How to make your own herbal and antimicrobial oil-based mouthwash

After your dental cleaning, make a soothing anti-viral and anti-bacterial mouthwash with exotic myrrh and clove oil. Disinfect those mouth sores caused by a virus. Oxygenate away those anaerobic bacteria that create the roots of gum disease. Start by making a safe antimicrobial oil-based mouthwash using herbs, oils, minerals, non-corrosive vitamins, and water. Click here to read more of this very informative article http://www.examiner.com/x-7160-Sacramento-Nutrition-Examiner

Anne Hart
Sacramento Nutrition Examiner
May 24, 10:25 PM
http://www.examiner.com/x-7160-Sacramento-Nutrition-Examiner~y2009m5d24-How-to-make-your-own-herbal-and-antimicrobial-oilbased-mouthwash

Oregano Stops Inflammation of Lupus, Rheumatoid Arthritis

Over the last couple of years turmeric has become a darling of nutrition researchers. One particularly important study showed the spice reduces inflammation in mice. Curry all around was the conclusion, since there is no toxic dose associated with turmeric. Asian cuisine basked in the healthy glow of the research.

Not to be outdone, the herb oregano is giving a similar boost to Italian foods and pizza sauce. A 2008 study completed by Swiss researchers (?!) shows that oregano is an ultimate inflammation fighter. The active ingredient, betacaryophyllin, helped seven out of every 10 mice to recover from inflamed paws.

The study was published here in the U.S. in Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences, marking a significant mainstream mile for the herb—and for betacaryophyllin, abbreviated as E-BCP, which is also plentiful in black pepper (“yes, I would like fresh-ground pepper on my salad”), rosemary and cinnamon (also found in research literature to be a regulator of bad cholesterol). Plus, basil, so those Italians clearly know how to stem inflammation too.

Reducing chronic inflammation is no small thing, as it is increasingly associated with leading to heart attacks and sits at the root of autoimmune disorders including diabetes, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis among others. One promising discovery is oregano and E-BCP could well work to prevent the immune system for overacting and attacking itself, which is at the core of autoimmune disorders.

And there’s more. The Swiss scientists reported that lab findings suggest that oregano could well hold off the bone degeneration associated with osteoporosis. While not part of this study, the researchers speculated that E-BCP could address inflammation of the bowel associated with Crohn’s disease.

The new research doesn’t surprise those of us who have discovered oil of oregano, especially as a cold and flu remedy. Natural-health conscious parents say five drops in a bit of water, then gargle with it, stops a sore throat in its tracks. The oil has a strong, bitter taste, so you might want to mask it for kids.

Health practitioners who work with essential oils will point to the triple-threat potency of oil of oregano, identifying it as antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal. European herbal research consistently shows oregano as one of the most potent for immune-boosting properties.

The oil of oregano products are important to keep in mind because what might be labeled “oregano” in a dried herb products can actually be Spanish marjoram, which is clearly not oregano. You want to look for sourcing information to identify the herb as wild oregano, which is typically grown in the Mediterranean region. Essential oil, of course, distilled the plant down to a concentrated and therapeutic form. Be savvy about where and how you get your oregano and health rewards await.

And probably even better tasting pizza sauce.

By Bob Condor, AHJ Editor -- Published: May 21, 2009
Bob Condor blogs for Alternative Health Journal every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
http://www.alternativehealthjournal.com/blog/1/oregano_stops_inflammation_of_lupus__rheumatoid_arthritis/226

Agricultural Aromatherapy: Lavender Oil As Natural Herbicide

ScienceDaily (May 21, 2009) — Could essential oils extracted from lavender be used as a natural herbicide to prevent weed growth among crops? Research carried out in Italy and reported in the current issue of the International Journal of Environment and Health suggests the answer may be yes.
Elena Sturchio of the National Institute of Health and Safety at Work in Rome and colleagues there and at the Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, and the Department Crop Production, at Tuscia University, in Viterbo, have investigated the inhibitory effects on weed growth of aromatic oils, or mixtures of phytochemicals, from plants such as lavender, Lavandula officinalis.

Essential oils, are as the name suggests, often the plant's "essence" in terms of odour. Essential oils are complex chemical mixtures of natural products made by the plant for its own purposes, including terpenes, alcohols, aldehydes and phenols. Indeed, several plant essential oils are present as natural inbuilt herbicides and pesticides.

