Barbecues and camping is part of summertime fun. Sometimes our fun can result in discomfort from burns, scrapes, cuts, rashes or bug bites. It can turn into an ordeal if you are not prepared for the unknown. But fear not, you can get prepared easily, without “breaking the bank” AND with natural products.
Here are ideas of what to do for first aide.
Lavender essential oil. Lavender may be used for many first aide circumstances. If you get a burn from the fire, or a sunburn from the too much sun, Lavender is the answer. All you need to do is apply Lavender topically on the area of concern.
LavaDerm Cooling Mist. Most excellent to spray on sunburns, rashes and burns. If you do get a burn, throughout the day, spray LavaDerm Cooling Mist and apply Lavender essential oil. It is best to first start doing this every half hour and as the day goes on, spread the time of application out. You will be happy with the results.
Put a drop of Lavender oil on a bee sting or insect bite, this may help to stop itching and reduce swelling.
Lavender may help to stop a nosebleed. Put a drop of Lavender oil on a tissue and wrap it around a small chip of ice. Push the tissue covered ice chip up under the middle of the top lip to the base of the nose and hold as long as comfortable or until the bleeding stops (do not freeze the lip or gum).
Rub a drop of Lavender oil on chapped or sunburned lips.
Rub 2 to 4 drops of Lavender oil over the armpit area to act as a deodorant.
Put a drop of Lavender oil on a cold sore.
Drop Lavender oil on a cut to clean the wound, and may help to kill bacteria.
Purification essential oil blend may help to keep the mosquitoes from “sucking” your blood. Drop a few drops in the palm of your hand and rub over any exposed skin and through your hair. When I do this, the mosquitoes come buzzing to me, but take off before even “landing” on my skin.
PanAway is a fantastic essential oil blend for aches and pains. If you have played too hard, you may feel relief by applying to the area, a few drops of PanAway with a few drops of pure olive oil.
Peppermint essential oil is a great oil to deter ants. If you have an ant situation, put a drop or two of peppermint on a tissue or cloth and rub it on the area where the ants are coming. When they get to where they were going to cross and invade your territory, they will turn around and go the other way.
Put a drop of Peppermint oil in a gallon of water (a glass container). This is very refreshing.
Should you get an upset stomach, perhaps from too many “smores”, you can either put 1 drop of peppermint in about a half cup of water and drink it down and then drink one to two more glasses of water. Or take a drop of peppermint and rub it over your belly. It will at first feel warm on your skin, but in a few seconds it will cool down.
If you are hot, take a drop of peppermint and put it on the back of your neck. Once again it will feel warm at first, but in a few seconds you should feel cooler.
PanAway, Peppermint or Lavender may help to relieve a head ache by applying a drop or two to the temples, forehead and back of neck.
Thieves is another important essential oil blend to have on hand. Should one come down with a sore throat, take a drop or two of Thieves and a few drops of a carrier oil such as pure olive oil and apply it to the throat. You can even put a drop or two of Thieves in a quarter cup of water, gargle, gargle, gargle and then swallow it all down.
If one gets a tooth ache, put a drop or two of Thieves in a quarter cup of water, gargle, gargle, gargle and then swallow it all down.
If someone age 10 or older has a fever apply about 5 drops of peppermint to the bottoms of each foot. Wait 20 minutes and if the fever still needs to be reduced, apply the peppermint again.
If by accident one touches near their eye after using essential oils, they may feel discomfort. Easy fix is to put a little bit of pure olive oil on the finger and rub it under the eye or in the tear duct area. The discomfort should go away quickly. DO NOT apply water, as this will intensify the discomfort.
Pretty simple to be prepared, and all the above essential oils and LavaDerm Mist are totally natural. Read more on First Aide Kits
With more people becoming conscious of global warming and chemicals used daily in homes causing us very real harm I find it surprising to hear that some consider using Equal or Sweet ‘n Low as a ‘Natural’ ant killer. It’s as if they think these sugar substitutes are as harmless as regular cane sugar. For those who think cane sugar is bad for your health they would be happy to know they”ve been ill advised by marketing. Taking a closer look at this industry we find…
The artificial sweetener industry actually has it’s roots in the ant poison industry, strange but true. They were working on a new ant killer when one of the scientists discovered this poisonous substance was incredibly sweet… and that is where the story of sugar substitutes begins, as a product made to kill ants.
Aspartame was endorsed by the U.S. FDA as a safe product in 1981, and has been ever since, and recommended by many doctors as a good alternative sweetener.
By the 1990’s, the FDA had a list of 92 symptoms reported to them by 10,000 consumers, a list revealed to the public under the Freedom of Information Act. This alone is enough to make you seriously question… “who” is the FDA working for??? It’s certainly NOT us!
Sold commercially as NutraSweet, Equal, Spoonful, Equal-Measure and Canderel – aspartame can be found in more than 6,000 products, including but not limited to:
Diet sodas, juices, energy drinks, and flavored waters
Chewing gum
Table-top sweeteners
Diet and diabetic foods
Breakfast cereals, such as Fiber One (just to name one!)
Fiber supplements, such as orange flavored Metamucil
Jams and jellies
Any number of sweets
Crackers and cookies
Adult and children’s Vitamins (simply read the label)
Adult and children’s Toothpaste
Prescription and over-the-counter medications (what I use in place of these)
Alka Seltzer Plus
Some Tylenol medications
According to the industry-run Aspartame Information Center – a propaganda masterpiece – the Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI), as set by the FDA, is 50 mg/kg. That equates to about 20 cans of a 12-ounce diet soda if you’re a 150 lb. adult, or six 12-ounce cans for a 50-pound child. That’s what they consider a low enough dose of the stuff to not kill you as dead as an ant with this ‘natural’ ant killer.
The ADI for tabletop sweeteners is 97 packets for adults, and 32 packets for children.
The Aspartame Information Center’s “myth” section goes on to make this statement:
Aspartame: Great taste without the calories for today’s healthful lifestyles
“Despite the overwhelming documentation of aspartame’s safety, unfounded allegations that aspartame is associated with a myriad of ailments, including multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and lupus, have continued to be spread via the Internet and the media by a few individuals who have no documented scientific or medical expertise.
