Tag: peppermint

Christmas Oils and Herbs

December 29, 2019

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Ah! The smells of Christmas! The food, the tree, the candles…and, yes, even some of the decorations. There are just some smells that we can all pretty much agree are… Christmasy!

 

-Nutmeg

At first it may not seem very Christmasy…but just wait:

Nutmeg: You will find some very popular Christmas foods contain this ingredient: Homemade Eggnog, a very popular Christmas drink! Cocoa! Hot Apple Cider! All of these delicious holiday drinks are great with a little sprinkle of nutmeg. Or another one of your favorite holiday desserts.

Nutmeg Essential Oil: Stick a couple drops of Nutmeg with two drops Lemongrass, three drops Cinnamon, and three drops of StressAway to create a Christmas Gingerbread smell around the house.

-Cinnamon

Who doesn’t love the smell of cinnamon during the holidays?!

Cinnamon: Don’t you like the taste of cinnamon in your holiday desserts? You know it is also good for your immune system. And this is the season to keep it going strong! Double check!

Cinnamon Essential Oil: There is a lot of yucky-ness that goes around when family and friends get together for the holidays. Enter Cinnamon! It can help fight those little bugs…and it tastes good, too! You can also pop a few drops into your diffuser to help deodorize your home and fight anything that might still be flying around there.

-Peppermint

VERY much a Christmas smell, I think! A comfort for the stomach or the nose.

Peppermint: Whether you think of the plant or the hard candy…it adds some great flavor to foods or drinks. Put some mint leaves in water or tea to aid in digestion, OR flavor your food and please your taste buds!

Peppermint Essential Oil: A very cooling oil and soothing scent, you can place a few drops in a diffuser or spray bottle to make your house smell like a candy cane, or apply it topically to soothe muscle or a tummy that has had too many sweets this holiday season.

-Myrrh

Best known for its role as one of the gifts given by the Wise Men to Baby Jesus…

Myrrh Essential Oil: This is a good one for winter skin…especially when it gets all dry, cracked and chapped this time of year. It is also known to be helpful for relaxation…’cause we could all use some of that after the excitement of these days.

-Frankincense

A resin also best known for its role as another gift given by the Wise Men to Baby Jesus…

Frankincense Essential Oil: Also a good one for the immune system and healthy skin…both well needed during the winter and holiday months. It is wonderful for the brain and helpful in improving sleep.

 

There are many other wonderful oils and herbs that you can use throughout the winter and holidays, but these are just a few favorites. Perhaps you learned something that you want to add to your stash for next year…or even this year.

5 Great Ideas For Spring Health

April 21, 2019

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Spring Cleaning

Something about spring makes us want to clean and organize our homes. Cleaning out rooms and getting rid of things we don’t need or want any more makes us feel lighter and fresher. A fitting feeling for spring I would say.

However, spring cleaning shouldn’t just be focused on our homes and the “stuff” in it. I think it should also apply to our bodies as well. Cleaning up our diets and getting rid of all the yucky foods that our bodies don’t need is a great way to get that lighter, fresher feeling both inside and out! Plus, you can kill two birds with one stone and give your fridge a good cleaning out at the same time!

Food – What’s in Season?

Asparagus – This super food is chock full of Vitamins K and C! It helps feed the good bacteria in your digestive tract. Comes in handy during the seasons when our immune systems can be compromised. 

Broccoli – The Italians introduced it to us. You can cook it, boil it, steam it or just eat it raw… and get a good dose of Vitamin C, calcium and fiber.

Rhubarb – Yes, we make a famous pie out of a vegetable! In addition to being high in fiber to help with proper digestion, it is a great source of Vitamins K and C and iron.

Mango – A good dose of Vitamins C and A, full of fiber and potassium and can help your digestive system. It’s really a wonderful refreshing spring fruit!

Strawberries – On top of being delicious and very refreshing, they are high in Vitamin C to help build up your immune system during these compromising months. And they are also good for your teeth! 

