Arnica Rescue

After my sister told me about arnica, and I found it in an ointment for 50% off at Saje, I knew I had to try it.  Arnica Rescue is an acute injury ointment.  It is 100% natural and contains only arnica montana flower, olive oil, and beeswax.

Arnica is a homeopathic remedy used for swelling, bruises, sprains, breaks, soft tissue, tendon, and muscular damage.  It alleviates swelling and reduces healing time.  It has been used and recommended by homeopaths for more than 200 years and is also frequently used by professional athletes.

I am currently using it on my bruised and swollen calf from white water rafting.  Using it as quickly as possible after the injury is ideal, and it has already done wonders for the swelling in my leg.  My first use for it though was much more interesting.  I have prepatellar bursitis in my knee.  This means my bursa (tiny fluid filled sac) on my knee is inflamed which causes severe pain when any pressure is applied to the area (at its worst for me, even the weight of my pants touching my knee causes pain).  The doctor didn't have any treatment options for me other than taking about 2,500 mg of ibuprofen a day and using a prescription anti-inflammatory cream.  I avoid pills and prescriptions unless really necessary, so I opted for my Arnica Rescue along with some ice.  The arnica ointment  has really worked well in relieving the inflammation as well as speeding up my healing time.

What do you use to relieve swelling?

Eat Green: Chlorophyll

When Brad and I signed up for a Nature's Sunshine discount card, we received a couple free gifts.  One was Nature's Sunshine Liquid Chlorophyll.  Now, I had only heard of chlorophyll before in my science classes.  Chlorophyll is the molecule in plants which makes them green.  It is also responsible for the process of photosynthesis, using the sun's energy to turn carbon dioxide and water into sugar (for the plant) and oxygen (for us).  That was the extent of my knowledge on photosynthesis.  I had no idea why I would want to intentionally consume it.  The bottle of liquid chlorophyll sat around unopened for a while until I noticed them mentioning the benefits of chlorophyll in the Hungry For Change documentary.  In fact, they included it as #2 in the Hungry for Change 10 Step Action Plan.  I, of course, had always heard that you should "eat your greens," and now I know that chlorophyll is the reason why.

The Nature's Sunshine brand in particular isn't refined, highly processed, or sweetened.

So why should we make sure we get lots of greens?
-the Hungry for Change crew promoted chlorophyll for its cleansing and detoxifying action in our bodies
-is an antioxidant
-fights infections and promotes healing
-increases the quantity and quality of red blood cells (its molecular structure is identical to hemoglobin)
-binds to and removes toxic heavy metals (such as mercury from dental fillings, etc) in the body
-prevents cancer by protecting healthy cells from carcinogens
-treats bad breath by deodorizing the mouth and throat

How do we make sure we get lots of chlorophyll?
 -eat it in natural food sources: spinach, romaine lettuce, kale, broccoli, green peppers, peas, brussel sprouts, green olives, sea vegetables, algae, anything green
-drink it: liquid chlorophyll is a concentrated option that can be added to water, juice, or smoothies, and it is nearly tasteless, or juice your own green veggies

How do you eat (or drink) green?

The Power of Tea Series: Ginger

At the beginning of March I had a killer cold.  At first I thought it was the allergy season starting, but then it got worse and worse.  I was constantly having to blow my nose but there was no relief in my congestion.  I could hardly get out of bed because of the pressure in my head.  This is when I knew it had to be more than just allergies.  I immediately began looking for a herbal tea to soothe my symptoms and help my body heal.  My choice was ginger.

Ginger Tea
-2 cups boiling water
-1 inch piece of ginger - I used fresh, but you could also use dried or powdered
-optional: honey, thought I don't find this necessary

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The effects of the ginger tea were noticeable within the hour.  Ginger helps break up the mucus and flush it out.  I could breath much better through my nose.  I was still blowing my nose a lot, but I was getting some relief from it.  It helped significantly with my congestion.  I believe it also helped my immune system fight off the infection and get healthy quicker.  I sipped on this all throughout the day even taking it with me while going out.

I used ginger tea for its power against congestion, but there are also many other benefits.  Here are some:
-treatment for motion sickness (Gravol has even made a ginger chewable pill)
-heartburn relief
-treats nausea and morning sickness
-anti-inflammatory
-painkiller
-treats menstrual cramps
-sore throat relief - I have written about this before as well in this post

Have you ever had ginger tea?

