Tag Archives: Menopause

St. John’s wort

Pixabay NickyPe St Johns wort

St. John’s Wort treatment

For over 2000 years, ancient Greek physicians included
the powerful medicinal herb contained in St. John’s wort
for treating depression and inflammation. 

Image: Pixabay NickyPe – St. John’s wort.

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St. John’s Wort Essential oil (Hypericum perforatum )

St. John’s wort is a flowering plant of the genus Hypericum (Hypericum perforatum) which for centuries, was used for its medicinal benefits.  It is believed the plant was named after ‘John the Baptist’ as the flowers bloom in late June, around the time a feast is held to commemorate him.  The herb was historically used to combat issues like insomnia, depression, treating wounds, kidney and lung sickness.

Today, the inclusion of St. John’s wort has been extended to treat menopausal symptoms, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety & related issues.  It can be applied to the skin to treat Eczema, wounds, bruises, burns, muscle pain, haemorrhoids, and irritating women’s health condition, vulvodynia.

Predominately grown in Europe, the plant can be found along the dry road-sides, meadows and woodlands of USA and Canada.  For a long time, it was considered a weed in Australia before being cultivated as a crop, now producing 20% of the world’s supply.

Gallery: Pixabay Images – NickyPe, manfredrichter, FinjaM flower & oils, St. John’s wort & bee.

How can using St. John’s Wort aid our overall health?  

Using St. John’s wort as an antidepressant over the years found that the herb encourages more serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine to the brain, thus improving your mood.

It has been used to bring relief of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) symptoms, which can also cause irritability, anxiety, headaches, depression, hormonal imbalance and fatigue.

For women during the menopausal stages of life, St. John’s wort can provide a natural relief, improving sexual well-being during the use of the herbal remedy.

The benefits of using St. John’s wort for the skin are many, as it contains antibacterial properties for treating minor wounds, irritations, rashes, Eczema and burns.  It’s anti-inflammatory & anti-bacterial properties which has been used for thousands of years to attend to cuts and abrasions.

Last year, I was asked by a gynecologist to make an all-natural product for ‘vulvodynia’, which causes chronic pain and discomfort of the female genital area.  I made a small batch of product which was also used to treat ‘haemorrhoids’. 

The Bespoke Products ‘Pot of Magic’ contains: Bulgarian Rose Hydrolat, Aloe Vera Gel, Flaxseed Oil, Calendula, Cucumber, Neem, Soyabean with Myrrh, Neroli, St. John’s wort and Grapefruit Seed Extract.    This very gentle & cooling product was used by patients suffering the condition to bring relief whilst treating the skin irritation.

In Summary, before using St. John’s wort, check with your doctor or health care professional particularly if you’re taking other medications, are pregnant or breastfeeding. It can be obtained from your local health food suppliers as capsules, tinctures, teas, powdered forms and oil-based lotions.

Be aware that using St. John’s wort can create other side-effects like dizziness, stomach upset, restlessness and tingling skin.  Use the herb preferably in the morning if you’re having trouble with sleeping.

About Essentially Lili
As Natural As You Skincare Products,
Using only 100% All-Natural Ingredients.

About Lili Essentially Lili  – My Health Studies include from 2016-2019 Diplomas in Aromatherapy, Holistic Skincare Products, Clinical Nutrition, Stress Management, Reflexology, Holistic Pain Management, and a Member of International College of Holistic Medicine.  Almost completed –  Clinical Nutrition for Over 50s.

My aim is to help you get the results you want as I have already been on that hard journey to overcome the autoimmune disorder. If you wish to know more about Clinical Nutrition and how to kick start your health, book a private Consultation. Please send an email  should you need further assistance.

At Essentially Lili, the products made are all using 100% Natural Ingredients. See the wide variety of Products which are available on the webpage.

Should you need help in deciding, start by reading the Reviews & Testimonials about other Customers who have enjoyed using the products.   We have had some amazing Before & After results from Clients using the All-Natural Skincare products. Please don’t forget to write your comments and reviews on our pages to share the love with others.

See the Blog Library for previous writings.  These include topics like Face Mapping, Dry Skin in Winter, Anguish of Acne/Rosacea, How to deal with Cystic Acne & Understanding Your Body.  Your feedback allows us to improve the content and information provided and products made.

Always love hearing from you, your feedback and reviews.  With Love Essentially Lili.

Essential Oils Can Help With Stress

Essential Oils Help Stress

Essential Oils
can Help With Stress

Essential Oils can help with stress
related symptoms, their amazing
properties have many benefits for our health. 

