The wonders of Thieves oil

Ahhh…. Thieves essential oil blend is one of my favorites to use in my diffuser, especially this time of year when the onslaught of colds and flus are upon us! If you don’t know, Thieves blends can vary but, most contain essential oils of Rosemary, Lemon (orange), Clove, Cinnamon and Eucalyptus. Each oil is effective on their own, but together they do pack a powerful punch. It is said that its name comes from the thieves that would use the blend to guard against contracting the bubonic plague whilst robbing the sick and dying. Whatever the reason I, like many people, will add a few drops in a diffuser when the germs start milling around and inhale it’s splendor.  This versatile blend can be used in more than one way during flu season! You can add it to a carrier oil and massage it into your feet, chest and back to ease congestion. Four of the five essential oils are warming and are quite soothing. I will often add a drop or two of pine, or my favorite, Siberian fir. Pine has long been noted with opening up bronchial tubes helping ease spastic coughing. You can also dilute Thieves in a spray bottle and spritz a little on your pillow, car, even on your hands in place of sanitizers. You can add to your bath salts with a little frankincense for a therapeutic soak in the tub. I mean the uses just go on and on and I haven’t started with the cleaning uses! There are a host of studies that show a drastic drop in air borne microorganisms in as little as twelve minutes with Thieves blend in a diffuser! That being said, before you begin dumping it on, always, ALWAYS dilute and use in moderation. Undiluted and over use can cause contact sensitivity and skin irritations. So, try a little Thieves this season and help clear away those germs!

Tell those stories

As I embark on my third Brave Soul Day, a day to celebrate the bravery in all of us, I am reminded of how EVERY person has a story, an inner world that we are unaware of. It’s an amazing thing to be a witness to the healing that happens when people are able to come together, open up and share their stories. We all have shadows, parts of ourselves that we view as unpleasant, and all of us feel that we are the only one, but of course no one is immune to idiosyncrasies of life. The amount of energy that we put into trying to stuff down our unpleasantries, our stories, takes a great toll on our health and our being as a whole. It is the voicing of our stories and working through them, that help us heal. Sharing our stories, our feelings and view helps to lighten the load and gives others permission to do the same. Have you ever been stewing on something that is keeping you up at night and consuming your thoughts, and the moment you actually voice it out loud, it may not be resolved, but you instantly feel lighter? All of a sudden just hearing it out loud gave you a new perspective? That’s what sharing those stories and hurts does. There is something that happens that instantly changes the energy behind it, reducing the charge. I won’t lie, it’s not easy. It takes a whole lot of nurturing, support and patience, from ourselves and others. It’s admittedly uncomfortable, even painful. Every person feels that they are alone in their struggles. Every person has felt that they need to do it on their own and suffer in silence. Well, we are not alone and silence actually perpetuates the suffering. There is always love and support, we need only to be willing to accept it. No one does this life alone and no one is free from the feelings that come with their stories. We all have our dark clouds, but behind those clouds, I know there is magic just waiting to be set free!

What is it you do again?

What is it you do again?

As a Reiki Master, one of the most common questions I get asked is, “What is Reiki and what is it that you do?” Reiki is working with energy. Nikola Tesla was noted as saying, 'If you want to find the secrets of the universe, think in terms of energy, frequency and vibration.' How right he was, because at the end of the day, every thought, action, belief, emotion and physicality is beautiful Energy!

Although trying to explain energetic practices is like trying to explain theories in quantum physics, let’s try a simple analogy. Imagine you are a tricycle. You have the body and 3 tires (emotion, mental and spiritual/belief) When maintained, everything works great. When we neglect our tricycle, then we have issues. We can wash, paint and detail the body of our trike all we want, but if we don’t maintain even one of our tires then we simply don’t ride as well. If you ignore the value of the trike body, then too will things eventually deteriorate. Everything is connected. Ignore any of your processes and it does show up in discomforting ways. Reiki practitioners help you to realign all of your energetic processes, bringing the body, the mind, emotions and spirit back into harmony. We work with the energetic field outside the body down to the cells within. We do this by allowing ourselves to be conduits of nurturing and compassionate energy. We help you to relax, because it is only in a relaxed state can the body heal. We awaken the recipient to their own natural ability to listen, trust and heal themselves. That’s right. Your practitioner doesn’t do the work for you, we guide and support you in your healing journey, which is why energy practices work brilliantly in conjunction with other treatments you may be involved in. Reiki is all encompassing and as a Reiki practitioner, I help you see your own powerful self.

