<![CDATA[Ilene The Heart Healer - Essential Oils]]>Tue, 14 Jul 2026 06:37:27 -0400Weebly<![CDATA[Lavender Essential Oil - So Many Wonderful Benefits]]>Wed, 03 Sep 2014 01:37:06 GMThttps://www.ilenethehearthealer.com/essential-oils/lavender-essential-oil-so-many-wonderful-benefitsLavender Essential Oil - So Many Wonderful Benefits

Lavender or Lavendula angustifolia is one of the most versatile of all essential oils and belongs to the botanical family Lamiaceae or Labiatae (mint).  The essential oil comes from steam distilling the flowering top of the plant, which is grown in Utah, Idaho, other parts of the United States, France and other countries.  Lavender is best known for its pleasing fragrance and calming and relaxing effects, both physically and emotionally. 

Essential oils are made up of several different chemical constituents.  Based on Lavender’s chemical constituency, it has the following properties: antiseptic; analgesic; antitumoral; anticonvulsant; sedative; anti-inflammatory.

Besides having a relaxing effect, I have found that Lavender offers many potential beneficial uses and here are just a few: diffuse or rub some Lavender on your feet and/or your pillow for a calming effect to promote restful sleep; cleanse cuts or calm skin irritations; ideal for skin care since it prevents the build-up of excess sebum, a skin oil that bacteria feed on; with burns, or with sunburned skin, apply neat on the wound and it not only can relieve the pain, but it can also significantly prevent blistering and speed the healing process by promoting cell renewal; apply to the scalp for dandruff; apply to bee stings to relieve itching and reduce swelling; it can slow bleeding from a wound; a few drops under the arms as a deodorant; diffusing or inhaling a few to relieve allergy and hay fever symptoms.

Most essential oils can be used with Lavender to create a synergistic effect.  The citrus family of oils are the most compatible with Lavender.  Some examples are Chamomile, Clary sage and Geranium.  I also love to use it with the blend Valor or Peace and Calming to enhance a restful night's sleep.

So, if you’re looking to explore the world of essential oils, Lavendula angustifolia is a great oil to get started with.  This was the first essential oil that I purchased many years ago.  I personally use a few drops of Lavender in each load of wash with an unscented laundry detergent, place a few drops on a piece of cloth with the clothes in the dryer, diffuse it in the kitchen to shift cooking odors and place several drops in a glass spray bottle with water as a bathroom deodorizer.  I always have a bottle in the kitchen just in case I accidentally burn my skin and it has always relieved the pain almost immediately and prevented blistering.  To me, it smells wonderful and it’s a fabulous way to eliminate the use of commercial products that often contain toxic chemicals.

For more information or to make a purchase, please contact me or order here - Young Living Oils.

If you’re looking to join a gathering of like-minded people to share quality time with, to learn and share information about essential oils and their beneficial uses, be in touch and find out when I'll be presenting the next Essential Evening.

Have questions or comments about any of the information presented in this article or about other holistic health topics? Would you like to learn more about a specific essential oil?  If so, please post your comment or questions and they will be addressed in future blog posts!!

With blessings of gratitude and peace,
Ilene Gottlieb, The Heart Healer]]><![CDATA[Creating Inner Peace & Calmness With Essential Oils]]>Thu, 05 Jun 2014 14:16:31 GMThttps://www.ilenethehearthealer.com/essential-oils/creating-inner-peace-calmness-with-essential-oils Creating Inner Peace & Calmness with Essential Oils

An important ingredient in creating inner peace and calmness, is recognizing the source or root cause for feelings of stress, anxiety, depression, sadness, etc.  We may not be able to quantify a pound of stress, but we certainly know what it feels like!!  When we are able to identify the root cause for these feelings and the physical symptoms or dis-ease they create, we are empowered greatly to shift or transmute these dense emotions into more peaceful ones.  Interestingly enough, once these emotions are released, physical symptoms such as headaches, stomach issues, insomnia or high blood pressure, oftentimes disappear with them.

What I thought might be lovely, is to share some categories of plants and specific essential oils that promote stress reduction and inner peace and then over the next several weeks, go into more depth about each essential oil.

