NATURAL HEALTH CARE & PERSONAL HYGIENE LINKS

I’ve just discovered a couple of very nice spots for natural beauty and health care.

Humblebee and Me is a compendium of various DIY ideas, with a number of DIY beauty and hair care projects. Definitely worth saving and revisiting often.  I was drawn to this site for its argan beauty serum, but stayed for all the other good things.

Everyday Roots has a lots of natural health and wellness DIY recipes.  They also have a Facebook page

I’ll bookmark these sites and visit often.

SUMMER’S COMING: uh-oh! bug bites!

Outside time is coming up, if it is  not already in your area!  Oh gosh! How wonderful!
But…. Outside is where bugs live.  Uh oh!

If you have  been with me for a while, you know about my “no-see-ums” remedies – those remedies also work for a lot of other bug bites.

Meanwhile, here are some other traditional bug bite remedies – I mean, I swear by all of the above, but you might meet a new bug or something – it is always good to have a Plan B!

FOR ITCHING/STINGS
Apply lavender oil to affected area
Apply Four Thieves Oil to affected area
Apply apple cider vinegar to affected area.
Crush or mince  a garlic clove. Spread garlic over affected area, and cover with a bandage. Spread honey on a cloth. Place ice cubes on top of the honey. Fold cloth over the honey and ice,and place on affected area.

FOR A STINGER WHERE THE STINGER IS STILL IN: dip a cotton ball in ammonia and tape it over the bite/sting, to draw out the stinger and reduce the irritation/sting/pain

NO-SEE-UM’s WAR REVISITED – Compendium of Recommendations

A while back, I wrote on “no-see-ums” – whatever that is that bites you and you can’t see it, but you start itching like crazy — not bedbugs, not mosquitos, not fleas, not lice(those you can see)  – and it only happens, usually, in specific places.  The big symptom of “no-see-ums” is uncontrolled itching – you can scratch yourself bloody before you even notice you’re doing it.  

No-see-ums can make you wonder if you’re losing your mind – you may find yourself scratching yourself raw before you even realize you’re doing it, while others, even in the same room, may not recognize the issue.  If you think you are getting bitten, you are getting bitten. It is not in your mind, even though you can’t see what is biting you (I believe that no-see-ums can be in one part of a room but not in another, and that some people in the room may be more susceptible to them than others: case in point: I teach in a private adult education facility, and, sometimes, I will be scratching myself to pieces and no one else will be affected, while, at other times, several other people will complain that they feel they have been bitten by something). 

A number of people have written their comments, or their requests for help, or, even, sometimes things they have found useful, so I’m going to reprise the topic, and list what I have found useful, as well as ideas I’ve gotten from readers who have told me what has worked for me.

A couple of ways to double-check, if you want to prove to  yourself that it is nothing else:

1. Are you getting this reaction all the time? If so, could it be that you are allergic to something you are eating? Figure out what you have eaten in the past 2 hours before the “attack”, and eliminate that from your diet for a day or two and see if the itching stops.
2. Do you get this reaction in specific places, but not in others?  If so, you’ve got no-see-ums in the place where you’re having the reaction.  (If you have it anyplace at all, then go back to #1)
3. Do people doubt what you say about getting bitten in a specific place where they have not been? Do people disbelieve you just because it is not happening to them?  These are both signs that there are some no-see-ums where you are when you experience the itching.  (They seem to be place-specific, and, even in one room, they might be in one spot, but not 10 feet away)

Now, if you do believe that you have a no-see-ums issue, you can take some evasive action:
FOUR THIEVES OIL OR VINEGAR – this antiseptic/anti-viral formula really works for taking out the itch. The vinegar recipe takes a while to make, but you can but it on food (so you might develop an immunity – I haven’t personally explored that idea), but the problem is that you will smell like vinegar.  The oil recipes smell kind of nice (people often ask me what fragrance I’m wearing), and you can carry them with you and apply the oil as soon as you notice you’re itching – it might sting a bit at first, but it will take the itch away, and it has antibiotic properties, so, if you’ve already drawn blood, it will protect against infection.  This is one remedy I swear by – I always carry a little bottle of Four Thieves oil with me.

