My husband had a migraine this afternoon, so we proceeded to do the usual....hot pack for the eye and peppermint. Interestingly enough, he had always just applied it to his temples and back of the neck. But this time he had me hold my hands over his nose and he breathed it in. Literally, within moments, it was completely gone!! This was the first time that this has happened so quickly and the first time he inhaled the peppermint. You have to understand that these headaches would usually last 4-6 hours with medicine! He kept saying,"I think it's going away"! Then, it completely left!! I just wanted to share this, because I know so many people who suffer with different types of headaches. God has given us these wonderful essential oils...lets start using what is natural and actually works! Remember, every situation is different and different headaches will respond differently to each oil. Be patient! Keep trying the oils..it is worth it! My husband always asks for me to apply the oils...every time! After the headache was gone, his stomach didn't feel quite right so I made him tea and placed a drop of peppermint oil in it! Voila...stomach all better! Make sure you only use Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils. Of course I only use Young Living since they are fully safe, Therapeutic Grade, and of highest quality!
Sometimes it may seem overwhelming. We are bombarded daily with chemicals that pose health risks to us and our families—in our foods, in our cleaning products, in skin care products, even in the air we breathe. What are they trying to do—poison us? No. They’ve just been giving us what we want. If we didn’t buy it, they wouldn’t sell it.
In fact, maybe I’m being too optimistic, but I’m beginning to see small glimmers of hope here and there. As I’ve noticed an increased availability of organic foods and natural cleaning products; healthier foods being integrated into the regular shelves at the grocery store; and even dye-free Icees at the movie theater, I have to wonder whether or not some companies are finally beginning to “get it!” I almost fell over recently when I saw a bottle of a popular brand of ketchup that advertised right on its label, “No High Fructose Corn Syrup”!
But, we have a long way to go. If you’re like me, for too long, you’ve “hoped” that the mystery ingredients on the labels of most of your foods, cleaners, and skin care products are safe. You ignore articles and reports that warn you about what’s in your favorite fast foods and think to yourself, “Maybe if I close my eyes it won’t hurt me.” But, as Christians, we know better than to think this way. And we need to pay attention! Take some time to look up ingredients and find out what legitimate studies have been done on them. While some chemicals may be harmless, others may be slow-acting poisons. Here are just a few common red flag ingredients (there are many more!):
DEA (Diethanolamine) – Found in more than 600 home and personal care products, such as shampoos, conditioners, bubble baths, lotions, cosmetics, soaps, laundry, and dishwashing detergents. Suspected of carcinogenic activity (causing or contributing to cancer) or of being potentially dangerous or hazardous to your health.
Propylene Glycol – The main ingredient found in anti-freeze; also common in shampoos, deodorants, cosmetics, lotions, toothpastes, processed foods, baby wipes, and many more personal care items. Implicated in contact dermatitis, kidney damage, and liver abnormalities; can inhibit skin cell growth in human tests and can damage cell membranes causing rashes, dry skin, and surface damage.
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) – Industrial uses include concrete floor cleaners, engine degreasers, and car wash detergents. Also found in shampoos, liquid soaps, conditioners, cleansers, and children’s bubble baths. SLS is found in nearly all toothpastes (it is what causes your toothpaste to foam see here), and is absorbed through skin contact and retained for up to five days. Click HERE to read more.
Talc—Chemically similar to asbestos, talc has been linked to ovarian cancer. It’s found in many body and baby powders, as well as many cosmetics. Try making your own Dusting Powderinstead!
Alternatives
Do perfumed cleaners, soaps, and harsh chemicals ever give you a headache or irritate your skin? Some people tend to be more sensitive than others, but we are all affected to some degree by what we put on our skin and inhale into our bodies.
It may not be possible or cost effective to avoid all of these chemicals in your cleaning and personal care products (I know I’m not there yet!), but my goal is to at least reduce my family’s exposure to them. I have found using therapeutic-grade essential oils to be a safe, effective alternative to many store-bought cleaning and skin care products—and I love the way they smell!
Making your own household cleaners and air fresheners is easy! Check out the following simple recipes…
Household Cleaner:
Fill a spray bottle with 1 cup white vinegar and 10 drops each of lavender, lemon, and pine essential oils. Allow oils to blend, then add 2 cups of purified water.
Shake before each use.
Young Living’s Thieves® Household Cleaneris also an excellent choice. It can be mixed 1 part cleaner to 30 parts water and smells fantastic! A great choice during cold and flu season!
Floor Cleaner:
Add 1/4 cup white vinegar to a bucket of water. Add 10-15 drops lemon, pine, or spruce essential oils. Or 10-15 drops of the essential oil blendsThieves or Purification.
Bathroom Spray:
1 quart spray bottle
4 drops Rosemary
4 drops Lemon
6 drops Eucalyptus
8 drops Lavender
3 C. purified water
1 C. vinegar
Put water into spray bottle and add each of the essential oils. Shake before using. This spray can be used to clean surfaces in the kitchen and bathroom. I leave a small squirt bottle in each bathroom as a fresh smelling natural air freshener.
Air Freshener
Mix essential oils with the alcohol first and then add the purified water. This can also be used as a “pillow spray” for freshening linens or laundry baskets:
1/2 C. vodka
1/2 C. purified water
15-20 drops of one or more of the following essential oils:
Harmony
Peace and Calming
Sacred Mountain
Lavender
Lemon
Thieves
Purification
Citrus Fresh
Window cleaner:
1 quart spray bottle
1 C. White Vinegar
10-15 drops of Lemon, Orange, Tangerine, Geranium, Lavender (or your favorite) Essential Oil
1 C. water
Add vinegar and water to the spray bottle. Add essential oils, shake, and use.
Natural cleaners like these are great for little housewives in training. No need to worry about breathing fumes, or harsh chemicals touching their little hands!
Stain Removal:
Rub a drop or two of Lemon essential oil into stain, wait a few minutes, and launder.
Another option is Thieves Household Cleaner. Try putting a dab of the concentrate on the stain (this may work on old grease stains too), rub in, let sit for a minute, and launder. (Do do not let the Thieves Cleaner stay full strength on a stain for more than a couple minutes before laundering).
In the Dryer:
Instead of using dryer sheets, add 5-10 drops of lavender, lemon, bergamot, sandalwood, geranium, or other YL essential oil to a dampened washcloth and toss into the dryer.
Fill spray bottle with water, add essential oils, shake, and spray.
Put several drops of both Purification and Peppermint on a cotton ball and set the cotton ball in a corner of your pantry shelf or cabinet to deter insects and rodents. Cedar oil is also a very good insect repellent.
Shopping List
Water bottles (different sizes)
Purified Water
White Vinegar
High Proof Grain Alcohol (Vodka)
Lavender essential oil
Lemon essential oil
Clove essential oil
Rosemary essential oil
Orange essential oil
Pine essential oil
Eucalyptus essential oil
Cinnamon essential oil
Thieves® essential oil blend
Purification™ essential oil blend
Citrus Fresh essential oil blend
Thyme essential oil
So, now you know! Making your own cleaning products is easy and extremely cost efficient! Most of the recipes above use water or other inexpensive kitchen ingredients mixed with the essential oils. A 15ml bottle of Young Living essential oils contains about 250 drops of essential oil which means you can make your own natural cleaning products for a fraction of what it would cost in the stores.
If you have any questions or need further ideas, please contact me any time!
And, if you’re interested in getting therapeutic grade essential oils at wholesale prices, please CHECK THIS OUT or contact me!
