Orange essential oils are popular for their immune-boosting effects. They are derived from the outer peels of the orange fruit. Unknown to most of us, we have come across these oils numerous times in our lives. They are used in most soaps, kitchen cleaners and detergents to improve their cleaning abilities and scent.
In the body, these oils can have multiple health benefits. The major ones are discussed below: Relieving Inflammation Orange essential oils can be used to alleviate inflammation, whether external or internal. Regardless of the contributing factor, be it indigestion of toxic substances, narcotics, side-effects of gas, infections, fever and so on, the oils can provide quick and effective relief. Preventing Infections Abrasions and cuts have high chances of becoming septic due to bacterial infections. This is more likely if the wounds are inflicted by iron objects as they might be infected by tetanus germs. In this case, orange essential oils can be applied to avoid both tetanus and septic fungal infections. This is because they inhibit microbial growth and also disinfect the wounds. Stimulating Urination These magic oils will assist the body in getting rid of toxins and excess gas in the body. They promote urination which is crucial in eliminating excess water, pollutants, salts, bile and uric acid. Proper urination also aids in digestion and appetite. More benefits include improved heart functioning and loss of excess weight. Relieving Depression Did you know that the smell of orange essential oils can bring pleasant thought to your mind and remind you of happy moments? Well, the truth is that it does! This is why they are widely used in aromatherapy. The happy, relaxed feelings that it brings act as mood lifters, which in turn relieve depression and chronic anxiety. Cholagogue Effects This tough word, “cholagogue” means proper functioning of the endocrine and exocrine glands. These glands are critical in the functioning of the body. As such, it is a common regulator for lactation and menstruation as well as the secretion of digestive juices and hormones. Natural Tonic A tonic element has the same effects to the body like servicing and overhauling has to a vehicle. It ensures that all body organs function effectively. A properly-maintained body remains in good shape and has very strong immunity. So, next time you service any of your machines, remember to do the same to your body. Carminative Properties A carminative agent is one that helps in the removal of excess gases from the intestines. Excess gas can move up the intestines and result in abdominal discomfort, indigestion and chest pain. In addition, it can prevent high blood pressure. The good news is that essential orange oils have these properties. The best thing about them is that they do not let the gases to form in the first place. These essential oils have tens if not hundreds of health benefits. The ones mentioned herein are just but a tip of the iceberg. You can find more benefits online although the ones already mentioned here should be enough to convince you to start using them. Stay healthy! They say that happiness is an inside job. There are many ways of creating it, and using some proven essential oils is one of them. You may wonder why happiness is so important to a human being, or to all human beings.
Well, in the US, it is estimated that one of every four people will suffer depression in their lifetime. Worldwide, over 350 million people suffer from the same every year. Being happy, energetic and optimistic is a sure way to keep depression away. In the light of this, it is worth noting that most essential oils are proven in creating happiness. They can be used by directly rubbing onto the skin, as sniffing oils, diffusing in the air, in massage therapy and in soak baths. Here is a list of eight essential oils that will help in making you happy. 1. Basil Essential Oil This oil is known to reduce inflammation, calm nerves, and alleviate stress when applied topically. It contains Vitamin C and multiple antioxidants. Use it with peppermint and basil oil for instant rise in spirit. 2. Bergamot Essential Oil Our second oil here is an amazing anti-depressant and hormone balancing agent. In addition, it helps in blood circulation and energy flow. Apply it on the feet, stomach and wrists for mood elevation and relaxation. 3. Grape Fruit Essential Oil This grape product is popular in dealing with mental exhaustion and fatigue, of course in addition to stimulating the feel-good hormone in you. Most people use it in their soak baths. 