The Headache Chronicles ~ Essential Oil Remedies!

The Headache Arsenal!

Since I woke up with a headache this morning I thought it a fitting subject for today's blog post.  Thankfully I had a few remedies up my sleeve and the bugger is gone now :)  

Where to begin....

Since there are headaches and then there are HEADACHES, let's break things down a bit.  Starting with...



Migraine Headaches

A migraine is a severe, painful headache whose symptoms can include nausea, sensitivity to light and even vomiting.  Unfair as it is, women are more prone to migraines than men.  Migraines are triggered by stress, anxiety, sleep deprivation and hormonal changes.  Here's a few ideas for all you poor souls who have to manage migraines.

If you scroll back to the first photo of this post, you'll notice a tall, clear bottle.  This is Past Tense, an essential oil blend in a roll~on...or Stick, as I like to call it.  The blend is made up of 8 different EOs!  Wintergreen, Lavender, Peppermint, Frankincense, Cilantro, Marjoram, Roman Chamomile, Basil and Rosemary.  Whoa!  This is a formidable blend of oils when it comes to a mother of a headache like a migraine.  

Recommendations:  Past Tense ~ topically on temples, forehead, back of neck and shoulders if tense.  Peppermint can be used too but there are some who claim this oil can aggravate a migraine.  Use sparingly and watch for sensitivity!  Basil is a strong analgesic and can be an amazing choice too.  I'd advise diluting Basil with Fractionated Coconut Oil as it's a strong oil.  Deep Blue Blend is very nice to dilute with Fractionated Coconut Oil too.  Rub the oil on the back of neck and shoulders to help relax tense muscles.



Tips and Hints:  If you suffer from frequent headaches, it's beneficial to stay hydrated and drink water with a couple drops of Peppermint in it for prevention of frequent headaches!




Tension Headaches

Tension or stress headaches are probably the most common kind of headache.  For most of us, stressful days at work, family issues, school, humongous To Do lists and not enough hours in the day to do them...all can contribute to developing the evil tension headache!

Recommendations:  Again, Past Tense is a good choice or Peppermint and Lavender singly or combined are excellent for stress headaches.  Again, remember to stay hydrated during stressful times to avoid getting a headache at all!

Sugar Headache

These little nasties can come on when blood sugar gets low.

Recommendation:  The On Guard Blend.  Apply 1 to 2 drops to temples, back of neck and forehead.  Repeat as needed!

Tips and Hints:  On Guard is WONDERFUL to diffuse in your home, office or classroom.  Give that headache the double barrel by applying topically AND diffusing into the air.

Be Well!

Another Big Fat List of Great Ways To Use Essential Oils {Part II}

As you can see, I continue to be the queen of lists!  I have lists on my phone, calendar and my popular *post it* lists frequent the refrigerator and/or countertop.  I almost need a list to keep track of my lists!

Here's yet another Big Fat List that I thoroughly enjoyed making for YOU!  Bookmark this post for easy future reference.

1.  Grungy Dish Scrubber:  Drip 3 to 4 drops of Lemon or Wild Orange EO on scrubber and run through the dishwasher for clean, lemony fresh dishes and scrubber!

2.  Lavender Fresh Laundry:  Apply 6 to 10 drops of Lavender EO to a clean cotton sock, roll into a ball, fit the balled sock into the toe of the 2nd sock, twist end and pull the tube of section of the sock back down over balled end.  Create a tight ball and throw this in the dryer with wet clothes.  Lovely lavender scent for 20+ loads!

3.  Enhance Your Moisturizer:  Add a drop of Geranium EO to your favorite moisturizer to balance oil distribution for supple skin.  Also, calms redness!

4.  For Cough or Sore Throat:  Add 3 to 5 drops of Lemon EO to a teaspoon of honey.  Wonderful for kids too!

5.  Air Freshener/Mood Lifter:  Fill 8 oz. spray bottle with water and a teaspoon of rubbing alcohol or vodka (for emulsion), add 10 drops of Wild Orange and spritz into the air.

