It’s fall y’all! This Pumpkin Pie Sugar Scrub is the perfect way to smooth away and nourish those rough dry patches that come with the drier season. And of course, the sweet fall aroma is an added bonus! #PumpkinSpiceEverything
Another added bonus is that pumpkin is extremely good for your skin. Check out this blog post for all the details on why and how, as well as a Pumpkin Face Mask I LOVE.
Just when you think you have a hold of it, fear can somehow grab you and tell you: “You can’t do that. Who do you think you are? Why would anyone listen to you?”
I regret to say that for years, I have allowed fear to hold me back from writing. Sure I wrote on blogs and online, but I never envisioned that I would have the capacity to write a book. Even though people told me I could, I didn’t believe it because I didn’t believe in myself. I kept saying: “What if someone doesn’t like it? What if I make a mistake? What if it is too hard?”
Then I realized: Someone won’t like it. I will make a mistake. It will be hard, but you can do hard things. Do it anyways.
After months of work, and having more discipline than ever, I was elated to announce that my first book is available for purchase. (UPDATE: my second book is now available for purchase as well!)
Essentials: 50 Answers to Common Questions About Essential Oils.
This book is a simple breakdown of complicated science of essentials oils, each of the 50 questions has a short and a long answer designed to be used by beginners and seasoned veterans.
It includes everything from the very basics (What is an essential oil?) to some of the most challenging to answer questions (Are essential oils safe to use in pregnancy?).
Because of my fear, I think I had set my goals too low. I wanted to sell 500 books in the pre-sale. I accomplished that in just under 12 hours. My lesson I learned: set bigger goals, dream the impossible dream, you can do it. Your dreams matter; chase them hard. Make them matter. Be greater than you think you can be. Keep the faith. The ability is already inside you.
Ready to turn your dreams into reality? Apply to be a part of the next session of Brand Strategies Lab.
One of the most disputed topics about essential oils is how to use them during pregnancy. Let’s take a closer look at fennel essential oil during pregnancy. As always, we will be sure to look at how scientists conducted the studies and how their findings they may be applicable to modern women.
Studies of Fennel Essential Oil During Times of Fertility
To become pregnant, a woman needs balanced levels of estrogen and progesterone. Any substance that disrupts this balance changes the chances to become pregnant. Fennel essential oil is high in E-anethole, and there have been mulitple studies that suggest E-anethole and whole fennel essential oil may have estrogenic effects.
There is a very old study that demonstrates very weak estrogen-like activity of E-anethole. There is another study that E-anethole can form polymers that act on estrogen receptors. Metabolites can weakly displace the E-anethole from receptor sites, and may cause an increase in uterine weight in immature rats. While fennel has been shown to have some weak estrogen-like activity, it did not lead to secretion of prolactin in vitro. Cell receptor activation was approximately 5–8 times weaker than 17β-estradiol. Given that these were done either in vitro or in very young rats, the applicability to women is unknown.
This suggests that fennel may have an impact on female fertility and on the estrogen receptor. However, if it does so, it does so very weakly. Some authors argue that fennel should not be used during pregnancy or while trying to become pregnant for these reasons. This also extends to people with estrogen-linked cancers, and may authors suggest against the use of fennel essential oil following an estrogen-linked cancer.
Fennel Essential Oil During Embryo Growth
Studies have shown sweet fennel oil to inhibit cell bud differentiation when applied directly into a limb bud culture. However, this was likely due to toxicity following direct exposure of the cells to essential oil. This is distinctly different than maternal ingestion or application followed by processing in the body and transfer across the placenta.
Fennel Essential Oil During Breastfeeding
Ingestion of substances high in E-anethole can lead to peaks in breast milk output approximately 2 hours after ingestion. Constituents from both foods and essential oils can pass into breast milk, and approximately 10% of ingested amounts pass into the breast milk.
Conclusion
So, what to do? You all know me well enough to know that I do not recommend for or against any essential oil in pregnancy, and that I leave it up to you to use your best judgement. Some may choose to avoid fennel essential oil during pregnancy, lactation or following an estrogen-linked cancer and others may not. Use your judgement and your knowledge of your own health background to decide what is best for your body.
Essential oils are known to have long shelf lives, but do they expire at some point? This question comes up a lot, especially with people who are new to essential oils.
They don’t expire, but they can be damaged.
Suffice it to say that essential oils do not exactly expire; however, they are sensitive to light, heat, and exposure to air. Upon exposure to air, essential oils may oxidize which some do faster than others. Oxidation increases the number of hazardous chemical constituents. This makes the essential oil more likely to cause skin reactions and toxicity upon oral ingestion. Ultraviolet light can also generate free radicals in them, and heat simply evaporates the valuable essential oil more quickly.
In general, essential oils that contain a high amount of monoterpenes last the shortest amount of time, their shelf-life being approximately 1–2 years. Next, essential oils high in phenols can last up to 3 years. Additionally, essential oils high in ketones and esters last longer, perhaps 4–5 years. Finally, essential oils high in sesquiterpenes can stay on the shelf for the longest period of time, up to 6 years or longer.
How can you tell if your essential oil is oxidized?
If you are concerned your essential oil may be oxidized check its aroma as generally aromas go ‘off’ after oxidation.
Additionally, you may also notice skin irritation such as redness, burning, or tingling after applying the essential oil. You may choose to stop using this particular bottle of oil if any of those symptoms occur.
Storing essential oils
All essential oils last longer and don’t expire as quickly when they are stored properly. Care should be taken to ensure that your essential oils are properly stored without exposure to heat, light, and air. Store them in a cool, dry place without excessive light, and keep the lids screwed on tightly.
Below is a list of essential oils that oxidize faster than others.
Essential Oils that Can Oxidize
and Increase the Risk of Irritation
Angelica
Frankincense
Anise
Galbanum
Caraway
Juniper
Celery
Lemon balm
Cistus
Myrtle
Citrus fruit oils
Pepper
Cypress
Pine
Dill oils
Sage
Elemi
Spruce
Fennel
Star anise
Fir oils
Tea tree
Fleabane
Verbena
Because essential oils can go bad at some point in time, it is recommended to use them often and to check their aromas before use. If you are in doubt, it is probably a good idea to complete a patch test to ensure that the essential oils are comfortable on the skin. Most of all, be sure you are storing your essentials oils properly.
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Gut Health Impacts Your Overall Health In So Many Ways.
If you experience any of these conditions, it may be time for you to take a closer look at the health of your gut and microbiome:
Acne
Anxiety
Autoimmune Conditions
Brain Fog
Fatigue
Joint & Muscle Pain
Chronic Headaches & Migraines
This handout breaks down the 5 R's of Healing Leaky Gut to walk you through 5 steps to getting your gut health under control to experience better overall health.
