Showing posts with label homemade cleaning. Show all posts
Showing posts with label homemade cleaning. Show all posts

Monday, April 4, 2016

Re-launch of The Truth About Cancer Documentary

This is probably the most important documentary you will ever watch. It could save your life. Click on this link to watch the trailer and sign up to watch the documentary for FREE starting April 12th.

Also, take this quiz to receive a free ebook about how to prevent cancer.

Wednesday, March 23, 2016

How Essential Oils Effects Body Systems

Think of your body as an intricate machine. It is composed of several large systems that each has their own smaller, more detailed structure. Each system must operate on its own and with other systems in order for the machine to function. Like the machine, our body is divided into multiple systems and each one contains individual organs. Each body system, each organ, each layer of tissue, and each cell must function on its own as well as with the other systems of the body. It only takes one faulty or worn-out body system to effectively “break” the entire machine. Just like it is a mechanic’s job to figure out why the machine is not operating, it is our job to be educated about our bodies so that we can support our body systems when symptoms arise.

The current way of thinking about health and disease is incredibly narrow. Our motivation for seeking out a physician is to just “feel better” or “get rid of the symptoms”. In other words, we acknowledge we are feeling bad, identify symptoms, seek remedies (usually in the form of over-the-counter or prescription drugs), and continue on with our daily routines. The problem is, all we did was manage symptoms and ignored the underlying cause and our body’s needs. This is called the ambulance approach to healthcare.

The Essential Life, 2015
The holistic approach to wellness promotes living with a prevention mindset and addressing root causes when symptoms arise by providing support to the entire body system (Total Wellness Publishing, 2015). With this approach, symptoms arise, you identify symptoms and consider which body system they are coming from, research conditions within that system that best relate to what you are experiencing, and seek remedies by learning which oil supports and strengthens that system. You are addressing the root causes and giving your body what it needs in order to heal and prevent future symptoms verses managing those symptoms, which will likely come back in the future. The outcome of the holistic approach is that you have gained knowledge and an understanding of body systems and how they function. This is a lifestyle approach and you are also considering habits that contribute to the symptoms such as diet, sleep, exercise, stress, etc.

Let’s use an example. I go to the doctor for a routine check-up and my blood panel results state that I have high LDL (bad) cholesterol. I am going to assume that my doctor will ask me about my lifestyle habits, such as diet, exercise, sleep, stress, etc. He/she will also ask if I have a family history of high cholesterol and what medications I am taking. I tell them, no, I do not have a family history or take medications, I exercise on most days, sleep 7-8 hours a night, and I have a good diet. Hmmmm, why do I still have high cholesterol? At this point, depending on my age, the doctor will likely want to put me on a cholesterol medication. This is the ambulance approach.

Using the holistic approach, I would research which body system controls cholesterol levels, which is the cardiovascular system. How does my body synthesize cholesterol? What does my body need in order to manage blood lipid (fat) levels? After some research, I learn that cholesterol is needed in order to create cell membranes, hormones, vitamin D, and bile acids that help break down fat in my diet. A study that was featured in an article on Dr. Mercola's website stated that vitamin D and calcium supplements improve lipid profiles. The name of the article is The Importance of Vitamin D for Normalizing Your Cholesterol Levels. This is not a surprise since vitamin D is the #1 and #2 vitamin and mineral deficiency in women and men, respectively. Here is another link, heart disease is the #1 killer of women in the United States, and high cholesterol is the leading health concern that contributes to heart disease.

After all my research, I now have the tools in order to start normalizing my cholesterol level WITHOUT drugs. The biggest reason I want to do this the natural way is because it is more sustainable over my lifetime and like most drugs, there are side effects. My plan consists of getting at least 20 minutes of sun exposure per day (even on cloudy days), taking a calcium supplement (food based, of course), and incorporating essential oils that help the cardiovascular system. The best part about adding essential oils to my regime is that their complex chemistry supports other systems and organs simultaneously. I may be using them to support my cardiovascular system, in this case, but they could also be supporting my digestive system, lymphatic system, and so on.

Essential oils have needless applications. I use them to treat and prevent aliments, make cleaning and beauty supplies, and I even cook with them. Over the next few weeks I will explore how essential oils suport different body systems. Stay tuned!

