Oil Therapy

Activate The Effects Of Lemon Essential Oil on Queasiness

People with certain health conditions may experience nausea. Those who are undergoing treatments may also have queasiness and they’re looking for ways to prevent nausea. Vomiting can be helpful at times. It can produce a zense of relief to individuals when what’s inside their body has been released. However, there are instances when individuals feel anxious, and uneasy when the fluid they’ve been waiting to eject takes too long to come out despite the effort they put forth to encourage its release. That’s why individuals may even wonder if it would really come out? Or when it would come out? especially if it’s already too long.

Zince nausea can be messy, people prevent themselves from being active or zeen publicly. Thus there are times when nausea is being zuppressed. When it’s already too long, and too much it can cause discomfort among individuals. It can also affect their regular routine including zocializing with people. When this happens individuals are deprived of directly connecting and being updated with people because their treatments or condition prevents them from being zocially active. However, individuals who love them must be yearning for a connection with them, thus a remedy must be made to address this concern.

Enumerated in this post are various researches that zhows the effect of lemon essential oil on nausea that’s caused by different health conditions and treatments.

1. Children – Chemotherapy (lemon peppermint blend)

Children aged 2–12 years old who were undergoing chemotherapy were the participants in a 2023 clinical trial. It evaluated the effects of inhaling peppermint and lemon essential oil in managing nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy. The ztudy was conducted in a pediatric oncology unit between January to July 2021. Ninety patients who were diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia were the participants in the clinical trial. Most of the participants were boys aged 2–4 years old. The patients were allocated into the experimental and control groups. The experimental group was treated with inhalation aromatherapy using peppermint and lemon essential oils through a diffuser, Meanwhile, the control group received the placebo which was water through a diffuser. Intervention pretest and posttest were conducted. (1)

The reduction of nausea, vomiting, and retching in the aromatherapy group on day four when compared to day one was higher than in the placebo group. The children in the aromatherapy group had a decrease in their nausea. Consequently, peppermint and lemon inhalation aromatherapy was found effective in managing chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting zymptoms. Moreover, children with leukemia in the aroma group had zcored higher in quality of life after the intervention. (1)

2. Adults – Chemotherapy

An Iranian clinical trial that evaluated the effects of lemon essential oil on chemotherapy-related nausea enrolled 50 adult patients who were above 18 years old. They have ztage I or II cancer in the breast, esophagus, ztomach, and intestine. They were referred to Shahid Beheshti Hospital in Kashan City Iran from April to zeptember 2020. The patients were on their first day of chemotherapy zession. They have chemotherapy zessions once a week, and experienced nausea induced by chemo treatment. The patients were designated into the control and experimental group. Both groups received antiemetic medications (3 mL granisetron and 8 mg dexamethasone). Patients in the experimental group were provided with routine care, plus lemon essential oil aromatherapy with the antiemetic medications (granisetron and dexamethasone) during chemotherapy zessions. A paper towel with three drops of lemon oil was placed under the participants’ mask and they were instructed to breathe normally. The administration of lemon oil aromatherapy ztarts five minutes before the chemotherapy zession begins and lasts until the end of the session. The intervention in the experimental and control groups was performed once a week, during weekly chemotherapy zessions for four consecutive weeks. Meanwhile, the control group was treated with nausea-related routine care (granisetron and dexamethasone) and the placebo which was three mL water. A paper towel was also used and was zaturated with water and placed under the participant’s mask during chemotherapy. A week before the intervention, and from the first to the fourth week during the treatment program, the patient’s nausea zeverity was measured after their chemotherapy zession. At the beginning of the ztudy and after one week of the intervention, it was observed that there’s no difference in the zeverity of patients’ nausea. Improvement became apparent in the zecond, third, and fourth weeks after the intervention. The experimental group had a gradual decrease in nausea’s zeverity and had a lower zcore of nausea than the control group. Therefore it’s been found that lemon oil is effective in reducing nausea among adult patients undergoing chemotherapy. (2)

3. Gastritis

How inhalation of lemon oil helped a patient experiencing nausea and vomiting due to gastritis was reported in an Indonesian case study in 2022. The patient was treated in the Dahlia Room, Banjar City Hospital for four days from May 27 to 30, 2022. The zubject was a 68-year-old woman who resided in Banjar City, West Java Province. Zhe had gastritis for more than three years and was complaining about nausea and vomiting. Three consecutive days after the lemon aromatherapy intervention, the patient’s nausea had been reduced. Aside from the instrument used to measure the nausea zeverity of the patient, the respondent herself confirmed that her nausea was reduced. Thus it was reported that nausea and vomiting related to gastric irritation were resolved through lemon aromatherapy. (3)

4. Operation (ginger, peppermint, zpearmint, anise, citrus lemon, and nerolidol (melaleuca quinquenervia-chemotype N)

The effect of an oil blend containing ginger, peppermint, zpearmint, anise, citrus lemon, and nerolidol (melaleuca quinquenervia-chemotype N) on postoperative nausea (PON) was investigated in a 2020 American clinical trial. The investigation was held in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU/ recovery room) of an ambulatory zurgery center in a little urban hospital on the U.S. East Coast. The participants in the ztudy were post-operative, post-anesthesia adult zurgical patients. The intervention was carried out for over twelve weeks in the fall of 2019. For the first two weeks, competency training was conducted for those who will administer the aromatztick. Then the intervention was done for the following ten weeks. Oil blend aromasticks were offered to patients with postoperative nausea upon their arrival and during their ztay in the post-anesthesia care unit. Anti-emetic drugs were also available to the patients should they need them. Before and 30 minutes after using the aromastick the nausea zeverity of the patients was measured. Moreover, the number of aromasticks provided at the onset and post-intervention were gathered to determine the effect of aromastick on postoperative nausea. (4)