Synthetic pesticides and herbicides have been in common use for decades and have protected crops from parasites, insects, bacteria, viruses, fungi, and eliminated weeds. However, by virtue of their design, these substances are toxic and in some cases thought to be carcinogenic. Their incorrect use or inadvertent exposure have been the focus of numerous studies on animal and human health, the results of which have led to serious initiatives to find alternative approaches to pest and weed control.

Other researchers have investigated the potential of essential oils from cinnamon plants, and peppermint to prevent seed germination of some weed species found in the Mediterranean region.

Sturchio and colleagues have investigated the effects of lavender oil on root growth in a plant, Vicia faba in trials. This weed has large chromosomes and so was also amenable to studies in the laboratory that investigated the genetic toxicity of the essential oil on the weed. Their analysis showed the oil to be effective at killing the weed even at low concentration. Moreover, the oil affects growth of soil microbes and fungi involved in crop growth.

The team concludes that, "Essential oils could be useful as potential bioherbicides as an alternative strategy to the chemical remedy." They add that, "The use of phytochemicals permits the development for more sustainable agriculture at low environmental impact. Further studies are now needed to evaluate use of such oils "in the field".

The team points out that the oils would most likely be used either before planting or prior to transplantation of seedlings, so the essential oil would not have toxicity effects on the crop itself. Sturchio adds that, "essential oils are not accumulated in the environment, because of their low persistence due to the easy degradation by microbial and enzyme activity. This aspect could represent an advantage compared to the bioaccumulation of chemicals on soil."


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Journal reference:

Miriam Zanellato, Eva Masciarelli, Laura Casorri, Priscilla Boccia, Elena Sturchio, Mario Pezzella, Andrea Cavalieri, Fabio Caporali. The essential oils in agriculture as an alternative strategy to herbicides: a case study. International Journal of Environment and Health, 2009; 3 (2): 198 DOI: 10.1504/IJENVH.2009.024878
Adapted from materials provided by Inderscience, via AlphaGalileo.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/05/090514083921.htm

Himalayan oregano can wipe out hospital super bug

THE OREGANO that grows wild in the Himalayas has, traditionally, been disregarded by local people. In the Kullu District of Himachal Pradesh it's known as bekaar gahaas – 'useless grass': even cows and goats don't eat it. Herb collectors, who make a living harvesting wild plants, concentrate on the more valuable medicinal plants, which are now threatened by over-exploitation.

A new project, partnering researchers at the University of the West of England (UWE) with organisations in India, is hoping to persuade collectors and buyers that, far from useless, oregano has real commercial potential – based on its remarkable antibacterial properties, particularly against the hospital ‘superbug’ MRSA. The project is one of five winners, out of 400 global entrants, of a 2008 SEED award – a UN and IUCN (International Union for the Conversation of Nature) -led scheme aimed at promoting local, sustainable enterprises in developing countries.

Commenting on the SEED Awards, Achim Steiner, Executive Director of UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme), said: "The SEED Awards again underline that creative and entrepreneurial solutions to many of the pressing challenges facing the world are being found. It is now vital that these shining examples are federated and mainstreamed across communities and countries to maximize their undoubted and potentially significant impact."

The Oregano against MRSA project is one of a series of initiatives aimed at providing communities in Himachal Pradesh with income from sustainable, non-timber forest products; Origanum vulgare is a relatively common herb that grows in high-altitude meadows throughout the Himalayan region, and can be harvested sustainably. Recent research by UWE and SGS Herbals in Delhi has shown that the essential oil of Himalayan oregano contains potent antibacterial properties, and is effective at killing the MRSA bacterium even at very low concentrations.


One of the lead partners of the project in India, Biolaya Organics, develops projects aimed at conserving endangered medicinal herbs, by cultivating threatened species, and by sustainable collection and value addition of more common species.
Ben Heron, of Biolaya Organics, explains: "We started working with oregano because it is a species that, if managed properly, can be collected year after year without depleting the population in the wild. Our aim is to be able to pay the local herb collectors the equivalent amount that they would normally earn from collecting endangered medicinal herb species so that they become less dependent on the extraction of these plants for their livelihoods.

We started working with oregano because it is a species that, if managed properly, can be collected year after year without depleting the population in the wild.

Ben Heron, "It has been known for some time that Mediterranean oregano oil is a powerful antimicrobial, which is said to be due to the high content of a compound called carvacol. As far as we know nobody had tested the carvacol content of Himalayan oregano oil before, so we teamed up with SGS in Delhi to conduct tests and found that it was equally as potent as the Mediterranean variety.
Heron continued: “Further tests in the SGS laboratory found that the Himalayan oregano oil killed MRSA more effectively than all 18 antibiotics that it was compared against. We have recently linked up with UWE’s microbiology department who are now carrying out more rigorous tests, and hope to publish the results in a scientific journal."

