| Balsam, pine, spruce, fir-all of these are favorites for | | | | was thought to bring prosperity. It has antispasmodic, |
| decorating at the holiday season. But did you know | | | | antiparasitic, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory properties |
| that their fragrance can be healing as well? | | | | and is an immune stimulant. You can use this oil to |
| All of these trees possess a life blood that we call | | | | fight fungal infections like candida, sinus-respiratory |
| "essential oils." This lifeblood protects the tree from | | | | infections, arthritis, sciatica and lumbago. This is a |
| invading bacteria and viruses, and helps heal wounds | | | | great rejuvenator and can be used in saunas, steam |
| from traumas. When this lifeblood is extracted | | | | baths and added to massage products. It can help to |
| through steam distillation, we discover that it has | | | | re-energize sore muscles. |
| tremendous healing qualities that can aid us as well. | | | | Pine (Pinus sylvestris) has a strong dry turpentine-like |
| First of all this essential oil contains hundreds of | | | | odor. The best pine oil comes from the Scotch pine |
| different chemical compounds known to be | | | | and is the safest and most therapeutic of the pine |
| anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-fungal, and immune | | | | oils. Pine is also mentioned in the Bible. In biblical times, |
| stimulating. Each tree is unique and therefore | | | | these fragrant trees were used primarily for building. |
| possesses a unique chemistry that identifies it as pine | | | | Traditionally, pine oil has been used for the |
| or spruce or balsam. Let's take a look at some of | | | | respiratory system particularly for "old coughs." But it |
| these essential oils. | | | | is good for problems like asthma, pulmonary |
| Balsam fir (Abies balsamea) is the traditional | | | | infections, bronchitis, diabetes, severe infections, |
| "Christmas tree." It has the wonderful aroma that we | | | | arthritis and sinusitis. It also has great first aide ability |
| have come to identify with winter and holiday | | | | for cuts, cysts, fatigue, gout, lice, nervous |
| celebrations but it actually has a history that goes | | | | exhaustion, scabies, skin parasites, sores, stress and |
| back to the time of the Egyptians. It was one of the | | | | urinary infections. Pine oil is great in the bath as a |
| oils found in King Tutankhamun's grave and is now | | | | rejuvenator for fatigue. |
| thought to be the "Balm of Gilead." Balsam or fir was | | | | How Can You Bring the Healing Fragrance of These |
| actually mentioned 18 times in the Bible. Can you | | | | Tress Into Your Home? |
| guess that it's good for the respiratory and muscular | | | | Today-most people do not go out into the forest to |
| systems? | | | | chop down their Christmas tree. Instead we get our |
| Spruce (Picea mariana) Traditionally the Lakota | | | | trees out of a box that has been in storage for the |
| Indians used spruce to strengthen their ability to | | | | past year. Try diffusing one of these great oils in |
| communicate with the Great Spirit. The fragrance | | | | your home. Don't have a diffuser? |