How to prevent and remove ticks safely

September 27, 2017 · 5 Comments

How to prevent and remove ticks safely

Last week I found a tick on my daughter’s back. Eeeeeewwwww! This prompted me to share what we learnt about how to prevent and remove ticks safely.

We had no idea what it was and removed it before we realised. Luckily it was quite small, not engorged and she did not show any adverse symptoms. It was very odd because she had not been in the bush or the garden, only to work that day.

There seems to be a tick problem on the east coast of Australia at the moment and there is a lot of information going around about how to treat them. Some of the info is outdated and some treatments can make the problem worse (yeah, that viral peppermint oil video!!)

So I thought it would be useful to share with you some updated information from some reliable sources so you have a handy reference. The products recommended to remove the ticks are not natural but for once-off tick removal, I think they are justified in this case.

….and is it just me or are ticks like lice in that when you start talking about them, you get itchy!!!

What are ticks?

Ticks are an eight legged insect. They are parasites and live by feeding off the blood of humans and animals. Little beggars!

How do you get ticks?

Adult ticks can attach themselves to grass and vegetation and transfer themselves to us and our pets. They are mostly found on the east coast of Australia. They are most active when it’s humid, particularly after rain. They can crawl up your body and like warm, moist areas.

Health problems related to ticks

Allergic reactions or anaphylaxis

Allergic reactions to red meat (Mammalian Meat Allergy)

Transmission of infections (such as Lyme Disease)

Tick paralysis

How to remove a tick safely

Current research says that you should kill adult ticks where they are by freezing with an ether-containing spray (like Wart Off Freeze Spray or Elastoplast Cold Spray) and then waiting till it falls off or removing carefully.

“freeze it, don’t squeeze it”

For the smaller ticks or larvae, a cream containing permethrin is recommended. Get it at the chemist and dab it on and wait for them to fall off or remove carefully.

“dab it, don’t grab it”

You should not scratch, squeeze or compress ticks. Do not use tweezers or ‘tick removal’ gadgets. You should not apply essential oils, vaseline, kerosene or other substances. These methods can cause the tick to release more allergen containing saliva into you.

Keep the tick in a sealed container in case it’s needed later.

Wash your hands thoroughly and keep an eye on the person who has been bitten. Homeopathic remedy, Ledum may assist with swelling and local reaction.

Bite ‘n Sting Balm is good for using topically to reduce the inflammation.

Don’t be shy about seeking medical attention if needed.

This video by Dr Jonica Newby from Catalyst explains it very simply.

How to prevent ticks

Wear long sleeved shirts and pants if you are bushwalking, camping or outside near vegetation. Light coloured clothing means you can see ticks more easily.

DEET sprays are recommended for tick prevention but I would rather not use that on an ongoing basis, especially on kids.

There are some good studies that found geranium and lemon eucalyptus essential oils can prevent ticks from attaching themselves to you. You can make up your own spray by adding either oil to a spray bottle of water with a dash of vodka.

After being in bushland areas, check yourself, kids and pets thoroughly, including head, hair and backs of ears. Clothes can be put in a hot dryer for 20 minutes to kill any ticks attached.

Have you had a tick outbreak where you live this year?

Sources and further reading

tiara.org.au TIARA – Tick Induced Allergies Research and Awareness

medent.usyd.edu.au/fact/ticks.htm

bioone.org/doi/abs/10.1603/0022-2585-41.6.1064

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26827259

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23528036

allergy.org.au/patients/insect-allergy-bites-and-stings/tick-allergy

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4313755/

health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/content/ohp-tick-bite-prevention.htm

Introducing EveryMite – an allergy friendly super spread!

August 24, 2017 · 5 Comments

Introducing EveryMite – an allergy friendly super spread!

You have to love a bit of serendipity.

I only moved back to Brisbane 18 months ago and I haven’t really met a lot of new people yet. When your kids are in high school you tend to lose that connection with other mums a bit and it becomes harder to make friends.

But… I came across a mum (who happens to live right near me) in a local Facebook group and she was talking about a healthy, allergy friendly spread she was making. I instantly thought – hello, here is a kindred spirit, I need to find out more.

I ordered some EveryMite for myself to test it out and then I had to get in touch and tell her how awesome it was! Cinnamon came over for a cuppa last week and we had such a good chat about all things natural and healthy. Kindred spirits indeed.

Of course, then I had to tell all of you about her as well, because I think you are also going to love her story!

About Cinnamon…

Cinnamon and her husband were already the parents of two older boys, when along came William four years ago who was born with Down Syndrome. They had a lot of issues with his health including multiple food intolerances and digestive issues. After going down the mainstream medicine route and treating symptoms, they were not seeing any results.

They decided to embark on the GAPS diet and a natural way of living and saw immediate improvements. Further on down the track when William went to child care, GAPS became difficult to maintain and William became more independent and wanted to eat the same as the other kids.

