A stinky miracle

Today’s oil of discussion is tea tree oil. Tea tree oil is a very good oil for many reasons its smell not being one of them. This oil is great for the skin and hair as well as the household. I usually start off with the uses and benefits but today I am going start with the possible side effects and reactions. Tea tree oil is a powerful oil that can cause dryness and irritation if used to frequently or without a carrier oil. It is likely to be unsafe when taken by mouth and should only be used topically. Tea tree oil should not be used on babies younger than 6 months.

Tea tree oil for me is great, even though I struggle with the smell I can overlook it because of all its benefits. My favorite use for tea tree oil is in my hair, I have always had itch scalp syndrome. With or without dandruff my scalp is always itchy, no matter how much I was or moisturize my scalp itches. I try to use tea tree oil every time I wash my hair but that is not always possible and I notice the difference when I don’t use it. For instance, I washed my hair 2 days before I wrote this and my scalp has been itching like crazy whereas I washed my hair last week with the tea tree oil in my shampoo and conditioner and I went about 5 days without the itchy scalp. I never use the tea tree oil by itself, it’s always mixed in my African black soap shampoo that also has a carrier oil in it or in my rinse out and leave in conditioners and a scalp oil mixture (I’ll discuss that in another post). Tea tree oil is also good in the hair for lice when you put a few drops in your shampoo. When mixed with other essential oils like lavender or peppermint oil the lice were repelled. 

When it comes to skin usage tea tree oil can treat acne which I love using. Mixed with witch hazel it dries out pimples, but be careful not to use it too much because it can over dry the skin around the breakout. Tea tree oil has been said to be just as effective as benzoyl peroxide on acne. With the antiseptic, anti-microbial and anti-fungal properties in tea tree oil it is great for cleaning and soothing sores, burns, and pesky insect bites. Tea tree oil is also good for eczema and psoriasis; I know personally about the eczema because I use it in the eczema salve I use one my little one. I have even used tea tree oil on skin tags on my neck it works the same way as it does on pimples drying it out. When I used it I used it 3 times a day for about 2 weeks and the tags fell off after a while. It works on boils from staph infections, toenail fungus, athletes foot, foot odors, warts, ring worms, rashes, sunburns and cold sores. Tea tree oil is also a great ingredient in natural deodorant and a natural makeup remover when added to a thin carrier oil. 

Tea tree oil can be used in a humidifier to help with breathing problems such as asthma (wish my mom had known this when I was younger battling asthma) as well as nasal congestion. It can be used in natural toothpaste and mouth wash and has been said the help fight halitosis. Mixed with some of the other essential oils tea tree oils can be great as a sore muscle rub or soak. It can even be used to help with earaches when mixed with warm water or olive oil rubbed on the back of the ear. It has been said that tea tree oil can draw a splinter out of your skin (I hate splinters, used to get them a lot as a kid). 

Tea tree oil can also be used on animals and around the house. To help the family pet the is suffering with fleas and God forbid ticks tea tree oil to the rescue. It not only prevents new fleas but also kills existing ones. Be sure to mix the oil with water before using it on your pet their skin can be irritated by it just like yours better yet use it in their shampoo. For use around the house tea tree oil can be used to freshen laundry, carpet and furniture. Make a tea tree oil spray to use around your pet’s around to further help with those pesky fleas. It can be used as all-purpose cleaner around the entire house, it also removes mold and mildew, cleans the washing machine and the dishwasher and outside the house tea tree oil can be used in the garden to keep it mildew free.

I am not a doctor, I recommend you talk with your doctor or do some research before using any essential oil because with everything there is a risk of interaction if you take prescription medicine. Know what you are using and putting in your body before you do it. Nothing is 100% safe. Thank you so much for takin the time to read my blog and a new post will be out next week!!

For the love of lavender

Lavender

My second favorite essential oil is lavender. There are so many wonderful things about lavender. Lavender is floral and is great for aromatherapy. It works great for reducing anxiety and emotional stress, it has antidepressant properties. My most favorite use for lavender is helping with relaxation and sleep. It really helps my mind settle down after a long day. Another use of lavender oil that I love is alone or mixed with peppermint oil it helps fight headaches.

Lavender has antifungal, antiseptic, antimicrobial, and antibacterial properties. These properties help heal wounds and burns. When used on bee stings or insect bites it can stop itching and reduce swelling because of its anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. Used on cuts lavender helps to stop bleeding, cleans wounds and kills bacteria. Lavender also works well to improve eczema and psoriasis. Lavender is on to the oils I use in the formula for the eczema salve that I make for my daughter that is improving her skin wonderfully. Lavender can also be used as a skin toner, on dry and chapped ski, and sun burned lips. Other skin benefits include restoring skin complexion, reducing acne, and slowing acne with powerful antioxidants.

