Tea Tree: Use it for acne. It can be kind of harsh, so go easy – 5 drops max per 1 ounce of your carrier oil(s). I'm always amazed at how WICKED FAST it clears up my skin.
Eucalyptus: This is also good for acne and it's quite a bit gentler than tea tree oil.
Ylang Ylang: It is soooo soothing. If you have irritated skin from breakouts or sun damage, try ylang ylang. 5 drops in 1 oz of your carrier oil(s) is a good place to start.
Rosemary: Is an all-around great oil for skin and hair, so it's another good one to start with if you're not sure, or if you're making the face oil for someone else and aren't quite sure what their needs are. It has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties so it's good for fighting acne. It's also beneficial for healing blemishes, improving skin tone and antiaging.
Lavender: It is good for fighting acne and also for healing scars.
Carrot Seed: Amazing for people with eczema and aging skin.
Properties of Carrier Oils
Grapeseed Oil: A very light, non greasy oil that absorbs easily. It's odourless, making it great for blending with essential oils. It's slightly astringent, meaning that it helps tighten and tone skin. Suitable for all skin types.
Sweet Almond Oil: Helps relieve itching, soreness and dryness. Because it is very lubricating but doesn't absorb easily, it's excellent in massage blends. Good for all skin types. Don't use it if you have nut allergies!
Rose Hip Oil: Very moisturizing. Also contains healing compounds which make it valuable in treating scars, minor wounds, burns and eczema.
Avocado Oil: Perfect for dry and aging skin. It's super hydrating and contains all kinds of yummy fatty acids and minerals to repair damaged skin. Sun damaged skin seems to react well to avocado oil too.
Jojoba Oil: It is actually a liquid wax. It forms a super protective barrier on the skin so icky environmental crap like smoke and toxins have a harder time getting to your sweet skin. Inner-city chicks, take note! It's really amazing for ALL skin types and issues, so if you're not sure where to start, go with jojoba oil for your carrier.
Sesame Oil: It has oil-pulling properties so I love it for broken out skin. It's also wonderful for soothing irritated, inflamed skin. If you're struggling with acne, sesame oil is where it's at.
Sweet Almond Oil: Helps relieve itching, soreness and dryness. Because it is very lubricating but doesn't absorb easily, it's excellent in massage blends. Good for all skin types. Don't use it if you have nut allergies!
Rose Hip Oil: Very moisturizing. Also contains healing compounds which make it valuable in treating scars, minor wounds, burns and eczema.
Avocado Oil: Perfect for dry and aging skin. It's super hydrating and contains all kinds of yummy fatty acids and minerals to repair damaged skin. Sun damaged skin seems to react well to avocado oil too.
Jojoba Oil: It is actually a liquid wax. It forms a super protective barrier on the skin so icky environmental crap like smoke and toxins have a harder time getting to your sweet skin. Inner-city chicks, take note! It's really amazing for ALL skin types and issues, so if you're not sure where to start, go with jojoba oil for your carrier.
Sesame Oil: It has oil-pulling properties so I love it for broken out skin. It's also wonderful for soothing irritated, inflamed skin. If you're struggling with acne, sesame oil is where it's at.
7 Health Benefits of Carrot Juice
The antioxidant, carotenoid, which gives carrots their bright orange color, builds up the immune system by defending the body from viruses, destructive bacteria, free radicals, and inflammation. Carotenoids and other antioxidants found in carrots help reduce your chances of getting short-term ailments, as well as serious chronic conditions, such as cancer.
The major antioxidants found in carrots and carrot juice include vitamin C, lutein, lycopene, beta-carotene, and zeaxanthin. Carrots are one of the highest food sources of beta-carotene and carotenoids available. Both of these antioxidants help fight various types of chronic diseases, such as cancer, by stopping damage to DNA and reducing inflammation.
Eye Health
Carrots and carrot juice are packed with Vitamin A, which is a form of beta-carotene. Vitamin A is vital to eye health; in fact, a deficiency of Vitamin A is the leading cause of preventable blindness around the globe. Drinking carrot juice, which provides high amounts of lutein and zeaxanthin, along with vitamin A, can greatly reduce your risk of aging eye maladies such as macular degeneration and cataracts.
Cancer Protection
Much research has been done on using carrot juice to fight cancer, with remarkable results. In one such study, women who had previously been diagnosed with breast cancer and who drank 8 ounces of fresh orange juice and carrot juice daily for 3 weeks saw a marked improvement in the amount of antioxidant carotenoids in their blood. This reduced the amount of oxidative stress and inflammation in their bodies, which lowers cancer growth.
Science has also proven that consuming high amounts of carotenoids found in carrots and other fruits and vegetables can actually prevent cancer recurrences, fight leukemia cells and protect the body against some of the most common forms of cancer, including breast and ovarian cancers.
Benefits of Myrrh
It has both anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties which makes myrrh essential oil great for soothing sores of the mouth and for treating gingivitis (gum inflammation). Myrrh also relieves toothaches and freshens the breath. You can add a drop or two of myrrh essential oil to your mouthwash or toothpaste for its freshening and healing benefits.