Having had the two boys go through the school system and knowing how tough that being ‘different’ can be, Cinnamon wanted to do what she could to help William assimilate and engage with his world. Her idea was to make William foods that looked like mainstream products but were in fact healthier versions.

This is where EveryMite was born!

About EveryMite…..

Cinnamon wanted to create a spread for William to replace Vegemite that was black in colour, salty and that had ingredients that he could eat. Three years of trialing, testing and refining the recipe finally led to EveryMite.

It’s a unique product in that it is suitable for just about everyone and every diet including paleo, vegan and GAPS! For those with the MTHFR gene it does not contain folic acid either. Made with just four ingredients, it is organic, raw, nutrient dense and allergy friendly.

EveryMite doesn’t have any dairy, soy, nuts, gluten, eggs, grains, toxic oils, preservatives, folic acid, thickeners and weird stuff.

EveryMite does have naturally occurring vitamins, minerals, amino acids, protein, fibre, enzymes and acetic acid. The ingredients are simply organic black sesame seeds, organic coconut amino sauce, organic himalayan rock salt and organic apple cider vinegar.

Cinnamon and her family still hand-make every batch in a commercial kitchen in Brisbane and there is a lot of love added to every jar!

What’s it taste like?

Because it doesn’t contain yeast, it doesn’t taste like Vegemite and it’s not supposed to. It’s a savoury breakfast spread that can be used instead of Vegemite for those who want something healthier. It’s a healthy Vegemite alternative.

Did you know that Vegemite is loaded with additives? It’s always been marketed as a health product and a great way to get vitamin B in particular. Sue Dengate at Fed Up says that “yeast extracts contain free glutamates that are essentially the same as MSG”. Vegemite also contains folic acid (manufacturers Bega confirm the folate is folic acid), gluten and natural colour (150d) which contains preservative 220. Remember I have talked about 220 before?

We gave up on it quite a few years ago and my hubby in particular really misses it. So he is pretty happy that I found EveryMite.

We love the taste. It’s slightly sweet, savoury and tangy all at once. It’s delicious on celery, crackers, rice cakes and toast. It also has a long shelf life which other Vegemite alternatives on the market struggled with.

Want to try it?

You can get it at health food stores (ask your local to stock it!!) or online here.

So often we see mums paving the way with new products, innovations and ideas after seeking solutions for their own families.

Mums really are changing the world!

10 tips for a stress-free Christmas

November 28, 2016 · 2 Comments

10 Tips for a Stress-Free Christmas

The most common thing I hear about Christmas these days is how stressful it is!

It makes me a bit sad to hear this, because it’s supposed to be a fun celebration. Having a chat with some of you over at Facebook, I learnt that the major issues seem to be family dynamics, financial considerations, excessive consumerism, pressure for everything to be perfect and unrealistic expectations.

I reckon it’s time to reclaim the Christmas fun! Get rid of the stress and enjoy the celebrations. What do you think?

Here are my 10 tips for a stress-free Christmas.

♥ Get Clear

What sort of Christmas do you really want? Who do you want to spend it with? What do you want to do? How do you want to feel? How much do you want to spend? Are you doing things you hate just to please other people? Are you trying to live up to other people’s expectations or even your own about what makes a perfect Christmas?

Lots to think about! Although there is always room for compromise, your needs are important too.

♥ Get Simple

Unless you have the time, inclination and energy, you don’t have to have a designer tree, a gourmet banquet or a Pinterest-worthy selection of decorations. Scale it down, make it simple and fuss free. You don’t even have to cook – just make platters of cold meat, salads and fruit.

*HOT TIP: Buy or make some santa sacks and your Christmas wrapping will take approximately 30 seconds and you are being an eco-hero at the same time.

♥ Get Organised

Make up some lists – menu plans, food shopping lists, gift lists and start early. Lists can also help you get clear on what is important and what you can give the flick. Mark down on a calendar or diary everywhere you need to be so you don’t forget. Don’t leave everything until the last minute – pace yourself!

HOT TIP: Bake a few things early and pop them in the freezer. If your kids are old enough, get them onto the Christmas baking while they are on holidays!

♥ Get Online

One of the biggest stresses at this time of year is going shopping! It can be time-consuming and exhausting trying to find a park and battling the crowds. I swear by shopping online for gifts and food.

You can get it all done and all delivered to your door without getting out of your pyjamas. There are loads of discounts and free shipping deals around at the moment, so use them to your advantage.

HOT TIP: Check out my Christmas Gift Guides for some gorgeous online presents.

♥ Get Delegating

Don’t do everything yourself. Get the rest of the family pitching in with some of the jobs in advance and on the day. If you are entertaining at your house, get people to bring a plate and help with the clean up. For the perfectionists amongst us, learn to let go.

