Natural tip of the week 18112012

Summer come.. Mozzies go..

Summer is fast approaching in Australia and summer means engaging your kids in lot of outdoor activities like camping, bush-walking, visiting animal farms, gardening etc.

Apart from parents accompanying the kids everywhere, sadly "not-so invited mozzies, bugs and other bities" likes to join the kids to have fun as well!

Insect repellents sold in the shops may not be completely natural and safe for your children.

It is easy to make your own natural insect repellents at home which can be used indoors and outdoors.
All you need is :

1. "Insects not-friendly" essential oils such as eucalyptus, lemon eucalyptus, citronella, tea tree, cajuput, rosemary, red thyme, lavender, eucalyptus, cedarwood, geranium, juniper , patchouli, pennyroyal, pine, and lemongrass.

You don't need to have each and every one of the above essential oils to ward off mozzies and bugs. Using combination of 3 or more types of essential oils can be effective.

*NEVER apply any of these essential oils directly to the skin (with the exception of tea tree and lavender) they could cause burning or other adverse reactions.

2. Base -to which you can add your essential oils can be light carrier oils such as sweet almond oil, Jojoba oil, olive oil or witch hazel and aloe vera juice.

When I am outdoors, I prefer using EOs mixed in aloe vera juice as aloe vera soothes the sun burnt skin.

Insect repellent spray recipe:

You need:

 - Empty spray bottle - to hold 60 ml of insect repellent spray
1. Aloe vera juice/witch hazel/carrier oil - 60 ml
2. Essential oils (mentioned above) - 60 drops

How to make it:

Combine 1 and 2 in a spray bottle and shake before each use. Apply every 30 minutes as natural repellents wear off easily.

Other insect repellent ideas and tips:

 - When staying indoors, rub the insides of orange peel on to your skin. Mozzies and bugs dislike citrus scents.

- Another beautiful idea from the website "Beautiful Engineering" which  makes use of orange peel cups and cloves to be used as a tea light candle.

Please see -  http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=503776276300564&set=a.485879308090261.114250.485878071423718&type=1&theater. This is aromatic and serves the purpose of keeping bugs away.

- Applying neem oil on to your skin will keep mozzies at bay as they dislike the strong smell.

- Room spray made with distilled water/ plant based ethanol and essential oils (as per above mentioned recipe) will keep away unwanted visitors.

- When at home,you can mix the "Insects not-friendly" essential oils with few drops of water on a ceramic oil burner with tea-light candle.

- To ward off flies from sitting on your dining table, add 4-5 drops of clove oil  on a damp clean cloth and wipe the dining table before sitting for your meal.

- white vinegar can be used as an insect repellent spray. Just put white vineagar in a spray bottle and spray it on to your skin.

- Keep small pots of mosquito repellent plants indoors and outdoors.
Please see http://mosquitorepellentplants.net/ which is a natural and effective way to ward off mozzies.

- Maroma from Auroville sells natural insect repellents in the form of incense sticks, coils, mosquito mats, cones etc. 
Please seehttp://www.maroma.com/index.phpoption=com_content&view=article&id=258&Itemid=273

- If you do get bit or stung this season-
Use a few drops of undiluted lavender directly to the bite/sting.

Other ways to avoid the buggies of warmer weather-
1. Avoid soaps and shampoos with fragrance.
2. Avoid wearing dark clothing.

Please share your natural insect repellent ideas in this post.Until then, bye from PetalDew.

Beneficial skin carrier oils

When it comes to looking after our skin using natural ingredients, the first thing that comes to our mind is Oil. Yes! Oils like extra virgin coconut oil, olive oil, sweet almond oils are wonderful to our skin.

You may think that oils are not suitable for oily complexion as it will cause breakouts like pimples and acne. That is actually not the case. What causes our breakouts is really a combination of hormones, poor lifestyle choices, and dirt and bacteria that gets caught in our pores.

It turns out that using the right oils, like EVOO, almond oil, or even jojoba oil will cleanse your skin more effectively than some of those chemical-laden store-bought products.

Ayurveda is a 5000 year-old holistic system of medicine and natural healing originating in India. It is the oldest known form of healthcare in the world. Central within this healing system is the use of therapeutic oils for self massage (abhyanga).In India, self massage with Ayurveda oils (thailams) forms an integral part of everyday life to maintain our natural state of optimum health

The below oils have different skin nourishing and healing properties that helps in cleansing, moisturizing the skin and brings a natural glow to our skin. The essential fatty acids found in some of these oils have anti-ageing properties as well.

We will discuss about some of the commonly used beneficial skin oils which also includes exotic oils like Jojoba (my favourite!) and Argan oil.