Recently, several governments and expert scientific committees (including the Scientific Committee on Food of the European Commission, the United Kingdom’s Food Standards Agency, the French Food Safety Agency and Health Canada) carefully evaluated the Internet allegations and found them to be false, reconfirming the safety of aspartame.”
The FDA’s ‘OWN’ records include these common symptoms associated with aspartame:
Spasmodic Torticollis (involuntary spasms in head and neck)
Unsteady gait
Skin problems and lesions
Obesity
Genetic damage and birth defects
A decline in kidney function
This list does not sound to me like misinformation being spread around the internet about some poor helpless good for you food product! Is anyone else feeling more like these big companies get more protection than ‘we’ do?
Additionally, does it make sense that what was once listed, aspartame, by the Pentagon as a “biochemical warfare agent” is now an integral part of your modern diet?
Almost two-thirds of the complaints filed fall into the neurological and behavioral category; consisting of mostly headaches, mood alterations, and hallucinations. The remaining third fall into gastrointestinal issues.
The approval of aspartame has been the most contested in FDA history. The sweetener was NOT approved on scientific grounds, but rather due to strong political and financial pressure.
I’m no rocket scientist (and in this case I don’t think it’s required), but it seems to me that an item does NOT go from being listed as a “biochemical warfare agent” to a perfectly safe food to eat without there being some hanky-panky at play.
But in this case, what was developed as an “ant killer” very quickly became a food ingredient! Not because it didn’t kill ants (it does kill them) but because it is super sweet and some ingenious folks decided it could be used as a sweetener and they’d make more money.
What happens when a woman sets up her own 8 year aspartame experiment with 1,800 rats…
“I did my aspartame experiment because my family was addicted to diet soda. After researching the effects of aspartame, I strongly believed the artificial sweetener might one day lead to their illness and even early death.
Most influential in my research on the aspartame molecule was The Bressler Report. Dr. Jerome Bressler, M.D., led an FDA task force to attempt to validate the authenticity of a study done by G.D. Searle, the pharmaceutical company that held the patent to the ‘sweetener.’
Dr. Bressler’s team did the Searle audit between April 25, 1977 and August 4, 1977 of study PT #988S73, a 115 Week Oral Tumorigenicity Study in the Rat. The rat study was supposedly done by Searle to examine the adverse effects of the crystalline form of aspartame’s breakdown from phenylalanine, 50% of the chemical’s composition to SC-19192, diketopiperazine (DKP).
Bressler’s force found irregularities in Searle’s experiment– missing raw data, errors and discrepancies in available data, exclusions of animals, and animals that had masses removed and were then returned to the study.
It is clear Searle misrepresented the carcinogenicity of DKP and hid incriminating data from the FDA.
One unreported tissue mass in Searle’s study measured 5.0 X 4.5 X 2.5 cm. Equivalent to 2 in. X 1.75 in. X 1.0 in. – a significant sized tumor that should be visible to the naked eye, hard to miss.
I was convinced I would see tumors and possibly other harmful effects to convince my family and friends to avoid aspartame,” writes Victoria Innes-Brown, M.A.
“Because my family members were addicted to diet soda, at first I wanted to put Diet Pepsi in my rat’s water bottles. That idea was short lived. After turning a filled bottle upside down and attaching it to a cage, the liquid immediately started flowing out—carbonation pressurizes the bottle—so diet Pepsi wouldn’t work. It was just as well, because the cost of the soda would have been prohibitive over the course of the experiment.
The National Institute of Health evaluates a packet of aspartame-based sweetener such as NutraSweet contains 40 mg of aspartame.
I decided on putting the NutraSweet in their drinking water, at the rate of two packets—a total of 80 mg of aspartame–per each 8 oz of water.
A 12-oz diet soda has about 180 mg of aspartame, 15 mg of aspartame per oz., the amount in approximately 4.5 packets of NutraSweet.
According to the industry-run Aspartame Information Center website, a conservative estimate of the maximum dose of aspartame for humans per day, the Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI), as set by the FDA, is 50 mg/kg, approximately twenty cans of 12-ounce diet soda for a 150 lb. adult and six 12-ounce cans for a 50-pound child. Tabletop sweetener ADI is 97 packets for an adult and 32 packets for a child.
The animals in my study weighed on the average of 1 pound for males and 0.66 pounds for females. The ADI for the males was 16.9 mg, for the females 13.5 mg
To put these numbers into perspective, the aspartame received by my rats daily, was equivalent to two-thirds the aspartame contained in 8-oz of diet soda.
Most studies are done on rats that are genetically identical. According to a friend who runs a rabbit and mouse lab for a local bio-tech company, ‘Some vendors sell strains of rats that have gone through 30 generations of brother and sister in-bred mating.’
This concept seemed counter-intuitive to me. How do these strains of rats represent the general population? In “Mean Genes”, Jay Phelan and Terry Burnhan write: “Almost all animals avoid mating with close relatives because it makes for bad babies. From mice to monkeys, animals are reluctant to have offspring with siblings.
I bought my rats at PetCo and bred them for my experiment. I purchased rats of different colors, to get a genetic verity. I also attempted to breed rats that were not brothers and sisters, to avoid in-breeding mutation.
I found most of the observable symptoms occurred during the last third of the rat’s life-span, illuminating the information that the adverse effects of aspartame are cumulative.
I chose to allow my rats to live out their natural lives. I honor them for their sacrifice and for showing the way for the rest of us.
I put NutraSweet in their water starting in March, 2002, and the last of them died in November 2004. The experiment lasted a total of two years, eight months.
Even though I had read the Bressler Report, I was struck by the number and size of the growths. Eleven females and one male developed tumors. That’s 37% of the females on aspartame.” by Victoria Inness-Brown http://myaspartameexperiment.com
Interestingly, studies conducted by the manufacturer of aspartame, 12 of 320 rats fed a normal diet and aspartame developed brain tumors, while none of the control rats (not fed aspartame) developed tumors. And five or the twelve rats were given a low dose of aspartame.
Other studies showed that aspartic acid, one of the main ingredients in aspartame caused damage to the brains of infant rats.
In 1981, an FDA statistician stated that the brain tumor data on aspartame was so “worrisome” that he could not recommend the approval of NutraSweet.
