Desert Rose

Here are things I have done. Sometimes I do not use all that is listed. It depends on the severity and lengths of the illness. The best line of defense is catching it early, being aggressive with the things you are using at the onset, nipping it in the bud, and eliminating the virus/illness from setting up camp in the body. I would suggest intuitively choosing those things that speak to you and using those. All of the things listed, I believe, should be in every home. It really sets you up for being prepared for any sickness that comes our way.

Nutrition:

No dairy
Clear fluid
Young coconut juice from the coconut (rich in electrolytes and minerals) http://www.living-foods.com/articles/youngcoconuts.html

Young coconut meat
homemade soups
Emergen-C drinks
Herbal tea sweetened with honey or agave nectar-I love peppermint and alfalfa or Cold Care from Traditional Medicinals

Holistic Hot Toddy from Sylvia Harber-
1/2 can OJ concentrate (I prefer trader Joe's)
1 Cup water

Juice from 1/2 lemon
1 Tbsp. Honey
Dash of cayenne pepper-less for a small child
Put above ingredients in saucepan. Stir continually until hot not boiling. Drink warm. For adults, it is best to drink as warm as possible. Helps decrease and break up mucus. Also soothes throat and stomach.

Aromatherapy:
*Miracle Menthol Salve-rubbed on chest and down spine (he would beg for this. The light massage and feel/smell of the salve seemed to calm him immensely)- you could also use essential oils such as eucalyptus, spearmint, peppermint, lavender, etc..
*Immunity Essential Wellness Oil-rubbed on feet and inhaled
*Breathe Easy Essential Wellness Oil-carefully placed over the bridge of his nose
*Essential Oils diffused in the room(ex. Lemon, Clove with any citrus oils, Eucalyptus, Tea Tree, Lavender, Cypress, Ravensara)
* Bliss Essential Wellness Oil or Lavender, Mandarin, Roman Chamomile, Coriander, etc.. for calming a child. It is so hard when they are little and don't understand why they can't breathe through their nose.

Herbal
**Kid Viral or Infection Fighter tincture- helps decrease infection, virus', etc..
**Chill tincture-soothes mucus membranes, clears throat, etc.
Lobelia tincture- (Dry lobelia herb tinctured in apple cider vinegar) soothes throat, eases coughs, strengthens lungs, bronchials, etc.
**Colloidal Silver Lozenges or Slippery Elm Lozenges

For Fevers-*Cool Down Essential Wellness Oil or peppermint essential oil diluted in a carrier oil-rubbed on the feet works wonders. It helps bring down the temperature naturally for comfort, and still allows the body to burn the fever at it's own pace.
-Avoid astragalus when a fever is present. It tends to not allow the fever to decrease.

2009-09-14T15:37:00.001-07:00

NEW Group Session

Please join me for my next group session:

"I am stronger in Faith than in Fear"
Thursday, September 24, 2009 @2:30pm (PST)

Does your fear limit you? Does it hold you back? Does it at times seem insurmountable? Do you worry about things that you have no control over?

This class will be about replacing fears with good healthy doses of faith. It is humanly impossible to feel both fear and faith simultaneously. I will share with you some tools to help you learn to make feeling faith more of a habit than allowing fear.

What could you do, if you did not fear?

"You block your dream when you allow your fear to grow bigger than your faith."
~Mary Manin Morrissey

For more information on what group sessions are and how they work, and to register and pay, please visit EssentialEnergy.blogspot.com, and look on the right sidebar.

5 Week Teleclass

2009-09-06T01:38:00.001-07:00

Introducing...

A 5 week Teleclass:

"Manifesting Your Dreams and Finding Joy in the Journey"

FiveElementsJourney.blogspot.com

Clear Your Mind-Calm Your Body-Claim Your Spirit

2009-06-29T00:42:00.000-07:00

I will be a guest on this Is Calyco Healing right for YOU? July 1 at 6 PM Mountain free teleclass. As many of you know I incorporate Calyco Healing into my Health and Wellness Consultations. I have found that when addressing and clearing stuck energy in our bodies and minds, whether it be by false beliefs, traumas, generational patterns, or other things, that health and wellness improves dramatically on it's own. With a background in herbs and aromatherapy, I use these things daily to help my physical and mental body feel better. But, I also find I don't need as much supplementation as I once did because when using energy work, you get rid of baggage that does not serve you, that really does effect your health. So, I always check out everything energetically when beginning a consultation, and then we address what physical things may be left over after.

This is a GREAT opportunity to understand more about energy work and how it works! Even if you are not interested in the course, this call will explain how Calyco works and can work for you!

Mark your calendar!

This coming Wed. July 1st I'll be offering a Free Tele-class:

"Is Calyco Healing right for YOU?"

5 pm Pac / 6 pm MDT / 7 pm Central / 8 pm Eastern

If you've ever considered taking a Calyco Healing course now or in the future, you do not want to miss this call! On this call you won't hear me telling you more about Calyco, you'll hear 4 students/clients who have experienced CH for themselves and would love to share with you:

·what made them decide to take the course

·what experience with energy (if any) they had before taking CH

·in what ways has it changed them, their families, others

·how they are using it in their lives now

·and I'm sure they'll share much more!

These 4 gals are so excited to talk to you, because you may be in the same place they were before taking the course.

-You know, that place of 'feeling' drawn to it, but not sure if you could really develop the skills to do it, and the biggie for many people: "Is it worth the investment?"

They can answer all these concerns better than I can, so that's why they are the ones who will be doing the talking.

Now, this is pretty brave of me to do, because although I know they liked the CH training and are doing good things with it, I'm not exactly sure what they are going to tell you! So tune in with me on Wed July 1st 6 pm MDT to hear what they want you to know about Calyco Healing.

Remember, there's no fee for this and you don't even need to register beforehand! You can listen through your computer speakers via webcast or call in on your telephone--your choice!

TO ATTEND THIS EVENT, CLICK THIS LINK NOW...

http://instantTeleseminar.com/?eventid=7835529

Hope you'll join me Wednesday!

Carolyn Cooper

Calyco Healing

PO Box 910546

St. George, Ut. 847

901-888-399-flow

CalycoHealing.com

2009-05-26T23:29:00.000-07:00

Summer Scrub

I love a good scrub for summer to get those feet, hands and elbows nice and clean and soft and ready for the beach! This scrub is awesome. So many scrubs are so expensive, and so many can be made with common ingredients in your kitchen. You can also gently use it on your face and neck. Enjoy

Ingredients:

1/4 C. oatmeal
1/4 C. powdered milk

1 Tbsp. table or sea salt

1 tsp. powdered herb (I like comfrey or plantain for problem skin, and peppermint and spearmint are nice and cooling)

1Tbsp. fine cornmeal (this is if you want extra exfoliation)

1Tbsp. dried rose petals, dried lavender buds, calendula, etc..

I like to throw it all in the grinder (I use a magic bullet, it works great), and then process until fine. Then I add about 3-5 drops of my favorite essential oils at the time and mix thoroughly. It is best kept in a small mason jar or other container.

To use, take about 1 tbsp. in your hand and mix with water to form a paste. Massage into skin. For best results, let sit on skin for a minute or two. Rinse.

Painting by: John Rabbetts

2009-05-06T15:24:00.000-07:00

"But there is suffering in life, and there are defeats.

No one can avoid them.

But it's better to lose some of the battles in the struggles for your dreams

than to be defeated without ever knowing what you're fighting for."

~ Paulo Coelho

Question:

What are some of your dreams? What are you fighting for?

Painting by Kevin Louis Wright-"Dreams Arising"

Poem for the day-Birth

2009-04-22T01:52:00.000-07:00

With Baby Vaughn, snuggled in bed, just an hour after birth....

no better feeling exists... none.

Lara's Birth

(for Patty, my stepmother)

by Shannon Mitchell

(found here http://www.compleatmother.com/poems.htm)

Sometimes our footsteps lead us

where we never thought we'd go...

Sometimes experiences left behind us

are ones God chooses to show...

As we get older and think

that everything has been seen...

Our Lord allows a miracle to show us

we don't know anything...

Sometimes the deepest agony

can bring the greatest joy...

Sometimes the journey is arduous

that takes us where we need to go...

At times we may wonder

was it really worth the wait?

But love is the greatest outcome

And Love never comes too late...

So sometimes when you may wonder

if all the patience is worthwhile...

There is nothing more rewarding

Than a Newborn Baby's Smile.

Spring Cleaning & Challenge

2009-04-15T00:29:00.000-07:00

Spring cleaning our homes seems a daunting task if we are not an overall organized person.

We make lists, we make plans, we plant, we work, we stand back to see our creation.

I try and spring clean every year. It ends up turning into a process that once started, sometimes seems hard to continue, even begin or stop. Emotions are attached to things for me, and so I ponder a little too long on things that should be easy to let go of. I might need it, it has served me, it is comfortable, will I miss it, not having it may change me! Fear sets in and anxiety too. They are just things I tell myself... temporal, temporary THINGS. I realize some of these things don't serve me. I release them. I feel lighter, I breathe a cleansing breathe. Sometimes I later feel anxiety letting them go, and I dig back in that garbage bag to find them and hold them close again. But the more I let go of the things that do not serve me, the better I feel and I start to love the feeling of freedom and lightness more than I loved the things.

Apply this principle to our emotions and those things we carry around with us that weigh us spiritually and emotionally down. They are just things or memories of things. They do not serve us. They stop us. They are roadblocks, briar patches and pits that slow us down on our journey to greatness. They are barriers to happiness, peace, and rest. Sometimes we feel like we can let them go. We place them in the garbage bag. We feel naked, a little exposed. They served a purpose, if only to stop us from having to be who we were meant to be. They had become comfortable, even though the comfort was not real. So, we may choose to dig through that bag and get them back out. Or, we can CHOOSE to let them go, and enjoy the freedom and peace more than the false comfort they brought.

Release, surrender.... all those things that are not who you are. Doubt, false beliefs, fears, anxieties. Let them go, slowly if you must. Be that caterpillar. Build your cocoon. With each thing you release, your cocoon gets stronger, inter-woven, sustainable, comfortable. Then climb inside this new place you have created by letting go all that you did not need. Snuggle into it. Feel the walls, feel the warmth, like a swaddled newborn who feels secure, unconditionally loved, appreciated, full. Stay until you are ready, stretch and grow and when you choose to emerge, look at who you are now. You look younger, you feel better, you are not perfect, but that is not the purpose. You know who you are, you begin to take stock and note what you like about you, life, friends, family, instead of filing away the hurts, angst and pain. Life is new. It is not free from pain or trouble, but with new eyes you face the challenges. With new wings, you fly more easily through life.

Spring Cleaning Challenge- Let go of the things that are not serving you. Meditate, pray, do yoga,Tai Chi, energy work, sit quietly and observe the things you can change. You will be amazed at the power that brings. Realizing YOU can change it. You can! Because you are powerful, and a beloved creature of divinity!

I believe in you and I believe in who you want to be. We are here to help each other. I believe in that.

Painting by my favorite artist- Sulamith Wulfing

Change of the Season congestion

2009-03-21T00:33:00.000-07:00

Spring has sprung and so have the mulberries..here. Itchy eyes, crackly throat, "snuffed" up nose as my 5 year old says. It can be misery. One of my favorite things for this is a nice steam. Be careful, it's hot, but oh so nice. These essential oils are known for their abilities to relieve congestion, open up bronchials and nasal passages and also hydrate them.

Boil a pot of water on the stove. Turn stove off, remove pot and let it steam a minute. Add these oils, stir with spoon:

10 drops eucalyptus essential oil
5 drops ginger essential oil
5 drops lemon essential oil

Put a towel over your head and pot-close eyes
Hold yourface about 18 inches from the water and breathe in through your nose, exhaling through your mouth.* Do this for 5-10 minutes or until you feel done.

*again, steam is very hot, so be careful. If you start to feel light headed, take a breather of fresh air and resume.

2009-03-06T01:10:00.000-08:00

Fill your bowl to the brim and it will spill.

Keep sharpening your knife and it will blunt.

Chase after money and security and your heart will never unclench.

Care about people's approval and you will be their prisoner.

Do your work, then step back.

The only path to serenity.

-Tao Te Ching

Baby Wash

2009-02-26T14:41:00.000-08:00

Who does not love that new baby smell? I think I sniffed so hard with this baby I sniffed it all away! It is sweet and beautiful and makes you want to nuzzle them all day long! Babies have very fragile skin, and don't really need more than water to be clean. However, with the boom of body care products babies are inundated with chemical laden soaps, lotions, etc.. It may say lavender on it, but if it is a mass produced big name product, I guarantee you that the lavender is synthetic- meaning lab produced. I used to teach a 2 hour class on this, so I could go on and on, but I won't. A really great site for looking up what is in your body care products is this one...http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/. Type in what products you are using, and see what is truly in them, and if there is anything to worry about.

