This blend has endless options Thieves Oil is great! If you could only have one oil in your collection, Thieves would be a great place to start. Thieves Oil is a mixture of 5 different EOs that are mostly used for their antibacterial and antiviral properties. Thieves Oil comes premixed for your convinenience or you can blend your own. I have personally used this to ward off the flu in our house this year. Every night I put a drop or two on the soles of my kids feet before bed, this acts as an immune booster. Whenever someone gets congested or starts to get a little cough, I have them drink hot tea with 2-3 drops of thieves added. This seems to help them quickly get over whatever little germ they contracted. I have used this mixture on the outside of my neck when I have a sore throat which usually takes care of the soreness by the next morning. Also, I've used this for years on any little bumps or cuts to keep them from getting infected, especially with MRSA being such an issue these days. The Blend The recipe for this blend is believed to have originated from thieves during the 15th century. According to popular theory, the concoction was created by a group of four thieves and grave robbers to protect themselves from contracting the plague while robbing the bodies of the gravely ill and deceased. When apprehended, the thieves admitted to using the formula and disclosed the recipe in order to receive a less severe punishment for their crimes. This is a classic recipe, but you can customize it by adjusting the quantities or adding other antibacterial essential oils such as Tea Tree, Oregano, Thyme, Sage, Ravensara, Lavender, Juniper Berry, Hyssop, Bay Laurel, or Scotch Pine. Ingredients:
CLOVE oil, nature’s richest source of eugenol, is the highest-scoring single ingredient tested for its antioxidant capacity on the ORAC scale. Clove is also known for its immune-enhancing properties. With 68% d-limonene, LEMON oil is a powerful antioxidant known for its ability to act as a natural solvent and cleanser. High in antioxidants, CINNAMON BARK has a reputation for relieving discomfort during the winter season and supporting the digestive system. As one of the most versatile of the eucalyptus oils, EUCALYPTUS RADIATA has many health-promoting properties. This powerful essential oil contains eucalyptol as one if its major elements, which in laboratory tests has been reported as being effective against bacteria in topical applications. ROSEMARY oil is naturally energizing and may be beneficial for helping restore mental alertness when experiencing fatigue. Featured Product
50 Ways To Use Thieves Essential Oil
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Detox your body, mind and spirit Well the Holidays are over and everyone is preparing for the new year. For many of us, we have made new year resolutions, made our to-do lists and reflected on this past year. For some of us 2014 was a great year, for others it was not so great. One thing is for certain, life is life and we all experience the bad with the good. We all deserve to start the new year right by getting rid of the "toxins" that are in our systems left from 2014. I'm not just speaking of detoxing our bodies (that is easy), but to include our minds and spirits in this detox process. Adding a detoxifying cleanse to your annual routine can help increase your energy flow and help with your overall well-being. Forgiveness is Critical to Detoxifying your mind and spirit which will benefit your body.
Find YOUR Mountaintop! Most of us have probably not climbed a mountain but I'm sure we all have been at a higher elevation where you look down and realize the smallness of the world. In that moment you are not trying to make everyone happy or multitasking your life away, YOU are just simply enjoying the view from "your mountaintop" happy and content with life. Why does it take a mountaintop experience to make us set back and just be in the moment? Let's all try to find our mountaintop (regardless of what that is) in 2015 and spend as much time there as we can, just living in the moment being happy and content. Detox with Essential OilsIf you are interested in removing the toxins from yourself and starting out 2015 with a fresh start please read about what these EOs can do. Using EOs to help with detox is a safe and natural way to achieve your detox goals. I personally drink water with 2 drops each of lemon and grapefruit EOs added every morning. I feel that this energizes and prepares me for my day. I do stress that if you ingest any EOs please make sure that they are truly graded as therapeutic. I researched long and hard before going with a company that I felt comfortable with. I use Young Living EOs but there are a few more companies that provide therapeutic grade EOs, just do your research first if you plan to take EOs internally. If you have questions please post them here, or you can contact me. 