Links:
Buy essential oils here

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

"Back to Basics" - Top Ten doTERRA Oil Blends - OnGuard

Today is day 12 of my "Back to Basics" series.





















On Guard (Protective) Blend

I know yesterday I said that Breathe was one of my favorite oil blends, which is true, but On Guard is my ABSOLUTE favorite! I love how is smells when we diffuse it. This blend contains clove, cinnamon, rosemary, wild orange, and eucalyptus (a species that can be taken internally, unlike the single oil). As I mentioned in my post last week, Clove oil scores the highest on the Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) scale.* This scale measures the time and degree of free radical inhibition, which means this blend is PACKED full of antioxidants!*

This oil blend supports a healthy immune system,* provides a natural source of antioxidants,* promotes healthy circulation,* and provides an uplifting aroma. You can take this oil internally in an empty veggie capsule, as a "shot" in a tablespoon of water, in softgel form, or in beadlet form. Lastly, it can be used in an all-purpose cleaner (recipe in links below).

In my house, we use this blend aromatically, topically, and internally. I diffuse it just about every day because both my kids are in school and they bring home all sorts of germs! The chemical components of the various oils in this blend help to cleanse the air. Topically, I add a drop of oil to my toothbrush both day and night to maintain a healthy immune system* (a lot of which starts in your mouth and gut). I also make hand sanitizer for my dad to take to work and the main ingredient is On Guard. Whenever I need an immediate immune boost, I add one drop of On Guard to a tablespoon of water, gargle it for as long as I can and then swallow it.* I will also mix it with a carrier oil and apply to my kiddo's feet and necks when they need an immune boost.*



Like the Breathe collection, there are multiple doTERRA products that contain On Guard. First, of course, you have the oil itself, which is incredibly versatile. There are also softgels and beadlets, which are for oral (internal) use. You also have household cleaners such as a foaming hand wash, a concentrated cleaner, and a laundry detergent (LOVE). Lastly, there are throats drops and toothpaste.

On Guard Collection





















When using On Guard topically, be sure to always dilute, especially when using on children.

Links:

doTERRA Product Page: On Guard
doTERRA Blog: DIY Cleansing Wipes with doTERRA On Guard Essential Oil
doTERRA Blog: DIY: On Guard Hand Cleansing Spray
doTERRA Blog: DIY: Make Your Own On Guard Hand Cleanser
doTERRA Blog: DIY: All Purpose Spray (MY FAVORITE!)
Buy On Guard here

Research:

Bentayeb, K., Vera, P., Rubio, C., & Nerin, C. (2014). The additive properties of Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) assay: The case of essential oils. Food Chemistry, 148, 204 - 208. doi10.1016/j.foodchem.2013.10.037


BioSource Naturals. (n.d.). ORAC scale - A measurement of antioxidant capacity by the USDA and Tufts University. Retrieved on February 4, 2016 from http://biosourcenaturals.com/orac-value-of-essential-oils.htm

CAUTIONS: Possible skin sensitivity. Keep out of reach of children. If you are pregnant, nursing, or under a doctor’s care, consult your physician. Avoid contact with eyes, inner ears, and sensitive areas. 

* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease

Friday, February 5, 2016

"Back to Basics" - Top Ten Single Oils - Eucalyptus

Today is the last day of my "Back to Basics" series for single oils. Next week I will start talking about the top oil blends.



Eucalyptus

Eucalyptus trees, sometimes referred to as Gum Trees, are indigenous to Australia. The oil (Eucalyptus radiate) is extracted from the leaves through steam distillation. That main chemical components are Eucalyptol and alpha-terpineol, which clear airways and is the main ingredients in mouthwashes and cough suppressants.*

The primary benefits of using eucalyptus oil are promoting relaxation and clear breathing, cleansing the skin, and as a mouth wash to promote oral health.

Eucalyptus can be used either topically or aromatically, but NEVER internally. This oil should always be diluted when used, regardless of age.

Eucalyptus leaf
Health Concerns:*

Bronchitis: In patients with chronic bronchitis, rosemary, basil, fir, and eucalyptus oils were found to demonstrate an antioxidant effect. Lavender was found to promote normalization of lipids levels (Siurin et al., 1997).

