50 Smart and Easy Ways to Use Essential Oils

This list of doTERRA essential oil uses was passed along to me.  I believe the original author was Lil Shepard.

1. For good smelling towels, sheets, clothes, etc. place a few drops of your favorite essential oil onto a small piece of terry cloth and toss into the clothes dryer while drying. Add 5 drops essential oil to 1/4 cup fabric softener or water and place in the center cup of the washer.
2. Potpourri which has lost its scent can be revived by adding a few drops of essential oil.
3. Add a few drops of essential oil to water in a spray bottle and use as an air freshener.
4. Add a few drops essential oil to a pan of water and simmer on stove or in a potpourri pot.
5. To enjoy a scented candle, place a drop or two of essential oil into the hot melted wax as the candle bums.
6. To dispel household cooking odors, add a few drops of your favorite oil to a simmering pan.
7. For tired aching muscles or arthritis aches, mix 1 part Deep Blue oil to 4 parts Fractionated Coconut Oil and use as massage oil.
8. Ease headache pain by rubbing a drop of Rosemary or Lavender oil onto the back of your neck.
9. To blend your own massage oil, add 3-5 drops of your favorite essential oil to 1 oz. Fractionated Coconut oil.
10. Add 10 drops of essential oil to a box of cornstarch or baking soda, mix very well, let set for a day or two and then sprinkle over the carpets on your home. Let set for an hour or more, and then vacuum.
11. To make a natural flea collar, saturate a short piece of cord or soft rope with Melaleuca oil, roll up in a handkerchief and tie loosely around the animal’s neck.
12. Shoes can be freshened by either dropping a few drops of Geranium essential oil directly into the shoes or by placing a cotton ball dabbed with a few drops of Lemon oil into the shoes. Athlete’s foot? Melaleuca is great!
13. Put a few drops of your favorite essential oil on a cotton ball and place it in your vacuum cleaner bag. Lemon and Purify are nice. Geranium helps with pet odors.
14. To fragrance your kitchen cabinets and drawers, place a good scent dabbed on a cotton ball into an inconspicuous comer.
15. Are mice a problem? Place several drops of Peppermint oil on a cotton ball and place at problem locations.
16. The bathroom is easily scented by placing oil-scented cotton balls in inconspicuous places, or sprinkle oils directly onto silk or dried flower arrangements or wreaths.
17. Apply true Lavender oil or Melaleuca oil directly to cuts, scrapes or scratches. 1 or 2 drops will promote healing.
18. Homemade soaps are pleasant and offer therapeutic effects when scented with essential oils.
19. Homemade sachets are more fragrant when essential oils are blended with the flowers and herbs.
20. An essential oil dropped onto a radiator scent ring or light bulb will not only fill the room with a wonderful fragrance, but will also set a mood such as calming or uplifting (don’t put essential oil in the socket).
21. A few drops of your favorite oil or blend in the rinse water of your hand washables makes for pleasant results.
22. Melaleuca oil has been used by fishermen for years. Use a drop or two on the fingertips before baiting up. Melaleuca covers up the human scent that scares the fish away.
23. To lower fevers, simply rub Peppermint essential oil on the feet, neck, and forehead rather than use a product that is unpleasant or create side effects.
24. To dispel mosquitoes and other picnic pests, drop a few drops of Terra Shield on the melted wax of a candle or place a few drops on the Bar-B-Q hot coals.
