Australia Day Essential Oils

Post date: January 24th, 2012

What a great way to celebrate Australia Day with a few of our great Australian Essential Oils. Some of the most common and widely used essential oils is Eucalyptus. Eucalyptus Essential Oil comes in a few variations and also the lemon and peppermint scented Eucalyptus can make a nice change. Tea Tree and Lemon scented Tea Tree Essential Oils are also excellent essential oils to keep in the cupboard. For a different Lavender try the Tasmanian Lavender it has all of the wonderful properties that the French Lavenders have. Some amazing Australian Citrus oils are Sweet Orange, Mandarin and Grapefruit Essential Oils. Australian Sandalwood has certainly come into its own and it compares quite favourably to its East Sandalwood competition. Other Australian Essential Oils which are not as widely known or used are Blue and Green Cypress Essential Oil, Fragonia Essential Oil, Lemon Ironbark, Lemon Myrtle, Rosalina and Nerolina Essential Oil.

So try some Australian Today!

Mozzie Bites

Post date: January 19th, 2012

Mosquitoes are out in force and the best thing is to avoid them at all cost, but if you are unlucky and have been bitten by one here are some remedies that may help to stop the itch. Most of these you should find in your cupboards at home.

• Rub the Bite with dry soap.
• Apply an ice pack to the bite, to reduce swelling.
• Mix a paste of baking powder and water and apply to the bite.
• Apply Lavender Essential Oil or Tea Tree Essential oil with a swab to the bite.
• Rub a piece of freshly cut onion or garlic onto the bite. (this might be a bit stinky but a good option)
• Dab a bit of toothpaste onto the bite.
• Dab a bit of vinegar onto the bite or if you have a few bites run a bath and put a cup of vinegar into the bath and soak for 5 minutes.
• Aloe Vera is a wonderful plant and can also help with relief from nasty mozzie bites.
• Dab some Natural Raw Honey onto the bite.
• Make a paste with finely ground salt and water and apply to bite.
• Cut a lemon or lime and rub over bite.

Hope these might help! But the best option is to not be bitten in the first place and that is another post.

WAYS TO USE ESSENTIAL OILS

Post date: November 16th, 2011

Essential Oils have many uses and there are many ways to use them. Depending on what you are trying to achieve with the essential oil will depend on how you use it.

Some of the ways you can use Essential Oils include Skin and Body care as in Body lotions, Facial Creams, Floral Waters and Hair Care such as in shampoos and hair conditioners. For relaxation you can use essential oils in the Bath or Shower by adding a few drops to the water or through products like bath salts, bath bombs or in home made Soap. For your health in Massage, Steam Inhalations, Vapourisation/Diffusions and Compresses, Jacuzzis and Saunas. And for Cleaning by adding a few drops to your dishwashing water whilst washing dishes, in your laundry tub or clothes dryer or in air freshners.

HOMEMADE CHRISTIMAS GIFT IDEAS

Post date: November 4th, 2011

Yes it is now that time of year to start thinking of Christmas Gift Ideas. There are so many things you can do, but below are a couple of simple gift ideas you can make with your kids. They will love getting their hands dirty, mixing the ingredients together and packing them for their friends and family. What a great way the kids can be involved in Christmas Gift Giving.

Bath Salts

• Epsom Salt, Dead Sea Salt or Rock Salt
• Essential Oil of your choice, e.g. Lavender, Rose, Sandalwood.
• Food Colour
• Rubber Gloves and Apron

Make sure you put on your rubber gloves and apron first. Make a base of Salts, you can use a mix of different Salts for different textures. Then add a few drops of colour at a time and mix together with your hands. When the colour is consistant throughout add your essential oils and mix again thoroughly. Put into Bags or Glass containers decorate with ribbons.

Bath Bombs

• Bicarb Soda
• Citric Acid
• Sweet Almond Oil
• Essential Oil of your choice, e.g. Lavender, Orange, Geranium
• Food Colour
• Rubber Gloves and Apron
• Plastic Moulds

Make sure you put on your rubber gloves and apron first. Mix 4 part of Bicarb Soda to 1 part Citric Acid; add a few drops of sweet almond oil and mix until clumps together; add food colour and essential oil, working quickly mix together so that it does not fizz. Mould with your hands or put into a pre oiled mould. If using moulds leave to set for 24 hours, but then take out to fully dry for at least a week. Wrap in clear cellophane and tie with colourful ribbons.

SWEET ORANGE CAKE

Post date: November 2nd, 2011

Essential Oils are a great additive to a simple cake recipe. Especially if you do not have fresh ingredients at hand, you can change a simple cake into an Orange, Lemon or Lavender Cake. Be creative, but be sure not to add more than 3-4 drops of essential oil.

