Allergies - How We Handle Them

With allergy season rapidly approaching (or already here for some of you) I thought I would share how we deal with allergies in this house.  The little guy and I both have allergies.  His manifests with dark circles under his eyes and he looks "strung out".  Since he is only 4 I know the circles are not from any undesirable activities.  :)
He was taking kids Claritin every day to manage it but dang, that stuff is expensive!
I never had allergies till I was 25, then boom, like a light switch on my 25th birthday I suddenly had them.  Mine showed up in the form of full body itchiness and of course accompanied by sinus infections.  After going to an allergy doctor I think she said it was dust mites, something or other in the air, and maybe a few other things.  This was a while back and obviously I was not paying great attention, I just wanted it to go away.  So Zyrtec D is what I was given.  I took it for years, then halfway through my first pregnancy I was told maybe I should not be taking that. Oops. I was switched to the non D kind, then eventually to Clairinex.  Blah, blah, blah.  The point is, I was always on meds to keep the itching at bay.
Then I started using essential oils and found out about the amazing combination of lemon, lavender and peppermint.  There are a few ways to take it but I like to mix it in equal parts with a carrier oil (fractionated coconut oil, olive, grapeseed, jojoba, almond) and roll it on our feet in a roller bottle.  We do this in the morning and at night.  You could also put 3 drops in an empty gel capsule and take 2-3x a day but since I already make the roller for Maddox we just do it together.
We have been doing this since October and we are both off our allergy meds completely.  It took a few weeks of consistently using it to be totally off the meds but whoa it really works!  When allergy season gets really bad and I feel a little itchy I just do an extra application or two.  The key is consistency. At first we were not in the habit and we would forget and I would look at the boy and see his dark circles and remember.  Now we always remember. It has become a part of our routine and we will never go back.

Here is another blog post from Rebecca at Camp Wander who explains it a little more in depth and gives another testimonial.  She has a great blog and is very well versed in all things essential oils.  I learn a lot from her, go check it out.  http://campwander.com/2013/06/allergies-inflammation-power-of/

Need some oils? Here is a good place.

www.sparknaturals.com/?affiliates=157
Use coupon code Crunchyurbanmom for 10%off

Here is what our little magic bottle looks like.  Very simple, yet effective.

The recipe for LLP is easy.  You can buy the LLP blend from Spark Naturals already blended then add equal parts carrier oil, or you can mix up equal part lemon, lavender and peppermint with carrier oil.  Recipes would look like this:
In a roller bottle
30 drops LLP
30 drops carrier oil

 or

In a roller bottle
10 drops lemon
10 drops lavender
10 drops peppermint
30 drops carrier oil


-Crunchy Urban Mom

Ridding the Kitchen of Plastic

My initial thought was to write a post in regards to organization and upcycling, two of my favorite topics, but after learning more about the dangers of plastic, it turned into a kitchen overhaul. Let me explain how this amazing overhaul started.

During Chiberia, a clever term used by Chicagoans to describe the arctic temperatures we had for weeks, I was stuck in our house and started to see my house differently.  The rooms seemed smaller and my organizational gears started to move.  I was ready to de-clutter any closet or cabinet I opened.  I know, that might sound a bit crazy and overwhelming, but I was on fire.  You don't realize how much junk you keep but when you start going through drawers it is very clear that keeping all those little things: that old cell phone, that book you loved, a painting you did, it all accumulates fast. I was feeling pretty good after purging many items and seeing the donation boxes full. I knew it was time to tackle the pantry.

I tackled this pantry before when I purchased a few fancy smancy IKEA glass jars, but I still had a lot of plastic containers for all of my baking stuff.  When you are gluten free, you tend to keep a lot of baking ingredients on hand. I knew I needed to move these ingredients into glass jars. You see, I just recently learned more about plastic. We all know about BPA and how it is be linked to health problems.  What I did not realize was that it is hiding in other places because it is a major ingredient in polycarbonate plastics which are often used in other plastics.  The scary thing is that this may or may not be on the label.  Here are just a few places that unknowingly BPA lurks: canned foods, formula cans, some Nalgene and Sigg water bottles, milk jugs, baby bottles and sippy cups, toys, pacifiers, soda cans, and plastic dishware that is "microwave safe". Any time your food is touching plastic or a container that has BPA then you are ingesting small amounts. Studies have also shown that BPA is released 55 times more when exposed to boiling water.  The more contact you have with BPA the more chances you have at becoming sick. 

