levels without harming their health. Even triglyceride levels lower and diabetics notice an improvement in their blood sugar levels.

Basil – Not Just for Italian Food

Basil as an essential oil for cholesterol is not as widely known but there have been some studies that have shown promise with this particular herb. Related to the peppermint family, most people know basil is a top ingredient in most Italian food dishes. However, basil as an essential oil for cholesterol comes into play because it holds back the oxidation process of free radicals which allow cholesterol to build up in the blood.

Lemon for Good Health

Lemon is another great essential oil for cholesterol busting and of course lemon’s relatives in the aromatherapy department – lemon balm and lemon grass also help.  Lemon is great for the circulatory system and the reason is it lowers the stickiness in the blood that occurs when cholesterol is high. In addition, lemon also aids in breaking up deposits of plaque in your arteries which in turn also reduces cholesterol.

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Essential oils can be used for many things but each essential oil has a specific use or is better suited at treating certain things. Orange essential oil has some surprising uses that you may have never thought of and some others that you would expect of it.

The versatile uses of orange essential oil make it the perfect essential oil to add to your collection of essential oils. Besides its medicinal or healing properties orange essential oil has a very uplifting effect and is the perfect to bring a burst of sunshine into a room especially in winter when things are feeling a little gray and tired.

Perfumes and Cosmetics

If you love the smell of citrus then you will love the bright top note of orange essential oil and be pleased to know that one of the uses of orange essential oil is a summery perfume. You can make your own perfumes by blending essential oil with carrier oil or alcohol in a 50/50 ratio; if you want cologne adjust the carrier oil or alcohol to 75%.

You can blend it with other essential oils such as Geranium, Lavender, and Neroli for a softer, more floral scent. If you want something spicier and more masculine combine with spices such as ginger or sandalwood, frankincense and other ‘woody’ essential oils.

Everyday Uses

One of the uses of orange essential oil is in scenting your household appliances. When you next clean out your refrigerator, freezer or oven you can add a little orange essential oil to the rinse water. This gives your household appliances a wonderful smell and also helps to fight against any unpleasant odors that might be lurking in your fridge or oven.

Another one of the everyday uses of orange essential oil is as a room deodorizer. Place a few drops of orange essential oil in an essential oil burner and leave it in a room and it will have it smelling great again. This essential oil is great for getting rid of food odors in the kitchen after cooking.

Uplifting Scent

One of the uses of orange essential oil is as an antidepressant or mood lifter. The sweet clear notes of orange essential oil will help to uplift any mood. During winter one of the uses of orange essential oil is to bring a little sunshine back into the room. You can blend it with some spice oils or coniferous oils and you will have a refreshing scent and a lighter atmosphere.

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There are literally hundreds of different essential oils that you can choose from, and each of these oils offers its own characteristics and health benefits. Tranquility essential oil is actually an umbrella term, which includes all essential oils that offer soothing or sedative effects. Peppermint is one very popular tranquility essential oil, one that is instantly recognizable.

Lavender is another popular choice, and can be used for treating a variety of ailments, including acne, allergies, athlete’s foot, bruises, burns, migraines, oily skin, scars, sores, sprains, strains, stretch marks, vertigo, whooping cough and more. The oil is widely used in aromatherapy to ease tension, stress, tiredness, and feelings of depression.

The Details

It is very important to understand not only the benefits that you can receive from using a tranquility essential oil, but as well the safety precautions that should be taken. There is no doubt that essential oils are very powerful compounds and so of course there are certain safety measures that anyone using these oils should take.

The therapeutic properties of a tranquility essential oil are extensive and will range and differ greatly from the herbal and homeopathic applications of the same plant from which they are derived. Careful inhalation of these oils can provide therapeutic benefit as the oil molecules enter the lungs and are absorbed into the bloodstream.

Use Common Sense

There are a few guidelines that you should follow whenever you are using a tranquility essential oil of any sort. Of course first and foremost you should always keep these oils out of the reach of children. Pregnant and nursing women should avoid using these oils unless under the supervision of a professional. You should try to keep essential oils out of your eyes and out of your mucous membranes, and so a wise rule is to always wash your hands thoroughly after handling any oils.

