10 Emergency Survival Essential Oils

from http://www.naturalmedicinebox.com/10-emergency-survival-essential-oils/3/

10 Essential Oils for Health and Survival

Lavender:

This is the Swiss Army knife of EOs.  Heals burns, cuts, relieve insomnia, reduces stress, a powerful antihistamine, bug bites, bruises, sleep deprivation, inflammation, sunburn, lice.  Soothing to skin irritations, earache and depression.  Lavender is the number one essential oil to have in your survival kit, in fact I would keep two bottles.

Lemon:

Known for it’s cleansing ability.  Add a few drops to water to purify (this was suggested in a seminar I attended but I have no proof, however, in dire circumstance, I would do it).  Great for intestinal parasites, dissolves petrochemicals in your body, effective for colds and flu, helps digestive and liver work, gout, sore throat, disinfectant, antiseptic.

Peppermint:

Effective for nausea, digestive issues, allergies, menstrual problems, reduces fever, increase alertness, focus and oxygen absorption.  Great for headaches, muscle aches.  Antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, use for shock, colds, colic and heartburn.

Oregano:

Effective in treating bacterial infections and yeast infections, relieves back and joint pain, inflammation, cold and flu, kills warts and skin tags, athlete’s foot, effective cleanse for GI health.

Melaleuca:

Can be used as a first aid ointment, useful for skin irritations, bug bites, athlete’s foot, eczema and psoriasis.  Aids in immune function and supports against throat and respiratory pathogens, helps with slivers in the skin.

Helichrysum:

For painful bruising, sprains, swelling.  Stems bleeding. Used to treat shock, help with broken bones, help with allergies, beneficial against infections and viruses.  Excellent for wounds, speeds healing and reduces pain.

Myrrh:

Good for antiseptic needs, pain relief and swelling of cuts, wounds or bruises.  Can be applied on open wounds. Stimulates the immune system and blood circulation, promotes tissue regeneration.  Astringent and analgesic properties, eases coughing/tonsillitis and other infections.

Clove:

With antibiotic and analgesic properties Clove helps relieve toothaches, headaches, and other pain.  Can be used to draw toxins and infections from the body. Aids in relieving nausea or constipation.

Frankincense:

Enhances the effects of other essential oils, reduces inflammation, relieves headaches, supports skin tissue recovery, soothe hyperactivity, restlessness, facilitates clarity and focus of mind.  With it’s regenerative properties, Frankincense is important EO in all manner of emergency.

Lemongrass:

Soothes sore and cramping muscles, naturally cleansing, warms feet in winter, an effective bug repellent

Chicken farm uses oregano oil instead of antibiotics

from http://complete-health-and-happiness.com/chicken-farm-uses-oregano-oil-instead-antibiotics/?t=mam

A chicken farm is using oregano in place of antibiotics.

Sometimes the best remedies are found in nature. A chicken farm in Fredericksburg, Pennsylvania is utilizing oregano to feed chickens.

The company, Bell & Evans is home to loose oregano lying around in trays and barrels of oregano oil. For approximately three years, the chickens have been fed a diet laced with oregano oil along with a little bit of cinnamon.

Bell & Evans opt for the herbal remedy to fight off bacterial diseases without using antibiotics, as they are said to be harmful to humans who consume the meat. The owner of the company, Scott Sechler pledges to avoid antibiotics.

He speaks of the oregano approach, stating “I have worried a bit about how I’m going to sound talking about this. But I really do think we’re on to something here.”

Quality farming is not one-dimensional

Sechler acknowledges there’s more to his success than just the substitution of oregano oil for antibiotics. He also emphasizes the importance of solid nutritional standards for the animals, as well as a clean housing operation with plenty of ventilation and light. “You can’t just replace antibiotics with oregano oil and expect it to work,” Sechler said. At Bell & Evans, after chickens are harvested and sent to slaughter, workers hose down the barn, clean out the water lines, disinfect everything and then keep the space empty for two to three weeks to allow harmful bacteria and micro-organisms to die off, while also ridding the premises of any disease-transmitting rodents.

