Mix:
1/2 cup of Carrier oil, grapeseed, jojoba, or olive oil
Roman Chamomile 5 drops – relieves pain and inflammation, relaxes mind and body, and aids in healing wounds.
Australian Sandalwood 5 drops – a natural mood-lifter, heightens the senses, promotes relaxation, and opens the airways.
Lemon 4 drops – adds a very cleansing note to the blend, anti-inflammatory, promotes skin regeneration.
Neroli 4 drops – mentally soothing and anti-inflammatory.

Mix and use on sore muscles as needed.

Mix:
1/2 cup of Carrier oil, grapeseed, jojoba, or  olive oil
Bergamot – 2 – 3 drops –  in addition to relaxing stressed muscles, also a natural deodorant, mood-lifter, and fever-reducer.
Lavender – 10 – 12 drops –  promotes skin health, detoxification, and wound-healing.
Myrrh – 8 – 9 drops –  relaxing and fragrant, with regenerative properties.
Roman Chamomile – 4 – 5 drops –  relieves pain and inflammation, relaxes mind and body, and aids in healing wounds.

Mix and use on sore muscles as needed.

Pain and Muscle Relief Blend . . . Soothes Aching Joints and Relaxes Spasms

Mix:
1/2 cup of Carrier oil, grapeseed, jojoba, or olive oil
Clary Sage – 2 – 3 drops – naturally reduces inflammation and muscle tension, also soothes and relaxes the mind and eyes.
Cajeput – 12 – 15 drops –  warms skin, reduces muscle tension, and relieves pain
Turmeric – 7 – 8 drops – powerful natural anti-inflammatory and pain reliever with antioxidant properties.
Ginger – 3 – 4 drops – natural pain killer and anti-spasmodic, also promotes mental clarity and good digestion.

Mix and use on sore muscles as needed.

Eucalyptus – 2 – 3 drops – (top note: refreshing, sharp, strong camphor) – offers strong relief from joint pain, tension, and sore muscles.
Pine – 13 – 14 drops – (middle: dry, woody, balsam) – stimulating to the senses with anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties.
Copaiba Balsam – 5 – 6 drops – (base: mild, sweet, woody, green) stimulating and detoxifying with anti-inflammatory properties.
Sweet Marjoram – 3 – 4 drops – (bright, sweet, balsam) – a very soothing and uplifting aromatherapy oil that also helps to relieve muscle tension.
Grapefruit – 2 – 3 drops – (fresh, tangy, citrus) – antioxidant rich, promotes healthy skin and cell regeneration, clears the mind, and invigorates.

Mix and use on sore muscles as needed.

Anxiety

Anxiety affects 25 percent of children between the ages of 13 to 18, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.  About 13 percent of all children experience generalized anxiety disorder, or persistent anxiety, at some point in their lives. Children suffering from generalized anxiety disorder, worry about their performance in school or in sporting events, about their social standing, and about personal safety or the safety of those they love. They may also experience irrational fears of catastrophic events.

The effects of stress and anxiety can include weakened immunity, nervousness, indigestion, difficulty concentrating, sleeplessness, chronic fatigue and an overall haggard feeling. When anxiety blossoms into full-blown panic, symptoms can include rapid heartbeat, palpitations, uncomfortable sensations, and extreme fears of dying or losing control of the mind.

A number of natural plant-based remedies work very well to reduce or eliminate anxiety, as well as helping children to cope with the tight schedules and busy days of their lives. For mild anxiety, a cup of chamomile tea can quell tense nerves. Widely available in grocery stores, chamomile contains compounds that help to take the edge off  of mood.

1). Ylang Ylang,  is notorious for balancing the solar and sacral plexus chakras, and can help lesson tension and stress thereby promoting a more positive outlook.

 2). Lavender has been widely used for its calming and relaxing qualities and even promotes a better nights sleep.

3). Geranium helps release negative memories and nervous tension. It is extraordinarily uplifting.

4). Bergamot is calming and uplifting. It is very well known for its calming properties.

5). Orange is elevating for the mind and body and is known to bring joy and peace. It is high in antioxidants boosts the immune system thereby protects against seasonal and environmental threats, and is extremely uplifting to both the mind and body.

The most effective way to use these oils is aromatically.  Put a few drops in a diffuser and let the aroma take over.  If you don’t have a diffuser and need a quick release, put a drop or two in the palm of your hands and deeply inhale several times.

Getting back to school is a big transition for kids, and it can be made smoother by using these natural remedies when problems arise.

