Seven Great Uses For Rosemary Essential Oil

Rosemary was one of the first herbs used for medicine, food and religious rituals, and it is still used today to ease the symptoms of many different ailments.
Rosemary essential oil is used by aromatherapists for stimulating the memory; overcoming mental fatigue and sluggishness; aiding alertness and concentration; easing depression; managing stress and overcoming stress-related disorders and nervous exhaustion; easing the pain of migraines and tension headaches; raising blood pressure; relieving the pain and swelling of arthritis, muscle spasms, and sprains; soothing the itching of psoriasis, eczema and dermatitis; easing asthma, bronchitis, colds and sinusitis; and treating acne.
Although rosemary essential oil is helpful in the treatment of many conditions, it is especially useful for the following:

1. Memory: Rosemary essential oil is a stimulant, and using it in a diffuser or inhaling it directly from the bottle will enhance memory, alertness, and concentration. It will also reduce mental fatigue and sluggishness, and enhance mental clarity. These actions make it an excellent option to try for the cognitive issues associated with fibromyalgia and myalgic encephalomyelitis (chronic fatigue syndrome,) commonly called “fibrofog.”

2. Depression: Rosemary oil balances mood, lifts the spirits, and helps ease depression. It can be used in a diffuser or inhaled directly from the bottle. It can also be blended with a carrier oil such as cold-pressed olive or coconut oil with two to five drops per teaspoon of carrier oil and applied to the body.

3. Stress: The same actions that make rosemary essential oil so useful for memory and depression make it an excellent choice for managing stress and stress-related issues. It helps you to see things more clearly, and calms and relaxes the nerves.

4. Acne: A 2007 study (PubMed ID 17893831) showed a specific anti-bacterial action against the bacteria that cause acne. A blend of rosemary and coconut oils, mixed with six drops of rosemary oil in two teaspoons of coconut oil and applied after cleansing will help to reduce and control acne blemishes.

5. Headaches: Rosemary oil, mixed with five drops to a teaspoon of cold-pressed olive or coconut oil, will help relieve the pain of both migraine and tension headaches. After blending, apply a single drop of this mixture to the temples, being careful to keep it well away from the eyes. The rest of the oil can be massaged into the back of the neck to reduce muscle tension, which will also help ease the headache.

6. Pain: Muscle and joint pain and swelling caused by arthritis, muscle spasms, strains or sprains can be reduced by the application of a blend of thirty drops of rosemary oil and two tablespoons of a cold-pressed carrier oil to the painful areas several times a day. (For even better results, use fifteen drops of rosemary essential oil and fifteen drops of lavender essential oil in your blend. The two oils together have a stronger pain relief effect than either of them used alone.)

7. Psoriasis, Eczema, and Dermatitis: Four drops of rosemary oil mixed with a teaspoon of cold-pressed carrier oil and applied to the rough, scaly patches of psoriasis, eczema or dermatitis will help reduce the itching and irritation, as well as promoting healing. Adding a drop of vitamin E oil will aid in healing as well, promoting the development of healthy skin cells and soothing cracked areas.

Remember friends, there is a huge therapeutic disparity between an essential oil & a fragrance, and still quite a large difference from a standard essential oil to a ‘therapeutic grade, 100% pure, organic’ essential oil.

The Great Escape Intuitive Massage & Essential Oils offers you only the highest quality essential oils that you can find! Young Living Essential Oils, founded in 1991, has been the spearhead for improving the quality of essential oils here in the U.S. and remains the top distributor for such. Email or call Cheryl today to order your Young Living Rosemary essential oil. You’ll be glad you did!

Not only is it organic, petrochemical free, & vegan but it’s also local! Made down in Eugene, Oregon this cream is the only choice for me.

Other than the obvious perks of having an environmentally conscious, body aware company producing this fabulous catalyst for awesome bodywork but it also leaves your skin feeling hydrated, not greasy! You won’t leave feeling gross, you will walk away feeling great!

With many of my clients asking about my massage cream, some even purchasing small amounts from me to use at home, I’ve decided to retail a couple of their products for your convenience.

Here at The Great Escape you can buy your very own 8 oz jar of Sacred Earth Botanicals Vegan Massage Cream ($11.95) and/ or a 2 oz Sacred Earth Botanicals Warming Massage Lotion ($4.95)! Pick up yours at your next massage appointment!

It seems that these 4 thieves came from a long line of apothecaries who believed strongly in the power of essential oils. They recognized the properties of a plants ‘immune system’ could benefit, strengthen, and protect a human’s own immune system. Using their knowledge they blended clove, lemon, cinnamon, eucalyptus, and rosemary together, mixed it with vinegar and saturated their clothing before going into a home or touching the body of ones suffering with the plague.

