How To Make Hand Sanitizer

With the flu season in full force, we are all concerned with the germs and bacteria that are present in our environment from sick people. In trying to stay healthy, many people turn to waterless hand sanitizers, thinking they are helpful in keeping the germies away. Most of them contain Triclosan, which kills bacteria. The thing they don't realize, is that they are killing the good bacteria also. Healthy bacteria actually keeps the bad bacteria in check. When you kill the good bacteria, it makes it easier for the harmful bacteria that can make you sick to flourish.

There are other risks to using Triclosan. If you are not yet aware of the potential dangers of Triclosan, you should know that this antibacterial agent has been strongly linked to the following effects on human health:

• Abnormalities with the endocrine system, particularly with thyroid hormone signaling
• Weakening of the immune system
• Birth defects
• Uncontrolled cell growth
• Unhealthy weight loss

Essential oils on the other hand, attack and kill the bad bacteria, leaving the beneficial bacteria intact, and human tissue unaffected. These are a few of the Essential oils that have been proven to contain extremely effective antibacterial, antiseptic, and anti-fungal properties:

• Thyme oil
  
• Cinnamon oil
  
• Lemon oil
  
• Tea Tree oil
  
• Eucalyptus oil
• Rosemary oil

Using these oils to make your own hand sanitizer is a great way to kill the bad bacteria and germs you come in contact with. You can also add a few drops of them to a soap base and use it to wash your hands. When you can't wash your hands with soap and water, this waterless hand sanitizer is the next best thing.

You will need:
1 cup of Aloe Vera gel
10-15 drops of oil (either pick one, or a make a mixture of the oils listed above)
2 tsp. of alcohol or Witch Hazel

Mix the ingredients in a glass or metal bowl or jar, using a metal utensil. Fill empty, clean squeeze bottles (either recycle used bottles, or buy new ones HERE).

I like to use little bottles and put them in places like my purse, kid's backpacks, my car, my gym workout bag... Hand sanitizer is NOT a replacement for proper hand washing, just use it when you are someplace where you can't wash your hands. Use it sparingly, as a little goes a long way, and it can dry out your hands, due to the alcohol.

ALWAYS USE THERAPEUTIC GRADE ESSENTIAL OILS

CLICK HERE TO ORDER THERAPEUTIC GRADE ESSENTIAL OILS

Recipe of the Week 5: Spiced Almond Milk

 Cooking with Essential Oils is a great way to receive their wonderful benefits. Homemade almond milk is nutritious, yummy, and easy to make. The Essential Oils taste great and are also good for boosting the immune system, making this drink a delicious addition to a healthy lifestyle.  Always use Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils.

You will need:

2/3 cup raw almonds
4 soft dates
4 cups filtered water
1 drop Cinnamon oil
1 drop Clove oil 
1 drop Nutmeg oil
1 tsp. Vanilla extract (optional) 
Makes four cups 

 Remove pits from dates
Soak almonds and dates in 2 cups of water overnight.

The next morning, put the almonds, dates and

soaking water plus 2 more cups of fresh water in a blender.

Blend  until smooth.

Pour the mixture through a mesh strainer, or use cheesecloth.

Pour into a container with a lid.

 
Chill in the fridge for a bit. It will stay good for a few days if refrigerated.

This makes a wonderful breakfast drink. You can add other fruit and make a smoothie.

I love adding a few frozen bananas. It tastes like a banana milkshake.

*Note: If you don't have time to soak the almonds, grind in blender till powdery (in 2 batches) then add chopped dates and water. Continue as above.

CLICK HERE TO BUY THERAPEUTIC 

GRADE ESSENTIAL OILS 
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How To Make Lip Balm

Lip balm is a really easy MAKE-IT-YOURSELF project. A simple mixture of waxes, oils and other additives, balms soothe, hydrate and protect lips. I like to make my own, and flavor them with essential oils. I make them as gifts for my family and friends. You can put them in tubes, pots, or tins. My favorite containers are little pots. I buy them from Essential Supplies, but I have listed a few other places to buy containers at the bottom of the page, under resources.

To get started, collect all of your 

supplies and have them ready to use.

• beeswax or other wax
• oil: Almond, Olive, Castor, Primrose or any combination of these
  
• essential oils
• additives: Vitamin E, Shea Butter, Cocoa Butter, etc...
  
• sauce pan
  
• glass measuring cup with pouring spout
• spoons or spatulas
• lip balm tube holder -optional, but nice to have for filling many tubes
  
• lip balm tubes, jars, pots, tins, or whatever you are using as a container
• shrink bands for sealing containers if you will be selling your lip balms
• newspaper to cover your work surfaces
  
• paper towels for cleaning up

Choosing Ingredients:

• Almond oil is a nice oil to use. 
• Castor Oil will make your balm glossy.
• Stay away from hydrogenated oils because they are unhealthy. 
• Vitamin E Acetate is an antioxidant natural preservative, and extends the shelf life of your product. Make sure to use it in every recipe. I use vitamin E oil that comes in gelatin capsules. They are easy to puncture and squeeze into the mixture. 
• If you prefer a sweet lip balm, add some honey.
• If you like tinted lip balm, add some of your favorite lipstick to the mixture. If you want to experiment with making your own colors you can purchase Iron Oxide, Mica Powder, or D&C colors to add to the mixture. Mica Powders will add a shimmer to you final product. 
• Avoid artificial flavors. There are many natural essential oils that can be used which will increase your lip balm's healing potential.
  

