Monday, September 30, 2013

IS YOUR BUSY MIND GIVING YOU A HEADACHE?


*Note I am not a doctor and this has not been evaluated by the Federal Government...these are remedies that work for me..not all EOs work the same for everybody...use EOs with caution.


Headaches can be caused by several issues. What is important is to calm your mind to get rid of those headaches.  The blend below will help with mental clarity, relaxing your mind and your body, and balancing your overall well being.   It is also important to drink plenty of water when you have a headache.  Most headaches are linked to dehydration.  


CALM YOUR MIND BLEND
4 drops Frankincense
3 drops Lavender
2 drops Roman Chamomile
1 drops Marjoram
1 drops Geranium
1 drop  Peppermint


Put together in 10ml of carrier oil.  You can test for your likeness, and adjust the drops as you desire, just make sure that you keep it at 12 drops/10ml of carrier oil. I don't care for the smell of geranium, but I like the Roman Chamomile, so I increased the number of drops of the Chamomile and decreased Geranium as seen above.

You can diffuse this blend, or you can rub it into your temples and the stem of your brain.  You can also rub on the bottom of your feet.  Take a few minutes for yourself and inhale the wonderful blend and visualize your "happy place".   I suggest closing your eyes while inhaling and breathe deep, and do a 3-2-1 countdown.  Inhale, and imagine the number 3, 3 times as you slowly exhale, do the same for the number 2, then the number 1.  This will bring your mind and your body to a relaxing state of mind.

If you would like to make a headache salve, you would want to increase your total drops to 48 drops per 4oz of salve. Rub this into the bottom of your feet or on your hands.


Frankincense supports emotional healing and offers clarity when one is distracted and overwhelmed

Lavender essential oil has an overall balancing effect on the nervous system

Roman Chamomile has been used to help relax muscles and cause sedation. It has been also used to clear the mind and relax nerves.

Marjoram has been used to help relax muscles and balance the mind; it has a warming action and pain killing properties that calm emotions. Also aids in lowering blood pressure.

Geranium may be used to help remove bad or negative memories and support the circulatory and nervous system.

Peppermint- Soothing yet stimulating.  Many studies have shown  the effectiveness of it’s ability to arouse concentration, focus and mental sharpness.











Friday, September 27, 2013

TAKE CARE OF YOUR MOUTH!

Gingivitis, or Periodontal disease is not a fun thing to have.  If let this go to long, you can develop other health problems, so it is important to take care of your mouth.  




Here are a few tips...this is what has worked for me but may not work for another. 
Make sure you brush your teeth regularly.  I use a homemade toothpaste of Tropical Traditions (Click Here) Gold Label Coconut Oil, Baking Soda, Coconut Nectar and Essential Oils.  Since using this the tartar on my teeth has decreased tremendously and I don't have bad breath.

Toothpaste

3 Tablespoons Coconut Oil <----Click Here to purchase
3 Tablespoons Baking Soda
1 teaspoon of Coconut syrup
20 drops of Peppermint Essential Oil <----Click Here to purchase
5 drops of Cinnamon Essential Oil <----Click Here to purchase
5 drops of Shield Essential Oil  <----Click Here to purchase

I store this in a small glass Jelly Jar.  Each person in our family has their own jar.


 After I put a little on my toothbrush, I also sprinkle some Aztec Healing Bentonite Clay on top of the toothpaste.  Yes, I know it does not sound appealing to be brushing your teeth with mud, but trust me, my teeth have never looked better!  The healing clay will pull toxins and metals out of your mouth.  Not to worry if you have filings, it won't pull those out, but did you know that metal filing releases toxins into your body?  The healing clay will help with this. It also helps to provide essential minerals to the body.



OIL PULLING

This can take a little getting use to at first.  You might have to work up to the full 10-15 minutes at first.   Here are the steps that I take.

I will brush my teeth with just water before I oil pull.  You want to make sure you are pulling toxins and possible left over food.

