Essential oils are often used in aromatherapy, which is a form of alternative medicine.

However, some of the health claims associated with them are controversial.

This article explains what you need to know about essential oils and their health effects.

What Are Essential Oils?

Essential oils are compounds extracted from plants.

The oils capture the plant’s scent and flavor, also called its “essence.”

Unique aromatic compounds give each essential oil its characteristic essence.

Essential oils are obtained through distillation (via steam and/or water) or mechanical methods, such as cold pressing.

Once the aromatic chemicals have been extracted, they are combined with a carrier oil to create a product that’s ready for use.

The way the oils are made is important, as essential oils obtained through chemical processes are not considered true essential oils.

Bottom Line: Essential oils are concentrated plant extracts that retain the natural smell and flavor, or “essence,” of their source.

How Do Essential Oils Work?

Essential oils are most commonly used in the practice of aromatherapy. They are either inhaled, or diluted then rubbed on the skin.

Essential oils are not meant to be swallowed.

The chemicals in essential oils can interact with your body in a number of ways.

When applied to your skin, some plant chemicals are absorbed (1, 2).

It’s thought that certain methods can improve absorption, such as applying with heat or to different areas of the body. However, research in this area is lacking (3, 4).

Inhaling the aromas from essential oils can stimulate areas of your limbic system, which is a part of your brain that plays a role in emotions, behaviors, sense of smell and long-term memory (5).

Interestingly, the limbic system is heavily involved in forming memories. This can partly explain why familiar smells can trigger memories or emotions (6, 7).

The limbic system also plays a role in controlling some unconscious physiological functions, such as breathing, heart rate and blood pressure. Some people claim that essential oils can exert a physical effect on your body in this way.

However, this has yet to be confirmed in studies.

Bottom Line: Essential oils can be inhaled or applied to the skin. They may stimulate your sense of smell or have medicinal effects when absorbed.

Popular Types

There are more than 90 types of essential oils, each with its own unique smell and potential health benefits.

Here’s a list of 10 popular essential oils and the health claims associated with them:

• Peppermint: Used to boost energy and help with digestion.
• Lavender: Used for stress relief.
• Sandalwood: Used to calm nerves and help with focus.
• Bergamot: Used to reduce stress and improve skin conditions like eczema.
• Rose: Used to improve mood and reduce anxiety.
• Chamomile: Used for improving mood and relaxation.
• Ylang-Ylang: Used to treat headaches, nausea and skin conditions.
• Tea Tree: Used to fight infections and boost immunity.
• Jasmine: Used to help with depression, childbirth and libido.
• Lemon: Used to aid digestion, mood, headaches and more.

Bottom Line: There are over 90 commonly used essential oils, each associated with certain health claims. Popular oils include peppermint, lavender and sandalwood.

Health Benefits of Essential Oils

Despite their widespread use, little is known about the effectiveness of essential oils in treating health conditions.

Here’s a look at the evidence for some of the common health problems that essential oils and aromatherapy have been used to treat.

Stress, Anxiety and Depression

It has been estimated that 43% of people who have stress and anxiety use some form of alternative therapy to help with their condition (8).

Regarding aromatherapy, initial studies have been quite positive. Many have shown that the smell of some essential oils can work as a complementary therapy to treat anxiety and stress (9, 10, 11).

However, due to the scents of the compounds, it’s hard to conduct blinded studies and rule out biases. Because of this, many reviews on the stress- and anxiety-relieving effects of essential oils have been inconclusive (12, 13).

Interestingly, using essential oils during a massage may help relieve stress, although the effects may only last while the massage is taking place (14).

A recent review of over 201 studies found that only 10 were robust enough to analyze. It also concluded that aromatherapy was ineffective at treating anxiety (15).

Headaches and Migraines

In the ’90s, two small studies found that dabbing a peppermint oil and ethanol mixture on participants’ foreheads and temples relieved headache pain (16, 17).

Recent studies have also found positive effects against headaches when applying peppermint and lavender oil to the skin (18, 19).

It has also been suggested that applying a mixture of chamomile and sesame oil to the temples may effectively treat headaches and migraines. This is a traditional Persian headache remedy (20).

However, more high-quality studies are needed on this.

Sleep and Insomnia

Smelling lavender oil has been shown to positively affect the sleep quality of women after childbirth, as well as patients with heart disease (21, 22).

One review examined 15 studies on essential oils and sleep. The majority of studies showed that smelling the oils (mostly lavender) had positive effects on sleeping habits (23).

Reducing Inflammation

It has been suggested that essential oils may help fight inflammatory conditions. Some test-tube studies show that they have anti-inflammatory effects (24, 25).

One mouse study found that ingesting a combination of thyme and oregano essential oils helped induce the remission of colitis. Two rat studies on caraway and rosemary oils found similar results (26, 27, 28).

However, very few human studies have examined the effects of these oils on inflammatory diseases. Their effectiveness and safety are unknown (29, 30).

Antibiotic and Antimicrobial

The rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria has renewed interest in the search for other compounds that can fight bacterial infections.

Essential oils, such as peppermint and tea tree oil, have been investigated extensively in test tubes for their antimicrobial effects. In fact, they have shown some positive results (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39).