1. Peppermint Oil
Peppermint oil can be used in the bath, can be consumed, and can be applied topically. If you want to drink it, you only need a few drops of it for it to be effective. You can add it to a detox smoothie or simply add it to water. Peppermint oil can also help you regain or maintain your concentration, and can soothe the digestive system. Peppermint oil is taken from the peppermint plant, which itself has been used medicinally for thousands of years. You’ll often find peppermint oil mixed with other essential oils in a detoxifying blend. 2. Juniper Oil Juniper oil comes from juniper berries, Juniper berries themselves are good for the body thanks to their antioxidants. They can also be used to aid in the digestive system, and can be used as a diuretic. When you use essential oils you are capturing the essence of their source without actually having to use the source plant itself. Juniper oil can help relax the mind and get you to stop stressing out, and can help alleviate pain. As a diuretic it can help flush out toxins and excess water weight, including excessive amounts of sodium. 3. Grapefruit Oil Perhaps you’re used to eating grapefruit, but didn’t know that an oil can be extracted from it that can help the body in numerous ways, not least of which is detoxing? It may be one of the most helpful oils you’re not using, and you don’t have to limit its use to a one-off detox program, you can use it daily to help keep yourself as healthy as can be. It’s been noted for helping to kill viruses within the body, as well as microbes within the body that can cause problems. It is also a diuretic, helping the body flush out waste and toxins. 4. Rosemary Oil Rosemary may be in your herb collection in the kitchen, but the oil derived from this plant can help in your detox efforts, as well as your overall health and wellbeing. By taking the properties of rosemary and putting into an essential oil you’re able to get benefits like improved digestion, improved circulation, anti-inflammatory benefits, and diuretic properties. It can even make you feel better, and has been shown to be a way to ward off cancer and memory loss. You can inhale the oil as a form of aromatherapy, or take a bath with it, or even use it in combination with a massage oil during a massage. 5. Laurel Oil Laurel oil comes from laurel leaves, which have been shown to have large amount of antioxidants that will help the body in numerous ways. Rather than trying to consume or use laurel leaves you can use the essential oil instead, and still derive the benefits. The number one aspect of any detox process is getting the digestive system to function at its best. Laurel essential oil can improve digestion, and only a small amount is needed to get this benefit. You can also use it in a diffuser which helps it to enter the body through respiration. 6. Mandarin Oil Mandarin oil is derived from mandarin oranges and has been shown to help with relaxing the nervous system, one of the best things you can do to get the body into a better state and prepare it for detoxification. It can also help to purify the blood and improve the circulatory system. Because it comes from mandarin oranges it has a nice citrusy aroma to it as well, and using it as part of an aromatherapy program. It helps the liver function, and the liver is the most important organ when it comes to detoxing the body. A liver that is not performing at its best has a domino effect on the rest of the body, and should get top priority with any detox plan. 7. Lemon Oil Lemons have long been known as having astringent properties, and there is even the Master Cleanse which relies on a sort of lemonade concoction that is designed to clear out the body. You’ll often see lemon oil added to cleaning products for the fresh scent it provides and the feeling of clean it produces. Some of the purported benefits of using lemon oil are that it can prevent cancer, free up the lymphatic system and respiratory system, and can be used to reduce inflammation in the body. You can start using lemon oil in baths or using it in a detox shake to add this to your lifestyle. 8. Patchouli Oil Patchouli oil comes from the patchouli plant which has been shown to help improve the mood, and can even improve your sex drive. It’s one of the essential oils that doesn’t get put into the spotlight too often, but has great benefits to it nonetheless. You can use it to detoxify both the body and the mind by taking a bath that has drops of patchouli oil added to it. If you want to benefit from its diuretic properties you’ll need to ingest it, which is easy enough by drinking a few drops in water or making a tea from it. 9. Hyssop Oil Hyssop oil is a lesser-known essential oil but one that will likely grow in popularity as its benefits become clear. It is often given to help treat digestive issues, and an improved digestion is what we’re going for when we start to detox the body. The digestive system is the most important part of the process because that’s what helps to eliminate the most toxins. If it grows sluggish then the body is at risk for many different diseases and conditions. Using an oil like hyssop oil to gently and gradually improve the digestion is a great way to take a step forward towards improved health. 10. Helichrysum Oil You’d probably have a hard time trying to figure out how to get more helichrysum into your daily life, which is what it’s a good thing that you can simply buy helichrysum oil. Helichrysum is made up of the sunflower family, and it has plenty of benefits. Many of these benefits are for the skin, and since the skin is the largest organ of the body it only makes sense to help it out and keep it as healthy as possible. It can help lower the amount of inflammation in the body, and can even help regenerate cells. Comedogenic Ratings The term "comedogenic" is almost always paired with the term "noncomedogenic." This pair of words is used to discuss the degree to which a substance may block the pores. Blocked pores can result in an increase of acne in certain people, and for this reason, people may look for ingredients in skin treatments that are noncomedogenic and less likely to occlude the pores. Those who don’t have acne can usually safely pick products that may occasionally block the pores. The order of ingredients can tell people a lot about how much of a comedogen is in a product. If the last ingredient on a list of ingredients can block pores, this means that the ingredient is present in the lowest percentage of all ingredients in a product. Of course, it is also possible for products to contain more than one such product. For those people who need to strictly avoid these ingredients, most cosmetics and other skincare treatments will usually labeled as noncomedogenic if they don't include pore-blocking ingredients. Looking for the noncomedogenic label is a way of avoiding skin products that might result in more skin breakouts. Levels of comedogenicity are rated on a scale of 0 - 5, 0 being noncomedogenic, 5 being highly comedogenic. Green is good
The search for the perfect acne mixture continues
As we discussed the situation he told me that he really didn't like the way the oils felt on his face (remember that the EOs need to be mixed with a carrier oil). In my first attempt I used Hemp Oil and Jojoba Oil as the base and added the EOs to that mixture. This made for an all liquid mixture and I loved the way it felt on my skin but regardless, if he doesn't like it he will not use it. So onto round 2 and I believe we may have a winner! I incorporated Shea Butter into the equation of Hemp and Jojoba and was able to form a thick compound that once you begin spreading it on your face, it spreads easily. He LOVES the new mixture because it quickly absorbs and doesn't leave an oily residue. All of the base oils I use are noncomedogenic which is one less thing to worry about. Now don't let the green of the Hemp Seed Oil scare you, it will not turn your skin green! Actually, mixed with the Shea Butter, the mixture is more of a light beige color. Hemp Oil is one of my favorite of the carrier oils I would use on my face because it acts as a natural sunscreen. I will update this blog and let you know how the Complexion Enhancer (as I call it) is working.