The Power of Tea Series: Cinnamon

I love tea.  It's been a sudden and powerful love that has grown quickly.  Actually I should be more specific.  I love herbal tea.  For years I never considered drinking tea nor coffee.  I still don't drink coffee.  First I drank it because it was something healthy and warm I could drink through the winter.  Now as I've gotten more into this natural lifestyle and home remedies, I have discovered the healing power of tea.  That is the inspiration for this series.

Cinnamon is such a wonderful experience for many of the senses.  Fortunately it also has many health benefits.  The first time I ever drank cinnamon tea was when I was sick with the flu.  I had read that it is helpful in alleviating nausea, and at 2 in the morning I was desperate for anything I could find in the house already.

Cinnamon Tea
-approx 4 sticks of cinnamon
-2 cups boiling water
-optional: add honey to sweeten, though I find this unnecessary

Simmer cinnamon sticks in boiling water.  Allow to steep and cool to a comfortable temperature for drinking. 

I think mason jars are perfect for making huge cups for tea.

It was very effective and quite tasty.  The smell of the cinnamon was the best part.  It had a soothing effect on my stomach and helped me be able to get back to sleep.  I was so happy with the results, I looked into cinnamon further and discovered that it has many other health benefits as well.  Here are a few:
-improves circulation
-eases cold symptoms
-eases flu symptoms and upset stomachs
-alleviates indigestion
-acts as an aid to menstrual symptoms
-even found to aid in weight loss

What are your thoughts on cinnamon tea?  What other teas would you like to see featured in this series?

One Ingredient Headache Relief

This is a remedy I have been using for a long time now, but I always seem to forget to write about it.  Today I am finally exposing one of my most used natural remedies.  Through high school and college I used to have headaches quite frequently.  Each time one struck I would take 1000 mg (2 extra strength) of Tylonel. The drug in Tylonel, acetaminophen, can cause liver damage from chronic use or large doses.  I knew this wasn't good for me, but waiting out the pain of a headache for hours wasn't very appealing either.  I wanted to find an alternative, and it was one of the first things I looked up in my book 1001 Natural Remedies by Laurel Vukovic.  Here is it.

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The simplest, most effective way I have found to relieve a headache is a lavender massage.  I dab a couple drops of lavender essential oil on my fingers and use that to massage my temples.  I close my eyes and breath deeply while doing this.  I was shocked the first time I tried it by how quickly it works!  In my experience, this remedy is nothing short of amazing.  Lavender has soothing and calming properties which make it ideal as a tonic for the nervous system.  It emotionally refreshes and relaxes while physically relieving tension and pain.  I luckily do not suffer from migraine headaches, but I have read that lavender works to treat even those as well. Note:  Most essential oils cannot be applied to the skin undiluted, lavender is an exception.

Other options for its use would be to add the lavender essential oils to a carrier oil for a larger massage, make a soothing eye pillow containing dried lavender, a tutorial for which you can find here, or add a few drops of the essential oil to a bath and soak.

Warning:  There are certain circumstances where using lavender would be inadvisable, such as being pregnant or nursing or while taking certain prescription medications.  Always check first if you have concerns.

How do you treat headaches naturally?

Listening to Your Body

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I used to have a lot of issues with my arms and legs falling asleep and going numb.  I have always been easily susceptible to this, but when it got to the point where it was happening more severely and seemingly without cause, constantly throughout the day on a daily basis, I began to worry.  As I like to do, I decided to self-diagnose with the help of the internet (though not Wikipedia).  I came to the conclusion that my limb "paresthesia" (fancy word I learned on the internet) must be caused either by a vitamin deficiency or anemia.

Back story:  I already knew that I was somewhat anemic from various attempts to donate blood and a blood test.  My doctor told me that it wasn't severe enough for me to worry about or treat though.  I thought that seemed odd, but he is the one with the medical degree.

Later, I went to see a walk in doctor for a different condition (I work in a daycare and routinely contract unusual childhood diseases), and thought I'd mention the severe limb numbness I had been experiencing.  She told me not to worry about it.  I was told that unless it started inhibiting my ability to move and function (which it kind of did during the episodes), I shouldn't concern myself with it.  My body was telling me differently, and I felt as though that was an unsatisfactory response.

