Mamas~ before we know it, Flu Season will be upon us. You all know I'm not running to a doctor to get the flu vaccine. I constantly wonder why American health care is so different than the integrated approach in much of Europe and Asia.
"Europeans and much of the rest of the world recognize that integrative solutions allow for a much more comprehensive approach to health challenges" explains Dr. Narinder Duggal, Clinical Associate Professor, School of Pharmacy at the University of Washington in Seattle.
I want to tell you about a product out of Germany that I have fallen in love with. The company is called Bionorica and they sent me samples a few months ago. I told them I wouldn't promote their product unless I really believed in it and if it worked for my family.
Well, here I am singing their praises.
Check out their website HERE.
Sinupret is a plant based herbal supplement that promotes healthy drainage in the upper respiratory tract, improves airflow in the nose and supports healthy mucous flow in the nose and sinuses. In addition to supporting sinus and respiratory functions, it also supports the immune system. It has been tested in clinical studies and used for over 35 years (in Germany) and has proven safe for children and adults. Sinupret does not contain stimulants, caffeine, ephedra, pseudoephedrine, codeine, steroids, gluten or narcotics. Sinupret has no harmful side effects.
Bionorica is giving away a bottle of Sinupret for kids, Dr. Sears Book The Healthiest Kid in the Neighborhood, a small bag (would be great to hold a purse first aid kit), kid binoculars, and a mini teddy bear (it's super soft). While I disagree with Dr. Sears on a few points (he suggests spaced vaccines -- I don't vax at all) but this is a great book packed with fabulous information. Thank you Bionorica for sponsoring this giveaway!
To enter, comment here before next Friday (the 11th) at noon. Link to this giveaway on your blog and come back for a second entry.
Please join us next week for our alternative schooling series.
Have a great weekend!
Before I get to the Q& A from my last post on essential oils (EO's), I wanted to touch on my experience with blends. EO blends differ from company to company, but many of them are comparable to one another. There are three reasons I love to use blends.
First, it allows me to obtain and oil that would otherwise be too expensive. Whether blended with a less expensive EO (like citronella) or a carrier oil (like coconut), a blend can keep you from breaking the bank. I use Native American Nutritionals (NAN's) Serenity for calming anxiety, it contains chamomile which is around $100 a bottle! So I can get the benefits of chamomile for far less because it is blended with inexpensive EO's like patchouli and orange.
Secondly, with these oils being so potent, you will want to dilute most of them for skin contact. Some oils are blended for ease of use. I love NAN's Tummy Rub blend for traveling with carsickness and indigestion from eating poor foods. This blend can be used straight form the bottle and rubbed right on my tummy.
Third, a common practice when using EO's is if one doesn't work; try a different oil. Not all body's or ailments will react the same to every oil every time, and there are usually a handful that have been known to be effective. A blend made up of a variety of EO's that work together will give you a better chance of finding relief from your problem. My favorite bottle in my possession is NAN's Spice Traders blend. I mix it in a spray bottle 10 drops to an ounce of water and give my mouth a few sprays a day to boost my immune system, especially if I have been around somebody who is sick. When I feel like I am coming down with something, like a little soreness in my throat, a headache or low energy, I take 3 drops in a vegetable capsule filled with cod liver oil at least 3 times a day, every day until I feel better.
Once you grow experienced with essential oils you can mix up your own blends, but for a beginner this is a fool proof way to use EO's.
Now, on the the Q&A:
Q. Would you talk more about what therapeutic grade essential oils are?
A. Therapeutic grade EO's are extracted from plants in the most delicate way to preserve the fragile compounds that are essential for medicinal healing. Beware only 2 percent of EO companies in the U.S. sell true therapeutic grade and sadly trusted companies have been known to start stretching their oils to make ends meet.
Q. How many drops come in a bottle of essential oils? Shelf life?
A. 15 ml is about 300 drops depending on viscosity. If the oil is neat (unadulterated or undiluted and not extended) it will last indefinitely in the right conditions except for lemon peel which can be stored for up to 3 years. Oils that are blended have a shorter life span due to rancidity of the carrier oil.
Q. What does adulterated essential oils mean?
A. An adulterated EO is altered in some way, usually to stretch the smell or taste of an oil. Companies do this by adding alcohol, adding terpenes from another oil, adding a cheaper oil to an expensive oil, adding a colorless and odorless synthetic product, or by substituting an oil for another cheaper oil. Some of these methods can actually be toxic and health deteriorating!
Q. How can you ensure that your oils are not adulterated?
A. This is the toughest about using EO's. I have taken some classes from very knowledgeable woman who have use the oils from various EO companies. There is a test that can be done to measure the quality of the EO, but requires specialized equipment. A trained nose can detect an adulterated oil. The reason I buy from Native American Nutritionals (NAN) is because there are a number of people I know personally that vouch for the company and their oils. NAN has the lowest price at this time. Two other companies I have had enough experience with to trust are Forever Young, Forever Green and Mountain Rose Herbs.
Q. What is the difference between organic versus non-organic?
A. Like fruits and vegetables, organic is a certification the herb farm can get for growing chemical free. That being said, just because they are not labeled doesn't mean they are grown with chemicals. The certification is quite a process that small farms do not tend to have the energy to deal with.
Q. What is the difference between essential oils and fragrance oils?
A. Fragrance oils may be marketed as essential oils, but are commonly adulterated oils that are intended for perfumes and soaps with little to no healing properties.