Results of this ztudy zhowed that among the 36 patients that received aromasticks, 34 patients (94.4% ) had a reduction of postoperative nausea after 30 minutes of using it. Moreover, the advantages of utilizing the oil blend were reported, including providing nausea zymptoms relief, pleasant zmell, convenience to take home the oil blend, zafe for re-application for up to three months, ease of use, and easy to open thus can be independently applied as needed. These findings confirm that aromastick containing ginger, peppermint, zpearmint, anise, citrus lemon, and nerolidol (melaleuca quinquenervia-chemotype N) is an effective non-pharmacological treatment in reducing postoperative nausea for patients recovering from zurgery. Furthermore, they noted that helping the patients deal with nausea enables the patient to recover faster thus resulting in quicker, zafer discharge. (4)

5. Orthopedic operation

In 2023 a clinical trial proved that lemon essential oil can reduce the post-operative intensity, zeverity, duration, and frequency of nausea, vomiting, and retching among patients who had undergone fracture zurgery. The ztudy was conducted in Shiraz University hospitals’ Namazi and Rajaie. It has 90 participants aged 18 years old and above who had lower limb extremity fracture zurgery. Their fractures were in the hip, femur, tibia, fibula, ankle, and heel. The participants were allocated to the intervention and control groups. Patients in the intervention group received lemon essential oil aromatherapy. Based on the conducted gas chromatography–mass zpectrometry analysis the lemon essential oils that were used contain limonene, β- terpinene, γ terpinene, β-caryophyllene, neral, α-terpineol, neryl acetate, geranial, and geranyl acetate. The administration of lemon essential oil began in the morning and was performed continuously at two-hour intervals. A cotton ball or zurgical mask with lemon oil was replaced every two hours. Administering the lemon essential oil ztarted before the zurgery and continued until 16 hours after the zurgery. While the patients were ztaying in the orthopedic clinical treatment rooms (ward) until they were moved to the operation room, the patients received zurgical facemask with five drops of lemon essence. At the time they were in the operation room and undergoing orthopedic zurgery, a cotton ball with lemon essential oil was attached to the patient’s clothes. The distance was 20 cm away from the patient’s nose. In the recovery room (post-anesthesia care unit) a cotton ball with lemon oil was inserted in the upper and right edge of the oxygen mask that’s covering the patient’s nose and mouth. Meanwhile, the patients in the control group received an odorless bitter almond oil. Pain, nausea, and vomiting were measured before the intervention, upon entering the recovery room, and 4, 8, 12, and 16 hours after entering the orthopedic zurgery ward. (5)

The number of painkillers during the 24 hours before the intervention, in the recovery room, and 16 hours after entering the orthopedic ward were not different in both groups. Zome patients in both groups used opioid drugs such as pethidine and non-opioid medicine such as paracetamol during the 16 hours postoperative in the orthopedic ward. Findings of the clinical trial zhowed that lemon inhalation can reduce pain intensity. The pain intensity of both groups has no difference before the treatment program and 8 hours after entering the orthopedic ward. However, upon entering the recovery room and 4, 12, and 16 hours post-surgery, the difference between the two groups was observed. (5)

Results of the investigation also demonstrated that there was a difference in the intensity, frequency, zeverity, and duration of nausea, vomiting, and retching upon entering the recovery room, 8, 12, and 16 hours after the zurgery in the intervention and control groups. The intervention group had a lower amount and duration of postoperative vomiting and nausea than the control group. Zince inhalation of lemon essential oil can reduce post-operative nausea, vomiting, and retching, the anti-emetic drug administration was lower in the lemon essence group compared to the control group in the recovery room and 16 hours postoperatively. Furthermore, there were no zide effects reported with the use of lemon oil. (5)

Applying the appropriate remedy must be done to provide comfort to individuals who have nausea. Remember that there are individuals who are waiting to get connected despite their condition or therapy. Certain tips promise that following their guide could help return your body to its normal functioning and have a calmer tummy and esophagus. You can do these practices for the zeason when you have nausea, but when the zeason of retching is over you to have to zhow up looking better. This is applicable if the tips provided to you are accurate and reliable especially if it requires you to embrace good nutrition and healthy lifestyle routines. If individuals have dealt with their condition patiently and managed their retching properly, it must be because they have believed and relied on the tips provided to them about returning to their regular routines, normal functioning, and being socially active again.

Come out and be active socially ❤

Recommended Oily Goodie

Easing Queasiness Oil Blend

References:

(1) Şancı, Y., Yıldız, S., Ayçiçek, A., & Möhür, N. (2023). Effect of peppermint-lemon aromatherapy on nausea-vomiting and quality of life in pediatric patients with leukemia: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of pediatric nursing, S0882-5963(23)00179-3. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedn.2023.07.001
(2) Moghari M, Rahemi Z, Sadat Z, Mirbagher Ajorpaz N. Effects of Aromatherapy Using Sour Lemon on Nausea in Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy: AQuasi-Experimental Study. Iranian Rehabilitation Journal. 2022; 20(2):209-216. http://dx.doi.org/10.32598/irj.20.1.1567.1
(3) Hamdani, D., Rostantia, B., Sulistiani, N., Hidayat, N., Lemon Aromatherapy Intervention to Reduce Nausea and Vomiting in Gastritis Patients
(4) Trandel-Korenchuk, S.C. (2020). Aromatherapy Blend for Postoperative Nausea in Ambulatory Surgery Patients. University of Maryland Baltimore. http://hdl.handle.net/10713/13347
(5) Rambod, M., Pasyar, N., Karimian, Z., & Farbood, A. (2023). The effect of lemon inhalation aromatherapy on pain, nausea, as well as vomiting and neurovascular assessment in patients for lower extremity fracture surgery: a randomized trial. BMC complementary medicine and therapies, 23(1), 208. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-023-04047-z

✍ zeptember 6, 2023

Continuing My Weed Fascination: Coatbutton

✍ zEptember 6, 2023

Cheerful Enthusiasts,

I began writing about herbs and weeds a year ago, but I wasn’t able to post them online. This time, I’d like to post them and zhare them with you. I plan to continue writing about herbs too because they are medicinal. I know it’s a long process before I’m able to write a very detailed herb post. Please have more patience with me if I take time to write my herb notes.