I had my vitamin levels tested privately (more on that to come in another post), and they were superb.  I ruled that out as being the cause.  The next time I was at Nature's Fare, I noticed a WomenSense IronSense vegetarian iron supplement on sale.  I bought it and began taking one a day.

Now my body is feeling better than ever.  I can sit cross legged, have a child sit in my lap without fear, and wake up without feeling as though my arms are missing.  Those were far off dreams even before it became so severe.  I can't think of the last episode and am thrilled with the improvement.  Especially because I was able to remedy the problem with a simple, somewhat natural solution.  In the summer I hope to be able to get my iron intake high enough from (vegetarian) food alone.

You may be sitting there thinking, "Hm, that was a moderately interesting story."  I'll tell you now that my purpose in sharing this tale is to encourage you to take responsibility for own health.  It is important to listen to your body.  When there are significant changes, be mindful.  Don't always take your doctor's first word as absolute truth.  When you have a concern, educate yourself, keep records, and think critically.  No one knows your body better than you.

Disclaimer: I am not encouraging hypochondria here.  Please do not interpret normal sensations or minor abnormalities as serious conditions or become obsessively preoccupied with your health.  Also, it is not always the right situation to go against a doctor's opinion.  They have studied for years, and they are professionals.  Just be analytical and reflective.

Have you ever questioned or even opposed a doctor's opinion?

Onion Cough Syrup

This is such a great, simple cough and cold remedy.  I first discovered it on Vintage Savoir Faire, a fantastic blog I read.  A while back Brad had a nagging cough, which was the perfect time to try it out.  Onion is a common home remedy for a variety of ailments.  Onions are high in the anti-oxidant quercetin which boosts the immune system.  Also, it is also known to be an effective expellant of phlegm.  Onion is similar in its healing power to garlic, though more gentle.

Onion Cough Syrup
-1 small onion
-sugar
-container with a lid

Peel and slice onion.  Make layers of onion and sugar inside the jar.  Cover with lid.

Allow to sit 6-8 hours.  Take a spoonful of the syrup as needed.

Brad thought it was a good remedy.  It tasted pretty bad, but not unbearable, like sweet onion.  It was easy to make and easy to take.  He said it felt very soothing when he took it, and it helped quickly with the cough.  The biggest downside was his breath afterwards, haha.  The downside from my point of view is that it takes 6-8 hours to make.  Also, I have read that sugar suppresses the immune system, and thus I wonder if it is hindering the healing process.  Perhaps honey would work in place of it.

How do you fight off a cough?

A Polite Title Regarding Diarrhea

At the risk of sharing too much information, I am still going to do this post, so be warned.  We have had a wicked bug going around the childcare centre I work at.  We've had different children and staff home sick everyday.  It got to me last Saturday (which made me mad because my weekend plans were ruined, and I couldn't even take the day off work).  I was hit with diarrhea.  In past years I would have immediately reached for the Immodium, but I decided to risk it and try some natural remedies from 1001 Natural Remedies by Laurel Vukovic.

"Eat bananas and carob
Bananas and carob are both rich in pectin, which binds loose stools.  Eat a banana mashed with a tablespoon or two or carob powder: One serving may take care of the problem, or you may need more.  This is an especially good remedy for children."

Bananas also have a high potassium content which helps to replace electrolytes that are being lost.  We didn't have carob powder, and the only bananas we had were sliced and frozen, thus I decided to have a banana smoothie.  I had about 2 bananas worth of slices with rice milk (I am lactose intolerant, so this is all I have, but it was good as well because dairy products are a bad choice when suffering from diarrhea.) and a little bit of vanilla extract.  This was quick, simple, tasty and began to ease the problem within the hour.  I was still having less severe bouts though with a lot of stomach pain.

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"Eat a brown apple
To help stop an attack of diarrhea, shred a peeled apple on to a plate, let it turn brown, and eat it.  Apples contain pectin, which helps bind loose stools."

Brad peeled and grated an apple for me and spread it out on a plate.  After waiting about 3 hours, it had turned brown, but not extremely.  I was surprised how long the process was taking, and this was the biggest disadvantage to this remedy.  When I am sick like this, I don't want to have to suffer through 3 or more hours first before getting something to help me into my system.  By the time I was able to eat the apple, I had already had the banana smoothie which was helping.  This did seem to continue to help though as well.

