What does kitchen appliance maintenance and your health have in common? Read on to find out.
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Peppermint - (Mentha piperita) can be used topically to cool the skin or diffused for a scent that invites feelings of peace. It is one of the oldest & most highly regarded oils for soothing digestion. There have been studies done on its effect on the liver, respiratory system, concentration, mental accuracy, and the brains satiety center (triggers a sense of fullness). Peppermint may also support your performance during physical activity.**
18 Uses for Peppermint
Read on to learn about all the wonderful uses for Peppermint essential oil. The following spray I made as a "cool me down" spay a few years ago, but I keep finding wonderful new uses for it. With fall here and cooler days and nights, it is time to think about bringing the houseplants. I spray mine down with the cooling spray to keep unwanted guests from coming in with my plants. I also used it on my kitchen counters this summer for the same reason. As a cool down after too much time in the sun. On occasion, I have even used it on my belly for minor digestive issues or on my back for my muscles. I rarely leave home without a bottle of cooling spray.
Keep your cool during the summer. Mix 4 drops Lavender essential oil & 10 drops Peppermint essential oil in ½ t Epsom salts. Place in a 6 oz glass spray bottle and fill with distilled or filtered water. Shake before each use. Spray on back of neck, under the arms, or bottom of your feet. May be kept in the refrigerator for an extra “cool” mist on hot days.
Muscle Support. Apply immediately to an injured area.
Hot Feet Fix. Add Peppermint to a cold compress and cool down your overworked feet.
Support your respiratory system. Dilute a drop or two of Peppermint in fractionated coconut oil in a roller bottle. Roll under your nose to support open airways and help you breathe easily.
Stressed? Apply a drop to neck and forehead with Lavender to relieve tension and pressure.
Do you scare people away with your breath? Use a drop of Peppermint Vitality* with Lemon Vitality* in water for a healthy, refreshing mouth rinse. It freshens breath and builds confidence in your close encounters.Close encounters with mother nature. Did you touch the wrong plants while walking in the woods today? Apply Peppermint Vitality* on location, diluting with a carrier oil if needed.
Take a deep breath. Inhale deeply directly from the bottle or from a drop in the palm of your hand to invigorate lungs and increase alertness.
A joint effort. Peppermint is a great way to cool joints without taking an ice bath. It helps soothe temporary muscle and joint discomfort.
Pre and post workout ideas. Before your next workout, apply a drop of Peppermint to your chest and breathe deeply to awaken your senses and get your lungs to open up. Afterwards add a drop to your shampoo to stimulate and help with scalp health.
Cool down your workout. Add a drop of Peppermint Vitality* to Pure Protein Complete Chocolate shake for a delicious afternoon snack or your after your workout wind down protein drink.
Satisfy that urge to snack. Most people eat until they feel full. Diffusing Peppermint may trigger the brain’s satiety center, causing one to feel full faster and help reign in the urge to snack on junk food.
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Itchy Throat. I recently discovered that swallowing Thieves Vitality* and Peppermint Vitality* in a dollop of honey may have a numbing, refreshing and soothing sensation to an itchy throat.
Digestive support. Rub on the abdomen in a clockwise direction or take internally for occasional digestive discomfort.
On the road, again. Inhale Peppermint from the bottle, or diffuse to awaken the senses on long drives.
Long night at the office? Rather than grabbing a sugary snack which will give you a sugar high followed by a crash, deeply inhale Peppermint and grab a Pure Protein Complete Shake to keep you going long into the night.
Writer’s Block? Peppermint can oxygenate blood circulation and leave you feeling rejuvenated to keep creative juices flowing. Diffuse or place a drop on the back of the neck for improved concentration and alertness.All things chocolate! Peppermint Vitality* makes a great addition to anything chocolate. I love it in my homemade dark hot chocolate, fudge, and even frosting.
*Young Living's Vitality line is labeled for internal use. Exact same essential oil as in the bottles with the colored labels, just a white label and instructions for internal use. The color labels give instruction for topical and aromatic usage.
**Quality matters when it comes to essential oils. Do not expect the same results unless using Young Living essential oils.
Last week we talked about essential oils to help our children thrive in school this year. Missed school days are also hard on our children's success in school. Our health and wellness is a cherished commodity and we can use essential oils to support our health in many ways resulting in less missed days of school and work.