I use very simple things on my babies. I use essential oils, salves, herb infused oils and just carrier oils as well. Even though I make my own lotion, I do not use that on their skin until they are least a year old. One of my very favorite recipes is below, and is so easy and yummy, I think all babies should use it!

Baby Body Wash Bags

Summary:
Use these wash bags as a gentle soap-free cleanser for baby.

Ingredients:

Muslin bags
Lavender bud powder*
Chamomile flower powder*
Colloidal oatmeal*
A few drops of olive oil
1-2 drops lavender essential oil
(You can also add a few pure soap shavings if you like- I also like to add powdered milk or buttermilk)

Instructions:

Combine all ingredients in a bowl. Fill muslin bags halfway, keep remainder in glass bottle. When bathing baby, get the bag wet in the warm bath water and squeeze gently as you wash baby's skin and hair.** Rinse. Can also be left in bathwater to create a nice soothing bath.

( **this works especially well for skin rashes and cradle cap)

* To powder herbs, use a mortal and pestle, food processor, magic bullet or coffee grinder. Colloidal oatmeal literally is just oatmeal that is ground into a powder. It release more of it's good nutrients and oat milk when ground.

Quote: Control

2009-02-26T14:37:00.000-08:00

“You cannot control what happens to you, but you can control your attitude toward what happens to you, and in that, you will be mastering change rather than allowing it to master you.”

-Brian Tracy

Quote-Great people and everyone else...

2009-02-21T11:53:00.001-08:00

"The difference between great people and everyone else is that great people create their lives actively, while everyone else is created by their lives, passively waiting to see where life takes them next.

The difference between the two is the difference between living fully and just existing."
~Michael E. Gerber

January AND February as Pregnancy and Birth Month!

2009-02-15T23:11:00.000-08:00

I have been enjoying the sweet softness of my baby boy and just soaking in this special time of newbornhood, so I declare January and February as Pregnancy and Birth months!

This pregnancy experience has been the most different for me. I was barely 21 when I had my first child, my youngest children are 5 1/2 year old twins, I have changed a lot mentally and physically over the past year, etc... So this pregnancy, I was 33/34, & there was only one baby!

Because I know my gestational years are winding down with the addition of our 5th child, I really felt so grateful for this opportunity to have another baby, to enjoy those sweet newborn weeks and the excitement and joy that comes along with it. So, my focus will be on how you can increase your joy during pregnancy and birth.

Tip #1-Take time to rub your belly and talk to your baby. It really is so important. When at one of my prenatals with my midwife, she was checking the baby's heart rate and we heard the rhythm pitter-patter that had become so familiar. At that moment, my baby stuck his little bum out as far as he could. I rubbed it gently as I had so many times, and his heartbeat shot up to a very comfortable and excited rate. He knew me! He knew my touch and it showed.

Pick out or make a special oil blend for your belly, and use it! Every night after my bath, I would give my belly a good massage with one of my oils. I enjoyed it so much and felt this connection with my baby as well. I did feel a slight disconnect at the beginning of my pregnancy because I was so busy with life and my other 4. This was a wonderful way to pay attention to THIS pregnancy and this baby.

Here are my favorite oils for massage you can purchase:

Cocoa Mango Belly Oil- Made with wonderful carrier oils that soothe the skin, and the most heavenly scent of cocoa butter and citrus oils. It smells like chocolate covered oranges on a warm summer day. My husband always commented that it made him hungry!
http://www.supersalve.com/oils.html

Angel Oil-Extra Virgin Olive Oil with infused with Lobelia root and Lavender essential oil. This is fantastic if your stretch marks hurt or itch as well. Awesome stuff and you can use it on baby as well!
http://herbalogie.com/

These oils are also relatively inexpensive. I have seen belly oils out there for around $100! Yikes! Even looking at the ingredients, you could easily make them yourself for a fraction of that cost. So, just a word to the wise, don't overspend on belly oils that promise a certain result.

One of my favorite belly balm recipes is this one from MotherNature.com:

Pregnant Belly Oil

4 400-International Unit vitamin E capsules4 ounces almond (or any light vegetable) oil
½ ounce cocoa butter (available in drugstores)
15 drops lavender essential oil

Pop open the vitamin E capsules and squirt contents into almond oil. Heat mixture in a saucepan over low heat. Add cocoa butter. After cocoa butter melts, remove mixture from heat and let cool. Add essential oil and stir to blend. Massage the oil on your belly— or get someone to do it for you—at least once a day, or as often as you like.

You can also infuse lavender buds or any herb into extra virgin olive oil, scent it with your favorite essential oil and amazingly have your very own easy to make belly oil.

Don't be afraid to experiment. Infused oils are one of the easiest herbal preparations you can make. Here's to a beautiful belly and baby!

(find out how to infuse oils here-http://desertroselv.blogspot.com/2008/07/summer-soothers-tip-1.html)

Where I have been....

2009-01-19T15:00:00.000-08:00

(Seconds after he was born)

Having a baby....

In the bath of course!

I dedicate January as Pregnancy, Childbirth, & Postpartum month. Look for posts dedicated to these subjects.

Vaughn Wryker

9lbs. 5 oz.

22 inches

January 13, 2009

2009-01-09T20:58:00.000-08:00

"Just as your car runs more smoothly and requires less energy to go faster and farther when the wheels are in perfect alignment, you perform better when your thoughts, feelings, emotions, goals, and values are in balance."

~Brian Tracy

I love this thought for the new year. We took the time to set goals in 5 areas- spiritual, emotional, physical, financial and mental. It is powerful to put pen to paper, and put your goals down. If you are not a goal setter, than it is hard to know and acknowledge those milestones of achievement in your life. I don't like resolutions too much, I like the goal aspect, because it gives you the power to choose and work towards something as fast or slow as you would like, without having to "resolve" to do something particular. Take the time to set goals in these areas, and see if your personal "wheel" doesn't run much smoother this fantastic year of 2009!

Limited Offer....

2008-12-16T22:40:00.000-08:00

Peppermint Cream

Every year I make this at Christmas time. I have people that get angry at me the rest of the year because they can't get their hands on any. I have people that literally savor the last few swipes of the cream , and hunt me down until they can get some more. Until I can keep up with the demand, it is only offered on certain occasions and not on my website full time. It is luxurious and will soothe and soften even the ugliest cracked heal. Better than anything it is all natural and tingles with peppermint goodness, especially on freshly washed feet and legs. I have a limited stock and when it is gone it is gone. You can buy it here- Click here: Peppermint Cream (6 oz) - $12.08 : Herbalogie, The study of herbs. -first come, first serve. It makes a lovely gift, and if you pair it with an essential oil roller or wellness oil, I will throw it all in an organza bag for free!

Healthy Family Relationships- Group Call

2008-12-16T00:45:00.000-08:00

Healthy Family Relationships

Everyone has dysfunction in their families, and at this time of year it seems, we can become more aware of it!
Do you wish you could enjoy family members in a more positive way?
Do you wish you could change negative patterns with people in your family?
Do you wish being together with family could be more enjoyable?

This is a group call for specifically helping you with family relationships in your immediate or extended family. This time of year can be so joyous, but and it can also be difficult if you have family issues.

Do you realize by just you shifting your energy on a call such as this, it can change the patterns in your whole family?

A group call can be very powerful, and the energy is amazing.

We will work on releasing old negative patterns and false assumptions and beliefs between family members, and planting new healthy, supportive thoughts and feelings that support peaceful family relationships.

Join us for this session!

When: Thursday, December 18th, 7pm PST

I love the Christmas Season and I love the charitable giving and receiving that surrounds us. As my gift to you for desiring to change things in your family for the more positive and peaceful feelings you know can exist, I offer this group call at a highly discounted rate of $14. (That is half price!) My desire is for this season to be more happy and healthy than any other and for you and your family to benefit from this amazing work!

Testimonial:
"Using this work to help heal family relationships has been amazing. The gentle and subtle shifts in my own and my loved ones energy still confounds me. Feelings and beliefs that we have had for years have been literally erased and replaced with positive and loving new ones. We are able to truly enjoy each other like we never have. Thank you! ~RMJ

What is a group session?
A group session is where many people are on a call at once. The benefits are that it costs less than a private session, and the energy of a group can be very powerful. The phone lines are muted until the end where I will address specific questions sent to me via email and leave a few minutes for discussion.

How does it work?
I begin the session by doing a general clearing of energy and then we just let it guide us from there. Energy knows no bounds, and the collective group effort is very powerful! It is a great way to feel energized about the specific topic we are discussing and clearing. Personally, after group sessions I have participated in, I feel full of energy, purpose and positive feelings! I feel clear on my direction, and the collective energy of a group makes it even more so. You don't need to completely understand energy work for this to be effective. After the call you will have more clarity on how it works and you will feel the difference!

What do I need to do?

~Pay for the call below-your payment is your registration
~You will be sent a confirmation email
~Call in at the appointed time
~If you would like, please send a specific, but brief question via e-mail
(JHughes@Herbalogie.com) on the topic that will be discussed.

***Please register at least 30 minutes before the call so you can be sure and get your information in a timely manner.

Order your session now!

Group Energy Sessions- Now Available!

2008-12-04T00:42:00.000-08:00

A special group session for the holidays. Check back for more sessions as they are added.
This is a great way to experience Energy Healing!

Click here: Essential Energy
(group session information in the upper right corner)

Group Sessions Now Available!

December 11, 2008- 7pm PST:

Joy and Gratitude

50 min. -1 hr. Investment: $28

During the Christmas season, there is much to be joyful and have gratitude about. However, from financial stresses, family relationships and the bustle of the season, we can lose track of these important and vital things. Please join this group session for a boost of feeling gratitude and experiencing joy in all areas of life.

What is a group session?

A group session is where many people are on a call at once. The benefits are that it costs less than a private session, and the energy of a group can be very powerful. The phone lines are muted until the end where I will address specific questions sent to me via email and leave a few minutes for discussion.

How does it work?
I begin the session by doing a general clearing of energy and then we just let it guide us from there. Energy knows no bounds, and the collective group effort is very powerful! It is a great way to feel energized about the specific topic we are discussing and clearing. Personally, after group sessions I have participated in, I feel full of energy, purpose and positive feelings! I feel clear on my direction, and the collective energy of a group makes it even more so. You don't need to completely understand energy work for this to be effective. After the call you will have more clarity on how it works and you will feel the difference!

What do I need to do?

~Pay for the call below-your payment is your registration
~You will be sent a confirmation email
~Call in at the appointed time~
If you would like, please send a specific, but brief question via e-mail (JHughes@Herbalogie.com) on the topic that will be discussed.
***Please register at least 30 minutes before the call so you can be sure and get your information in a timely manner.

Announcing...

2008-11-19T16:28:00.000-08:00

the grand opening of our online store....

HERBALOGIE.COM

Yes. It is open. Yes, it does feel like I have just given birth. And yes, we are excited!

Feel free to stop by and take advantage of our Grand Opening offers!

As a thank you we are offering a few grand opening specials!

~Free Shipping on orders over $75.
~Free Lavender Essential Oil Roller for orders over $55.
~25% off all Essential Wellness Oils

Make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

If you would like to receive the newsletter please respond to this post, and we will add you to our database.

The Pox

2008-11-19T10:16:00.000-08:00

Well, well, well, the chicken pox have arrived just in time for Thanksgiving. I am actually relieved. I believe it is a natural childhood illness that children with strong immune systems can handle quite well. I personally was 14 when I had them, and my Dr. said, and I quote, " I have never seen it cover someones face so badly." Of course my parents happened to be out of town and my older brother and sister tormented me, but that is another story for another day, perhaps!

So, my oldest (12.5) has the pox. His poor face! It looks like a very bad adolescent case of inflamed acne. He is doing well though. He is great about taking his herbs, drinking his herbal tea and wanting natural fruit popsicles to ease the itch of the ones in his mouth. So, I thought I would post what we are doing for the pox. I am planning on 3 other ones getting it, so I am preparing in bulk!

