Herbs and essential oils are popular home remedies for all kinds of ailments. But how effective are essential oils, and does controversy surrounding these natural chemicals mean they shouldn’t be trusted?
As with so many things in the natural world, what you get out of herbs and essential oils depends on what you’re willing to put in. Because they are 100% natural, plant based medicines like these are not standardized like pharmaceuticals. This means you should definitely source your essential oils from high quality providers like Gaia Herbs and Mountain Rose Herbs. But once your oils and herbs arrive on your doorstep, your job has only just begun.
The fact that herbs and oils aren’t standardized means that you have to pay close attention to their effects. Conventional medicines have undergone rigorous testing. Science understands much of how they behave in the body, and what their effects will be, because these processes have been analyzed thousands of times before the drug was brought to market. This doesn’t mean that all drugs are safe, or that unforeseen problems or misuse can’t occur, but in most cases safe use has been described.
Most essential oils haven’t undergone that level of study. This means that when you use them, you have to be the scientist. Take careful notes about your observations when using essential oils. When you have good results, try to replicate them. The same goes for herbs. Many herbs are much more mild than pharmaceutical drugs (many of which are based upon compounds found in herbs), so you’ll have to be more careful in observing effects.
Another good pointer for using herbs and oils is to take it slow. It can be tempting to buy all of the oils that strike your fancy, but you probably won’t be able to appreciate their individual potential if you jump right into the deep end.
Instead, start with a couple of oils and herbs. Read all about them and carefully try to understand the work they do in the body, and why these effects occur. Use them in various applications and take note of what happens. Take a month or two to really get to know this first round of herbs and oils. Once you’ve formed a ”relationship” with them, you’ll be able to derive benefit for them for years to come. If you just bought a bunch of stuff all at once, you probably wouldn’t be able to notice to effects of one, as they might be mistaken for the effects of another.
Another good thing to remember when using herbs and oils is not to use them as a “hail mary”. The concentrated essence of medicinal plants can be very powerful, but they’re no replacement for professional medical care for serious illness and injury. It’s important to respect medical expertise, and the decades of training that create it, when finding the best course of treatment for illness. Herbs and oils can work in concert with conventional medical remedies.
Finally, you can have a lot of fun with essential oils and herbs by making and growing your own. There is no better way to appreciate the power of these things than by putting in the blood, sweat, and tears to develop your own specimens. Growing herbs from seeds and cuttings can give you access to exotic species that you might not find in an herb shop (or which might be far too expensive if you did). Similarly, making your own essential oils can be done with a crock pot, which will give you affordable and custom tailored batches.
Have fun with your herbs and essential oils, and we hope you derive real benefits from them!
It’s April 2019, and that means National Distracted Driving Awareness Month. This occasion is brought to you by the National Safety Council, a government agency that exists to promote public safety.
The NSC chooses to combat distracted driving this month because it’s a big problem in the United States. 100 people are injured each day, and another 9 die, as a result of distracted driving car accidents. What’s to blame? The numerous in-vehicle technologies we have in modern cars, and the drivers who choose to interact with them behind the wheel. Let’s take a look at some of the most common distraction mistakes that drivers make, so that you can make sure not to cause a collision. As police will be focused on distracted drivers this month, you’ll also make yourself more likely to avoid a hefty fine.
Using a cell phone or texting - We’ve all been guilty of this at some point or other, but not only are these behaviors distracting, they could result in an expensive ticket.
Eating and drinking behind the wheel - Wait till you get home to scarf that McDonalds.
Talking to passengers - It might be impossible to fully avoid conversation with the people who are riding with you, but avoid animated conversation and put your main focus on the task at hand.
Grooming - Please don’t apply makeup while driving.
Reading - Some people think that reading a text message while driving is OK, as long as they don’t reply. This is incorrect. Also don’t read maps while driving.
Also, using PDAs, watching videos, changing the music, and listening to too-loud music are all dangerous and distracting activities.
One of the most dangerous distracting activities that modern drivers practice is fiddling with console tasks in newer vehicles while driving. Today’s new vehicles have many screens and digital controls. You can even browse the internet and watch videos. Don’t use these functions while driving, as they will inevitably take your focus off the road. It might seem that, because the car manufacturers built them in, that they must be safe. However, these consoles are only safe if used correctly. Here are some specific ways to follow driving best practices to avoid distraction.