Coconut oil

 Coconut oil is highly emollient base oil derived from the fruit of the coconut palm and is solid at room temperatures below 76 degrees F. It is excellent oil for all-over use. It is the ultimate skin softener, hair conditioner, and after-sun treatment. Use only unrefined Coconut oil. Its sweet, exotic fragrance is reminiscent of a tropical paradise. Its shelf life is indefinite.

Sesame seed oil

Sesame oil contains mono-unsaturated fatty acids, polyunsaturated, linoleic acid. Sesame seed oil is comparatively stable and does not turn rancid on contact with the air. The oil is also rich in vitamin E, calcium, magnesium and phosphorus. It is a good source of vegetable protein and rich in lecithin. Natural Sesame Oil, as is a well known fact, has very high medicinal value. This oil is used for edible purposes as well as physical purposes. The oil is heavily used in massages throughout the world. The ancient Indian massage therapy as used in Ayurveda has a very prominent role for sesame oil.

Castor oil

This clear to slightly yellow, shiny, viscous base oil is processed from the seeds of an annual shrub. It’s highly emollient and provides staying power and shine to the skin. It is particularly good for softening rough, dry heels, knees, elbows and patches of eczema and psoriasis. When applied to nails, it imparts a protective shield against exposure to drying detergents, hot water and winter-dry air.

Sunflower seed oil

This is a light- to medium- textured base oil high in essential fatty acids; antioxidant vitamin A, D and E; and lecithin derived from pressed seeds. The vitamin- E content of sunflower oil helps to heal blemishes and improve scar tissue. Deeply nourishing and moisturizing for all skin types. It is reasonably priced and easy to find. Avoid processed, supermarket- grade oil and instead choose unrefined oil.

Olive oil

The olive is traditionally regarded as a symbol of peace. The best olive oil comes from the fruit which is nearly fully ripe and handpicked. The oil comes from the pulp and not the kernel. Olive oil is high in minerals, vitamins and essential fatty acids, alpha linolenic acid. It is also used for cooking and dressing in salads. It is good massage oil for babies. Do not expose the oil to extended period of light.

Sweet Almond oil

Pressed from the edible nuts of the sweet almond tree, it is rich in minerals and oleic acid, a skin-nourisher and hydrator. This oil has a slippery feel, so you will need to massage it thoroughly into your skin. Once you have, the surface of your skin will improve dramatically, feeling smooth and silky. Do not use sweet Almond oil if you suffer from a nut allergy.

Grapeseed oil

Grapeseed oil is pressed from the pips of grapes, as a by-product of wine-making. The oil is pale green and extremely high in polyunsaturated fatty acids, making it light textured and easy for the skin to absorb. It is a good massage oil and suitable for people suffering from nut allergy. Massaging with a very light grapeseed oil leaves no residue and creates a lovely smooth finish.

Avocado oil

Avocado oil is extracted from the flesh which contains up to 30% pure oil. The oil is rich in many nutrients including vitamin A and D, lecithin and potassium. The oil is rich in chlorophyll, the reason for its dazzling green colour. Avocado oil can be used to soothe the skin being useful for conditions such as nappy rash and eczema. It is ideal for dry, mature skin and suitable for undernourished or aged skin.

Apricot kernel oil

This oil comes from the kernels of the apricot fruit. It is rich in oleic acid, a nourishing fatty-acid compound also found in olive oil. It is safe for all skin types. Apricot kernel oil rehydrates dry skin, especially when it is inflamed by the sun or wind. This carrier oil replenishes and rejuvenates mature skin.

Rosehip oil

Rosehip oil is produced in Chile and has recently become popular oil, particularly in regenerative skin care. It is beneficial in tissue regeneration for conditions such as burns, facial wrinkles and the treatment of scars. It is a natural anti-oxidant and a slight astringent. It is expensive and goes rancid quickly. Use the oil within 12 months of expiry.

Soyabean oil

Soyabean oil comes from the soya plant. Cold pressed soyabean oil is the second best source of vitamin E. It contains more lecithin than any other vegetable oil. It is high in unsaturated fatty acids and suitable for all skin types. It is regenerative, anti-oxidizing and anti-inflammatory. Its shelf life is 6 to 9 months.

Other exotic oils (liquid gold)

Jojoba oil

This is my favorite all- purpose oil. I use it as a skin moisturiser, to heal my dry lips and calm my child’s skin affected by rough weather. It is pronounced as ho-ho-ba. This is a unique oil because the oil is not composed of fat but of liquid wax. This carrier oil has been used by Native Americans for centuries to protect their skin from dehydration. Jojoba is similar in composition to sebum, the skin’s natural oil, so our skin is able to absorb it easily. It is safe for all skin types. Jojoba strengthens sensitive skin, balances oily skin and clears acne and even long-term scars (with regular use). It helps to soothe and heal skin damaged by eczema or psoriasis. It is a great cleanser. Its waxiness dissolves away dirt and excess oils.

