101 Uses for Essential Oils

Home

1. Put 5 drops of your favorite Essential Oil on a cotton ball and place in your vacuum cleaner bag. Try Peppermint, Spearmint, Cassia, Purification or Pine. Geranium can help with doggy odor.

2. Soak dishcloth overnight in a bowl of water and a few drops of Lemon to disinfect and kill germs.

3. Kitchen sink scrub— Mix ½ cup baking soda, ⅛ cup vinegar and 5 drops each of Bergamot and Lime. Put mixture in sink and scrub. Wash down with warm water.

4. Place 1-3 drops of Four Thieves, Purification or Hope on a cotton ball and place on bottom of trash can or diaper pail. It cuts back on odors and kills germs.

5. To clean and increase shelf life of fresh fruit, fill a bowl with cool water and 2-6 drops of Lemon. Drop washed fruit into the water and stir.

6. Use 1-2 drops Lemon to remove gum, oil, glue, adhesive or crayon from most surfaces.

7. For a carpet deodorizer— Add 5-10 drops of Lemon, Lavender, Geranium, Peppermint or Ylang Ylang to a box of baking soda. Mix well and sprinkle over carpets. Let sit for an hour or more and then vacuum. Also try Calming or Harmony.

8. To dispel of household cooking odors add a few drops of Clove, Cinnamon, Adoration, Peace or any citrus Essential Oil to a simmering pan of purified water.

9. Bathroom refresher— Put Key Lime, Calming or Purification on a cotton ball and place behind toilet.

10. When washing out the fridge, freezer or oven, add Lime, Grapefruit, Bergamot or Lemongrass to the final rinse water.

11. For general purpose cleaning— Mix 1 cup vinegar, 2 cups purified water and 10 drops of Cleaning in a spray bottle. Great for mirrors, granite and general cleaning.

12. To help keep squirrels, spiders or mice away place 3-6 drops of Peppermint on a cotton ball at the place they enter.

13. To help keep flies away— Mix 25 drops of Peppermint or Lavender with 16 oz. purified water in large spray bottle. Can be used on counter tops, windows and doors. Shake well before each use.

Aroma

14. Try Edens Garden Scent Ball Plug-In Diffuser in the home or office. Designed for ease and safety, no water or flame needed. Try Clove, Jasmine, Balance, Joy, Peppermint, Ylang Ylang or Sweet Orange. Great to use if selling your home!

15. Remove cigarette smoke spray— Put 4 drops each of Rosemary, Tea Tree and Eucalyptus in a spray bottle with water. Shake well before each use.

16. Place a few drops of your favorite Essential Oil on the furnace filter; turn on the furnace fan to fill your home with a wonderful aroma. Try Vanilla, Pine, Cypress, Hope, Cinnamon Bark or Cassia during the holidays.

17. Mix a 10 ml bottle of Peppermint into a gallon can of paint to help dispel the fumes.

18. To keep a car smelling fresh, try Edens Garden Electric Car Diffuser. Add 2-8 drops of Essential Oil to the pad provided and insert pad into diffuser. Try Stress Relief, Key Lime, Joy, Balance, Adoration or Sensation.

19. A common way to use Essential Oils is by burning them in an oil burner. Mix 5-10 drops of your favorite Essential Oil and purified water in bowl provided. Then place tea light in the specified area and light. Try Joy or Peace blend.

20. Add 10-20 drops of Essential Oil to 16 oz. purified water in a spray bottle and use as an air freshener. For general use, add Lavender. Shake well before each use.

21. Pine, Frankincense, Sage and Myrrh all make wonderful firewood oils. Put 8-10 drops of Essential Oil on a dried log and allow time for the oil to soak in before putting the log on the fire (Do not drop Essential Oils on log while fire is burning).

22. Smelly shoes? Place a few drops of Geranium directly into shoes or place a cotton ball dabbed with a few drops of Lemon, Cleaning or Four Thieves into shoes to freshen them up.

23. Send your Holiday letter scented with Cassia, Cinnamon Leaf or Fir Needle. Place a few drops of oil on paper and put letters in a plastic bag. Seal and leave overnight to infuse the aroma. Try on bookmarks and stationary too. Essential Oils can leave residue on paper, please sample first.

