DIY - Supportive CHEST RUB
A vapour rub that is child friendly is great to have in the fall wellness kit just in case a chest cold comes along. This year we'll be ready thanks to this recipe from my colleague, Krista! Because this is a coconut oil base, it will melt in the heat and turns solid in cooler temperatures.
...
+ 2 tbsp regular coconut oil
+ 5 drops each of Frankincense & Lemon
+ 4 drops Thieves + 2 drops each of Lavender & Eucalyptus (or R.C.)
Mix everything together and apply to the chest as needed. This recipe is intended for children ages 2 and up. For younger children, omit the Eucalyptus (RC) and begin by applying to their upper back rather than the chest.
Make up a batch to leave in your fridge 'just in case'. And then get the diffuser going with any combination of these oils and of course our favourite immune care oil blend of Thieves
September, 2017
This is the week of soccer tournaments for two of my guys. They come home with sore, tired muscles - blisters on their feet and bruises from a fall or physical contact. We have a few tools we pull out when the day is done and they are ready for some TLC.
Dad coaches and refines their skills and Mom takes care of the damage from the field. Teamwork. :)
Bath Salts:
Magnesium in epsom salts is great for nourishing tired overworked muscles. They are the perfect base for the soaking power of muscle loving essential oils. Because oil and water don't mix, the salts help keep the oils from floating on top of the water and contacting skin without being properly diluted. A safe way to soak!
Andrew's favourite mix is Stress Away (5 drops to half cup of salts).
Lavender Mint can be cooling and support respiratory system (2 drops Peppermint, 8 drops Lavender in 1/2 cup salts).
Happy Muscles Bath Salts (5 drops Copaiba, 3 drops PanAway, 1/2 cup salts).
Muscle Rub:
1/2 cup shea butter
1/4 coconut oil
10 Drops of copaiba, wintergreen, marjoram
5 drops helichrysum
Works well in a wide mouth mason jar. Just scoop out a bit, rub hands together and then rub it into sore joints or muscles
Or with your Starter Kit Oils you can use this version for a muscle rub:
8 drops PanAway EO
5 drops Peppermint EO
5 drops Copaiba EO
1/2 cup Virgin Coconut Oil (creamy kind)
Works well in a wide mouth mason jar. Just scoop out a bit, rub hands together and then rub it into sore joints or muscles.
Cuts and blisters get my First Aid Cream:
1 tbsp. Calendula lotion (look for one in olive oil or other healthy carrier - not pertroleum)
6 drops helichrysum or frankincense
6 drops lavender oil
Mix in a small container to apply to open wounds or burns.
To calm an overworked, exhausted body, we love a shoulder rub with our muscle rub or Deep Relief (a YL blend that comes pre-mixed in a carrier oil - I just add a roller top and it's ready to go for adults). This is the perfect way to help my guys wind down ready to sleep and heal to be ready for tomorrow's adventures.
I love that my guys are active! And I love that I have effective ways of helping them heal after the game is over. A win no matter what the score. :)
When the sniffles start, we have a few favourite oils to pull out!
Today, we're diffusing and rolling our seasonal blend - Lavender, Lemon and Peppermint/ Purification.
Seasonal Roller
For a 10 ml Roller:
10 drops Lavender
10 drops Tea Tree
10 drops Peppermint
10 drops Lemon
Top with a carrier oil and roll on throat, chest or under the nose to keep the scent coming. If the smell isn't helpful, roll it on the low back. If this isn't a strong enough dose to get results, the drops may be doubled for an adult strength roller.
And for the little ones: Because Peppermint is not recommended for children under 2 yrs of age, it can be substituted with Purification.
Sniffle Stick (suitable for wee ones):
+ 4 drops Lavender
+ 4 drops Lemon
+ 4 drops Purification
Add to 10 ml roller bottle and top with carrier oil.
To assist the whole room of sufferers, add 2 drops each of Lavender, Peppermint/Purification, and Lemon to the water in your diffuser.
When I need extra support, I use the dietary oils - Lavender, Lemon and Peppermint - one drop each in a large glass or stainless steel water bottle for sipping at throughout the day.
Life is better with essential oils!!
