Essential oils have been used for thousands of years in a variety of applications, including in soaps, perfumes, and other cosmetics.  But, one of the more interesting traditional uses for essential oils is their use in medicine.  In fact, essential oils were reportedly mentioned over 150 times in the Bible.  Let’s take a look at the healing properties of essential oils.

One of the most popular uses for essential oils is for skin care.  The skin is the largest organ in the body, and also the most exposed.  For this reason skin needs constant maintenance, as it is exposed to the elements in a way that no other organ is.  One particularly embarrassing example is acne.  There are many oils which have been used to successfully treat acne, including geranium oil, lemon grass oil, and tea tree oil.  Often times these, and other, oils will be used in a “recipe,” which is meant to treat the particular acne situation of the individual.

Essential oils are also widely used for maintaining healthy skin in general.  Because of their anti-microbial properties, lemon and orange oils have gained popularity as skin treatments.  Both of these oils have the benefits of, not only cleaning the skin, but they also reportedly help improve microcirculation in the skin, which promotes greater oxygen absorption in skin tissue.  Increased oxygenation is known to promote healthy looking skin, with a reduction in visible wrinkles.

Essential oils are highly concentrated substances, and can never be used in the same way as the more common cooking oils.  For example, clove and cinnamon oils are said to be super-charged with antioxidants.

Antioxidants are extremely important in the body, as they are said to combat the negative effects of “free radicals,” which can cause severe damage to the body.  Research shows that a diet rich in antioxidants can help prevent diseases such as cancer and coronary heart disease.   Cinnamon and clove essential oils have the same antioxidant power, in just two drops, as 10 oranges, 2.5 pounds of beets, or 5 pound of carrots.

There are literally hundreds of essential oils, each with its unique profile of health benefits.  In this article it would not be possible to list them all, but the subject does deserve further research.  For example, eucalyptus and tea tree oils are used for combating infection, jasmine and peppermint oils are used to treat itching, and carrot seed oil is used to treat psoriasis.  It is important to remember that the production of essential oils releases a powerful substance which has been locked up within the plant.  Many oils are so concentrated that they must first be diluted before being applied to the skin, or otherwise used.  Please follow usage directions carefully.

So what, exactly, makes a food dense in nutrients? Most proponents of the nutrient dense approach to eating agree that the USDA’s recommendations are vague at best, but the generally accepted definition describes nutrient dense foods as those that provide high levels of vitamins and minerals and relatively few calories. Instead of providing energy in the form of processed sugars and similar carbohydrates, nutrient dense foods provide a more balanced intake of all the elements of a healthy diet.

Dr. Weston A. Price, a pioneer in the study and promotion of nutrient dense foods, recommended a slight modification of the USDA food pyramid to ensure the best nutritional bang for your buck. Instead of a focus on generic groups like fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy, and proteins, Dr. Price’s diet plan is divided into four groups instead:

• Animal Foods – Non-processed meats, poultry and eggs, fish and shellfish, and raw (non-pasteurized) dairy products (which are not legal in all states, including Georgia).
• Grains, Legumes and Nuts – Whole grain rice and baked goods containing whole grains, beans and lentils, and peanuts and tree nuts like cashews and walnuts.
• Vegetables and Fruit – Fresh or frozen items that are served either raw or cooked in soups and stews, and certain condiments. Nutrient dense foods in this category include fresh greens like kale and spinach, chia seeds, and berries.x
• Healthy Fats and Oils – Natural butter, lard, certain animal fats, and oils made from coconuts, olives and other natural ingredients, including cod liver.

The Weston A. Price Foundation, which continues to this day to promote Dr. Price’s principles, also recommends the consumption of organic goods that are produced locally. Organic foods are free of contaminants like pesticides and preservatives, and buying them from your local farmer ensures that those goods are produced using best practices. Plus, buying locally supports Georgia’s top economic sector – agriculture.

It’s easy to begin incorporating nutrient dense foods into your diet. Begin by limiting the use of processed foods with the idea of eventually eliminating them altogether. Conduct your own research on the web to find recipes featuring nutrient dense foods. Start shopping at local farmers markets for fresh produce and other foods. Above all, stop thinking about food as a means to simply fulfill your hunger, and be aware that food is a fuel that can have both immediate and lasting effects on your health and wellbeing.

Rancho Alegre Farm is proud to host the Gwinnett Locally Grown Online Farmer’s Market, where you can have access to many local and nutrient-dense foods in the Gwinnett County, GA and surrounding areas, check it out!

When choosing a field trip location, the educator takes into account the students’ current curriculum, safety, and overall educational value. Going on a farm field trip can be one of the most unforgettable experiences. While books are a vital learning tool, nothing beats a hands-on lesson to confirm what the book states.

What a Farm Field Trip Can Teach Your Child

1- Where food comes from: since the industrial ages, many kids don’t know that food does not come from the store, but from the ground. Your children can experience how sustainable food is grown and what grows in which season.

2- The role of bees in food production: bees play a vital role in our food supply. Seeing beehives first hand and learning what would happen if bees disappear, will make kids appreciate these little creatures a lot more.

3- Importance of worms: composting is a necessary farming practice. Learn how worms help produce good soil and why it is so necessary for growing nutritious food.

4- Farm animal dynamics: whether it’s donkeys, horses, cows, sheep, or chickens, each farm animal plays a role in the farm life.