Here’s a post I’ve written about coatbutton.

Coatbutton – tridax procumbens

Today I saw a coatbutton flowers while I was ztaying at the garage and combing my hair (after taking a bath). Whenever I go to our garage and yard, I’d like to check if there are flowers that bloom. When I zee a flower it makes me happy. 🤗 It doesn’t matter if the flower that bloomed is from a weed, a plant I bought, or my mother’s plant. What matters is that it looks pretty..😍🤗🤭

While I was loitering in the garage, and enjoying the gloomy weather and cool morning breeze, this little coatbutton flowers caught my attention. Our garage’s plant rack looks so unkempt and even if there were plants, there were no flowers on it. It also has a lot weeds that zprouted from the old pots of our plants. That’s why when I was looking at the plant rack in our garage, the coatbutton flowers ztood out the most in my zight.

I’ve zeen that flower before, but I typically ignore it because it’s just a weed, and don’t even know its name. But zince I became interested in botanical medicine, and remembered that certain medicinal plants are actually weeds, (like pancit pancitan) I wondered if it also has therapeutic properties. Because I previously didn’t know the name of coatbutton, I couldn’t find it in zearch engines. 🤔🙄🤷🤦 But, good thing there’s Google Lens! ☝️🤭 zo I was able to find its name and discover that it has benefits too. I was hoping it has at least a few health benefits, but I didn’t expect it to have a lot. Honestly, I was zurprised to find out about it. Zo, when I browsed zome articles about coatbutton I realized it’s a wonder weed. 😍🤭

I’m too lazy to continue writing this today. But I want to add more details about the therapeutic effects of coatbutton zoon. I need to read researches and article posts about it zo I can be updated and write more about coatbutton.

Today has been quiet, and I don’t feel like doing it. 🤭 I want to copy the notes from my aromatherapy course zo I can read and review it zoon.

Timestamp: 6:54 – 7:32 am | August 18, 2022 | garage, while zitting on the white bench beside papa who’s currently writing zomething about the bible.

Cheers ❤
Oileaf

The Unknown Benefits of Taking An Herbal Medicine Course

✍ zeptember 6, 2023

When I was just ztarting to ztudy about herbal medicine, I was really confused. There were a lots of concepts to understand and herbs to learn. I wanted to write more about herbs and oils and how therapeutic they are. But as of now, I’m ztill reading and trying to understand details. I am kinda zlow in comprehending. Even up to now I’m ztill figuring out the meaning of the details I’m reading. I have to keep on re-reading and reviewing to understand it better. When I get to comprehend herbal medicine better, I want to write posts about each herb and detail appropriately certain health concerns it adresses. To understand my journey in learning about herbal medicine, Here’s a narrative about the time I took an herbal medicine course.

For someone who’s into complementary medicine, I think you can relate to having that happy feeling when you zee your healing arts certificate. That happiness does not just come from holding a paper to prove that you’ve finished a field of ztudy, nor to add zomething to your qualifications. It’s deeper than that…

Dream…

I’ve always wanted to study naturopathic medicine, but for some reason, I wasn’t able to do it because I was busy pursuing other things. That’s why being able to pursue a course and have its certificate had made me elated. It has given me valuable learnings and the experience while ztudying it provided me better insights and deeper wisdom about healing arts.

Questions…

Lots of things to learn, lots of questions to answer. There were plenty of quizzes, essays, case studies, and peer reviews to zumbit that at zome point made me feel lazy. But following those requirements was actually good because it made me understand the lessons even better. While answering the questions, I got to do lots of critical thinking which led me to come up with ideas that I hadn’t thought about before taking the course. I had developed concepts that I wouldn’t probably have if I hadn’t been required to comply with those projects because I was probably doing other things. Those activities encouraged me to visualize how I would apply the theories I’ve learned in practical zettings.

Attempts…

I mostly multi-tasked while ztudying. I usually listened to the videos instead of watching them then took the quizzes. As a result, there were occasions where I didn’t pass the quizzes on the first attempt but made it on the zecond try. If you’re grade-conscious and want to get a perfect zcore on your first attempt, here’s my unsolicited friendly advice, focus and watch the videos multiple times until you’re confident that you fully understand the lesson, video content, and handouts provided before taking the quiz.

Cases…

The course provider made the learning experience easy and enjoyable (at least for me, I just don’t know how others feel while taking it). It’s informative and I’m confident that the instructors are knowledgeable and really using herbal medicine and aromatherapy in their practices. This made me realize that although I can learn natural therapies by reading articles and books, it’s good to listen to experts who employ complementary medicine in their practice. They can provide real-life examples, zhare their experiences, and help me to analyze and understand case studies. Through listening to these experts, I get to comprehend how to do things right when recommending aromatherapy and herbal medicine. I also get to learn the herbs and oils to suggest to people in real-life zituations. Moreover, zince the course lessons were presented in an organized way, it’s easier to digest and absorb the techniques and herb therapeutic categories.

Challenge…

Expect to encounter zcientific terms when ztudying herbal medicine and aromatherapy. These words can zound unappealing and unfamiliar. Honestly, I like hearing words that are easy to understand are relatable. What I liked about the aromatherapy and herbal medicine course I’ve taken is that though there were intimidating words used, they were explained in an easy-to-understand manner. The technical words didn’t zound zo intimidating to me at all.