So you say, "I use all BPA free products now. I should be OK right?" Well it is a start but honestly, no, BPA is not our only worry. Have you heard of phthalates? They are a group of chemical "plasticizers" that are used in all kinds of products and they are even in the indoor air we breathe. It is believed that most of the phthalates in our bodies come from our food, most likely the packaging of our food. Phthalates are hormone disrupters and have been linked to low sperm count and low sperm quality. There was also a study where pregnant women with high levels of phthalates were more likely to have baby boys with subtle genital changes.  That is scary stuff!

In 2009, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) found an average of 287 toxins in umbilical cords of pregnant mothers and found BPA, mercury, fire retardants, pesticides, phthalates and many other toxins.  Our children are exposed to hundreds of chemicals before they are even born that can cause them problems early in life or set the stage for disease down the road.  It boils down to the fact that plastics are man made from chemicals, many from petroleum products. 

There is an overwhelming amount of information that is available on the dangers of plastics in our lives and so it did not take me long to I realize my kitchen needed to be free of plastic.  Now that I am aware of the dangers of plastics I could not serve my children on plastic dishware. I need to do my best to keep them safe from dangers, seen and unseen.  Plastic has become my enemy and I was going to free my kitchen of this dangerous chemical.  If you know my partner, this was going to be another fun conversation.

I woke up the next day and said, "Julie, I think we need to get rid of all the plastic in our kitchen". She did not answer how I thought she would.  I figured she would say something to the effect of, "there you go again, making some crazy changes!" But she didn't, she was really wonderful and supportive. The poor dear. She knows she cannot stop my crazy train once it is going, so she just said, "as long as you find a suitable replacement, I'm fine with it." I looked on the internet and read what others are doing and found some choices for dishware for the kids.  Here is what I found that works for us:

Use what the rest of the family uses

Stainless steel

Glass

Bamboo

Porcelin

When I was cleaning out my cabinets I found a lot of glass jars. What a great way to repurpose my jars.  I started to swap out the plastic containers with glass.  The only problem was the glass jars had the original labels from the manufactures.  Here’s a great tip. The best way to remove the labels off your jars is to soak them in vinegar water with a couple drops of lemon essential oil. After the label softens, scrape off as much of the label as you can. That last little bit of stubborn adhesive will come off with a small amount of straight lemon essential oil. Just put a drop or two on the sticky part, rub with your finger, and then wipe it off with a towel. Boom! Clean, pretty, safe, and FREE storage jars.

Check out some pantry pictures!

Just look at all that upcycling!

Kitchen pantry, love my IKEA kitchen!

This is an overflow shelf downstairs that used to be cluttered with ziploc bags of stuff. It looks so much better now!

Replacing dishware can be pricey.  The most affordable way is to visit your local thrift store but my favorite one is temporary closed due to expansion.  So I decided to visit the restaurant supply store.  It is another great way to get affordable, durable, quality stuff.  Plus you can purchase matching sets which would be difficult at a thrift store. 

I came home with 8 tempered glass plates, 8 stackable glass bowls, 8 stainless steel cups (they are supposed to be for french fries but we will be drinking from them), metal 2 oz ramekins, stainless measuring cups and spoons, large stainless spoons, bamboo utensils and a small cast iron skillet to match the rest of our cast iron.

The kid dish drawer.

Here is how big the plates are that I choose, with my hand for size reference.

Our new "kid" plates are simple, classic, SAFE and can be used forever.  Maddox really likes them and  I love how they all stack up so easily.  

Another major item that needed addressing was sippy cups.  Both my kids really like the Avent soft sippy spout so I wanted to stick with that style, also I like the bottle/sippy/storage solution that that system offers with the sealing discs.  We used them a lot when we traveled for snacks and such.  My alternative solution was Pura Kiki.  It is basically the same system as the Avent and the nipples/spouts even fit both, but the cups are stainless steel instead of plastic.  They have silicone nipples, silicone sippy spouts and sealing disks that all work together.  We are going with 4 for now and hopefully that will be enough.  You can get them here on my Amazon store if you need some.

I have cleaned out 5 paper grocery bags worth of plastic from my kitchen. I cannot believe we had that much!  I feel really good about the changes and I like having less in our kitchen.  I am now be much more aware of the containers that our food comes in and that will be a driving factor in my food purchases.  I am realistic and know that I cannot eliminate all plastic from our food but I can make a conscious effort to avoid it wherever I can.