♥ Get Calm

Stay centred and take time out for yourself during the holiday season. You might want to schedule in a massage, pampering or some yoga classes. You can also use tools like meditation, essential oils and flower essences to help you feel zen. Keep up your sleep, healthy food and exercise so you can cope with the extra demands.

♥ Get Grateful

Whenever I get overwhelmed or stressed, practicing gratitude always works to calm me down. When so many people do not have a home or food or gifts for Christmas, it can make our worries and stress over little things seem inconsequential. Finding a little time to do some charity work over the festive season is also a great way to put things into perspective.

♥ Get Frugal

Nothing is more stressful than getting a massive credit card bill in January, right when school is going back!

There really is no need to spend a fortune on gifts and food, even though the media likes to tell us differently. Challenge yourself to spend as little as possible, put a dollar value on gifts and stick to it, make simple gifts, buy second-hand (vintage) things, do a family Secret Santa or print up some vouchers for things like babysitting.

Get back to basics and give from the heart.

♥ Get in the Habit of Saying No

You really don’t have to attend every function and gathering you are invited to – be selective and go to the ones you will enjoy. You don’t have to catch up with every person you know before Christmas – schedule them in for January. You also don’t have to visit every family member on Christmas Day – share the love and spread out the visits over a few days.

Set realistic expectations of what you can do and want to do and ditch the rest!

HOT TIP: Check out Kirri White’s tips on how to say no.

♥ Get in the Present Moment

If you are just struggling to get through the holiday season and looking forward to it all being over, you are doing it wrong! Focus on the present moment, enjoy it and have fun. Thinking about all the things you have to do just leads to anxiety and overwhelm. And if things don’t get done, will it really matter?

What are your tips?

The Best Natural Insect Repellents

November 10, 2016 · 10 Comments

The Best Natural Insect Repellents

I’m a bug magnet!

If there is a mosquito or midge around, you can be guaranteed it’s going to bite me before anyone else.

But I really don’t want to use traditional insect repellent. The active ingredient DEET in most of them has been linked to neurotoxicity and damage to our environment and waterways.

However, mozzies can carry disease like dengue, Ross River, malaria and lyme, so we do want to have some form of protection when they are around. There are some much safer, natural ways to keep mozzies and bugs away, apart from gassing everyone with the Aeroguard!

I’ve discovered that just like sunscreen, how well they work will depend on your chemical make up! It’s not an exact science, so try a few out and see what is the most effective for you.

Here’s what you can do to avoid being bug food this summer:

On your body:

♥ Natural Bug Spray

There are so many good ones out there these days! Just remember to apply liberally and evenly all over your body and apply regularly, particularly if you are sweating or swimming. To apply to the face, spray on your hands and rub over.

♥ Bug-Grrr Off!

This one is a best seller. Bug-Grrr Off uses scientifically proven REPELLIN, a lemon scented eucalyptus extract. It is available in 2 hours or 6 hours protection in both spray and roll ons. Suitable for adults and kids over 12 months.

Get Jungle Strength Buggrrr Off here.

♥ Bye Bye Bug

Bye Bye Bug from the amazing mums at 123 Nourish Me is both an insect repellent and a sting relief spray! Using organic essential oils, this spray is super safe and contains no nasty toxins or alcohol.

Get Bye Bye Bug insect repellent here.

♥ Moo Goo Tail Swat Spray.

A natural, gentle body spray without strong essential oils that also happens to repels mozzies. It comes in an economical 200ml spray bottle and perfect for people who are super-sensitive.

Get Moo Goo Tail Swat Spray here.

♥ Eco by Sonya Organic Personal Outdoor Spray.

This repellent is in a 100ml spray bottle and based on certified organic essential oils of basil, lemongrass and citronella. Suitable for adults and children.

Get Eco by Sonya Personal Outdoor Spray here.

♥ Eco Kid Bug a Bug.

This spray is an all natural, hypoallergenic bug repellent, based on unique Australian indigenous oils combined with wild harvested organically certified Andiroba Oil to hydrate and nourish. Suitable for all ages.

Get Eco Kid Bug a Bug here.

♥ Vanessa Megan Bug Off Me and Bug Off My Baby

This range contains two 50ml roll-on options. Bug Off My Baby is especially designed for babies under 2 and the general Bug Off Me.

Get Vanessa Megan Bug Off Insect Repellent here.

♥ Physic Garden Bug Balm

This delicious balm is formulated by a naturopath and contains Citronella, Lemongrass, Geranium & Eucalyptus essential oils in a soothing shea and chickweed base. Suitable for ages 2 and up.

Get Physic Garden Bug Balm here.

More tips….