24. For wonderful smelling towels, sheets and clothes, place 10-15 drops of Essential Oil onto a small piece of terry cloth and toss into the dryer while drying. Or add 5 drops Essential Oil to water and place in the center cup of the washer. Try Lavender, Ylang Ylang or Rose Geranium. Eucalyptus is great at combatting mites.

25. Essential Oils promote alertness and stimulate memory. Inhale Grapefruit, Invigorate, Peppermint or Stay Alert occasionally while driving, reading or studying. Basil and Bergamot are said to help with concentration. Inhale during the day to increase focus.

26. To add aroma to a candle, place a few drops of your favorite oil into the hot melted wax as the candle burns. Try 3 drops each of Sweet Orange and Vanilla. For insect repellent try Citronella or Lemon Eucalyptus (Do not drop oil in candle while candle is lit).

27. Lavender and Grapefruit are both wonderful for the office. Place a few drops of each or both on the pad of an Edens Garden Plug-In Diffuser and plug into outlet. Also, try our Stress Relief, Balance, Calming and Relaxation to help create a peaceful environment.

Health

28. Cold sores and blisters— Mix 1 drop of Four Thieves with 1 drop of an EGCO and apply to cold sore or blister 3 times a day or as needed until gone.

29. Nausea— Mix 1 drop Peppermint, Patchouli, Ginger or Nutmeg with 4 drops of an EGCO and place drops behind each ear and around navel 2-3 times hourly.

30. Sore feet— Mix 10 drops Vetiver, Patchouli or Peppermint with 1 tbsp. Epson salt and add to hot water in a basin large enough for footbath. Also try Harmony or Calming.

31. Teeth grinding— Massage 1-3 drops of Lavender and Valerian on bottom of feet each night before bed.

32. Cold and flu— Rub 1 drop of Four Thieves mixed with 1 drop of an EGCO to the bottom of feet to enhance the immune system.

33. Yoga mat cleanser— Mix 12 drops Sweet Orange, 6 drops Tea Tree and 6 drops Lavender with 4 oz. of purified water in a spray bottle. Shake the bottle and mist over your mat. Wipe clean with a soft towel before and after each use. Also try with Cleaning blend.

34. Menstrual cramps— Mix 2 drops of Clary Sage, Basil, Rosemary or Sage with 8 drops of an EGCO and apply on lower abdomen. Apply a warm moist hand towel for 10-15 minutes.

35. Headache— Mix 2 drops of Peppermint, Wintergreen, Roman Chamomile or Spearmint with 2 drops of an EGCO. Apply on back of neck, behind ears, on temples, forehead and under nose.

36. Fir Needle clears the lungs, nasal passages and sinuses. Mix 3 drops with 3 drops of an EGCO and massage onto chest.

37. Neck pain massage— Mix 1 drop of Birch, Basil, Elemi or Copaiba with 3 drops of an EGCO and rub onto neck.

38. Circulation bath— Use 8-10 drops of Neroli in bath water regularly. Try mixing with Epson salt as well!

39. Apply Lavender or Tea Tree directly to cuts, scrapes or scratches. You can also put 20 drops in a 4 oz. spray bottle with purified water and spray directly on wound.

40. 6-8 drops of Eucalyptus, Purification or Renew in the bath cools the body in summer and protects in winter.

41. Inhale the aroma of Peppermint to curb the appetite and lessen the impulse to overeat.

42. Overindulge last night? Juniper Berry, Cedarwood, Grapefruit, Lavender, Rosemary and Lemon help soften the effects of a hangover. Create your own blend of these oils and use 6-8 drops in a warm bath.

43. To help with snoring— Mix 3 drops of Thyme with 3 drops of an EGCO and apply to the soles of your feet at bedtime.

44. Jaw massage— Rub 1-2 drops of Harmony or Relaxation with 1-2 drops of an EGCO into the soft spot just below your ear lobe to release tension.

45. Try inhaling Peppermint before or during a workout to help boost mood and reduce fatigue.

46. For colds— Add 2-4 drops each of Lavender, Rosemary and Eucalyptus to 1 cup milk or cream. Pour into warm bath and soak.

47. To bring fever down, sponge the body with cool water to which 1-3 drops each of Eucalyptus, Peppermint and Lavender have been added.

48. Coffee replacement— Try placing a drop of Stay Alert or Purification in the palm of your hands, rub hands together and place them over mouth and nose, take 6 deep breaths.