As word spreads of Sechler’s success, other farms are beginning to follow the Bell & Evans example. Bob Ruth, president of Pennsylvania-based Country View Family Farms, began testing a By-O-Reg laced feed on 5,000 of his own pigs for the last six months or so. Preliminary results so far, he said, are encouraging. 

Health Benefits of Oregano Essential Oil

from https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/essential-oils/health-benefits-of-oregano-essential-oil.html

The health benefits of Oregano Essential Oil can be attributed to its properties as an antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, antiparasitic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, digestive, emenagogue and anti-allergenic substance.

The disinfectant and antibacterial properties of oregano essential oil were first recognized in ancient Greece where they were often used for treating bacterial infections on the skin or in wounds, and it was also employed to protect food from bacteria. It is a plant native to higher altitudes and normally grows in the mountains, which is how it got the name “Oregano”, which means “Delight of the Mountains”.

The Essential Oil of Oregano is extracted through steam distillation of fresh oregano leaves, which bear the scientific name Oreganum Vulgare. Its chief components are Carvacrol, Thymol, Cymene, Caryophyllene, Pinene, Bisabolene, Linalool, Borneol, Geranyl Acetate, Linalyl Acetate and Terpinene.

Along with being respected for its antimicrobial properties, this oil has many other medicinal properties as well. These properties are explained in detail below. It is traditionally used in one of three ways, either aromatically, which is the most popular since the advent of aromatherapy’s widespread use in recent decades. You can also apply it topically onto the skin, or through a carrier oil like coconut oil. Finally, you can ingest it in very small quantities as a dietary supplement, usually when diluted in honey or some other non-dairy beverage.

Health Benefits of Oregano Essential Oil

Respiratory Conditions: Oregano essential oil can  act as an expectorant, which will loosen up or help eliminate the uncomfortable buildups of mucus and phlegm in the respiratory tracts and sinuses, but it is also a soothing balm for inflamed lungs and the throat, which often stimulate coughing fits. Therefore, oregano essential both prevents and treat symptoms of respiratory ailments.

Anti-inflammatory: This oil is good on soothing many types of inflammation, internal or external, caused by a variety of reasons. When this oil is applied topically, it can reduce redness and irritation to the applied area, and it can relieve topical pain that might be associated with arthritis or injury. When consumed, it has much the same effect, although it is spread throughout the body, so will not necessarily relieve pain and discomfort as quickly.

Antibacterial: Just as it protects you against viral infections, oregano oil protects you against bacterial infections as well. This gives you an added level of protection against most bacterial diseases, such as infections in the colon and urinary tract, as well as typhoid, cholera, sores, skin infections and temporary problems like food poisoning. Also, the antibacterial effects of oregano don’t have an inhibitory affect on the healthy, necessary flora in your intestines and stomach, so you don’t suffer from the ill effects of being undefended!

Antifungal: Viruses, bacteria, fungi and protozoa are the four agents which are responsible for communicable and infectious diseases. Out of these, fungi are responsible for some of the most dreaded and fatal infections, both internal and external. They can cause ugly, painful, and even deadly infections in the ear, nose and throat, which, if not treated early, may reach the brain and prove fatal.

Many skin infections are also caused by these fungi. Oregano Oil, if used regularly, either internally or externally, can effectively protect the body against many of these fungal infections.

Antiviral: Oregano essential oil provides protection against viral infections. This means that it strengthens your immunity against colds, mumps, measles, pox and other problems created by viruses.This boost to the immune system also helps to defend against deadly viral infections and even certain autoimmune disorders. Oregano essential oil stimulates the production and function of white blood cells, the body’s main line of defense.