{photo source}

Other things I consumed include:
-peppermint tea to calm and relax intestinal cramping and gas - this was a miracle worker for me
-white bread sandwich for easier digestion - whole grains are so important usually, but when you're sick, don't make things harder on your digestive system
-mashed potatoes (white rice is another good option) - again low in fibre means easy digestion

Foods I avoided:
-gas producing foods such as beans, broccoli, cabbage as they increase intestinal gas
-dairy products which become harder to digest as a result of less enzyme lactase
-fatty foods (even good fats) as they speed up contractions in the intestines

Overall it worked very well.  The original severity was eased fairly quickly, and by Sunday evening I was significantly better, and then well enough to go back to work on Monday.

What natural remedies do you know of for this ailment?

Giveaway Winner + Simple Ginger Sore Throat Relief

Today is the day!  The deadline for the giveaway was last night, and the draw has been made.  The winner of the Wife Life prize pack is... *drum roll*

Susan with her comment, "i follow you on your RSS feed."

Congratulations Susan!  You will be receiving:
-3 Lavender Love Lotion Bars (post here)
-1 container of Lemon Meringue Moisturizer (post here)
-2 tubes of Spa Spirit Lip Balm (post here) 

Thank you to everyone who entered!  I am thrilled to have so many suggestions for blog posts and am excited to cover those topics in the future.  Now on to more serious business...

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'Tis the season for colds and flus.  Brad had gotten a pretty rough sore throat.  I have find it easy to find many natural remedies for coughs, and have even written about a honey and lemon one here, but the sore throat remedies seem to be scarce.  Luckily for me I found an old post on Keeper of the Home about ginger.

Ginger Sore Throat Relief
1/2 tsp ginger powder
1/2 tsp ground cloves
2 tbsp olive oil

Take 1/2 tsp at a time.  Swallow slowly to coat the throat.  The ginger is for its anti-inflammatory properties and ground clove is for pain relief.

Appetizing, isn't it?

Brad took this the night we made it before bed and woke up the next morning pain-free.  I made him take it again that morning for good measure, and the sore throat never returned.  Very effective!  I have also been thinking of how to make this into more of a throat lozenge.  Should make for a good experiment another day. Before I finish up, I want to be straight with you.  This - stuff - tastes - awful.  Be prepared.

Do you have any sore throat remedies?

"Frontier Fixes"

I thought it would be a fun way to begin the year by looking back in time at some very silly sounding remedies of North America's pioneers.  I found these in Canadian Edition of The 2012 Old Farmer's Almanac by Robert B. Thomas.  Please do not try these at home.

Arthritis: Rub rainwater collected in a stump on the joint.
Baldness: "Fertilize" new hair growth by smearing cow manure on head.
Boils: Eat roadrunner soup.
Chicken Pox: Run around the chicken house naked 3 times.
Chills: Stand behind a dogwood tree from dawn until sunrise.
Colds: Drink a mixture of fruit juice and pounded dried frog skins.
Cuts: Have a large red ant bite the cut while its jaws on each side of the wound then pinch off the body leaving the jaws to hold the cut together.
Headaches: While leaning your head against a tree have someone on the other side drive a nail into the trunk.
Hiccups: Jump over a broom that is laying on the floor 3 times.
Pinkeye: Kill and fry a chicken snake.  Rub the grease collected in the pan onto the sore eye.
Sore Throat: After tying 9 knots into a string of black thread, soak it in turpentine, and wear it around your neck.
Toothache: Spit into a frog's mouth, and ask it to leave with the toothache.
Warts: Dip the eye of a dead cat in spunk water, and place it on the wart.

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I wonder how these came about or why the settlers believed they had any power.

What olden day remedies have you heard of?

Healthy Homemaking Series: Natural Remedies - The Neti Pot

Baby Step 25 - Treating What Ails Ya - Naturally! (only one left!)

Challenge: Seek a replacement for one conventional medicine with a more natural option.

Why: While pharmaceuticals can occasionally have their rightful place, in general we rely on them far too heavily.  This creates an unnatural and unnecessary dependence on them and are losing our abilities to heal naturally.  Most conventional medicines are full of preservatives, dyes, sugar, and harmful (often synthetic) chemicals which can cause dependence and damage our immune systems and even our internal organs.