♥ Wear long sleeves and pants in a lighter rather than a darker colour. Interestingly, our kindy was located in a botanic gardens and was a mozzie haven – they definitely liked the kids wearing dark clothing more! Also avoid perfumes as they can attract bugs.

♥ DIY Bug Spray
You can make your own bug spray using essential oils. Black Chicken have a blend called REPEL for just his purpose! Add it to a spray bottle with water or just pop it in your diffuser.

♥ Neem Oil

Neem oil smells weird but it is very good at keeping bugs away. We use this if the mozzies are really, really bad. It works really, really well but yeah… stinky! Find out more here.

♥ Wristbands and Patches

There are a number of wristbands and patches on the market that protect against mozzies. These usually work with an infusion of essential oils. Some have replaceable pads, others are disposable. Check out some of the best mosquito bands here.

Note: Insect repellent is generally not recommended on children under six months old unless specified. Use mosquito netting around the cot and pram and cover up with clothing.

Around the house:

♥ Ditch the mozzie coils – the smoke generated contains toxins you do not want your family inhaling. A great natural alternative are these New Mountain sandalwood mosquito diffusers.

♥ Avoid being outside at dawn and dusk as these are prime times for mozzies. Shut your doors and windows around these times as well.

♥ Get good screens on your house (and remind the kids to shut them!)

♥ Use yellow globes in outside areas – bugs are not as attracted to them as they are to regular bulbs.

♥ Grow mozzie repelling plants in your outdoor areas – lemon balm, catnip, basil, rosemary and lemon geranium.

♥ Use an electric bug zapper to attract bugs away from you.

♥ Put a fan on so mozzies find it hard to land on you.

♥ Use mosquito netting around beds at night time.

♥ Keep your yard tidy and regularly inspect for anywhere water can sit – gutters, pot plant saucers etc

♥ Diffuse essential oils around the house. Those with insect repelling properties include: citronella, geranium, tea tree, lemongrass, peppermint, lemon, rosemary, thyme and spearmint.

A great bug repelling recipe for your diffuser is 2 drops of citronella, 2 drops of lemongrass, 2 drops of peppermint and 1 drop of lavender or use the Repel blend from Black Chicken.

How to soothe insect bites:

Sometimes, no matter how careful we are, those pesky little insects will manage to find us and bite us! There are many people who seem to flare up quite badly after being bitten. Here are some great natural remedies to soothe the bites.

♥ Our of our natural new age mums and homeopath, Clare Stride makes this amazing ‘Bites Blend’ to soothe insect bites and reduce pain and inflammation. This homeopathy blend is totally safe for everyone from babies to the elderly, easy to take and there are hundreds of doses per bottle. You can read more about it here.

♥ Make a paste of bicarbonate of soda and water and apply to bites.

♥ One drop of neat Lavender oil or Tea Tree oil on bites works really well (but dilute with a carrier oil for babies).

♥ Use straight Apple Cider Vinegar on bites or a diluted compress for larger areas.

♥ Emu Oil is great for bug bites that flare up and cause pain and itching. Just break a capsule and rub in!

♥ Weleda Bites and Burns Cooling Gel is a natural and safe option for insect bites (and sunburn!)

♥ Place a hot teaspoon directly on the bite for a few minutes. Just hot water from the tap on the spoon for a minute is hot enough – don’t burn yourself! The heat kills off the protein the bugs leave behind and prevents the itch.

♥ If you are covered in bites, one of our readers recommends alternating bicarb and apple cider vinegar baths to soothe.

♥ Aloe vera works well as a soother too – either straight from the plant or a natural gel.

Well that was a bumper post! I hope it was useful to you. Please get in touch if you try any of these out and how they work for you!

If you liked this article, you may also like some of these:

How to safely remove and prevent ticks

What are the best natural sunscreens?

The best Australian natural skincare brands

The best natural perfumes

The Ultimate Guide to Natural Deodorants

References:

Aromatherapy Recipes for your Oil Burner by Judy Chapman.

The Aromatherapy Bible by Gill Farrer-Halls.

Essential Oils Pocket Reference by Life Science Publishing.

Environmental Working Group

Parts of this article are sponsored.

Homemade Cough Syrup

September 19, 2016 · 11 Comments

Homemade Cough Syrup

Recently my hubby got a really bad cold and cough. He doesn’t often get sick and it really knocked him around. As well as my regular cold and flu fighting remedies, I also made him up a homemade cough syrup. It worked so well I wanted to pop it on the website for you all to try out too.

This homemade cough syrup is from the amazing Aussie naturopath, Mim Beim and her book, Natural Remedies! It’s a must have book for anyone that wants simple home remedies for a huge range of common ailments.

What I love about this remedy is that you probably have the ingredients already in your pantry. No need to source weird herbs or ingredients! You can’t get much simpler.

