Essential Oils / Toxin-Free Life

How We Use Nature Every Day

Using Mother Nature Every Day

“The earth has music for those who listen.” -George Santayana.

I never knew plants were so powerful. I’m sorry plants, I took you for granted.

I talk so often about how children need nature, how we all need nature. We make it a mission to get out into nature every week. And still I underestimated Mother Nature’s power and magic.

When I love something, I just have to share it. That’s how this blog started. My love for unschooling, my passion for children’s rights. Hello, book lists anyone?

So here I am. And now I want to talk about plants. And how we can use their magic every day.

You know I love essential oils, but lately I have expanded my understanding so much.

I thought the best way to demonstrate what an impact these oils have had on our life would be to show you how we use them every single day. I found all the information out there overwhelming for a long time so I really want to make it simple and just talk about what I personally am doing and show you how it’s really not that hard to use natural products to support your health and well-being. I honestly think they are something everyone can benefit from.

Using Mother Nature Every Day

We all know that lavender is calming and helps us sleep. Our grandmothers applied tea tree to our cuts and grazes. We’re told to drink lemon water in the morning to kickstart our metabolism. We sip peppermint tea to help digestion. Oh, but there’s so much more.

Did you know that frankincence isn’t just some ancient incense they gave to Jesus, but something you can use to balance your mood and reduce tension?

What about that clove is nature’s most powerful antioxidant and it’s super supportive to your immune system?

Did you know that orange makes your house smell divine but also purifies the air at the same time?

I could go on.

How do they do all these things? Because essential oils are like the immune system of a plant. They are aromatic compounds found in the seeds, bark, stems, roots, flowers, and other parts of plants that help protect them from threats, and heal from injury. And we can use them too!

Here’s how we take advantage of mother nature’s power, every day…

(Note: the oils and blends I talk about are doTERRA brand. I am only comfortable using the highest quality oils. These are the ones I love and have chosen to align myself with as I have had such a positive experience with them and am super happy with the company. You can read more about that here.)

Morning oils…

Using Mother Nature Every Day

I’m not a coffee drinker so if I need a pick me up in the morning, the oils are what I reach for. If I’m finding it hard to get going it’s some peppermint and wild orange for me. Sometimes I just smell it straight out of the bottle. For tough cases I use it topically. You know the smell of peppermint right? Imagine the most pure and concentrated peppermint and how uplifting and energising that feels! That would wake anyone up. Paired with wild orange it’s just perfection.

I do the same if I feel my energy waning mid-afternoon too.

For my skin…

Removing toxins from my life is really super important to me. I think we ditched most things about 5 years ago, but I didn’t really have anything I loved to replace them with. I feel like adding essential oils to my homemade skincare products has super charged them and my skin has never felt this good.

Oil Cleansing

Oil cleansing is amazing guys. If you have never tried it, now is the time. Here’s what you need to do…

Make up a mix of oils for your skin. I use organic olive oil, organic castor oil, and rosehip oil. You might have to play with the ratios to find what’s best for your skin type. I also add some lavender, frankincense, and ylang ylang to mine. These oils are really soothing, reduce the appearance of skin imperfections, fight signs of ageing, and encourage cell renewal. I keep my little mix in a jar in the bathroom and use it before a shower.

1. Massage into skin for at least a minute.
2. Put a cloth under hot water and then ring out a little and put over your face. The steam removes the oil and impurities. Leave it on for a minute or until it cools. Repeat if needed.
3. Some oil will be left but that’s ok, it’s just like a moisturizer.

Using Mother Nature Every Day

Moisturing

If my skin needs some extra moisturising I use either jojoba or rosehip oil, and again add frankincense and lavender for extra goodness.

Blemishes

Yep, I still get them sometimes. I have a blend made up with some oils that are awesome for blemishes, diluted with fractionated coconut oil. My favourites are Tea Tree, Lavender, and Juniper Berry.

Perfume

I’m so glad more and more people are becoming aware of how toxic perfume is and are ditching it! It’s full of chemicals that are linked to hormonal disruptions, skin irritation, respiratory problems, cancer, allergies, and other scary things. How bad is it not only for our health but that of our children breathing it in every day? Fragrance is the new second hand smoke.

Using Mother Nature Every Day

Instead, I use oils. I love that I have so many options available. I tend to intuitively pick some for the day, and apply diluted with fractionated coconut oil. Often I then like to look up the emotional properties of the oils I’ve chosen and see how they relate to how I’m feeling, often with really interesting findings! My favourites right now are frankincense and bergamot together. Frankincense is the oil of truth and bergamot is the oil of self-acceptance.

Setting the mood

One of my favourite ways to use oils is to diffuse them to kind of ‘set the mood’ of the house. In the morning I like to put on something energising and uplifting like citrus oils. If people need a bit of calming during the day I’ll reach for a calming blend.

While I’m typing this I have some oils for focus and motivation diffusing so I don’t get too distracted checking facebook, ha!

