Tag: essential oil

Health ~ This Essential Oil Has Recently Been Proven To Kill Lung, Oral and Ovarian Cancer

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Thymus vulgaris
Thymus vulgaris

Studies have found that the super herb thyme essential oil potently kills lung and breast cancer cells.

The essential oil of common thyme (Thymus vulgaris) which usually known as “oil of thyme” contains 20-54% thymol. Thymol belongs to a naturally occurring class of compounds known as “biocides”. Biocides are substances that can destroy harmful organisms. When thymus is used alongside other biocides, such as carvacrol, it has strong antimicrobial attibutes. Scientists tested thyme for its antibacterial activities in vitro toxicology against three human cancer cell lines. What they found is that thyme kills lung cancer cells, oral and ovarian cancer (i).

Thyme is a native to the Mediterranean, and was originally given the name “thyme” in Greece, they still use it in their cooking mixed with olive oil. Oil from the common herb thyme was discovered to kill up to 97% of human lung cancer cells. Recent research has shown that if you mix thyme and olive oil it will enhance the availability of hydroxytyrosol, olive oil’s most potent anti-cancer compound. Could this be the reason why Greeks have about half the rate of cancer compared to the rest of USA and the Europe. Thyme essential oil, has also been used in Ayurvedic and traditional medicine due to its strong antioxidant, anti-bacterial, and anti-fungal (killing yeast like Candida) properties. Also, oncologist researchers at Celal Bayar University in Turkey carried out a study to find what effect Wild Thyme (Thymus serpyllum) might have on breast cancer cells. They looked at the effects of Wild Thyme on cell death and epigenetic events in breast cancer cells. Epigenetics is the study of changes in gene expression caused by mechanisms that do not involve alterations in DNA sequence. They reported in the journal Nutrition and Cancer that Wild Thyme caused cell death in the breast cancer cells. The study authors concluded that Wild Thyme “may be a promising candidate in the development of novel therapeutic drugs for breast cancer treatment.” (ii)

Check out the video below and learn – Thyme Essential oil – distillation self produced.

Fresh thyme also makes a great addition to a healthy diet focused on organic fruits, vegetables and whole foods and can be used as a herb in cooking or simply prepared as a tea.

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References:

(i) ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

(ii) Effects of Thymus serpyllum Extract on Cell Proliferation, Apoptosis and Epigenetic Events in Human Breast Cancer Cells

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Source:  www.naturalcuresnotmedicine.com

HERBALOGY — Evening Primrose Oil for PMS, diabetic neuropathy, rheumatoid arthritis, and more

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primrosesA native North American wildflower, evening primrose is commonly called “evening star” because its bright yellow flowers open at dusk. It’s a favorite with herb and native plant gardeners and can grow up to 4 feet or 5 feet tall. The seeds are a rich source of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), an essential fatty acid with wide-ranging health benefits.

Native Americans valued evening primrose both as a food and a medicine. They applied a poultice made from the plant to bruises to relieve swelling and made a tea from the root to ease coughs. European settlers took their cue from native peoples, using evening primrose to treat wounds, coughs, sore throats, and digestive upsets. In the 1980s, evening primrose soared in popularity when researchers discovered that its seeds are a gold mine of GLA, a compound rarely found in plants.

Evening primrose oil (EPO) is used to treat a variety of health problems caused by a deficiency in essential fatty acids. These include premenstrual syndrome (PMS), fibrocystic breast pain, eczema, rheumatoid arthritis, and diabetic neuropathy. Other conditions that evening primrose may help treat include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, attention deficit disorder, and ulcerative colitis.

GLA is essential for the production of prostaglandins, hormonelike compounds that influence almost every bodily system. Prostaglandins decrease inflammation, stimulate hormone production, and help regulate blood clotting, blood pressure, and PMS-related water retention. If the body is working properly, it converts omega-6 fatty acids (found in vegetable oils, nuts, and seeds) into GLA. But many factors can inhibit this conversion, including advancing age; a diet compromised by excessive saturated fats, trans fats, or alcohol; zinc deficiency; and some medical disorders, such as diabetes, multiple sclerosis, and cancer. Evening primrose oil supplies a direct source of GLA to the body, bypassing the need for conversion of omega-6s and helping to restore healthy levels of prostaglandins

In colonial America, evening primrose seeds were often substituted for poppy seeds in baking. More compelling is research supporting the use of evening primrose oil for diabetic neuropathy, a common complication of long-term diabetes that causes nerve damage in the legs, feet, arms, and hands. One double-blind study evaluated 111 people with diabetes for one year who were given either 480 mg of GLA daily or a placebo. The researchers found that those given GLA experienced significant improvement in neurological symptoms (Diabetes Care, 1993, vol. 16, no. 9).

GLA also has shown promise as an effective treatment for rheumatoid arthritis, a painful and disfiguring type of inflammatory arthritis. In a 1996 study, researchers gave 56 patients with active rheumatoid arthritis GLA supplements or a placebo. After six months of treatment, participants taking GLA experienced reduced arthritic symptoms (Arthritis and Rheumatism, 1996, vol. 39, no. 11).