So this is how you make it:

Homemade Cough Syrup

What you need:

1 onion
enough raw honey to cover

*use organic ingredients if you can get them

What to do:

Chop the onion and place in a bowl. Pour over enough honey to cover and set aside in a warm place for a few hours or overnight. The onion will steep into the honey! Strain into a sterilised jar.

How to use:

Mim says that adults can have one dessertspoon of honey every hour and children can have one teaspoon.

I can’t believe how well it worked, within two doses, he had stopped coughing! That was a relief for all of us, I can tell you!! 😀

When I mentioned this recipe on social media, some of you suggested adding lemon and garlic and you could totally do that as well. In fact the beauty of natural remedies is that you can tailor make them. Pretty cool huh.

Just make sure you are using a good quality honey – not that yucky supermarket stuff!

A night with Dr Libby

September 16, 2016 · 8 Comments

A night with Dr Libby

Last week I saw Dr Libby live in Brisbane give a two hour health talk.

Wow.

I didn’t really know much about Dr Libby before that but I can honestly say that I am now a fan and keen to read some of her books. Without sounding incredibly cliché, it was life-changing. It’s not that I necessarily learnt anything new, it’s just that it was communicated in a different way and dots were joined. I find that even the best of integrative doctors just don’t have time to explain everything to you, so this is where some extra information and support comes in useful.

Dr Libby Weaver is a nutritional biochemist with loads of qualifications and life experience in achieving good health.

So, I chatted about this on my Facebook page and many of you were keen on me sharing some of the notes I took away from the night. Here it is – my little gems of wisdom I gleaned from those two hours jam-packed with life changing info!

♥ Your body gives you feedback about how it’s going. If things are not going great, you will get what we call symptoms. We need to listen carefully to those messages.

♥ When your choice comes from a different place, you will be motivated to make changes. Have respect for your body, self-love and gratitude to motivate you.

♥ Our lives have changed drastically in the last twenty years with new technology, processed foods and stress being normal. Our body doesn’t necessarily know how to cope with these things.
♥ Take micro-pauses throughout the day and check in with your decision-making. Will this serve my health?
♥ Food is not healthy. People are healthy (or not). Food is nutritious (or not).

♥ People prioritize what they value. What do you spend time on throughout the day?

♥ To get healthy and well you must have a base level of commitment to nourishing yourself.

♥ What you eat becomes part of you and your cells. Nature gets it right, human intervention gets it wrong.

♥ Before you eat, ask yourself – will this nourish me? If the answer is yes most of the time, then you are on the right track. Sometimes food will nourish our soul (like chocolate) and that’s okay some of the time.

♥ There are so many voices in wellness out there telling us what to eat. But you need to listen to your inner voice and your body. It will tell you how you feel after you eat and whether that food is good for you or not.

♥ Imagine how your future will look in 5 years, 10 years, 50 years if you keep on making the same choices. Close your eyes and see what pictures come up for you.

♥ We need to find a balance between being too rigid and strict with our food choices versus being too relaxed.

♥ Where we store fat gives us a clue to our health problems. Under the bra line is linked to the liver. Under the torso is linked to adrenal issues. Fat on boobs and hips is linked to oestrogen dominance. All over the body fat storage is linked to insulin issues.

♥ Your liver is incredibly important to your health. It is where nutrients are disseminated in the body. If our liver cells start to die, fat cells take over and our liver cannot keep doing its job properly.

♥ Your liver loves brassica vegetables. Eat more of them.

♥ Stress is almost always fear. Practice curiosity not judgement and start questioning why you are stressed, what you are fearful of. Is it how other people will perceive us? For example, if we are stressed about being late does it come back to being fearful that people will think we are unorganised or think that we don’t value their time?

♥ The stages of stress go from high adrenaline to high cortisol to low cortisol. Our progesterone is blocked at all stages. Replenishing and supporting the adrenal glands is essential to restoring progesterone production. Progesterone relates amongst other things to our fertility.

♥ When you are in a state of gratitude, you cannot be stressed. Change your perception to see everything as an opportunity, not a problem.

♥ Why are we stressed? Is it our lifestyle choices? Is it our perceptions?

♥ Long term oestrogen dominance leads to thyroid problems.

♥ Your health is a culmination of tiny decisions we make every day. Should we stay back that extra hour at work? Show we go to bed or answer more emails? Water or wine? One biscuit or six? Say yes or no?

♥ If more of our tiny daily decisions are made supporting our health, our health will improve.

♥ At night we can have a serotonin and melatonin see-saw. This is why some of us are left feeling something is not right and we can head for the fridge to find the answers!

♥ It is predicted that by 2025, 70 million 0-5 year olds will be obese. Increased body fat means increased oestrogen which is leading to earlier and earlier menstruation in girls.