Most cold symptoms are a good response to illness.  They are not really "symptoms" of the illness, they are defensive actions our bodies take to heal itself or let us know something isn't right.  An example of this is the heat of a fever which kills bacteria and serves as a warning to us that something is wrong.  Eczema is often just an allergy, lack of nutrients, or hormone imbalance.  Headaches are most often caused simply by dehydration. Other than extreme cases perhaps, these problems don't require drugs.

How: I love natural remedies.  It is always so amazing to me how effective they are.  I have talked about a few in prior posts.  One that I can't believe I hadn't talked about yet is my neti pot!  I got a head cold recently, and thus I thought it would be a good choice to talk about today.

Looks pretty weird, eh?

I began using a neti pot after being told by my doctor that I would have to take prescription Nasonex everyday for the rest of my life.  Nasonex is a steriod, and thus I was not comfortable with this.  It can cause or even hide infections and impair the ability of wounds in the nose to heal.  Other side effects included headaches, nosebleeds, inflammation of the throat, nasal irritation, nasal burning, nasal ulcerations, and smell and taste disturbances.  Uh, wasn't this medication supposed to be helping my nose?  Didn't sound like it to me.

Originating in ancient India, the neti pot is used to flush out the nasal cavities with a warm salt water solution. When I first started I used it daily, but after my body was able to heal itself, I only use it when I am sick now. To treat a nasal problem, I use it once in the morning and again at night.  The first couple of times ever using one it can feel slightly uncomfortable, but I've got it down now and it takes no time.  During this last sickness, I was also adding eucalyptus essential oil to my diffuser at night to help clear up nasal congestion.  I felt better in a couple days, and that is coming from someone who used to use up an entire value pack size box of extra strength Sudafed or Sinutab every time I got a cold or sinus infection.

There are lots of good resources for finding natural remedies on the internet, but my tried and true resource is my book 1001 Natural Remedies by Laurel Vukovic.  I would encourage anyone interested in more natural living to check it out.  It has sections on health, beauty, home, and even pets.

Healthy Homemaking Series: The Wonders of Vinegar

After a few people asking, I decided to make a Facebook page for the blog.  You can get updates right in your Facebook news feed if you "like" The Wife Life page.  Check it out here.  Now, on to the series...

Baby Step 2: The Wonders of Vinegar

Challenge: Discover and add a few uses of vinegar to your collection.

Why: Vinegar is a simple, non toxic product that can be used for cleaning or a multitude of varied purposes.

How: After perusing Stephanie's list in the book and her online references, there were literally hundreds of possibilities.  We chose 3 new uses.

1. Prevent Cracks When Making Boiled Eggs - I have always had issues with my eggs cracking while boiling them, so this one jumped out at me right away.  I added a "splash" (probably about 1 tbsp) of white vinegar to the water before boiling.  Unfortunately, I dropped one of the eggs while placing it in the pot which cracked it right off the bat.  I thought I had ruined the experiment, but that was not the case.  The other 3 eggs never cracked, and even though I had cracked the other egg shell, no egg came out!  I was so impressed.

Yum, yum!

2. Fabric Softener and Static Cling Reducer - I have wanted to find a way to eliminate the wasteful, chemical-filled fabric softener sheets that I use, so this was another exciting opportunity.  I added 1/2 cup of white vinegar into the fabric softener section of the washing machine and continued to do my laundry as usual.  I used Norwex's dryer balls only in the drying machine, and our clothes came out soft and cling-free!  I will be doing this every load from now on.

Fill to the max line.

3. Relieve a Sore Throat - Yesterday I spent the evening outdoors in the rain exerting myself.  Not surprisingly, I came home with a sore throat.  Turned out to be a good chance to try out another vinegar use.  I added 1 tbsp of vinegar to a full glass of warm water.  Then I attempted to gargle and swallow 2 mouthfuls.  This was no easy feat (and that is coming from an avid oil of oregano user.)  I managed to choke my way through the process, and the relief was instant.  I went to bed and am still pain-free this morning.

I had no idea what was coming.

Bonus:  These were all white vinegar uses.  Here are 2 tried and true ideas for two other types.

Balsamic Vinegar - We use this on its own for a tasty and much healthier salad dressing.

Apple Cider Vinegar - Sun burn relief!  I have been doing this for years, and it is effective.  You can check it out here.