25. 1 drop of Lemon essential oil applied directly to a wart is an effective means of elimination. Apply the essential oil daily until the wart is gone.
26. Rosemary promotes alertness and stimulates memory. Inhale occasionally during long car trips and while reading or studying.
27. Selling your home? Fragrance sells! Fill the kitchen area with the aroma of spices such as Clove, Lavender and Elevation by simmering them on the stove or in your diffuser. Geranium oil sprinkled throughout the home creates a warm, cheerful and inviting mood. Add Cinnamon oil to furniture polish and wipe down the wood.
28. Add essential oils to paper mache. The result is the creation of a lovely aromatic piece of art.
29. Infuse bookmarks and stationery with essential oils. Place drops of oil on paper and put them in a plastic bag. Seal it and leave overnight to infuse the aroma. Send only good news in perfumed letters.
30. Make pillows, padded and decorative hangers make more memorable gifts simply by putting a couple of drops of essential oil on them before giving.
31. Overindulge last night? Essential oils of Lavender, Rosemary and Lemon help soften the effects of a hangover. Make your own blend of these oils and use a total of 6-8 drops in a bath.
32. Essential oils of Cypress, Frankincense and Myrrh all make wonderful firewood oil. Drop approximately 2-3 drops of oil or blend of your choice on a dried log and allow time for the oil to soak in before putting the log on the fire.
33. Flies and moths dislike Lavender oil. Sprinkle it on the outside of your window frames.
34. Place 1 or 2 drops of sleep enhanced oils such as Lavender on your pillow before retiring for restful sleep.
35. When moving into a new home, first use a water spray containing your favorite essential oils and change the odorous environment to your own. Do this for several days until it begins to feel like your space.
36. Ideal scents for the bedroom are Geranium, Lavender or Lemon.
37. One drop of Lemon essential oil on a soft cloth will polish copper with a gentle buffing.
38. When washing out the fridge, freezer or oven, add 1 drop of Lemon or Wild Orange essential oil to the final rinse water.
39. For burns or scalds, drop Lemon or Melaleuca oil directly on the effected area.
40. Place 1 drop of Peppermint oil in 1/2 glass of water, sip slowly to aid digestion and relieve upset stomach.
41. Use 1 drop of Melaleuca or On Guard oil on a washcloth wrapped ice cube to relieve teething pain in children.
42. Six to eight drops of Eucalyptus oil in the bath cools the body in summer and protects in winter.
43. Add 1 drop Geranium oil to your facial moisturizer to bring out a radiant glow in your skin.
44. Place 1 or 2 drops of Rosemary on your hair brush before brushing to promote growth and thickness.
45. When the flu is going around add a few drops of Thyme to your diffuser or simmer in a pan on the stove.
46. To bring fever down, sponge the body with cool water to which 1 drop each of Eucalyptus, Peppermint and Lavender oils have been added.
47. The blend of Lavender and Lemon oil is good for the office. Lavender creates a calm tranquil atmosphere while Lemon stimulates the senses and clears up stale air.
48. A blend of Geranium, Lavender and Wild Orange alleviates anxiety and depression. Use in a room diffuser or 6-8 drops of this blend in the bath.
49. A wonderful massage blend for babies is 1 drop Wild Orange, 1 drop Lavender, and 1 drop Geranium diluted in 2 Tablespoons Fractionated Coconut oil.
50. 1 drop Peppermint oil diluted in 1 teaspoon Fractionated Coconut oil rubbed on the back of the neck helps to relieve headaches.

