from http://naturesnurtureblog.com/essential-oils-for-camping-first-aid/

Essential Oils for Camping & First Aid

Camping season is here! Whether you’ll actually be camping this summer or just spending a lot of time outdoors, essential oils can really come in handy for first aid treatment. We’re on vacation next week and will be road tripping in an RV for a week, so as I’ve been preparing our packing list I also wanted to bring along some essential oils for camping and first aid treatment.

Essential Oils for Camping

This is a basic list of my favorite essential oils to keep on hand on a camping trip. Their properties are listed first, followed by their most relevant uses for camping. For suggestions on where to buy essential oils, scroll down towards the end of this post for some tips.

Lavender

Analgesic, antibacterial, antifungal, antiseptic, antispasmodic.

Soothes bruises, burns, cuts, and scrapes; relieves itchiness from bee stings; treats allergies and asthma; eases headaches; combats mild bacterial and fungal infections; repels insects; soothes insomnia. 

Tea Tree

Antibacterial, antifungal, antimicrobial, antiseptic, antiviral, insecticide.

Relieves colds and sinusitis; alleviates and disinfects skin irritations like cuts, scrapes, and bug bites. 

Peppermint

Analgesic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antiparasitic, antispasmodic, antiviral, digestive.

Soothes aches, pains, and itchy skin; eases headaches; relieves nausea and upset stomach; combats viral and fungal infections; provides cooling sensation. 

Citronella

Analgesic, antibacterial, antifungal, antiseptic, antispasmodic, astringent, insecticide.

Repels insects; relieves muscle pain, fatigue, headaches, and migraines; alleviates cold and flu symptoms.

Chamomile

Analgesic, anesthetic, anti-infectious, anti-inflammatory, anti-spasmodic. 

Soothes itchy skin; relieves headaches and migraines.

Helichrysum

Antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antispasmodic, astringent.

Speeds healing of bruises, burns, and minor wounds; alleviates muscle aches and pains; soothes sprains; slows/stops minor bleeding; reduces fevers; calms nerves.

First Aid Recipes

Below is a list of some easy ways to use these essential oils in preparing a first aid kit before your camping trip. Some of the recipes include additional ingredients or supplies, so I’ve linked to where you can purchase those items below as well. Most of the recipes include a carrier oil; examples of carrier oils include coconut oil, olive oil, sweet almond oil, avocado oil, etc.

Bumps and Bruises Salve

If you’ve bumped yourself and see a bruise developing, this salve can help soothe the pain and diminish the bruise’s appearance. 

• 8 drops lavender
• 8 drops helichrysum
• 2 oz carrier oil

Blend the essential oils. Add the oil blend to the carrier oil, and apply to the bruise once or twice a day. Can be stored in a roller bottle for easy application.

Natural Sunscreen

This simple sunscreen helps protect and moisturize the skin. For fairer skin, use more essential oils; for darker skin. use less.

• 5-10 drops essential oil (I use lavender and helichrysum)
• 1 ounce carrier oil (I love coconut oil for this!)

Mix the oils together and store in a glass bottle or jar. Apply often and after swimming, exercise. etc.

Soothing Sunburn Salve

If you do get a sunburn, apply this soothing salve for instant, cooling relief.

• 20 drops essential oil (I use lavender, chamomile, and peppermint)
• 2 teaspoons carrier oil (avocado oil is great here!)
• 2 tablespoons aloe vera gel

Blend the essential oils, then add to the carrier oil. Add the oil blend to the aloe vera gel. Apply generously to the affected areas. If making larger batches, it can be stored in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.

Insect Repellant

To repel insects such as mosquitoes, biting flies, and fleas, apply this natural insect repellant as described below. You can use any combination of oils, as long as it stays within about 50 drops of oils. Other great oils for repelling insects include cinnamon, eucalyptus, lemongrass, and rosemary.

• 50 drops essential oil (I use citronella, tea tree, and lavender)
• 4 tablespoons carrier oil

Blend the essential oils, then add to the carrier oil in a dark glass bottle or jar. Rub the oils on skin by dabbing it on your wrists, behind your ears, inside your elbows, behind your knees, and around your ankles. Reapply after an hour or after swimming, exercise, etc. You can try adding some aloe vera gel to change the consistency of the oil and make it more spreadable.

