Tuesday, July 08, 2014

Simple yet Effective Bathroom Deodorizer + Freshener.

This recipe is so simple to make & works wonders. I love how it keeps our bathroom smelling fresh. PLUS, there are limitless scent options that you can try to suit your preferences.

[caption id="attachment_562" align="aligncenter" width="466"]All Natural Bathroom Deodorizer All Natural Bathroom Deodorizer[/caption]

It's easy for bathrooms to begin smelling musty or yucky. These little jars keep your bathroom smelling fresh & clean. Depending on your bathroom decor, you can find the perfect jar to fit right in. Options are endless. Amazon has a ton of amazing jars and containers to choose from.

What You Need:




  • Fill your container with Baking Soda,with some room left to shake at the top.

  • Add in your desired amounts of essential oils to scent.

  • Shake well

  • Open or vent the lid to enjoy the aroma & put the deodorizer to work!


Some Essential Oil Scent Options that I Recommend:


Vanilla Lavender:

Lavender Rose:

Fresh Odor Eliminator:

Orange Creamsicle:

Good Karma Blend:

If You're Prone to headaches from scents:

To Kill Airborne Bacteria & Viruses:

Or




Or

If your jar starts losing scent, simply cap the lid and shake, it will re-release the scent again. These should probably be replaced like the baking soda you use in your fridge, after a month or so of use.

Additional Uses:



  • CARPET DEODORIZER: Using a sifter, this recipe also works well for a carpet deodorizer. Sprinkle (or sift) mixture onto rugs or carpets, let it sit for 10 minutes and vacuum up. The baking soda helps to pull up any unpleasant smells and the essential oils help keep it smelling fresh.



  • MATTRESS DEODORIZER: Additionally, this mix also works amazing for freshening up your mattress. This works the same as the carpet deodorizing. Sift onto mattress, let sit for 10 minutes and vacuum up.


Happy Cleaning! <3

What are your favorite scent blends?
I recommend Mountain Rose Herbs for all of your herbal healing needs! Amazon.ca also has wonderful options for remedy recipes. Images Edited using PicMonkey. Some of the links here are affiliate sites. & Please also see my disclaimer. Thanks Friends.

 

Sunday, July 06, 2014

Healing Canker Sores ~ Naturally.

My son suffers from painful canker sores quite often. I have finally convinced him to avoid certain foods that may be triggering them. We'll start with one culprit at a time and see what happens. Ketchup is the first to go, the acidity in it is known to cause canker sores. He's pretty upset as he loves ketchup BUT I think the pain of the canker sores is much worse than missing out on one thing. ^_^

All natural Remedy for Canker Sores

I remember growing up having canker sores too, and MY Mama & Nana would have me rinse my mouth with some warm salt water for relief. This definitely does help, but I've found a few more options along the way that not only relieve the pain but also help speed the healing. ~Naturally.

The remedy I use on my son is simple yet very effective. I start by having him rinse his mouth with a mixture of salt and baking soda in warm water. Sometimes we take a q-tip and dab the mixture on the sores directly, so his mouth doesn't feel all dry and yucky from the salt.

  • 1tsp baking soda

  • 2 tsp salt

  • 1 cup of water


Rinse mouth thoroughly a few times a day, or dab mixture on affected area a few times a day.

Next, I have my all natural Clove Tooth Pain Relief - This mixture is very numbing and also holds anti-bacterial healing properties. This is his most favorite because it acts as almost instant relief. I dip a q-tip in the mixture and dab it on the canker sores directly. This mixture is simple to make and only requires 2 ingredients:

See link for full recipe.

We top it off with a nice Chamomile tea with honey in it, as both are supposed to help heal the sores as well. He can then rest. Tear Free. <3

Here is a great list of natural canker sore relief from RapidHomeRemedies.com

What do you use to heal canker sores naturally?

I recommend Mountain Rose Herbs for all of your herbal healing needs!
Images Edited using PicMonkey. Some of the links here are affiliate sites. & Please also see my disclaimer. Thanks Friends.


 

All Natural Migraine Relief - Compress and Soak.