Baths:

I fill a muslin bag (a knee high, or sock would also do), with Oatmeal, Baking Soda, Himalayan Sea Salt, Althea root (Marshmallow), Comfrey, Echinacea, Calendula & Chickweed. The herbs are for their soothing and antibacterial properties. The oatmeal is to help the itch and the baking soda and sea salt to help them dry out. He steeps in his tea bath and gently squeezes the bag to let out all the good stuff, and then washes his body gently with the bag. We empty out the contents after each bath and rinse out the bag and use new herbs for the next bath.

After the bath we apply tea tree and lavender essential oil directly to the most inflamed and itchy ones, and Comfrey and Plantain Salve to the others. The salve is a drawing salve so it draws out any infection and helps heal the pox faster and with less itching. We want them to dry out, but we want to ward off infection as well.

He sips burdock, echinacea, calendula, spearmint, red raspberry and nettle tea hourly. (see recipe below)

We also give him Echinacea tincture and Infection Fighter tincture as well to help his body internally, and boost his immune system.

He still has a low grade fever from time to time, and it make his head ache, so I rub the headache roller (lavender and peppermint essential oils) on his forehead, temples and back of neck. I also rub Immunity Blend on his spine and feet. He is also going to the chiropractor for regular adjustments, as this helps his immunity and strengthens his body systems as well.

His appetite isn't huge and he loves to have his favorites, which are Miso Soup (seaweed, which is high in antioxidants and minerals) and Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup. We also have him drinking young coconut juice to help keep his electrolyte's and mineral levels up. http://http://www.living-foods.com/articles/youngcoconuts.html

This morning we watched a show together, and we are doing a modified school schedule, and of course he loves to read. Sadly he is missing violin and church activities and feels a little cabin feverish. I think I will bust out some games for this afternoon. Any other ideas for fun pox activities?

Rash Relief Formula

Modified from the original recipe by Aviva Jill Romm's book "Naturally Healthy Babies and Children" (one of my MUST HAVE, all time favorite books on health)

(these measurements are for dried herbs. If you have fresh, double the amounts)

1/2 oz. echinacea root

1/4 oz. burdock root

1/4 oz. calendula blossoms

1/4 oz. nettle

1/4 oz. red raspberry leaves

1 tsp. dried spearmint leaves

1 qt. boiling water

To prepare: Combine all herbs. Put one ounce of the mixture in a glass mason jar and pour in the boiling water. Cover and steep for 2 hours.

To use: Take by mouth throughout the day. We like to sweeten it with agave or honey.

* You can also make this blend into a tincture to have on hand for general rash or skin problem relief and for general immunity.

And the winner is.....

2008-11-18T14:57:00.000-08:00

... Before I tell you, I wanted to say thanks so much to all who responded! This was much harder than I thought as everyone who posted is worthy and deserving of this work. But, through pondering much about this, I feel this giveaway will go to...

Jill Mennig!

Congrats Jill!

Thanks again for all of you who responded. I would like to gift you something as well. Please take off $25, if you schedule a wellness consultation within the next 3 weeks. To do this, go to http://essentialenergy.blogspot.com/, and click on make appointment. Then e-mail me, and I will send you a discounted invoice for your consultation. Thank you again!

Time for a...

2008-11-12T21:16:00.001-08:00

Giveaway!

I have noticed on many blogs that they hold contests from time to time in the spirit of joy and fun. Because I like giving, and I don't know of anyone who doesn't like receiving, I am offering a giveaway!

What is the giveaway?
The giveaway is a private Wellness Consultation (via phone, this means anyone, anywhere is eligible!) with me. This is a $100 value and is not redeemable for leftover Halloween candy or the like.

What is a Wellness Consultation?
Please check it out here:http://essentialenergy.blogspot.com/

Why are you giving this valuable gift away?
I believe in people feeling better. I really do. There is too much stress, illness, worry, and sadness in the world. BUT, there is also abundant peace, health, joy and happiness as well. I have learned techniques that can facilitate these things, and I believe in them and want to share and spread the word, that there is help and there is hope and you can change the way you feel!

Is there a catch?
Nope. Now if you want to write a rockin' testimonial after your consult, feel free!

Can I pass this on to others?
Yes! I would love for you too!

How do I get in on this amazing giveaway?
I am so glad you asked! You simply post a comment to this post telling me why you would like it. You don't have to get overly personal, but write what you feel. If you feel like you would like to share more than just your comment, feel free to e-mail me the rest, but I do need some type of comment on this post for eligibility. I will pick a winner based upon the comments and my intuition. :)

Does this giveaway have an end date?
Yes! It will end at midnight this Saturday, Nov. 15th

Let the comments begin.....

Changes...

2008-11-08T22:54:00.000-08:00

When you are through changing, you are through.

~Bruce Barton

For the followers of this blog, I want to thank you. I do not know who many of you are, but I am glad you visit anyway! I started this blog as a place for good information, ideas and bettering health and well being. Though I have mostly talked about herbs, oils, etc... I want to add other gems as well that I feel contribute positively to our lives. As many of you know, I do wellness consultations and energy work. That may be a foreign thing to you, but you do not have to understand it, to benefit from it. I have found that the only true way to be healthy is to have harmony in our lives, body, mind and spirit....through seeking mental, spiritual, financial, social, & emotional well being. These are the spokes of our wheel that keeps it rolling along smoothly. So, I hope that the changes will be welcomed! I of course would love to receive questions, thoughts and the like, as I do believe we all teach each other!

Oh how I love Alfalfa.... let me count the ways....

2008-11-08T21:54:00.000-08:00

I was a big fan of The Little Rascals. I thought I was Darla. I sang like Darla, dressed like Darla, and believed I would always be Darla. Darla loved Alfalfa, and though the Alfalfa I love is a plant and not a person, we do still have that in common!

Alfalfa is an amazing plant. It is #1, numero uno on the herb list for the plant with most nutrients. It is known as the "Father of all Herbs." If you answer no to the question "Got Milk?" You will want to answer yes to "Got Alfalfa?"

It is high in natural Vit. D which helps build strong bones inside and out. It is also great for the arteries, cholesterol all organs, skin and senses. Right now I smell the sweet hay-e smell of alfalfa/peppermint tea wafting up from my tea maker. This tea is amazing and helps me personally with digestion, heartburn and the like. Alfalfa sprouts are a favorite also, though they are not as medicinal as the fresh or dried plant leaves. Alfalfa is phenomenal for helping stimulate milk production in nursing mother's as well. Combined with fenugreek, blessed thistle and marshmallow root, you've got yourself an amazing nursing stimulant. I love to start my day with a wonderful greens formula called "Amazing Greens." It is FULL of the best nutrients, and is truly my natural caffeine. It is also full of what else? Alfalfa. If I do not take this daily (I prefer it in juice, but it tastes good in water or a smoothie as well) you can find me passed out on the couch by mid morning. I feel it working in my body to balance my body functions and provide me with much needed energy. Whether you take it in a combination like Amazing Greens or by itself, alfalfa should be a part of everyone's day!

Amazing Greens can be found on Herbalogie.com, opening this next week! Please contact me for further information!

Referenced from Botanical.com

Why Utah has got it going on...

2008-11-06T22:38:00.000-08:00

I have never lived in Utah, nor do I visit often. It is a pretty place with lots of cool things. This summer we took some sight seeing trips in Utah on our way to the annual Fam Re and went to visit my dear friend Amy. As I got out of the car in her lush green and blooming neighborhood (I have always been a desert rat), I was astounded, no amazed, no ecstatic to see the streets lined with the lush growth of Echinacea and Lavender! Two of my favorite herbs, and two of the prettiest mind you. Whoever master planned that community has got my vote for president! I was so in awe, and so overjoyed by being surround by herbal growth, I had to pick two of the beautiful pink echinacea flowers. As we left Amy's house, I took a picture of me holding them. It is the best picture I have ever taken. (Note to self: Study correlation between echinacea and transdermal effects in relationship to better photography skills.) Sadly, soon after, they began to wilt, and so we snacked on the petals, so they would not be wasted, and bid farewell to the land of echinacea and lavender.

Read more about Lavender:
http://http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/l/lavend13.html

Read more about Echinacea:
http://http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/e/echina01.html

Gee... you smell delicious.

2008-11-06T22:28:00.000-08:00

There is a common question I get when out and about. It is always followed by a big whiff and sniff and then the question, accompanied by a perplexed gaze and tilt of the head..."Um, what, um are you wearing, you smell sooo good." I am always wearing an essential oil of some sort, and because people are not used to smelling real authentic scent and are inundated with "fragrance oils" that are synthetic, they can't quite place the uniqueness of my scent. I do have my favorites... Pikake oil (Hawaiian jasmine), pink grapefruit, and bergamot being my top three. Sometimes I mix them all. As I have mentioned before, essential oils have therapeutic uses. Their first and foremost is their effect on the brain. You smell it, you like it, you feel better. Just ask your brain! It knows good stuff when you smell it. That is why using essential oils as perfume makes sense to me. It isn't synthetic, doesn't harm you, and has a beneficial effect. Try it... and you too can smell delicious.

2008-09-30T23:33:00.000-07:00

"Alternative medicines, deal with the body's energy—something that traditional Western medicine generally does not. We're beginning now to understand things that we know in our hearts are true but we could never measure. As we get better at understanding how little we know about the body, we begin to realize that the next big frontier … in medicine is energy medicine. It's not the mechanistic part of the joints moving. It's not the chemistry of our body. It's understanding for the first time how energy influences how we feel."

-Dr. Mehmet OZ as spoken on Oprah

I want to share a new aspect of my business with you. It is one I am very excited about and am enjoying immensely. I love to help others find their true purpose using health and energy modalities. It is amazing to be a part of something that enables people to become who they truly are called here to be....

http://essentialenergy.blogspot.com/

Any questions? Please feel free to e-mail me!

Once in a Lifetime Sale!

2008-08-19T00:25:00.000-07:00

Call me crazy! As we prepare to launch our website, I am changing the packaging and labels on some of my products. The old packaging is great, I am just making it more uniform and buying from one supplier. So, my change is for your benefit! All my essential wellness oils (see below for description), rollers and sprays are being sold at close to wholesale prices. Supply is limited, so first orders, first served. If you have any questions, please e-mail me at DsrtRoseLV@aol.com.

Essential Wellness info is listed below with the list of available blends, sprays and rollers are listed on the bottom.

Payment and Shipping:
Paypal is the method of payment. You do not have to have a paypal account to pay via paypal. All orders over $50 receive free priority shipping. Otherwise shipping is $4.80 flat fee.

Ordering: Please send an e-mail with the subject line of DRO Order. Put the item and blend you would like and quantity. I will send you an invoice via paypal.

Essential Wellness Oils
What are they?
EWO’s are blends of essential oils chosen for a specific purpose. (i.e. emotional wellbeing, physical health, ailments, illnesses, antibacterial etc…) All oils are hand blended for accuracy and added to base oils (grape seed, coconut, sunflower oil, etc…),
for ease of use.

How do they work?
Suggested use instructions are given on each bottle. Each EWO comes ready to use with no dilution or guesswork on your part. Usually, you will rub the oils on the area of need and also on the bottom of the feet. This can enable the essential oils to work systemically as well as locally.

What are essential oils?
Essential oils are plant essences that are extracted from certain species of flowers, grasses, fruits, leaves, roots, and trees. Today & and for thousands of years, essential oils have been used for medicinal purposes. Combined with herbs, they are truly a “wholistic” treatment. Each oil has many different components making it unique for specific uses.

Essential Wellness Oil & Use

Alcedonia Anti-Anxiety
Beautiful Dreamer Sleep, Insomnia
BreatheEasy Respiratory, colds, etc.
Bliss Calming,-great for kids
Caliga Depression, Sadness, Lethargy
Cellu-Lite Firms, tightens cellulite
Cool Down Cools the body naturally, overheating, fevers. etc... (I personally will not go anywhere without this, it breaks an uncomfortable fever like no other!
Immunity Strengthens immunity, flu, virus’
Le Fleur Labor, pregnancy, calming, pain relief
Myrtle Fertility, hormones
PMS Support Cramps, moods, bloating
Pregnancy Mood Support Moods, hormone balance, etc.
Skin Support Rashes, eczema, psoriasis, etc.
Abundance Overall feeling of well being, and joy

Available in 2 oz. bottle with dispenser cap.
Reg. $12 Now $9

Rollers

A convenient and portable way to carry scent with you wherever you may go.

Believe- A spiritual blend to help ground, calm, and bring peace

Lavender Fields-all-purpose for calming, first aid– etc.
Headache Soother– roll on temples, back of neck, forehead for soothing headache relief
Cleansing -for blemishes, scrapes, stings, cuts, etc.

