CBD

CBD is a chemical, cannabinoid, in the Cannabis sativa plant, also known as cannabis or hemp. CBD is extracted and used to treat a variety of ailments including anxiety, sleep issues, epilepsy, and chronic pain.

Over 80 cannabinoids have been found in the Cannabis sativa plant. Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the most famous ingredient in cannabis, but CBD is obtained from hemp, a form of the Cannabis sativa plant that only contains small amounts of THC. CBD seems to have effects on some chemicals in the brain, but these are different than the effects of THC, they are not psychoactive.

CBD is often mixed with a carrier oil like MCT oil for consumption or topical application. In recent years, CBD oil has skyrocketed in popularity thanks to its growing reputation for calming effects and pain relief. It can now be found in a range of products from topicals to ingestibles – salves, balms, gummies, softgels (capsules), and oil tinctures. It not only offsets anxiety and depression (1), but it’s also been shown to treat epilepsy (2), reduce post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (3), treat opioid addiction (4), alleviate amyotropic lateral sclerosis (ALS) (5), ease diabetic complications (6) and protect against neurological disease (7).

Summary: CBD is a chemical extracted from the cannabis plant, it does not get you high, and it continues to gain momentum in the health and wellness world, with some scientific studies showing promising results that it may ease symptoms of conditions such as chronic pain and anxiety.

Lavender

Lavender is a flowering plant in the mint family that’s easily identified by its sweet floral scent and purple color. It’s believed to be native to the Mediterranean, the Middle East, and India, with a history dating as far back as 2,500 years. It may help improve sleep (9), could help treat skin blemishes (10), can reduce blood pressure and heart rate (11), relieve asthma symptoms (12), and potentially promote hair growth (13).

Summary

Lavender is far more than just a vibrant and aromatic plant. It is well known for its relaxing effects and it has the potential to help you cope with a variety of ailments.

Eucalyptus

Eucalyptus is an evergreen tree that’s widely used for its medicinal properties. Although native to Australia, this popular tree now grows in many areas of the world. The main flavonoids in eucalyptus protect against certain cancers, heart disease, and dementia (14, 15), reduce pain (16), relieve cold symptoms (17), treat dry skin (18), and promote relaxation (19).

Summary

Eucalyptus leaves have many impressive therapeutic benefits. They may help decrease pain, promote relaxation, and relieve cold symptoms.

Peppermint

Peppermint may help relieve pain, improve digestion, freshen your breath and improve concentration. Additionally, this mint has antibacterial properties (20) and may improve allergy symptoms, improve digestive conditions, headaches, and clogged airways. Peppermint can cause some side effects including heartburn, and allergic reactions including flushing, headache, and mouth sores.

Summary

Peppermint oil comes from the peppermint plant. It’s been used for many things, such as relieving GI discomfort, easing nausea, and alleviating pain.

Lemon

Lemons are high in vitamin C, fiber, and various beneficial plant compounds. These nutrients are responsible for several health benefits. The soluble fiber in lemons could help improve digestive health. However, you need to eat the pulp of the lemon, not just the juice. Some plant chemicals found in lemons have been shown to prevent cancer in animal studies. However, human studies are needed. Lemons contain vitamin C and citric acid, which help you absorb non-heme iron from plants. This may prevent anemia.

Summary

Lemons contain a high amount of vitamin C, soluble fiber, and plant compounds that give them several health benefits. Lemons may aid in weight loss and reduce your risk of heart disease, anemia, kidney stones, digestive issues, and cancer.

Lime

Limes contain antioxidants, which have been shown to help reduce inflammation and even help prevent certain chronic illnesses. The high levels of Vitamin C found in limes can help protect you from infection and speed up your body’s healing process. Citrus fruits have been shown to help keep kidney stones at bay. Eating limes or drinking the juice may improve immunity, reduce heart disease risk factors, prevent kidney stones, aid iron absorption, and promote healthy skin

Summary

Limes are high in vitamin C and antioxidants — both of which may offer health benefits.

Turmeric

Turmeric — and especially its most active compound, curcumin — have many scientifically proven health benefits, such as the potential to improve heart health and prevent Alzheimer’s and cancer. It’s a potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. It may also help improve symptoms of depression and arthritis.

Summary

Curcumin is the main active ingredient in turmeric. It has powerful anti-inflammatory effects and is a very strong antioxidant.

Ginger

Ginger is loaded with antioxidants, compounds that prevent stress and damage to your body’s DNA. They may help your body fight off chronic diseases and infections (21), like high blood pressure, heart disease, and diseases of the lungs, plus promote healthy aging.

Summary

Ginger is loaded with nutrients and bioactive compounds that have powerful benefits for your body and brain. It’s one of the very few superfoods worthy of that term.

MCT oil (Coconut oil)

MCT oil is a supplement that has become popular among athletes and bodybuilders. The popularity of coconut oil, high in MCTs, has contributed to its use. MCT oil is most commonly extracted from coconut oil, as more than 50% of the fat in coconut oil comes from MCTs. These fats are also found in other foods, such as palm oil and dairy products (22).

