Category: Essential Oils

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Medicinal Herb Series: 10 Benefits of Lemongrass

Medicinal herb series: Lemongrass

Lemongrass is an amazing medicinal herb. Not only does it smell absolutely delightful, it has incredible benefits for your body and your soul.

Lemongrass, also known as Cymbopogon, is indigenous to India and Asia. It is a tall grass like plant with stalks. This plant tends to grow in a bush like manner and loves full sun and well draining soil. The leaves tend to be sharp on the sides and are incredibly hardy. It has a powerful fresh lemon smell that is often times used as a lemon flavor in teas and other beverages.

Most importantly, you will find that lemongrass comes in a few different forms. You can usually find the stalks in most grocery stores. It can be found already dried, to add to teas and season foods. Using it fresh is an option, you can use it in stir fry and other cooking dishes. Lastly, you can find it in essential oil form. This form is my favorite, I love to add lemongrass essential oil to my diffuser necklace, it instantly uplifts my mood, which can be a spectacular benefit. Speaking of which…..

Let’s talk benefits of lemongrass.

This beautiful herb has multiple health benefits, making this medicinal herb a must to have in your medicinal herb cabinet. Whether it’s in dried herb form, so you can make a tea or essential oil form that you can rub directly on your body or diffuse in the air, it is a must have. Let’s dive into some of the benefits.

10 benefits to Lemongrass

Promotes sleep: This herb has been known to react with GABA receptors in our brain (1), which helps promote a healthy sedative state. Drink a cup of lemongrass and lavender tea before bed to help your mind and your body fall into a more restful state.

Mood enhancer: It has a powerful fresh lemon scent that provides your mental state with a calming and clear feeling.

Helps relieve anxiety: Again, the properties of lemongrass react with the GABA receptors in our brain. GABA, Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid, is a neurotransmitter in the brain that connects signals from the brain to our nervous system (2). The beneficial properties in lemongrass will increase the activity of the GABA receptors, which can in turn calm your central nervous system and relieve anxiety.

Supports digestive system: It has been known to help treat digestive problems such as ulcers and diarrhea. (3)

Pain reliever: The powerful anti-inflammatory properties in lemongrass help reduce inflammation related pain. (4)

Helps reduce dandruff: This amazing herb has bacteria killing properties that help reduce the bacteria that causes dandruff. Applying lemongrass essential oil mixed in with your shampoo, to your scalp, can help relieve dandruff and stimulate the hair follicles. (5)

Natural deodorizer: The fresh lemon scent from lemongrass makes this herb ideal to add to soaps, room sprays, deodorants, lotions and body sprays.

Relieves headaches: It can help relieve tension that causes headaches. (6) Drink a cup of lemongrass tea or rub some essential oil on the temples to help relieve pain from headaches.

Reduces fever: The properties in lemongrass have been known to help reduce fever symptoms. (7)

And finally… It is a….

Powerful antioxidant: Antioxidant properties one of the most important properties in my opinion. Lemongrass has the ability to fight off free radicals within our body with its incredible antioxidant properties. (8)

I gotta say y’all, this is a small description of amazing benefits of this beautiful medicinal herb.

Other benefits include:

Helps fight candida

Menstrual cramp relief

Lowers cholesterol

Fights agains cold and flus

Thrush

Diabetes

Thyroid

Hair and skin

Y’all, we need lemongrass in our lives.

I mean, come on! How beneficial is this herb! Growing lemongrass is easy. If you cannot find yourself a starter plant, you can always head on over to a grocery store, find yourself some stalks, place in a glass with water and wait for it to root. Finally, once your stalks have rooted, they are ready to plant in the garden. Harvesting your lemongrass is even more fun. Head on over here to check out our post on harvesting lemongrass.

If y’all can’t grow your own lemongrass, I highly suggest you purchase yourself some lemongrass essential oil. It is the easiest way to obtain all these beneficial properties in a super convenient bottle. As always, when it comes to essential oils, purchase only high quality pure oils.

Happy lemongrassing!

