Refresh Your Mind, Body, and Soul

November 22, 2017

Last week we visited Southeast Asia to learn about Lemongrass (okay, so we didn’t actually go to Southeast Asia, but we did a lot of research…) and what we learned was pretty astounding! This week, we’re digging into Refresh, a blend available to you at Corked.com. We’ll dive into the major constituents of the blend, how those oils can make a difference in your life, and then we’ll wrap it up with what makes Refresh such a versatile blend!

The Refresh diffuser is the most widely applicable of all of our blends, in that the essential oils that make up the blend can be effective in accomplishing a wide variety of effects. Although the blend contains over a dozen different oils, we’re going to hone our focus in on 4 of those oils: Copaiba, Mandarin, Turmeric, and Thyme.

Copaiba essential oil is widely regarded as the most effective essential oil for anti-inflammatory purposes, and has been used for centuries by the native peoples of Brazil as a means of healing wounds, relieving pain, and as an antiseptic for insect bites. Although Copaiba is just one of many essential oils that can be harvested in the Amazon rainforest, it still makes up nearly 95% of Brazil’s oil production industry. Wow! Quite obviously, Copaiba is in very high demand! It makes sense, though, because not only is Copaiba an excellent candidate for anti-inflammatory employment, it can also be very effective source for improving mood, as the scent and taste of Copaiba essential oil can help to balance hormones and calm the mind.

In an effort to fit a theme, we’ll now discuss Mandarin essential oil, as it’s widely known to be effective in reducing stress and calming symptoms of anxiety! Mandarin essential oil was first used traditionally as a medicinal supplement by the Chinese and Indians, but are also commonly harvested in Japan, Spain, and Brazil. Interestingly, and nothing to do with essential oils, Mandarin oranges for many years were a symbol of the coming Holiday season in the United States. This originated during the late 1800’s while Americans noticed the bright orange train cars carrying Japanese Mandarin Oranges every November. The sight of the train cars meant that the Holidays were finally here! As far as essential oils go, since that’s what we’re here for, Mandarin essential oil is most commonly used as a sedative to soothe the nerves and calm anxiety. However, as with Copaiba, Mandarin can be used for many other remedies! Mandarin essential oil can be very effective in alleviating spasms and muscle/joint pain, which makes it a great additive to your after-workout routine. Additionally, Mandarin essential oil can be known to improve the circulation of blood in your organs, particularly in the skin, which can help to tighten the skin and leave it looking vibrant and bright!

Also known to stimulate circulation, Turmeric essential oil is chock-full of potential benefits that make it another essential oil to keep on your radar! Turmeric is commonly found in the Eastern Hemisphere, generally in Southeast Asia, but it can be found natively in Australia as well. Due to its neediness, Turmeric is an extremely fragile plant. It requires a ton of water and very specific temperatures in order to thrive through the growing season and into harvest. However, once it does make it through the growing season, Turmeric is often used in medicines in Southeast Asia. As mentioned above, it’s commonly used to increase circulation, but can also be used to decrease inflammation (noticing a pattern, here?) and improving focus! Although the scent of Turmeric isn’t particularly pleasant, that’s part of what makes it such a powerful stimulant. Try smelling this and not feel awake, we dare you!

Speaking of stimulants, it’s about Thyme (see what I did there?) we discuss another...and you guessed it, it’s Thyme! Thyme has been used around the world for centuries as a culinary inclusion, particularly around this time of year with turkey, actually! Oddly enough, Thyme also fits very well with the oils discussed above, as it can be used for many of the same reasons! Particularly in regards to its effects as a stimulant to clear your thoughts, antispasmodic, and as a supplement for increasing circulation! Ancient cultures adopted Thyme as a medicine to clean wounds, and that historical use has translated itself into many of today’s all-natural mouthwashes and toothpastes, too!

In review, each one of the above mentioned essential oils can be used for a wide variety of reasons, but they all have a few things in common. First, they can all assist in decreasing inflammation in muscles and joints, which make them all wonderful as an after-workout supplement. Second, they can all be used to increase circulation, which not only decreases pain in the joints, but can also be very healthy for your skin! Third, each of them can be used to calm anxiety and clear your mind, which, who doesn’t need that every once in awhile? Finally, they are the four major constituents in the Corked Refresh blend! This is what makes Refresh so versatile; it really can be used for just about anything, which is why we’ve chosen to include it in both our Active Pack and our Relax Pack. Both packs are available for purchase right now at www.corked.com, so if you’re interested in trying something that not only tastes amazing, but can provide you some amazing benefits, they are a great place to start!