LAVENDER OIL – This is an antiseptic essential oil which will help with the itch and does seem to stop the bites from coming. I carry it with me always, as it is a good emergency remedy, and, if I have nothing better, I use it for no-see-ums. It works reasonably well for me and smells very nice, as well. I don’t think it works as well as other remedies for spraying a space, though.

BABY OIL – Someone suggested this one, and, although baby oil is not organic or anything close to natural, I will still go with it because it seems to repel the no-see-ums — if you slather it all over your skin, you get a moisturizer and you don’t get bitten.  It works as a repellent, and it doesn’t worry people too much if you drag it out and start rubbing it all over your arms (where I usually get hit)

LEMON GRASS/LEMON GRASS ESSENTIAL OIL  – A reader suggested planting lemon grass around one’s home to prevent entry – this reader felt that the lemon grass all around the home kept the no-see-ums from coming in.  I live in a New York City apartment (I haven’t had no-see-ums here, but…), and I work in a New York City office building (no way to plant lemon grass there), but I have found some apartment-friendly/public space-acceptable solutions: 

• At home, you can burn dried lemon grass as incense, or you can add organic lemon grass essential oil to water and spray it in areas where  no-see-ums seem to get you, or else all over the place.  
• At work, you can surreptitiously spray the lemon grass/water mix around where you feel you’re getting bitten (it smells nice, and, since, or course, you are using organic lemon grass essential oil, no one should complain, because it is good for lots of things, including bad smells in your workspace)

ESSENTIAL OILS FOR HEADACHES

POST #48
I found this information on 877MyJuicer.com

BEST ESSENTIAL OILS FOR HEADACHES
 Lavender: this gentle, sweet-scented essential oil will help you relax, alleviating tension that brings on headaches. It’s also a favorite oil for use at night – sprinkle a few drops on your pillowcase for sweet dreams.
Peppermint: rich in menthol, this minty oil helps with tension and sinus headaches. It’s stimulating and energizing, so use it during the daytime.
Roman Chamomile: relaxing, anti-inflammatory, and sedative, Roman Chamomile essential oil is another great choice for before-bedtime headaches. Pair with a cup of chamomile tea, perhaps?
Eucalyptus: relieve a pounding sinus headache with eucalyptus essential oil, which is said to act as an anti-inflammatory agent.

TECHNIQUES
Massage
When you’re suffering from a headache, it can feel great to massage a few drops of these essential oils into your temples, your forehead, and the back of your neck. Just make sure to dilute the essential oils with a “carrier oil” (a mild, fairly unscented oil such as grapeseed, jojoba, sweet almond, or olive oil), as essential oils are very powerful. Mix 10-12 drops of your chosen oil (6-8 drops if using eucalyptus or peppermint) into one ounce of carrier oil. Gently massage away the headache.
Inhalation
Put 1-3 drops of your chosen oil onto a cotton ball. If this is your first time using the oil, use one drop to make sure it doesn’t aggravate the headache. Hold the cotton ball beneath or near your nose and inhale steadily. Try to release all the tension in your neck and temples.

I add:
I always carry lavender oil with me.  It is good for headaches, for bad smells (I rub it on the end of my nose, and, if the bad smell emanates from some person in the room, I just leave the bottle open in front of me).  Lavender is also an antibiotic, so if I get a paper-cut or any other open-skin injury, I drag out the bottle and apply some.  My flu remedy involves lavender and clove oils, but if I am away from home and clove oil, I’ll put about 3 drops of lavender oil in a cup of hot water and drink that if I feel a cold or the flu coming on).

ALL PURPOSE HEALING BALM

HEAL EVERYTHING BALM

2 t powdered myrrh
2 T beeswax
2 t comfrey root
2 T liquid lecithin
2 t chamomile
2 t honey
2 t lavendar

Infuse in:
3/4 C carrier oil

add essential oils:
10 drops lavendar
5 drops tea tree
2 drops rosemary
1 vitamin E capsule
2 oz beeswax

INSECT BITES and STINGS

FOR ITCHY INSECT BITES
to alleviate swelling and relieve itching of insect bites.

1 drop Roman Chamomile
1 drop tea-tree
1 drop savory
2 oz. witch hazel extract

Blend oils with witch-hazel.
Soak a cotton ball in the mix and dab on insect bites.
Also helps protect skin from infection resulting from scratching

NIAOULI TO RELIEVE ITCH FROM BITES
Niaouli oil relieves the itch, helps reduce swelling, and
helps insect bites heal faster

2 drops niaouli
2 T witch hazel
mix niaoli and witch hazel and apply to the affected area

INSECT BITES SWABS
Moisten a cotton swab in fresh lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, or witch hazel

Add 1 -2 drops of lavender, tea tree, eucalyptus, or lemongrass oil to the swab then dab on the bite.