A review conducted in 2008 by scientists from the University of Pretoria and the University of Limpopo found that consuming a lot of aspartame inhibited the ability of enzymes in the brain to function normally and may lead to neurodegeneration.
According to the researchers, consuming a lot of aspartame can disturb:
The metabolism of amino acids
Protein structure and metabolism (which coincides with the obesity epidemic)
The integrity of nucleic acids
Neuronal function
Endocrine balances
Breaking Down the Parts of Aspartame
Aspartame causes nerves to fire excessively (because aspartame is an Excitotoxin like MSG and some other chemical food ingredients), which can lead to a high rate of neuron depolarisation. The chemical in aspartame responsible for this is aspartic acid, aspartame is 40 percent aspartic acid, when consumed it significantly raises your blood level of aspartate, which leads to a high level of those neurotransmitters in your brain, where they slowly begin to destry neurons.
Aspartame is 50 percent phenylalanine and excessive levels can cause a decrease of serotonin, which leads to emotiona disorders and depression, schizophrenia, and seizures.
Methanol, or wood alcohol, makes up the remaining 10 percent of aspartame. Methanol on its own is a poison and it breaks down into formic acid and formaldehyde – a deadly neurotoxin – in your body. Methol poisoning can lead to: vision problems, headaches, ear buzzing, dizziness, nausea, gastrointestinal issues, weakness, numbness, shooting pains in your extremities, behavioral disturbances, and memory lapses.
In a peer reviewed, well-controlled 7 year study it was found that as little as 20 mg a day of aspartame can cause cancer in humans.
One 12 ounce can of diet soda contains about 180 mg of aspartame… do the math!
I find it interesting that the types of diseases and health challenges many are faced with today quite possibly stem from nothing more than what can be fit in your average sized kitchen cabinet or fridge. The lies, manipulations and marketing cnditioning from the food industry and product industries (cleaning and personal care products) is equating to disease epidemics that the human specics has not encountered in all of history.
Aspartame, in everyday diet foods, is ruining our health and making us fat and diseased!
It’s about time we woke up from our long and lazy sleep and begin reading labels again!
What You Can Do Will Make A Difference in the Quality of Your Life
2) Educate yourself and read labels! Read Aspartame Disease – an Ignored Epidemic by H.J. Roberts. And watch this 90 minute video Aspartame: Sweet Misery A Poisoned World (this is the mvie Coke, Pepsi, and the diet food industry don’t want you to watch!)
3) Tweet this article, post to your FaceBook page (simply click on the icon(s) at the bottom of this article, it’s easy!) and share it with your friends so they can make educated choices and get healthier!
4) Try EFT to help you break your aspartame habit. Or, simply aviod consuming anything with aspartame if you’re not addicted to the habit.
5) Stop buying foods and products that contain aspartame! Buying these products only gives them more money to convince even more people to junk on their toxic wagon.
Young Living has an excellent line of supplements that do NOT contain any toxic sweeteners, they also have an excellent and efective edible toothpaste Thieves Ultra Toothpaste and Thieves Mouthwash (see PDF Booklet and web page for more on Thieves products)
Aspartame – The World’s Best Ant Poison by Jan Jensen (June 2006 Idaho Observer)
We live in the woods and carpenter ants are a huge problem. We have spent thousands of dollars with Orkin and on ant poisons trying to keep them under control but nothing has helped.
So when I read somewhere that aspartame (Nutrasweet) was actually developed as an ant poison and only changed to being considered non-poisonous after it was realized that a lot more money could be made on it as a sweetener than as an ant poison, I decided to give it a try.
I opened two packets of aspartame sweetener, and dumped one in a corner of each of our bathrooms. That was about 2 years ago and I have not seen any carpenter ants for about 9 to 12 months. It works better than the most deadly poisons I have tried. Any time they show up again, I simply dump another package of Nutrasweet in a corner, and they will be gone for a year or so again.
Since posting this information I have had many people tell me of their success solving ant problems with this substance, when nothing else worked.
We found later that small black ants would not eat the aspartame. It was determined that if you mixed it with apple juice, they would quickly take it back to the nest, and all would be dead within 24 hours, usually. I have found that sometimes it will kill them, and sometimes it does not. Not sure why, may be slightly different species of ants or something.
Fire Ants: We got our first fire ant hill about 2 weeks ago. Poison did not work. We tried aspartame and the ants ignored it until we got a light rain. It was just a sprinkle, enough to moisten the Nutrasweet and ground, but not enough to wash it away. They went crazy, hundreds of them grabbing it and taking it back into the mound. When I checked the mound 2 days later, there was no sign of the fire ants. I even dug the mound up some, and still saw none of them.
How does it Work: Aspartame is a neuropoison. It most likely kills the ants by interfering with their nervous system. It could be direct, like stopping their heart, or something more subtle like killing their sense of taste so they can’t figure out what is eatable, or smell, so they can’t follow their trails, or mis-identify their colonies members, so they start fighting each other. Not sure what causes them to end up dying, just know that for many species of ants it will kill them quickly and effectively.
As with any poison I recommend wearing gloves and washing any skin areas that come in contact with this poison, and avoid getting it in your mouth, despite anything the labeling may indicate.
I suspect it will work for other insects such as yellow jackets as well, but have not tested that yet.
"You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. You are the guy who'll decide where to go." ~ Dr. Seuss
I love powdered cinnamon and therapeutic Cinnamon Bark essential oil from Young Living Essential Oils, which is one of my favorites. It’s especially nice in blends, such as the very popular Thieves essential oil blend. In the study below it was found that cinnamon ‘leaf’ oil from the species Cinnamomum osmophloeum has simplar properties as Cinnamomum cassia, which has a Trans-cinnamaldehyde content of 70-88 percent. Cinnamon Bark Cinnamomum verum has a trans-cinnamaldehyde content of 40-50 percent and a Eugenol content of 20-30 percent.
This is all worth noting because all aromatherapy oils labeled ‘Cinnamon’ rarely come from any of the species mentioned above – and – even more rarely are they distilled properly from the ‘bark’ – this makes a huge difference in the results, whether used to kill insect pests, killing micro-organisms, or in healing. See my previous article, Does Your Cinnamon Bark and Benefit?
