Tag Archives: Lavender

Lemon-Aid

Leave a reply

Lemon (Citrus limon) has a strong, purifying, citrus scent that is revitalizing and uplifting! Lemon consists of 68 percent dlimonene, a powerful antioxidant. Lemon essential oil is  cold-pressed from the rinds of lemons.  It is estimated that it takes 3,000 lemons to produce one kilo of oil!  Lemons were used in Europe as early as 200 A.D. and were introduced to the Americas by Christopher Columbus in 1493.

Studies show that inhaling lemon can actually counter occasional feelings of depression. Lemon is also an important ingredient in natural cosmetics that may be useful for cleansing the skin and reducing the appearance of wrinkles. It is delicious to drink in water and I must confess that I am a lemon oil junkie! (Young Living lemon oil is safe for internal use)  Every time I get a glass of water, I add a drop of lemon oil to it.  The taste of lemon oil compared to squeezing fresh lemon juice into your water has a completely different taste.  The fresh lemon juice tastes more acidic and the lemon oil has a warmer taste.  You will have to do a taste test to judge for yourself!  🙂  As this is not very expensive, I tend to hoard this oil.  I don’t like drinking water without it.    I hope you don’t see me on TLC one day… getting an intervention from family about my lemon oil hoarding problem!

Just looking at a lemon makes me happy.

lemon tree

Lemon oil is not only wonderful to drink, but there are so many other health benefits. Lemon oil is anti-infectious, antibacterial (especially with spores), antiviral, antiseptic, and a disinfectant.

Lemon oil can help balance your pH.  “The ideal pH for human blood is between 7.4 and 7.6. Preserving this alkalinity (pH balance) is the bedrock on which sound health and strong bodies are built. When the blood loses its alkalinity and starts to become more acidic, the foundation of health is undermined. This creates an environment where we become vulnerable to disease and runaway yeast and fungus overgrowth. The naturally occurring yeast and fungi in the body thrive in an acidic environment. These same yeast and fungi are responsible for secreting a large number of poisons called mycotoxins, which are believed to be one of the root causes of many diseases and debilitating conditions.”

                                      Picture of mycotoxins… disgusting.

mycotoxins
“When yeast and fungus decline in the body, so does their production of Mycotoxins, the poisonous waste products and byproducts of their life cycles. There are numerous varieties of these Mycotoxins, many of which are harmful to the body and must be neutralized by our immune systems. When our bodies are overwhelmed by large quantities of these toxins, our health becomes impaired, and we become susceptible to disease and illness.

Many cancers have been linked to Mycotoxins. By balancing the body’s pH and creating a more alkaline environment, you can reign in the microbial overgrowth and choke off the production of disease producing Mycotoxins.”  (How to restore body to an Alkaline pH by Evelyn Vincent)

alkaline

Dr. Jean Valnet, M.D. and medical researcher, has stated that the essential oil of lemon acts as a liver decongestant and diuretic and is a powerful body cleanser.  Lemon essential oil is exceptional for the lymph system, stomach, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, and spleen. The vaporized essence of lemon can kill Meningococcus bacteria in 15 minutes, Typhoid bacilli in one hour, Staphylococcus aureus in two hours, and Pnuemococcus bacteria within three hours. Even a 0.2% solution of lemon can kill diphtheria bacteria in 20 minutes and inactivate tuberculosis bacteria.

dolf

Here are some other ways to use lemon:
**To clean non-carpeted floors, add 1/4 cup of white vinegar to a bucket of water. Then add 5 – 10 drops of lemon. If the floor is especially dirty, add several drops of dish washing soap. This will clean even the dirtiest floor.

**To make a carpet freshener, add 16 – 20 drops of essential oils to 1 cup of baking soda or borax powder. Mix ingredients together well and place in a covered container overnight so that the essential oil can be absorbed. Sprinkle over carpet then vacuum the powder up.

**Some essential oils can act as gentle stimulants to the limbic system of the brain by their scent, increasing alertness and concentration enhancing the capacity for learning, improving memory, and assisting many other cognitive functions. Lemon is one of these oils!

** Use 1–2 drops to remove gum, oil, grease, grease spots, glue and adhesives, and crayon from most surfaces. Tip: try a test area before to make sure you won’t ruin any finishes.

