Goodbye Glade, Febreze and Yankee

If you're ready to say good-bye to synthetic, unhealthy air fresheners, plug ins, reed diffusers, candles and hello to all-natural deodorizers that work, here's one simple way with pure, plant extracts, i.e., Essential Oils.

How to create an Essential Oil Room Spray
In a 1-ounce glass spray bottle, fill with water, leaving a bit of room at the top for Essential Oils.

For every one ounce of water, add 5 total drops of your favorite Essential Oil. Some of my favorite Essential Oils for natural room sprays are:

• Christmas Spirit (essential oil blend from Young Living)
• Believe (essential oil blend from Young Living)
• Lemon and Peppermint (blended together)

What are yours?
Blending Guidelines
2 ounces of water: add 10 Total drops of Essential Oils
3 ounces of water: add 15 Total drops of Essential Oils
4 ounces of water: add 20 Total drops of Essential Oils
Did You Know
When using truly pure Essential Oils in your room sprays, not only are you clearing odors naturally but improving air quality, inhibiting pathogens and boosting mood!
Fun
Add a label, giving your Essential Oil Room Spray a name and add a pretty ribbon!
Safety & Storage
Before using these natural room sprays, be sure to shake well, avoiding direct eye contact. Keep out of reach of children and pets and store in cool, dark place.

Resources

• Essential Oils are available at: https://www.youngliving.org/amy

• Glass Spray bottles are available at: http://www.sks-bottle.com/GlassBottles/GlassBottles1.html

Got Alleriges?

Does thought of spring stress you out because all you do is blow your nose, itch your eyes and sneeze?

Did you know that the human body has systems in place to actually handle allergans?

Allergies may be a sign of a weak immune system and can be thought of as our body's way of saying, "I'm overloaded, please stop!" Here are some ideas to reduce your overload, build a stronger immune system and manage symptoms naturally.
ESSENTIAL OILS
Diffuse essential oils that are anti-bacterial, anti-viral, inhibit dander, dust mites and mold:

• Clove (anti-histamine, anti-viral, immune stimulant)
• Ginger (rhinovirus)
• Lavender (anti-histamine)
• Lemon (immune stimulant)
• Peppermint (decongestant, anti-itch)
• RC essential oil blend
• Roman or German Chamomile (anti-histamine)
• Thieves essential oil blend
• Thyme vulgaris ct thymol (decongestant, anti-viral)

Essential Oil Lotion:
Blend 1 oz Unscented Aromalotion with 5 Total drops of essential oil. Massage well on chest, back and feet as needed. Avoid direct eye contact. Keep out of reach of children and pets.
Essential Oil Inhaler:
Place 15 Total drops of your choice of essential oil on blank cotton inhaler.
OTHER THOUGHTS:

• Acupuncture: In a study, weekly acupuncture sessions showed promise as a treatment for relieving the symptoms of seasonal allergies
  

• Instead of Coffee, Pop and Diet Soda, try Nettle tea

• Avoid or Reduce Dairy

• Try Raw Agave, local, raw Honey, pure Maple Syrup, Pure Cane Sugar

• Certified Organic Wine (sulfite-free)

• In baking, try Brown Rice, Millet or Almond flour

• Read up on the health impacts of Artificial Sweeteners, i.e., Splenda, Aspartame, Sweet n Low

• Avoid foods and personal care products with with artificial colors and dyes

• Bee pollen (strengthens the immune system; purchase from local honey producer; discontinue if causes allergic reaction)

• Eliminate Air Fresheners, sprays and plug-ins, Perfumes, Colognes, Fragrant Candles

• Homepathic remedies for Allergies (Boiron is one brand found in some grocery stores and most health food stores)

• Drink clean water intake (use PUR water filter)
  
• Increase consumption of organic fruits, especially berries (they are amazing anti-oxidants!)

• Receive Massage, Do Relaxation techniques, Meditate, Take Yoga

• Purchase Plants that remove pollutants: Areca and Bamboo Palm, Boston fern, English ivy, Ficus, Peace lily, Rubber and Spider plant

• Purchase an air filter, which filters pollen, mold spores, dust

• Eliminate toxic, commercial, name-brand household cleaners, detergents and dryer sheets, e.g., Windex, Tilex, Tide, Clorox, Lysol, Scrubbing Bubbles, Ajax, etc.

