Summer, Sun and Insect Spray - From Sunburn to Insect Bites.
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| I got my stash in the kitchen so it is easy to grab. I didn't take any new pictures this time since my son brought the camera to school. |
I use Lavender, Peppermint, Geranium and Tea tree for the blend, but a blend of lavender and peppermint, or lavender and tea tree, will do fine also. Lavender calms the skin, and has historically been beneficial for healing burns and cleansing wounds and cuts. Peppermint is cooling, soothes pain, anti-infectious and supports digestion. Tea tree was added for its antiseptic properties as well as for potential insect bites. Geranium has inflammatory properties, is hemostatic (stops bleeding) and revitalizes skin tissues. It is also an insect repellent.
Kid Friendly Super Duper Beach & Summer Spray
Lavender 4 drops
Peppermint 3 drops
Tea tree 3 drops
Geranium 2 drops
2 oz. distilled water
1 teaspoon of aloe vera gel
I mix the essential oils with the aloe vera before I add it to the water in the spray bottle. Aloe Vera is anti-inflammatory and will provide some soothing to a skin after sun exposure.
Make sure that you check out my sunburn post for more excellent tips on what to do for sunburns.
Make sure that you check out my sunburn post for more excellent tips on what to do for sunburns.
Another related post:
We eat our sun screen. Do you?
Before you leave:
I recommend that you always perform a skin patch test when you try a new oil.
Check out my safety page to make sure you are aware of any contrindications before you use essential oils. Some oils are not suitable when suffering from certain conditions. Also, Read this Before You Start Using Essential oils. Some oils should not be applied prior to sun exposure so make sure you check this list before spending time in the sun.
Not sure how to apply the oils? Visit these pages to learn how to apply the oils:
Not sure how to apply the oils? Visit these pages to learn how to apply the oils:
- Topical Application
- Inhaling Essential Oils
- Are You Diffusing the Oils Correctly?
- How to Dilute Essential Oils
- Vita Flex Technique
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2:13 PM |
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Essential Oils & Infants - Two to Twelve Months
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| Photo Credit |
Remember to use good judgement and don't hesitate to seek medical help when you think it is needed. This information is not meant to prescribe or diagnose, it is only for information and education purposes only.
Oils suitable for this age are Roman and German Chamomile, yarrow, lavender, mandarin, eucalyptus, coriander, neroli. From six month of age calendula, grapefruit, aniseed, and tea tree can added.
Here is a massage formula that according to Worwood can be used for eczema, cradle cap, inflammation, cradle cap, and as a general strengthener and immune booster. It is also a calming formula, and it can be massaged on the whole body except for eyes and genitals.
Baby's Massage Oil Formula
Geranium 1 drop
Lavender 1 drop
Roman Chamomile 1 drop
Dilute in 2 tablespoon sweet almond oil.
Here are some other situations when essential oils can come in handy. The following are Valeri Ann Worwood's suggestions:
Colic
Rub the baby's tummy gently with the massage oil. Massage the middle portion of the back in gentle, circular movements. If the colic is severe, a massage oil can be made of 1 drop dill essential oil diluted in 1 tablespoon sweet almond oil. Use it the same way as the massage oil.
Fretfulness
Massage is very soothing for baby and mother, since touch does wonders for any anxiety condition. You can massage your baby a couple of times a week or when needed. Massaging the feet is very powerful.
Blend 1
Roman Chamomile 3 drops
Lavender 4 drops
Dilute in 2 tablespoons of sweet almond oil.
Blend 2
Roman Chamomile 4 drops
Geranium 3 drops
Dilute in 2 tablespoons of sweet almond.
Sickness and vomiting
If a baby is constantly being sick it is suggested to look for allergies, especially cow's milk. If there are no allergies involved you can put one drop on of peppermint on a cotton-wool ball and place it in the baby's crib. Make sure it is by the foot end and not by the head. Peppermint is calming to the stomach and makes the digestion easier according to Worwood.
When vomiting is so done with such a force that the food lands several feet away a doctor should be consulted.
Sleeping (or should I say refusing to sleep?)
If your baby has a hard time sleeping put a bowl of hot water under the bed. Make sure the bowl is not right under the head. Do this every other night only. Add 1 drop of Roman Chamomile and one drop of Geranium. Make sure you keep the door almost closed to keep the aroma in the room.