These all natural, compress and soak remedies are an extension of the original post Headache Relief Salve~ DIY All Natural Remedy. I've added some additional information on reliving migraine tension quickly. (Along with some all natural product options you can purchase and try)

[caption id="attachment_538" align="aligncenter" width="533"]Migraine Relief Compress and Soak Photo Credit: joannastar.deviantart.com[/caption]

Head Compress:

Add oils to a cup of water and mix well. dip the facecloths into the mixture and wring out. Lay one cloth across your forehead and one on the back of your neck. Then proceed to the hand or foot soak.

Hand or Foot Soak:

  • 5 drops of lavender oil

  • 5 drops of peppermint or ginger oil

  • sink or bowl full of hot water (test temperature, not too hot!)


For the foot soak I like to add in some Epsom Salts. This is really just an added bonus as they help to pull out toxins and impurities in your body. (Optional)

Soak hands in water for 2-5 minutes. You can also do this to your feet. I find the fastest way to relieve migraine pain is the bottom of your feet. (Rubbing the salve into the bottom of your feet works wonders)

Some Other All Natural Options:


Ginseng is also an active headache reliever.


Wood Betony - The leaves prepared as a tea which is useful for headaches and mild nervine. Mountain Rose Herbs also offers seeds to plant your own.


Increasing Garlic intake is also known to reduce frequent headaches.


Please also see the Headache Relief Salve post for additional headache relief. This is by far my favorite salve.

Happy Healing!

I recommend Mountain Rose Herbs for all of your herbal healing needs!
Images Edited using PicMonkey. Some of the links here are affiliate sites. & Please also see my disclaimer. Thanks Friends.


What do you use to relieve headache tension?

Headache Relief Salve~ DIY All Natural Remedy.

This headache relief salve is a light, aromatic mix of peppermint and lavender oils. I can  honestly say that this is the most used salve I make in my home. Everyone benefits from it. It works wonders for tension headaches, head colds, migraines and more.

Peppermint is known to relax muscles and spasms, making it ideal for releasing headache tension. Peppermint helps relieve pain and the added benefits of soothing Lavender magnifies the healing properties. Lavender acts as a mild anti-spasmodic, alleviating inflamed blood vessels causing the head pain.

The aroma is magnificent. I find this blend helpful as an aromatherapy "inhaler" also. It's light scent is relaxing, good for relieving stress, nervousness and even depression.

I've included an extension to this post. Please see migraine compress and soak for extra relief.

Headache Relief Cream

What You'll Need:


Recipe 1 (Solid Salve):


This one can be kept out of the fridge without melting. For a softer base, see Recipe 2.

Depending on your preferences, you can add a few more drops of each essential oil.

Recipe 2 (Softer Base & Simplest Recipe):


This one will liquify to an oil out of the fridge but solidify when kept cool. It will melt easily when introduced to your skin.

In my first batch I used peppermint oil I had made from Infusing my own oil. If you're going to infuse your own oil, you can use it as your base oil and leave out the coconut oil. See recipe below if you want to use your own infused oil.

Recipe 3 - if you're infusing your own oil:



*These are basic measurements. Depending on the size of container you are using to store your finished product will depend how much you need. (In tbs amounts, use 1 tbs of beeswax to 6 tbs of carrier oil)

Preparation Items You Will Need:



  • Melting Pot / Double Boiler or a pan on the stove (low heat)

  • Mixing Stick (I use a chopstick)

  • Storage Jar(s)


Preparation for Recipe 1:



  • Melt your Beeswax or Carnauba Wax first.

  • Stir in coconut oil and allow for that to melt. (low heat)

  • Reduce Heat & add in your Essential Oils. Stir well until everything is combined.

  • Remove from heat and pour into your storage container immediately. (It doesn't take long for this to harden)


Preparation for Recipe 2:



  • Melt coconut oil in your pot  (low heat)

  • Reduce Heat (or remove from heat) & add in your Essential Oils. Stir well until everything is evenly combined.

  • Remove from heat and pour into your storage container immediately. (It doesn't take long for this to harden)


Preparation for Recipe 3:



  • Melt your Beeswax or Carnauba Wax first.

  • Next, add in Infused Oil and stir ingredients together until everything is combined uniformly.

  • Reduce Heat & add in your Essential Oils.