49. To help ease a tension headache, massage 1-2 drops of Lavender onto the neck or temples.

50. For aching joints/tired muscles— Mix 1 drop Eucalyptus, Sage and Basil with 12 drops of an EGCO and apply to muscles/joints.

51. For better sleep, place cotton ball with 1-2 drops of Roman Chamomile and Lavender next to pillow.

52. Arthritis or stiff joints— Mix 2 drops each of Wintergreen, Cypress and Lemongrass with 2 tbsp. of an EGCO. Massage into area as needed. Shake well before each use.

Beauty

53. Nail strengthening recipe— Mix 10 drops each of Frankincense, Myrrh and Lemon to 2 tbsp. Vitamin E oil. Mix ingredients together and store in amber glass bottle. Rub on nail cuticles twice a week.

54. Wrinkle reducing blend— Mix 5 drops Sandalwood, 4 drops Geranium, 3 drops Lavender and 6 drops of Frankincense with an EGCO and apply to area. Keep away from eyes.

55. Clogged pores— Apply 2-4 drops Lemon, Tea Tree or Sweet Orange to affected area and gently remove with cotton ball.

56. Dandruff blend— Mix 5 drops Lemon, 2 drops Lavender, 1 drop Rosemary and 2 drops Peppermint with 2 tbsp. of an EGCO. Massage into scalp thoroughly for 1-2 minutes, leave on scalp for 10 minutes. Shampoo hair as usual.

57. Stretch marks— Mix 5 drops Frankincense, Myrrh, Coriander or French Lavender with 5 drops of an EGCO and massage on stretch marks 2 times a day.

58. Face moisturizer— Mix 1 drop of Elemi, Frankincense or Lavender with an EGCO for an evening moisturizer before bed.

59. Natural facial scrub— Mix ¼ cup plain yogurt, ¼ cup cornmeal and 5 drops each of Patchouli, Grapefruit and Lavender. Store any unused mixture in the refrigerator and use within a few days.

60. Skin toner— Mix 8 oz. purified water, 2 drops each of Lavender, Palmarosa and Rosewood in clean bottle. Apply the toner to skin with a cotton ball after cleansing. Shake well before each use.

61. Place 1-2 drops of Rosemary or Carrot on hair brush before brushing to promote growth and thickness.

62. Perfume— Mix 25 drops of French Lavender, Patchouli, Sandalwood, Geranium, Adoration, Balance or Lavender to 1 oz. of good quality vodka. Let age 2 weeks before using. Apply as a spray on neck, wrists, behind knees or ears.

63. Stress soothing massage oil— Mix 2 drops each of Lavender, Ylang Ylang, German Chamomile and Bergamot with 5 tsp. of an EGCO. Stir mixture and massage onto body.

64. Dry hair hot oil conditioner— Mix 15 drops Rosewood and 5 drops each Sandalwood, Geranium and Lavender and 4 tbsp. of an EGCO. Place mixture in small plastic bag and place the bag in a hot cup of water for 1 minute to warm. Apply, then wrap hair in a towel for 20 minutes. Wash hair as normal.

65. Hair loss help blend— Mix 3 drops each of Rosemary, Cedarwood and Lavender with 2 oz. Jojoba Carrier Oil in a container and shake well. Massage into hair and scalp for 5 minutes. Leave on hair for 1 hour, then wash. Use 1-2 times per week.

66. Sunscreen— Mix 5 drops each of Myrrh and Carrot with 10 drops of an EGCO and apply for 40 SPF.

67. Oily hair repair blend— Mix 9 drops each of Ylang Ylang, Lime and Rosemary with 2 tbsp. of an EGCO. Mix all ingredients then massage into hair/scalp. Wash hair as normal. Use 2-3 times per week.

68. Natural lotion— Mix 8 oz. unscented lotion with 10 drops of Myrrh, 15 drops Geranium and 5 drops Ylang Ylang. Keep in an airtight container. Be creative, there are many combinations to make.

Kids

69. Ringworm— Mix 3 drops each of Tea Tree and Spearmint and 1 drop each of Peppermint and Rosemary with 10 drops of an EGCO and massage over affected area 2-4 times daily.

70. Head lice blend— Mix 3 drops each of Thyme, Lavender and Geranium with 10 drops of an EGCO and apply to scalp. Massage onto entire scalp, cover with disposable shower cap and leave on for ½ hour. Shampoo and rinse well.