However, while test-tube study results are interesting, they do not necessarily reflect what’s happening within your body. They don’t prove that a particular essential oil could effectively treat bacterial infections in humans.

Bottom Line: Essential oils may have some interesting applications for health. However, more research is needed in humans.

Other Uses

Essential oils have many uses outside of aromatherapy.

Many people use them to scent their homes or freshen up things like laundry.

They are also used as a natural scent in homemade cosmetics and high-quality natural products.

It has also been suggested that essential oils could provide a safe and environmentally friendly alternative to man-made mosquito repellents, such as DEET.

However, results of their effectiveness have been mixed.

Studies have shown that some oils, such as citronella, may effectively repel certain types of mosquitoes for around 2 hours. Protection time may be extended up to 3 hours when it is used in combination with vanillin.

Despite this, no oils have been as effective as DEET at preventing bites from all species of mosquito for long periods of time (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45).

The properties of essential oils also indicate that some of them could be used industrially for extending the shelf life of foods (39, 46, 47, 48).

Bottom Line: Aromatherapy isn’t the only use for essential oils. They can be used in and around the home, as a natural mosquito repellent or industrially to make cosmetics.

How to Choose The Right Essential Oils

Many companies claim that their oils are “pure” or “medical grade.” However, these terms aren’t universally defined and therefore hold little weight.

Given that it is an unregulated industry, the quality and composition of essential oils can vary greatly (49).

Keep the following tips in mind in order to choose only high-quality oils:

• Purity: Find an oil that contains only aromatic plant compounds, without additives or synthetic oils. Pure oils usually list the plant’s botanical name (such as Lavandula officinalis), rather than terms like “essential oil of lavender.”
• Quality: True essential oils are the ones that have been changed the least by the extraction process. Choose a chemical-free essential oil that has been extracted through distillation or mechanical cold pressing.
• Reputation: Purchase a brand with a reputation for producing high-quality products.

Bottom Line: High-quality oils only use pure plant compounds extracted by distillation or cold pressing. Avoid oils that have been diluted with synthetic fragrances, chemicals or oils.

Safety and Side Effects

Just because something is natural doesn’t mean it’s safe.

Plants and herbal products contain many bioactive compounds, which may be harmful to your health in some cases. Essential oils are no different.

However, when inhaled or combined with a base oil for use on your skin, most essential oils are considered safe.

Nevertheless, they may cause some side effects (50):

• Rashes.
• Asthma attacks.
• Headaches.
• Allergic reactions.

While the most common side effect is a rash, essential oils can cause more serious reactions, and they have been associated with one case of death (51).

The oils that have most commonly been associated with adverse reactions are lavender, peppermint, tea tree and ylang-ylang.

Oils that are high in phenols, such as cinnamon, can cause skin irritation and shouldn’t be used on the skin without first being combined with a base oil.

Eating essential oils is not recommended, as it could potentially be harmful and in some doses fatal (52, 53).

Very few studies have examined the safety of these oils for pregnant or breastfeeding women, which are usually advised to avoid them (54, 55, 56, 57, 58).

Bottom Line: Essential oils are generally considered safe. However, they may cause serious side effects for some people, especially if applied directly to the skin or ingested.

Take Home Message

Essential oils are generally considered safe to inhale or apply to the skin, as long as they’ve been combined with a base oil. They should not be eaten.

However, the evidence for many of the health claims is lacking, and their effectiveness is often exaggerated.

For minor health problems, using essential oils as a complementary therapy is probably ok.

But if you have a serious health condition or are taking medication, you should discuss their use with your doctor.

The north of Thailand is blanketed by rolling green hills and rice fields, while the south blooms in abundance with tropical fruits and vegetables.

Visitors to Thailand often laud the country for its healthy food — noodle dishes, curries, stir fried vegetables and tofu, and overfilling plates of rice.

These dishes are generally considered healthier as they’re freshly prepared and made with local produce, but if you’ve ever watched a street vendor make your food, you’ll have noticed the copious amounts of oil, salt, sugar, and MSG that cooks add to these dishes.

Moreover, visitors to Thailand may have romanticized ideas of where their food comes from: of farms and homesteads in Thailand, of mangoes and bananas pulled off of a neighbors tree perfectly ripe, of fresh ingredients found in markets that make their way to a kitchen within a day of their picking.

However, the reality is that these fantasies are more often than not oversimplifications of the Thai food industry. Indeed, those searching for organic produce may be quite shocked at the reality behind the fruits and vegetables found in Thailand’s markets and supermarket chains.

While its true that the large majority of fruit and veg is domestically produced and through some channels quite fresh, when investigating the chemical residue lurking on the outside and inside of the produce, we are sent down a rabbit hole that seemingly never ends.

In this post, I explore that rabbit hole.

Pesticide Use: Law, Evaluation, Control, Contamination

A major exporter of rice, rubber, corn, tropical fruit, and cassava, Thailand’s farmlands supply many of the world’s countries with bulk produce — so much so that it equates to about $10 billion USD per year.

To meet this demand, the Kingdom relies heavily on pesticides to control insect populations and increase the yield of said crops. In the past, the country has lost nearly 50% of its produce to insect scourges and other threats, so needs must, right?

