When Life Hands you Lemons

............make lemonade, then keep the rinds, have them distilled and turned into an essential oil. Im totally kidding. If you havent figured out already, this post is about lemon essential oil and its many uses. If you are new to oils, lemon is a must have for several reasons. It is also one of the more economical oils in the oil family,which is a plus. Dont have any oils in your cabinet yet? Well lemon oil is a good place to start. Here are some reasons why:

1. Uh oh! Did you forget about the laundry in the washing machine for a couple of days? Not a problem. Just add a couple of drops of lemon oil and rewash the cycle. Your load will come out smelling lemony fresh

2.In a sticky situation? Lemon oil is excellent for removing sticky things like pine gum and tree sap, as well as any kind of gum or sticky adhesive residue.

3.Have greasy hands(or maybe you have a husband who does)? When soap just won't do, try mixing a little bit of lemon oil with it

4.Take care of leathers. lemon oil on a cloth is excellent to use on any kind of leather to keep it from splitting.

5.Lemon oil treated cloth is an excellent way to polish your silvers and keep them looking shiny

6.Got gum in your hair(lets hope not...lol)? Lemon oil can help you get it out.

7. Lemon oil makes a wonderful furniture polish.It leaves a nice shine,prevents finishes from drying out, and replaces lost moisture.

8.Is your toothbrush tired? Add a drop of lemon to perk it up.

9. Lemon oil is a natural odor neutralizer, great for smelly gym socks,a baby blowout,or the stinkiest thing you can imagine. Stick a few drop sin a diffuser and bing, bang , boom.

10.Shoes have scuff marks? lemon oil will take care of that.

11.Add a few drops of lemon to your dish washing soap, and your dishes will come out spot free!

12.Aphids! Control the aphids in your garden by spraying some lemon oil mixed with water on your plants, and keep your roses looking lovelier even longer.

Not only can lemon be used in cleaning, but it can be used in cooking as well:

13. add some lemon oil to your water for a refreshing boost. I do this daily and it's great!

14.Preserve your fruits and veggies: Spray a lemon oil/water mixture combo onto cut veggies to make them last longer

15.Give your food some pep: Whether it be fish or asparagus,or linguine and shrimp, add a drizzle of lemon to just about any dish to give it that little bit of zing.

28.(forgot to stick this in) Make lemonade!  Add 10-25 drops to a 12oz glass, depending on how strong you like it, and add a packet of sugar. Best lemonade EVER!

And for the body:

16.Give your hair natural highlights. Just put a little bit of lemon oil on the places where you want highlighted and then go out in the sun. Be careful! This works really well, so don't overdo it.

17.Got a small cough or scratchy throat? Add a drop of lemon to some honey. Lemon fights bacteria, as well as most viruses.

18.Lemon oil is great for nail fungus

19. having trouble getting your nails to grow? Rub some lemon oil on them.

20.Have a nasty cold sore? Put some lemon oil on it, and it takes the heat out.

21.Lemon oil makes a great exfolliant, and can help remove dead skin cells . Just add 4-5 drops to some oatmeal and water.

22.Got crusty toes? Rub some lemon oil on them and after a few days, they should soften right up

23.In a bad mood? Diffuse some lemon oil, it is also known for lifting your spirits.

24. Cant concentrate? Lemon oil is also great for focus and concentration, when diffused.

25.Got a pimple? Put a dab of lemon on it, it will take the redness out.

26.Allergies got you down? Try lemon mixed with peppermint and lavender. I swear by it!

27.Gargle with lemon oil and salt for a sore throat(another sore throat remedy)

28. see the cooking section

29.I have heard that a drop of lemon under the tongue is good for a hangover(I have never been nor will I ever have this problem, so if someone tries this, please let me know if it works for you)

and..................................#30 UTI Infections. A veggie capfull of lemon oil, as well as some in your water will help the symptoms to decrease faster.

I hope you have enjoyed my little compilation of lemon oil uses. If you have, please feel free to share. If you have any other uses to add, please comment below. Thanks soo much!

Essentially Yours,

Rachel =)

Skin Problems got you Down?

One of the main reasons that I wanted to start this blog is to share my own personal journey and testimonials.In this entry, I am going to talk about using oils for various types of skincare problems.One of the many health issues I have battled with is rosacea.Rosacea is basically chronic redness of the skin. People with Rosacea often look like they have sunburn.There are various things that can trigger rosacea, including stress, varying cllimates, and even certain foods. There is no cure for it, but it can be controlled. Mine tends to flare up immediately after I get out of the shower. I took the pictures above this morning. The one on top is before Roman Chamomile,the one below is immediately after.You cannot really tell in the pic,but there was a huge difference.Roman Chamomile is great for inflammation.

  Another issue I have dealt with is oily skin, more specifically, an oily nose. By about 10 AM, I have more oil on my face than a 10 ton oil rig. Grapefruit Essential oil has done wonders for this.Grapefruit is also especially great for treating aging or loose skin.

     In a couple of weeks, I will do more specific blog posts of both of these oils, but for now I would like to address some other skin concerns.

ACNE- we have all had a breakout at some point in our lives, but for some people it is a common everyday annoyance . The oils that have been found to be the most effective in the treatment of acne are as follows: Melaleuca, Purify Blend, Geranium, and Clear Skin Blend. . Melaleuca, also known as tea tree oil is best known for its antiseptic and antifungal properties. To read about a scientific study on melaleuca vs benzoylperoxide click HERE.  Geranium has an effect similar to Roman chamomile or Lavender, as well as a pleasant scent. The Blend Purify has the oils Cilantro,Citronella,Lemon,Lime,Melaleuca alternifolia and Pine in it, and can be applied topically to the skin. DoTerras Clear Skin Blend contains the ingredients Ho Wood,Eucalyptus globulus,Geranium,Litsea,Melaleuca, and Black cumin seed. This blend is also great for Athlete's foot,Facial Blemishes,Itchy Scalp,Infected Nails,Toe Nail Fungus,and Skin Lesions.

SCARS -If you are plagued by scars then you should try Frankincense or Helichrysym . It is suggested that you apply these topically with a carrier oil 3-4 times daily until you get the desired results. For research information on EOs and scarring click HERE

DRY SKIN(ECZEMA,PSORIASIS,DERMATITIS,AND OTHER SKIN DISORDERS)

Dermatitis is often caused by  irritants, Eczema is often hereditary, and psoriasis(my whole family has this) is often a lifelong condition  . If you have or know someone who has persistant eczema or psoriasis, it often needs to be treated within. I suggest doing a good cleanse,followed by an EO regimen. I use a spray of melaleuca and oregano for mine. Since the majority of mine is on my scalp, I often mix the oils in my shampoo.

I hope you have found this post somewhat helpful, And if you have any questions, please feel free to comment below. These are all regimens I have used with much success.

Essentially Yours,

Rachel =)

New blog with a New Mission

Hi everyone! Its been awhile. Just wanted to take the time to let you know that i am changing the name and theme of my blog. Instead of it being a blog where i just randomly post whatever it going on in my head, I am going to start gearing it to something I am very passionate about.......ESSENTIAL OILS! A few months ago I was introduced to them, and I have been pro-oil every since. I feel it is one of my missions in life to not only incorporate these into my home, but to educate and share with everyone else as well. So that is what I am going to do here from now on. They have been such a blessing to myself and my family,but I will get more into that later..............                                                                              
                                                                                                             Essentially Yours,