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Cinnamon Essential Oil as a Pesticide in Mosquito Larvae Control

July 7, 2010 in Application, Best Essential Oils, Buy / Purchase, Education, Gardening, Green, How do I use, Insect Pests / Repellant, Make My Own, Natural, News, Parasites, Quality / Pure, Science, Therapeutic-grade Essential Oil, Using Essential Oils by Evelyn Vincent | No comments

I love powdered cinnamon and therapeutic Cinnamon Bark essential oil from Young Living Essential Oils, which is one of my favorites. It’s especially nice in blends, such as the very popular Thieves essential oil blend. In the study below it was found that cinnamon ‘leaf’ oil from the species Cinnamomum osmophloeum has simplar properties as Cinnamomum cassia, which has a Trans-cinnamaldehyde content of 70-88 percent. Cinnamon Bark Cinnamomum verum has a trans-cinnamaldehyde content of 40-50 percent and a Eugenol content of 20-30 percent.

This is all worth noting because all aromatherapy oils labeled ‘Cinnamon’ rarely come from any of the species mentioned above – and – even more rarely are they distilled properly from the ‘bark’ – this makes a huge difference in the results, whether used to kill insect pests, killing micro-organisms, or in healing. See my previous article, Does Your Cinnamon Bark and Benefit?

When I read a study with findings like this there are things I would want the reader to know before making any attempt to kill insect pests, the environment, or using the essential oil with humans. First, Cinnamon Bark essential oil is considered a ‘hot’ essential oil; meaning it’s spicy and could irritate skin when used topically, it could also irritate mucous membranes when inhaled if it’s diffused alone for long periods of time, and should always be diluted. Environmentally speaking, any superior quality essential oil could damage plants, beneficial insects, fish, frogs/toads – so always be  extremely mindful not to use large amounts and make sure to only target the pest and not something we value to get the best results.

Always remember… ‘one’ drop of a superior quality essential oil is many times more powerful than a large bottle of a lesser quality essential oil!

With the exception of the species Cinnamomum osmophloeum you can very safely assume that ALL cinnamon ‘leaf’ essential oils come nowhere close to having the same properties or results as Cinnamomum cassia and Cinnamomum verum.

The study states that the compound cinnamaldehyde showed the strongest activity at an LC50 (LC50 value is the concentration that kills 50 percent of mosquito larvae in 24 hours) of 29 ppm – this is an extremely small amount of essential oil needed to control mosquito larvae!

Testimonial: Using Thieves in My Garden

This may also explain why and how I get excellent results when I use my Thieves Household Cleaner for insect pest control – and – for eliminating Powdery Mildew on my garden plants. I use the heavy degreasing ratio (shown on the label) in my spray bottle filled with water. Almost always two applications works like a charm! The Thieves essential oil blend contains Cinnamon Bark and is the key ingredient in the Thieves Household Cleaner responsible for addressing my garden pest issues. I also make sure there are no beneficial insects nearby when I spray! ~ Evelyn Vincent

Cassia, Cinnamomum cassia, is a very expensive essential oil – if you find it and it’s not extremely expensive you can be certain that it is NOT a superior quality essential oil with all of it’s natural constituents in tact, not to mention, it would probably be loaded with chemicals that were used during distillation and/or processing.

Young Living does not sell Cassia as an individual purchase. It can only be obtained in a kit called “Twelve Oils of the Ancient Scripture.” Cassia is a very precious oil, one that I would not use to control mosquito larvae. Cassia’s Trans-cinnamaldehyde content is 70-88 percent and the Cinnamyl Acetate content is 0-6 percent.

I only use Cinnamon Bark Cinnamomum verum for my insect and fungal control in the form of the Thieves Household Cleaner diluted in water in a spray bottle - which is a very powerful essential oil having a cinnamaldehyde content of 40-50 percent ,which is far more potant than your average cinnamon leaf oil.

Cinnamon Bark (Cinnamomum verum) essential oil from Young Living is very reasonably priced for home use, at $28.62 for a 5ml bottle retail (24% less at wholesale) making this an effective essential oil to make up your own mosquito larvae, pest and insect control concoction.

Additionally, therapeutic-grade Cinnamon Bark (Cinnamamum verum) essential oil has a very impressive ORAC score of 103,448!

Historical Information

Listed in Dioscorides’ De Materia Medica (A.D. 78), Europe’s first authoritative guide to medicines, the standard reference work for herbal treatments for over 1,700 years. Cinnamon was reputed to be part of the “Marseilles Vinegar” or “Four Thieves Vinegar” used by grave-robbing bandits to protect themselves during the 15th century plague. The Thieves essential oil is a blend based on the “Four Thieves Vinegar.”

Medical Properties of Cinnamon Bark

Cinnamon Bark has many known and important medicinal qualities, some are: anti-inflammatory (COX2 inhibitor), powerfully antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, anticoagulant, circulatory stimulant, stomach protectant (ulcers), antiparasitic (worms).

Cinnamon Bark essential oil is found in: All of the Thieves edible toothpastes and KidScents Toothpaste, Egyptian Gold, Exodus II, Gathering, Highest Potential, Magnify Your Purpose and Thieves essential oil blends, Mineral Essence Tincture, Thieves Bar Soap, Thieves, Household Cleaner, Thieves Foaming Hand Soap, Thieves Hard and Soft Lozenges, Thieves Waterless Hand Purifier, Thieves Spray, and Thieves Wipes. Any of these can be purchased here.

Article: Cinnamon Oil Kills Mosquitoes by Michael Bernstein Source EurekAlert!

Cinnamon oil shows promise as a great-smelling, environmentally friendly pesticide, with the ability to kill mosquito larvae, according to a new study published in the July 14, 2004 issue of the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Chemical Society, the world’s largest scientific society.

The researchers also expect that cinnamon oil could be a good mosquito repellent, though they have not yet tested it against adult mosquitoes.

Besides being a summer nuisance, mosquitoes pose some major public health problems. While conventional pesticide application is often effective in controlling mosquito larvae before they hatch, repeated use of these agents has raised serious environmental and health concerns.

