Natural Body Guru

Many people are interested in using essential oils in their home because they are finding out that essential oils are the powerful medicines nature created to keep us healthy instead of the high priced chemically enhanced products we get from the drug store. If you want to start using natural essential oils in your home medicine cabinet as a natural alternative to chemicals, the ones I suggest for your basic kit are lavender, tea tree, peppermint, chamomile, eucalyptus, geranium, rosemary, thyme, lemon, and clove. These essential oils are chosen for their medical properties first and second for their ability to take care of a broad range of health problems. We will discuss all of these oils eventually but today, let’s look into peppermint essential oil.

Peppermint has been used by many cultures (Egyptians, Chinese, and American Indians) for thousands of years because of its healthful properties. It is a superb digestive, it helps the respiratory system and promotes circulation, it is an anti-inflammatory and it is an antiseptic. These qualities make peppermint oil an excellent choice to use in the treatment of indigestion, flatulence, bad breath, headaches and migraines, skin irritations, toothache, and fatigue. Peppermint oil is very strong so if you’re going to rub it on your skin, always use a carrier oil and do not ingest it. I have put ONE drop of peppermint oil in my green tea when I didn’t have any peppermint tea bags and I liked it just as well as the tea bag but it might be something you have to work up to. I’ve used it many times for upset stomach too but I never take it neat, always mixed in water or tea. Lastly, if you put 5 drops of peppermint oil on a cottonball and put it in strategic places in your home, it can help to keep pests like mice, fleas, and ants away. Talk about a versatile essential oil!

Are you menopausal or post menopausal? Do you have hot flashes? They are truly uncomfortable and a real nuisance. I have them too but I promised myself I would not take the estrogen replacement medicine prescribed by my doctor because I read that they have been linked to other health problems. I decided to use clary sage, a natural alternative for estrogen replacement that I already have in my aromatherapy pharmacy.

Clary sage essential oil is mostly known for its use in fragrances and as a muscatel flavoring in liquers and other alcoholic beverages. However, it has been used medicinally for centuries and it is well known in aromatherapy circles for relieving depression, anxiety and fear and in the treatment of insomnia. What may not be as well known is that clary sage contains a hormone copier that balances both male and female hormones, thus keeping one’s estrogen levels up.

Essential oils are not stimulants, they help bring balance back to the body so it can do what it is supposed to do. Clary sage is an energy oil but that doesn’t mean it gives the body a jolt of energy. It means that this oil sustains energy. You can use the following aromatherapy recipe to balance estrogen for hormonal support:

• 10 drops clary sage
• 5 drops sage
• 5 drops fennel

Mix these oils into 2 tablespooons of carrier oil and massage clockwise on the abdomen.

Friends are asking me how to treat their eczema with a more natural alternative to prescription medicine. First of all, eczema is often the result of an allergy. For children, this allergy is commonly to cow’s milk or eggs. My daughter was allergic to wheat when she was a baby but she got over it eventually and can eat it now with no breakout of eczema. I believe my eczema comes from chocolate. I still eat it, I just don’t eat it very often so that the breakout is minor and over quickly.

To ease the itch of eczema, apply this formula to the affected area twice a day:

• Chamomile essential oil – 10 drops
• Yarrow essential oil – 5 drops
• Tagetes essential oil – 5 drops

Diluted in:

• Almond oil – 2 tablespoons
• Jojoba oil – 30 drops
• Evening Primrose oil – 10 drops

If you get a more serious breakout of eczema you can get cortisone cream, an over the counter medicine that helps when used with the above. With severe cases, I suggest you see your physician.

Kitchen smells include everything from the wonderful aroma of freshly baked cookies to the stinky smell of burnt popcorn. Kitchens have a trash area where garbage is tossed, a spot for wet coats and muddy boots, and a corner for dog bedding and the cat’s litter box. Essential oils are a natural alternative to commercial air sprays because they cleanse the air for you instead of masking odors; they are harmless to food, humans, and the ozone; and many of them are antibiotic and anti-fungal so they may even help keep you from getting sick.

• To cleanse kitchen surfaces add 15-30 drops of any one of the following essential oils to one pint of water: eucalyptus, lavender, lemon, lime, grapefruit, pine, or lemongrass. For a kitchen synergistic blend combine the following essential oils: 10 drops lavender, 15 drops lemon, and 5 drops eucalyptus. This mixture is disinfectant, antibacterial, and leaves a lovely fragrance when used on kitchen surfaces. You can add 8-15 drops of this formula to 2 1/2 cups of water in a plant spray bottle to spray the air or surfaces.
• To kill germs on dishtowels soak them in a bowl of boiling water and 1 drop of eucalyptus, thyme, tea tree, or lavender. Let the towels soak  until the water is cool then wash as usual. This will keep your towels germ and bacteria free.
• To lighten the chore of dish washing and uplift your spirits at the same time, add 5 drops lime, 3 drops bergamot, 2 drops lavender, and 1 drop orange essential oil to your dish washing liquid. The natural aroma of these essential oils will make a boring task take on a much lighter note. If you use a dishwasher, simply add 2 drops of lemon  essential oil to the detergent you use in your machine and stir it before closing the door.

Essential oils lose their therapeutic properties after about two years but do not toss them out! Put two drops at a time down kitchen drains to create a nice scent when hot water runs down. Also use them in the water you use to wash windows and trashcans both inside and out. Essential oils make kitchen work safer and much more pleasant.