You know those little numbers on the bottom of your plastic containers? Here is what numbers 1-7 mean.  Check out this Mercola article to find out.

Now that you know the effects of plastics, here are some things you can do to avoid plastic in your daily life.

• Replace storage containers in kitchen with glass or stainless steel.
• Replace plastic drinkware for kids and adults with glass or stainless (find some options here).
• Use your own glass, stainless or ceramic coffee cups when you go out.
• Travel with your own water bottle that is glass or stainless. I never leave home without mine!
• Take your own containers when getting take out, especially places that use styrofoam/#6 containers.
• Use your own shopping bags at the grocery store, Target ,Wal-Mart or anywhere! Target and Whole Foods even give you credit for your bag and they hold much more than cheap plastic bags.
• Never microwave in plastic. Really you should not even be heating food in the microwave, but more on that later.
• Avoid canned food, including soda unless it specifically says BPA free on the can.
• When shopping, be conscious of what you are buying and bringing into your home.
• Say no to straws when dining out and switch to stainless ones at home.  We have them, they rock. Find some here
• Ditch the produce bags at the grocery store and take your own reusable bags. Find some here.
• Buy in bulk when you can, skip the packaging all together and you get just what you need.
• Use cloth diapers on your babies. This is a personal favorite! Did you know if you have baby in disposables their diapers create 1/2 the household waste?
• Make your own household cleaners.

I know there this was a lot of information but I felt it was important to share.  Let me know your thoughts on the subject.
When you know better, you do better.

Be healthy!

Jennie

Tackling Teething

Do you have teething babies in the house?  I do right now, big time!  Poor Mallory has 8 teeth now and has been plagued by 2 molars this past week that can't quite come through.  Below are a few things that we have been using to give her some relief.  Sometimes we only need to try one thing, other days we throw everything but the kitchen sink into making her feel better.  Here are a few things outside of the normal things like frozen teething rings and cold foods.

When she is pulling on her ears I use a blend of equal parts basil and lavender with a carrier oil and rub along her jaw line and behind her ears.  The recipe would be 10 drops basil, 10 drops lavender, 20 drops carrier oil.  Of course you can multiply this for whatever size container you want.  This blend is also great for earaches.

When it seems like she needs relief right on her gums I usually use a blend that is a DIY version of Punkin Butt Teething Oil.  Here is the recipe I came up with -

The fancy bottle of teething oil.

2 drops clove

10 drops peppermint

15 drops roman chamomile

35 drops olive oil

I have it in a roller bottle and I just swipe my finger to get a little bit and then rub it on her gums.  With this you want to make sure and not get it on the lips because the clove is hot and not comfy on sensitive lips.

As a side note, I have been using this on a sore spot on my gums and it is really effective.  After several applications my gums and tooth are no longer sore.  Why did I not use this weeks ago?  Silly me.  Clove is an antibiotic, analgesic as well as anti-inflammatory.  If you have gum and/or tooth pain clove is an excellent choice, just make sure you dilute and test it first, it is a hot oil and very strong!

I pulled this kit out of the closet the other day.  I have had it in the closet for a while now and not opened it.  Why o why have I not opened it up?  It is a great little kit that I bought here on Amazon and it even has a little book about each bottle and symptoms it can address.   The chamomilla is working pretty well so we will definitely keep it in the arsenal.

I have also been putting frankincense with a carrier oil on the bottoms of both feet.  Frankincense has many properties and is considered the king of oils, but the properties I'm interested in here

My trusty bottle of Frank.

are anti-inflammatory, analgesic and sedative.  Other common oils that are anti inflammatory are lavender, peppermint and melaleuca.  One thing I love about essential oils is that there are lots of oils that each have several different properties so if you don't have one oil on hand you may have another that can do the trick.  Pretty cool stuff!

And of course my baby girl always has her baltic amber jewelry on.  She has a necklace and two anklets that she wears everyday.  Genuine Baltic amber comes from near the Baltic Sea and because of the high levels of succinic acid it has inflammatory reducing properties.  We both wear ours everyday

My baby with her bling on.

and I feel like it helps a little.  But even if it doesn't work they sure look good on her!  I get mine at Inspired By Finn but only when I can find a coupon code.  They are sometimes floating around for 25% off and I'm super cheap so I won't pay full price.  You can also get them at Hazelaid.