Choosing Essential Oils:

Always use Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils.

Use one, or a combination of any of these can be nice as well.

• Tea Tree is known for its antibacterial, antifungal and antiseptic qualities.  
• Lavender is soothing and healing for chapped, dry lips.
  
• Rosemary is invigorating and antiseptic.
  
• Peppermint and Spearmint are cooling. 
• Sage is very healing and beneficial for chapped lips.
  
• Cinnamon is warming and very antiseptic
• Ginger is sweet, spicy and warming.

Set up all the supplies you'll need on a countertop covered in newspaper. You'll be glad you did this because lip balm can be hard to clean up if you make a mess. I would recommend working in the kitchen as close to the stove as possible. Be sure you have all your supplies ready, including the containers you'll be pouring into. Once the mixture is melted, you'll need to work quickly, so the mixture doesn't harden before it has been poured.

Fill the saucepan partially, about a 1/3 of the way, with water. Turn burner on medium, and place glass measuring cup in the water. Add wax, oil, and other additives (vitamin E, shea butter, cocoa butter) from any of the suppliers below. Follow this guideline: 2 parts wax to 4 parts oil, or you can play around to try to find a consistency and combination that you find most pleasing. A mixture containing more oils makes a glossier lip balm, while a mixture containing more wax and butters creates a more matte lip balm. Stir continuously until it is melted and well mixed together.

Remove from heat and cool slightly. Add a few drops of essential oil to the melted base. It is important that you add your essential oil after you melt the base. If you add the flavor before you melt the base, it will lose its potency in the heating process.

Using the very same measuring cup that you melted the base in, pour your mixed and melted concoction into your containers. If you're using tubes, fill only to the top of the inside screw. Once the mixture has cooled, finish filling the tube. Pour almost all the way to the top, for a rounded look. This process avoids the risk of cracking that can occur when filling the tube all at once. If you're using jars or tins, just pour all the way to the top in one pour.

You can make labels, either on your computer or hand drawn. If you're planning on selling your lip balm, there are some FDA guidelines that you need to keep in mind when creating the labeling and packaging. You can find the FDA's Cosmetics Labeling Guide here: http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/cos-lab3.html#clgk. Have fun!
 

Resources:

Young Living
A great source for Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils.

Mabel White Home Living Corp.
This company has an extensive selection of everything you need, including shrink bands to seal tubes and jars, plus instructional videos.

Majestic Mountain Sage
They carry vegan base and the tube holder here. They also have a nice stock of lip balm supplies.

Not Martha
This blog has good illustrated step-by-step instructions for making lip balm that features the double-boiler method of melting the base.

The Chemistry Store
They sell lip balm tubes, and all the other basic and special lip balm making supplies.

Essential Supplies
They carry many different container options for lip balms.

Lip Balm Supplies Dot Com
This store has many different options for making lip balms, as well as container options.

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How to Make Herbal Pills

Here is another MAKE-IT-YOURSELF project!

As you know, I love to make my own herbal preparations! This recipe is for making herbal pills. The advantages of making your own herbal pills is that they are effective and safe, you know exactly what is in them, and they are fun to make. You can use either dried or fresh cut herbs. However, when you use fresh herbs, you are using a coarser material to make the pills, and the over all quality of the pills will be a bit fragile. For this reason I recommend using dried herbs.

These pills are fairly easy to make, you just need a few things:

SUPPLIES:

• A small coffee grinder.
• A medium sized mixing bowl, use either metal or glass.
• Wooden spoon
• Herbs and Essential Oils
• Warm water -aprox. 1/2 cup
  
• 2 TBSP Honey or Agave nectar -optional
• Filler powder, such as Arrowroot, Slippery Elm or Acacia -optional
  

Choosing the right herbs and oils is easy.  
Here are a few blends I like:

• Headaches: Skullcap (herb), Valerian (herb or oil), Rosemary (herb or oil), Chamomile (herb or oil), Peppermint (herb or oil).
  
• Indigestion: Cinnamon (herb or oil), Dandelion (herb), Fennel (herb or oil), Ginger (herb or oil), Peppermint (herb or oil).
  

I order dried herbs from Frontier Co-op or Mountain Rose. They both have a wide variety of organically grown and harvested herbs to choose from, and really great info on each herb as well. I buy my Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils from Young Living.

