Archive for December, 2010

Garlic Essential Oil | Aromatherapy Essential Oils

Tuesday, December 7th, 2010

Garlic is one of the oldest herbs, which is known for its medicinal qualities. There are several garlic oil benefits that people are aware of, which is probably why it is used as a common ingredient, not just for enhancing the taste of food, but also in several home remedies. There are many people who use garlic oil for hair care, skin care and overall health improvement, since it contains antifungal, antibacterial and antiviral properties.  Hence, the regular use of garlic oil or garlic essential oil can boost the immunity in the body and can help fight off various diseases and ailments. However, garlic oil may not always be easily available and some people may also find garlic essential oil a bit costly. Therefore, there are several people who are interested in methods on how to make garlic oil at home, since it turns out to be a lot more economical and can be made in any quantity, at any time.

How to make garlic oil?

Different people may follow different methods on how to make garlic oil at home. However, given below is one of the most common ways on how to make garlic oil easily at home:

  • Take 2 bulbs of garlic and peel the covers off all the cloves. The cloves of garlic should all be healthy and unmarred. Bigger cloves of garlic are preferable, as more oil can be derived from them.
  • Take a wooden skewer and slide around 8 or 9 cloves of garlic on to it. Keep about 4 to 5 skewers of garlic ready.
  • Place all the skewers vertically in a container and pour extra virgin olive oil into the container, till the oil covers all the pieces of garlic. Approximately 2 quarts of olive oil will be required, in order to submerse all the cloves of garlic completely.
  • Cover the lid of the container, so that air cannot get into it. Allow the garlic to steep in the olive oil for at least 10 days.
  • After than remove the skewers of garlic. These pieces of garlic can be used in cooking and need not be discarded.
  • The garlic oil in the container can be poured into bottles, so that they can be refrigerated. This oil can be used for cooking, on the hair, for skin remedies or other home remedies.

The shelf life of garlic oil tends to reduce if it is stored at room temperature. Therefore, garlic oil should be kept refrigerated at all times.

Fennel Seeds Essential Oil | Aromatherapy Oils

Tuesday, December 7th, 2010

Fennel seeds can be described as the dried fruits, derived from Foeniculum Vulgare. Because of the various fennel seeds benefits that people know of, these seeds have been used since the ancient times, as herbal remedies to cure various ailments. Fennel seeds are ribbed and oval in shape; they also have a distinctive and delicious aroma. Unfortunately, in the present times, not many people are aware of the various fennel seed uses and benefits. This is probably why fennel seeds are not very well known across the globe. However, there are various fennel seeds benefits that can be enjoyed by everyone, especially women, since these seeds contain several compounds that play the role of estrogen.

Fennel Seeds Benefits

There are several health benefits that can be derived with the use of fennel seeds, fennel seed oil or even fennel essential oil. Given below are some of the most common fennel seeds benefits:

  • This seed can help a person lose weight, as it stimulates the metabolism in the body, thereby helping the body to burn more calories. Studies indicate the fennel seeds are also a great way of increasing the energy levels in people, thereby enabling them to exercise, workout or engage in physical activity for a longer period of time.
  • One of the most important fennel seeds benefits is that it enhances the digestive process in the body, so that the food can be digested and removed from the body, before it can turn into fat.
  • Several people drink a cup of fennel tea around half an hour before meal times. This works as an excellent appetite suppressant, which is very effective for weight loss purposes.
  • Several minor respiratory ailments can be cured with the use of fennel seed essential oil. One or two drops of fennel oil added to a teaspoon of honey can soothe the throat, reduce coughing, lose the mucus and expel it from the body.
  • An eyewash solution, made from fennel seed can help relieve several eye ailments, including conjunctivitis. A cotton ball or an eye pad should be dipped into a cooled infusion of fennel seeds, before being placed over the eyes for around 10 minutes.

In spite of all the fennel seeds benefits that have been mentioned above, it is best for a person to check with a doctor, before adding fennel seeds to a regular diet. This is more important for people who are suffering from any preexisting medical condition.