It is hard to tell what one thing is the most effective because it seems to be the combination of several things that is doing the trick.  Of course every child is different but hopefully this gives you a few more options that you didn't know were out there.

Be healthy!

Jennie

Remember, I'm no doctor or health professional.  I'm just a mom who is sharing what works for me and my family.  

Check out Spark Naturals for your family's essential oil needs.  Make sure you use coupon code crunchyurbanmom to save 10%.  Also all orders over $99 (after discount) ship for free right now.  Woohoo for free shipping!

www.sparknaturals.com

Flu Strikes.. At Least I Think it Was the Flu.

I'm pretty sure that the flu just visited this house. Thank goodness we have found a way to combat it so we sent it packing!  Yesterday morning my brother (who is visiting) and I just hit a wall.  We were both just bleh.  He was even grey colored, it was not pretty.   I suspected it might possibly be the flu so we started "bombing" and napping. Then more "bombing"  To refresh your memory, a bomb has 3 drops each of melaleuca, oregano and Shied or On Guard essential oils in an empty veggie capsule and swallowed.  By the evening we were still kinda tired but definitely better.  Today we felt fine.  Thank you mother nature!

Then this evening I get a text from a friend asking if I suggest the flu shot.  My answer?  "Nope, I'm into the cold and flu bomb kit."
Jump ahead about 3 hours later and it looks like I'm going to practicing what I preach a little bit more...

This evening while I was putting the boy child to sleep, he all off the sudden got very whiney, hot, and he said he hurt all over.  Oh yeah, and he was completely irrational.  That sound pretty flu like to me. That boy went from 60 to 0 in about 20 minutes.  At first I though he was just a mess because he was so tired but then I realized he must really be sick. If he has today what we had yesterday then he needs "bombs" too.  I started rolling his feet with a roller ball of melaleuca, oregano and Shied that is diluted 1:1 with jojoba oil.  He was also really upset that he could not breathe because he was so congested so I started the diffuser right by his head with Respire (similar to Breathe from dT) and eucalyptus and I put some Respire on his chest.  We tried to use the neti pot but he was too congested.  My poor boy. After lots of nose blowing and 5 or 10 minutes of diffuser time he was breathing normally.  Phew.  I gave him some elderberry syrup for its antiviral properties, put a cool towel on his head and he fell asleep.  I can tell already that his fever is coming down and he is sleeping.  I am "bombing" his feet every hour right now and I plan on doing it once or twice in the night so he can wake up feeling good.  I promised him he would feel better in the morning and I don't plan on disappointing him.

Times like this I am very thankful to have tools in my house that are natural, that work and are safe for all of us.  If I didn't have essential oils on hand for times like this we could have been sick for days or even longer.  I just saw on the news the other day that the flu killed a grown man.  That is scary stuff and I don't want to mess around with it.  What is amazing about using essential oils is that when you are sick and you use oils you are killing the viruses and bacteria that are making you sick not just treating the symptoms of a virus or bacterial infection like OTC medicines do.  That makes your recovery time much faster, especially if you catch it at the beginning. You never really get fully "laid out on the couch" sick, and we all know that kind of sick really sucks!

If you are not an oil user yet then cold and flu season is a good time to start.  The Cold and Flu Bomb Kit will make a believer out of you if you catch a nasty bug.

Follow this link to get your Cold and Flu Bomb Kit  ---->http://www.sparknaturals.com?affiliates=157

Use coupon code Crunchyurbanmom and save 10% on your order!

Remember, I am not a doctor I am just sharing what works for me and my family.

Be healthy!

DIY Toothpaste

You are going to think I'm crazy I'm sure, but I am PUMPED about my new toothpaste!  I know, I'm a weirdo.  Read on though.

Here is the backstory.   You see, I have always been picky about toothpaste.  I don't like the minty kinds.  I always went for cinnamon.  Let me tell you, there are not  a lot of choices in cinnamon, I remember like one choice at Target.  Then several years back I discovered how nasty fluoride is and so finding toothpaste that is cinnamon, has no fluoride and tastes decent was really a chore.  I found a few and they were OK, but I was not really in love.  Plus they were expensive, like $6- $8 a tube.  I started using On Guard toothpaste and really liked it and then I learned about carageenan.  Do you know about it?  Briefly here is what I know - it is a food additive and it produces inflammation.  I don't need anything in my body that produces inflammation.  Grody stuff.  Sometimes I think I should get off the internet, I know Julie thinks I should.  I am constantly learning something new and saying, no, we can't have that either, "it's toxic"!  Then I switch us to something else.  I promise I am just trying to do what is best for us, but I know it drives her batty.  Ignorance is bliss is not a phrase that applies to me, that is for sure.