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6 Herbal Remedies for Cold and Flu Season

Herbal remedies for cold and flus

It seems like every year the cold and flu season gets more and more intense. And every year, you get the flu shot being shoved in your face harder and harder.

Is anyone else tired of feeling like you have no control over this situation?

I know I am.

So, let’s go over six herbal remedies to help us fight back with confidence and gain control over our own life. Shall we.

I think first and foremost we shall discuss…

Essential oils.

These little bad boys are the foundation to all things in our house. We use them daily. When it comes to an ailment, it’s no doubt that they are the first thing that pops in our heads as a solution. Especially for colds and flus. Let’s break down some oils.

Oregano: This is a must when you start to feel anything come on. Oregano has incredible immune boosting properties that help fight off feelings of colds and flus with in the first symptom if caught early enough. It has a chemical component called carvacrol, which is a monoterpenoid phenol. This phenol contains antioxidant properties that provide your body with an army to help fight off any seasonal threats. 

To use:

You can add 1-2 drops in a veggie capsule, 1-3 times a day. Or if you are feeling brave and want to grow some hair on your chest, you can put those drops right under your tongue. But believe me, from experience, do the veggie capsule. Or you can also put 1-2 drops in a tea. But again, oregano is a powerful oils with a powerful taste. 

Onguard: This oil helps protect against seasonal threats and provides your body’s system with enough strength to stay healthy and stable. This oil is a must have. It is a beautiful blend of Wild Orange Peel, Clove Bud, Cinnamon Leaf, Cinnamon Bark, Eucalyptus Leaf, and Rosemary Leaf/Flower. 

To use:

You can put 1-2 drops in a veggie capsule and take 1-2 times daily. Or simply add to your diffuser, 3-4 drops can be enough to cleanse the air. You can rub on the bottoms of your, or your kids, feet. ***Be sure to use a carrier oil when putting oil directly on your skin. Carrier oils can be, fractionated coconut oil, almond oil, regular coconut oil or even olive oil. You just want another fatty oil to help protect your skin. 

Breathe: Oh mama, this oil will maintain feelings of a healthy clear chest and nasal cavity. This oil contains a delicate blend of Laurel Leaf, Eucalyptus Leaf, Peppermint Plant, Melaleuca Leaf, Lemon Peel, Cardamom Seed, Ravintsara Leaf, Ravensara Leaf. 

To use:

Simply diffuse in your diffuser. You can also rub on your chest, neck, and bottoms of feet. ***Remember to use a carrier oil. ***Do not take this oil internally.

Black seed Oil

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This is not your basic essential oil in traditional form. Black seed oil is derived from Nigella Sativa, a common flower found in parts of Asia. This oil is the mother of all oils. It has such powerful healing properties that it should be taken daily twice a day to maintain overall health. For more details on black seed oil head on over here.

We take this daily, however, we will up the ante if one of us gets any symptoms. I will vouch for this stuff protecting me against the stomach flu. Let me tell y’all a little story…

The last two years, both kids had the stomach flu….AT THE SAME TIME, EACH YEAR. This mama was downing black seed oil like none other. And I never got the stomach flu. This year, however, when my son got it, I followed my same routine and survived. But then my daughter got it a few weeks later and I skipped the black seed oil on the second day of her being sick. Because I was like, “Oh I am sure I’ll be fine.” And…..BAM. 

I was down for the count in the worst way possible. 

Never again y’all, never again, will I skip out on my black seed oil. I use this stuff when I have stomach issues, heart burn, anxiety… it is absolutely incredible. You can find it on Amazon. 

***Full disclosure, it tastes like diesel oil but I swear you get used to it and it actually starts to taste good, don’t judge me. You can get the capsules, but more times than not, they add stuff to their capsules to keep preserved or it is diluted. We would rather down something that tastes like diesel oil and know it is in its purest form than to question what else is in it. That’s just us.

To use:

Take 2 teaspoons daily for maintenance. Add an extra dose if you feel something coming on or want to avoid a seasonal threat. 

Elderberry

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Again, elderberry is just one of those incredible medicinal herbs that provides your immune system with this insane army to fight off evil. 

