5 Essential Oils for Summer

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Summer is the perfect time to hang outside, enjoy the long evenings, take a family road trip, or an unexpected trip. Summer brings with it unique sets of needs. The weather is hot, and we sweat and lose valuable water. The sun is drying and damaging to the skin. Outdoor pests can be annoying. We typically wear less clothing, and so many people want to get that perfect beach bod (which is literally every single body on the planet. Put your body on the beach-bingo, perfect beach bod.) So let’s talk  about 5 essential oils for summer fun in the sun!

5 Essential Oils for Summer


Lavender

If you spent too much time out in the sun, lavender essential oil is your new best friend. It contains skin-soothing  chemical constituents like linalool that have have a mild numbing quality to them. Lavender can also help to calm down redness on the skin. Lavender essential oil also provides a mild antiseptic effect. Had too much fun in the sun? Combine 3 drops lavender essential oil in a tablespoon of aloe vera gel and apply to the affected area as often as needed. Come check out this post on the power of the Lavaderm After  Sun Spray.

Citronella

Citronella is a plant that has been used for centuries to control pests in gardens. The monoterpenes citral and 1,8-cineole are eco-friendly chemicals that bugs hate. You can create an easy outdoor spray for animals and humans alike.

Peppermint

The menthol in peppermint is instantly cooling for summer. You can apply it under the arms, on the back of the neck, or on top of the head. Menthol engages the TRPM8 receptor, and this sends a cold signal to your brain.

Kunzea

With chemical constituents similar to tea tree essential oil, kunzea is perfect for soothing tired muscles after a workout. Add a couple of drops to carrier oil and rub on the skin. Kunzea is also a perfect essential oil to use on the face because it can minimize the appearance of blemishes. Since we sweat more and spend more time out in the sun during the summer, pimples, blackheads and whiteheads may become problematic for some people. Try adding a few drops of kunzea to your moisturizer.

Grapefruit

Dehydration is dangerous. Even mild dehydration can cause mood disturbances, fatigue, and even seizures and urinary and kidney problems. When we are dehydrated there is also an increased risk of heat injury. Heat injury can be mild, such as heat cramps or heat exhaustion, or it can be extremely severe leading to heat stroke (a potentially deadly complication of heat and dehydration). Stay hydrated by adding a few drops of tasty grapefruit essential oil to your favorite stainless steel water bottle. Grapefruit essential oil brings with it a big jolt of limonene, which is known to have antioxidant properties. Plus the citrus polyphenols have been shown to help break up fat cells, so beach bod here you come.

There is some theoretical risk to ingesting citrus essential oils increasing the risk of sunburn. Read more about it here.

What is Your Favorite for Summer?

These are just 5 essential oils for summer, but there are dozens more that are also amazing for the warmer months. Which essential oil do you love the most in the summer? Comment below and let me know your favorite!

Want to read more about seasonal essentials? Come check out this recipe for a change of season spray!

Essential Oils for the Blood Moon

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Tonight is the longest lunar eclipse of the past 100 years, and on top of that, it will occur during a blood moon. Mars will also be at it’s brightest, so you will be able to see not one, but two large red objects in the sky! This phenomenon will be visible from most of the eastern hemisphere, but not everyone will be able to see it. The eclipse happens during daylight hours in North America, so, sadly, almost everyone here will miss it. However, while not visible everywhere, the blood moon eclipse can still affect us all. What changes energetically during the blood moon? Are there essential oils you should be using during the blood moon? Let’s find out!

Why is it Called a Blood Moon?

During a full eclipse, the moon is completely in the Earth’s shadow. At the same time, a little bit of light from sunrises and sunsets falls on the surface of the moon. The light waves stretch out and cause the moon’s surface to appear red. Lunar eclipses can only occur during a full moon, making them pretty rare, so this one is extra special since it is happening during the blood moon. The moon will be in perfect alignment with the sun and Earth on Friday, with Earth blocking the sun’s beams from reflecting on the moon.

Moon Energy

The moon is thought to have a feminine, inward facing energy compared to the sun’s outward, masculine energy. We currently have five planets in retrograde and this lunar eclipse is supposed to make things much more intense. This can be a perfect time to try a new project or take on a new path, but it may also bring emotional turmoil. The moon pulls on the earth’s gravitational field which can cause dramatic changes in our hearts and minds just like the tides of the ocean.

Essential Oils for the Blood Moon

Before selecting an essential oil for the blood moon, I encourage you to first consider your emotional health and well-being. Do a quick meditation to center and relax your mind. Scan the body from head to toe and simply bring awareness to any areas that need additional attention.

If you’re feeling anxious or ungrounded, try applying patchouli essential oil to the soles of the feet or diffusing cedarwood and orange essential oils. If you are feeling the feminine pull of the moon, apply feminine oils such as ylang ylang or rose to the wrists. Feeling a bit down? Lavender essential oil can brighten the mood.

I also love the protective energy that the blend White Angelica offers during these times of stress and change. Since this blood moon falls on an air sign day (Aquarius), it is an especially good time for Aquarians to make changes and shifts to be healthier. So in order to empower this momentum, I made a roll on with the Believe essential oil blend.

Here’s a Recipe for My Blood Moon Roll On

Ingredients

10 drops angelica

6 drops grand fir

Fractionated coconut oil

Moonstone Roller Ball

Instructions

Combine essential oils in a roller ball and fill with fractionated coconut oil. Attach moonstone roller ball. Roll on as often as needed.

