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Skin Smoothing Coffee Body Scrub
This is a great way to use up used coffee grounds. Coffee is also known to reduce cellulite, due to its caffeine content and anti-oxidants. The coconut oil will leave your skin super moisturized. The exfoliating action of the mild abrasiveness of the sugar or salt with the coffee grounds will leave your skin super smooth. Ingredients: 1 cup coffee grounds ⅓ cup coconut oil ¼ cup organic raw sugar and/or high quality salt OPTIONAL: Add in 5-10 drops of your favorite strong essential oil like cedar-wood, cypress, patchouli, etc. Method: 1. Combine coffee and salt and/or sugar in a large measuring cup or bowl. ► Mix well. 2. Add the coconut (melt*, if necessary) oil to the coffee & sugar/salt mixture. ► Mix well. 3. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Use leftovers within 2 weeks or freeze in until ready to use. How to Use in Shower: After you’ve washed your body with your favorite natural soap. Take about a tablespoon at a time in your palms and massage in a circular motions onto your wet skin for about 60 seconds per area, especially where you’re targeting cellulite. Rinse well with warm water. Some people like to wash with soap after, but that defeats the purpose of the moisturizing action of the coconut oil and you want the caffeine of the coffee to absorb into your skin after the shower as well. CAUTION: The coconut oil in the body scrub may make your tub or shower floor slippery. If you don’t like cleaning your tub or are concerned with clogged drains, take this scrub with you when staying in hotels or motels.
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Homemade Bug Repellent – Essential Oil Blend:
NOTE ON NATURAL FIXATIVES: Fixatives prolong the staying power of your essential oils by slowing down the evaporation process of the volatile oils, thereby increasing the duration of their effectiveness. Ingredients
Other essential oils to consider: Cajeput, Catnip (smells very bad), Cedar, Clove, Coriander, Cypress, Fennel, Helichrysum, Lemon Balm, Lemongrass, Palmarosa, Pennyroyal, Rosemary, Sandalwood, Spearmint, Tea Tree, Thyme, Vetiver, Yarrow, and Frankincense. Other fixatives to consider: Clary Sage, Coriander, Frankincense, Sandalwood, and Vetiver. Method NOTES: A small funnel is very helpful to prevent spills. Make about 11 ounces. 1. Pour Essential Oils in a 16-ounce glass bottle*. 2. Pour in Vodka or Alcohol. ► Shake well to combine. 3. Pour in Witch Hazel. ► Shake well to combine.. 4. Pour in Vegetable Glycerin, Castor Oil, or Soybean Oil. ► Shake well to combine. 5. Pour in Vinegar of choice. ► Shake well to combine. 6. Pour in Castile Soap and/or Aloe Vera, if using. ► Shake well to combine. 7. Pour final product into small bottles for portability and having one to share with a friend or two. Use amber or blue colored spray bottles. Use plastic bottles for taking to areas where glass is prohibited or for use by children. Also 1-ounce bottles are great for day hikes. 8. Store away from light and heat, especially direct sunlight. 9. Shake before each use as the oils and other liquids will naturally separate over time. ► Spray some on your skin, hair, and clothes. [I spray on my hands and rub on]. ► Repeat about every hour or so. Thanks for reading! Peace & Love! ~ Tanya *An old kombucha bottle works well, as it is large enough to allow for shaking, has a wide mouth, and has enough volume to prevent overflowing. You can use a clear bottle for making your BUG SPRAY, as this is used only to prepare it and not store it. As stated above, it is best to store in smaller blue or amber glass bottles. Also do not overfill the sprayer bottles, as the sprayer will take up some room and you do not want any overflowing. NOTE TO SELF: Geraniol oil (component of rose oil, palmarosa oil, citronella oil) is very effective at insect repelling. ∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞ ¹Lemon Eucalyptus Essential Oil is not Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus. The latter is a refined product to be high in p-menthane 3,8-diol [PMD] - a highly effective mosquito repellent comparable to DEET, while Lemon Eucalyptus Essential Oil is significantly less effective. Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus is synthetically produced to have up to 65% PMD, but Lemon Eucalyptus Essential Oil has only about 2% PMD. ∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞ References: 1. Borg-Karlson, A.-K. (2017). Essential oils of aromatic Egyptian plants repel nymphs of the tick Ixodes ricinus (Acari: Ixodidae). Experimental & Applied Acarology, 73(1), 139–157. http://doi.org/10.1007/s10493-017-0165-3 2. Tabanca N, Wang M, Avonto C, Chittiboyina AG, Parcher JF, Carroll JF, Kramer M, Khan IA. Bioactivity-guided investigation of germanium essential oils as natural tick repellants. J Agric Food Chem. 2013;61:4101–4107. doi: 10.1021/jf400246a. 3. Jaenson TGT, Garboui S, Pålsson K. Repellency of oils of lemon eucalyptus, geranium, and lavender and the mosquito repellent MyggA natural to Ixodes ricinus (Acari: Ixodidae) in the laboratory and field. J Med Entomol. 2006;43:731–736. doi: 10.1093/jmedent/43.4.731. 4. Maia, M. F., & Moore, S. J. (2011). Plant-based insect repellents: a review of their efficacy, development and testing. Malaria Journal, 10(Suppl 1), S11. http://doi.org/10.1186/1475-2875-10-S1-S11
This is a great all-purpose spray for non-porous surfaces that is chemical-free and smells great. It has disinfecting and anti-bacterial properties.