Available in .10 ml glass roller bottle:
Reg. $8.00 Now $6

Sprays

A fresh mist of our sprays and you get the immediate olfactory gift of refreshment and joy. Easy and portable to use, it makes using essential oils simple.

Pick Me Up-An energizing mist of mints and citrus oils

Out & About: All purpose antibacterial spray for hands & surfaces
First Aid Spray-for cuts, scrapes, abrasions, bites, etc.

Big Brain-Mental Fog, ADD, Focus

Available in 2 oz. sprays-
Reg. $10 Now $7

The information contained on this blog is not meant to prescribe, treat or diagnose, or take the place of medical assistance. Discuss health care options with your personal doctor.

Summer Soothers Tip #5: Sleep

2008-08-08T23:19:00.000-07:00

Sleep can be disturbed or bothered while traveling. Whether it be a different bed, difference in time zones, routine, etc... it can be tough to be well rested for adults and children alike.

Here are some things we use in our travels.

Calming Essential Oils-Lavender, chamomile, mandarin, coriander, lemon, rose otto, jasmine, neroli, etc... (Soon to be available from our website will be two specific calming synergies-Beautiful Dreamer and Bliss)
I also love this blend Click here: Dream Time: Insomnia, Restful Sleep, Nightmares, Sleep Enhancer - Absolute Essential.
Apply to crown of head, forehead, back of neck, feet and breathe in deeply.

Melatonin-I like the drops (Sweet Dreams brand). Children can also safely use these.

Dream Pillows- Dream A Little Dream-Dream Pillows I love to use my one with lavender, rose buds, nutmeg and clove in it.

Fortify- Available from Herbally Grounded. Helps have consistent sleep and strong bones!

Single herbs, teas, etc... Chamomile is a century old favorite. I like to add spearmint and agave to it.
Valerian is a bit stinky, but is wonderful. I add a tsp. to my orange juice and down it.
Hops-Great for those whose minds go over grocery lists, finances and the days events and cannot slow down.
Passion Flower- Made into a tea it is tart and tangy and pink! I really love it with a little chai and cream myself. It is very euphoric and makes me relax and rest my muscles so I go to sleep faster.
You can take portable tea bags with you on trips as well as use a coffee maker that is provided if you are in a hotel. It's very easy to travel and drink your tea!

Other helps:
Read before bed instead of watch TV. TV sticks in our subconscious if watched before bedtime. Especially if it is scary, tragic images. Our subconscious runs around with this information all night, and I cannot emphasize how damaging it is. (I will not step up on my soapbox right now of having a TV in the bedroom, but someday I might, so watch out!) James Ray says the bedroom is for sleeping, napping and babymaking. I agree.:)

Gentle exercises-Yoga, Tai Chi or meditation before bed. (Check out these Tai Chi dvd's- they are fantastic! TaiChiFlow)

I like to repeat to myself: (without looking at the clock, which says it is way to late to be going to bed to get a good nights sleep)

"I will sleep soundly and peacefully and awake refreshed and excited to greet the day. "

Whether it's true or not, thinking makes it so!

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!

SS Tip #4: Di-a-rrhe-a, and Con-sti-pa-tion

2008-08-05T22:24:00.000-07:00

I wrote those words carefully as people just don't seem to like to hear them. Given the issues involved with these two fun friends, I cannot blame you. Often when we travel, our bowels tend to not move along with us as well. You may have a bout with one or the other, or vacillate between the two. Of course the general health rules apply here. Drink lots of water, and fruit and vegetables will help move the bowels along at a regular pace. Keep in mind your intestines are muscles. I like to think of them like a big boa constrictor. They move the waste down very similarly to how a boa digests it's food. If you find yourself in one or both of these predicaments though, here is what we do:

Constipation:
While driving a long ways, make sure and stop and walk a little bit along your way. Staying sedentary in the car for hours, is not conducive to allowing the bowels to move.

-Slippery Elm (a very mucilaginous herb that helps soothe and helps the bowels move along, very gently)

-Eating fresh fruits and vegetables. Because I knew we would be eating on the road, I packed our portable cooler with apples, celery, clementines, grapes and the like, so that we could still keep some good enzymes in the diet.

- On The Move Fiber from Herbally Grounded, Greens, and Chlorella. All of things keep the bowels moving and fortified so they can function well.

Diarrhea:

-My favorite remedy for diarrhea is charcoal. I like the Nature's Best brand and it comes in capsules. It gives you just enough substance to get things back to normal.Make sure and still drink lots of water!

-Young coconut juice: Helps keep those enzymes and fortified minerals in the body and helps the body to disperse the water you take internally more efficiently.

- I like to make a little mixture of a few slices of ginger, steeped in hot water, add 1 tbsp. of honey and a tsp. full of marshmallow root. This soothes the bowels and is anti-inflammatory as well.

Keep a movin'!

Summer Soothers: Tip #3- Treat Your Feet

2008-08-04T15:27:00.000-07:00

When you think of it, our feet do more everyday than most any other part of our body minus our internal organs. That is why pedicures are great and are conducive to overall health and well being! A few years ago I started what has become a yearly ritual and one all the girls-nieces included, look forward to at my family reunion. It is the "Last Night of the Reunion Spa Foot Bath." After the men-folk have returned from their endless hours of fishing, dirt biking, and the like, the kids are settled and the ladies join on the porch for our own individual foot baths. I started this because by the end of the reunion in the mountainous regions my beautiful pedicure complete with hand painted flowers and sparklies had turned into something similar to a hobbits dirty, hairy- foot minus the hair. I am sad we did not take pictures this year, but we were enjoying it too much to move.

Here is what we do:

Buy inexpensive laundry bins (I bought mine at Target for about $1.25 each and they are rectangular)
Each bin is filled with warm/hot water. We seat ourselves in a circle and I have a variety of goodies to add. I pass around Castile or Trader Joe's dish soap to add to the water to help with all the dirt. We swish that around and then I have about 12 single essential oils and blends to choose from. I tell the therapeutic effects of each and we pass them around letting each person add their own. After soaking for a bit, we pass around a container of salt scrub, everyone takes a small handful, and we scrub our feet until they are nice and clean. We soak some more, and then turn the bin over, emptying the water, and dry our feet on the bin or with a towel. This year I brought the famous cream my sister and I make, and also a cayenne lotion I made (simply add cayenne (medicinal not food grade) to unscented lotion base, shake up, let sit). So they had a choice. The cayenne is great for a little warmth and circulation. All the while we are talking and chatting and enjoying the bliss that is ours. Chocolate always has a place, and a variety is usually eaten. You could add fresh herbs or flowers if you so desired, and I thought a nice touch would be some river rocks to rub our feet on in the water. Don't forget the importance of your feet-take time to care for them, especially while camping!

Summer Soothers TIP #2: Insect Repellent

2008-07-18T22:15:00.000-07:00

If you have ever read the ingredients in commercial insect repellent, you may wonder how you are not on the ground next to that mosquito who's legs are in the air. It is pretty toxic. Considering the skin is the biggest organ of our bodies, we need to be aware of what we are putting on it. It is estimated that 60% of everything we put on our skin is absorbed into our blood stream and therefore our organs.

A few years ago at our annual family reunion, the mosquito's were having a reunion themselves. The bites were abundant,except for my little family. We used a natural repellent made with essential oils (recipes to follow) and the only bites we received were where we forgot to spray. The great thing about all natural repellent is of course, it only benefits our skin and body and causes no harm. The other thing is-it smells good! I like to put it in a 6 oz spray bottle with a spritzer top. You could even do an industrial size in a big cleaning spray bottle. This blend I use works for mosquito's, ticks and other insects as well. As a bonus, rodents don't like it either!

Happy Camping Aromatherapy Repellent
Proportions are for 6 oz.

Distilled Water
60 drops Citronella Essential Oil
60 Drops Lavender Essential Oil
20 Drops Thyme Essential Oil

Mix well.

You can also mix the essential oils in an amber glass bottle and keep it on hand to make more spray when you need it. Spray all over exposed skin, and close eyes when spraying on face.

If you do get bit by some stronger than usual pest or one sneaks under your clothes and bites you were you didn't spray (don't laugh, we have documenation of this happening!;)) than I would apply Lavender essential oil directly on the bite. A few applications for the first day to keep the sting and itch away and as needed, if there is more itch or infection on subsequent days, keep applying. If you get bit by a bee or wasp, I will reccomend my mom's age old remedy. Make a paste out of baking soda and water (I of course add essential oils to this, but it is optional), remove the stinger with a credit card, or other object that works, and apply the paste. Leave on until it starts to crack and dry and reapply. Then apply essential oils. Comfrey Plantain Salve is also a wonderful thing to have on hand for bites and stings. Comfrey is known as nature's band aid and Plantain is anti-inflammatory and was such a popular and widely used herb for centuries that Chaucer and Shakespeare reference it in their works. There you have it!

Happy camping!

Summer Soothers Tip #1

2008-07-17T23:04:00.001-07:00

Question #1- What do I do for a sunburn?

The first thing you need to do is cool the body so that the dermal layers of skin do not continue to burn deeper. Keep in mind that sun is good for us, overexposure can be harmful and painful.

1. Take a luke warm bath. You do not want it cold or it can shock the body. A great neutralizer for the skin is baking soda, or himalayan salt. I would put one or both in the water as well. You also want to be drinking lots of room temperature water. Again, if you drink it cold, your stomach has to warm it up before it can use it. But, cold water is better than no water!

2. Apple Cider Vinegar (Organic Bragg's is the best) You want to see some sedimentary looking floaty stuff at the bottom to indicate that the ACV is good stuff. This is called the "mother", and just like your mother is important to you, this is important to good ACV! Put this in your bath, or swab the burned areas with it and let dry. ACV is a natural coolant and balances PH. It is also highly antibacterial and good food for the skin. It helps rehydrate and nourish.

3. Mix 100 drops of pure lavender essential oil with 2 oz. of good quality aloe vera gel. My favorite is Aloe Life. Shake it up well and roll it in your hands to warm it a bit so the oils disperse in the aloe. Apply to burned areas, often. This is key. The skin will continue to burn unless cooled. I would apply this every hour or so for the first 6 hours.

4. For rehydration of lost minerals, fresh young coconut water is the best.Click here: How to use young coconuts for your vibrant health! Second to that is bottled coconut water. This is full of electrolytes and minerals and replenishes depleted mineral stores better than anything I have ever used. You can usually get these at grocery stores, Asian markets or raw food cafes. I would also suggest the Inflease tincture from HerballyGrounded to work on the body from the inside out.

5.For continual healing Angel Oil from Herbally Grounded is fantastic. You can purchase this or make your own. Calendula oil is also amazing and is super easy to make. (see recipes below)

Angel Oil

1 part Lobelia Herb
2 parts Extra Virgin Olive Oil
10 ml. Lavender Essential Oil

In a clean glass mason jar that has been cleaned with hydrogen peroxide, add lobelia and cover with the olive oil. Cap tightly and keep on counter. Shake every day for
1-2 weeks. Strain through washed (no softener) unbleached, cotton muslin, squeezing out as much oil as you can, which will leave a powdery looking dried herb that can be discarded. (I like to put it on my plants or add to compost) Put in clean bottle with squirt top. Add Lavender EO to it and shake well.

Calendula Oil

1 part Calendula
2 parts Extra Virgin Oilve Oil

Same process as above. Essential oils can also be added. I like Roman Chamomile and Lavender for sunburns. IF you have Helichrysum or Imortelle Essential oil it is an amazing skin healer.

All of this can safely be used on people of all ages.

PS... using a natural good quality sunscreen is of course foremost! :)

Summer Soothers

2008-07-17T22:32:00.000-07:00

I have decided to do a running list of important things to have on hand for summer. Even if you are new to herbalism and essential oils, these things are easy to buy or prepare, and are worth having in your home or car for summer fun and travel. Plus, they work. When you think of it, what better things to use then the gifts nature has given us? More now than ever in my lifetime, natural remedies are "popular". They have always been popular with my family because of their efficiency and healing powers. My mission is to share my favorite remedies for a happy summer with you so that you too can enjoy what nature has to offer and see the benefits for yourself.

We are preparing to go on our annual family reunion. I am the family's official witch doctor and welcome the task! I start preparing my summer kit in spring, but never fear, there are many things you can buy prepared or start making now to still use. I welcome questions and will post answers to some in the actual blog so we can all learn from each other.

Frog in the throat....use this to coat.