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Today our lives are becoming more stressful as we try to juggle the demands of our homes and work environments. Whether or not we have children added to the mix, if the home & work life is not balanced, the stress levels can overwhelm us.  Whilst we may not notice at the beginning, the effects of stress will start to take its toll on our Holistic being: our body and health, our mind and spirit.

Symptoms of stress can affect us in various ways.Some of us suffer from various kinds of Headaches or Migraines, whilst others could have stress related Digestive issues. Often our sleep is disrupted, making us irritable towards others. No-one wants to become a yukky version of themselves, especially towards our loved ones.Stress can make you feel frustrated, angry and sometimes like you have no control. Stress can cause us to have itchy skin, whilst in some cases, it can develop into more severe disorders like Eczema & Psoriasis.Let’s look into these with a little more detail:

Headache can include Migraine, Tension, Sugar, or Sinus related thumping heads.
Migraine headaches can be worsened when stressed, going through hormonal changes, suffering anxiety, or feeling deprived of sleep.These types of headaches can also make us feel nauseous.
Tension headaches can be caused by stress, bad posture, eating irregularly, withdrawing from caffeine consumption, not sleeping well, straining your eyes from prolonged computer use or watching telly.
Sugar headaches can commence when your blood sugars are too low.
Sinus headaches can commence from the season changes, pollen, congestion, making us feel stuffy. Often the symptoms can be so awful that we cannot breathe, our eyes itch and face can swell from the discomfort.

What I love about Essential Oils is that these concentrated natural blessings have so many amazing properties, and when used correctly, they can bring wonderful results.

Essential oils like Rosemary, Peppermint, Eucalyptus, Chamomile, and Lavender are soothing, uplifting and provide relief for these kinds of Headaches. See more about the benefits of the Essential Oils on our Ingredientspage.As the blended concoction enters our blood stream, the Essential Oils which have anti-viral, antiseptic, sedative and anti-depressant properties can relieve and calm the systems.

Blended with a carrier oil, they can be inhaled with a travel inhaler to help bring instant relief when the symptoms arise. Or they can be massaged to the chest, the temples of your head, back of your neck and tips of your nose for inhalation, or they can be added to a warm, relaxing bath to have a pampering spa session. Just be aware that some Essential Oils are unsuitable for Kids, Expecting, and Nursing Mums.

Gallery: How Essential Oils can help With Stress: Aromasticks, Ylang Ylang, Kids & Adults Breathe Easy, Herbs to Eat & Can Be Found as Essential Oils, Jasmine Flowers.

Our Blissful Minds blend was made considering that kids can get headaches too. It consists of Jasmine, Lavender, Rosemary, Frankincense & Roman Chamomile in Apricot Oil, making this product suitable for kids and Mums as well as for the bath, providing relief all year round before the symptoms become too strong.

For those who are getting headaches, fatigue and hot flushes due to the Menopausal stage of their lives, a stronger blend of Essential Oils called Changing Seasons has been made to assist. The Concentrated Serum can be used in the bath or directly onto the skin at various points, or the Inhaler can be kept in your bag to use when the symptoms arise.

For Stress that affects our digestion, we need to ensure that we watch what we eat.Cut back on those foods that aggravate your system like chilies and spices, as well as foods that are high in sugars which can cause your gut to become sluggish.Drink plenty of water to help flush out your bodies. Marjoram Essential Oil is closely related to Oregano, which is a highly concentrated source that promotes bioactive compounds. It also helps keep your heart healthy.Other Essential Oils that can assist with a sluggish digestive system are Coriander, Ginger, Nutmeg and Tarragon. Blended with a Carrier oil, these can be applied to the tummy area to bring relief. Though eating fresh in a soup would not only be a delicious alternative, but it would bring quick relief to your digestion.

Note: Only a Clinical Aromatherapist should be able to instruct ingesting Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils. Please seek a professional’s assistance if you choose to ingest Essential Oils.

Stress affecting our sleep keeps our minds ticking all night, stopping us from getting the rest we need. Insomnia is when we find it hard to fall asleep, or we lay awake for too long. If this happens 3 nights per week, for 3 months or more, it would be considered as chronic.Whilst sleeping pills can be considered for a short-term solution, they can have other side effects over a longer period including feelings of drowsiness.Alternatively, natural sleep aids with little or no side effects would be better in the long run. Some of the symptoms for sleep deprivation include: • Finding it difficult to fall asleep when you lie down;
• Being unable to stay asleep throughout the night;
• Waking up too early and having trouble going back to sleep;
• Feeling low in energy, tired or fatigued when you wake up;
• Not feeling like you have had any rest when you get up;
• Feeling irritable, aggressive or moody throughout the day;
• Finding it hard to concentrate at work/school;
• Your work/school relationships can become affected by feeling cranky and overtired.