You might find it interesting to know that a group of essential oils that promote stress reduction and many other benefits are from the citrus family of plants.  And because citrus is generally readily available, many of these essential oils are very inexpensive to purchase.  A few essential oils in this category are: Orange (Citrus sinensis); Bergamot (Citrus bergamia); Grapefruit (Citrus x paradisi); Mandarin (Citrus reticulata); Neroli (Citrus aurantium); and, Petitgrain (Citrus aurantium).  Neroli and Petitgrain are the same plant species but the essential oils are derived from different parts of the plants and come from different parts of the world.

Some other essential oils that also promote calmness and stress reduction include: Roman Chamomile (Ahamaemelum nobile) from the daisy family; Jasmine (Jasminum officinale) which is actually a flower essence versus an essential oil and comes from the olive family; and, Rose (Rosa damascena) from the Rosaceae family of plants.  Rose is one of my favorites with an incredibly high frequency.  It is so amazing and healing!!

What I love about essential oils is that they are such a natural part of our world and for the most part, gentle to our bodies.  And for those of us that are Earth conscious and choosing to use products in our lives that promote health and well-being and that are Earth friendly, essential oils are the perfect choice.

Next time we’ll talk about the essential oil Orange and it’s many wonderful  therapeutic benefits.  Until then, enjoy your moments in a good way!!

If you’re looking to join a gathering of like-minded people to share quality time with, to learn and share information about essential oils and their beneficial uses, be in touch and find out when I'll be presenting the next Essential Evening.

Have questions or comments about any of the information presented in this article or about other holistic health topics? Would you like to learn more about a specific essential oil?  If so, please post your comment or questions and they will be addressed in future blog posts!!

With blessings of gratitude and peace,
Ilene Gottlieb, The Heart Healer

]]><![CDATA[What Are Essential Oils?]]>Thu, 01 May 2014 15:46:38 GMThttps://www.ilenethehearthealer.com/essential-oils/what-are-essential-oilsWhat Are Essential Oils?

Do you remember the last time you smelled a pleasing fragrance?  More likely than not, part of what created that fragrance was an essential oil.  The lifeblood of plants, essential oils defend them from insects, harsh environmental conditions and disease and are vital for a plant to grow, live, evolve and adapt to its surroundings.  They are aromatic liquids derived from shrubs, flowers, trees, roots, bushes and seeds and not only protect the plant but also determine its aroma.

I used to think that an essential oil was something that just smelled good.  After attending my first aromatherapy class over fifteen years ago, I was amazed at the wealth of information that is available regarding the effects of essential oils and the science of aromatherapy.  Did you know that there are over 28 species of Lavender plants in the world?  So, how do we know if we’ve chosen an essential oil that’s for relaxation or one that’s toxic to nerves?  We educate ourselves, because essential oils are not just something that smells good, they each have a multitude of beneficial uses and therapeutic benefits.

Dating back to Ancient Egypt and having been used in everyday life for centuries, essential oils were distilled and used for perfumes and pleasant aromas for embalming and medicinal purposes.  In modern days, research shows that pure essential oils can provide similar benefits to humans and animals that they give to plants. 

Many oils, touted as essential oils, are derived with harsh chemicals, diluted, or copied and produced in a lab, and as a result, can have the potential to be toxic.  Because the skin is our largest organ, it’s imperative to take great care in choosing high-quality essential oils. 

In Europe, essential oils have been used for medicinal purposes for decades.  There are three different schools of application: inhalation is the preferred method in Germany; topical application is preferred in England; and, ingestion of therapeutic grade essential oils is preferred by the French.  In the United States, we integrate all three application methods depending upon the desired therapeutic benefit.

If you’re looking to join a gathering of like-minded people to share quality time with, to learn and share information about essential oils and their beneficial uses, be in touch and find out when I'll be presenting the next Essential Evening.

Have questions or comments about any of the information presented in this article or about other holistic health topics? Would you like to learn more about a specific essential oil?  If so, please post your comment or questions and they will be addressed in future blog posts!!

With blessings of gratitude and peace,
Ilene Gottlieb, The Heart Healer

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