Carrot Seed Essential Oil (Daucus carota)

According to recent and past literature and research, the following properties have been attributed to Carrot Seed essential oil:

Gastrointestinal: Small amounts are reported to be used to successfully regenerate the liver and gallbladder. Helpful for jaundice, worms, anorexia, colic and indigestion. It is well-known as a “carminative”, which means it relieves gas!

Genitourinary: Considered to be diuretic and useful against cystitis.

Endocrine/Reproductive: Documented to promote menses, so would be useful for absent or scanty menstrual cycles. There are reports that it is very helpful for cramps and glandular problems.

Central Nervous System: The literature reports that this oil “strengthens the mind”, and is useful for nervousness and excitability.

Dermatological: This area is one of the best uses of this oil and I can and do personally testify to its benefits in our creams that it restores tone and elasticity. It is beneficial for all skin types and improves the complexion. Franzesca Watson in her books states it “confers a more youthful appearance”. This oil is by many reports one of the best “beauty oils”, especially for the face, eyes, hands, feet, nails and neck. It is not recommended for use in lipbalms or on the lips. It has a history of being beneficial for broken capillaries, so would be especially useful for rosacea. It also has a history of being beneficial for eczema and psoriasis. Due to its high levels of carotene and Vitamin A, it is a powerful antioxidant and well-known for its ability to repair and prevent damage due to free radicals in our environment. We use this oil in absolutely all of our facial products and have seen proven results as we see that its reported value of being able to stimulate the growth of new cells and tissues apparently is true.

Musculoskeletal: Reported to be vasodilatory (increases and expands the size of blood vessels) and is a smooth muscle relaxant. It reduces accumulation of toxins and is good for rheumatism. This is one of the oils included in our Spicey Muscle Oil for both of these reasons.

Safety or Cautions: Considered to be non-toxic, and non skin-sensitizing. As with all oils, this oil must be diluted with a carrier prior to use.

IMPORTANT: All of our products are for external use only.

We also suggest you have a good working knowledge of the use of essential oils or consult with an aromatherapy professional prior to use. In addition, Essential Oils must be properly diluted before use in order to avoid any damages to property or adverse physical effects (including injury or bodily harm). Please read our Disclaimer before using our products.

Basil essential oil 

According to available literature and research available this essential oil has the properties as listed below:

As mentioned in the "short" version, this particular essential oil has many different chemotypes and they do have somewhat differing properties.  Oils distilled from this plant are mainly of two chemotypes, Linalool and Methyl Chavicol. The Linalool is mostly considered to be more "therapeutic"; however, our experience is that it depends on your desired results. We like the Methyl Chavicol more as an insect repellent but there are some indications that this chemical constituent might carry some carcinogenic risks. The chemotype we offer on our website is Linalool. We, however, are not including essential oil chemistry in our on-line essential oil database as we believe that information should be studied in depth and not just lightly mentioned. We do offer in-depth discussions of chemotypes and chemical constituents in our classes for those who want to become more educated in this area.

Emotional & Central Nervous System: Mental stimulant, restorative, antispasmotic , useful for metal fatigue (see our Stay Awake™ blend), nervous insomnia, anxiety, essentially (pun intended!) a tonic for the adrenal cortex. Reported to be one of the best aromatics to be used as a nerve tonic, very uplifting and an antidepressant, our research has shown that it also helps with migraines. Basil is known to “strengthen memory” and “sharpen intellect”, which is why we recommend our Stay Awake™ blend for truck drivers and all college students. You can read my personal testimony under the information about our Stay Awake blend, but suffice it to say, basil essential oil is a neurotonic.

Respiratory: Reported to alleviate whooping cough, asthma, bronchitis and emphysema. Basil is also useful for sinus congestion, colds, fever or infectious diseases such as the flu and can be used as an expectorant.

Gastrointestinal: Used to relieve flatulence, dyspepsia, travel sickness or abdominal cramps as well as hiccups.

Urinary: As it is anti-infectious, basil has been used to relieve urinary tract infections.

Reproductive System: Basil is reported in the literature to be an emmenagogue, which means stimulates menstrual flow or blood flow in the pelvic area. Basil also has been reported to be galactagogue, which is anything that stimulates or excites lactation or otherwise known as milk flow.

Musculoskeletal System: Basil essential oil is very good for tired and overworked muscles, especially after a particular difficult run, workout or good day in the garden. It is reported to improve blood circulation and decrease rheumatic pain.