71. Blisters— Mix 2 drops Tea Tree with 2 drops of an EGCO and apply to blistered area 3-5 times daily as needed.

72. Bruises and scrapes— Mix 1 drop Clove and 4 drops Lavender with 5 drops of an EGCO. Apply 1-4 times daily as needed to affected area.

73. Sunburn (1st degree/no blisters)— Mix 2 drops of Lavender, Rose or Roman Chamomile with 1 tbsp. of an EGCO and apply 1-3 drops with cotton ball to affected area to help reduce inflammation.

74. Sprain— Mix 2 drops each of Basil, Pine, Kanuka and Wintergreen with 6 drops of an EGCO and apply to affected area 3-5 times daily.

75. Poison oak/ivy— Mix 3 drops of Peppermint or Wintergreen with 3 drops of an EGCO and apply to affected area twice daily.

76. Insect repellent— Mix 6 drops Peppermint, 6 drops Tea Tree and 9 drops Citronella with 1 tbsp. of an EGCO. Apply to exposed skin as needed.

77. Overactive children— Diffuse Peace, Calming, Lavender or Relaxation. Also, try applying it to bottom of feet daily.

78. Bee sting/insect bite— Apply 1-2 drops of Lavender, Peppermint or Wintergreen on a bee sting/insect bite to help with itching and swelling.

Emotions

79. Nervous/anxious ease blend— Mix 3 drops of Jasmine or Sweet Marjoram with 9 drops of an EGCO and use as a body lotion daily.

80. Feeling a little down? Place 1-3 drops of Adoration, Balance, Joy, Stress Relief, Harmony or Hope in the palm of your hands, rub hands together and cup hands over mouth and nose. Take 6 slow deep breaths and think of a moment in the last week you really enjoyed.

81. The aroma of Rose can provide alleviation from depressive symptoms. It can be used in baths, inhalations and aromatherapy burners to provide a mood boost during times of stress and fatigue.

Spiritual

82. Inhale 6-12 deep breaths of Frankincense before bed time and meditate on your day for a “Good Night.” Frankincense is said to create clarity of mind, calm the emotions and enhance spiritual awareness.

83. Use Myrrh, Frankincense, Myrtle or Cypress to pray and anoint each other as seen in the Bible verse “call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.”

84. The Great King David used Hyssop when he prayed the prayer in Psalm 51:10 “Create in me a clean heart oh God and renew a right spirit within me...” Apply Hyssop with an EGCO to temples and neck and pray the same.

85. Cassia and Cinnamon are in God’s Holy anointing oil described in scriptures Exodus 30:22-31. Try smelling them before going to place of worship.

86. Queen Esther, (Esther 2:12) was massaged with Myrrh for 6 months in preparation for her marriage to the king. Massage on with an EGCO or inhale.

87. Spikenard was poured over Jesus’ feet days before he died. Inhale ancient and spiritual Spikenard while meditating on the sacrifice of the cross.

88. Before yoga inhale Meditation, Relaxation, Balance or Harmony for an enhanced experience.

Gifts

89. Bridal shower gift— Aphrodisiac, Sensation, Rose and Love for the bride! Can be used for romantic baths, with a Scent Ball Plug-In Wall Diffuser or as a perfume on neck and wrists.

90. Bridal shower love potion gift— Place 20 drops of Sandalwood, 4 drops of Cocoa, 1 drop Rose in a container to be used as a perfume. Also try “Cocoa Vanilla Bliss” lotion— Place 40 drops Cocoa and 10 drops Vanilla and mix in 4 oz. of an EGCO for a sweet lotion.

91. Baby shower gift— Scent Ball Plug-In Wall Diffuser with Lavender or French Lavender to bring calming to a mother and baby! Perfect for the baby’s room.

92. Newly pregnant mother’s gift! Morning sickness can be aided with Sweet Orange, Lemon, Peppermint, or Ginger. Can be inhaled straight from the bottle or diluted with your favorite EGCO to be rubbed on tummy.

93. Father’s Day gift— Stress Relief or Relaxation for car with Edens Garden Electric Car Diffuser will fill car and encourage mood to and from work.

94. A birthday is a great time to give the basics in Essential Oils. Try Edens Garden most popular Top 6 Basic Essential Oil Set.