“These problems have highlighted the need for new strategies for mosquito larval control,” says Peter Shang-Tzen Chang, a professor in the School of Forestry and Resource Conservation at National Taiwan University and lead author of the paper. Scientists are increasingly turning to more benign natural chemicals to ward off mosquitoes and other pests.

Chang and his coworkers tested eleven compounds in cinnamon leaf oil for their ability to kill emerging larvae of the yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti. “Four compounds — cinnamaldehyde, cinnamyl acetate, eugenol and anethole — exhibited the strongest activity against A. aegypti in 24 hours of testing,” Chang says.

Larvicidal activity is judged with a measurement called LC50. “The LC50 value is the concentration that kills 50 percent of mosquito larvae in 24 hours,” Chang explains. Lower LC50 translates into higher activity, because it takes a lower concentration to kill larvae in the same amount of time. All four compounds had LC50 values of less than 50 parts per million (ppm), with cinnamaldehyde showing the strongest activity at an LC50 of 29 ppm.

Other common essential oils, such as catnip, have shown similar promise in fighting off mosquitoes, but this is the first time researchers have demonstrated cinnamon’s potential as a safe and effective pesticide, according to Chang.

Cinnamaldehyde is the main constituent in cinnamon leaf oil and is used worldwide as a food additive and flavoring agent. A formulation using the compound could be sprayed just like a pesticide, but without the potential for adverse health effects — plus the added bonus of a pleasant smell.

Bark oil from the Cinnamomum cassia tree is the most common source of cinnamaldehyde, but the tree used in this study — indigenous cinnamon, or Cinnamomum osmophloeum — has been of interest to researchers because the constituents of its leaf oil are similar to those of C. cassia bark oil. The leaves of C. osmophloeum, which grows in Taiwan’s natural hardwood forests, could be a more economical and sustainable source of cinnamon oil than isolating it from bark, Chang says.

Though the team only tested the oil against the yellow fever mosquito, cinnamon oil should prove similarly lethal to the larvae of other mosquito species, the researchers say. In further studies they plan to test cinnamon oil against other types of mosquitoes as well as different commercial pesticides.

“We think that cinnamon oil might also affect adult mosquitoes by acting as a repellent,” Chang says. The researchers haven’t yet tested this theory, but they plan to find out in the near future.

The Council of Agriculture of the Executive Yuan, a government agency in Taiwan, provided support for this research.

Related Articles:

What is an Essential Oil and Knowing How to Distinguish the Real Deal from Junk
Big Black Ants in my Kitchen Killed by Thieves
Peppermint Essential Oil to Repel Squirrel’s and Rodents
Repel Dust Mites, Fleas, Ticks, Ants and Spiders

Evelyn Vincent

Evelyn Vincent

Article by Evelyn Vincent, Young Living Independent Distributor #476766

Buy Essential Oils and Products Here

Helping families make informed choices!

Subscribe to my "Oil Tip of the Day" and eNews

How to buy at wholesale prices

Become a Young Living Essential Oil Distributor with the YLC Team

See other articles by Evelyn

Evelyn's Class and Webinar Schedule

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"You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. You are the guy who'll decide where to go." ~ Dr. Seuss

Vinegar as a Safe Weed Killer

May 27, 2010 in Application, Chemicals / Toxic, Eco-Friendly, Education, Family Health, Gardening, Green, How do I use, Lifestyle, Make My Own, Natural, Nutrition / Diet, Recipes, Safe Use, Science, Wellness by Evelyn Vincent | 2 comments

Weeds in the garden can compete with crops for moisture, nutrients, light and space, often times they tower over and out-compete plants in our gardens we are so looking forward to seeing grow. Preventing weeds from becoming established in the garden, flower or vegetable, doesn’t have to be a daunting pain-in-the-back chore.

To put things in perspective we first need to look at what a Minnesota study found… that a 12″ wide x 12″ long x 6″ deep piece of soil, contained from 98 to 3,068 viable weed seeds. Many seeds remain viable for decades; Jimsonweed having a 90% germination rate after 40 years in the soil and field bindweed seeds are viable for a whopping 50 years!

The most natural way to eradicate weeds is to prevent them by not allowing the weed to flower – after the flower has faded, the seed forms and eventually falls to the ground, or is carried off by a bird who usually perches not too far away.

Two Safe, Low-Cost, and Effective Weed Killing Tips: the only two you’ll ever need for the home garden

  1. Keep a lookout for flowering weeds. This works really well between weedings and for those weeks when you’re super busy. It’s easy to do a quick 5 minute or less scan every day or two to see if any weeds have developed flowers. Once the weed has flowered simply go over and pluck the flowers off on your way to and from your car, letting the dog in and out, or when you take out the trash. Remember to put the plucked flower in the trash – do NOT leave it laying on the ground and do not throw it in the compost pile. This method is terrific for those who want to minimize their weeding chore over time. What happens over time is the weed seeds in your soil will greatly diminish over time.
  2. Use a White Vinegar Spray. This is a spray you can make at home with ordinary white vinegar and water! Do I also need to say that this is, CHEAP!!! The effectiveness of the vinegar to kill weeds is dependent on the concentration and the plant growth stage (or age). Caution: vinegar WILL kill every kind of plant and lawn grass too – be extremely mindful of where you are spraying and where the spray is drifting on a windy day. It was found that a 20 percent dilution was quite injurious to crops.

Concentrations of Vinegar as a Weed Killer

The concentration of vinegar used is very important. Apparently the ‘age’ of the weed plays a role in successful elimination of the weed. So before you mix up your water and vinegar take note of the time of year and how old the weeds are.

  • Concentrations of 5 – 10 percent are more effective in killing weeds during the early stages, when they are young.
  • Concentrations of 15 – 20 percent are more effective when weeds are older.

In this study, Agricultural Applications of Vinegar, submitted to the Proceedings of Northeastern Weed Science Society, January 6, 2003, spells out  further detail on what was done and the results, easily duplicated in the home garden.

