Natural Body Guru

The Ancient Egyptians used a preparation containing thyme essential oil to preserve mummies. We now know that thyme kills bacteria and fungi so we can see why it was used for that purpose. Thyme has significant antiviral, antibiotic, antiseptic, and diuretic properties and must be used with a carrier oil – never directly on the skin and not on children unless under the care of a practitioner.

Thyme is in the essential oil basic care kit because of its potent antiviral qualities. During the flu season, thyme does a powerful job when used on an essential oil diffuser in the sick person’s room. Native Americans used poultices made of thyme for its antiseptic properties when treating skin infections and minor wounds. Thyme is used in the treatment of a number of conditions including whooping cough, rheumatism, neuralgia, fatigue, acne, and warts. It is also very useful in keeping parasites and insects out of your home.

There are several types of chamomile essential oils but chamomile Roman is especially good when used for the treatment of insomnia and nervous conditions. Chamomile is another essential oil that is antibacterial, antiseptic, and disinfectant but it is most useful for its internal and external anti-inflammatory properties.

Chamomile can be used when children have teething problems and can be added to the bath to ease nerves and tetchiness. It can also be used to treat burns, sunburn, psoriasis, eczema, asthma, hay fever, diarrhea, sprains and strains, nausea, fever, and nervous or depressed states. Chamomile’s analgesic, diuretic, sedative and calming properties make it absolutely essential to have in your basic care kit.

Tea tree oil is another oil for your basic essential oil kit. It comes from the Australian Melaleuca tree and the Aborigines there have used it in their medications for thousands of years. Although its antiseptic action is stronger than carbolic acid, it is non-poisonous to humans. Naturalists and others concerned with alternative health and alternative first aid use tea tree oil in the treatment of all kinds of infections; for ringworm, sunburn, acne, athlete’s foot, toothache, and many other things that require antiviral, antibacterial, or antifungal medication.

At work, a colleague and I were discussing the band aid on her finger one morning and she told me she had gone to the doctor because her finger was infected at the site of a hang-nail and he suggested she purchase some tea tree oil. We had discussed tea tree oil before because of its medicinal properties and I thought it could possibly take the place of some of the prescriptions she used so often.

Later in the day I smelled the strong camphoraceous scent of tea tree oil and I kept hearing the question, “What’s that smell?” My friend came into my office and we had a good laugh because she had spilled half the bottle of tea tree oil when she was changing her band aid but she didn’t want anyone to know that the strong smell was coming from her cubicle. She also said that her finger was feeling a lot better.

Many people are interested in using essential oils in their home because they are finding out that essential oils are the powerful medicines nature created to keep us healthy instead of the high priced chemically enhanced products we get from the drug store. If you want to start using natural essential oils in your home medicine cabinet as a natural alternative to chemicals, the ones I suggest for your basic kit are lavender, tea tree, peppermint, chamomile, eucalyptus, geranium, rosemary, thyme, lemon, and clove. These essential oils are chosen for their medical properties first and second for their ability to take care of a broad range of health problems. We will discuss all of these oils eventually but today, let’s look into peppermint essential oil.

Peppermint has been used by many cultures (Egyptians, Chinese, and American Indians) for thousands of years because of its healthful properties. It is a superb digestive, it helps the respiratory system and promotes circulation, it is an anti-inflammatory and it is an antiseptic. These qualities make peppermint oil an excellent choice to use in the treatment of indigestion, flatulence, bad breath, headaches and migraines, skin irritations, toothache, and fatigue. Peppermint oil is very strong so if you’re going to rub it on your skin, always use a carrier oil and do not ingest it. I have put ONE drop of peppermint oil in my green tea when I didn’t have any peppermint tea bags and I liked it just as well as the tea bag but it might be something you have to work up to. I’ve used it many times for upset stomach too but I never take it neat, always mixed in water or tea. Lastly, if you put 5 drops of peppermint oil on a cottonball and put it in strategic places in your home, it can help to keep pests like mice, fleas, and ants away. Talk about a versatile essential oil!

Ever tried oven fried fish? I cook with essential oils and I’ve had some amazing results. I recently made this dish again and I thought I would share the recipe. At our house, we eat mostly chicken, turkey and fish rather than red meat so that’s mostly what I’ve been using to cook with essential oils. I’m going to give you a fish recipe that we really enjoy. If you have tried others, please let me know which essential oils you used so I can try it.