• Use Baking Soda, White Distilled Vinegar, Borax, Thieves Household Cleaner Seventh Generation products

• Stop smoking

SUPPLEMENTS

• Acidophilus, Life 5 Item #3099 from Young Living (powerful immune enhancer with digestive enzymes for improved digestion)

• Allerzyme Item #3288 from Young Living

• Calcium and magnesium, Super Cal Item #3244 from Young Living (needed to help reduce stress, use calcium chelate form)

• MSM, Sulfurzyme Item #3243 from Young Living (strengthens the immune system, has anti-allergic properties equal to or better than those of antihistamines)

• Super B Item #3240 from Young Living (proper digestion, nerve function, helps relieve wheezing and attacks)

• Quercetin (potent flavanoid found in apples, berries, grapefruit, onions, cabbage, tea, red wine) with Bromelain (found in pineapple) capsule

• Vitamin C: protects the body from allergens and moderates the inflammatory response

Click Here To Order Essential Oils & Young Living Products
Local, Nettle Tea:
Healing Spirits Herb Farm in Avoca, NY

Blank Inhalers:
Aromatics International

Unscented Aromalotion (wonderful, truly, all-natural lotion - and you can pronounce all of the ingredients):
Elizabeth Van Buren

Essential Oil Diffusers:
Abundant Health

References:

• Advanced Clinical Aromatherapy for Respiratory Disorders, Essential Oil Resource Consultants, 2007
• www.aaaai.org
• Health, Natural Medicine, Andrea Weil, M.D.
• Prescription for Nutritional Healing, 4th Ed., Phyllis A. Balch, CNC
• www.webmd.com

photo source: flickr.com

Recipes: Essential Oil Blending Holiday Open House

Creating Essential Oil gifts for family and friends is a very special process because it involves the heart AND our sense of smell - a sense that is unique to each of us.

The gifts that that were created today were magical, personal - and smelled just amazing! Here is just a small sample of the amazing gifts that were created today.LAURA'S BLENDSBody Scrub 8 oz glass jar filled with sea and epsom salts, raw, organic sugar, jojoba
5 drops of Grapefruit
5 drops of Lavender
5 drops of Lemon
5 drops of Lemongrass

Blend for a friend with Restless Leg2 oz jar filled with Unscented Aromalotion
10 drops of Lavender
10 drops of Cypress
7 drops of Cedarwood
5 drops of Marjoram
5 drops of Tangerine

ANNE'S BLENDS
Hand Sanitizer for Natural Protection from Cooties2 oz snap top filled with pure aloe vera gel
4 drops of Cinnamon
4 drops of Orange
4 drops of Clove

Salve for Cold, Flu, Congestion, Winter Blues2 oz natural salve made with local beeswax, coconut oil, cocoa butter and jojoba
6 drops of Balsam Fir
5 drops of Thyme ct thymol
9 drops of Grapefruit
7 drops of Peppermint
8 drops of Eucalyptus radiata

CATHY'S BLENDSBody Scrub
8 oz jar filled with sea and epsom salts, raw, organic sugar, jojoba
6 drops of Grapefruit
6 drops of Tangerine
6 drops of Ginger

Salve for Cold, Flu, Congestion, Winter Blues2 oz natural salve made with local beeswax, coconut oil, cocoa butter and jojoba
7 drops of Lemon
7 drops of Orange
6 drops of Peppermint
4 drops of Melaleuca alternifolia
7 drops of Eucalyptus globulus

HANNAH & ELLIOT'S BLEND
Morning Shower Gel for Dad
2 oz Dr. Bronner's castile soap baby mild
3 drops of Peppermint
8 drops of Siberian Fir
5 drops of Lemon

ANN'S BLENDSSalve2 oz natural salve made with local beeswax, coconut oil, cocoa butter and jojoba
4 drops of Lavender
3 drops of Jasmine
3 drops of Cinnamon
2 drops of Clove

Salve2 oz natural salve made with local beeswax, coconut oil, cocoa butter and jojoba
5 drops of Ginger
5 drops of Lemon
5 drops of Vanilla absolute

Body Massage Oil / Natural Perfume 2 oz glass dropper jar filled with jojoba 5 drops of Bergamot
6 drops of Frankincense
3 drops of Lavender
3 drops of Vintage Patchouli
4 drops of Sandalwood

PATTY'S BLENDBody Scrub
8 oz jar filled with sea and epsom salts, raw, organic sugar, jojoba
10 drops of Vanilla absolute
5 drops of Orange