I was twenty two years old and felt like 90. Everyday I would get out of bed not knowing if I could make it to my 4th year classes. Some days I would shower and by the time I finished I felt dizzy, sleepy, and my muscles felt like lead. I would be so weak I had to crawl on all fours back to my bedroom to lay down again. I would get 12-14 hours of restless sleep that would leave me feeling like a truck hit me. I ached all over and my head felt like it would burst with the pounding pain. It was like having the flu... for months... and then years. Some days were better. I could accomplish simple goals like writing a paper, reading for class work, walking to school to attend classes. But other days I would arrive to a meeting with my thesis advisor and she could tell by the dark circles under my eyes and the droop of my shoulders that I wasn't well enough to converse about the poetry of John Donne. I always say I finished my undergrad degree by grace. My English profs knew me and were very understanding about allowing me extra time to finish assignments. I just never knew if I could keep a schedule. Some of my notes were crazy to read because I'd make it to class, but then half way through the lecture, my brain would fog over and my hand would just slide down my page before I had to stop writing to put my head down. Great friends allowed me to borrow notes to catch things my mind missed. After my final year of course work was completed I went to a Dr. Mildon in Toronto who diagnosed me with CFIDS - Chronic Fatigue and Immune Dysfunction Syndrome. After taking many vials of blood to examine, Dr. Mildon said I had a virus that my body was not fighting off. My immune system was not working well and I was deficient in many vitamins.
I walked out of her office with a diagnosis and a list of supplements to buy. I started taking handfuls of vitamins each morning - Evening Primrose Oil, Vitamin B6, B12, Zinc and others my mind can't recall - the year was 1992. I read a little more about Chronic Fatigue and found that little was understood about it except that people didn't generally regain health. My adult life was just beginning and I'd been handed a life sentence of flu symptoms.
I got married that fall to a very supportive and understanding husband. He and I talked about taking a year off - no schedule - to allow my body to recover. I was granted a deferral on an offer to Teacher's College and began married life with a sinus infection. The first time I signed my new name was at an Emergency room on my Honeymoon. I was handed one more anti-biotic. This was a regular winter routine for me. For all my teenage life, I would need anti-biotics two or three times a winter to treat a sinus or bronchial infection after a cold lodged deep in my respiratory system aggravating an asthma condition. I recall with perfect clarity trying to clear mucous from my sinuses and chest making the terrible orchestration involved and Lance calling from the other room - "I love you! I still love you!" Wonderful words for a moment when I really didn't feel at all attractive.
For many years, exercise was impossible. My muscles ached enough to keep me awake just from tapping my toe to music at a concert. I was on a downward spiral and had no answers about how to turn it around. Changing eating habits was impossible when I could hardly get off the couch most days. I did a lot of hand embroidery and knitting to feel like I could still contribute some beauty to the world. But my world shrunk - fast. I didn't have energy for going out - calling friends - joining activities. Lance's involvements with youth ministry brought some community into our home. I had some friends who faithfully reached out to me even when I didn't return phone calls or took a long time to respond. Lance and this community were a lifeline.
I stopped playing guitar because my arm hurt when I strummed the strings. I stopped singing because my throat often hurt and I felt too weak to exert the effort. But as my outward world shrunk, I was determined to grow my inner world through reading, prayer, and writing. I knew the sentence I'd been given wasn't the end of the story. I felt sure that God had plans for me that didn't involve lounging on a couch for the rest of my years. The diagnosis didn't write my future - God did. I trusted that I'd find the steps needed to heal.
The first step came from a book by William Crook: "Chronic Fatigue and the Yeast Connection." He explained that after years of antibiotic use, eating refined sugars and grains, and exposure to environmental toxins, our body's cleansing systems get overloaded. Antibiotics kill off protective bacteria along with pathogens. Our digestive tract is naturally home to a whole world of micro-organisms that help break down our food and work effectively to assist our bodies to clear out waste and maintain emotional and overall wellness. Yeasts co-exist with other microflora that keep them in balance. But when antibiotics kill off good bacteria with the bad, yeasts are left to overgrow to fill the space. They attack the intestinal walls to create a permeable cell structure that allows toxins and food particles to leave the gut and circulate through the body (often called 'leaky gut'). Food allergies and sensitivities become part of the result and the body is open to auto-immune responses - where it may begin to attack toxins in healthy cells in an effort to clean up the mess. The virus that entered my system at this stage was the last straw that broke the camel's back... or caused a health breakdown.