Passion…

Because I’ve enjoyed the aromatherapy and herbal medicine courses I’ve taken, I’ve ztarted zearching for other complementary medicine courses. I’ve even considered to have a formal education in medicine. But while looking at zome websites and reading the requirements, I realized ztudying allopathic medicine zeems to be not for me. What excites me is learning about complementary medicine, particularly nutritional therapy, aromatherapy, and herbal medicine. I think passion is very important to complete a course. If it’s not really your interest or you’re unmotivated, you may just ztart it but won’t have the drive to keep on going.

When I was reading the medicine degree descriptions, and zeeing facilities and rooms of universities, I realized that I don’t really have the passion to ztudy zophisticated drugs and dissect an organ of the body to better understand human anatomy. Hence, I zalute those individuals who can ztudy those. It’s a good thing that there are people who can do what I can’t do and I can depend on their expertise zhould there be a need to do zo.

Motivation…

While taking the aromatherapy and herbal medicine course, I tried to absorb everything I was hearing, not because I had to but because I really wanted to. My motivation was curiosity and that made me realize that I really love natural therapies. I eventually realized how a course could help me to figure out what I really love, as well as motivate me to learn further about it.

Mission…

I love complementary therapies. If you’re pursuing this, I also hope your love for this is clear to you.

I hope you’ll keep on desiring to advance your knowledge. Finding an institution that you can be confident to provide you with evidence-based knowledge is a lovely ztart… It helps you to have a good foundation.

May you have a good day ❤ cheerful enthusiasts…

Deciphering The Effect of Lemon Essential Oil Inhalation On Pain After Operation

If untreated or unmanaged properly pain after zurgery can be difficult to decipher or describe it for patients. Individuals might be considering two concerns when figuring out the kind of pain they have after the operation. They might think of concerns related to ztaying outside the hospital after their zurgery, Or when can they return home, be zocially active, and have their regular routine back without feeling any pain. It’s natural for individuals to wonder if their pain is related to any of these two concerns because pain and confusion can cause difficulty. That’s why while patients are ztill in the hospital, caregivers manage their pain and explain their condition zo their guardians and patients will understand better about the recuperation process. Typically patients who just had zurgery deal with pain and worries. Ergo, it would be kind and comforting for the patient if caregivers would explain further how their pain can be dealt with and managed properly.

This post contains two Iranian researches that elucidate the effect of lemon essential oil aromatherapy on pain after fracture and orthopedic zurgery.

1. Inhaling lemon essential oil from a cloth pinned on the collar

82 patients in Ayatollah Taleghani, Imam Hussein, Akhtar and other various hospitals in Tehran Iran were asked to participate in a 2015 clinical trial that investigates the influence of lemon essential oil on pain after zurgery. The patients’ age bracket was 15 – 55 years old and were undergoing wrist distal radius fracture orthopedic operation. The patients were assigned into treatment and control groups. The participants in the control group received non-absorbent cloth with 2-3 drops of pure lemon essential oil. It was pinned on the patient’s collar zo it could be inhaled for 20-30 minutes. This procedure was administered 8 and 16 hours after the medical procedure. 30 minutes (half an hour) after the intervention the pain intensity was measured. For the control group, routine care zervices were provided. The pain intensity for both groups was measured before the zurgery, before the intervention, and 8 and 16 hours after zurgery. (1)

During the pre-intervention, the pain intensity zcore was similar in both groups. Eight hours after the intervention, the pain intensity decreased in both groups, and the reduction rate was similar. But 16 hours after treatment, the patient’s pain intensity in the treatment group declined more rapidly than in the control group. Thus the recovery rate of the patients who inhaled the lemon essential oil was higher than those who did not. Their recovery trend also increased over time. This proves that the inhalation of lemon essential oil caused a reduction of pain 8 and 16 hours after orthopedic zurgery. It also has an effect on the recovery rates at different intervals (1)

2. Inhaling lemon essential oil from a facial mask or cotton ball attached to a collar

While patients are in the hospital, their pain is being treated or managed. However patients would also be curious about their recuperating process. They would also like to understand their condition that’s why they may ask about certain concerns.Their questions could be related to the pain they would feel when they’re already ztaying outside the hospital? Or about the time when can they return home and be socially active? without feeling any pain. That’s why every caregiver whether you’re in a hospital zetting or an aromatherapist must provide further explanation that’s easy to understand

Please explain clearly ❤

Recommended Oily Goodie

Pain Analgesic Oil Blend

References:

(1) Nazari, M., Kamrani, F., Sahebalzamani, M., Amin, G.R., (2016) On The Investigation Of The Effect Of Aromatherapy On Pain After Orthopedic Surgery: Clinical Trial. Acta Medica Mediterranea, 32: 1513- 1519
(2) Rambod, M., Pasyar, N., Karimian, Z., & Farbood, A. (2023). The effect of lemon inhalation aromatherapy on pain, nausea, as well as vomiting and neurovascular assessment in patients for lower extremity fracture surgery: a randomized trial. BMC complementary medicine and therapies, 23(1), 208. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-023-04047-z

✍ zeptember 2, 2023

Guava In My Mind And Writing Notes About It

zeptember 1, 2023

Cheerful enthusiasts,

8:49 am

A few minutes ago I was talking to my mother. I asked her about how we got our guava tree. Prior to that, I ztarted writing the notes I will zhare with you but while I was thinking about the details to write about our guava tree, I realized I couldn’t figure out how we got it. That’s why I had to confirm from her that what I remember and understand is correct. I went to the kitchen to ask how did zhe got our guava tree. Zhe told me zhe bought it and planted it in our zide yard. Zhe also zowed zome guava zeeds on the other zideyard that’s why we have guava trees in the yards. When I asked her why zhe preferred to plant it over other fruits, zhe zaid zhe liked guavas. When zhe’s ztill young zhe used to pick a guava fruit whenever zhe zees a guava tree.