When I read a study with findings like this there are things I would want the reader to know before making any attempt to kill insect pests, the environment, or using the essential oil with humans. First, Cinnamon Bark essential oil is considered a ‘hot’ essential oil; meaning it’s spicy and could irritate skin when used topically, it could also irritate mucous membranes when inhaled if it’s diffused alone for long periods of time, and should always be diluted. Environmentally speaking, any superior quality essential oil could damage plants, beneficial insects, fish, frogs/toads – so always be extremely mindful not to use large amounts and make sure to only target the pest and not something we value to get the best results.
Always remember… ‘one’ drop of a superior quality essential oil is many times more powerful than a large bottle of a lesser quality essential oil!
With the exception of the species Cinnamomum osmophloeum you can very safely assume that ALL cinnamon ‘leaf’ essential oils come nowhere close to having the same properties or results as Cinnamomum cassia and Cinnamomum verum.
The study states that the compound cinnamaldehyde showed the strongest activity at an LC50 (LC50 value is the concentration that kills 50 percent of mosquito larvae in 24 hours) of 29 ppm – this is an extremely small amount of essential oil needed to control mosquito larvae!
Testimonial: Using Thieves in My Garden
This may also explain why and how I get excellent results when I use my Thieves Household Cleaner for insect pest control – and – for eliminating Powdery Mildew on my garden plants. I use the heavy degreasing ratio (shown on the label) in my spray bottle filled with water. Almost always two applications works like a charm! The Thieves essential oil blend contains Cinnamon Bark and is the key ingredient in the Thieves Household Cleaner responsible for addressing my garden pest issues. I also make sure there are no beneficial insects nearby when I spray! ~ Evelyn Vincent
Cassia, Cinnamomum cassia, is a very expensive essential oil – if you find it and it’s not extremely expensive you can be certain that it is NOT a superior quality essential oil with all of it’s natural constituents in tact, not to mention, it would probably be loaded with chemicals that were used during distillation and/or processing.
Young Living does not sell Cassia as an individual purchase. It can only be obtained in a kit called “Twelve Oils of the Ancient Scripture.” Cassia is a very precious oil, one that I would not use to control mosquito larvae. Cassia’s Trans-cinnamaldehyde content is 70-88 percent and the Cinnamyl Acetate content is 0-6 percent.
I only use Cinnamon Bark Cinnamomum verum for my insect and fungal control in the form of the Thieves Household Cleaner diluted in water in a spray bottle - which is a very powerful essential oil having a cinnamaldehyde content of 40-50 percent ,which is far more potant than your average cinnamon leaf oil.
Cinnamon Bark (Cinnamomum verum) essential oil from Young Living is very reasonably priced for home use, at $28.62 for a 5ml bottle retail (24% less at wholesale) making this an effective essential oil to make up your own mosquito larvae, pest and insect control concoction.
Additionally, therapeutic-grade Cinnamon Bark (Cinnamamum verum) essential oil has a very impressive ORAC score of 103,448!
Historical Information
Listed in Dioscorides’ De Materia Medica (A.D. 78), Europe’s first authoritative guide to medicines, the standard reference work for herbal treatments for over 1,700 years. Cinnamon was reputed to be part of the “Marseilles Vinegar” or “Four Thieves Vinegar” used by grave-robbing bandits to protect themselves during the 15th century plague. The Thieves essential oil is a blend based on the “Four Thieves Vinegar.”
Medical Properties of Cinnamon Bark
Cinnamon Bark has many known and important medicinal qualities, some are: anti-inflammatory (COX2 inhibitor), powerfully antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, anticoagulant, circulatory stimulant, stomach protectant (ulcers), antiparasitic (worms).
Cinnamon Bark essential oil is found in: All of the Thieves edible toothpastes and KidScents Toothpaste, Egyptian Gold, Exodus II, Gathering, Highest Potential, Magnify Your Purpose and Thieves essential oil blends, Mineral Essence Tincture, Thieves Bar Soap, Thieves, Household Cleaner, Thieves Foaming Hand Soap, Thieves Hard and Soft Lozenges, Thieves Waterless Hand Purifier, Thieves Spray, and Thieves Wipes. Any of these can be purchased here.
Article: Cinnamon Oil Kills Mosquitoes by Michael Bernstein Source EurekAlert!
Cinnamon oil shows promise as a great-smelling, environmentally friendly pesticide, with the ability to kill mosquito larvae, according to a new study published in the July 14, 2004 issue of the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Chemical Society, the world’s largest scientific society.
The researchers also expect that cinnamon oil could be a good mosquito repellent, though they have not yet tested it against adult mosquitoes.
Besides being a summer nuisance, mosquitoes pose some major public health problems. While conventional pesticide application is often effective in controlling mosquito larvae before they hatch, repeated use of these agents has raised serious environmental and health concerns.
“These problems have highlighted the need for new strategies for mosquito larval control,” says Peter Shang-Tzen Chang, a professor in the School of Forestry and Resource Conservation at National Taiwan University and lead author of the paper. Scientists are increasingly turning to more benign natural chemicals to ward off mosquitoes and other pests.
Chang and his coworkers tested eleven compounds in cinnamon leaf oil for their ability to kill emerging larvae of the yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti. “Four compounds — cinnamaldehyde, cinnamyl acetate, eugenol and anethole — exhibited the strongest activity against A. aegypti in 24 hours of testing,” Chang says.
Larvicidal activity is judged with a measurement called LC50. “The LC50 value is the concentration that kills 50 percent of mosquito larvae in 24 hours,” Chang explains. Lower LC50 translates into higher activity, because it takes a lower concentration to kill larvae in the same amount of time. All four compounds had LC50 values of less than 50 parts per million (ppm), with cinnamaldehyde showing the strongest activity at an LC50 of 29 ppm.
Other common essential oils, such as catnip, have shown similar promise in fighting off mosquitoes, but this is the first time researchers have demonstrated cinnamon’s potential as a safe and effective pesticide, according to Chang.
Cinnamaldehyde is the main constituent in cinnamon leaf oil and is used worldwide as a food additive and flavoring agent. A formulation using the compound could be sprayed just like a pesticide, but without the potential for adverse health effects — plus the added bonus of a pleasant smell.