• Curbs cravings
• Boosts metabolism
• Increases energy and endurance
• Reduces abdominal fat accumulation

Grapefruit contains nootkatone, a natural chemical compound. Nootkatone stimulates a specific enzyme (AMPK ) that controls the body’s energy levels and metabolic rate. When nootkatone is introduced into the system, AMPK accelerates chemical reactions in the tissues of the brain, liver, and skeletal muscle

• Suppresses weight gain
• Increases energy
• Enhances mood
• Relieves pain

Lemon also contains the fat-dissolving powers of limonene. Supporting the findings of the aforementioned grapefruit oil study, researchers found that lemon oil used in conjunction with grapefruit oil increased lipolysis.

As a mood booster, lemon oil is a particularly powerful treatment for alleviating negative feelings. It also raises norepinephrine levels, a stress hormone and neurotransmitter that is responsible for the fight-or-flight mechanism. Consequently, norepinephrine increases oxygen in the brain for better cognitive function and ramps up heart rate and blood flow which allows muscles to work faster and better.

Aches and strained muscles may prevent you from keeping up with your workout routine, but lemon oil has yet another viable function as a pain reliever.

• Increases energy and mental alertness
• Elevates mood
• Aids digestion
• Reduces appetite

Containing up to 70% menthol, peppermint has been used medicinally for centuries to treat indigestion. Peppermint oil is an effective muscle relaxer, and when used along with caraway oil, it was found to ease the muscles of the stomach, reduce bloating, and improve the flow of bile – which allows food to pass through the body faster.

In an experiment pitting Peppermint oil against ylang-ylang, researchers discovered that volunteers who inhaled the peppermint aroma were more alert, had improved memory function, and were calmer in mood.

Peppermint oil is also a natural appetite suppressant. In a 2008 study titled Effects of Peppermint Scent on Appetite Control and Caloric Intake, participants who inhaled peppermint oil every two hours reported lower hunger levels and consumed “significantly fewer” calories.

• Improve insulin sensitivity
• Regulate blood sugar levels
• Reduce inflammation

Insulin is the hormone responsible for metabolizing carbohydrates and fat by facilitating the absorption of blood glucose by either converting it to energy or storing it as fat. When cells in the body stop responding to insulin – a condition called insulin resistance – the body erroneously begins to store fat instead of burning it, resulting in not only weight gain but also in difficulty losing weight. Leading to high blood sugar and elevated blood insulin levels, it is a precursor for Type 2 diabetes. Cinnamon extract, however, has been shown to help heighten insulin sensitivity in the brain and increase the rate of blood glucose uptake.

• Boosts mood
• Increases energy

Anxiety and depression can sometimes lead to emotional eating, and while this may bring about a temporary sense of comfort and relief, eventually it piles on even more negative emotions like guilt and self-criticism.

Bergamot oil offers a pleasant way to break this vicious cycle. A recent study examined the effects of just 15 minutes of bergamot oil aromatherapy. Not only did the study’s participants self-report improved positive emotions and increased energy, but researchers discovered that bergamot oil had an instant physiological benefit. To measure stress more objectively, they took saliva samples and tested them for cortisol – a hormone that is released as a stress response – and found that those who inhaled bergamot oil had much lower cortisol levels than those who did not.

• Improves digestion
• Suppresses appetite
• Reduces weight gain
• More restful sleep

Fennel is a source of melatonin, the hormone that naturally regulates circadian rhythms by signalling to the brain daily wake-sleep cycles. In addition to a more restful sleep, melatonin has also been found to reduce weight gain by creating more “beige fat” (which burns off as energy) rather than “white fat” (which is stored for energy).

In the middle ages, fennel seeds were eaten to suppress the appetite on fasting days. This idea has garnered scientific support through a study on fennel oil aromatherapy performed on rats. Over the course of eight weeks, the rats inhaled fennel oil twice a day for 10 minutes; this resulted in fewer calories consumed and a faster rate of food digestion.

• 1 oz. jojoba oil 
• 2 oz. wheat germ oil
  
• 1 oz. beeswax 
• 10 drops German (blue) chamomile essential oil 
• 20 drops Helichrysum essential oil 

1. In a double boiler melt jojoba, red palm oil, and beeswax together. (I don’t have a double boiler, so I use a glass pyrex measuring cup inside of a pot of boiling water.)
2. Stir until oils are completely melted.
3. Pour into a glass jar or heavy duty container (I used a quarter pint mason jar).
4. Stir in essential oils.
5. Store in medicine cabinet for up to 1 year and use when needed.