For more information on essential oils CLICK HERE

What do you need to brush your teeth?

How much toothpaste should we be using?  Whenever they show you the toothpaste on the brush they cover the bristles from one end to another, when in fact the amount you should be using is the size of a pea.

The guy in the 1940's toothpaste ad has a toothbrush that looks two inches long, and he is covering every bit of it. That is what you see in most ads, the entire brush covered in paste. But how much do you really need? Or do you really need it at all?

The consensus appears to be that nobody needs any more than a blob the size of a pea. Period. It also appears that the only reason to use the stuff is to deliver flouride; if you get flouride from other sources then it probably isn't necessary at all. This writer's hygenist suggests that I clean the top of my teeth with a dry toothbrush with no toothpaste; Others note older people "can brush more easily and more effectively using a wet brush only. This allows you to see the gum line better and identify any areas that might need more attention (areas that bleed)."

There are specialty toothpastes for whitening, for tartar control and for sensitivity (by adding sodium nitrate, or Saltpetre. Given the urban legend that saltpetre was added to food in the army to curb sex drives, it probably isn't the best thing to be putting in your mouth). Neither is sodium laurel sulphate, a surfactant that dries skin and causes irritation, or triclosan, a gender-bender bactericide that shouldn't be anywhere near our mouths.

So, in summary, 

1)the "right amount" of toothpaste is the size of a pea.

2)even if you want the benefits of whiteners and flouride, it probably isn't necessary to use it more than once a day.

3) It is probably better to use all-natural products from the health food section, and to follow our rule: If you can't pronounce an ingredient, you probably don't want it in your mouth.

quoted from PlantGreen

 So I am back to labels.  What does it say on your Toothpaste Tube?

Everything you wanted to know about toothpaste.

Why do they tell you to put something in your mouth and then tell you to spit it out?  If something is toxic, do I want it in my mouth at all?


"Unfortunately, both sodium laureth sulfate and its cousin are also very dangerous, highly irritating chemicals. Far from giving "healthy shining hair" and "beautiful skin", soaps and shampoos containing sodium laureth sulfate can lead to direct damage to the hair follicle, skin damage, permanent eye damage in children and even liver toxicity."

quoted from the natural-health-information-centre

Why is there a "warning label" on the tube?

"WARNING: Keep out of reach of children under 6 years of age. If you accidentally swallow more than used for brushing, seek professional help or contact a poison control center immediately."

Why the Need for a Warning?

One of the little-known facts about fluoride toothpaste, is that each tube of toothpaste - even those specifically marketed for children - contains enough fluoride to kill a child.

quoted from Fluoride Action Network

So, here is the choice I made for me.

It's natural, tastes great, does the job and gives me the benefits of Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade essential oils all at the same time.

On Guard Natural Whitening Toothpaste

dōTERRA's fluoride-free toothpaste provides the protective benefits of therapeutic-grade On Guard® essential oils against germs and other harmful pathogens, while also reducing plaque, and whitening teeth with gentle polishing agents. On Guard's unique cinnamon-mint flavor, with xylitol, also leaves your breath (and your toothbrush), fresh and clean.

What will you choose for yourself and your family?

Scents of the Season

The first scent of the season is the smell of Christmas cookies being baked.  What lovely memories that scent evokes.  Scents have an uncanny ability to trigger memories because they are the only sense that directly connects to the part of the brain that stores emotional memories, and new research suggests that they also may consolidate new knowledge and facilitate learning. But I digress.


What is your favorite scent of the holidays.  Hot spiced cider -- cinnamon?  The Christmas tree - pine or fir?  Candy canes -- peppermint?  


Essential oils are a good way to incorporate scents into your holiday season while giving your family and friends the added benefits of the oils.

Holiday Joy

On Guard

White Fir

Cinnamon

Frankincense

Peppermint

Make a Holiday Joy Air Freshener

Small empty glass spray bottle

Water

1 tablespoon baking soda

2-3 drops of Holiday Joy essential oil

Pour baking soda into a small dish and add the drops of essential oil. Mix well. Oil and water will not mix, so you must mix the baking soda and oil together first.

Pour baking soda into the empty spray bottle.

Fill the bottle with water and shake it well to mix the water and baking soda.

Now you have an air freshener that you can use to freshen everything in your house — furniture, laundry room, closets and dog bed. The options are endless.

What's great about this air freshener is that, because it's so affordable to make, you can switch out the scents when seasons change. Mix and match your favorite essential oils to freshen your home in every season. 

For Spring try Citrus Bliss

For Summer try 2 drops lemon and 2 drops lime

For Fall try On Guard

A Happy and Healthy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving marks the beginning of the Holiday Season.  It is a time for family and friends to get together and celebrate.  It is also the beginning of the cold and flu season, although I’ve noticed some folks have gotten a jump on that this year.