You should also make sure to check for any interaction between medication and essential oils, because if you are on medication it may have a negative interaction with the oils you are using and this can result in having a dangerous effect. Also keep in mind that if you have sensitive or allergy prone skin you should test the oil on your hand before using it anywhere else on your body or via inhalation.

By taking the proper precautions and using common sense you will be able to receive the benefits from these oils that you are looking for.

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The most popular attribute of sandalwood essential oil is its amazing fragrance that has been used for incense as offerings to Hindu Gods; and generally as an air freshener. However, did you know that the sandalwood essential oil has been used primarily as medicine and only secondary for smell by the ancient Indian civilization?

The Healing Powers of Sandalwood Essential Oil

The oil is obtained from sandalwood tree which is mainly grown in India. In order to be able to extract the oil, the sandalwood tree needs to be at least thirty years old. The extraction of oil is made by steaming its roots or heartwood or by water distillation. This oil is used extensively by the cosmetic and food industries where it goes into making of perfumes, deodorants, soaps, health supplements, shower gels, shampoos, etc

Besides the cosmetic applications, this oil is also used in wide variety of herbal remedies as per ayurvedic, Unani and Chinese formulations. The most common use is against acne and pus filled pimples. It is also extremely effective as a remedy for dry and cracked skin.  When used as an aftershave, the sandalwood essential oil prevents rashes and freshens up the skin.

This oil has also been used successfully against cold and flu, sore throat, bronchitis, and laryngitis as it acts as a very effective expectorant. For this purpose you have to take a little sandalwood oil, rub it on your palms and rub it over the chest area. Side by side you would need to inhale it with the help of steaming hot water.

The sandalwood essential oil is extremely efficient as a calming agent hence, it is extensively recommended for people who suffer from insomnia, anxiety attacks and chronic depression. For this purpose you would need to use an air diffuser which could disseminate the magnetic smell in the air so you could inhale it.

The effect of this fragrance on people is amazing; people tend to calm down and be happy at he same time, indicating that sandalwood essence also has an uplifting effect on people. Many people use this fragrance just before sleeping as it relaxes both mind and body promoting a deep and restful sleep. People who constantly feel stressed out and anxious mostly due to leading a fast and acutely stressful life are known to be highly benefited by aromatherapy with sandalwood essence.

This is also recommended for those who suffer from diarrhea, stomach upsets (vomiting with cramps and fever), gonorrhea and cystitis. And of course, a little known property of sandalwood essential oil is that of an excellent aphrodisiac.

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It can definitely be intimidating if you are trying to decide on a particular essential oil, especially since there are literally hundreds of different options available for you to choose from. Of all the oils available however one of the most beneficial and versatile is rosemary essential oil.

What Are Essential Oils?

Before you can fully understand about rosemary essential oil you need to be more educated on essential oils in general. These oils are natural substances which are extracted from grasses, flowers, herbs, shrubs, and spices, usually through a process known as steam distillation. These essential oils have a long tradition of providing a variety of therapeutic benefits, benefits which have been confirmed through modern scientific research.

About Rosemary Essential Oil

Rosemary essential oil is one of the most commonly used essential oils because of the variety of benefits that it offers. It is most often used to combat nervous exhaustion and fatigue, and this effect can be so powerful that rosemary is actually not recommended for use by people with epilepsy or high blood pressure.

Rosemary oil also acts as a sort of astringent in that it helps to regular or decrease oily secretions of the follicle. It is for this reason that rosemary essential oil is so often included in hair care concoctions.

Grow Your Own

Of course you can buy all of the herbs that you need but there is also always the option of growing your own. Inhaling the fragrance of fresh, living rosemary is obviously the easiest and most natural way to enjoy its therapeutic effects and it is easy to grow year round so you can grow it on your own, regardless of where you live. Just make sure that you keep this aromatic herb in a sunny south-facing window sill and that you pinch out the growing tips for use as the plant grows.

