Ear Infection gone!

Ok, so a little update from my last post!  Good news, the oregano and thieves treatment for my friend's ear infection worked.  She went to the doctor today and was told she did NOT have an ear infection.  I am so glad that she is feeling better.  She said the first time she applied the essential oil it was extra warm on and in her ear.  She could even hear it making noise in her ear!!!  Please note, she didn't put it inside her ear just on the outside with a carrier oil as well.

On another outstanding essential oil success, my husband's hand was healed.  He had a really dry cracked section on his hand from dry weather.  It wouldn't go away with lotion so I reminded him to use lavender oil and guess what, today he told me it was a success!  I love to see the oils in action!

Ear Infections

One of my friends just called because she is plagued with ear infections.  She has scar tissue in her ear which now cause her to have chronic ear infections.  After eight rounds of antibiotics in a year she is going to try out some essential oils.  I am really anticipating a great outcome!

I ran to my Essential Oil Desk Reference which and looked in the Personal Usage References to find how to treat an ear infection.  Thieves was my answer.  I will never be without Thieves in my home because I use it almost daily.  

Thieves® Oil Blend is formulated with highly antiviral, antiseptic, antibacterial and anti-infectious essential oils. Thieves® Oil Blend was created based on research of a group of 15th century thieves in France who protected themselves by rubbing themselves with cloves, rosemary, and other aromatics while robbing plague victims. This Young Living proprietary blend was university tested and found to be highly effective in supporting the immune system and good health. This proprietary blend has also been documented to kill over 99.96% of bacteria it comes into contact with.

I also searched a bit on my own on the internet and found that Oregano is very effective as well.  Here's what I found: Can also use Oregano oil to fight infection and for pain. Mix 1 drop Oregano to 2 tablespoons Carrier oil. Apply a drop of the mixture onto a cotton ball, then place the cotton ball at the entrance of the ear canal. Keep it there, as long as possible.  For acute situations, adults take 2 drops Oregano in a capsule, filled with carrier oil, internally twice a day, while treating the ear externally. 

So, I happen to have a new Oregano and my Thieves that she could borrow till I could order some more for her.  So tomorrow starts the end of these horrendous chronic ear infections!  I am so thankful for natural remedies!

*IMPORTANT NOTE!  When

 you use Essential Oils internally you MUST use an Essential Oil that is Therapeutic Grade and says that you can use it internally.  You do not want to use Essential Oils that have other oils and synthetics or chemicals mixed in with it.

Ran across some helpful Essential Oil uses for babies and children for all you natural living mommas:

Colic: Bergamot, ginger, mandarin, marjoram, Roman chamomile, rosemary, or ylang ylang. Blend: Combine 2 Tbsp. Almond oil with 1 drop Roman chamomile, 1 drop lavender, and 1 drop geranium. Mix and apply to stomach and back. Note: Burping the baby, and keeping the abdomen warm with a warm (not hot) water bottle will often bring relief.Common Cold: Cedarwood, lemon, Melaleuca ericifolia, rosemary, rose, sandalwood, or thyme. Blend: Combine 2 Tbsp. vegetable oil with 2 drops melaleuca (Tea Tree), 1 drop lemon, and 1 drop rose otto. Massage a little of the blend on neck and chest.
Constipation: Ginger, mandarin, orange, or rosemary. Dilute one of the oils and massage on stomach and feet.
Cradle Cap: Blend: Combine 2 Tbsp. almond oil with 1 drop lemon and 1 drop geranium or with 1 drop cedarwood and 1 sandalwood. Mix and apply a small amount on head.
Croup: Marjoram, ravensara, rosewood, sandalwood, or thyme. Dilute for massage or diffuse. Bundle baby or child up and take outside to breathe cold air.
Crying: Cypress, frankincense, geranium, lavender, Roman chamomile,
rose otto, or ylang ylang. Dilute for massage or diffuse.
Diaper Rash: Lavender (dilute and apply). Blend: Combine 1 drop Roman chamomile and 1 drop lavender with vegetable oil and apply.
Digestion (sluggish): Lemon or orange. Dilute and massage feet and stomach.
Dry Skin: Rosewood or sandalwood. Dilute and apply.
Earache: Lavender, melaleuca (Tea Tree), Melaleuca ericifolia, Roman chamomile, or thyme (sweet). Put a diluted drop of oil on a cotton ball and place on the surface of the ear; rub a little bit of diluted oil behind the ear. Blend: Combine 2 Tbsp. vegetable oil with 2 drops lavender, 1 drop Roman chamomile, and 1 drop melaleuca (Tea Tree). Put a drop on a cotton ball and put on surface of the ear, rub behind the ear and on the ear Vita Flex feet points.
Fever: Lavender. Dilute in vegetable oil and massage baby or child (back of neck, feet, behind ear, etc.). Peppermint (diffuse only).
Flu: Cypress, lemon, Melaleuca ericifolia. Dilute 1 drop of each in 1 Tbsp. bath gel base for a bath or diffuse.
Hiccoughs: Mandarin. Diffuse
Jaundice: Geranium, lemon, lime, mandarin, or rosemary. Dilute and apply on the liver area and on the liver Vita Flex feet points.
Premature: Since premature babies have very thin and sensitive skin, it is best to avoid the use of essential oils.
Rashes: Lavender, Roman chamomile, rose otto, or sandalwood. Dilute and apply.
Teeth Grinding: Lavender (rub on feet).
Tonsillitis: Ginger, lavender, lemon, or melaleuca (Tea Tree), Roman chamomile. Dilute and apply.
Thrush: Geranium, lavender, lemon, melaleuca (Tea Tree), Melaleuca ericifolia, rosewood, or thyme. Dilute and apply.Blend: 2 Tbsp. garlic oil, 8 drops lavender, 8 drops Melaleuca ericifolia, 1 ml. Vitamin E oil. Apply to nipples just before nursing, or with a clean finger into baby's mouth.