Take a spoon full of Oil, some use Sunflower or Sesame Oil but I use Tropical Traditions Coconut Oil.  Then I will start slowly swishing it in my mouth, between my teeth.  I usually try to keep myself busy, the time will go by a lot faster if you are doing the dishes or whatever you can find to do.  Whatever you do, try not to swallow the oil, you don't want those toxins to go back into your body.

After time is up, then I spit it out and swish some warm salt water in my mouth, then I brush my teeth with the toothpaste above.

It is important that you make sure you rinse out the sink really well after you spit the oil from the oil pulling out.  You have just pulled all that "gunk" out of your mouth.  I usually wash out the sink, then spray it with my water mixed with Shield spray that I keep by my sink as a disinfectant.

Gingivitis Mouthwash

Then I rinse my mouth with this great mouthwash that will help with gingivitis or periodontal disease.  If you have inflammation of the gums or they are red or painful, this mouthwash is for you.  I use it more as a preventative. 

WARNING: THIS DOES CONTAIN ALCOHOL
But you don't drink it. 

In a glass bottle combine the following: 
1 cup of brandy
30 drops of thyme <----Click Here to purchase
30 drops of peppermint <----Click Here to purchase
10 drops of myrrh <----Click Here to purchase
10 drops of fennel <----Click Here to purchase

To use, add 2 or 3 teaspoons to half a glass of warm water and rinse.  
Thyme is great for treating gum infections. Fennel can be used to strengthen the gums and myrrh is great for its healing and tonic properties. 




Banana-Berry Chocolate Pudding

Want a great alternative to store bought Chocolate Pudding that is HEALTHY for you?  
This is great!
I made three batches of this to take to a small get together in our neighborhood and it was a hit! 

BANANA-BERRY CHOCOLATE PUDDING! 
I originally got the recipe from Hybrid Rasta Mama
then made a few adjustments to it. 

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Cooler Weather Can Bring Arthritis Pain.


*Note I am not a doctor and this has not been evaluated by the Federal Government...these are remedies that work for me..not all EOs work the same for everybody...use EOs with caution.


For the young and the young at heart, the cooler weather can mean stiff muscles and major pain due to arthritis.

I take care of my Mom, who has really bad arthritis in her knees and ankles. There are some essential oil recipes that incorporate Birch Oil and/or Wintergreen for pain management, but for seniors, Birch isn't always the best due the methyl salicylate that it contains.  Especially in seniors and people with epilepsy and those that are on blood thinners, this is not an oil to be used.  Don't get me wrong, I love my Birch Oil and Wintergreen, but to put it simple, it is not an Essential Oil for everybody. To be safe for those that are "Young at Heart" it would be a good idea to consult a doctor before the use of Birch or Wintergreen. 

This Arthritis Blend is wonderful and does not contain either Birch or Wintergreen but has many wonderful properties. 


Arthritis Blend
Blend the following in a blending bottle
Lavender- 6 drops
Rosemary- 6 drops
Black Pepper- 4 drops
Ginger- 2 drops
Clove Bud- 2 drops
Helichrysum- 2 drops (optional but very healing)


Add 10-15 drops of the blend to a 10ml roller bottle and top off with carrier oil (I use Fractionated Coconut Oil)
Apply to the affected area before activity or when pain begins. 

Here are the benefits of each oil...





Lavender is analgesic, antidepressant, antirheumatic, antispasmodic. It can be used for relief of rheumatisim, sciatica and arthritis.



Rosemary is analgesic and is used for tired, stiff and overworked muscles. 



Black Pepper is a warming oil that can be used to prevent pain an stiffness in joints and muscles.



Ginger is great for a circulatory stimulant.  It is recommended for poor circulation, cold hands and feet.



Clove Bud is an analgesic and antispasmodic.  It will help relieve pain from arthritis and rheumatism.