Argan oil

If you’re a fan of Dr Oz , then it’s quite possible you may have heard him recently mention an oil extract from a special little tree found only in Morocco. It’s called argan oil and it has a whole host of benefits including its ability to nourish hair, treat acne and even helps to prevent obesity. It is the future of anti-aging!

Argan oil has been used for centuries by the inhabitants of Morroco and is still being used today, mainly as a natural form of moisturizer to replenish dry, cracked skin – a common result seen after excess exposure to the dry desert heat and sun.

Like almond oil, it’s derived directly from the nuts of the argan tree. The Moroccans call it Moroccan Gold, mainly due to the fact that it’s just so hard to get given that it only grows in a tiny 8000 km² reserve in a small North African country.

The oil itself is made up of 80% unsaturated essential fatty acids, which are used to form the makeup of the membrane (protective layer of the cell, kinda like a force field) of a skin cell. A thicker membrane, reduces the chances of the moisture inside the cell from leaking outwards, plus is better able to remove unwanted waste formed from within the cell.

Argan oil contains around 80% of the good fatty acids, most people who apply it actually see a decrease in oily skin and this is because it has an uncanny ability to help regulate and maintain normal levels of oil production.

Hope you enjoyed reading on some of the common beneficial oils used for our skin. Until then, bye from PetalDew - with love from Nature.

Rose and only Rose

Imagine yourself in a garden full of roses (only roses) - Roses of different colours and bloom. Don't you think it is a pure bliss to sink in the magic of aromatic and beautiful roses? . Roses are not only aromatic and pretty to look at; it has got many skin healing and rejuvenating properties.

My garden will be in colorful bloom next month - Pink, yellow, red, white and velvety dark pink roses dominating my garden with its radiance and sheer beauty. I can already spot rose buds covering the shrubs and it is not long to go for my roses to be in full bloom. My rose plants will eagerly stretch its arms and extend a warm welcome to use its rose petals and when the bloom is over for this season, it will be happy to show off its hips - I mean Rose hips. Rose hips can be used to make rose hip tea as it has got lot of health benefits. Many skin care products contain oil made from rose hip which has got anti-aging and skin reviving properties.

I will share with you some ideas and tips to make use of your rose plant.

The first and foremost important thing to remember when you are using rose petals to make rose water, sun-infused rose oil and other skin care recipes at home, make sure that you have not sprayed the plant with toxic pesticide or chemicals. Same thing is applicable when using rose hips.

Beautiful things that you can prepare from Rose petals:

A. Sun-infused Rose oil:

This is my ultimate favorite because Rose infused oil has properties of being a astringent, firming the skin, moisture retaining, stimulating, anti-bacterial, healing and relaxing. Rose infused oil can be used for therapeutic massage. Rose infused oil is used in skin products such as lotion, balms, salves, scrubs, bath oils. It is better to use dried rose petals for making sun-infused rose oil.

How to make rose infused oil:

1 part dried roses

2 parts oil (olive oil/sweet almond oil/grapeseed oil)

Sterilize a glass jar. This is done by placing the jar in hot boiling water for 4-5 minutes and drying it well. To make smaller batch, put your 1 part of dries rose petals in the jar and pour your oil on top of it to cover the petals well. Seal the jar with clean and dry tight lid.  Place the jar on a windowsill with lots of sun for 3 - 4 weeks. Give the jar a quick shake once daily. The object is to keep the jar warm as the herbs steep in the oils, so if you live in a cold climate, take that into consideration. After one month, filter the oil through muslin/cheese cloth and make sure you squeeze the last drop from the petals as the essence of the flower is concentrated in the petals.

B. Rose water:

 My favorite use of rose water is to use it as a face spritz. All you need is a spray bottle. Fill your spray bottle with rose water. Add a drop of Lavender essential oil and use it whenever you need to cool and tone your skin. Rose water acts as a good toner. You can use it as an aromatic mist for your room.

How to make rose water:

I found this simple homemade recipe for rose water under Times of India website. I tried it at home and wow!

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-07-17/beauty/32174313_1_petals-water-pot

C. Rose petals in scrubs and face mask:

Dried rose petal combined with fine oats and honey makes an exotic face mask and dried rose petal with fine oats and rose water acts as good face scrub.

How to make simple face mask using rose petals:

1. Put 1/3 cup of the rolled oats into a food processor. Using the "pulse" feature, grind the oatmeal for a few seconds until it resembles a coarse flour.

2. 1/8 cup of freshly picked red/pink rose petals to the oatmeal in the food processor. Pulse again for 10 seconds.

3. Add two teaspoons of rose water, and then 1/4 cup of honey to the rose petals and oatmeal mixture. Pulse for 10 seconds. If you have a difficult time getting the mixture to blend well in your food processor, you can mix it vigorously by hand, or try it in a blender. Often larger food processors don't work well for small mixing small amounts of ingredients.

