Frankincense Essential Oil

Most probably only know about frankincense from the Christmas story of Jesus’ birth when the wise men brought Him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh (the last two are both essential oils). Just like in that time, frankincense today is an extremely valuable essential oil, which you will see reflected in its price compared to others. The name comes from Old French franc encens (“high-quality incense”).

Frankincense is one of my top five favorite essential oils. I use it nearly every day and it is well worth the cost to have on hand. It has a neutral woodsy scent that isn’t overwhelming to smell.

I mix a drop in with my face moisturizer each night. Cosmetically, it helps to clear skin of blemishes, smooths the skin and is anti-aging. The properties that help cosmetically also help emotionally (I put it on at night to calm before sleep) and physically. While it fights surface bacteria, it is also an effective immune stimulant. I use it on my & my daughter’s spine frequently when we are sick to safely kick our immune system into higher gear and recover more quickly.

Emotionally, it is extremely calming and can be smelled or used in a diffuser to reduce feelings of anxiety. It repels feelings of stress and brings focus.  It has been used in worship (think meditation) for thousands of years. I wrote a whole blog about that & essential oil use in the Bible here if you are interested.

Do you have frankincense? What’s your favorite way to use it?

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DIY Foaming Hand Soap

A few months ago, I received Thieves foaming hand soap complimentary in my essential oils order.  I used it and absolutely loved it.  But, I went to re-order and was astounded to find they cost $17 retail each. Ridiculous!

Refusing to spend that kind of money on hand soap and desperate for the soap that’s left my hands feeling cleaner than ever, I discovered a super easy DIY recipe.  I love that with this recipe I can use whatever essential oils I want, to change scent with the season.  The Thieves essential oil blend feels perfect for this time of year, especially with the added bonus of immune system support.

This only takes 1 minute to make and you probably already have all the ingredients in your cabinets.  I don’t think I’ll ever buy hand soap again after figuring out this simple trick.

What You’ll Need:

Steps:

  1. Fill an empty soap dispenser 2/3 full with water.  You must add water before soap to keep from bubbling up.
  2. Add a teaspoon of olive oil and 2 tablespoons of castile soap.
  3. Add 4-5 drops of essential oil.
  4. Put the top on and shake slightly to mix all ingredients and it is ready.

Happy DIY-ing!  Let me know what you think!

DiGize Essential Oil

digize-oilLooking for natural help with digestive issues? DiGize is the oil to try!

DiGize is my go-to whenever I have an upset tummy or I’m suffering from pregnancy indigestion.  It’s a blend of several different oils creating a powerful combination:

  • Tarragon – traditionally used to fight intestinal parasites
  • Ginger – a very common stomach-calming item, especially helpful with nausea
  • Peppermint – many cultures chew mint leaves or drink mint tea after meals to relax stomach muscles and help with digestion
  • Juniper – helps to detox and cleanse
  • Fennel – stimulates the digestive system and helps prevents gas
  • Anise – shown to help calm spasms and increase the flow of bile
  • Patchouli – very helpful in alleviating nausea
  • Lemongrass – traditionally used for it’s anti-inflammatory properties for the digestive system

I’ll admit it is my least favorite oil in terms of scent (I think it’s the fennel maybe?), but I use it all the time regardless of the way it smells. It’s totally worth it!  You can also get the Vitality version and put a couple drops in a capsule to swallow so you don’t have to smell it.

Another great home remedy for digestive issues is activated charcoal – learn more about that here!

For more about essential oils, visit this page.

Purification Essential Oil

The name of Purification essential oil makes its benefits pretty clear. This blend purifies, cleanses and disinfects in so many ways and can be used both around the house and for your health.  It packs a powerful aroma that well represents the power of the individual essential oils inside the bottle:

  • Citronella – anti-inflammatory and helps repel insectsPurification Essential Oil Blend
  • Lemongrass – purifying and antifungal properties
  • Rosemary – may help fight candida and infections
  • Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) – anti-inflammatory properties
  • Lavandin – antiseptic properties
  • Myrtle – may support immune function

I use this powerful blend all the time and it truly works wonders. Here’s how I use it:

  1. Odor EliminatorDiffuse for Air Purification – a couple drops of this in the diffuser (add some lemon too!) will help purify the air and any unwanted odors in your home. I use this after I cook curry or fish when the smell seems to linger.
  2. Laundry – Have a front-loader washer and hate the mustiness?  Put a couple drops of Purification in the front rubber seal every month to neutralize mildew. Forget to move your clothes from the washer to the dryer for a little too long? Add a couple drops to a dryer sheet, dryer balls or to a wet cloth and add to the dryer to make your clothes fresh again.
  3. Odor Elimination – There are SO many ways to use this oil to eliminate unwanted odors. Put a drop on a cotton ball and put in your shoes (bonus: you can reuse the cotton ball for several shoes). A drop on a cotton ball in the bottom of your trash can or in your car air vent; or a drop to some baking soda in a cup in your refrigerator or down your sink disposal. Purification also works great if you’ve hung around the campfire and can’t get the smoke smell out of clothes, blankets, etc.
  4. Blemishes – Forget to wash your face last night and breaking out? Add a drop of Purification oil to some coconut oil and apply to your face to reduce inflammation  and clear up the blemishes in just a few hours.
  5. Ear Aches – Whenever I get an ear ache and am worried about infection taking hold, I add a drop to a cotton ball and place in my ear to see relief overnight.
  6. Pet Spray – I add a couple drops Purification to a spray bottle with water and spray it on my pup before she goes outside to help repel fleas, ticks and mosquitoes. Plus it helps get rid of the outside-dog smell.
  7. Cuts & Bug Bites – When I cut myself with a rose thorn and my hand swelled, Purification was the only thing that worked to help bring down the inflammation and promote healing. I’ve found the same thing with mosquito bites and wasp stings. Mix with a drop of lavender and teaspoon of coconut oil and apply to bites and cuts.

If you already have this oil, I’m sure you can try one of these uses immediately. If you don’t have this oil, it’s a must-have! See this post for more information on essential oils, or contact me directly at healthyhopefulblog(at)gmail.com.

Product Review: Primal Pit Paste

Primal Pit PasteA few months ago, I posted about some great natural deodorant options I had found and it’s been one of the most-read posts lately.  So, apparently, I’m not the only one who has struggled to find something that works.  Since initially hearing about how harmful the chemical ingredients in regular antiperspirant deodorant, I’ve been committed to not putting myself at risk for those health effects (learn more here).  But, I have had such a hard time finding something that truly lasts all day (for me, at least) and that also helps with sweat.  While not the worst inconvenience, I still had to reapply most products at least once during the day.  So, when I heard about a local company (with an awesome name!) producing a new product, I had to try it out!

I have seen plenty of DIY natural deodorant recipes online that I’ve been meaning to make, but I decided I would go the lazy route and buy it first to see how it works.  The ingredients are simple and contain no artificial preservatives or parabens: shea butter, arrowroot powder (similar to cornstarch), coconut oil, non-aluminum baking soda, beeswax (in some versions) and essential oil.  The kind I use comes in a small glass jar and you just swoop a pea-size amount out with your finger to apply under your arms.  They also have a stick version if you prefer to apply that way (though it’s a little tougher for guys with underarm hair to apply).  The consistency is really smooth with the shea butter and coconut oil and melts as soon as it hits your skin, plus it’s super moisturizing.

The best part about this product is that the arrowroot powder absorbs any moisture and leaves you dry, while still allowing you to sweat. This is essential to your body being able to naturally sweat out toxins (and very unlike regular antiperspirant deodorant which uses aluminum to block your glands).  Primal Pit Paste does not inhibit this function, which keeps you healthy while still preventing any embarrassment when you raise your arms.

The baking soda in this product does a super effective job at deodorizing. I got the strong version and the regular version to try; the strong certainly lasts longer for me but the regular lasts all day still.  Everyone’s body chemistry is different so they have sample sizes to try if you’d like to see what works best.  While I haven’t experienced any issues personally, I know that baking soda can be irritating to those with really sensitive skin – their Happy Stick is an option made with clay instead.

Of course, I am a big fan of essential oils and love the different scents this company offers.  Plus, it’s natural way to add a scent without chemical fragrances.  So far, I’ve tried the lavender and lemonade, but the Jasmine one is next on my list.  Lavender & Lemon essential oils both have freshening properties as well and are great for the skin, so I know they can only adds to this product’s effectiveness.

If this is your first time trying a natural deodorant, I want to note that you may experience some detox effects depending on your diet and overall health.  Primal Pit Paste has a whole protocol on their website that explains exactly what that means and how to get through it.

If you are still looking for a natural deodorant option that will convince you it’s possible they can work, you should definitely give this one a try.  Buy Primal Pit Paste here!