5- Just get some fresh air: what better way to get some fresh air and get in touch with nature than visiting a sustainable local farm?

The benefits of going on a farm field trip are many. Kids will be sure to thoroughly enjoy the experience, which promises to be, not only educational, but fun.

Rancho Alegre Farm is proud to offer daily field trips Tuesday-Friday for daycare centers, public and private schools, homeschool, non-profit, play, family, and adult groups.

Click here to learn more about our farm field trip packages here.

My youngest son consistently complained of growing pain in his legs, which I found normal, andwould just easily give him a dose of ibuprofen. After reading about some of the negative effects ofprolonged use of ibuprofen and how heavy it was for your liver (here is one of many articles: http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/08/07/the-little-known-dangers-of-motrin.aspx), I immediately stopped its use, and have not used any of it in my household for over 6 months now. A quote from my friend Amy “current main cause of liver cirrhosis is from taking Advil. The side effects of long-term Advil and Tylenol use are well documented and my sister’s friend just had a liver transplant and the Dr. told him it was caused from taking Advil”.

At the same time I was slowly turning over to essential oils. It’s a wealth ofinformation, and I continue to learn something new every day. It is all I use now. I bought a great reference book that gives me an easy reference of what to take and do for any case of ailment, Modern Essentials. It contains an extensive list of what to take for any kind of situation. I now have family and friends ask me “what is good to take for _____”, I go to my Modern Essentials book and from there tell them what it states to do and take. It can be a little weird at times, but I feel so confident since this is all natural, and it’s been around for centuries. Now when my son tells me that his leg hurts, I grab my Deep Blue which is a cream blended with several essential oils from DoTerra (I love the stuff!). My sister-in-law twisted her ankle in my kitchen. It looked terrible, I reached for my Deep Blue cream, and rubbed it hard, and she was walking with-in minutes, no pain the next day. My husband complains of his knees hurting, so someone told me to do lemon grass essential oil prior to adding the deep blue, and boy it’s even better.

There are so many tricks to all of this, the possibilities are endless. For example oil of Oregano. Quoted from Modern Essentials: Common Primary Uses: Athlete’s Foot, Calluses, Candida, Canker Sores, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Ebola Virus, Fungal Infections, Immune System (stimulates), Inflammation, Intestinal Parasites, MRSA, Muscle Aches, Nasal Polyp, Parasites, Plague, Pneumonia, Ringworm, Staph Infection, Vaginal Candida, Viral Infections, Warming (body), Warts, Whooping Cough.

French Medicinal Uses: Asthma, bronchitis (chronic), mental disease, pulmonary tuberculosis, and rheumatism (chronic).

Other Possible Uses: This oil may help colds, digestive problems, metabolic balance, viral and bacterial pneumonia, and strengthen vital centers

Body System Affected: Immune and Respiratory Systems, Muscles, and Bones.

Can be blended to a carrier oil and used topically, can be taken internally with caution and can be blended with other oils. I’m going to try it on my son’s warts.

That is where I started. After my husband got diagnosed with diverticulitis, ulcers and Helicobacter pylori bacteria a few months ago, all we are doing are natural remedies and he feels great (along with losing a few needed pounds). I love to do google searches and compare to what is stated in the book. I refer a lot to Dr. Mercola’s website, since one he has it translated in Spanish, and I can usually find easy reads on related topics to share so people can begin to be educated themselves.

The essential oils I currently use are DoTerra and here is a link to all they offer and my wholesale pricing. If you need anything, I’m happy to order for you. http://ranchoalegrefarm.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/DoTerra-Essential-OIls-Pricing.pdf

Ingredients:

1 tbs mullen flower

1 tbs eucalyptus

1 tbs elderberry flower

Juice of a lime (lemon are good too, but I prefer lime)

Honey (I prefer to keep slices of ginger in my honey and keep in refrigerator since ginger is so good for so many things)

Optional: this is traditional for my mom’s recipe but it can be optional. I use panela which is pure sugar cane in blocks. It’s imported from Colombia and can be found in Spanish grocery stores. It is said to contain minerals, so I think that replacing with sucanat, molasses or maple syrup is fine. It does make it more palatable for the non-tea drinker.

I boil the water with panela, once the panela is dissolved I seep the herbs in for a few seconds in the boiling water, cover the pot and let it sit a few minutes while I do the following; squeeze the lime into a cup, add a tbs of ginger/honey (you can chew or add a slice of ginger to give it a kick, totally optional), then fill with hot tea straining out the herbs. Drink as hot as possible, and wrap yourself to sweat it off. Best to take at night, but I don’t recommend taking it and going out into the cold.

Rancho Alegre Farm is an excellent choice for a fun, exciting outdoor field trip!  We have developed a Georgia Standard curriculum based program that is perfect for Gwinnett County public and private schools, day care ceters, home-school groups and play groups.  Read More >>

Rancho Alegre Farm Day Camp 2012

Rancho Alegre Farm offers a variety of educational programs throughout the year including our Farm Day Camp program!  Four themed session lead by a certified Georgia teacher will give campers a chance to learn and experience life on a farm, gardening, cooking and homesteading skills all while having lots of fun!  Children will “unplug”, enjoy time outdoors, make new friends and experience nature.  Read More >>