It’s the end of the month and time to give the show to our listeners! Every month, on the last Tuesday of the month, we dedicate The Current Oil Report to our listeners and get their questions about all things essential oils. This month’s show is great because we get to talk about ways to help the quality of life for those that are suffering from Multiple Sclerosis, Cancer, Lupus and Pain in general. So, without further ado, let’s dive in!

What essential oils help with Multiple Sclerosis(MS)? Frankincense, Sandalwood, and Peppermint

Let’s first delve into what MS actually is, so you can understand why these oils are recommended.

This is a quote from my favorite go to source for EO uses:

 Reference Guide for Essential Oils – Multiple Sclerosis is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks and gradually destroys the myelin sheath (which covers and insulates the nerves) and the underlying nerve fibers of the central nervous system. This destruction of the myelin sheath interferes with communication between the brain and the rest of the body. Symptoms of MS include partial or complete loss of vision, tingling, burning, pain in parts of the body, tremors, loss of coordination, unsteady gait, dizziness, and memory problems.

 So, think of it this way, imagine a copper wire without its sheathing. Not only will it have a drastically increased chance of shorting out, but imagine if you touch that wire. Now imagine that scenario going on all over in your body. Frankincense, Sandalwood and Peppermint are great for treating this type of disease for multiple reasons. We’ve talked about Frankincense and Sandalwood multiple times regarding their ability to penetrate that blood brain barrier to correct DNA data on the cellular level. It literally will erase the bad data that exists allowing the correct data to be added and help the body correct itself. Again, with another comparison, like if you get a virus on your computer and you need to use a virus cleaner to eradicate it. It’s the exact same principle. Peppermint is added to help to cool those areas down as the Frankincense and Sandalwood do their work. It’s important to note, that when dealing with MS, do not take hot baths because that just speeds up the destruction of the myelin sheath. Instead, use ice packs everywhere there’s pain, building up your tolerance to about 20 mins covered in them. It’s important to lower the body temp around 3 degrees to help the body repair the sheathing. And another note I just discovered, is to stay away from diet foods, particularly the ones containing aspartame, which can bring on MS and brain damage. As for the application of the oils, combine them with a small amount of carrier oil and rub them into the back of the neck, the full length of the spin and at the bottoms of your feet.

What essential oils work the best for Pain? Peppermint, Wintergreen and our old stand-by the Pain Blend. There are lots of different reasons for pain, so we focused on a generalized, will work in most scenarios, essential oils. Peppermint is my go to, in a pinch, burned myself pain reliever. There has been time and time again that I or my kiddos have burned themselves and I just put a drop of Peppermint and a drop of Lavender on it and within 5 mins… What Pain?! The Peppermint sooths the hurt, and Lavender is healing. Wintergreen is like Peppermint on steroids. With both oils, I would recommend using a carrier oil. Now, for my absolutely wonderful, cartwheel inducing, pain busting essential oil blend. In a 2 oz roller ball applicator, mix 6 drops each of Panaway, Peppermint, Lavender, Rosemary and Copaiba, then fill the rest of the way with the carrier oil of your choice. Apply where ever you are experiencing pain of any kind, let sit on your skin for 30 seconds, then rub in the rest of the way. You can thank me later.

What essential oils will help while fighting breast cancer? Particularly during Chemo treatment? Frankincense, Ledum and Lemon. We just got done talking about Frankincense and its restorative chemical make-up to help fight incorrect data in a DNA. It also, miraculously applies to genetic related cancer growth. In addition to Frankincense, add Ledum. Ledum is an EO that we haven’t talked about before and it is one of the most powerful immune boosters on the planet. It’s important for us to understand how chemo affects the body in order to understand how essential oils will help to counteract its effects. Chemo works by identifying the fastest dividing (growing and multiplying) cells in the body. This is, most of the time, cancer cells. However, the cells located on the inside of the mouth, hair cells, and intestinal cells are also the fastest growing cells in our bodies and the chemo has a tough time distinguishing between the good and the bad. Thus, the hair loss, the painful mouth sores, and the intense stomach sickness follow suit. Ledum steps in as a powerful immune booster that helps our bodies reproduce those healthy cells at a quicker rate, counteracting some of the side effects of the chemo. Take both of these EOs internally, 3 drops each to start once a day. You can increase to 5 drops each twice a day, as needed. Daily diffusing of these oils will also benefit in a peripheral way, as well. Helping to improve the mood while inhaling. It is very important to have some form of spiritual and emotional support during your battle with Cancer. Any of the Citrus oils will help along with the Frankincense and Ledum to help keep you in a positive frame of mind. Also, Lemon. I cannot stress enough the use of Lemon in your daily drinking water. Cancer thrives in acidic environments, so it’s important to curb your use of sugar, caffeine, grains, and processed foods, as all of these turn into an acidic based substance when hitting the blood stream. Lemon on the other hand, and other EOs like grapefruit, are initially acidic but will actually turn into an alkaline when they enter the blood stream, making your body a hostile environment for cancer growth. There a number of studies on PubMed that feature the use of Lemon EO to reduce and eradicate cancer cells. Particularly in the chest area. So drink up and enjoy a natural boost in your body’s natural alkaline levels.