 

Too much of a good thing

Too much of a good thing.

Oh, how I love essential oils! They have so many applications from the most notable being aroma therapy to helping ease our aches, pains and a host of other ailments. Of course, we have a tendency to assume that because they are natural that they are totally safe.

Not quite.

 There are a growing number of concerns with the safety of essential oils, and rightfully so. Essential oils are concentrated forms of herbs/plants. It is the difference between enjoying 1 small bouquet of lavender or filling your entire house to the rafters with lavender. Too much can have adverse affects. Used undiluted on the skin can cause serious reactions like light/sun sensitivity, rashes, and even burns. Too much in our diffusers also create havoc with our senses. In this day and age with the overly scented ‘Everything’ that’s out there, it messes with more than just our sense of smell. From developing scent sensitivities, asthma, headaches, to mental and emotional disruptions, the overuse has us quite disorientated. The old thinking of the 80’s, more is better, does not apply. In reality that mentality should have been left behind with our big hair and Aqua net hairspray.

So how do we use them safely?

Get familiar with your oils. Ask someone that works with them regularly. Research them, and don’t just trust the brand sites. Their main concern are sales. Always, always dilute essential oils in a carrier oil of your choice when applying to your skin.  Read your diffuser manuals. Mine says to use between 3 and 5 drops. I guarantee you most people add far more than the recommended amount. When used properly, essential oils can be a useful aid to any daily routine. They can lift us up, calm us down and have the potential to aid us in managing and healing our ailments. As with anything in life, moderation is key.

What in the Soap!?

What in the Soap!?

I am often asked, 'What soap will help with my dry skin, acne, oily skin...etc. Is it safe for my kids, babies and so on.’? Simply put, switching to a natural soap already puts you ahead of the game. Commercial soaps contain a lot of unfriendly stuff, which is why your skin will often feel tight and dry with them. My basic recipe is the same for most bars of soap, because there is no need to over think it. You need your soap to be cleansing and moisturizing, not stripping and drying, even with oily skin.  I am happy to say, that when it comes to soap and any skin and body care, simplicity is best. When purchasing a handmade bar of soap, keep in mind the more 'luxurious and extravagant' the proposed additives are, the higher the price. I do enjoy the look and feel of tea bits and flowers in my soaps. It is esthetically appealing, but in the end, it goes down the drain! We literally lather up and watch our soap scoot down the drain. Our skin is absorbent, but it’s not quite as quick as Sham Wow! It is like buying a great herbal tea for the healing properties and giving the tea bag a quick dip in your hot water and then tossing it out. The benefits come from the steeping, that’s why I like to keep the higher end oils and additives for the after-care part of one’s shower. Clays, particular oils and herbs are fantastic for your skin when they are allowed to sit on the skin as a mask, herbal astringent, lotion or body oil, but there is little benefit in soaps. It’s your after-care products, when the nutrients can be absorbed, where you yield the benefits. Simply made, hand crafted soaps, are safe and effective for most skin issues and for any age group. Your skin enjoys simplicity.

Freshen safer

I love the pretty things in life, especially when they are natural and versatile! Take for example my room sprays. I can safely use them for a bathroom, in the shower, on my linens, in my car, pretty much anywhere and not worry if it may be harmful to my family or guests. The only complaint I have heard so far is that I do not use an emulsifier, and after some research I have concluded that for now I will continue making them just as I do, and here's why;

One of the most commonly used emulsifying agents used is Polysorbate. For such things as sprays I would need polysorbate 20. It is widely used in the cosmetic and beauty industry included natural cosmetics. Okay...so why don't I use it? Here's the low down :)
Polysorbate is derived from sorbital. Sorbital is a sugar alcohol found largely in fruits. Now the key word here is Derived. Anytime I here plant based or derived from that sends up a red flag. It is a marketing tool used to appeal to the masses. You think you are doing so well and going a little more green, but chances are not so much.
To make polysorbate well, polysorbate they add ethylene oxide.