*You can also make this into a spray by substituting the carrier oil with either witch hazel or alcohol. Mix the essential oils with the witch hazel or alcohol and add to an 4 ozglass spray bottle. Then top off with distilled water. Shake well before use.

Bug Bite Salve

If you do get bit, apply this simple salve to the bite to help stop the itch, stop the venom, and reduce the chance of infection. You can use both oils or just one of them, just make sure the total ratio of essential oils to carrier oil is 50:50.

• 1 teaspoon essential oil (I use a mix of lavender and tea tree)
• 1 teaspoon carrier oil

Blend essential oils and mix with carrier oil. Add oil mixture to a roller bottle (my favorite choice!) or squeeze-top bottle. Apply very sparingly to bug bites for fast relief. 

*Both lavender and tea tree oil can be used neat (undiluted) on the skin, so if you’re in a hurry and don’t have time to mix up this recipe. you can apply a drop or two of either (or both) oil to help stop the itch. Use caution, as some people may be sensitive or experience irritation when using oils neat.

Other Remedies

Nausea and Indigestion: Drip 3 drops peppermint oil onto a wash cloth. Hold it under your nose, and breathe slowly and deeply for 1-3 minutes. The menthol in peppermint oil improves circulation and stops nausea quickly.

Overheating: Apply diluted peppermint oil to the back of neck or soles of feet for fast, cooling relief. This is also great to do before hiking or long treks to keep the feet cool and comfortable.

Minor Burns: Apply 2-3 drops lavender oil directly on the site and gently spread over the affected area. This also works great for bee stings. For more bee sting remedies, check out my post natural bee sting remedies.

Headache: Apply diluted peppermint oil to the temples, brow line, and back of neck for quick relief.

from http://tipnut.com/homemade-mosquito-repellent/

Homemade Mosquito Repellent: {Recipes}

If you’re interested in experimenting with homemade mosquito repellents, here are a few different recipes that you can try.

Most of these have been sent in by readers and they’re all easy enough to make (thank you for sharing guys!). A few are made with assorted essential oils but there is one shared by Jennifer that uses simple ingredients (garlic cloves, mineral oil, water and lemon juice) so the expense is really minimal.

Here’s a tip sent in by Angela for her tried-and-true solution:

This is a recipe given to me by my aunt, I find that it stores well but should be used within the year.

1/4 cup vegetable oil mixed with these essential oils (mix and store in a spray bottle):

8 drops cedar
5 drops eucalyptus
4 drops lavender
2 drops rosemary
2 drops juniper
1 drop peppermint
1 drop cinnamon
1 drop clove

Here’s one from Mark:

I like this because it only needs a few items and it’s a breeze to put together. Make sure you shake it up for a few minutes each time before you use it. I hope your readers try it because it does work just as well as bought and it’s better to use on your body than those poisonous sprays that they try selling us in stores.

2 cups witch hazel
1 teaspoon vegetable glycerin
20 drops citronella essential oil
20 drops lemongrass essential oil

Instructions: Mix in a spray bottle and shake well before use.

Jennifer sent this one in:

Mosquitoes hate garlic and so when I saw this in a magazine a few years ago I clipped it, tried it and found that it did a good job keeping me bite free.

Directions: Mince a few cloves of garlic then cover with mineral oil. Allow it to sit for at least 24 hours. Next you take a teaspoon of *just the oil* and mix it with 2 cups of water and 1 teaspoon of freshly squeezed lemon juice. Strain through a cheesecloth if you have any floaties then pour into a spray bottle. Shake before each use.

motherearthnews.com

Here’s another one from Mother Earth News ^[1]:

Since the 1999 appearance of West Nile virus in North America, it’s more important than ever to keep these pests at bay. You can outsmart them with this homemade, Earth-friendly solution.