Over the past ten years, Thailand’s agricultural exports have risen to make up at least 40% of the country’s GDP; therefore the nation’s use of pesticides has exploded exponentially to nearly four times the initial amount.

While this increased use may benefit crop yields, it also threatens the health and safety of this produce and makes it difficult for the government to regulate pesticide use in rural Thai farms.

Chemicals to combat insect infestations and other bacterial threats to crops include herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, plant growth regulators, and other pesticides.

Thailand is fourth out of 15 Asian countries regarding the severity of pesticide reliance, and over-spraying plants has contributed to issues like insect resistance and pest resurgence.

In an attempt to mediate the effects of these hazardous chemicals, the Royal Thai Government has enacted Hazardous Substance Act B.E. 2535 (HSA), which seeks to control the use of these harmful chemicals and reduce the risks of handling pesticides.

Corrosive and explosive chemicals are regulated by the act, as are toxic chemicals, pathogenic substances, radioactive material, and pesticides: in total there are 1,233 substances regulated.

The HSA is used to regulate most hazardous substances used in Thailand. It also seeks to prevent harmful exposure of these chemicals to people and the environment.

As enforcement, the Royal Thai Government created the Hazardous Substance Committee (HSC) to regulate chemical use across the Kingdom. Unfortunately, the targeting of specific (and harmful) chemical groups has negated the efficacy of this regulatory group. In addition, issues arise when pesticide samples are taken and are measured at differing ‘acceptable levels.’

Alarmed that your food contains pesticides at all? Most produce does, even in trace amounts. Many governmental agencies have established a standard called the Maximum Residue Level (MRL), which is the acceptable amount of chemical a food can contain (measured in milligrams of chemical per kilogram of produce) — this is not a safety measure.

In Thailand, it’s not uncommon for MRL values to have conflicting regulation standards, causing mass confusion in the food industry, and allowing for potential mistakes when it comes to the amount of pesticides (and antibiotics, bacteria, mold, micro-organisms, borax, formalin, and toxic coloring) included in foods.

Because of these flawed regulatory measures, an increased amount of pesticides are present in produce, causing import countries to complain about the potential safety of the food (and initiate trade issues).

Levels of Pesticides in Thai Produce

While visitors to the Kingdom may believe that their food is farm-fresh, the implications could be overwhelmingly negative, based on the farmer and their pesticide practices. While MRL regulation is still faltering in some regulatory agencies, those who regularly consume Thai produce are putting themselves at risk.

A non-profit agency, the Thailand Pesticide Alert Network, has reported that nearly 64% of Thai produce exceeds its MRL, and should be deemed unsafe.

On a larger scale, studies found that produce from some provinces in Thailand contained a much higher rate of pesticide residue than their counterparts from developed countries.

After studying Chinese kale, pakchoi, and morning glory, scientists detected pesticides 97-100% of the time, regardless of whether the vegetables were purchased in a local market or in a supermarket.

In addition, researchers found that the pesticide levels in the vegetables exceeded their respective MRL at 35-48% for Chinese kale; 55-71% for pakchoi, and 42-49% for morning glory.

Interestingly, the lower percentage of the range was attributed to supermarket produce; the higher percentage was attributed to local market produce.

On average, there were 28 pesticides used, including aldrin, atrazine, captan, carbaryl, carbofuran, carbosulfan, chlormefos, chlorpyrifos, chlorothanlonil, cypermethrin, deltanethrin, diazinon, dichlorvos, dicofol, chlorpyrifos… the list goes on.

These chemicals can cause a host of issues in those who accidentally come in contact with undiluted concentrations or trace residues, including neurological effects, nervous system malfunctions, kidney damage, headaches, dizziness, vomiting, muscle spasms, a reduced ability to fight infection, birth defects, and damaged reproductive organs.

While these findings are significant, please note that researchers chose produce from certain markets and provinces in Thailand, including Bangkok, Nakhon Pathom, Nonthaburi, Ayutthaya, Pathumthani, Samutsakorn, and Nakhon Ratchasima.

Researchers noted that it was difficult to obtain information about the suppliers and their pesticide practices. The study also clarified that the findings were exclusive to three target vegetables and a number of providers in central Thailand. Sample sizes were small, and the study was targeted.

In short, this study cannot be presumed representative of practices all over Thailand.

Farmers Poisoned by Pesticide Use

The sad reality of farming is that many in the industry are poisoned by exposure to these chemical pesticides.

While reported numbers rise into the thousands, scientists from the Ministry of Public Health are hesitant to confirm the veracity of these numbers, as they note that many farmers who fall ill from pesticide use may not report their problems to a local doctor or emergency care center.

While reports from the ‘90s suggest a range of 4,000-5,000 affected, studies indicate that the real number of farmers affected could total nearly 40,000 annually (Ref: ipm-info.org)

One should note at this point that some farmers increase their own risk of being poisoned by not following government guidelines: not using proper protective clothing, over-using pesticides and by using banned pesticides.

The Department of Agriculture concluded in a study that nearly 68% of vegetable farmers in Kanchanaburi were affected by some type of pesticide poisoning. Another study indicates that 90% of Thai farmers are impacted by agricultural chemicals.