Bark oil from the Cinnamomum cassia tree is the most common source of cinnamaldehyde, but the tree used in this study — indigenous cinnamon, or Cinnamomum osmophloeum — has been of interest to researchers because the constituents of its leaf oil are similar to those of C. cassia bark oil. The leaves of C. osmophloeum, which grows in Taiwan’s natural hardwood forests, could be a more economical and sustainable source of cinnamon oil than isolating it from bark, Chang says.
Though the team only tested the oil against the yellow fever mosquito, cinnamon oil should prove similarly lethal to the larvae of other mosquito species, the researchers say. In further studies they plan to test cinnamon oil against other types of mosquitoes as well as different commercial pesticides.
“We think that cinnamon oil might also affect adult mosquitoes by acting as a repellent,” Chang says. The researchers haven’t yet tested this theory, but they plan to find out in the near future.
The Council of Agriculture of the Executive Yuan, a government agency in Taiwan, provided support for this research.
"You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. You are the guy who'll decide where to go." ~ Dr. Seuss
Essential oils are important to have on hand for camping.. Many times we may go unprepared and regret having left some items at home, so it’s nice to have a list to be reassured and not leave home without important items, especially for first aide.
It is most likely that there will be pesky bugs, lots of sun and maybe even a scrape or two. Perhaps while roasting marshmallow’s someone could get a burn from the hot marshmallow or a sunburn from too much sun. So, it’s definitely a good idea to be prepared for the unexpected that we hope won’t happen while camping.
The following is a list of essential oils to take along and how to use them for various situations. After each application, always follow with smelling the essential oil with the remainder of the scent that is on your hands, cup your hands over your nose and take several nice long deep inhalations. (Be mindful to not touch your face with your hands, just cup your hands about an inch away from your nose and face.)
1. Lavender and LavaDerm Spray for Antiseptic: Destroys and prevents the development of microbes.
Minor burns-apply 2 to 3 drops on location, gently spread over effected area and lastly spray with LavaDerm Spray. Do this several times throughout the day until the burn has improved.
Cuts-apply Lavender directly on cut, may help to kill bacteria.
Headaches-apply a few drops by first putting the essential oil into the palm of your hand, then dip your finger in the oil and apply to temples, brow and back of neck.
Motion sickness-place a drop of Lavender oil around the naval or behind the ears.
Nosebleed-put a drop of Lavender oil on a tissue and wrap it around a small chip of ice. Push the tissue covered ice chip up under the middle of the top lip to the base of the nose and hold as long as comfortable or until the bleeding stops (do not freeze the lip or gum).
Deodorant-rub 2 to 4 drops of Lavender oil onto the armpit area to act as a deodorant.
Cold sore-put a drop of Lavender oil on a cold sore.
Rash-apply 2 to 3 drops of Lavender oil to a rash. May help to stop the itching and heal the skin.
For calming and relaxation-put 1 to 2 drops of Lavender in the palm of your hand and breath in the aroma.
2. Peppermint is an Analgesic: A substance, which may help to relieve pain.
Headache-apply a few drops on the temples, brow and back of neck. Stay clear of the eyes. Should you get any essential oil in your eye, apply a little V-6 Enhanced Vegetable Complex on your finger and pat on the inside of your eye area, by the tear duct, this may help to relieve any sensitivity. DO NOT apply water, as this will intensify the discomfort.
Pain-Peppermint may be applied directly to the area of discomfort.
Hot from heat of the day-apply a drop of Peppermint to the back of the neck, the essential oil will feel warm at first but in a few seconds you may feel cooled down.
Fever-if suffering from a fever; for an adult, apply 5 to 6 drops of Peppermint to bottoms of each foot. Take a temperature reading in 15 minutes, if the temperature needs additional lowering, apply Peppermint a second time. For younger children apply 2 to 4 drops as described. For infants, apply 1-2 drops in the palm of your hand, rub hands together and then hold your hands to the bottoms of the infant’s feet.
Indigestion-rub 2 drops over stomach/ around navel with V-6 Enhanced Vegetable Complex to relieve indigestion, flatulence, and diarrhea. May also put a drop in about 1/4 to 1/2 cup water and drink down. Drink a cup or two more of water.
Poison ivy or poison oak-apply Peppermint oil on location, dilute with V-6 (carrier oil).
Alertness and concentration-place 1 drop of Peppermint oil on the tongue to improve alertness and concentration.
Refreshing water-put 1 drop of Peppermint oil in a gallon of pure water for a refreshing drink. Note: 1 drop of Peppermint oil is enough to make 28 cups of tea.
Ants-put drops of Peppermint where there are ants, they will turn around and run in the other direction. If you have a tent, put Peppermint on the floor of the entrance to the tent.
Purification: This blend may KILL bacteria, mold and fungus on the spot. It PURIFIES AND CLEANSES the air, KILLS anaerobic bacteria.
Mosquitoes and other pests-put 3 to 5 drops in the palm of your hand and rub any exposed skin and brush through your hair.
Bee, hornet, wasp, spider stings-it works great on neutralizing and calming the discomfort of the sting.
Cabin camping-to purify the air, put a few drops of Purification on a cotton ball or tissue and put in the air vents.
Thieves: This is one of the world’s most potent virus and bacterial KILLERS known to mankind. Proven in clinical studies to be more potent than Penicillin and Ampicillin. This is the formula, which is known to kill more pathogens than any other oil. Highly recommended. Use this oil by diffusing it into the atmosphere of your home or office.
Sore throat, strep throat- with about a teaspoon of V6 Enhanced Vegetable Complex and 2 to 4 drops of Thieves, apply to your throat and chest. Put 1 drop in ¼ cup of pure water, gargle and swallow. May need to drink more water, as the Thieves is quite powerful
Tooth and gum pain-put 1 to 2 drops in ¼ cup of pure water, gargle and swallow. May need to drink more water, as the Thieves is quite powerful. With about ¼ teaspoon of V6 Enhanced Vegetable Complex and 1-2 drops of Thieves apply directly on the gum and around the tooth that hurts.
For tea, put 1 drop in a cup of hot water.
Protect against airborne viruses-rub on the bottoms of feet for protection throughout the day.
Cough-add a few drops with honey or agave in a teaspoon for cough relief.
Splinters-put 1 drop of Thieves over splinter, may help to draw splinter out.