6.  Near Perfect Fabric Softener:  This is cheap, green and great at getting soap residue out of clothes while softening!  Buy a glass quart of white vinegar.  Add 20 drops of Lavender  and a teaspoon of alcohol to the bottle. Shake and add a 1/2 cup of scented vinegar in your rinse cycle or softener ball.  Keep the glass container and refill when empty.  Plastic bottles and EO's don't play well together!  Glass is better!

7.  Oral and General Health Care:  Add a drop of Frankincense to your toothpaste upon brushing every night and morning.  Frankincense contains sesquiterpenes that enables the oil to penetrate the blood-brain barrier.  Helps to oxygenate the pituitary and pineal glands.  Helps with memory, irritability and restlessness.  

8.  Snore Stopper:  Swipe a drop of Breathe Blend along each side of the nose before retiring to open up breathing passages!  Love this!  

9.  Cradle Cap & Adult Scalp Issues:  For babies, apply Lavender diluted with carrier oil to irritated areas on scalp.  For adults with crusty spots, mix a drop of undiluted Lavender and Melaluca, rub into problem areas twice daily.

10.  Stop Vomiting, Stomach Cramps Instantly!  An EO blend that I keep with me at ALL times.  A must for road warriors, doTERRA DigestZen can stop violent food poisoning symptoms in their tracks.  Rub 2 to 3 undiluted drops on stomach, for more violent symptoms take 3 to 4 drops on tongue.  

11.  Sanitize Hands:  Keep a bottle of Lemon EO in your purse or backpack to sanitize hands after using public facilities.  Much better for your beneficial flora than commercial hand sanitizers!

12.  Mold/Mildew Cleaner:  2 cups white vinegar in a spray bottle ~ add 2 drops Lemon EO and 2 drops Melaleuca.  Shake and spray.  Let stand for 30 minutes before wiping away.

13.  Calm High Blood Pressure:  In a capsule:  5 drops Marjoram EO, 4 drops Ylang Ylang EO, 4 drops Cypress EO, 4 drops Lemon EO.  Take as needed.  Does not replace your HBP medication.  

14.  Poor Man's Diffuser:  Calm the atmosphere (classroom!) on the cheap!  If you don't have a diffuser, apply 2 drops to a cotton ball and place behind a fan set to Low.  Soon the room will fill with the calming properties of Lavender!  Apply a refresher drop on the cotton ball every hour.

15.  Chronic Dry Eyes:  Gently dab Lavender EO on the facial bones surrounding the eye, careful not to get too close to the eyes with the EO.  Within minutes the dry, irritated eyes will soothe and feel better.  Should you accidentally get too close to the eye with any EO, dilute with a carrier oil, not water.

16.  Acne and Skin Irritations:  Add 20 drops of Melaleuca to an 8oz bottle of Dr. Bronner's Castile soap.  An effective wash for facial and body acne! 

17.  Emergency Inhaler:  Put a drop or two of Peppermint or Breathe Blend EO in the palm of one hand, cup the other hand atop the palm, put mouth to cupped hand and inhale deeply!  Air passages and lungs will respond immediately!

18.  Tooth Abscess:  2 T. Fractionated Coconut Oil, 2 drops Oregano, 2 drops clove.  Hold in mouth over the infected area for 10 min. then spit it out.  Do not swallow!  Repeat as needed.

19.  Eczema (children):  Mix 1 drop, Frankincense, Geranium, Thyme and Lavender EO diluted in one tablespoon  Fractionated Coconut Oil.  Apply topically, repeat as needed.

20.  Anxiety in Children:  Apply Vetiver EO and Balance Blend EO on wrists morning and night.  Especially nice for school age children who wake up anxious about going to school.

21.  Keep Mice Out:  This time of year when the weather cools, pesky mice want INside.  Put 2 drops of Peppermint EO on a cotton ball and place in those known places of entry.