Thieves is super great blend to have on hand to support the immune system of the whole family. Just rub a drop on your feet before putting on your socks and shoes. I especially 
make sure to use Thieves before using public transportation and having to breathe 
in all that stale circulated air. :) My brother used to work in the public school system and would rub a drop on his beard and mustache each morning . Ahh, great immune supporting aromatherapy all day long. My niece loves to make herself an after-school tea each day with Thieves Vitality and Lemon Vitality. 
I always make sure to have Raven and RC on hand in the winter time. They are two blends created for respiratory support. When I want give my respiratory system support, I will put a drop of one on 
my chest (front and back) and a drop of the other one on the bottom of my feet, morning and night. The next day I will switch it up and put the other one on my chest and and the first one on my feet. There has only been one year that I did not get the results I for which I was looking and had to try another protocol.
When using essential oils on children, there are a few things to keep in mind :
- Dilute, Dilute, Dilute: Remember size matters. If one drop of an essential oil works for you , how much less they may need because they are much smaller in size. Also, their skin is more permeable and thinner than adults. Start with a heavy dilution ratio. It is easier to add more essential oil to a carrier oil than trying to add more carrier oil.
- Check for redness or irritation. Don't worry ! Apply a carrier oil such as organic coconut or olive oil to the location . You may want to consider diluting the oil that was recently applied or discontinue for a pit until the irritation subsides.
- Be careful with essential oils around the eyes. It is NOT recommended to use essential oils on or in sensitive areas such as eyes, ears, and mucus membranes. If you do get essential oils in the eyes, DON'T panic!! And DON'T use water to wash it out, instead apply a small amount of organic coconut or olive oil around the eye to pull the essential oil and dilute it.
Here are a couple of great recipes that you may want to use this school year! A wellness roll- on and to keep your children from bringig home any unwanted guests, a hair tonic recipe. Just spray on the hair each morning and again when they come home from school if you wish.Here is to keeping your children well and in school this year
Check out the recipes and please take time to comment on this blog and share it with your friends.
Helping our children and grandchildren thrive during the school year is what every parent and grandparent hopes to do. Here are some essential oil suggestions that may help them thrive instead of just surviving this year. Click on the bold green links for more information.
Essential Oils for Emotional Support
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Getting ready for the new school year can be both exciting and stressful. Diffusing Joy or wearing topically over your heart may lighten your spirit and help you enjoy the rest of those summer days. Do you still have a few more hectic back to school shopping trips left? Try a drop of StressAway on the wrists and temples to add a little calmness to the activity.
Emotions can get in the way of getting the most out of the school day. Here are a few essential oils to help with emotional stability. Apply a drop of StressAway and Frankincense to promote calmness and feelings of control over your day.
Do you know someone who is nervous about the first day of school? Do you have a big test or presentation today? Try a drop of Valor on the back of the neck or over the heart. The oils contained in Valor were specifically selected for their unique aromatic and topical benefits. It's spicy, sweet, positive aroma inspires confidence and courage.
Another oil to have in your back to school kit is White Angelica*. A couple of the oils contained in this blend are Melissa and Bergamot. It may promote feelings of protection and security when diffused, and can be used to guard against negative energy.
Balance with Valor & protect with White Angelica
Great Oils to Sleep On
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A good night's rest makes for a better day at school.
Lavender is the oil of relaxation and is nick named the Multi Tool because of it's many uses, has a fresh, clean, comforting and calming scent. It supports many of the body's systems including the respiratory, nervous, glandular, cardiovascular, and the skin. My favorite way to use lavender is on the bottom of my feet and or on the back of my neck during my bedtime routine.
Cedarwood's woodsy aroma is relaxing. For nighttime use put equal drops of Lavender and Cedarwood on the bottom of your feet or in a diffuser. A added bonus for using Cedarwood is that it may support healthy looking skin.
School Time Focus
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The same oils, including Frankincense, that help us relax may also help us focus as they may clear the mind helping to focus on the current task at hand. The heavy, smokey, earthy fragrance of Vetiver has patchouli and lemon like undertones. Vetiver has balancing properties that can help to calm and tackle everyday life scenarios. Many families love using Vetiver on their children with emotional challenges. Click here for a great Focus roll-on recipe that can be used before school, can be sent to school with your child, or used during homework as well. You may want to make up a recipe for yourself as well because everyone knows that adults sometimes need help focusing as well.
