DIY: Non-Toxic Foaming Hand Wash

Have you ever stopped to think what is in hand soap? Most hand soaps and lotions are full of toxic chemicals, especially antibacterial soaps. What you put on your skin is readily absorbed into the bloodstream and may be effecting your health. Here is a little information about why we should avoid anti-bacterial soaps, and consider making your own non-toxic foaming hand wash.

I’m trying not to put a lot of focus on the cold & flu, however, you’ve got to admit, these viruses are out there and there is something you can do to help prevent it. WASH YOUR HANDS!

Makes sense, of course, since hand washing is one of the simplest and most effective ways to prevent the spread of germs. The Environmental Working Group (EWC)

What’s so bad about antibacterial soaps?

The main reason to avoid anti-bacterial soaps is its active ingredient: triclosan (and the related triclocarbon). Triclosan is an anti-bacterial chemical found in many consumer products, and it’s nearly ubiquitous in liquid hand soap. It is linked to liver and inhalation toxicity, and even low levels of triclosan may disrupt thyroid function. Further, the American Medical Association recommends that triclosan not be used in the home, as it may encourage bacterial resistance to antibiotics.

Just think of all the times you wash your hands everyday, or should be washing your hands (about 7-10 times a day) and what is going into your bloodstream via hand soap alone.

You and your children can avoid a lot of chemicals going into your system by simply choosing a non-toxic soap to wash your hands with.

I like to make my own foaming hand wash. use a blend of essential oils that Wild Orange, Clove, Cinnamon, Eucalyptus, and Rosemary which offer a natural and effective way to clean your hands. This combination of essential oil is protects against environmental threats and it smells yummy!

It is super easy and takes only a few minutes to make.

Here is what you need:

funnel
8 0z. container with foaming pump (I buy mine here) or recycle a used one!
2 tablespoons Unscented Liquid Castile Soap (Almond or Peppermint Scent is good too)
10 drops Essential Oil of your choice.
water
1 tablespoon Fractionated Coconut Oil (optional for added moisturizing)

how to make your own non-toxic foaming hand wash

Pour the liquid soap into the jar.

Add 10- 15 drops of essential oils.

There are a lot of great essential oil combinations to use. I like

5 drops of Peppermint Oil and five drops of Melaleuca oil
10-15 drops Lemon Oil
Use your creativity and your nose to create some other yummy blends.

Slowly add water. Shake gently.

If you see the soap and water separate, you may need to give it a little shake once in a while.

Simple, Safe, and Inexpensive! Keep a jar by every sink!

Jan Howell

My intention for this website is to share tips and tutorials that I have found on my journey of life that has brought me joy, improved health, and peace, in hopes that it will do the same for you. I hope you'll join me on this journey!

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Jan Howell

Whether it’s a new recipe, a fun craft, or some handy tips for your garden and home, I hope to empower and inspire you with skills that you can use to create joy, improved health, and to do it in a simple way.

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DIY diy foaming hand wash essential oils foam hand wash recipe non-toxic cleaners

Get Your Money’s Worth: How to Get Every Last Drop Out of the Container

A lot of the products we use are packaged in a way that make it difficult to use every last drop, like toothpaste, body wash, shampoo, dish soap, etc. Here are a few tips on how to get to, and use the UN-accessible to get your money’s worth.

Pump Body Wash or Hand Soap- Every Last Drop

When you find no more soap coming out of your soap pump containers, don’t throw it away quite yet.

Add a little water to the container and swish it around. You’ll get several more applications of soap.

Toothpaste

The scenario: It’s time to brush your teeth and there is no toothpaste. You squeeze, squeegee, and twist that tube but nothing is coming out. You know there is something left in there, but can’t get to it. If you have spent a lot of money on organic or natural toothpaste, you want to use EVERY DROP! I have tried many NATURAL and organic toothpastes that don’t have fluoride and all the other toxins, and there is one particular one that I love. Send me a note if you would like to know what it is.

Here is an easy way to get every drop.

Using a pair of utility scissors, cut the toothpaste tube in half.

Look how much toothpaste is still in there! Simply dab your toothbrush in there.

