Healing Power of Herbs – Part 2
by Ashley Knight
As I sit here writing about the healing power of herbs, my mouth is watering and I’m getting hungry. All these delicious herbs offer our bodies much more than simply flavor for our taste buds. As I continue to learn about the healing properties of herbs, I’m simply amazed by the multifaceted properties. To finish up this two-part series, we’re going to learn more about three herbs that you may not have realized are used as essential oils… thyme, fennel, and dill essential oils.
We all know about lavender, lemongrass and peppermint essential oils after my previous blogs about them, so I’m not going to cover them again here. If you missed my previous articles about these super popular herbs, then click on the herb name and you can read those too.
Today, let’s start with…
fennel essential oil. It is steam distilled from freshly crushed fennel seeds and has a black licorice flavor. Fennel Vitality™ can be added to warm water or a cup of tea after meals or used to add complexity to the flavor of your soups and dips. For many years, fennel seeds have been used as a digestive aid. It also supports women’s health by assisting with menstrual problems and it may increase breast milk for nursing mamas.
I found an amazing story about fennel essential oil that may help all of my nursing mamas out there.
“I was introduced to Young Living by a friend when my third baby was six months old. She had a baby just younger than my son, and she was struggling with making enough milk for him. She read in her “big oil book” that Fennel oil rubbed on the breasts may help the milk supply increase. She had been rubbing Fennel oil on her breasts for a week, and not much had happened. I jokingly took four drops of Fennel in a glass of water and the next morning woke up SPRAYING milk! I thought “Surely this is a fluke!” and tried the “experiment two weeks later with the same result. Fennel oil is for nursing mothers! Now I give a bottle to all of my pregnant friends to have on hand if they need help making more milk!”
-Jessica W.
Dill Vitality™ essential oil is a flavor powerhouse. This can be added to soups, dips and any dish calling for fresh dill. It can be a calming oil when diffused. As with many of the culinary herbs, this also can be used for digestive support.
I love this woman’s story about using dill essential oil to calm her cravings. You better believe I’m going to start applying this to my wrists in the evenings when the chocolate cravings kick in.
“I wanted to help my mom out with her blood sugar levels as she felt she couldn’t afford to buy the NingXia Red juice each month, so I put together a recommended formula for control of blood sugar which is equal parts of Thieves, Fennel, Dill and Coriander. Well, I really liked the aroma so much I decided to wear it like a perfume and dabbed some on my wrists. I began to notice that I wasn’t constantly running to the refrigerator anymore and once when I did get a craving I was heading out to Mr. Z’s (a supermarket) to grab some sweets and had dabbed some on just before I went out. I drove the 3 miles to the store only to get there and wander the aisles. I came back home empty handed. The cravings were gone. I had no desire to get anything unhealthy.”
-Fran G.
Thyme essential oil’s properties are quite similar to oregano. This oil has a very robust scent and it may actually irritate the nasal membranes if inhaled directly from diffuser or bottle or applied neat, so be careful and dilute it. Thyme essential oil is used in the Ortho Ease massage oil as it is great for use after exercise. It also has antibacterial properties and may be used for removing parasites.
One thing I didn’t know about thyme is that it may help with snoring. I read multiple testimonials about how thyme essential oil stopped people from snoring. I will certainly be applying this to my husband’s feet tonight.
“My husband’s snoring used to keep me awake on a nightly basis. I was recommended Thyme oil, just a few drops each night on the soles of his feet. What a difference! From the first time he used it…no more snoring! We continued to use the whole bottle, about 3 months and have never needed any more, his snoring has stopped! Amazing!”
-Deby M.
I know I covered a lot of information here and I could easily keep going on this series, but this is the end. So if you want to learn more or find more information about an herb that wasn’t covered here, head over to TheDropsofJoy.org and there is a A-Z Oil Lookup. Hopefully, you are inspired and ready to use your essential oils for more than topical and aromatic usage. It is my sincere desire for these articles to help your family find a more flavorful and healthy lifestyle.
~Ashley
Ashley Knight is married to her best friend and husband, Nick, and mama to two sweet, joyful girls, Grace and Finnegan. She is passionate about living a holistic lifestyle, travel, Young Living essential oils and products, eating whole foods, serving others and learning about God’s magnificent, undeserved Grace.
Originally from Phoenix, Arizona, Ashley’s lived in Texas for 5 years now and has officially picked up Y’all and Sir/Ma’am but will always be a native Arizonan. When not chasing or nursing a little one, Ashley is reading and learning how to support her family’s health and wellness with Young Living’s diverse products and pure essential oils.
Disclaimer: I am a Mom who is passionate about using natural products to improve the health of her family, but I’m not a medical professional. The information in the blog is for educational information only. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Anyone suffering from disease, illness or injury should consult a physician.