  • Remove from heat and pour into your storage container immediately. (It doesn't take long for this to harden)


Depending on the firmness you prefer, you can add more beeswax or add more carrier oil to make a softer base. I like mine to be soft, plus I keep it in the fridge so it stays hard, but melts easily on the skin.

If you aren't happy with your finished salve, you can always melt it back down and add in more of what you need.

It's best to keep your mixture in the fridge. (At it's best if used within 3 - 6 months)

Apply to temples, base of neck, (right under hairline) the pain site (across forehead) and bottom of the feet.


*You can also use these oils in a migraine compress & hand soak.


Please Also See our post on Earache & Headache Relief for Children. <3

Happy Healing! <3

I recommend Mountain Rose Herbs for all of your herbal healing needs!
Images Edited using PicMonkey. Some of the links here are affiliate sites. & Please also see my disclaimer. Thanks Friends.

Wednesday, July 02, 2014

Make your own ~ Herbal Bath Blend. Calming Lavender Rose.

Aromatherapy for a Natural Mama who needs a little relaxation in her life.  <3


Therapeutic Aromatherapy for relaxation, meditation, stress relief, easing anxiety, & releasing depression. This blend also helps restore balance to mind & body and brings about love & peace.

Perfect for a stressed out Mama or one who just deserves a little peaceful pampering time.

( This blend is also great for Enhancing love & sensuality ;) )

Lavender rose anxiety relief

 What You'll Need: 


In an airtight jar -

With the oils, I find it's best to shake the mixture in between to get them distributed evenly and to see desired strength of scent.

OPTIONAL:

  • Coconut essential / scented Oil 2-5 drops

  • Vanilla Extract - 1tsp

  • 'Tea Bag' of sorts. I find this easier, rather than having to clean up the tub if you just pour the mix right into your bath - that is completely up to you though. <3 Maybe a drain screen would come in handy here. If you do choose to use a tea bag, this can be a little organza bag, or a piece of fabric with a tie, whatever your heart desires. I'd love to hear some creative ways you guys make these.


To Make:



  • You can either use a mixing bowl and add to your storage jar after or you can start right on your storage jar.

  • Poor in 1 cup of salts

  • Add in your desired amounts of oils, shake well to be sure they are distributed evenly.

  • crunch or tear your rose petals and add them in, along with the lavender buds. I usually use a tsb or 2 of each.

  • Shake the jar again until the mixture is consistent.


If the mixture ends up being too strong for your taste, just add in more salt. I find the scent goes a long way. I've dulled my blends down lots of time for individual baths. You can keep your mixture in the jar, and when you want to have a bath pour some plain salts into your bath baggie and add in some of your mixture.

To Use:

Add a few spoonfuls into your 'tea bag' and toss the whole bag into the tub and enjoy. (or scoop a few spoonfuls straight into the bath)

HAPPY BATHING! <3

I have also found this blend useful as an aromatherapy smelling salt. I keep some in a glass Aromatherapy Saltsvile and take a sniff anytime I need a bit of calming energy to wash over me. ^_^ <3

I actually will be selling these from my shop for a little while longer.

Here is the listing for the Aromatherapy Herb Jar Necklace


Here is the listing for the pre-made Bath Blend. 8oz and Also in 2oz size here.


 

What do you use to keep calm during stressful situations?

I recommend Mountain Rose Herbs for all of your herbal healing needs!
Images Edited using PicMonkey. Some of the links here are affiliate sites. & Please also see my disclaimer. Thanks Friends.


Lavender Rose Bath Blend

Tuesday, July 01, 2014

Cayenne Clove Pain Relief Salve - Recipe for Remedy.

Cayenne & Clove ~ Aches & Pain Relief Healing Salve.

This Cayenne & Clove salve can be used on aches and pains, sore joints, muscle pain, knots, bruises, migraines, menstrual cramps and even nerve pain.

For arthritic pain, it may take up to a week or two to see results. In this case you want to use it daily to decrease chronic pain.

Cayenne & Clove DIY all Natural Pain Relief Salve hhm

Cayenne is known to numb out nerve endings, dramatically decreasing pain.
The source of the heat is capsaicin, the fiery phenolic resin found in most hot peppers. Capsaicin causes nerve endings to release a chemical known as substance P. Substance P transmits pain signals from the body back to the brain.

