Best Christmas Gift Idea 2012: Adoring Ayurvedic Essential Oils

Posted on December 26, 2025 by AyurvedicOils

Are you thinking ‘What is wrong with me?’ wondering what’s the need for Christmas gift idea now, while there are still 4 full months for December 25^th to knock your door? Come on! This is scorching summer season and to think about something that will enchant your mind, chill your senses and hearten your spirits will certainly be a brilliant idea and nothing else other than Christmas Eve has the glory to splash such joy on you. Sounds great now….. Right!! This is the right time to start your Christmas count down. Every year Christmas is exceptional in its special way. This year, you make it out of the ordinary by gifting your loved ones with warm and healing Ayurvedic essential oils rather than your usual gifts.

Your 2011 Christmas might not have been the same as your 2008 Christmas. You might have missed your loved ones or there might have been a new member to your family last year (baby!), much more adventure and a variety of gifts and that is what Christmas is all about. Make your 2012 Christmas outshine all the other festive seasons that you’ve passed in your lifetime with a wonderful pack of sensational essential oils that can take your entire family out of this world. Yes! There are certain mind-blowing Ayurvedic essential oils that suit everyone and can be used all through the year till the next Christmas comes by your way. Such enlivening essential oils are:

Lavender essential oil: According to me ‘Lavender is the queen of all essential oils’ and is my all-time favorite. How can anyone keep themselves away from this magnificent oil with a mystique fragrance in it? Fill your love in a bottle full of Lavender essential oil that can uplift the spirits and refresh the mind. Wow! The wonderful color, the exuberant aroma, immense health benefits and numerous therapeutic properties like nervine, sedative, antidepressant, anti-inflammatory, expectorant, antiseptic, analgesic, anti-rheumatic, anti-convulsant and many more make Lavender very special at all the good times and sick times too!
Ylang Ylang essential oil: Nothing can be so very romantic, tender, quixotic, passionate and magical like the transfixing fragrance of Ylang Ylang essential oil. This oil has emmenagogue, sedative, antiseptic, aphrodisiac, hypotensive and antidepressant properties that alleviates pain, supports mood fluctuations, controls high blood pressure, aids in frigidity problems, brings down rapid heartbeat and treats your senses.
Rose essential oil: Shakespeare rightly said that ‘Rose is a rose is a rose is a rose’. Very popularly known as the symbol of love all around the universe, Rose essential oil can give you the joy of being together in a garden full of fresh, fragrant roses. Rose oil has been proven effective in treating various health conditions with its aphrodisiac, antiseptic, antiviral, antidepressant, antiphlogistic, antispasmodic, emmenagogue, uterine, bactericidal and nervine properties.
Grapefruit essential oil: Grapefruit oil with its light and fresh aroma is trusted to have great effects in shedding the extra pounds of the body. Any weight loss program with essential oils cannot get fulfilled without Grapefruit essential oil. It is also an excellent skin toning agent and natural skin purifier.

Apart from these essential oils, you can also include Peppermint essential oil, Sandalwood essential oil, Sweet orange essential oil or Jasmine essential oil as per the preference of your near ones.

Love is known only when it is shown. Express your unconditional love this Christmas season with the never-ending bliss of these Ayurvedic essential oils gift pack. There’s nothing to get surprised if the love of your life asks for one the next Christmas also. Wait and watch!!!

Merry Christmas and let it be a Mesmerizing Christmas as well.

Reference links:

β-pinene

Posted on December 25, 2025 by AyurvedicOils

β-pinene) found in plants is an organic monoterpene compound, and is one of the most abundant compounds released by forest trees. If oxidized in air, the allylic products of the pinocarveol and myrtenol family prevail. α-pinene, which is a colorless liquid soluble in alcohol, but not water, is one of the two isomers of pinene.

Owing to its woody-green pine-like smell, beta-pinene has been used as a flavoring and fragrance agent. It’s is pretty common in essential oils and is also used in cooking to provide flavoring effects to the food, and also to act as a preservative.

The botanical families that contain β-pinene are Humulus lupulus, Clausena anisata, Cuminum cyminum, Pinus pinaster, Cannabis sativa, and Cannabis indica.

Uses of beta-Pinene:

Anti-depressant:

Antidepressant-like activity is seen in essential oils that contain β-pinene and Linalool, which are two most volatile monoterpenes.

These are components of many aromatic plants used in folk medicine around the world to relieve anxiety and depression.

A study in 2015 suggested that, linalool and beta-pinene act on the monoaminergic system by reflecting their biological activity on several receptors of the system. Since these constituents focus on multiple receptors, the resulting effects are more potent and long lasting when compared to those that focus on only a single receptor.

Linalool and beta-pinene act in balancing the brain chemistry in these receptors (multiple receptors) resulting in alterations of mood and depression.