Choose your favorite herb and grind it to make a fine powder and measure out about 1 cup of this powder as base material. You may need to use up to 1/4 cup of an herbal powder such as Slippery Elm, Arrowroot, or Acacia, that will work as a filler to bind the herbal medicinal powder. You can use a home coffee grinder to powder dried herbs. I use a new one that hasn't been used for coffee. It is my herbal grinder!

*A standard herbal pill usually contains about 125 mg of

herbal medicinal powder and 25 mg of filler powder.*

Measure 1 cup of herbal powder and 1/4 cup of the herbal filler powder. Mix both of these powders by using a hand mixer and add the honey or agave syrup if you are using it. Slowly add warm water to make a thick paste. Add 3-4 drops of each Essential Oil that you have chosen. Beat this paste with a hand blender till you get a very thick consistency. Once you create a thick paste, roll a small amount of the paste in your fingers to make little balls about the size of a small pea.

Now you will want to remove the moisture from the pills. Place them on a cookie sheet, and put them into a warm oven, on the lowest possible setting, for a few minutes. You can also put them out in the sun. Cover them with a light piece of fabric to protect them.

You can consume these pills immediately or store them for later use. I like to put them into a tightly sealed container. You want to make sure they stay dry, or they will not last as long.

I use 1 pill 4 times a day or when needed.

***If your symptoms last longer than a few days, seek medical attention. As with any serious condition, if you are under medical supervision, consult your physician before using herbs. This is not meant to diagnose, treat or cure. It is purely for educational purposes.*** 

Mantra Monday WEEK 2

This is my mantra for the week:

"This moment in time 
shall never return" 

This week I am trying to remember to enjoy each moment as it comes. Life goes by so quickly, I don't want to miss any opportunities to connect with nature, my family, my inner self... 

When I use mantras, I like 

to combine them with an Essential oil blend that corresponds to my purpose. In this instance I am using Young Living's Present Time Blend.

Present Time Blend is an empowering fragrance, which gives a feeling of being "in the moment." One can go forward and progress when focused in the present time.

How to Use:
Rub on sternum, base of the neck, and forehead. Wear on wrists, neck, and behind the ears.

Ingredients:
Neroli (Citrus aurantium), spruce (Picea mariana), and ylang ylang (Cananga odorata) in a base of almond oil.

ALWAYS USE THERAPEUTIC  GRADE ESSENTIAL OILS!

CLICK TO ORDER THERAPEUTIC GRADE ESSENTIAL OILS

Homemade Herbal Cough Drops

Here is another MAKE-IT-YOURSELF recipe using herbs and aromatherapy. I do love to make my own medicine! This is a project that the kids can help with! The advantage of homemade cough drops is that they are free of dyes or unnecessary ingredients or additives. They are all natural, and they work!

Being able to grow the herbs to use to make your own medicine is also rewarding. But, if you need to buy them, that is okay too, just make sure you are using organically grown herbs! Here are a few sources for organic herbs:
Mountain Rose
Frontier
Esutras
Click here to buy Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils

First of all you will want to choose which herbs and Essential Oils to use in your cough drops. There are many to choose from. Here are my favorites:

• Horehound has been used for decades for coughs and bronchial irritations. It is great for breaking up congestion. Use the dried herb.

• Peppermint contains menthol which helps soothe the bronchial tubes, and helps ease sore throats. Use either the dried herb, or Essential oil.

• Spearmint is similar to Peppermint, use either the dried herb, or Essential Oil.

• Ginger is soothing for upset tummies, warming and great tasting, use either the dried herb, or Essential Oil.

• Fennel is soothing to irritated throats and helps relieve coughing fits. Use the dried herb or Essential Oil.

• Mullein will help soothe the bronchial and lungs, and ease coughs. It is extremely gentle. Use the dried herb.

• Thyme has antiseptic and antibacterial properties. It is very useful for treating coughs and colds. Use the dried herb or Essential Oil.

• Marshmallow is very soothing and will help dilate bronchial tubes, making it easier to breathe. Use the dried herb.

• Slippery Elm is very soothing to a raw, scratchy throat, and is used to help relieve inflammation of the bronchials. Use the dried herb.

• Korean Mint is used in the treatment of chest congestion and headaches. The leaves and stems are antibacterial. Use the dried herb.

• Lemon has antiseptic-like properties and contains compounds that have been studied for their effects on immune function. Use the Essential Oil.

You can mix and match the herbs and Essential Oils you might have on hand, or what you are growing in your garden. Or use a little bit of each! There is no exact recipe, so don't be afraid to experiment according to your own preferences and needs.

You will need:

• 4-5 drops of each Essential Oil that you are using
  

• 1 cup dried herbs or 8 herbal tea bags (I love Traditional Medicinals throat coat)
  

• 3 cups boiling water

• 3  1/2 cups granulated sugar or brown sugar

• Candy thermometer

First you will want to steep the dried herbs or tea bags in the water. Let the herbs steep for about 30 minutes. Strain well using a tea press or cheesecloth if using loose herbs. Add Essential oils if you are using them.