It couldn’t be easier to make, ingredients needed are any combination of these essential oils: basil, cedarwood, citronella, juniper, lemon, myrrh, palmarosa, pine, rose geranium and/or rosemary mixed with 190-proof grain alcohol (see article for suggested quantities).

herbmentor.com

Yarrow Bug Spray ^[2]: Here’s one that’s super easy to make and only requires a few items: fresh yarrow flowers and leaves (can also use dried), vodka (or other alcohol), catnip essential oil and spray bottles.

The yarrow is infused in the vodka for a week, strained then the catnip EO added before bottling.

There’s also this tip to try: Use plantain (the weed) by crushing it and applying to bite area (also mentioned in Tipnut’s big list of itch relief tips found on this page ^[3]).

Prefer something that you don’t apply to your body? Here’s a project from Positively Splendid for making DIY Bug-Banishing Candles ^[4]:

positivelysplendid.com

Since we spend a great deal of time outdoors in the evenings each summer, I am always on the lookout for natural insect-repelling solutions. When I discovered that most citronella candles sold in chain stores are a racket, I decided to try my hand at making my own! After doing a little research, I was happy to discover the process really is quite simple.

If you’ve lost faith in the effectiveness of commercial citronella candles, this tutorial for DIY candles promises to help keep them at bay by using Citronella essential oil (rather than citronella-scented oil found in many products). The containers used for the candles are pretty frosted glass jars (instructions for making these are included) and bits of colored crayons are mixed with the soy wax to tint the candles in a variety of colors.

Max Update #5

So... I am amazed at how far Max has come with his speech. He has so many words now. Only one problem though... he will copy what you say, but still doesn't speak spontaneously. Ugh ;)
I'm adding BIORAY Kids Calm supplement to the mix this week. Wish us luck!

19 Essential Oils for Beginners

from http://www.motherearthnews.com/natural-health/19-essential-oils-for-beginners-zbcz1504.aspx

19 Essential Oils For Beginners

Here are some essential oils that one may want to have in their home kit. For suggestions for a starter kit with four essential oils, see this Basic Essential Oils for Daily Living article.

Essential Oil	Scent	Therapeutic Properties
Bergamot	Light and citrusy	May help nervous tension
Chamomile (Roman)	Fruity, woody	May help relieve stress, tension and anxiety, improves digestion, reduces pain, heals skin
Citronella	Lemon - citrus	Insect repellant, may help with fevers and digestion
Clary Sage	Sweet and spicy	Calming, may help with muscle fatigue, improve sleep, uplifting, tension tamer and aphrodisiac
Cypress	Light and woodsy	Works to reduce cellulite, calming and uplifting
Eucalyptus	Camphorous	Helps relieve pain, improves mental clarity and reduces congestion
Frankincense	Warm, exotic, sweet and spicy	Calming, may help with aging skin
Geranium	Floral, spicy	Promotes emotional balance, helps reduce cellulite, relieves stress and tension
Ginger	Strong spicy scent	Stimulating, improves mental clarity, relieves pain and nausea
Grapefruit	Citrusy	Improves mental clarity and memory
Jasmine	Sweet, heavy floral smell	Helps with depression, may help improve skin elasticity, reduces stretch marks, aphrodisiac
Juniper	Fresh, Fruity, woody	Helps with mental exhaustion, obesity, water retention
Lavender	Floral	Reduces cellulite deposits, helps reduce pain and inflammation, promotes relaxation and restful sleep
Lemongrass	Lemony	Uplifting, improves mental clarity
Neroli	Heavy, floral	Calming and uplifting
Rose (otto)	Floral, damp, invigorating	Helps relieve symptoms of depression and anxiety
Rosemary	Menthol, earthy	Helps reduce cellulite, relieves mental fatigue, relaxes tight muscles
Sandalwood	Earthy, spicy, floral, woody	Calming, aphrodisiac, reduces stress
Tea Tree	Camphorous	Antibiotic, anti-fungal, antiviral

Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy is the practice of using essential oils for healing. Essential oils are volatile substances extracted from plants typically by a distillation process. These properties are not released in any significant amount in typical herbal preparations. Essential oils are comprised of numerous chemical constituents, with each chemical having a particular signature and mode of action. The majority of the constituents in essential oils are produced by the plants either for their own protection, to attract pollinators, or to heal wounds. Their modes of action and therapeutic properties are also effective on humans, and we can use essential oils to affect our physical and emotional health in various ways.