Lavender also has benefits for the hair and scalp. It works well as a conditioner, it stimulates the scalp and leaves hair smelling great. Lavender is also great on dandruff and lice, is effective for hair loss by stimulating the scalp and increasing blood flow. Besides these benefits lavender has internal benefits including has antispasmodic properties that works great for me as I suffer from Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). It also helps reduce bloating, it detoxifies, improves digestion, and helps with nausea and motion sickness.  Lavender has also been said to stimulate urine production. The analgesic properties of lavender also aid in relieving achy muscles especially when used as a massage oil and can be accompanied by other similar oils.

As with anything some people may be allergic and of course should avoid lavender. When taken by mouth lavender can cause constipation, headaches and increased appetite. Lavender is not recommended for babies under 6 months old. When used undiluted it may cause skin irritation. Pregnant and nursing women should avoid using lavender as well as people that are taking barbiturates, benzodiazepines, and chloral hydrates because it may increase their sedative effects.

The wonders of Peppermint and peppermint oil

I am in the business of helping people have better skin, hair, and health by using natural and organic product. I use a lot of natural and essential oils in my business and my everyday life. Inmy 4 years of research I have learned a lot about these various oils and how they can improve the quality of your skin and your life. One of the first oils that I fell in love with is peppermint oil, which has a long list of benefits and uses that are great. There is also some instances where peppermint oil should not be used.

First peppermint oil smells absolutely amazing. It is great for aromatherapy,because of its uplifting, invigorating properties. It helps relieve stress and anxiety and can help improve mental focus. Using a little peppermint oil during study time can help a person who suffers from ADHD concentrate better. Peppermint oil has antispasmodic properties, it is very helpful for those that suffer from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). I know from personal experience about this one. Peppermint tea helps greatly with bloating, digestion, and cramps associated with IBS. It works by relaxing the muscles of your intestines.

Another way I use peppermint oil is as a pain reliever. for headaches I use a few drops of peppermint oil in a little sweet almond oil (one of my favorite carrier oils). I massage it into the back of my neck and my temples. If I'm dealing with a sinus headache I focus on the sinus area and across my forehead. Dont worry about your face being oily you can always wipe it off and that is why I love sweet almond oil which is a thin oil that absorbs in the skin quite well. If you dont want to use it that way you can inhale it and it willl also unclog your sinuses and helps with a scratchy throat. Quick note when mixed with coconut oil and eucalyptus oil can a great vapor rub that help with congestion.

When it comes to skin health peppermint oil has a lot of uses and benefits. One that I know from personal experience is anti itch properties. As anyone that follows my post know my youngest daughter suffers from ezcema and I use peppermint oil on her regularly when she has a flare up. The cooling affect soothes and relieves her itchy skin and also starts the healing process. Peppermint oil also has a calming effect on inflammed skin and its anti-microbial properties makes it very effective as an acne treatment. Peppermint oil can also help relieve the pain from sunburn and hydrate the skin. Also a natural bug repellent I mix peppermint oil with oils such as citronella and lavender oil.

Peppermint oil used on the scalp and hair can be great. When used on the scalp with a carrier oil it stimulates the scalp to increase blood flow leading to hair growth. A few drops added to your favorite shampoo and conditioner can help remove dandruff and lice. It can also thicken and nourish damaged hair. I love using peppermint oil mixed with other stimulating oil and castor oil on my hair for scalp massages.

Some other benefits and uses for peppermint oil that I am still checking out are muscle pain relief, joint therapy, reduces hunger cravings, reduces fever, freshen breath and reduces cavities, reduces nausea, colic, teething, balances hormones and cancer treatment. According to some of my research peppermint oil is a very effective natural painkiller and muscle relaxant and mixing peppermint oil andlavender oil can cool muscles. I recently read that peppermint oil's cooling effect can help reduce fevers in children, but I haven't had chance to try it out yet. I have made my own toothpaste but I have not yet added peppermint oil to  it  but I will. It's being said that adding a drop under your tongue followed by a glass of water freshens bad breath and works better than mouthwash to reduce cavities. These other benefits I am learning more about especially reducing nausea induced by chemotherapy and balancing hormones.

With anything natural or not there may be some effects. There needs to be more research into the safety of peppermint oil during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Some possible effects can be heartburn (taking peppermint oil capsules can prevent this) and of course if you are allergic please avoid peppermint oil. Peppermint oil may be dangerous in large amounts for people with heart problems becasue it can increase the heart rate.

Sources:
WebMD.com
draxe.com
livestrong.com