Next add sugar/brown sugar over medium heat and bring to a boil slowly, keep stirring constantly. When the mixture reaches 290 to 300 degrees and pulls apart in threads it is done. Remove from heat.

Now you can then proceed to pull the mixture, and make little balls. Use wax paper to store them. Or you can reuse a tin from other cough drops or mints.

Use with HOMEMADE COUGH SYRUP, 
another MAKE-IT-YOURSELF project.

ALWAYS USE THERAPEUTIC GRADE ESSENTIAL OILS

CLICK HERE FOR THERAPEUTIC 

GRADE ESSENTIAL OILS

Free Gift!

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Herbal Advent Wreath

I was online the other day looking for some herbs that are hard to find, and ended up finding Blossom Farms' website. They sell herbs for Advent wreaths! Their list of the symbolism of each herb was so meaningful, I had to share it with you. I love wreaths, and we put one up every holiday season. In a few weeks, I am going to be posting my tutorial for making an advent wreath... So get your supplies soon! ~Can you tell I am getting very excited??!!

There are many legends about herbs and the roles they played in the Christmas story.

The wreath circle stands for eternity, the following is an explanation of herbs often found in an advent  wreath:

• Juniper, cedar and pine protected the Holy Family on their flight from Egypt.

• Ivy denotes the trinity.

• Lavender represents purity and virtue, Lavender is said to have received its lovely scent when it served as the drying rack for the Baby Jesus' swaddling clothes

• Sage stands for immortality.

• Horehound is a wish for good health.

• Rue is a symbol or virtue and banishes evil.

• Thyme another manger herb stands for bravery and strength of Christ.

• Rosemary is for remembrance. The story associated with rosemary is that its flowers changed from white to blue in Mary’s honor.

• Bedstraw, is considered a manager herb.

• Pennyroyal, is supposed to have bloomed at midnight on Christmas Eve in  Christ’s honor.

• Costmary, also known as Bible leaf and used as a bookmark the fragrance chases insects, was used by Mary Magdalene to make an ointment for the baby Jesus.

• Tansy is associated with immortality.

Blossom Farm carries all the above plants, ready to ship to your door.

See more at www.blossomfarm.com
More sources for dried flowers:
Dried Flower Direct
Woodcreek Dried

photo credit: Runder
Click here to view the original image used in this post.

Make Your Own Nail Oil

This time of year my hands are so dry, so I am using lotion after each time I wash my hands. It helps to hydrate and soften my skin, but my nails still get dry, weak, and seem to break so easily. I came up with this nail oil last year after looking everywhere for one to no avail. It is really easy to make yourself, and also makes a nice gift. (HINT HINT... holidays are coming)


I mix the ingredients in a glass jar that has a lid. You can also find little bottles here, and applicators here, if you want to really go all out. Putting it in cute little bottles does make it a nice gift, either for yourself, or someone special.

Nail Strengthening & Moisturizing Blend

1/2 cup Wheat Germ oil
1/4 Vitamin E oil
10 drops Frankincense oil
8 drops Myrrh oil
8 drops Lemon oil
mix together, apply to nails and cuticles 2-3 times daily for at least 30 days.

ALWAYS USE THERAPEUTIC GRADE ESSENTIAL OILS!

ORDER THERAPEUTIC GRADE ESSENTIAL OILS HERE

Sore Throat Spray

OHHH! I have been feeling kinda sick the last couple days. Stuffy nose, headache, sore throat, fatigue... a yucky head cold! I have been drinking mass quantities of Sambucol, Throat coat tea, and taking spoonfuls of honey with a drop of Citrus Fresh Essential Oil Blend every few hours.

So, I decided to make a throat spray with Lemon, Thyme, Clove, and Eucalyptus Essential Oils. I mixed 4 oz filtered water with 2 drops of each oil in a glass bottle that has a spray top. I have been using it every few hours. The Clove helps to numb my sore throat, and the other oils are killin all the germies. It has been helping a lot. Try it for yourself! Just make sure you are using  Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils! 

ORDER THERAPEUTIC GRADE ESSENTIAL OILS

Yogamint!

I found a great new place to hang out online. Yogamint is a fun, informative spot to learn about living a healthy lifestyle! There are great videos, articles on a range of topics; including healthy eating, yoga (of course!), ways to nurture your soul... there is even an astrological outlook for the month! I love the format that the information is presented, in quick little bits called mints! Hence yogaMINT...

I will be joining forces with Yogamint to bring you even more helpful tips on Aromatherapy, Herbs, and Holistic Family Wellness. Stay tuned! Now, head on over there to become a member, subscribe to their Email newsletter, have a few mints while there, and let me know what you think!

The Meaning of Gemstones For Healing

I like to use gemstones that are used for healing in my jewelry. I have received so many questions about what each stone means, that I have decided to list some of these qualities here. Gemstones contain a subtle energy that you can use to help focus your intentions. I like to combine Gemstone Therapy with Creative Visualization, Mantras, and Holistic Aromatherapy. I will also note which Essential oil I like to use in combination with each Gemstone.