Antiparasitic: Many types of parasites, such as round worms, tape worms, lice, bed bugs, mosquitoes, and fleas, can live inside or outside the human body. These parasites use the human body as a source of food, and as a vessel or carrier of communicable diseases. Oregano Essential Oil, when ingested, can eliminate intestinal worms, and when it is applied externally, it effectively keeps away lice, bed bugs, mosquitoes, and fleas, so it is not uncommon to find oregano essential oil as a component of organic bug sprays and repellents.

Antioxidant: This property turns out to be one of the most celebrated attributes of oregano essential oil, because it protects you from the damages done to the body by free radicals (oxidants), and it neutralizes the free radicals, while repairing the damage already done. This slows down the aging process and protects against certain cancers, macular degeneration, degeneration of muscle due to aging, wrinkles, loss of vision and hearing, nervous disorders and many such ailments related to premature aging and the effects of free radicals. More specifically, oregano essential oil contains phenols, a powerful form of antioxidant that literally scours the body and eliminates those free radicals that cause disease.

Emenagogue: This oil is also beneficial for regulating menstruation and delaying the onset of menopause. Those who are suffering from obstructed menses may also find relief from using oregano essential oil. As an emenagogue, a woman can reduce her symptoms of oncoming menopause, including mood balance and hormonal shifts because of the hormonal regulation quality of oregano essential oil.

Anti-allergenic: This is another side of the sedative and anti-inflammatory properties of Oregano Essential Oil. Allergies are hyper-reactions of the body towards external stimuli. Oregano Oil, being sedative in nature, calms down this hyper-sensitivity and is known to give relief from allergy symptoms. From its anti-inflammatory quality, the severity of an allergic reaction can be reduced, which is especially important for serious allergic reactions like anaphylactic shock, or swelling of the throat.

Digestive: Oregano essential oil promotes digestion by increasing the secretion of digestive juices, and it also increases nutrient digestibility and enzymes which aid in absorbing food. This can improve your general level of health by maximizing the nutrients you get from food!

Other Benefits

Oregano essential oil has been shown to help heal Psoriasis, Eczema, Athlete’s foot, flu and other infectious ailments. Furthermore, it can be used to treat bacterial infections like E. Coli, Giardiasis and food poisoning. It relieves congestion, and certain studies reveal that it is as powerful a painkiller as the most respected options on the market, with the added benefit that it works without the strong side effects.

A Few Words of Caution

Oregano essential oil can cause irritation of the skin and mucus membrane if taken in high concentrations or dosages. Pregnant women should avoid using it, and it is a good idea to consult with your doctor before adding it in any significant way to your diet. Due to its general stimulation and regulation of the hormones, it can potentially result in a miscarriage if the hormone to induce periods is stimulated.  Also, like with any new dietary supplement or food, check with your doctor about allergies. People that are allergic to basil, lavender, marjoram, mint, or sage are also commonly allergic to oregano and its essential oil.

Blending: The Essential Oil of Oregano blends well with the essential oils of Lavender, Rosemary, Bergamot, Chamomile, Cypress, Cedar Wood, Tea Tree and Eucalyptus. These combinations are often made and widely used by aromatherapists and herbalists.

I am loving my Oregano this week!

My 5 year old started kindergarten this month. He has Down syndrome, and was born with a congenital heart defect. This combo means when he gets a little cold, it's a BIG deal. It hits him harder and lasts much longer than any of the rest of us in the family. He's been hospitalized a few times for respiratory illnesses.

So I cringed when we showed up for the first day of school and saw that a fellow classmate had a really bad snotty nose. Ugh. I should have started the OnGuard, but I didn't.

Sure enough, he came home from school last Friday with a runny nose. I immediately rubbed a drop of diluted Oregano oil on the bottom of his feet. I did it again before before bed. And twice again Saturday and Sunday. His nose was still a little runny, but it hadn't turned into a cold. I sent him to school Monday and told them to let me know if it got worse. By the time I picked him up from school, it was fine! I'm going to finish out the week with a daily application, just to be safe, but HOORAY for Oregano. It stopped his cold dead in its tracks!