A local farmer, Mr. Manit Boonkiaw who grows vegetables in Nonthaburi Province attested to the use of chemicals, saying:

Spraying was carried out all the year. One day I would spray and the next day the crop would be harvested and sent to market. I knew how dangerous that was. I always had headaches and felt dizzy after spraying pesticides, so I never used to eat those vegetables. I used to have a small plot that I didn’t spray; those were the vegetables for our own consumption.

The sobering reality for farmers across the Kingdom is driven by the demand for cheap food and large yields of it. Mr. Boonkiaw continues:

I know a lot of vegetable farmers who would like to reduce the amount of pesticides. They know that pesticides cost a lot of money and are bad for their health, but they are worried about the market situation. The middlemen don’t care about pesticides; they never ask what chemicals have been used. And the consumers want cheap vegetables that look good. They should realize that the good-looking vegetables are often contaminated with dangerous pesticides. If consumers would pay a better price for non-chemical vegetables, a lot more farmers would grow them. (Ref: ipm-info.org)

Organic Vs Safe Food Labelling

While the realisation that pesticide laden foods are affecting both consumers and farmers may lead some to pay closer attention to their produce, it’s not always so easy.

The increase in demand for ‘safe’ foods has resulted in a number of marketing techniques wherein fruits and vegetables are labeled ‘pesticide safe.’

The intention isn’t necessarily to mislead, but studies show people often mistake these foods for ‘organic’ or ‘pesticide free’.

The authorities have set standards for ‘safe’ food that are not as stringent or as regulatory as those deemed ‘organic’, and it doesn’t mean pesticides aren’t present.

‘Safe’ food is tested to make sure that residues are within the MRL, whereas organic produce does not use pesticides at all.

In Thailand, organic food is certified through the Organic Agriculture Certification of Thailand (ACT). Much of the country’s organic goods are produced by Green Net Cooperatives — both initiatives are covered by the Earth Net Foundation, which has a vested role in bringing organic farming to the hills of Thailand.

Their mission is moral, but the progress is slow. Only one out of 5,000 rai of farmland is currently organic.

And while the push for organic is noble, it isn’t always 100% effective. As has been seen in countries in the western world, organic crops are often infected by spraying in adjacent fields. And of course, some growers may not be entirely honest.

In 2016, the Bangkok Post reported that nearly 25% of organic-certified produce had been found to contain some type of pesticide residue. These foods included red chilli, basil, long beans, Chinese kale, Chinese cabbage, morning glory, tomatoes, cucumbers, oranges, guava, dragon fruit, papayas, and mangoes.

Though the organic movement has had some difficulty spurring momentum, the idea of growing food without pesticides is undeniably more healthful and environmentally friendly than the current standard agricultural processes. But the issue lies in educating consumers about the differences between organic, safe, and chemical-free certification standards in order to help the population make healthier choices based on scientific standards and regulatory limits.

Effects of Pesticides on Public Health

Perhaps the most devastating results of pesticide use are the health repercussions for those in close contact with food production or those who routinely consume tainted produce. Among these are the unborn.

Studies have shown that nearly 200,000 children born in Thailand annually to agricultural workers are at risk of exposure to toxic pesticides while still in the womb. Those that do not grow up on a farm are at risk for toxicity through diet, home, and other environmental factors.

Researchers found that women who worked in agricultural occupations were much less likely to consider the use of pesticides as unsafe for either themselves or their developing child. Risk was not mediated because of pregnancy.

In other studies, researchers have looked for health symptoms associated with pesticides from rice farming. These scientists studied blood samples to draw conclusions, and found that rice farmers had an increased difficulty in breathing and experienced chest pain, dry throat, cramps, numbness, diarrhea, and anxiety. The scientists concluded that exposure to pesticides in the rice fields may be associated with illnesses of the respiratory tract, in addition to muscle issues.

Children in farming communities are also not immune to the effects of these harmful chemicals.

Researchers studied children who reside in agricultural areas like Pathum Thani Province, and found that these communities of 6-8 year olds had higher urine levels of organophosphate pesticides than did children who lived in residential areas. An increased presence of this pesticide has serious implications for the future development and health of the child.

Markets vs. Supermarkets

While Westerners generally associate market produce as the ‘healthier,’ and the more ‘natural,’ those living in Thailand would do well to adjust those notions after reading a couple of the aforementioned studies.

It’s easy to consider local, independent sellers to have produce that seems more “organic” because the crops appear to be local and hearty. Often the produce looks very organic because it’ll show obvious signs of pest invasion — for instance, chewed leaves, and even an odd caterpillar.

But, as previously explored in the study regarding Chinese broccoli, the pakchoi, and the morning glory, local markets proved to have higher MRL of pesticides than did supermarket produce.

Pesticide Risk by Province

While certain studies of Thai produce highlight specific provinces or regions of the Kingdom as producing unsafe or potentially harmful produce, it can be helpful to take a step back and view the country as a whole.

In a study that measured the amount of money dedicated to pesticides on each farm annually, scientists were able to map out patterns of pesticide use over the entire country.

Northeastern Provinces averaged 388 Baht of pesticides per farm, annually, while the southernmost tip of the Kingdom averaged 1021 Baht/farm — making it statistically likely that food from these regions is the least contaminated.

Provinces in Central Thailand, averaging 7,094 Baht/farm likely have the most pesticide residue in food, while regions to the north — averaging 3622 Baht/farm — are in the moderate range of pesticide use.