Elderberry comes from the European Elder tree. They are these tiny little dark purple berries that NEED to be cooked down to be consumed. ***Elderberries are known to be “possibly unsafe” to eat raw. So be sure when making your own syrup you use caution and knowledge to keep you and your family safe. (1)

This is one of those medicinal herbs that is a powerhouse for ALL sorts of things. From cold and flu to cancer. When taken at the first sign of a symptom, it can cut the duration of a cold or flu by four days. That is insane. 

For more in-depth detail about elderberry join me here my friend. If y’all want to make your own syrup follow me here. Or, wanna make elderberry gummies? And lastly, if making it doesn’t tickle your fancy, no problem homie, this is the brand we use when life gets to busy and we gotta buy it. 

To use:

For adults, take 2 teaspoons daily for maintenance or 2 teaspoons up to 4 times a day when fighting off something. For children, give 1 teaspoon daily for maintenance or 1 teaspoon up to 4 times a day when fighting something. 

Nasal Rinse

Nasal rinses can be extremely beneficial for upper respiratory issues, congestion, colds, allergies. It is used to help support these conditions by cleansing our nasal cavity of unwanted toxins. Nasal rinses can also be used to help protect against sinus infections by using a saline solution with the proper salt concentration of 2-3.5%. (2)

To use:

Buy your self a neti pot or nasal squeeze bottle. Usually these come with a saline that has the proper concentration. We dig on the squeeze bottle, it’s just easier for us to use. Follow the directions on the package for best results. 

Here is a gnarly nasal rinse solution recipe, head on over here and check this one out. This is the mamba of all rinse solutions that works insanely well. 

 

Real Flu Shot

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This is the kind of flu shot y’all want to be taking. It is jam packed with intense, beautiful ingredients that will provide your immune system with a kick in the ass to get back into gear. 

This shot is filled with garlic, ginger, honey, lemon, water, and cayenne pepper.

Did you cringe a little? Don’t…

It is intense but dude, I guarantee that if y’all do this flu shot you’ll thank me in the morning. This bad boy knocks all the bad stuff out of your system because the bad stuff cannot survive with all this goodness in your body.

Head on over here for full recipe.

To use:

Take immediately when you feel a symptom come on up to two times a day.  

Tea

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Doesn’t tea just make everything better?

Especially if it is jam packed with mother natures goodness. This tea is just absolutely beautiful. It contains all sorts of incredible medicinal herbs and the properties they contain help your body relax, giving it the ability to heal itself. 

Head on over here for our tea recipe. 

To use:

Brew up a beautiful batch, cozy up and sip while reading your favorite book. 

That’s it y’all. Use one of these remedies, use them all, it is up to you. We use them all in some sort of fashion, most of the time. It just feels good to arm your body with the proper weapons to help heal itself. 

Are you gonna try a remedy? We’d love to know which one you tried and how it worked for you. Leave a comment below. 

Happy healing!

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Diffuser Care: How to Clean Your Diffuser Properly

 

It is extremely important to take care of our diffusers. For one, they are an investment. And two, they are incredibly beneficial to our health and well being.

There are different types of diffusers. Some use a candle to heat the oil in a small dish that sits above it. There are necklace and bracelet diffusers. Nebulizer diffusers. Ultrasonic diffusers. But for this post we will be talking about an ultrasonic diffuser.

I know what you are thinking right now. What is the difference between nebulizer diffuser and an ultrasonic diffuser? Here we go.

Nebulizer diffusers, allow you to put water and oil in a small reservoir and it pumps cool air through a chamber. This creates a fine mist to be pushed through an opening, which then, allows the oil molecules to be dispersed through the air more evenly. Nebulizer diffusers are beneficial because they do not heat the oil, making the oil last a lot longer.

Nebulizer diffusers are a great choice for a larger room that has high ceilings and where sound is not so much a factor. These diffusers tend to be have a bit more humming and more of a loud vibration.