Do you are someone you love suffer from arthritis pain? Honestly, I thought I would be well aged before I had to deal with arthritis, but thanks to a shallow hip socket, I have arthritis in my right hip. I suppose that I have been developing Uncle Art for years but I realized I had a problem a few years ago when I had a flare up which prompted me to visit my doc. I have had two opinions and both docs tell me that a total hip is in my future. The problem is that I'm "too young" for surgery, (I would normally love to hear those words "too young"). Unless the pain is so severe that I can't tolerate it, my doc of choice will not preform surgery. That's okay because I do not plan to have surgery unless the pain gets intolerable. But there is a fine line between severe pain and intolerable. I don't wont to be in pain daily and now that I have had this issue, I have a new respect for those that have chronic pain, it is not fun! Pain really has an effect on you when you can't sleep and can't physically do what you want to do. For the last two years I have had some level of pain that I had to deal with, not always severe, but always nagging me to remember Uncle Art is around. I still enjoyed tent camping and other outdoor activities but my activities had their consequences. The price I paid for a weekend of camping would be a week of pretty bad pain. My Treatment Choice One of the first mixtures I made was for arthritis pain, I figured I didn't have anything to lose. I experimented with several EOs that were known for their pain relief properties and the mixture seemed to work pretty well. The more I researched arthritis and what can cause "flares", I started experimenting with a whole new group of EOs. It amazes me how multifunctional many of the EOs are. There are several EOs that work wonders with arthritis pain as they not only alleviate pain but also decrease the inflammation that causes the pain to begin with. Another thing to consider when treating arthritis pain is to also treat your muscles. Even if you don't have arthritis, I'm sure you have suffered from some type of injury that has caused your muscles to compensate for the weakened extremity. When muscles are made to compensate for weakness of a joint or bone, they can get sore and stressed. This lead me to consider adding EOs into the mixture that had antispasmodic properties for the muscles. So we have a trifecta effect now of decreasing the inflammation, which in turns decreases the pain and finally, relaxing the muscles. This newest mixture version is great and I apply it at night before bed. As an added bonus I use Copaiba which is specifically for arthritis. I apply 6 drops mixed with a carrier oil every morning to my feet and cover with socks. I can honestly put my hand on the Bible and say since I have been using this combo my pain is so much improved. I can jump right out of bed in the morning now without being stiff at all. Well after I hit snooze a few times :) What is Arthritis?
Myths about ArthritisIf you or a loved one has been diagnosed with arthritis, it is important to learn more about the disease and its potential impact. However, pinning down the facts about arthritis can be difficult. Despite striking more than 50 million Americans, arthritis is an often misunderstood disease with a core of common myths surrounding it.
Myth #1: Arthritis is just minor aches and pains associated with getting older. Fact: Arthritis is actually a complex family of musculoskeletal disorders consisting of more than 100 different diseases or conditions that can affect people of all ages, races and genders.
Fact: Arthritis places a growing burden on the health care and economic systems in this country.
Fact: Exercise is a valuable tool in the fight against arthritis.
 A carrier oil is a vegetable oil derived from the fatty portion of a plant, usually the seeds, kernels or the nuts. Carrier oils are useful when working with essential oils because it is sometimes necessary to dilute an essential oil. One example is when applying to the skin. Powerful, highly concentrated essential oils may cause skin irritations. Another use for carrier oils blended with essential oils is that they are often applied during massage, acting as a needed lubricating agent when working larger areas and muscles. One advantage of carrier oils is that they do not evaporate like essential oils that tend to evaporate quicker when applied neat. Carrier oils actually aid in absorption. Essential oils can be added to carrier oils or a carrier oil can be applied first to an area, followed by an essential oil, this process is referred to as dilution. It is usually specified in terms of either a percentage or a number of drops to be added to an amount of carrier oil. Listed below are some examples of carrier oils. My youngest daughter has a peanut allergy so I don't use Peanut Oil in any of our mixtures. Almond, Sweet Oil Evening Primrose Oil Pecan Oil Apricot Kernel Oil Grapeseed Oil Rose Hip Oil Avocado Oil Hazelnut Oil Sesame Oil Borage Oil Jojoba Oil Shea Butter Calendula Oil Macadamia Nut Oil Sunflower Oil Cocoa Butter Olive Oil Walnut Oil Coconut Oil Peanut Oil Wheatgerm Oil Carrier oils are available in two different forms, liquid and solid. My favorite solids are Coconut Oil and Shea Butter. I use these two along with different liquid carrier oils to form the bases for most of our products. I will use other blog forums to discuss different essential oils and carrier oils in detail, this post is to give you a generalized understanding of what carrier oils are. Let's keep the conversation going, let me know your thoughts...
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