What Essential Oils help with Lupus? Clove, Nutmeg and Rosemary (as an enhancer) Lupus is another auto-immune disorder that causes your body to attack its healthy tissue and organs, causing a whole host of symptoms that are too numerous to list. When I was in the beginning stages of being diagnosed with Lyme Disease, I was actually tested for Lupus first because the symptoms were so similar. Clove and Nutmeg EOs are an overall body systems powerhouse. They positively affect every system that makes our body run efficiently. Adrenal, Hormonal, Digestive, Nervous, Immune, Cardiovascular and Respiratory. I would recommend using both these EOs internally and topically. First 3 to 4 drops of both oils in a gel-cap once to twice a day as needed. The addition of Rosemary will work to amplify the effects of both oils. Topically, definitely use a carrier oils with these two as they can cause skin irritation faster than most EOs. Add in Rosemary for the amplification and rub across the bottom of your feet in the morning a few minutes before you get out of bed and again before you go to bed at night. Please avoid use of these oils if you have been diagnosed with Epilepsy or are pregnant. I was able to use them with the neuro-issues related to the Lyme Disease without issue, but err on the side of caution always.

What Essential Oils help with Dementia? Geranium, Sage and any EO high in terpenes. First, let’s discuss what Dementia is. It’s very much like Alzheimer’s and the same treatments can be used for both. There are areas of the brain that become inflamed and that prolonged inflammatory condition is the main cause of mental confusion, short and long-term memory lose in most people affected with these devastating conditions. Just diffusing essential oils high in Terpenes with their unique molecular structure that allows them to pass the blood brain barrier unlike traditional medicinal remedies that are unable to enter that portion of the body, can genuinely help to reduce the inflammation levels within the brain to help head off the loss of those precious memories in our loved ones. While there is no absolute cure for either of these devastating diseases, we can help to ease the symptom load by integrating EOs into the routine of those suffering. For this purpose, I would recommend Geranium and Sage. And the addition of any of the EOs high in Sesquiterpenes and Monoterpenes will fit the bill. Cedarwood, Patchouli, Vetiver, Frankincense. But Geranium is an anti-inflammatory, as well as, a cell restorative. Geranium will help to reduce the overall inflammation in the brain to stave off the damage. Sage is a powerful immune system booster in addition to having a moderate monoterpene level. By boosting the immune system, it will allow the body to better combat the ravages of the brain inflammation. I highly recommend diffusing a combo of the EOs high in Terpenes with Geranium and Sage every few hours on a daily basis.

Where to store your oils, how to clean your diffuser and roller applicators, and how often to clean them? I store all my oils on my kitchen counter where I can see them, not in direct sunlight and not near a heat source, like the coffee maker, stove or toaster. As long as they’re not stored near heat, direct sunlight or excess cold, you are good. They have an excellent shelf life, meaning you’ll use them faster then they’ll expire on you. As long as you get the 100% therapeutic grade. As for my diffuser, I usually wipe out the water well about once or twice a month. If I’m using thicker consistency oils, like Patchouli or Vetiver, I’ll wipe it out after each use because they tend to leave a residue. Just a soft wet cloth will do. Nothing fancy and no cleaning products necessary. With my roller ball applicators, first if you’re using applicators with plastic roller balls, evaluate the condition of the ball itself with each refill. 100% Therapeutic grade EOs will degrade plastic over time, so make sure you’re not at risk for the applicator to leak. I love my EOs but I do not love my EOs all over the bottom of my purse. If you’re in good shape or using glass based applicators, then I would recommend using up the product completely then disassemble the applicator from the bottle and boil those for about 10 minutes. This also works for the EO bottles themselves, especially if you want to remove the label and reuse the bottle for blends or sharing. I have had some friends that were at the tail end of a bottle where the last few drops just wouldn’t come out. They filled a wide mouth mason jar with Epsom salts, took the lids and the drop meter (I don’t know what they’re called) out and turned the bottles over in the Epsom salts and let the last few drops soak in. This makes for an amazing Epsom soak in the bath.

Which Essential Oil is good for Hair? Definitely Rosemary. It works as an astringent on your hair follicle to tighten it’s grip on your hair strand. You can add it in to your shampoo and/or conditioner. And you can also apply it directly to your scalp on a daily basis. EOs are not oily, so it won’t leave a visible residue. I even added a drop in my mascara to boost my eyelashes. I love it!

What Essential oils are great for strengthening your nails? Lemon! Lemon works great to harden the surface of the nails. It also soaks in in no time, boosting it from the inside out. Just apply a drop across each of your nails and cuticles, but do not apply before you go out in the sun, as it is photo sensitive and will cause sunburn.