Camp Wander All Purpose Healing Stick!

The All Purpose Healing Stick could be called the MIRACLE stick for it's many all purpose uses!  Make this a go~to blend for breakouts, cuts, bruises, scrapes, bug bites...basically any small skin irritation!

Are you coveting my roller bottle {stick} with the steel ball top yet?

Thought so :)

Besides the blend of EOs that I'll tell you about in a minute, this is the workhorse ingredient of the blend.

WITCH HAZEL

{alcohol-free}

I now buy this particular Witch Hazel 4 bottles at the time from Amazon.  This is the Witch Hazel that goes in my EO Deodorant, Rosacea Blend as well as many other potions I conjure up for friends and family!

If you're an EO user or even just care about your skin, quality Witch Hazel is a wellness/beauty product you'll want in your natural medicine cabinet.  So versatile and SO great for your skin!

  Let me introduce you to the dream team of healing EOs:

  Lavender Frankincense Melaleuca

  

Really, what CAN'T these EOs take on?  Together  they're a healing machine and mixed with good Witch Hazel?  Oh mama!  As I mentioned above, you can use and have success with the Healing Stick for blemishes, cuts, burns, bruises, scrapes and bug bites!  The Stick has been a life saver for the nasty gnat bites I've been whining about.

5ml Roller Bottle

If you look closely, you'll see that the oils will rise to the top of the bottle, no worries...just give the bottle a gentle shake before applying.  Apply as needed!

10 drops Lavender
10 drops Frankincense
10 drops Melaleuca

Add the EOs then top with quality Witch Hazel.

If you're wondering what else you can use Witch Hazel for?  Here's 25 ideas for you {HERE}

And...if you're wondering where to buy the awesome "Stick"?  You can find them {HERE}.

THE END!

P.S.  Don't forget that you can always get an additional 10% your Spark EOs with this code!  campwander

Allergies, Inflammation & the Power of Lavender, Lemon & Peppermint Essential Oils

Allergies and inflammation often go hand in hand.  Your body is fighting something be it an infection, a toxin, an allergen, a food or the stress response.  Somehow, it redirects its hostile attack on your joints, your brain, your thyroid, your gut, your skin or sometimes your entire body.

In nature's medicine cabinet there exists a powerful selection of pure essential oils that when combined create a natural antihistamine.  The simple pure plant essence of Lavender, Lemon and Peppermint together have the ability to step in and cool down body inflammation resulting from the body's allergic response.  This is hugely important information!

The immune system produces proteins called IGE antibodies, these antibodies are are responsible for identifying harmful toxins and attacking them.  When an allergen enters the body the IGE antibodies react abnormally and begin releasing histamines that trigger an inflammatory response in the body.  Histamines attach to histamine receptors in body cells and cause the cells to swell and release fluid.  In an excellent article called, "5 Signs a Hidden Food Sensitivity is Sabotaging Your Health" and written by Julie Pelaez, she points out 5 red flags to look for to help you identify if you have food sensitivities and inflammation.  

Inflammation is a hot topic in medicine today, it appears to be connected with almost every known chronic disease - from heart disease to cancer, diabetes to obesity, autism to dementia and even depression.


Ironically, the immune system's inflammatory response, that's meant to heal and protect the body often causes more problems than the "invader" itself.

Meet my 13 yr. old friend, Cy.  His is a glaring example of inflammation caused by histamines gone wild.  Cy's allergies were severe, he's been kept on a strict diet and controlled environment for most of his young life.  He's seen doctor after doctor, taken almost every prescription in the book all to no avail.  Finally, all that could be done to somewhat control his severe histamine reaction (huge IGE levels) was 200mg of Benedryl a day and a bleach bath each night for some relief from the pain and itching of rashes and welts.  Often, allergies will manifest themselves through the skin.

As you can see in the photo above, Cy had almost immediate results with the "LLP" {lavender, lemon and peppermint) protocol.  His welts were healing, his adrenals calmed and he was able to sleep again!  I have to say, his Mom is a rock star, she's seen many stressful years of worry and concern for her son.  On this journey, she's also developed a wonderful Healing Salve for Cy that she's happy to share.  To learn more about Cy's journey {Click Here}.