 

Ethylene oxide (EtO) is a flammable, colorless gas at

temperatures above 51.3 ºF (10.7 ºC) that smells like

ether at toxic levels. EtO is found in the production of

solvents, antifreeze, textiles, detergents, adhesives,

polyurethane foam, and pharmaceuticals. Smaller

amounts are present in fumigants, sterilants for spices

and cosmetics, as well as during hospital sterilization of

surgical equipment.

 

This is taken from OSHA Fact Sheet. OSHA is Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

So....Sound safe to you? The higher the number behind polysorbate(20,40,60,80) the higher the amount of Ethylene oxide.

Well what does that leave me with then? I can blend the sprays with a much higher amount of alcohol, but that can cause it to be an irritant for the throat and lungs. I could use and oil base such as coconut. I do love coconut oil! The issue with that is now one has to deal with oil stains. The room spray now leaves you with  an oily residue on all your surfaces that isn't great to clean, I mean have you ever tried cleaning oil stains from clothing and linen? No thank you!

I suppose for now, I will keep my sprays just as they are, safe and soothing. Though it may seem like a rather petty thing in the grand scope, but it's the culmination of little things that make a big difference, and in the information age that we are in there is no reason not to educate yourself. I am a huge advocate for reading the Ingredients part of the label and if I am not sure what it is, then I look it up. Like I said before, it is a huge marketing ploy when they place words like Derived and Plant based. Companies spend millions on marketing so you will buy their product and it is a well known fact that making it sound sustainable and green will do the trick.

We always have a choice.

 

One Earth.

 

What the Soap!?

Anyone that knows me knows how much I enjoy making soaps and oils. For the last 8 years it has been one of my most consistent creative outlets. I always joke that my kitchen cooks more soap than meals!
My biggest question these days is 'What soap will help with my dry skin, acne, oily skin...etc.' Here's the low down.
My basic recipe is the same for most bars of soap. The oils are the same. I do play with teas, flowers and exfoliants, but essentially the recipe is fairly basic and I use these because it looks pretty!
I have been asked about adding fancy clays and oils, but I am afraid to say when it comes to soap...any skin and body care, simple is best.
When purchasing a handmade bar of soap, keep in mind the more 'luxurious and extravagant' the additives the higher the price. I like to keep the higher end oils for the after care part of ones shower, and here's why.
You need your soap to be cleansing not stripping and drying, and you want it to be moisturizing not irritating. Even though I enjoy the look and feel of tea bits and flowers in my soaps, in the end it goes down the drain! Unlike body oils that you put on after that need to have lasting moisturizing power, we literally lather up and watch our soap scoot down the drain, so why pay for overpriced ingredients?
Clays and such are beautiful when allowed to sit on the skin as a mask or a herbal astringent where the benefits have time to be absorbed, but there is little benefit in soaps. It is like buying a great herbal tea for the healing properties and quickly dipping it in your mug of hot water and tossing it. No benefit unless you steep it.

So no I won't be adding them to my soapies, but if you are concerned about acne and such, start simply. Wash with a lovely mild handmade soap as not to dry your skin. Minor exfoliation once or twice a week with Baking Soda....Yes plain old baking soda! It naturally helps balance PH and is a great way to soften our water. You can then cleanse with plain old Apple Cider vinegar, then moisturize with a simple body oil. Body oil is blended without alcohol or acids, and will absorb naturally without leaving a film of waxes or other additives that will clog up your pores and cause pimples. And the most important tip..... WATER in conjunction with a cleaner diet will do wonders! Let's face it, in the end Beauty is an inside job! :)

One Earth.