4. Apply the rose petal mixture to your face and allow it to stay on for 30 minutes. Rinse off with warm water and gently towel your skin dry.

D. Dried rose petals can be added to your pot pourri or to your linen sachet (Look under linen sachet recipe in my blog) to scent your home and cupboards naturally.

E. Rose hip tea and Rose hip oil:

Rose hips are the fruit of the rose tree, or what is left after the rose petals fall off. They are an excellent source of vitamin C. Rose hip tea is both delicious and good for you. Also known as rose mosqueta, rose hip oil is used in facial products for aging skin. It contains essential fatty oils and can help with scarring.

- Rose hip tea:

Rose hip tea is refreshing, pleasantly tart and contains vitamins A, B, C, E and K, pectin and organic acids. Besides battling colds, the nutrient-rich tea boosts your health in other ways as well. This popular medicinal tea strengthens the body's resistance to infection, reinforces digestive function, combats all kinds of illnesses with fever, flushes out the kidneys and urinary tract and relieves mild rheumatic pain. The vitamin C content gives rose hip tea its primary benefit, the ability to help prevent and treat colds and flu.

Pour 1 cup of boiling water over 2 heaping teaspoons of chopped rose hips. You can use rose hips with or without their seeds. Steep the herbal tea, covered, for 15 minutes and strain. Sweeten the refreshing, slightly sour tea with honey, if desired. Drink the tea lukewarm at bedtime for maximum effectiveness.

 - Rose hip oil:

 Rose hip oil is naturally rich in beta-carotene and lycopene, a power antioxidant found in tomatoes and watermelon. Foods rich in lycopene have many health benefits. The lycopene in rose hip oil helps to protect skin from premature ageing and is responsible for the oil's rich amber colour. It is a natural source of Vitamin A known as trans-retinoic acid. Research shows that topical trans-retinoic acid is effective in helping to prevent premature ageing caused by sun exposure.

Do share your ideas and tips to make use of rose petals from the garden and write it under comments.

Thanks and bye for now - with love from PetalDew.

Aaahh My foot :)

On the request of a well-wisher, I am writing this post on foot care. 

Our whole body stands on our feet. The average moderately active person takes about 7500 steps a    day. Don't we need to pay humble respect to our feet and pamper them with absolute care for the hard work it does? There are few simple steps that we can follow to keep our feet supple and healthy.

1. Wear comfortable footwear whenever you go out. My feet recently had a terrible experience facing constant soreness because I did not wear comfortable footwear . Make sure your feet and toes feel comfortable with the footwear you choose. Comfort comes before style (strictly no wearing high heels sandals when you face constant feet soreness).

     2. EFM (Exfoliation – Foot soak – Moisturization):

A.      Exfoliate your feet to remove dead cells and dirt. You can use fine sugar and fine salt with any carrier oil to exfoliate your feet gently. To the exfoliation mixture I prefer to add 1 to 2 drops of peppermint essential oil to relieve tension and soreness in the feet. Massage your feet gently with the exfoliation mixture for 5 minutes.

To make exfoliation mixture: 2 tbsp of fine sugar or fine sea salt, 1 tbsp of warm olive oil/coconut oil, 1 drop of Peppermint essential oil (Peppermint oil gives warmth to your feet) . Mix the given ingredients and scrub away the flaky skin.

B.      Foot soak: Fill a small tub with warm water and soak your foot for 10-15 minutes after exfoliation to provide warmth and suppleness to your feet. To the water, you can add powdered oats with lavender essential oil to have that extra special SPA experience.

C.      Moisturization: After foot soak, take 2 pieces of a ripe banana or ripe papaya or cut potato and rub the piece all over your feet, toes, heels and massage gently. Let your feet absorb the essence of the fruits for 10 minutes and wipe off the fruit remains by putting your feet back in the same water tub. Later pat your feet dry with a clean towel.

Follow the above “E-F-M” once in every two weeks or whenever you feel like doing. All it takes is 30 minutes to pamper your feet to glory!

 3.    Follow a healthy diet rich in Magnesium, Omega 3. Eating fruits regularly in addition to above will keep your skin and feet healthy.

 4.  Cracks in the heel is a common problem. The way to reduce cracks in the feet is to keep the feet dry and dirt free. Whenever possible, use comfortable sandals when walking inside the home. Follow “E-F-M” method once a week and have magnesium rich food like green leafy vegetables, bananas, nuts and omega-3 rich foods like flax seed, fish oil tablets, walnuts.

Ladies - Get ready to show off your feet! Bye for now. With love from PetalDew.

Fifteen quick and effective natural beauty tips for your Skin, Hair and Body

                     

Here are the fifteen effective natural remedies/ beauty tips for your skin, hair and body. You have to follow the below remedies regularly to experience long term benefits. 