Thieves Spray-Excellent to have on hand to spray on areas that need disinfecting and to spray on hands to keep clean and disinfected.
Thieves Foaming Hand Soap
Will cleanse, defend, and condition the skin with the therapeutic-grade essential oil blend Thieves, pure lemon and orange essential oils, aloe, Ginkgo biloba, and vitamin E. Dispensed as a rich foam, Thieves Foaming Hand Soap contains gentle ingredients so it can be used often without drying or stripping the skin.
PanAway: Due to its aspirin-like qualities of Birch and the powerful anti-inflammatory properties of the other oils, PanAway may reduce pain. It has been used during surgery with no anesthetic just to point out its ability to end pain. PanAway is great for BONE PAIN, ARTHRITIS, RHEUMATISM, and promotes healthy circulation. It contains helichrysum, birch, clove and peppermint.
Aches and pains, such as back pain, aching muscles-put 2 to 4 drops in the palm of your hands with about a teaspoon of V6 Enhanced Vegetable Complex and apply to area of discomfort.
Arthritis-Apply directly to effected area.
First Aid Spray
You’ll need:
3 drops Lavender
3 drops Tea Tree (Melaleuca alternifolia)
2 drops Cypress
8 oz of pure water
8 oz spray bottle
Add water and essential oils to spray bottle. Shake a little before using to suspend essential oils. Spray whenever needed.
So, get ready for camping and be sure to pack your chemical and toxic free first aide items to have a healthier and safer fun filled excursion, utilizing natural healing with therapeutic-grade essential oils.
If you would like to have daily essential oil tips, click here.
Note: All essential oils are NOT created equal. Most essential oils are of lower quality. Therefore, do NOT use the information provided here for other brands. Learn why quality is so important.
Lavender therapeutic-grade essential oil to “oilers” is considered the Swiss Army Knife or duct tape of essential oils because of its many helpful ways that may aide healing of our pets and ourselves.
LAVENDER: (Lavandula angustifolia) Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) has a fresh, sweet, floral, herbaceous aroma that is soothing and refreshing. Because it is the most versatile of all essential oils, no home should be without it. Lavender is an adaptogen, and therefore can assist the body when adapting to stress or imbalances. It is a great aid for relaxing and winding down before bedtime, yet has balancing properties that can also boost stamina and energy. Therapeutic-grade lavender is highly regarded for skin and beauty. It may be used to soothe and cleanse common cuts, bruises, and skin irritations. The French scientist René Gattefossé was among the first to discover these properties when he was severely burned in a laboratory explosion.
How to use: For dietary, aromatic or topical use. When using as a supplement, put one drop in a capsule or in 4 fl. oz. of rice or goat’s milk.
Possible skin sensitivity. If pregnant or under a doctor’s care, consult your physician. Dilution not required; suitable for all but the most sensitive skin. Generally safe for children over 2 years of age.
Rub a drop of Lavender oil on your palms and smooth on your pillow, may help with sleep.
Put a drop of Lavender oil on a bee sting or insect bite may help to stop itching and reduce swelling.*
Put 2-3 drops of Lavender oil on a minor burn, may help to decrease pain.*
Drop Lavender oil on a cut, may help to stop the bleeding.*
Mix several drops of Lavender oil with V-6 Vegetable Mixing Oil and use topically on eczema and dermatitis.*
May help too alleviate the symptoms of motion sickness, place a drop of Lavender oil on the end of the tongue or around the naval or behind the ears.*
May help to stop a nosebleed, put a drop of Lavender oil on a tissue and wrap it around a small chip of ice. Push the tissue covered ice chip up under the middle of the top lip to the base of the nose and hold as long as comfortable or until the bleeding stops (do not freeze the lip or gum).*
Rub a drop of Lavender oil over the bridge of the nose, may help to unblock tear ducts.*
Rub Lavender oil on dry or chapped skin.
Rub a drop of Lavender oil on chapped or sunburned lips.
May help to reduce or minimize the formation of scar tissue, massage Lavender oil on and around the affected area.*
Rub 2 to 4 drops of Lavender oil over the armpit area to act as a deodorant.
Rub a drop of Lavender oil between your palms and inhale deeply, may help to help alleviate the symptoms of hay fever.*
Rub several drops of Lavender oil into the scalp, may help to eliminate dandruff.*
Place a few drops of Lavender oil on a cotton ball and place in your linen closet to scent the linens and may help to repel moths and insects.*
Place a drop of Lavender oil in your water fountain to scent the air, may help to kill bacteria and prolong the time between cleanings.*
Place a few drops of Lavender oil on a wet cloth and throw into the dryer, which will deodorize and freshen your laundry.
Put a drop of Lavender oil on a cold sore.
Diffuse Lavender oil, may help to alleviate the symptoms of allergies.*
Spritz several drops of Lavender oil mixed with distilled water on a sunburn, may help to decrease pain.*
Drop Lavender oil on a cut to clean the wound and may help to kill bacteria.*
Apply 2-3 drops of Lavender oil to a rash, may help to stop the itching and heal the skin.*
Lavender therapeutic-grade essential oil is an essential oil for every household. Replace the medicines in your cabinet that may be synthetic or have chemicals in it, by ordering lavender essential oil today!!
Note: Not all essential oils are the same. Therapeutic-grade essential oils are steam distilled and wild crafted, their oils are carefully extracted by way of hot water and steam and they are free from any synthetic chemicals. Many labels use the words “For External Use Only,” which means that they might include chemicals other than pure oil.
* This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Non toxic pest control!! Isn’t that a much better way to get rid of pesty critters? Are you looking for ways that are Eco-friendly, natural, green and organic to help in the removal of pesty bugs without toxic chemicals? In this article you will learn different ways to do just that.
Among the many chemicals in our industrial environment that get into our systems and make us sick are the pesticides we use in our homes and in our gardens. We use them because they are toxic to the creatures that bug us, but they are also toxic to us. Sometimes the toxicity is immediately apparent: we get a headache, get sick or feel nauseous from the fumes or other contact.
Sometimes the toxicity is subtle and can accumulate resulting in chronic complaints and disorders that can be serious and even deadly over time (including allergies, cancer and miscarriages). Sometimes we even put poisons on our pets to deal with ticks and fleas, not understanding or realizing that these substances are not health for our animals or us.
