(Ciele) Using Aromatherapy in Hospital Setting To Help Cancer Patients

Understandably, some are skeptical about the use of healing arts when treating some illnesses or symptoms. You can find a lot of suggestions that are not yet proven effective, hence caution is a must. It’s good to know though that we can rely on some recommendations that are provided by some hospitals that are incorporating integrative medicine in treating their patients. Some of these hospitals use herbs and aromatherapy to manage the symptoms of cancer treatment and temporary side effects.

This quick post will look at the essential oils that can be used in hospital settings as well as home care for cancer patients. The list below is sourced from a video created by MD Anderson Cancer Center hence, we know that the essential oils outlined below we’re probably used repeatedly in helping their patients to feel better when their cancer symptoms occurs. The hospital had shortlisted the essential oils they found the most appropriate and most effective during cancer care.

Here’s the list of essential oil you can use as per symptom:

nausea and vomiting:

  • spearmint
  • peppermint
  • orange
  • ginger

promote sleep

  • lavender
  • vetiver
  • myrrh
  • petitgrain
  • frankincense
  • chamomile

general relaxation

  • bergamot
  • clary sage
  • geranium
  • lavender
  • palmarosa
  • petitgrain
  • vetiver
  • ylang ylang
  • basil
  • chamomile.

drowsiness

  • basil
  • rosemary
  • geranium
  • peppermint
  • grapefruit
  • lemon
  • black pepper

To learn more about how aromatherapy can help cancer patients kindly watch the entire video.

Happy caring 💋❤

Reference:

  • UT Television for Place of Wellness. Aromatherapy for Cancer Related Symptoms. 2010. The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center https://youtu.be/WOLfhulU4vk

Perfume in the Bible and it’s Ethereal Effects

Topical products like balm, ointments, and oils are mentioned in the bible and their importance to people for good health and healing. As we browse through the pages of the bible we would also see even during the old times, perfumes are considered important. It was also started in the bible that even idol worshippers desired to increase their perfume (Isaiah 57:9). By reading different verses we can see the makers of the perfume, the purposes of perfume, and what are the ingredients used in perfumes.

The Perfumers

Perfumes during the ancient times were done by apothecaries (Exodus 30:35). According to R.H Kenneth (1933), there are guilds for perfume makers for men and women. Nehemiah 3:8 states that Hananiah was the son of one of the apothecaries.” The English translation of this verse doesn’t tell us specifically the gender of the perfumer, but looking at Strong’s dictionary would enable us to discover that originally the word used for apothecaries is rak-kawkh (H7546) which means a male ointment or perfume maker. Meanwhile, In 1 Samuel 8:13 we would find the word confectionaries which is equivalent to rak-kaw-kaw which is H7548 in Strong Dictionary which means a female perfume maker or confectioner.

Purposes of Perfumes

1. Praying and Worshipping

One of the commandments of God to Moses was to make an incense that was to be placed in front of the ark of the testimony (Exodus 30:34-38). This perfume would be exclusively used for the Lord. To have a better perspective on why incense or perfumes serves as an important component when worshipping God we could read some verses from the old and new testament. Psalm 141:2 tells us that the person pleading to God was requesting Him to receive his prayers as incense. To unravel why this is his will, three verses in the book of Revelation would enable us to see the connection.

In Revelation 8:3 it is written that the incense shall be combined with the prayers of the saints, hence we can see that the prayers of the saints “ are with the smoke of the incense” in Revelation 8:4. This explains why the prayers of the saints are the odors in the golden vial (Revelation 5:8). This is what happens to our prayers when we tell it to God and this is also how God receives our prayers. Moses, the Levites, and the servants of God understand this hence we could find that during the time of the Old Testament using perfume or incense is required and desired when praying and worshiping God.

2. Cheer us up

Smelling sweet perfume makes us happy. Even the writer of Proverbs agrees with this as it says in Proverbs 27:9 that “perfume rejoices the heart.” Because perfume makes us happy, we can see that the people in the bible, and even us at present finds perfume very valuable.

Composition of Perfumes in the Bible

Two books in the bible which are said to be written by Solomon what perfumes are made of. In Songs of Solomon 3:6, Frankincense and Myrrh are the main ingredients of the perfume. While Proverbs 7:17 tells us that Aloes and Cinnamon are the ingredients used for bed perfume.

Stay fragrant 💋❤

References:

  • R. H. Kennett. Ancient Hebrew Social Life And Custom As Indicated In Law Narrative And Metaphor. 1933. Humphrey Milford, Oxford University Press Amen House, EC
  • King James Bible Version

(Ciele) Peppermint Essential Oil for Cognitive Performance, Mental Relaxation, Calming Muscles, and Analgesic Effect

A study elicited the effects of peppermint essential oil on various concerns

The combination of peppermint oil, eucalyptus oil, and ethanol was investigated in the 1994 study of Göbel et al. In this study 32 healthy subjects were tested and the blend was applied on the forehead and temples of the participants using a sponge. The finding of this study revealed that the blend with peppermint oil can increase cognitive performance. It also has a muscle-relaxing and mentally relaxing ability. Peppermint oil with eucalyptus oil and ethanol had little influence on pain zensitivity. But when peppermint was mixed with ethanol there was an analgesic effect with a reduction in zensitivity to headache. (1)

❤

Recommended Oily Goodie

Muscle Calmer Oil Blend

Headache

Concentration Oil Blend

References:

  • (1) Göbel, H., Schmidt, G., & Soyka, D. (1994). Effect of peppermint and eucalyptus oil preparations on neurophysiological and experimental altimetric headache parameters. Cephalalgia: an international journal of headache, 14(3), 228–182. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1468-2982.1994.014003228.x

(Ciele) Case Reports About the Effects of Wart Treatment Program Using Tea Tree Oil

Warts are a common skin problem caused by a certain kind of virus. There are different ways to treat this condition which include undergoing a procedure or applying some topical. The kind of treatment would depend on the severity and the size of the wart. The most common way of treating it is through cauterization. However, those who want to try alternative ways of healing use tea tree oil as this is usually recommended by natural medicine practitioners as well as aromatherapists.

