This month's newsletter gives some concise strategy for the use of essential oils when sickness knocks at your door. In our family, we've found that following this simple strategy typically abates sickness of all kinds, sometimes within a few hours.
Click Here: February Newsletter

As winter storms recently buried the North, I thought of some of our friends in Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Illinois and so on. Don't worry if your essential oils are delivered in cold weather, even if they have to sit outside for a good while. Dr. David Stewart writes, "even in the extreme, cold never hurt any oil - regardless of whether it is essential, expressed, absolute or a carrier blend. If your oils are ever chilled to the freezing point, don't apply any heat to thaw them out. Keep the lids on and just let them warm up gradually to room temperature, and they will be fine."

While I’m covering the temperature topic, we have friends in the deep south who want to know about the effects of heat on the essential oils. I try to protect my essential oils from excessive heat, yet I do realize that true essential oils are the product of distillation at temperatures well above the boiling point of water (212F or 100C). They prove themselves to be stable at these high temperatures or else they would not be worth much to us once the high temperatures separated them from the plant. The flash point of some essential oils is between 100-140F (38-60C), which means that the lightest oil components may temporarily separate, vaporizing in the sealed bottle. The good news is that, once the bottle has cooled back down, these components condense and become liquid again, leaving their chemical makeup unaltered. If your essential oils do get too warm, keep the lids on until they have cooled back down. If you must open a bottle that is too warm, the lightest compounds may escape and alter the balance of the oil. In that case, your oil will likely not be as effective as before the incident.

Expressed oils such as Bergamot, Grapefruit, Lemon, Lime (although our Lime is distilled) Mandarin, Orange and Tangerine, can be damaged by temperatures in excess of 100F (38C), and they need to be kept in moderate temperatures. Blends with these oils in them are included. We try to keep our citrus oils and blends that contain them in temperatures we feel comfortable in. If they have been subject to temperatures over 90F, allow them to cool down before removing the lids. If damaged, they will smell different than when they were fresh, and the damage will reduce their therapeutic value.

Absolutes such as Neroli and Jasmine’s fragrances are destroyed by excessive heat (90F or 32C). They are slightly more sensitive to heat than expressed oils. Normal room temperatures help them maintain their delicate chemistry.

Carrier oils are typically cold pressed because heat makes them susceptible to undesirable alteration. When fatty oil molecules break down, we say they have become “rancid.” Blends that contain carrier oils, should be kept reasonably cool and will last longer if refrigerated.

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In January's newsletter I include scientific reports that prove the beneficial effects of using essential oils to help us fight these battles. As today's growing plague of antibiotic resistant bacteria and mutating viruses become more prevalent, we find great comfort to have such powerful weapons in therapeutic-grade essential oils.
Click Here: January Newsletter

With the Christmas season upon us, I thought it an ideal time to write in our December newsletter about essential oil blends and why many times we prefer a blend over a single oil. I share a special insight into the gifts the magi brought to the newborn King and include a simple chemistry lesson to tie it all together. Have a blessed and healthy holiday season! ~ Linda
Click Here: December Newsletter

A recent article by Serena Gordon from the HealthDay Reporter, quoted John McBride, M.D.: "I think we owe it to our patients and their parents to make it clear that maybe acetaminophen [Tylenol] is bad. And, if there are alternatives, people might want to use those alternatives until they know acetaminophen is safe. [S]ome researchers believe acetaminophen increases airway inflammation in people with asthma or a predisposition to the breathing disorder." McBride said that the evidence is stronger that acetaminophen exacerbates current asthma, but that there's also evidence that it may be a cause of asthma, too.

Thankfully, essential oils offer a safe, natural and effective alternative to toxic drugs such as Tylenol. (The label on the box of Tylenol states that it is toxic to the liver.) We've found that just a few premium grade essential oils can be used for a myriad of common ailments.