INSECT BITES AND STINGS

Oils to Use: Lavender or tea tree

DIRECT APPLICATION
Dab a drop of lavender or tea tree on the
affected area.

COLD COMPRESS FOR SWELLING
If bite site is swollen, apply a cold compress made with
2 drops lavender
2 drops chamomile

INSECT BITE OIL
Lavender helps stop itching and reduces
swelling and risk of infection.

1 t lavender essential oil
1 T vegetable oil

Combine lavender oil and vegetable oil and
dab mixture directly on bite as needed.

Store in a tightly closed glass bottle

BEE, WASP, TICK, SPIDER STINGS & BITES
combine lavender with echinacea and bentonite clay into a poultice.
The clay pulls the poisonous material from the bite or sting to the skin surface and keeps it from spreading.

Echinacea lessens any allergic response.
Lavender stops itching and reduces swelling.

OILS FOR INSECT BITES
Apply 1 drop of undiluted lavender or tea tree oil directly to the bite.

Other oils to use diluted
Lemon, Eucalyptus,
Pine, Basil, Bergamot, Chamomile, Lemongrass,
Patchouli.

Dilute by moistening a cotton swab with lemon juice, cider vinegar, or witch hazel and adding 1 -2 drops of the essential oil to the swab. Dab on skin as needed

BUG BITE REMEDIES
To help sooth the bite site and relieve discomfort.
Apply to bite every few hours! The first ingredient is a carrier oil.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1 t Aloe Vera Gel
5 drops Geranium
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1 t Borage
2 drops juniper berry
2 drops tea tree
1 drop lemon
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1 t of Aloe Vera gel
5 drops chamomile
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1 t flaxseed oil
2 drops sweet basil
2 drops lemon
1 drop marjoram
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1 t sesame oil
2 drops juniper berry oil
2 drops sweet basil
1 drop lime
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1 t Aloe Vera Gel
5 drops lavender
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BITE & STING POULTICE
1 T echinacea root tincture
1 T distilled water
1/8 t lavender essential oil
1 T bentonite clay

Combine the tincture, water and lavender essential oil.
Add mixture to the bentonite. Stir slowly as liquid is absorbed.

Paste should be tacky enough to adhere to skin.
Apply directly to bite as needed.

Store in tightly covered container.
If mixture dries out, stir in distilled water, as needed, to return it to paste consistency.

LAVENDER OIL FOR ALLERGIES & SINUSITIS

Allergies such as hay fever often cause sinusitis.
Dilute lavender oil in a carrier oil and massage some into the sinuses at either side of the nose to help to clear the condition.

LAVENDER OINTMENT

LAVENDER OINTMENT

4 T olive oil
3 to 4 T beeswax
3 T cocoa butter
1 vitamin E capsule
15 drops lavender essential oil

Combine olive oil, beeswax, cocoa butter and heat in the top of a double boiler.
Remove from the heat.
Add vitamin E and lavender oil,  and beat thoroughly

Pour into small jars. Allow mixture to cool before covering.

LAVENDER/SANDALWOOD OINTMENT

Excellent for burns, chapped lips, cold sores, and more

4 T olive or almond oil
3 to 4 T beeswax
3 t cocoa butter
2 t lanolin
10 drops vitamin E oil
15 drops lavender essential oil
15 drops sandalwood essential oil

Combine the olive (or almond) oil, beeswax, cocoa butter, and lanolin.
Heat thoroughly in the top of a double boiler.
Remove from heat.
Add the vitamin E, lavender & sandalwood oils and mix well.
Pour into small jars..
Allow to cool before covering with lids.

will keep from 6 to 12 months.

FIRST AID KIT

a small First Aid Kit to carry with you.

LAVENDER: an all purpose oil for wounds,burns,
         insomnia, irritability, this one will 
         help you to relax wherever you are
PEPPERMINT: to keep you alert 
TEA TREE: for cuts, scrapes,insect bites

Add your favorite oils to round out your kit.