4. Lavender Essential Oil Lavender essential oil is one of the most popular and recognizable essential oils. It has been in use for creating calmness since ancient Rome. Recent studies show that it relieves PTSD-linked depression by up to 33%. 5. Cedar-wood Essential Oil Here is the most popular woodsy aroma we know. Cedar-wood essential oil is known to soothe the mind and brain as well as calming the body. Its scent activates the secretion of serotonin in the brain, leading in sleep induction. Enough rest in paramount in creating happiness. 6. Rose Essential Oil This wonderful rose oil is perfect because it contains ‘geraniol”. This is a powerful antidepressant which is widely used in encouraging positive thoughts, stimulating libido and promoting happiness. 7. Geranium Essential Oil If you can access this important oil, your path to happiness is headed for success. It controls mood swings, increases positive emotions and creates a general feeling of happiness. Some other effects include relieving anxiety, balancing hormones, calming the mind and inducing sleep. 8. Orange Essential Oil Orange peels give us this important agent. The oil is a potent anti-depressant, powerful energizer and to a great extent, happiness stimulator. It is also the most common essential oil. Almost all essential oils have amazing health benefits. The eight discussed above are typically known to create happiness. There are hundreds of others which may have similar effects. As the article shows, on top of happiness, they have additional mental health benefits such as relaxation, inducing sleep and hormonal balance. Countless times, you will hear people say that if they had something or someone, lived in a certain town or country, or if they worked in some job, they would be joyful and contended. Well, experience has taught me that once you peg your happiness on external factors such as someone or something, you will never achieve it. Kids will cry for weeks, demanding a bicycle or PS4, but a few weeks or months after they have them, they get bored and start crying over something new. This is human nature. It is from such observations that I learned that joy is an inside job.
What is joy? Joy, in my understanding, is being happy in spirit, body, with others and nature, too. It is the state of appreciating everything and having no regrets or bad feelings. As you can tell from this definition, happiness must start from within you. It is only then that you will be able to appreciate everything else around you. Have you heard the saying that, “you cannot serve from an empty cup?” Now, if you are not happy with yourself, how will you see anything else positively? You first Most of you will agree with me that the biggest enemy of joy is having expectations. If you give people the power to control the factors that make you happy, then you better forget it. At times, your spouse will let you down. Friends will stab you in the back. Some will not pay what they owe you. Family can even disown you. However, there is no single time when you will do any of these things to yourself. Put yourself first. Then if other people choose to add to your joy, let it be a bonus: not the source of your contentment! Tune your mindset Common as it may sound, the “half-empty, half-full” phenomenon still holds water. Your manner of approaching life and/or reacting to events in your life can determine if you have joy or not. Maybe you do not have a car, but can readily afford good food, shelter and education. You may choose to appreciate what you have, or gloom over the luxuries that you do not have, yet. If material things define your joy, you risk chasing it all your life because once you have one thing; you will require an even higher thing. However, if you treat what you already have as the best treasures of the world, trust me, you will ooze joy wherever you go. Stop comparing yourself Someone will always have a better house than you. Someone will always have better looks than you. Someone will always run faster than you. In short, there will always be someone ahead of you. Now, that does not mean that you go around belittling yourself, saying how X and Y are ahead of you. In life, someone is always ahead of everyone. Therefore, cherish yourself, together with your abilities, because if you decide to compare yourself with others, those who are more advantaged than you will be a curse to you. You will feel insignificant and end up losing your joy. In a nutshell, it has to start within you; joy is an inside job! Did you know that green tea is one of the healthiest beverages on the planet? This magic drink is loaded with nutrients and antioxidants that have very powerful effects on your body.