Tea tree oil consists of different components which include Terpinene-4-ol and α-terpineol. Both have antiviral properties and can inhibit viral replication of viruses (Carson and Hammer, 2006 as cited by Deenadayalan et al., 2022), hence making them an appropriate medication for warts that are known to be caused by viruses.

This post presents not only how to use tea tree oil in wart treatment but presents case studies that report the effectiveness of tea tree oil in addressing wart issues. To understand the effect of tea tree oil on different populations, the case studies presented in this post are categorized into two. The first is for adult patients while the second category is for children.

I. Adult Wart Patients

Case 1: 21 days topical application of tea tree oil

In the case study of Deenadayalan et al.(2022), a 22-year-old female had an HPV infection with a cutaneous wart on her right index and middle fingers and had no warts in other parts of her body. Tea tree oil was diluted with coconut oil in a ratio of 1:5. The diluted tea tree oil was applied to the affected area using a cotton ball once a day daily. She was recommended to use tea tree oil for 21 days, and after the treatment period, the wart was completely removed and there’s is no recurrence of the wart within one moof nth follow-up. It was also reported that the patient did not experience pain or had scars during the treatment.

II. Children Wart Patients

Case 1: 12 days topical application of tea tree oil

A 7-year-old female wart patient was reported to have been successfully treated using tea tree oil in the study of Millar et al (2008). The child had a wart on her right middle finger. Tea tree oil was topically applied once daily and the treatment duration was 12 days.

Case 2: 10 days wart total removal and 20 days topical application of tea tree oil

Two wart patient cases have been presented in the 2016 study of Alsanad and Alkhamees. The study included a 14-year- old and a 9- year-old boy. Alsanad and Alkhamee reported in their paper that there were no side effects or allergic skin reactions when they use tea tree oil in treating warts.

Case 2.a: 14-year-old boy

A 14-year-old boy had a wart on his little finger on his right hand and has no other warts on his body. Tea tree oil was applied twice a day on the affected area daily. During the treatment, the warts were first washed before applying tea tree oil using cotton swabs. The intervention program took ten days. Changes were seen in the first three days as there was a wart size reduction. In seven days, the wart had disappeared.

Case 2.b: 9-year-old boy

A 9-year-old boy had a wart on the sole of his left foot. The wart had a round lesion with little black dots. When the pressure was applied to the affected area, the patient experienced pain and discomfort. To treat the wart, it’s first washed before the application of tea tree oil using a cotton swab. Tea tree oil was topically applied twice a day every day. However, it took 20 days before the wart was completely healed due to some challenges in medication compliance.

Risks in Using Tea Tree Oil in Wart Treatment

Some researches also show the risk of using tea tree oil in wart treatment.

A case of allergic contact dermatitis to tea tree oil was presented in the study of Ambrogio et. al (2022). A 28-year-old patient was applying lotion with tea tree oil on the wart on his right toe. After several days of using the lotion, he had dermatitis that spread to different parts of his body. It was said that the reason for the dermatitis was caused by the oxidized tea tree oil.

From this case report, we can learn that it is important to practice caution and ensure that the tea tree oil you are using is not oxidized. Oxidation can happen when the tea tree oil is not properly stored, and exposed to light. It can also be contaminated when the oil bottle is frequently opened. Other factors that can cause oxidation are humidity, heat, and oxygen. The researchers also warned that tea tree oil must not be applied in higher concentrations on damaged skin. It must be diluted to reduce risks and prevent allergies or skin reactions.

Treatment Program Details

Aside from the method of application presented in the different cases above, there are also recommendations you can find from different books. In the book Aromatherapy A-Z, the author suggests using neat or undiluted tea tree oil and applying it directly on the center of the wart then covering it with dry plaster. According to the author tea tree oil should be applied daily until the wart has been removed. She also mentioned that treatment duration may take less than a week to a month.

Treatment program details guide us on how we can use tea tree oil appropriately when addressing wart concerns. However, by comparing different literature, it can be observed (as of the moment of writing) that the usual details presented are the method of application, treatment duration, and application frequency but when is the right time to apply the tea tree oil on the wart is not being mentioned. Future researchers may include this in their study.

Transparency Statement: I am not an expert Aromatherapist nor have tried using tea tree oil in treating a wart, but I am looking forward to seeing more case studies that prove the effectiveness of tea tree oil in the treatment of warts so I can learn more as well as update this post and present more cases here. I think presenting evidence-based research is important as these are reliable and helpful, especially for those who are studying aromatherapy and wanted to have a solid foundation. This can also help seasoned aromatherapists as they can see the effect of using tea tree oil in different case studies.