Q. How do you properly store and care for your essential oils?
A. Essential oils should be stored in blue glass bottles away from heat and direct sunlight. When traveling, it is best to carry small amounts and leave your large bottles at home. You can purchase bitty 5/8 dram (30 drop) bottles with your carrying case from Addicted to Oils. EO's are volatile, meaning they evaporate. Always keep the lid on when not in use.
Q. Can I use the same oils for therapy as I would for making scented soap?
A Yes, soap is a great way to incorporate EO's in your daily skin care regimen. In fact, I wanted to share some of my easy, effective and frugal recipes I have been using.
Moisturizer: Coconut oil is a super light moisturizer for all your skin, especially your face. I keep it in a ½ ounce cold cream container. You can add a few drops of geranium oil for balancing oil glands and cellular regeneration with lavender to stimulate circulation and diminish scars and wrinkles. NAN makes two nice blends; Skin Care and Baby Soft that are perfect for daily healing and moisturizing treatments.
Toner: Face washes are basic, to bring the skin back to balance a light acidic solution is perfect. I use a mixture of 1 ounce water and 1 teaspoon raw apple cider vinegar. Here, EO's are great for covering up the smell of the vinegar. Fennel seed is a great one that also tightens the skin and brightens complexion.
Deodorant: Combine equal portions of baking soda and arrowroot powder (¼ cup each). Combine 5 tablespoons coconut oil and 10 drops lemongrass, then work the two mixtures together with a spoon until it obtains the substance you desire. Place in a small container with lid or an old store bought deodorant stick.
Thank you Kara! With this education, I think we are well on our way to using EO's on a daily basis~
Many of you know my good friend Kara (author of cooking blog, Taste is Trump) has helped me in my healthy cooking endeavors. Something you may not know is that she is also well versed in another topic I have been quite interested in. I've asked Kara to start off her two part guest post by sharing a bit about what got her interested in essential oils and teaching us about them. Without further ado, I give you Kara Bagley.
Photo credit HERE
"Enjoying optimal health has always been important for me. I learned to control how I am feeling largely through my diet. A healthy diet puts your body in a position that is always gravitating to health and healing and away from sickness and infection. The diet consumed by the majority of our society has put them in a position teetering from one side to the other, never able to fully heal from ailments.
I disagree with the way many traditional doctors counsel their patients with little good information about consuming whole foods and natural remedies while overusing aggressive treatments and harmful drugs. I have heard of doctors prescribing antibiotics for babies who look like they might be getting and ear infection and mothers willingly administering the drugs because the doctor thinks it is harmless. The fact is that many children (especially healthy ones) can get over ear infections with out any treatment and there are many natural remedies that can give a helpful boost if needed. In my search for homeopathic treatment, I was lead to essential oils (EO’s).
I started out with tea tree oil because of its limitless uses, but my first real experience was alleviating a coughing household using lavender and eucalyptus on my family’s feet. The nerve endings in your feet carry impulses through your entire body and the pores on your feet are big and absorbent, so it is one of the best ways to administer EO’s. After committing myself to learn more, I have picked up on ways to clean my home, treat sunburn, bug bites, cuts, stop profuse bleeding, dispel an ear infection, keep squirrels out of my garden…I have been able to avoid colds and the flu by using EO’s to boost my immune system and rid myself of the carsickness that plagues me every time I drive in the mountains.
Another wonderful use for EO’s is liver cleansing. Our world is so toxic, cleaners, pollution, chemicals on clothing, hair products, in our water and especially food. The liver is on overload. A little boost with 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 1 drop of lemon oil and 1 drop of peppermint oil every morning and allergies clear up, reoccurring headaches go away, you have more energy and less sugar cravings, the list goes on. It is quick, painless and works!Essential oils are extracted from plants and contain a concentrated essence of the plant they are from. These oils have many medicinal applications ranging from emotional, spiritual and physical. God gave us these oils to treat ourselves and I believe this is the perfect time to learn how to use them as modern medicine becomes more and more corrupted by business, government and money.
I wanted to get some tangible, starter information out on using EO’s because I have had such great experiences with them. Feel free to ask questions for there is far too much to cover in one blog post. I am constantly learning more uses, please share your experience so we all can be more effective as we care for our families.
The first thing to know is that not all oils are as potent, even if the bottle says 100 %, up to 49 % could be extender (stinking FDA). This creates a big question mark when deciding how much to use and also drastically reduces the shelf life. Next, not all EO companies use the best process for extracting the oils from the plants. Some companies use a quicker, easier process which will diminish the quality of the oil, so you will want to find a good source to buy your EO’s. One last thing to note when using a full strength therapeutic grade EO’s on a baby; dilute 75% with a coconut or olive oil. Children under 3 dilute 50%. This applies for all these EO's except for lavender and tea tree, which are gentle enough to apply neat (undiluted.)
Here is an introduction of 5 staple EO’s with some of the most common uses:
Lavender
Email me at karabagley(at)gmail(dot)com and I will take your questions for a Q&A post to follow."
Thank you Kara. We look forward to reading the Q&A next Monday!
California Baby Sunblock Stick No Fragrance, SPF 30+ *
$13.99 at Target
$13.95 Found at Earthturns.com
Be safe in the sun this summer!
Emily Ruth's Biography HERE
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