Technical Abstract: The objectives of these studies were to evaluate 1) the efficacy of vinegar to control weeds when used as a directed spray at the base of crops, 2) rates and volume of vinegar required to achieve weed control when broadcast, and 3) soil drench as a method of control for Canada thistle. The injury to corn in the first experiment ranged from 5-35%. The replicated experiments suggested that the foliar application damaged corn more than the basal spray and the 20 % application was more injurious to corn than the 10% application. The corn grain yields did not show significant differences for all treatments from the weed free controls but the coefficient of variability was very high at 55% due to extreme droughty conditions. The crop injury in soybeans ranged from 5 to 45%, with the younger plants showing more injury than older plants. The soybean yields did not show significant differences among the weed free controls and the vinegar treatments. In all the trials weed control ranged from 90 to 100 percent. An investigation of the effect of vinegar soil drench in an established Canada thistle patch was conducted on an Elkton silt loam soil. The results showed 90% reduction in the number of stems and plant biomass in all vinegar treatments compared to the control. The pH of the soils ranged from 5.9 to 6.6 at the beginning of the experiment in October 2001 and declined to 4.7 to 5.2 in the vinegar treated plots a month later. However, the pH in the treated plots ranged from 5.8 to 7.1 by April of the following year. Last Modified: 05/26/2010

Weeds: Should I Kill Them, or Eat Them???

That’s a question only ‘you’ can answer.

Almost always, an edible weed has a much higher concentration of nutrients, vitamins and minerals compared to cultivated vegetables, yes even higher than organically grown veggies.

Weeds are ‘free’ food and they are found everywhere! Native Americans and early Americans ate weeds daily, as do many people today. Take for example, this little story…

Yesterday, while taking my dog for a walk we walked past 3 young teenagers, two boys and one girl, sitting on a bench in the shade. As my dog and I got closer, one of the boys got up and trotted off to a stand of trees, bushes, and weeds between the baseball diamond and the road. My dog who is very social wanted to stop and meet the the pair sitting on the bench so we went over to them and started talking. A few minutes later the other boy who had run off returned with a fist full of Honeysuckle flowers in full bloom and handed a blossoming branch to each of us.

I knew what to do with mine but waited to see what each of the teenagers would do with theirs. I smiled when I saw them gemtly pulling one flower off the stem and sucking on the base. What they were doing is sucking the sweet nectar… I jokingly siad to them, “ah, the human-hummingbird way to get to the good stuff!” They all chuckled.

The part I found interesting is that this is the first place I have ever lived where a larger percentage of the population (western North Carolina) can identify plants and knows what to do with them. Having these easy enough to learn skills is fun and empowering, it opens new doors and helps us to see nature in new ways.

So, whether to kill them, or eat them, pretty much depends on these three criteria:

  1. Is the plant edible (safe to eat)?
  2. Can ‘you’ identify, or at least learn how to, identify properly?
  3. Is the location where the plant is growing in a non-polluted place?

Resources to learn plant (edible weed) identification:

Botany in a Day by Thomas J. Elpel

Audubon Wildflowers: a Fieldguide to North American Wildflowers for iTunes / iPhone

Newcomb’s Wildflower Guide by Lawrence Newcomb (more advanced, highly recommended!!!)

Join your local Native Plant Society – between going out with native plants enthusiasts on field trips and Newcomb’s Wildflower Guide, you will be headed for the discovery of a lifetime!

Take classes with a local herbalist – stop by your local natural foods store and ask them if there are any herbalists in the area who have classes. many herbalists have day long classes and teach how to harvest, wildcraft, prepare (for cooking and medicine making) herbs found in common places. These are fun!

With economic times being as they are, food and health costs reaching new heights, and the fact that commercially cultivated produce does NOT no longer containing the nutrition it had up until around the 1950s; I encourage you to participate in the above. It’s fun to learn new things, get out and meet new people, and to feel healthier and empowered!

So… ditch the RoundUp, and remember to kill your weeds wisely!

Related articles:

Appreciation of Tsuga: an Essential Oil Profile

Gardeners: Look More Closely at the Root’s and Soil

The Best Way I Know to Clean Greener: effective, easy, and cheap

Can Nutrition Affect Behavior: how we become what we eat

Health: the New Status Symbol for Americans

Where is the Dirtiest Place on the Body?

Food and Produce Ingredients: when an ingredient is disguised

Evelyn Vincent

Evelyn Vincent

Article by Evelyn Vincent, Young Living Independent Distributor #476766

Buy Essential Oils and Products Here

Helping families make informed choices!

Subscribe to my "Oil Tip of the Day" and eNews

How to buy at wholesale prices

Become a Young Living Essential Oil Distributor with the YLC Team

See other articles by Evelyn

Evelyn's Class and Webinar Schedule

Contact Evelyn

"You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. You are the guy who'll decide where to go." ~ Dr. Seuss

Non Toxic Pest Control

May 15, 2010 in Allergies, Alternative Therapies, Application, Blends, Chemicals / Toxic, Diffusing, Eco-Friendly, Gardening, Green, Insect Pests / Repellant, Lavender, Palo Santo, Peppermint, Pets, Therapeutic-grade Essential Oil by Jonell Elder | No comments

Non toxic pest control!! Isn’t that a much better way to get rid of pesty critters?  Are you looking for ways that are Eco-friendly, natural, green and organic to help in the removal of pesty bugs without toxic chemicals?  In this article you will learn different ways to do just that.

Among the many chemicals in our industrial environment that get into our systems and make us sick are the pesticides we use in our homes and in our gardens. We use them because they are toxic to the creatures that bug us, but they are also toxic to us. Sometimes the toxicity is immediately apparent: we get a headache, get sick or feel nauseous from the fumes or other contact.

Sometimes the toxicity is subtle and can accumulate resulting in chronic complaints and disorders that can be serious and even deadly over time (including allergies, cancer and miscarriages). Sometimes we even put poisons on our pets to deal with ticks and fleas, not understanding or realizing that these substances are not health for our animals or us.

We don’t need poisons to kill pests. We can repel them (and even sometimes kill them) with substances that are not only harmless to us but are actually healthful to us. What could this be? Therapeutic-grade essential oils.

One way to do this is to get a pistol-grip squirt bottle. Mix a few drops of the essential oil with some water, shake it up, and start firing.  You can do this with most pests.

