Archive for the 'clary sage' Category
James F. Balch, M.D., coauthor of Prescription for Natural Cures (Wiley), believes that clary sage essential oil is helpful to fight depression. This is because, he says, clary sage essential oil locks onto the same brain receptors that prescription antidepressants do, increasing the body’s output of the mood-boosting neurotransmitter serotonin by as much as 50 percent, according to researchers at Duke University.
Clary sage is also calming, explains Dr. Balch, so it quickly dials down the chronic stress that often goes hand in hand with dysphoric moods. Just keep a vial of clary sage essential oil on your kitchen counter or desk. Take three slow deep sniffs four times daily or whenever you need a boost.
If you have a chronic and persistent cough, pine essential oil is a great option for a cough that just won’t go away. This is a common problem when the end of cold season collides with the onset of spring allergies, reports Dr. Balch. He continues to say that pine is a powerful antiseptic and anti-inflammatory, so it kick-starts the healing of irritated tissues.
To use, add three drops of pine essential oil to 2 two cups of hot, but not boiling water. This creates a steaming effect. Then lean over the pot, drape a towel over your head and inhale the steam for 10 minutes each day. The scent of pine also allays depression and lifts our spirits.