Month: July 2013

It is that time of the year again, that the coldness creeps in and the sunlight is less. We tend to get the sniffles, the aches or coughs. We want to snuggle up cosy in front of a fire with a nice warm cup of Hot Chocolate and our favourite movie. So if you have that fire going, before you add the next log, add a couple of drops of essential oils onto it, such as Ylang Ylang, Orange, Myrtle, Cypress or Frankincense and enjoy the aroma. If you don’t have a fire put a couple of either of the essential oils into a vapouriser, pot pourri, light bulb ring or as a room spray. And enjoy the smell of winter!!

Unfortunately with the cold and wet weather we seem to get more of the unwelcome visitors in our home. One of the best Essential Oils to use to repel mice is Peppermint Essential Oil, Spearmint may also work just as effectively too. Make a spritzer with 100 ml of water and 20 drops of Peppermint Essential Oil (you can also solubilise the oil first by using a solubiliser, mix 5 drops of polysorbate with the 20 drops of Peppermint essential oil first before adding to your water). Clean out your cupboards, then spray the cupboards with your home made spritzer, do not wipe off. Pack everything back in. You could also put Peppermint Essential Oil onto cotton wool balls in spots that you think mice are getting in. This will deter the mice from coming in without inhumanely killing them.

A Hot Compress could be just what you need, if your muscles are feeling tired and achy. Some essential oils that are great for Hot Compresses are Basil, Bergamot, Chamomile, Ginger, Rosemary, Lavender and Eucalyptus Essential Oils.

Below are three different ways you can make a Hot Compress.
Damp Compress – Heat up Water in a saucepan, add 3-4 drops of Essential Oil, then put in a clean cloth into the water. Swirl around, then take out using tongs. You may need to have gloves on if the water is quite hot, then squeeze out the excess water and put onto the area of your body that needs it. Leave on for 10 minutes then remove.

Microwave Heat Wrap – Put a clean dry cloth into a  microwavable plastic bag, leave the bag open while you are heating it up in the microwave. Once it is warm enough close the bag up, then wrap it up in another Clean Dry Cloth that you have put a couple of drops of Essential Oil onto, then you are able to put onto your aching body. Leave on for 10 minutes then remove.

Make a Rice Sock – Put a cup of dry uncooked rice into a small bowl and add 4-8 drops of essential oil and mix. Next get a clean dry sock and fill with the rice mix. Tie the top of the sock in a knot, then put into the microwave until it is at the desired temperature. Make sure it is not too hot before you put it onto your aching muscles. Leave on for 10 minutes then remove. The bonus of making the rice sock is that it is reuseable.

Hot compresses are good for aching and tired muscles, boils, ingrown hairs, acne or just for some soothing relaxing down time.