Essential Oils blended in a carrier oil can be used in the home with diffusers or Aromasticks to assist in making the mood more pleasant at home. Blending Lavender, Bergamot, Mandarin, Ylang Ylang are amongst those Essential Oils which can help your sleeping patterns with time.  Using these in an Inhaler to reduce the Anxiety levelscan also bring calmness to the mind when you are on the go.

For more information about the Congestion & Sinuses products, we make Concentrated Serums which parents have been using in the bath to help their little ones with congestion and coughs. The carrier oil makes the products safe to use in the bath, which are Kids Breathe Easy Concentrate and Adults Breathe Easy Concentrate is the stronger blend with Peppermint & Vetiver. This has helped my husband snore less at night time when I have been able to place the concentrated serum on the tip of his nose which equals Happy Wife!

The Pick Me Up (Adults & Kids) Anxiety Inhalers will be available on the webpage soon. The blend will help calm the nerves when feeling overwhelmed, anxious and stressed out.

Lastly on the list is when Stress affects our skin. Our hormones can become imbalanced as the blood flow to our skin, hair, teeth and throughout the body can be somewhat hindered. A common reaction to stress is Eczema, Acne, Hives, Psoriasis, Rosacea, gum disease and hair loss. Being aware of when our body is not reacting well is key to getting back in control.  A lot of times, controlling the foods we eat can affect our body’s recovery process.

Essentials blended with Butters and Vegetable Oils that are rich in Vitamins and healing properties are a wonderful way to bring relief and restoration to skin that has been affected by stress.In our Skin Assistance category, we have a range of products suitable for Kids to Adults for Eczema, Dry Skin, Rosacea, Psoriasis (including the scalp). We have had some amazing Before & After results using the All-Natural Skincare products, which have been shared on the Reviews & Testimonials’. Some of our Happy Customers have been featured at the beginning of the Testimonials page, which is awesome. If you wish to be included, please send me a recent picture of yourself without makeup with your testimonial.

You can also refer to the previous Blog: Understanding Your Body for the signs before they manifest in your body, as they will need a longer time period to resolve.

Note: I will be working on making a Blend this year to aid digestion as well as a balm to help with menstrual pains.Let me know if these kinds of products would interest you.

Should you want help to get the long term results you want, Book a Consult Therapist and check out the variety of Products online.

BLOG PARTICIPATION:

  • How has Stress affected you?
  • What signs does your body give when you are coming down with symptoms of stress?
  • What do you do to help overcome it?
  • Should you wish to contact us for more information about our All-Natural Products, please send me an email info@essentiallylili.com. You can read more About Lili here, see the range of Products on offer at Shop Categories or refer to our Blog Library for more topics covered.

    Kind Regards Lili @ Essentially Lili

     

Changing Seasons

Roses of Changing Seasons

Changing Seasons

A versatile blend aiding symptoms of Menopause
include Sugar cravings, losing hair, hot sweaty flushes,
headaches, fatigue, gaining weight & irritability.

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How many of you watched the Movie ‘Sex In the City’ when Samantha was showing us this phase of a woman’s life?We may have laughed as she portrayed what it’s like in the film. But the reality for many women is often quite stressful. Symptoms of Menopause include cravings for sugary foods, losing hair, hot flushes, sweats, headaches, fatigue, gaining weight, irritability, and more.

It is a difficult subject to talk about especially when you have not gone through the stages of Menopause yourself. I am sure that my body is changing as I notice my craving for certain foods increases during differing times of the month.But other than that, hot sweats and flushes have been so far kept at bay.

To find out more, I recently joined a Menopause Support Group in the UK, and I have to say, they have been the most amazing group of women. The group’s leader is always providing information, studies, tips on how to deal with the symptoms and changes that women go through.She is also studying in order to help those that are in the group.

When I started making Essentially Lili products, my dear friend asked for help regarding hot sweats and flushes. The good old symptoms of Menopause that only those enduring them would fully understand what it is like. You can imagine the challenge of making something to help with the symptoms, despite not having them myself. We agreed on the name Changing Seasons for the product, as it marked the next phase of a woman’s amazing journey in life. I took some time out, researching what could be a decent blend to help combat her symptoms.

