Tupelo Honey

For a while, I was a client at the Natural Health Improvement Center in Glens Falls, New York. While I decided at the time that it was not for me (I didn't feel that detoxing while I was raising two little ones, including one who is still nursing was the best plan for me!) I did take some information with me that I have found to be at least somewhat valuable. One thing that was suggested was reducing the amount of sugar in our diets. Never bad advice, I thought about when I consume sugar during my day. The first and most obvious place was first thing in the morning, in my daily cuppa joe. Though I didn't think for a second that I would really replace sugar with honey in my coffee. For one thing, I don't especially like honey! And for another, no one messes with Mama's coffee! But I bought it anyway...what the hell! I bought it while visiting in NJ, and left it there by accident. Or maybe because I really didn't want it? Who knows. But no kidding, I visited another time and forgot it again. Just recently I was there again, and this time I managed to get the stuff home. So this morning, I gave it a try. And it wasn't bad. Not at all! In fact, I rather like it. I didn't use much, and it gives my coffee a sweetness, but not a yucky sweetness, that sugar can sometimes do. Hm. So, trial one, the most important, and it's a hit! Now I have to do some research to convince myself that it's actually better sugar. But in the meantime, here's some info. on Tupelo honey: LINK

Here is the first website I checked out regarding honey vs. sugar in our diets. It does make for some interesting reading: LINK

Here's another one. This one is obviously pro-honey: LINK

Ok, I have to update here. It has been six days since I started to put honey in my coffee instead of sugar. I have not gone back. Not once. Ok once, but it was by accident and I was annoyed at myself! I much prefer the honey in my coffee. There are two reasons. One, the honey has a slightly less sweet flavor, which I prefer. The other, and even more important to me, is that the honey mixes evenly into the coffee. I have always hated when the last sip of my coffee is gooey with undissolved sugar. Regardless of how much I stirred it, it seemed to be sickeningly sweet at the bottom. And I like drinking it all! But yuk. So I love that the last sip of coffee with honey tastes like the first sip. =) And, I've converted my husband!! =)

Essential Oils - Lavender For Diaper Rash - Trial

My son has diaper rash. It is an unusual event in this house, but it does happen from time to time. In the past, I have used Desitin, with great success. In my attempt to remove chemicals from our personal and medical care products, I am attempting to use other diaper rash treatments this time. For a couple of days I have been putting Burt's Bees Diaper Ointment on the area. There wasn't much change until this afternoon - the rash appears to be spreading, it is much redder, and he is more uncomfortable. Yuk. Poor goober! So this time I turned to essential oils. It's an opportunity to try another one out. If it doesn't work, and pretty quickly, I'll once again turn to Desitin, but I'm giving it a shot. I have read and been told by dear Suzanne (see Hats Off to Suzanne!) that Lavender essential oil can be used for diaper rash, so that is what I am trying. I wasn't sure if it should got on "neat" or diluted, so I mixed a few drops with Sweet Almond oil, and put it on all over the behind area (note: EOs shouldn't be put on the genital areas, according to one book I have.) It didn't hurt or sting, so that's good. I'll report back at the next diaper change, and throughout today and tomorrow. Fingers crossed.

UPDATE: Ok. So last evening I changed DS's diaper, and his skin was still very irritated and red looking. Hubby put him in the bath, allowed him to run around without a diaper for a while, reapplied the oil blend, and put him in a disposable diaper. This morning he needed a #2 diaper change first thing. (That poor butt!!) Despite the "soil" his skin looked almost perfect!! He had two very small red areas - a great improvement from last night. Whether it's due to the oil blend, the bath, the air-dry time, or a combination, I don't know, but I was so happy to see his diaper area looking happier again. =) Once again, I gave him some air-dry time, and I've kept him in cloth diapers except overnight or when we're going to be out for a while. Today I increased the amount of lavender in the oil blend as per some information I got from Suzanne (see Hats Off To Suzanne!) I put it on after the first diaper change but haven't since. A friend forwarded an article focusing on a link between tea tree and lavender oil and hormonal disruption in boys, and though I'm not really concerned about it, I only intend to use the blend when really necessary. I think it's always better to let the body heal itself when possible anyhow. But .... it's possible the blend really helped, so I intend to use it again should the need arise.

Essential Oils - They're Here!!!

Earlier this month I made the decision to purchase some essential oils. I have never used essential oils before, at least not on purpose. I have just run into them again and again as I research ways of living a more holistic, healthier lifestyle. So I got curious. And my old friend, S, uses them and feels they have been beneficial to her and her family. So out of pure curiosity, I splurged (a good word, they were not cheap) on a starter kit of oils and a "every day" oils package.

The company I ordered from, recommended by S for their purity, is called Young Living. It is a pyramid-type company, meaning you can become an independent seller of Young Living products, and when you sell some to others, you receive benefits, such as a reduced cost of supplies for yourself. In any event, I ordered using S's seller #, thus giving her benefits of some kind.

In addition to the oils, I ordered a couple of books about oils, a bottle of "carrier" oil (a base oil to mix essential oils in to produce a diluted oil or oils) and three empty dropper bottles to keep my mixtures in. Basic supplies.

And now to open the box (dun-dun-DUN.....)....

Two boxes, very tidy. So what's inside?

Ooo. Ok, so the box on the right is the "Start Living" kit, which comes with a membership of any kind in the Young Living company. You then choose the oils package that you feel you'd like to begin with. I chose the "Everyday Oils" package. (The box on the left)

The "Start Living" box contents. There is also a thick packet of paperwork in the same folder. My homework! If you can't read the bottles, there are 3 NingXia singles. The oils are Peppermint and Lavender.

The contents of the Everyday Oils package. Along with a small booklet describing the use of each oil were the following oils: PanAway, Purification, Peace & Calming, Peppermint, Thieves, Lemon, Lavender, Frankincense and Valor.

I bought these separately after reading a little in one of the books I bought. Sweet almond oil is supposed to be a good carrier oil, especially for children. That is, it is used to dilute the essential oils for various uses. The bottles are for putting my own mixes in.

My plan is to systematically learn what each of these oils is used for, and when possible, to test them out. I will blog about it all. I figure in the very least, I can get my money's worth by sharing the information with all of you! And it will be fun for me. I'm excited to get started. But the books, what little I have read in them so far, make it clear that it is important to know what you are doing with essential oils. Like anything, they can be used improperly to ill effect. So I will diligently do my reading, and will be safe and cautious with the oils. To the books!