Hyssop

A couple of days ago my Bible verse of the day was Psalm 51:7, 10-12   "Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean.  Wash me and I will be whiter than snow.  Create in me a clean heart, O God.  Renew a right spirit within me.  Don't throw me from your presence  and don't take your holy Spirit from me.  Restore to me the joy of your salvation.  Uphold me with a willing spirit."

It reminded me how much I love reading about the essential oils and herbs used in the Bible and that I have been slacking big time in blogging.   So here's to a new strat!

Today I'm going to blog about Hyssop. 

It's official name is Hyssopus officinalis. 


It is an evergreen, bushy herb, growing 1 to 2 feet high, with square stem, linear leaves and flowers in whorls, six- to fifteen-flowered.   The flowers are cultivated for use as an expectorant, diaphoretic, stimulant, pectoral,  and carminative.

Historically it was used to disinfect and purify.

Making a tea with the fresh green tops can be beneficial for asthma and rheumatism.

Benefits of the essential oil:
bruises, colds, cough, fatigue, fevers, flatulence, indigestion, inflammation, loss of appetite, nervous tension, sore throat, stress related conditions, wounds

Not to be used when pregnant or if you have epilepsy. 

Fresh batch of Diaper Rash Salve

This week I made a batch of Rash Salve.   Gosh, so I love making that.   It smells so good and my hands looks so smooth and young after. 

This last batch is a winner.   They all are good but I have mentioned before sometimes I will have an oil that's been sitting around a little bit longer making it a little bit more special.

                      Look how beautiful that oil is!!!

Some of the finished salve.   Smells good.  Works great.
This golden greenish salve is perfect for  diaper rashes and works great for cloth diapers.

Not only is this salve perfect for baby rashes but it works on many other aliments like: eczema, dry skin, cuts, burns, cuticles and my favorite dry elbows.

Wonderful Vitamin C

Let's face it, nobody wants to be a Scurvy Pirate. Arrrrr.   Luckily we have plenty of Vitamin C in our diets to keep the scurvy at bay but do we have enough to help our bodies with other ailments.

I personally have seen what Vitamin C can do for anxiety.   After the birth of my last child, I suffered with postpartum anxiety.   I used my placenta and that worked wonderful until it was gone.    When I ran out of my placenta pills it was also the dead of winter.   I typically get some seasonal depression so being postpartum in the winter and then my husband's hours were cut....not a good mix.       I did what I do and researched and researched.      What did I learn?   That when you have inflammation in your body not only can that cause disease and illness but also anxiety and depression.  What is a great anti-inflammatory?    Vitamin C    So I started taking high doses of vitamin C.   I started at 500 mg and upped it until it caused digestive issues (if ya know what I mean) and then back down 500mg.  I ended up taking 5 g of Vitamin C and I was feeling better within in a week.  I wasn't 100% but my life was now manageable and I could move on with exercise and mindfulness to get the rest of the way out.     Now the whole family takes Vitamin C regularly for general health and to help my second son with his allergies and asthma.     Allergies are caused by inflammation in your body.  My hope is to get rid of the inflammation and then he no longer will suffer from the allergies and asthma.  (I feel I need to add that we do give him alopathic meds when needed because his asthma has been severe.)   I no longer take those high doses but a lower maintenance dose.     All of us from ages 3 to 37 take 1000mg a day.  

Not all Vitamin C is equal either.  Some of it contains Sodium Benzoate which is a known carcinogen.  I take Camu Camu.   It's said to be the most absorbed form of vitamin c and it's food based.  The kids take Dynamic Health Liquid Vitamin C.  They like to mix it in plain seltzer water and make "soda" 

Benefits of Vitamin C may be:
anti-oxidant
reduces inflammation
anti-aging
cold fighting
raise sperm count
may prevent premature rupture of membranes (pregnancy)
and more!!

Lice Prevention

Lice.....ugh it makes me shiver just thinking of it.   The picture I'm posting is enough to give anyone the hee-bee-gee-bees.  

Nobody wants lice but it happens.    I remember growing up people associated lice with the kids that weren't so clean, but those kids were actually on to something.   Lice are attracted to clean, shiny hair!      Another tip is they do not like the scents of mango, rosemary and tea tree.

