Essential Oils Remedy: December 2011

Friday, 30 December 2011

Jo's Health Corner Top 10 Posts of 2011

Wow, I can't believe it is the end of the year again! Time flies when you are having a lot of fun and I have a lot of fun blogging. I teamed up with some great ladies and I co-host a Living Well Blog Hop every weekend. Don't forget to link up your Living Well posts.

Unfortunately I have not had time to write as many posts as I'd like to, but I plan to change that in 2012. I have some great posts coming very shortly. Some new things happened this year, we moved from Texas to California, and my husband and I have been working full time with our company Naturally Sports & Wellness. It has been a lot of hard work setting up our business but it is so rewarding to help people feel better. My husband is a traditional Naturopath and Master Herbalist and we work together as a team. We now offer consultations online.

I always enjoy looking at the most viewed posts at the end of the year and I'm always surprised when I see which posts are the most popular. Some of the posts on the most viewed list are not the ones I expect, some of them seem to get a lot of attention without any promotion. Four of the top 10 posts are about Paleo and a Grain Free diet. I highly recommend that you read them, many people have improved their health when they excluded things such as grains/gluten and dairy.

photo credit

Jo's Health Corner's top posts of 2011 according to my stats are:

Children on a Grain & Dairy Free Diet
Is The Paleo Diet Beneficial For Autoimmune Diseases?
Natural Homemade Gift Ideas
Sore Throat Spray and Gargle
Getting Started On The Paleo Diet
Just Some Quick and Easy Soap I Made In Less Than 30 Minutes
Things that Mess With The Hormones and What To Do About It. Part 1.
Do We Really Need Grains?
Tips - How I Replaced Refined Sugar In Our House
Thyroid Health and Essential Oils

Happy New Year!
Thanks for being part of my blogging community! I appreciate your support.

Check out the Top 10 Posts of 2010
.

Photo Credit

This post is linked to:
Living Well Blog Hop

Living Well Blog Hop # 22

Welcome to the Living Well blog hop! We’d like to invite you to share a blog post about what you do to Live Well. It could be a healthy recipe, exercise tips, ideas for relaxing, getting organized, lifestyle improvements – anything that you feel makes your life better.

Your Living Well hosts for the week are:

Laurie @ Common Sense Homesteading

Jo @ Jo’s Health Corner

Tina @ Being Made New

Lea @ Nourishing Treasures

Living Well Blog Hop guidelines:

1. Please provide a link back to one of the Living Well host blogs in your post. Grab one of the buttons below if you like.

2. Please link to a specific post in your blog, not your blog’s home page.

3. If you link a recipe, please use real foods and avoid highly processed ingredients. Recipes low in refined sugar/refined carbohydrates are preferred.

4. The hosts of the blog hop reserve the right to remove any posts that we deem inappropriate.

5. Please leave a comment below to tell us a little more about your link or share your tips if you don't have a blog. (Linked posts do not need to be from this week.)

Thanks for joining us in Living Well.

Thursday, 22 December 2011

Living Well Blog Hop #21

Your Living Well hosts for the week are:

Laurie @ Common Sense Homesteading

Jo @ Jo’s Health Corner

Tina @ Being Made New

Lea @ Nourishing Treasures

Living Well Blog Hop guidelines:

1. Please provide a link back to one of the Living Well host blogs in your post. Grab one of the buttons below if you like.

2. Please link to a specific post in your blog, not your blog’s home page.

3. If you link a recipe, please use real foods and avoid highly processed ingredients. Recipes low in refined sugar/refined carbohydrates are preferred.

4. The hosts of the blog hop reserve the right to remove any posts that we deem inappropriate.

5. Please leave a comment below to tell us a little more about your link or share your tips if you don't have a blog. (Linked posts do not need to be from this week.)

Thanks for joining us in Living Well.

Thursday, 15 December 2011

Living Well Blog # 20

Your Living Well hosts for the week are:

Laurie @ Common Sense Homesteading

Jo @ Jo’s Health Corner

Tina @ Being Made New

Lea @ Nourishing Treasures

Living Well Blog Hop guidelines:

1. Please provide a link back to one of the Living Well host blogs in your post. Grab one of the buttons below if you like.

