Young Living Essential Oils Authorized Distributor: Joylyn Johnson

08/27/2023

I’m sure consistency is key…

Did you know that research suggests that deterioration of olfaction (sense of smell) precedes a decline in cognitive abilities? Indeed, olfactory loss is associated with significant losses of brain matter (gray and white) in humans. Loss of olfaction can even predict the progression of mild cognitive impairment to Alzheimer's disease.

Knowing the correlation between olfaction and cognition, researchers set out to investigate whether olfactory enrichment (exposure to fragrances) can improve memory in older adults (aged 60-85). Participants in the study were provided a diffuser and seven essential oils as fragrances (rose, orange, eucalyptus, lemon, peppermint, rosemary, and lavender). They diffused each oil in a rotation--changing the oil they diffused daily--for two hours as they slept. This process was continued for six months.
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnins.2023.1200448/full

The researchers found that fragrances have privileged access to areas of the brain and pathways relevant to olfaction and memory, which may help normalize brain circuitry linked to memory. Remarkably, nightly diffusion improved cognition, memory, and neural functioning by 226%!

08/23/2023

It’s one of my favs…

A review article recently concluded that peppermint essential oil should be integrated into mainstream hospital care. The researchers concluded this because the oil demonstrates effectiveness for nausea, vomiting, anxiety, and sleep quality. They also noted potential benefits for fatigue, stress, and mild cognitive impairment. In addition, healthcare workers also receive a benefit of enhanced alertness, memory, and accuracy, particularly when faced with a high-stress environment.
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Sharadendu-Bali/publication/372409298_Peppermint_Aroma_in_Hospitals_A_Scent-Sational_Approach_to_Patient_and_Staff_Well-Being/links/64b533ebc41fb852dd7d6a51/Peppermint-Aroma-in-Hospitals-A-Scent-Sational-Approach-to-Patient-and-Staff-Well-Being.pdf

03/26/2023

Raynaud's phenomenon (Raynaud’s syndrome) is a condition characterized by spasms of the small arteries resulting in reduced blood flow to the end arterioles of the fingers. It may also occur in the ears, toes, ni***es, knees, or nose. Spasms generally occur in response to cold, stress, or emotional upset, causing the extremity to turn pale or white then blue. Warming the hands brings red color back but may also cause swelling and pain.

An open-label pilot clinical study investigated the benefits of topical rosemary essential oil for Raynaud's phenomenon. Twelve subjects with progressive systemic sclerosis and Raynaud's phenomenon received an application of olive oil as a control and then a 10% dilution of rosemary essential oil three hours later. Skin temperature increased significantly after both the olive oil and rosemary oil massage, but self-reported warmth perception increased only after the rosemary oil application. Finger skin temperature was similar in both groups. This research suggests that massaging the hands in general will reduce Raynaud's phenomenon, but adding rosemary EO can improve overall feelings of warmth.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35139518/

08/04/2022

Clove essential oil is well-known for its antioxidant properties and pain-relieving effects. A preclinical model of inflammation investigated whether clove bud essential oil also reduces inflammation and compared its activity to NSAID drugs. The researchers found that clove essential oil significantly reduces inflammation at moderate doses and its activity matched that of the NSAID etodolac.
https://www.ejgm.co.uk/download/the-anti-inflammatory-activity-of-eugenia-caryophllata-essential-oil-an-animal-model-of-6532.pdf

07/01/2022

Anxiety following an operation or other invasive procedure is common and can delay postoperative healing and recovery and interfere with pain management. A placebo-controlled randomized human clinical study compared the effects of geranium and lemon essential oil for anxiety following coronary artery bypass. One hundred and fifty participants were randomly assigned to inhale geranium, lemon, or sweet almond oil (control group). Three drops of the various oils were placed onto a cloth pinned to the subject’s shirts approximately 20 cm from their nose. Subjects inhaled from the cloth for 20 minutes after surgery and state anxiety and physiological indices measured. Both the lemon and geranium oil groups experienced increased arterial blood oxygen saturation levels, but other indices (state anxiety scores, heart rate, and blood pressure) showed that geranium was superior to both lemon and control for decreasing overall anxiety state.
https://cmja.arakmu.ac.ir/article-1-819-fa.pdf