Immune System: Basil has been reported to be anti-infectious, antiseptic and antiviral, being especially helpful for hepatitis A & B. See our Immune Enhancer blend. See a research abstract reference below.

Skin/Dermatological System: Useful to relieve effects of wasp stings and snake bites if used quickly. It is also a well-known insect repellent and used to relieve pain from insect bites in general. Appears to be particularly effective in repelling flies.

Can cause skin irritation if not diluted properly. Use sparingly and with caution.  Avoid during pregnancy or hepatic (liver) disease. There are many different varieties of basil, the one we offer here is higher in the constituent linalool which is thought to be more therapeutic, soothing and uplifting. There are varieties that are high in methyl chavicol which in high doses may be carcinogenic.

IMPORTANT: All of our products are for external use only.

We also suggest you have a good working knowledge of the use of essential oils or consult with an aromatherapy professional prior to use. In addition, Essential Oils must be properly diluted before use in order to avoid any damages to property or adverse physical effects (including injury or bodily harm). Please read our Disclaimer before using our products.

Chiang LC, Ng LT, Cheng PW et al (2005) Antiviral activities of extracts and selected pure constituents of Ocimum basilicum. Clinical & Experimental Pharmacology & Physiology 32:811-816

Aniseed Essential Oil

Aromatherapeutic uses according to available literature for Pimpinella anisum:

Respiratory system: Used for relief of dry, irritable coughs (see our Breathe Easy™ blend), as an expectorant, bronchitis, and whooping cough.

Reproductive system: Useful for amenorrhea and/or menstrual cramps and is reported to be an antispasmotic tonic. It can be an estrogen mimic, and can promote breast milk; however, Robert Tisserand, who is one of the foremost authorities on essential oil safety, recommends “anethole-rich oils (which Aniseed is) should be avoided altogether in people with estrogen-dependent cancers, and should not be taken in ORAL doses by women who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have endometriosis.” We don’t recommend oral doses anyway, but wanted to add this additional note.

Emotional & Central Nervous System: Franzesca Watson reports it to “invigorate a tired mind”. It is according to Dr. Jean Valnet to be calmative and a general stimulant. According to Kurt Schnaubelt, “A drop of anise seed oil on a sugar cube will immediately restore equilibrium to an acutely out-of-whack autonomic nervous system (please see our safety cautions as well). It is the number one hangover remedy."  We use it in our Hunters and Fishermens' spray and soap as it is a classic essential oil used by fishermen. We visited quite a few blogs and forums to make sure this was true - and it is. I then decided that it probably isn't so much an "attractant" but that it sedates the fish or animals (hunting) so they aren't as quick to "get away" - just my own hypothesis and we haven't personally used it, but will soon.

Salavatore Battaglia mentions that "in Tibetan medicine a blend of aniseed and nutmeg oil is used in a lotion for anxiety, depression, and other neurotic symptoms."

Gastrointestinal system: Decreases flatulence, good for indigestion, stomachic, colic, gripe-like pains or pains of indigestion.

Urinary System: Reported to be diuretic.

Skin: Has been said to be useful for destroying body lice, head lice and itching insects, where the oil can be used by itself, so is useful for pediculosis, the skin condition caused by lice. It may be used for scabies, where it may be used externally in an ointment base. It can be used either in oil or ointment base.

Safety/Cautions: This essential oil can cause dermatitis in some sensitive people and should be avoided by anyone with allergic or inflammatory skin conditions. It has been reported that large doses can be narcotic and cause decreased cerebral circulation, which can lead to cerebral disorders. Use in moderation only. See our safety caution above under reproductive system.

Aniseed contains a high percentage of (E)-Anethole which is known to inhibit platelet aggregation, which means it inhibits the bloods ability to clot. This oil should, therefore, be avoided if you are taking other blood thinners, or immediately prior to or following a surgery, much like the doctors' office tells you when to stop taking aspirin before surgery.

Because of the high percentage of (E)-Anethole, this oil should not be used during pregnancy.

IMPORTANT: All of our products are for external use only.

We also suggest you have a good working knowledge of the use of essential oils or consult with an aromatherapy professional prior to use. In addition, Essential Oils must be properly diluted before use in order to avoid any damages to property or adverse physical effects (including injury or bodily harm). Please read our Disclaimer before using our products.