Agate is a variety of chalcedony quartz and is often dyed with bright colors. Promotes grounding, protection, security; balances aura, spiritual growth; stimulates precision and perceptiveness, concentration and memory. It symbolizes courage, gives a spiritual love of truth, and banishes fears. Ginger is a nice oil to use with Agate.

Amethyst is a member of quartz family. The gemstone calms the emotions, creates clarity of thought and assist in attaining wisdom. Amethyst helps to draw your attention beyond the mind to the realm of pure spiritual knowledge. Amethyst helps you let go of all that is old and all that holds you back so you may fully embrace your spiritual destiny. It helps by providing protection, gives visions or opens spiritual and psychic centers, reduces mental tension, induces pleasant healing dreams, prevents over indulgence and encourages transformation and breaking of bad habits. Lavender is a good match with Amethyst.

Coral is an organic gemstone made by living sea coral. Coral aids in soothing, intuition, imagination and energizing the emotions. It is good for keeping thoughts in control for visualization and while meditating, also helps with the inflammation associated with arthritis. Wintergreen pairs well with Coral.

Fluorite gemstones are important balancers and healers. Fluorite opens the heart and the mind, which assist in producing clarity. Using Cedarwood enhances Fluorite's healing.

Garnet aids in remembering dreams, attracts profound love, gives persistence, can relieve depression, and works on the liver to relieve toxins in the body. It is also the symbol of emotional commitment. Try using Frankincense with Garnet.

Jade is the common name for two minerals, Jadeite and Nephrite, with both minerals having the same appearance. Jade is considered to be a gemstone of good fortune. The gemstone increases relaxation and reduces tension. Jade can also be used to relieve grief and improve sleep, promote peace, tranquility; soothes the eyes and emotions. I like to pair Clary Sage with Jade.

Lapis Lazuli is a rock, not a mineral. The lapis lazuli gem assists in harmonizing your heart and your mind, and strengthens the bonds between them. When the heart and the mind are working in harmony, mastering any area of your life is more attainable. Lapis Lazuli helps you to live your dreams and increases your adventurous spirit. The stone of friendship, it helps one to be more kind and helpful, it is also the stone of fidelity. Ancient cultures' medicine men and Shamans used Lapis in jewelry and headpieces to help them connect with their spiritual selves. Use Bergamot in combination with Lapis.

Onyx is part of the chalcedony family. Onyx can be used to stabilize and heal your root chakra, to increase grounding and productiveness. Onyx offers energetic support to help your chakras become more adaptable, this in turn enables you to be more productive. Helichrysum enhances the effects of Onyx.

Quartz is a crystalline rock or mineral composed of silicon dioxide. Quartz attracts life force from your being and brings it into the physical world. This life force then flows through your body and helps to nourish your mental, emotional and physical body. It raises one's vibration, bridges the material world with other realms. Quartz has the ability to store and transmit energy, and is excellent for healing on all levels and for meditation. Try using Sandalwood with Quartz.

Rhodonite gemstones are used to stabilize the emotions. The gemstone sorts out any feelings that are scattered, imbalanced, or ungrounded, and allows you to broaden your perspective and helps you become more balanced and mature. Peppermint is a good way to enhance Rhodonite's healing properties.

Rose Quartz brings more love into the life, skin rejuvenation, kidneys. Your marriage can have more sparkle and fire when you keep a rose quartz under your pillow. You will look younger too. Rose quartz is known as the love stone. When worn in jewelry the wearer feels a sense of self-worth. Rose or Jasmine work well with Rose Quartz.

Tiger Eye is a form of chalcedony quartz Cat's Eye. Tiger Eye gems are generally cut as cabochon, but also often into round pieces for necklaces and pendants. Tiger Eye gemstones help to convert anxiety, fear and obsessiveness into practicality and logic. The gemstone increases confidence and clear thinking. Try using Cypress with Tiger Eye.

Turquoise is porous, so contact with liquids, oils or even perspiration should be avoided. Turquoise is considered a good general healer for all illnesses and excellent conductor. It induces wisdom and understanding, enhances trust and kindness. It brings the qualities of mental and spiritual clarity. Turquoise reminds us of our spiritual nature, gives protection, and it is the stone of friendship. Rosewood enhances the healing properties of Turquoise.

THE COLOR OF GEMSTONES
ALSO PROMOTE HEALING

White - Purifies physical, emotional, mental or etheric bodies.

Pink - Love, self-respect and self-worth.

Red - Energy, sexual awareness, courage.

Orange - Cheerfulness, frees one from too many responsibilities.

Yellow - Mental awareness, nerves.

Green - Healing, abundance, balance self-control.

Turquoise - Flashes of intuition, encounters from the past.

Sky Blue - Increases spiritual awareness.