Dish Soap

The same thing goes with dish soap. No matter how much you squeeze that bottle, you are not going to get it all out. When you buy GOOD dish soap, you’ll want to make it stretch.

When you are running the hot water for your dish cleaning, just add a little water, swish and squirt.

You may only get one or two more sink loads, but at least you know you have used every drop!

By the way, don’t throw those dish soap containers away. I will be showing you in an upcoming post how to make your own non-toxic cleaners and these jars will come in real handy!

Essential Oil Bottles

Do any of you have a sweet smelling drawer full of empty essential oil bottles? As you know, essential oils can be expensive. Some of oils are LIQUID GOLD! Expensive or not you’ll want to use EVERY DROP. I love using essential oils and when a bottle of essential oil is empty, I have a hard time throwing the bottle away. I just put it my drawer hoping I will find a use for it.

Well, I have found one use for these sweet-smelling babies…. make a little spritzer bottle. Research shows that cold-air diffusing or spritzing certain oils may reduce bacteria, fungus, mold, and unpleasant odors, relax the mind and body, relieve tension, clear the mind, improve concentration and mental clarity and dispel odors. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE ESSENTIAL OILS!

There is a spritzer attachment that will fit a 5, 10, 15 or 30 ml glass bottle. You can purchase them HERE for only $1.33 a piece.

So to make a little spritzer bottle here is what you do:

Measure how long the suction tube needs to be. Most likely you’ll have to cut off a portion because it will be too long. Cut it so it will reach the bottom of the bottle.

By the way, there is still quite a bit of oil left in a bottle, even when you think it is empty.

These little bottles are perfect to throw in your purse or travel kit. I use lavender oil to help me relax. Just a few spritzes on my face, or my pillow. Awwwwww. Lemon, Tea Tree (meleuca), Cinnamon, and clove are great for surface cleaning. (Good to have on hand don’t ya think? Oh, one more thing, peppermint oil spritzed on the face is a great pick me up. Try it!

So, there you have it. A few tips on how to use every drop and to get your money’s worth.

If you have any other great ideas, please chime in. I would love to hear your comments.

Keep smiling!

Jan Howell

My intention for this website is to share tips and tutorials that I have found on my journey of life that has brought me joy, improved health, and peace, in hopes that it will do the same for you. I hope you'll join me on this journey!

Share:

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Jan Howell

Whether it’s a new recipe, a fun craft, or some handy tips for your garden and home, I hope to empower and inspire you with skills that you can use to create joy, improved health, and to do it in a simple way.

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How To Make Healing Salve

You don’t have to be a serious herbalist or witch doctor to make your own healing salve. It is really very easy to whip up and you won’t ever go back to Neosporin or whatever else you are using for

cuts
scrapes
bug bites
diaper rash
lip balm
dry skin

My family uses this a ton!

We recently ran out of our stock of salve, and it’s not like you can just run to the store and grab some, so I got out my supplies and whipped up a batch. I thought I would take a few photos while in the process and share how to make it with you.

SUPPLIES that you will need:

ovenproof pan for infusing oil

cheesecloth
double boiler or two saucepans for melting wax
sterile containers (glass baby food jars, empty recycled hair product or face lotion jars work great)
labels
wooden skewers or spoon

INGREDIENTS:

4 cups Olive Oil ( I buy the big jar of olive oil at Costco)
1 1/4 cup Dried Herbs (I use 1/2 cup calendula, 1/2 cup plantain, 1/4 cup comfrey leaf)
4 – 6 oz Bees Wax (depending on how thick you want it)
1 Tablespoon Vitamin E Oil (helps salve from going rancid)
30 drops each Essential Oils – Tea Tree (Melaleuca), Peppermint, Lavender

*Note: you can alter the types of herbs and essential oils that you put in your salve depending on what your needs are. If you don’t already have these supplies, it may seem like a big investment to make a healing salve. However, the oils and vit E will last a very long time, and you’ll be able to use them for other things.

I like this blend because of the amazing properties of these herbs and oils, making it a great GO TO salve for just about anything.