An Essential Oil That You Can Always Find in My Purse

There are many Essential OIls that I use daily, and a few that I always carry in my purse.  One of these is Peppermint.  It's perky, fresh and bright!  I can often run into a half dozen reasons to use it throughout the day or offer for someone else's use.  Here are a few highlighted uses.

1.  Bad Breath.   This is my most common use of Peppermint.  It beats spending money on gum or mints that have sugar or artificial sweeteners.  

It wakes me up and freshens breath so I don't have to worry if I am possibly offending a friend or co-worker from a garlicy italian lunch.

• Place a drop of Peppermint oil on the tongue to stop bad breath. 

2.  Paint Fumes.  I have never done this but I totally want to the next time I paint.  It reminds me of Willy Wonka and his magic wallpaper that was tastable, remember the fruit on the wall?  I want a wall whose smell's make me feel as if I am laying in a garden or sipping tea.  I'm sure the peppermint smell won't last too long but it will definitely dispel those chemical fumes.  (Warning-I am not saying you should lick the walls after applying the oil ;))

•  Mix a 15 ml. bottle of Peppermint oil into a 5 gallon can of paint to dispel the fumes.

3.  Headache.  Circulation caused by the Peppermint can help ease a headache!

• To relieve a headache, rub a drop of Peppermint oil on the temples, forehead, over the sinuses (stay away from the eyes) and on the back of the neck.  A very effective tip is to put a small amount on the thumb, place thumb on the roof of your mouth and suck on your thumb for several minutes.

4  Nausea. Peppermint is calming when our stomach is not.

• Massage several drops of Peppermint oil on the abdomen to relieve nausea.

There are plenty more uses that I will go into in a future post.  Let me know if you find one or have on that you enjoy and use daily.

Healthy Cleaning

Easy HEALTHY cleaning of Household Germs is possible!

It makes me nervous thinking that the chemicals that the stores sell me to clean my counters with are poisonous and hazardous waste.  I recently read a pamphlet from the garbage company in my friend's town.  She posted part of it on Facebook because it scared her that house hold cleaning products are considered hazardous materials (hazmat). I am wondering what we are doing cleaning out homes with them and then putting our food on the counters, letting little fingers and toes touch their surfaces let alone breath them in.  My new motto is "If the Earth can't receive them then neither should we".  So here is a earth conscious and safe alternative using one of my favorite Essential Oils.  Your home will not only be free from germs and bacteria when you are finished, but your home will also be filled with the fragrance of cinnamon and clove.  Mmmmmmm!  

2-6 drops of Thieves oil in a small spray bottle and fill with water. Spray and clean counter tops, bathtubs, toilets, sinks, and door knobs etc.  Also great when someone is sick and you don’t want to spread germs.

Lemon Essential Oil

Lemon Essential Oil is simple and powerful!  Here are a few tips to add into your daily life:

1.  Air Freshener. Put 6 drops of Lemon oil and 6 drops of Purification oil in a squirt bottle mixed with distilled water to use in bathroom as an air freshener.

2. Gum, Oil, Grease Spots and Crayons. Use 1-2 drops of Lemon oil to remove gum, oil, grease spots or crayon.

3. Varicose Veins. Rub several drops of Lemon oil on varicose veins to improve circulation and relieve pressure on the veins.

4. Lemonade. For homemade lemonade, in a blender mix 2 drops of Lemon oil, 2 Tbls. of honey or Agave and 2 cups of pure water. Adjust to suite your own taste.

5. Callouses / Bunions / Warts. Rub a drop of Lemon oil on a corn, callous, bunion or wart mornings and evenings until it disappears.

6. Prolong Life of Fresh Fruit. To clean and increase shelf life of fresh fruit, fill a bowl with cool water and 2-3 drops of Lemon oil. Drop cleaned fruit into the water and stir. Be sure all surfaces of the fruit contact the lemon.

7. Counter Tops. Add 2-3 drops of Lemon oil to water and spray counter to sterilize.

8. Dishcloths. Soak your dishcloth overnight in a bowl of water and a drop of Lemon oil to disinfect and kill germs.

9. Public Bathrooms. Rub a drop of Lemon oil on your hands after using a public bathroom.

Hope you Enjoy!  Please let me know if you find one or more uses that you can't live without.  I love cleaning with lemon, it leaves the room feeling so fresh!