It's NO Secret; You Can Make Your Own Natural Deodorant

Hopefully most of you have not used anti-perspirant with aluminum for a very long time!  Those of you who still do I urge to learn about some of the potential side effects of it.  Also just so you know stopping your body from sweating is really not a good thing.  Sweating is one way our body gets rid of toxins stopping and plugging up pores anywhere on your body really isn't a good idea even if it is just your armpits. 

But unsightly sweat rings on your clothes and being afraid to lift your arms ever isn't the best thing either.  I have bought natural deodorant for a long time now especially when I found "regular" deodorant didn't contain aluminum but did contain Propylene Glycol. (aka anti-freeze) didn't figure that should go in my pits either. (you even need to watch out for some bad ingredients including the anti-freeze in a lot of so called "natural" deodorants.)

Anyway I found a brand that I was fairly happy with and for the most part it worked okay.  Usually on a hot day I would have to apply it twice and I felt like  by the end of the day (especially during that time of the month, do other women feel like they have more body odor during that time?) I didn't dare hug or get to close to anyone let alone raise my hands! ;)  So I went looking for something better.  I tried just baking soda mixed with some corn starch and it worked alright.  It absorb the sweat pretty good but was a pain to apply (and MESSY) and I felt like I didn't take too long to kind of stink.  I tried the  deodorant stone things;  TOTALLY DIDN'T WORK.  I then found a solid that had great ingredients and seemed to work pretty darn good.  Then I noticed some pain and a rash under my arms after using it a couple of weeks.  I knew what it had to be the cocoa butter in it.  It seems like no matter how I use "Chocolate" I have some sort of reaction.  I had tried mixing cocoa butter once with coconut oil to use as a moisturizer and it made be break out with great big pimples.  When I use just coconut oil I have no problem.  I guess Chocolate just isn't my friend.

So I went back to the first one I tried and made do.  Thinking that more naturally minded people just have a little different scent about them.  But then about six months ago I thought I should try making my own solid.  I tried just coconut oil with a little beeswax adding the baking soda and arrowroot powder (like cornstarch) with some good quality essential oils.  It worked wonderfully except I found with the warm weather it didn't stay solid unless kept in the fridge and since I don't put deodorant on in my kitchen that didn't work too well.

So I tried again this time adding more beeswax and some Shea Butter (it is solid at room temperature like cocoa butter)  IT'S PERFECT!  And just to be sure of that I used it and used it and used it.  I put it to the test.  I exercised with it and smelled myself afterwards WOW!  I smelt good.   I even had Ryan smell me sometimes just to be sure! (He hopes you appreciate what he goes through for you all! ;)  I tried it through that time of the month when I tended to be more stinky!  Hummm, still smelt good!  Honestly I was surprised!  And just because I love you all so much I did the unthinkable.  I didn't shower for three days and only applied the deodorant at the beginning of the first day!  Okay I'll admit by the end of the third day I wasn't smelling super sweet but I didn't smell all that bad it seemed to work pretty well until It wore off a little ways into the third day!  All I can say is I am NEVER going to have to buy deodorant again this works so much better then anything I have ever tried!  The only down side that I noticed was if I put too much on I would sometimes get a waxy yellow buildup on my under shirt it appears to wash out pretty good though and isn't a problem if you don't put on too much!  Mostly I just love that I don't have to worry about stinking anymore and I don't have to put chemicals in my pits!

As I have told others about it they say I should start selling it.  And who knows maybe someday I will but way before I ever do that I will share with all of you my recipe!  WHY? You may ask!  Well because I believe we all benefit when we share what we know and what we are learning.  You know how the saying goes "What goes around comes around!"  I just figure the more good I put out there the more good I will get back!  Even if it's just a good smell! ;) 

It's NO Secret

Best Natural Deodorant Ever

1/4 cup Baking Soda

1/4 cup Arrowroot Powder

4 Tablespoons Beeswax
1/4 scant cup Shea Butter

1/4 heaping cup Coconut Oil

Favorite good smelling Essential Oils

I used Tee Tree, Lemon and/or Lemongrass, Grapefruit, Rosemary, Orange

5-20 drops of each according to "smell" I used more of the citrus ones and less of the others.  You could use Lavender or other oils you like but I would for sure use some Tee Tree and a Citrus I think these are key to smelling good they not only have a good smell themselves they help fight potential bad smell from you.