Teething
I think we all have had our share of crying babies that were in pain due to teething. Roman and German Chamomile, lavender and yarrow have historically been used for teething. Some people use clove essential oil. I like clove essential oil myself, but be aware that it is a strong oil and may cause irritation itself. Therefore, I avoid it in small babies.
Worwood suggests to add one drop of chamomile to an egg cup full of cold water and stir well. Dip a cotton - wool ball in the mixture. Rub very gently around the baby's gums. Keep the mixture in the fridge. Aloe vera can be used instead of water.
She also suggests that 5 drops of lavender can be mixed with one tablespoon of vegetable oil. Mix well and use 2 drops of the mixture and massage around the baby's neck area and exterior jaw.
Colds and coughs
Naturally you have to use your judgment and make sure that you go to the doctor if the baby shows sign of a serious illness. A baby under three weeks old with a cough should be checked by a doctor. A baby that is feverish, not eating, and crying a lot should be checked by a doctor as well.
The most simple but yet effective solution to colds is to put a small bowl of hot water under the bed. Add 3 drops of eucalyptus.
Worwood suggests to mix 10 drops each of lavender, eucalyptus, and tea tree. Add 3 drops of this blend to a diffuser and let it run all night as well as the following day. Add 2 drops of the oil blend on a piece of cotton and put it under the pillow.
Worwood suggests that the same blend can be used as an massage blend. Mix 3 drops of the blend with 2 teaspoons of vegetable oil. Massage the baby's chest and back. Don't use this blend more than a week.
Worwood recommends the following formula for severe cough, whopping cough, severe bronchitis, or other respiratory complaints.
Eucalyptus 3 drops
Hyssop 1 drop
Thyme 1 drop
This formula can be added to a bowl of hot water that is placed under the bed away from the head during the night. It can also be used in a diffuser. se this blend for three nights, take a break for two nights, and if needed use it again. Dilute the essential oils in some water before using them in a diffuser for babies.
Please read my safety page and dilution chart. Remember that this is for educational purposes and it is not meant to diagnose. Seek professional help when needed.
6:30 AM |
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Blueberries- Yummy Superfood that Children Love
Feeding children both healthy and tasty food can be a challenge. Over the years I have become quite skillful in hiding nutritious ingredients in the food when I cook. Luckily my children are older and it is easier to give them healthy foods.
There are plenty of so called superfoods that are very tasty at the same time as they provide a wide array of nourishing nutrients. I like to include many of these as often as I can. Smoothies, protein shakes or fresh juices are just some ways which they can used in. Some are yummy enough to enjoy on the own. There are plenty of them but I will focus on some that are easy to give children.
Blueberries
These berries were neglected for the longest time by scientists because they didn't have a high enough amount of vitamin C. Today we know that blueberries are truly a superfood with many nutrients. They are very small, but they contain more disease fighting antioxidants than any other fruit or vegetable. They have been called "brain berries", and "youth berries". One serving of blue berries contain just as many antioxidants as five servings of apples, broccoli, squash and carrots. 2/3 of a cup of blue berries provide 1,733 IU of vitamin E, and more protection that 1,200 mg of vitamin C.
Blue berries have very high levels of antioxidant phytonutrients, especially the flavonoid family "anthocyanin". Anthocyanin is responsible for the intense blue-purple color, and the darker the berry, the more anthocyanin content.
Blue berries have at least five different anthocyanins, especially in the wild berries, and they are located in the skin like in other fruits and vegetables. Antioxidants are concentrated to the skin so that they can protect fruit from the sun and other harmful assaults. Anthocyanins are the key players in neutralizing free radical damage. They also possess anti-inflammatory properties. Antioxidants play a big role in preventing diabetes, cardivascular disease, cancer and many other conditions.
Anthocyanins work in synergy with other antioxidants like vitamin C. They strengthen the capillary system by promoting the production of collagen, which are the building blocks of tissues.
A study was performed at the USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University. Aging rats were given the equivalent of 1/2 to 1 cup of blueberries, a pint of strawberries, or one large spinach salad. The blueberry group performed better than the other groups on brain teasers. They also showed improvements in balance and coordination. A promising result since it previously was not thought that degeneration due to aging was reversible. The brain cells seemed to communicate better, their brains seemed to have fewer damaged proteins, and their brains developed new brain cells.