Another study in 2012 on ‘Antidepressant activity of Litsea glaucescens essential oil: identification of β-pinene and linalool as active principles’ displayed evidence that, β-pinene and linalool which were active constituents of L. glaucescens essential oil played a role in promoting antidepressant activity. As a result, the use of L. glaucescens to treat depression was initiated in Mexican Traditional Medicine.

Antibacterial Activities:

beta-Pinene also possesses antibacterial activities. A study on Rosmarinus officinalis L. essential oil and three of its main components α-pinene (19.43%), 1,8-cineole (27.23%), and β-pinene (6.71%) were studied to understand the in vitro antibacterial behavior and toxicology characteristics. During the study, essential oils of R. officinalis L., α-pinene and β-pinene were treated on Gram-positive, and Gram- negative bacteria. The results showed that Gram-positive bacteria were more responsive to the oil.

Another study on Biological Activities of a-Pinene and β-Pinene Enantiomers conducted in the year 2012 suggested, “This study showed that only the positive enantiomers of pinene have antimicrobial activity against -pinene, C. albicans, C. neoformans, R. oryzae and MRSA. The additive and synergistic effects of (+) – and (+)-β-pinene standards combined with commercial antimicrobials are important as they reduced the MIC of combined substances, maintained the antimicrobial activity and decreased toxicity.”

Cytotoxic Activity:

Most essential oils are used in the industries of food, cosmetics, pharmaceutical and sanitary for their diverse activities that support insecticidal, anti-parasitical, bactericidal, and fungicidal properties.

Keeping this in mind, for several centuries specialists have tested essential oils from more than 20 plant families for the past 10 years. An experiment as such is what is mentioned below which proves the cytotoxic activity of beta-Pinene.

beta-Pinene is seen to show cytotoxic activity towards cancer cells. In the year 2014 a study on ‘Anticancer activity of essential oils and their chemical components’ proved, that essential oil of Schefflera heptaphylla (L.) Frodin and its major compound beta-pinene ((-)-beta-pinene and (+)-beta-pinene) showed significant anti-proliferative activity against A375 cancer cell lines. There by preventing the growth of cancer cells related to skin cancer.

Antimicrobial Activity:

Several studies were conducted to identify and prove the antimicrobial activity of beta-Pinene. One of such studies was in the year 2012 where β-pinene an essential component of Rosmarinus officinalis L. essential oil proved positive.

During the course of this study, the anticancer, and antibacterial activities of the oil of Rosmarinus officinalis L were assessed and the three main constituents of the oil 1,8-cineole, α-pinene and β-pinene was brought under consideration.

The result- the oil of Rosmarinus officinalis L exhibited the strongest antibacterial and cytotoxic activities towards SK-OV-3, HO-8910 and Bel-7402 human tumor cell lines, which were in order: Rosmarinus officinalis L. essential oil > α-pinene > β-pinene > 1,8-cineole.

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Ayurvedic Treatment For Cracked Foot

Posted on December 25, 2025 by AyurvedicOils

‘Ouch!!! It aches, especially on every step that I take. What can I do?’ These are the mind words of people who have sore, cracked foot. Women are often affected and suffer with dry, cracked and not so appealing heels more than men. Your dream footwear will just be sleeping on the shelves of the shoe rack, till you treat your cracked foot. I have seen people hide their foot, with the fear of unveiling their thorny, flaky and busted heels also known as heel fissures. Painful, cracked and dry heels is a predominant cosmetic problem and has been termed as Padadari in Ayurveda and has been explained in Kshudra Rogas in Sushruta Samhita. There are innumerable remedies for cracked foot in Ayurveda and let’s have a look at the promising Ayurvedic essential oils for healing heel fissures.

Causes for cracks or fissures: Human foot is the powerful part of the body helping one to withstand all severe climatic conditions and roam around, yet it is this part of the body that is often neglected. Cracks on foot have no age limit and it can affect anyone for that matter irrelevant of the sex, color and origin. The major causes for cracks or heel fissures are:

Cracks are occupational especially for farmers and other people who are involved in laborious tasks that demand standing always, which lead to huge pressure on the foot forcing it to develop cracks.
Prolonged standing on hard floor and this is the reason why most of the homemakers develop cracks.
Dry, dull and lifeless skin that lacks moisture, especially during winter has the tendency to develop cracks.
Uncomfortable, not so fitting or open back footwear compels pressure on the foot, while widening and deepening the cracks.
Obesity or excess accumulation of fat and deficiency of essential nutrients like vitamins and minerals.
Dry, hot, humid and tropical climatic conditions make your feet dull, dry and hard paving way to develop cracks.
Aging and skin conditions like psoriasis, eczema, athlete’s foot etc.
High exposure of feet to dust, dirt, germs and other harmful organisms leading to infection in the foot.
Excess sweating of feet or other causal illnesses like thyroid and diabetes can also cause cracks on the foot.