Heal and care together 💋❤

References:

  • B Deenadayalan, V Venugopal, K Maheshkumar, A Akila, C Yoga Priya. Effect of Topical Application of Tea Tree Oil (Melaleuca alternifolia) on Hand Warts. Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research. 2022 Jan, Vol-16(1): KD01-KD02
  • Millar, B. C., & Moore, J. E. (2008). Successful topical treatment of hand warts in a pediatric patient with tea tree oil (Melaleuca alternifolia). Complementary therapies in clinical practice, 14(4), 225–227. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctcp.2008.05.003
  • Alsanad SM, Alkhamees OA. Tea Tree Oil (Melaleuca alternifolia)-An Efficient Treatment for Warts: Two Case Reports. Int Arch BioMed Clin Res. 2016;2(4):1- 2.DOI:10.21276/iabcr.2016.2.4.1
  • Ambrogio, F.; Foti, C.; Cazzato, G.; Morato, E.; Mazzoccoli, S.; De Caro, A.P.; Cassano, N.; Vena, G.A.; Calogiuri, G.; Romita, P. Spreading Allergic Contact Dermatitis to Tea Tree Oil in an Over-the-Counter Product Applied on a Wart. Medicine 2022, 58, 561. https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina58050561
  • Patricia Davis. Aromatherapy and A-Z. 1988. C.W. Daniel Company Limited

(Ciele) Efficacy of Tea Tree Oil in the Treatment of Onychomycosis

Tea tree oil is one of the recommended topicals for onychomycosis or fingernail fungal infection by naturopathic medicine practitioners. Though different kinds of literature have been suggesting that tea tree oil is a reliable medication for fingernail fungus, it is still considered a folk remedy or nonprescription OTC product ( Arndt et al, 2013). Even though some are suggesting that using folk remedies such as tea tree oil cannot be recommended as they still lack evidence with regards to their efficacy, Arndt et al (2013) stated in their presentation in Update on Onychomycosis: Effective Strategies for Diagnosis and Treatment, that they don’t discourage people from trying these remedies. In the same report, they cited that some patients and healthcare providers have testimonies that tea tree oil can be effective if it is applied properly and consistently. When their paper was written in 2013, Arndt et al. purported that evidence-based studies that prove that nonprescription OTC products can help treat onychomycosis have not yet been conducted. Despite this, they also suggest that clinicians should know and be aware of the possible treatments that have undergone clinical trials and proven to be effective as these can be used for treating onychomycosis.

Realizing the need to have evidence-based research that shows the effect of tea tree oil as a treatment for onychomycosis, we present in this post three clinical trials that report its effect as a medication for nail fungus infection. We will also provide our observations and conclusions as to why we think some methods of tea tree oil applications on onychomycosis are more effective than others.

Antifungal properties of tea tree oil

Tea tree essential oil is extracted from Melaleuca alternifolia leaves. It has antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory properties. It can also easily penetrate the skin hence its components can take action on the infected nails. (6)

1. topical application of tea tree oil cream for 16 weeks

Sixty patients, aged 18-80 years were chosen to participate in the study of Syed et al., (1996) and were randomly assigned to two groups, the active and placebo. The active group used a cream containing 2% butenafine hydrochloride while the other group applied the control cream or 5% tea tree oil three times a day. The results of their study showed that after 16 weeks of applying the two topical creams, 80% of the patients in the active group were cured but four of the participants experienced mild skin inflammation. Meanwhile, the patients in the placebo group showed no adverse effect but no improvement was elicited among placebo participants.

2. topical application of an oil blend with tea tree oil and vitamin E

An antifungal viscous topical with vitamin E and essential oils of lime, oregano, and tea tree has been evaluated in a 2019 Italian 12-month clinical trial. Twenty patients with mild to moderate distal subungual onychomycosis were the participants of the study. Some of the patients had dermatophyte molds and were infected with Trichophyton rubrum and Trichophyton interdigital fungus. Meanwhile, others had non-dermatophyte molds and were infected with Fusarium spp and scopulariopsis bevicaulis fungus. During the intervention, the nail oil was applied on the periungual tissues and nail plates of the patients once a day, every day for 6 months. The patients did not receive any other topical treatments. To test the efficacy of the oily product, the affected nails were evaluated before the intervention, during the 3rd and 6th month of the treatment, and 6 months after the therapy. The researchers claimed in the result’s discussion that for the first weeks of treatment, there’s already an improvement in the clinical appearance of the nails. In the 3rd month of the intervention program, 11 patients reported that they had observed improvement in their nails. After a 12-month study, the majority of the patients had a complete cure for onychomycosis. In totality, the oily product with Vitamin E cured the nail fungus of 15 patients. Meanwhile, two patients had an improvement, and one remained stable. Moreover, all patients were very satisfied with the treatment. No side effects were reported, hence the nail oil is a safe remedy for nail fungus. The researcher reported that the nail oil containing vitamin E, lime, oregano, and tea tree essential oils is effective in restructuring nail appearance. It can also be absorbed at the nail plate’s level. Furthermore, it can reduce the risks of relapses because it makes the nail resistant to infection. Plus, it can maintain its effects for a considerable amount of time. (6)

3. Topical Application of 100% tea tree oil

Two clinical studies report the efficacy of tea tree oil in treating onychomycosis.

The study of Buck et al., (1994) showed that the use of tea tree oil can improve nail appearance and manage the symptoms of onychomycosis. 117 patients were selected and randomly designated into two groups. The groups would either receive 1% clotrimazole solution or 100% tea tree oil for 6 months and apply it twice a day on the toenails with fungal infection. The improvement result between the two groups was comparable. Hence it can be concluded that tea tree oil is also as effective as the commonly prescribed medication. Buck et al., also stated in their paper that the appropriate treatment strategy in the treatment of onychomycosis includes the removal of infected skin tissue.