Environmental Effects

And of course, no discussion of pesticides would be complete without an investigation of how these chemicals are affecting natural resources, like forests, animals and water.

Pesticides don’t just kill pesky creatures that eat crops; they soak into surrounding ground and kill useful insects that help support the circle of life by pollinating, producing honey/nectar and providing a protein source to other animals.

Harmful chemicals can leak into bodies of water like rivers, irrigation canals, rice paddies, and ponds and kill creatures like fish, frogs, turtles and snakes. As smaller animals are contaminated, larger predators are poisoned after hunting them.

In this way, chemicals are carried up throughout the food chain. The effect of pesticides on animals in Thailand is tangible — the endangered species list contains over 40 species of mammals and over 100 different types of birds.

Organochlorine pesticides – mentioned in the section about children living in farming communities – continue to be an issue as they perpetually contaminate large bodies of water.

There are major levels of these compounds in rivers of Southern Thailand. Effects include endocrine disrupting diseases, like breast, testicular and prostate cancer. Bangkok’s Chao Phraya River has been found to have high levels of these pesticides.

You can read more on this study here. 

Summary & Advice

While it may be counter-intuitive, studies show that shopping for produce at supermarkets over local market stands may help consumers avoid dangerous MRL levels and pesticide contamination.

While the wide use of pesticides has caused concern, there are foods you can buy in Thailand that are generally free from pesticide levels.

For example: Researchers found that pesticide residue in watermelons and durians were significantly lower than these fruits’ recommended MRL level. Previous studies showed that Chinese cabbage was also free of pesticide contaminants.

Health conscious consumers can also avoid toxic pesticides by avoiding off season produce. The head of the Biodiversity Sustainable Agriculture Food Sovereignty Action Thailand group (BioThai) — Kingkorn Narindharakul Na Ayudhaya — noted that those concerned can “mitigate the risk by avoiding off-season and popular legumes.”

Those flocking to supermarkets in hope of finding safe food have a friend in Samrit Intaram, the Manager for The Mall Group (a shopping complex business). Mr. Intaram noted that his company decided to create a market for non-chemical products, using independent testing to determine chemical levels.

After deciding that his stores should only have pesticide-free vegetables, he vowed to buy exclusively from certified organic growers. These growers include farms like Lemon Farm Pattana Cooperatives, who sell food in eight stores around Bangkok.

While organic farming and a safe food practices may just be gaining a foothold in fertile Thailand, be assured, a revolution in food is coming.

Thalassa Nutrition now sale pH Drops to check if your water is Alkaline

We all know there is no life without water. Water has many health benefits and helps your body in many ways as I’ve mentioned in my article about the amazing health benefits of drinking water. But have you heard about alkaline water and its many health benefits?

What Is Alkaline Water

Alkaline water is water with a high pH rating, meaning that it is more alkaline and less acidic than tap water. A neutral pH rating is a 7—anything above it is considered alkaline, while anything below it is considered acidic.

The pH rating of water can be changed by adding ingredients to it to make it more acidic or more alkaline. By drinking alkaline water, you can alkalize your own body, bringing it back into balance and doing away with the problems associated with having an acidic body.

Why Alkaline Water Is Good for You

People whose bodies lean toward the acidic end of the pH scale often find themselves feeling less than optimal with regard to health and wellness. I’ve already written why pH level matters, how to test your pH level and warning signs that your body is too acidic in my article on how to balance your pH and find out if you’re too acidic.

Often, having an acidic body is attributed to certain lifestyle choices that can be corrected with changes to diet and way of life – these were elaborated in my article 5 things to avoid if you want to get your body alkaline.

You can test your own body’s pH level by purchasing litmus strips and using them to test your saliva or your urine. If your pH test indicates that your urine or saliva is highly acidic, drinking alkaline water may be a good choice.

The Benefits of Drinking Alkaline Water According to Research

Maintaining a slightly alkaline body has been associated with several benefits, from improving cognitive function and reducing age-related cognitive decline to improving the function of various internal organs. There is even some evidence that alkaline water may halt cancer development. Here are some of the benefits that can come of drinking alkaline water:

Alkaline Water can Promote Kidney Health

Although alkalizing therapy has its critics and opinions on its effectiveness, a 2007 U.S. study published in Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine found that people who consumed alkalizing foods and used alkalizing supplements could restore the pH balance to their bodies, thus making them better able to rid their bodies of toxins by improving kidney function.¹

Alkaline Ionized Water can Improve Gut function and Immune System

Another way that drinking alkaline water can help your health is by restoring the balance in your intestines, thus shoring up the body’s immune response and keeping nasty infections at bay.

In 2005, Nina Vorobjeva, a researcher from Lomonosov Moscow State University, published her preliminary findings about the gut health-alkaline water connection in the Medical Hypotheses journal.² According to the research: “Drinking such water favours the growth of residential microflora in the gut.”

Alkaline Water Promote Liver health (for Diabetic or Pre-diabetic People)

Kidney function and gut health are not the only ways that alkaline water can help the body. Although human research is limited, one 2013 rat study performed by a Korean research team at Hannam University and published in Nutrition Research and Practice found that alkaline water can promote liver health.

