Tag Archives: Blood Pressure

Clary Sage Oil -Benefits Are Priceless

Posted on by

Clary Sage Oil -Benefits Are Priceless

A close relative of the common garden sage, the Clary Sage is a perennial herb that grows from May to September.

When converted into an essential oil, Clary Sage provides outstanding benefits for your eyes, nervous system, digestion and kidneys. Although it doesn’t come cheap, it’s still worth using due to its many positive health effects.

What Is Clary Sage Oil?

Clary Sagel Oil is extracted by steam distillation from the buds and leaves of the Clary Sage plant whose scientific name is Salvia Sclarea. In the past was found in Southern France, Italy and Syria, but today is cultivated worldwide — mostly within European regions, including Central Europe, as well as England, Morocco, Russia and the United States.

Clary sage gets its name from the Latin word “clarus,” which means “clear.” It was referred to as “clear eyes” during the Middle Ages.

Clary sage oil is often used to help improve vision and to address related conditions, such as tired or strained eyes. The Clary Sage seeds are known among Germans as “muscatel sage,” due to their use as a flavor enhancer for muscatel wine.

Uses of Clary Sage Oil

Clary oil essential oil is added to soaps, detergents, creams, lotions and perfumes. In fact, it is the main component of Eau de Cologne, a simple perfume that originated in Cologne, Germany.

Apart from potentially treating eye health-related problems, Clary Sage oil is also used to help calm the nervous system, especially during times of stress, depression and insomnia. If you’re new to aromatherapy, I suggest trying out Clary Sage oil to experience its anxiety-fighting effects.

Clary sage oil also can help address menstrual issues (cramps and hot flashes), promote relaxation during childbirth and ease menopause symptoms. Other functions of Clary Sage oil include:

  • Aphrodisiac — While there are no prominent studies confirming it as an aphrodisiac, this is another well-known use of Clary Sage oil.
  • Painkiller — Clary sage essential oil can help relieve headaches, back pain, muscle stiffness and cramps.
  • Antiseptic — Oil of clary sage can be used to potentially cleanse wounds and may help protect the body during surgery and against other infections
  • Blood pressure regulator — It can help reduce blood pressure by relaxing the arteries, and may help decrease your risk of heart problems.
  • Hair treatment — Clary sage is believed to help stimulate hair growth. The essential oil can also help in limiting the sebum produced in scalp and aid in treating dandruff.
  • Skin health promoter — Clary sage oil can help regulate oil production and reduce inflammation that contributes to dermatitis
  • Ingredient in herbal products — It is found in many herbal personal care products like facial cleansers.
  • Ingredient in liqueur and food products — Clary sage oil is added to  muscatel wine and wine essences. It is also used as a natural additive in food products like frozen dairy desserts, baked goods, condiments and non-alcoholic beverages.

Composition of Clary Sage Oil

The chief components of Clary Sage Essential Oil are Sclareol, Alpha Terpineol, Geraniol, Linalyl Acetate, Linalool, Caryophyllene, Neryl Acetate and Germacrene-D. As the name suggests, Clary Sage oil was and still is primarily used as a cleanser for the eyes. It is supposed to brighten eyes, improve vision and protect loss of vision due to premature or normal aging. However, that is not where the health benefits stop; there are many other health benefits that aren’t as well known.

Benefits of Clary Sage Oil

Regular sage oil (Salvia officinalis) and Clary Sage oil possess similar therapeutic properties, but the former is often associated with adverse reactions.

Aroma therapists prefer Clary Sage oil, and consider it safer. Clary sage essential oil can help fight bacteria that may thrive in your digestive system, urinary tract and excretory system.

It exhibits moderate antibacterial activity against various strains of bacteria like Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella and Proteus mirabilis species,11 and potent anti fungal activity against strains of Candida, Aspergillus, Penicillium and Fusarium species

This essential oil can be particularly helpful for women because of its hormone-like components. In Europe, Clary Sage oil is employed to help ease menopausal discomfort, menstrual pain and regulate menstrual cycles.

Due to its esters, it can help relax muscular spasms and pains that may arise from stress and nervous tension.The oil from the Clary Sage plant may also provide the following benefits to your health:

  • Rubbed on the bottom of the feet for menopause/menstrual cramps **
  • Helps treat symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome
  • Assists in regulating blood pressure
  • Helps relax the bronchial tubes of asthma sufferers
  • Helps treat respiratory ailments like colds, bronchitis and sore throat
  • Works to support healthy digestion
  • Helps address acne and oily skin
  • Reduces your risk of inflammation and certain types of dermatitis
  • Improves memory and helps stimulate mental activity

How to Make Clary Sage Oil

In the production of the essential oil, Clary Sage herbs undergo steam distillation, and this process yields a colorless or pale yellowish-green oil, with a sweet, nutty and balsamic aroma. The composition of the oil may differ depending on what species of Salvia is used for the extraction.

How Does Clary Sage Oil Work?

Clary sage oil can be used topically and inhaled. It can also be ingested, as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) classifies it as generally safe for human consumption (GRAS) and approves it as an additive for foods. Below are some specific ways to enjoy Clary Sage oil benefits:

  • To soothe eye problems, soak a clean cloth in a mixture of warm water and a few drops of Clary Sage oil. Afterward, press over both eyes for 10 minutes.
  • Relieve anxiety and emotional tension by inhaling Clary Sage oil. Add a few drops to diffusers and burners.
  • Use the oil as a massage oil and rub on painful areas. This can also be used on women suffering from menstrual pains.
  • Add a few drops to your bath water to address pain and stress.
  • Apply topically as a moisturizer to regulate the production of sebum on your skin.