Once Gary Young researched to find the ingredients of this powerful blend, and mixed the ratios to the best of his ability, he gave us Thieves!

Uses for this concentrated oil blend include, but may not be limited to:

Diffusion (for two hours) in the home or office.
One drop in a cup of rice milk or warm water for a tea.
I personally put one drop directly on my tongue if I am feeling under the weather.
Consumption of Thieves hard lozenges
Rubbing a few drops on the bottom of the feet.

When put directly on the skin it can cause irritation in some but it can be mixed with a lotion or oil then applied to the chest & back for absorption.

Young Living created a whole line of Thieves products:

Thieves oil 15ml $42.00 (It’ll last you a long time!)
Thieves Household cleaner (concentrate) 14.4 oz – $29.00 / 64 oz – $112.00
Thieves Dentarome Toothpaste 4 oz – $9.00 (for sensitive teeth & gums)
Thieves Dentarome Plus Toothpaste 4 oz – $9.50 (more concentrated oils)
Thieves Dentarome Ultra Plus Toothpaste 4 oz – $12.00 (whitening)
Thieves Fresh Essence Plus Mouthwash 7.2 oz – $14.00
Thieves Dental Floss – $4.50
Thieves Sanitizing Hand Gel 1 oz – $6.50
Thieves Hard Lozenges 30 ct – $23.50 (they are the ones offered at my office.)

Order yours today thru The Great Escape Intuitive Massage & Essential Oils!

First, let’s begin with a quick Coconut Milk soup.

1 1/2 quarts organic chicken broth. (if you feel adventurous, make it home-made!)
1 1/2 cups coconut milk (and cream) – One can will do it.
1 lb chicken, cubed
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1 Tbsp fresh grated ginger
1″ section of lemongrass
1/2 cup chopped shitake mushrooms
2/4 Tbsp fresh lemon or lime juice
Chopped cilantro for garnish.

Simmer the first 6 ingredients until chicken is cooked through. Stir in lemon or lime juice & mushrooms while its simmering until mushrooms are cooked. Garnish well & ENJOY!

On the side of that delish soup you can add this sweet, raw kale salad.

4 cups packed, finely chopped raw kale. (Dinosaur is preferred)
1 large red apple (but I’ve also enjoyed Granny Smith in this)
1 thinly sliced celery
1/2 cup walnuts, toasted & chopped (if you want – I do raw), divided
1/4 cups plus 2 tablespoons raisins, divided
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
2 tablespoons water, more if necessary
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
1/8 teaspoon sea salt

Place kale, 1/2 of the apple (chopped), celery, 1/4 cup walnuts & 1/4 raisins in a large bowl. Blend remaining apple, remaining walnuts, remaining 2 tablespoons raisins, mustard, water, vinegar, and salt. Puree until well combined and slightly thick, adding water if needed to thin. Pour over kale mixture & toss. Nutritious & Delicious!

And, for dessert…

Bob’s Red Mill has a recipe for perfect tapioca pudding, save for the dairy & the sugar. (In my opinion). So, I’ve made a few alterations that seem to make it just right. Here it goes…

1/3 cup small pearl tapioca. (soak for 30 minutes in 3/4 cup water, don’t drain)
1 can coconut milk
1 1/4 cups coconut milk (look for the boxed stuff)
1/4 tsp sea salt
1/4 cup Xylitol
2 eggs separated
1/2 tsp vanilla

Add milk, salt, and lightly beaten egg yolks to tapioca and stir over medium heat until boiling. Simmer uncovered over very low heat for 10-15 minutes. Stir often.

Beat egg whites with Xylitol until soft peaks form, or try to form. (Xylitol works differently) Fold about 3/4 cup of hot tapioca into the egg whites, then gently fold mixture back into saucepan. Stir over low heat for about 3 minutes. Cool 15 minutes then add vanilla.

Extras may include, but are not limited to, the following… coconut flakes, nutmeg, nuts, crushed pineapple, ginger.

Perfect ending to a perfect meal!

My experience both with the military and as a career massage therapist has put me in a particularly unique position to offer valuable support to our veterans during their reintegration.  That is why I am offering 4 pro bono 60 minute massage sessions & 4 sliding scale 60 minute massage sessions per month to veterans returning from Afghanistan and Iraq.

Although my knee still gets a bit tweaky at times, which I believe is due to floaties in the joint getting caught where they shouldn’t be, the healing is going extremely well. I’ve been doing self-guided strengthening from a list of exercises recommended to shore up feet, ankles, & knees. When done on a regular basis I can certainly feel the improvement. When I miss a day or two I definitely regret it.