According to the research, rats with blood sugar control problems (similar to those experienced by diabetic humans) that drank alkaline ionized water had improved liver function after drinking the alkalized water.³

Alkaline Water Aids Rehydration for Athletes

Active people can deplete their electrolytes through vigorous exercise and extreme sweating. Exercise spurs muscles to produce more hydrogen ions than one can efficiently remove. Thus, acidity increases and fatigue sets in.

A 2010 study performed by a researcher from Montana State University and published in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition found that people with rigorous exercise regimes were better able to maintain their pH balance and stay hydrated when they drank alkaline water. ⁴

Alkaline Water and Cancer

In vitro tests have shown cancer cells thrive in acidic and oxygen-free (anaerobic) environments. The first to describe the correlation between the acidic environment and cancer cell growth was Dr. Otto Warburg, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in physiology in 1931.

In his work he scientifically explained how the growth of cancer cells is triggered in the absence of oxygen, and as a result of sugar fermentation that occurs under such conditions.

Dr. Warburg was in fact describing acidic conditions. For cancer cells to maintain effective metabolism, they need a pH between 6.5 and 7.5. Their tolerance for change is small, therefore it has been argued that by raising the blood’s pH, we will effectively target the cancer cell’s cycle, stop its growth and cause it to die.

The key is to make your body more alkaline, and different ways to do that have been proposed (find more information in my previous article about how to balance your pH and find out if you are too acidic).

It has been shown that sodium bi-carbonate (baking soda) alkalizes the area around the tumor and prevents development of metastasis (spread of a cancer from one organ to another) in mice with breast cancer. Advertisement

A study published in Cancer Research in 2009 confirmed that inhibition of tumor’s acidity reduced the number of metastasis in some cancers. A new study is underway at the University of Arizona Cancer Center, which will look specifically at the effects of sodium bicarbonate on breast cancer patients.

Lemons, too, help to balance the body’s pH. They have an alkaline effect on the body, despite their initial (citric) acidity. They contain limonoides which are phytochemicals and have anti-cancerous properties.

Vitamin C destroys free radicals, which damage our cells. An interesting thing about lemons is also that they act as an anti-microbial. Some researchers suggest that cancer is like a fungus, and should be treated in the same way, so lemons might be a powerful remedy.

According to The Cancer Alternative Foundation, when applied properly, alkalizing or ‘pH therapy’ has had a success rate of 80% and higher, which is a hugely significant rate when compared with some of the mainstream methods.

It’s worth pointing out that the research about lemon and baking soda for cancer is extremely limited. Although the current results are encouraging, further research is needed.

There is no scientific information about the dosage that is needed for an effective treatment and there is no exact information about the quantities of each ingredient in the mixture. In addition, the scientific evidence is extremely limited.

Side Effects of Alkaline Water Consumption

Although drinking alkaline water can contribute to good health by battling an overly acidic body and restoring the pH balance, it does come with some side effects that are not always pleasant.

These side effects are how you know the alkalization is happening inside your body, and are considered a normal response to pH correction and the detoxification the body is undergoing. For more information on how to detoxify your body, see my eBook The Detox Guide.

Side effects may include: Advertisement

• Headache
• Sore muscles (flu-like muscle aches)
• Tiredness and sleepiness
• Gas
• Sniffling (a runny nose)

Not everyone experiences the same side effects when alkalizing their bodies, and some people find the side effects more noticeable and irritating than others.

How to Make Alkaline Water

If you’re interested in making alkaline water a part of your health maintenance routine, you’ll be glad to know that you can make your own alkaline water with ease, using a couple of different methods which use ingredients you likely already have on hand.

Important note: Alkaline water should be drank before or after meals—either 30 minutes before a meal, or two hours after a meal—in order to be effective without interfering with the body’s digestive processes which requires acidic environment.

Alkaline Water Recipe #1: the Power of Lemon

Fill a tall pitcher (64-ounce capacity) with clean water. Cut one lemon into eight pieces and submerge the pieces into the water. There is no need to squeeze the juice from the lemon; just drop them into the pitcher with the water. Allow the lemons to soak in the water for 8 to 10 hours at room temperature.

Drinking lemon water is also one of the 70 secrets I mentioned in my eBook 70 Habits For a Great Health. You can use this eBook to learn about simple yet powerful life changes for a happier, healthier slimmer you.

Alkaline Water Recipe #2: Baking Soda

Please note that people on a strict low-sodium diet should avoid using this method, as baking soda is high in sodium.

To make baking soda water, simply dissolve 1/8 teaspoon of baking soda into an 8-ounce glass of clean water. Stir the mixture until you no longer see powder or crystals floating in the water, and then drink it down.

Alkaline Water Recipe #3: Adding pH Drops to Water

You can purchase alkalizing pH drops (like this one) from online retailers or at health food stores and make high-pH water using those. These drops are highly concentrated, and formulations differ between manufacturers, so it’s important to follow instructions on the bottle carefully to avoid overdoing it.

Generally, a few drops may be added to a glass or pitcher of water and you can get the same alkalinizing benefits from this mixture as from drinking lemon water or baking soda water with the added convenience of having your alkalinizing agent stored in a handy dropper bottle for ease of use.\

Papaya is a rich source of antioxidants that the body needs to fight against cancer-causing cells. Vitamin C, E, and beta-carotene are antioxidants that prevent all kinds of cancers. So adding a daily serving of papaya to your diet may lessen your risk of developing cancer.