Specific Oils for Specific Insects

  • Ants: Peppermint or Spearmint.  Smear a line of peppermint or spearmint across your kitchen counter or floor, or place a few drops on a cotton ball and put in their pathway.  The ants won’t cross the line. If you already have a line of ants invading your house, just draw a line of oil across their path and they will turn back. It is fun to watch.*
  • Aphids: Cedarwood, Hyssop, Peppermint or Spearmint.  Mix a few drops of the essential oil with some water, in a pistol grip squirt bottle, shake it up, and squirt the leaves and this drives the bugs away with no harm to your plant.*
  • Bee or wasp stings: Lavender, blend of Purification or Thieves.  To  neutralize the toxin and relieve the pain, apply a drop to the effected area.*
  • Beetles: Peppermint or Thyme
  • Caterpillars: Spearmint or Peppermint
  • Chiggers: Lavender, Lemongrass, Sage or Thyme
  • Cutworm: Thyme or Sage
  • Fleas: Peppermint, Lemongrass, Spearmint, Lavender or blend of Purification. Put a drop of any of these oils on your pets collar. Depending on the size of your dog or cat, the essential oil may be applied to the back of their neck and to the pads of their feet. It is very important to understand the power and concentration of quality essential oils and how to apply them safely to your pets Please contact me for more detailed information.
  • Flies: Lavender, Peppermint, Rosemary or Sage
  • Gnats: Palo Santo, Patchouli, Spearmint or blend of Purification.
  • Lice: Cedarwood, Peppermint or Spearmint
  • Mosquitoes: Lavender, Lemongrass, Palo Santo or blend of Purification
  • Moths: Cedarwood, Hyssop, Lavender, Peppermint or Spearmint
  • Plant Lice: Peppermint or Spearmint
  • Slugs: Cedarwood, Hyssop or Pine.  Another tip, if you are a beer drinker, set cans or bottles with a little bit of beer left in the container, around the yard or garden. Slugs love beer and they crawl into the bottle, slurp it up and die.
  • Snails: Cedarwood, Pine, Patchouli
  • Spiders: Peppermint, Spearmint
  • Ticks: Lavender, Lemongrass, Palo Santo Sage, or Thyme. Put a drop directly on the tick, wait and pull it out with tweezers. Palo Santo seems to work the best.
  • Weevils: Cedarwood, Patchouli, Sandalwood
  • Insect Repellent: Lavender, Palo Santo or the blend of Purification.  Apply any of these oils on exposed skin, run your hands through your hair and over your clothing.  If you do get bit by mosquitoes, apply directly on the bite: Lavender, or Purification
  • Fruit Flies and Gnat’s: Diffuse Palo Santo or the blend of Purification.
  • Horse Flies: For horses, dab Lavender on their harnesses.

Do you ever have a situation where flies are really bugging you?  Try this tip:

  • Fill a zip lock bag with water and 5 or 6 pennies and hang it in the problem area.

Regarding the science behind zip log bags of water, millions of molecules of water present its own prism effect and given that flies have a lot of eyes, to them it’s like a zillion disco balls reflecting light, colors and movement in a dizzying manner. When you figure that flies are prey for many other bugs, animals, birds, etc., they simply won’t take the risk of being around that much perceived action.

May you be less bugged during those pesty times of year and feel the added benefit of the use of therapeutic-grade essential oils and feel healthier from not using toxic chemicals that are in so many pest control products.

If you have any questions or would like to place an order please contact me.

Note: Not all essential oils are the same. Therapeutic-grade essential oils are steam distilled and wild crafted, their oils are carefully extracted by way of hot water and steam and they are free from any synthetic chemicals. Many labels use the words “For External Use Only,” which means that they might include chemicals other than pure oil.

Green Environment……. Click here for daily essential oil tips

Other related articles:

Pests Be Gone With Peppermint

Dogs, Cats, Fleas, Fear and Using Natural Remedies

* This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Jonell Elder, Young Living Independent Distributor Adding Years to Your Life and Life to Your Years

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Article by Jonell Elder, Young Living Essential Oil Distributor

Reiki Master, Raindrop Technique Practitioner

Monthly Essential Oil Classes in the greater Seattle area, Everett, WA

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Big Black Ants in My Kitchen Killed by Thieves

April 3, 2010 in Application, Best Essential Oils, Buy / Purchase, Cinnamon Oil, Clove, Gardening, How do I use, Insect Pests / Repellant, Make My Own, Natural, Recipes, Thieves by Evelyn Vincent | No comments

A few days ago we noticed the big black ants were back again after taking the winter off, so to speak. Night before last I did a little experiment, after the last glass of lemonade was poured I left the pitcher sitting on the counter (unwashed and unrinsed).  

When I got up the next morning there must have been about 20 big black ants inside the pitcher. This pitcher does have a lid, not tight sealing though as it has a spout, so it’s never really airtight.

I reached under the kitchen sink for my spray bottle of Thieves Household Cleaner and ever so slightly lifted the lid of the pitcher and gave several sprays. Within 5 minutes all of the ants in the pitcher were dead.

I then spotted an ant on the floor and so gave him a sprtiz too. I don’t know if he died or not as he ran under the crack at the base of the kitchen cabinets. He didn’t look so good and presume he too died after a few minutes.

I used Thieves Household Cleaner, diluted at the ‘medium’ strength ratio to kill big black ants with a good few sprays: 1 capful to 2 cups of water = medium dilution. I suspect that it’s either the clove or cinnamon, or both, in this essential oil blend that killed the ants, they probably ate through the waxy coating ants have on their bodies for protection. More on cinnamon.

This is an excellent option for those, who like me, refuse to use chemical products around the home and you won’t have to worry about some toxic insect spray being used in the kitchen around food! Perfect for those wanting a more natural lifestyle.

Thieves Household Cleaner formula boasts the most effective, 100 percent plant-and mineral-based ingredients available, including:

  • Vegetable-based surfactants like alkyl polyglucoside that are compliant with Green Seal and EPA Design for Environment (DfE) standards.
  • Biodegradable cutting agents like sodium methyl 2-sulfolaurate and disodium 2-sulfolaurate from renewable sources.
  • The all-natural cleansing and disinfecting power of Young Living Therapeutic Grade™ (YLTG) Thieves and lemon essential oils.