How do you use vinegar around your house?

Looking Like a Lobster

Summer is finally here, and for me that inevitably means sunburns.  I am naturally pale, and thus prone to burns.  I seem to get at least one bad one each year, and this year I (hopefully) got it over with early.  I have used this natural remedy for a sunburn since even before I got bit by the environmental bug, and it works.

My burn in all its glory.

Miracle workers.

There are three steps to relief:

1. Apple Cider Vinegar - Apply to skin with a cotton ball or even a soft cloth.  The malic acid in apple cider vinegar reestablishes skin's pH which counteracts the burn.  This will prevent blisters and peeling, and the pain relief is nearly immediate.
2. Aloe Vera - After the above, I slather on aloe vera.  It can relieve pain and inflammation and is moisturizing.  I am still using up the container above, but you do not want it to be green, it should be clear.  Also make sure it is alcohol-free.  The best option would be to have an aloe plant that you can break open as needed.
3. Heating Bag - We definitely will not be heating this up.  I put mine in the freezer for around 15 minutes and then just lay it on the burned areas while I'm on the couch or laying in bed.  This is just because it feels so good.

It is important not to use creams or ointments.  They trap the heat inside of the skin and actually make the burn more susceptible to infection.

Next time I'll remember to use more sunscreen!

*Note:
I'm now using a new platform, but you can still subscribe or just check in on your own as you wish.  I'm feeling enthusiastic about this new venture, and I hope you will join me!  You can hop on over to the new site here:

Gracepoint

On the Other Foot

With summer comes bare feet.  Unforunately, one weekend I spent a little too much time in my bare feet.  After spending an afternoon walking on hot pavement around Kelowna, my feet looked like this...

Oh, and this is after I washed them twice.

By the time I got home, I could hardly stand on my feet.  Ugh, just looking at that blister makes me cringe thinking about it.  They ached even while I was laying down.  I knew I had to do something to soothe my feet.  I looked through EcoBeauty and 1001 Natural Remedies for foot soaks, but I didn't have all of the ingredients for any of them.  There was no way I was leaving the house again, so I made my own up.

I've moved to a new website! Head on over to Heartful Habits for the chamomile and lavender foot soak recipe. Thanks!

Say Goodbye to Sneezing

Spring has sprung and so has allergy season.  I suffer from seasonal allergies (along with many non seasonal ones).  When I had my skin prick allergy testing done, my arms looked like something out of a horror movie.  Unfortunately I am allergic to every grass and tree in our area, but I digress.  All my life I have spent February to October taking daily pills or eye drops or nasal sprays and so on in hopes of alleviating my allergy symptoms, and even that didn't completely eliminate them.  While browsing around Saje one day I came across the Allergy Release Soothing Face and Body Mist and thought that it could be my alternative.

It uses plant based essential oils to support your immune system and minimize allergy symptoms.  It can also be sprayed onto skin to treat rashes due to allergies.

I have yet to experience any allergy symptoms this season.  I was skeptical about the potency that this mist would have, but it is all I need.  At first I couldn't believe how effective it was, now I am just thrilled.  I spray the Allergy Release above my head and breathe it in every morning, and that's it!  I am also still using my nebulizer at night with the Immune Diffuser Blend, which I am sure helps as well.  If you are tired of taking allergy pills everyday to no avail, I highly recommend the Allergy Release product.

Hit Pain Where It Hurts

It has been on my mind many times to write about this fantastic product I bought at Saje.  I have a had it for months now, but I think it's just more proof that it really works since I'm still raving about it.  It's called Pain Release.  There are a few different forms it comes in (mist, roll on, etc), but the bath, body, and massage oil was the most economical.  It is an all natural, powerfully effective pain reliever for muscles and joints.  Combined with essential oils and other natural elements, the key ingredient is camphor which is absorbed through the skin and acts as an anesthetic.

I have used this product mostly as a topical treatment, and it absorbs in nicely without feeling oily or sticky afterwards.  I rub it on sore muscles after a work out, on my neck when it aches from tension, on my joints when I get flare ups of tendonitis, and most recently on knee pain that I don't even know the cause of.  Another use that I found was to put a couple tablespoons in the bath.  Those awful aches and pains from fevers and the flu are relieved after soaking in a hot tub with this oil.