Face and Body:

• To make your face glow : Mix 2 tsp of Besan powder/green gram powder, curd and rose water and apply the paste to your face and leave it on for 30 minutes .Wash it off with warm water.

• To reduce scars on your face caused by pimples or acne : Make paste from Nutmeg by grinding it on a stone slab with rose water and dab it on the scar affected area of your face.

• To bleach your face naturally:  Mix 2 tsp of honey with 2 tsp of lemon juice and massage your face and hand with the mixture.

• To make your eyebrows and eyelashes thicker and black  - Apply castor oil everyday before going to bed and let it stay overnight.

• To remove the puffiness and redness from the eyes - Take 2 thin cucumber slices and leave it on your eyes for half and hour. If cucumber is not available, soak 2 cotton pads with rose water and leave it on your eyes.

• To make your lips stay pink, healthy and supple - Make juice from coriander leaves and mix it with almond paste and apply the paste on your lips and wash it off after half an hour.

• For quick body scrub : Fine salt or sugar mixed with olive oil and massage it to your skin - hands, feet , legs to remove dead skin.

• Face scrub: Grind oats, mix it with fine rice flour, make it into a paste with rose water and use it as a face scrub.

• For oily skin : Juice of tomato and lemon applied on your face will remove the excess oil on your face

• You can use milk as a natural cleanser to remove the dirt and grime off your face. Dab milk with a cotton wool and gently wipe your face in outward stroke.

• Rubbing red grapes juice regularly on your forehead will remove fine wrinkles.

Hair care:

• Do not shampoo your hair often as it removes natural oil from your hair. Use gentle and mild shampoo. Natural alternative to commercially available shampoo is hair rinse made out of soapnut or "pungangal" (http://corporate.greenandnutty.com.au/?q=node/65)

• To reduce the  dandruff on your hair : soak 2 to 3 tablespoon of "Khus-Khus" (white poppy seed) for one hour and grind the mixture. Extract the milk from Khus-Khus and apply it on your hair scalp and let your scalp absorb the milk for 10-15 mins before rinsing your hair with mild and gentle shampoo. Do this regularly to keep dandruff at bay. 

• To cool the scalp and conditioner for the hair: Soak 1 tbsp fenugreek seeds overnight in water and grind it to make a paste. Apply the paste after shampooing and apply it on the scalp and  your hair. Leave it on for two to three minutes and rinse your hair for that soft and shiny look.

• If you have split end problem: Regularly massage your scalp and hair ends with warm olive oil and let it stay overnight before shampooing your hair in the morning.

Please share your natural quick and effective beauty tips in this post and I will be happy to include it with your name and publish it in this post.
Until then  - Bye for now. With Love from PetalDew

Lavender Blue

                                    Lavender field in Bridestowe, TAS

Lavender is a complete delight to our senses. The purplish lavender spread in gardens during summer can stop anyone in their tracks to admire its mesmerizing beauty and also to absorb the calming and rejuvenating aroma.

Me with the Lavender blues...

When I visited Tasmania last December in 2011, our Itenarary plan had " Must visit Bridestowe lavender farm" at Nabowla, which is considered one of the State's most spectacular vistas .The 265 acre site is noted for its manicured fields of lavender. Like a Child set loose in a candy shop, I jumped out of the car before my husband completely stopped in the parking lot and started running towards the lavender field oblivious to the fact that other tourists were watching my child like madness on spotting the lavender field and the shop selling exclusive lavender products.

Shop selling Lavender products & the cafe where we had Lavender ice-cream and lavender tea.Yum.

Lavender is capable of many important jobs. Every home should have a bottle of  100% pure unadulterated lavender essential oil. Lavender oil is a natural antibiotic, antiseptic, antidepressant, sedative, and detoxifier which promotes healing and prevents scarring.

Botanical name for lavender oil is "Lavandula angustifolia". Lavender oil is non-toxic, non-irritating and non-sensitizing, so is safe for all skin types. Follow caution when using Essential oils during pregnancy (better to avoid using Essential oils when pregnant as most of the EOs are potent). Use lavender essential oil only from the second trimester . Please check with your doctor before usage.

Lavender oil can be used for the following purposes: ( some tips taken from essential oil book written by Worwood and from the author Jennie Harding)

Skin care: Lavender EO is used in many skin care products as it is knowing for healing and reviving properties. It can be used in preparation of body lotions, face spritz, salves, bath salts, body oils etc.

Baby's skin: To calm dry/irritated baby skin, massage in a blend 1 drop of pure Lavender oil in 4 tsp of coconut oil/sweet almond oil/ olive oil.

Abrasions/ Grazes: Clean the area well with 5 drops of lavender diluted in a bowl of warm water. Apply one neat drop of lavender and leave to heal.

