Spring Cleaning Using Essential Oils

Spring Cleaning Using Essential Oils

Lavender is more than just a delightful, floral scent. The essential oil of this fragrant plant has disinfectant properties, and its cleaning powers have long been known. Even before the antimicrobial properties of lavender were discovered, it was used for cleaning purposes. The word lavender itself comes from lavare, meaning “to wash.” Try cleaning with lavender by adding a few drops of essential oil to any cleaning products you already make, such as vinegar diluted in water for cleaning floors.

Lemongrass is a warm citrus essential oil with a charming scent of a pleasant summer’s day. This essential oil is particularly high in anti bacterial, antiseptic, healing and soothing properties. That makes it a great hit for calming massage blends, toiletry products and healing remedies. This essential oil can give you a fresh twist to your blends making it one of our favorites as it has such a wide range use. You will see that Lemongrass essential oil is a great natural cleaner for any household. All you need do is add water and away you go.

Eucalyptus essential oil is a great germ killer, so we like to use it to clean our bathroom. We use it in a spray bottle to clean the sink and around my toilet and use it with baking soda and vinegar to clean the toilet bowl.


The following cleaner uses all-natural ingredients that you may already have in your house. It takes less than 5 minutes to make, and is just as effective as any other cleaner I’ve tried! Don’t be afraid of the vinegar smell–> it will dissipate as it dries! Adding tea tree oil to the mix not only improves the overall scent, but it also helps kill bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Feel free to use it as you would any other multi-surface cleaner!
—
Homemade All-Purpose Cleaner
makes 3 1/2 cups
Ingredients:
1/2 cup white vinegar
3 cups water
1/4 teaspoon tea tree oil (about 10 drops)
Optional: 10 drops any essential oil you like, for scent (Scotch Pine or Tangerine are awesome!)

Lemon is one of our favorite essential oils to use for cleaning. Not only does it have a fresh, clean scent, but it is also antiseptic, antifungal, and antiviral. Lemon is an air disinfectant and is invigorating and energizing (which I can always use more of when I’m cleaning!)
Lemon essential oil is a great one to keep on hand for cleaning not only because it is such an effective cleanser, but also because it is super versatile, and is one of the least expensive essential oils.

Allergy Relief Essential Oil Blend

Allergy Relief Essential Oil Blend

This essential oil blend was formulated for relief of seasonal allergy reactions. It can bring quick relief to people who suffer from allergic reactions to pollen, plants, and seasonal irritants.

At the very first sign of symptoms, drop 2-3 drops into the palm of your hands, rub hands together, and cup them over your nose and mouth and breathe deeply.

Or drop 2-3 drops onto a cotton ball and hold this right under the nose and inhale deeply.

For itchy, red, watery eyes you can take a glass mister bottle with 1/2 oz. water in it and drop 5-10 drops of Allergy Relief into the water. Shake well and mist over face for seasonal allergy relief.

Testimonials for Allergy Relief Essential Oil Blend

"I have suffered many years with Spring Allergies. Each year I think I will not get them because of the efforts I had made to eat healthy. Such were my thoughts again Spring 2014. Much to my dismay, the allergies hit with a vengeance. I was sneezing, eyes watered, runny nose, and I felt miserable. The next evening I attended Holly’s class and asked her what I could do for allergies. That night I put drops of her allergy oil on a cotton ball and breathed in the aroma. The symptoms went away completely. If I happened to sneeze the following days, I would reach for the cotton ball and breathe in deeply. My symptoms never returned. What a wonderful, enjoyable Spring it was!Thanks Holly!

I was even more impressed when the same oils diffused into the air helped my sons’ allergic reactions to animal dander, which he had since he was very young. He and his wife visited her parents’ home where he had never been able to spend much time because of his intense allergic reaction (sneezing, watery eyes, runny nose, and difficulty breathing) to animals. I called him shortly after his visit and asked how his allergies were. He told me, “Mom, I had no reaction!” I didn’t really believe him completely until he stayed for an extended period of time and after asking him how the allergies were he again told me that he had no reaction and that he even “gave the dog a hug.” What a blessing Holly’s oils have been in our lives!" ~Merlene

Depression, Anxiety, Grief, Anger, Rage, & How to Use Essential Oils

Depression, Anxiety, Grief, Anger, Rage, & How to Use Essential Oils

There has been a lot of discussion lately about emotional disorders like depression and anxiety. Talking about this difficult topic is an enormous step forward on the road to supporting those who suffer. One question I am often asked is: Which natural remedies work for depression and anxiety? And this is often followed-up with something like: Can essential oils REALLY help?

With a recent study showing a link between anti-anxiety medications and dementia[1], there is more reason than ever to choose essential oils instead of pharmaceuticals. I know it’s hard to imagine that inhaling a “nice aroma” could alter your body’s chemistry and imbalances that lead to mood disorders, but here are three essential oils that research has shown can help ease depression and anxiety.
One essential oil that stands out for depression is bergamot. Many citruses are acknowledged for their uplifting effects, but bergamot is particularly powerful.