This is what we do in our house.   I buy an unscented all natural shampoo and add 1 drop of tea tree essential oil per every ounce of shampoo.   We only wash our hair three times a week.    So far so good on the lice front. 

Let me know if you use this tip and your thoughts!

Back to School Tip!

I get asked a lot about how I keep my kids healthy.    They do get sick but it's rare.   They eat a good diet, take Vit D daily and we use lemon in our water.

In my opinion that is a very simple way to keep the sickies away.     You can do this my infusing lemon in water for a couple days or you can add a drop of high quality, pure lemon essential oil to 4 ozs of water.      Try it out and see how it works for you!

How to make Magnesium Oil and how to use Magnesium Salts

 Since I found Magnesium Oil I have been obsessed with it.  It has so many uses.    The salts, which are pure magnesium chloride crystals can be used on their own or to make the oil.    I don't think I can give these salts justice in explaining all they do.

First the importance of Magnesium.   Most Americans are low in Magnesium.   Being low in Magnesium can cause sore muscles, low recovery time, weakened immune system, nervousness, insomnia, constipation just to name a few.    It also fights signs of aging and cellulite! Sure you can take oral magnesium supplements but they tend to cause gas and frequent visits to the bathroom.  Plus, if you are the average American your gut is not very healthy and it doesn't absorb nutrients well.    Luckily, there is Magnesium chloride that can be used trans-dermal.   You can use it as an oil, bath or foot bath.   My personal favorites are the foot bath and oil.
A great book about Magnesium is The Magnesium Miracle.

First lets talk about the oil.  You can buy it or make it.   When I use to buy it I bought this one.   It works great and I liked it enough.   Now I make my own though and I will show you how to do the same.

It's really easy.  All you need is salt, boiling water and a spray bottle.    The stronger you make it the more likely it will sting when you spray it.  The stinging will not harm you but it can hurt.  Especially if you are spraying a wound.    To start off  use a 50/50 ratio, you can always make it more or less to fit your needs.  I.E.   Boil 1 cup of water.  Remove from heat and let it cool a bit.   Mix in 1 cup of magnesium salts.  Let dissolve and then add to your spray bottle.      You can get the magnesium salts here.www.aromaticsandherbs.etsy.com

Here are the ways I use my magnesium oil.   I spray it on my toothpaste before I brush my teeth.  I do this for the kids too.   It helps fight cavities and can remineralize tooth enamel.    I spray some of it on my fingers and rub onto my face every night.   The 11s between my eyebrows have nearly disappeared in just 2 months.   I spray it on my whole body before I go to bed.   I use it to heal wounds but I warn you it BURNS.  I dilute it even more for the kids.   I use it as a deodorant and it works beyond great.    My son gets little facial warts and we have eliminated all but one with the magnesium oil. The one left was the largest and now it's very tiny so it should be gone soon.  

Next, the foot bath.     This is the best way to use Magnesium chloride therapeutically.  If you suspect a Magnesium deficiency this is essential in your healing.   After a stressful day I can just feel it melt right away when I use a foot bath.  It's just wonderful.     I take 1 cup of salts and add it to 2 cups of hot water.   Let your feet soak for AT LEAST 30 minutes.   Do this nightly.

Lastly, the bath.      Add 2 cups of salts to your bath and soak for 20 minutes.    Simple!

I hope you fall in love with them as much as I have!

Peace and Love,
Heather

The best all natural deodorant EVER and it's not mine.

Some may think this blog post is not very business savvy but my first concern if for people not for my bottom line.

I came across a product called Magnesium Oil.    It has many different uses.   It's great for restless leg syndrome,cellulite, anxiety, stress, insomnia, migraines and much much more. I was looking for a better way to get magnesium that wouldn't cause digestive upset.  Google it.   

Another use is as a deodorant.    Not only is it a deodorant but since you are putting it directly on your armpits it helps cleanse your lymphatic system.     I'm AMAZED on how well this works as a deodorant.    It burns like a mofo the first time you use it and after you shave but it's well worth it.