2. Please link to a specific post in your blog, not your blog’s home page.

3. If you link a recipe, please use real foods and avoid highly processed ingredients. Recipes low in refined sugar/refined carbohydrates are preferred.

4. The hosts of the blog hop reserve the right to remove any posts that we deem inappropriate.

5. Please leave a comment below to tell us a little more about your link or share your tips if you don't have a blog. (Linked posts do not need to be from this week.)

Thanks for joining us in Living Well.

Soothing Throat Spray and Gargle

Photo Credit

I woke up with a sore throat the other day. I have dealt with a sore throat in various ways over the years but this time I decided to make a throat spray.

A soothing throat spray is very useful during cold and flu season. It is also applied straight to the area for extra soothing and healing effect. This my favorite throat spray designed by Valeri Cooksley that I modified some.

Throat Spray
1/2 cup of Chamomile herbal tea
1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon raw honey or sage honey - see below for instructions
3 drops of lemon
1 drop frankincense
1 drop of tea tree

Or use your own essential oils combination. Other oils historically used for sore throats according to Valeri Cooksley are:
frankincense, lemon, pine, hyssop, bergamot and lavender.

Make sure that you use high quality essential oils that has been recommended as dietary supplements.

Instructions:
Brew the herbal tea and strain it well. Add the vinegar to the herbal tea, mix the essential oils with the honey and add to the tea mix. Pour it into a glass spray bottle and shake well before each use. One to two spray is enough each time. Use wisely three times a day. Don't eat within 15 minutes after using the spray.

Honey
1 1/2 cups of raw honey
1/4 fresh sage leaves

Heat honey over low heat. Add the sage leaves and heat gently until the sage leaves become dry. Strain with a slotted spoon or sieve. Pour the honey into a clean glass jar. You can add a fresh sage leaf or two to the final honey.

According to Valeri Cooksley, you can also use herbal teas as a base for a gargle when the lymph nodes are swollen:

1 cup thyme or sage herbal tea. Water will work too. You can also combine the thyme and sage.
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon sage honey
1 drop geranium
1 drop pine
1 drop lemon

Brew the herbal tea and strain. Add apple cider vinegar. Mix the essential oils with the honey and then add to the warm herbal tea. Stir well and pour into a dark glass bottle. Shake the bottle before use and gargle three times a day. Don't eat right after you gargle. You can of also gargle with just the herbal tea and honey, and you can also choose your own essential oil combination.

Before you leave:

I recommend that you always perform a skin patch test when you try a new oil.

Check out my safety page to make sure you are aware of any contrindications before you use essential oils. Some oils are not suitable when suffering from certain conditions. Also, Read this Before You Start Using Essential oils. Some oils should not be applied prior to sun exposure so make sure you check this list before spending time in the sun.

Not sure how to apply the oils? Visit these pages to learn how to apply the oils:

Topical Application
Inhaling Essential Oils
Are You Diffusing the Oils Correctly?
How to Dilute Essential Oils
Vita Flex Technique

If you're new to essential oils you might want to check out my Getting Started Guide.

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Johanna is an aromatherapist and she is passionate about educating people about health, essential oils, real food, natural remedies, and nutrition so they make healthier choices in their lives.

Follow Johanna on twitter and facebook for more health tips and information.

References
Aromatherapy Soothing Remedies to Restore, Rejuvenate, and Heal, Valeri Gennari Cooksley, R.N, Prentice Hall Press, 2002.
Essential Oils Intergrative Medical Guide, Gary Young, ND, Essential Science Publishing, 2006
The Complete Guide to Aromatherapy, Salvatore Battaglia, The Perfect Potion Pty Ltd, 1997

This post is linked to:
Mop it Up Monday, The Mommy Club, Domestically Divine, What I learned Wednesday, WFMW, Titus2 Tuesday
Teach Me Tuesday, Thank Your Body Thursday, Party Wave Wednesday, Simple Lives Thursday , Your Green Resource , Wildcrafting Wednesday , Monday Mania , Fat Tuesday , Frugal Days, Sustainable Ways , Make Your Own Monday Link-Up , Seasonal Celebration Sunday, Whole Foods Wednesday

Thursday, 8 December 2011

Living Well Blog Hop #19

Your Living Well hosts for the week are:

Laurie @ Common Sense Homesteading

Jo @ Jo’s Health Corner

Tina @ Being Made New

Lea @ Nourishing Treasures

Living Well Blog Hop guidelines:

1. Please provide a link back to one of the Living Well host blogs in your post. Grab one of the buttons below if you like.