What about anxiety? Another study conducted in Taiwan in 2011 provided clearer and more powerful evidence. The authors selected elementary school teachers, who are known to constantly work under significant stress, and used an inhalation of bergamot essential oil as the method of administration; they focused on the physiological stress signals that are easy to record and straightforward to interpret. They found that even a 10-minute-long weekly inhalation of aromatherapy resulted in a significant reduction of blood pressure and heart rate, and drove autonomic nervous activity toward a balanced state.


Anti-Stress Blend

Lavender: 5 drops
Ylang ylang: 3 drops
Bergamot: 2 drops

Blend the oils and add 3 drops to a full bath or use a foot or hand bath once daily. Adding this formula to liquid soap and using it daily in the shower is an effective alternative, too.

Clary Sage is Your Essential Oil Elevator!

Use Clary Sage every time you are feeling depressed. It is a hormone regulator and it lifts you one level from depression when you inhale it. It can help you feel lighter, less depressed, and less sad. A great anti-depressant! 

While essential oils are wonderful aids for wellness, depression and anxiety are serious mood disorders. You do not have to face this struggle alone.
If you find yourself experiencing symptoms of depression or anxiety, please seek the attention of a trusted physician, naturopath, or mental health provider, who may in fact suggest an aromatherapy regime.

Your Immune & Lymphatic Systems and How Essential Oils Work With Them

Your Immune & Lymphatic Systems and How Essential Oils Work With Them

Learn how your Immune and Lymphatic systems work and which essential oils to use with them to make them work even better. Taught by Certified Medical Aromatherapist, Holly Draper

As most readers probably know, much of the body is made up of water. Part of the water is in the bloodstream, but far more resides in the lymphatic system. Our cells are located in a sea of lymph, a pale fluid. The lymphatic vessels run parallel to the blood veins in the body. The vessels of the lymph system are filled with a fluid called ‘lymph’ that is collected from the space between the cells in the body. The lymph fluids feed the cells of the body by transporting various nutrients such as salts, minerals, and proteins to every cell of the body. Likewise, lymph fluid carries cell wastes and debris that accumulate from normal cell function away from the cells and turns them over to the blood. The blood shuttles the wastes to the kidneys, lungs, colon, and skin for elimination.

Lymphatic System

The lymph system can be thought of as the cellular toxin disposal system.

Lymph flows slowly upward through the body to the top of the chest at a rate approximating 3 quarts per day. Lymph collects, is filtered in, and then passes from nodes within the system. There are over six hundred lymph nodes in our bodies, some nodes are located just above the bend in the elbow. 20 to 30 large nodes are clustered deep within the underarm and upper chest regions. Lymph from the legs and genitals collects in and drains through a large collection of nodes in the groin. Lymph fluid also flows down from the head through the neck. Lymph from the nose, lips, and teeth drain through lymph nodes in the floor of the mouth. Other nodes are found in the tonsils and adenoids. This is a one-directional flow.

They engulf and destroy many foreign and toxic particles. Lymph nodes also contain b lymphocytes that produce antibodies to protect the body from future viruses, bacteria, yeast, and other organisms.
In a healthy state, lymph nodes are about the size of almonds. However, when they are overloaded with excess toxins, they swell and become painful. This occurs when the body experiences colds and infections.

With breast cancer, lymphatic cancer, chronic fatigue and viral attacks on the rise, and some of my best friends as sufferers I have decided to write this blog to help get our life, love and LYMPH flowing again.

The lymph system is vital in helping to fight disease.

Why Detox your lymph system?

The lymph system is often the first line of immunological defence against harmful bacteria, toxin concentrations and oxygen starvation of one’s cells.

When the lymphatic system is flowing freely everything is fine. When it backs up, however, there’s trouble. The consequences can be serious, even life-threatening. Not only are the building, repair and waste disposal systems affected by a disruption, the body’s defences against foreign substances are also impaired. In addition to filtering out toxic materials, the lymph nodes also produce substances which fight off invading viruses and bacteria and destroy abnormal cells that developed within the body, such as cancer cells. As well as being part of the body’s plumbing and repair system, the lymphatics are an essential part of our immune system.

Clearing the lymphatic system can substantially reduce the risk of atherosclerosis, or blockage of the arteries. Cleansing the lymphatic system allows the body to more efficiently clear excess cholesterol out of the arteries. That makes perfect sense, of course. One way to get rid of excess cholesterol is to clean out the disposal pathways. It’s like draining dirty water backed-up in your kitchen sink by unclogging the drain pipe or using a plunger to unstop the toilet.The other way to reduce the cholesterol in the arteries, of course, is to lower the intake of cholesterol-containing and cholesterol-producing foods in the diet.

Lymphatic congestion can also make us more prone to a suppressed immune system  as such prone to many chronic diseases fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, chronic fatigue syndrome, aches and pains, bloating, poor digestion and arthritis.

*Original Source: http://sorayasaraswati.com/detox-your-lymphatic-system/

Essential Oils for Your Immune and Lymphatic System:

Respiratory Blend
Immune Blend
Kids Immune Blend