Though not necessary  I recommend a couple of drops of Helichrysum due to it's amazing healing properties. 
Helichrysum is a very powerful oil and is highly sought after hence why it is more expensive than most. It has regenerative and anti-inflammatory actions.

It is used to heal wounds and for injuries such as twisted ankles and knees and sprains. This oil also helps with nerve regeneration and scar reduction. 









Tuesday, September 17, 2013

What are you drinking?

There are so many things to drink these days....do you know what you are drinking? 

Thursday, September 12, 2013

Melaleuca...Also known as Tea Tree Oil and it's amazing uses!

Just something about this picture is very calming to me. 
Maybe it is the fact that these are Melaleuca trees which have great healing powers. 

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Essential Oil Labels

This post will be short and sweet!  

I love my label maker that I bought just for my essential oil creations. 


Monday, September 9, 2013

Homemade Muscle Rub


*Note I am not a doctor and this has not been evaluated by the Federal Government...these are remedies that work for me..not all EOs work the same for everybody...use EOs with caution.



This recipe has the basic Essential Oils for homemade Tiger Balm, with a few extras.   My husband and I both use this as a pre-work out salve on joints that we know is giving us problems or when we have worked around the yard or the house and know that we might be sore after days end. 



The general salve rule I use is for every cup of oil, I use 2 tablespoons of beeswax.   This recipe is for a smaller portion.
Ingredients:
Salve Recipe
½  Tablespoon beeswax
1/2 Cup of Coconut oil


Few drops of Vitamin E oil (this acts as a preservative)

Place coconut oil and beeswax in a double boiler and melt at a low heat stirring occasionally.
Pour melted oils in your glass container then add your Vitamin E oil.  Let oils cool for about 10 minutes before adding your Essential oils or they will evaporate more quickly.

Or, you can use the Whipped Body Lotion Recipe that you can find HERE

Blend the following Essential Oils in a blending bottle
Essential Oils
10 drops camphor or Ravintsara (Ravintsara is Eucalyptol’ (1,8-cineol)  I use Ravintsara.
Eucalyptol’ (1,8-cineol)
Eucalyptol’ (1,8-cineol)
Eucalyptol’ (1,8-cineol)
9 drops peppermint essential oil
7 drops eucalyptus essential oil
5 drops clove essential oil
5 drop cinnamon essential oil
5 drop of helichrysum (optional)
3 drops of blue tansy (optional)


For every 4oz or lotion or salve, I use 40-50 drops of the essential oil blend



Stir your Essential Oils into your salve with a small wooden spoon or I use two bamboo skewers.  I don’t like to use metal in my salves as Coconut oil has the ability to remove rust from metal.  You risk contaminating your salve by using a metal spoon.

Immediately after you stir in your essential oils, cover your jar immediately so your oils do not evaporate.

Essential Oil Properties:
Camphor- Relieves Pain/ Ravintsara is Anti-Rheumatic (prefer to use the Ravintsara)
Peppermint Oil-analgesic and anaesthetic
Eucalyptus- analgesic and anti-inflammatory
Clove- Analgesic and antispasmodic
Cinnamon-anaesthetic and antispasmodic
Helichrysum- analgesic and anti-inflammatory, regenerative
Blue Tansy- anti-inflammatory, analgesic


I like to get my essential oil products from a local source.  They are great quality oils and products at very reasonable prices and the always have great specials going on! 


I have no affiliation to Ananda Apothecary. 








Sunday, September 8, 2013

Got that feeling of "BLAH"?

There are many forms of depression.  Just feeling "Blah" is one of them.  You need something to brighten your day.  Winter months will soon be on their way and the sunshine and warm weather will be taken over by ol' man winter.

Get yourself prepared! 

Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Lavender Honey Face Mask

I love a good facial!  Especially when it has to do with honey and lavender.  
This face mask feels amazing.  It tingles while it is on your face and with the Sparks Naturals Lavender, it relaxes you and is good for your face! 

(I highly recommend to test a small patch before applying to the entire face for sensitivity)