Professor Vyv Salisbury, of UWE's Centre for Research in Biomedicine (CRIB), said: "We have done a few preliminary tests and have found that the essential oil from the oregano kills MRSA at a dilution 1 to 1,000. The tests show that the oil kills MRSA both as a liquid and as a vapour and its antimicrobial activity is not diminished by heating in boiling water. This is exciting as it also means that we could consider using the oil to develop disinfectant washing powders. We now aim to conduct a focused academic study in partnership with SGS labs in Delhi that we hope will give the project the academic credibility needed to market the oil.

She added: "We hope that our study will help take the project to the next stage where, with the help of UWE's Research, Business and Innovation department we find a business partner to help us produce a range of products that we can market for medical and domestic settings. Once we are able to start providing a sustainable income for villages in Kullu, the scope for up-scaling and replication in other parts of the Himalayan region is enormous."

Image: SEED
http://www.hero.ac.uk/uk/business/archives/2008/essential_oregano_Dec.cfm

Himalayan oregano can wipe out hospital super bug: Research
April 21st, 2009 - 8:13 pm ICT by ANI
Kullu (Himachal Pradesh), Apr. 21 (ANI): Natural oil extracted from Himalayan oregano can help in wiping out deadly hospital super bug MRSA, a new research has claimed.

“For the last 2-3 years, we have been researching its (Oregano) antibacterial properties, in particular against the hospital infections that have become resistant to antibiotics and we have found that this is a very effective antibacterial and anti fungal agent,” said Ben Heron, Senior Researcher at Himachal Pradsh based Biolaya Organics.

The joint research was done by the Bristol University, Biolaya Organics, Jagriti, G.B. Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development and SGS India.

The research proved that essential oil of oregano contains potent antibacterial properties and is effective at killing the ’super bug’ MRSA, an antibiotic-resistant strain of bacteria that has become a serious health problem in hospitals in the West.

They have discovered that the herb, commonly used in cooking, could eradicate the deadly infection.

Another objective of the project is also to provide livelihood to rural farmers and herbs collectors.

“The ultimate idea is to develop a sustainable harvesting management plan for this particular specie, develop entrepreneurship from this particular specie and finally go for the sustainable development of the farmers in the hilly region,” said Dr. S.S. Samant, senior scientist, G.B.Pant Institute of the Himalayan Environment and Development, Kullu.

Preliminary research into the oil found that tiny doses are capable of wiping out fungi and bacteria, including MRSA.

Origanum Vulgare is a relatively common herb that grows in high altitude meadows throughout the Himalayan region, yet it is perceived by many villagers to have no culinary, medicinal or economic value.

However, in Kullu, oregano is often referred to as ‘bekaar ghaas’ (useless grass). (ANI)
http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/india-news/himalayan-oregano-can-wipe-out-hospital-super-bug-research_100182705.html

ROSES TO THE RESCUE

Not only does it smell sublime, but rose oil heals, hydrates, moisturises and softens skin of all ages

By Daily Mail Reporter


Now here’s a quick history lesson. It’s only since the 19th century that the fragrant rose has become best known for its use in perfumery.

Before that, roses were grown mainly for their medicinal properties. The Persians are credited with being the first to separate the essential oils from the petals by floating the flowers in water and waiting for the sun to do its work.

Rose hips are the fruit of the wild rose, or Rosa canina, and they have an incredibly high vitamin C content - eight times the amount, weight for weight, that you get from oranges.

No wonder wild rose hips were gathered during World War II, when citrus fruits were scarce, and made into a syrup for children.

‘Rose absolute has been proven to help repair broken capillaries and calm redness. It is also an excellent tissue hydrator,’ she says.

That aside, the aroma is uplifting. ‘Rose Absolute is believed to help reduce anxiety, promote feelings of well-being and is useful in helping to cope with depression or stress,’ says Lynne.

The queen of all rose oils is rose otto - extracted from the species Rosa Damascena.

Morocco is one of the few places that can grow this flower in large enough quantities to produce the oil - it takes an incredible 2,000 roses to create just one gram of the wonderful stuff.