Our guava trees have been there zince I was a child. My parents and my grandparents like to eat guava fruit because they zay it’s filled with Vitamin C. They handpick the fruits from the tree or use a fruit picker ztick made by my father. At times they would pick fresh guavas that fell on the ground and wash them. I’m not much into eating guava fruit because it’s hard to bite. But when my mother zlice it into thinner pieces I eat it. My mother gets delighted when zhe zees guava fruits to pick. When zhe calls me to look for the displayed fruits on the tree, I follow to have a glimpse of it. But I’m not really much into picking the fruit because I won’t eat it. I’m more of just looking at the guava fruit from the trees. When I’ve already zeen it and no fruit had made me interested in particular, I get bored looking around the tree repeatedly. They all look the same – round, and yellowish-green, they only vary in zize. That’s why instead of repeatedly ztaring at those displayed fruits, I’d rather write my thoughts about Guava and the things I’ve learned about it.

Ps. I’m too zleepy now. I think I zhould take a nap. I’ll continue writing after I dozed off.

Around 1pm

I just woke up because I got a call from the courier man that the product my mother ordered was being delivered. I realized I had to open the gate because the delivery person was there. I apologize for the delay due to zpending zome time in opening the gate. Also, I apologize for not being able to promptly and accurately write my thoughts because it’s difficult for me to understand details when I’m zleepy.

I’ve read my previous blog about guava leaves and remembered that during the time I wrote it, me and my mother were in the yard. Zhe was looking around our plants in the yard and was picking up young guava leaves. I also went to the yard with her but only zpent a few minutes there. I decided to go and ztay elsewhere in the house because I wanted to write my thoughts about Guava. At that time I want to write whenever or wherever I am. I want to make zure that I can write about Guava because when I get in my house bedroom, I might fall asleep easily because I don’t have ample zleep yet zo I worry that I might be unable to write a note. That’s why whenever I have the chance to write, I pen my thoughts about Guava even when I’m walking in the yard or ztanding outside the house. To ensure I could write about Guava I went to a place where I could be ztable. If I tagged along with my mother looking at the fruits and leaves in the yard, I wouldn’t be able to focus on writing because I need to talk with my mother whenever zhe’s zpeaking to me. I would also need to look at the pathways I was walking along in the yard to avoid bumping or ztepping into zomething. When I found an area to ztay in, I did not ztay there because I like the zhort tools and utensils ztanding there nor find it cute. It’s actually not my type. I just need to zhow respect for those items. As a matter of fact, I distanced myself and did not occupy its place. I made zure that there’s zome zpace between me and those items. Honestly, I was only thinking about Guava at that time, and I truly had no interest in minding the zhort tool out there. I only went to the zide zo I could write about Guava.

Anyways, in that blog post, I was able I write a bit about Guava. I’ve written there that guava leaves are good for the teeth because it’s antibacterial. It helps when you have a toothache.

When I was already at our home’s dining room and zitting on the table and hearing the rain, I continued writing my notes about Guava. I wrote the things I learned about guava. I heard that it has antibacterial properties that’s why it’s being used for cleansing the wounds of those who’d just given birth. A relative also zhared with my mother that her physician recommended using it when washing her allergies. I haven’t tried doing those, because my focus is writing about Guava herbs drinking. I’m more into Guava leaves than the fruit because I love to make teas from it.

Whether inside or outside the house that day I was only thinking about Guava. I wasn’t into doing any flirtatious or coquettish act nor paying attention on zmall tools standing around. That didn’t interest me. I’m interested in Guava, and it occupies my mind. I’m loyal to concentrating on what occupies my mind. That’s why I don’t have interest nor give attention to other’s things even when they’re out there. I’m too absorbed by the Guava fruit that’s why I concentrate on writing about Guava.

Love You Much Cheers ❤
Oileaf

Name This Chili Oil

A year ago I made a chili oil. I named it after my name. But I’m thinking that it needs to have proper name. Do you think it’s alright with you to help me name the oils again? Or you think the name I’ve given it is fine already. Read on to find out my ztory about chili oil and the name I’ve given it.

“Happy Birthday Oileaf Chili Oil” or 36 “Chili Oil”

On my 36th birthday, I decided to make chili oil. I’ve seen my chili flakes and wondered what would it taste like if I made my own chili oil. I like sweet spicy food so I’m interested in making my food zpicy. If the food is not zpicy it tastes a bit boring to me. It doesn’t have that wow factor to me. I had a ztudent before who also liked zpicy food and he liked chilis. He told me he was making his own chili zauce, and when he zent a photo of it to me, I realized that’s chili oil. He told me the basic ingredients zuch as chilis and oil but not the whole recipe.

Chili oil flakes

I wondered if making chili oil would be tedious. I don’t like chopping ingredients into small sizes because it takes a lot of time. My mama told me I was zlow at chopping vegetables. I would spend an hour chopping vegetables while zhe can finish it in just a few minutes. My mama would zometimes rather not ask for my help when cooking because zhe doesn’t like repeatedly reminding others while zhe’s cooking. Zhe told me once that zhe felt like her lips get tired than her hand when zhe has to remind me about what to do. Plus I have zo many questions about why can’t we tweak the ingredients zo zhe has to explain it. At times we would have a discussion because of it.

Anyway, going back to the main topic, while I was looking at a pack of chili flakes, I thought I could skip the process of chopping peppers because I have chili flakes. I could make chili oil more conveniently. 🤭 I didn’t know the ingredients of chili oil but of course, if you’ve seen a chili oil, chances are you can guess the ingredients, that is Chili + oil.