Note: I only recommend pure essential oils such as Spark Naturals.  Their essential oils have been tested and found to be pure enough to use internally.

Can Insomnia be an allergic reaction?

Personally, I know of two individuals whose sleep patterns improved dramatically after simply applying the antihistamine blend of Lavender, Lemon and Peppermint on the bottom of their feet 2 to 3x daily.  This simple application worked wonderfully for both an adult woman and my 3 yr old grandson.  It's safe, without side effects and won't deplete the gut of good flora.

Antihistamine Protocol in a roller bottle:
Equal parts Lavender, Lemon and Peppermint essential oil and 1 part fractionated coconut oil.


Antihistamine Protocol in a capsule:
3 drops each of Lemon, Lavender and Peppermint in 00 gel capsule 3x daily.

Itchy eyes?  
Dab some Lavender that you've diluted with coconut oil on the facial bones surrounding the eyes for quick relief.

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Before I conclude my opinion of allergy driven inflammation I want to say this:  Doctors are trained to shut down inflammation with aspirin, anti-inflammatory medication like advil, steriods and increasingly more powerful immune suppressing medication that can bring serious side effects.  The good news is there may be a safer, more effective answer to the chronic symptoms of inflammation, all for less than what a co-pay would cost with a simple, natural trio of pure essential oils.  


I've only scratched the surface of allergy related inflammation in this post, the scope of evidence is way beyond my simple explanation.  However, my hope is to start the conversation so you can take the ball and run with it, do your own research and know, that there may be a simpler, safer answer waiting for you...

...in nature's medicine cabinet.

Be well!

Rebecca

Dirty Feet Scrub for Sandal Weary Feet!

Here we go!  Summer is here and feet everywhere are about to log many miles in sandals and flip flops!  Did you ever stop to think about what your heels look like after the end of a long day running around half barefoot?  Yeah, me too!




We've already chatted about cracked heel prevention {Here}, now it's time to address keeping heels *clean* as well as soft.


The beauty of this scrub, besides being effective, cheap and nice smelling is that it's so easy to use!  Keep an unbreakable container in the shower at the ready so you can scrub your feet anytime you need to.

This is all you need to whip up a batch of soapy, sudsy heel scrub.  A mix of sugar and soap will clean and soften heels, ridding them of embedded dirt that's unavoidable when wearing sandals!

Fill your container 2/3 full with sugar and start adding soap until it reaches a consistency you like.  Keep in the shower or bath!


Bonus points:  While scrubbing your heels, you're exfoliating your hands too and, you won't have to scrub the shower or bathtub down after use, no oily mess left behind :)

After your heels are scrubbed and shiny clean...

...don't forget to pamper them with All Purpose Healing Salve!  Coconut oil, olive oil and vitamin-e oil infused with lavender, lemon, and maleluca essential oils to nourish and soften weary feet and hands.  It's easy to make and your skin will drink it up!

P.S.
The unbreakable container in the photo is a freezer jam jar that I conveniently forgot to return to my daughter.  I love them almost as much as the glass ones.

P.S.S.
Tiff, thanks for the jam...it was divine :)  

P.S.S.S.  For my astute readers, this is the same formula as the Gardener's Scrub originally posted by my lil sis, Jillee.  Thanks for the "one good thing" with more than one great use!

The Mobile Heath and Wellness Kit

Whether you're at work, carpooling or road trippin going mobile with your essential oils is always a good idea!

I almost consider myself a road warrior I drive so much.  Truth be told, all the windshield time is mostly by choice but I love it, my car is my "wings", and my mobile pharmacy.  

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My sister's and I are well known EO enthusiasts and we never leave home without them.  Case in point, take a gander at Jillee's set up ~ I'd say she's moderately prepared lol.  When it's her turn to drive, no one goes hungry, is ever without wipes and NEVER without "sanity saving" Jeddy's Blend.  We're not total basket cases, we just love the "zen" that EOs provide :)

 

In case you hadn't heard, there's a new EO company that we've been very impressed with after using them for several months.  The company, Spark Naturals offers pure EOs, pure and simple.