Dark Blue, Indigo - Protection, strength, occult work, calms

Violet, Purple - Transformation, elevates the soul.

Gold - Wisdom, self-confidence, strengthens the heart.

Brown - Practicality, stabilizes.

Black - Abstract thought, protective, material world.

~While there is no scientific proof that gemstones assist in healing, they do contain life force energy that has been measured in many experiments. There have been numerous studies performed using Gemstones and their healing energy. 

ALWAYS USE THERAPEUTIC GRADE ESSENTIAL OILS 

CLICK HERE TO ORDER OILS

Just Around the Corner...

The holidays are coming up so quickly this year! Like usual, I will be giving handmade gifts to my friends and family. I usually make up a few batches of quick bread, some cookies, a few herbal salves and tinctures, and some aromatherapy kits to give as gifts- recipes to come in following weeks, stay tuned! This year I extend my welcome to you to shop Handmade also. If you aren't the do-it-yourself kinda person, my Artfire store will be stocked with many handmade gifts for you to share with your loved ones. I hope you have a Happy Autumn, and that you enjoy the following weeks leading up to Thanksgiving, and then Christmas & Hannukah.

LotusFlowerHerbals





Holiday Gifts

Essential Oil of the Month- October: Clove oil

Clove (Syzygium aromaticum) has a sweet, spicy fragrance that is stimulating and revitalizing. An important ingredient in Young Living's Thieves blend, due to its wonderful immune-enhancing properties. 

Clove oil's principal constituent is eugenol, which is used in the dental industry to numb the gums. It is also the main ingredient in my Children's Teething Oil Blend, which can also be used for toothaches. Always dilute for topical use. 

Clove is the highest-scoring single ingredient ever tested for its antioxidant capacity on the ORAC scale. Clove may also be used to enhance the flavor of foods. It is one of the ingredients in my Applesauce Cake recipe!

ALWAYS USE THERAPEUTIC GRADE ESSENTIAL OILS!

CLICK HERE TO ORDER CLOVE OIL

Mantra Monday WEEK 1

My mantra for this week is, "This, too, shall pass". Every time something starts to annoy, irritate, worry, or stress me out, I repeat this mantra until I remember that nothing EVER stays the same for long! I will not ALWAYS feel annoyed/irritated/worried/stressed out. Just like times in the past that I have felt this way:

THIS, TOO, SHALL PASS!

When I use mantras, I like 

to combine them with an Essential oil blend that corresponds to 
my purpose. In this instance I 
am using my Relax blend.
 

RELAX blend contains: Orange, Tangerine, Ylang Ylang, Patchouli, Tansy and Clary Sage Therapeutic Essential Oils, in a base of Almond oil and Vitamin E. I apply it to my temples, forehead, wrists and lower back. As I apply it, I repeat my mantra in my mind, letting go of everything else that is on my mind. I breathe in: inhaling peace, calm, and healing energy. Then I breathe out SLOWLY. While exhaling, I try to visualize all of the stress going out of my fingertips and leaving my body. I do this exercise when I first wake up, and a few times during the day if I am feeling especially stressed or worried. It really helps me to stay focused and positive, which results in more energy. When I feel energetic, everything seems easier, and life is definitely more enjoyable. Try it out, and see what you think!

ALWAYS USE THERAPEUTIC GRADE ESSENTIAL OILS!

CLICK HERE TO ORDER RELAX BLEND

Essential Oil Recipe of the Week 2: Applesauce Cake

I found a recipe for Applesauce Cake. I modified it slightly to include the use of Essential oils. I made it, and it turned out DELICIOUSLY! It is a healthy alternative to other desserts. It is a moist, spiced cake that is easy to make, and vegan too! ENJOY!!

Ingredients:

1/4 cup oil

1/2 cup Blue Agave nectar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup unsweetened applesauce

3/4 cup chopped dried apples

3/4 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

2 cups whole wheat or whole wheat pastry flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

1 drop Cinnamon oil

1 drop Nutmeg oil

1 drop Clove oil

1 drop Ginger oil

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350ºF. Oil a 10-inch round cake pan or 8- or 9-inch square baking pan. Beat oil, Blue Agave nectar, and vanilla together until smooth. Add Essential oils. Stir in applesauce, chopped dried apples, and walnuts if you are using them. In separate bowl, sift remaining ingredients together. Dough will be stiff. Spread into prepared pan. Bake 30 minutes, or until cake pulls away from edges of pan and knife inserted in center comes out dry. Cool on rack. Serve cake plain or with whipped tofu topping. It’s also delicious frosted, or topped with fresh fruit.
Makes 12 servings.

Always Use Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils!
TO ORDER, CLICK HERE 
*PHOTO BY CATHE OLSEN* 

Kid's Aromatherapy Kit

TAAAA-DAAAA!

Kits are finished, listed, and ready for purchase.