• Arthritis - Pain-X, Peppermint or Birch applied topically as desired
• Back Pain - Pain-X, Muscle Relax or Peppermint applied topically as desired
• Earache - Lavender, Tea Tree or Cleansing, diluted and gently massaged around the ear and down the neck. Earache Relief blend has been very effective.
• Ear Infection - Ear Infection blend works well. A drop on a cotton ball in the ear opening eases the pain (never drop essential oils into the ear). Research shows that Basil is very effective for ear infection. Ear Infection blend combines Basil with the penetrating power of Helichrysum blend with Emu oil for a very effective remedy.
• Fever - Fever indicates that the body is working to defend itself from the invader. If the fever regulator allows it to soar too high, Peppermint applied to bottoms of feet may help to reduce it. This can be repeated every 10 minutes if necessary. Caution: Peppermint can reduce milk supply if used on a regular basis, and it's not recommended during pregnancy. If pregnant, don't apply to the abdomen.
• Headache - Peppermint, Headache Relief or Pain-X applied to temples (avoid the eyes) and back of neck. A drop of Peppermint on the tongue and held to the roof of the mouth is also effective.
• Menstrual Cramps - Woman Ease blend has helped many with this issue.
• Migraine - Lavender, Peppermint, Basil, Headache Relief or Migraine Relief applied to temples (avoid the eyes) and back of neck. A drop of Peppermint on the tongue and held to the roof of the mouth is also effective.
• Muscle Aches - Peppermint, Birch, Pain-X or Muscle Relax blend are all soothing and effective.
• Sinus Issues - Myrtle can be swabbed in nostrils, Respiratory Relief is effective topically and in a diffuser or inhaler and Nasal Rescue can be added to a nasal rinse with a neti pot.
• Sore Throat - A drop of Plague Defense in a glass with just enough water added to gargle. Gargle (avoid getting this on the lips) and swallow. Apply Plague Defense to the bottoms of feet and diffuse. Alternatively, Tea Tree can also be gargled.
• Toothache - Clove or Plague Defense on the gum. Pain-X (may need to dilute) on the jaw.

This list covers some common acute health issues where people have reached for Tylenol. For chronic issues where long-term use is desired, please consult your heath care provider.

Click here for the most common health care topics that we are contacted about and testimonies using essential oils as alternatives. Testimonies are perhaps the best way for others to find the answers they are searching for. If you have testimonies you'd like to share, we'd love to add them.

Influenza, commonly referred to as "the flu," is an infectious disease with symptoms such as: chills, fever, sore throat, muscle aches and pains, severe headache, coughing, weakness and fatigue and an overall general discomfort. It is more severe than the common cold and caused by a different virus. It is typically transmitted in the air by coughs or sneezes or by contact. The virus can be deactivated by sunlight, detergents, soap and disinfectants, which is where essential oils play their part.

The flu occasionally may develop into direct viral pneumonia or secondary bacterial pneumonia. Those with compromised immune systems are more susceptible. Essential oils in general are anti-infectious, anti-viral and anti-bacterial. They are effective when used as preventatives and fight like warriors when flu "invaders" bypass the defenses.

Infection of all kinds feed on sugar in the diet. Starving the infection will boost the immune response and speed recovery or help avoid succumbing to the flu as it makes its seasonal rounds. When we feel susceptible or early flu symptoms coming on, we avoid the following because they are sugars or convert to sugar:
- fruits of all kinds
- carrots
- potatoes
- grains (basmati or long-grain rice may be exceptions)
- dairy (except for homemade fermented dairy products from raw milk such as kefir and yogurt)

