These nasty seasonal threats!

So, I've been hearing about a LOT of people struggling to maintain a healthy respiratory system I thought I'd post my tools here for those looking for ways to support their bodies.

Maintaining open airways (fills a 15ml bottle)

eucalyptus 50 drops (supports open airways and sinuses)
peppermint 40 drops (supports open airways, also helps increase the absorption of the other oils)
lime 30 drops (good for all things respiratory)
lemon 30 drops (relieves congestion)
lavender 30 drops (calms, soothes)
cypress 20 drops (helps with occasional coughing and supports breathing)
rosemary 20 drops (helps with occasional coughing and congestion, and supports breathing)
frankincense 15 drops (helps with everything)
fill rest of bottle with coconut oil



Chest Rub 

 6 drops Melaleuca
 12 drops Eucalyptus
 15 drops Rosemary
 12 drops Peppermint
 9 drops Cypress
Apply to chest for relief of occasional cough.  Can also be made with virgin coconut oil and used as a 
rub



Upper and Lower respiratory support
22 drops Marjoram
22 drops Thyme
15 drops respiratory blend
15drops Melaleuca
10 mil roller bottle Fill the rest with Coconut Oil
Rub on chest, back and feet. Also layer respiratory blend diluted with 1 to 4 Coconut Oil on chest, back and feet. Also layer immune support blend the same way, same dilution. Do this protocol every hour and continue for 2-3 days after you're feeling well. 


Sinus Discomfort
   40 respiratory blend
   25 Lime
This remedy is perfect for the occasional runny/stuffy nose.  Apply over sinus areas under eyes and above 
eyebrows; also under nose.  It is very effective to layer with lavender to relieve occasional inflammation.


Immune support             
 20 Oregano
 40 Lemon
 30 Immune support blend
This is a great concoction for supporting the immune system.  When you feel mild aches or the occasional scratchy throat coming, its time to start! Apply on throat, behind ears, and bottom of feet. You can also substitute melaleuca instead of oregano for a milder mixture. Or use both for extra power. 

Food Recipes with Oils

This is a post that I'll have to update with pictures the next time I make them, but since I need to get these recipes on the computer before I lose the hard copies, I figured I'd just get them up! Cooking with essential oils is fun and easy and a great way to use healthy ingredients in your cooking.

Let's start off with some treats for this post!

Energy Bars:

1/3 c. raw almonds
1/4 c. dates
1/3 c dried cherries (I've used craisins with success)
1 T. chia seeds
2-3 drops Wild Orange essential oil

In food processor, pulse nuts until finely chopped. Add dried fruit and process until everything is sticky. Add other mix ins and process until combined. If you choose to add other spices or vanilla, stream in while processor is running. If you need to, add water a bit at a time until it holds together. Foll into balls or press into a pan and cut into squares.

Chocolate Mint Truffles:

1/4 c. unsweetened dark chocolate chips
1/4 c raw almonds
1/3 c raw cashews
1/2 c. dates
1 T cocoa powder
1 T coconut flakes
2-3 drops peppermint essential oil

Grind chips and nuts. Add dates. Stream in cocoa, coconut, and essential oil. Roll into balls. I omitted the coconut because I don't like it.

Both of these recipes make a rather small batch. When preparing to teach a class, I at least double or triple these.

Spicy Citrus Apples:

Apples
Water
2-5 drops total of immune support blend (clove, cinnamon, eucalyptus, rosemary, and wild orange) essential oils

Slice apples. Put the oils in a large bowl and fill bowl halfway with water. Add apples. Simple. Delicious. Healthy.

A not-so-healthy treat:
Grasshopper Bars:

One box of brownie mix, prepared according to box instructions in a 13x9 pan

Mint layer

  4 Tbsp butter, softened

  2 C sifted powdered sugar

  2-4 drops Peppermint essential oil

  green food coloring

  1-2 Tbsp milk

Beat together all ingredients except milk. Add enough milk to make the mixture a spreading consistency. Spread the mint layer over the brownies and cool in the refrigerator for 1 hour.

Topping:

  2/3 cup semisweet chocolate chips

  6 Tbsp butter

  2 t vanilla

In the top of a double boiler (I just use a sauce pan and keep the heat fairly low) melt the chocolate chips and butter stirring frequently. Add vanilla. Remove pan and let cool slightly. Carefully spread the cooled topping over the chilled mint layer. Let the bars stand for 1 hour. Cut into Bars.

The original recipe called for peppermint extract and they were still so yummy but always gave me heartburn (so, apparently, peppermint extract gives me heartburn. ;) ). Once I started using peppermint EO instead, no more heartburn!! Yessss!!!

I'm planning to try flavoring popcorn with lime or lemon or maybe the immune support blend today, so we'll see how that goes!

Behavior Challenges

I am SO excited about the new focus blend I found!! I have high hopes that it will do a lot for my 7 year old. He's a very good-hearted guy but he struggles immensely with impulse control and a few other things. My kids have been through a lot this year. Lots of change. Their daddy finished school (YAY!!) and was home a lot for the first few months as he looked for a job. Then we had a baby (#5) and then Daddy moved to Arizona without us for a few weeks while he looked for a house for us. Once we were all out here, the kids were home for a week while I hunted and hunted for a suitable school. My guy was not up for the challenge and it was a rough month or so at the new school and a rough time at home. This year, I have them at a different school and my son's first month there was a struggle. He was coming home everyday "on yellow" which is the way his school tracks and motivates behavior. Green is good, purple is better, blue is best. Yellow is a warning, orange is strike two, red is a note sent home and losing recess. Seriously, his calendar for ALL of August had one or two greens and the rest was yellow, an orange, and a red. So this month, I came up with some oils that I thought would help him:

Frankincense--An all around oil for when-in-doubt. It also helps you feel closer to your Heavenly Father, which I feel will help him to make better choices and feel of God's love for him, which he, in turn, is usually great at paying forward.

Grounding blend (lots of tree oils)--to help him feel grounded and normal and less clumsy.

Cilantro--I used this at night for a while to purge heavy metals since they are linked to all kinds of health and behavior issues. Then it got misplaced when I cooked with it one day... :(

Lemon--to help him feel happy and to cleanse toxins.

Wild Orange--to help him focus and stay on task.

Peppermint--to help him feel alert and attentive (he still sucks his thumb when he's tired or grumpy)

I used these on him everyday. I also had him start taking healthy lunches from home instead of eating school lunch. Partway through the month, I got lazy/the kids got lazy/we ran out of food/we ran out of money and decided to capitalize on the free lunches from school, so he's eating school lunch again. But his September calendar looks 100 times better!!! ALL greens, except for two purples!! How's that for an improvement!? Since we stopped doing home lunches, his behavior at home has been worse, but he's keeping it together at school, so we'll take that! Thank you, essential oils!!