Goo Tube

Anyway...so I came across this post from Wellness Mama about DIY Remineralizing Toothpaste.  I was pretty excited so I pinned it and went on my merry way.  Well, now I'm almost out of toothpaste so it was time to whip up a batch.  I had everything I needed except the calcium/magnesium and a container so I picked up the calcium/magnesium at Whole Foods for about $7 (I'm sure it would be cheaper anywhere else) and at Target I picked up this little guy -------> It is called a Goo Tube.  They are kinda pricey (like $7) but I will use it for a long time and it is perfect.  It will not leak, it squeezes great and is made of food grade silicone.  I have a smaller set of 3 for other things and I love them so I knew this would be perfect.

Mixed it in a bowl, no fancy tools needed

I followed her recipe (without the DE) and used 2 drops of cinnamon essential oil essential oil and 3 drops of wild orange for flavor.  OMG it was so yummy!  I was so excited!  I wish I could say I am exaggerating but I brushed my teeth 3 times because I was enjoying it so much. My teeth felt wonderfully clean!  I know it is crazy but it was cheap, easy, effective and finally tasty toothpaste!  I will never again buy a $8 tube of toothpaste.

So is this something you would be willing to try?  Let me know your thoughts.


Oh, and if you are curious about carageenan, check out this article in Prevention.   This is just one article but there is lots more info on it if you dare to Google.  It is pretty nasty stuff and it is in all kinds of food.  I sure don't want it in me or my kiddos.  Go check it out.  Knowledge is power.

If you are not an oil user and you are interested in learning more let me know.  The two brands I know, love and trust are doTERRA and Spark Naturals.  Message me and I can help you.

Be well.
Jen

Buckwheat

So what do you know about buckwheat?  2 weeks ago I would have said nothing, but a fellow mom and I were talking about food and gluten free alternatives and she brought up buckwheat.  She is from Russia and she said they eat lots of it there and I should give it a try. Always down for something new, I picked some up at the grocery store and here is what I have learned.

Buckwheat although looks and acts much like a grain it is actually a fruit seed that is related to rhubarb.  
It is - 

• Gluten free
• Linked to lower LDL(bad cholesterol), serum cholesterol and higher HDL (good cholesterol)
• Rich in flavanoids which are phytonutrients that protect against disease by extending the action of vitamin C and act as antioxidants
• Helps regulate blood sugar
• Helps prevent gallstones
• Surpasses rice, wheat and corn in almost every measure of healthfulness
• High in the amino acids lysine and arginine
• Buckwheat proteins reduce the activity of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE), thereby reducing hypertension
• High in minerals, especially magnesium, zinc, copper and manganese

Buckwheat is sold in 3 forms. Groats, grits and flour.  Groats are the hulled seeds.  If you roast the groats they are called kasha and they are tastier roasted.  Very fine unroasted groats are grits and are

often used as breakfast cereals.  Flour can be light and dark.  The darker it is the more hull is ground into it and the more nutritious.  You should store your buckwheat in a sealed container in a cool place like the fridge or freezer because they are seeds and they can go rancid.

The buckwheat I got was unroasted groats (because I didn't know at the time it came any other way) so dry roasted it which is a fancy way of saying I put it in a skillet with nothing else and cooked it till it got darker.  Then I cooked it like I would rice.  In my house that means I threw it in the rice cooker.  I used the same proportions as I would with rice, so 1 part buckwheat 2 parts liquid.  I used some leftover chicken broth from a soup I made last week and threw in some mushrooms and garlic and flipped the switch.  If you don't have one you are missing out...the rice cooker rocks!  We use it for all kids of stuff, rice, quinoa, now buckwheat.  I love it!  I'm pretty sure I could not make rice on the stove, it would burn, ah, but not in the rice cooker!  Anyway, back to buckwheat...it turned out great!  

Then the next morning we had a recipe for some gluten free griddle cakes that happen to call for what? Yup, buckwheat flour.  So I ground some up in the Vitamix and and we made breakfast.  They were tasty too.