There is a significant difference between essential oils that simply smell good and those that are Young Living Therapeutic Grade™ (YLTG).

Thieves is an essential oil created an entire line of Thieves products including: Thieves Essential Oil, Thieves Household Cleaner, Thieves Ultra Toothpaste (my favorite, its the best toothpaste I’ve ever found), Thieves Mouthwash, Thieves Dental Floss, Thieves Foaming Hand Soap, Thieves Spray, Thieves Wipes, Thieves Lozenges, Thieves Waterless Hand Purifier, Thieves Bar Soap, and Inner Defense Softgels (a supplement containing Thieves essential oil). See Thieves product booklet (PDF) for more details.

Other Articles on the Usefulness of Essential Oils

12 Quick Tips for Using Thieves essential Oil

Deodorizing and Sanitizing Kitchens and Bathrooms with Essential Oils

Orange Essential Oil Profile: fresh, clean, uplifting scent

12 Quick Tips for Using Lemon Essential Oil

Peppermint Essential Oil to Repel Squirrel’s and Rodents

How to get the best prices (wholesale)

Evelyn Vincent

Evelyn Vincent

Article by Evelyn Vincent, Young Living Independent Distributor #476766

Buy Essential Oils and Products Here

Helping families make informed choices!

Subscribe to my "Oil Tip of the Day" and eNews

How to buy at wholesale prices

Become a Young Living Essential Oil Distributor with the YLC Team

See other articles by Evelyn

Evelyn's Class and Webinar Schedule

Contact Evelyn

"You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. You are the guy who'll decide where to go." ~ Dr. Seuss

Free Webinar: Get Ready for Gardening Season!

February 16, 2010 in Aromatherapy, Class / Event, Eco-Friendly, Education, Essential Oils, Family Health, First Aid tips, Gardening, Inspirational, Lifestyle, Natural, Natural Health, Using Essential Oils, Wellness, Young Living Distributor by Evelyn Vincent | No comments

During my March 9th free webinar I will focus on sharing my easy garden tips on what you can do in your backyard and in contaners this year to have bountiful success and delicious fresh produce.

Topics covered will include:

  • Soil
  • Seeds
  • Vegetables
  • Weeds
  • Insect control with essential oils
  • Using essential oils for minor gardening wounds

Organic gardening and plants have been my life-long hobby. Prior to starting my Young Living business just over four years ago I had a landscape design business. My primary focus was on creating harmonious outdoor spaces that beckoned the home owner to spend time in their barkyard retreats. These landscape designs included backyard wildlife habitats, Sacred Space, edible gardens and native plants that were a source of healing for the body, mind and soul.

I will share some of my favorite tips so that you can spend many hours enjoying your outdoor space; whether it be in an actual graden or in containers. And of course I’ll share my tips on tending to insects, taking care of your skin and addressing minor wounds.

  • When: March 9, 2010
  • Time: 9pm – 10 pm ET
  • Where: on your computer at home
  • Cost: free

Register here for “Get Ready for Gardening Season!”

Evelyn Vincent

Evelyn Vincent

Article by Evelyn Vincent, Young Living Independent Distributor #476766

Buy Essential Oils and Products Here

Helping families make informed choices!

Subscribe to my "Oil Tip of the Day" and eNews

How to buy at wholesale prices

Become a Young Living Essential Oil Distributor with the YLC Team

See other articles by Evelyn

Evelyn's Class and Webinar Schedule

Contact Evelyn

"You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. You are the guy who'll decide where to go." ~ Dr. Seuss

If an Essential Oil Can Kill Insects Why Doesn’t it Kill Humans

February 8, 2010 in Application, Aromatherapy, Best Essential Oils, Chemicals / Toxic, Education, Gardening, Green, Insect Pests / Repellant, Natural, Natural Health, Safe Use, Using Essential Oils, Wellness, Young Living Essential Oils by Evelyn Vincent | No comments

Many use their Young Living Essential Oils to kill or control and repel insect pests in the garden and around the home. Using essential oils in this way is a terrific option for those looking to eliminate toxins in their home, life, and the environment. I personally choose something natural over any form of chemical treatment whether it be for insect control, cleaning my home, or personal hygiene; I feel going natural is the only way to improve and protect our health. The question arises… why are insects killed by an application of an essential oil and people aren’t, here’s my answer…

We need to look at the really big picture here as it is important in understanding why. It doesn’t kill us for a couple of reasons… first, one or two drops of essential oil on a flea or a tick is almost the equivalent of us having a dump truck load of essential oil spilling on us, if we had that much poured on us we’d probably die too. Even too much of a good thing can be harmful.

Second, aromatic plants create essential oils to protect themselves from all sorts of pathogens, fungi, insects, bad bacteria, and microorganisms that could cause harm or kill them during their life cycle.They’re designed to either kill or deter certain insects or microorganisms that could endanger the survival of their species. Even though we do eat plants, we are not considered an insect pest in the plant kingdom, as such they have not created chemicals specifically to kill or harm us intentionally for the sake of warding us off.

Essential oils do not kill the bacteria or organisms that are beneficial to the plant or humans – unless if in extremely high amounts, like in my dump truck analogy.

Additionally, many of the same things that affect us also affect plants. Because humans have had a close relationship with plants and we evolved together over centuries, our bodies know how to process the compounds in an essential oil. This is why a properly distilled essential oil that has not been adulterated will not leave behind in your body a bunch of nasty stuff. This is also why I do not appreciate products and drugs that contain ‘isolated’ ingredients derived from plants; an isolated ingredient works on and has a completely different affect when it is ‘not’ with all of the other compounds that were originally present in that plant. In other words, all of the compounds are there for a reason.

Humans also found, through trial and error, that certain aromatic plants helped us with many of the same types of issues plants encounter, like: fungus, mold, viruses, bad bacteria, wound healing. Because we evolved together, and humans relied on plants for both food and health, our bodies process the plant parts and essential oils harmoniously.

Some insect and mammal species haven’t evolved so closely with the aromatic plants. As such they can’t tolerate certain essential oils or even process them very well, like: fish, frogs, reptiles, birds, and to a lesser extent cats… what do these species have in common… they never relied on land plants as their main source of food or medicine. This is not to say you can never use an essential oil around those species, just that mindfulness to what their bodies can process and tolerate needs to be examined before hand.