There are over 100,000 aromas found in nature, but as humans we can recognize only about 300 of these. It is through receptors in our sinuses (the olfactory bulb) that lead to the limbic system of the brain that corresponds to our emotions and feelings. When we inhale aroma molecules, we have a direct path to our emotions and memories. That is why when you smell certain aromas, such as a cake baking in the oven or a soup pot on the stove it can bring you back to a different place and time. You have effectively experienced aromatherapy! This is a very simple example for a very complex healing art, but you get the point I’m sure.

Essential oils are most commonly administered aromatically via inhalation and topically via absorption through the skin. Rarely are essential oils taken internally, and never without the supervision of a professional health care provider with extensive knowledge in the practice of aromatherapy and its effects on the body. Safe use of essential oils is paramount! Learn more about safety guidelines for aromatic, internal, and topical use as well as dilution recommendations in the article Essential Oil Safety.

Many essential oils are antiviral and antibacterial and can be used in diffusers to help fight cold and flu infections as well as relieve congestion. Essential oils with nervine properties can be used to calm anxiety, release tension, soothe headaches, and alleviate sleeplessness. The stimulating effect of some essential oils can be used to energize the mind and body, improve mental focus and memory, and relieve mental fatigue.

Remember that our skin is our largest organ and is not to be ignored. However, essential oils are very potent and are usually mixed with carrier oils before using them on the skin. When essential oils are used in skin products, they can promote cell growth, improve circulation, and help rid the body of toxins. Essential oils can also be helpful for alleviating pain, swelling, and itching from bruises, bug bites, stings, and burns.

Check this out!

I am loving my Zija nutritional supplements!!

They have oils too ;)

http://zija123.com/

10 Emergency Survival Essential Oils

from http://www.naturalmedicinebox.com/10-emergency-survival-essential-oils/3/

10 Essential Oils for Health and Survival

Lavender:

This is the Swiss Army knife of EOs.  Heals burns, cuts, relieve insomnia, reduces stress, a powerful antihistamine, bug bites, bruises, sleep deprivation, inflammation, sunburn, lice.  Soothing to skin irritations, earache and depression.  Lavender is the number one essential oil to have in your survival kit, in fact I would keep two bottles.

Lemon:

Known for it’s cleansing ability.  Add a few drops to water to purify (this was suggested in a seminar I attended but I have no proof, however, in dire circumstance, I would do it).  Great for intestinal parasites, dissolves petrochemicals in your body, effective for colds and flu, helps digestive and liver work, gout, sore throat, disinfectant, antiseptic.

Peppermint:

Effective for nausea, digestive issues, allergies, menstrual problems, reduces fever, increase alertness, focus and oxygen absorption.  Great for headaches, muscle aches.  Antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, use for shock, colds, colic and heartburn.

Oregano:

Effective in treating bacterial infections and yeast infections, relieves back and joint pain, inflammation, cold and flu, kills warts and skin tags, athlete’s foot, effective cleanse for GI health.

Melaleuca:

Can be used as a first aid ointment, useful for skin irritations, bug bites, athlete’s foot, eczema and psoriasis.  Aids in immune function and supports against throat and respiratory pathogens, helps with slivers in the skin.

Helichrysum:

For painful bruising, sprains, swelling.  Stems bleeding. Used to treat shock, help with broken bones, help with allergies, beneficial against infections and viruses.  Excellent for wounds, speeds healing and reduces pain.

Myrrh:

Good for antiseptic needs, pain relief and swelling of cuts, wounds or bruises.  Can be applied on open wounds. Stimulates the immune system and blood circulation, promotes tissue regeneration.  Astringent and analgesic properties, eases coughing/tonsillitis and other infections.

Clove:

With antibiotic and analgesic properties Clove helps relieve toothaches, headaches, and other pain.  Can be used to draw toxins and infections from the body. Aids in relieving nausea or constipation.