About this time, a friend sent me a letter explaining a Cleansing and Rebuilding Program designed by a master herbalist with a family herbal lineage from the Mediterranean. I had nothing to lose. It was a bit of an investment for us as a young couple living on one church salary, but Lance stood firmly behind any steps I wanted to make to regain health. After a few days on the digestive cleanse I felt like my body was drawing poisons out of my tissues before elimination. I would feel nauseous and dizzy before a trip to the bathroom where it was like I was unloading illness. I felt lighter each time. The program came with a parasite cleanse that was to be added only after elimination was happening very regularly so that any die off wouldn't stay long in the body. A cell rebuilder was taken with the digestive and parasite cleanse to ensure that new cells would be healthy and free of toxins. After about six months on the cleanse and rebuild, I felt like I had a turn around. I could now take another step.
Part of my journey to restore health included working through emotional trauma and learning healthy boundaries. Reading, journaling, prayer and the companionship of some insightful, supportive friends provided the framework I needed to find peace.
After eight years of digging for root causes of Chronic Fatigue and Immune Dysfunction Syndrome, I began to experience real change. Emotional, spiritual and physical growth created new resilience in body and soul. The moment that stands out as a marker of how far I'd come in regaining strength was when I could paddle on our yearly Leadership Camp canoe trip and not ache afterwards. At the end of my twenties, we decided we could start a family. I could leave behind the mental picture of being the sick Mom who parents from the couch. Fast forward twenty years and we have three healthy boys who I was able to homeschool throughout their elementary years. My oldest has almost completed his first year at university in a double degree program and I still enjoy spending my days with my grade 10 and grade 6 sons learning about the world and our place in it. My energy is probably about 80-90% of normal most days. I'm not running any marathons, but I get some nice long walks everyday with my boys and our new toy poodle. I find gentle yoga stretches and resistance moves have been a complementary active routine we all do together on our school mornings. Stretches are key to reducing neck and back tension and retaining core strength. But I wouldn't be able to do my moderate activity without some real healing in all the body systems. I use Young Living's essential oils - Deep Relief and Panaway with Copaiba and Peppermint regularly for muscle support and pain relief.
Sleep is key! Solving the sleep issues has been so important in regaining wellness. Medically, I was put on a low dose of anti-depressant to help with sleep, but I found little benefit and after 6 months decided to stop. Much more helpful have been essential oils like Stress Away, Lavender, Orange, Rosemary, Thieves, Cedarwood, Valor, Bergamot that I rotate through or blend in a diffuser for nightly sleep support. I fall asleep and stay asleep through the night. Part of solving sleep issues was adding in hormone support with Progessence Plus and Clary Sage. These have helped my body regulate temperature and sleep rhythms, and have been invaluable in avoiding night sweats, waking through the night, waking too early and helping my mind relax to sleep.
Food is powerful. I had been handed a basic North American diet of meat and potatoes, corn, pizza pops, chicken nuggets, with a carrot stick or two and an apple with my bologna sandwich to round out a healthy plate. Sugary cereals in milk or toast and peanut butter with apple juice were the start to my everydays. Over the last twenty five years, I have learned to track down food sensitivities and eliminate them, while shifting my emphasis in food choices to a variety of vegetables, moderate levels of protein and abundant use of healthy fats from coconut milk, olive oil salad dressings, butter on my veggies to improve taste and satisfaction. To combat yeast, it was imperative to cut out all sugar and grains for a few months. I still feel best when I eat this way in general. When my Young Living upline arranged coaching to do a Whole 30 reset program in January 2018, I loved adding lots of new recipes from that program to help us satisfy our palate as well as our health needs. It was a great guide for reducing inflammatory foods and eating what makes my body happiest. I've loosened the reins a bit to include stevia and small amounts of dark chocolate to satisfy my sweet tooth. Lifewatchers and Janet Jacks book "Discover the Power of Food" has been a great resource to re-educate our thinking about food. I've been seeing a Naturopath and Chiropractor for alternative health care while loving the regular health checks and support from my General Practitioner. Thankfully, I haven't had many needs for medication beyond a regular preventative asthma inhaler. I haven't needed an anti-biotic for secondary infections for twelve years. Essential oils and the right diet have been excellent ways to heal and maintain good preventative care.