If unsure if this spray will harm a surface, err on the side of caution. Needed:
Directions: Add 20 drops of your "Four Thieves" essential oil blend to a clean empty glass bottle. Add 1 teaspoon of liquid Castile soap. Add distilled water to fill bottle to about an inch below the top. Do not overfill, as you will need to place the sprayer in the bottle. Shake well to blend and shake well before each use. Store away from heat and direct sunlight. Ideas for Use:
*********************************************************************************** Recommended Essential Oil Blends Based on the historical "Four Thieves":
My Amazon affiliate link for Simplers Botanicals is below. The above brands are available at many natural food and health stores as well. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- My “Four Thieves” Blend Ingredients:
Directions: Add the above essential oils to a small amber bottle. Store away from heat and direct sunlight. I save old essential oil bottles for making my blends. I use Simplers Botanicals single essential oils to make my "Four Thieves” blend. *********************************************************************************** *********************************************************************************** The "History" of Thieves Oil As the story goes, Four Thieves essential oil is based on what was used by a group of grave-robbing bandits to ward off disease during the Middle Ages, when Europe and Asia were being devastated by the bubonic plague. Allegedly a European group of four thieves seemed completely indifferent to the disease, while robbing hundreds of corpses. According to the story not one of the thieves contracted the highly contagious and often deadly disease. When they were caught, it is fabled that they were offered a reduced sentence in exchange for their secret. The original "Thieves" blend combines vinegar with cloves, cinnamon, rosemary, eucalyptus, and lemon. I will try a variation by using organic white vinegar next time. Thanks for reading!
This is great to use when camping, back-packing, or in-between regular shampoos.
Plus, it is not great for the scalp to wash your hair too often. Using a Dry Shampoo can help nourish your hair, while freshening up your locks. These Dry Shampoos are free of harsh parabens, dyes, and perfumes that can damage your hair and cause breakage. If you are still using conventional shampoos, you may want to check their safety at EWG's Skin Deep Database at https://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ Benefits of Ingredients:
Many have anti-bacterial & anti-fungal properties. Supports a healthy scalp. *********************************************************************************** Essential Oil-Infused - Version I Ingredients:
Essential Oil-Infused - Version II Ingredients:
Directions: 1. In a food processor, combine all dry ingredients, except cocoa. Blend until well mixed. 2. Slowly add cocoa to the dry ingredients in the food processor until a shade comparable to your hair color is achieved. 3. Add essential oils and pulse until well combined. 4. Fill a container of your choice, such as: - An old baby powder bottle (SIDE NOTE: Never use talcum powder). - A wide mouth jar. 5. Sprinkle on roots of hair and massage into scalp and hair, if using a bottle; or use a make-up brush and massage into scalp and hair, if using a wide-mouthed jar. 6. Leave for 2–3 minutes to absorb hair’s natural oils. 7. Brush through hair. * Use cocoa powder for medium to dark hair only. Do not use cocoa powder for blonde hair. If you have dark hair & choose to use cocoa, use oils that complement the scent of chocolate like Sweet Orange, Peppermint, or Cinnamon. Thanks for reading!