This Aromatherapy kit is designed to be safe to use with children, although it can be used for any age. It contains four 5 ML amber glass dropper bottles. One bottle each of THERAPEUTIC GRADE: Lavender, Peppermint, Relax Blend, and Clean Blend come diluted for safety with Almond oil and Vitamin E, and are ready for use. The oils come with a booklet, outlining someways to use them, and a handmade paper case for keeping the oils organized.

These oils are safe to use for children of any age, and have been carefully selected for common childhood issues, such as irritability, skin rashes and irritations, bug bites, headaches, teething...

Clean Blend is safe to use for cleaning baby toys and furniture, just add a few drops to a cup of warm water, put in a spray bottle, and use. It is antiseptic and antibacterial. It is also a very soothing oil, and an be used in a bath for a cranky child, or added to unscented lotion or oil for massage.

Lavender is amazing for skin

irritations, burns, bug bites, and

diaper rash. It also is helpful for

insomnia, anxiety and it improves

concentration. Especially helpful

when added to a warm bath.

Relax Blend helps to soothe the nervous system. I like to put a few drops on a piece of cotton and put in my baby's pajama drawer. It makes them smell so sweet, and helps to relax her at bedtime. I also put a few drops on tissues and put in a pillowcase a few hours before bed, it encourages restful sleep. It is also nice in a bath, or used for a relaxing massage.

Peppermint oil is purifying and stimulating to the 

conscious mind. It can be helpful for headaches, 

itchy dry skin conditions, irritations, 

fungal infections, nausea, and can speed the 

healing of cold sores.

ALWAYS USE THERAPEUTIC GRADE ESSENTIAL OILS!

Lesser oils contain hazardous chemicals that

are toxic when applied to the body or inhaled.

Keep Essential oils out of reach for children and pets. 

Always stay present with children when using aromatherapy. 

*NEVER give a bottle of essential oil to a child or use without supervision.*

Inspiration / Story behind this Product:

I am a Holistic Health Practitioner, and Holistic Aromatherapist. I am a mother to 4 children aged 6 months to 13 yrs old. I have used Aromatherapy on them since they were babies. I used Aromatherapy during my births with them as well.

I have gotten such great results, and found Aromatherapy so successful and helpful, that I turn to my oils for help before any other remedy. I especially love using them on my children, boosting their immune systems, instead of overloading their tiny bodies with chemicals and drugs.

I have had so many requests from friends and family for my return to making these kits, so here they are!! Enjoy, and I wish you every blessing for you and your family's wellness!

CLICK HERE TO ORDER THIS KIT AND MORE 

Sale On Lady Sclareol Essential Oil Blend

Get 10% off Lady Sclareol essential oil blend 
from October 1 to 31, 2009.
Lady Sclareol™ was designed as an exquisite fragrance. A seductive blend of nature's most aromatic and skin-pampering essential oils, Lady Sclareol creates a beguiling and alluring perfume. It contains the essential oils of Rosewood (Aniba rosaeodora), Vetiver (Vetiveria zizanioides), Geranium (Pelargonium graveolens), Orange (Citrus sinensis), Clary Sage (Salvia sclarea), Ylang Ylang (Cananga odorata), Sandalwood (Santalum album), Sage Lavender (salvia lavandulifolia), Jasmine (Jasminium officinale), and Idaho Tansy (Tanacetum vulgare).

To take advantage of this great offer, become a member HERE. It is free to join as a retail customer. For a one time fee of $40, you can save up to an additional 25% off of retail prices by becoming a distributor. In addition to these savings, you receive two oils, Lavender and Peppermint, 3 Ning Xia Red packets, a coupon for 50% off a diffuser, and tons of information. No need to sell to others, yet you receive a great discount, and the opportunity to earn free merchandise, just by ordering your own oils! Autoship also saves you money on shipping, by offering a flat rate on your automatic monthly order. If you DO decide you want to share your experience, and take advantage of a great business opportunity by sharing Young Living with your family and friends, there is a great wealth of information HERE to educate yourself. For more details, or for any questions that you might need answered, feel free to email me directly at lotusflowerherbals.com@gmail.com

HERBAL HARVEST

I harvested some herbs out of the garden this week. I also collected some seeds for next spring's planting. Jaden even helped out, weeding and harvesting some Peppermint. We had our first frost last night, so we brought all of our plants in, and now our house is back to full jungle capacity. I love filling our sunroom with our plants every winter! It makes it so much nicer to have greenery to enjoy during the cold, barren days of our LONG Mid-western winter.

Here are a few pics from the harvest. To see 

the full album, visit my Facebook page. 

Become a fan on Facebook so you 

can be entered in my give away contest!

ROSEMARY

NASTURTIUM

KOREAN MINT FLOWERS

QUEEN OF THE MINTS

LAVENDER

PEPPERMINT

GARDEN GNOME

SOME OF MY BEAUTIFUL HARVEST

Essential Oils for Babies and Toddlers

Essential oils are so amazing! Uses range from cleaning your house, helping to clear up skin conditions, relaxing your nervous system or soothing a cranky child.
Here are a few of my favorite recipes and tips for using essential oils for babies and toddlers.