Papaya is a great source of proteolytic enzymes that are very important in digesting food. The most important of these proteolytic enzymes found in papaya is papain. Papain breaks down proteins in food, allowing for better digestion.

Many alternative medical practitioners believe that one of the benefits of papaya is to control premature aging. Papaya helps the body to properly digest food and when the body digests all the nutrients it needs, the body will remain vital for a long time.

Papaya is also rich in fiber, which travels through the body and binds itself to cancer-causing toxins in the colon. The fiber in papaya flushes out the toxins in the colon and so one of the benefits of papaya is that it helps prevent colon cancer especially, due to its antioxidants and its fiber content.

The antioxidants in papaya prevent cholesterol from oxidizing. When cholesterol becomes oxidized it forms plaque in the blood vessel walls that can eventually build up and cause a heart attack or stroke. Fiber is known to lower cholesterol.

Also, vitamins C, E, and beta-carotene are good at reducing inflammation and as such these nutrients are used to treat asthma, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis among many other inflammatory ailments. Papayas are bright yellow or orange in color and therefore are rich sources of beta-carotene. They are also rich in vitamin C, folates, vitamin B, and flavonoids. There are many minerals in the fruit as well. In addition to soluble fiber, papaya also contains potassium, magnesium, and pantothenic acid.

Among the many benefits for the health and skin, papaya’s nutrients can also boost immunity. Both vitamins C and A, which are found in abundance in papayas, are excellent for the body’s immune system. Together, these nutrients can help prevent illnesses such as cold, flu, and other recurrent infections. As we age, macular degeneration is one of the side effects that many experiences.

Macular degeneration is a natural degenerative disease that can be prevented by consuming at least three servings of papaya every day. The antioxidants, vitamins A, C, and E, are strongly related to the prevention of vision loss and therefore are excellent when it comes to having good vision.

The benefits of papaya seeds are also similar because they have similar concentrations of the nutrients that the fruit and the papaya plant contain. However, papaya seeds are considered healthier than the fruit itself because of the high bioavailability of the nutrients. Eat the seeds too, they are as healthy for you as the entire papaya. I mix the seeds in my smoothie or you can sprinkle them on salads or use them in place of peppers as they have a similar taste.

I consider the papaya one of the most valuable and nutritional superfoods in the world…

I try and eat a half a large Mexican Papaya or two Thai papayas every day and have been doing so for ten plus years…. I sprinkle chia, hemp and flax seeds on the papaya

Black seed oil contains many medicinal and therapeutic properties that are good for your skin and general health. The antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effect of black seed oil is great for treating skin conditions and skin infections. Black seed oil is also good for your hair as it can boost the condition of your hair and may even prevent hair loss. You can also take black seed oil capsules for weight loss, to lower cholesterol, and manage diabetes symptoms.

Black seed oil is also called kalonji oil, black cumin seed oil, or black caraway oil. The use of black seed oil for treating various ailments goes back centuries. Recent scientific studies have confirmed many of the traditional uses of kalonji oil for improving the appearance of skin, your hair, and boosting your overall health.

In this article, you will learn about the many reasons why black seed oil or black cumin oil is good for you. You will also find out how to use black seed oil to take advantage of its many health benefits.

What is Black Seed Oil?

Black seed oil (Nigella sativa oil) is produced by pressing oil from the tiny black seeds (Nigella seeds) that grow on the Nigella sativa plant. Researchers say that the Nigella sativa plant is a medicinal plant with many health benefits. Oil extracts from the black seeds (Nigella seeds) has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antimicrobial properties. (1)

Many of the amazing health benefits of black seed oil are due to a compound called thymoquinone. The journal Advances in Phytomedicine reports that thymoquinone is the main active compound that makes black seed oil so good for your health. (2)

Black seed oil also has antiseptic properties that can relieve pain when applied to the skin or wounds. (1)

Black seed oil (black cumin oil) has a pungent bitter taste that some people describe as peppery or spicy. When consuming high-quality black cumin oil for its medicinal purposes, many people advise not to smell the oil but just consume it.

Nutritional Value of Black Seed Oil

Most of the nutritional value of black seed oil comes from the rich content of unsaturated fatty acids that have antioxidant properties. Black seed oil contains large amounts of linoleic acid and oleic acids. (1)

Scientists have also found that black seed oil (kalonji oil) has strong antioxidant qualities. Black seed oil helps to kill off free radicals in the body that can cause oxidative damage. (3)

The benefits of thymoquinone in black seed oil have been linked with antifungal, antiviral, antibacterial, and antiparasitic activity. (4)

What is Black Seed Oil Good For?

Black seed oil is good for your health because of its scientifically proven health benefits. Scientific studies have confirmed that black seed oil is good for your skin, hair, and liver. Black cumin oil is also good for you because it can help lower blood glucose and cholesterol levels.

Here are the proven health benefits of Nigella sativa oil.