06/14/2022

05/13/2022

Transforming growth factor beta (TGFB) is a cytokine that regulates cellular processes, including those related to aging and age-related disorders. TGFB signaling and activity is impaired in certain cell types resulting in age-related changes. Coriander essential oil showed high inhibitory activities against collagenase, elastase, tyrosinase, and hyaluronidase—enzymes that trigger the appearance of skin aging. A cream and nanoparticle formulation with coriander oil diminished UV-induced skin photoaging, increased skin collagen content, and restored healthy TGFB activity, reducing wrinkles and skin aging in a preclinical model. The research suggests that topical application of coriander essential oil may help maintain skin youthfulness and reduce skin aging.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9023561/

08/19/2021

Geranium is often added to blends for its floral aroma and I frequently use it in blends for the nervous system and against microbes. A recent study found that it supports a healthy inflammatory response, has antioxidant activity, and kills gastric, metastatic breast, and melanoma cancer cells. Isolated citronellol (the main constituent of geranium) also showed excellent anti-inflammatory activity and antioxidant capacity.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34310905/

07/27/2021

We also diffuse this when we have colds with stuffy noses.

Canker sores (aphthous ulcers), are small, shallow lesions that develop on the soft tissues in your mouth (tongue, cheeks, inside of lips) or at the base of your gums. The exact cause of them is unknown but they are associated with SLS in toothpaste.

Multiple clinical studies show that the application of a 5% solution of myrtle essential oil (10 drops of the 5% solution on a cotton ball held to the sore for 20 to 30 seconds, three to six times daily) speeds healing time.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27693775/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19306024/
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/277203253_Formulation_and_clinical_evaluation_of_Myrtus_Mucoadhesive_paste_in_the_treatment_of_recurrent_aphthous_stomatitis

05/26/2021

The application of essential oils to the belly button using the "Pechoti method" post seems to have resurfaced recently. Learn more about this from a blog I wrote last time it was making the social media rounds.
https://authorscott.com/qa-does-applying-essential-oils-to-the-belly-button-lead-to-systemic-delivery/

04/04/2021

01/06/2021

Modifications in modern lifestyles have significantly increased disorders of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. A number of essential oils have been used traditionally to aid digestion and healthy GI function.

A review article published this year identified 8 essential oils that have evidence they protect or improve the GI tract. Fennel, rosemary, ginger, garlic, peppermint, bitter orange, cardamom, and dill essential oils were all identified as natural solutions to protect against GI ulcers, promote healing of the GI tract, or balance stomach acid production.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs11101-020-09664-x

09/29/2020

08/30/2020

You may want to reach for your sandalwood essential oil the next time you need to give a speech. A small clinical study found that both Indian and Australian sandalwood essential oil promote relaxation in stressed people. People were subjected to a stressful situation (10 minutes of stress anticipation while waiting to deliver a 5 minute speech), which caused mental and social stress. They inhaled sandalwood essential oil and it facilitated stress recovery both during and after the stressful stimuli.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30549622/

08/07/2020

Psoriasis is a skin condition characterized by the build up of bumpy red patches covered with scales. These lesions occur because skin cells multiply up to 10 times faster than normal. The release of inflammatory cytokines by Th-1 and Th-17 cells plays a major role in the development of psoriasis and makes it chronic.

A preclinical model of psoriasis found that topical application of 10% lavender essential oil reduced psoriasis lesions and the release of cytokines by Th-17 cells. The research suggests that lavender essential oil may be a natural solution of psoriasis.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32623016/

07/26/2020

Clary sage essential oil has been described as producing feelings of euphoria and is frequently used by women to alleviate the discomforts of hormone fluctuations. Inhalation of clary sage oil (0.1 mL on a gauze pad for 5 minutes) reduced depression in depressed menopausal women. The oil also significantly increased serotonin levels and reduced cortisol levels in both healthy and depressed women. The increase in serotonin may show why it is associated with euphoria because increases in serotonin can cause feelings of elation and euphoria.
https://bmcresnotes.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13104-017-3053-3

06/21/2020

. One I have never heard of before...

Breathing in the volatile compounds that certain trees release is known to augment immune activity, specifically natural killer cells. Natural killer cells perform the important function of killing virally infected cells and detecting and controlling early signs of cancer.

A clinical study found that inhaling hinoki essential oil vaporized with a humidifier in a hotel room during a night's stay significantly increased the number and activity of natural killer cells in humans.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20074458/