2008-07-05T17:22:00.000-07:00

My favorite little adopted sisters down at Herbally Grounded came up with this one. It is simple, soothing, and has worked for us everytime. We have used it for all things throat related. It tastes great too and the kids like it.

1 8 oz. bottle of water
1/2 cup Elderberry Syrup (found in your local health food store, if local-Herbally Grounded)
2 squirts or 2 tbsp. Agave nectar

Shake and drink throughout the day. You can make it in larger batches also.

Garlic, how I love you!

2008-05-09T22:30:00.000-07:00

Garlic Shooter

Garlic is fantastically antibacterial. It is one of the most powerful things we can take into our body for health and healing. Here is an easy and fun way to get it down without ever tasting it!

Freshly squeezed juice of ½ Lemon (1-2 Tablespoons)
1-2 Tablespoons Water
1 clove Garlic, crushed

Put Lemon juice and Water into cup. Add freshly crushed garlic clove. Immediately swirl cup to achieve a circling motion and drink in one gulp.

The ‘shooter’ experience is reportedly followed by an immediate feeling of rejuvenation called the ‘shooter rush’. The original recipe came from the Arizona Garlic Festival, Verde Valley, Arizona, found in the International Garlic Festival Cookbook by Caryl Simpson.

2008-05-09T22:24:00.000-07:00

Slippery Elm Lozenges

Slippery elm is the number one herb for throat, respiratory and digestive help. It is amazing! You can buy these lozenges over the counter, but they are so fun and easy to make on your own!

1 Tbsp. Slippery Elm bark powder
1 tsp. honey
Optional: 1-2 drop essential oil to flavor (I like peppermint or lemon)

1. Put the Slippery Elm powder into a bowl.
2. Make a little nest in it and add the honey.
3. Coat your hands with vegetable or olive oil, and work the dough until the honey is incorporated.

4. Roll into snake. (just like play-doh)

5. Wrap in saran wrap and chill.

6. Cut into lozenge sized discs.

4. Store in refrigerator, or dry on screen until dried through.

2008-05-09T22:20:00.000-07:00

Sylvia’s Hot Toddy Recipe (non-alcoholic)
for cold’s, flu, congestion, etc…

Juice from one lemon-(fresh)
1 tbsp. raw honey
1/2 can frozen OJ -preferably a more natural kind like Trader Joe’s
2 cups water
Sprinkle of cayenne

Heat all (except cayenne) together in saucepan until heated through– pretty warm. Pour into mug, sprinkle with cayenne, and drink it down. Go to bed!
*Variation– add 1 tbsp. slippery elm powder for a super effect!

2008-05-09T22:16:00.000-07:00

Onion Ear Poultice

1/2 onion, chopped, 1/4 cup water
Heat ingredients in a pan and bring to a simmer (not a boil), and turn off heat. Strain onion from water (reserving water in pan) and wrap in several layers of cheesecloth, muslin, or a washcloth. Apply this poultice over the affected ear, lying on the other side. Leave for at least 5 minutes or until cool. The onion can be heated and reapplied several times. Do this as many times as needed to ease the discomfort. This old fashioned technique is a little messy, but worth it! You may also add a drop or two of lavender essential oil, to help calm and ease the mind. This remedy creates a vacuum to help remove liquid and infection. The heat and antibacterial properties of the onion also help ease the earache and reduce inflammation. It is helpful to rub a mullein and garlic infused oil blend around the outer part of the ear and mastoid area if an ear infection is present.
Adapted by Jonelle Hughes from Kathy Keville's book Herbs for Health and Healing

2007-11-14T23:19:00.000-08:00

Aromatherapy in Childbirth

In labor with our twins...(July 24, 2003)
The bath
Essential oils
Coconut water
3 midwives
1 doula
2 excited sons (ages 7 and 4)
1 supportive husband
4 hour homebirth
Priceless

"Aromatherapy is easier to administer and costs very little. It changes the whole atmosphere of the birth room. It is not just the mother who can be more relaxed, but the staff caring for her feel calmer and happier too.
Aromatherapy is not a magic charm. But it is one way in which a midwife can communicate warmth, sensitivity and friendship in an institutional and medical environment" .
by Sheila KitzingerThe Independent, Health Page 21 Oct 1999

Maggie Tisserand recommends; clary sage compress to the lower abdomen.
Apply warm, replace when cooled.

Studies
Nursing Times - March 2, 1994, Vol. 90, No. 9, "Using Aromatherapy in Childbirth"

Summary: A study of 500 women in the delivery suite. Essential oils used: Lavender, Clary Sage, Peppermint, Eucalyptus, Chamomile, Frankincense, Jasmine, Rose, Lemon and Mandarin.
Methods of Application:

(1) *Spray of 100 cc water with 2 drops e.o on face sheet, pillow, or bean bag or
(2) 4-6 drops oil in bath or 2-3 drops of oil in footbath or

(3) Inhalation or
(4) Massage with 2 drops in 50 cc of almond oil.
Results: Overall satisfaction with the "aroma" -helped eliminate the hospital smell which decreased anxiety.
Lavender - reduce maternal anxiety, pain relief, lighten mood, calm contractions if woman needed rest (Early in Labor)
Peppermint- Nausea & Vomiting
Clary sage - Increase Contractions

74% of women used no other form of pain relief

2007-11-14T22:51:00.000-08:00

My Favorite Essential Oils for Labor

Clary Sage– relieves tension, helps to increase speed of contractions, helps with after pains and expulsion of placenta
Jasmine– helps with milk supply, excellent for perineal massage mixed with carrier oil, dulls uterine pain
Lavender– all purpose calming and pain relief oil
Myrrh, Frankincense, & Spikenard– Ancient oils to help aid in childbirth. Emotional clearing and fear reduction
Neroli– Relaxes, reduces fear, insomnia, tension and anxiety
Rose– Uplifting, soothing, grounding, creates a sense of euphoria
Peppermint– Uplifting, awakening, anti nausea
Basil– Grounding, awareness, mental focus
Citrus Oils– mood lifters, energy, helps to restore gentle breathing
(my favorite citrus at births is Pink Grapefruit)
Miracle Menthol Salve-helps with back labor tremendously, helps with nausea and breathing

Healing Waters

2007-10-09T22:32:00.000-07:00

If you read my blog, you know how I love baths. Baths are where I get my greatest ideas. It is where I have my greatest peace and my most amazing thoughts. There is something that always bothers me about the bath though. Here in Las Vegas, it is that the water in which we bathe is chemically laden. I ALWAYS add salt to my bath to counteract the negative things in it. By salt, I mean sea salt or Himalayan salt. These kinds of salt counteract the negative effects of water by absorbing and eliminating the chemicals, bacteria and nastiness in the water. They also are great for the skin, and for aches and pains. Upon learning more about coral calcium this last week, I had an epiphany. Coral calcium and Sea/Himalayan salt together in the bath!

Why coral calcium you ask? Well, because...

Coral Calcium has many wonderful properties. I am talking about above sea coral calcium. I will not go into detail about why this is important now, just know it is. It is obviously good for our hair, skin and nails. But it is also good for EVERY cell in our bodies. It also keeps our muscles, nerves and circulation of blood going strong. It keeps our bones strong and solid. What does it do for the water? It absorbs and cleanses the lead, mercury and other chemicals we have in our water.

So, I blended up a batch of Himalayan sea salt, coral calcium and of course some essential oils. (I used lavender, bergamot and coriander- some of my favorite bath blessings!) I was so excited to enter my bath that night, as I poured a heaping cup into the steaming water. (Yes, I like my bath's hot.) The experience was heaven! Have you ever been in a mineral pool or hot springs? You know the buoyancy and softness you feel? Well, I created that in my own bath! I'd had a massage that day to loosen up a tight shoulder that was a result of a bout with shingles, and this bath cradled me like a bassinet of flowing water! I felt so rested and relaxed after this bath, that I made up an extra large batch of my treasure, so as to never be without it.

If you are not a 'bath person" by nature, give it a try! We deserve to take a luxurious rest in one of nature's best creations. Bless yourself with the gift of just being, not having to do or say anything, and letting the bliss that is water be a part of our lives.

*Above ground coral calcium and Himalayan salts found at Herbally Grounded, Las Vegas, NV.

2007-07-09T00:18:00.000-07:00

If I did not have the proof, I wouldn't believe it. I have Carcolepsy. It is a form of Narcolepsy, but only related to being in the car.
Narcolepsy is by definition:
-The main characteristic of narcolepsy is overwhelming excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), even after adequate night time sleep. A person with narcolepsy is likely to become drowsy or to fall asleep, often at inappropriate times and places. Daytime naps may occur with or without warning and may be physically irresistible. These naps can occur several times a day. They are typically refreshing, but only for a few hours. Drowsiness may persist for prolonged periods of time. - (Wikipedia)

I have been like this since childhood. It was especially prominent when I was 18 and took a trip with my family to Hawaii. My dad rented a van and drove us around to many great places, but sadly, I remember more about the softness and color of the van's interior than my view of the massive sugar cane fields. I try, I really try to stay awake. On family trips, my husband always drives. I have great plans for family sing-alongs and to get started on a really good book, only to be awakened by my own snoring before we even hit the freeway entrance. Interestingly, my children seem to have this same problem, and I still have to time outings, even for my older kids so that they will stay awake. It's as if the car is a big cushy cradle lulling us to sleep with it's rhythmic motion. I have used all manner of alertness aids that are legal and not damaging to my body. I use my oils, which really does help, and I also resort to pinching myself hard, which helps a little too. I even tried caffeinated sodas once, only to experience a hyperactive gibber-fest and then crash into an all time delirium of sleepiness.
I just returned from a road trip without my husband. Me and the 4 kids ventured to the beach to visit my sister, and I was armed and ready. On the way there the fantasy of fresh air, less than 100 degree scorching weather and the soft lapping of waves at my feet ironically kept me awake. On the way home was another story. After staying up too late talking with my sister and trying top solve the puzzle we call parenting, I did not get enough sleep. Thirty minutes into the trip, and after leaving the cool coast weather, I was wondering how I could pull over and take a quick nap in 112 degree heat.
I said a prayer, and the thought came to me to use my Pick Me Up Spray (duh!) and the new herbal formula from Herbally Grounded called- Focus. I hadn't tried it yet and my travel bottle was brand new and waiting for me to drink it... in it's entirety. So, I sprayed the spray, took the Focus, and in about 5 minutes felt as if I could (without hesitation) address the UN confidently. I was alert and completely revived. I noticed things I never notice, I was able to get off the freeway, and get back on without totally being confused about which direction I was headed. I was clear, I was in the now, I could have read a book!!!! Too bad I was driving! The moral of the story is this... don't leave home without these two things. You will be sad and tired, and you will miss out on all that there is to be seen. PMU and Focus will forever be my constant travel companions.

Summertime.....

2007-06-28T23:20:00.000-07:00

I love summer. Barbecue's, Beaches, Family Reunions, etc.. Along with all those great things come some hazards and annoying things to deal with. May I suggest preparing a summertime kit. It will amaze you how much you will use it, if it is already available. You may not realize what a true life-saver it is. After experiencing sun posing in 2005, when my fruitless attempts (making this the 15th year of fruitless attempts) to tan my Luck o' the Irish skin, landed me with what looked like lips straight from a Medspa, I was so glad to have on hand my natural remedies. Last year when my whole family was eaten by a rabid pack of mosquito's at a family reunion, my kids were the only ones with barely a bite. Everyone knows Aunt Jo-Jo has a virtual first aid hut of remedies, and I am glad to share them!

I buy a sturdy rectangular Rubbermaid container with a top. I have smaller more portable items inside, but all my goodies travel in one of these. Somewhat like this one: http://plastics.turkavkaz.ru/products/storage.jpg.

This is the Big Mama kit I have on hand.
I of course have the basic band aids, gauze, etc..
If you have purchased the Essential Wellness Kit, than you already have most of what you need. I make or buy the items listed below(recipes will be at end of post)
Aloe Vera- I love Aloe Life AV. It is preservative free and is fantastic! I like to mix it with Lavender EO.
Skeeter Spray- available at HG or you can make your own
1 bottle of Lavender EO or Lavender Roller- the cure all
Chill herbal Tincture and Happy Juice if you have the grouchies
Cayenne capsules-stops bleeding
Out and About spray or other natural antibacterial hand spray
Cleansing Roller- if nothing else, stick this in your bag
Plantain and Comfrey Salve- rashes, irritations, burns, slivers, etc..
Angel Oil- use for everything..motion sickness, upset tummy, first aid, etc..