Tea tree oil can be used as a treatment without side effects is the finding of the research conducted by Abdelhamid (2018). 66 patients participated in their study and were treated with a topical application of 100% tea tree oil for 6 months. The results of their investigation showed that the percentage of patients who were completely cured was 27%. Meanwhile, 65% were partially cured and 8% had no response.

Based on the different clinical investigations presented above, we can observe that the topical application of 100% tea tree oil can help in treating onychomycosis. However, the use of tea tree oil seemed not to be effective if tea tree oil is only mixed with cream at a very low percentage of concentration.

While the studies above show the effectiveness of using 100% use of tea tree oil as a medication for onychomycosis, using diluted tea tree oil is also recommended by some aromatherapists to ensure safety. As care providers, we think that it’s important to consider proper guidelines as well as the concerns of the person we are helping with the treatment. We believe that it’s essential to consider and listen to the preferences of the person we are treating to know what they want and what they need. Doing this will enable us to respect their preferences about the manner they want to be treated. It is also good to submit to their preference if we’ve seen that their preference is the best approach to help them be cured. Open communication and understanding of what the person we are helping will assist us to provide a special way of treatment with TLC which we think is what patients of onychomycosis also want and need.

To see more about onychomycosis treatment using aromatherapy, visit our post about Recommended Tea tree oil dilution for onychomycosis.

Adhere to honest and genuine care 💋❤

References:

  • Abdelhamid D., Gomaa A., Mohammed., Eyada M., El Sweify M.A. Evaluation of the Therapeutic Efficacy of Tea Tree Oil in Treatment of Onychomycosis January 2018. International Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemical Research 9(12) DOI:10.25258/Phyto.v9i12.11184
  • Arndt K., LeBoit, P., Wintroub, B. Update on Onychomycosis: Effective Strategies for Diagnosis and Treatment. University of Louisville School of Medicine Continuing Medical Education. June 2013
  • Syed, T. A., Qureshi, Z. A., Ali, S. M., Ahmad, S., & Ahmad, S. A. (1999). Treatment of toenail onychomycosis with 2% butenafine and 5% Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) oil in cream. Tropical medicine & international health: TM & IH, 4(4), 284–287. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-3156.1999.00396
  • Buck, D. S., Nidorf, D. M., & Adding, J. G. (1994). Comparison of two topical preparations for the treatment of onychomycosis: Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) oil and clotrimazole. The Journal of family practice, 38(6), 601–605
  • Abdelhamid D., Gomaa A., Mohammed., Eyada M., El Sweify M.A. Evaluation of the Therapeutic Efficacy of Tea Tree Oil in Treatment of Onychomycosis January 2018. International Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemical Research 9(12) DOI:10.25258/Phyto.v9i12.11184
  • (6) Alessandrini, A., Starace, M., Bruni, F., & Piraccini, B. M. (2020). An Open Study to Evaluate Effectiveness and Tolerability of a Nail Oil Composed of Vitamin E and Essential Oils in Mild to Moderate Distal Subungual Onychomycosis. Skin appendage disorders, 6(1), 14–18. https://doi.org/10.1159/000503305

(Ciele) Two Reasons That Can Cause Adverse Reactions When Using Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil is one of the most known oils in aromatherapy due to its therapeutic properties in treating several skin diseases. However, it also has the most published allergic reactions among all the essential oils (De Groot & Schmidt E., 2016) This may cause fear among patients and ask whether tea tree oil can be faithful in proving its efficacy in healing their illnesses. We aim to find honest and sincere answers in addressing this question, hence we looked at different research to understand what triggers the adverse effects when using tea tree oil.

In this post, two possible causes are listed as to why tea tree oil may elicit some side effects when applied topically.

1. Oxidized tea tree oil

41 cases were identified to have positive reactions to tea tree oil among the 2320 patches tested at the Skin and Cancer Foundation Victoria over 4.5 years. 66% or 27 of 41 have claimed that they used tea tree oil while 20% or 8 of 41 have reported having used neat tea tree oil. This 2007 retrospective review conducted by Rutherford et al. showed that freshly opened tea tree oil yields no or weak reaction.

Meanwhile, a 1997 study presented by Fritz et al. have reported that 7 patients had allergic contact dermatitis after using products containing tea tree oil. The result of their study has led them to the conclusion that photo-aged tea tree oil is a stronger sensitizer.

To understand how photo-oxidation takes place and know what it does to tea tree oil, reviewing the study of Hausen et al. (1999) would be helpful. The researchers in this paper have exposed the tea tree oil to light, oxygen, and warmth by placing it on a windowsill. Storing tea tree oil in this way for a few days to months can lead to photo-oxidation which can result in the degradation of the quality of the oil. Oxidized tea tree oil then becomes a moderate to strong sensitizer as peroxides, epoxides, and endoperoxides, like ascaridol, and 1,2,4-trihydroxy methane is formed. These compounds are responsible for the development of allergic contact dermatitis (Hausen et al., 1999). This claim is supported by the 2014 research findings of Christoffers et al. as it states in his paper that oxidized tea tree oil that contains compounds such as ascaridole may cause allergic contact dermatitis. Moreover, the 2006 study by Hammer and his colleagues is in agreement that oxidation of the tea tree oil leads to allergic reactions.
Several research also reports consistent findings.