22.  Vaginal Yeast Infection:  2 drops of Melaleuca in Fractionated Coconut Oil.  Apply topically, repeat as needed.

23.  Plantar Warts:  Apply Oregano twice daily.  Use a Q-tip for better control as this oil is considered a hot oil.  If after a week or so it appears bigger that means it's dying.  Keep applying!  Sometimes if the wart is deeply embedded, something sticky like duct tape is useful to apply to the area and peel back, pulling the wart out.  If you have any sticky discs from a prior unsuccessful wart removal kit...being very sticky, they're also great for attaching to the wart and pulling it out.

24.  Equilibrium/Dizziness:  Rub Frankincense behind and in front of the ears, pulling it down the jawline and toward the chin.  Repeat as necessary.

25.  What to do with Empty EO Bottles:  Next time you take a bath, fill your empty bottles with warm water from the faucet and empty into the bath water!  There is always a residue left behind in the bottle that is perfect to use this way!

   

Essential Oil Sticks ~ Take Wellness Where You Wander!

Wellness in an Altoids Tin!

We're a society of urban adventurers.  We may make the same predictable commute day in and day out but, one never knows what unexpected obstacle may lurk on the street, subway, classroom or office on any given day!  We may be away from home, but we're never far from wellness with a super handy Altoid Tin full of doTERRA EO Sticks geared to handle the toughest terrain and the gnarliest annoyances!

I propose keeping {3} EO sticks on your person at all times, including your basic vial of Lemon and Lavender!

Permit me to explain why I suggest these particular blends for the whole family!

Peppermint & Wild Orange for FOCUS:

{4 drops of each diluted in Fractionated Coconut Oil in a 5ml glass roll on applicator}

A wonderful blend when focus is needed. Kids benefit greatly from this blend.  Teach them to how to use essential oils, they'll feel empowered and more in control of their well being if you show them how they can help themselves.  So whether it's a long day in the classroom or an even longer day in the office, a FOCUS stick can help zero in on the matter at hand.  

Our 5 yr.old grand daughter takes an EO Stick (Ginger & Fractionated Coconut Oil) to Kindergarten in her backpack and applies it to her tummy when needed!  I just love that her Mom is teaching her about essential oils and that she's learning to take control of her wellness in such a simple and safe manner!

How to Apply:  Simply roll~on wrists or back of neck.  

No fear of over medicating, side effects, doesn't need refrigeration or to be taken with food, no worries of addiction or building up an immunity, no need for a prescription, no need to be administered by school staff and no stigma!

Balance & Bergamot for Centered Liveliness!

{4 drops of each diluted in Fractionated Coconut Oil in a 5ml glass roll on applicator}

One of my favorite combinations for feeling calm, cool and collected.  Balance takes on stress, depression, anxiety, feelings of inadequacy and over stimulation.  Almost immediately, a sense of calm is felt when applying this blend.  Add Bergamot for an added kick of citrus zing!  Let's face it, after lunch break...you need a little zing!  While Balance calms, Bergamot wakes up the senses!

How to Apply:  Same as above.  All benefits apply!

On Guard to Ward Off Germs & Virus:

{8 drops diluted in Fractionated Coconut Oil in a 5ml glass roll on applicator}

Such an important blend of essential oils to have on hand at all times for both adults and kids!  While some lucky kids or co~workers can work in a diffused environment, most can't.  Keep your On Guard Stick handy for shielding you and your kids from nasty viruses and bacteria!  

How to Apply:  Roll on wrists, forearms or bottoms of your feet if you get the chance or roll some onto your finger and get it on your tongue.  No need to worry about any germs that might be on that finger, On Guard will take care of those!  Remember, this blend is able to penetrate cells thereby eradicating viruses where antibiotics cannot.  Such a vital oil blend for prevention and wellness!!

There was room in the tin for 2 small vials, my choices were Lavender and Lemon because they're SO versatile!  

Lavender for headaches, sunburn, bug bites, soothing cuts, burns and rashes, relaxing and all round amazing scent!