95. Birthday bath salts— Mix 1 cup each of Epson salt and baking soda and 20-30 drops of Essential Oil. Try Adoration, Joy, French Lavender or Ylang Ylang. Use ¼ cup per bath. Put it in a cute container or mason jar.

96. House warming gifts— Make French Lavender bags for wardrobe by sewing material in squares and dropping oil on them to be placed in closets and drawers.

97. Winter holiday gift— Spruce, Cinnamon, Clove, Pine, Fir Needle and Vanilla fill the home with comfort and love. Great with an Eden Garden Scent Ball Plug-In Wall Diffuser or to place a few drops in simmering hot water on the stove to fill the house with holiday cheer!

When Traveling

98. Mix Four Thieves and purified water in spray bottle to kill germs. Great places to spray are in front of the A/C unit and allow mixture to go through filter, on bed covers, sheets, pillowcases and even on public toilets.

99. Bring Lavender and Chamomile with you on planes to help calm little travelers that may feel cooped up. Place on their wrists or a tissue and inhale.

100. Immune boost— Mix 1 drop Oregano with 4 drops of an EGCO and rub on the bottom of feet to help boost immune system when flying on a plane with possible sick people.

101. Peppermint can ease motion sickness. Rub 2 drops of Peppermint on abdomen area or inhale to help alleviate.

from http://www.edensgarden.com/101-ways-to-use/

Using Essential Oils for ADHD

From http://aromaticscience.com/causes-and-essential-solutions-for-behavioral-disorders-including-adhd/

This is a very lengthy article. Please click above for the full article. We have only included this small part on the affects of essential oils.

Danielle Daniel
PsyD Candidate, California Southern University

Nutritional & Psychoaromacology Treatment

There is much hope for treating ADHD using alternative methods, without adverse side effects and many studies have been done on nutrition, herbs, and essential oils.  Essential oils are the volatile concentrated chemical constituents on the herbs and are very powerful in producing chemical changes in our body.  An ADHD specific study found success with the use of German Chamomile. The study done on matricaria chamomilla stated that it “may improve some symptoms of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder” (Niederhofer 2009).  Matricaria chamomilla is typically known as chamomile, or German chamomile, and is found in the form of an herbs or essential oil.  The study reported that Matriarcaria chamomilla possess properties similar to a serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor, SNRI, which has been used successfully in pharmaceutical treatment of depression and some ADHD cases.  This study concluded some improvement in behavior of ADHD patients after the administration of Matriarca chamomilla (Niederhofer 2009).  Chamomile possesses naturally calming effects via it’s chemical compounds, and has been traditionally used as a healing medicine for various physical ailments including anti-inflammatory treatment, a numerous of gastrointestinal conditions, and as a mild sedative.  Apigenin, a flavonoid found in chamomile, is thought to cause the sedative effects of chamomile by binding to the benzodiazepine receptors in the brain.  Other chemical constituents in chamomile responsible for the sedative effects are found to bind with the benzodiazepine and also GABA receptors in the brain (Gupta et al. 2010).  As the primary symptoms of ADHD are hyperactivity, chamomile seems to be a strong natural solution for calming this behavior.  A study done on ylang ylang essential oil found that it produced sedative effects measured by the decrease in pulse rates and blood pressure, and also significantly increased attentiveness and alertness after inhalation of the essential oil (Hongratanworakit et al. 2004).  Ylang ylang would be a great alternative treatment to use for hyperactivity as well as the inattentive behavior in ADHD children.  Lavender has been widely studied for its calming effects and one study reported that lavender produced calming effects, improved mood, and concentration in test subjects (Field et al. 2005).  Lavender has been shown in studies to cause calming affects via the main constituents of linalool and linalyl acetate. Both produce clinical sedative effects via the modulation of the components of the glutamatergic system.  The glutamatergic system is responsible for the excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate and serves as the precursor, which synthesizes GABA, the inhibitory neurons (Perry & Perry 2006).  Lavender and chamomile oil possess natural medicinal benefits in their phytochemistry and are very favorable for the hyperactivity symptoms of ADHD. These are but a few of the many studies done on individual behavioral symptoms seen in ADHD for alternative methods to treating the inattention, lack of concentration and hyperactivity symptoms.