While there is no guarantee that using essential oils will prevent you from contracting the seemingly ubiquitous flu bug, high quality essential oils may help lessen the duration of the symptoms. Our family has avoided the dreaded flu for years by drinking plenty of water, avoiding sugar and using the following oils:
- Plague Defense is applied on bottoms of feet morning and night when the flu is going around. We use it as a gargle (a drop in a little water) if the throat is tender or if we've gotten chilled. It is diffused nightly. We take a drop in a teaspoon of local, raw honey (sometimes with a drop of Lemon essential oil) for a cough.
- Plague Defense Spray is used in public places. We spray shopping cart handles, toilet seats, hands after handling a menu and so on. It can be used as an aerosol spray in lieu of toxic commercial disinfectants.
- Warrior is used on bottoms of feet or taken by capsule if we suspect that the invaders have crossed the defenses.
- Respiratory Relief is our favorite for any respiratory issue. We diffuse it, apply topically to back and chest, soak with a few drops mixed with salts in a "hot" bath and have used it as a cough remedy with a drop added to a teaspoon of local, raw honey.
- Lung Healing is a close cousin to Respiratory Relief. It can also be diffused, applied on chest, back and throat, but its claim to fame in our family (and for many of our friends) is how effective it is for lung issues. If our symptoms are in the chest, we put 3 drops of Lung Healing in a capsule and fill the rest up with castor oil (olive oil or any cooking oil will work). We make sure the capsule is fully lubricated with the castor oil and use it as we would a suppository (insert into the rectum at least an inch or so). The results are typically very immediate - coughing subsides and breathing improves. This may need to be repeated a few times and is most effective if it's used at the first sign that the invaders have settled in the lungs.
- Myrtle is our favorite for sinus issues. We swab nostrils to avoid congestion altogether, but if infection sets in, we've found that it eradicates it completely overnight by simply swabbing high into the nostrils. It does not sting and can be used on small children without causing them any discomfort. It's actually a very desirable experience, but please try it on yourself before using it on a child. This way you will know what they are experiencing and can encourage them.
- Digestion Support is the perfect solution if the stomach virus (gastroenteritis) hits. We put a drop on the tongue or a few drops on the abdomen for vomiting and diarrhea. For more information about using essential oils for gastroenteritis, click here.
- Nasal Inhalers are great to have on hand. We've used these for sinus congestion with great success.
- Nasal Sprays are also beneficial.

The following testimonies are representative of many that we've received over the years.

1. I really blew my diet last week and paid for it, but not as dearly as in the past. After eating a bunch of grains and sweets over the holidays, I further assaulted my immune system by taking a walk on a damp, windy and frigid evening without sufficient warmth. By the time I got inside, I was shivering and my teeth were chattering. Just after midnight I awoke with a very bad sore throat which progressed into a hard cough by early morning. I slept fitfully and chided myself for being so stupid. I should have gotten up and used the oils, but I kept hoping it would go away. By morning, I had a fever and chills along with the sore throat and cough. Here's the amazing part: I took Warrior in a capsule 6 or 7 times through the day, put Ancient Healing on the bottoms of my feet, and for the cough, I put a drop of Frankincense and Lemon on a teaspoon and added small amount of local, raw honey. This was a fantastic remedy for the cough. I had to take it about every hour, but by evening I was hardly coughing at all. I also gargled Plague Defense a few times for the sore throat. By bedtime, I had no fever, hardly a cough and felt 80% better. I took a really warm bath with a few drops of Respiratory Relief mixed with Epsom Salts and soaked that up until the water had cooled down. I took another Warrior capsule, applied the Ancient Healing to the bottoms of my feet, took the cough remedy one last time and rubbed Respiratory Relief all over my chest and neck. I snuggled into bed and slept soundly. Would you believe that the next morning I felt like a new person? I did cough a few times to clear the nighttime mucus, but seriously, I had experienced an astounding recovery from what normally would have lasted several days and left me worn out and weak. Wow!

2. When flu season comes around, I start diffusing Plague Defense in the living area of our home. We've gone several years with the flu bug getting hold of our closest friends, but bypassed it ourselves. I'm confident these oils are effectively defending us.