To view entire artical http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1169531/Roses-rescue-Light-oil-hydrates-moisturises-softens-skin-ages.html

Egyptian Queen's Perfume to Be Resurrected

We already know how to walk like an Egyptian, and soon we'll know how to smell like one, too.

The favorite perfume of powerful Egyptian "she king" Hatshepsut may be resurrected from residue found in a 3,500-year-old perfume bottle (pictured), a German research team said in March 2009. (See Hatshepsut photos in National Geographic magazine.)

X-ray photographs of the 4.7-inch-tall (12-centimeter-tall) bottle, from the permanent collection of Bonn University's Egyptian Museum, reveals remnants of the ancient oil. Scientists plan to identify the substance and, possibly within a year, re-create the perfume.

The bottle, which was found in the queen's possessions after her death in 1457 B.C., is engraved with a hieroglyph (bottom) of her name.

The thin neck "allows a very economical dosing of the valuable content," according to Michael Höveler-Müller, curator of Bonn University's Egyptian Museum. A small clay stopper would have kept the oil from spilling.

"In every case our research will touch new grounds and will maybe enable us to put our noses back into a time more than 3,500 years [ago]," Höveler-Müller said in an email.

—Christine Dell'Amore
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/03/photogalleries/egyptian-queen-perfume/

Ancient plant oils seen fighting food pathogens

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada release 3/19/2009 6:47:00 PM

Oils derived from cinnamon and cloves do more than taste and smell good -- they can also fight food-borne diseases, such as E. coli and salmonella, researchers are discovering.

This natural ability of some ancient natural oils -- from geraniums, cloves, wild oregano, cinnamon and thyme, for example -- offers promise in finding alternatives to antibiotics used in animal feed, according to researchers at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) who are leading the study in collaboration with the Public Health Agency of Canada and the University of Guelph.

"These essential oils can potentially be one of many new and innovative tools for controlling food-borne bacteria at the source, while at the same time reducing the need for dietary antibiotics," says Dr. Joshua Gong, a research scientist at AAFC's Guelph Food Research Centre.

Bacterial pathogens are a common and ongoing concern in animal health and welfare as well as food safety. For example, E. coli causes diarrhea in newly weaned piglets, delaying growth and affecting subsequent performance and production. Other pathogens, such as salmonella, can sometimes be found in meat products and has the potential to be transferred to humans.

However, consumers have expressed concerns that the use of dietary antibiotics in food animal production may contribute to wide-spread antibiotic resistance. These possible effects on human health have increased the demand to develop alternatives.

Plants contain essential oils that defend them from insects, fungi, bacteria and other destructive invaders. Since ancient times, some of these oils have been recognized as safe in flavourings, preservatives and over-the-counter medicines. They have also been used in the manufacture of perfumes throughout history.

The first focus of AAFC's research has been testing these oils as alternatives to dietary antibiotics in swine production. The results showed that many of the essential oils killed the "bad" bacteria without destroying the "good" bacteria in the intestinal tract.

The pig infection experiments show promise. But creating the perfect blend and concentration of essential oils and delivering it to the right section of a pig's digestive tract continues to be a challenge. When mixed with animal feed in a number of cases, the feed completely absorbed the antimicrobial compound and the oil had no effect.

With funding from Ontario Pork ($30,000, matched by AAFC through its Matching Investment Initiative) the research team has identified a technique to encapsulate the essential oil, thus protecting the oils from interacting with the pig feed and delivering them to the target area.

"Through encapsulation, the oils were rapidly released in the small intestine, which is known to be the ideal site for maximum effect in controlling the growth of bad bacteria and disease-causing pathogens in swine," AAFC research scientist Dr. Qi Wang said. "However, each oil has unique properties and may require a different carrier to help it retain its anti-microbial activity in transit down the digestive tract."

Before additional animal tests are performed, the team plans to look at antimicrobial activity of the selected essential oils when mixed in various forms (dry powder, liquid suspension) with pig feed and then subject these trials to simulated digestion.

"Our team is excited about the possibilities for applying this research," Wang said. "It's amazing when you think that something as simple as essential oils may help animals and humans maintain digestive health. At the same time, these essential oils may be an alternative to synthetic antibiotics to manage food-borne pathogens."

http://www.albertafarmexpress.ca/issues/ISArticle.asp?id=97611&PC=FBC&issue=03192009

Study: Frankincense, Gift From 3 Wise Men, May Treat Bladder Cancer

FRANKINCENSE, an aromatic tree oil and in Christian tradition one of the three wise men's gifts to the baby Jesus, may be a helpful treatment for bladder cancer, according to a study published today.
US scientists tested an enriched extract of the frankincense herb boswellia carteri on both human bladder cancer cells and normal bladder cells in laboratory experiments.

