Essential Oils for Diabetes

I found this post about diabetes and essential oils that may help. I like that the oils can be used topically, orally, or via scents. I hope you enjoy the article also.

http://daviau.myameo.com/ 

Essential Oils That May Help Lower Blood Sugar

By Jacqueline Marshall, Aug 25, 2015

Today, the healing benefits of essential oils are more than the claims of ancient tradition and alternative medicine. They are increasingly the stuff of science.
Not that essential oils will cure diabetes, but using them can be more than an odoriferous way to spice-up your diabetes management routine.
Essential oils contain potent biologically-active volatile compounds with therapeutic effects. The compounds enter our system when the oils are absorbed by our skin, the fragrance enters the blood stream via our lungs, their sumptuous scents influence the brain’s limbic system, or they are ingested in dilute amounts.

Essential Oils and Blood Sugar

Several of these essential oils are believed or proven to have an effect on blood sugar levels, including:

Cinnamon Bark (Cinnamomum zeylanicum). Research studies have demonstrated that cinnamon helps lower glucose levels, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, total cholesterol, and increases insulin sensitivity in people with type 2 diabetes. Cinnamon oil is generally known for its powerful anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, anti-viral, and anti-fungal properties. Coriander (Coriandrum sativum). Coriander helps lower blood sugar in two ways. It demonstrates insulin-like activity at a cellular level, and it facilitates insulin release from the pancreas. Studies reveal that coriander also reduces triglycerides, LDL, and total cholesterol, and is associated with increased HDL cholesterol.
Davana (artemisia pallens). The davana plant is native to India. There are historical and anecdotal reports of davana effectively lowering blood glucose levels.
Dill Weed (Anethum graveolens). Dill stimulates the pancreas and helps regulate insulin. It is also known for its antibacterial, and anti-spasmodic properties.

Essential oils can also relieve problems that result from or contribute to diabetes such as stress, anxiety, pain, and insomnia—all maladies that may be lessened using lavender oil.
However, just because the lavender flower is delicate and smells lovely, does not mean we can take the potency of lavender, or any other essential oil, lightly.

Potent Effects: Use Wisely

Because essential oils are extracted from plants, people tend to think their influence can only be benign. This is a potentially dangerous assumption. If you choose to experiment with oils for diabetes relief, it is important to acknowledge their possibly powerful effects.
For instance, some individuals who report lowering blood glucose with essential oils needed to make medication or dietary adjustments to maintain target glucose levels and avoid hypoglycemia.
Other important considerations include the purity and therapeutic grade of the oils being used, how to best administer them (e.g., inhale, rub on skin, ingest), whether they mix well with other medications, and have age, or pregnancy restrictions.
So, before trying essential oils research them, consult essential oil experts, and work with your doctor to make their use safe and effective as possible.

From: http://www.informationaboutdiabetes.com/lifestyle/lifestyle/essential-oils-that-may-help-lower-blood-sugar 
Sources: Mercol; Diabetes In Control; Heritage Essential Oils
Photo credit: Thangaraj Kumaravel

The Wonderful World of Mint!

Mint is a herb used for such a wide variety of ailments, from headaches with aromatherapy to a tummy soother in a tea.
One of the benefits of mint that I enjoy is in tea, the soothing affects on the sinuses; what this means is mint is good for asthma patients!  As my youngest son has asthma, mint is something I like to give him during the times of year when we are inside more with the dust and outdoors during the spring when the pollens are rampant. A few drops of essential oil on the pillow to breath in while you sleep is a wonderful way to help the sinuses as well as a natural way to help with depression.

Mint naturally, when eaten, produces saliva and helps with the aid of digestion! So cooking with mint is also beneficial to to those who have difficulty digesting food naturally.

The recipe i will be cooking this weekend (compliments to Hhuffington Post and allrecipes.com)

I am looking forward to trying the new recipe this week!

Ingredients

• 1/2 pound(s) dried rice noodles, about 1/4 inch wide
• 3/4 cup(s) fresh grapefruit juice
• 2 large garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tablespoon(s) sugar
• 1/4 cup(s) plus 1 tablespoon asian fish sauce
• 1/2 pound(s) cabbage, finely shredded 4 cups
• 3 large scallions, thinly sliced
• 1/2 pound(s) cooked chicken, cut into long strips
• 1/2 cup(s) chopped cilantro
• 1/4 cup(s) chopped mint
• Sriracha, for serving

Directions

• 1. In a bowl, cover the noodles with cold water and let stand until pliable, 25 minutes. Drain. Bring a saucepan of water to a boil. Add the noodles and cook, stirring, until al dente, 1 minute. Drain the noodles in a colander and return them to the pan. Fill the saucepan with cold water and swish the noodles around. Drain and swish the noodles 2 more times. Drain the noodles in the colander, lifting and tossing, until dry.
• 2. In a small bowl, stir the grapefruit juice with the garlic, sugar and fish sauce until the sugar is dissolved.
• 3. In a large bowl, toss the rice noodles with the shredded cabbage and scallions. Add the dressing and toss well. Add the chicken, cilantro and mint and toss. Serve right away, passing Sriracha sauce at the table.

Happy Saturday!

Daviau.myameo.com