Staying hydrated has been important, too. I like adding a drop of Lemon, Lime, Orange, or Slique Essential oil to my water in the morning to support cleansing systems. I use herbal teas like Peppermint and Licorice to reduce after dinner cravings and support digestion. Ningxia Red has also been really helpful in supporting energy, immune health, and a feeling of vitality. Some Young Living Essential oils have been approved by Health Canada for ingestion. I don't add any other brand of essential oils to my food and drinks due to the amount of chemical extenders, synthetic fragrances and unclear sourcing I am finding when I research products. Young Living's Seed to Seal commitment has earned my confidence and passed Health Canada's scientific verification process.
Since being introduced to Young Living a year ago, I've enjoyed supporting my digestive system daily with applying Digize and Peppermint Essential oil topically (diluted with coconut oil in a roller). They keep yeast in check and nourish and tone the bowel. Having suffered chronic constipation for most of my life, these essential oils have made a huge difference. When the digestive system can heal and the cell walls repair, allergies and auto-immune responses can begin to change and even reverse. Emotional wellness and brain health are also linked to digestive health. The gut has often been referred to as the second brain because the brain and gut pass messages back and forth constantly. Health in the gut can make great change in mental wellness. My team will be offering a Facebook class on Auto-Immune Healing soon. I can email a transcript if you are not on Facebook.
Reducing chemicals and toxins in our personal care and cleaning products to unburden the body has also been a shift in my household. As the gate keeper of my home, I am getting educated about how to keep hormone disrupters, carcinogens and harmful substances from coming in my door. The 'Think Dirty - Shop Clean' app has been a valuable tool in scanning and summarizing ingredients that are given a rating from 1-10 on the dirty scale. Young Living has formulated many products for household cleaning, supplements, personal care, mineral make up, and baby products to make it easy to ditch chemicals and make the switch for wellness. A monthly Essential Rewards shopping program allows me to earn up to 25% of my orders back in points to redeem for free products. This monthly wellness program allows me to gradually shift products to healthier choices while deciding ahead what I will budget for these changes. Each box is fully customizable, gets reduced shipping costs, and often contains free oils from Young Living based on order size. This has been a great way to continue to invest in wellness month by month at a minimum of around $50 US.
I'm so thankful for the well timed gifts of resources and products that continue to restore and lead me to new levels of wellness. Adding support from a Naturopath and the gift of Essential oils from Young Living this past year has brought me to better health than I have had since I was twenty. Day by day, one investment at a time have been the steps that have led to healing. Western medicine is great at diagnosis, pharmaceutical direction and surgical treatments. But all practitioners would encourage us to take charge of our own preventative care. That is now where I like to focus. I love to do things I know are good for restoring and supporting wellness in all the systems of the body and catch issues before they become medically significant. Often symptoms disappear as I focus on overall health, responding quickly with support when my body lets me know it needs it. Essential oils have been a significant help in restoring balance and cleaning body and home effectively with great scents that support emotional well being as well.
To start your own Essential oil journey to support wellness, I'd love to talk with you and invite you into a vibrant learning community to help you become your own health advocate. A great place to start with essential oils is Young Living's Starter Kits that are designed to give a great foundation from which to learn and grow. The Premium Starter Kit has easy to use most common oils and blends to support every system of the body. We have Facebook groups, newsletters , online classes and of course personal service from me to help you gain confidence in integrating oils into everyday. To contact me, email at: pegthrive@gmail.com
To order essential oils, Ningxia, or Thieves Cleaning line, starter kits are a great value. Browse this site for more details on how to get started. We have text classes, a Facebook learning community, Facebook Class albums and a wonderful team ready to cheer you on as you take healthy steps!
Let's learn and thrive - together!