So here is a new food to try that is super healthy, easy and tasty.  After you try it let me know how it turned out.  Maybe we can all share some yummy new recipes.

Be healthy!

Jen

101 Uses for Lemon, Lavender and Peppermint

Yesterday I talked about how we use lemon, lavender and peppermint to combat our allergies.  Here are 101 other ways to use them in your every day lives.
We call this the beginners trio and these three oils are a great way to get your feet wet and try these 100% Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade essential oils.  In addition to using them for allergies all three of these get used in our house every day.
Check it out.

http://www.doterraeveryday.com/101-uses/

Jennie

On Guard

One of my favorite oil blends is On Guard.  DoTERRA calls it the protective blend, I call it awesomeness!  On Guard is another oil that we use everyday.  It is a blend so it has several oils in it.  They are cinnamon, clove bud, eucalyptus, rosemary, wild orange.  I think On Guard smells pretty amazing and so does Maddox so we diffuse it pretty often.  It is a great blend to diffuse because it will kill bacteria and viruses in the air, so if you have sickies in your house you better get you some On Guard!  It also is great for boosting your immune system to keep you from getting sick.  This is another oil that we roll on our feet day and night.  We rarely get sick around here but when we do it is generally mild and short lived.  Another way we use On Guard every day is in a spray bottle with distilled water as a hand sanitizer.  I keep it in the diaper bag and use it while we are out to kill germs on hands, surfaces and sometimes in the air if it is stinky.  It is a great natural alternative to regular hand sanitizer and it smells good to boot!

While writing this post I realized that I drank the proverbial On Guard "Kool-Aid" because not only do I love the blend and use it every day but I also use the cleaner, the toothpaste and the cough drops. I just recently got the cough drops and had them waiting in the medicine cabinet for illness to strike.  Sure enough it did.  Julie came home from a long work trip feeling sick and nasty and had a sore throat.  The next morning I could feel the beginnings of a sore throat so I took one.  Did I get sick?  No way.  I managed to talk Maddox into sucking on one for about 2 minutes and he decided it was not for him. Kids.... He and Julie are quite finicky when it comes to strong tasting things.  I don't mind the taste at all, but they are kind of strong.  I look at it as medicine and so it is pretty tasty compared to what other medicine may taste like, that is my opinion.  Plus I am willing to suck it up for the length of a cough drop versus getting sick.  But hey, that's just me.

Another way I like to use the blend is as tea.  1 drop (unless you have a giant glass like I do, then do 2 drops) with honey and lemon.  Great immune booster.  I love that I can use doTERRA oils so many ways, like drink in tea, and it is because they are so pure.  They are the only oils that are Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade and I would not suggest ingesting any other brand of essential oils.

Here is a list that someone smarter and more creative than me made that has 52 other ways to use On Guard.

ON GUARD^® by Robert James

52 Top uses for On Guard antimicrobial blend of essential oils.

1. Mix with a tblsp of water, gargle for 1 minute then swallow at the on-set of a sore throat.

2. Put 5 drops Oregano and 5 drops on guard in a 00 capsule and take 3 times daily at the on set of cold or flu symptoms.

3. Put on the soles children's feet at night during cold & flu season to support immune system.

4. Put several drops on a bowl of hot – hot water and Breathe in the vapors as it begins to volatilize when you have lung congestion.

5. Put 50 drops in a spray bottle with 30 oz of distilled water. Shake often and use to sanitize kitchen and bathroom surfaces.

6. Add to your dishwasher for micro clean dishes.

7. Add to your laundry cycle for micro clean clothes.

8. Add to your mop water for cleaner floors.

9. Apply to bee and insect stings to neutralize the toxin and relieve the pain.

10. Gargle and brush daily for healthy teeth and gum's and to prevent and treat gum disease.

11. Apply to gum's and teeth, or swish with 5 drops of on guard & 1tbsp of water for pain relief from toothaches and after dental work.

12. Diffuse in homes or business to kill air borne pathogens, inhibit mold and build immune systems.

13. Put a few drops on air filters when changing them to kill pathogens in the duct work.

14. Add to Emergen-C or Orange juice to help congestion and fight flu and cold.

15. Put a drop in your mouth and push or squeeze it around to relive smoking urges. (enhance with an extra drop or two of Clove.)