Ultrasonic diffusers, is pretty much the same thing as a nebulizer diffuser in terms of how they work, however, it is extremely quite. Making ultrasonic diffusers a perfect choice when it comes to the bedroom. These diffusers work best in 400 square feet or smaller spaces. They only require a few drops of oil in order to make an impact on the room and you health. Ultrasonic diffusers tend to come with a dull night light, which makes them ideal for kids rooms.

Two birds, one stone? Umm, I think so y’all.

Now, because we use water in these diffusers, it is extremely important to clean them properly and regularly.

But why?

When regularly using anything that contains water, mold and bad bacteria have chances to grow. And let’s think about this for a minute, diffusers allow us to pump beneficial oils into the air right?! Well, they can also be pumping not so beneficial molds and bacterias into the air as well.

Umm yuck!

So let’s stick to pumping beautiful oils like, siberian fir and onguard into the air and not mold and bacteria, okay?! Let’s get to cleaning your diffuser yo!

Now full disclosure, I am pulling all these steps on how to properly clean your diffuser from the book, Aroma, from doTERRA. Which is an incredible diffuser book that has all kinds of recipes for ALL kinds of moods, months of the year and occasions.

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Y’all ready? Let’s roll!

First thing y’all want to do before we get deep into this mess, is know how to take apart your diffuser. There tends to be a cover that is on the underside of your diffusers lid, that can pop off. This tends to build up pink mold, usually associated with water. So, be sure to remove that cover and wash with soap and water.

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The middle piece clicks onto the underside of my diffuser lid.

Regularly Clean:

  • First, drain all the water from your diffuser.
  • Rinse water reservoir with clean water.
  • Take a dry towel and wipe entire reservoir.
  • Allow to air dry until next use.

Deep Clean:

  • Fill water reservoir half way with clean water.
  • Add 10 drops of white vinegar to water reservoir.
  • Turn on diffuser and allow to run for three to five minutes.
  • Drain water completely from reservoir.
  • Dip a Q-tip in vinegar and wipe small areas with Q-tip, as well as, the mist chip.
  • Rinse water reservoir with clean water.
  • Wipe entire reservoir with a dry towel.
  • Allow to air dry until next use.

Mist chip is pictured at the bottom of this picture

This process is incredibly easy and incredibly necessary. I never realized how important this maintenance was until recently. We have diffusers in all rooms. They are an added benefit to my family’s health. And they need to be clean and pure, not only for our health but so that they do these amazing oils justice.

You can find diffusers on amazon. And they are good and all. But if y’all want this little bad boy that is pictures above. Head on over here. This little diffuser is fantastic. It is extremely small in size and perfect for any room including bedrooms. It has a delicate little mist that comes from it and it can fill the room with beautiful oils like no other. It is an ultrasonic diffuser so you barely hear anything from it. Which is super helpful when putting in the kids room.

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Now go clean that diffuser of yours yo!

Happy cleaning! AND Happy diffusing!

 

 

 

 

 

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Herbal Remedies for Anxiety

 

Who doesn’t suffer from anxiety.

I mean, it is so unbelievably common these days. When you step back, if you can step back, and look around there are so many factors that heighten anxiety ALL. DAY. LONG. We live in a world of go go go and it never stops. We constantly feel like we have to keep up to survive. But in reality none of the things we dwell on matter. And yet we are so consumed with that feeling of tightness and tension that it becomes our reality.

I suffer from anxiety. 

I allow my mind to become consumed with unrealistic expectations. I get caught up in seeing on social media all the greatness others are doing and I get devoured by the awful feeling of “failure,” whatever that means. I allow unnecessary conversations to take place in my mind. But I tend to bring myself back to what is important. Sometimes it takes me longer than I’d like to admit but I usually find my center again. And believe me…

It’s hard.

It’s hard to realize that you’ve been living in that state of mind. It’s hard to see the beauty around you when that heaviness is upon you. It’s hard to breathe. It’s hard to appreciate. It’s even harder to pull yourself out of this state of mind.

But you can. Especially if you have the help of Mother Nature. She has strategically placed specific herbs on this earth for us to utilize. She has provided us with what we need to help keep us our optimal selves. And you know what…..