♥ Do we need supplements? In Dr Libby’s opinion, yes. Nutrients in our soil are depleted, we are exposed to more pollutants and our stress has increased. It’s important to supplement are food based not synthetic.

♥ Increasing your intake of greens is one of the best things you can do for your health.

♥ Emotional eating is never about the food. It’s about distancing yourself from the reality of the way things are versus how we want them to be.

♥ Why do we get upset, stressed and have emotional issues? We attach meaning to things that are not based in fact. For example, something happens and we interpret it in a certain way and then we attach a meaning to it.

♥ We can live in a cloud of false beliefs.

♥ The way you behave in relation to food and your health is a direct result of the beliefs you have about yourself.

♥ If you can change your beliefs, you can change your behaviours.

♥ Change can come about through your physiology (posture, motion, facial expressions, physical movement), language (how you speak to yourself) and focus (what you focus on you will feel).

So, a week later, I have come away with some new motivation to eat more vegetables and to look at detoxing my liver. I have also been asking myself frequently is this hindering or helping my health? Several changes have been made so far. I’m so pleased I went along and now I can’t wait to get stuck into some of Dr Libby’s books.

Check out this Ted talk by Libby – it will give you a little bit more insight into some things talked about.

Are you a Dr Libby fan?

How to make your own natural hand wash

May 12, 2016 · 18 Comments

How to make your own natural hand wash

Around this time of year (winter for us in Australia) the ads for ‘antibacterial’ handwashes start to hit our TV screens in force.

Apparently we need to buy their anti-bacterial handwash to have happy, healthy kids!

Not only are these ads misleading, they are promoting a product full of chemicals with the words healthy? Arrrgh!

Okay, so what is so bad about anti-bacterial handwash?

“There are two types of antibacterial products, those with alcohol and those with triclosan. Triclosan weakens the immune system and is suspected of causing cancer. Its overuse can also lead to the creation of “superbugs.” Slow Death by Rubberduck.

“Triclosan also affects the natural environment. Wastewater treatment does not remove all of the chemical, which means it ends up in our lakes, rivers and water sources. That’s especially unfortunate since triclosan is very toxic to aquatic life.” Environmental Working Group

Alcohol in antibacterial products worries me too. A 60-75% alcohol content makes them highly flammable and dangerous around children. There have been cases of children hospitalized from accidental ingestion and poisoning. A quick google search also reveals that teenagers are drinking hand sanitizers to get drunk!

Other ingredients commonly found in hand wash and sanitizer is fragrance which can contain phthalates – known endocrine disrupters. “They have been linked with endometriosis and early puberty in girls, and reproductive organ abnormalities and reduced fertility in males. They can also act on the thyroid, and have been linked with obesity.” Choice Australia

How to make your own natural hand wash

I do prefer to use a hand wash over soap and water… mostly because it is less messy in the bathroom. It’s so easy to make and it’s very cheap!

Here’s how you do it:

1. Get yourself a foam pump

You can buy foaming soap pumps/dispensers. If you want something cheaper and you are not worried about plastic, you can buy a foaming dispenser with hand wash already in it and then repurpose it! Eco Store and Thank You are two brands that make a foaming dispenser. Of course you can buy the hand wash refills and do it that way if you like but I prefer making it myself as it’s cheaper, contains fewer ingredients and I can tailor it to suit.

2. Pour in about 50ml (or 1/4 of your container) of Castile soap

Castile soap is a very mild, all purpose vegetable based liquid soap. One of the most popular brands is Dr Bronners – I like this company as the ingredients are ethically sourced. I use the unscented baby version.

3. Add around 10 drops of essential oils of your choice

This is where I like to tailor the hand wash to suit. If the family is a bit germy or it’s lurgy season, use some oils that will kill bugs like the tea tree or eucalyptus. You can also try the Wellness Warrior blend.

4. Top up with water and give a vigorous shake

This is the fun bit! Leave a little gap at the top so it mixes in well.

5. Your hand wash is ready to go!

The result is a natural, safe handwash at a fraction of the cost you buy them at the supermarket.

Is this something you might try??

PS thanks to my ‘hand model’, my daughter… she thought it would be cute to make a heart shape with it 😀

20 Practical Uses for Lavender Oil

April 4, 2016 · 10 Comments

If you only ever use one essential oil, make it lavender!

It’s one oil I always have in my handbag and I make sure I take on holidays. Lavender essential oil is a multipurpose oil and it smells amazing too. Make sure you use a pure 100% oil (like Thursday Plantation) to make sure it’s free from synthetics and fillers.

Lavender oil is made from steam-distilling the flowering tops of the lavender shrub.

Lavender has a wide variety of properties which make it so versatile around the home and for first aid. It is antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and a relaxant.

Lavender is one of the few oils that is safe to use directly on the skin – however always use in small amounts and for children under 12 it is recommended to dilute with a carrier oil.

