Black Spruce

(Picea mariana)

Black Spruce is a North American evergreen. It grows pretty much coast to coast across the northern tier of the continent.

Northern Lights Black Spruce essential oil comes from Young Living’s Northern Lights Farm in British Columbia, Canada.

Diffuse this rich, woodsy, and invigorating scent during meditation to create a fresh aromatic atmosphere. Add it to skin care products or apply it topically to help improve the appearance of dry skin or to help maintain the appearance of healthy-looking skin. Northern Lights Black Spruce can also be applied anywhere, including to the bottoms of feet, along the spine, back of neck, or used for massage. This oil includes the naturally occurring constituents alpha-pinene, camphene, and beta-pinene.

The Lakota Indians used black spruce to strengthen their ability to communicate with the Great Spirit. Traditionally, it was believed to possess the frequency of prosperity.

Medical Properties: Antispasmodic, antiparasitic, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, hormone-like, cortisone-like, immune stimulant, antidiabetic

Uses: Arthritis/rheumatism, fungal infections (candida), sinus/respiratory infections, sciatica/lumbago

Fragrant Influence: Releases emotional blocks, bringing about a feeling of balance and grounding.

_{Excerpted from The Essential Oils Desk Reference, 7th Edition, page 72}

Find out even more about this amazing oil, including history and lore, personal anecdotes, recipes, and videos by checking out the full education page at Digging Deeper: Black Spruce.

Lavender oil
(Lavandula angustifolia)

Did you know that Lavender is part of the mint family? It is a perennial flower that attracts bees, butterflies, and other pollinators to your garden.

Most famously perhaps, it is known to grow in France, but it is also native throughout the Mediterranean, northern and eastern Africa, and even into India. Traditionally Lavender has as many uses as it does today: perfumes, soaps, beauty products, medicines, and flavorings.

Aromatic Profile
Sweet, herbaceous, floral aroma

Features & Benefits
Includes the naturally occurring constituents linalyl acetate, linalool, and ocimene

Topical	Aromatic	Dietary
May help cleanse and soothe minor skin irritations Can be soothing to the skin after a day in the sun May help reduce the appearance of blemishes Supports aging skin	May promote feelings of calm and fights occasional nervous tension Has balancing properties that calm the mind and body	Offers a sweet, slightly floral taste and aroma Improves sleep quality for occasional sleeplessness Supports general wellness Contains cleansing and antioxidant properties Helps ease occasional nervous tension

Young Living has three farms that grow lavender, located in Utah, Idaho, and France. Lavender is steam distilled from the flowering tops of the plant, and it takes 27 square feet of lavender plants to make one 15 ml bottle of Lavender essential oil.

Applications

• Add a few drops to lotions, shampoos, and skin care products for a classic aroma and more youthful complexion.
• Unwind in the evening with a calming, Lavender-infused neck or back massage.
• Use Lavender as part of a bedtime routine by rubbing it on the bottoms of your feet or diffusing it next to your bed.
• Add it to V-6™ Vegetable Oil Complex and apply topically to soothe the skin after a day in the sun.
• Add 4 drops of Lavender and 1 cup of Epsom salt to a bath to create a relaxing environment.

This celebrated oil offers a hint of elevated flavor to recipes and a wealth of dietary benefits as a supplement. Dip your toothpick into Lavender Vitality and swirl it through chicken and lamb marinades, or add a drop or two to cake batters and lemonades. This essential oil will add a sweet and slightly floral flavor that will be hard to forget!

Applications

• Place a few drops in your water in the evening to help improve sleep quality for occasional sleeplessness.
• Add 2 drops to a vegetarian capsule to take advantage of Lavender Vitality’s cleansing and antioxidant properties.
• Balance Lavender Vitality in savory dishes with herbs such as thyme, rosemary, and oregano.
• Combine citrus flavors with Lavender Vitality’s earthy and floral flavor for unique desserts and refreshing drinks.
• Use Lavender Vitality as a supplement to ease occasional nervous tension.

The French scientist Rene Gattefosse was the first to discover lavender’s ability to promote tissue regeneration and speed wound healing when he severely burned his arm in a laboratory explosion. Today, lavender is one of the few essential oils to still be listed in the British Pharmacopoeia.

Medical Properties: Antiseptic, antifungal, analgesic, antitumoral, anticonvulsant, vasodilating, relaxant, anti-inflammatory, reduces blood fat/cholesterol, combats excess sebum on skin

Uses: Respiratory infections, high blood pressure, arteriosclerosis, mentstrual problems/PMS, skin conditions (perineal repair, acne, eczema, psoriasis, scarring, stretch marks), burns, hair loss, insomnia, nervous tension

Fragrant Influence: Calming, relaxing, and balancing, both physically and emotionally. Lavender has been documented to improve concentration and mental acuity.
University of Miami researchers found that inhalation of lavender oil increased beta waves in the brain suggesting heightened relaxation. It also reduced depression and improved cognitive performance. A 2001 Osaka Kyoiku University study found that lavender reduced metal stress and increased alertness.

