ASK DOCTOR MARTY NEWSLETTER
July 2015
Welcome to the monthly Ask Dr. Marty Newsletter. It is based on questions that I receive regarding natural health topics. I hope you enjoy the newsletter and will forward any questions you may have as well.
I frequently get questions about essential oils. So much so that I’m going to devote the next several newsletters to some time-tested oils that have made a big difference in my health and in the health of my clients and students. This newsletter is devoted to my favorite oil. It has become my favorite essential oil in the last few years as a go-to oil for a really wide range of challenges. I’ll let you guess what this oil is by describing its qualities. Please forgive the slightly longer-than-usual format of this month’s newsletter. What can I say? I got carried away. At a recent class that I held on essential oils, I was swamped with a bunch of requests for recipes, so don’t give up before the Hot Tip segment of this newsletter. It has one of my favorite recipes.
I love this oil for many reasons:
- One of my young adult clients came to me with tears of joy because using this oil meant that she didn’t need her inhaler for the first time in 12 years. Research backs this up. The rosmarinic acid appears to be the most effective compound in this oil for use with asthma.
- Studies indicate that this oil is a powerful inflammation fighter that really helps muscle spasms and pain. Even menstrual cramps respond well to this oil.
- If I get sleepy behind the wheel when driving a long distance, it wakes me up and helps me focus and concentrate when I put some on my upper lip. Studies back this claim. And yet it’s calming at the same time. True energy is a peaceful calm energy. And yes, that was a shameless plug for my most recent book, True Health Series: Energy.
- When I rub it into my chest and throat and dab it behind my ear lobes and in my nostrils, it opens up my chest and sinuses. I didn’t know I could have so much room in there! Clinical trials indicate it’s a wonderful expectorant and decongestant for colds, flu and sinus infections due to its antiviral, antifungal, and antibacterial qualities.
- Because it is a great anti-inflammatory, I use upward strokes over the thyroid twice a day to prevent a goiter from returning. But as my mother-in-law said just after our wedding ceremony 43 years ago, “No returns.”
- Many of my clients always keep this oil in their purses so that when a headache starts, even a migraine, it can nip it in the bud. I realize I just risked sounding like Barney Fife… This oil can dilate blood vessels, so it can be especially helpful if your headaches are vaso-constrictive.
- It helps nausea. Expectant mothers can use it on their upper lip to relieve morning sickness. See caution below.
- Studies show that it can effectively relieve gas and cramping when rubbed into the abdomen, even in chronic irritable bowel cases.
- I love to use it as a natural bug repellant. This is very important to those of us who live in FLORIDA. If you forget to use it and become dinner for some hungry insect, it works great on bug bites to relieve itching and swelling.
- Studies also indicate that this oil is effective in reducing the pain of shingles and outbreaks of herpes simplex.I’m sure many of you guessed correctly…peppermint oil. Nothing works for everyone, but peppermint essential oil works so well for so many people in so many ways. As with all essential oils it can be a true blessing, but must be treated with respect.
- As with any essential oil, when using peppermint oil internally, make sure that it is an oil formulated for internal or external use.
- Overuse, especially from the whole leaves (sorry to my readers who are avid gardeners and use lots of mint) can put stress on the liver and intestines.
- Don’t use this extremely strong essential oil on infants, or pregnant (late in the pregnancy) or nursing mothers. It reduces milk production.
- If you tend to have very sensitive skin, use a healthy carrier oil, like grapeseed oil or jojoba oil.
- This oil can be used to prevent acne, but make sure you don’t get it in your eyes. It will burn.
- If you have gall bladder issues, use of peppermint can increase the inflammation.
- Peppermint oil can actually relax the sphincter muscle that prevents stomach acids and other contents from backing up into the esophagus. So if you have gastroesophageal reflux (GERD), internal peppermint oil may not be your friend.So how do you use peppermint oil? Vaporizers, diffusers, on a tissue in your pocket, dabbed on or massaged into the skin, in lotions, shampoos (for dandruff and lice), and body washes. I love to use it in bath salts, antibacterial lotions and sea salt scrubs. Overly zealous amounts in shampoos and body washes can briefly cause burning. I always use a pharmaceutical grade essential oil. Although these oils are very powerful, they have no harsh chemicals used in their processing.The use of peppermint oil has been traced back 2000 years to the ancient civilizations of Egypt and Rome. They were obviously on to something great!Hot Tip: For a great sea salt scrub, put 10 drops of peppermint oil into ¼ cup of sea salt. Add enough unscented natural oil (like grapeseed oil) to make it the consistency of loose, wet sand. Add ¼ teaspoon of Sunshine concentrate and mix well. This makes a wonderful exfoliator and stimulant for the hands and sea salt scrubs are so expensive in stores. Any essential oil can be used, like lemon, pink grapefruit, or red mandarin.Next month…Essential oil Number 2 and another recipe (it’s a surprise)*******
- “Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing.” Ezekiel 47:12
- It is always wise to advise your pharmacist or health care practitioner about any change in diet or supplements you plan to take, especially if you take any prescription medication.
- Maureen (Marty) Kernion is not a physician and does not diagnose nor prescribe. She received a bachelor’s degree in secondary education from Louisiana State University, and a Master of Science degree and Doctorate of Natural Health degree from Clayton College of Natural Health. She is the author of Going Natural with Herbs and co-authored True Health Series:Energy. Marty lectures on natural health topics across the country and has been featured at 78 Barnes and Noble book stores since her first book was published. She is also a retired professor, specializing in courses in nutrition and herbal remedies.
Ask Doctor Marty 