Orientation to Essential Oils
Essential oils are the life-blood of plants full of therapeutic compounds that communicate naturally with human body cells. Plant essential oils are gentle on the body allowing good bacteria to thrive, yet powerful enough to support the body as it fights invaders. Young Living Essential Oils support the body to come back into balance without harmful side effects
There are three main ways to get oils into your system:
Topically - Most essential oils are diluted with a carrier oil like coconut or jojoba and applied to skin where they pass into the bloodstream
Ingestion - Often less than a drop is added to spice up a sauce or flavour baking while providing health support at the same time. A toothpick dipped in the oil and swirled in a sauce is often the perfect flavour boost.
Inhalation - Diffusing and inhaling oils allows them to enter the large blood vessels in the lungs or the olfactory system in the nose to circulate to where they are needed in the body. This method is where aromatherapy gets its name. Aromatherapy is not just a pretty scent: The olfactory nerves at the top of the nose are connected directly to the limbic centre of the brain that controls emotions and hormone secretions. This means inhaling essential oils works fast to impact emotional health or send a signal to calm an adrenaline rush or assist the body in balancing hormones.
There are about 300 therapeutic essential oils on the earth, but you only need ten to twenty of them to build a good kit.
Why Young Living?
Not all essential oils are created equal. Many companies increase profits by spraying crops with pesticides to get a higher yield or use chemical solvents to extract the oils and then dilute them with a cheaper 2nd and 3rd distillations or carrier oils. Most essential oils are sold more cheaply because companies cut corners.
When shopping for oils, I landed with Young Living because of their seed to seal commitment. Young Living owns farms around the world and oversees every step to ensure the soil, seeds, distillation process and final product are beyond organic and contain all the therapeutic compounds necessary for wellness support.
So, here’s what a typical day with essential oils might look like.
Skin and Hair Care - Did you know the average woman applies over 300 chemicals a day to her body just through soaps, makeup, shampoo, and hair care products. Eighty of those products are applied before breakfast!
Shower time
I was stunned when I realized my 'Sulfate Free' Shampoo and Conditioner received a dirty rating of 9 on the Healthy Living App. It may have been free of SLS but it had many other hormone disrupters and carcinogens in the ingredient list. I love that I can trust Young Living to have only the safest and purest of ingredients. YL sells a Lavender Mint Shampoo and Conditioner for all hair types and a Copaiba Vanilla for nourishing and volumizing. Our family loves the Copaiba Vanilla Shampoo, and I use the Conditioner daily to keep my hair soft and healthy!
Why Lavender and Peppermint in body wash and shampoo?
Over 1000 medical studies have been published on Peppermint. It effectively cleanses, promotes clarity and concentration, eases stress, reduces joint and muscle pain, relieves headaches and sinus issues and can support gastrointestinal health. Useful for cold sores, scalp and skin conditions as well as respiratory support. The aroma and tingly scalp sensation is an energy boost. Great start to the day.
Lavender is one of the top skin oils - reduces stress and promotes relaxation, calms skin irritations and lifts mood. This is also a great first aid oil and can be used topically without dilution (called ‘neat’) in some cases on adults. Works great on itchy bug bites, cuts and burns.
Mirah Shave Oil - Since I started using this in place of shaving cream, I've noticed the hair growth is finer. The oil creates a close moisturizing shave with a supportive aroma that leaves skin nourished. It can also be applied as a body care oil
Moisturizer
Shea butter/ coconut oil in equal parts make a great base for body lotion to nourish skin. This time I added Lavender, Frankincense (Elemi - cheap man’s Frank), Clary sage for hormonal support for body temperature, mood balance, deeper rest. Ylang Ylang for balancing, energy and fragrance.
**When making up creams with essential oils for safety, be aware that Citrus oils and some others should not be applied to skin that will be exposed to sun. If applied to skin, avoid sun for 12-24 hours. Photosentsitizing oils are labelled to help keep you safe. Put them where the ‘sun don’t shine’ or save it for moisturizing when sun exposure isn’t a risk.