I am one who likes to know the WHY about what ingredients are in the products I am using. So here is the scoop.

CALENDULA:

Calendula has a long history of use as a wound-healing and skin-soothing botanical.

PLANTAIN:

Plantain is a low-growing herb (weed). It is most often used for stings and bites.

COMFREY:

It is well known to assist healing in any part of the body that is torn or broken.

*If you grow these herbs, dry them and store them in an air tight zip bag so you can make salve anytime. You can also just buy the herbs at your local health food store or online. I like Starwest Botanicals

TEA TREE Essential OIL:

Renowned for its cleansing and rejuvenating
effect on the skin.
Skin irritations

LAVENDER essential OIL:

Widely used for its calming and relaxing qualities.
Soothes occasional skin irritations.
You want to make sure you use good quality, pure essential oils when making salves and tinctures. When making cleaning supplies, it is not as important. If you would like to know where I buy most of my oils, send me a note.

Let’s get started!

1- Preheat your oven to the lowest setting (150 – 170 degrees)

Measure the dry herbs and put them in an oven proof pan

2- Cover with 4 cups olive oil and stir.

Place oil and herbs in oven and heat for 4-5 hours. Heating the oil infuses the properties of the herbs into the oil.

3- Place a few layers of cheesecloth over a bowl or pan.

When the oil has cooled a bit, pour the herb mixture over the cheesecloth to strain. Squeeze out all the oil.

4- Then I like to strain it again through a piece of 100 % cotton fabric.

5- Melt the bees wax.

I have an old pan that I use only for melting my wax in and I keep it wrapped in a plastic bag when not in use. Place that pan in another wider pan with water in it.

It is VERY important that you don’t get ANY water in the wax, or this will promote spoiling of your salve.

Melt the wax, stirring frequently. (This smells so yummy)

6- Prepare jars

Make sure jars are clean! You can sterilize them by placing them in a pot of boiling water for a few minutes. I usually just make sure they have been cleaned with hot soapy water and dried thoroughly.

7- Add the melted wax to the oil, and mix well.

*By using a wooden skewer to stir with, you will save wasting a bunch of salve that will stick to the spoon.

To test the consistency of the salve, take a spoon and dip into the mixture. Take it out and let it cool a few seconds. Test the consistency. This is the time to add more wax if it is too runny.

8- Add the essential oils and vitamin E now and mix well.

MOVE QUICKLY.

9- Pour the salve into the jars.

You will need to stir in between pourings to keep things mixed up.

You may even need to heat it up a bit if it starts to set up. (Just don’t heat very long at all and use a very low setting, so you don’t loose all the properties of the essential oils.)

Don’t you just love the beautiful green color, and it smells FABULOUS!

I love these little travel-size tins!

I always double the batch because there is always someone who wants a jar, and they make great gifts or party favors.

The jars that you are not currently using, store in the refrigerator so they will last longer and not go rancid.

There you have it, a salve that is chuck full of healing goodness.

You may also be interested in my natural deodorant recipe and tutorial.

Enjoy!

How To Make Healing Salve

An amazing salve for cuts, scrapes, dry skin, and more!

Prep Time5 min
Total Time5 min
Yield4 Batches
Meta LabelLabel Value

Ingredients

Supplies List:

- Oven proof pan for infusing oil
- cheese cloth
- Double boiler or two sauce pans for melting wax
- Sterile containers (glass baby food jars, empty recycled hair product or face lotion jars work great)
- Labels
- Wooden skewers or spoon

Ingredients:

- 4 cups Olive Oil ( I buy the big jar of olive oil at Costco)
- 1 1/4 cup Dried Herbs (I use 1/2 cup calendula, 1/2 cup plantain, 1/4 cup comfrey leaf)
- 4 – 6 oz Bees Wax (depending how thick you want it)
- 1 Tablespoon Vitamin E Oil (helps salve from going rancid)
- 30 drops each Essential Oils – Tea Tree (Melaleuca), Peppermint, Lavender

INSTUCTIONS

1

Preheat your oven to the lowest setting (150 – 170 degrees)

Measure the dry herbs and put them in an oven proof pan

2

Cover with 4 cups olive oil and stir.