Caution: True lavender is often adulterated with hybrid lavender (lavandin), synthetic linalol and linalyl acetate, or synthetic fragrance chemicals like ethyl vanillin.

_{Excerpted from The Essential Oils Desk Reference, 7th Edition, page 104-105}

Find out even more about this amazing oil, including history and lore, personal anecdotes, recipes, and videos by checking out the full education page at Digging Deeper: Lavender.

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Sage oil

(Salvia officinalis)

Sage emits a strong, spicy, clarifying, and uplifting aroma when diffused. It has been used traditionally for its clarifying properties.

Sage Vitality is a wonderful flavor enhancer for seafood, vegetables, breadsticks, corn breads, muffins, and other savory breads.

Known as “herba sacra” or sacred herb by the ancient Romans, Sage’s name, Salvia, is derived from the word for “salvation.” Sage has been used in Europe for oral infections and skin conditions. It has been recognized for its benefits of strengthening the vital centers and supporting metabolism.

Medical Properties: Antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant, antitumoral, anti-inflammatory, anxiolytic, hormone regulating, estrogen-like, antiviral, circulatory stimulant, gallbladder stimulant

Uses: Menstrual problems/PMS, estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone deficiencies, liver problems

Fragrant Influence: Mentally stimulating, anxiety-reducing, and helps combat despair and mental fatigue. Sage strengthens the vital centers of the body, balancing the pelvic chakra, where negative emotions from denial and abuse are stored.

Cautions: Avoid if epileptic. Avoid use on persons with high blood pressure.

_{Excerpted from The Essential Oils Desk Reference, 7th Edition, p129-130}

Find out even more about this amazing oil, including history and lore, personal anecdotes, recipes, and videos by checking out the full education page at Digging Deeper: Sage.

Rose

Who hasn’t heard of the rose? They are bought and sold for Valentine’s Day, first dates, anniversaries. This heavily scented flower may as well be synonymous with LOVE.

Of course the rose isn’t just one flower with only one purpose. The rose is a whole host of plants consisting of over a hundred species and thousands of hybrids. Old fashioned wild roses with five petals and sunny faces. Modern roses bred to be so full and fat with petals that you can barely count the layers. My favorite has always been the unruly, climbing country roses. As a child I would envision whole houses engulfed by the thorny beauties. As a grown woman, I can hardly imagine a garden without climbing roses tumbling over an arbor entrance.

Such are grown for their scent and their beauty, but did you know that roses also have medicinal value? Some varieties of roses actually produce prolific amounts of fruit called rose hips. We personally add rose hips to our elderberry syrup as an additional vitamin C and flavor boost. Rose hip jelly is also going to find its way onto our shelves as soon as I have a full sized functioning kitchen.

The rose that I am most familiar with for its hips is Rosa canina, the Dog Rose. Lucky for me it hits both medicinal and beauty buttons as an old fashioned country climbing rose. Don’t those hips look delicious?

The Damask Rose, Rosa damascena, is the better choice for distilling the essential oil.

Rose essential oil—the product of one of the most recognizable and culturally significant flowers in the world—has a rich, intoxicating aroma that’s just as beautiful as the bloom itself. Rose oil is distilled to gently release the delicate flower’s oil through steam. Because each 5 ml bottle requires 22 pounds of rose petals, Rose is one of the most valuable essential oils you can acquire.

Rose essential oil uses

• Apply directly to skin to help moisturize and support the appearance of healthy, youthful-looking skin.
• Add a few drops to your favorite facial cream for added moisture.
• Diffuse in your home or bathroom for a spa-like setting and a fresh, soothing aroma.
• Combine with V-6™ Vegetable Oil Complex for a relaxing, indulgent massage.
• Place a few drops in your shampoo or conditioner for a floral scent and additional moisturizing properties.

Rose has been used for the skin for thousands of years. The Arab physician, Avicenna, was responsible for the first distilling rose oil, eventually authoring an entire book on the healing attributes of the rose water derived from the distillation of the rose. Throughout much of ancient history, the oil was produced by enfleurage, a process of pressing the petals along with a vegetable oil to extract the essence. Today, however almost all rose oils are solvent extracted.

Note: The Bulgarian Rosa damascena (high in citronellol) is very different from Moroccan Rosa centifolia (high in phenyl ethanol). They have different colors, aromas, and therapeutic actions.

Medical Properties: Anti-inflammatory, anti-HIV, antioxidant, anxiolytic, hepatoprotective, relaxant, reduces scarring, antiulcer, immunomodulating, cancer chemopreventive, DNA damage prevention

Uses: Hypertension, heart strengthening, anxiety, viral infections (herpes simplex), skin conditions (scarring, wrinkles, acne), ulcers

Fragrant Influence: Its beautiful fragrance is intoxicating and aphrodisiac-like. It helps bring balance and harmony, allowing one to overcome insecurities. The effect of rose on the heart brings good cheer with calming and lightness of spirit.

_{Excerpted from The Essential Oils Desk Reference, 7th Edition, page 125-126}