MCT oil promotes weight loss (23), is a good energy source (24), reduces lactate build-up in athletes (25), reduces risk factors for heart disease (26), and manages blood sugar levels (27). High doses of MCT oil may increase the amount of fat in your liver in the long term.

Summary

Medium-chain triglycerides could potentially have health benefits. For starters, they contain fatty acids that could promote weight loss by reducing body fat, increasing fullness, and potentially improving your gut environment. Potential drawbacks may include increased hunger and possible fat accumulation in your liver.

Shea Butter

Shea butter is fat that’s extracted from the nuts of the shea tree. It’s solid at warm temperatures and has an off-white or ivory color. Shea trees are native to West Africa, and most shea butter still comes from that region. Shea butter has been used as a cosmetic ingredient for centuries. Its high concentration of vitamins and fatty acids — combined with its easy-to-spread consistency — make it a great product for smoothing, soothing, and conditioning your skin.

Summary

Shea butter is packed with essential nutrients that can enhance your natural complexion and help you glow from the inside out.

Beeswax

Beeswax is a wax that comes from bees. The worker bees produce a honeycomb of this wax to store the colony’s honey. Beeswax contains anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and anti-viral properties. These qualities offer the perfect balance of nourishment to calm the skin, keep it clean and bacteria-free, heal wounds, and fight infection.

Summary

Using beeswax on your skin may be just what your skincare routine needs. It’s ideal for moisturizing sensitive skin, hydrating the skin, and soothing certain skin conditions.

Grapeseed oil

Grapeseed oil comes from the pressed seeds of grapes. The oil is a byproduct of the process of making wine. Grapeseed oil assists in improved inflammation and insulin resistance, reduced risk of heart disease, reduction of blood clots, and skin moisturizing. It helps treat acne outbreaks, makes skin softer and more elastic, balances skin tone and protects your skin from sun damage.

Summary

Grapeseed oil is a simple and relatively inexpensive treatment to try for your skin. Mixing it with essential oils or using it consistently on your face as an overnight moisturizer will probably give you the best results.

Sunflower Seed Oil

The sunflower seed oil contains several compounds that have benefits for the skin. They include oleic acid, vitamin E, sesamol, and linoleic acid. Sunflower seed oil is a non-comedogenic carrier oil that is highly absorbent, and won’t clog pores. It has excellent antioxidant properties which protect from premature aging and wrinkles. Linoleic acid helps to maintain the skin’s natural barrier, supporting its ability to retain moisture. It also has an anti-inflammatory (28) when used topically. A small animal study also found that topical use of sunflower oil was beneficial for healing wounds faster. This may be due to its oleic acid content, which can be beneficial for wound care (28).

Summary

Sunflower oil has antioxidant properties, is an anti-inflammatory, maintains the skin’s natural barrier, and is beneficial for wound healing. It is a non-comedogenic carrier oil that’s good for any skin type.

Jojoba Seed Oil

The jojoba plant is a hardy, perennial plant that grows in North America. Not only does it thrive in the harsh, desert climates that could kill most living things, but it also produces a nut with many healing properties. The nut of the jojoba plant can be made into oil. Jojoba oil is gentle enough to be used as a carrier oil to mix with other essential oils. You can also use it on its own. Its moisturizing, antibacterial, has antioxidant properties, is non-comedogenic, controls sebum production, promotes collagen synthesis, soothes eczema and psoriasis and burns, treats acne and reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Summary

Jojoba oil has a variety of healing properties and has been used for everyday skin maintenance as well as for treating skin conditions like acne, eczema, and psoriasis.

Rosehip Oil

Rosehips are the fruit of a rosebush. When roses die and are left on the bush, they leave behind bright reddish-orange, spherical fruit. The tiny edible fruits are thought to pack a powerful medicinal punch. Rosehip oil contains vitamin C and vitamin A. It also contains essential fatty acids such as oleic acid, palmitic acid, linoleic acid, and gamma-linolenic acid. Rosehip oil is also a good source of vitamin F, a fatty acid made of linoleic acid and alpha-linoleic acid. Rosehips are thought to have more vitamin C than an orange or lemon. Vitamin C has antioxidant properties. Research shows vitamin C may help reduce ultraviolet light damage caused by free radicals. Vitamin C also supports collagen production, which helps reduce wrinkling. Finally, vitamin C may increase wound healing and help prevent dry skin. Other skin benefits include reducing and reversing sun damage, reducing wrinkles, reducing hyperpigmentation, and treating mild to moderate acne.

Summary

Rosehip oil is a nourishing, natural oil with potential skin and stress relief benefits. More research is needed to determine its pain-relieving and other health benefits, but results so far are encouraging.

