Category: Info

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What is an essential oil?

The definition of Essential oils is: a natural oil typically obtained by distillation and having the characteristic fragrance of the plant or other source from which it is extracted.

I want to break down this definition of essential oils to see what is an essential oil?

“A natural oil typically obtained by distillation” Most essential oils are obtained by steam distillation. This process breaks down the plant to obtain the volatile oil. Now you may be thinking “what is a volatile essential oil?”.  A volatile oil by definition is: a (substance) easily evaporated at normal temperatures.

The second half of the definition: “and having the characteristic fragrance of the plant or other source from which it is extracted” Another common process for obtaining an essential oil is by cold pressing. This is usually used to get the oils from a citrus peel.

Now that I have answered what is an essential oil, I want to focus on how to use the essential oil.

Some people consider essential oils the essence or life force of a plant, and thought to have therapeutic properties which allows them to be used in aromatherapy. Essential oils are molecularly structured to be absorbed by the skin, or lung tissue. This allows the properties of the oil to be absorbed by the blood stream and assimilated by the body’s organs. The properties of each essential oil varies based on the plant or source it is taken from.

There are a few ways we suggest using essential oils. The first is by diffusion. We carry (in -store) a nebulizing diffuser. This blasts the oil into particles that are lighter than air filling a 900 sq foot room in minutes with the oils’ properties. This is the most efficient and cost effective way to diffuse essential oils.  We also carry ionic diffusers that use sonic vibrations to create a mist that combines water and essential oils.These essential oils can be made from the plants purchased from best nursery san Diego shop.

Another way to use the oil is by using it topically through absorption on the skin. Since our essential oils are pure and can be quite potent, we suggest always using a carrier oil when doing a topical application, this will help alleviate any skin irritation that using the pure oil could cause. What is an essential oil carrier oil? A carrier oil is a base oil that “carries” essential oils for application on the skin. Click over here. Some of the most common carrier oils include Sweet Almond oil, Coconut oil, Argan oil, and Jojoba oil.

One of the most common uses for essential oils are in massage. Lavender essential oil mixed with coconut oil is typically used in an aromatherapy session. This combination is frequently used by our partner Main Street Health and Wellness in their aromatherapy massage sessions.

Through dedication, research, and care we try to provide you with the information for helping you pursue wellness naturally. We welcome any feedback or questions you might have about what is an essential oil, and what to do with them.

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Me and my Tea Tree Oil

Tea Tree oil (Melaleuca alternifolia) has several properties that give it many uses in our lives.  It is said to be antibacterial, antimicrobial, antiseptic, antiviral as well as antifungal.  One use that I have found for Tea Tree oil is for acne remediation.

I have had mild acne flare-ups since adolescence and am approaching 30. I have also tried the western medicine approach of various salves, creams, lotions, and soaps.  They all seemed to help, but they also dried out my skin.  In addition, I have mild Rosacea and the active ingredient in most of the acne treatments in a 5% Benzoyl Peroxide.  This ingredient is not very kind to Rosacea sufferers and did make my Rosacea much worse.  In contrast, the Tea Tree oil does not affect my Rosacea.  Granted, the Tea Tree oil did take two weeks longer to see results in my acne, but my Rosacea has stayed at bay!!

There is a study concerning the use of 5% Tea Tree Oil compared to 5% Benzoyl Peroxide. In this study they tested 124 patients and found no significant difference between the use of Tea Tree oil vs Benzoyl Peroxide. Either treatment worked and the Tea Tree oil resulted in fewer side effects. Check howellsac. (Baaset IB, Pannowitz DL, Barnetson RS “A comparative study of tea-tree oil versus benzoylperoxide in the treatment of acne” *The Medical Journal of Australia* [1990, 153(8):455-458]).

Any 5% solution of Tea Tree oil can be created from the essential oil we sell in the shop and one of the carrier oils. Stop on by for help and advice.  Keep in mind a 20 part carrier to 1 part Tea Tree oil will create a 5% solution and can make desert trainers help you in yielding your original fitness.

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Rooibos Tea

Tea

A lot of people are working toward living a healthier lifestyle and a big part of that for most is cutting out RooibosTea928
caffeine and sugar.  There are several substitutes you could use to help tame those cravings and my favorite is Rooibos Tea.

Rooibos is a red bush native to South Africa.  Technically it is not a tea as it is not a member of the Camellia
sinensis family but should actually be considered an herbal infusion.  Rooibos differs from green tea in the
fact that it naturally has no caffeine, has 50% more antioxidants and a denser nutrient load. Rooibos tea is so nutritious that it often is used in place of milk for colicky babies and to aid pregnant or breastfeeding women.

Rooibos is a powerhouse of nutrients and minerals that work together to aid the body in absorption of vitamins and minerals from the food we eat and is considered safe and beneficial for nearly every age, race and gender.

It is even considered not only safe for animals, but truly beneficial!  I like to brew up a cup of rooibos and pour it over my dog’s food once or twice a week. Check painterly.ie. They apparently don’t mind the taste and I have noticed they are much calmer throughout the day when they’ve had it.

