Happy Feet

The human foot has 26 bones, 33 joints, 107 ligaments, 19 muscles and tendons.

They get squished into shoes that don't fit, they don't get massaged enough and sometimes we let them get unusually stinky.

And every single day, our feet take us everywhere we need to go. For that reason alone, we need to give back to our feet... simple ways to make sure we have Happy Feet.

Weekly Foot Soak: While you're watching TV, reading a book or magazine, paying bills... Soak your feet in a tub of warm water and 2 cups Epsom salts for 10 - 15 minutes. Epsom salts sooth and relax muscle tissue. If you like, add 3 total drops of your favorite Essential Oil.

Weekly Foot Scrub: Blend 1 cup carrier oil (jojoba, sweet almond oil, grape seed oil) with 1/2 cup sea salt or mineral salts and massage well into feet. Rinse well. Pat dry.

Schedule an appointment for Reflexology or a Foot Massage: If you're feeling out of kilter
Don't know why or what about
Let your feet reveal the answer
Find the sore spot work it out
By Eunice D Ingham
Foot Massage Lotion Recipe: In a 1-ounce glass container filled with all-natural, unscented lotion (I love and use Unscented Aromalotion from Elizabeth Van Buren, available by the gallon), add 4 total drops of Peppermint Essential Oil *Peppermint Essential Oil is cooling, analgesic (pain relieving), anti-inflammatory and helps clear stinky feet odors* Shake well before using. Avoid direct eye contact.

Toe Fungus: Lemongrass and Tea Tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) Essential Oils have both shown to have anti-fungal properties. By placing 1 total drop of each of these Essential Oils on the cotton pad of a band aid and placing over the nail bed daily may help inhibit toe nail fungus. If irritation occurs, dilute with pure Vitamin E oil.

Treat yourself to a Pedicure.
You have the option to opt out for the nail polish. Men, too!
photo source: flickr emerson12

Personalized Perfume

Many years ago, I was shocked when I learned the actual chemicals contained in the expensive perfumes I was wearing on my skin, ultimately inhaling and offending others with. But, wearing perfume doesn't have to be a health hazard.

Wearing a personalized perfume made with Essential Oils (substances obtained by steam distilling plant material) makes you smell good and feel good, naturally.

Smelling an essential oil has an immediate impact on our memories and our emotions so when personalizing your "perfume", choose only Essential Oils that you love.

What you will need:

• jojoba, sweet almond oil, castor oil or grape seed oil
• Essential Oils
• glass jar, bottle or roll-on

How To:
For every 1 ounce (2 Tablespoons) of carrier oil used, add 5 Total Drops of Essential Oils.

Suggested Essential Oils:

• Neroli ~ relaxing, spirituality, calming
• Rose ~ grief, depression, anger, despair
• Ylang ylang ~ relaxing, euphoric, sensuality
• Geranium ~ imagination, protects, intimacy
• Cedarwood ~ supportive, grounding, confidence
• Jasmine ~ depression, fear, confidence, optimism
• Sandalwood ~ meditation, protects, calming, grounding
• Myrrh ~ calming, grounding, facilitates meditation, peace
• Bergamot ~ relaxing, calming, uplifting, insomnia, anxiety
• Frankincense ~ emotionally supporting, focus, tranquility
• Patchouli ~ nervousness, calms mind, grounding, sensuality

Suggested Use:
Shake well before using. Apply to ears, wrists, over the heart, on the belly, back of neck, etc.


Safety & Storage:
Avoid direct eye contact. Store in cool, dark place, away from heat and light.

Share:
Personalize a Natural Perfume for a friend.

Resources: 
glassware: SKS
jojoba: The Jojoba Companycarrier oils: Mountain Rose Herbs

Learn how perfumes & fragrances affect our health and environment:
EWG's Skin Deep

Out with the Old, In with the New

Sadly, the very popular cleaning products that we've come to know, trust and sometimes love contain synthetic chemicals that have been linked to:

Cancer, Parkinson's, ADHD, Allergies, Asthma, Contact Dermatitis, Migraines, Depression, Reduced Fertility, Birth Defects, Headaches, Respiratory disorders, Dizziness, Lymphoma, Leukemia, Tumors, Pollution, etc.

These synthetic chemicals are toxic to children, pets, our water supply, our ecosystem.

In starting a new year, we could place these unhealthy, unnecessary products in a box and store away from the home. Please recycle them at your local recycling center on Hazardous Waste day.

Out with the Old:
* All
* Tide
* Ajax
* Tilex
* Lysol
* Glade
* Bleach
* Comet
* Windex
* Febreze
* Perfume
* Dryer sheets
* Simple green
* Clorox wipes
* Fragrant candlesIn with the New!
* Ecos laundry detergent
* Dr. Bronner's Castile soap
* White Distilled Vinegar
* Thieves household concentrate
* Seventh Generation dish soap
* Baking soda (alum-free preferred)
* Arm & Hammer Super Washing soda
* Essential Oils (Pine, Lemon, Tea Tree, Purification eo blend, Citrus Fresh eo blend, Christmas Spirit eo blend)

To learn more about cleaning without synthetic chemicals, please visit the Home Green Home page of my website.

Thieves for Fall

Fall is the perfect time of year to create a medicine cabinet with products, which Support the immune system, Reduce fever, Calm coughs and Inhibit bacteria and virus, Naturally.

Essential Oils are on the top of my list when it comes to creating a natural medicine cabinet and Thieves - an essential oil blend - is one that I personally include.

Thieves contains 5 Essential Oils:

1.  Clove (Syzygium aromaticum):
numbs pain, is an Antioxidant, Anti-infectious, Antiviral, Bactericidal and Warming

2.  Lemon (Citrus limon):
Anti-infectious, Antiseptic, Antiviral and an Immune stimulant

3.  Cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum):
Antibacterial, Antiviral and an Antioxidant

4.  Eucalyptus radiata:
Antimicrobial, Antiseptic, Antiviral, Bactericidal, a Decongestant and Expectorant, Mucolytic

5.  Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis ct 1,8 cineol):
Antiviral, Decongestant, Expectorant and Warming

Suggested Safe Use:

• For children 1 - 5 years:  Blend 5 drops of Thieves in 1 ounce of all-natural lotion or carrier oil. Shake well before using. Massage well along the spine and feet.
• For adults:  Blend 15 - 18 drops of Thieves in 1 ounce of all-natural lotion or carrier oil. Shake well before using. Massage well along chest, spine and feet; gently inhale vapors.
• Diffusing in a cold-air Diffuser: Place 20 - 30 Total drops of Thieves essential oil blend in a cold-air diffuser.  Using a timer, set the timer to diffuse for 10 - 15 minutes on the hour every hour

Essential Oil Safety

• Avoid direct eye contact and contact with mucous membranes
• In the event of eye contact or contact with mucous membranes, flush with carrier oil
• Store Essential Oils out of reach of children and pets
• Store Essential Oils in cool, dark place - away from heat and light

What are Carrier Oils?
They are fatty oils, which help dilute Essential Oils, deliver them throughout the body, as well as protect and nourish skin.Some examples are:  jojoba, sweet almond oil, castor oil, grape seed oil, etc.

Resources

• Click HERE to buy Jojoba
• Click HERE to order Carrier Oils
• Click HERE to purchase cold-air diffusers
• Click HERE to order Thieves essential oil blend
• Click HERE to order Unscented Aromalotion (available by the gallon)