These herbs work. 

Here are a few ways I help deal with anxiety and living in an ugly state of mind. There is no one answer here though. You have to find what works for you, honestly. You have to put in the work to conquer it.

Herbal Remedies for Anxiety

  1. Yoga. I know, I know you’re probably thinking “oh goodness of course she said yoga.” But seriously yo, yoga is one of the only things that keeps me centered. It keeps me connected. It allows me to be open and accepting. Which in turn helps my body accept the help from Mother Nature and all she has to offer. Yoga teaches you how to be present. It teaches you what you are capable of, physically, mentally and spiritually.

Many will say to me, “I hate yoga, it just makes me more angry.” Doesn’t that tell you something? If yoga, one of the most peaceful practices in the world, makes you angry what are you really holding on to? Yoga is literally the connection of your breath to the movement of your body. The two things in this world that are truly yours. How can that make you angry?

What I have learned is that those who become angry during the practice are entering the practice with the wrong motive. There is ego present. Ego is telling you, you need to be better than the video you are watching or the person who is practicing next to you in class. But in reality, when you step onto that mat, it is just you and your breath. And when you learn how to connect your breath with the movement of your body…

You begin to see the beauty that surrounds you.

When I lose my balance, it is usually a direct result from losing the discipline of my daily practice. And that is when I become devoured by anxiety.

Along with yoga, I need….

2. Essential oils. Again, I know. It is such a hippie thing to say, but essential oils are Mother Nature’s powerhouses. Essential oils give you the opportunity to reap the benefits of herbs in such a small powerful dose. Essential oils are one of the only things that actually penetrate the blood brain barrier, providing you with incredible benefits in a timely manner. My go-to oils for anxiety are:

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Lavender, I mean that is a given, right?!? Lavender is such a beautiful oil that helps supports  your central nervous system. It allows your mind to reach a relaxed, more clearer state.

Balance, this is a grounding oil which is a delicate blend of oils that work cohesively to provide your mind and body the support it needs to overcome tense emotions.

Siberian Fir, which is heavenly to inhale. It can “help promote feelings of easy breathing, while calming the emotions and providing a grounding effect.”

Arborvitae, made from the tree of life. It is known to be a “powerful cleansing and purifying agent.” I use this during meditation as well. It is an incredible grounding oil.

Vetiver, is an incredible oil for anxiety and ADHD. According to Dr. Eric Z,

For Anxiety…

“The direct effects of aromatherapy inhalation on the limbic system (responsible for reason and choices, among other things) make it a perfectly suited remedy and tool for conditions like ADHD and anxiety, which can be a trigger for ADHD and like concerns.

A 2015 in vitro study compared the effects of vetiver oil with diazepam, a commonly used anxiety prescription. Again, these preliminary results show vetiver to be quite effective.”

For ADHD…

“While we often think of lavender as a calming oil, one study weighed the effects of lavender, cedarwood, and vetiver oils on children with ADHD. The study was small but the results were clear: vetiver was the strongest choice.

This simply study only asked parents to help their children smell the oil right from the bottle a few times each day. Off the record because it wasn’t part of the design, parents reported better attention and behavior from their children during the study period.”

These oils, I use topically in a roller bottle. And let me tell you, I roll that sh!t on me ALL. DAY. LONG. Another thing that has saved me on multiple occasions is wearing a diffuser necklace. I get laughed at all day because when crap is hitting the fan at work, I will mindlessly grab my necklace while I am talking with someone or thinking about my next move and I will just INHALE as if it were crack! I highly recommend a diffuser necklace or bracelet. I must tell you though, I do not wear bracelets, but I provided you a link to them to get you started but I have not purchased that specific product. The two necklaces that I provided links for, I have purchased and absolutely love.