I sent a sample of the blend abroad and waited for feedback like I had been doing with all my other first batches. It’s only with the feedback I can actually amend and improve the blends. But I found it strange that I hadn’t heard anything for some time.

Eventually I sent her a note – ‘Are you ok? Can you please let me know what happened with the Changing Seasons blend?’ Quote from our Testimonials Page:

27-Sep-15

Dear Lili. The Changing Seasons for menopause is fab. Haven’t had a flush or sweat thing all day. First time in many months. And the funny thing is I’ve been having a cough for almost 2 years. With doctor’s check, blood samples, x-Rays, scans.They can’t find the reason why. Ya’ know what? I haven’t had one single cough since I inhaled the Changing Seasons Menopause oil.I’m just thrilled with the fantastic start.I usually inhale directly from the sample or the first couple of days from a piece of paper towel. In the evening it’s best for me. I haven’t had any flushes for a week and one day – you are amazing!! We’re gonna keep using it – be sure of that Thank you so much! I.M – Denmark

26-Feb-16 … A few months later, she wrote:
I’m still very happy with Changing Seasons and don’t have flushes. Still use your inhaler every second or third day – amazing… You’ve given me my life back with the serum! I.M – Denmark

Can you imagine my happiness reading this feedback?I was just thrilled to bits for her and for the results of the blend!

The Serum is blended with Jojoba with a combination of Essential oils comprising of Rosemary, Basil, Peppermint and Geranium amongst other Oils. The Jojoba makes the serum safe for application directly onto the skin or for adding it to the bath for the ultimate chillaxing, inhalation experience. The Serum can be applied to feet at night time for penetration to the Acupressure points, onto the tip of the nose for inhalation whilst sleeping or to the wrists whilst out and about.

Changing Seasons is also available as an inhaler, so that you can carry it in your bag for whenever you need to take a breath to fight off the fatigue and headaches.

A few of the Essential Oils contained in the Changing Seasons includes: The Basil (Ocimum Basilicum) helps lack of concentration, fatigue, lethargy. Rosemary (Rosemarinus Officinalis) stimulates the body and boosts the production of red blood cells and blood flow. It helps boost memory, improves the mood, reduces inflammation & relieves pain. Peppermint (Mentha Piperita) helps with hot flushes, sweating and fatigue. The other Essential Oils also work their magic whilst being inhaled.

The other key part for women in this phase of life is Exercise and Diet. However, it does not mean you have to become a Gym Junkie or a Body Builder!

It just means to be active -some of the better exercises to do during Menopause are Strength Training & Cardio, Yoga, Meditation, Dancing, and even the stair master. Nothing too strenuous especially if you are not used to being this active.

Regarding our food, we have to ensure that we get plenty of the right kinds.Balanced diets are key – though finding alternatives to deal with allergies, intolerances and other preferences is often difficult.

The vitamin needed to help prevent osteoporosis is Vitamin D. This vitamin also helps the immune system, the nerves, and muscles. Insufficient vitamin D can cause osteoporosis or rickets which can affect children and lead to other deformities. This vitamin is fat-soluble and helps the body to absorb calcium, which is necessary for bones to grow and remain strong. Bone production and the tissues could be affected if the body does not receive enough calcium, or if the body has problems absorbing it in the diet.

Further studies are suggesting that Vitamin K2 is another key ingredient in maintaining bone health, which may be just as important in assisting the body and preventing bone fractures as we get older. Women in post-menopausal stages are at greater risk of osteoporosis, so a diet that is rich in vitamins with safe sun exposure is a good mix for prevention.

Vitamin D can be sourced in dairy products, cheese, cream, butter, fortified milk, breakfast cereals, margarine, and soy milk as well as in a supplement. However, the best source of Vitamin D is with safe exposure to a touch of sunshine – with the right kinda sunscreen, especially for those Down Under!

Check out the Gallery of Pictures – includes Cool Coloured Roses, Changing Seasons Serum & Inhaler, Peppermint Leaves, Basil & Rosemary.

BLOG PARTICIPATION:

  • Are you currently going through the early stages of Menopause?
  • Have you found a Women’s Support Group where you are?
  • I shouldn’t say what I will write about in the next blog because I often change my mind!!! But I will share at some point about some other amazing Vegetable Oils Tamanu & Kukui Nut. Should you wish to contact us for more information about our All-Natural Products, please send me an email info@essentiallylili.com

    You can read more About Lili here, see the range of Products on offer at Shop Categories or refer to our Blog Library for more topics covered. Kind Regards Lili @ Essentially Lili