**To use Lemon oil in place of the zest of “one” lemon – use 8 drops of Young Living Lemon essential oil.

**Combine 2–3 drops with water in a 4oz. spray bottle filled with water to help cleanse and sanitize kitchen and bathroom surfaces.

** Soothe or prevent corns, callous, or bunions by rubbing 1-2 drops of Lemon oil on the affected area, morning and evening.

**Fill a bowl with cold water, add 2–3 drops of Lemon oil, and drench fruit and vegetables in the lemon water to extend the shelf life of fresh produce.

**Add a drop to your dishwasher before the wash cycle for spot-free dishes.

** Lemon oil may help brighten a pale, dull complexion by removing the dead skin cells. Simply mix a drop with your cleanser to help promote healthier skin tone.

**Rub 1-3 drops of Lemon oil to clean a butcher’s block or other cutting surfaces to disinfect those surfaces.

**Add one teaspoon of lemon essential oil to one-cup mineral oil for an effective furniture polish.

**Put a drop of Lemon oil on bleeding gum’s caused by gingivitis or tooth extraction to help with healing and disinfecting.

** Rub 4-6 drops of Lemon oil with 1 teaspoon of V-6 Massage Oil on cellulite, may improve circulation and help eliminate waste from the cells.  (Thank you, Young Living Oil Lady for these great tips!)

As you can see lemon is pretty powerful and it does come to our aid!

Here is a good lemonade recipe:

lavender lemonade

Fill a glass pitcher with ice cold water.
Add 10 drops of Young Living Lemon Oil
Add 1 tsp of pure stevia powder to sweeten. Or a couple tablespoons of honey.
Add 1 drop of Lavender (optional)
Stir vigorously and taste. Add more drops of Lemon, Lavender, stevia, or honey to your preferred flavor.
Fill glasses with ice, and stir lemonade well before pouring each glass.
Enjoy!

*Sharing experiences with essential oils is an effective way of learning to utilize these powerful gifts from Nature.  With this knowledge we can take control of our personal health.  However, we are required by law in the USA to state, “These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. Products and techniques mentioned are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.”

Letting it go

Leave a reply

On Facebook a couple days ago, I shared that I was dealing with an unstable neighbor.  I have never seen anything like it.  I feel really sorry for this lady… she definitely must be very messed up and hurting.  We set some boundaries regarding our kids and their safety and her dog… she is now on a mission to harass us and to get back at us. I really had so many sweet comments from people on this post on FB… I felt like people did have my back.

Of course, I want to do the right thing and love my enemy, but loving my enemy looks different in every situation. That is when intimacy with the Lord comes in to play and that is a good time to pray and ask Him… what do you want me to do??  I feel like I got my answer and that she is not a safe person.   I feel like now I am to report her behavior to the police and to ignore her.  And to pray for her.  (that is hard)

It would feel really good to flip her off (as this is her favorite thing to do when she sees us)  or to be able to do something nasty back, but I feel like the Lord is restraining me.  And that is a good thing.  I don’t want to start acting like she does and I don’t want bitterness or hate to enter my heart.  This is not saying that the Lord wants me to be a doormat or wants me to not stand up for myself.  There was a time when I needed to confront her and I did that.   I  know that when I listen and let Him go to town on my behalf… things change for my benefit!  I have seen many times over the years, that when I hand over my need for vengeance to the Lord– that He does something way more amazing and creative than I could ever have dreamed of doing.  I know I’m His girl and He has my back.  I am handing my neighbor over to Him.  I’m letting it go.

A good verse in 1 Peter 3:12   “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”   I just know that the Lord does not like people messing with his kids.  I know the anger that can come out of me if anyone messes with my boys. Wow. I would hate to be in her shoes.

Oh my goodness.. in the middle of writing this my Aunt Regina sent me a couple verses regarding this situation.  They could not be more perfect.

Proverbs 11:9  With their mouths the godless destroy their neighbors, but through knowledge the righteous escape.  (man, I do feel like I need to escape!)

Proverbs 11:12  Whoever derides their neighbor has no sense, but the one who has understanding holds their tongue.  (help me, Lord to keep my mouth shut)   Aunt Regina, this was confirmation for me!