When capsaicin causes substance P to flood out of the cells, you experience a sensation of warmth or even extreme heat. When the nerve endings have lost all of their substance P, no pain signals can be transmitted to the brain until the nerve endings accumulate more substance P. - Learn more HERE

Clove is amazing for so many healing purposes. You can learn more about it over at Experience-Essential-Oils.com

These antibacterial and anti-inflammatory ingredients work well together to numb nagging pain.

What You'll Need:



Note: Test your done batch for strength. You can always re-melt and add in an extra spoonful of Cayenne Oil if this batch isn't strong enough. OR you can add more Beeswax & Coconut Oil to dilute further if it's too strong. (Beeswax is what solidifies the mixture so adding too much will make it too hard to scoop out)

Preparation:



  • Melt your beeswax first.

  • Stir in coconut oil and allow for that to melt. (low heat)

  • Next, add in Cayenne Oil and stir ingredients together until everything is combined uniformly. *The steam can be spicy so please be careful!*

  • Reduce Heat & add in your 10 drops of Clove Oil. This is optional but it helps boost the pain fighting as well as gives it a sweeter scent.

  • Remove from heat and pour into your storage container immediately. (It doesn't take long for this to harden)


Cayenne & Clove ~ Aches & Pain Relief Healing Salve. DIY all natural

It's best to keep your mixture in the fridge. (At it's best if used within 6 months)

To Use:


Rub salve on painful areas and allow to soak in. The area will warm and sooth. (Best not to use on open cuts as it may sting or burn - Although, in an emergency supposedly putting Cayenne powder on a severe cut will stop the bleeding)

Wash hands IMMEDIATELY after use. Keep well away from mouth and eyes.


*A little tidbit of poor decision making on my part, I wanted to test the strength of my salve once so I licked my finger. I really don't recommend doing that. My mouth was on fire! ^_^

If You're Making Your Oil You Will Need:



Follow directions to make your own oil on our post How to Infuse Your Own Oils.

This mixture is also useful for healing bunions! Apply a generous amount on affected area and cover with a bandage. You will have to repeat this several times before you notice a difference. If any irritation occurs, discontinue use.

*Important Note* - Wash hands well after use. Avoid getting product in mouth or eyes (It will burn because of the cayenne - rinse thoroughly if accidental contact occurs.)


Cayenne could possibly stain clothing so be watchful for that.

Cayenne Clove Pain Relief Healing Salve

I recommend Mountain Rose Herbs for all of your herbal healing needs!
Images Edited using PicMonkey. Some of the links here are affiliate sites. & Please also see my disclaimer. Thanks Friends.


By making this remedy at home, you release me from any accidental occurrences.

If You would prefer to purchase this item already made please check out:

The Herbal Healing Mama on Storenvy - Cayenne Clove Pain Relief Salve.

Happy Healing! <3

Monday, June 30, 2014

Exfoliating Coffee Cubes for Stretchmarks & Cellulite. ~ All Natural Remedy

While I feel we should completely embrace our 'Warrior Mama Marks', it's perfectly natural to want to smooth them out. This remedy will help do just that.


[caption id="attachment_433" align="aligncenter" width="640"]Coffee Cubes for Stretchmarks & Cellulite Coffee Cubes for Stretchmarks & Cellulite[/caption]

The caffeine in coffee helps to stimulate blood circulation to the affected area so the healing process can begin. Honey is also known for helping to reduce stretchmarks and cellulite by removing toxins from the affected areas. (Vegan alternatives included) As we already know Coconut oil is a wonder substance that is amazing at healing anything & everything! (You can read my top 50+ favorite uses for Coconut Oil here) Aloe Vera is well known for many similar healing purposes, as well as the other oils used in this recipe. (You can look up their full descriptions, or make a purchase on Mountain Rose Herbs from clicking each ingredient.)