Here are some tips for keeping you and your family healthy this year:

1. Wash your hands often. This is probably the single best measure to prevent transmission of colds. Especially spending time in public places, hand washing is critical. Frequent hand washing can destroy viruses that you have acquired from touching surfaces used by other people.. Teach your children the importance of hand washing too.  OnGuard foaming hand wash is an excellent soap to use to help you get rid of anything you may have picked up.
2. Avoid touching your face, especially the nose, mouth, and eye areas.  This is a good practice to follow, you never know when you may have contacted something and these are the quickest ways for germs to enter our system.
3. Don't smoke. Cigarette smoke can irritate the airways and increase susceptibility to colds and other infections. Even exposure to passive smoke can make you (or your children) more vulnerable to colds.
4. Use disposable items if someone in your family is infected. Disposable cups can be thrown away after each use and prevent accidental spread of the virus from sharing of cups or glasses. This is particularly important if you have young children who may try to drink from others' cups.
5. Keep household surfaces clean. Door knobs, drawer pulls, keyboards, light switches, telephones, remote controls, countertops, and sinks can all harbor viruses for hours after their use by an infected person. Wipe these surfaces frequently with soap and water and spray them down with a solution of water and purify essential oil or OnGuard essential oil.
6. If your child has a cold, wash his or her toys as well when you are cleaning household surfaces and commonly-used items.
7. Use paper towels in the kitchen and bathroom for hand washing. Germs can live for several hours on cloth towels. Alternatively, have separate towels for each family member and provide a clean one for guests.
8. Throw tissues away after use. Used tissues are sources of virus that can contaminate any surface where they are left.  You may want to line a trash can with a plastic bag or liner making disposal easier.
9. Maintain a healthy lifestyle. While there isn't direct evidence to show that eating well or exercising can prevent colds, maintenance of a healthy lifestyle, with adequate sleep, good nutrition and physical exercise can help ensure that your immune system is in good condition and ready to fight infection if it occurs.  Lavender essential oil or the Serenity blend of essential oils can be quite helpful in relaxing for sleep.
10.  Control stress. Studies have shown that people experiencing emotional stress have weakened immune systems and are more likely to catch a cold than their calmer counterparts. A number of essential oils can help alleviate stress.  Many people use: Grapefruit, Lavender, Bergamot, Serenity, Elevation or Balance.  You can diffuse the oil into the air and/or massage shoulders, back and feet.
11. Take supplements. In today’s hectic world most of us do not get the proper nutrition even when we try to eat right a good supplement can give you a great boost.  LifeLong Vitality is an excellent choice.
12.  If your immune system has been compromised you may also want to take a probiotic to replace the friendly bacteria in your system. PB Assist+ will do this for you.

We hope you relax and enjoy the holiday season and manage to stay healthy.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Essential Oils: How to keep your Family Healthy

Essential Oils: How to keep your Family Healthy

How to keep your Family Healthy

With children in school and interacting with friends, neighbors and coworkers, we constantly find ourselves surrounded by coughing, sneezing and runny noses.  It can be difficult to ensure the continued health of our families.  A couple of simple tricks will help ward off the many infections and bacteria we come in contact with each day.

1. Washing our hands regularly has always been an effective way of warding off illness.  A recent article in the New York Times shows the benefits of washing with solutions containing Cinnamon essential oil, one of the ingredients of the doTERRA On Guard Foaming Hand Wash.  Cinnamon essential oil is very effective in killing bacteria and other contaminants.
2. Diffusing essential oils is a common way to keep the environment around us clean.  Studies have proven the effectiveness of diffusing essential oils.  Oils such as On Guard, Lavender, Melaleuca, and Purify are especially effective at killing airborne bacteria and viruses while boosting our immune systems.
3. Other uses for essential oils include:
•  applying On Guard essential oil to the bottom of the feet morning and night 
•  adding a little of your favorite citrus essential oil to some water to help boost the immune system.  
•  or you can make your one mixture of essential oils -- eg. combine cinnamon, lemon and eucalyptus.  This mixture dates back to the Middle Ages and was used by thieves who would steal jewelry from the dead bodies of plague victims.  Those who used this mixture never got sick.  Thieves oil, when made with doTERRA Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade oils, can be taken internally or applied topically.
4. Maintaining a healthy immune system helps our body's defenses.  You may want to use a probiotic. PB Assist +® supports healthy digestive functions and immunities and is safe for use by all members of your family.