Cleaning

Using Mother Nature Every Day

Just like my skin care products, we’ve also removed all toxic cleaners from our home. I feel so much better knowing we’re reducing the amount of chemicals that we are coming into contact with. Making your own cleaners is super easy. You can replace surface sprays, bathroom cleaners, mold spray, glass cleaner, washing powder, dishwashing powder, air freshener, everything!

For example my surface spray is just 50/50 water and vinegar with 5-10 drops each of On Guard, Citrus Bliss, Lemon, and Tea Tree. A lot of these oils have antibacterial properties and they actually work! Plus, they’re more cost effective in the long run and you always have the supplies available to make more when needed.

First Aid

Using Mother Nature Every Day

Obviously oils don’t replace conventional medicine but what I love is that I now have natural alternatives readily available to reach for when I need them. When it’s not something serious, I’d much prefer to try something natural first. For the kids one of the favourites is our little ‘ouchie’ roller bottle. It’s a blend of lavender, tea tree, and frankincense, diluted with fractionated coconut oil and they just roll that on any cuts, scrapes, or bites.

We have natural and effective options for boosting immune systems when sick, respiratory support, upset tummies, balancing hormones, and more.

For me, a blend of lavender, lemon, tea tree, and peppermint, is really effective for my seasonal allergies. Hubby gets a lot of use from some blends for sore muscles and joints.

Emotions

I find the oils very emotionally supportive and I often use them if I am feeling anxious or easily frustrated and impatient. My favourites are the Balance blend (for grounding and calming), frankincense, bergamot, ylang ylang, Peace, copaiba, and lavender. I choose whichever suits that day and use them topically on the back of my neck and chest and then take a few deep breaths with my hands cupped over my nose. I find it really calming for me.

Using Mother Nature Every Day

Sleep time

When it comes to the evening I like to diffuse some oils that will help us all wind down and get ready for rest. Lavender and frankincense together is my go-to. If people are having trouble I’ll add vetiver to the mix. If someone has been having nightmares, I find juniper berry helpful as well. Sometimes the girls like to roll a blend of sleepy oils on before bed if they feel they need it.

Here’s the thing…

A little disclaimer. I only recommend doTERRA essential oils as I know they are so incredibly strict with their quality standards. I do not recommend using lesser quality oils that may contain other synthetics, chemicals, and fragrances. I certainly would never add them to food or put them on my skin. Ethical sourcing is also important to me. You can read more about doTERRA’s quality and sourcing here, as well as more information on getting started with the oils.

If you want to experience the oily goodness too, read on!

I’d love to be your supporter! I believe in them so much that I decided to share and help other people to convert to natural options to support their family’s health too. I only share things I believe in and spend my own money on.

Honestly, without the support I have received my oils would probably still be sitting gathering dust on a shelf and I wouldn’t be aware of all the potential. I’m so grateful I had a supportive community to guide me and I would love to be that for you too. If you have more questions or want to chat with me about your needs, just send me a message here.

My recommendation

My top recommendation is always to start with a Home Essentials kit. There’s a reason it’s called that. You get the top 10 oils that every home should have, regardless or wants or needs. Oils for physical support, emotional support, environmental support, and spiritual support. All of the oils also have multiple uses, and you get a free diffuser. It’s the perfect and most cost-effective way to start.

Using Mother Nature Every Day

Peppermint: Cools body temperature, energising, settles upset tummies, clear breathing.
Lemon: Detoxifying, toxin free cleaning, purifies air, improves focus.
Lavender: Calming, soothes irritated skin, restful sleep.
Oregano: Immune support, removes warts, antioxidant.
Tea Tree: Cuts and bites, blemishes, seasonal threats.
Frankincense: Fights inflammation, anti-ageing, promotes cellular health and regeneration.
Easy Air: Respiratory blend, clears airways, energising.
Ice Blue: Muscle and joint pain, use before and after exercise.
OnGuard: Protective blend – wards off bacteria, protects the immune system and loads the body with antioxidants.
DigestZen: Digestive blend – promotes healthy digestzen, settles heartburn, bloatedness, cramping and nausea.

PLUS:

-Online account to order what you want, when you want, with no further committments.
-Wholesale prices (25% off everything)
-Loads of information at your fingertips
-Individual Wellness Consult
-Members only website
-Private support group
-Online courses
-Beginner email series

If you’d like to get access to all that today, just follow the instructions HERE! Here’s to proactive health, ditching toxins, smelling yummy, and feeling good. I’m so glad you’re going to be a part of that with me.

Using Mother Nature Every Day

Comments

March 6, 2018 at 8:25 pm

Would you be willing to write a post on the different cleaning supply recipes that you use? I want to stop using store bought cleaners now that I have asthma and two young girls. However, there’s so many links to different homemade cleaners, it’s kind of overwhelming.



Kate Lloyd
March 6, 2018 at 8:32 pm

So many amazing ways to use these oils! Nature is so amazing. My oils are due to arrive tomorrow. I’m so excited. Thank you for all your great tips Sara.



September 20, 2018 at 4:16 pm

Thanks for the tip re tea tree oil! That is pretty much the only essential oil I use at the moment, but I never knew that it was toxic for pets! Thankfully we haven’t had any issues yet, as I most commonly use it to clean up pet messes!



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