Basil has a great effect upon the cardiovascular system, bones and muscles. All beneficial for the liver and gallbladder. Ocimum basilicum Family: Labiatae (mint) Actions Analgesic Antibacterial Anti-infectious Anti-inflammatory Antioxidant Antispasmodic Antiviral Decongestant Restorative Stimulant Emmenagogue Digestive tonic Antiseptic Carminative Antibiotic Beauty and Personal Care Improves skin tone Acne Eczema, skin conditions Adds shine to hair Uses Headache, migraine an

The Northwestern Native Americans considered the Idaho Blue Spruce to be a sacred tree and used it in a variety ways, many of them for healing. Picea pungens Family: Pinaceae (Pine) Actions Analgesic Antibacterial Anti-inflammatory Antihistamine Hypotensive Nervine Energetics/Body Systems Affected Solar plexus chakra Grounding Balancing Release emotional blocks Uses Respiratory conditions; asthma, bronchitis, croup, any chest congestion Coughs Sore throat or any throat prob

Essential Oil Safety It is important to remember that essential oils are very concentrated and potent, and care should be taken with the way you store and use them. Here is a simple list of guidelines to follow in order to use your essential oils safely and effectively - according to Annie. Always Study an Essential Oil Before Using It Just like with herbs, I would suggest starting with one essential oil and studying all about it. Learn about the properties of that oil, wha

Why Use Essential Oils? Long before modern medicine as we know it today, people depended upon plants to help care for their bodies and support their well-being. Plants have been used for thousands of years in traditional health practices, personal care, food, fragrance, and spiritual practices. Once the Industrial Age came around those plants were taken apart by scientists and the chemical makeup of the plant was separated into key components that were isolated for that one p

What Are Essential Oils? Essential oils are concentrated plant essences extracted from plant material such as bark, twigs, leaves, petals, fruits, resins, rinds, rhizomes, roots, seeds, stalks, and stems. They are what give a plant its aroma. Many in the aromatherapy tradition describe them as the "life force" of the plant, since they're part of the plant's natural defense system — helping it resist pests, prevent infection, and support its own growth and regeneration. When e

Before we dive into what essential oils are and how to use them, I want to share a brief history of aromatics and essential oils through time. Ancient Civilizations Virtually all ancient cultures utilized the healing and rejuvenating properties of aromatics and essential oils. Cultures such as Egypt, Rome, and Greece used botanicals daily for body care, medicine, and religious purposes. The Egyptians bathed frequently and anointed their bodies daily with botanicals to keep th

Every path to health begins with a healthy gut, which refers to the digestive system, primarily the large intestine. The microbiome is the bacteria that populate the gut. In fact, bacteria cells are thought to outnumber human cells, so you could say we are as much bacteria as we are human! These bacteria are key to immune function, working with the body to consume and kill viruses, toxins, and harmful bacteria. They produce vitamins and hormones, and they influence personalit

I have been using my own bug repellent for years now using essential oils and herbs to keep the bugs off. Not only are herbal bug repellents safer, using no toxic chemicals, they also work much better. I made my neighbor a bottle of bug repellent to take to girls camp and by the end of the week she said everyone was using her repellent. She also came home without a single mosquito bite. The bug repelling properties of citronella are enhanced whenever cedarwood is included in

Use in a bath, compress or in a carrier oil applied directly to are of concern. Make into a a spray with part water part witch hazel or make a roll on. Essential Oils for Cuts and Wounds Tea tree (Melaleuca) Eucalyptus Helichrysum Lavender Chamomile Pine Rosemary Eucalyptus Cypress Thyme Oregano German chamomile Mountain Savory Frankincense Myrrh Spikenard Blend from company of choice, I like Fresh from REVIVE, (disinfectant blend) Essential Oils for Muscles and Bones Winte

Diffuse, add to sleep spray, apply to the wrist, feet, behind ears or on temples. Can also be dropped right on pillowcase, bedding, pajamas or used in a Dream Pillow. Sleep Spray 1 oz witch hazel ​1 oz distilled water or hydrosol ​10-30 drops of essential oils/blends Pour in a 2 oz spray bottle. Shake gently to incorporate ingredients before each use. Spray on pillow case, bedding, pjs or in the room where you are preparing to sleep. Take a few deep breaths before laying dow

Inhale, diffuse, apply to the temples, across the forehead and massage on the back of the neck. It may also help to massage into shoulders and neck or any area of pain with a carrier oil. Common Essential Oils for Pain Relief Peppermint/spearmint Rosemary Basil Clove Copaiba (layer with peppermint for best results) Eucalyptus Frankincense Helichrysum Lavender Marjoram Sage Wintergreen German chamomile Roman chamomile Pine, balsam fir, spruce (for inflammation) Vetiver Palo Sa

The less toxins you have in your environment, the less the liver has to work on processing them which makes for a happier body! Here are some natural ways you can clean and disinfect your home! Natural Ingredients for Cleaning Citric Acid Citric acid is a weak, water-soluble organic acid that comes from the fermentation of crude fruit sugar. Citric acid is a substance that helps dissolve certain stains and residue buildup such as hard water and mineral deposits. It kills bact

Disinfect your hands without killing off beneficial bacteria and adding to the toxin load our bodies must deal with every day, using this homemade natural hand sanitizer. Ingredients 2 oz spray bottle 1.5 oz distilled water or aloe vera liquid .5 oz witch hazel 10 drops Four Thieves essential oil or other antibacterial blend Directions Add liquid and essential oil to the bottle. Swish between hands or shake to incorporate. Spray on hands and rub together. Can also be used on

Not only are herbal bug repellents safer, using no toxic chemicals, they also work much better. I made my neighbor a bottle of bug repellent to take to girls camp and by the end of the week she said everyone was using her repellent. She also came home without a single mosquito bite. The bug repelling properties of citronella are enhanced whenever cedarwood is included in the mix so I always like to use these two oils together. I have also included a list of bug repelling es

This salve combines many powerful herbs that will aid in soothing sore muscles and healing bones. It is especially effective on sports injuries and I have used it with great results on my 86 year old grandmother who has a lot of back and hip pain. I go to her home every night and rub this on her back and hips to help her get to sleep and ease her pain, she says it helps a a lot. Arnica is well known for its wound healing properties with an affinity for the muscles, this h

When I started making the transition from chemical cleaners to natural ones I had a hard time finding a replacement for my Comet powder I used to scrub my bathtub grime and a toilet bowel cleaner. I held onto those the longest but had to make a change as I would get a huge headache every time I cleaned my bathroom and had a toddler crawling about that I was terrified would get into a cupboard and poison himself eating these last two chemical cleaners left in my home (he was t

This is a modified version from Rosemary Gladstar's Herbal Recipes for Vibrant Health book. Use this powder on fungal infections of all types. You can make a traditional sprinkle, herbal oil, salve, poultice, compress or baths. Ingredients ½ cup Redmond clay 1 Tbsp chaparral powder 1 Tbsp black walnut hull powder 1 tsp wormwood powder 1 tsp tea tree essential oil Directions Combine powders. Add the tea tree essential oil and mix well. Let the mixture dry before storing in an

Here is a simple, yet powerful burn soother spray. I keep this in the fridge to aid in healing a kitchen or household burn and also that oh, so painful sunburn. It is amazing how once sprayed the pain immediately subsides, continue spraying as it absorbs until the pain is gone. This spray is my go to for everything. It works amazingly on burns, instantly soothing the pain. We use this for a wound wash, all- purpose owie spray, after sun spritzer, works great on sunburns an