Here are 20 practical uses for lavender oil around your house:

♥ Bug bites. Instantly soothe insect bites with a drop of neat lavender oil straight on the bite.

♥ Sore muscles. Add a few drops to a bath with epsom salts or add a carrier oil and massage in to the affected area to soothe.

♥ Ouchies. Put the lavender oil neat on minor burns and minor cuts and scrapes – it will kill off any bugs, allowing the wound to heal.

♥ Spotty skin. You can dab neat on spots or mix a drop with a carrier oil like jojoba and massage into the affected area. As well as inhibiting the bacteria that grow on the skin, it also helps reduce the sebum production.

♥ So stressed. Inhale a drop of lavender oil on a tissue for any sort of upset, stress or mild anxiety. You can also diffuse it a room or pop it in a bath.

♥ Repel moths. Keep a few cotton balls with drops of lavender in your cupboard to repel moths and silverfish.

♥ Pongy underarms. Just add one drop to a tablespoon of coconut oil and rub into your armpits for a super easy, natural deodorant. As well as smelling nice, it will help kill off the bugs that cause body odour.

♥ Zzzzzz. For trouble sleeping, pop a drop on your pillow or pyjama front or diffuse in your bedroom for a restful sleep. But go easy you only need one or two drops – too much lavender can have a stimulating effect.

♥ Lavender Laundry. I like to add a drop or two to my laundry rinse cycle to freshen clothes and bedding. You can also pop a drop onto a wet clean cloth and pop into your dryer or put the oil straight on to wool dryer balls.

♥ Rub on your lightbulbs. Just one drop rubbed on your lightbulbs (when they are off and cool) will give you lovely scents when you turn them on and also repel insects.

♥ An ache in the head. Massage into your temples and behind your head for headache relief.

♥ Chilled-out playdough. Add a few drops to your homemade play dough for restful and calm playtime for the kids!

♥ Fabric refresher. Add a few drops to a spray bottle and use to refresh carpets, lounges, mattresses and your car upholstery. Just a light misting, not a drenching!

♥ Itchy Eczema. Pop 5 drops of lavender oil into 10ml of carrier oil and gently massage into the affected areas.

♥ Zen Loo. Pop a drop of lavender oil on the cardboard tube of your toilet roll – every time someone uses the roll, it will deodorise the loo and leave you feeling zen too!

♥ Wash your hands! I love to make my own lavender hand wash – I just use castile soap and a few drop of oil in a reusable foaming bottle.

♥ Too much sun? Lavender oil can help soothe sunburns.

♥ Instead of ironing. Okay, this could be my favourite tip ever!! Shannon Lush says to use one teaspoon in a litre of water and spray your clothes after washing. It will relax the fabric and ease out wrinkles!

♥ Shower power. After a hard day at work or running around with the kids, a few drops of lavender oil on your shower base will relax and calm you. Special self nurturing time!

♥ Aroma–Cleaning. As lavender oil is a disinfectant, you can use it to wipe down benches, clean toilets and bathrooms and mop the floors.

If you would like some more tips on how to use lavender oil around the house or for first aid, head over to the Thursday Plantation website and check out their 100+ uses. You may even like to submit your own tip of how you use lavender oil.

Sources:

The Aromatherapy Bible, Gill Farrer-Halls

Natural Remedies, Mim Beim

Like Chocolate for Women, Kim Morrison and Fleur Whelligan

Shannon Lush

1001 Natural Remedies, Laurel Vukovic

(this post is sponsored by Thursday Plantation)

5 Budget Wellness Ideas

November 10, 2015 · 7 Comments

5 Budget Wellness Ideas

As much as we would all love to go to natural practitioners, therapies and classes, it can all get a little tough on the budget. You can still look after yourself and have a happy, holistic and healthy lifestyle on the cheap though! Here are five top tips to make it happen.

♥ YouTube it

I love you tube! You will find thousands of videos with all sorts of things like yoga, meditation, relaxation, EFT, hypnobirthing, cooking classes and more. Of course it’s a free for all on there, so do a little research on the person behind the video to make sure they are the real deal. Ask around for recommendations on who is great to follow.

♥ Stalk wellness bloggers

Ahem…. sort of like what you are doing now! Find some people who really resonate with you and sign up to their websites. You will find many experts have a blog and give out lots of free information. Some of my favourite Aussie people are:

Well Nourished (Georgia Harding, naturopath)

Dr Nat Krindgoudis (chinese medicine doctor, acupuncturist and fertility specialist)

Kirri White (psychologist, life coach, EFT practitioner and self-care advocate)

Emma Sutherland (naturopath)

Changing Habits (Cyndi O’Meara, nutritionist)

Rejuvenation Lounge (Carole Bourne, yoga, meditation, energy healing and relaxation)

Twenty 8 (Kim Morrison, aromatherapist)

♥ Visit training clinics at colleges.