All the above have so many uses it is hard to name them all. Just know that you are covered for scrapes, cruises, cuts, bites, irritations, sunburn, fatigue, overexertion, excess time spent with the family at the reunion, etc..

HERBAL INSECT REPELLENT
1/2 teaspoon citronella essential oil
1/2 teaspoon eucalyptus essential oil
1/2 teaspoon lavender essential oil
4 ounces distilled witch hazel
Mix ingredients in a 4-ounce spray bottle.
Shake well. Spray onto exposed skin, avoiding eyes and mucous membranes.
Reapply every 2 hours, or as needed.
Recipe courtesy of Laurel Vukovic.August 2004Herbs for Health

NATURAL INSECT REPELLENT
2 ounces carrier oil or vodka
1/4 teaspoon each citronella and eucalyptus essential oils
1/8 teaspoon each cedar and rose geranium essential oils
Combine ingredients and apply mixture directly to all exposed skin. Keep oil away from your eyes and mouth, and be careful not to rub your eyes right away after applying the repellent with your fingers.
Source: Keville, Kathi. Herbs for Health and Healing. Rodale, 1996.March/April 2004Herbs for Health

Let the Allergies Begin....

2007-04-05T21:19:00.000-07:00

As a child I suffered so badly from seasonal allergies that I couldn't even play outside during the most beautiful time of the year. I had the whole shabang- itchy throat, eyes, sniffles, itchy skin, ears, etc. For about 10 years, Afrin nasal spray became my best friend. When I was 23, I lost my sense of smell and taste due to a ginormous amount of nasal polyps caused by the years of nasal spray abuse. Growing up holistically, we tried everything under the sun, including the sun to solve my problems. Things would work, but only for a short time.

Oddly, after my polyp removal surgery, I have not been bothered by allergies again. Sadly my mother who still live in Pollenville, suffers every year. I have not found a concrete, 100% remedy for allergies. BUT, I continue to try and have found some things that seem to at least lessen the symptoms. I am actually working on an evil looking apple cider vinegar infusion as we speak, and hope that it will be the magic tonic to cure the world of all allergies, hunger, strife and disease. Awww, come on, there is nothing wrong with high hopes, right? So, here is a compilation of ideas. Look at the list, intuitively pick what resonates with you. THEN, create your shopping list!

Changes:

-Wash hair every night to prevent pollen from sleeping with you.
-Wash bed linens often in natural detergent- good sources for this are Trader Joe's, Herbally Grounded, Make your own, etc...

-Use a high quality essential oil diffuser. I Love, love, love the ultrasonic diffusers that are sold at Herbally Grounded. Best ever!

-Keep doors and windows closed

Other ideas:

Use a Neti Pot and rinse sinus' with sea salt and warm water. Doesn't hurt to put adrop of Lavender or Tea Tree in there as well. When I had my one and only sinus infection, the neti was a life saver.
Jala neti - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Herbs & Oils:

-Allergy Formula from Herbally Grounded
-Las Vegas Mix (Homeopathic) by Dolisos ( available at HG)

-Breathe Easy Essential Wellness Oil by Desert Rose- rub over bridge of nose at bedtime or as needed

-Peppermint/Chapparal tea sweetened with agave

-Garlic, garlic, fresh garlic (new post to come all about garlic)

-Inhaling Rosemary and Lemon Essential oils

I am never one to discount the importance of a good positive affirmation. Hre is one to try, or create your own:

"My body is whole, healthy, and perfectly content. I can breathe with ease and am grateful for every breath."

Remember, "As a man thinketh, so is he."- Poverbs 23:7

Picture yourself well!

Sweet Spring

2007-04-01T16:43:00.000-07:00

Ahh, sweet spring. It reminds me of a favorite poem by Robert Frost:

A Prayer in Spring

OH, give us pleasure in the flowers today;

And give us not to think so far away

As the uncertain harvest; keep us here

All simply in the springing of the year.

Oh, give us pleasure in the orchard white,

Like nothing else by day, like ghosts by night;

And make us happy in the happy bees,

The swarm dilating round the perfect trees.

And make us happy in the darting bird

That suddenly above the bees is heard,

The meteor that thrusts in with needle bill,

And off a blossom in mid air stands still.

For this is love and nothing else is love,

To which it is reserved for God above

To sanctify to what far ends he will,

But which it only needs that we fulfill.

The roses are in bloom, the sun is shining sweetly, which is extra special because the summer sun here in Las Vegas burns so intensely. The birds and bees are busy, the roly poly's have awakened from their winter nap. The scents of Jasmine, Alyssum, fresh cut grass and rose petals fill the air. I gently removed the petals of two large roses for my bath last night, and thanked the bush for it's gift. I try and wait until just before the petals would naturally fall, before I remove them. It may sound strange, but I do not want to take them until they are ready to go. This time of year, our Heavenly Father, nature and the earth give back to us in such a beautiful way. Please take the time to appreciate it.

Considering it takes 3000 + pds. of rose petals to make one pound of essential oil, rose oil is treat, an indulgence and sometimes a necessity. Opening a bottle is like opening spring and letting the sweet freshness escape and float like visible music notes to a fertile ground where they can blossom and grow forever. Roses are the queens of the flowers. They are fragile, yet unbelievably hearty and possess a deeper strength than just paper thin petals. They have attitude, which is apparent in the fusion of the delicate flower and sharp, strong thorns. Their varieties are vast, and even I, a rose lover since birth, have a hard time choosing which color or variety is most beautiful. The pomaceous fruit of the rose, the rose hips are higher in vitamin C, than any other flower. Even after the beauty of the bloomed rose is gone, the rose is still functional and giving with the remaining rose hip, which can be eaten, ground up and dried and steeped as an herbal infusion. The rose to me, is a gift that keeps on giving. Upon the sadness of a beautiful bloom losing it's petals, the bush quickly has other blooming for our viewing pleasure. Whoever said to "stop and smell the roses, " sure knew what they were talking about.

Hot Hair Oil to the rescue!

2007-03-12T11:18:00.000-07:00

I remember spending way too much money on a tiny tube of a name brand Hot Hair Oil in High School. Who would have thought you can make your own? It is quite simple, more cost effective, and hands down more natural and better for your hair.

Here are the ingredients of the "name brand" hot oil. As you can see, interspersed with very few good ingredients, the rest are chemicals!

Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Cocotrimonium Chloride, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Acetamide MEA, Hydroxyethylcellulose, PEI-1750, Polyquaternium-10, Quaternium-84, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Tocopheryl Acetate, Niacinamide, Ascorbic Acid, Panthenol, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein/Vegetable Amino Acids/Lysine Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Phytantriol, Biotin, Polysorbate 20, Oleth-20, Methylparaben, Disodium EDTA, Fragrance (Parfum), Yellow 6 (CI 15985).

I think it scares hair into being shiny with that group of preservatives!

The benefit to a hot oil hair treatment is that it deeply moisturizes where other things cannot. Hair is essentially dead, but it can be fortified from the outside in. Good quality oils can also strengthen hair, and help remove split ends. The oil is also fantastic at removing build up from hair products. Here are a few recipes to try.

Keep the oil in a 4-6 oz, squeeze bottle.

You can heat the oil slightly in your palm, or put it in the shower and let it warm before you apply. Do not put it in the microwave, as this kills the live enzymes in the oils and can also cause burns, etc.. You can also warm it in a warm water bath, while still in it's container. Just applying it and leaving it on for about 30-60 min. is also great. Follow up with a good shampoo and conditioner. I like to apply the oil liberally all over my hair, and then wrap it in saran wrap. This seals the oils in and drives them deeper into the hair and scalp. In all honesty, it is really fun to liberate yourself by wearing saran wrap on your head for an hour or two. Try it, you'll like it!

Basic Recipe
4 oz. coconut oil
25 drops of lavender EO
Mix well.

Restoring and Awakening
4 oz. grapeseed oil
20 drops rosemaryEO
10 drops tea trea EO
10 drops lavender EO
Leaves a nice tingle!

Sunshine
4 oz. olive oil
10 drops pink grapefruit EO
10 drops Spearmint EO
5 drops Lemon EO

Scalp Cleaner
4 oz carrier oil of choice
15 drops Tea Tree
10 drops Orange
5 drops Cypress

Carrier oil= a fatty base oil such as olive, grapeseed, coconut, almond, apricot, coconut, etc.

EO=Essential Oil

Here's to Happy Hair!

Q & A- Morning Sickness

2007-02-27T00:11:00.000-08:00

Could suggest some Essential Oils / Herbs for morning sickness and pregnancy health in general?
-Kellie in Las Vegas

Hi Kellie-

Having experienced morning/all day sickness with all of my pregnancies, this is an excellent question.
I always try and reassure pregnant mamas that having some sort of nausea is a good sign of pregnancy. In my experience, it is rare to have morning sickness and miscarry. My mom told always told me that it is a sign that your body is adjusting to the pregnancy and the baby is growing. Scientifically, this is also proven. An interesting article on the subject can be found here: Morning Sickness Protects Mother and Child. That said, it can be a very miserable experience for some who experience severe nausea called Hyperemesis gravidarum- (see-Hyperemesis gravidarum - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia), which is like riding on a bad roller coaster over and over and is unrelenting. This can be a scary and hard to cope with this type of nausea, Here are some things that can help mild to severe "pregnancy nausea":

Prenatal Preparation: Balance those hormones. Did I say balance your hormones? You are right!

I would suggest-

Evening Primrose Oil

From Herbalogie.com

-Balance Tincture

-Extra Greens

-Synergy

-Green Stevia

Hormone balancing essential oils:
Clary sage, fennel,geranium, ylang- ylang (pronounced e-long, e-long, thank you Jeanne Rose!), grapefruit and lavender.

Essential Wellness Blends from Herbalogie.com

-PMS Support

-Beautiful Dreamer

- Pregnancy Mood Support

-Pick Me Up Spray- contains peppermint, spearmint and a bunch of citrus oils

If you are already pregnant, you can still balance your hormones using the herbs and using pregnancy mood support essential wellness oil or the above single oils. Spearmintor peppermint oil diluted and rubbed around the belly button and inhaled helps with nausea in the first trimester. I also apply the essential oils to my feet and pulse points. I kept a cotton ball with peppermint eo on it in my pocket at all times!

Other things that help:

-Ipecacuanha Homeopathic- this helped a lot with my twins
-Young coconut water- I drank literally gallons of this during pregnancy

How to use young coconuts for your vibrant health!- this site has the best pics of how to use it! You can find these by the case locally in Las Vegas at Chinatown Market, Whole Foods, Albertson's, and Wild Oats.

-Small frequent meals consisting of 50% raw foods

-Little dairy and no fried foods

-Red Raspberry Tea or pregnancy tea with spearmint- I like it cold with some agave nectar. Helps balance hormones and aid in nausea.

-Bananas- helps with low potassium levels and evens out blood sugar. Low blood sugar means more nausea.

-Lemon Drops

- Green Stevia- Blood sugar balancer

-All things Ginger- chews, ginger soother drink, etc... I LOVE the Ginger People- Welcome to The Ginger People - Home of the World's Best Quality Ginger t

Here's to a happy pregnant belly!

Question of the Week- Colds, Congestion and All Things Mucosa

2007-02-20T23:37:00.000-08:00

Cecilia L. from Las Vegas asks:

How would you recommend using EO's in treating an 18th month old with a bad cold involving fever, runny/stuffy nose, and mucus build up so bad that he can't sleep because he can't breathe? (poor little one doesn't know how to blow his nose yet).

Oh Cecilia, your breaking my heart! (I couldn't resist-sorry!)

Having just come through a crazy bout of bronchial/cold issues and many of these symptoms with my 3 yr. old son, I can address this question with much firsthand experience.

Here are things I have done. Sometimes I do not use all that is listed. It depends on the severity and lengths of the illness. The best line of defense is catching it early, being aggressive with the things you are using at the onset, nipping it in the bud, and eliminating the virus/illness from setting up camp in the body. I would suggest intuitively choosing those things that speak to you and using those. All of the things listed, I believe, should be in every home. It really sets you up for being prepared for any sickness that comes our way.

Nutrition:

No dairy
Clear fluid
Young coconut juice from the coconut (rich in electrolytes and minerals)
Young coconut meat
homemade soups
Emergen-C drinks
Herbal tea sweetened with honey or agave nectar-I love peppermint and alfalfa or Cold Care from Traditional Medicinals

Holistic Hot Toddy from Sylvia Harber-
1/2 can OJ concentrate (I prefer trader Joe's)
1 Cup water

Juice from 1/2 lemon
1 Tbsp. Honey
Dash of cayenne pepper-less for a small child
Put above ingredients in saucepan. Stir continually until hot not boiling. Drink warm. For adults, it is best to drink as warm as possible. Helps decrease and break up mucus. Also soothes throat and stomach.