Here are some of the proven green tea benefits. You will absolutely love the tea henceforth! Better brain function Green tea contains caffeine, which is a powerful stimulant. Unlike coffee and other teas, it has just enough to give you the needed effect without making you jittery thereafter. Caffeine blocks adenosine, an inhibitory neurotransmitter, allowing more L-theanine and dopamine (the feel-good enzyme) to be released. The benefits include better mood, sharper vigilance, better memory and faster reaction time. Normal weight Check any weight-loss product: there are 90% chances that green tea will be in the ingredients list. This is because our magic drink boosts the metabolic rate in humans, therefore more fat is burned. Better metabolism means more energy expenditure, better fat oxidation and significant boost in physical activity. Lower cancer risks Cancer occurs when cells grow uncontrollably. It is now a leading cause of death. The good news is that green tea has antioxidant powers that prevent the overgrowth of cells. It is proven that this tea has some of the most powerful antioxidants than any other plant. Recent studies show that: · Women who take green tea have a 20-30% lower risk of developing the dreaded breast cancer. · Men who drink green tea have a 48% lower risk of developing prostate cancer: the most common cancer in men. · People who drink this tea have a 42% lower risk of developing colorectal cancer, as well as other forms of cancer. Prevent Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease If you make green tea your best friend, it will protect you in old age from these two monsters that affect the elderly. This beverage has proven to contain catechin compounds which protect neurons in the brain. If the neurons are secured from degenerative effects, a person will be safe from diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Antibacterial properties Unlike medical antibiotics which target all forms of bacteria, even the good ones in your body, green tea will mostly kill the harmful types. This is because of the catechins in the leaves. It will inhibit unwanted bacteria such as the influenza virus. Apart from curing it, it will keep it away. Second, it will deal with the streptococcus mutans bacteria which cause cavities and tooth decay by forming plaque. This also keeps bad breath away! Prevent Type 2 diabetes This is yet another monster that we fear contracting very much. Over 400 million suffer from it worldwide. It is caused by excess blood sugar levels owing to the production of insufficient insulin or insulin resistance. Now, green tea has been proven to reduce the level of blood sugar as well as improving insulin sensitivity. Therefore, it will not only reduce the risks but also improve existing type 2 diabetes. Summary These 6 benefits that I have discussed are just but a tip of the iceberg. Green tea has tons of direct benefits on your health. Let this post act as a motivator for you to read more and start drinking this wonderful beverage. Make sure you sign up for our "Green Tea Challenge" Stay healthy! In this very first sentence, this article lets you know that reflexology is not massage. This is a form of therapy that is used to restore balance to the body. This is done by systematically applying pressure to the reflex points which are mainly located on the feet, hands, and ears which connect directly to these organs(and other body parts).
If you ever have to doubt this medication-free treatment, delve into some research and you will find out that reflexology has been in use for over 3,000 years in China, Egypt and other parts of the world. Reflexologists understand the reflex points to work on so as to impact the target areas for a particular benefit. For instance, if you visit a reflexologist for headache or pressure build-up, they will know the specific reflex in your feet to work on. Reflexology is a form of alternative therapy that has tremendous benefits. The benefits of reflexology can help with diabetes, headaches, back pain, digestion issues, insomnia and stress just to name a few. Enough said. It’s time to discuss reflexology and its use in the restoration of the body’s most crucial reflexes: the pituitary gland, solar plexus and adrenals. Regular maintenance of these three reflexes will guarantee you a relaxed life. Read on to know the benefits of reflexology and how focusing on these 3 major reflexes can bring relaxation to the body.. THE PITUITARY GLAND To start us off is the pituitary gland, which is also known as the “master gland.” This is because it is the most important gland in the human body owing to it being the control panel of all other endocrine glands. It is located in the brain. Endocrine glands are the glands that secrete their hormones and/products directly into the bloodstream without using a duct. They include the hypothalamus, thyroid, testes, ovaries, pancreas, pineal gland and so on. If you know the importance of these glands, then you’re probably aware of the criticality of keeping your pituitary healthy, energetic and happy! The benefits A pituitary gland will have a direct effect on normal secretion of all body hormones and enzymes. The gland also influences growth. We also need to mention that it is a part of the triangle of life and, finally, the reproductive system. These are some of the large-scale benefits of pituitary gland. Some momentary effects include alleviation of dizziness, improving muscle pain, increasing muscle strength, helping with congested breathing and improving mood. If you do it just before bed time, it will relax your body and induce