The use of essential oils is rising dramatically as more people discover alternative health treatments and age-old remedies for feeling better. With all of the buzz out there you may have questions about using essential oils. What are they? Are they new? How do I use them? Is there a difference in quality? Are there any dangers? There are so many details and historical uses, let’s take a closer look. So what exactly are essential oils? Essential oils are highly concentrated extracts taken from the leaves, seeds, roots, rind or blossoms of plants. Each contains its own complex mix of beneficial compounds that make it useful for a specific purpose. Some oils are used to promote physica
Elderberry Someone recently posted about elderberry’s amazing ability to fight the flu on social media and it has gone viral (pun intended). Just a little bit about elderberries and the plant they come from - elder. It’s been around forever, used by native tribes and chronicled by Hippocrates. Recently, elder was chosen as the Herb of the Year for 2013 by the International Herb Association. Elder belongs to the genus Sambucus, is a deciduous plant native to Europe that now grows wild in many areas in North America. The flowers and berries of the elder plant are commonly used in cosmetics, jams, jellies, beverages and much more. Only ripe berries should be consumed and after being cooked.
