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I'm unsure how 18 days flew away but they did. Here are some of the things that we did during this quarantine to help the farm and family keep going:
Animal feed was purchased in bulk. Dry goods were inventoried and assessed. We played games, read to each other and listened to our church service. Aromasticks (more than 200) were donated to frontline healthcare workers. Cards were sent to a variety of people to bring cheer across the miles. The HPF shop was refilled in a timely pace. The animals received more walks, more pets and more of everything over these weeks. We prayed a lot. Calls were made that were well overdue. Cooked with purpose and frugality. Moved our children home with their children. Decluttered. Took meals to people in need. Wrote articles for publications. Spent time talking. Just talking. Went through every photo album and rearranged, lamented, laughed and discussed. We didn't watch TV, news or listen to the radio. We planned our garden. Ordered seeds. Real emergencies that happened on the farm were dealt with. We made laundry detergent. Cleaned, cleaned and cleaned. Knitted. Made yogurt and bread. Looked for other ways to return to whole living. Overall, I think we learned that getting back to basics was not only comforting but wise. What did you do over these last days and what was your takeaway?
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These days of quarantine can get a bit long for many people. If you have a diffuser and essential oils this is your opportunity to mix it up and change your routine. Start with a citrus (orange, lemon, grapefruit essential oil) and consider adding something or several somethings to make an uplifting blend. Consider peppermint, basil, an additional citrus or rosemary. Better yet, choose a several of the oils for diffusing all at the same time specifically adhering to the drop limit stated by the manufacturer. Making blends that are different from your "usual" offers a couple of benefits. You will reap the therapeutic qualities of each oil in your diffuser. You might find a blend which rocks your world. You may improve your mood or pass the time a bit faster. Thinking about oils and combinations is very fun and stimulates your brain. So, take a gander at your cupboard or drawer where you keep your oils and commit to trying something new. Tomorrow!
I am receiving many messages about what to do without official hand sanitizer and the lack of alcohol to make hand sanitizer. There are plenty of great soaps out there with great anti-bacterial qualities not to mention essential oils within soap that are excellent germ busters. Consider these varieties of soaps when selecting one specifically for right now: Cinnamon, Thyme, Oregano, Tea Tree, Eucalyptus and Lavender. Each one of these essential oils offer wonderful antimicrobial properties.  I'm continuing the week with another tip for utilizing essential oils within your home. The goal is to use what you have at home. Many people have an immune supportive essential oil diffuser blend at home. My suggestion to you is to take that diffuser blend and create a spray out of some of it. To make a 2% dilution, add 10 drops for every ounce of water in your spray bottle (preferably glass because plastic can absorb the oils). Make sure that you shake it well between use. Utilize this spray in your home, vehicles, office spaces (as tolerated by your colleagues) and small spaces.
My focus for the next weeks is going to be helping you help yourself get through this coronavirus pandemic. Many of you have essential oils at home and are uncertain where to start to keep your house sanitized and germ free the best you can. Currently the recommendation is that you utilize a product with a 99% Isopropyl alcohol to clean your counters, door knobs....just about everything. But, as we all know, there are road blocks we are encountering when attempting to locate these supplies. The Counter Sanitizing Blend is something you can whip up to help yourself. It helps you keep cleaner. Does it fight coronavirus? No one can say for sure but it does clean and disinfect. If you are anything like me, I want to do something to help myself.
Counter Sanitizing Blend 8 drops Thyme Essential Oil 10 drops Tea Tree Essential Oil 8 drops Lavender Essential Oil 2 ounces distilled water DIRECTIONS: Add essential oils first to PET spray bottle, then add base. Shake before each use. You could also substitute with Eucalyptus Globulus, Basil Lemon, Honey Myrtle, Clove, Cinnamon Essential Oils as you have in your essential oil stock pile. Make certain you check for interactions with your personal health conditions/medications before utilizing any of these essential oils. 1 bar soap
1 tsp glycerin Water Directions
Thin down your recipe by adding more water. Thinner soap works great as a hand pump. You might also try this instead of shaving cream. Some ofour favorite essential oils for respiratory health and immunity include Ravintsara, Eucalyptus Globulus or Radiata, Saro or Niaouli ct. 1,8 cineole. The 1,8 cineole is an important component that has been researched thoroughly. That research suggests that these oils provide immune boosting properties as well as augment respiratory health. The therapeutic properties include analgesia (pain reduction), anti-inflammatory (reduces inflammation), antibacterial, antifungal and reduction of airborne microbials. Consider using any of these oils during a period of muscle soreness, headache or flu. Our personal preference is utilizing these oils via a steam diffuser or in an aromastick.
Normally I wouldn't add any alcohol to my essential oil hand sanitizer but since there are strong suggestions to utilize a hand sanitizer with alcohol instead of a simple foamer, I thought I would add my recipe to the blog. I've been asked for this no less than 40 times in the last 1 week so let's make it easy! Here it is.
Simple Hand Sanitizer 1 part aloe vera gel 2 parts 99% Isopropyl Alcohol Blend in a squirt or pump bottle. Add essential oils including: Tea Tree, Honey Myrtle, Ravintsara, Eucalyptus, Lavender in a 2% dilution. (10-12 drops per one ounce) A 3% dilution is excellent for acute conditions. What defines an acute condition? Pain, cold/flu, sprains, stomach aches and muscle strains would be on my list of acute conditions. The caveat of a 3% dilution is that you really should only use it for two weeks. Remember that for every action there is a reaction. There can be side effects with essential oils and 2 weeks is an appropriate amount of time to use a 3% dilution for therapeutic response.
Remember to consider your health conditions before you choose your dilution ratio. Anyone with pulmonary (lung) issues including asthma, immunosuppression, seizure disorders or heart disease (including high blood pressure) or are under 12 years of age should consult a physician, naturopath or clinical aromatherapist for guidance. A 3% dilution is 15-18 drops in a carrier as described in parts one and two of this blog. Please be mindful of your dilution rates. Safety is so important! A 2% dilution is usually recommended for the general public. Creating a 2% dilution means that you would add 10-12 drops of essential oil to 1 ounce of carrier oil. Typically a carrier oil would be a substance that you would blend with the essential oil such as an oil (jojoba, coconut, olive, almond, sunflower), a butter (mango, shea), water, aloe vera, or an existing lotion that you purchased from the store (preferably unscented). When blended together by mixing or shaking, this blend is quite therapeutic.
We like to create the majority of our blends with a 2% dilution. As always, if you are utilizing an oil which smells stronger consider keeping at least that component at a 1%. Not only does it save money by using fewer drops but also you don't create an aroma which is heavy with one aroma (unless that is your goal). Some of these stronger oils might be: Patchouli, Ylang Ylang, Peppermint, Rose Absolute, Jasmine Absolute or even some of the Chamomiles. |
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