Other studies on humans have showed that people who eat a cup of blueberries a day performed 5-6 % better on motor skill tests. Positive results have been seen on people with multiple sclerosis as well. Blueberries have an affinity for the areas of the brain that controls movement. It seems to me that growing children can benefit as well by eating blueberries in order to nourish the brain.
I like to add blueberries to our protein shake, or use them in my own syrup I make, and my children also like to eat them the way the are. When it is colder outside I like to make a blueberry soup, which is a Swedish tradition.
Nutrients in blueberries are:
- carotenoids
- salicylic acid
- fiber
- folate
- vitamin C
- vitamin E
- potassium
- manganese
- magnesium
- iron
- riboflavin
- niacin
- phytoestrogen
- polyphenols (anthocyanins, quercetin, ellagic acid, catechins)
I miss walking in the woods in Sweden picking my own wild blueberries. However, when I can't get fresh blueberries I buy the Wild Blueberry brand. The are wild blueberries picked in Maine and Canada, and I have been able to find them at Whole Foods.
Here are some more info from the company website.
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Johanna is an aromatherapist and she is passionate about educating people about health, essential oils, real food, natural remedies, and nutrition so they make healthier choices in their lives.
Follow Johanna on twitter and facebook for more health tips and information.
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4:11 AM |
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Essential Oils & Newborns
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Remember to use good judgement and don't hesitate to seek medical help when you think it is needed. This information is not meant to prescribe or diagnose, it is only for information and education purposes only.
She also says it is important not to apply any essential oils on the baby the first 24 hours, and after that it should be a good reason for it. According to Worwood, the most effective way in using essential oils is to allow the molecules to evaporate in the baby's room. This can be done in a couple of ways:
Put a bowl of steaming water on the floor in a spot away from the baby's head. Add no more than 1 drop of essential to a pint of water.
Add 1 drop of essential oil to two teaspoon water and mix well. Add some of this water to the cupped area of the diffuser bowl.
Ideas:
For digestive problems like constipation, indigestion, colic, diarrhea, and regurgitation Worwood recommends to diffuse dill essential oils in one of the methods above.
If the baby is not sleeping well Worwood recommends to use Roman Chamomile in the baby's room.
For purifying the air in baby's room Worwood recommeds lavender for its antibiotic, disinfectant, antiseptic and slightly antiviral properties.
Worwood also recommends this for the baby's first clean:
Baby's first clean
An ideal oil for the baby's skin would be:
Almond oil 2 tbls
Evening Primrose 5 drops (or Borage oil)
Jojoba oil 3 drops
Wheatgerm oil 10 drops
A non aromatic blend.
Wrinkled skin
As mentioned, it should be a good reason to apply essential oils on a newborn after the first 24 hours. A good reason would be wrinkled skin.
Some baby's have dry and wrinkled skin and is common in overdue or induced babies.
Worwood used a two tablespoon blend of 80% of hazelnut oil, 10% wheatgerm oil and 10% virgin olive oil for her own daughter's red flaky skin on her ankles and wrists. She made the following essential oil blend:
German Chamomile 8 drops
Lavender 1 drop
And she added 3 drops to her 2 table spoon skin oil above. The German chamomile as a blue color due to its azulane content.
The rest of the drops can be used one drop at a time in the baby's bath. Mix it with a carrier oil first.
Diaper rash
Diaper rash is a very common problem that is very painful for the baby. You can make two different combinations according to Worwood:
German Chamomile and Lavender
or
Yarrow and Lavender
Mix equal parts of the oils.
Add one drop of any of the combinations to a bowl with 1 pint of warm water already added. Swish around to mix. Use cotton wool dipped in the solution to wash the baby's bottom.
A solution of apple cider vinegar( 1to 4 ratio) and water can also be used to wash the diaper area. It neutralizes the urine and ammonia and balance the pH as well. It also discourages yeast which is a common cause of the rash.
Olive oil is often recommended but Worwood thinks that almond oil is better since it is not as heavy.
Cradle cap remedy
Eucalypus lemon 1 drop
Geranium 1 drop
Dilute in 2 tbls almond oil and mix well. Massage the scalp carefully with the fingertips avoiding the fontanelle. Don't use lavender since it makes the skin grow too quickly.