My fellow Aquarians! Hop on over and check out my blog post on Aquarius personalities for some tips to get in touch with yourself and to better know how to care for yourself during this eclipse!

Want to make more DIYs? Come check out this post on how to make a Friendship Roll On.

10 Ways to Use Ginger Essential Oil

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The Uses for Essential Oils are Endless

Ginger has a distinctly warm and spicy aroma that often stirs memories of gingerbread, pumpkin pie, and other culinary treats. But the benefits of this powerful root, or rhizome, go way beyond flavoring foods. Here are my 10 favorite uses for ginger essential oil.

10 Uses for Ginger Essential Oil

Kick a Soda Habit

This delicious fizzy drink can help you kick a soda habit. It’s not only delicious, but the apple cider vinegar and ginger oil are great for your digestive system. Both alkalinizing as well. Add this drink to your daily weight loss regimen and get rid of sugary sodas and other drinks!

2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

2 drops ginger essential oil, labeled for internal use

1 teaspoon raw honey or stevia (or more to taste)

16 oz. sparkling water, such as LaCroix

Combine all ingredients in a glass filled with ice, stir, and enjoy!

Pregnancy Discomforts

Ease first trimester complaints with a simple ginger-honey tea. To a cup of hot water, add a drop or two of ginger essential oil and a teaspoon of organic, raw honey. As with anytime you ingest essential oils, be sure to select varieties labeled for internal use.

Add Some Spice in the Bedroom

If you are hoping to try the pregnancy tea above in the near future, you may benefit from using ginger in the bedroom. It can be a great addition to the bedtime routine for people wanting to become pregnant. Place a few drops on your feet and/or diffuse prior to slipping between the sheets.

Dandruff Buster

Ginger essential oil can improve hair health and stimulate healthy hair growth. This study even shows that it can be beneficial in reducing the signs of dandruff. To make a simple scalp treatment, mix 4-6 drops of ginger essential oil in 2 tablespoons of coconut oil and massage into the scalp. Leave on for at least an hour, or even overnight. Shampoo as usual.

For an awesome protective hair tonic recipe, check out my Essential Oil Hair Tonic!

Memory Booster

According to this study, ginger oil has been shown to improve memory, reaction time, and attention span. Diffusing or wearing ginger essential oil while working or studying may help you be more productive.

Soothe Achy Muscles

Gingerol, the primary chemical constituent of ginger, is relative to capsaicin and piperine, the compounds responsible for giving chili peppers and black pepper their spiciness. Thus, ginger has a mild warming effect when applied to the skin, which can be soothing to sore muscles. Try adding a few drops of ginger essential oil to your favorite lotion or massage oil and apply after a strenuous work out.

Tummy Roll On

Check out my Tummy Roll On recipe found in my Travel Roll On blog post. This is a great blend for when you have overindulged, eaten unfamiliar foods, or just need a little help with occasional tummy gripes.

Courage and Empowerment

Ginger is a root and can help with grounding and activating the solar plexus chakra. The next time you feel out of sync or need a little confidence boost, try placing a drop of ginger in your palms and taking a few deep breaths with your hands cupped over your face. Alternatively, you can add a few drops of ginger to your wool dryer balls to add the aroma to your freshly-washed clothes.

Energizing Sugar Scrub

Try this sugar scrub to increase circulation and energize your body.

1 cup granulated sugar

3/4 cup fractionated coconut oil

3 drops lemongrass essential oil

1 drop ginger essential oil

Combine ingredients and store in a mason jar.

Wake Up Your Coffee or Tea

Add a drop of ginger to your morning beverage of choice. The warm, spicy flavor will provide a bit of extra pick-me-up. Try my favorite Oola tea, specially formulated for essential oil infusion!

Essential Oils are so Versatile

These are only 10 of the ways to use ginger essential oil. Have more creative ways to spice up your life using ginger? Comment below and share with the community!

Check out more great ideas for using  peppermint, lavender, lemon, and cinnamon bark.

For even more education about essential oils, supplements, and wellness,

Focus Essential Oil Roll On

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Because We All Need to Focus

When working on finishing a task or reaching a deadline, sometimes we all just need to focus a little more and for a little longer. This easy to make Focus Essential Oil Roll on is perfect for students, hustlers, and dreamers of all ages. It contains three essential oils: lavender, vetiver, and cedarwood. These oils have been relied upon for years to help maintain concentration and attention.

Why These Oils?

Lavender has a soothing aroma that relaxes the mind. It has been shown to help sustain attention when humans are asked to complete tasks over a long period of time. Vetiver has been shown to help animals maintain focus even when exposed to visual distractions. Cedarwood has been traditionally used as building material for offices because the aromas from essential oils emitted from the embers are thought to help maintain focus and concentration. The famous cedars of Lebanon were used to build a palace for King David.

I chose to use fractionated coconut oil in this recipe, but you can use any carrier oil of your choice.

Here’s the Recipe for the Focus Essential Oil Roll On

Ingredients

15 drops Lavender essential oil

12 drops Vetiver essential oil

15 drops Cedarwood essential oil

Fractionated coconut oil

Instructions

Combine essential oils in a 10 mL roll-on bottle and bring up to volume with fractionated coconut oil.

Roll on as needed while studying, hustling, reading or grinding. If you have never used essential oils before, you may choose to use a patch test just to make sure the oil is comfortable on the skin.

Do you have a favorite essential oil recipe to help you focus? Share your recipe in the comments below.

Love making DIYs? Come check out this Friendship Roll On!