Burns: Lavender oil is very effective in treating small burns. Apply ice-cold water for at least tem minutes. Then immediately put two drops of neat lavender oil directly onto the burn. Put 5 drops of lavender on a dry, cold compress and cover the area. Repeat as needed.

Earache: My parents are visiting me here and because of severe winter this year, my father gets earache. As a first aid, I warmed a teaspoon of olive oil and to it added 1drop of lavender oil and 1 drop of eucalyptus oil and blended well. Soak a piece of cotton wool in this and use it to plug the ear.
Use the same blend to massage around the ear area, up the neck and across the cheekbone. Apply a warm compress to the cheek and ear area after massaging also eases the pain.

Preventing bed mite/bed bugs : When travelling and staying in hotels/motels, there can be microscopic bed mites/bugs on the mattress. To prevent bug bites, splatter few drops of lavender EO on the bed before sleeping. You can put few drops on a cotton ball and keep the cotton ball in linen cupboards to prevent dust mites and bugs.

Sound sleep: To promote sound sleep, put 2 drops of Lavender EO on your pillow and inhale the relaxing aroma. It will relax you and promotes sound sleep.

Culinary uses:  Lavender buds can be sprinkled on ice-creams and desserts as topping. Lavender can be boiled in hot water and filtered for Lavender tea. A dash of mint leaf or a squeeze of lemon juice will add pep to the tea. Lavender tea will have soothing and calming effect on mind and the body.

Availability of Lavender EO : In Australia, USA, Europe check with your health stores, shops selling organic products for pure Lavender EO. In India - Check with your organic health stores, or Kadhi shops for pure essential oils.

Bye for now. Until then - With love from PetalDew.

Natural linen Sachet

Winter means creepy-crawly coming to your bedrooms, kitchen, living room etc. They need warmth so they take shelter in your house! The general dampness inside the house creates stale smell in the house. When the sun comes, keep your windows open to let natural air and sunlight come in to remove the damp smell. The best way to keep bugs at bay and keep your clothes smelling nice and mold free is to use Linen sachets/ pot-pourri bags made with natural dry flower petals from the garden, spices from your kitchen pantry and essential oils.

Things you need:
Organza bag
Clove buds - 4
Camphor tablet - 1 or 2 nos
Eucalyptus essential oil - 3 drops
Lavender essential oil - 4 drops
Rose petals from your garden - Sun dried
Lavender buds - Dried in the sun
Rosemary sprigs - Dried in the sun
Orange peel powder - Orange peel dried in the sun and powdered to fine powder

Method:

1. Crush clove buds and camphor tablets in mortar and pestle to a coarse powder.
2. Mix all the above dry natural ingredients in a bowl.
3. Add the specified drops of essential oils and mix it with a wooden spoon.
4. Gently put the contents  in a organza bag and squeeze the bag to let out the aroma from the bag.

You can make as many sachets you want to use it in different places.

You can use this natural linen sachet in your clothes drawer, kitchen pantry (to ward off ants and bugs) and also use it as pot-pouuri bag in your living room. The subtle aroma from the sachet will    waft in your cupboards, drawers and in the living room. You can add the essential oils to the sachet if you feel you need stronger aroma and also once in a month add few drops of oil to top up the aroma in your sachet.

The above natural ingredients are not only known for their uplifting aromas, but also have antiviral, anti-fungal, deodorizing properties. It doesn't cost you much or take more time to make this beautiful looking simple linen sachet to keep your rooms and cupboards aromatic and creepy-crawly free :).

 Bye for now. Until then PetalDew signing off with love from Nature.

Buying and Storing essential oils

In my previous post, I gave an introduction to essential oils. In this current post, we will discuss about buying and storing essential oils.

Buy quality essential oils only from reputed suppliers who source their products carefully. Quality oils gives the best result and are less likely to cause any adverse reactions.

The colder the temperature, the longer you keep your essential oils. You can store the oils in the refrigerator or at cool room temperature (10 degrees C).

Signs to look out for to indicate that the oils are going off are that some go cloudy or sticky in the bottle, some lose the intensity of their fragrance and some begin to smell sour. If any of these things happen, throw away the oils.

Storing tips:
- Keep your oils in dark-glass bottles and in a dark place.
- Keep your oils at a cool temperature.
- Keep the caps on the bottle screwed on tight during storage.

Follow my next post on Safety methods when using essential oils. Until then, bye from PetalDew.