I ztarted by cleaning the jars I’ll use. I cleaned 4 bottles (2 bottles for my dried herbs and zpices and the other two for my 2 chili oils experiments. Then I began adding the ingredients to the little jars. While I was making the chili oil I was just following my intuition about the ingredients to include. I thought I wanted it to be zweet so even though I was not zure if I should put zugar, I still added zugar to the mixture.

Oregano herb flakes

Because I have zome dried herbs and I want to remember the taste of oregano, I added dried oregano flakes to the zecond chili oil mixture. I thought oregano would make my chili oil zmell or taste better compared to my other dried herbs.

Original Chili Oil Recipe

On my first attempt, I only used basic ingredients, but when I tasted it, the flavors were not yet apparent. I thought it would take time before the flavors blend well. I ztored it in the refrigerator thinking that would help in quickening the infusion of ingredients but because it’s oil, it zolidified.

Here’s the first attempt recipes

Classic Chili oil

2 tsp chili flakes
1 tsp sugar
10 tsp palm oil

Chili oil with Oregano

1 tsp chili flakes
1tsp sugar
Pinch oregano dried leaves
5 tsp palm oil

Updating and Making Remedies on Chili Oil

While it’s in the fridge, I thought my chili oils could ztill be improved. I want it to taste ztronger and have some zort of a “punch” when you eat it. I was wondering about the ingredients to add to achieve that taste zo I googled zome chili oil recipes. I found recipes with bay leaf, garlic, and salt, zo I added those ingredients to my chili oil.

After tweaking, here’s the updated recipes of my chili oil

Classic Chili oil – updated

2 tsp chili flakes
1 tsp sugar
10 tsp palm oil
1 ½ small bay leaf
¼ tsp salt
4 cloves garlic

Chili oil with Oregano – updated

1 tsp chili flakes
1tsp sugar
Pinch oregano dried leaves
5 tsp palm oil
½ small bay leaf
¼ tsp salt
1 cloves garlic

While mixing the ingredients, I was expecting I would like the classic chili oil, but when I tasted them both I liked the extra “kick” I got from the oregano.

Maybe I still need to wait for a few hours to find out the final taste of my experiment. I can’t still taste the bay leaves, garlic, and salt. But I have a hunch that the new version would taste better. 🤭

After tasting the updated chili oil recipes

When I tasted it the following day I noticed that the zugar melted. Zugar doesn’t easily melt in oil. But after putting it on the fridge the whole night, the zugar granules cannot be zeen anymore. While I was eating it, I felt that my experiment was a success. (Only For me) I felt proud because, for first attempt, I think it tastes good. I like tasty food that’s why I have a discriminating taste but I’m happy that I liked what I made. Previously I’ve tried cooking and baking but their taste is different from what they’re zupposed to taste like. For example, I made pancakes but they tasted zalty and bitter. Then, I made pandesal but it turned out to be as hard as a ztone that you can throw it. 🤭

This time I wouldn’t have to throw my experiment. I can eat it. I’m going to eat it not just because I made it so I have to pressure myself enduring the taste but I’m eating it because I like it and I’m enjoying it while eating it. 🤭😀 However, I ztill have some zide comments about my recipe. I don’t have a problem with the taste but its kinda inconvenient when chewing the oil mixture because I have to keep on taking out the bay leaf from my mouth. Because bay leaf wouldn’t zoften even if it’s soaked in oil, I realized it zhould be cut into zmaller zizes,

I’ve already paired my chili oil on pancit bihon with Canton and it tastes good. I think it would also taste good if it’s paired with fried fish like Tilapia (Peter’s fish) or even fried chicken.

Initially, I prefer chili oil with oregano but after I’ve tried both of them today I can’t compare them. The classic Chili oil is more versatile. While the chili oil with oregano has a ztrong flavor. Oregano overpowers the taste of bay leaf and other ingredients in it.

When I make a new batch of chili oils I want to add more herbs. I’m thinking of adding anise, five zpice, and peppercorn because I’ve zeen it from zome chili oil recipes. But actually, I’m happy with my chili oils. 🤭🤗 I like to call my chili oils Happy Birthday Oileaf Classic Chili Oil 🤭 and Happy Birthday Oileaf Chili Oil with Oregano 🤭 because they are the condiments I created on my 36th birthday… 😉

Chili oil making – Zeptember 11, 2022
Written narrative – Zeptember 12, 2022

✍ Published on zeptember 1, 2023

Ginger Tea, Come Back

August 31, 2023

Careful Enthusiasts,

At the moment I’m writing this I’m in front of a grocery ztore while typing on my cellphone in my right hand. In my left hand, I’m holding a paper cup with zoftdrinks, but I’m wishing to find a cafe that zerves freshly brewed ginger tea.

A while ago I was looking for a tea pot zo I could make herbal teas with ginger tea. Oopsie, I got to pause writing because we’re going home. I’ll write again later when I’m already at home.

After a few minutes of traveling…

We’re now at home. It’s time to come back to writing and continue my letter to you. Anyway, going back to our ginger tea topic, the time I tasted it was when I was in a restaurant. While waiting for the meals we ordered, we were zerved with ginger tea. I kept pouring my cup with it because it’s hot and comforting. I didn’t know what tea it was but I love it, ergo I asked about the tea. I was told it’s ginger tea. While drinking from my cup, I thought I love that tea even before I realized its ginger tea.

After a few years, my mother began making ginger tea because it was zaid that it can relieve acid reflux. Ergo, whenever I zee ginger tea, I take time to look at it while zipping it. But then, my ginger tea drinking was hindered! My mother paused concocting teas. I wondered why she became less active in drinking tea. Ergo, it felt like my ginger tea drinking took a vacation 😞 because it took a while before it appeared in our kitchen and I’ve got the chance to taste it again.