Mix the Baking Soda and Arrowroot powder in a medium sized bowl.  In a double boiler melt the Beeswax, Shea Butter and Coconut oil.  When melted remove from heat and add the essential oils.  Then pour onto soda mixture and mix.  Quickly Pour (before it sets up) into empty deodorant containers or other container of choice.  Should make about 3 sticks.  Enjoy being B.O. free!!  Naturally!

Warts!

A little note before I start.  I'm sure you have noticed that I have my favorite tools, products, books and brands that I have and will recommend.  Some of these things I am an affiliate for and have made a little bit of money telling you about them.  Some of them I just share because it's what I use I like it and I enjoy sharing good things with others.  Thus the many, many recipes I have posted just for the simple fun of sharing them!  My point is that I just want you to KNOW without ANY reservations;  That I will not ever recommend something I have not already read, tried, or used myself and found it to be of value to me and my family.  I will not recommend companies that I think or feel have questionable practices.  Notice that I don't have google adds or something like that with random advertising on my blog.  I will only ever have advertisers of things I use myself and find are of value.  I'm always happy to give my opinion like if you have something your thinking about trying and you tell me about it.  If I have not tried it I will tell you but I will also read the ingredients etc. and tell you if I would even want to try it.   I just enjoy sharing my opinion and I want you to be confident that it will always be my honest, only influence by my own experience and gut feelings.   Not influenced by popular opinion or marketing.  I will also never be afraid to simply tell you I don't know about that or you need to do what your gut is telling you!  Alright just wanted to be sure you understand that.  It's an important thing to me.

Okay onto warts!

Yeah I know not the Tastiest subject. And sorry there are even pictures so those of you who are easily grossed out just skip this post and be sure you entered a comment for the giveaway here!

Those of you who are interested in a very easy pain free way of wart removal stick around and I will share this past months experience of removing warts off my son's knee!

Yep I know lovely huh!  I didn't actually take a before picture, I really didn't expect such dramatic results, I had to go looking for one.  Luckily my boys frequently have very big holes in the knees of their pants so it wasn't to hard to find one I could zoom in on his knee with.  Alright from what I have understood warts are a virus and/or a fungus and people with compromised immune systems tend to get them easier and have a harder time fighting them off.  This is the case with my son(the details of which I will share later)  and for some reason during the past year he has just been getting more and more of them.  These on his knee here were the worst and they were starting to get pretty annoying because he is a boy and likes to crawl around and they would crack and bleed and with shorts weather trying to get here I really wanted to be done with them.  So I got these essential oils!

I have told you a little bit before about Be Young essential oils.  I have been looking for a long time for really good essential oils.  I have always been interested in them but was distrusting of the dramatic differences in prices different companies had while all claiming to still be pure.  And just the marketing and money behind a lot of it.  Anyway I tried quite a few different brands and looked into and learned about the different companies and their owners.  Then like I always do I went with what my gut told me. I know really scientific, it drives a lot of people crazy! ;) In my opinion Be Young is the very BEST I have tried!  I have also learned so much and hope to learn lots more from Dana Young the founder and owner of the company.  He is amazing!  Anyway this is what I did.  I placed the Guardian blend directly on the warts then I taped on a cotton pad and soaked it with the Lemongrass.  I had him leave in on overnight.

The next morning his knee looked like this and felt pretty hot.  I was supposed just leave the bandage on and continue to put the lemongrass on until the warts were gone but I was a little concerned because of the color and how hot the knee was.  So I told Curt we would leave the bandage off and not put anymore oils on until we saw what was going to happen.  I also could see something was obviously going on so I took a picture so I would be able to reference it!

Well after about two weeks this is what happened.  His warts basically dried up and fell off.  There was one day when we got home from Church that he told me a wart had fallen off in his shoe.  I was like, "thanks for sharing son."  I know it's way gross but there wasn't any bleeding and very little scabbing.  And we only ever applied the oils that one time!

I took this picture of his knee this morning.  I think with a little coconut oil rubbed on them there will be very little if any scaring.  And guess what else?  Yesterday I asked him about the few warts on his other knee and his ankle that we didn't put oils on.  He went to show them to me and they are gone!  My guess is that we killed the virus and/or fungus and the others died and fell off too!  I'm still amazed and I think it's just another one of those things that reinforces me to continue to go with my gut! ;)

Swine Flu

I hesitate to post this because I don't care for all the hype the media puts on things like this. But I thought some of you might be interested so I'm going to share a few of my thoughts maybe quote a couple of "experts" then give you some recipes!