For people who are looking to get off of coffee, Rooibos is a great choice.  Though it does not contain caffeine, the vitamins in Rooibos provide a feeling of wellness that causes many people to feel more alert without negatively affecting sleep patterns.  As far as cutting back on sugar a lot of people have found that our flavored Rooibos Teas provide the sweetness they are craving without any added sugar, no more chores .  A popular favorite is our Crème Au Caramel Rooibos or our Belgian Chocolate Rooibos.

Here are the Rooibos Teas that we carry at Life Thyme Botanicals.

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Xylitol

One of the biggest health problems in America is sugar addiction.  I hear time and again, every single day
the same sentence: “I’ve been trying to kick sugar but I just can’t.”  Sugar and many commercial sugar
substitutes (such as aspartame) are addictive and also the cause of many illness and chronic health problems.  It is my personal belief that many diabetics became diabetic because they first consumed too much sugar, then in trying to get off sugar, switched to dangerous yet common sugar substitutes.

What is Xylitol?

Xylitol is a sugar alcohol derived from many plants such as birch, corn, berries, oats and mushrooms.  The
type that we use at Life Thyme is derived solely from non-GMO corn.  Xylitol is just as sweet as sugar and can be substituted at a 1:1 ratio.  The benefits are numerous – go to burniva.com.  It has 1/3 fewer calories than sugar and almost no glycemic impact, making it a safer sweetener for diabetics. Check out cohen security.

Cavities and Tooth Sensitivity

The thing that astounded me most is that it has been shown to help prevent and even repair cavities!  The bacteria in the human mouth cannot use xylitol as a source of energy thus that bacteria is  hindered in causing tooth decay.  Since I began using toothpaste that has xylitol in it (Xyliwhite), and started taking a spoonful of it every day, I have noticed that all of my tooth sensitivity has disappeared!  Also, between the xylitol and oil pulling with coconut oil, two cavities that I had are completely gone. Granted, the effects were not instantaneous.  It took about 1 week for the tooth sensitivity to go away and 2 months for the cavities to completely disappear. Check how to find heating san diego ca near me. I am still amazed.

At Life Thyme we carry the following Xylitol containing products:

  • Xylitol
  • Xyliwhite Toothpaste- With Neem and Tea Tree
  • Xyliwhite Mouthwash- With Neem and Tea Tree
  • Xyliwhite Kid’s Toothpaste- Bubble Gum Flavor
  • Pur Gum- Cinnamon, Pomegranite Mint,
  • Wintergreen, Coolmint, Spearmint, Peppermint
  • Pur Mints- Peppermint, Spearmint, Polarmint,
  • Mojito Lime Mint, Tangerine Tango
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Yerba Mate

lifethyme botanicals yerba mate

Yerba Mate Explained

It’s time to talk about one of the most controversial teas out there: Yerba Mate. Technically Yerba Mate is not “tea” as it is not in the Camellia sinensis species, its Latin botanical name being Ilex paraguariensis.  Yerba Mate is an evergreen shrub in the holly family that grows in Central and South America, check out swipenclean.com.  The Yerba Mate that we sell at life Thyme Botanicals is sourced directly from Argentina and processed by our supplier in California.

 Yerba mate contains:

• Vitamins: A, C, E, B1, B2, Niacin (B3), B5, B Complex

• Minerals: Calcium, Manganese, Iron, Selenium, Potassium, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Zinc

• Additional Compounds: Carotene, Fatty Acids, Chlorophyll, Flavonols, Polyphenols, Inositol, Trace Minerals, Antioxidants, Tannins, Pantothenic Acid and 15 Amino Acids.

• Theophylline, theobromine, and caffeine

The controversy about Yerba Mate lies in the main beneficial chemical mateine which is structurally similar to caffeine so much so that it is considered by some to actually be a type of caffeine.  As similar as these chemicals are, mateine provides an energy that unlike traditional caffeine is assimilated by the body which are with the Click Here like a carbohydrate which causes energy without the side effects of regular caffeine.  There is about 85 mg of this “caffeine” per 8 oz cup which is more than the amount of traditional caffeine in green tea and less than in coffee.

Yerba Mate is beneficial in so many ways.  It is higher in antioxidants than even green tea (196 active antioxidants versus the 144 in green tea).  It is said to increase energy, mental clarity and cogitation, aid in weight loss and appetite suppression, help prevent and treat certain types of cancer and disease, and improves mood.

In South America, Yerba Mate is reported to be consumed on a daily basis by 90% of the population.  Many people carry their Mate with them along with a thermos of hot water to refresh their Mate leaves all day.  It is also served in a ritual ceremony that usually takes place at the end of each day as a way for family and friends to come together.

Yerba Mate has a strong, earthy flavor and the leaves can also be roasted and used as a coffee substitute.