You could also make this recipe on it's own as a regular scrub, I just think the cubes are a more practical (& fun) way to use a scrub. These will also keep longer than a traditional scrub as we keep them in the freezer! <3

What You'll Need:



  • 4 (or so) generous tbs Coffee grounds. (I find it's best to use the ones in your brewer after you brew a pot)

  • 1tsb Shea Butter or Cocoa Butter

  • 1tbs Sweet Almond / Jojoba or Calendula Oil

  • 5 tbs Coconut Oil

  • 1-2 tbs Sugar (I just used white sugar)

  • 5 drops Lavender Oil (optional)

  • 1 drop of Peppermint oil (optional)

  • 1tsp of Chamomile (optional)

  • 1 tsp Aloe Vera (This was exciting for me, as I got to harvest some from my own plant for the first time.)

  • 1 tbs Organic Honey (Raw) (optional) a Vegan alternative is Agave Nectar.

  • 1 tsp Beeswax or 1/2 tsp Carnauba Wax - (Carnauba is a vegan alternative to Beeswax, it is extracted from the leaves of Brazilian palm trees BUT no trees are cut down in order to collect. You can read more about it from the link) Used here as a thickening agent for more of a lotion bar feel to the scrub.-  (*Optional - If you do leave out, maybe add a wee bit more coconut oil)

  • 1 tsp of Vanilla Extract. (optional, it just smells amazing!)

  • silicone ice cube tray or mold (I used these cute Heart ones)

  • Storage Jar (Mason Jar, a cleaned out old candle jar, etc)

  • Double Boiler, Melting Pot, (Pot on stove set to low also works, even a slow cooker)

  • Stir sticks, spoons.


Alternatively these can be made with just equal parts Coconut Oil & Coffee grounds for those of you that prefer simpler recipes. I just like to add in some extra nourishing benefits.

Directions:



  • Melt your Beeswax (or Carnauba Wax) first. Stirring often. *NOTE* Carnauba Wax requires a temperature of 180-185 degrees in order to melt.  Carnauba Wax takes longer to melt than beeswax.

  • mix in and melt Shea Butter (or  Cocoa Butter)

  • Add in and mix all other ingredients (except for essential oils)

  • Once everything is completely mixed, remove from heat and add in essential oils if you're using them.


** Be sure that all ingredients are mostly level, meaning there isn't a thick layer of oils on the top of the mixture or else you'll end up with coffee chunks on the top and cream on the bottom. The Coffee & herbs will settle on the bottom, thus creating ugly and inconsistent cubes. I learned this the hard way on my first try, as you can see from my original image:

[caption id="attachment_429" align="aligncenter" width="300"]Coffee Exfoliating Cubes for Cellulite & Stretchmarks Recipe Fail![/caption]

Not so pretty Right?! :/


I actually ended up remaking these 3 times before I found a good mix. (If yours don't turn out the first time, you can just melt the mixture back down and try again.)


Sooo, if you have oils settling on the top of your mixture just add in more coffee grounds until it's a uniform consistency so you don't end up with cubes like those. ;)




  • Scoop with a spoon or poor into your molds.

    [caption id="attachment_424" align="alignright" width="217"]Heart Molds - Cellulite / Stretchmark Cubes Cute Heart Molds - From my Mama.[/caption]


(You may want to rub some Extra Virgin Olive Oil around the molds for easy release)

  • Pop into freezer until they solidify. (I left mine in overnight)

  • once they have hardened you can put them in your storage jar (or Ziploc baggy) & keep them in the freezer. (so they don't melt & they stay fresh for longer)


To Use:


Take a cube with you when you're having a shower and use as an exfoliating massage / lotion bar. A bit of warm water helps to massage into stretch marks and cellulite more gently. Rub in circular motions, moving toward the heart.

Leave on your skin for a few minutes before you rinse off to soak in as much of the nourishing benefits as you can. I leave mine on for about 10 minutes if I have time.

You may want to put a drain screen in so you don't risk clogging your drain.

These may be best to use in the morning or daytime for those of you that are sensitive to caffeine. ;)

These also make a fabulous face scrub! They go along perfectly with our Coffee Tired Eyes Cream.


HAPPY EXFOLIATING! <3

I recommend Mountain Rose Herbs for all of your herbal healing needs!
Images Edited using PicMonkey. Some of the links here are affiliate sites. It would also help me out a lot if you purchased your supplies through these links. ;) & Please also see my disclaimer. Thanks Friends.