September 22, 2023

Piper nigrum L. (Piperaceae), known by the common name black pepper, is one of the most common spices in daily use around the world. The aroma and irritation effects of black pepper mainly derive from piperine and the essential oil obtained from its berries. Black pepper essential oil is useful for the treatment of rheumatism, muscular pain, and infections and has demonstrated antioxidant and antimicrobial properti. In addition, black pepper essential oil has anti-inflammatory effects in models of acute and chronic inflammation.

September 11, 2023

Fatigue is a term used to describe an overall lack of energy or feeling of tiredness. Many people today reach for energy drinks or shots loaded with caffeine to avoid fatigue. However, this may make things worse in the long run and actually contribute to your fatigue. Genetics aside, consumption of caffeine triggers the release of cortisol. High caffeine levels can negatively affect cortisol and energy levels. Too much caffeine can even overwork your adrenals (to produce cortisol excessively) and make them work less efficiently. A more natural solution for fatigue may be peppermint essential oil.

Neurological disorders are diseases of the central and peripheral nervous systems. These disorders affect hundreds of millions of people all over the world.  Globally, there are 47.5 million people with dementia. Dementia is the major cause of Alzheimer's disease (AD) in 7.7 million new cases who develop the disease every year. The prevalence of migraine is more than 10% worldwide. Patients with neurological problems may experience depression or anxiety. Herbal medicine has long been used to cure these diseases. One of these plants is lavender, which is composed of various compounds, including terpenes, such as linalool, limonene, triterpenes, linalyl acetate, alcohols, ketones, polyphenols, coumarins, cineole, and flavonoids.

Essential oils are abundant and volatile compounds obtained from plant parts, like leaves, seeds, and flowers through different methods, such as distillation. The flowers of this plant are used in decoration in ceremonies and its oil is also used in the cosmetics and perfume industry. This plant, especially as an essential oil, has various applications in medicine to treat psychological diseases, such as calming the nervous system, particularly in cases with depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders. Its positive effects on the nervous system are related to the impact of its volatile compounds on the hippocampus and amygdala.

Aromatherapy using its oil, especially in anxiety and sleep disorders, has been found with very promising results. Lavender has been employed using various methods in different studies, including inhalation, massage therapy, combined massage therapy with aromatherapy, and oral administration. It has also been used for the treatment of bloating and for wound healing (as an antibacterial and antifungal agent) and the treatment of insect bites. Lavender has analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and antispasmodic effects, as well.

September 7, 2023

Depression  characterized  by  mood  disorder, sadness,  anxiety,  hopelessness,  difficult  to concentrate,  loss  of  appetite,  interest,  and  have suicidal thoughts. Depression can be experienced by  any  age  and  gender.  Depression often not considered and people believe that it will recover by itself, but if this condition is not treated immediately, it will gradually affect the quality of life. Therefore, depression should be treated immediately. Solutions to overcome depression include drug therapy and nondrug therapy. Depression drug therapy is very likely to cause considerable side effects such as sedation, nausea, and insomnia. Various efforts to avoid these side effects can be done with other alternatives in the form of non-drug therapies such as aromatherapy. Aromatherapy is expected not to cause severe side effects and have benefits such as anti-inflammatory, antidepressant, and antianxiety. Aromatherapy is the treatment with the essential oils obtained from various parts of plants, flowers, and trees.

August 8, 2023

Alzheimer's disease is the most prevalent type of dementia and the number of people living with it is expected to triple by 2050. The progressive memory loss and behavioral changes over years is a painful process for those with Alzheimer's disease and their families and caregivers. Aromatherapy is a complementary and alternative therapeutic method that has attracted much attention worldwide. According to recent research, aromatherapy can improve sleep, alleviate psychobehavioural symptoms and improve quality of life in patients with Alzheimer’s disease, which may be related to reducing the level of oxidative stress in patients and inhibiting inflammatory factors; it is a non-drug intervention that can be widely applied.

August 1, 2023

It’s still too hot to break out the hot apple cider and steaming cocoa. An apple pie slushy is the best of both worlds—summer sweet and refreshingly cool for those hot end-of-summer days, with just the right amount of cozy fall flavors to get you in the mood for all things autumn.

