Increasing productivity with essential Oils

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Our workplaces can be hives of productivity or a place of negativity. Let’s face it we all want the former whether you are a business owner or worker or both. Everyone wants to feel good and being in a stuffy workplace is not conducive to an efficient and enjoyable atmosphere.

Australians spend on average 90% of their time indoors. I was recently reading about an article where Japanese company Takasago scented their building to see the effect it has on their workers. They found that those who work with computers made 54% fewer typing errors when the workplace was scented with lemon, 33% fewer errors when they smelled jasmine, and 20% fewer mistakes with lavender in the air.

It is important to note that using artificial fragrance to scent your workplace has health risks due to the use of Phthalates which acts as a binder and makes the smell last for a long period of time. Not the mention the other questionable ingredients used in them. There have been numerous studies showing the link between phthalate exposure and the increased risk of developing wheeze, asthma and allergy.

So let’s keep it simple. Ventilate your space with fresh air when you can. Ditch your synthetic air fresheners as they are increasing your exposure to pollutants.

Improve your indoor air quality by setting up a diffuser and use pure essential Oils. I find it fascinating that there are more and more studies being done and show that they have the ability to reduce air borne fungi with Lemon being one of them.

It is important to use Pure essential oils. Ask questions where you buy them from. Does the company produce them, test them, farm sustainably, provide full transparency to their processes?? The last thing you want to to buy essential oils that are adulterated!

The thing I love about using essential oils is you are bringing the scent off plants inside and they smell amazing and really can make you feel good.

Who knows what will happen hen you try this blend. Maybe you too will have fewer errors at your desk! What you will have is peace of mind and did I mention an amazing smell.. yep I think I covered thatfullsizeoutput_1ad3

Pop 3 drops Lavender Essential Oil , 2 Lemon Essential Oil and 1 of Jasmine Essential oil in your diffuser and enjoy your day.

Don’t have essential oils? order yours here

Lemon and Lavender are included in Young Living’s popular premium starter kit that includes 11 Essential oils and a diffuser. It is a great place to start.

 

Enjoy Belinda X

 

 

 

3 Reasons not to use Bleach

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Bleach for many of us means Chlorine Bleach. It has been used to disinfect surfaces and remove stains and whiten clothes. Chlorine bleach is typically a solution of sodium hydrochloride. There are so many reasons not to use it in your home and here is my take on the top 3.

 

  1. It is bad for your health. As reported in the Sydney Morning herald Passive exposure to Chlorine bleach has been linked to an increase in cases of Flu, tonsillitis and other infections in school aged children. This Research was published in the British Medical Journal’s Occupational and Environmental Medicine and was performed across 3 countries and included over 9000 children. Another study published by the American Journal of critical care medicine, concluded that Women cleaning at home or working as occupational cleaners had accelerated decline in lung function, suggesting that exposures related to cleaning activities may constitute a risk to long-term respiratory health(source). This is such a worry for many women and men who are the responsible party for cleaning their homes in addition to the cleaning workforce. Another potential problem of using Chlorine Bleach is that it can react with other Cleaning products producing toxic gases, chloramine.
  2. It is bad for the Environment. Chlorine is released into waterways via sewage. Once it reaches the water, chlorine reacts with other minerals and elements to form a host of dangerous toxins. These toxins, including dioxins, furams and PCDDs are often referred to as “persistent organic pollutants” because they linger in the water or soil and take many years to disappear. (source)
  3. There are other, safer alternatives. How do I whiten my clothes and clean my home? the answer is Hydrogen Peroxide or Sodium Percarbonate and plant based cleaners. Hydrogen peroxide available from your local Pharmacy, or the powdered form Sodium Percarbonate ( purchase here). Hydrogen peroxide is a double Hydrogen Oxygen compound that is used as an oxidiser, bleaching agent and antiseptic. Sodium Percarbonate breaks down into hydrogen peroxide and soda ash in water and in powdered form makes it an easy addition to laundry. Thieves household cleaner is my all time favourite plant based cleaner that actually works infused with a blend of essential oils that are perfect for cleaning your home.

 

For liquid bleach try this recipe I love  sodium percarbonate as I can easily add a tsp to my washing detergent and my whites are brighter. A little bit goes a long way. You will also be avoiding synthetic fragrance as most supermarket products have synthetic fragrance included- I only use Essential oils as synthetic fragrance can have any number of chemicals and are known endocrine disruptors! (source)

Removing stains- try some bi-carb soda and half a lemon. One of the simplest low tox cleaners you can try and you probably have both ingredients in your kitchen. If you don’t have lemons try some Lemon Essential Oil. I use this frequently to clean my sink and it smells great.