Basic Sweet Orange Essential Oil Cake

• 2 Cups Self Raising Flour
• 3/4 Cup Castor Sugar
• 125gm Softened Butter
• 2 Eggs
• 2/3 Cup Milk
• 2-3 Drops Sweet Orange Essential Oil

Preheat oven to 180 degrees;

Cream Butter and Sugar in Electric Mixer;

Add eggs one at a time;

Add rest of ingredients and mix for 2 minutes;

Pour into prepared tin;

Bake for 30 minutes until cooked.

NATURAL REMEDIES FOR ATHLETES FOOT

Post date: October 28th, 2011

Athletes Foot is a very contagious fungal infection which loves warm and moist places. Most people catch it in places like public swimming pool, gymnasiums or public shower areas. It can be very hard to get rid of once you have it. One of the most important things to remember when treating your feet from infection is to keep them as dry as possible and make sure you also treat the shoes and socks that you wear as well.

Try a foot soak with 1 part vinegar to 5 parts water. Soak your feet for a good 2o minutes or so, then thoroughly dry. Put a couple of drops of Tea Tree Essential oil onto a cotton ball and wipe over the infected areas. Then sprinkle foot powder over your foot and into your shoe, this will help keep your feet dry. Make sure you always wear natural socks, like cotton as this will help in keeping your feet dry. Repeat this procedure two to three times a day.

To make the foot powder use 1 cup of Green Clay with 10 drops of Tea Tree Essential Oil. You can mix this with an electric blender, putting in the drops one at a time to make sure they are thoroughly incorporated.

HAYFEVER SEASON

Post date: October 26th, 2011

It is hayfever season again and you are sick of sneezing, wheezing and scratching how can we ease our symptoms of hayfever without always relying on conventional drug medications?

Well we’ve all heard the stay indoors as long as possible in the mornings when the pollen count is highest, keep your house clean and free from pollen, use a  vacuum with hepa filter, wash floors regularly, keep other allergens out of the house like dogs and cats, stay away from people who smoke, blah blah blah… So  what else can I do to help ease my symptoms???

Essential oils are an excellent alternative hayfever remedy. Try a couple of drops of Chamomile Essential Oil on a tissue and inhale, always keep one in your pocket when you are at home or out and about. If at home put a couple of drops of Eucalyptus Essential Oil and Chamomile Essential Oil into some steaming water to do some steam inhalation or use a vapouriser.

Some other Essential Oils you can try are Eucalyptus, Lemon, Lavender, Peppermint, Clove and Rosemary. Remember what may work for someone else, may not work for you, so try a few variations to find what works best for you. GoodLuck!

EVENING PRIMROSE OIL

Post date: October 19th, 2011

Evening Primrose Oil, or EPO as  it is commonly referred to, was first used by the native americans for food and poultices from the whole plant to heal bruising. EPO is made from the seeds of the  Oenothera biennis plant using the cold pressed method of extraction. EPO contains many essential fatty acids including gamma linolenic acid (GLA) which helps to promote cell growth and development.

Evening Primrose Oil can be applied topically or in a skin lotion to maintain or improve your skins’ condition. It may also help with dry or inflammed skin, excema, rhumatoid arhtritis or pre menstrual tension.

Borage Oil and Blackcurrant Oil are two other oils that contain the essential fatty acid gamma linolenic acid although they are not as commonly used as Evening Primrose Oil in skin treatments.

SATURATED FAT

Post date: October 5th, 2011

Saturated fats such as coconut oil, palm oil and cocoa butter usually make better soaps, as they make the soap harder and richer in texture.

Nature’s First Aid Box

Post date: April 1st, 2011

Most people have a first aid box of sorts lurking somewhere in the car or the house which will contain the standard bandages, scissors, plasters etc. Add a few select essential oils to your kit as natural trouble shooters.
The most important one being Lavender essential oil. It can be used undiluted and is known to have excellent antiseptic, antiviral and antidepressant qualities. Black pepper essential oil is also antiseptic as well as being used for reducing fever and relieving pain. Eucalyptus essentail oil has similar antiseptic and antiviral qualities but has additional anti-inflammatory properties. Lemon essential oil can be used as a disinfectant and Peppermint essential oil can be used as an antispasmodic or astringent, help to calm or be added to honey and water to help nausea. Teatree essential oil is also used for its powerful antiseptic, antifungal and antibacterial and antiviral properties and like Lavender essential oil, can be used undiluted.