Speaking of wanting to escape, this situation has caused me a wee bit of stress. We all know that stress is so hard on your body and emotions  Long-term exposure to stress can lead to serious health problems. Chronic stress disrupts nearly every system in your body. It can raise blood pressure, suppress the immune system, increase the risk of heart attack and stroke, contribute to infertility, and speed up the aging process. Long-term stress can even rewire the brain, leaving you more vulnerable to anxiety and depression. This is why I need to let this situation/stress go…   and two perfect oils to help you with stress are Peace and Calming and Lavender.  My friend, Brian Patterson, jokingly said my neighbor needed Peace and Calming oil and I totally agree!  🙂   These oils are great in helping manage stress.

peace

The Peace and Calming Blend consists of 5 different essential oils. They are listed below along with a brief description of what each oil is used for.

• Ylang Ylang(Cananga odorata) helps by increasing relaxation; balances male and female energies, helps lower rapid breathing, blood pressure and anxiety levels. It helps by allowing the individual to gather their thoughts by filtering out the “junk”.

• Patchouli Essential Oil (Pogostemon cablin) is strongly grounding and centering. Very high sesquiterpenes that stimulate the limbic center of the brain. It reestablishes mental and emotional equilibrium and energizes the mind.

• Tangerine Essential Oil (Citrus nobilis) contains esters and aldehydes that are sedating and calming, helping with anxiety and nervousness.  When diffused tangerine can help soothe emotions such as grief, shock and anger.

• Orange Essential Oil (Citrus sinensis) helps to bring joy and peace to the mind and joy to the heart, which in turn help to provide emotional support to help overcome depression.

• Blue Tansy Essential Oil  (Tanacetum annuum) is highly anti-inflammatory and helps cleanse the liver and lymphatic system both of which hold onto toxic build up from anger and negative emotions. It is also very sedating to the nerves and nervous system.

 

I definitely want to focus on Peace and Calming in a later post… it deserves special attention for sure.  In addition to this oil, Lavender is just wonderful in helping you to relax.

As I lived for many years in anxiety and fear (basically living in constant stress)… the Lord healed me and I have never been the same since then.  I now know what it is like to live in peace.  I know what it feels like to be in His presence.  He is real.  He is the kindest person I have ever known.  I don’t want to retaliate and act like my neighbor.  I don’t want that behavior to put a wedge between me and Him.  Or for it to rob me of my peace.  Maybe… this was a set up.  Maybe he is allowing this situation to not only bring me more truth, but to speak to someone reading this right now.  He may have set this up to say to you right now– I love you and I want to be a part of your life.  This is how He works– He is always intentional.  He never does anything without something good to come out of it.  So, I am going to say that being flipped of by my neighbor was a good thing. It led me to write this…. and maybe someone is going hear that the Lord has your back, when you are willing to trust him.  I love that our Heavenly Father loves impossibilities!  I am wondering what He is going to do for me in this situation… what do you have up your sleeve, Lord?

What are you holding on to today?  What does He want you to let go of today?

Just let go!  And be encouraged… God cares about you and loves you.

Here is a favorite song of mine…

Lavender

Leave a reply

Lavender.  I use to hate the smell of Lavender.  It actually made me feel sick.  Little did I know back then that I was not really smelling true Lavender.  Most of the Lavender products on the market are synthetic Lavender or they have very little pure Lavender oil in them.  Once I smelled 100% pure Lavender, I was shocked.  It smelled delicious.. kind of like grape flavored gum.  Then I started using it on a daily basis and it quickly became my favorite oil.  I started using it to help relax and to sleep at night.  I rub this on my feet and wrists right before bed every night.  Or I mix it with some almond oil (you can use extra virgin olive oil or a good veg oil too) and add to an Epsom salt bath at night.  You will literally feel drugged (good drugged) after a Lavender Epsom salt bath.  I also put this on my kids feet every night before they hop into bed.  Sometimes I will hear my youngest son yell downstairs, after I have put him in bed,  in his cute deep 8 yr. old voice, “Mom, I need some more Lavender.”

If I was stranded on a desert island and could only have one oil with me-  what would that be?  You got it… Lavender.  It is the most versatile oil and it helps so many things.  If in doubt– use Lavender.  It has been labeled the “Swiss army knife” of essential oils.

lavender3

Lavender has been clinically evaluated for its relaxing effects. The fragrance is calming and relaxing.  I know this is true because I have seen my kids calm down immediately after putting this on them. I keep a bottle in my kitchen (for possible burns- because I am spastic in the kitchen) and one upstairs for bedtime.  Lavender oil is not only an anti-fungal, it is also anti-infectious, anti-inflammatory, antispetic and more!