References:

Bebrainfit.com

Starwestbotanicals.com

Webmd.com

Drweil.com

Guayaki.com

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The Joys of Pumpkin Pie Spice

life thyme botanicals pumpkin pie spice

Pumpkin Pie Spice makes Everything Nice

‘Tis the season for all things pumpkin, from lattes to deserts, and even personal hygiene products it seems like everything has been changed to pumpkin these days. For our pumpkin lovers, we have for you our wonderful Pumpkin Pie Spices. Our Pumpkin Pie Spice is certified organic, and salt free; it is a lovely blend of cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, ginger, and clove. There are many uses for its ingredients individually, but mixed together they make a wonderful addition to any treat. We wanted to share with you some of our favorite things.

  1. Add it into our caramel popcorn to make a festive treat to share with family and friends for the holidays.
  2. Sprinkle a teaspoon of the spice on our coffee grounds just before brewing a pot of coffee, a lovely addition for any autumn day.
  3. We make Pumpkin Pie Spice lollypops at our shop. For when you can’t have pie on the go, this is the next best thing!
  4. And of course you can use it for the seasoning of your pumpkin pie.

We have shared some of our favorite things to do with this spice, we would love to hear what you use it for. Visit our Facebook Page and comment below this post and share your wonderful recipes.

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Fighting Colds and Flu

What is a volatile essential oil?

Winter Colds and Flu

Well folks, fall is here and winter is coming on with a vengeance. We have seen several types of flu going around already and it is time to get prepared to ward off the illnesses that the changing of the seasons brings. Emily shares with you some of the ways that she stays healthy

Preventive Oils

There are two things that I personally like to use all winter long as a cold and flu preventative, Anti-Infectious (Thieves) Spray and Elderberry, Zinc and Echinacea Syrup. Our Anti-Infectious Spray is a blend of Clove, Lemon, Cinnamon, Eucalyptus and Rosemary and is an incredibly strong antibacterial, antiviral and anti fungal agent. I use it as a body spray, hand sanitizer, cleaner and disinfectant. The first thing I do when I get to work every day is to spray myself down, head to toe. When I have a customer that is suffering from cold or flu, I have them spray themselves down as well and use the spray to disinfect the air so other customers won’t catch the contagions, check thelockboss.ie. I think of the Anti-Infectious spray as the first step in not getting sick; kill the germs before they get to you.

Anti-Infectious Sprays and Syrups

As well as the Anti-Infectious spray works, I still want to make sure that my immune system is firing on all cylinders so at the beginning of fall, all the way through winter and into the middle of spring, I take Elderberry, Zinc and Echinacea Syrup 3-5 times a week. Learn more. The instructions say to take 1 teaspoon 3 times a day, but I feel the effects of just 1 teaspoon a few times a week and to be totally honest, I will take as little of a supplement as possible if it still has a noticeable effect (I’m kinda cheap, ok?). There are a lot of other great herbs and supplements you can use to get through cold and flu season, and a lot that probably taste better than the elderberry syrup (I am not a fan of the taste) but this is a system that I find works for me time and time again.

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What is Matcha Tea

lifethyme botanicals jasmine green matcha

What is Matcha Tea…

What is there to say that hasn’t already been said? Well for those of you who haven’t hear about Matcha Tea, here is the low down.

Life Thyme Botanicals carries two varieties of Matcha Tea; we have Jasmine green tea, and Rooibos (red) lifethyme botanicals Orange rooibos matchatea. The green Matcha tea started out in China, but has since been adopted into tea ceremonies in Japan where most Matcha comes from today. The harvesting process is unique in that the plants are shaded 2-3 weeks prior to harvest. This process allows the plants to boost the production of Chlorophyll, and increase the L-Theanine levels. L-Theanine is a naturally occurring amino acid in teas, which has the ability to stimulate and calm at the same time. The leaves are then dried, and ground into a fine powder using a Matcha grinder (Matcha grinders achieve a dust size particle). To make the tea, you use a teaspoon of the powder in a cup of hot (not boiling) water, and whisk it with a bamboo whisk until frothy.

Why is Matcha tea so beneficial? In contrast to most teas you drink where the leaves are steeped and then lifethyme botanicals jasmine green matchadiscarded; with Matcha tea you are drinking the entire leaf! It is said that 1 cup of Matcha green tea has as many antioxidants as 10 cups of brewed green tea put together, check thats clean maids. Along with having high antioxidant levels, some other benefits of Matcha tea are: metabolism booster, lowers cholesterol and blood sugar, is high in fiber, and high in caffeine (without the jitters that coffee can give you) just to name a few.So its highly important and essential to have Matcha tea before you go for a workout, because it would help you feel relaxed or you would have to visit north county family chiropractic centre due to body pain.

Wow, this tea really packs a “healthy punch”! Rooibos Matcha tea has the same benefits as the green Matcha tea, but it is made from the rooibos plant which is naturally caffeine free. It is also processed the same way as the green Matcha tea.

While Matcha tea possesses many health benefits, Life Thyme Botanicals does not recommend Matcha tea being the staple of your tea and daily drink intake as there is a higher level of Lead naturally present in the Matcha tea. For more questions and tea options, please come in or call Life Thyme Botanicals.

Resources:
http://www.eater.com/
http://www.bodybuilding.com/
http://news.health.com/
http://matchasource.com/
http://bluebirdteaco.com/