Introduction to Aromatherapy

Written by Loring A. Windblad


Continued from page 1

Dr. Gattefosse shared his experience with his colleague and friend, Dr. Jean Valnet, a medical doctor in Paris, France. During World War II, while serving as a medical physician inrepparttar French Army atrepparttar 138442 China Wall, treating war victims, Dr. Valnet ran out of antibiotics, so he decided to try using essential oils. To his amazement, they had a powerful effect in reducing and even stoppingrepparttar 138443 infection, and he was able to save many ofrepparttar 138444 soldiers who otherwise might have died even with antibiotics. “

Dr. Valnet had two students who did their internship with him who were responsible for expanding his work, Dr. Paul Belaiche and Dr. Jean Claude Lapraz. They discovered that essential oils contain antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal and antiseptic properties as well as being powerful oxygenators withrepparttar 138445 ability to act as carrying agents inrepparttar 138446 delivery of nutrients intorepparttar 138447 cells.”

The above isrepparttar 138448 “modern” history of essential oils and aromatherapy. However,repparttar 138449 practice of creating essential oils and aromatherapy is an ancient practice likely dating torepparttar 138450 Egyptians and Chinese, possibly older. It is known that essential oils were used atrepparttar 138451 time of Christ, as at least one ofrepparttar 138452 “Gifts ofrepparttar 138453 Magi” was essential oil. So what we now have isrepparttar 138454 modern incarnation of an ancient practice, given “official recognition” byrepparttar 138455 medical profession inrepparttar 138456 persona of Doctors Gattefosse and Valnet, later joined by Doctors Belaiche and Lapraz.

What is interesting to us, my wife and I, is that there is a significant difference in quality between every essential oil we have used andrepparttar 138457 “therapeutic essential oils” from Young Living. We have used what, to us, were onlyrepparttar 138458 finest and purest of Lavender Essential Oil. We used several, eventually finding one that was clearly better thanrepparttar 138459 rest. What we have learned from this experience is that as good asrepparttar 138460 lavender oil we used was,repparttar 138461 Young Living essential oil is significantly superior and while there are obvious disinfectant and healing properties for cuts and abrasions, it has especially superb healing powers for burns.

In coming articles I will share with you much more ofrepparttar 138462 wonderful world of aromatherapy, what it has done for us and what it can do for you.

Loring Windblad has studied nutrition and exercise for more than 40 years, is a published author and freelance writer. June’s and Loring’s latest business endeavors are at http://www.organicgreens.us http://junedawn.younglivingworld.com


The Diet Cancer Story

Written by Loring A. Windblad


Continued from page 1

Low intakes of fruit and vegetables have been consistently linked to high cancer rates in many countries aroundrepparttar world. Yet, less than 10 per cent of North Americans eatrepparttar 138441 recommended 5-10 daily servings. The fruit and vegetables that appear most protective against cancer are raw, dark green leafy vegetables (such as spinach, kale and lettuce), cruciferous or cabbage-family types (such as brussel sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli), and orange forms such as carrots, squash, citrus and other fruits. Different plant foods may protect against different cancers, for example:

* dark green vegetables may protect against lung cancer;

* cruciferous (cabbage family) vegetables and carrots appear protective against colon cancer;

* citrus and other fruits rich in vitamin C may lower risks of mouth, larynx, stomach and esophageal tumours.

The constituents in plant foods thought to ward off cancer include antioxidants - such as vitamins C, E and carotenes (vitamin A precursors) - and starches (which may protect against colon cancer). Other plant compounds such as indoles, flavones, phenols, coumarins, isothiocyanates, sterols and limonene may also play an anti-cancer role. Together,repparttar 138442 plant components or phytochemicals that fight cancer have been dubbed "chemopreventive agents."

The possible "chemopreventive" role of antioxidants

The cancer-combatting or chemopreventive effects of fruit and vegetables are attributed by some experts to antioxidants such asrepparttar 138443 carotenoids or vitamin-A precursors. Their action in inhibiting cancer is ascribed mainly torepparttar 138444 ability to combatrepparttar 138445 oxidative hits that damage DNA and cell membranes. The carotenoids are red, orange and yellow pigments found in fruit and vegetables such as cantaloupe, tomatoes, corn, carrots and peppers, as well as in green leafy vegetables such as spinach, brussel sprouts and broccoli (where their orange/yellow colour is masked byrepparttar 138446 green pigment, chlorophyll). Some carotenoids are converted into active vitamin A (retinal) insiderepparttar 138447 body, others not.

How about dietary supplements?

Since certain constituents in fruit and vegetables seem to reduce cancer risks, it is reasonable to wonder whether one should take supplements. While opinions vary, most nutritional scientists do not encourage use of vitamin or other supplements for cancer prevention. People can obtain allrepparttar 138448 necessary vitamins, minerals and other essential nutrients from a well balanced diet. There are no scientific grounds at present to supportrepparttar 138449 anti-cancer benefits of taking vitamin or antioxidant supplements. "Besidesrepparttar 138450 risk of toxicity from vitamin megadoses, there isrepparttar 138451 added danger," notes one University of Toronto expert, "that people who take supplements may falsely believe they are eating well, yet fail to achieverepparttar 138452 health benefits of a balanced diet."

In addition torepparttar 138453 expense, those who take supplements may neglect to eatrepparttar 138454 recommended quota of fruit and vegetables, miss out on other valuable components and get less effective health protection. The evidence for a cancer-protective effect of individual supplements is far less convincing than that for fresh fruit and vegetables as a whole. There is also concern aboutrepparttar 138455 safety of antioxidant supplements. Although vitamins C, E and beta-carotene have low toxicity, even when consumed in doses above recommended daily amounts, a few studies suggest that consuming large doses might not be safe.

Large studies now underway will clarifyrepparttar 138456 action of individual dietary components. The joint effect ofrepparttar 138457 many varied compounds in whole fruit and vegetables gives far greater protection against cancer than any individual nutrient or supplement. Finally, remember that diet is basically worthless if you are not gettingrepparttar 138458 proper nutrition from your diet. Ifrepparttar 138459 basic nutrients from your diet are not being used to help heal your body and maintain overall health, you are wasting your time, effort, money and life. A healthy diet begins with proper and full nutrition.

The place to begin with your nutrition,repparttar 138460 method to getrepparttar 138461 most benefit out ofrepparttar 138462 foods you eat, especially in our modern world with foods rampant with antibiotics, poisoning of our lakes, rivers and oceans (not to mentionrepparttar 138463 land and air), is to make liberal use of both herbal dietary supplements and especially dietary aids such as organic greens.

Loring Windblad has studied nutrition and exercise (as an informed amateur interested in the field) for more than 40 years, is a published author, graphic designer, freelance writer and photographer. He is married to the beautiful June Dawn, owner of Windy Dawn Marketing. Loring has written grants, business plans and resumes that got the job done right They can be reached through http://www.organicgreens.us


    <Back to Page 1
 
ImproveHomeLife.com © 2005
Terms of Use