Lemon for sanitizing, add to water, stop runny nose, clear up cold sores, antibacterial, insect repellent, circulation mover, removes greasy, gummy stuff too!

Camp Wander Giveaway!

Win an Altoid Tin filled with EO Sticks + Lavender & Lemon

To Enter:

1.  Leave a comment and tell me why you'd like your own EO Sticks!
2.  Go to Camp Wander on FB ~ LIKE the page and SHARE this post!  
3.  Email me at rebecca@campwander.com ~ tell me what steps you took to enter the giveaway.  Leave a mailing address in case you're the lucky winner!

Ends Sunday, Sept. 10th @ midnite MDT

Good luck!

September 5, 6, 7 & 8

September 5

Why yes, I do have the Superman symbol as my laptop wallpaper. 

Smallville fangirling, much? ;D

September 6

I went roofing with the guys again.

It rained on us. :(

September 7

Mum found a huge pumpkin in the pumpkin patch.

September 8

Pickle-making helpers. :)

How to Get the Underside of Acrylic Nails Bright & Clean!

A few weeks ago my daughter and I decided to splurge and get our nails done, as in acrylic nails.  For the most part, gardening has slowed down so I thought this would be a great idea!  And, it was!

But, what about the unsightly underside?  

You know what I mean...

After a couple of weeks your natural nail starts to grow back and the undersides take on a yellowish color.  

I really don't like that at all!  But have no fear, there's a quick fix that's cheap, natural and even smells good!

Hydrogen Peroxide, Baking Soda & doTERRA Lemon essential oil

Simply mix a paste, thick enough to sit on a brush and add 4 or 5 drops of Lemon essential oil for brightening!

Brush em.

The End.

The Great Lemon Bomb Toilet Cleaner!

I'm home alone, blogging about toilet cleaner and wishing like crazy that someone was here to see this! Who knew that cleaning toilets could be so much fun!  

When your kids see this mad scientist move, they'll be jumping up and down volunteering to get this chore...a small miracle in of itself wouldn't you say?  

And, you're going to laugh when you see how much fun this is and how squeaky clean the toilet bowl gets!

SIMPLE ingredients!  
Good for you, the planet AND your plumbing!  I use this basic recipe for unclogging my kitchen sink so consider it a bonus to that sparkling commode, the plumbing gets a good cleanse too!

For a lemony clean add a 5 to 6 drops of doTERRA Lemon EO to...

1 Cup Vinegar and 1 Cup Baking Soda...

I would suggest you combine the ingredients in the following order :)

First of all, choose a large pitcher, pan or bowl because once you combine all the ingredients the mad, mad fun begins!  Add the Lemon EO and the white vinegar first, then dump in the baking soda and watch the magic!  Actually, you might want to grab it and run because it grows rather quickly!  There was maybe 2 seconds between photos, and look how it grew!  

SO FUN!!

  

Apologizing in advance!  Somehow it doesn't seem right to post a photo of a toilet bowl :-/

But you've got to see this!  Once you drop the contents into the bowl it fills up with this thick, glorious, lemony, foamy cleaning genius that works amazingly well!  I let the magic sit for awhile...then flush it down and clean the pipes too!

Try this with your kids over the weekend, show them just how fun cleaning can be *wink* *wink*!

Daybook 23

Outside my window- It was a really nice temperature today- not too hot, and a bit windy- perfect for working in the garden this morning.

I am thinking about- This video. I watched it for the first time several days ago, but it's so funny I keep laughing every time I think about it. :D

From the kitchen- We're having [homemade] mac & cheese for supper.

I am creating- I did some sketching yesterday...

I am reading- "N or M?" by Agatha Christie.

I am hearing- Mollie, getting the table set for supper.

I am planning- One of these days I really need to rearrange my bookshelves- 'cause right now my books don't all fit.

I am wearing- A tiered denim skirt, and a green shirt.

My hair is- I just washed it, so I've put it up, and haphazardly stuck a flower into it.

Around the house- It's been a pretty uneventful week so far... :D