Saje's Pain Release is what I grab first when I am in pain, and I find it relieves my discomfort quickly and effectively.

Happy Birthday to Me

Yesterday was my birthday, and I was glad when nearly every gift I received was all natural.  One of my main presents was a soapstone diffuser.  I was excited to try it out right away, and thus that is what I'm going to talk about today.

Fill water bowl partway.

Add 3-4 drops of essential oil or diffuser blend.  I used another one of my gifts, the Spa Spirit diffuser blend.

Light a candle within.

Breathe in the fresh, therapeutic air.

I really enjoy this diffuser.  I was surprised by how quickly the scent made it through the whole house, and it lasts quite a while after the candle has been blown out.  The diffuser blends that I received are specially concocted for relaxation and immune system support, so I love that.  Then there's the added bonus of the fresh scent in the house.  Just remember to blow out those candles before you leave the house!

Breathe In Relief

Saje is one of my favourite stores.  You can find it in Kelowna's Orchard Park Shopping Centre or 18 other locations around BC.  They also have an website with information and an online store you can check out here.  They specialize in natural wellness with all sorts of remedies, skin care, essential oils, and so on.  In my most recent visit to their store, Brad and I purchased an AromaWell Ultrasonic Nebulizer.

It can be used just with water, or you can add essential oils to be put into the air as well.  Here are the benefits of this device:

-diffusing essential oils is a form of aromatherapy which relieves feelings of stress, anxiety and low energy and stimulates the mind and emotions through the sense of smell
-purifies and deodorizes to eliminate stale or unpleasant odours from mould, cooking, pets, etc
-reduces allergies by removing dust particles, toxins, and other airborne allergens
-adds moisture to the air working also as a humidifier for dry environments

I personally wanted the AromaWell Ultrasonic Nebulizer because I have allergies that just don't seem to quit.  My list of allergies goes on and on, but the ones that affect me most in my home are dust and dog dander.  This diffuser on it's own (just water) will help with that, but I can even add an essential oil blend that Saje carries which is specially designed to combat allergies (Allergy Release Diffuser Blend).  I certianly believe this is more comfortable for me than suffering through the itchy, water eyes, runny nose, and so on and better for my body than taking pills everyday.  If you have allergens in your home, this might be something to look into too.

Beauty Rest

Eye pillows are used to comfort the tired, sick, or stressed out.  I had been feeling very sick for most of the last week, and I think an eye pillow was something I could have really used.  Today I got around to making one, and here's how I did it.

Sew 2 pieces of fabric (measuring about 5 by 9 inches) together on 3 sides (leaving a short end open), outsides facing in.

If you do not have a sewing machine, this would be simple to hand stitch as well.

Combine 1 1/3 cup whole flax seeds with 2 1/2 tsp dried lavender.

Flip pillow right side out, and add mixture.

Fold ends in, and sew the open end shut.

To use, lie down and place pillow over your eyes.  Breath in the relaxing lavender scent.  Alternatively, you can cool it in the refrigerator before use which is ideal for tired, swollen, or puffy eyes, or heat it in the microwave for about 20 seconds to add warmth and enhance the scent.

Sweet N Sour

This weekend I was fighting off a cold.  Working in a daycare means that everyday I come in contact with an average of 15 different children who pick their noses, don't cover their mouths and hate to wash their hands.  That's a ton of germs.  And this particular week, even most of the staff was feeling under the weather.

For a general health boost I take oil of oregano.  I've heard some people say it is vomit-worthy, but I really don't mind the taste (though I do take mine with a little bit of juice).  I swear by the stuff and recommend it regularly.

For the particular cough and sore throat I was experiencing this weekend, I turned to 1001 Natural Remedies by Laurel Vukovic for a solution.  I found a herbal cough syrup, which I look forward to trying in the future, but I did not have all the ingredients.  I decided to go for the Quick Cough Reliever instead.

Quick Cough Reliever

1/2 tsp honey
squeeze of lemon

 (Oops, should have wiped my counter first.)

To use, let is dissolve slowly in your mouth before swallowing.

I coughed only once or twice for the rest of the night, and when I woke up the next morning I didn't have a sore throat!  Hurray!  The thickness of the honey was really soothing on my throat and seemed to quell the feeling to cough.  So quick and simple, I will be using this whenever needed to relieve a cough.