Meadowfoam Seed Oil

When applied to the skin, meadowfoam seed oil acts as an emollient, sealing in moisture and keeping the skin soft and supple. Ingredients like meadowfoam seed oil help to balance our skin’s natural sebum production, keeping it from being too dry or too oily. The meadowfoam seed oil has the potential to hydrate your skin and hair by creating a barrier to prevent moisture from escaping.

Summary

The meadowfoam seed oil has the potential to hydrate your skin and hair by creating a barrier to prevent moisture from escaping.

Olive Fruit Oil

Olive fruit oil is high in Vitamin E, which we all know is fantastic for its anti-aging properties. It’s high in oleic acid and is a good skin cell regenerator. It works to attract external moisture to the skin, while still permitting the skin to properly release sweat, shed dead skin, and release sebum. Olive fruit oil is rich in healthy monounsaturated fats, contains large amounts of antioxidants, has strong anti-inflammatory properties, may help prevent strokes, and is protective against heart disease.

Summary

Quality extra virgin olive oil is incredibly healthy. Due to its powerful antioxidants, it benefits your heart, brain, joints, and more. It is an anti-inflammatory. It may be the healthiest fat on the planet.

Tea tree oil

Tea tree oil, also known as melaleuca oil, is an essential oil that comes from steaming the leaves of the Australian tea tree. When used topically, tea tree oil is believed to be antibacterial. Tea tree oil is commonly used to treat acne, athlete’s foot, lice, nail fungus, and insect bites. Tea tree oil makes an ideal natural hand sanitizer, helps boost wound healing, and is a great natural mouth wash.

Summary

Tea tree oil is a natural form of topical antibiotic and is used as an alternative to lab-fabricated skin and nail treatments, personal care products, and disinfectants, among other things.

Roman Chamomile Flower Oil

Chamomile is one of the most ancient medicinal herbs known to mankind. Many different preparations of chamomile have been developed over the years, and the most popular is in the form of herbal tea, with more than 1 million cups consumed per day. Roman Chamomile Flower Oil fights anxiety and depression, serves as a natural allergy reliever, helps alleviate PMS symptoms, reduces symptoms of insomnia, boosts skin health, supports digestive health, promotes heart health, and relieves arthritic pain.

Summary

Chamomile oil is an essential oil that’s been used for a variety of conditions, from digestive issues to wound healing, for many years. Emerging research has begun to shed light on other potential benefits, like its ability to help with depression, anxiety, and sleep.

German chamomile essential oil

German Chamomile Essential Oil is steam distilled from the flowers and buds of the chamomile species Matricaria recutita or Matricaria chamomilla. German Chamomile oil is a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, which can be very helpful in reducing redness from Rosacea, broken capillaries, and inflamed skin. It is known for improving dryness, as well as relieving dark, puffy circles under the eyes.

Summary

German chamomile essential oil is an excellent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory thats promote relaxation and reduces dryness, redness, and swelling.

Calendula Flower Extract

Calendula, a flowering plant also known as pot marigold, can be served as a tea or used as an ingredient in various herbal formulations. Calendula flower extract is used to prevent muscle spasms, start menstrual periods, and reduce fever. It is also used for treating sore throat and mouth, menstrual cramps, cancer, and stomach and duodenal ulcers. Calendula might cause sleepiness and slowed breathing. Taking calendula with sedative medications might cause breathing problems and/or too much sleepiness.

Summary

Calendula is packed with beneficial plant compounds that may prevent muscle spasms plus provide antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antifungal, and wound healing effects.

Menthol

Menthol is an organic compound, more specifically a monoterpenoid, made synthetically or obtained from the oils of corn mint, peppermint, or other mints. Menthol has local anesthetic and counterirritant qualities, and it is widely used to relieve muscle and joint aches and minor throat irritation. Depending on the dose and form, menthol can be used to relieve coughs; help control plaque or kill bacteria that can contribute to the development of gingivitis, improve brain function, relieve oral discomfort associated with canker sores, injury of the mouth and gums, sore throat, fever blisters, or cold sores, relieve minor aches and pains including breastfeeding pain. Along with pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory capabilities, menthol acts as a carminative. It helps relax the intestinal muscles and treat gastrointestinal ailments.

Summary

Menthol’s health benefits range from improving brain function and digestive symptoms to relieving breastfeeding pain, body aches, cold symptoms, and even bad breath.

Camphor

Camphor (Cinnamomum camphora) is a terpene (organic compound) that’s commonly used in creams, ointments, and lotions. Camphor oil is the oil extracted from the wood of camphor trees and processed by steam distillation. It can be used topically to relieve pain, irritation, and itching. Camphor is also used to relieve chest congestion and inflammatory conditions. Camphor has a wide variety of topical uses due to its antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory properties. It can be used to treat skin conditions, improve respiratory function, and relieve pain. Camphor also helps with hair loss, acne, warts, earaches, cold sores, hemorrhoids, heart disease symptoms, and poor blood circulation.

Summary

Camphor has a wide variety of topical uses due to its antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory properties. It can be used to treat skin conditions, improve respiratory function, and relieve pain.

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