  

One of the things I really love about this company besides their approach to making EOs more accessible and affordable is their packaging!  For busy people like you and me, a simple tin that can be slipped into a purse or backback is great!

 

Take the time to learn about essential oils.  Learn how they can boost your immune system, stimulate your mind and increase well being.  Learn about the balancing effect of essential oils, how they cleanse and support tissue and other bodily systems.    Here's a helpful list of ALL the EOs and what they can be used for...

"Mobile" Health and Wellness Kit
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1.  Lavender:  This versatile and popular oil is great for burns, restoring tissue, soothing pain and blistering.  It's a sleep aid and a natural antihistamine.

2.  Lemon:  Put a drop or two in your water for a gentle detox.  Lemon keeps your lymphatic system moving, excellent for sore throats in a teaspoon of honey or to gargle.  It's a great cleaner and can kill 99% of all bacteria.

3.  Peppermint:  Effective in treating headaches, cooling the body by reducing body temps by 2 to 3 degrees.  Takes away heartburn, good for headaches and increases alertness in the brain.

4.  Melaleuca:  Great for acne, it's antibacterial.  Good for rashes, eczema, psoriasis, fungal infections and MRSA.  Add to shampoo to control dandruff and on your chest for coughing.  Very beneficial for ear infections, do not drip into ear canal!  Banish fleas from your pets and their bedding.

5.  Amend:  Reduces inflammation and relieves sore muscles, joints and back pain too.

6. Oregano:  Nature's strongest natural antibiotic.  Great for fighting infection.  This is a hot oil and must be diluted with a carrier oil when applying topically.  Removes warts and skin tags.

7.  Shield:  Strengthens immune system, disinfects home via diffusing, killing airborne pathogens (smells like Christmas!).  Rub on feet for cold and flu prevention.  Make Shield tea with warm water, 1 teaspoon of honey and drop of Shield.  Rub on gums and teeth to reduce plaque and gum disease or Oil Pull with it.

8.  Respire:  Use this blend for respiratory infections, coughs or asthma symptoms, a natural inhaler.  Rub it on your chest to help combat congestion.  Rub on chest and under your nostrils to help open up airways and help with snoring.  This is more than Vapor Rub, this essential oil blend will actually assist your body in fighting off infection!

9.  Rosemary:  can improve memory, blood pressure (low), bronchitis, cellulite, cholera, colds, depression (nervous), diabetes, fatigue, flu, hair loss, headache, sinusitis, prevents respiratory infections, oily hair, otitis, immune system stimulant, and many more uses!

10.  Frankincense:  This amazing essential oil contains sesquiterpenes, enabling it to go beyond the blood-brain barrier.  It may help to oxygenate the pineal and pituitary glands.  Studies have shown that Frankincense can inhibit the growth of cancer cells.  This very special essential oil is considered to be the cornerstone of health.

Essential oils have replaced almost everything in my medicine cabinet because they're safe.  EOs are non addictive, non prescriptive and have no side effects.  With essential oils you can heal, medicate, prevent, disinfect, manage moods, clean your home and even spice up your food!  

Consider this!  For the cost of one co pay, you could a have your own "mobile" health and wellness kit that can do all these things and more!  In today's world, there's peace of mind in knowing that you can take care of your family naturally and on the go!

There's more FUN ideas on the subject of mobile commuting on Jillee's blog today, be sure to stop by and learn from the other road warriorette...

Be Well!

Rebecca

Geranium & Lavender Organic Baby Powder

I think I've been asked 100 times if I had any baby powder in the house and 100 times the answer has been "nope sorry"!  I stopped buying baby powder a long time ago.  Why? ... it's the talc, a known carcinogen. 

