Greenprofs

I have been asked several times about how to incorporate essential oils in daily living. The process is fun and stimulating. It is healthy for the home and for your family too. Below are some great starter ideas.

Number 1:
Minimize or eliminate chemical scents.

INSTEAD…Diffuse orange or rosemary into the air with a nebulizer or home made reed diffuser.
INSTEAD…Put a couple of drops of peppermint, pine, cinnamon, or clove on the cardboard in your toilet paper roll and you will freshen up the bathroom for days.

(That means Yankee Candles, Glade Plug-Ins, Bath and Body Works Christmas potpourri blend, etc. These scents will mask natural aromas and accustom your nose to unnatural fragrances. ANYTHING that has a scent that does not originate from an essential oil is a chemical scent EVEN IF IT SAYS “AROMATHERAPY”…Creme Brulee, Fresh Linen, Winter Wonderland, etc.)

INSTEAD…Add a few drops of clary sage, cedarwood, lavender, or Roman Chamomile an unscented hair product, rosemary, or tea tree to an unscented detergent, lemon to your window cleaner (good ol’ inexpensive vinegar and water), and Thieves to an unscented pump hand soap. Not only will the oils make the products smell wonderful, you will now be benefitting from the aromatherapeutic properties of the oils too.

(I like to use Dr. Bronners Unscented Soap. You can find in in the cosmetics section of the health food store. It works well as a shampoo, body wash, and in my hand soap foamer. I simply divide the soap up for the various uses and then add the relevant essential oils.)

INSTEAD…
Window Cleaner – mix 25% vinegar/75% water in a 16oz spray bottle (you can recycle an empty Windex bottle)and 7 drops each of lemon (or lemongrass), and tea tree.

Disinfecting Spray – mix 25% grain alcohol/75% water in a 16 oz spray bottle (recycle one!) and 15 drops each of tea tree, Thieves, and patchouli (or rosemary). THIS ALSO WORKS AMAZINGLY AS A HAND SANITIZER SPRAY.

Stain Remover - drop rosemary essential oil right on the stain and toss in the wash or drop right on the carpet and scrub with a stiff bristle brush (see before and after pictures of a carpet that we cleaned in this very way on my website)

INSTEAD…
-Dab lavender on cuts, burns, inscet bites, etc.
-Dab tea tree on insect stings and bites.
-Dab Purification on dry, cracked skin, itchy patches, or a persitant rash.
-Mix a few drops of basil in with a few drops of olive oil and rub on your chest when you have congestion in your lungs and a cold that has settled i your throat.
-Try on of the teas below when suffering from the said ailments.
Flu Tea
1 drop Lavender Essential Oil
1 drop Young Living Thieves
1t Raw Honey

Sore Throat Tea
1 drop Lemon Essential Oil
1 drop Roman Chamomile Essential Oil
1t Raw Honey

Stomach Tea
1 drop Peppermint Essential Oil
1t Raw Honey

For all: Pour boiling water over honey and oil. Sip.

-Try making the Beeswax Cream recipe below and use as a moisturizer. Add a drop or two of essential oil if you wish.
Beeswax and Oil Cream
Melt in a bain-marie:
15 g of pure beeswax
130 ml sweet almond oil

While the beeswax is melting, gently warm using the same method as above:
50 ml rosewater (or another floral water).

Slowly mix the floral water into the immersed beeswax and oil mixture with a whisk or electric mixer. Once 25% of water has been added, remove from immersion and finish adding water.

When all water has been added and before it starts to set add:
8 drops of an essential oil

-Place one drop of eucalypus globulus or radiata on your palms, friction together, and take 5-6 belly breathes when suffering with sinus congestion and stuff nose.

At your fingertips is a wealth of online resources to help you become an informed consumer. Downoad a list of hazardous ingredients at www.preventcancer.com. Discover which brand name household products have toxic ingredients at www.cosmeticdatabase.com.