Aple Pie Slushy

The sweet, fruity in-between of refreshing summer sippin’ and autumn vibes, this slushy recipe boasts an irresistible apple pie flavor enhanced with Cinnamon Bark Vitality™ and Nutmeg Vitality™ essential oils.This recipe makes two servings.

July 27, 2023

Is it so nice to have an ice-cold drink in your hand during this summer heat? These sweltering, hot days call for a tall glass of something fresh, cool, and flavorful. Here is a list of DIY summer mocktails the whole family can enjoy.

Cucumber Lemon Cooler

Looking for a drink that pairs well with your summer salads and grilling go-tos? Enter the cucumber lemon cooler. Refreshing and fizzy, it’s the crisp complement to any BBQ meal. Since the flavor is nice and light, use ice cubes instead of crushed ice to avoid diluting your drink too quickly. (Cubed ice will take longer to melt in the hot sun.)

Ingredients

• ½ cucumber
• 2–3 drops Lemon Vitality™
• 1 lemon, juiced
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 4 ounces club soda or sparkling water
• Mint leaves for garnish, if desired

Instructions

1. Chop cucumber into small pieces and mix with Lemon Vitality, lemon juice, and honey in a bowl. Let sit for 10 minutes to allow the flavors to infuse.
2. Place cucumber mixture in the bottom of a mason jar and pour club soda on top. Add ice and mix well.
3. Add mint for garnish.

July 12, 2023

Neuropathic pain (NP) is a chronic condition that occurs due to an injury or disease of the somatosensory system. Generally, Neuropathic pain affects 7%–10% of the world's population and its prevalence is likely to increase with ageing, cancer survival and other chronic disease. The currently available drugs used for the management of NP are inadequate due to poor efficacy and tolerability. Anxiety, depression and other mood disorders are comorbidities that characterize about 34% of patients with Neuropathic pain, extensively affecting the patient's quality of life. However, there are no effective and safe treatments that can deal with the symptoms and comorbidity of Neuropathic pain. An increasing number of patients choose alternative medicine to relieve the symptoms of various pathological processes, including pain and aromatherapy, consisting in the medicinal uses of essential oils extracted from aromatic plants, is one of the most used. Several clinical studies have reported that massage or inhalation with selected essentials oils reduced symptoms associated to pain and anxiety.

June 28, 2023

Anxiety is a growing issue in society, especially among young people. The terms anxious and being nervous are often used interchangeably, and it is pretty common to hear someone say that he is feeling anxious when faced with a situation that makes them uncomfortable. Normal anxiety levels represent our body alarm system, which improves people's attention and problem-solving, motivates work towards goal, and does not negatively interfere with daily functioning. Anxiety disorders are the most prevalent psychiatric conditions; up to 33.7% of people suffer from an anxiety disorder during their lifetime. Anxiety disorders are the most prevalent psychiatric conditions; up to 33.7% of people suffer from an anxiety disorder during their lifetime.  Among the fewest drugs discovered are those belonging to the class of anxiolytics. Although some drug targets for anxiety disorders are established, it is hard to modify and selectively choose the active principle for those targets. Thus, the ethno medical approach to treating anxiety disorders remains one of the most prevalent ways for (self)managing the symptoms. Melissa officinalis L. (lemon balm) has been extensively used as an ethnomedicinal remedy for the treatment of different psyche-related symptoms, especially dose related to restlessness. According to studies, more than 40% of patients in Serbia suffering from different non-psychotic disorders use different herbal products for the treatment of their symptoms. One of the most frequently used plant species was reported to be Melissa officinalis. 

June 24, 2023

Drinking oregano tea may not be your first choice for a healthy beverage, but this antioxidant-packed drink can have some serious health benefits. Oregano tea, as the name implies, is a tea that is brewed with the leaves of the oregano herb, either dry or fresh. Oregano is primarily used as an herb in cooking, while oregano essential oil is an important part of traditional medicine, but oregano tea doesn’t have the same level of popularity. This herb has been cultivated in the Mediterranean region and elsewhere for thousands of years and is widely available in any grocery store, market or health food store. Due to the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compounds present in these leaves, there may be an impressive range of health benefits that a simple cup of this tea can provide. In terms of its medicinal effects, they can be enjoyed both by drinking, inhaling, and even topically applying this tea to the skin.