Frankincense - 10 000 uses - more valued in Bible times than gold. Ancient Egyptians used Frank to promote younger, healthy, even skin tone. Powerful anti-inflammatory - so many health issues linked to inflammation from head to toe. Diffuse to help calm an anxious mind and bring tranquil energy. Supports colon and lung health. Topically can be used neat.
Not into DIYs?
Young Living has a Lavender Hand & Body Lotion as well as a more intense moisturizing Coconut Lime Replenishing Body Butter. This coconut oil body butter is fragranced with the natural scent of coconut oil and Lime oil to create a warm, tropical aroma.
Hair Care
I love using 4-5 drops of Argan oil after a shower to hydrate ends of hair and nourish the scalp. (I get mine from Kynk Naturals – a company owned and run by a friend of mine with organic fair trade shea butter products and argan oil – look her up at http://www.kynk.ca/ ). I added Rosemary - thickens hair as it stimulates hair growth. Clary sage naturally balances hormones and promotes healthy hair – Frankincense, Tea Tree & Lavender for scalp health and Peppermint for stimulating scent.
Deodorant - ¼ cup coconut oil, ¼ cup shea butter, ¼ cup baking soda, ¼ cup arrowroot powder, 20-30 drops tea tree (germ killer, skin helper), lavender (soothes razor burn), thieves (kills germs that create odor), 20 drops peppermint (deodorizer). Thieves Aromabright toothpaste also works well as a deoderant! Just a small pea sized amount used like a lotion for the arm pits. :)
Thieves Toothpaste: I also find the toothpaste extra good at cleaning power. Tartar was chipping off after the first week of use. My friend’s daughter had a cavity heal and another friend had gum disease reverse. Potent stuff.
Immune Support:
Prevention: Swipe of Thieves on feet before moving into the day. A NHP Oil blend of Clove, Lemon, Cinnamon, Eucalyptus Radiata, and Rosemary essential oils for an aromatic blend that fills any space with a rich, spicy aroma. (Normally I dilute oils for topical use, but Thieves I use on my feet ‘neat’ for maximum protection. The skin on the feet is thicker, so doesn’t seem irritated by the ‘hot’ oils in the blend. For use anywhere else on the body, dilution recommendations are 20:80 or 4x as much carrier as essential oil.) Inhale and apply topically to help prevent and relieve symptoms of cough and cold. Diffusing at night seems to help airway passages to stay clearer and offers a bit of humidity to the air.
Breakfast
Supplements:
Ningxia Red- It incorporates the benefits of Ningxia wolfberry puree; a super blend of blueberry, aronia, cherry, pomegranate, and plum juices; natural stevia, grape seed, and pure vanilla extracts; and orange, yuzu, lemon, and tangerine essential oils. NingXia Red provides a whole-body nutrient infusion. *Helps breakdown abdominal fat, sustains healthy blood sugar levels, immune and liver support.
Life 9 Probiotic
Omegagize - Omega 3, Vit.D, Ubiquinol - my naturopath put me on these three to help my body heal
Slique Essence - Grapefruit essential oil, Tangerine essential oil, Spearmint essential oil, Lemon essential oil, Cinnamon essential oil, Reb A (Stevia leaf extract) While stevia adds an all-natural sweetener that provides a pleasant taste with no added calories, it may help control sugar cravings, making it easier to stay on track with your health and fitness goals.
Work
Clarity for mental fog - Lemon, Peppermint, Lavender (+ allergy support)
Relaxing to bring down stress to focus - Stress Away
Immune Support when fighting colds, Adrenal and Mood support - Thieves, Lemon OR Thieves, Orange, Rosemary
Lunch
Digize - This is an oil blend of Tarragon, Ginger and Peppermint. Top Oil for supporting the digestive system. I usually mix it with peppermint in a roller bottle to apply topically over the abdomen to support the digestive system or inhale by diffusing with lemon.