We don’t need poisons to kill pests. We can repel them (and even sometimes kill them) with substances that are not only harmless to us but are actually healthful to us. What could this be? Therapeutic-grade essential oils.
One way to do this is to get a pistol-grip squirt bottle. Mix a few drops of the essential oil with some water, shake it up, and start firing. You can do this with most pests.
Specific Oils for Specific Insects
Ants: Peppermint or Spearmint. Smear a line of peppermint or spearmint across your kitchen counter or floor, or place a few drops on a cotton ball and put in their pathway. The ants won’t cross the line. If you already have a line of ants invading your house, just draw a line of oil across their path and they will turn back. It is fun to watch.*
Aphids: Cedarwood, Hyssop, Peppermint or Spearmint. Mix a few drops of the essential oil with some water, in a pistol grip squirt bottle, shake it up, and squirt the leaves and this drives the bugs away with no harm to your plant.*
Bee or wasp stings: Lavender, blend of Purification or Thieves. To neutralize the toxin and relieve the pain, apply a drop to the effected area.*
Beetles: Peppermint or Thyme
Caterpillars: Spearmint or Peppermint
Chiggers: Lavender, Lemongrass, Sage or Thyme
Cutworm: Thyme or Sage
Fleas: Peppermint, Lemongrass, Spearmint, Lavender or blend of Purification. Put a drop of any of these oils on your pets collar. Depending on the size of your dog or cat, the essential oil may be applied to the back of their neck and to the pads of their feet. It is very important to understand the power and concentration of quality essential oils and how to apply them safely to your pets Please contact me for more detailed information.
Flies: Lavender, Peppermint, Rosemary or Sage
Gnats: Palo Santo, Patchouli, Spearmint or blend of Purification.
Lice: Cedarwood, Peppermint or Spearmint
Mosquitoes: Lavender, Lemongrass, Palo Santo or blend of Purification
Moths: Cedarwood, Hyssop, Lavender, Peppermint or Spearmint
Plant Lice: Peppermint or Spearmint
Slugs: Cedarwood, Hyssop or Pine. Another tip, if you are a beer drinker, set cans or bottles with a little bit of beer left in the container, around the yard or garden. Slugs love beer and they crawl into the bottle, slurp it up and die.
Snails: Cedarwood, Pine, Patchouli
Spiders: Peppermint, Spearmint
Ticks: Lavender, Lemongrass, Palo Santo Sage, or Thyme. Put a drop directly on the tick, wait and pull it out with tweezers. Palo Santo seems to work the best.
Weevils: Cedarwood, Patchouli, Sandalwood
Insect Repellent: Lavender, Palo Santo or the blend of Purification. Apply any of these oils on exposed skin, run your hands through your hair and over your clothing. If you do get bit by mosquitoes, apply directly on the bite: Lavender, or Purification
Fruit Flies and Gnat’s: Diffuse Palo Santo or the blend of Purification.
Horse Flies: For horses, dab Lavender on their harnesses.
Do you ever have a situation where flies are really bugging you? Try this tip:
Fill a zip lock bag with water and 5 or 6 pennies and hang it in the problem area.
Regarding the science behind zip log bags of water, millions of molecules of water present its own prism effect and given that flies have a lot of eyes, to them it’s like a zillion disco balls reflecting light, colors and movement in a dizzying manner. When you figure that flies are prey for many other bugs, animals, birds, etc., they simply won’t take the risk of being around that much perceived action.
May you be less bugged during those pesty times of year and feel the added benefit of the use of therapeutic-grade essential oils and feel healthier from not using toxic chemicals that are in so many pest control products.
If you have any questions or would like to place an order please contact me.
Note: Not all essential oils are the same. Therapeutic-grade essential oils are steam distilled and wild crafted, their oils are carefully extracted by way of hot water and steam and they are free from any synthetic chemicals. Many labels use the words “For External Use Only,” which means that they might include chemicals other than pure oil.
* This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
A few days ago we noticed the big black ants were back again after taking the winter off, so to speak. Night before last I did a little experiment, after the last glass of lemonade was poured I left the pitcher sitting on the counter (unwashed and unrinsed).
When I got up the next morning there must have been about 20 big black ants inside the pitcher. This pitcher does have a lid, not tight sealing though as it has a spout, so it’s never really airtight.
I reached under the kitchen sink for my spray bottle of Thieves Household Cleaner and ever so slightly lifted the lid of the pitcher and gave several sprays. Within 5 minutes all of the ants in the pitcher were dead.
I then spotted an ant on the floor and so gave him a sprtiz too. I don’t know if he died or not as he ran under the crack at the base of the kitchen cabinets. He didn’t look so good and presume he too died after a few minutes.
I used Thieves Household Cleaner, diluted at the ‘medium’ strength ratio to kill big black ants with a good few sprays: 1 capful to 2 cups of water = medium dilution. I suspect that it’s either the clove or cinnamon, or both, in this essential oil blend that killed the ants, they probably ate through the waxy coating ants have on their bodies for protection. More on cinnamon.
This is an excellent option for those, who like me, refuse to use chemical products around the home and you won’t have to worry about some toxic insect spray being used in the kitchen around food! Perfect for those wanting a more natural lifestyle.
Thieves Household Cleaner formula boasts the most effective, 100 percent plant-and mineral-based ingredients available, including:
Vegetable-based surfactants like alkyl polyglucoside that are compliant with Green Seal and EPA Design for Environment (DfE) standards.
Biodegradable cutting agents like sodium methyl 2-sulfolaurate and disodium 2-sulfolaurate from renewable sources.
The all-natural cleansing and disinfecting power of Young Living Therapeutic Grade™ (YLTG) Thieves and lemon essential oils.
There is a significant difference between essential oils that simply smell good and those that are Young Living Therapeutic Grade™ (YLTG).
Thieves is an essential oil created an entire line of Thieves products including: Thieves Essential Oil, Thieves Household Cleaner, Thieves Ultra Toothpaste (my favorite, its the best toothpaste I’ve ever found), Thieves Mouthwash, Thieves Dental Floss, Thieves Foaming Hand Soap, Thieves Spray, Thieves Wipes, Thieves Lozenges, Thieves Waterless Hand Purifier, Thieves Bar Soap, and Inner Defense Softgels (a supplement containing Thieves essential oil). See Thieves product booklet (PDF) for more details.