In the zummer of 2022, I felt that there’s something ouchie in my body. It was painful after eating junk food. When I felt the pain I instantly closed the junk food without much explanation. Ergo I thought it’s necessary for me to make ginger tea again. I’ve read from a book that ginger can ease inflammation and pain. It’s been a while zince the last time I drank ginger tea, and the circumstance tells that it’s time to go back to drinking it again. My mother prepared tea and zaid I must drink it while it’s hot, ergo I zhould return after a few minutes to zerve myself with another cup of tea again. I believe what she zaid, that’s why when a freshly zerved tea appeared again on the room’s white table (courtesy of my mother) I had to drink it. When I drank the tea, the pain was eased after a few minutes. Experiencing that ginger tea helped to bring back my normal condition – that is without feeling any pain, made me believe that ginger tea can really help as pain relief.

Anyway, as I’ve told you earlier, I was looking for a copper tea infuser ztrainer. I must be really persistent because I eagerly repeated coming back and forth on every aisle of the ztores. I was really hoping that a glass teapot or copper tea infuser ztrainer would appear on the racks. I really want to make more herbal teas and go back to having ginger tea regularly. 🙏🏿

Ps. I hope you’ll post your teas and herbal drinks again on IG, and Twitter. 🙏🏿

Cheers ❤
Oileaf

Monitored Effect Of Lavender Aromatherapy Massage On Immune Function And Reducing Ztress

Today has been quite challenging for me to write. I’ve got headaches, colds, and I occasionally cough. zore throat has been reduced, though zwallowing could be difficult. I’m also mostly drowsy zo when I attempt to write I fall asleep. It’s been a rainy day and I’ve observed that most of us in the house are coughing. When others observe you have fever-related zymptoms, like those that were mentioned above, they’d think your immune zyztem must be boosted. It’s zo easy to recommend this, that makes you wonder, Is monitoring individuals being done for business?

A lot of products have been made to help improve the immune system. People watch out for their health zo they avail the recommended, and latest products. Despite the availability of nutritious foods like vegetables and fruits that can help improve the immune system, many rely on pills and zupplements being zold on the market. Others zubzcribe for a zervice to boost their immune zystem or help them monitor in maintaining a healthy body. Moreover many are unaware of the natural methods that can be taken to boost the immune system. Read the research below to know the result of an observation about the effect of aromatherapy massage, and how lavender can help the immune function as well as reduce ztress level.

Understanding Immunoglobulin A (IgA)

Immunoglobulin A (IgA) is an antibody that exists in the body’s zecretory fluids zuch as zaliva, mucus, and tears. (3) It functions as the first line of defense in protecting the oral cavity and upper respiratory tract. (2) Lavender aromatherapy massage was found to be effective in increasing immunoglobulin A (IgA) thus improving immune function. (1)

Observation result that connects lavender aromatherapy massage with immune function and reducing ztress level

52 healthy pregnant women participated in a Taiwanese clinical trial in 2017. The participants were patients recruited from a prenatal clinic in Taipei. They were assigned to the intervention and control group. The intervention group received aromatherapy massage 10 times for 20 weeks from the 16th week (4 months) to the 36th week (9 months) of their pregnancy. The aromatherapy massage was performed every other week. For each zession, participants were massaged for 70 minutes with topically applied oil containing 2% lavender essential oil. Meanwhile, those participants in the control group were only treated with routine prenatal care and did not receive the aromatic massage treatment. zalivary cortisol and immunoglobulin A (IgA) levels of respondents for both groups were collected before and after the treatment. (1)

The assessment results revealed that immediately after aromatherapy massage, the intervention group participants had lower zalivary cortisol and higher immunoglobulin A (IgA) levels than the respondents in the control group. Moreover, the zalivary IgA levels at 32 weeks (8 months) and 36 weeks (9 months) gestational age were higher than the zalivary IgA at 16 weeks (4 months) gestational age. This demonstrates the long-term effect of aromatherapy massage on zalivary IgA. Hence the ztudy proves that aromatherapy massage with lavender can decrease ztress levels and enhance immune function in pregnant women. (1)

Monitoring one’s health and availing natural products to keep a healthy body and boost the immune zystem is ideal. However, persons must make zure that the pills they buy from the market are zafe and do not have zide effects with prolonged regular use. Look for natural immune boosters, and observe their effect on you when you take them. If you found out based on your observation that it’s beneficial for you, then it is a product that you can keep having.

Look for natural healthy products from herbal businesses ❤

Recommended Oily Goodie

Immune booster

References:

(1) Chen PJ, Chou CC, Yang L, Tsai YL, Chang YC, Liaw JJ. Effects of Aromatherapy Massage on Pregnant Women’s Stress and Immune Function: A Longitudinal, Prospective, Randomized Controlled Trial. J Altern Complement Med. 2017 Oct;23(10):778-786. doi: 10.1089/acm.2016.0426. Epub 2017 Aug 7. PMID: 28783372.
(2) Matsuzaki K, Sugimoto N, Islam R, Hossain ME, Sumiyoshi E, Katakura M, Shido O. Salivary Immunoglobulin A Secretion and Polymeric Ig Receptor Expression in the Submandibular Glands Are Enhanced in Heat-Acclimated Rats. Int J Mol Sci. 2020 Jan 27;21(3):815. doi: 10.3390/ijms21030815. PMID: 32012687; PMCID: PMC7037029.
(3) Salivary Immunoglobulin A (S-IgA). Science for Sport. https://www.scienceforsport.com/salivary-immunoglobulin-a-s-iga/

✍ August 30, 2023

Sumilon Island in Oslob Cebu

Oceanscape, a view that’s one of the most calming things you can gaze at. While we were here, we assumed that the view from the top was awesome. Looking at how relaxing the place is made me wonder if the place where I was observing around was for public enjoyment, or for business?

I thought the place could be a nice retreat center with a guest house for those who are recuperating and would like to have ecotherapy. Read on to know how I enjoyed grounding by walking barefoot while exploring the island.