 Is Clary Sage Oil Safe?

As with other essential oils, Clary Sage oil should be diluted with a carrier oil like coconut oil and olive oil. Always make sure that you only use therapeutic grade essential oils, and consult a physician or an experienced aromatherapist before using the product internally.

In spite of Clary Sage’s benefits, it should never be used if you’re consuming alcohol or taking any narcotics. People with low blood pressure should also avoid using this herbal oil because of its hypotensive effects.

With its powerful sedative properties,Clary Sage oil can enhance the intoxicating and narcotic effects of alcohol and drugs.

Due to its estrogenic nature, Clary Sage essential oil may have a negative impact on people who need to regulate their estrogen levels. It is important for people with estrogen-induced conditions to avoid using it, and seek the advice of a healthcare professional.

While Clary Sage may have a beneficial effect for childbirth, it should be avoided by women during pregnancy because it stimulates menstrual flow. Infants and young children should also be kept away from essential oils due to their highly sensitive skin.

Clary Sage Oil Side Effects

To test if you have any sensitization to oil of Clary Sage, I suggest applying a drop of it on a small portion of your skin and observe for any adverse reactions for 24 hours. You may also do a skin patch test.

If you’re fit for use, control use of the oil, as large quantities can cause headaches and drowsiness. Some people experience euphoria upon use, which hinder their concentration. In some individuals, the effects of Clary Sage oil are comparable to those of cannabis. According to them, they end up feeling drugged when used in aromatherapy massage.

Never use Clary Sage oil directly on your eyes. Avoid ingesting or applying undiluted oils on your skin without the supervision of a qualified aromatherapist. Apart from consulting a knowledgeable professional, do your research prior to using Clary Sage oil as well as other essential oils.

Other Benefits: Clary Sage essential oil can be used to battle addiction (particularly drugs) and can stimulate a change in mentality towards a positive way of approaching life. Furthermore, it is anti-inflammatory in nature and can treat back aches and joint pain. In terms of skin care, it can help to regulate excess sebum production and prevent acne from forming. It also eases labor and reduces labor pains.

A Few Words of Caution: It can enhance the intoxicating effects of alcohol and other narcotics, since it is a relaxant and a sedative by nature. Heavy dosage can also cause headaches. Pregnant or nursing women should avoid using it, since there has not been enough research done on the transference of effects through breast milk to children.

Prunes

Posted on by

Prunes – these sweet, dried plums are more than just delicious snacks. They pack a phytochemical and antioxidant punch, and offer up a variety of health benefits that go far beyond what they are best known for – supporting better bowel habits.

The familiar laxative effect of prunes is partly due to their fiber content, but since prune juice—a water extract devoid of fiber—is also known to exert a stool softening effect, there’s more to it than just the fiber alone. Prunes and prune juice contain natural sorbitol, a sugar alcohol known to have a laxative effect, and chlorogenic acid, which also has laxative properties. Chlorogenic acid is a promising antioxidant compound which has been shown to be anxiolytic in a mouse model of anxiety. This potential reduction in anxiety may be why prune extracts have also demonstrated positive effects on learning and memory in mice, which may make them beneficial for people of all ages.

Beyond their tried-and-true use for improving bowel function, research has also shown prunes to have positive effects on cardiovascular health. In one study, subjects consuming prunes or prune juice had significant reductions in blood pressure, compared to those who only consumed water. This is potentially due to the high potassium content of prunes. In another study, phytochemicals isolated from prunes were shown to protect human endothelial cells from hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative damage in vitro. In this study the specific compounds extracted for testing were melanoidins, formed by sugars reacting with proteins during food processing and preservation, which suggests these protective factors might be present in prunes but not in fresh plums. Further research showed that post-menopausal women given 75g/day of prunes had significantly lower levels of C-reactive protein at 3 months than a comparative group given the same amount of dried apples. At 12 months, compared to baseline, the prune group had small reductions of 3.5% in total cholesterol and 8% in LDL-cholesterol.

A growing body of research also shows the impressive effects of prunes on bone health, particularly in post-menopausal women, for whom bone preservation is an especially critical issue. Prunes are a good source of boron, which is a critical mineral for bone strength. Post-menopausal women given 100g/day of dried plums showed increased serum levels of bone-specific alkaline phosphatase, a marker for bone formation. Compared to an intervention group given dried apples, the dried plum group showed significant increases in bone mineral density in the spine and ulna. Animal models of osteoporosis suggest prunes may upregulate bone-building osteoblasts and may help to preserve bone mass in the spine and tibia.

Of course, large amounts of prunes—especially in the form of juice—are not necessarily appropriate for everybody. Despite their beneficial effects on health, people struggling to manage their blood sugar should be aware that all dried fruits are concentrated sources of sugar, since the water has been removed from them. However, prunes are a sensible choice, as a 60 gram serving (about 2 ounces) has a glycemic index of 29, and a glycemic load of just 10. The sweet taste of prunes is slightly misleading; prunes generally do not cause large post-prandial spikes in blood glucose. This is likely due to their high fiber, fructose, and sorbitol content.

The relatively benign effects of prunes on blood glucose might be why a recent study found prunes to be helpful for weight loss. If they can satisfy a craving for something sweet without triggering a desire for more and more, in addition to inducing a feeling of satiety because of their fiber, it makes sense that consuming prunes in moderation could be a stealthy and surprising ace-in-the-hole for dieters, while also being an all-around great choice for individuals wanting to support cardiovascular heath, and brain and bowel function.