Essential oils have been used for centuries for their curative effects on ailments such as CANcer, as well as day-to-day aches, pains and bruises. Essential oils are concentrated liquid compounds extracted from plants, and they are “essential” in the sense that they contain the essence of that plant. When you look at it this way, does it not seem silly that companies are now synthetically creating these compounds in laboratory environments, bottling them up with pretty packaging and calling them essential oils.

If you are choosing to use essential oils for their healing properties, it is important that you are purchasing oils that are not synthetically composed, as you may in turn only be benefiting from their aroma (which, let’s face it, is great, but not quite the same as cellular support and  possible CANcer prevention…), rather than from their healing capabilities.

One basic way essential oils can be used throughout your CANcer journey is for aromatherapy – using the aromas of certain plants to improve your psychological experience. If you are in the midst of your own cancer journey (or if you are at least six years old) you can probably recall the smell of the elastic tourniquet’s used at clinics when you get blood drawn. I can only describe this smell as a chalky vanilla odour – not the worst, but incredibly distinctive and I know that from here-on-in, every time I smell something relatively similar, I will be taken right back to all the moments sitting in that HUGE chair, awaiting the needle to pierce my skin and the aching sensation that follows. One easy tip is to put a few drops of your favourite essential oil (lavender is very calming and widely used for emotional support) on a tissue and breath in its aromas to avoid that chalky vanilla smell! Many people would agree that hospitals have distinctive smells – the same therapy can be applied here as well!

Besides this basic support essentials can offer, here are a few oils that can be incorporated into you CANcer journey as supplementary therapy and side effect management:

Frankincense: 

Frankincense may be the single most potent medicinal essential oil, which is no surprise that it has been used to treat ailments for over 5000 years. Besides the added bonuses of reducing inflammation, boosting immunity, fighting infection and healing scarring, its secrets may also encompass potential cancer-fighting properties. Frankincense not only supports cellular function and growth, but in laboratory environments has been shown to cause apoptosis (programmed death of cancer cells!). There is also evidence showing that frankincense may also promote vitality of neighbouring non-cancerous cells. Another study has shown that this magical plant derivative may be a safe alternative to steroid therapies used for certain cancers.

Lemongrass:

I Love Lemon! Lemongrass has long been sought after for its aromatherapy properties, but is also loaded with key nutrient compounds that present powerful antibacterial, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer potential. Its ability to destroy harmful pathogens, promote healthy stools, inhibit damaging fungi, reduce inflammation and protect against DNA damage is just the tip of the ice berg. Where this oil really shines is in its ability to cause apoptosis (we love this word!).

Ginger:

 Okay, I really love ginger, and I have already raved about it once before in my post Spice Up Your Life, but here we go again anyways…

Nausea is a side effect that the majority of patients undergoing conventional cancer treatment have to endure. We all get prescribed copious amounts of anti-nausea medications, but what if they don’t work of you? What if they are not potent enough? Well, here is were our essential oil supplemental therapy comes in. Ginger essential oils can be used as an anti-nausea remedy, by applying a few drops with a carrier oil onto your abdomen, and massaging in a circular motion.

Lavender:

As mentioned above, lavender essential oil is widely used for emotion support, as it can improve levels of anxiety, depression and irritability, eases muscle tension and promote calming and soothing qualities.

Lavender can also be used as a anti-nausea remedy, by applying a few drops to a tissue and holding it to the nose. Inhale deeply and let the essence of the plant do the rest 🙂

Clary Sage:

Different types of cancer often bring immense amounts of pain with them. I know that in my experience, I have never known pain like I did while I was living with my disease. This pain was quickly alleviated once I began conventional treatment, but the only way I could go to work, sleep or function in any normal sense was with a constant supply of pain-killers. Had I known about clary sage this time last year, I would much rather have gone (at least tried) this route.

Clary sage also has anti-cancer properties and has been shown to cause apoptosis of cancer cells in laboratory environments.

With Love,

Tessa