I personally do not like the way the media tends to sensationalize pretty much EVERYTHING! And I REALLY don't like the way Big Pharma always seems to benefit! Did you know the risk here is really low? About 30,000 people die every year of the regular old flu or complications with it. (And yes many of them RECEIVED the flu shot! Something I am NOT a fan of!) So far I think the amount of confirmed cases world wide for Swine Flu are ummmm SEVEN! I'm not trying to devalue life and say it isn't important it of course is! I am just asking you to look at some stats and use a little common sense. Here is what Dr. Mercola has to say.

"Please remember that, despite the fantastic headlines and projections of MILLIONS of deaths, the H5N1 bird flu virus killed a mere 257 people worldwide since late 2003. As unfortunate as those deaths are, 257 deaths worldwide from any disease, over the course of five years, simply does not constitute an emergency worthy of much attention, let alone fear!


Honestly, your risk of being killed by a lightning strike in the last five years was about 2,300 percent higher than your risk of contracting and dying from the bird flu. I'm not kidding! In just one year (2004), more than 1,170 people died from lighting strikes, worldwide.

So please, as the numbers of confirmed swine flu cases are released, keep a level head and don't let fear run away with your brains."

If you want to read more of what he has to say you can do that here!

I really think your BEST defense is a strong healthy body with a very strong immune system! How do you make your immune system strong? Well first off you eat healthy and drink lots of good water you get plenty of rest and just basically live the laws of health! Then you DON'T do things that would actually thwart or lower your immune function like taking stimulants and drugs, flu shots, pretty much anything that will block immune function. REFINED SUGAR is a big one. I love to use herbs because they are food and they actually assist the Immune system and help make it stronger instead of weakening it. I believe we should work with our bodies NOT against them!

Here is a quote from Paul Nison!
People's immune systems are declining throughout the world, causing ill health and new outbreaks of viruses like the Swine flu. It is a real concern, but the larger issue should be addressed. We are not as healthy as we could be. Our immune systems are weak and getting weaker. Fear does not help the issue. Someone emailed me the other day and asked what I suggest to help protect against the Swine Flu.

Here they are:

1. Eat healthy

2. Exercise

3. Get enough rest
4. Take four thieves essential oils

5. Don't go to Mexico right now

That sounds simple enough doesn't it? Paul Nison recommends Four Thieves I have the recipe below for both the essential oil and the vinegar! I'm sure both would be excellent to not only help heal the flu if you get it but to actually help keep you and your family from getting it in the first place. I just placed an order with Mountain Rose Herbs (moving picture you can click on and get to on my side bar) for ALL the ingredients to make BOTH!

Also I always have Anti-Plague on hand which is a wonderful formula that I have used a lot and seen it cure all sorts stuff. (I don't know if I have told you this but we have not needed a Doctor in over 9 years!) If you would like to hear what David Christopher has to say about all this go here! Very interesting stuff worth listening too! Also if you want to know how to make Anti-Plague I have a good friend who is a pro at making it and posted how on her blog you can check that out here!
FOUR THIEVES VINEGAR
1 part lavender, dried

1 part sage, dried

1 part thyme, dried

1 part lemon balm (melissa), dried

1 part hyssop, dried

1 part peppermint, dried

1 handful garlic cloves

Raw (unpasteurized), organic apple cider vinegar

• In a glass jar, place all dry ingredients.

• Add raw (unpasteurized), organic apple cider vinegar to cover

• Place jar in a cool place and let sit, at room temperature, for six weeks.

• Strain off herbs and garlic, and decant to a glass bottle or jar with a tight fitting lid.

HOW TO USE FOUR THIEVES VINEGAR

• Take a teaspoonful several times daily.

• Add to salads either directly or in a salad dressing.

• For personal protection, add a teaspoonful to bath water.

• Use as a topical spray for disinfecting surfaces and/or skin

FOUR THIEVES OIL

1 part eucalyptus

1 part rosemary

1 part cinnamon

1 part clove

1 part lemon

Carrier oil (olive, jojoba, coconut, or your choice)

Mix
I put 50 drops of each oil in a 2 oz. bottle and then top it off with the carrier oil.