Weather and Colors

It really is true that colors have an effect upon our moods. Do you like to dress in colors that match the season? Florals or brighter, happier colors than you did in the fall and winter? The changing of the seasons is a good time to brighten up your wardrobe… and even your overall mood!

Good Springtime Oils 

Jasmine – Sweet spring smell in a bottle! It lifts up your spirits and can help ease stress.

Lavender – This one is very well known. It’s sweet and uplifting smell can help to soothe stressful days, support the immune system and brighten your mood and get you eager for spring!

Lemon (other citrus oils) – Very few people can remain gloomy after smelling citrus. Lemon and orange are great for waking up the mind, and for supporting the immune system.

Peppermint – A favorite of many and a smell recognized by all, it brings alertness to your senses, supports your immune system… and makes you and your home smell wonderful!  (Peppermint is wonderful mixed with lemon…for a double whammy!)

 

Favorite Spring Events

The weather is so pretty! Get outside and enjoy it while it lasts! Hot scorching weather is coming… especially for Texas.

Get some exercise. Walk around your neighborhood, go for a hike or a bike ride. Take some deep breaths of fresh spring air… and take your camera with you! You might find some beautiful scenery or blooming flowers to photograph.

6 Great Smelling Oils for the Holidays

December 20, 2018

Bottles Of Essential Oil On A Wooden Christmas Background With M

Diffusing oils can have a dual purpose. Not only does it get your house smelling lovely during the holidays and get you all excited for all the Christmas festivities, but certain oils can also help keep you healthy and improve your mood during all the craziness and running around these days.

So, without further ado, here are some holiday favorites to pop into your diffuser and start smelling! 🙂

1. Cinnamon

Apple pie, pumpkin pie, snickerdoodles, sweet potatoes, etc. Many of our favorite holiday dishes contain cinnamon. It’s one of the top smells that remind us of Christmas and the holidays. It is also a good cleaning agent and can help support the immune system.

Caution: This is a hot oil that can cause skin or nose irritation if inhaled direction from diffuser or bottle. Also, if you want to apply this topically, avoid putting it on your skin without a carrier oil (coconut oil is a favorite carrier).

2. Pine

Smells like a Christmas tree AND can support and help the respiratory system? Great combo! This is also a good one to mix with a few drops of cinnamon or orange.

3. Orange

It may not seem like orange would be a holiday oil, but this not only can help give your immune system some support… it also mixes wonderfully with Cinnamon or Wintergreen oil for a delicious holiday blend. 🙂

4. Peppermint

I think we can all agree that peppermint is a smell that reminds us of Christmas time. This is a favorite to diffuse, not only for its wonderful smell, but also for its immune boosting and mood lifting abilities. It may also help improve respiratory issues.

5. Four Thieves Blend

This one has so many benefits! This already smells like the holidays, plus it has other great benefits… but I think that helping to  support the immune system should be right at the top of your list during Christmas and all of the related events. 🙂

6. Wintergreen

What a perfect name for the wintertime! Mix a few drops with a few drops of Orange oil for a great immune booster and a nice comfortable winter smell. OR… it can stand on its own feet, as well. 😉

 

Happy diffusing and Merry Christmas!!

Welcome Autumn!

October 5, 2018

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The days are getting shorter. The air outside feels lighter and you can almost taste cinnamon and apples on the breeze. You know what that means?…

It’s time for sweaters, boots, soup, pumpkin spice, and orange, red and yellow leaves on the trees.

Though we here in Texas may not experience all this yet (if at all), we can expect to experience many of the changes that fall brings. And we should be prepared, because not all of them are pleasant changes… you know, the ones we wait all year to experience. 😉

Immune System Support: What to Do

  • Eat foods in season – God had this great idea to have different foods grow at different times during the year! Before our modern day food processing system, people had to eat food ONLY when it was growing. So I think we should probably adhere to that practice. Food is medicine and can do wonderful things for our bodies… but only if we use it in the time that it was intended.

