Stay Cool As A Cucumber

Below are 2 great summer drink recipes that are both refreshing and will help keep you cool. Both cucumbers and lavender have cooling properties and are great to add to your diet in the summer especially if you tend to run more on the hot side.

Lavender Lemonade

10 cups water
8 lemons
agave nectar to taste
1 drop lavender essential oil *

Squeeze lemons into a large pitcher and mix in water and agave to the sweetness you like. Add one drop of lavender essential oil and stir. Serve chilled.

* when ingesting essential oils make sure they are a therapeutic grade essential oil. Young Living has therapeutic grade essential oils and can be ordered through NAP.

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Cucumber Lemonade Spritzer

1 cucumber thinly sliced
1 can lemonade concentrate
1 bottle lemon-lime flavored soda *

* for less sugar try tonic water and fresh squeezed lemon and lime

Sarah Zender LAc

Neighborhood Acupuncture Place (NAP)
230 Florence St
Crystal Lake IL 60014
815.893.9825
www.clnap.com

What is Lavender Essential Oil?

Lavender Essential Oil

Lavender is a scent that many associate with a calm, soothing environment. Images of bubble baths, candles and massage might also come to mind.

Rene Gattefosse a french scientist working in a cosmetic laboratory was the first to discover the benefits of lavender to promote tissue regeneration and speed wound recovery after he burned his arm in a laboratory accident.

Lavender is a highly versatile essential oil and is considered to be an adaptogen. While lavender is known for its calming properties it also has the ability to boost stamina and energy should that be the body's greater need. Therapeutic-grade lavender can be used for a variety of skin conditions as well, from keeping the skin soft and supple to soothing and cleaning small cuts and bruises. My personal favorite in the summer time is to use lavender for minor sun burns also.

University researchers in Japan found that diffusing lavender in office environments improved mental accuracy and concentration and resulted in 20% fewer errors.

University of Miami researchers found that inhalation of lavender oil increased beta waves in the brain, suggesting heightened relaxation. It also reduced depression and improved cognitive performance.

Be careful: true lavender is often extended with hybrid lavender or synthetic linalol and linalyl acetate which strips the potency and purity of the lavender. If the oil you are using says do not apply directly to skin or take internally it is not a therapeutic grade essential oil.

Young Living Essential Oils is one of the few companies in the US that is a therapeutic grade oil company.

Sarah Zender LAc

Neighborhood Acupuncture Place (NAP)

230 Florence St

Crystal Lake IL 60014

815.893.9825

www.clnap.com