The research of De Groot and Schmidt, E. (2016) and Ahmad et al. (2019), and the 2007 investigation of Rutherford et al. all agree that fresh tea tree oil has a weak sensitizing material. While oxidized tea tree oil becomes a sensitizer three times stronger (Hausen et Al., 1999) as once oxidation takes place, its allergenic potency also increases (Ahmad et al. (2019). Hence, to preserve the quality of tea tree oil Hammer and his colleagues suggested in their 2006 paper that tea tree oil must be stored for correctly.

2. Topical use of off-label, 50% concentration tea tree oil

A 2021 study by Tharmarajah and Coroneo reported that a 44-year-old man with a 1-year history of blepharitis had experienced bilateral ocular discomfort. After using topical, off-label 50% tea tree oil solution. The researchers advised to use of approved, low-concentration tea tree oil products when treating Demodex-related blepharitis.

This recommendation is in agreement with Hammer et al (2006) and Groot and Schmidt, E. (2016) statements. According to Hammer and, and his colleagues, using tea tree oil at higher concentrations may cause skin irritation, while Groot and Schmidt E. claimed that most allergic reactions are caused by the use of pure tea tree oil. Ergo, to ensure safety it is recommended to apply only diluted oil topically (Hammer et al., 2006)

Though there are studies that report some side effects in using tea tree oil, knowing and choosing the right tea tree oil, plus ensuring the quality of your tea tree oil, handling it with care, and protecting it from being exposed to factors that can cause oxidation will enable you to experience the therapeutic effects of tea tree oil.

Be committed and faithfully embrace best practices 💋❤

References:

  • (1) De Groot, A. C., & Schmidt, E. (2016). Tea tree oil: contact allergy and chemical composition. Contact dermatitis, 75(3), 129–143. https://doi.org/10.1111/cod.12591
  • Rutherford, T., Nixon, R., Tam, M., & Tate, B. (2007). Allergy to tea tree oil: a retrospective review of 41 cases with positive patch tests over 4.5 years. The Australasian journal of dermatology, 48(2), 83–87. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1440-0960.2007.00341.x
  • Fritz, T. M., Burg, G., & Krasovec, M. (2001). Dermatitis de contact allergique aux cosmétiques à base de Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree oil) [Allergic contact dermatitis to cosmetics containing Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree oil)]. Annales de dermatologie et de venereology, 128(2), 123–126.
  • Hausen, B. M., Reichling, J., & Harkenthal, M. (1999). Degradation products of monoterpenes are the sensitizing agents in tea tree oil. American journal of contact dermatitis: official journal of the American Contact Dermatitis Society, 10(2), 68–77. https://doi.org/10.1016/s1046-199x(99)90002-7
  • Ahmad S., Afsana., Popli H. A review on efficacy and tolerability of tea tree oil for acne. Delhi Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research University. Vol 9 No 3 (2019): Volume 9, Issue 3, May June 2019
  • Christoffers, W. A., Blömeke, B., Coenraads, P. J., & Schuttelaar, M. L. (2014). The optimal patch test concentration for ascaridole as a sensitizing component of tea tree oil. Contact dermatitis, 71(3), 129–137. https://doi.org/10.1111/cod.12199
  • Hammer, K. A., Carson, C. F., Riley, T. V., & Nielsen, J. B. (2006). A review of the toxicity of Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) oil. Food and chemical toxicology: an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association, 44(5), 616–625. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fct.2005.09.001
  • Tharmarajah, B., & Coroneo, M. T. (2021). Corneal Effects of Tea Tree Oil. Cornea, 40(10), 1363–1364. https://doi.org/10.1097/ICO.0000000000002776

6 Lessons That Every Soap Maker Beginner Should Know

Part of my aromatherapy learning journey is to understand the different ways I can apply essential oils. I commonly use diluted essential oil for skin concerns, however, having essential oil in different forms is also a good way to understand their therapeutic and cosmetic properties, as well as figure out the best form to address a specific health concern.

One of my favorite ways to enjoy my essential oils is to add them to my soaps. I love it when the soap I create feels good on my skin. Previously I made soaps using the melt-and-pour method. You can read my first experience in soap making by going to this post. I have some reservations when it comes to taking risks, that’s why I like the melt-and-pour method. It’s a safer and easier way to make soaps. However, someone has encouraged me to make a soap using the cold process method. I was hesitant and fearful to try this method at first because it includes using the caustic ingredient, lye. But because I’ve seen that my sister is eager to create soaps using lye, and wanted to create something using raw materials, I agreed to do it. I thought that if I wanted to formally create soaps, then I have to agree to use lye and undergo the cold process method of soap making.

Listed in this post are the realizations I’ve learned while making soap.

1. Following guideline is a challenge but a must

As mentioned earlier, lye is a very caustic ingredient and it’s hot. Before I did the actual soapmaking, I read different posts online and also watched videos to learn how to make soap properly. As far as I remember, all of them warned that lye can cause some reactions. They also included guidelines so you can safely make soap using lye. Before doing the soap, I made sure that I did my homework by understanding the guidelines so I can follow them.

2. Secure protective gear for that stinging feeling

Wearing protective eyewear, long sleeves, mask, and gloves are recommended to ensure that lye won’t get on your skin and cause allergies or any reactions. At first, I thought this is just being too cautious, so while I was making the soap there were times when I would hold the utensils and pots with lye without gloves. I realized that it’s crucial to follow the safety guidelines when I experienced a stinging feeling or burning sensation after touching the lye mixture. When lye is mixed with water it reacts and gets hot. Because it’s hot you can see that the pot gets sweaty when you close it. Hence, it’s important to wear gloves when making your soap. Moreover, it’s also a must to wait until it’s safe to mix the lye mixture with the oil.