2. Please link to a specific post in your blog, not your blog’s home page.

3. If you link a recipe, please use real foods and avoid highly processed ingredients. Recipes low in refined sugar/refined carbohydrates are preferred.

4. The hosts of the blog hop reserve the right to remove any posts that we deem inappropriate.

5. Please leave a comment below to tell us a little more about your link or share your tips if you don't have a blog. (Linked posts do not need to be from this week.)

Thanks for joining us in Living Well.

Tuesday, 6 December 2011

Body Detox

A Note on Detoxing the body:

The skin is the body’s largest eliminative organ. As diet and supplementation is improved, people who have had tendencies in the past to recurring skin rashes or eruptions will frequently tend to eliminate poisons and harmful drugs through the skin with new rashes or eruptions. If they go to a doctor now who is not familiar with this aspect of nutrition, he will diagnose it as an allergy. They ask, “How come I’m eating better than I ever did before (or taking this great new supplement), and instead of getting better, I’m getting worse?” they don’t understand that the body is “retracing.” The skin is getting more alive and active.

It’s throwing out more poisons more rapidly, they may feel/look worse before they feel/look better!

Headaches may occur at the beginning, fever and/or colds may also appear, the skin may break out, there may be a short interval of bowel sluggishness, diarrhea, feelings of tiredness and weakness, disinclination to exercise, nervousness, irritability, negativity, mental depression, frequent urination, etc. However, the great majority of people find their reactions tolerable and are encouraged to bear with them. With some, colds that haven’t appeared for a long time may occur, or even fevers. THIS IS NATURE’S WAY OF HOUSECLEANING.

Understand that these actions are constructive, even though unpleasant at the moment. DON’T, but DON’T try to stop these symptoms by the use of certain drugs. These symptoms are part of a curing process, so don’t try to cure a cure.

These are NOT deficiency problems or allergic manifestations. The symptoms will vary according to the materials being discarded, the condition of the organs involved in the elimination, and the amount of energy you have available. The more you rest and sleep when the symptoms are present, the milder they are and the more quickly they are terminated. Be happy you are having symptoms. REALIZE DEEPLY that your body is becoming younger and healthier every day, because you are throwing off more and more wastes that would eventually have bought pain, disease, and much suffering. Those who have the worst symptoms or reactions, and follow through to their successful termination, are thus avoiding some of the worst diseases that would eventually have developed had they continued their careless eating habits.

Quoted from: What Symptoms To Expect When You Improve Your Diet by Stanley S. Bass, ND, DC. PHC

Learn more on Body Cleansing here: http://theresanoilforthat.blogspot.com/search/label/Body%20Cleansing

Learn about the healthy Foods to facilitate a detox here: http://theresanoilforthat.blogspot.com/search/label/Healthy%20Diet

Liver Cleanse

*Please contact a Health Care Practitioner, trained in the safety and chemical understanding of essential oils and herbs, including the knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and pharmaceutical drug interactions BEFORE ingesting essential oils.

• Upon rising take: 1 Tbl. lemon juice, 1 drop lemon oil and 1 drop peppermint oil on an empty stomach.*

Learn more about Liver Cleansing here: http://theresanoilforthat.blogspot.com/search/label/Liver%20Cleanse
Do this cleanse for 28 days and then take 7 days off, then start again

• Get your rest between 10:00 pm and 2:00 am. The oils will release the hormones that regenerate themselves.

• Liver Cleanse & HGH (Human Growth Hormone): When we get to the age of 35-40 our bodies slow down producing HGH. Over the years our receptor sites become clogged due to nitrates, sodium laurel sulphate, propylene glycol, food coloring, deodorants, toothpastes etc. and we age more quickly. The liver cleanse keeps the receptor sites clean and therefore our body can produce the HGH easier. With clean receptor sites our bodies will build and repair instead of age. Clean receptor sites are crucial for diabetics - aids with the insulin.