One of the best decisions I made on my path complete recovery was going to see Dr McClanahan at NW Foot and Ankle. Over the past two & a half years the pain in my right foot has steadily gotten worse. This, of course, continues to cause improper body mechanics which leads to undue stress on my right knee (not to mention right hip, low back, & all the way up). My VA podiatrist kept throwing me into orthotics that didn’t alleviate the problem but instead made it worse. I had heard of Dr McClanahan’s unconventional thinking on foot issues, his conservative views on surgery, and how we should all be most comfortable in our bare feet (duh!) so I decided to give it a shot.

I found Dr McClanahan to be extremely informative & very thorough. He was straight to the point & offered me techniques to help my foot, advice on purchasing the proper shoes, and some new insights as to what may be going on that is leading me down a painful road. For anyone with chronic foot, knee, hip pain or just the desire to avoid such, I strongly suggest you visit Dr McClanahan at NW Foot & Ankle.

Soon I will be joining trainer Paisley Meekin at Honest PT for some semi-private guidance on getting my knee even more stable. After a one on one to analyze my movement patterns Paisley seemed very confident in the potential for my successful return to full function.
 

Yours in Health,
Cheryl L GreatHouse, LMT
The Great Escape Intuitive Massage & Essential Oils, LLC

The Kinesio tape itself is made from stretchy material.  When applied there will be an appropriate tension given to the tape for the injury or joint being treated before the tape is laid down & anchored.  First, the mere presence of the tape brings the recipient’s attention to the area.  If the specific region being treated is not forgotten there is less of a risk that the person over using or being reckless.  However, with pain relief and the support provided Kinesio tape will also allow one to use their body with proper mechanics, not over compensating.  Also, the presence of the Kinesio tape ‘speaks’ to the brain via the pressure receptors and stretch receptors found in joints & muscles.  Instead of getting panicked out cry from the injured area the brain gets a different message and sends out a less reactive, urgent response which will allow the body to work more normally while still getting the healing it needs.

The ‘stretchy’ part of the Kinesio tape is beneficial by applying a slight tension on the upper layers of the skin.  This not only keeps the fascia (connective tissue) from gluing down in a less than helpful way, it also stimulates good circulation of both blood & lymph.

To read more, check out this article from WebMD on the theories behind Kinesio taping. 

How Does Kineso Tape Work?

This weekend, September 22 & 23, 2012, will find me up to my elbows in Kinesio Tape.  I am taking the KT1/KT2 courses through Rehab Education, LLC.  If you are interested in reading up on what I will be learning, go here.

How exciting!!!  Look for details about cost & time for offering my taping skill during office hours.

Yours in Health,

~ Cheryl

Young Living Essential Oils is the first company in the US to mass produce therapeutic, food grade, organic essential oils.  With such high quality, pure oils you have a multitude of beneficial applications for which to use them.  Now, instead of making a large investment to own a great starter kit you will have the opportunity of purchasing an uber convenient, travel size pack that will cover a wide array of uses.

Included in this ‘must have’ kit you will find:

* Lavender – A very versatile oil, Lavender can be used to alleviate stress, bring about a sense of peacefulness, clean cuts, take the heat out of burns & reduce scarring, calm skin irritations, and much more.

* Lemon – This powerful antioxidant can be used to flavor a nice glass of water and ‘ lemon is a tonic for supporting the nervous and sympathetic nervous system’. (The Practice of Aromatherapy by Jean Valnet, M.D.)

* Peppermint – Great for settling an upset stomach by taking a drop in cool or warm water, strong breath freshener, helpful in clearing up the sinuses by inhalation, improves mental concentration & alertness, and, when diluted in a carrier oil, can be rubbed on the base of the neck & temples to battle fatigue & headaches. (Keep away from the eyes!!!)

* Purification – This oil ‘can be used directly on the skin to cleanse and soothe insect bites, cuts, and scrapes. When diffused, it helps to purify and cleanse the air from environmental impurities including cigarette smoke and other disagreeable odors.’ (YoungLiving.com)

* Valor – Applied to the instep of the foot to boost strength, courage, & self esteem, this oil keeps you moving forward with confidence.  Also, a fabulous scent to wear simply to smell awesome!

* PanAway -Very soothing to sore muscles, increases circulation, & supports healing in tissues after injury.

* Peace & Calming -The name says it all!  It’s often the first oil I use in my massage sessions to encourage relaxation.

* Thieves – An extremely powerful immune support and cleansing oil, Thieves can be used internally (a drop in some water) to curb a sore throat or cold & to freshen the breath, or externally as a disinfectant for public surfaces or hand sanitizer.

To have full bottles of all of these oils, while useful, can be expensive.  I’ve solved that problem by offering you 2 ml of each oil, in a sweet little carrying case, for only $50!  Great as a gift, too!  No purse, brief case, or back pack should be without this handy essential oil first aid kit.

* Please pre-order so I can put it together for you.

Raw Kale Salad w/ Creamy Tahini dressing