3. Inhaling lye’s strong odor

Wearing a mask is recommended while making the soaps. I realized that it would also be helpful to keep my mouth shut and occasionally control my breath while stirring the lye mixture so I won’t be too overwhelmed and get dizzy with the strong odor of lye. If you inhale while your mouth is open, you will take in too much lye’s strong odor.

4. Numbers can be intimidating and confusing

There were times when instructions were confusing to me. I am not good at math, so ratios, percentages, and complicated instructions can be intimidating to me. However, I know that I have to make some effort to understand them because I know that for me to create a good quality soap, following the accurate measurement of ingredients is crucial. Since I wanted to produce a good soap, I listed the ingredients of soap recipes that I’d seen, then I created my soap recipe. However, I realized that creating a recipe that is just based on my understanding was not enough. The suggestion from my sister was helpful. Before we start making soap she told me about the lye calculator. She said that the amount of lye to be used should depend on the percentage of oil we would have on the soap. I was not aware of that before. So her explanation was really helpful. Since I was convinced that what she says is the right way to make soap, I opted to follow it. Hence, I searched it online and found a reliable website that guides you to identify how much lye and oil should you use in your soap making. Plus, what makes lye calculator good is that it explains to you the soap properties you’re going to have by following a certain ingredient measurement. This enables you to understand things like what to add and what to lessen because it shows you the effect of measurement of your ingredients with regard to the soap’s hardness, ability to cleanse and condition, make bubbles, as well as its creaminess and longevity. Since I understand the importance of following the right percentage for lye and oil, I decided to follow the suggested measurement from the lye calculator.

5. Requires so much patience

One thing I realized about creating soaps is that it also requires patience. It is my first time creating a soap using lye so there were a lot of things to learn, discover, and adjust to ensure that I make the soap properly. Since I’m just a beginner at making soaps, my tools are not yet complete. I still don’t have utensils such as an immersion blender that can help make the process easier as well as make the ingredients blend well. So we had to keep on stirring the mixture manually for hours. Good thing I’ve seen that my sister was eager to do the soap and volunteered that she will do the stirring. The help of my sister enables me to be patient to keep on making soaps.

6. Enduring the waiting time

After pouring the soap mixture on the molds, the curing time begins. The soap needs to be cured to ensure that is hard and ready to be used for cleansing your body. As of the moment of writing the soaps we made are still in the molder and I’m waiting for them to complete its curing time. I look at it regularly so I would know if there are some adjustments I need to make while it’s still in the curing process. Although I already want to see the outcome of my soap, I still have to discipline myself in waiting.

Soapmaking using lye for beginners is challenging, but I’m really glad that the process of doing soap using this method enables me to learn a lot and realize different things. I also appreciate that it helps me overcome my fears. I hope that I can create more soaps using the essential oils I love.

Follow the right guide 💋❤

Happily Craft a Soap With This Calamansi Soap Recipe

One of the herbal soaps that I’ve often heard about since I was a kid is calamansi soap. I’ve seen some people use it because they wanted their skin to become whiter. I haven’t yet tried taking a bath using calamansi soap, so I can’t describe how it feels on my skin. However, I’ve always known that calamansi is good for the body because there were times I’ve seen my grandmother use it. I remember asking her several times why she smelled calamansi after taking a bath, and she told me she used some calamansi. I’ve never seen her apply some deodorant, but I never remembered her smelling bad. Her scent is actually very comforting.

I didn’t know that calamansi soap is a good deodorizer back then. I only found out about it when I started to love essential oils. Because I really want to see the effectiveness of calamansi soap as deodorizer, I’ve searched case studies that can prove it, but I haven’t found any. Regardless that I haven’t found any research about it, I believe that it is indeed a good deodorizer because my grandmother said it, and I’ve seen that she used it. Moreover, I’ve seen some research that it is also antibacterial. The reason why we get body odor is because of bacteria. And since calamansi is antibacterial, it is an effective deodorizer. To see more about the antibacterial ability of calamansi oil please visit this page.

Some of the health benefits of calamansi mentioned in some articles include this fruit as a whitener, bleacher, and helps in depression or anxiety. But as of the moment of writing I haven’t seen any case studies that prove it.

I like to make my version of calamansi soaps using calamansi oil and its extract because I have always known it’s good for the body. I like herbal soaps. There’s something special about it that makes me keep on choosing them over other regular soaps. Knowing that you put really good stuff in your body makes you think that you take care of your body well enough. Since I’m familiar with calamansi, it is the ingredient I want to have for my soaps.

For me to be able to create a calamansi soap, I have to read first how to make it and list some ingredients. I also have to make my recipe for my calamansi soap. To see more about my first experience in making calamansi soap click the link.

Listed here are the recipes that I followed as a guide

My own original recipe for calamansi soap

600 grams of coconut oil
10 grams calamansi oil = 200 drops calamansi oil
1 gram =20 drops
8 grams of lye (Sodium Hydroxide)
195 grams of calamansi extract

However, after my sister told me about the lye calculator, and that there’s an appropriate percentage that we need to follow for oils and lye, I decided to follow the recommended ingredient and measurements provided in the lye calculator. Here’s the recipe I was able to retrieve from Lyecalc.com

Lye calculator recipe

Water + Lye

228 g Water
104.88 g 100% Purity NaOH

Oils
600 g Coconut Oil, Virgin

I followed all the measurements in that recommendation. However, since my goal is to make calamansi soaps, I did not use water. I preferred to have calamansi extract. For it’s scent, I also opted to have calamansi oil.

