Bug Season

It has been too long that I posted and I apologize! It's been a very rough couple of weeks but I do not want to miss the opportunity to tell you about an Essential Oil that I find to be essential in my life during the warm summer months and especially during mosquito and critter season. The Essential Oil is Young Living blend called Purification with its main essential oil being citronella. It also includes lemongrass, rosemary, lavandin, and myrtle.

So last week I went to a lake and where there is water, there are bugs. I heard the mosquitos buzzing around my ears but as soon as I put a few drops of Purification on my face and all exposed skin areas, as well as brushed my hands over my hair, no more buzzzzzzzz :)

Here is how you can use the Purification blend:
1) Put it neat or mix it with coconut, almond, or apricot oil and rub it onto your skin as insect repellant
2) Put a few drops into a spray bottle filled with water and spray your clothes to repel ticks or at home at your windows and screens.
3) Put a few drops on a cotton ball and place them next to your pillow at night when you sleep.
4) Put a few drops on a cotton ball and put them into air vents.
5) Put one drop on a sting or bite as it will remove the toxins and stop the itching.
6) Put a few drops on a jelly fish sting.
7) Rub your feet with a few drops of the oil for cleansing bacteria.

The citronella is mainly used as insect repellant but it also has fungicidal properties, meaning it is an excellent oil for fungal infections. It is also a tonic and stimulant and good for blood circulation, the nervous system, and hormone regulation.
Besides lemongrass being a great insect repellant as well, it has calming properties not only on the mind and the nervous system but also for insect bites, therefore, reducing the itching and calming the skin.
Rosemary is very often used in skin care and therefore an excellent essential oil in this blend. It has soothing properties and reliefs dryness of the skin. It is also used to relief pain such as a bee sting or insect bite but also that of arthritis.
Lavandin is the essence of a hybrid plant between Lavendula Angustifolia and Lavendula Latifolia. The benefits are a bit more intense as Lavender Essential Oil and therefore are calming and soothing for body and mind. A great oil for minor cuts, bruises, bites, stings, and burns. A few drops will take the pain of any sting, bite, or burn away.
Myrtle use dates back to ancient Greece where it was used by Aphrodite, the goddess of Love and Beauty. It is antiseptic and therefore good for insect bites. It is astringent meaning it contracts the blood vessels and it is an expectorant so it reduces infection, phlegm, clears congestions, and is good for the bronchi and lungs. It also has calming benefits on the nervous system.

Wishing you a great buzzzzzz-free summer!

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Let's talk about Lemons

Lemons, the yellow tangy fruit that make my mouth water by just thinking about them, are not only rich in Vitamins C, B, and A, but they are also a great disinfectant, have anti-haemorrhagic properties, and keep the cholesterol level in check.

Lemons already have a long-time history and it is said the first lemons grew in India and China and later were introduced to Persia, Iran, and Egypt. Christopher Columbus brought the lemon seeds to the Americas.

Lemons are used for culinary uses, in skin care, and are a household multi-tasker:

• In skin care, lemons are used to treat blemishes. Mix some lemon juice and honey, apply it to your cleansed face and rinse with warm water. Your blemishes will heal due to the astringent and antiseptic properties.
• Lemons deodorize, disinfect, and remove grease and stains especially when mixed with baking soda.
• Lemons are used in the treatment of wood and cashiers use lemons to moisturize their fingers when dealing with a lot of bills.
• Lemons are a natural bleaching agent and can be used to remove stains as well as clean grout in the bathroom. Mix lemon juice with water and brush the grout with a toothbrush.
• Lemon juice cleans silver, brass, and copper.
• Lemons get rid of garlic odor on hands. Just rub your hands with a lemon slice and rinse with warm water.

The lemon rind has equally many uses in the culinary world as well as otherwise.

• Lemon rind with Espresso - I've always wondered why I am being served a tiny piece of lemon rind with my espresso. So far, I have not been given a definite answer but several versions of applications have it that

1. a) the lemon rind cleanses or disinfects the outside of the cup or the spoon (rub the yellow part around the edge of the cup or the back of the spoon)
2. b) if the espresso is too bitter, the lemon wedge neutralizes the bitterness with its acidity. Be aware that the use of the lemon rind may just be an insult to the person who served you the espresso!

• The rind is also used to make an Essential Oil which has various uses as well

1. a) I use lemon essential oil in my drinking water or to flavor my foods. Important: use only 100% pure or Grade A essential oils for internal use!
2. b) Lemon essential oil is a great air-freshener when diffused
3. c) Lemon essential oils is also a mood enhancer as it lifts the spirit and works against depression.
4. I also used lemon essential oil to clean glue and tape from my wooden floor.

As the saying goes "when life deals you lemons..." I only can say to use them wisely and remember, they disinfect, cleanse, deodorize, are great for your health, are antiseptic, and enhance your mood :-)

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