Thanks for visiting!
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6:00 AM |
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The Value of Free Play
Most children have hours of structured time in schools, starting already in pre-school where they focus on early learning, computer literacy, or using various in materials in one way rather than being play-centered. On top of it many children spend the rest of the time on adult-centered sport or enrichment classes. In between all the structured activities they manage to watch TV or movies, or play video games for a few hours a day. It doesn't leave much time left for free unstructured time to do what they want to do.
Only 10 years ago when my oldest son was in kindergarten, I saw the neighborhood children playing outside my house. It was often teenagers playing around with the basketball and they often let the younger children play too. Other children were outside with their bicycles or skate boards. I hardly ever see any children playing outside anymore, and if I see any children most of them sit around and do nothing. Children are kept indoors of fear, or they are constantly supervised, and the children are driven to their friend's house instead riding their bikes.
"The child's ability to pretend that a basket of pine cones is baby chicks one moment and apples the next reflects the child's fluid consciousness and is excellent preparing for reading, where written symbols represent something else." Pathways to Wellness Magazine, Issue 14.
The picture above shows Alex with a rock that he used for his dinosaur museum, and it is one of his dinosaur skulls.
Paola and Alex collected rocks in various shapes and pretended they were parts of dinosaurs, and they created a museum for us to see. They gave the rest of the family a guided tour with facts about different dinosaurs.
When we moved back to US from Europe several years ago we decided not to sign up to cable or satellite TV. It was only supposed to be temporary, but we noticed such a difference in our children that we made a permanent decision not to install it. We do have Netflix, and we also use hulu.com and i-tunes when we want to see something. It works great. There are no distracting commercials telling my children about the must have toys, and when the show is over it is over. There are no teasers about the program coming up next. Having no TV for several years has also improved my children's play.
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9:14 AM |
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Getting The Children Involved- Maple Syrup Pumpkin Pie
I try really hard to avoid canned items when I make things. It takes longer and requires more work, but it is so worth it. It tastes so much better and it is healthier. We made our favorite pumpkin pie with maple syrup and cream as usual.
My children, Paola and Alexander, have been a great help preparing for the holidays this year. They have helped me making the whole wheat pie crust, cranberry sauce, cinnamon rolls, red cabbage, infused oils for our first aid kit, and they cleaned their area of the house. They also made the pumpkin pies for us. I am sure they are willing to help with the sweet potatoes, turkey, Brussels sprouts, deviled eggs and more today.
The ingredients are homemade pumpkin puree, organic maple syrup, natural free range eggs, organic heavy cream and whole milk, and the spices cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg.
The puree was heated while stirring frequently. 1/2 cup of whole milk and 1 cup of heavy cream were added to the pumpkin puree, and heated slowly.
Alex beat 4 eggs in a heat proof bowl while Paola was supervising the puree.
2 tablespoons of flour, 1/4 teaspoon of nutmeg and ginger, and 1 teaspoon of cinnamon were added to the eggs by both Paola and Alex.
Alex added 1/2 cup of maple syrup to the mixture. Then the hot puree mixture was poured to the egg mixture.
The filling was added to the pie crusts Paola and Alex made earlier in the day.
The pies were put in a 400 degrees hot oven and cooked until the outside edge of the filling is firm and slightly puffed but center jiggly.
We can't wait to eat this yummy pie with some whipped cream later today.
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8:06 AM |
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Getting the Children Involved - Paola Makes Cranberry Sauce with Un-Refined Sugar
I decided to let my daughter make the cranberry sauce for us this year since it is really easy. There are several ways to make it of course, but my family is happy eating it the "normal" way. They don't want me to mess with original formula by adding lemons, orange juice, apples, or spices like clove and cinnamon. Our cranberry sauce only requires three ingredients, sugar, water, and cranberries.
3 cups of cranberries were used in the recipe.
We don't use refined sugar so Paola used 1 cup of Rapunzels unrefined cane sugar.
First she mixed one cup of sugar with one cup of water and brought it to a boil.
Don't they look delicious? Once the water boiled, she added the cranberries and let it simmer for 10 minutes.
She occasionally needed to stir the mixture.
We are big on recycle old glass containers. Paola added the sauce to some glass bottles.
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