Please take time to post your comments.
Here's to your child thriving in school this year, not just surviving.
*This oil is only available to members. Becoming a member is easy and only requires a 50 pv (approximately $50)/year to keep your account active. No selling required.
Do you have a son or daughter leaving for college in the next few days? I am often asked, "What oils should I send with Suzanne when she leaves for college?" or "What would be some good oils to send with Anthony for dorm life?" There are many essential oils that are wonderful assets to the life of a college student. Essential oils that may help with focus, support emotional health, and physical health. Here is what I would put in that care package of essential oils. Click on each heading to learn more about each essential oil.
Thieves and Thieves Vitality* are a blend of cinnamon bark, lemon, eucalyptus, clove and rosemary. A favorite for supporting the immune system, put a drop on your feet each morning before putting on your socks and shoes. You may also choose to rub a drop on your throat or diffuse to cleanse the air and give your room a spicy aroma. Include it your own hand spray, or foaming hand soap. Thieves Vitality is great in your water, tea, or create your own "chai" beverage. Peppermint and Peppermint Vitality* is at the top of the list because is such a versatile essential oil. It is supportive of the nervous system, the muscles, the digestive system, the endocrine system, and the respiratory system. Not only is it supportive of the body in so many different ways it also may help keep little flying and crawling annoyances from your room. Diffuse to awaken the senses and help you to focus on that late night project. Apply topically to the back of the neck or other muscle groups including the abdomen for a cooling sensation that may relax the muscles or contribute to the comfort of your body. A drop rubbed on your chest can be a benefit to your respiratory system. A drop of Peppermint Vitality in a quart of water is a refreshing benefit to your digestive system. Whereas added to a chocolate protein shake makes for an awesome after work out muscle support drink.
Lemon and Lemon Vitality* can be another revitalizing oil. It has a refreshing aroma that is great for waking up in the morning or helping you stay focused on the task at hand. Try it over the bridge of your nose when your upper respiratory system is in need of support. Add a drop or two of Lemon Vitality to a glass of water for general detox or a refreshing pick me up. Try it in sparkling water instead of drinking pop or soda.Purification is a blend that contains citronella, lemongrass, tea tree, and 
other great cleansing oils. It is nick named "The Deodorizer" for good reason. It is great to diffuse in your dorm room when you just have not gotten around to getting that smelly laundry done. Or put a couple of drops on a cotton ball and place in your gym bag. Because of its cleansing abilities, it may be supportive of the the skin and unexpected bumps.
other great cleansing oils. It is nick named "The Deodorizer" for good reason. It is great to diffuse in your dorm room when you just have not gotten around to getting that smelly laundry done. Or put a couple of drops on a cotton ball and place in your gym bag. Because of its cleansing abilities, it may be supportive of the the skin and unexpected bumps.StressAway is a blend that contains lime, vanilla, copaiba and other oils. The blending of these oils creates a great blend that is supportive of the emotional and nervous systems. My favorite place to use this oil is on the back of my neck close to the brain stem. You can also use this oil over your heart, the crown of your head, your wrists or the bottom of your feet. A few minutes after applying this oil may bring a sense of calm and equilibrium to your emotions.Lavender is another essential oil that creates a sense of relaxation when used. I have used StressAway or Lavender as part of my bedtime routine depending on the kind of day I have had or the what the next day may be bringing. Just rub a drop on the bottom of your feet. It is also great for the skin. Just place a drop on the blemish or areas that have been exposed to the sun too long.
Tea Tree, known for its cleansing properties, it is another one that can be used on blemishes. My favorite use for this oil is to combine it with lavender in coconut oil and then slather it on my feet, making sure to get between my toes, each night as part of my bedtime routine.These are the oils that are the must haves to help your college student thrive during the school year. Please check out my home page and all the valuable information contained on it, including the great videos. www.cherishedvitality.com
*The Vitality line of oils are labeled for internal or dietary consumption. 
It is the same oil as the regular line of oils which are labeled with topical and aromatic use.