 

  • Essential oils – Diffuse them into the air, apply them topically or spray them on your bed or couch. There are several oils that help keep toxins and all the nasty things at bay. Peppermint, Lemon, Rosemary and Lavender are some favorites for supporting the immune system. And Cinnamon and Clove are also great for the fall time! 😉

 

  • Supplements – Vitamin C and Probiotics are pretty popular and well known when it comes to supporting the immune system (and the gut). Now… Elderberry is also a great supporter of the immune system. It helps to protect the cells from damage and activate the immune response. Echinacea (aka the purple cone flower) is another one that may enhance immune system activity in the long run.

 

  • Herbs – Plants are so useful! 😀 Echinacea and Elderberry, Ginger and Garlic... and Calendula are some of the top 10 herbs to help keep up a strong immune system defense.

 

  • Water – Keeping hydrated, yes even when the weather is cooler, is still key to good health. It helps keep your body in good fighting condition… and it helps to flush out  the bad stuff that gets in your body.

 

Immune System Busters: What NOT to Do

 

  • Stress – It’s not fun, and it’s not good for us. Unfortunately, we cannot get rid of every little bit of stress in our lives every day… but we can limit it. Unnecessary stress in a huge enemy of good health. The stress you do have control of… control it.

 

  • Sugar – It’s sweet and we love it… TOO MUCH! We Americans consume so much sugar it breaks down our bodies natural defenses against illness, and most of the sugar we consume nowadays does nothing for us. Try substituting some organic raw honey when you get a bit of a sweet craving.

 

  • Caffeine – A cup on coffee now and then is not a bad thing… and sometimes it can be a good thing. But if that is your biggest liquid intake it can weaken your immune system. Though it is a favorite for keeping one’s eyes open at work or school, it should not be your first line of defense.

 

  • Processed foods – Should be taken out completely. It masquerades as something beneficial and delicious… but all it does is damage.

 

  • Late-nighters or all-nighters – How many of us, when we are suffering from lack of sleep, are at our very best physically, emotionally or mentally? A good night’s sleep is essential for your body to be able to defend itself against everything trying to take it down. We all struggle with this, and I know it’s hard (boy do I know!). But sometimes it is best to put away your work, school or that unfinished project for the night… and go to bed. You will be more productive after a good sleep anyway. 🙂

 

Now I do want to point out one thing: just because you do these things, or not do these things, does not mean that you will never get sick. There is always the chance, while we are here on this earth, that we will catch something nasty. But if you take care of your body and give it the fuel it needs to defend itself… you have a better chance. 🙂

Have a happy fall, everyone! And may it be full of chilly weather, pumpkin spice and LOTS of pretty colors!

5 Essential Oils to Help with Gut Defense

August 10, 2016

 

Bottles Of Essential OilEssential oils are one great way to help support many areas your body. Here are five essential oils that you can use to help cleanse your gut and reduce digestive pain.

Not every oil that works for one person is right for your body. I recommend whole body testing to find what is right for you. Bring me your essential oils for me to muscle test, or I can teach you how to do it yourself.

1. Peppermint – Peppermint is an anti-inflammatory oil that calms and relaxes the muscles. It helps reduce bloating and gas.

2. Spearmint – This is another anti-inflammatory oil. Some people don’t react well to peppermint, since it is a strong oil. This is an alternative that you can try.

3. Fennel – For years, Fennel has been used by the Egyptians and Germans as a digestive aid. It can clear the bowels, relieve constipation and help to get rid of gas and bloating.

4. Grapefruit – Stress can cause pain in your gut. Grapefruit is an uplifting oil that can reduce stress and help to relieve some of that gut pain. It is also high in antioxidants that battle bad inflammation in the digestive system.

5. Ginger – It has been used to help relieve nausea, and it also is high in antioxidants to help reduce inflammation in the gut.

 

These are just a few oils to help in the digestive system. I recommend you talk with your doctor or health care professional before using these, if you are nursing or pregnant.