• The liver is the only part of the body with two blood supplies. It regenerates the fastest.

• Pregnancy/Liver Cleanse: caution with Peppermint oil as you can experience premature contractions. Test first.

Healthy Diet

We all know that by eating the right foods and drinking enough water, our body will be strong and healthy. Maintaining a healthy diet provides the necessary nutrients that your body needs to create new cells, clean toxins, and to just function every day. It will also prevent future diseases such as diabetes and cancer, and give you more energy, while helping you be more alert. And if your body is already diseased or sick, making healthy food choices will help your body repair and rebuild itself, by drawing the energy and nutrients of the elements of your healthy diet.

Foods to Include:

Vegetables

All Vegetables*
Fresh and Organic is best.

Fruits

All Fruit *
Preferably Fresh and in Season.
Organic is best.
Dried Fruits should be free of sulfites.

Grains & Flours

Rice- Preferably brown, brown basmati, jasmine, rice pasta, plain rice cakes, rice bread.
Flat breads and Rye crisps.
Millet, Quinoa, Amaranth, Oats, Spelt, Barley, Wheat berries (Red or White), bean and Rye flours.

Animal Products

Meat: All types are acceptable* (organic is best)
Poultry: Preferably free range and free of hormones.
Fish: All Ocean water types. Including Salmon, Sardines, and tuna.

Legumes

All bean/Legumes*
Check labels of canned beans, dips, and soups for sweeteners and additives.
Small amounts (Less than 1 Tbl. Per meal) of fermented soy products are acceptable.

Nuts & Seeds

All nuts are acceptable*
Use Nut butters such as Almond butter or Cashew butter.
Seeds: All are acceptable, especially sunflower seeds, pumpkin, seeds, and tahini.

Dairy

Dairy causes mucous build up. Use sorbets in place of ice cream and Almond or Rice Milk in place of Cows milk.
Ghee (Clarified butter is best) limit real butter.

Fats and Oils

Olive, Sunflower, Safflower, Flax, Grape seed, and Coconut oils (Preferably all cold-pressed and stored in dark bottles.)
Store Flax in a dark glass bottle, in the refrigerator and use this oil as a dressing or in smoothies; Do not heat this oil.
Coconut is the most stable oil for cooking. (light sautés)

Beverages

Purified water- Drink at least half your body weight in ounces, each day. Preferably Structured water or include an herb to help “structure” the molecules of the water, like a Lemon slice or some Peppermint leaf.
Unlimited amounts of Herbal Infusions or Decoctions.*
Use juice sparingly. Dilute with water.
Fresh vegetable juices are great.
Rice or Almond milk.

Sweeteners

In general, Use sparingly.
Acceptable sweeteners include molasses (unsulphered), pure maple syrup, brown rice syrup, honey, stevia (herbal sweetener), Agave nectar, Pure fructose (small quantities)

Yeast

Limit use.
Use Naturally Leavened breads wherever possible.

Condiments & Additives

All natural spices. Freshly ground is always best.
Salt -Sea or Mineral is best.
Pepper, garlic, lemon, parsley, chives, and herbs.
Pure Vanilla, unsweetened carob, baking powder (with no aluminum), and baking soda.
Wheat free soy sauce, Dijon mustard, balsamic, rice or apple cider vinegar. (all in small amounts)

(*except those in Exclusion List)

Foods to Exclude:

Vegetables

Canned or Processed, where possible.
Use dried or frozen first.

Fruits – Commercially Prepared

Fruit Juices, due to high sugar content.

Grains & Flours

Processed, refined cereals with added sugar and additives.
Any processed, bleached “white flour”.

Animal Products

Processed meats, cold cuts, and added “modified corn starch”.
Limit Pork products, such as bacon, ham, sausage, etc.
Limit Eggs (whole, yolks, or whites) or any products with added egg.

Legumes

All non-fermented soy products; soybeans, soymilk, tofu, margarine, and soybean oil.
Products with soy protein isolate, textured vegetable protein (TVP), or any type of soy on the label, including protein powders.
Limit Peanuts, Peanut butter, and peanut oil.

Nuts and Seeds

Limit Peanut butter, peanuts, soy nuts, roasted & salted.