Links:

Doterra Product Page: Eucalyptus
Buy Eucalyptus here

Research:

Boyle, R., McLean, S., Foley, W., Davies, N. W., Peacock, E. J., & Moore, B. (2001). Metabolites of dietary 1,8-cineole in the male koala (Phascolrctos cinereus). Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part C: Toxicology & Pharmacology, 129(4), 385 - 395. doi:10.1016/S1532-04556(01)00214-9

Keszei, A., Brubaker, C. L., Carter, R. Kollner, T., Degenhardt, J., & Foley, W. J. (2010). Functional and evolutionary relationship between terpene syntheses from Australia Myrtaceae. Photochemistry, 71(8), 844 - 852. doi:10.1016/j.phytochem.2010.03.013

Siurin, S. A. (1997). Effects of essential oil on lipid peroxidation and lipid metabolism in patients with chronic bronchitis. Klinicheskaia Meditsina, 75(10), 43 - 45. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9490339

CAUTIONS: Possible skin sensitivity. Keep out of reach of children. If you are pregnant, nursing, or under a doctor’s care, consult your physician. Avoid contact with eyes, inner ears, and sensitive areas.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Tuesday, February 2, 2016

"Back to Basics" - Top Ten Single Oils - Wild Orange

This is day 7 of my "Back to Basics" series.



Wild Orange

This is one of my favorite single oils. The main chemical component in orange is Limonene. It is also very high in monoterpenes, which gives this oil an energizing aroma. doTERRA's oranges are sourced from the Dominican Republic and the oil is extracted from the rinds (peel) through the cold press technique. The scientific name for wild orange is Citrus sinensis.

Wild orange is a power cleaning and purifying oil that provides protection from seasonal and environment threats and is very high in antioxidants.* Like most citrus oils, orange is also incredibly effective at uplifting one's mood.* This oil is commonly used in cleaning recipes, as a flavor enhancer in water and foods, in a diffuser to uplift moods and purify air, and when combined with other oils, it can provide a mid-day mental pick me up.

I use this oil in my house every day. Here is a list of ways we use it:

1. Diffuse with lavender at night to promote relaxation and reduce anxiety.*
2. Add to a roller bottle with lavender and fractioned coconut oil (FCO) and apply to bottoms of feet, wrists, and back of neck for relaxation and reduced anxiety* before bed or as needed throughout the day.
3. Combine with peppermint oil either in a diffuser or in your hands (rub palms together and inhale aroma and rub on the back of your neck) for a mid-day mental pick me up.
4. In my homemade lip balm recipe from doTERRA (link below).

Health concerns:*

Anxiety: Healthy male subjects displayed reduced anxiety after five minutes of inhalation of orange essential oil compared to the inhalation of melaleuca essential oil or distilled water when submitted to an anxiety inducing situations (Goes et al., 2012).

Links:
doTERRA Product Page: Wild Orange
doTERRA Blog: Orange Creamsicle Lip Balm
Buy Wild Orange: here

Research:
Aroma Tools. (2015). Modern essentials: A contemporary guide to the therapeutic use of essential oils (7th ed.). Pleasant Grove, UT: AromaTools.

Dornelas, M. C., & Massafera, P. (2007). A genomic approach to characterization of the Citrus terpene synthase gene family. Genetics and Molecular Biology, 30(3), 832 - 840. doi:10.1590/S1415-4757200700005000011

Goes, T. C., Antunes, F. D., Alves, P. B., & Teixeira-Silva, F. (2012). Effect of sweet orange aroma on experimental anxiety in humans. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 18(8), 798 - 804. doi:10.1089/acm.2011.0551

Kamal, G. M., Ashraf, M. Y., Hussain A. I., Shahzadi, A., & Chughtai, M. I. (2013). Antioxidant potential of peel essential oils of three Pakistani citrus species: Citrus reticulata, Citrus sinensis and Citrus paradisii. Pakistan Journal of Botany, 45(4), 1449 - 1454. Retrieved from http://www.pakbs.org/pjbot/PDFs/45(4)/48.pdf

Zhang, Z., Chen, H., Chan, K. K., Budd, T., & Ganapathi, R. (1999). Gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric analysis of perillyl alcohol and metabolites in plasma. Journal of Chromatography B: Biomedical Sciences and Applications, 728(1), 85 -95. doi:10.1016/S0378-4347(99)00065-1

CAUTIONS: Possible skin sensitivity. Keep out of reach of children. If you are pregnant, nursing, or under a doctor’s care, consult your physician. Avoid contact with eyes, inner ears, and sensitive areas. Avoid sunlight or UV rays for up to 12 hours after applying product.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.