Surface disinfection. I get it, you have been cooking, maybe with chicken or other meat (if you choose) and you want to make sure there are no nasties growing on your bench. For this I have a spray bottle with  Thieves Household Cleaner. Do I need a study to verify it? Well actually there are many which show anti-microbial effects of essential oils, like this one. or watch here Did I ever check about Bleach or the health effects? No I did not, but I wish I did!

What is it? Thieves Household Cleaner is a plant based essential oil infused concentrate that I use to clean my bathroom, kitchen, dishwasher, car, washing machine, floors, everything. The other thing I like about it is it is biodegradable and complies with EPA standards. It is economical and it works. You can even clean your dog with it.

thieves-household-cleaner

Check out my Thieves recipes here A versatile and affordable concentrate that you can use on all surfaces of your home. To get your hands on the Thieves household cleaner, simply purchase from Your Young Living account or open one here The Thieves healthy home starter kit will set you up!

I encourage you to re-think why you use what you use in your home.

Belinda

 

The Wholefood Collective

 

Sources

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25838260

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29451393

http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJM199909093411115

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrogen_peroxide

https://sciencing.com/oxygen-bleach-vs-chlorine-bleach-6571838.html

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/toxic-perfumes-and-colognes/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26802522

https://www.livestrong.com/article/217675-the-effects-of-chlorine-bleach-on-the-environment/

 

Home Made Lip Balms

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A hand bag essential, lip balms keep your lip soft. A little while ago I checked out the ingredients in a store bought version and here is what I found

  • Oxybenzone- derived from petroleum is a UV absorber, associated with endocrine disruption, produces damaging reactive oxygen species upon exposure to sunlight
  • Mentyl Anthranilate- synthetic UV absorber not assessed for safety in cosmetics. produces damaging reative oxygen species upone exposure to sunlight
  • Fragrance- synthetic scent which contains phthalates
  • parabens- synthetic preservatives- suspected endocrine disruption, contact dermatitis and skin irritation in some people

(source: Info from the Chemical maze App)

I am not happy about any of these ingredients going on my lips or my families for that matter. Here is the good news. It is really easy to make your own and the recipes are good enough to eat. Chances are you will already have some of these ingredients in your pantry. Here are a couple of recipes and places I have sourced my ingredients from. These recipes are great for nourishing your lips and are quick to make.

Choc Mint Lip Balms ( approx 18 tubes)

  • 15 g beeswax
  • 15g Shea Butter
  • 15g Cacao Butter
  • 15g Coconut Oil
  • 1 tsp cacao Powder ( or more)
  • 18 drops Peppermint Essential Oil

Melt beeswax, coconut oil and butters in a glass pyrex dish over a pot of simmering water. Once melted, remove from heat and stir through Cacao Powder and Peppermint Essential oil. Use syringe to fill lip tubes and set in the fridge.

Lavender Lip balms ( approx 18 tubes)

  • 20g Shea butter
  • 20g avocado Oil
  • 20g Beeswax
  • 15 drops lavender oil

Melt beeswax, butter and oil together in pyrex dish. Remove from heat and stir in lavender Essential oil. Syringe into tubes and set in the fridge

Tips

  • Use a ramekin to stand your lip tubes in
  • pick up a syringe from your local pharmacy
  • decorate your lip tubes with washi tape
  • work fast before the lip balm sets. You can always re-melt
  • make sure lip tubes are wound down fully before filling

Supplies

  • Lip Tubes you will find online. I purchased mine from Aussie candle supplies
  • Butters and Beeswax try Biome
  • Oils from your local supermarket
  • Essential Oils from Young Living. Get started here with a Premium Starter kit (Lavender and Peppermint are in this popular kit)
  • Cacao pwder and other great wholefoods from The wholefood collective

Foaming Hand Soap

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I make my own foaming hand soap and it is really easy ! Simply buy a bottle to re-use over and over again or re-purpose on old foaming pump bottle.  In my low tox journey I have been looking at ingredients and trying to avoid

  • skin irritants- think SLS
  • endocrine disruptors-triclosan- an anti-bacterial agent ( banned in the US but not in Australia for personal use), synthetic fragrance i.e phthalates, parfum
  • cheap preservatives- parabens, also a known endocrine disruptor which have other health concerns too.

With just a few ingredients you can make your own

 

Foaming Hand Soap
Here is what you will need

  • Dr Bronne’s Castille Soap- I buy mine at Nourished life
  • Water
  • Essential Oils of Choice- I like Thieves or Purification, from Young Living
  • Olive or Almond oil
  • Foaming hand soap container: try here,  or here (pictured)

Fill soap pump 1/4 full with Castille Soap.

Add 1 tsp Olive or v6 (this is optional but provides great moisturing). Next add essential oils- for 250mls I use 10-15 drops. Swirl to combine.

Top with water leaving enough room at the top to attach the pump. If you like a thick lather increase the amount of castille soap.

This is seriously easy, will take you less than 5 minutes and you can even teach your kids to do it and better still they won’t be using toxins on their skin!

