Bergamot and Vetiver - essential oils for the soul

28/06/2025

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28/06/2025

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Blue tansy is a highly valuable essential oil rich in chamazulene that gives it a deep blue hue. I find it very useful for the skin, wound and tissue healing, pain, and inflammation. A recent laboratory study found that blue tansy oil is strongly antibacterial against two of the most common pathogens that infect humans (S. aureus and E. coli).
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37292271/


How do you like to use blue tansy essential oil?

27/06/2025

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Dermatitis involves skin inflammation due to an overactive immune response. Two key allergic biomarkers, ICAM-1 and leukotriene B4 (LTB4), act as important messengers in this process. ICAM-1 helps immune cells adhere and move into the inflamed skin, thereby amplifying the inflammatory response. Meanwhile, LTB4 acts as a powerful recruiting signal, specifically attracting neutrophils—a type of inflammatory white blood cell—to the skin, which further fuels the allergic reaction and contributes to symptoms like itching. Both biomarkers contribute to the complex chain of events that lead to and worsen dermatitis.

Topical application of frankincense EO (B. sacra) reduced both allergic biomarkers (ICAM-1 and LTB4), outperforming the standard medicated cream betamethasone for ICAM-1 reductions. The oil effectively soothed the skin and reversed allergic dermatitis (a type of eczema). This suggests that frankincense EO is a promising solution for dermatitis.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40389681/

22/06/2025

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16/06/2025

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Up to 81% of people with rheumatoid arthritis report poor sleep quality. A clinical study found that massaging the hands with a blend of cedarwood (Atlas), marjoram, and sweet/wild orange (diluted to 5% in sweet almond oil), for ten minutes, three times per week for three weeks, improved sleep quality in people with rheumatoid arthritis.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36990808/

To duplicate the study, add 6 drops of cedarwood and 2 drops each of marjoram and orange essential oil to a 10 mL roller bottle. Fill the rest of the bottle with carrier oil (the study used sweet almond). Apply to the hands and wrists and then massage into the area for 10 minutes, three times weekly.

27/11/2024

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Up to 34% of people with diabetes develop chronic wounds that don't heal well and are prone to infection. A hydrogel with helichrysum essential oil (0.5%) was compared to silver sulfadiazine (1%) ointment and a hydrogel base for its wound healing properties in diabetic subjects. A negative control group that received no gel or ointment was also included. All gels or ointments were applied once daily for 21 days. The helichrysum gel showed faster healing of wounds compared to the negative control and the base gel, with equivalent wound healing observed for the silver sulfadiazine ointment. The helichrysum gel increased hydroxyproline content (increased hydroxyproline content is a sign of collagen creation to heal the wound), significantly reduced inflammation, and markedly decreased oxidation at the wound site. Notably, the helichrysum gel did not cause skin irritation, demonstrating its suitability for use on damaged skin.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11510981/

27/11/2024

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19/10/2024

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A preclinical model of ulcerative colitis (UC) evaluated a hydrogel loaded with a nanoemulsion of patchouli essential oil. Intrarectal administration of the hydrogel alleviated UC by suppressing inflammation and oxidative stress, repairing damage to the intestinal lining, and increasing the production of short-chain fatty acids by the gut microbiome. This suggests patchouli loaded nanogel has the potential to manage and reverse UC.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0141813024073513

19/10/2024

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Various hormonal and physiological changes can lead to a decrease in sexual well-being prior to, during, and post menopause. A double-blind, randomized, controlled clinical trial evaluated the effects of the topical application of sage (Salvia officinalis) essential oil on the sexual function and satisfaction of postmenopausal women. Women in the intervention group inhaled two drops of sage (10% dilution applied to the forearm), twice daily for five consecutive days of a week, continuing for six weeks. After six weeks of intervention, both sexual function and sexual satisfaction significantly increased.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10463902/

19/10/2024

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All oils are not created equal and a high percentage of commercially available oils are adulterated. Adulterated essential oils, especially those with synthetics which are chemically (isomeric) different, will have different actions in the body and emerging research suggests have higher risk of side effects.

A recent review of 51 commercial lavender essential oils found that 49% were adulterated, and this doesn't even consider the quality of the oils. Of the samples, 6% were lavandin, 14% contained synthetic compounds, and 29% were a mixture of synthetics and lavandin.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0926669024017217


If a price seems too good to be true for an essential oil, it probably is. As consumers, we must not be tempted to by an inexpensive oil if we want good results.

22/08/2024

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A clinical study consisting of 50 women (28 rose intervention group and 22 control) aged 41 to 69 evaluated the brain effects of continuous rose essential oil inhalation. Participants wore a patch containing one to three drops of a 0.5% dilution of rose essential oil or water daily on their clothes for one month. Brain effects were measured using magnetic resonance imaging. Remarkably, continuous inhalation of rose essential oil increased gray matter volume in the whole brain and posterior cingulate cortex, which suggests inhaling rose oil could shield against brain atrophy and cognitive decline.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0361923024000297

11/08/2024

Much better than pain killers that destroy your gut biome. 💙💜💛

During a woman’s monthly menstrual cycle, fluctuations in hormonal and autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity can lead to various physical and mental symptoms, especially during the luteal phase. A clinical study evaluated the inhalation of essential oils on mild and severe menstrual symptoms measuring ANS activity for twenty-four hours and symptoms during the follicular and luteal phases. Each participant inhaled their favorite essential oil—pine, geranium, lemongrass, or lavender—for three minutes (inhale four seconds, exhale for eight seconds), in the morning and evening. Interestingly, those with mild symptoms more frequently selected geranium as their favorite oil, while those with severe symptoms preferred lemongrass and lavender. Those with mild menstrual symptoms experienced significant decreases in parasympathetic nervous system activity during the nighttime, which corresponded with significant symptom relief. No significant changes were observed among those with severe symptoms. The research suggests that inhaling certain essential oils may regulate diurnal variations in ANS activity and therefore relieve mild symptoms associated with menstruation.
https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/imr.2024.0016?