Other Articles on the Usefulness of Essential Oils
"You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. You are the guy who'll decide where to go." ~ Dr. Seuss
Bed bugs are escalating because of global travel; the increase of homeless and underground communities; the popularity of “Flea” markets and 2nd-hand store merchandise. The escalation of bed bugs is alarming and people should be aware of the problem, how difficult it is to be rid of them, yet not be too discouraged, because there are natural, safe, chemical free ways to have those bed bugs be gone.
If you’re traveling or you’ve just recently purchased some used furniture, it’s a good idea to do an inspection for any mature bed bugs. Bed bugs tend to be found in dwellings that are frequently used, like motels, hotels, apartments, dorms, care facilities, and most especially used furniture.
If you think you’re being bitten, it’s best to do a search of your home for these pests. Bedding, clothes hampers, throw rugs, pillows and furniture are probably the first places you’ll want to search for bed bugs.
Vacuuming the mattress, using the “Bed Bug Spray” mentioned below, and applying a seal-able cover over the mattress should be sufficient. Meanwhile, all clothes, linens, and bedding should be washed in HOT water, and the surrounding area vacuumed thoroughly.
Make sure that you dry the sheets and clothes in the dryer and not on a clothes line, as it is the long time in the dryer, not the washing machine, that will really ensure the bed bugs are dead.
Essential oil lovers prefer the Eco-friendly approach, and research shows that tree oils work best against parasites and menacing insects. Gary Young touts the praises of PaloSanto oil as the first choice for insect repellent. PaloSanto comes from an Ecuadoran tree which develops a resin to protect against infestation and it is from that resin that Young Living distills the PaloSanto oil.
Eucalyptus has been used historically for bed bugs, and Eucalyptus Blue is the first anti-viral Eucalyptus Oil . Native American Indians relied on pine needles andCedarwood chips in their mattresses to ward off ticks and fleas.
Young Living essential oils are the essential oils that are being recommended for the following suggestions, as these essential oils are high quality therapeutic-grade essential oils. Read more on quality of oils.
Bed Bug Spray
10 drops of PaloSanto
6 drops of Eucalyptus Blue
5 drops of Cedarwood
Combine with 4 oz. Distilled Water in a dark glass Spritzer bottle.
Mattress Sachets
To go after nesting eggs, combine Cornstarch or Baking Soda in Cotton Tea bags with:
PaloSanto
Eucalyptus Blue
Cedarwood
Place bags on underside of mattress.
Washing Bed Linens:
Thieves Household Cleaner
Purification Oil Blend
2-4 capfuls of Thieves Household Cleaner for a medium to large load.
4-6 drops of Purification oil blend.
Bug Bites:
Lavender
Purification Oil Blend
Apply 1 drop of either oil to the bug bites.
Diffuse:
PaloSanto
Eucalyptus Blue
Cedarwood
In a cold air diffuser, fill the reservoir with 10-15 drops of either, PaloSanto, Eucalyptus Blue or Cedarwood.
Spray on Bed Between Linen Changes: Thieves Spray
PaloSanto Oil: PaloSanto (Burseragraveolens) comes from the same botanical family (Burseraceae) as frankincense, although it is found in South America rather than the Middle East. Like frankincense, PaloSanto is known as a spiritual oil, traditionally used by the Incas to purify and cleanse the spirit from negative energies. Even its Spanish name reflects how highly this oil is regarded: PaloSanto means “holy wood” or “sacred wood.” The resin forms only after the tree is down for 5 years, and this resin from which the oil is extracted, protects the tree from various parasites.*
Eucalyptus Blue Oil: Eucalyptus Blue has a fresh, invigorating aroma that supports normal breathing and soothes tense muscles. This essential oil is grown and harvested in Ecuador. This is the first form of Eucalyptus that is also anti-viral. This essential oil contains high levels of the powerful constituents eucalyptol and alpha-pinene, and follows in the same tradition as a repellent to insects.*
Cedarwood Oil: Cedarwood (Cedrusatlantica) has a warm, balsamic, woody aroma. It is relaxing and soothing when used for massage, and has long been used as a beneficial ingredient in cosmetic preparations for oily skin.*
Purification® Oil Blend: Purification® is a powerful blend of Therapeutic Grade A Melaleuca (Tea Tree oil); Citronella, Lemongrass, Rosemary, Lavandin and Myrtle essential oils. Purification® can be used directly on the skin to cleanse and soothe insect bites, cuts, and scrapes. When diffused, it helps to purify and cleanse the air from environmental impurities including cigarette smoke and other disagreeable odors.*
Thieves Household Cleaner: Experience the wonder of Thieves® Household Cleaner, as tough stains and problem areas in your home become simple and easy to clean without using harsh or abrasive chemicals. Thieves Essential Oil is legendary as was proven at Weber State University to exhibit a kill rate of 99.96% against all airborne bacteria including MRSA, Staph, Strep, e-Coli and Toxic Black Mold. While bacteria can be dangerous, some industrial cleaners on the market pose an even larger threat to your health. Thieves Household Cleaner is a safe all-purpose “green” concentrate that can be used in every room in your home, without the harsh chemicals. Dilution ratios are listed on the label for your convenience.
Having to deal with elimination of bed bugs can be a trying experience and if you are dealing with a large infestation, you may have to call in professionals. I hope that anyone reading this article will have success in getting rid of bed bugs, using natural ways, rather then chemicals that could be harmful to be around. Best of luck to you, and here’s to success in having a bed bug free environment. And remember if you are traveling to take along the Bed Bug Spray and spray down the bed and bedding. Sure as heck won’t hurt and hopefully you will never have to deal with bed bugs.
If you would like to contact me with any questions, if I can help you with your order, or if you would like other essential oil tips, please contact me.
* This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
“When you are breathing something divine, and if you can actually breathe mixtures of different essential oils, it creates a whole different chemistry in the body.” ~ Rodney Yee
The information found on this site is for your better understanding of complimentary and holistic health. It is not intended to diagnose, treat or prescribe. Please seek medical attention when necessary.
Woodson Merrell, MD on Aromatherapy at Beth Israel Medical Center
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