Moisturizing Hand Sanitizer

Who else out there has a love/hate relationship with hand sanitizer? When I pick up my kiddos from school or sports practice I feel the need to sanitize the germiest thing they are bringing home with them, their hands,  as quickly as possible. I have always kept a good size container of hand sanitizer in my van for that purpose. I love that it gets rid of the nasties, but I hate how it smells/burns/stings and that it is full of chemicals and alcohol. Did you know that a 2 oz bottle of hand sanitizer may contain as much alcohol as four shots of vodka?!? Just what I need on my hands, NOT!
    A few month ago I cleaned out that bottle that I had in the car and made my own hand sanitizer, it kills germs, moisturizes my hands AND smells delicious :)  I am never going back to the store bought kind, NEVER EVER  :)

Moisturizing Hand Sanitizer 

1/2c. Pure Aloe Vera Gel
1/2t. Vit. E Oil
8 drops doTerra OnGuard Oil
1 drop doTerra Oregano Oil

Put all into your container, shake well.

I just finished up making a few of these to add to Christmas
 Gifts this year.
 The reasons that I add those two particular oils-

Activity of all the oils in the Protective Blend On Guard are: Antibacterial, anti-infectious, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, anti-viral, mood lifters, anti-carcinogen, anti-parasitic, blood cleansers, immune system booster, and digestive disorders.  And it smells like Fall :)

Oregano is a very effective essential oil that knocks out
common intestinal, skin and lung infections, including-
staph, whooping cough, strep and pneumonia. Oregano may be helpful with colds, asthma, bacterial and viral pneumonia, bronchitis (chronic), pulmonary tuberculosis, and skin parasites.

It's that time of year-

The time of year when colds, coughs and flu bugs are flying around. Here are a few tips to treating them the natural way. 

  
      My Mommer had a persistent cough that she has had for months, it wouldn't go away, I think she should have bought stock in a cough drop company because she was using so many of them! So when she ordered the OnGuard throat drops, which I have yet to try, I wasn't surprised. A few weeks later though when we were chatting on the phone she told me that her cough was gone, the only thing she has done differently was the OnGuard Throat drops and OnGuard hand soap. Needless to say I think those will be the only cough drops she will be buying again  :) 

 One of our favorite ways to deal with an oncoming, or sore, scratchy throat is a hot cup of our "sore throat" Tea. That is what my Kiddos ask for when they wake up with a sore throat. Here is a recipe for that- 

Sore Throat Tea

1.  Pour hot water into a mug with a chamomile tea bag, after that is done steeping add 2 drops of  OnGuard Essential Oil.  

2.  Add 1 drop of Lemon EO for flavor and additional anti-bacterial properties.

3.  Add a teaspoon of raw honey to help soothe (don't use raw honey for kids under 2.) 

 This tea with OnGuard, honey and lemon is a gentle, soothing remedy that really helps to sooth sore throats.

Another great essential oil  that acts as a cough suppressant is Lime, it's excellent to use at night when you need your sleep.  Add 2 drops to a glass of water before bedtime.

Coconut ColdCare Rub

1)  1 drop ea. Eucalyptus, Peppermint, Melaleuca

2)  1 drop ea. Eucalyptus, Clove, Lemon
3)  2 drops Breathe, 1 drop Lime

4)  2 drops Myrrh or Rosemary (to reduce mucous)
       

        Mix a group of oils from the list above with 3-4 T. of coconut oil and apply every 2 hours to your chest, back or on the bottom of feet and cover with socks. 

Gargle Recipe
1 drop of Oregano

1 drop Lemon

1 drop Peppermint

Add to a shot glass of water and gargle for 1 to 2 minutes and swallow, do this as needed.

We have had one very minor bought of stomach flu this year, not of us was sicker than 12 hours. At the first hint of Nausea DigestZen was rubbed onto the stomach, and I put OnGuard and Lemon EO's in my diffuser.  I also used a disinfecting spray for cleaning to kill of any lingering germs. 

Disinfecting Cleaning Spray

2c. distilled, or boiled and cooled water

10 drops OnGuard EO blend

4  drops Lemon EO

Put in a cleaning spray bottle, shake each time before using. 