3. This is my first flu season using essential oils instead of the pharmaceuticals we used to use. When my husband came home with signs of the flu, I remembered the infection-fighting formula you wrote about [Warrior], and fixed him a capsule of it right away. He had the chills and a sore throat when he came in, so after taking the Warrior, and gargling a drop of Plague Defense, he laid back in his recliner with a warm blanket. I went to the kitchen and started cooking a chicken so I'd have some soup for him when he woke up. After a couple hours of sound sleep, he woke up and said he felt 90% better. The chills were gone and he was hungry. I gave him another capsule of Warrior and fed him the chicken soup. He stayed up another couple of hours, and by bedtime said he felt totally fine, but I gave him one more capsule for good measure. He woke up saying he'd had the best night's sleep he'd had in months and felt like a top. We both send our love and appreciation to you and your "crew" for making these wonderful oils available to us. The information and care you provide is unsurpassed.

4. I want to share an experience I had last night - a testimony to the power of these oils. I felt nausea coming rapidly on me about bedtime. My stomach was cramping and I had diarrhea. It was basically the typical stomach flu onset. I felt miserable, and I knew I'd fallen victim to the "bug" that many of my co-workers had fought this past week. With a determined vengeance against this "invader," I put a drop of Plague Defense on my tongue, and then I diluted it and rubbed it on my throat. I decided to add some Frankincense to this battle plan. I rubbed the diluted Frankincense and Plague Defense all over my throat, upper torso and shoulders. My stomach was having big fits, and I was near to throwing up, so grabbed the Digestion Support and rubbed a few drops on my abdomen. The nausea subsided almost before I put the lid on the bottle - literally! I went to bed and prayed for "deliverance." I woke up once in the night feeling much better, but still not 100%, so I reapplied the Digestion Support on my stomach and went back to bed. I slept better than usual, and by morning there was no sign of the flu of any kind. These oils are amazing!

Click here for more specific information about Gastroenteritis (also referred to as the Stomach Virus or Stomach flu)

Many of us have fond memories of our mothers rubbing Vicks VapoRub on our neck, chest and back when we had respiratory illnesses. Our mothers meant well, but sadly didn't have a clue that one day in the future the PAHs in the petrolatum base would be linked to breast cancer in girls. In the November newsletter, I've taken a look at the Vicks ingredient list and offered a natural alternative that we can feel good about applying on our children.
Click here: November Newsletter

Heritage Essential Oils' Sweet Birch is grown and distilled in the Adirondack region of Canada, while much of the Wintergreen on the market is from China. It is our understanding that true, steam-distilled Birch essential oil is no longer produced commercially on a large scale because it is not economically feasible to compete with other products such as Wintergreen oil which, in terms of chemistry, is practically identical.

Recently though, we located some amazing quality Adirondack Birch essential oil that is produced by a family distillery on a very small scale, and, to our knowledge, it is the only authentic Birch oil known to be on the market today.

The quality of this oil is amazing. True Birch essential oil is expensive because the bark has to be macerated and soaked in warm water for 10-12 hours minimum before it can be distilled. The yield is very low, and the oil is technically more difficult to collect from the distillation because it's more dense than water, so the oil layer sinks to the bottom of the collection apparatus instead of floating on top like most essential oils.

Be aware that most "birch oil" on the market is synthetically produced in a laboratory and is not safe in my opinion and in the opinion of many health care professionals. Much of the literature that speaks of the harm that might come from so called "birch oil" speaks of that produced in a chemical laboratory. It is not referring to pure, unadulterated Birch essential oil, which is whole and balanced as the Lord intended it to be. The scientific testing is done on the main component of birch oil, methyl salicylate, which is isolated, and when tested on animals might very well be harmful. But, when methyl salicylate is left in balance with the other minor components found in Birch, it has proven to manifest healing properties without causing harm.

When we tested Wintergreen and our Adirondack Birch essential oils side-by-side, we preferred Birch 100% of the time over Wintergreen. We asked others to test the two, and again, Birch was the winner by a 100% margin. It is an excellent choice for joint stiffness and pain, inflammation, gout, skin issues and much more. For more information about using Birch essential oil, click here.