Canines are another species that have a closer relationship with plants, after the hunt and kill, the part of the catch which is eaten first is the stomach, which is pretty much partially digested plant matter. They also eat some wild fruits and vegetables, and some protein/raw meat.

Insects often attack and eat plants that are in a weaken state. A weakened plant does not contain all of the normal compounds a healthy plant contains.

Every species is both prey and predator. Everything attacks and eats something else, every species on earth does this. This has kept every species from taking over completely, it’s like a checks and balance system, it’s a natural cycle that is suppose to happen. When this natural balance is upset, due to: extremes in climate or weather changes, or the extinction of a species (which is almost always caused through human interference or behavior).

For instance, bringing exotic species to a foreign country, whether it’s plant or animal; there’s a reason why everything isn’t every place and it’s called ‘community’, as in a ‘plant community’. A community is places, like niches, where conditions are within a certain set of criteria in order for a species to be successful, some species are more particular than others.

We see many examples of an alien plant or animal species take-over when that species has been introduced into a landscape where they are not native. This almost always results in destruction to the native habitat that supports the species native to that place. Some examples of this happening in the US are the introduction of: Gypsy Moth, Kudzu, Purple Loosestrife, Quackgrass, Bamboo, Butterfly Bush, Autumn Olive, European Starling [ just to name a tiny few] have a very real and destructive impact economically and environmentally.

There is also another thing visible in nature, you will never see a dandelion or brambles growing in an old growth forest. Those are species you only find in disturbed places, and as times passes that place transforms in a succession, paving the way for the next series of species to take over… everything is evolving, very slowly over time, adapting and doing what it can for the survival of its species.

The big picture is enormous, so large in fact that it’s difficult for us to comprehend many times. It’s easy for us to forget where we have come from, and where we are going.

It is for these reasons that I have particularly strong feelings why there are certain things we should stop doing and stop using. It’s really important to step back and consider more than just the superficial impact we’re having on the whole picture. Like many of our state forest signs say… “take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints.” That same mindfulness and awareness can be put to use at home, every single day; whether it be with using our essential oils by the drop, buying locally, or stop buying items we can live just fine without.

Two websites that are great resources for getting back in touch with nature and living a more balanced lifestyle are Storyof Stuff.com and LoveTheEarth.com both can help us better realize just how much our choices can make a difference and the value of living in a more balanced way.

In short, why essential oils don’t kill us is because we use them in very small amounts, and unlike insect and virus pests we have a many centuries long harmonious relationship with most plant species.

I do want to add… this pertains to properly grown plants (beyond organic standards) and properly distilled plants. This is important because most essential oils and aromatherapy oils available are not fit for aromatic or topical applications due to adulteration and solvents. You don’t want to negate the benefits by using an inferior essential oil. In my over twenty year experience using essential oils I have found Young Living Essential Oils to be the best, they are superior to others; which explains why they set the benchmark and quality standards in the world.

Related Articles:

Repel Dust Mites, Fleas, Ticks, Ants and Spiders with Peppermint Essential Oil
Gardeners: Look More Closely at the Roots and Soil
Peppermint Essential Oil to Repel Squirrel’s and Rodents

Resources

Cornell University: Invasive Plants
Invasive Plant Atlas
US Department of Agriculture: Invasive Species List
Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Evelyn Vincent

Evelyn Vincent

Article by Evelyn Vincent, Young Living Independent Distributor #476766

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"You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. You are the guy who'll decide where to go." ~ Dr. Seuss

Orange Essential Oil Profile: fresh, clean and uplifting scent

February 1, 2010 in Air Freshener, Anxiety, Application, Aromatherapy, Beauty, Blends, Cooking with Essential Oils, Diffusing, Disinfectant, Emotional Release, Family Health, Foot, Gardening, Green, How do I use, Make My Own, Mind / Body / Soul, Natural Health, Natural Household / Cleaning, Orange Oil, Recipes, Therapeutic-grade Essential Oil, Using Essential Oils by Evelyn Vincent | 1 comment

Orange essential oil is uplifting and helps to reduce anxiety and stress. A 1995 Mie University study found citrus fragrances boosted immunity, induced relaxation and reduced depression. This is particularly good for those in geographical locations that lack sunshine and don’t get adequate sunlight on a regular basis or rooms without much light, diffusing orange essential oil is great for helping with depression and seasonal affective disorder. Orange essential oil is very warming oil both physically and emotionally.

Orange helps to stimulate joy, optimism and playfulness, harmonizing feelings and awakening to creativity. It’s wonderful to diffuse and use for household cleaning for both children and for adults particularly during times when you may feel tense, nervous and withdrawn and need help to relax and open up.

The fruit of Citrus sinensis is called sweet orange to distinguish it from Citrus aurantium, the bitter orange. Sweet Orange essential oil is produced by glands inside the rind of an orange fruit. This can be seen when an orange is peeled, the fine mist that sprays into the air emitting that delicious orange scent is the essential oil. The orange peels are cold-pressed to extract the essential oil. Young Living orange essential oil is food grade and can be used as a flavoring of food and drinks, as seen below. While orange essential oils fragrance in perfumes and aromatherapy by massage therapists and other health professionals provides emotional and physical benefit.