Frankincense:

Enhances the effects of other essential oils, reduces inflammation, relieves headaches, supports skin tissue recovery, soothe hyperactivity, restlessness, facilitates clarity and focus of mind.  With it’s regenerative properties, Frankincense is important EO in all manner of emergency.

Lemongrass:

Soothes sore and cramping muscles, naturally cleansing, warms feet in winter, an effective bug repellent

Essential oils are mainstream.

from http://www.holanandcassy.com/2015/02/25/essential-oils-are-mainstream-check-out-the-news-coverage/

1 out of 3 Americans use some form of complementary or alternative medicine. There is a shift in attitude towards Western Medicine, more people are seeking natural solutions, creating interest in essential oils, which are more potent than dried herbs.

Essential oils are trending right now all across the United States.

There is a movement to use essential oils. Thanks to people who share them with friends and family, it has caught the attention of news outlets in 14 different states coast to coast. Each station covers a different story with their local community.

The following videos are from news station, they feature essential oils.

The oils in the videos are doTERRA brand, which is currently the most popular leading brand of essential oils. They work and continue to work. I hope you enjoy this videos! If you come accross any doTERRA Essential Oil News videos that is not listed here, please let me know!

This list was last updated on February 25, 2015

California
Fox 5 (San Diego) – Using Essential Oils to make safe home-made cleaners

Florida
WKMG 6 (Orlando) – Oil Pulling: Finding Best Oil to use
ABC 7 (Naples) – Taking a Look at Essential Oils

Hawaii
OC16 (Honolulu) – Sports People Hawaii, an essential oil journey

IdahoFox 9 (Boise) – Alternative Medicine with Essential Oils

MissouriKSDK NBC5 (St. Louis) – Essential Oils: Are They Safe?

Montana
KTVH NBC12 (Helena) – The Use of Essential Oils

North DakotaNBC 5 (Bismark) – TODAY: Benefits of Essential Oils

New Mexico
2KASA (Alberqueque) – How Essential Oil Quality Affects Efficacy

Ohio
WSYX ABC11 (Columbus) – Essential Oils: Salvation or Snake Oil?
WOIO (Cleveland) – Essential oils quickly becoming the new diet craze

Tennessee
Fox 17 (Nashville) – Aromatherapy Reduces Work-Related Stress in Hospital

South Carolina
WHNS Fox (Greenville) – Essential Oil Increase in popularity

Texas
KHOU 11 (Houston) – Essential Oils Leaving Users Feeling Healthy & HappyABC 13 (Houston) – Uses of Essential Oils You Never Thought of
Fox 26 (Houston) – Healing Essential Oils
KTAB (Abilene) – Essential Oils Help Heal Body in Natural Ways

Utah
Fox 13 (Salt Lake City) – Spa Gift Ideas with Essential Oils

Vermont
Fox 44 (Montpelier) – Healthier Alternative with Essential Oils

Television
Dog Whisperer – Cesar Milan rubs lavender oil blend on a dog

Oils and Cats Don't Always Mix

Essential Oil DIY Dog Shampoo

Améo Dog Shampoo

What You’ll Need:
12 ounces water
1 tablespoon Castile soap
2 drops Améo Rosemary Essential Oil
2 drops Améo Eucalyptus Radiata Essential Oil
2 drops Améo Peppermint Essential Oil
2 drops Améo True Lavender Essential Oil
1 glass bottle or jar

Instructions:
1. Combine all ingredients and shake well
2. Apply to wet fur, lather, and rinse

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Happy New Year!

Wishing everyone a Happy New Year!

As those New Year Resolutions start today, support is key. Did you resolve to create a healthier happier you? Have some essential oils sitting on a shelf but not sure how to use them to create this healthier happier you?

Great news!

FREE Essential Oils 101 Classes will be starting up again this month.

Come learn about why I love my essential oils and how they are helping my whole family become healthier and happier!

Dates posted in the sidebar! Email for more info or if you have any questions. thereisanoilforeveryone@gmail.com

Happy New Year!!