*ALWAYS BE SURE TO USE
THERAPEUTIC GRADE ESSENTIAL OILS!*

*ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS! DILUTE OILS WITH HIGH QUALITY VEGETABLE OILS WHEN USING THEM ON BABIES OR SMALL CHILDREN.*

TEETHING RECIPES

TENDER GUMS OIL

1 tablespoon vegetable oil or glycerin (sweeter flavor)

1 drop Clove Essential Oil

SOOTHING CLOTH

Use 1 drop Roman Chamomile oil on a clean, damp washcloth, put in the freezer for 10 minutes. Let baby chew on it. Refreeze as often as needed. You can also tie a piece of organic cotton in a tight knot and use it the same way. The knots are the perfect hardness to rub on gums for the counterpressure of the teeth pushing through.

NON TOXIC TOY CLEANER 
Mix together 2 cups of water and 5 drops of Lemon oil, or my CLEAN blend, in a spray bottle. It is safe to use on toys, to clean, disinfect, and kill germs. You can also add Lemon oil, or CLEAN, to handsoap. Or, use it in a spray for disinfecting the air. It has high antibacterial properties. It's antiseptic properties can last for up to 20 days. I also use this spray on baby's highchair and exersaucer.



CALMING A FUSSY CHILD

RELAXING BATH OIL

Mix together 2 drops each of Orange, Mandarin, and Tangerine oils, or use 6-7 drops of my RELAX blend, with 1 cup of almond or olive oil. Add a few drops to your child's nighttime bath. You can also add to any unscented baby lotion. I use California Baby unscented baby lotion for sensitive skin. I give my baby a nice, relaxing massage after her bath each time. She now expects it as part of her bedtime routine. It always calms her down, and it relaxes me as well. 

Sometimes when babies get fussy, it raises our level of irritation, and they are so in tune with our emotions, that they can feed off of it, getting even more antsy. I have found that taking a few moments to calm MYSELF, in turn calms my baby down. In my opinion, the best thing ever is cuddling a sweet smelling child! 

*NOTE* Tangerine oil has a scent similar to Mandarin oil, but contains NO anthranilic acid ester and therefore has no sedative effects. Anthranilic acid esters are highly sedative. Mandarin is wonderful to use with children suffering from anxiety, nervousness or stress. Works wonders on anyone who has a high stress level.

 
CALMING PAJAMA DRAWER SACHET

Take a few cotton balls or even a folded up paper towel or small piece of cotton fabric, add a drop or two of Lavender oil, Geranium oil, Clary Sage. Or, add 2 drops of my RELAX blend. These oils are very calming, soothing and promote restful sleep. Place the item with the oil on it in the drawer with nighttime clothing. You can also place a tissue with a few drops of the oils on it in the baby's bed a few hours before bedtime, removing when you put baby into bed. Then slip in into your bed, or into your pillowcase, for you can also benefit for this treatment as well.

BEDTIME TIPS 

I highly recommend creating a nighttime routine as early in life as possible that gets baby relaxed. Start about an hour before bedtime. Begin with a bath using the relaxing oils and follow with a light massage. It can be a quick application of the lotion or oil, or it can be more extensive. I try to follow my baby's cues as to what she is in the mood for. Some nights she barely wants any massage, other nights she has more patience to lay still. Even if you choose not to have bathtime, you can do a gentle massage of the legs and feet with the calming oils/lotion while you get baby into their pajamas.

Turn down the lights, play gentle music, have a few minutes of quiet time. Soon your child will anticipate bedtime! When they know what is coming, they are more apt to enjoy the process. Make it an enjoyable experience, don't try to rush it. Try to schedule the time out for yourself so you look forward to this time also. When bedtime becomes a fight, nobody enjoys it, nor looks forward to it.

The older that children get, the more they crave routine. As your child gets teeth, be sure to start brushing them before bed. I try to get this out of the way first, as it is usually not the most fun. Then move on to the more relaxing aspects! Including a story at any age is a nice way to wind down.

I have found with each of my four children that when I make myself as relaxed as possible at bedtime, it all goes so much easier for everyone invloved. Knowing that I have this special time with my children keeps me focused on what is important. Any TV shows I want to watch can be recorded and viewed after they fall asleep. Giving them a half hour of my night is a pleasure. But I have definintely had to change my way of looking at bedtime to make it work well for us. You will find your own groove as you go along, and what works for some children, might not work for others. You know your child best, so decide what works for you, and most important, stay as consistant as possible. Routine makes children feel safe. We all feel more comfortable when we know what is coming, and the same goes for our children.

So listen to your heart, and most of all enjoy this special time with your children. Soon enough they will be teenagers who would rather listen to their ipod as they fall asleep rather that read a book with you!  Blessings! Sweet Dreams!

*ALWAYS USE THERAPEUTIC GRADE ESSENTIAL OILS*
TO ORDER, CLICK HERE.