If DIY is not your thing, Thieves Foaming hand soap is ready to go smells delicious and will nourish your hands without the toxins. It can be purchased from Young Living as part of the Healthy Home Premium Starter Kit here


If you want to learn more about what is in your products I recommend the Chemical Maze app. You can buy the book or download the App.
Interested in the Healthy Home Premium Starter Kit and would like some more information, please send your inquiry below

Nourishing Night time Face Serum

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A little while ago, I started making a face serum as I had read about the great benefits it can have for your skin. I absolutely love it and use it daily. My skin has improved and making my own is economical and I customise it each time. I apply 4 drops of the serum after cleansing and follow with a moisturiser before bed.  I have had rave reviews over this super simple face serum you can make at home. Go on give it a try.

Here is what you need

Jojoba Oil– a golden liquid wax that mimics the skin’s natural oils, penetrating deep into the skin’s layers.

Rosehip Oil– absorbed quickly into the skin, it is pressed from seeds. Perfect for mature and sunburnt skin. Beneficial for healing scars

Lavender Essential oil;  Fabulous for all skin. Lavender has been used for centuries in personal products not only for it’s beautiful scent but it’s ability to support skin.

Frankincense Essential oil; promotes the regeneration of healthy cells, a powerful anti-aging oil.

Copaiba Essential oil; has astringent properties that help tighten the skin. Copaiba infuses the skin with powerful nutrients and organic compounds that can eliminate the appearance of blisters, marks, and pimples

Use a  glass bottle with a dropper in it (like these or try Centaurpackaging.com) I use  a 2% concentration of Essential Oils, which is recommended for daily use. Download dilution chart here

For more information for Essential oils suitable for skin care please read here

Basic Face serum

20ml dropper bottle 12 drops essential oil

4 dops Lavender    Essential Oil*                                                                                                                   4 Drops Frankincense   Essential Oil*                                                                                                        4 Drops Copaiba Essential Oil*

When mixing your serum add the essential oils to the bottle first, lightly swirl to combine before adding the carrier oil.

Fill with Jojoba oil or carrier oil of choice

For the winter month’s I use a half half mixture of jojoba and reship oil for extra nourishing. Fill with 1/2 Rosehip and 1/2 Jojoba oil, purchase these here

Other Oils to consider

Cedarwood Essential Oil; has anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, reduces skin irritations, promoting relaxation and balance.

Myrrh Essential oil; moisturising and soothing, great for ageing skin

Geranium Essential oil; increases circulation, tighten and smooths skin and is an excellent choice for problem skin, not to mention it smells divine!

This is not a complete list, there are so many fabulous oils, but start with what you have and you will reap the benefits!

If making your own is not for you, Young Living Essential Serum is an excellent serum ready to apply straight on your skin. perfect for dry and acne prone skin and affordable!

*essential oils in the Premium Starter kit. Order yours here and recieve a wholesale membership with Young Living, 24% off future purchases and just the beginning of starting a natural health and wellness journey!

Sources

https://www.youngliving.com/blog/6-essential-oils-your-skin-loves/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rose_hip_seed_oil

https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/essential-oils/health-benefits-of-lavender-essential-oil.html

https://draxe.com/jojoba-oil/

https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/essential-oils/copaiba-essential-oil.html#skin-care

This post contains affiliate links. Should you wish to purchase from some of the linked sites I may receive a small comission.

Diffuser combinations with your PSK

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Recently my lovely sister  purchased a premium starter it and I have been discussing different diffuser combinations. The combinations really are endless but I just thought I would provide some really easy combinations that you will love.

Relax   4 Stress Away ∗2 lavender

Sniffles 2 Purification∗4 Thieves

Seasonal  2 Peppermint∗2 Lavender∗2 lemon

Wind down 4 Lavender∗2 Frankincense

Clear the air 3 Purification∗3 Lemon

Focus 2 Peppermint∗3 Lemon

Breathe easy 2 Peppermint∗4 R.C

Good Night 2 Copaiba∗2 Stress Away∗2 Lavender

Diffusing essential oils have a number of benefits. Fragrance your home without synthetic fragrances, unlike some candles there is no toxic fumes. Young Living Essential oils are pure plants extracts and their seed to seal guarantee is their committment to providing quality Essential oils. If you don’t have essential oils read my Essential Oil page for more information

An article recently published in the Good Weekend talks about the dangers of synthetic fragrance and it part of a book written by Kate Grenville- The case against fragrance. Read it here She speaks about the headaches she has suffered that after removing artificial frangrance have gone away. In my experience removing artifical fragrance has certainly been positive for my skin too. The Laundry aisle in the supermarket is a challenge for me to walk through down now!  Time to make some Laundry powder again.

Hope you like these combinations, let me know how you go

Belinda

Download a printable graphic  for easy reference diffuser-combinations-psk