I am happy that I was able to make my calamansi soaps. It’s not perfect, and right now (as of the time of writing) I’m still waiting for it to be properly cured, but I’m looking forward to make some bubbles with it and use it for cleansing.

Here’s one thing I also realized while making my calamansi soap, doing it with your loved ones, my sister, makes it really special.

Anyway, if you follow the recipe above and wondering if you can directly message me after doing a challenging soap-making method, and want to share your thoughts or experiences in soapmaking, or if you want to share anything about aromatherapy or essential oils, please feel free to send me a message. You can email me at oiltherapycode@gmail.com

I’d be delighted to learn from you too.

Yes, to Happy days 💋❤

(Ciele) Lavender and Tea tree Oil Case Reports and Issues About Prepubertal Gynecomastia

Different case reports that links lavender and tea tree essential oil as a cause of prepubertal gynecomastia resulted in different reactions. Several articles that express agreement or criticism have been written since the journal report has been published in 2007. An article published on the NIH website dated February 12, 2007, gives us a better understanding of how the issue seemed to have started. According to the article, Dr. Clifford Bloch, a pediatric endocrinologist had diagnosed three patients with prepubertal gynecomastia. It was reported by the parents that the patients have used products that contain lavender and tea tree oil. Dr. Bloch opened up this issue with the NIEHS researchers hence, led to the pursuit of conducting a further study about this hormone disruptor concern. The result of their study was published in the New England Journal of Medicine on February 1, 2007, and since then, different cases have been presented.

Researchers concluded that repeated topical application of products containing lavender oil and tea tree oil can cause prepubertal gynecomastia (2). Over-the-counter personal care products that were used by gynecomastia patients include shampoos, gels, soaps, etc. Hence this post will categorize the cases according to the product the patients have used.

Healing balm

A healing balm containing lavender oil was used by a 4-year and 5-month-old boy, allegedly, as a result, had gynecomastia. Symptoms that manifested in him include having tender breast buds that increased to 2.5 cm by 2.5 cm in diameter with a breast mound (2).

Shampoo

A boy who was under the age of 11 repeatedly applied gel and shampoo containing lavender and tea tree oil. He experienced some changes in his areolar mound (2).

Soap

A 7-year-old boy who’s using lavender-scented soap and intermittently use lavender-scented skin lotions had gynecomastia (2).

As early as one year old, right-side breast development was observed in a patient who was using soap-containing lavender oil since infancy. At the age of three, she reported she experienced breast tenderness (3).

Fragrance

7 years and 11-month-old boy was exposed daily to cologne with lavender oil since he was an infant. At the age of 4, it was observed that he had breast enlargement (3).

7 years and the 6-month-old girl was reported to have a left breast bud at age 6 years. She was exposed to a cologne containing lavender oil since early childhood. (3)

Two boys were reported to have prepubertal gynecomastia after being exposed to cologne with lavender oil. (1)

It’s worth noticing that the 2019 study of Ramsey and the 2016 investigation of Diaz shows consistency. Both the research mentioned a case that includes a Spanish cologne containing Agua de Violetas which seemed to be a hormone disruptor and caused prepubertal gynecomastia among children.

Lavender oil and aromatherapy

One article published raised the question of whether aromatherapy or inhaling the scent of the oils can also lead to hormone activity or is it just repeated topical exposure to the oils? In the same article, the writer encourages that further research must be pursued since the case reports that are linked to gynecomastia are mostly about direct skin exposure to lavender and tea tree essential oil.

In 2019 the study of Ramsey et al. reported a patient that experienced thelarche after inhaling a lavender scent. The patient was 7 years and a 9-month-old girl who complained about a left breast bud. She reported that she was exposed to lavender oil through inhalation all day for 1 year because she was sitting near the teacher’s table where the lavender-oil diffuser was located. (3)

Warnings and considerations

The cases presented above may seem alarming, and some might have worried about using lavender and tea tree oil. Since it was published, some essential oils enthusiasts might have temporarily rested from using the mentioned oils. However, reading more research and opinions of experts would enable you to understand how you can use these oils safely. Moreover, it enables you to comprehend the problems, and considerations with regard to the findings of the study.

Since the publication of the case reports, it has received criticism. However, fair essential oil enthusiasts would choose to consider its content and understand as they believe that the researchers are just concerned about the welfare of lavender and tea tree oil users and hence report the risks of using the oils.

While there are warnings about using lavender and tea tree oil, it is comforting to know that essential oil experts like Mr. Robert Tisserand presented rebuttals that can make us understand why we can continue using lavender and tea tree oil without being too anxious. If you want to learn more about the rebuttals presented you can read this post

Pure essential oil

Another important thing to consider is that the products that were used in the case report only contain lavender and tea tree oil. The products used that caused gynecomastia are not pure essential oil. Hence research that focuses on lavender and tea tree pure essential oils should be pursued to be able to answer this accurately and claim that lavender and tea tree oil truly causes gynecomastia.

If you are a bit hesitant to use lavender and tea tree essential oil, the findings of the test conducted by NIEHS researchers might help you to not worry. During their study, they created different dilutions of the two types of pure essential oils and found that as the dilution increased, the EDC activity of the oils and chemicals decreased. Hence this recommends us the safe way to use lavender and tea tree essential oil and protect our children to avoid hormone disruptors.