Aromatherapy:
*Miracle Menthol Salve-rubbed on chest and down spine (he would beg for this. The light massage and feel/smell of the salve seemed to calm him immensely)- you could also use essential oils such as eucalyptus, spearmint, peppermint, lavender, etc..
*Immunity Essential Wellness Oil-rubbed on feet and inhaled
*Breathe Easy Essential Wellness Oil-carefully placed over the bridge of his nose
*Essential Oils diffused in the room(ex. Lemon, Clove with any citrus oils, Eucalyptus, Tea Tree, Lavender, Cypress, Ravensara)
* Bliss Essential Wellness Oil or Lavender, Mandarin, Roman Chamomile, Coriander, etc.. for calming a child. It is so hard when they are little and don't understand why they can't breathe through their nose.

Herbal
**Kid Viral or Infection Fighter tincture- helps decrease infection, virus', etc..
**Chill tincture-soothes mucus membranes, clears throat, etc.
Lobelia tincture- soothes throat, eases coughs, strengthens lungs, bronchials, etc.
**Colloidal Silver Lozenges or Slippery Elm Lozenges

For Fevers-*Cool Down Essential Wellness Oil or peppermint essential oil diluted in a carrier oil-rubbed on the feet works wonders. It helps bring down the temperature naturally for comfort, and still allows the body to burn the fever at it's own pace.
-Avoid astragalus when a fever is present. It tends to not allow the fever to decrease.

* Desert Rose Organics product available at Herbally Grounded or DSRTROSELV@aol.com
**Available at Herbally Grounded or Herbally Grounded.com

Product of the Month-Out n' About Spray

2007-02-08T14:33:00.000-08:00

One of the first things I made to use with my children (after soap) was antibacterial hand spray. I am a germaphobe by nature, and wanted something that was good for the skin and still made the world magically clean! I refused to use the hand sanitizers on the market that were just becoming popular because of the huge amounts of alcohol and preservatives they had in them. They also dried out my hands horribly. So I formulated my blend out of some well known antibacterial essential oils, put it in a spray bottle and have been happy ever since. My kids know that after the park, grocery store, etc., they hold their hands out and get a spray. They love the smell, and I love the effect.
The "Out 'n About spray has become my closest friend. It accompanied us to Disneyland, where the year before we had left the magic kingdom with some nasty pink eye. It accompanies me to the grocery store, when I happen to pick up a leaky piece of meat and find no bathroom in site (or possibly that raw meat juice on my hands is the better choice between entering a grocery store bathroom), and also works on the cart, as I don't have enough arms to carry in a bulky shopping cart cover. I spray where my kids sit and anywhere they will touch. It is sprayed on the backs and arm rests of chairs at the movie, much to my husbands chagrin. He now accepts my germaphobia and likes to watch me scramble to see if I can spray his seat before he quickly sits down. It also doubles as a first aid spray, air purifier, and for over all wellness.

Essential oils by nature are more antibacterial than anything chemical or natural, so using them in our environment is both safe and effective. It makes me feel happy when I have my spray, and distraught when I don't. It also came in handy one time when a little girl barfed up her breakfast in the hallway at church. Everyone was grateful for the sweet smell of eucalyptus, tea tree and lemon that day! Out n' About Spray can be purchased locally at Herbally Grounded or by e-mailing DsrtRoseLV@aol.com.

Lavender Blue, Dilly, Dilly

2007-01-28T23:20:00.000-08:00

I love Lavender. It is the most common, well liked essential oil. I know why. It is good for everything, and I mean everything. From burns, cuts, bruises, pain, relaxation, bruises, bumps, scrapes, to bites, skin issues, anxiety, depression, sunburns, overexertion, etc..
Lavender, I love you!

Here are a few of my lavender stories. I love anecdotes, so if you have any on lavender or other oils, please let me know.

I have a bad habit of burning myself. The oven, my 450 degree flat iron, the sun, and glue guns. My husband has banned me from using the latter after near fatalities. :)

Usually, I burn, I blister, I am in pain, it hurts, but not since I started using Lavender on a regular basis about 12 years ago. When you burn your skin, all of the moisture is sucked out of your skin. To accommodate and protect the skin, a blister forms full of fluid. If you are a "picker" like me, you sterilize a straight pin and lance that sucker yourself. If you are squeamish, you take a day off work, & enter into a self proclaimed bed rest. Blisters hurt!

Once I was carefully removing a cookie sheet of cookies from the oven. I haphazardly let my finger slip off the hot pad and literally grabbed the pan bare fingered. Oh, I was in pain. I am not a pain person. In fact my husband has nicknamed me "egg shell", because I am easily hurt by seemingly small things. Of course this does not apply to childbirth, where I have been able to give birth naturally, for 3 out of our 4 children, the latter 2 being twins. Some how a blister derails me, but childbirth...no biggie! ;) So, back to the burn. I quickly applied lavender neat on the burn. 'Neat" means straight on, no dilution. There are only two oils deemed safe to apply "neat" and those are lavender and tea tree. I of course have others I will use that way, when it is needed. The lavender literally took away the pain immediately. I applied it every 15 minutes as this was about the time the searing hot pain would return. I did this for a 24 hour waking period, and noticed there was no blister. There was also barely any tenderness, redness or pain. It was then I learned about how essential oils can carry oxygen molecules along with them to the wounded area. Some may dispute that, but I have had too many occurrences tell me I am right on. After this incident, I hardly ever left the house without lavender.

Another incident I had involved ill fitting walking shoes. I had forgot that my shoe size gets 1/2 size bigger each time I am pregnant. Trying to get back into shape after my twins, I slipped on my old Nike's. Ignoring the pain on the back of my heal, I had walked a few miles before I felt a sharp knife-like cut. I took off my shoe and had rubbed my heal raw with about a 2 inch blister about to form. I had to walk home shoeless and close to tears. By the time I got in the door, I was wanting a morphine drip. By the time I wobbled into the kitchen, I would have OK'd amputation. Yes, it was that bad! I grabbed my trusty lavender and literally poured it on the closed wound. Yes, not exercising any caution, but it was an emergency. Immediately, once again the pain was dulled so completely, that I could not believe it. I kept reapplying all day, and though still a bit sore as it healed, it was not bothersome. Needless to say the Nike's went into the donation pile.

I have seen lavender work for my children so well, that I made them all their own lavender rollers (available for purchase) my 3.5 yr old only daughter, likes to ask for permission and anoint whoever may have the teeniest scratch or "owie". Of course when one of her older brothers comes in crying from outside after some bike or scooter mishap, she is the Florence Nightingale of the family and makes it all better. She has the precision of a juggler and the nurturing hands of a woman far older than she is. Yes, I will say it, she is adorable. She sometimes feigns imaginary "owies" so that she can apply the "Labindr".

I would like to close with a story where I did not use lavender. I seared the side of my neck with my flat iron while trying to figure out how to work the darn thing. It looked like a lovely hickey and being a married woman, I wondered what type of conclusions this would draw. In the depth of those thoughts, I forgot lavender. I forgot for a day. I don't know why, because it hurt. A blister appeared and the pain got worse. The blister popped (surprisingly a straight pin sterilized over a lone match flew out of nowhere and hit it- and yes, my mother always told me not to pop blisters) and a hard shell took it's place. It would get irritated and flake and started to scar over. By now I had the lavender, but I had not caught it as quickly as I should have. Luckily there was no scar eventually, and I attribute that to a lavender helichrysum blend I put together.

So, the moral of the long winded story is that lavender works for all things. It is amazing and should be used. No one should be without it, and if you are skeptical like I was, try it!

Valentine's Day

2007-01-18T15:22:00.000-08:00

The love we give away
is the
only love we keep.
-Elbert
Hubbard

Everyone needs a little something special for Valentine's Day. Desert Rose Organics will be sponsoring the Random Acts of Kindness Valentine's Day Fundraiser. For every Valentine's Day gift kit purchased, another kit will be given through the Random of Acts of Kindness Club. This means that random people will be given these gifts. People we know, people we don't, a helpful sales person at the store, an overwhelmed mother walking to her car after shopping with screaming kids, a man pumping his gas after hard day of work. there are no limits to the giving! But, we need your help.

The aim is to lighten the load for others around us by giving unconditionally. By making a difference in someones life, we hope that they will be inspired to help others. Pay It Forward, so to speak.

I plan on blogging about the experience, and sharing about those who are chosen to receive.

About the Kits:
The kits are ready to give, packaged in a beautiful red organza bag. They are not gender or age specific. They could literally be given to anyone!

In the Kit:
Peppermint Cream (A DRO bestseller)- soothing to even the driest skin, uplifting and relieving Glossy Mint Lip Balm- a little bit of a tingle, and nourishing Shea butter shine
Lavender Fields Roller- portable and easy to use, for blemishes, first aid, headaches, & calming

The cost is $21 plus tax ($25 retail value)

Shipping: 2-3 day Priority Shipping is $4.05. If shipped to one address, the shipping fee is the same for up to 10 kits.

To Order: Please e-mail DsrtRoseLV@aol.com and put "Valentine's Day Order" in the heading. A paypal invoice will be sent to you. If you need more information, please contact us as well.

-All kits must be ordered by February 8th to assure Valentine's Day delivery.
-Paypal online payment only

San Valentino felice!

"Giving frees us from the familiar territory of our own needs by opening our mind
to the unexplained worlds occupied by the needs of others." -Barbara Bush

History of the Bath-Aromatic Bath Ideas

2007-01-15T14:48:00.000-08:00

Ahhh baths. I could end this post here and be content. I love baths. I take a bath every night, as it is my reward for getting through the day. I look forward to baths like most people look forward to a hot fudge sundae after dinner. Of course, I am not talking about "fill the tub with water and get in" bath. I am talking about "creating an aromatic aromatherapy healing bath." Now doesn't that sound appealing? I love to just take a nice long soak, and I also like to take a nice long read. You can often find some of my books and magazines a little bit water logged.

Baths have deep roots in ancient history. Ancient aromatic baths were as much a part of the culture as eating. Common areas were often filled with large public baths. Royalty and those more affluent had huge area's of their homes dedicated to large baths. Precious essential oils, herbs, and milks were reserved for bathing and anointing the body. Fresh rose petals and other flowers were floated in the waters. It was an experience, not just a means of cleaning the body. It was symbolic of cleansing the spirit as well. The design of this aromatic bath was a renewal of sorts. To clean the entire soul. Because essential oil molecules are some of the tiniest to be found, and are so easily picked up by the olfactory system and carried to the emotion center of the brain (hypothalamus), the oils played a key role in this experience. They were primarily used for the skin, but mostly for the brain and spiritual senses. The herbs were chosen for their therapeutic effects on the body as well as overall cleansing powers.

Because the skin is the body's largest organ, a bath is a perfect way to nurture it all at once. It is believed that 60% of everything we put on our body is absorbed into the layers of skin, blood stream and organs. Everyday pollutants settle on our skin as well as anything synthetic we put on it.

Here are some ideas on creating your own healthy bath:

Salt- All salts are not created equal. Table salt is of no value to the skin as everything healthy has been stripped from it. The optimum salt for bathing is sea salt, preferable dead sea salt. I also love red Hawaiian sea salt, organic grey sea salt, and Himalayan pink. I keep a large pail of mixed salts by the bath. Every time we bathe we put a scoop in. If you have less than optimal public water, this helps counteract some of the grunge that is in our local water supplies.

As part of my business I used to sell bath salts. I still may again, but they are so easy to make I prefer to teach others. I like to put them in a canning jar and pour them in the bath. Making your own bath salts is a s simple as finding an EO that you love or making your own blend which I will blog about another time. You basically add your EO's to the salt and shake well. I like to grind up botanicals and herbs such as lavender, chamomile, plantain, red clover, etc.. and add to them. Not only do the botanicals make the salt look attractive, they have therapeutic benefits. I love this salt company: Click here: Sea Salt for Making Bath Salts

You can also get cool glass jars at Cost Plus and specialty stores.

Sea salt can be found locally at Herbally Grounded or at any Trader Joe's.