Ok, I've known for some time there were options to make my own without that dastardly ingredient but one can only make so much DIY stuff, oi!  However, apparently people still want and use baby powder so, I give us...

talc ~ free baby powder

now we can say yes & feel good about it

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Baby Powder is a MUST in the Beach Bag for sandy feet!
{photo shop for dummies - on order}

All you're going to need to make the most amazingly fragrant and safe baby powder that the whole family will use is:

1/2 cup organic arrowroot powder/starch

1/2 cup organic corn starch

a blender

3 drops Geranium & 3 drops Lavender 

...and a container, preferably with small holes.  If you use mineral makeup, wash out your empty jars and fill them with your new baby powder, it's a perfect size of diaper bag, back pack or purse :)

Add everything and blend the simple ingredients together in a blender, yes that's right...you'll want to blend it {don't forget the top!}.  This allows the powders and EOs to be evenly mixed, it's an important step in the process.  Pour the powder into a wide bottomed bowl and allow it to dry for several hours before you add it to a container.

I love this stuff!

________________________________

~ a few ideas for everyday baby powder use ~

1.  Take it with you to the beach, it's a fabulous way to get sand off everyone's feet before jumping into the car or to get the crazy ones free of sand after burying themselves in it :)

2.  Before you buy new shirts due to sweat stains, try this out.  Prevent sweat stains by sprinkling baby powder under the sleeves and ironing it in.  

This acts as a stain guard and keeps grime from getting into the fibers.  Very cool!

3.  I asked my husband what his favorite use for baby powder was and I was sorry I did.  "Have you ever sprinkled baby powder between the sheets and climbed in bed naked?" Ahem, no.

4.  Of course, babies, diapers and baby powder (safe baby powder) are a heavenly match.  Now you can feel good about using baby powder again.

Just a reminder, Spark Naturals June "oil of the month" is Geranium!  

Don't miss out on that, a full 15ml bottle for $15.99 including shipping.  Pssst ~ this actually was a mistake, that's all I'm saying.  Trust me, take advantage of it ;)  Pick up Lavender too, the most versatile EO on the face of the planet.  Pssst Pssst ~ geranium and lavender together creates a rose-like fragrance.

Embracing baby powder once again feels great, enjoy!

All in One Cleaner & Softener with Epsom Salt

Epsom Salt & ADD

Once upon a time as I was gathering supplies to make a fresh batch of fabric softener, I noticed a toilet that needed cleaning.  As I stared at the toilet while holding a carton of epsom salt, a box of baking soda and my EOs, I decided to make a toilet cleaner while I was at it.  I could clean a toilet AND soften my wash saving time, money and easing the burden of Mother Nature just a little.  A proud ADD moment indeed!  Here's what I did...

In my book, fabric softener is a must.  I'd been using white vinegar for softening with success until the day I bought a gigantic bag of Epsom Salt and my eyes were opened to the endless possibilities ahead like...

FABRIC SOFTENER:

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2 cups epsom salt

1/2 cup baking soda

30 drops EO 

Mix together and add 1/4 cup per large load directly into the wash cycle.

Surely the same ingredients could clean a toilet.  

While I had all the supplies for fabric softener out, I decided I needed to add something "soapy" if I was going to tackle the toilet.  Enter, the endless supply of "One Year's Worth of Laundry Detergent" that I think my sister was responsible for?  Perfect, something soapy and begging to get used, this will work! 

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Now, by simply increasing the size of the fabric softener recipe and adding a cup of powdered detergent, you have a planet friendly toilet cleaner too.  Add a 1/2 cup to toilet bowl, swish and scrub!

  

TOILET CLEANER:

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4 cups epsom salt

1 cup baking soda

1 cup powdered laundry soap

{3} one pint mason jars

EOs are optional but welcome :)

 - add 30 drops per 1 pint jar

Mix the whole batch in a very large bowl or 1/2 gal mason jar.  Pour into one pint jars and top with lids.

Btw, I ordered the blue mason jars from Amazon, and haven't looked back, what a difference blue makes.  

...another epsom salt secret!  

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Hair Volumizer:  Combine equal parts of deep conditioner, 2 drops rosemary eo and epsom salt, stir and warm in a pan on low heat.  Next, work the blend through your hair and leave on for 20 minutes then rinse!

The end!