Another way I use essential oils are internally. But I CANNOT STRESS THIS ENOUGH….Please, please use a high quality oil that is certified pure and can back its testing up. Oils are not FDA regulated and that means they can literally put anything in that little bottle and still be able to slap a “therapeutic grade, 100% pure” on it and call it a day. So please do your research and pick a company that you trust with your life because you literally are putting your life at risk when you put something into your body. Me and my family trust doTERRA. Click here to read why and make your own decision.

I simply place one drop of each oil in a capsule and take it one to two times a day. Here are the oils I am currently using.

Copaiba, “can help soothe anxious feelings and it can be applied to the skin to promote a clear, smooth complexion. Taken internally, Copaiba essential oil supports the health of the cardiovascular, immune, digestive, nervous, and respiratory systems.”

Vetiver, has calming and grounding effects. It also has been known to help support ADHD.

Lavender, well because lavender is just a beautiful medicinal herb and calms my soul nicely.

3. I use tinctures. Man oh man, these tinctures save me. They go straight to work the moment I take them and I am so thankful for their healing properties. I use…

Bring Me Peace, which is a beautiful blend of lavender, chamomile, feverfew and lemon balm. All herbs that make the mind more restful and focused.

Rosemary, which is an incredible herb for the brain. It helps with memory, focus, depression and so much more.

All other tinctures available in our shop are used daily for various things but for the sake of anxiety, along with everything else mentioned above, I use these two every morning. And if you are new to tinctures grab our Complete Guide to Tinctures eBook to help you feel a little more confident.

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4. Smudging. When I feel like I just need a little extra something, I will smudge myself with sage. White sage has spiritual healing properties that will cleanse your soul of all that is negative. It is such an incredible experience but you have to be open and willing to accept its healing powers.

Anxiety is a part of everyones daily life. Mother Nature has provided us with all we need to keep our selves healthy. Allow yourself to be open. Allow yourself to feel what you feel then release that energy as best as possible.

We need to help guide each other out. If you found this post to be helpful, we would love to hear your feedback. If you have any suggestions and want to share how you help your anxiety, please leave a comment below. You can potentially be helping another readers tremendously.

Happy living in peace!

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DIY Bug and Gnat Spray

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We have a ton of house plants, they just make us happy. So we tend to do a lot of transplanting. And just like anyone else, where do we keep our soil…

Outside of course.

But do you know what happens to soil when it sits outside long enough?

Little tiny gnats like to lay their eggs in the soil.

You know, those damn little fruit fly things that will do anything in their little power to try and fly into your mouth. If you are thinking eww gross, then I guess you have never experienced one of these little bastards.

They multiply faster then you can say, “yoga with goats.” I mean, yoga with goats, I love goats but doing yoga with them….I don’t get it. Oh wait, I was talking about gnats, back to gnats. So, needless to say they can infest a house super fast.

So here is a little story; a while back I redid our bathroom. I was very proud, if I do say so myself. Well, in that little redo, I hung a plant, in an awesome purple pot that just fit the bathroom perfectly but what kind of soil did I use?

You guessed it y’all, soil from outside.

A few weeks later, we were infested. It was so bad that the walls had little tiny gnats everywhere. I was done. I had enough. These little F-ers had to go and they had to go now.

So I did a little research and came up with this gnat spray.

Let’s make some shall we.

Whatcha need is:

Glass spray bottle (plastic works too, whatever floats your boat yo)

White vinegar

Water

Essential oils:

Eucalyptus

Rosemary

Geranium

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Direction:

  • Fill spray bottle with 1 cup of vinegar and 1/4 cup water
  • Add 10 drops of each oil.

Boom Son you’re done!

I mean, how simple is that.

I literally sprayed my entire bathroom. I sprayed the walls, the gnats, the bottom of the pot the plant was in, the rim. I was careful not to actually get the plant, I didn’t want kill it.

But what I also did was I took the plant outside and sprayed it down with our neem oil spray that kills gnats, aphids, and all sorts of other nasty little plant critters. I sprayed this little plant probably about 4-5 times over two days.

We are living gnat free right now people, gnat free. All thanks to this little spray.

Got a Gnat problem? Leave a comment below let me know how it works for you. I’d love to hear from y’all.

Happy gnat killing!