Essential Oils in the Bath

I love to sprinkle a few drops of EO's in my bath. There are some that should be diluted in a carrier oil first and then swished well in the water. These would include any of the citrus family. One of my favorite oils that I use once a month, that is known for it's hormonal effects is Clary Sage. It is my PMS oil. It calms me, smooths out the frayed edges of my soul and just puts me at ease. When pregnant with my twins, my Midwife would rub this on my belly, so it has a powerful memory attached to it. Many women seem to not like the smell, but I challenge them to smell it during their "moon time" of the month, and see if it speaks to them then. I don't add my EO's to my bath until I get in. Because they are volatile and disperse quickly into the air, I like to be right there to enjoy them. I sprinkle a few drops on the surface of the water and swish gently. You can also add them to a carrier oil, milk, or salts.

Here are some of my favorites:

-Rose EO is a special treat, as well as Jasmine for sleep.

-Rosemary lightens my mind and makes me more aware. I like to add that EO if I don't want to be sleepy to stay up and read, etc...

-Eucalyptus and Lemon is a favorite if I am feeling physically or emotionally congested.

-Bergamot is a lifesaver, and can ease sadness and the blues.

Botanicals and Herbs

As mentioned above, these are great to add to the salts. You can also us them alone. I don't like to have a messy botanical bath to clean up, so I add them to a muslin bag. I add the bag to the water, let it soak a bit and then squeeze it gently to release the benefits of whatever I put inside. I also like to add powdered goat's milk, coconut milk, whole milk and buttermilk as well. Cleopatra was known for her milk bath's and I certainly know why! Her recipe was simple- a few couples of whole milk added to the bath. You can also add whole oats to aid the skin and don't forget honey too!

I like to grind my herbs and botanicals up a little first. This releases the scent as well as the oils in the plant itself. You can make up a big batch, keep it in a jar or ziploc (I prefer glass over plastic). You can wash out and reuse your muslin bags and fill as needed. You can also add to sealable tea bags found at Herbally Grounded or craft stores. This way, you can just throw one in each time and throw it away when done.

I love taking out this time for myself. The house is quiet, everyone is asleep, and it feels like such a luxury. I get out feeling so rested and renewed. I encourage everyone to make their bath not just a task, but an experience. It need not be expensive, and you can keep it as simple as you want. It truly is worth the effort. You can begin simple, by just picking a rose in full bloom and scattering the petals in your bath.

Book Recommendation: The Healing Aromatherapy Bath by Margo Valentine Lazzara

This book has beautiful meditations and ideas

Bath Salt Recipes:Click here: Bath Recipes - Bath Oils - Bath Salts

Question of the Day-Children & Sleep

2007-01-13T20:45:00.000-08:00

Amy J. of Las Vegas/Cedar City asks:

"Can you give me any suggestions to help establish a bedtime routine to help avoid the "wailing and gnashing of teeth" that I regularly experience?"

Hi Amy. I get this question a lot. Without going into a full description of how food and nutrition and TV contribute to this, I will state the basics:
1. No sugar or dairy for at least 3 hours before bedtime- sugar for obvious energy related reasons, and dairy because it is hard to digest. If our body is busy digesting, it cannot rest well in preparation for sleep. (Yeah, ye olde "drink a warm glass of milk before bed" tale doesn't fly with me!)
2. Optimally no one should eat for at least 2 hours before bed
3. No TV right before bed, or as they are going to sleep. It really does interrupt sleep cycles and creates permanent anchors that make it harder for them to go to bed without it. Just ask my dad, going on 55 years of the TV singing him to sleep! (Of course who wouldn't want to go to bed with the theme song from "Gunsmoke?")

Just like my mother and her mother, and I am sure Great-Grandma Ruia, I have created a bed time ritual. It is not always to the letter, as days are different, but I try to stay close.

This sometimes involve one or all of these:
-Sometimes a bath with some great calming essential oils thrown in.
-A story or a reading from a book we are currently reading together
-A visualization or meditation or just lying down and listening to calming music

EO's: Everyone lines up, feet ready, and I massage EO's on their feet. I sometimes use the Beautiful Dreamer blend, Bliss, or just Lavender and Lemon, Mandarin or another citrus besides orange. I also love Coriander for children at bed time-it is a sedative and helps with insomnia. Lemon is said to historically help with bad dreams and nightmares.
Roman Chamomile is wonderful as well for it's calming abilities. Rose essential oil sends me to a land of fairies and cloud pillows. It is anciently known for it's clearing out of negative energy and thoughts. Rose oil is one of the oldest known oils. The historical tales are abundant, and it was written about originally over 7000 years ago!
My oldest son prefers Jasmine. It speaks to him, and I hope it speaks sleep! He is getting to the age also, that he likes to apply the oils himself.

So, I rub their feet. This is a gentle way to reconnect with our children and give them some love and nurturing. Many times this is our favorite part of the day. It heals a difficult day, that may or may not have involved screaming. ;)
My children are almost 11, almost 8 and 3.5 year old twins, and they all enjoy it.

Herbs: Everyone gets a couple squirts of Chill herbal tincture.
Can be found here: HerballyGrounded.com Herbally Grounded :: Home
-Brush our teeth
-We say our family prayers
-Hug goodnight

Now this doesn't always assure that the house will be as quite as can be and the only sound will be our real live mouse,"Gus"squeaking away on his wheel. But,when it is followed the results are usually good ones.
Sometimes, I will let the older boys quietly read in their room. I will also put calming oils in the diffusers in their rooms and set them for an hour.

What I find key, and comes from a wise man I call Dad... is consistency. You could pat their heads and say goodnight, and if they knew that this meant bedtime, over time, this would be all it took for the most part. If I am consistent, and I do not waver, and they have been paid attention to, gotten love and their needs are met and we have established this routine, then it only benefits all of us and mama's sanity. For as you know, if I were to have a tattoo, it would say, "If Mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy." Of course the inner journalistic nymph in me would correct the ain't to isn't.. you get the picture.
Every child and family and situation is different. Because of my husbands schedule, 4 out of 7 nights I am the sole "go to bed soothsayer", and this what I have established that works for us. Pick one thing and try it, then pick another until you have created your own night time ritual.

Here are some interesting and valuable points on sleep I have researched and observed:
-Children need to know what time bed time is. This helps with everything! It also offers them security, wether they show it or not. Children like to know when things will be happening.
You can point at the clock and if they know, and you are consistent, then less arguing is bound to ensue. Of course the occasional stay up late or Friday Night Movie Night is perfectly fine, they will still know their boundaries.
-Every hour of sleep you get before midnight is worth double what the hours are worth after midnight. (This continues to discourage me, and I try to jump in bed at 11:59, hoping it will count.)

- Every child needs sleep. Every parent needs quite time at night. This cannot be accomplished if there are no boundaries and bedtime is simply when everyone falls asleep. Granted different ages of children may dictate this, but there can still be consistency.

-Sleep factors into children's behaviors more than we know. A well rested child is a happier child. A well rested parent is a happier parent. Seems so simple! Shyeah!
P.S. Make dream pillows! (see below)

Bonne soirée!

Dream A Little Dream-Dream Pillows

2007-01-13T12:03:00.000-08:00

Dream Pillows are a fantastic asset to your bed! I have heard about them for years, but never partook in their glory. I would often drop a few drops of EO on a cotton ball and put it near my pillow, and of course put on my sleep blend "Beautiful Dreamer" before bed, but the dream pillow seems to complete the whole aromatic sleeping experience.

I have studied a lot about cultures and their obsession with scent. From the very beginnings of time, to the Pharaoh's castle to the less affluent tribes, scent has played a part. In Ancient Egypt, women would make scent cones out of tree resin and essential oils. They would then wrap their hair around them, and as the sun would beat on their heads, the scent would be released and run down their chest and necks. Scent was reserved for special occasions in the lower tribes, and was used daily by the royalty. Baths were scented, hair, bodies, candles, table linens, and of course the bed. Back in a time where the bed was considered as monumental as the throne, scent played an important role. Often the bed was the most decorated of all furnishings. The bed would be carved out of precious wood, inlaid with jewels and gold and silver, draped with beautiful embroidered, tasseled and woven linens. Small packets of herbs would find themselves tucked under blankets, pillows, and tied to bed posts. Each herb and oil had a different use, purpose, chant, prayer or desire associated with it. So, when I heard of dream pillows, I automatically associated them with these ancient rituals.

Recently I made my own. Now, anyone who knows me knows that my poor mother who is a master seamstress tried diligently to pass on her skill. Sadly what came out of it was a massive amount of odd looking hair scrunchies and a pair of pants fit for a genie. (Not to mention a C- in Home EC.) However, I hope that what I lack in sewing prowess I have made up for in the kitchen. I like to cook, and enjoy good food for my family. I also like to concoct all sorts of body care products, which eventually turned in to my business. However, with dream pillows, it is a simple enough job that even I, who was not blessed with sewing skills could make quite a nice looking one. It is really quite simple. Pick out some fabric, scraps are fine. I like my pillows about the size of my palm or a small bean bag. Cut the fabric into two equal squares, sew inside outs together, leaving a small gap to insert the herbs, and flip outside in. Fill with herbs and oils, sew shut. Now you can see why I was not asked to be a commentator for the Saturday morning show "Sewing With Nancy", as my sewing dialect is neither understandable or easy to follow! So, I will post a link that does a much better job. How to make Dream Pillows - Crafts

I think I will include these with my Christmas gifts next year. I love how my pillow smells when I lie down. As scent is immediately transferred into memory, it is a simple yet powerful way to associate these smells with good sleep. It is truly a dreamy aromatic experience. My children will be my next test subjects. I hope the dream pillows will stay just that and not turn into flying objects that smell good. We shall see!

BOOK Recommendation: For more insight into the ritual of scent in ancient cultures as well as a very good story, I recommend the book Sarah by Marek Halter. I just finished it in 24 hours and it was fascinating!

Lump Free Lemon Curd and Lemon Chicken

2007-01-12T21:36:00.000-08:00

Hmmm... Lemon Chicken.

I made homemade lemon curd for Christmas. I attached a label and a recipe card for my favorite lemon chicken recipe. For mannny years I have tried to attempt lemon curd perfection. All I perfected was a lumpy lemony mess. FINALLY, I found a recipe that had a different method than any previous recipes. It was easier too! No more whisking the precious curd in a bowl, cradled in a luke warm water bath. No more scientific curd occurrences, or straining the lumpy curd through a strainer, etc... It was much like making cookies AND caramels mixed together!

I like to find odd things to add essential oils to and a few drops of lemon EO gave this an extra lovely fragrance as well as taste. As an aromatherapist I advocate being careful when ingesting EO's. However, this recipe is harmless with just a few drops and has some antibacterial properties to boot. Of course, suck on a lemon rind and you would be getting much more oil ingestion than just a few drops. I will post the picture of my cute lemon curd jars asap. Click Here for Lemon Curd Recipe: A Foolproof Way to Make Luscious, Light Lemon Curd I add 2 drops lemon essential oil in right before I pour it into clean jars. Lemon curd can also be used to put on top of scones, toast, biscuits, crackers, cookies, etc..

Lemon Chicken
Adapted by Jonelle Hughes from Rachel Ray

1 1/2 pounds chicken breast or chicken tenders, cut into chunks

1/4 cup all-purpose unbleached flour

1/2 tsp. each-sea salt & garlic powder

2 tablespoons olive or vegetable oil, 2 turns of the pan

1/2 cup chicken broth or stock

8 ounces (1 cup) prepared lemon curd

1/4 cup hot water

1 lemon, zested

2 scallions, thinly sliced or 20 blades fresh chives, finely chopped
Directions: Coat the chunked chicken lightly in flour, seasoned with a little salt & garlic powder. Heat a large skillet or a wok-shaped nonstick pan over high heat. Stir fry chicken until golden, 3 or 4 minutes. Remove chicken from the pan and return pan to heat. Reduce heat to medium. Add a splash of vinegar to the pan and let it evaporate. Add stock or broth to the pan and scrape up any drippings with a whisk. Thin curd by stirring in a little hot water. Add curd to broth and whisk to combine. Add chicken back to the pan and simmer for 1 to 2 minutes to thicken sauce and finish cooking chicken pieces through. Remove the pan from heat, add the scallions or chives and zest, and toss chicken pieces well to combine zest and scallions or chives evenly throughout the sauce. Serve with Jasmine, Basmati or Brown rice.
For an interesting variation add : cashews, toasted slivered almonds or chinese noodles

Welcome!

2007-01-12T21:20:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the Desert Rose Organics blog! I am excited to share my musings with others. I will be sharing my ideas, experiences, recipes and the like. I need my readers help. Please e-mail any questions you have to DsrtRoseLV@aol.com. I will pick a few questions each month to feature. Thanks for everyone's support!