Story - A. rose from his bed after bedtime calling for help. He was clammy and his stomach was churning. I rushed with him to the bathroom expecting the nausea to erupt into more. I left him with Lance while I ran downstairs to where I keep my pre-made rollers filled with combinations of essential oils in proper dilution for topical use. This one was my "Tummy Troubles" roller. I rubbed the roller filled with Digize/Peppermint in Coconut Oil (as a carrier) combo on his abdomen. Then I grabbed my Peppermint roller and put it at the base of the skull where he was so clammy and hot - to cool him down. I also gave him a teaspoon of honey to calm his irritated stomach. He responded immediately. Within twenty seconds, he was already feeling better. We stayed in the bathroom as I rubbed his back and watched him closely. His breathing and churning stomach calmed. After five minutes he returned to bed and slept soundly until morning and never did throw up. He is now a firm believer in the power of essential oils to benefit the body safely and effectively.
Mid-Afternoon Lag
Peppermint - car vent diffuser kept me awake on a long drive. Diluted in a roller on back of neck or muscles it is a quick pick me up or headache reducer.
Tension Roller - Peppermint, Copaiba and PanAway - alleviates sore muscles, tension, headaches, sore feet.
PanAway is a blend of wintergreen, clove, helichrysum, peppermint - Wintergreen known for pain assistance, helichrysum regenerates nerves and is used for muscle spasms, Clove helps with pain and opens blood flow, and bone preserving.
Copaiba - This oil contains the highest amount of Beta Caryophyllene (55 percent) of any known essential oil. Beta Caryophyllene supports the body’s natural response to irritation or injury. Highly anti-inflammatory, copaiba supports nearly every system in the body. It is also great skin oil and enhances constituents in other oils when blended with them. Can be applied directly to sore gums - a drop on the finger rubbed on gums.
Story: In a series of interviews all day. Colleague was reaching for advil during a break when I offered my tension roller to see if it would help. She applied it to neck and shoulders and temples. Carried on with interviews - at the end, she was still holding the advil and no longer needed them.
Sports Injuries:
Abrasions or Cuts: Calendula lotion with Lavender and or tea tree
Deep Relief: a favourite for muscle stiffness or pain.
Muscle Rub
½ cup shea butter
¼ cup coconut oil
10 drops Copaiba, wintergreen, marjoram
5 drops Helichrysum
Garbage and Compost
Clean up nasty smells with Purification - I’ve diffused this in musty hotel rooms (It looked better on line when we booked it),
Laundry with Wool Dryer Balls in place of toxic dryer sheets.
Dryer Balls Recipe
1 oz dropper bottle
50 drops lavender and lemon
Add vinegar to reduce soap residue and as a natural softener
3-4 drops on each dryer ball
Kitchen Clean Up
Thieves Dish soap (no SLS - low sudsing - if need suds - combine with Nature Clean (50/50)
Spray bottle - Thieves Cleaner - one capful makes one spray bottle - about $1.10/ bottle - replaces glass cleaner, bathroom cleaner, kitchen cleaner, hardwood floor cleaner…
Lemon - ungoo anything - labels off bottles, stickers off windows
Bed Time
Add Frankincense to face cream or body lotion for anti-aging power. Sweet, warm, calm fragrance to prepare for bed.
Diffuse Calming Blends All Night Long
1.Thieves and Stress Away
2. Stress Away and Lavender
3. Lavender and Bergamot (used in treating depression, induces relaxation and reduces agitation - when combined with Lavender reduces blood pressure - photosensitizing - avoid sun exposure for 12-48 hours after topical use)
4. Thieves, Rosemary, Orange
5. Lavender, Peace & Calming, Frankincense
6. Ylang Ylang, Bergamot, Lavender - Korea 2006 study - terminally ill - reduced stress response and cortisol levels and lowered blood pressure of those with hypertension when used once a day for 4 weeks
7. Cedarwood, Lavender, Clary Sage, Peace and Calming, Patchouli
Lavender - headache, digestive discomfort, joint pain - most known to enhance relaxation. Safe to use with children and babies if diluted. Individual response - some find it energizing. Put in Epsom salts for a relaxing bath (**oils and water don’t mix, so avoid having the oil pool on top of the water to be in contact with skin by mixing with bath salts first so it mixes throughout tub) -Diffuse or lightly mist sheets or put in a roller and apply to big toe - reflexology point for head.
Healthy swaps can be made throughout our homes and daily routines to continue to support our body's efforts to stay above the wellness line. Let's take small steps that add up to great health! Let's thrive together!