OR

An alternative recipe:

200 drops Clove Bud Oil

175 drops Lemon Oil

100 drops Cinnamon Oil

75 drops Eucalyptus Oil

50 drops Rosemary

Mix with carrier oil.

APPLICATIONS:
• Apply 1-2 drops of Four Thieves on the bottoms of the feet and on the nape of the neck.

• Apply under the arms and on the chest.

• Diffuse for 20 minutes or less at work or at home.

I really hope that this post was informative and helpful! I DO NOT like making decisions based on fear and I hope I helped alleviate some of yours! It's really all about looking at the source of your information and seeing if they have anything to loose or gain. Then you see if the benefits outweigh the risks and then..... well I always pray about it and do what feels right and what works for me and my family!

Earache

I'm sure most of us have had them and we all know they are NOT fun! If you are a mother you know that kids only get them late at night! ;) If you were like I was you probably think that the only thing you can do for an earache is to go to the doctor and get an antibiotic. In fact when my oldest child was a baby we were in the doctor's office many times and I was told she had a ear infection. After repeated visits and stronger antibiotics each time. I remember hearing the word tubes! I was not impressed to say the least I felt like there had to be other answers. At the time I remember praying for help and knowing tubes in her ears were a LAST resort! Around that time my mother was studying about health and had learned a lot of interesting things about cow's milk and the role it can play in children's health. Also my pediatrician recommended giving her a decongestant every time we traveled. It actually seemed to help but deep down I knew It was just treating symptoms and I didn't like a lot of the ingredients in the decongestant. I still had lots to learn about ingredients but I knew I did not like artificial colors of ANY kind. My mom had figured that one out when my younger brother was just a kid! Anyway to not bore you with too many details and to make a long story short. A few years later I read this book!

I highly recommend this book ESPECIALLY to young parents! It has so much great info and it was written by a experienced pediatrician who was not afraid to challenge the status quo. I learned so much from this book and changed my thinking on so many things that I had just accepted as "the only way!" I still wonder why we put so much trust in a system that will go broke if they help us to truly be well. But I won't go off on that it's just earaches I want to focus on this time! Before I go on and tell you what I would do for an earache I want to quote from Dr. Mendelsonhn's book he has a whole chapter in it called "Earaches: Painful, Yes; Dangerous, Rarely!" Here are just a couple of highlights from that chapter.

"Allergies are also a frequent component in the production of ear infection. They may predispose your child to bacterial infection. The most common culprit is cow's milk, in its natural form or as found in infant formula. It causes a swelling of the mucous membranes, which interferes with the drainage of secretions through the eustachian tube. Eventually infection results because of the accumulated secretions."

"A series of controlled studies have revealed that the use of antibiotics for treatment of ear infections makes no difference in terms of the important outcomes--hearing loss, spread of infection, or mastoiditis. Their use may slightly shorten the duration of pain and infection, but the trade-off is that the antibiotics also reduce the body's natural immune response. Consequently, in order to slightly reduce the duration of the infection, you increase the possibility that the child will have new infections every four to six weeks."

Interesting stuff isn't it. But I like to have my cake and eat it too. I don't want to use the antibiotics and reduce the body's natural immune response, but I also want to shorten the duration of pain and infection. So I turned to herbs. With the study of herbs that I have done this is what I have used for earaches with great success. Before I found that you can buy an oil combination with all three herbs I used to put a drop of each in the ears. I now have a favorite E-3 ear oil that is made in my area. I love it! If you are really ambitious you can make your own oils. But I won't go into how to do that right now.

Ear Oil

it is simply Garlic oil

Garlic will kill infection if there is any

Mullein oil

Mullein helps loosen and break up the congestion

and Lobelia tincture

(usually comes in a vinegar or alcohol base)

Lobelia will help with the pain

You can usually find ear oils at a health food store. I would just look at be sure it has those three ingredients usually in a base of pure olive oil. Or you can find each individual product and mix them on your own or put a drop of each in each ear. With earaches I always put the oil in both ears even if only one is hurting.

Just a side note: I do not remember the last ear infection we had around here. It's been AT LEAST 6 years! I blame that on our giving up cow's milk. There have been a couple of times where one of my kids will wake up and say their ear hurts usually I will just rub some of the ear oil behind each ear and down the neck and if they want I will put a drop in each ear. But for the most part in our family earaches are a thing of the past and I couldn't be happier about it!

