Pregnancy

Research

sesquiterpenes

skin structure

skin conditions

Skin types

Solvent extraction

Topical applications

Valnet Jean

Vegetable oils

Vibrational medicine

Wounds

Revision time - Essential oils packaging and labelling

Revision time - Cosmetic and fragrance use of essential oils

Revision time - Pharmacology - safe use of essential oils and contraindications

Revision time - Pharmacology - Purported therapeutic properties of essential oils

Match the oils to the purported therapeutic properties (click the link and enter the name in the search box for more information and citation of Sources)

Tea Tree
Peppermint
Lavender
German Chamomile
Bergamot
Eucalyptus
Ginger
Basil

Bacterial fungal and viral infections
Headaches, fever, nausea and fatigue
Minor burns, insomnia, pain relief, wound care
Anti inflammatory
Mild antidepressant and tonic
Respiratory infections
Nausea and anti inflammatory
Insect repellant and antiparasitic

Carriers, Herbs
Aloe vera
Arnica
Blackseed
Calendula
Echinacea
Evening primrose oil
Linseed
St Johns Wort

Resinoid
Myrhh
Frankincense (BMJ, not Boswellia Carterii and that from Somalia, still a good read and useful to illustrate literature search and how to interpret clinical trials)

"When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. (Matthew 2, 10-11, English Standard Version)"
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Revision time - Understanding the periodic table

Virtually all kids know what this is but are mystified by it.  Lets try and breathe some life into it. 

Assuming a knowledge of elements, protons, neutrons and electrons (carbon has 6 protons so 6 electrons) lets cut to the chase of electronic configuration which shows the number of electrons in each shell surrounding the nucleus.  The outer shell of electrons is the most significant.  Elements combine to achieve a settlement or stability in their outer shell of electrons (most importantly by sharing electrons so each has a full outer shell).  Differant elements with the same number of electrons in their outer shells have similar physical and chemical properties (consider Copper, Silver, Gold in the table, everyone recognises these). 

Now remember this.  Shells are numbered sequentially outwards from the nucleus and for each shell there is a maximum number of electrons it contains.  Shell 1 upto2, Shell2 upto8, Shell3 upto18. Shell 1 has only 1 subshell(s) with 2 electrons.  Shell 2 has 2 subshells 2s(2 electrons) and 2p(6 electrons).  Shell 3 has 3 subshells 3s (2 electrons), 3p (? yes 6 electrons) and 3d (? yes 10 electrons). 

Dont worry if all this information doesnt sink in just now it will and soon you will be able to visualise the shells in their beauty.  Click on the picture at the top of the page above to see a larger image of the table.

Do you see group 11, Cu, Ag, Au?  They all have similar properties right? shiny metals.  Now look at Group 4 and you can see Carbon and Silicon the two key players in life and electronics.

Study Tip! if you are finding it hard to study as an adult why not take a textbook to a coffee shop.  As kids we study in classes, large groups but learn to focus with our friends (and non-friends!) around us.  Try it.  You may be amazed at the focus you achieve.

Now focus.  The horizontal rows are called periods.   Going across a period each atom has one more proton and therefore one more electron.  In the first period there is is one shell of electrons from hydrogen which has one electron to helium which has two electrons (and therefore a full outer shell).

In the second period there are two shells of electrons from lithium upto neon which has 8 electrons in its outer shell Shell 2 (2s with 2 electrons, 2p with 6 electrons).  Neons outer shell is full too.

In the third period there are three shells of electrons from sodium upto argon.  Argons outer shell is full too.

Helium, Neon and Argon are very stable and settled because their outer shells are full.  Much of chemistry is concerned with how elements which dont have full outer shells combine with each other and other elements to achieve full outer shells, settlement and stability.  Sometimes the reaction can be explosive!

Arguably much of history is about how peoples with differant ideologies can combine to achieve a settlement and stability.   Preferably without reaching for the explosive!

"My outer shell is unfilled and there is only one way to resolve this"

(Picture of a terrorist)  You will forgive my caution in not supplying the obvious image.

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Essentia

Aromatherapy - 'Just' stress relief?

Stressed teachers 'are time bombs'


A teacher spared jail after beating a 14-year-old pupil with a dumbbell has warned that "lots of teachers are ticking time bombs" because of stress at school.

Peter Harvey, 50, attacked the boy at All Saints' Roman Catholic School in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, after repeatedly being taunted by pupils in his science class.
Last month jurors at Nottingham Crown Court took just an hour to clear him of attempted murder or intending to cause serious injury, and on Tuesday he was given a two-year community order for causing grievous bodily harm without intent.

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What a sad tale.  I have tried to breathe life into the periodic table above.  Most teachers try to breathe life into the tedium of teaching disinterested kids by reacting magnesium with oxygen.  I am guilty too.  We baited our Latin teacher mercilessly once we realised he had a sensitive soul. He wisely gave us our moment of victory so we went back to baiting each other.  If we had listened we could have understood that the chemical symbols take the name of the elements except those in Latin.  Pb = lead (plumbum), Fe = iron (ferrum), Na = sodium (natrium) K=potassium (kalium).  Get your revenge make your own latin names up and ask your chemistry teacher what curium, argentium and aurium are. He may know or guess but dont drive him to assault you.

Essentia

Chelsea Flowershow

http://www.bbc.co.uk/chelsea/show-gardens/loccitane-garden.shtml

A little bit of provence in Chelsea.

A lady skepchick

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rebecca_Watson

er wasnt it critical thinking by skepchicks around the world that said unrestricted allopathic medicine and the pharma industrial complex around the world that is making our children and husbands very very very ill? er incidence of cancer and allopathic medical use?  er incidence of surgery introduced infection?  Ooooo despite being statistics biggest correlation universewide theres not many research dollars for that one I think!!  mere coincidence?  In fact even the humblest of intervention has its potential costs see Lighthouse Foundation. 

Not that natural products are not chemicals.  They are so there must be equal enthusiam for knowledge of contraindications and safe use as for indications of use that can be of benefit.  We need to keep our sceptical head on.

Maybe we are entering a new age in which rationality counts to more that 4% of the population.
Its not so long ago that only 4% of the UK population had the vote because it was thought only 4% could use their vote rationally.  This UK election proves we've come a long way since then but there is an irrationality in human affairs which we cannot ignore.  Lets remember out this strangeness good and novel things may come. 

keep your skepchick head on out there.

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about MDs who give you the facts and leave the choice to you

Sorry you anti CAM guys cant cite this lady she is rational.  Do better.  Its perfectly rational to talk about mind body and spirit and the limits of present understanding and infinite extent of future understanding to do otherwise is to confuse the young and deny history.  The world 200 years ago was a very differant place and the world 200 years hence will be equally if not not more so. 

Essentia