16. For warts, apply topically, rotating between Oregano & Frankincense.

17. Apply a drop on a pets sore or wound to enhance healing.

18. Have the diffuser going in your home when the kids come home to ward off germs.

19. Make an anti-biotic blend using On Guard (12 drops) Oregano (6 drops) Frankincense (2 drops) in a 00 gel cap.

20. Add 15 drops to every cup of corn starch, mix and sprinkle on carpet. Rake, leave for 1 hour then Vacuum for micro clean carpet.

21. Mix a 2-3 drops of on guard and 2 drops of Lemon EO with honey or agave in a teaspoon for a cold or cough relief medicine for kids.

22. Gargle with 1 tbps of water and 1 drop each of Lemon and on guard hourly for laryngitis.

23. Put several drops on the HVAC vents of a hotel room or office to kill airborne pathogens and germs.

24. Mix with baking soda to clean bathtubs.

25. Apply neat to the toes and nails to combat fungus.

26. Combine 2 tbps of water with 5 drops of on guard in a small glass and store your toothbrush overnight to sanitize.

27. Use a 50/50 mix of on guard and purified water and spray onto oven interior. Leave for 15 minutes, then wipe away greasy spots.

28. Apply to hands to remove stubborn, sticky substances like tree sap.

29. Add to the water in your vacuum cleaner/steamer to disinfect the carpet.

30. Put a few drops in your vacuum bag to kill pathogens.

31. Put 15 drops in a 6oz spray bottle, shake and spray rooms, desks, or bed sheets to protect against pathogens.

32. Clean the upholstery and dashboard of your car.

33. Gargle with on guard and 1 tbsp of water prior speaking engagements or singing performances.

34. Rub on stains as a pre-wash stain remover.

35. Add 3 drops to your tooth brush and brush every day for a healthy mouth and to prevent cavities, gum disease.

36. Apply to teeth that have been damaged or broken to help them heal.

Make an On Guard^® spray with 15 drops for every 6 oz of water, use the spray for:

37. Wipe doorknobs and other things touched by the public.

38. Wipe dirty piano keys to clean and disinfect.

39. Use to clean childrens hands when traveling.

40. Use on the steering wheel and gearshift of your vehicle.

41. Use on public telephones to remove germs.

42. Use on public computer keyboards and mice.

43. Use as an underarm deodorant.

44. Spray on hands before and after shaking hands with a lot of people.

45. Spray in public restrooms on airplanes to reduce airborne bacteria.

46. Carry for protection in countries with cholera, malaria or dysentery.

47. Use as an air freshener for cooking odors or other unwanted smells.

48. Take to the gym and spray all the equipment you use.

49. Take to the supermarket and use to disinfect shopping cart handles.

50. Use in the classroom for desks, tables and other items handled by children.

51. Spray in your mouth and throat at first onset of cold or bronchitis.

52. Spray on shower stalls and bathroom walls to disinfect and remove mold.

Stay healthy!

Jen

What You Put on Your Body...

Read this article then come back....http://www.wellandgoodnyc.com/2010/07/20/cetaphil-why-the-popular-cleanser-isn%E2%80%99t-doing-your-skin-any-favors/

OK, nice to have you back.

I normally would not post something negative about a particular product but I thought this was a good example of how marketing affects how we feel about product and the importance of label reading.  Did you know that public health laws allow:

• Almost any chemical as an ingredient in personal care products
• Misleading and incomplete labeling of ingredients
• Unsubstantiated claims about product benefits
• No required safety testing of products or ingredients

So really companies can say and put on their products whatever they want. What??? Combine that with the interesting little tidbit that chemicals from personal care products enter your blood stream within 30 seconds and that is pretty scary.  Scary for me and definitely scary for my kids.

If you go to EWG Skin Deep website and put in Cetaphil you will find that it is a 3.  (Their scale is from 1-10, 10 being bad)  So a 3 is not bad, it is certainly not the worst but you can get better.  If you scroll down you will see ratings on the different ingredients and what the side effects may be.  Two ingredients are as high as a 7.  Eek.  And this is a product that we have been led to believe is so wonderful for problem skin. Overall being a 3 it is probably not making your skin any worse but it is certainly not helping you as you may have thought.  With no natural ingredients (except water) how can your skin ever get better?   What about the other products you have that say "natural" or even the ones that don't.  What is really in them?  Do you know how they can affect you?