Benefits of Orange Essential Oil

  • Orange can help reduce fluid retention, overcomes sadness, calming to children, aid digestion, mouth ulcers and gas.
  • Orange essential oil can stimulate sensuality and pleasure… especially when combined with ylang ylang essential oil. Diffusing orange and ylang ylang essential oils together can be a quite alluring and sensual scent.
  • Affect on the psyche: The aroma of therapeutic essential oils triggers physiological and psychological responses through the olfactory response. They can lift our moods, aid in fighting mild to moderate depression, increase alertness, calm aggressive behavior, and help to deal with emotional trauma. Essential oils can also lower anxiety, increase memory, and even affect our dreams (using one of the recipes below and used in a spray bottle can also help frighten away monsters under the bed at night).
  • Oils such as: lavender, orange, bergamot, rose, jasmine
  • Support urinary system: The eighth edition of Useful Drugs, published by the American Medical Association in 1930, listed a number of essential oils that were rubbed into the kidney area or taken internally (1-2 drops) to help with common urinary, kidney, and bladder infections. Oils known for urinary support are: orange, oregano, tea tree (not for internal use), juniper, rosemary. See list of therapeutic-grade essential oils that are safe for internal use.
  • Alertness and focus: The greatest fears of the aging population are the loss of mind, forgetfulness, or dementia. Essential oils have a profound impact on keeping the mind alert and focused. Oils known for these properties are: frankincense, sandalwood, cedarwood, lavender, orange, peppermint, rosemary.
  • May help protect against cancer: A vast amount of research indicates that constituents of essential oils may play a major role in cancer prevention and act as an adjunct to cancer therapies. Numerous studies on essential oils seem promising for specific types of cancer.
  • Oils such as: frankincense, lemon, orange, lemongrass, clary sage, bergamot, helichrysum, clove, tsuga, lavender
  • Beneficial for hypertension and arteriosclerosis.

Ways to Use Orange Essential Oil

Orange essential oil has many uses both physiologically and emotionally. It’s fresh cheery scent makes it a favorite of mine and many others.

Orange Essential Oil for Cooking

  • Use 1-2 drops Grapefruit, Orange or Lemon essential oil in your water (or any combination of these). It’s a great way to cleanse the body, the scents are uplifting to your mind – no calories!
  • Try adding 2-5 drops in a protein shake or fruit smoothie (a splash of NingXia Red also adds antioxidants and flavor to smoothies and shakes).
  • Orange essential oil is terrific in deserts too; like cheesecake, cookies, and and anything chocolate. Add a single drop to your baking recipes for a wonderful fresh orange flavor.
  • Add a 1-2 drops in your favorite oil and vinegar salad dressing recipe.
  • Mix with Ginger Ale and NingXia Red Juice with several drops of orange essential oil for a yummy and nutritious punch for parties. Note: the amounts of Ginger Ale and NingXia Red will determine how many drops of orange essential to use start off with 3-4 drops and add more only if necessary, remember therapeutic-grade essential oils are very concentrated and as such are very potent.

More tips on Cooking with Essential Oils

Orange Essential Oil and Household Cleaning

Therapeutic-grade orange esseential oil consists of about 85-96% d-Limonene. Limonene is an efficient cleaning agent which is promoted as being environmentally friendly and preferable to petroleum distillates, as shown in the tips and recipes below. The smell of Young Living Orange essential oil is considered much more pleasant than what is used in store-bought cleaners (it’s higher quality).

  • Eliminate odors in fridge: add one drop orange, lemon, grapefruit, bergamot, Thieves, Purification essential oil to a cup of water. Using a sponge wipe surface of icebox, freezer, oven, trash cans.
  • Use orange essential oil for cleaning oil and grease from your cooktop and surrounding areas in the kitchen.
  • Add a few drops of orange essential oil to hand soap to clean dirt, grease and even paint off of dirty hands.

Orange-Peppermint Air Fresher

  • 8-10 drops Orange essential oil
  • 6-8 drops Peppermint essential oil

In a 14 oz spray bottle, fill with water to 7/8 full, add essential oils and shake. Spray into center of room for a clean fresh scent. This blend is also terrific to use as a bathroom spray, simply use a smaller spray bottle and adjust the number of drops used.

  • Mix a couple drops of orange essential oil with some baking soda to make a paste and brush your teeth for natural teeth whitening instead of chemical bleaches that are absorbed into the bloodstream.
  • Make your own Orange-Scented Dryer Sheets; simply take a clean and dampened washcloth (an old one is fine) and put 3-6 drops of Orange essential on the cloth and toss into dryer with laundry. Note: do NOT use other brands of essential oils for this purpose they contain carrier oils that can permanently stain clothing.

House and Garden Insect Spray

  • 3 drops spearmint
  • 3 drops orange
  • 2 qts water

Mix and spray on plants in the house and outside and in greenhouse to keep the bugs and aphids away. Can also be diffused in a greenhouse (use a nebulizer diffuser and increase the number of drops to fill the well adequately – do NOT add water when using a nebulizer diffuser).

How Much Does it Cost to Use Therapeutic-grade Orange Oil?

Fives cents a drop!

(Note: the cost would be 24% less if you’re a wholesale customer or distributor)

Buy Now

Diffusing Orange Essential Oil

The easiest and simplest way of putting essential oils into the air for inhalation is to use an aromatic diffuser. A cold air diffuser uses room-temperature air to blow the oil up against some kind of nebulizer. This breaks the oils up into a micro-fine mist that is then dispersed into the air. The oils, with their oxygenating molecules, will then remain suspended for several hours to freshen and improve the quality of the air. The anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and antiseptic properties of the oils kill bacteria and help reduce fungus and mold. Essential oils, when diffused, have been found to reduce the amount of airborne chemicals and metallic’s as well as help to create greater spiritual, physical, and emotional harmony.

Diffuse for 10 minutes every 1-3 hours. This will help you to conserve your therapeutic-grade essential oils and provide the best olfactory benefits.

Springtime Fresh Blend for Diffusing

  • 12 drops orange
  • 6 drops Rosewood
  • 5 drops Clove
  • 2 drops Jasmine

Warming Winter Blend for Diffusing

  • 15 drops Clove
  • 15 drops Orange

Banish Anger Blend for Diffusing

  • 10 drops Orange
  • 6 drops Jasmine or Ylang Ylang
  • 3 drops Patchouli

Orange Essential Oil and Skin Care

Orange essential oil is an astringent, soothing agent, skin conditioner; consider trying Orange Blossom Facial Wash.

Caution: please keep in mnd that all citrus essential oils can be photosensitizing to skin, do not apply orange essential oil to skin that will be exposed to direct sunlight within 24 hours.

Tip: when applying orange essential oil topically use a carrier oil, such as V-6 Massage Oil.

Cellulite Bath

  • 3 drops orange
  • 3 drops rosemary
  • 3 drops cypress

Place drops in 2 tablespoons of Epsom Salts. Mix ingredients together. Pour mixture under running warm bath and soak! Bath & Shower Gel Base can be used instead of Epsom Salt.