I use Lavender daily and here are the three ways you can apply it:

1. Neat-  You can put directly on the skin… don’t have to mix with a carrier oil.  You can not do this with all oils. Some oils are very hot.

2. Inhalation-  put a couple drops in your hands and breathe in or diffuse

3. Ingest-  Not all Lavender oil is the same, so if you get something at the store and it says do not ingest– do not.  You can ingest Young Living Lavender.  I will put a drop in my water to help relax or you can add to lemonade– delicious.  You can also buy clear vegetable capsules and put a couple drops of Lavender in that and swallow.  This is great to take every day for allergies.

Here are 30 ways you can use Lavender oil:

1.) Rub Lavender oil on the feet for a calming effect on the body.

2.) Rub a drop of Lavender oil on your palms and then apply to your pillow to help you sleep and for insomnia.

3.) Put a drop of Lavender oil on a bee sting or insect bite to stop itching and reduce swelling.

4.) Put 2-3 drops of Lavender oil on a minor burn to decrease pain and help prevent scarring.

5.) Drop Lavender oil on a cut to stop the bleeding.

6.)  Mix several drops of Lavender oil with olive or coconut oil and use topically on eczema and dermatitis.

7.)  To alleviate the symptoms of motion sickness, place a drop of Lavender oil on the end of the tongue, around the navel or behind the ears.
8.)  To stop a nosebleed, put a drop of Lavender oil on a tissue and wrap it around a small chip of ice.  Push the tissue covered ice chip up under the middle of the top lip to the base of the nose and hold as long as comfortable or until the bleeding stops (do not freeze the lip or gum).

9.) Rub a drop of Lavender oil over the bridge of the nose to unblock tear ducts.

10.) Rub Lavender oil on dry or chapped skin.

11.) Rub a drop of Lavender oil on chapped or sunburned lips.

12.) To reduce or minimize the formation of scar tissue, massage Lavender oil on and around the affected area.

13.)  Rub 2 drops of Lavender oil over the armpit area to act as a deodorant.  ( I might try this 🙂 )

14.) Rub a drop of Lavender oil between your palms and inhale deeply to help alleviate the symptoms of hay fever.

15.) Rub several drops of Lavender oil into the scalp to help eliminate dandruff.

16.) Place a few drops of Lavender oil on a cotton ball and place in your linen closet to scent the linens and repel moths and insects.

17.) Place a drop of Lavender oil in your water fountain to scent the air, kill bacteria and prolong the time between cleanings.

18.) Place a few drops of Lavender oil on a wet cloth and throw into the dryer which will deodorize and freshen your laundry.

19.) Put a drop of Lavender oil on a cold sore.

20.) Diffuse Lavender oil to alleviate the symptoms of allergies.

21.)  Spritz several drops of Lavender oil mixed with distilled water on a sunburn to decrease pain.

22.) Drop Lavender oil on a cut to clean the wound and kill bacteria.

23.) Apply 2-3 drops of Lavender oil to a rash to stop the itching and heal the skin.  (Good for Eczema)

24.) Apply 1-2 drops of Lavender oil in your iron to freshen your clothes.

25.)  Apply 1-2 drops of Lavender oil on a wet cloth and place in the dryer for an all natural dryer sheet.

26.) Rub Lavender oil on the back of your neck, chest, and in between your eyes to alleviate sinuses, sinusitis, allergies.

27.) Add Lavender oil to your recipes. (Lavender Blueberry Banana Bread)

28.)  Add drops of Lavender oil to your favorite beverage:  tea or lemonade.

29.)  Rub a drop of Lavender oil on your temples to alleviate a headache.

30.)  Rub a drop on the base of the neck to relieve stress and anxiety.

As you can see, Lavender is an essential oil that can uplift your life (and mood) and help your health in a variety of ways. It’s a great secret weapon to have on hand at all times!

Please leave a comment below with any essential oil questions and tell us what your FAVORITE uses for oils are!

*Sharing experiences with essential oils is an effective way of learning to utilize these powerful gifts from Nature.  With this knowledge we can take control of our personal health.  However, we are required by law in the USA to state, “These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. Products and techniques mentioned are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.”