calm sleep. If done immediately you wake up, it will boost your energy levels so you start your day full of energy. Quite some benefits, right? How to do it You’re wrong if you think we have to massage the brain so as to activate the healing benefits of the pituitary reflex point ☺ The reflex to press is found in the feet, and specifically the big toe. It is always best to let an experienced reflexologist do this for you as they know exactly where to touch, how to touch and how much to touch. Doing it on your own will have some impact, but it will not be as much as when done by an expert. Now, you need to find the point where the swirls of the big toe meet. You will see some neat lines on the big toe. Place your thumb where they seem to meet. This should be near the centre of the big toe. However, they vary between persons. With your thumb placed there, lock your other fingers on the opposite side of the toe (on the nail). The area may be very sensitive. You then apply moderate pressure and rub it in circles, up-down movements or just hold it. This depends on the desired effect. THE SOLAR PLEXUS The solar plexus is also known as the celiac or celiac plexus. It is a dense network of radiating nerve fibers in the abdomen located above the navel near where celiac trunk and major arteries branch from the abdominal aorta. In short, it is found at the diaphragm, where the stomach meets the rib cage. Just like the pituitary gland, the solar plexus is one of the most powerful points in reflexology. In fact, judging by its placement in the body plus its connection to the major arteries, we can readily tell its importance, right? The nerves in the solar plexus are spread out all over the abdominal area, leading to it being referred as the “abdominal brain.” The benefits One of the major issues known to be connected to this area is stress. Whenever you claim to have stress, the problem usually emanates from the solar plexus (and not the head as most of us think). Therefore, proper balance of this area means you will more than likely be stress-free. You will agree that this is probably the best gift that one can be offered at this instance in time! Any complication related to breathing can be alleviated by reflexology in the solar plexus. We are talking about tension, obstructed breathing, tension, fright and so on. Surprisingly, during moments of tension, rather than holding your breath, try using reflexology on the solar plexus. It regulates breathing, bringing your heartbeat and stress levels to normal. On more complex conditions, you can improve faulty blood pressure, tens of allergies and even asthma. For these complications, combine solar plexus reflex with adrenal gland reflex for maximum effect. How to do it The solar plexus reflex point is located just below the ball of the foot directly below the third toe. “Draw” an imaginary line at this point across the foot (right to left). Then you have the right point to massage. To work this point, place the thumbs on the imaginary line, at the center of the foot. There should be a dent there. Now, push the thumbs inwardly towards the knees and then hold for about 30 seconds. After this, place the thumbs on either end of this reflex line. Then as you bring them towards each other, stretch the imaginary line downwards. It represents the diaphragm. As you repeat this exercise, the diaphragm will be pulled downwards and the lungs will have more power and room to accommodate long, deeper breaths. This will restore the balance of energy in the solar plexus and all areas of the abdominal cavity. This is so interesting! However, as you can tell, this is one of the reflexes that can be hard to do on your own. The Adrenals The adrenal glands are part of the endocrine system that we discussed earlier on. They are located atop both kidneys. In short, each kidney has an adrenal gland above it. Their work is to release different hormones in the body, including the very popular adrenaline. Adrenaline is the chemical released by the body during times of stress and either tells you to fight or fly! In addition to this, the adrenals execute over 50 more other body functions. Therefore, by working them, you will be providing the very necessary service and maintenance that your body needs so badly. The benefits Adrenal glands that work properly will do you the best favors in the world. They will help in fighting off infections, aid in toning muscles, create enough testosterone and estrogen, regulate the lymph glands, and restore the optimal body mineral balance. What’s more, they will alleviate arthritis and migraines, fight viruses, allergies, fatigue and also clear up the bronchioles. How to do it The adrenal reflex point is found at the indentation of the foot at the base of the ball of the foot, where it meets the stem of the big toe. This should be medial between the side and under the foot. You hold the foot such that your thumbs rest on this area. Then you rub it in circles or up-down movements while applying slight pressure. The effects of these treatments are best narrated by you. After attending a session or two, you will have a lot of experiences to tell about them. As long as the expert knows how to do it right, these three vital points will have you feeling like a newborn in no time. If you are looking to relieve stress the pituitary gland, solar plexus, and adrenal glands are key reflex points to use. It is worth a try! IMPORTANT: Reflexology is more of a treatment than pleasure activity. As such, observe these key points before you decide to attempt it:
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