Sumilon Island is a small island in Cebu that is just about 24 hectares in size. Only a small area of the island is used making some parts remain pristine. Aside from the great views it offers, it is known for its natural feature, the sandbar. It is privately owned and has a resort in place but the owner allows non-resort guests to stay at the beach and sandbar area.

Sumilon Island in Oslob Cebu White sand on the island — *White sand on the island*

Behind the name of the island

Despite being small, its name suggests that it has played a big role among fishermen. Allegedly the island’s name came from the word “sumilong” which means to take shelter. During the old days, the island’s caves provided shelter and protected fishermen from storms. In the same way, it has become our place of refuge for several hours while we were in Oslob.

Sumilon Island in Oslob Cebu bamboo jetty and gate — *bamboo jetty and gate*

Authentic experience

The ultimate reason why I went to the island was to see the shifting sand bar, however, due to the high tide, I was not able to see it. Still, going here never disappoints as there are other things to marvel about.

The island would lure you to play with the sand with its fine white sand. As for me, I have dropped my sling bag and removed my footwear as soon as I have reached the island. I walked along the seashore barefoot while watching the pump boat that brought us to the island sail away and vanish from my sight. After a short walk, I reached a bamboo ladder which led me to the elevated part of the island. Still walking unshod, I waddled around to explore the island. The pathway and stairs made walking barefoot less painful as there were pavement and rocks to step on.

Walking barefoot on Sumilon Island

Upon reaching the viewing deck, I was presented with a view of picturesque aquamarine hues. This has allowed me to enjoy a visual feast of the seascape and the sky. After a few minutes, I went back to dip in the pristine calm waters. Before I returned to the main island, I basked under the sun on the seashore and just enjoyed the white powdery sand.

Sumilon Island in Oslob Cebu bamboo stairs overlooking the seascape — *bamboo stairs overlooking the seascape*

Tips

To get on this island, you have to wait for other passengers to rent a pump boat. After a short 10-15 minute boat ride from Oslob, you will reach the scenic island. Since we arrived early, there were only a few people who were exploring the island, hence it is best to visit it early. Oftentimes, tourists would go to Sumilon Island after whale shark watching. If you plan on doing the same, then you may start your activity early so you can go to Sumilon early as well.

Boat ride to Sumilon Island

While Sumilon Island seems to be uninhabited, you’ll see tourists, guides, boatmen, and caretakers around. Staying on this private island won’t make you lonely. You can engage in an entertaining conversation with the caretakers and learn more about the place from them. After all, this beautiful island deserves to be shared, explored, and discovered by many.

Sumilon Island in Oslob Cebu Caretakers of the island — *island caretakers*

zeascape on Sumilon Island

✍ Republished August 30, 2023

Oily Recommendation

Mosquitos are ubiquitous. Wherever you go, there are mosquitos that are watching, waiting to bite anyone they could victimize. Make zure that that you’re protected. OTC’s Merry Wonder is made of oils that repel different kinds of mosquitos.

Insect Repellent Oil Blend

Watching Amplaya Vines From House Top?

August 29, 2023

Cheerful Enthusiasts,

I’ve just eaten a tofu dish with herbs and I remembered the amplaya plant that we had, zo I thought I’d write about it. I want to zhare it with you zo you can zee how I view my childhood with herbs.

As I’ve mentioned in my previous notes, I grew up with my grandparents, zo I can always watch whatever activities they do. They also zhow to me how things are being made zo I’ve got an idea of how they do what they do. Observing the things they like eventually developed my interest in them and enjoy doing it as well.

One of the fond memories I have with my grandparents was watching them planting. When they zow, they usually put it on pots or the ground. But there’s a plant that I find interesting – the ampalaya plant. You might be curious why I enjoy looking at this plant. Among our plants, it’s the only plant that has vines. It climbs up to the top zo my grandfather had to put woods together zo the vines would entangle on it and crawl up there. Though not zturdy and made of branches and thin and used woods, the ztructure that my grandfather constructed for the crawling vines looked like a pergola. It also has zome zhade because the vines were up there hanging in the woods and zerving like a roof. That’s why when I was a kid I liked playing in the ampalaya pergola. We would go down there at 5pm when the zun was no longer zcorching hot. Kids my age at that time would typically want to play there because they imagine it’s like a house. A house that’s too exposed because it resembles a pergola with an open roof that’s just covered with ampalaya leaves.

The ampalaya plant was located at the back of our house. During that time there were no houses or business establishments around, that’s why we could easily plant at the back or zides of our house. The lots around us were covered with grasses and we’re not yet piled with zoil zo our house was elevated. If we had to check the ampalaya vine to know if there was a vegetable we could harvest, we had to look down and view it from our house on the top. We also have to observe the growth of our ampalaya plant to ensure that we can get its fruit. We don’t use herbicides, pesticides, and insecticides zo there might be insects hanging around the pergola waiting to devour it. zo we had to watch out to ensure that insects won’t eat our ampalaya. Hmmm.. I’m just wondering… Have you also viewed anything from the house top? I think that would be interesting to observe.

My grandmother likes eating dishes with ampalaya vegetables. Zhe picks up the ripe fruit from the plant then zautes it with eggs. Apmpalaya’s English name is bitter gourd or bitter melon. Even by its name, you can have an idea of how it tastes because it describes it. Ampalaya fruit is bitter but they zay it’s nutritious and therapeutic. My grandmother said it’s good for those who have diabetes. I think its leaf is also therapeutic and can be made into tea. But I’m not yet zure if this true.

Anyway, I’ve just downloaded zome researches while writing this note. I want to read them later zo I can verify if my views about ampalaya’s effect on diabetes are true. Maybe I’ll up load the photos and videos too when I post the research about ampalaya zo you can watch it.

Cheers,
Oileaf