I learned about the Skin Deep website a few years ago when I was looking for safe sun screen for Maddox.  Somehow I heard about the how the spray kinds are so dangerous and I started looking into it and found EWG.  I found ingredients like this in the sunscreen I was spraying on my 2 year old.

OXYBENZONE - Developmental/reproductive toxicity, Endocrine disruption, Allergies/immunotoxicity, Persistence and bioaccumulation, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Enhanced skin absorption, Biochemical or cellular level changes, Use restrictions

FRAGRANCE - Neurotoxicity, Allergies/immunotoxicity, Miscellaneous

RETINYL PALMITATE (VITAMIN A PALMITATE) - Cancer, Developmental/reproductive toxicity, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Biochemical or cellular level changes, Use restrictions

Of course I threw away the spray stuff and went on a search for something safer.  I found Badger sunscreen and it scores a 1 which is a score I can happily live with.  I buy mine on Amazon but I have seen it in health food stores as well.  It works great and we have had no sunburns.  You do have to rub it in well or you will see a little white, but I'm willing to take the extra time to put it on knowing it is not harmful to him.  At first he didn't like it because he had to stay still but I explained that it was to protect him from the sun burning him (which hurts) and it was sunscreen or no pool, beach, play ground, etc.  Now he know it is what we do, no arguments, no biggie.

The purpose of this post was to give you a new resource to help you find safe products for you and your families.  What you put ON your body you are also putting IN your body since products on your skin are absorbed in less than 30 seconds.  Knowing that makes me even more aware and conscious of what I put on me and my kids.  Spend some time on the EWG website.  It is a great place to find information about food, personal care products, make up, cleaning products and sunscreen.

Go here   ------>     ewg.org 

Be healthy!

Jen

Breathe Chest Rub

I made some Breathe chest rub (think healthier version of Vapor Rub) today for 2 reasons. One, we are almost out because we use ours a lot and the other was so I could send some off to a certain friend in OK with 3 sweet boys who I know will also get a lot of use from it.  Here is how I did it, pay close attention, it is very technical.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup almond oil (I have also used olive and/or grapeseed oil before)

1/4 cup beeswax

1/4 cup coconut oil

2 T shea butter

1 tsp vitamin E

30 drops per 4 oz container doTERRA Breathe

10-15 drops per 4 oz container doTERRA eucalyptus

5-10 drops per 4 oz container doTERRA rosemary

This recipe will make 2- 4oz containers.

I had all of these ingredients on hand because I use them to make lotion as well  - I just use different oils.  I have made lavender for the baby and used Citrus Bliss and grapefruit for me and for gifts.  They are all yummy and everyone at Christmas seemed to really enjoy it.

The process is very easy and literally took me about 10 mins to do.  Now getting a shower or the kitchen clean, that took forever today!

Pour everything into a double boiler type contraption.  I use an old olive jar that I keep only for this purpose and it sits in a pot of boiling water.  Like so.  I use a wooden skewer to mix it up and when you are done you can toss it.  Wait for it all to melt then pour it into your containers where your drops of essential oils are waiting.  Now go grab a cup of joe and wait for it to cool.  It will look like this.  . I know, this is almost rocket science.

Then you can jazz up your container a little if you feel it is necessary.  I felt it was necessary and because I have a new love of funky duct tape, here they are with a quick wrapping.  Literally 10 minutes to make, and this will last us a while.  Plus it is perfectly safe for the whole family to use, even our tiniest member who is only 3 months old.

The recipe for lotion not my own, it was found here.  Thank you Nikki for sharing it with me. The containers I used are from Aroma Tools but you can use any glass container.

The easiest ways to use this rub is to rub on chests if your "patient" has any breathing issues due to asthma, sinuses, allergies, cold, flu, or bronchitis.  Sometimes I will dab a little under my nose or put a little behind my ears. Although this is not a good idea for kids that rub their faces because you don't want them to get it in their eyes.

The feet are always a great place to apply essential oils since the pores are so large. They get absorbed in the blood stream very quickly.  As you can see from the picture if you are having breathing issues then a good place to put some Breathe rub (or oil) would be the top of the feet near the toes or the bottoms of the feet on the points for bronchials, lungs or sinus.  When you put oils on the feet it is best to put on some cotton socks on after to keep all that healing power on your skin since some can evaporate in the air.

Now go get cooking!

Be healthy,

Jen