The oil suppressed cancer growth and activated mechanisms which kill the dangerous cells, they said.

"Frankincense oil can discriminate bladder cancer cells and normal urothelial cells in culture. The oil suppresses cell survival and induces apoptosis in cultured bladder cancer cells," said the study.

Lead researcher Doctor Hsueh-Kung Lin of the University of Oklahoma said: "Frankincense oil may represent an inexpensive alternative therapy for patients currently suffering from bladder cancer."

The study noted that the oil originated from Africa, India and the Middle East and has been "important both socially and economically as an ingredient in incense and perfumes for thousands of years".

According to the Bible, it was presented to the infant Jesus by the three wise men, along with gold and myrrh.

The study was published in the online British Medical Council journal Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,25209160-38200,00.html?from=public_rss

Arthritis Cures from Nature

Recently, glucosomine and chondroitin have been in the news for their relief and reversal of arthritis symptoms. These nutritional supplements are now widely available but they do not help with either the inflammation of arthritis or with rheumatoid arthritis. They do not reverse the damage to joints caused by inflammation; however, help is on the way from other natural substances.

Cod liver oil can reverse the destruction of joint cartilage according to recent research at the Cardiff University in Britain. Cod liver oil contains essential fatty acids and other omega-3, as well as Vitamin D. The research shows that the Vitamin D in the cod liver oil helps heal the inflammation and speed recovery to joints. Another reason that cod liver and other fish oil may have such an amazing affect is because of a molecule contained in many fish and shellfish species. Krill oil is also available, with the same advantages of fish oil.

The pathway researchers call “the 5-lipoxygenase pathway” acts like a pain highway, sending signals from inflamed joints to the brain. These signals are not turned off by glucosomine, as well as the minerals inside a green-lipped mussel from New Zealand. Known by Maori natives in New Zealand for centuries, the green-lipped mussel is a staple of their diet and thought to promote long life. In fact, the Maori rarely get arthritis, though they live well into their 80s and 90s. Researchers have found that the green-lipped mussel, or Perna canaliculus, contains proteins, polypeptides, naturally chelated minerals, long-chain fatty acids, enzymes, vitamins, as well as chondroitin sulfates, already known to aid in arthritis relief. A study on rats at Clemson University showed that the mussels, or Perna, were able not only to reverse arthritis, but also prevent it. This study also showed that the mussel has an immune modulating affect.

A study in Denmark tested people who ate four ounces of fish daily. They experienced significant decrease in morning stiffness and swollen joints after six months. A University of Washington study displayed similar results. Two or more servings a day of baked or broiled fish enabled a 40 percent decrease in the likelihood of developing arthritis.

Because people with arthritis are at risk for heart disease and stroke, five to thirteen servings of vegetables and fruit daily are advised. Apples are especially nutritious for arthritis suffers, because they contain magnesium, which has been shown to decrease fibromyalgia pain. Quercetin found in apples, also helps reduce the action of Mast cells that cause inflammation. Cherries contain anthocyanins, and studies have shown that cherries reduce inflammatory pain up to ten times better than aspirin or ibuprofen. Tomatoes, potatoes and eggplant have been sited as being bad for arthritis but new research shows these claims may be unfounded. In fact, the lycopene in tomatoes may even be beneficial. There is also no evidence that dairy food trigger arthritis. Inflammatory diseases require amino acids to repair tissue and keep it healthy. For that reason, an increase in the intake of protein is suggested for arthritis sufferers. Nuts provide the nutrient selenium, which helps limit oxidative damage. One ounce of Brazil nuts contains over 500 mcg of selenium.

Homeopathic remedies for arthritis pain include Rhus tox and Ruta. Rhus tox treats pains that are better with movement. This is a good remedy for people who are still when waking but better as the day goes on. Ruta is used as an overuse remedy, and the pains of Ruta are worse as the day goes on.

With over 16 million American suffering from debilitating arthritis, many researchers are looking for cures. Substances from nature have been aiding peoples around the globe for centuries. Science is now underway to prove the efficacy of these gifts from Mother Earth.
By: Melanie Grimes
Published: Friday, 27 February 2009
http://www.healthnews.com/blogs/melanie-grimes/natural-health/arthritis-cures-nature-2707.html