DIY Be Slimmer & Sassier Essential Oil Blends

My Favorite EO Blends for Weight Loss

{and a good night's sleep}

Several weeks ago I came across a comment by an EO user who talked about the success she was having losing weight using an Bergamot essential oil.  I filed this away in my pea brain and continued reading.  Not 2 days later, I stumbled on a similar comment basically sharing the same success but with a variation of EOs.  I knew I had to try it and share the info with you :)

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This is a simple, clean, good for you weight loss blend that doesn't taste that great but it works.  

You'll need to be consistent and practice sensible eating, stay hydrated and exercise regularly!

Hello Bergamot!

When I began using EOs, Bergamot was an immediate favorite.  I started using it in the diffuser with Lavender, this is still one of my favorite diffuser blends.  Bergamot has lots of redeeming qualities aside from it's bright, citrusy fragrance.  It's a weight loss aid, can reduce LDL cholesterol levels and raise HDL cholesterol levels.  Please read this article by Dr. Edward F. Group:  The Weight Loss Benefits of Bergamot Essential Oil.

Add Frankincense for core health - this actually works great for me because I take Frankincense daily anyway, rolling it into this blend has become a real time saver. 

Remember, Frankincense is the great enhancer of any or all oils it's blended with so go ahead Frank, work your magic with Bergamot - it's all good.  AND, Frank has diuretic properties, it helps to move the water on through!

Adding Wild Orange EO aids in digestion, speeds metabolism and wards off constipation.  As a citrus EO, it's bright, cheering and keeps gloomy, self defeating thoughts at bay.  

DIY Slimmer & Sassier Blend  #1

{my personal fav}____________________________________

1 part Bergamot
1 part Frankincense
1 part Wild Orange

Fill a glass bottle to your liking.  I use an empty 15ml bottle, fill with equal parts of all three EOs then top with a glass eye dropper.  

For adults:  6 drops under tongue or in a shot glass of water etc. At least 3x a day, 4 is better!  It's a bitter blend, don't say I didn't warn you but, you can do it.  A piece of gum comes in real handy throughout the day, trust me.

What has this blend done for me?  I feel like I'm metabolizing food much quicker and my thoughts are clearer and lest I forget to mention the really good stuff ~ jeans are looser!  
Remember, you need to be consistent and take your 6 drops at least 3x a day.

  

DIY Slimmer & Sassier Blend #2
{my fav for sleep}_____________________________________


This is a Do It Yourself Gem!  Before doTERRA's Slim and Sassy Blend was introduced, Dr. Hill recommended this blend for weight loss: 1 drop cinnamon, 2 drops each of grapefruit, ginger and lemon.  Because SS has peppermint, I've tweaked the recipe by adding peppermint:

Single Shot Glass, Water Glass or Gel Cap Serving: 

1 drop cinnamon bark {helps to metabolize sugar}
2 drops ginger  {helps cells to release fat}
2 drops peppermint  {decrease appetite, reduce cravings}
2 drops lemon
2 drops grapefruit  {grapefruit and lemon both contain limonene.  Studies show that limonene can slow the increase of fat cells and, reduce the size of fat cells in a process called lipolysis.}

To Fill a 15ml Empty Bottle (almost):

20 drops cinnamon bark
40 drops ginger
40 drops peppermint
40 drops lemon
40 drops grapefruit

This blend works as an appetite suppressant, lots of people enjoy it in their drinking water throughout the day.  Sounds crazy I know but this is my favorite sleep aid blend!!  No kidding, I roll this on my feet and pads of toes and sleep like the proverbial log.   Why does this work for sleep too?  The EOs balance blood sugar and calm adrenals, often the culprit for keeping us awake at night.

As always, the food we choose to eat throughout the day is key!  EOs will help with cravings but ultimately it's our food choices that will determine our success.  Be consistent!  Consistency is the secret to success in EO use because pure plant essence is quickly absorbed, utilized in the body then let go.  This is exactly what we want, no build up to cause side effects.

Much success to you, carry your water bottle everywhere, stay well and enjoy the EO Life!

Rebecca

P.S.  Give Spark Naturals EOs a try, they're a pure EO and very special too.  You'll save money three ways:  price point, flat rate shipping - $6.49 in the US and by using the code: campwander, an additional 10% off entire order :)