Essential Oils - Medicines out of the earth

What are Essential Oils?Essential oils are potent liquids that form as part of the internal structure of aromatic plants. In certain parts of these plants, special microscopic sacs gradually fill up with the oil as the plant matures.
For example: Take a orange rind/peel and look at the underside. You will see hundreds of tiny circular globes, which are the essential oil sacs in the peel. Grating the zest or pressing it with a nail will burst them open, releasing the tangy orange fragrance - the essential oil.
 Essential oil are beneficial healers because they transport oxygen to the cells, which trigger great healing effects. It is safe to say that all of them are anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-infectious, anti-tumoral, anti-parasitic, and antiseptic on some level.
Plants contain complex and powerful substances known as essential oils. These are aromatic liquids derived from shrubs, flowers, trees, roots, bushes, herbs, and seeds. These distinctive components defend plants from insects, harsh environmental conditions, and disease. They are also vital for a plant to grow, live, evolve, and adapt to its surroundings. Referred to as the essence of the plant, pure essential oils not only protect the plant, but also determine its aroma.
Essential Oils are not really “oils”. They are the highly concentrated liquid that comes from the plant. For example, rose essential oil has a beautiful, strong floral and sweet fragrance that is intoxicating and highly romantic. It takes thousands of flower petals to create the drops that are in a single bottle of therapeutic grade rose oil, and adding a single drop of peppermint oil to a glass of water has approximately the same concentration as 20 bags of peppermint tea.
Essential oils should always be diluted in carrier oil like Olive oil, sweet almond oil, Coconut oil, sunflower oil etc. It should never be used directly on the skin. The exception is Lavender oil which can be safely applied on skin for burns and wounds. Never apply essential oil close to the eye area and mucous membranes.
Essential oils can be used in various ways - Massage,Baths, Inhalations, Vaporizers, Compresses. It is also used in preparation of cosmetics.
Please follow this space - "One essential oil a week" .  I will be discussing the benefits, uses, safety precautions of some essential oils that heals our mind, body and soul.

Simple home remedies for healthy living Part 2

For natural home remedies, the kitchen is a great place to start. It has almost all the medicines you would possible need at least, to deal with common ailments. All this at no or negligible cost, purity, without side effects and dollops of TLC (tender, loving care)! It is just a little awareness and understanding that you need to make the best out of it. Using home remedies is much easier than going to a pharmacy for medicine to relieve a particular symptoms like headache, insomnia, indigestion. In the first Part 1, we were looking into the wonders of natural ingredients from our pantry and now we will see more of natural ingredients wonders from our kitchen, garden that heals us naturally.

1. Used Tea bags -

Keep the used tea bags in the refrigerator for 15 minutes and use it on your eyes for 10 to 15 minutes to remove the puffiness and to give natural sparkle to your eyes. Dispose the bag later.

2. Cucumber -

Eating cucumber cools our body naturally. Cucumber can be eaten as raw, added to salad preparation, and made as juice with little bit mint leaves and ginger is power packed as energy drink. Cut cucumber into thin round slice and keep it on your closed eyes for 20 minutes. Your eyes will thank you for that!

3.Milk -

Milk acts as a natural moisturiser on the skin. During winter, dab cotton wool with warm milk (honey can be added with turmeric powder), and gently apply it on the face and massage your face with clean fingers in circular motion and wash it off with warm water. You will see instant difference and regular application before going to bed will smoothen dry skin.If Goats milk is available use goat's milk instead of cows milk. Goat milk is loaded with calcium, phosphorous, naturally occurring sodium, potassium, magnesium, Vitamin A,  Vitamins B-1, B-2, B-3 and B-12, Pantothenic Acid, Biotin, Choline, and many other trace elements. It is suitable for all skin types particularly skin affected by eczema and psoriosis.

4. Hibiscus flower/leaves - 

As a child, I used to have thick and lustrous hair. Thanks to my mother who prepared herbal hair oil using pure coconut oil, dried hibiscus flower and leaves, fenugreek seeds etc. Hibiscus flower prevents hair loss and premature hair greying. The flower crushed and made as a paste can be added to boiled water and used as natural conditioner. It provides rich lather and silkiness to your hair.

5. Aloe Vera - 

Aloe vera has got numerous medicinal properties. It can be used all over the body and can be taken internally also as pure aloe vera juice.  Aloe vera gel can be applied on sun burnt area on the skin to provide instant relief. It has got use as spot application for insect bites.

6. Lavender - 

Aroma from Lavender brings calmness to our mind. It promotes sound sleep. Crush few lavender buds using your palms and inhale the smell to promote sound sleep. Pure lavender oil can be mixed with carrier oil (sweet almond oil, coconut oil). Use it to massage your body and scalp. It has got soothing effect.Lavender nourishes your skin and has got mild anti-bacterial effect.

7. Fenugreek seed - 

To relieve periods cramps, take a teaspoon of Fenugreek and add to boiling water. Allow it to infuse for  three minutes. Dink the infused water to relieve the cramps. It helps Lactating mothers to increase milk supply.

Although most people do not experience problems while taking fenugreek, it is possible for side effects to occur. Indigestion or heartburn, diarrhea, and gas or bloating may occur, but are not typically serious. However, there are some potentially serious side effects of fenugreek that you should report immediately to your healthcare provider, including signs of an allergic reaction or internal bleeding.