Chest Cold Rub 
1/8c. Avocado Oil
1T. BeesWax
1/2t. Vitamin E oil
15 drops Cypress EO
12 drops Eucalyptus EO
8 drops Lime EO
5 drops Peppermint EO

   Heat Avocado Oil and Beeswax in a class container in the microwave for 30 seconds, stir, heat for 30 seconds more. Stir until beeswaxis melted, add in vitamin E. Let cool until it starts to get cloudy, stir in the Eo's. Store tightly covered. Rub onto chest and back over lungs. 

Some Great EO's to diffuse are-  Breathe, Eucalyptus, or OnGuard.

I hope this info will be of help to others I know it has 

been for my family : )

Essential Oils

   I have a new found love for an old friend, Essential Oils. For many years, over 18 years actually,  I have used them aromatically, I have very carefully used ONE of them topically (my melaleuca). About 6 months ago through a good friend I was introduced to a company that produces and sells essential oils that go through  rigorous testing. Not just testing it themselves, they have their oils tested by another party as well. 

 

      So these oils can not only be used topically, but internally as well!  I was a bit wary so I ordered  melaleuca from my friend first.  I was really happy with the quality of it. Then everyone (all 6 of us) in my family came down with a really bad cold/sinus bug, it was awful!  My friend gave me samples of 2 oils, a blend called OnGuard and Oregano Oil.  So the Oregano oil sat untouched on my dresser but the blend I put to use on my kiddos. I carefully rubbed it on the bottoms of their feet a couple of times through out the first day. By that evening I could already see a difference!! I used the sample up on the kids over the next 2 days and  they all were quickly over it. I on the other hand was still miserable, I had only used the oil once that first day I got it. And now it was gone :( 

      So as I got ready for bed, debating in my head whether I needed sleep badly enough to take  NyQuil, which I hate, I noticed the bottle of Oregano oil sitting on my dresser.  At that point my head was so congested I was ready to try anything, I put a drop of Oregano, which I should have diluted, on the bottom of each foot. Then rubbed it on the middle of my forehead where I felt congested. Then I climbed into bed prepared for a miserable night.  Much to my surprise within MINUTES I could breath through my nose! And the stuffiness in my head begin clearing, I was able to sleep very well that night.  And woke up with a new found love for Oregano oil :) 

       Since that time I have found several oils that I have added to my collection, oils that have greatly helped my family. Since this is where I began collecting all of my notes and info on herbs and natural healing I wanted to began keeping a record of the oils I have used  and what I have found them helpful for. Also oils and blends I have found that I want to try and have record of in case I need them. 

       The oils that I am using and loving are from a company called doTerra. I am aware that there is a lot of controversy on this subject and between companies. But doTerra is the one I have researched, used and will be using for the unforeseeable future, because I believe they are the safest for my family.  

Here is some info from doTerra talking about their oils. 

    The CPTG Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade^® mark* represents the internal standards used by dōTERRA for sourcing and testing pure aromatic botanical extracts using  independent testing laboratories. The dōTERRA brand and registered CPTG mark represent the dōTERRA guarantee of pure essential oil extracts that meet high standards for both purity and material composition and accurate product labeling.

dōTERRA therapeutic-grade essential oils are pure, natural aromatic compounds carefully extracted from plants. They do not contain fillers or artificial ingredients that would dilute their active qualities. Proper extraction and quality control methods also ensure that dōTERRA essential oils are free of any contaminants, such as pesticides or other chemical residues. In addition to being pure and natural, CPTG Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade essential oils are subjected to additional quality testing that ensures the correct composition of the active natural compounds found in each oil. Even though an essential oil may be pure, if the right species or part of a plant has not been used, or if the plant has not been grown in the right environment, harvested at the right time, or not distilled under the right conditions, the natural chemical makeup of the extraction will not provide as predictable and powerful a benefit. In some cases, the wrong plant part harvested at the wrong time may result in an extract that contains harmful levels of some constituents.

    For more info on this you can leave a comment, I will be checking them about twice a week. Or you can email me- kbkmsmom@yahoo.com

Wishing you and yours- Good Health :-)