The Herbs I Wouldn't Want to be Without

You know I am finding the longer we try to eat healthy the stronger our immune systems seem to get. We don't need to use herbs medicinally near as often as we did when we first started down this path. But we do still definitely use them and I would NOT want to be without them.

Quite honestly we have not been to the doctor in over 8 years. Not one of us! I'm not against going to the doctor in fact I am very glad they are there and for EMERGENCIES they are invaluable! It is amazing to me though that with a little bit of knowledge and understanding it has saved my family and I TONS of time, money, stress, and avoided the symptom treating and unwanted side effects of chemical drugs.

I want to do a series of herbal health type posts that I hope will help encourage others ESPECIALLY Mother's to learn a little more. It is empowering to not be at the mercy of the "experts." I will put them in a new category called Natural Healing.

To begin with I will just post my all time favorite herbs! Please don't forget about the disclaimer at the bottom of the blog. ;)

The Herbs I Wouldn’t Want to be Without

Cayenne - If I had to choose just one herb this would be it! It is a cure all for anything, from colds to ulcers. It will stop bleeding in about 10 seconds, helps with circulation, cures ulcers (quickly but not painlessly). If you feel a cold coming on you can take cayenne and dramatically shorten if not stop it from getting bad. It also is a great catalyst for all other herbs to help increase their potency.


Mullein - This herb is a must if you have children. I use it most for earaches and congestion. Mullein oil put in the ears along with garlic oil and lobelia will cure an ear infection. Mullein and Lobelia ointment rubbed on the throat will help swollen glands. Mullein oil rubbed on the chest will break congestion and loosen up a cough.


Lobelia - As noted above I use this herb a lot with mullein. It is also great for pain relief of all sorts and to help someone relax and sleep. It can be used as an emetic or an anti-emetic. If you need to vomit or if you can’t stop, it will help both situations.


Comfrey - An absolutely amazing herb! It will mend, heal, and rebuild Bones, Flesh, and Cartilage! It is great for bruises, burns, broken bones, and any other type of wound.

Aloe Vera - Every home should have one of these plants. They require very little care and are wonderful for sun burns and all types of burns because of its cooling effect. It also works well
to help heal an upset stomach.


Garlic - Probably my second favorite herb. Not only does it flavor many foods but it heals so many problems. It helps a cold, it’s great for the heart, and will heal all sorts of things you
thought you needed an anti-biotic for like ear infections, strep throat, pneumonia etc. Without killing the good bacteria in your body!


Onion - Another great tasting one. But also is great for ulcers, and the reason I wouldn’t want to be without it is because of how wonderful it works for severe cases of croup, pneumonia, and asthma. Baked and laid on the chest and back will help to loosen up phlegm and open up breathing passages.


Yarrow - This herb grows great in many places. It is a diuretic and works great for fevers, the flu, and colds.


Echinacea - This flower is a must to have during cold and flu season. It boosts the immune system to help the body fight off illness. Due to the fact that it revs up the immune system someone with an auto-immune disease like asthma or fibromyalgia would not want to take Echinacea but would be better off with Astragalus and Marshmallow Root because they calm and strengthen the immune system without having it over react.


Goldenseal - Is a great herb that I save for the really tough infections. I don’t have to use it very often but I wouldn’t want to be without it for the times I might need it. In case something is just really tough to get rid of.


Plantain and/or Black Ointment - These ointments are great drawing ointments meaning they will draw toxins out of the body. For instance a snake bite, poison ivy, stinging nettle, or insect bites. It also works great for staff infection or blood poisoning.


Chickweed - Is good for all types of itchy rashes. From bites and hives to measles and chicken pox. It helps relieve the itch and heal the sores.


Ginger - I love this herb because I get motion sick fairly easy. I use it along with peppermint and fennel for all type of nausea and stomach aches. I also use it with Red Raspberry Leaf tea for Morning sickness when I am pregnant. It does the trick. I have found that catnip and fennel work really well for babies with colic.


Honey - Although this is not an herb I would not want to be without it! Mixed with onion juice or on it’s own is great for coughs. It works great for sore throats and mixed with garlic and cayenne will cure strep throat!