Black Seed Oil for Weight Loss – What Science Says

Is there any scientific research to suggest that black seed oil is good for weight loss? Advertisement

In 2018, the Journal of Ethnopharmacology reported that black seed supplementation has an anti-obesity effect. Taking black seed (Nigella sativa) can help to reduce body weight and lose belly fat. (5)

One trial involving overweight women found that taking black seed oil to supplement a calorie-controlled diet helped to speed up weight loss. At the end of the trial, the group taking black seed oil experienced a significant reduction in body weight compared to the group who didn’t take the supplement. (6)

In the trial, women took a dose of 3 grams of black seed oil for weight loss. This was divided into 1 g black seed oil capsules 3 times a day before meals.

Research has also shown that taking black seed oil for weight loss also helps to reduce complications associated with obesity. One clinical trial found that taking black seed oil can help to reduce inflammation in obese women. (7)

Some studies have found that supplementing your weight-loss diet with black seed oil only results in minor weight loss. (8)

Black Seed Oil (Black Cumin Seed Oil) For Skin

Using black seed oil for your skin is good to help moisturize your skin and treat various inflammatory skin conditions.

The anti-microbial, analgesic, and soothing properties of kalonji oil (black seed oil) mean that it is an excellent therapeutic topical application to keep skin healthy.

Nigella sativa helps treat eczema

Medicinal compounds in black cumin seed oil mean that you can use it to soothe dry skin conditions like eczema (atopic dermatitis).

Research published in 2018 found that thymoquinone gives black seed oil its anti-inflammatory effect. Applying oils containing thymoquinone such as black seed oil helps to treat outbreaks of dermatitis. (9)

Other studies have found that using black seed oil for eczema is just as effective as Betamethasone. This is a steroid cream used in treating eczema to relieve itching and flaking skin. Patients applied black seed oil to irritated skin twice a day for 4 weeks have seen the best results. (10)

Find out about other natural ingredients that can help treat eczema.

Black seed oil can alleviate psoriasis symptoms

Oil extracted from black cumin seed can also help treat the symptoms of psoriasis.

One study on mice with psoriasis-like skin lesions found that regularly applying black cumin seed oil reduced skin inflammation and helped skin heal properly. The scientists concluded that black cumin seed oil could be a natural treatment for psoriasis. (11)

Further reading: 12 ways to treat psoriasis outbreaks naturally.

Black cumin seed oil (black seed oil) for acne

The antibacterial properties of kalonji oil mean that it is good for treating acne and helping to get rid of inflamed, red pimples.

One clinical study on adults with acne found that applying lotion with 10% black seed oil helped to reduce the number of pustules in a 2-month period. Nearly 60% of patients experienced a reduction in their symptoms of acne thanks to the black seed oil acne treatment. (12)

Other studies have shown that an anti-acne gel containing black seed oil is just as effective as the acne pharmaceutical drug amoxicillin. (16)

Learn about other ways to treat outbreaks of acne and how tea tree oil can help in your fight against pimples. Advertisement

Kalonji oil is good to stop skin infections

Black seed oil has powerful antimicrobial properties that mean it can help treat skin infections and prevent wounds becoming infected.

One clinical trial revealed that extracts of Nigella sativa seed oil can treat skin infections on infants. The researchers found that black seed oil was just as effective as the pharmaceutical antibacterial ointment Mupirocin. Applying black seed oil treated Staphylococcal bacterial infections. (13)

Find out how to take care of wounds properly and how to prevent scabs from forming.

Black seed oil may help reduce fine lines and wrinkles

Black cumin seed oil is good to apply to your face and neck because it can help to reduce the visible appearance of aging.

In one trial involving mice, black seed oil was taken as a supplement to improve skin condition. The antioxidant and anti-apoptosis (preventing cell death) properties of black seed oil had an anti-aging effect on the skin and helped to offset the visible effects of aging. (14)

Applying products containing black seed oil also helps to moisturize the skin, reduce pigmentation, and heal skin lesions. (15)

Did you know that there are many more oils that help reduce the appearance of fine lines?

Black Seeds Oil for Hair

Kalonji oil is also good for your hair and may even help to prevent hair thinning and bald patches. Also, because it has antifungal properties, black seed oil is good for keeping your scalp healthy and free from dandruff.

Black seed oil can boost hair growth and may prevent hair loss

One of the reasons to apply black seed oil to your scalp is to help hair grow quicker and strengthen your hair strands.

The thymoquinone content of black seed oil can help increase hair thickness and density. One trial on 20 people who had the hair-thinning disorder telogen effluvium found that applying a lotion containing black seek oil helped to treat hair thinning. After a 3-month period of treatment, 70% of the patients had increased hair thickness. (16)

Another trial found that combining black seed cumin oil with coconut oil helps to boost hair growth. Scientists found that the rich content of short chain fatty acids in black seed oil along with anti-inflammatory properties helped to promote hair growth. The black seed oil easily penetrates hair roots to improve hair quality. (17)

One study on the medicinal compounds in black seed oil found that black seed oil works similar to the antihistamine cetirizine. (18) A study from 2018 found that applying topical lotions containing 1% cetirizine can help to treat androgenetic alopecia. (19)

Learn about other natural ways to make your hair grow faster and what natural supplements can help hair to regrow faster.

Black Seed Oil May Help Treat Dandruff

Oil from Nigella sativa seeds contains antifungal compounds which can be useful in getting rid of dandruff.