Hope this post helps to shed some light on the issues concerning lavender and tea tree oil.

Wholeheartedly serve with care 💋❤

References:

(Ciele) Efficacy of Peppermint Oil to Heal Different Kinds of Headaches

Headaches have different categories and reasons as to why it occurs.

Older people may experience headaches when they are working or while they are on an escapade and allowing their body and brain to be used too much. Some may even be doing something that resulted in an accident hence got a headache.

Meanwhile, others, experience headaches because of the stress and pressures they are surrounded with. It could be because of the demands of their school or job, complying with deadlines, and fulfilling their tasks and their role.

While others, may suffer from headaches because of their body’s condition or it might be a symptom of a particular illness.

Whatever is the reason for your headache, it’s good to know that there are products that you can use to manage it. People who prefer to heal using the natural way can use oils such as peppermint essential oil.

As mentioned above, headaches have different categories. This post presents different cases that are categorized according to the kind of headache the patients are experiencing.

Pathophysiology of headache

The combination of peppermint oil, eucalyptus oil, and ethanol was investigated in the 1994 study of Göbel et al. In this study 32 healthy subjects were tested and the blend was applied on the forehead and temples of the participants using a sponge. The finding of this study revealed that the blend with peppermint oil can increase cognitive performance. It also has a muscle-relaxing and mentally relaxing ability. Peppermint oil with eucalyptus oil and ethanol had little influence on pain zensitivity. But when peppermint was mixed with ethanol there was an analgesic effect with a reduction in zensitivity to headache. (1)

Tension-type headache

Gobel and his colleagues conducted another study in 1996 about using peppermint oil as a medication for headaches. During the clinical trial, he investigated the efficacy of peppermint oil on tension-type headaches. The study included 2 capsules of oral medication (acetaminophen or placebo), 10g of peppermint oil with a 90% ethanol solution, and the placebo which is 90% ethanol solution with traces of peppermint oil. Participants of this study are 41 patients male and female, with an age range of 18 to 65. The study used oral medication and topical solution on four headache episodes of the participants. The oil was applied topically on the forehead and temples of the patients and was repeated after 15 and 30 minutes. (2)
The result of this study showed that after 15 minutes, headache intensity was reduced by using 10% peppermint oil in an ethanol solution, and the degree of pain continued to reduce over the one-hour observation period. Moreover, the test result yielded that there is no significant difference between 1,000 mg of acetaminophen and 10% peppermint oil in ethanol solution about efficacy. In addition, there are no documented adverse effects. (2)
The work of Göbel et al., about peppermint oil and tension-type headache, continued in 2016 when he presented a review on the same topic. They purported that peppermint oil has the same effect as acetylsalicylic acid or paracetamol. They also mentioned that 10 % peppermint oil in ethanol can be used as standard treatment for tension-type headaches for children aged 6 years and above as well as adults. (3)

Migraine

A 2019 study conducted by Rafieian-Kopaei and his colleagues reported that headache intensity and frequency can be reduced by the nasal application of peppermint oil drop of 1.5%. The effect of peppermint oil was compared with an intranasal lidocaine drop of 4%. It was found in their investigation that peppermint oil is effective and can relieve the participant’s pain similarly as as lidocaine. The participants in this study are 120 adult patients with migraine. Doses were given to them every 15 minutes through nasal application. (4)

Headaches are sometimes inevitable. Different circumstances and factors result in headaches, hence it is important to understand the kind of headache you have and how it can be treated effectively. It is also good to remember that patience is needed if you are experiencing chronic headaches. Meanwhile, if you are suffering from an acute headache, it is helpful to believe and have faith that it will heal in time and it is crucial to follow the right treatment or therapy to cure your headache.

Endure the pain and have faith 💋❤

References:

  • (1) Göbel, H., Schmidt, G., & Soyka, D. (1994). Effect of peppermint and eucalyptus oil preparations on neurophysiological and experimental altimetric headache parameters. Cephalalgia: an international journal of headache, 14(3), 228–182. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1468-2982.1994.014003228.x
  • (2) Göbel, H., Fresenius, J., Heinze, A., Dworschak, M., & Soyka, D. (1996). Effektivität von Oleum mentha Piperita und von Paracetamol in der Therapie des Kopfschmerzes vom Spannungstyp [Effectiveness of Oleum mentha Piperita and paracetamol in therapy of headache of the tension type]. Der Nervenarzt, 67(8), 672–681. https://doi.org/10.1007/s001150050040
  • (3) Göbel, H., Heinze, A., Heinze-Kuhn, K., Göbel, A., & Göbel, C. (). Oleum mentha Piperita (Pfefferminzöl) in der Akuttherapie des Kopfschmerzes vom Spannungstyp [Peppermint oil in the acute treatment of tension-type headache]. Schmerz (Berlin, Germany), 30(3), 295–310. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00482-016-0109-6
  • (4) Rafieian-Kopaei, M., Hasanpour-Dehkordi, A., Lorigooini, Z., Deris, F., Solati, K., & Mahdiyeh, F. (2019). Comparing the Effect of Intranasal Lidocaine 4% with Peppermint Essential Oil Drop 1.5% on Migraine Attacks: A Double-Blind Clinical Trial. International journal of preventive medicine, 10, 121. https://doi.org/10.4103/ijpvm.IJPVM_530_17
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