Get settings right before starting the car. Air conditioning, Google Maps, driver assist, radio stations - any onscreen functions you use while driving should be set up well before you pull away.
Secure in-car items. Don’t let items roll around while you’re driving. Also, if you need an item available at hand while driving, make sure it is within reach so you don’t have to blindly reach behind the seat while behind the wheel.
Pull over to deal with children. If you have unruly kids in the car, don’t yell at them while operating the vehicle or turn around to make stern eye contact. This could create a dangerous scenario on the road that would not be worth the time saved from pulling over. Instead, take the extra time and move your vehicle to the side of the road or, better yet, into a parking lot or other safe space. Not only will this make your vehicle safe, it will also give gravitas to the interaction you’re about to have with the kids.
Rest. If driving long distances, take time to rest.
Don’t drink and drug. It should go without saying that substance abuse while behind the wheel is a no-no, but as this continues to be a major problem in the United States, we thought we should mention it here.
So there you have it - a whole bunch of ways to avoid distraction during National Distracted Driving Awareness Month. Abide by them for the public good and to avoid a pricey ticket in the month of April!
Great Sources of Antioxidants to Bring Into Your Life
We all know that we should be eating lots of antioxidants, but most of us don’t have a firm grasp on what antioxidants are. When we get a better understanding of the importance of antioxidants, it’s a lot easier to get into the habit of consuming them. So before we tell you what foods and supplements can provide high levels of antioxidants, let’s quickly discuss what antioxidants (and their mortal enemy, the “free radical”) are.
Let’s first discuss free radicals. The cells of our body are damaged by many different environmental stresses each day. These include sun damage, temperature, harmful foods in our diet, and the simple realities of age and stress. These stressors damage cells (or atoms or ions), some of which are cut loose into the body. These “free radicals” all have a spare electron looking for a place to come to rest. They can attach themselves to healthy cells in an attempt to stabilize, damaging the cell in the process.
Antioxidants are another kind of free-floating molecule in the body. They are able to connect with free radicals, stabilizing them and taking them out of action before they can damage healthy tissue. Our bodies form antioxidants naturally, but we also get some from our diets. You can think of antioxidants as the therapists of the body, while free radicals are the deranged violent lunatic. If the therapist reaches the lunatic in time, it can prevent violent outcomes (like diabetes and cancer.)
This is a very general overview, but we now understand why antioxidants are important. They’re one of the best ways our bodies prevent us from becoming sick. It’s also clear from this analogy why numbers matter. The more antioxidants we have floating around in our bodies, the better success they’ll have in preventing free radicals from going postal.
Healthy bodies produce many antioxidants of their own, but they also derive natural antioxidants from food sources. These food sources are most often vegetables, but some meats (like seafood and red meat) have certain antioxidants. Here are some of the best places to look for antioxidants for your daily diet.
Astaxanthin
Astaxanthin is a natural antioxidant that occurs in numerous places in nature. One of the most interesting examples is found in the shells of lobster. Astaxanthin is bound up in certain cells within the shells, but it is released when the lobster is cooked. Astaxanthin is red, so this is why lobster change color when boiled. You don’t have to harvest astaxanthin from lobster shells, though. It’s available from Nordic Naturals and Pure Encapsulations for affordable prices.
Coffee, Tea, and Cocoa
Most adults love one of more of these foods. Coffee, tea, and cocoa can be prepared in endless ways, and each has its own impact on body and mind. To protect themselves from sun damage, these plants evolved antioxidants. Just as these antioxidants protect plants from radiation, they produce the same effect for humans when consumed. Of the three, coffee has the most antioxidant activity, but any of the above can be beneficial for your health.
Fruits and Berries
Fruits and berries, especially those dark in color, are almost always rich in antioxidants. The dark coloration is a hint. Plants are grown in the sun, which means they have to protect themselves from solar radiation, similar to the way you protect your own skin with sunblock. Eat berries like blackberries for very rich supplies of natural antioxidants.
There are numerous other sources of antioxidants, such as leafy green vegetables and kombucha. Eat a diverse diet of natural foods and supplements when necessary. You’ll enjoy the benefits of plentiful antioxidants for years to come.
