Everyones talking about essential oils, but what do you really DO with them? Our current favorite oil blend, Veriditas Good Samaritan smells amazing and is super easy to use. Regardless of whether or not you LOVE essential oils or you think it’s hype- this blend is great to have around the house in the cooler months.
Tag: colds
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How to Make your own Immune Boosting Tonic
Jenna shows you how to throw together your own Immune Boosting Tonic full of virus-busting goodness!
Here’s what you’ll need:
- 1 medium onion, peeled and rough chopped
- 1 head of garlic, peeled and rough chopped
- 3 inch piece of fresh ginger, grated
- 1 tablespoon dried echinacea root
- Apple cider vinegar (organic with “the mother”)
- Raw organic honey
- 2 teaspoons ground cayenne pepper
- cheese cloth (enough to cover the top of the jar with a couple layers)
- A large glass container of some sort. We used a quart-sized mason jar.
Step by Step Instructions
- Place onion, garlic, ginger and echinacea root in a mason jar.
- Add apple cider vinegar to cover the herbs.
- Cover with cheese cloth and screw on the band to hold it tight. (don’t use the lid portion- your tonic needs air!)
- Leave in the jar for 2-3 weeks, preferably in a sunny or slightly warm place.
- Strain and discard the herbs.
- Mix with equal parts raw honey and add cayenne powder.
- Store in the fridge and take 1 teaspoon as needed daily or whenever you start to feel run down.
There is more you can do with this tonic:• Immune Boosting Tonic is amazing alone- BUT there are some fun ways to use it:
• Use it to make a quick Bloody Mary: add to a mixture of tomato juice spirit of you choice
• It’s a super FLAVOR boost for soups and sauces. It’s the not-so-secret ingredient in my chicken soup and a fix-it for spaghetti sauce that needs a little kick.
• Bone Broth to the MAX: add this to your bone broth!
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Stocking Remedies for Kids
Bumps, bruises, scrapes, sore throats, tummy aches- every kids comes with them! Here are 10 of our favorite natural products to address your little ones’ needs in a flash. Stock up now and save on tears later 😉
#1: Elderberry Syrup
You’ve heard it by now, Elderberry Syrup is a serious contender in the world of cold and flu remedies. Even held up against pharmaceuticals, Elderberry stands tall. The best part is, it tastes GREAT, so it goes down easy. Just a teaspoon a day during cold and flu season can ward off viruses of all kinds, and bumping that dosage if they get sick can help shorten the duration of the cold.
Be sure to read the labels on Elderberry syrup- notice the sugar content and the additives- we love our brand because it contains neither!
#2: Mullein Garlic Ear Oil
Earaches hurt, and ear infections are one of the biggest culprits for the over-prescription of antibiotics out there. Try soothing the ear canal at first signs of symptoms with this time-tested remedy. Mullein is a flower that you’ve likely ignored or pulled out in your yard- but it’s potent antibacterial qualities can help it heal an irritated ear canal. Garlic is one of nature’s “antibiotics” for the same reason. Together, the two (suspended in olive oil) are a fantastic way to soothe and heal troubled ears.
Be sure to warm the oil first. Do this by placing the whole bottle in a mug of hot water for a few moments, then shake to ensure an even temperature.
#3: Arnica Gel & Tablets
A healthy, active child will definitely encounter some bumps and bruises! Treat minor aches and pains with arnica gel applied to the area affected. It will help take the edge off the discomfort after a fall off a swing or a bruised shin. Tablets can be used internally – taken through the mouth – to do the same and work especially well with less localized discomfort.
#4: Wiley’s Wild Alaskan Fish Oil
Focus is important for kids- and sometimes it seems impossible to get it. Without enough quality omega fatty acids in the diet, focus can be severely impeded. Fish oil is an easy way to achieve healthy levels and is easy to take nowadays- even tasty! We like Wiley’s in Mango-Peach flavor. It delivers a good dose of both EPA and DHA needed for brain health and mood health and comes from wild-caught Alaskan Fish that you can trust.
#5: Redmond Clay First Aid Cream
This is one of the simplest and most useful products! Bentonite clay is extremely absorbent- this makes it useful for drying out rashes from poison ivy or shallow scrapes from falling off a bike. This super-hero clay will take the sting out of a wasp bite or minor burns. The best part? ZERO chemicals. Two ingredients: just pure, clean clay and purified water. You can also make it yourself out of the dry powder- but having it in this tube form is worth it!
#6: Rescue Remedy
Anxiety can strike kids just as often as it can strike adults. Pressures of school and sports and friends can compound into a full blown meltdown. Soothe worries with Rescue Remedy! Rescue Remedy is not a sedative- it’s a simple, homeopathic remedy that helps calm the nervous system. Here’s one way we’ve heard it described by a 13-year-old, “It’s like a everything is wrinkled, but then…after a few minutes…it’s smooth again.”
#7: Olbas Oil
This icy-cold essential oil blend is strong stuff- but when blended with any carrier oil, it becomes a magic tool for slowing coughs! Slather it on the feet and cover with socks to stop a nagging nighttime cough. Dilute it further and massage onto the chest to help open up stuffy noses! In the summertime, it can make a cooling rub for hot car rides or in the car after a sweaty sports game.
#8: Amazing Grass Kidz Superfood
We love kale! You probably like it- at least in a smoothie! Kids, though, might struggle to get the benefits of eating lots of greens without a little help. Amazing Grass makes it easy with these packets. They pick a wallop of fruits, vegetables and probiotics that will fill in the cracks of a kid’s diet and make them feel, well,…amazing!
#9: Nux Vomica
Homeopathy can seem like another language sometimes. Some of the remedies sound like Harry Potter spells! Nux Vomica works like a charm 😉 Nausea can have a myriad of causes, and stopping it involves asking a lot of questions. In the meantime, you have a miserable little person. Nux Vomica can take the edge off nausea and bring comfort until the larger picture becomes clear.
#10: Calm Child by Planetary Herbals
Maybe you’ve tried the Fish Oil and you still have an issue with a fidgety or anxious kiddo. This herbal syrup uses soothing botanicals like chamomile, hawthorn, lemon balm, and catnip. All of these combine to help calm over-stimulated little people without the use of chemicals.