Students that are studying nutrition, naturopathy, TCM, acupuncture, massage, natural beauty etc all need people to practice on – so you get heavily discounted appointments. However you don’t have to worry about the quality as sessions are usually also supervised by a qualified practitioner overseeing the work.

Ring around your local colleges or Tafes or check out Wellnation Clinics and the College of Natural Beauty.

♥ Try Homeopathy or Bushflower Essences

At around $20 a bottle, these amazing vibrational healing drops can help with all sorts of ailments – physical and emotional. I have had great success with both of these remedies and highly recommend them.

♥ Head to the library

Have you been to your local library lately? It’s one of my favourite places to hang out. As well as books, you can also check out magazines, DVDs and CDs for free. Expert advice for zero dollars!

♥ Hit up your local council

Follow your local council on social media or sign up to newsletters. There are very often free classes available for yoga, tai chi, boot camp and more! You might even find a local walking group too.

So, there are a few ideas to get you started. Obviously if you have a severe medical condition, get professional help as soon as possible. But if you just have a few niggling health or emotional issues, these tips may just help you sort it out without costing you a packet!

If you need some budget tips for eating healthy whole foods, get yourself a copy of my free ebook here.

What are your ideas? How do you stay well on a budget?

5 Health Benefits of Cinnamon

October 26, 2015 · 5 Comments

5 Health Benefits of Cinnamon

Cinnamon is a beautiful spice – it’s heady aroma is a favourite in all sorts of cooking and it’s been used in ayuverdic medicine for years.

It’s my favourite spice and I add it to lots of my daily food. The natural sweetness that cinnamon brings to dishes can help you reduce the sugar content of food as well.

Did you know that it also has a lot of health benefits? Here are 5 reasons to include cinnamon in your diet.

1. It’s high in antioxidants. Cinnamon contains high levels of polyphenols which help protect the body from aging and diseases caused by free radicals and oxidation.

2. It lowers blood sugar. Cinnamon works by helping with lowering blood sugar and helping insulin resistance.

3. It’s anti-microbial. The oil in cinnamon helps inhibit the growth of pathogens.

4. It’s anti-inflammatory. This means that it helps fight inflammation in the body and prevent disease.

5. It may help neurological disorders. Problems like Parkinsons and Alzehimers can be improved and prevented with cinnamon.

Want to read more of the science? Check out this pub-med article.

What about the quality?

So, we know cinnamon is awesome, but it’s really important you get use a good quality, true cinnamon to get the best benefits. There are two types of cinnamon – Ceylon and Cassia. Cinnamon Cassia is the one most commonly found in the supermarket. It contains a higher level of coumarin, a naturally occurring compound that can cause liver damage in high levels. For the best health benefits, source a Ceylon Cinnamon (or true cinnamon).

Did you know that supermarket cinnamon undergo radiation before selling? It’s a process to kill bacteria and increase the shelf life of food. Unfortunately, it can also damage the nutrients as well.

Some cinnamon can contain additives and fillers and it’s source can be questionable in regards to growing conditions, pesticides and ethics of the workers.

You all know I am a huge fan of Cyndi O’Meara from Changing Habits and I am an affiliate partner. Well I was pretty excited when she announced at her seminar that she was bringing out an organic Ceylon Cinnamon to her range. As usual, she has researched tirelessly to stock a quality product – she often says that her motives are somewhat selfish in that she wants the quality products to stock her own pantry and feed her family!!

The Changing Habits Organic Ceylon Cinnamon is sourced from Sri Lanka. It’s organically grown and non-irradiated without any fillers, additives or preservatives. It’s also naturally sun-dried and freshly ground and packed immediately to maintain the natural oils. It’s beautiful – the flavour is intense and the it smells amazing! You can read more about it and buy online here.

How do you add it to your diet? Here are some ideas for you:

♥ Add a dash to your morning porridge, muesli or bircher muesli. When I make my home-made muesli, I add several tablespoons of cinnamon.

♥ Add to your smoothies! It works well with any flavours, but particularly good in this banana protein smoothie.

♥ Add it to your bliss balls!

♥ Add it to cakes and biscuits. My Fig, Cinnamon and Pecan Biccies are delish!

♥ Chai has many gorgeous spices, but cinnamon is a huge part of the flavour. Try my Choc Chai Syrup.

♥ Cinnamon also works well in savoury dishes. Add to curries, sprinkle on roast pumpkin, use it to put a yummy crust on meat!

♥ For daily benefits, you can just add it to your cup of tea, coffee or cocoa. Sometimes I just like it with a warm milk and a dash of vanilla paste. Mmm!

Don’t be afraid to be liberal with it – it’s not an overpowering spice. What is your favourite way to use cinammon?