Whipped Body Butter – Version I
Ingredients:
Directions: 1. Place a Pyrex bowl in a saucepan that has water in it (making a double-boiler) or use a double-boiler. 2. Heat the water to gently melt and continuously stir to thoroughly combine the butters & oils in glass. [I do not like to place oils in metal, as there could be a reaction.] 3. Place in refrigerator for 5-10 minutes to cool slightly before adding essential oils. 4. Stir in essential oils. 5. Place in refrigerator for an additional 20–35 minutes to cool - just set, but not hard. 6. Using an electric hand mixer, whip until firm peaks form, about 10 minutes. 7. Gently transfer to small glass seal-able jars (preferably amber glass or cobalt blue glass). 8. Store extra jars in fridge. The current jar may be stored at room temperature. Massage onto dry skin. Enjoy! Essential Oil Blend Options: 15 drops Sweet Orange, 5 drops Ginger. (Sound good with cocoa butter!) 15 drops Sweet Orange, 5 drops Ginger, 5 drops Vanilla*. 10 drops Frankincense, 10 drops Lavender, 5 drops Peppermint. 10 drops Frankincense, 10 drops Lavender, 5 drops Geranium. 10 drops Rosemary, 10 drops Black Pepper, 10 drops Lavender. 15 drops Lavender, 15 drops Bergamot. 15 drops Wild Orange, 10 drops Vanilla*. You can also use single oils or use your favorite pre-made blends. :) *Aura Cacia Vanilla in Jojoba Oil not Vanilla Extract. *********************************************************************************** Whipped Body Butter – Version II Ingredients:
Directions: See directions above. :) *********************************************************************************** Whipped Body Butter (Simple Version) Ingredients:
Directions: See directions above. :)
Having a parasitic infection (along with my prior having a diet in phytic acid and too low in nutrient dense foods) caused me to have osteopenia and dental damage that resulted in my losing a tooth, chipping another, tooth sensitivity, and (likely) permanent enamel damage. I started using this remineralizing toothpaste about a year ago that I adapted from a recipe by Wellness Mama. Admittedly, I should use it more often, because it really helped with my tooth sensitivity.
It contains no fluoride, as that does not strengthen teeth, but does suppress normal thyroid function and may negatively impact other glands as well. I highly recommend that everyone avoid toothpaste with fluoride. There are many great toothpastes that are fluoride-free that I often use, especially when traveling. A few other things that cause bone loss include a diet high in phytic acid and consuming too much protein (please see my blog on protein, if you think that eating more than 45-60 grams of protein a day is healthy … it is not and causes numerous health issues). If you are unaware of phytic acid and other compounds that act as anti-nutrients – in that that they bind with important minerals (such as, calcium, magnesium, copper, zinc, and iron) making them unabsorbable by the body - then please see the references below. It is clear that not being able to absorb minerals properly will cause bone loss throughout your body, including your teeth. *********************************************************************************** Re-Mineralizing & Anti-Bacterial Toothpaste – Version I This is the amount that I make for my personal use, but I have provided the ratio amounts below to make the amount that is best for you. Ingredients:
Directions: Combine powdered Calcium, Baking Soda, and Xylitol in a glass [Pyrex] bowl. Stir in Coconut Oil. Stir in essential oils. Pour into a glass jar. I use small glass jars. I also do not dip my toothbrush in the toothpaste. I use a small wooden spoon. A Popsicle stick would work as well. *********************************************************************************** Ratio Amounts
*********************************************************************************** References: Wellness Mama's article "How to Remineralize Teeth Naturally & Reverse Tooth Decay" recipe https://wellnessmama.com/3650/remineralize-teeth/ Gupta, R. K., Gangoliya, S. S., & Singh, N. K. (2015). Reduction of phytic acid and enhancement of bioavailable micronutrients in food grains. Journal of Food Science and Technology, 52(2), 676–684. http://doi.org/10.1007/s13197-013-0978-y Nielsen, A. V. F., Tetens, I., & Meyer, A. S. (2013). Potential of Phytase-Mediated Iron Release from Cereal-Based Foods: A Quantitative View. Nutrients, 5(8), 3074–3098. http://doi.org/10.3390/nu5083074 ***********************************************************************************
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The information provided is for educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your physician or other healthcare provider. Please consult your healthcare provider before embarking on any diet, fast, exercise, or supplementation program and/or if you have or suspect you might have a health problem. Do not use or consume any wild plants based solely on the information on this website. © 2016-2025 I Love Iodine. All Rights Reserved.
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