Symptoms: Cracks generally appear on the external or outer walls of the heels, when it is thick and dry. The symptoms of cracked foot are dry, itchy and painful heels with flaky and red patches and partition of skin looking like root hairs. When left unnoticed, fissures may start bleeding with excruciating pain and might even lead to developing Calluses, Cellulites, and Lymphangitis etc. Anyone with cracked feet will have greater discomfort while walking and the cracks can act as a dangerous channel for bacteria, virus, fungi and other harmful organisms to enter into the body and complicate the situation.

Ayurvedic treatment for Cracked foot: Ayurveda, the natural healing science suggests the systematic way of living in harmony with nature. Following an Ayurvedic routine can weaken your illness woes and strengthen your immunity. Padadari or cracked heels occurs mainly due to Vata imbalance. Ayurvedic texts recommend human beings to keep themselves clean and maintain perfect personal hygiene, which can help in controlling and preventing illness.

1. Pamper your feet with an Ayurvedic massage: Feet is one such vital part of the body that needs complete pampering and with such care it would remain soft, supple and glowing. Abhyanga or an Ayurvedic massage with effective natural and hydrogenated vegetable oils like Coconut oil, Sesame seed oil etc can heal your cracked heels effectively. Essential oils like Lavender essential oil, Lemon essential oil, Eucalyptus essential oil etc, can heal your infected heels and make the foot skin soft. This helps the hard, rough and dry skin to turn tender and smooth by enhancing the blood circulation in your feet.

2. Comforting foot bath or Padasnana: For cracked foot, this miraculous science suggests foot bath also known as Padasnana to revitalize your foot skin and prevent the fissures in the future as well. Padasnana along with certain effective Ayurvedic essential oils can help you save your foot from such painful, displeasing and unappealing heel fissures.

Take a small tub of warm water and add 2 to 4 drops of Patchouli essential oil, Tea tree essential oil, Rose essential oil and Lavender essential oil. Soak your feet in this water for about 15 to 20 minutes and the cicatrisant, antibacterial, antiseptic, antifungal, calming and anti-inflammatory properties in these essential oils will make your feet petal soft when done two or three times a week.

Adding few drops of Tea tree oil, Peppermint oil, Eucalyptus oil and Lemon oil to a small basin of water and soak your feet into this medicated solution for about 10 to 15 minutes. This relaxes your heels, loosens the cracks, moisturizes the dry scaly skin and helps combat fungal infections as these oils have anti-fungal, analgesic, anesthetic and astringent properties.

3. Moisturize your feet with soothing essential oils: The best essential oils for moisturizing your feet are Peppermint oil, Myrrh oil, Lavender oil, Rose oil, Geranium oil, Patchouli oil, Tea tree oil and Eucalyptus oil. These oils can be used for massaging your feet either as a blend with carrier oils like jojoba oil or coconut oil or can be added to warm water for your foot bath. 5 to 10 drops of essential oils of Geranium, Benzoin, Lavender, Myrrh and Tea tree mixed with 1 ounce of natural cream or mild lotion can act as the best daily moisturizing rub for your feet, especially after a shower.

4. Care your heels with Carrier oils: Carrier oils like Jojoba oil, Calendula oil, Avocado oil, Olive oil and Sweet Almond oil can guard your foot from cracks and other infections. These oils enrich your skin with the presence of essential vitamins and minerals. A gentle massage with any of these oils can aid in nourishing your dehydrated and dry skin while preventing it from painful cracks.

5. Healthy and nutritious diet: Drink enough water daily and eat a balanced diet with rich nutrients like essential fatty acids, minerals and vitamins, which make your skin smooth and combat dead skin cells in your body. Green leafy vegetables and juicy fruits can supply the essential resilience to your skin.

Regular physical exercises and yoga can help you in treating your cracked heels. Hmmm…. Now you can use your dream footwear on your shelves again and dance in joy with the comfort and confidence of having crack-free, clear and supple heels. Happy Dancing!!!

Thought for the day:

The human foot is a masterpiece of engineering and a work of art. – Leonardo da Vinci

Suggested Reading:

Natural Foot Care: Herbal Treatments, Massage, and Exercises for Healthy Feet By Stephanie L. Tourles
Whole Body Massage: The Ultimate Practical Manual of Head, Face, Body and Foot Massage Techniques By Francesca Rinaldi, Nitya Lacroix, Sharon Seager, Renée Tanner
Absolute Beauty: Radiant Skin and Inner Harmony Through the Ancient Secrets of Ayurveda By Pratima Raichur, Mariam Cohn

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