Remember that rosemary essential oil is just one of many essential oils available these days, and so it really all depends on what problem you are seeking a solution for and what sort of therapeutic effects you are looking for. A good idea is to speak to an aromatherapy professional who will be specially trained in this area and who will work together with you to help you find the most suitable essential oil.

Aromatherapy is a safe and natural alternative to more conventional treatment methods of today, and it combines the physical and emotional effects of gentle massage with the medical and psychotherapeutic properties of essential oils.

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The rose is not only about beauty and extraordinary smell; it is also about alternative medicine and applications in your day-to-day home remedies for a number of ailments. You have the rose essential oil extracted from the petals of this beautiful plant. You would be amazed to learn that you would need nothing less than one ton of rose petals to make only about 300 grams of rose essential oil, which is why this is very expensive.

This is why many people use (knowingly) another type of Rose for the extract i.e. the Rose geranium, a plant which is also nick-named as the Rose French.  This oil is available at a fraction of the cost of the original rose oil – but there is no compromise in the effectiveness in healing the varied health problems.

The Applications of the Rose Essential Oil in Day-To-Day Life

The rose essential oil has the following exceptional properties – it is a great anti-depressant, it is excellent at calming the nerves, and relaxes both mind and body. This oil extract is well known to also help in improving confidence, reducing stress levels and fatigue.

The most popular application is as a perfume.  Many people find the scent of a rose totally magnetic. This is one of the best applications and the most well known. Whenever you feel upset, angry, irritated with things that are beyond your control, just put a few drops of this oil on your wrist or garments you would be able to experience almost instant mind relaxation.

In a similar manner, just one drop of the original rose essential oil would be able to steer you away from depression in no time. In fact, if you find that you are prone to symptoms such as these, all you need is to get just one tiny drop and keep it around your nose on which you could sniff at throughout the day with excellent results.

For repairing damaged or rough skin – say on the elbows, ankle sides and knees – take a few drops of rose oil and mix with the same amount of almond oil and then apply wherever you feel it is necessary. In a matter of days you would have regained the beauty of your skin.

You could apply rose essential oil plus a few drops of lemon juice to the face as a lotion, to keep the skin toned and young. You could combine it with Fuller’s earth to make an excellent anti-tan mask for anyone who needs to remove the impact of the sun from their skin.

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You are probably familiar with peppermint essential oil without being aware of it.  A very small amount of peppermint essential oil is safe to ingest for most people, so this versatile and tasty oil can be found in medicines and candies.  You should talk to your doctor before taking peppermint essential oil internally.  It is available in ready made capsules.

Upset Stomach

One of the best things peppermint essential oil can help you with is reducing nausea or an upset stomach.  For some people, just sniffing a few drops on a handkerchief can help them with motion sickness to nausea from migraines to morning sickness.  There is some controversy as to whether pregnant women should go anywhere near peppermint essential oil, so check with your obstetrician first.

You can add a couple of drops of the oil to a glass of warm water to help with nausea.  You also could make up a massage lotion of one part peppermint essential oil to ten parts base lotion (like olive oil or an unscented body lotion).  You would then gently massage this concoction clockwise around your upset tummy.

Foot Care

Many affordable pedicure products are made with peppermint essential oil, as it has both the properties to kill pain and yet make you more alert.  This makes is great for adding to oils for a quick foot rub or add a few drops to a foot bath and have a good, refreshing soak.  A few drops in a drawn hot bath can be beneficial for a relaxing yet reviving all over body soak.

Respiratory Troubles

When you are so stuffed up that it’s hard to breathe, then you need to get to a doctor.  If you can’t do that, or you are waiting for the appointment, you can use peppermint essential oil to get relief.  You can use it as the only essential oil, or combine it with tea tree and/or eucalyptus essential oils.  These scents somehow stab through some of the worst congestion you can experience.

You can put the oils in a bowl of steaming water and then lean over the bowl, breathing the steam.  You need to have someone supervise you with this method as you might faint or you might get a steam burn.  Some people drape a towel over their heads and the steaming water in order to intensify the effect.

If you are by yourself, splash a few drops of peppermint essential oil into a handful of unscented body lotion and rub all over your chest and neck.  This can often help you breathe better.

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