Monday, January 25, 2016

"Back to Basics" - Top Ten Single Oils - Lemon

Today is the first day of a new series I am doing, called "Back to Basics". The first category of this series is about the Top Ten Single Oils. I will go into detail about each of these oils including their chemical makeups, the scientific name of the plant that the oil comes from, the most common ways the oil are used, and my favorite way to use the oils.




Lemon

Lemon oil, as known as Citrus Limon, is extracted from lemon rinds through the cold press extraction method. The main chemical components of lemon oil are Limonene, beta pinenes, and gamma terpinenes. 

limonene
beta pinene
gamma terpinene

Lemon rind











Lemon oil's primary benefits include cleansing and purifies the air and surfaces, naturally cleansing the body and aids in digestion*, supporting healthy respiratory function*, and promoting a positive mood. The most common uses for lemon oil are creating homemade cleaning supplies, internal detox*, and diffusing for mood elevation.

Lemon is an oil that I use in my house every day. I have made an all-purpose cleaning spray and floor cleaner with this oil (recipe to follow). Also, if I cook a meal, such as chili, that can a strong, lingering odor, I love diffusing this oil in the kitchen to clean and purify the air. Lemon oil can be used aromatically, topically, and internally. It is generally a gentle oil and therefore does not need to be diluted unless you have sensitive skin or are using this oil on small children. Always dilute ANY oil when using a children.

Here is one of my favorite cleaning supply recipes:

All-purpose Cleaner:
- 1/4 cup distilled white vinegar
- 1 3/4 cup water
- 30 drops lemon oil

Mix all ingredients in a glass spray bottle, which you can buy here. It absolutely has to be a glass bottle because the oils can actually leach chemicals from plastic bottles, which defeats the purpose of having natural ingredients in it.

Links:
Lemon Oil Product Information Page
YouTube Video: doTERRA Lemon Oil
Buy Essential Oils Here

Research:

Dornelas, M. C., & Massafera, P. (2007). A genomic approach to characterization of the Citrus terpene synthase gene family. Genetics and Molecular Biology, 30(3), 832 - 840. doi:10.1590/S1415-4757200700005000011

Knasko, S. C. (1992). Ambient odor's effect on creativity, mood, and perceived health. Chemical Senses, 17(1), 27 - 35. doi:10.1093/chemse/17.1.27

Lücker, J., El Tamer, M. K., Schwab, W., Verstappen, F. W. A., van der Plas, L. H. W., Bouwmeester, H. J., & Verhoeven, H. A. (2002). Monoterpene biosynthesis in lemon (Citrus limon): cDNA isolation and functional analysis of four menonterpene synthases. European Journal of Biochemistry, 269(13), 3160 - 3171. doi:10.1046/j.1432-1033.2002.02985.x

Valgimigli, L., Gabbanini, S., Berlini, E., Lucchi, E., Beltramini, C., &  Bertarelli, Y. L. (2012). Lemon (Citrus limon, Burmf.) essential oil enhances the trans-epidermal release of lipid-(A, E) and water-(B6, C) soluble vitamins from topical emulsions in reconstructed human epidermis. International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 34(4), 347 - 356. doi:10.111/j.1468-2494.2012.00725.x

Zhang, Z., Chen, H., Chan, K. K., Budd, T., & Ganapathi, R. (1999). Gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric analysis of perillyl alcohol and metabolites in plasma. Journal of Chromatography B: Biomedical Sciences and Applications, 728(1), 85 -95. doi:10.1016/S0378-4347(99)00065-1

CAUTIONS: Possible skin sensitivity. Keep out of reach of children. If you are pregnant, nursing, or under a doctor’s care, consult your physician. Avoid contact with eyes, inner ears, and sensitive areas. Avoid sunlight or UV rays for up to 12 hours after applying product.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

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