8. Cinnamon sticks - 

Cinnamon sticks not only used in cooking, but can be crushed and put in a small organza bag to be used as linen sachet. It prevents bugs from invading your linen cupboard. Aroma from Linen cupboard is uplifting.

9. Holy Basil - 

Most of the Indian homes has holy basil plant. It is associated with purity, divinity and the plant is worshiped by women of the household everyday by watering it and decorating the pot. The pot is in which it is grown is decorated with turmeric and by lighting a lamp in front of the plant. Holy basil leaves infused in boiling water can be drunk to cure cough and common cold. Holy basil can be bade as paste with water and applied to skin affected by insect bites. It has got anti-bacterial and anti-septic qualities.

Simple home remedies for healthy living Part 1

Home remedies are simple and quiet effective. Home remedies allow us to use ingredients from our kitchen pantry and from our garden. The ingredients can be exotic spices like black pepper, Cumin seeds, Nutmeg, Tumeric powder, Honey, cinnamon sticks etc or simple things like used tea bags, cucumber and milk. Ingredients from the garden may include Holy Basil leaves, Hibiscus flowers, Hibiscus leaves, rosemary, lavenders, Aloe Vera, Indian borage or Mexican mint (Botanical name plectranthus amboinicus) etc.

Ingredients:

1. Turmeric -


Turmeric has got anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties. For sore throat, add 1 teaspoon of tumeric powder with one teaspoon of black pepper powder to hot milk and drink before sleep time to relieve sore throat and for good sleep. Turmeric powder can be made into a paste with a teaspoon of yogurt and 1 teaspoon of rose water. This is applied on our face to soothe the skin affected by acne and scars. Regular application once a day will make your skin bright, clear and smooth getting rid of dead cells. In India, Turmeric is used in cooking.

2. Black pepper-


Black pepper has anti-bacterial properties and is a antioxidant. Once used as a currency and offered to the Gods as sacred offerings, it is available throughtout the year. Black pepper aids digestion and promote intestinal health. To cure bad cough, crush  one teaspoon ofblack pepper until it gets powder consistency, add some clarified butter to it and slightly heat it under flame for few seconds. To that add one teaspoon of honey. Swallow the mixture slowly until you feel that it is coated on the throat. To prevent acne/pimples, grind 2 pearls of black pepper with milk and tumeric powder and apply it on the face (it may burn a little). Continuous application for two weeks once a day for twenty minutes will get rid of acne/pimples

3. Cumin Seed - 


Cumin is native to Egypt and has been cultivated in the middle East, India, China and Mediterranean countries for millennia. Cumin aids digestion. Boil one tablespoon of cumin seed in water and let it infuse of five minutes. Drink the hot cumin tea to help digest the food and cures heart burn and digestive disorder. It also gives relief in case of morning sickness, nausea and flatulence

4. Fenugreek - 


Fenugreek is used as herb (leaves) and as spice. To have relief from periods pain, boil one teaspoon of fenugreek in water and allow it to infuse for five minutes. Drink the water for immediate relief. Fenugreek acts as good conditioner for hair and promotes hair growth bevause it has got cooling properties. Soak a tablespoon of fenugreek in water overnight and in the morning grind the soaked fenugreek into fine paste. Apply it on your hair after shampooing and leave it on for three to four minutes and massage the paste gently onto your hair. Rinse it with warm water for a shiny and soft look.Regular usage will add volume to your hair.

5. Honey - 


Honey has a long history of human consumption, and is used in various foods and beverages as a sweetener and flavoring. Honey is used  in m,any skin products which has a moisturizing effect and gives a natural glow to the skin. It is also used in various medicinal traditions to treat ailments. To cure sore throat add a table spoon of honey to a glass of hot water  and to squeeze a table spoon of fresh lemon juice. drink this tonic to have relief from sore throat.  

To moisturize the dry skin, add one teaspoon of honey to a table spoon of yogurt and apply it on your face in circular motion and leave it on for ten minutes and wash it with warm water.  

6. Nutmeg - 


Nutmeg is a spice from the nutmeg tree, which is native to several Indonesian islands. Both nutmeg and mace come from the same plant. Nutmeg is the ‘nut’, while mace is the surrounding lacy ‘aril’. Nutmeg has a warm, spicy aroma and flavour and can be used in sweet and savoury cooking. Nutmeg has medicinal use. To have a smooth face complexion and to get rid of scars caused by acne/pimples, grind nutmeg into paste using rose water and apply it on the face. It will lead to slight burning sensation on the face which is not harmful. Regular application of nutmeg paste will remove the scars. Shavings of nutmeg (less than one teaspoon) can be added to a glass of warm milk with honey and can be taken before going to bed. It promotes sound sleep and cures indigestion.


To be continued...