Oven Fried Lime Tilapia Fillets

• Heat oven to 425 degrees
• Mix 1 drop lime essential oil with 1 tablespoon olive oil
• Brush 4 tilapia fillets with 1 teaspoon of the lime/olive oil blend and set the rest aside
• Sprinkle the fillets with Mrs. Dash, cayenne pepper, garlic powder and sea salt to taste
• Sprinkle uncooked Cream-o-Wheat on top of the fillets
• Cover your pan (I use a dark cookie sheet) with aluminum foil and spread the remaining lime/olive oil on the foil
• Wipe the top of each fillet in the oil on the pan and then lay it on its back side – that way some of the seasonings and cream of wheat will also be on the back of your fillets
• Cook for 7-10 minutes or until the fish flakes with a fork. Tilapia fillets can be thick or thin so gauge your cooking time according to the size of your fish
• Serve right away with seasoned rice and salad
• Bon appetit!

Babysitting for my daughter is something I gladly do whenever she has weekend classes to get continuing education points or to update her chiropractic license. The last time I went to her home to babysit, she was all stopped up and had a sore throat but she went to the class anyway because she felt she had to. Well, a couple of days after I got back home, I started sneezing and my throat felt scratchy so I knew she had passed her germs on to me.

I started to treat my cold symptoms right away by using essential oils to raise my immunity levels and also fight the cold virus. First, I swished  5 drops of tea tree essential oil, 2 drops of lavender essential oil, and 2 drops of thyme essential oil into my bath water. When I got out of the tub, I massaged my chest, neck and back with 2 drops of tea tree essential oil and 3 drops of eucalyptus essential oil diluted in 1 teaspoon of sweet almond oil and got directly into bed.

To dispel cold germs in the home, I use a diffuser in the living area and also spray the bedroom with thyme and lavender. For the spray, add 8 drops lavender and 6 drops thyme to 1 cup of distilled water in a plant spray bottle and simply spray the air. Drink plenty of liquids and make a special tea by using 1 drop of clove essential oil and 2 drops of lavender essential oil blended with 1 teaspoon of honey in a cup of hot water. Sip this drink slowly to sooth your throat and help ease your symptoms. Colds have to run their course but you will feel much better and the symptoms won’t last as long if you follow this regimen.

Children can get diarrhea for many reasons, such as physical problems like bacteria, viruses, flu and ear infections. Maybe the child has an allergic reaction to a medication or even a food. Stress from nervous tension can also cause diarrhea in children, maybe from a bully at school or from hearing parental arguments that he or she doesn’t understand.

Whatever the cause of the diarrhea, it is very important that you do not let the child become dehydrated. Replace the lost fluids with lots of liquids and if the diarrhea continues for more than 24 hours, consult your physician. Give your child diluted soups and drinks with honey in them. Do not force them to eat solid food and don’t give them any dairy products because that will only make things worse.

Use any of the oils below  in a massage oil to rub gently on the abdomen:

• chamomile 
• geranium
• sandalwood
• ginger

You can also use this massage oil formula:

• 5 drops of ginger
• 8 drops of sandalwood
• 8 drops chamomile

Dilute these oils in 2 tablespoons of liquid shea oil.

None of us want our hair to fall out for any reason. It might happen though for any number of reasons, like the use of inappropriate hair care products or poor health. Many hair care products on store shelves have chemical ingredients that simply are too harsh for our hair and scalp.

I suggest using a natural shampoo that contains no harsh chemicals and adding essential oils that have properties that are good for your hair. Fragrance World of Topeka has a proprietary blend they will make for you in an aroma free shampoo. I use it all the time and it makes my hair grow and keeps it looking thick and glossy.

I have the day off. I hope you do too. If not, enjoy the day anyway.

In the world of beauty, it becomes quite difficult to distinguish original quality beauty products from the phony ones. Remember, a fake product may end up ruining your skin and sometimes resulting into severe skin conditions and health implications, therefore, getting it right is not a choice but rather a responsibility, which you as a buyer must fulfill. In this post, we have compiled some handy tips on how to spot fake moisturizers from genuine ones.

To start with, you have to ensure you are purchasing your moisturizer from a whole, authorized store point and counter. This is because it is rare to find an authorized store selling counterfeits because it will be closed within a fortnight. Another way to detect a fake moisturizer is by buying it at a fraction of its retail price. While discounts are not severe, too much of it should ring you an alarm.

Furthermore, a genuine seller will offer you a return policy. If you buy at a store, which does not provide this policy, do not purchase the product. That is why we at the Fragrance World of Topeka always encourage doing a background check on our beauty products before you place your order. Remember we are not just concerned about you buying our moisturizers, but we want to ensure you are buying what will help protect your skin from sun damage as well as prevent your skin from dryness.