Our body controls temperature and eliminates toxins by sweating, so stopping underarm sweat with antiperspirant is not healthy and is often thought to be one reason for the rise in breast cancer. The  medical profession does not support this idea and considers it a myth but it just makes sense that if toxins are trapped in your body they can lead to health problems.

If you are not willing to take a chance with your health, it is worth your while to try Crystal Deodorant in either a spray or roll on bottle. It is 100% natural and contains potassium alum mineral salts. It is non-aerosol, ozone friendly, hypoallergenic, unscented, non-staining, contains no alcohol, and kills odor causing bacteria.  Do antiperspirants contribute to breast cancer? Myth or fact, you decide.

Many people are interested in using essential oils in their home because they are finding out that essential oils are the powerful medicines nature created to keep us healthy instead of the high priced chemically enhanced products we get from the drug store. If you want to start using natural essential oils in your home medicine cabinet as a natural alternative to chemicals, the ones I suggest for your basic kit are lavender, tea tree, peppermint, chamomile, eucalyptus, geranium, rosemary, thyme, lemon, and clove. These essential oils are chosen for their medical properties first and second for their ability to take care of a broad range of health problems. We will discuss all of these oils eventually but today, let’s look into peppermint essential oil.

Peppermint has been used by many cultures (Egyptians, Chinese, and American Indians) for thousands of years because of its healthful properties. It is a superb digestive, it helps the respiratory system and promotes circulation, it is an anti-inflammatory and it is an antiseptic. These qualities make peppermint oil an excellent choice to use in the treatment of indigestion, flatulence, bad breath, headaches and migraines, skin irritations, toothache, and fatigue. Peppermint oil is very strong so if you’re going to rub it on your skin, always use a carrier oil and do not ingest it. I have put ONE drop of peppermint oil in my green tea when I didn’t have any peppermint tea bags and I liked it just as well as the tea bag but it might be something you have to work up to. I’ve used it many times for upset stomach too but I never take it neat, always mixed in water or tea. Lastly, if you put 5 drops of peppermint oil on a cottonball and put it in strategic places in your home, it can help to keep pests like mice, fleas, and ants away. Talk about a versatile essential oil!

Once we get older, many of us have problems with bad circulation in the hands and feet. To treat poor circulation, add 30 drops of geranium essential oil to two tablespoons of sweet almond or grapeseed carrier oil. Rub this combination on yourself from the hand to the elbow to aid circulation in your hands and from the foot to the knee to treat your feet and lower extremities.

Geranium is one of the best revitalizing oils there is so you can rub the above mixture all over your body. When you put it on your face you will improve the texture of your skin and make it firmer and smoother. Besides making you look younger, geranium is a very effective antidepressant so it will also cheer you up and make you feel great. Geranium smells very nice too!

Kitchen smells run the gamut from the wonderful aroma of freshly baked cookies to the stinky smell of burnt popcorn. Kitchens have a trash area where garbage is tossed, a spot for wet coats and muddy boots, and a corner for dog bedding and the cat’s litter box. Essential oils are a natural alternative to commercial air sprays because they cleanse the air for you instead of masking odors; they are harmless to food, humans, and the ozone; and many of them are antibiotic and antifungal so they may even help keep you from getting sick.

• To cleanse kitchen surfaces add 4-6 drops of any one of the following essential oils to one pint of water: eucalyptus, lavender, lemon, lime, grapefruit, pine, or lemongrass. For a kitchen synergistic blend combine the following essential oils: 10 drops lavender, 15 drops lemon, and 5 drops eucalyptus. This mixture is disinfectant, antibacterial, and leaves a lovely fragrance when used on kitchen surfaces. You can add 8 drops of this formula to 2 1/2 cups of water in a plant spray bottle to spray the air or surfaces.
• To kill germs on dishtowels soak them in a bowl of boiling water and 1 drop of eucalyptus, thyme, tea tree, or lavender. Let the towels soak  until the water is cool then wash as usual. This will keep your towels germ and bacteria free.
• To lighten the chore of dishwashing and uplift your spirits at the same time, add 5 drops lime, 3 drops bergamot, 2 drops lavender, and 1 drop orange essential oil to your dishwashing liquid. The natural aroma of these essential oils will make a boring task take on a much lighter note. If you use a dishwasher, simply add 2 drops of lemon  essential oil to the detergent you use in your machine and stir it before closing the door.

Essential oils lose their therapeutic properties after about two years but do not toss them out! Put two drops at a time down kitchen drains to create a nice scent when hot water runs down. Also use them in the water you use to wash windows and trashcans both inside and out. Essential oils make kitchen work safer and much more pleasant.

Aromatherapy essential oil diffusers are the practical, effective, and convenient way to disperse the curative properties of essential oils. In the past, the practice of diffusing essential oils was a difficult procedure but with the development of diffusion accessories and tools it is now a simple process to diffuse your essential oils for aromatherapy. These versatile tools can be used in homes, offices and professional practices for diffusing the healing properties of aromatic essential oils.

There are several models and styles to choose from depending on your preferences and tastes. You can select from a diffuser that emits essential oils into the air using ultrasonic technology or if you desire something with more style you may decide to invest in a carved Soapstone diffuser that simply uses a tea light candle. Either way, an aromatherapy diffuser is a natural alternative to synthetic air fresheners.