2. Boosts Immune System
Myrrh can stimulate your immune system by helping your body’s own cells repel undesirable elements and heal illnesses. Myrrh essential oil can be ingested, but to avoid side effects from too much myrrh essential oil, like diarrhea, consult a healthcare professional about the dose, or use an alternative route of administration, like topical or inhaled myrrh essential oil. You can add myrrh essential oil to lotions or carrier oils, or you can inhale it by putting it in a diffuser, humidifier, or inhaler. You can even use it in the shower or bath, like you would eucalyptus or mint essential oils.
3. Promotes Digestive Health
As noted above, myrrh is safe to ingest in small amounts. When used to improve digestion, this is the proper type of administration. Myrrh can alleviate flatulence, dyspepsia, and indigestion, and some users have found it also helps hemorrhoids.
4. Calms Respiratory Problems
Myrrh has expectorant properties, and it is therefore often used to help rid the body of excess phlegm. It also works to help fight coughs and colds and soothes sore throats.
Multiple Heath & Beauty Benefits of Vinegar
The uses for vinegar, whatever the type, are as numerous as they are versatile. With all its popularity, you probably know vinegar's great for washing windows and getting rid of that pesky aphid problem, but do you know all its health and beauty benefits?
Finding multiple uses for a single product means you're spending less money and reducing the energy consumption it takes to create all those other products that claim to do the same thing. Oh, and vinegar, or “sour wine,” is a renewable resource. Keep reading to see all the reasons why you should consider keeping a bottle of vinegar in your medicine cabinet or under the bathroom sink.
SUGGESTED USES FOR VINEGAR
Anti-Dandruff Rinse: Follow each shampoo with a rinse made of 2 cups apple cider vinegar and 2 cups cold water. Or simply apply 3 tablespoons vinegar onto your hair, massage it into your scalp, wait a few minutes, then rinse, and shampoo as usual.
Hair Conditioner: Combine 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar with 2 tablespoons olive oil and 3 egg whites (yeah, we know it sounds gross). Rub the mixture into your hair, and then keep it covered for 30 minutes using plastic wrap or a shower cap. Follow by rinsing as usual.
Finding multiple uses for a single product means you're spending less money and reducing the energy consumption it takes to create all those other products that claim to do the same thing. Oh, and vinegar, or “sour wine,” is a renewable resource. Keep reading to see all the reasons why you should consider keeping a bottle of vinegar in your medicine cabinet or under the bathroom sink.
SUGGESTED USES FOR VINEGAR
Anti-Dandruff Rinse: Follow each shampoo with a rinse made of 2 cups apple cider vinegar and 2 cups cold water. Or simply apply 3 tablespoons vinegar onto your hair, massage it into your scalp, wait a few minutes, then rinse, and shampoo as usual.
Hair Conditioner: Combine 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar with 2 tablespoons olive oil and 3 egg whites (yeah, we know it sounds gross). Rub the mixture into your hair, and then keep it covered for 30 minutes using plastic wrap or a shower cap. Follow by rinsing as usual.
Health Benefits of Witch Hazel
Witch Hazel Health Benefits:
1. Skin Care - The benefits of witch hazel are witnessed predominantly in its astringent and anti-inflammatory properties. It is used in many cosmetic lotions and creams to lighten the skin, remove excess oil and dirt, and tighten facial skin. Being a strong astringent, witch hazel health benefits include treating skin conditions such as acne, psoriasis, and eczema. Witch hazel is used extensively in after-shave lotions to heal shaving cuts and to prevent sweating on the face. Witch Hazel benefits also include a natural remedy for insect bites, sunburn, puffy eyes, and itchy skin. A liquid extract of witch hazel is used in many toiletries for clearer and healthier skin. DYI Products.
2. Hemorrhoids and varicose veins - The tannins, flavonoids, and resin present in witch hazel benefit painful varicose veins and hemorrhoids. This health benefit of witch hazel is attributed to its role in improving the constriction of blood vessels and its ability to bring them down to a normal size. Topical application of witch hazel based creams is also advised for postnatal perineum tearing.
3. Respiratory tract infections - A throat gargle including witch hazel and clove helps relieve sore throat pain and laryngitis.
4. Digestive complaints - Witch Hazel tea is used to treat diarrhea and abdominal cramps. The active ingredient catechol is responsible for this health benefit of witch hazel. Mucus discharge and colitis are also benefited by the internal use of Witch hazel.
5. Swelling, infections, and bruises - Available as medicated pads, tinctures, alcohol extracts, creams, and teas, witch hazel health benefits are prominent in reducing swelling and traumatic bruises.
Though there are no reported significant drug interactions of witch hazel, there may be certain side effects of using witch hazel without guidance. The tannins present in this herb may cause nausea, constipation, and liver problems. Thus, Witch hazel supplements are best taken internally only after consulting your physician.
How to Grow a Lemon Tree For An Endless Supply of Lemons
You plant the seeds and grow some more!
Learning how to grow a lemon tree from seed is surprisingly rewarding and easy.
While lemon trees tend to flourish outdoors year-round in hot, sunny regions, they can also be grown indoors as edible houseplants in cold-season climates.
Let’s get started!
To grow your own lemon tree, you will need to obtain the following:
- An organic lemon since non-organic lemons often contain non-germinating seeds
- Fertile potting soil, preferably containing peat, vermiculite, perlite, and natural fertilizers
- A planting pot that is six inches wide and six inches deep (will be used for sprouting)
- A seedling pot that is about 24 inches wide by 12 inches deep
- A sunny, indoor growing location and possibly a grow light
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