Dairy

Milk and dairy products including cheeses, ice cream, and cream cheese.
Products with casein, lactose, and whey on the label.
Limit butter use.
Goats milk and products made from goats milk.

Fats and Oils

All trans-fatty acids (hydrogenated or partially-hydrogenated oils, vegetable oil shortening, and canola oil.
Check labels of cookies, crackers, cakes, and chips for hydrogenated oils.
Margarine and products containing margarine.
All oil fried or deep fried foods.

Beverages

Tea (any tea made from the plant Camellia Sinensis- Black or green tea)
Coffee, Alcoholic and caffeinated beverages.
No soft drinks, even “sugar free”
Sugary drinks, including juices.

Sweeteners

All refined white sugar
Artificial sweeteners such as aspartame or NutraSweet.
Products with added sugar, glucose, corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup, and sucrose on the label.

Condiments; Additives

Added artificial preservatives, flavorings, and colorings including: Tartrazine (102, dyes (102, 104, 107, 110, 120, 122-4, 127-9, 131-3), sodium benzoate (211), sulfites (221-224), BHA (320), BHT (321), monosodium glutamate (MSG) (621), artificial sweeteners (aspartame, NutraSweet)
Chocolate containing products. Use Carob.
Limit use of ketchup, mayonnaise, dressings, etc.

Body Cleansing: http://theresanoilforthat.blogspot.com/search/label/Body%20Cleansing

Body Detox: http://theresanoilforthat.blogspot.com/2011/12/body-detox.html

Liver Cleansing: http://theresanoilforthat.blogspot.com/search/label/Liver%20Cleanse

Sunday, 4 December 2011

Essential Oils & Infants - Teething

I think we all have had our share of crying babies that were in pain due to teething. Roman and German Chamomile, lavender and yarrow have historically been used as teething oils. Some people use clove essential oil. I like clove essential oil myself, but be aware that it is a strong oil and may cause irritation itself. Therefore, I avoid it in small babies.

Valeri Worwood recommends to add one drop of chamomile to an egg cup full of cold water and stir well. Dip a cotton - wool ball in the mixture. Rub very gently around the baby's gums. Keep the mixture in the fridge. Aloe vera can be used instead of water.

She also suggests 5 drops of lavender can be mixed with one tablespoon of vegetable oil. Mix well and use 2 drops of the mixture and massage around the baby's neck area and exterior jaw.

Remember that this is for educational purposes and it is not meant to diagnose. Seek professional help when needed.

Before you leave:

I recommend that you always perform a skin patch test when you try a new oil.

Not sure how to apply the oils? Visit these pages to learn how to apply the oils:

If you're new to essential oils you might want to check out my Getting Started Guide.

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Johanna is an aromatherapist and she is passionate about educating people about health, essential oils, real food, natural remedies, and nutrition so they make healthier choices in their lives.
Follow Johanna on twitter and facebook for more health tips and information.

Sources:
The Complete Book Of Essential Oils & Aromatherapy, Valerie Ann Worwood, New World Library, 1991

This post is linked to:
Fat Tuesday, Simple Lives Thursday , Your Green Resource, Eco-Kids Tuesday

Friday, 2 December 2011

Living Well Blog Hop # 18

Your Living Well hosts for the week are:

Laurie @ Common Sense Homesteading

Jo @ Jo’s Health Corner

Tina @ Being Made New

Lea @ Nourishing Treasures

Living Well Blog Hop guidelines:

1. Please provide a link back to one of the Living Well host blogs in your post. Grab one of the buttons below if you like.

2. Please link to a specific post in your blog, not your blog’s home page.

3. If you link a recipe, please use real foods and avoid highly processed ingredients. Recipes low in refined sugar/refined carbohydrates are preferred.

4. The hosts of the blog hop reserve the right to remove any posts that we deem inappropriate.

5. Please leave a comment below to tell us a little more about your link or share your tips if you don't have a blog. (Linked posts do not need to be from this week.)

Thanks for joining us in Living Well.

Friday, 30 December 2011

Getting Started On The Paleo Diet

Thursday, 22 December 2011

Thursday, 15 December 2011

Thursday, 8 December 2011

Tuesday, 6 December 2011

Sunday, 4 December 2011

Friday, 2 December 2011