After bath – dry off- massage cellulite area(s) with Cel-Lite Magic. Massage over callouses on the bottoms of feet for smooth and pretty feet.

Sore Feet Foot Bath Blend

  • 1/2 cup Epsom Salts
  • 5 drops Wintergreen
  • 3 drops Peppermint
  • 2 drops Chamomile
  • 2 drops Orange

Add all essential oils to Epsom Salts, stir well and add to warm foot bath water. Soak feet for 15-20 minutes, pat dry and apply Tender Tush to feet to soften skin. Your feet will be feeling wonderful and looking pretty in no time!

Evelyn Vincent

Evelyn Vincent

Article by Evelyn Vincent, Young Living Independent Distributor #476766

Buy Essential Oils and Products Here

Helping families make informed choices!

Subscribe to my "Oil Tip of the Day" and eNews

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"You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. You are the guy who'll decide where to go." ~ Dr. Seuss

Gardener’s: Look More Closely at the Root’s and Soil

January 8, 2010 in Chemicals / Toxic, Education, Gardening, Green, Harvest, Inspirational, Lifestyle, Natural, Science by Evelyn Vincent | No comments

As a long-time gardener and natural landscape designer I have the greatest appreciation of soil and the microorganisms in it and I want to share some gardening information with you. Most think that tilling, turning over, adding compost and so forth will produce the best soil for your garden seeds and plants. You may want to take a couple minutes and read what Don Chapman has to say about soil (below), his information is no doubt unlike any other you’ve read in gardening books and magazines (which in my opinion, only discusses gardening on the superficial level); this is an often unrealized fact that most don’t even know about. Since plants, soil, and gardening are one of my areas of expertise, and since this is prime season for gardeners making their plans for 2010 I will be posting articles of some of my favorite things and tips in the coming days. Enjoy and have a terrific gardening season! chamomile-plants

Close-Up on a Seed

by Don Chapman, President of Bio-Organics

New Year’s Greetings to you and may 2010 be filled with success.

It occurs to me that my newsletters have often spoken about the many benefits of mycorrhizal fungi and other soil organisms, but there has not been much mention of the details of how those “plant-friendlies” function.

Let’s begin by planting a seed. As a root emerges and begins to extend downward into the soil, it actually starts a complex sequence of actions. If there have not been any living roots in that garden’s soil, as during the winter months in northern climates, then the microbial organisms will have either gone dormant or deposited microscopic spores (fungi “seeds”) during previous growing seasons. A healthy soil will be filled with countless billions of these sorts of tiny organisms patiently lying in wait for a new generation of plant roots to appear.

Also waiting along with the beneficials are viruses, harmful fungi spores, and other plant pathogens. There is always some competition for seeds and roots – good guys versus bad guys – going on underground. Indeed, if a seed takes too long to sprout, as when soil conditions are too cold, some decomposing types of fungi can enter and make mush of meaty seeds before they have a chance to get going.

A growing root has a lubricant coating that exudes chemical signals. Call it a “smell” for sake of simplicity. This smell lets all the soil critters know that a new growing season has arrived – and the effect is like ringing a dinner bell. Mycorrhizal fungi spores activate, quickly attach to the root, and begin fulfilling their dual role of protection/nourishment.

With mycorrhizae, the new root is able to uptake much greater amounts of nutrients than it could on its own, plus there is now a protective zone surrounding it. This “Mycorrhizosphere” consists of sticky fungi root-threads (“hyphae”) that physically block many pathogens from gaining access to the root. There are also anti-viral substances generated by the hyphae.

As the plant roots develop and extend further out into the soil, many other soil organisms are supported. Bacteria populations explode into huge numbers, digesting organic matter and dissolving mineral elements into forms that the mycorrhizal fungi can deliver to their host plants. In return, the plant is kept busy gathering sunlight and sharing the resulting photosynthates (sugars and carbohydrates) through root exudates.

Note that endomycorrhizal fungi actually penetrate into the outer layer of plant root cells, where nutrient exchange takes place. This is a more direct approach than simply feasting on exudates outside the root. Ectomycorrhizal fungi (such as occur on oaks and pines) form more of a sheath around roots, but both types are critically important to the health and vigor of plants.

So a sprouted seed triggers all sorts of soil activity, with the growing tips of the roots being the “dinner bell” mechanism. As the oldest sections of roots nearer the plant age and harden, especially for trees and other perennials, they become more like conduit pipes rather than foraging tools. The real action is always out around the gel-covered new roots.

Plants and their soil associates are far more complicated than most realize. There are many forms of communication that take place, and subtle differences in appearance can prompt insects to destroy “unhealthy” plants, alarms are sounded when an attack occurs, and signals from a stressed plant spur increased efforts from their supportive mycorrhizal fungi. It’s an ongoing battle between “the forces of good and evil” as far as plants are concerned. Luckily for us, the beneficials usually prevail due to superior numbers and/or powerful defensive weapons that can be used to protect their life-giving host plants.

All this is good reason to encourage bio-life in soil and to make sure that seedlings and transplant roots have the right kind of friendly fungi spores available very early in their life. Blending mycorrhizal powder into potting soils, or drenching trays of young plants with water-soluble inoculant, or dipping bareroot transplants (especially fruit trees, grapes, or berries) into a clinging spore slurry, or putting spores under garden seeds will ensure the immediate presence of “good guys.” The new roots will be thrilled to see them waiting (in a silent plant version of thrilled, of course).

Good growing, my friends,

Don Chapman
President
BioOrganics

Previous Bio-Organic Newsletters

Evelyn Vincent

Evelyn Vincent

Article by Evelyn Vincent, Young Living Independent Distributor #476766

Buy Essential Oils and Products Here

Helping families make informed choices!

Subscribe to my "Oil Tip of the Day" and eNews

How to buy at wholesale prices

Become a Young Living Essential Oil Distributor with the YLC Team

See other articles by Evelyn

Evelyn's Class and Webinar Schedule

Contact Evelyn

"You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. You are the guy who'll decide where to go." ~ Dr. Seuss

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