There is very supportive evidence in using cilantro as a natural way to address the concern with high levels of heavy metals found in relation to behavioral disorders. Cilantro is the green leafy part of the plant, and many studies, depending on the culture, refer to cilantro as coriander, which is actually the seed of the cilantro plant.  I state this because the majority of the research studies I reviewed all called the plant coriander. These cultures use coriander for the name of the leaf and the seed, however, cilantro and coriander posses different properties, and depending on the culture, the literature will say coriander but it is referring to what we know to as cilantro.  It is the cilantro plant and essential oil that possesses the phyotochemistry to treat heavy metal toxicity.

Cilantro essential oil exerts highly anti-microbial, anti-depressant, anxiolytic, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, neuro-protective and lead-detoxifying properties (Sahib et al. 2012).  One study evaluated the lead-induced changes in test subjects and found that administration of cilantro extracts protected against the deposits of lead in the body (Sharma et al. 2010).  Another study confirmed as well the lead protective properties of cilantro and found a significant decrease in the lead concentration in the body and the study concluded that cilantro induced suppressive activity on lead most likely via the chelation of lead (Aga 2001).   Cilantro was also found to remove mercury from an aqueous solution by binding to mercury (Karunasagar et al. 2005).  There are other things in Mother Nature that protect and flush heavy metals from our bodies, such as flavonoids, a type of phenolic compound, found naturally in many fruits and vegetables, and have been found to chelate heavy metal ions as well (Huang et al. 2009).

There are several gastro-intestinal problems to address, and since many of them stem from one another, I will address the root concerns for natural treatment in ADHD.  First I will address the chronic inflammation of the intestines and colon, as well as immunity and most importantly the intestinal microbiota.

There are many anti-inflammatory drugs today on the market.  Anti-inflammatory pharmaceuticals can be fast acting and helpful in relieving pain. They act as an inhibitor of the cyclooxygenase (COX) enzyme, however many cause undesired effects on the gastro-intestinal system.  For example, diclofenac-K as well as ibuprofen was found to cause erosive gastro-duodenal lesions on the intestinal tract (Hawkey et al. 2012).  So the very thing you are trying to heal, the gastro-intestinal wall, is damaged by an anti-inflammatory drug.

Many plants provide anti-inflammatory actions without the destruction of the gastro-intestinal tract. Citrus oils have various positive affects on the gastro-intestinal system. They possess high anti-bacterial, anti-septic, sedative, and anti-inflammatory properties. One particular study on Lemongrass found it to suppress the cyclooxygenase (COX-2) activity causing an anti-inflammatory response in the body (Katsukawa 2010).  Melaleuca, also know as tea tree oil, has been found to have an inhibitory effect on the COX enzyme as well as an increase in the level of immunoglobulin from just inhalation and topical application.  Melaleuca is highly regarded for its anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and anti-fungal properties.  Inhalation of it was also found to improve the immune system by increasing the activity of the immune cells (Golab 2006).  This essential oil seems to hold a variety of solutions for treatment in ADHD due to the anti-inflammatory effects, aide to the immune system by increasing the activity and the immunoglobulin cells, which is compromised from gastro-intestinal problems, and high anti-fungal and anti-bacterial affects that are needed to suppress the clostridia and candida albicans overgrowth found high psychiatric patients.

An essential oil that surprised me for treatment of colitis, inflammation of the colon, was the essential oil of eucalyptus.  The cineole, a constituent high in eucalyptus, was found to significantly reduce the myeloperoxidase activity, which causes colonic damage, and in turn acted as an anti-inflammatory agent in the gastrointestinal tract (Santos et al. 2004).  Rosemarinus officinalis L has also been found to reduce colonic tissue lesions and colitis.  Rosemary has been studied for its anti-inflammatory effects as well as it analgesic,spasmolytic, anti-bacterial, anti-tumoral, anti-ulcerogenic, anti-oxidative, anti-rheumatic andhepatoprotective actions. The test subjects in this study were given rosemary essential oil orally and the results showed a reduction in ulcers, inhibition of ulcerative lesions, and reduction in inflammation in the colon.  The study reported,  “The most present component was alpha-pinene which is known as an anti-inflammatory agent. Moreover, alpha-pinene has an inhibitory effect on the nuclear translocation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappa B) that play an important role in colitis pathology” (Minaiyan et al. 2011 pg. 17).  The oils in these studies contain various benefits to the multiple factors to ADHD.  There are many other essential oils studied for anti-inflammatory effects such as myrrh (Tipton et al. 2003), thyme (Riella 2012), and frankincense, which is high in alpha-pinene as well (Tausch 2009).

Limonene, a chemical constituent found high in citrus oils, was studied in the University of Sao Paulo Brazil, and found that the citrus oil increased the production of the gastric mucus (Moraes et al. 2009). The gastric mucus is a gel that lines the entire gastric mucosa at the intestinal wall, acting as a barrier to toxins from infecting the body (Kauffman 1981).    Citruses are high in flavonoids, which is a type of phenolic compound, containing natural detoxifying and anti-oxidant properties for the body.  Fruits and vegetable are very high in phenols and phenolic compounds.  These compounds possess a wide range of bioactivities protecting the cells in our body against pathogens, parasites, bacteria, inflammation, oxidation, viruses, as well as possessing neuroprotective properties.  Phenols also have been found to regulate detoxifying enzymes in the digestive tract (Huang et al. 2009).  All these natural foods and compounds possess a diverse range of beneficial biological activity that helps restore the digestive tract and good intestinal microbiota.

Naturally occurring plants from the earth possess high anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties.  I have covered many alternative ways to address behaviors, ADHD in particular, and intestinal dysbiosis influencing neurochemical health in many psychiatric disorders.  The last review I will focus on is natural anti-bacterial properties found on plants that aid in rebalancing the intestinal microbiota, which is the core to having the body combat for itself against harmful microorganisms that attack it daily.   As discussed previously, clostridia and candida bacteria have been found high in samples of autistic and other developmental disorders in various studies and “having good bacteria in the gut is the best way to keep Clostridia, Candida, Bacteroids, viruses, and many other microbes under control” (Campbell-McBride 2004 pg. 43).  One study exposed candida albicans to pomegranate, cumin, and fennel, which all have high anti-fungal properties, and found that all three were able to inhibit the growth of candida, with pomegranate being the highest (Mithun 2010).   In nature, volatile complex compounds protect plants, through the essential oils found on the roots, stem, bark, leaves, and rinds etc. of the plant.  The essential oil provides protection in many forms acting as an insecticide, as well as providing anti-viral, anti-fungal, and anti-bacterial components (Bakkali 2007).  The essential oils are a concentrated dose of natural medicine for the plant and research has shown that the use of pure oils (without synthetics & toxins) can interact similarly on the human body, acting as a protectant and a natural medicine.  There have been many studies done with essential oils on the candida fungus showing inhibition of its growth with the use of melaleuca (tea tree oil), oregano, clove, peppermint, thyme, and lavender.  Other oils that are highly anti-bacterial have been tested to inhibit the growth of various bacterial strains. The essential oils exhibiting the highest anti-bacterial properties have been melaleuca, thyme, cinnamon, peppermint, lemongrass, helichrysum, geranium, rosemary, oregano and a blend called On Guard made up of wild orange, clove bud, cinnamon bark, eucalyptus radiate and rosemary (Modern Essentials 2012).

There are many natural substances found in nature that aide in ridding the body of bad bacteria in order to inhibit the overgrowth of these highly toxic bacteria that get into the body.  As the UCLA study discussed, anti-biotics damage the good bacteria when ingested for treatment of a bacterial infection, which in turn also compromises our intestinal health and balance. To restore the good microbiota, or flora, pro-biotics are essential and have been proven in this study to be affective in brain health.  As the results showed, the group consuming probiotics showed greater connectivity to various areas of the brain (Champeau 2013).  Pro-biotics are beneficial bacterial strains found in foods and one study done on blackcurrant extract powder observed that it enhanced the growth of the beneficial microbiota in the gut and also inactivated the toxic, or bad bacteria in the gut (Molan et al. 2013).

Where psychopharmaceuticals can provide immediate relief to difficult symptoms, the body provides the door for healing and protecting itself, and given the right environment, it is able to thrive and heal from outside influences.  We hold the key to opening that door of healing through natural nourishment.  Awareness, education, and finally our nutritional choices, provide the body with the keys to heal and protect itself.  Psychoaromacology is a very promising method of treatment and provides immediate relief as well as long term healing.  Mental health and nutrition are not a separate entity.  They are interlinked and one in the same body (literally), therefore need to be treated as such and nature has provided so many solutions. The research is there, and it is scientifically proven.  Practical application takes education and dedication, however the results are life long and invaluable.