Place oil and herbs in oven and heat for 4-5 hours. Heating the oil infuses the properties of the herbs into the oil.

3

Place a few layers of cheesecloth over a bowl or pan.

When the oil has cooled a bit, pour the herb mixture over the cheesecloth to strain. Squeeze out all the oil.

4

Then I like to strain it again through a piece of 100 % cotton fabric.

5

Melt the bees wax.

I have an old pan that I use only for melting my wax in and I keep it wrapped in a plastic bag when not in use. Place that pan in another wider pan with water in it.

It is VERY important that you don’t get ANY water in the wax, or this will promote spoiling of your salve.

Melt the wax, stirring frequently. (This smells so yummy)

6

Prepare jars

Make sure jars are clean! You can sterilize them by placing them in a pot of boiling water for a few minutes. I usually just make sure they have been cleaned with hot soapy water and dried thoroughly.

7

Add the melted wax to the oil, and mix well.

*By using a wooden skewer to stir with, you will save wasting a bunch of salve that will stick to the spoon.

To test the consistency of the salve, take a spoon and dip into the mixture. Take it out and let it cool a few seconds. Test the consistency. This is the time to add more wax if it is too runny.

8

Add the essential oils and vitamin E now and mix well.

MOVE QUICKLY.

9

Pour the salve into the jars.

You will need to stir in between pourings to keep things mixed up.

You may even need to heat it up a bit if it starts to set up. (Just don’t heat very long at all and use a very low setting, so you don’t loose all the properties of the essential oils.)

Don’t you just love the beautiful green color, and it smells FABULOUS!

Jan Howell

My intention for this website is to share tips and tutorials that I have found on my journey of life that has brought me joy, improved health, and peace, in hopes that it will do the same for you. I hope you'll join me on this journey!

Share:

Connect:

Jan Howell

Whether it’s a new recipe, a fun craft, or some handy tips for your garden and home, I hope to empower and inspire you with skills that you can use to create joy, improved health, and to do it in a simple way.

DIY: Non-Toxic Foaming Hand Wash

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alternative remedies calendula comfrey cuts DIY essential oils healing salve herbs homemade salve lavender oil peppermint oil plantain salve scrapes tea tree oil

How To Make Tooth Powder – Easy DIY Recipe

Why in the world would you want to make your own toothpaste or tooth powder? It’s not like you already have a million things to do! Right?

Well, trust me, this is well worth your time. This is a simple, cost effective way to care for you and your families teeth!

Here are 4 SIMPLE reasons why I stopped using commercial toothpaste years ago and started making my own or buying natural stuff.

1-NON-TOXIC & SAFE
Have you ever looked into what is in your toothpaste? Here is a quick little post that is a great read about what is actually in commercial toothpaste. Makes you think twice about what you put in your mouth two or three times a day!

2-SAVES MONEY
With just 4 simple ingredients, you can make a batch of tooth powder up for under $2.00.
If you have ever purchased or checked into NATURAL toothpastes, they are not cheap. Worth it if you can’t make your own, but why not Do It Yourself and save money?
Tom’s Natural toothpaste runs around $5.00- $6.00.
Redmond EarthPaste is $7.99 plus shipping. (good product, but make your own for a lot less).

3-QUICK AND VERY EASY TO MAKE
You can whip a batch of this up in only 5 minutes!!!

4-TASTES GREAT
This makes your teeth feel squeaky clean, like you have just had your teeth cleaned by the dentist.

I posted about this back in 2014, so it has been a while. Well, today I ran out of my tooth powder and decided to while I was whipping up a batch I might as well video it to show you how simple it is. So here it is.

tooth powder ingredients

2 Tablespoons Baking Soda
1/3 cup Redmond Clay or Bentonite Clay
2 teaspoons Redmond Sea Salt or Sea Salt ( I like Redmond Salt)
10-20 drops of essential oils of your choice

1/3 cup Redmond or Bentonite Clay

What are the benefits of brushing with tooth powder?

Bentonite clay has the ability to bind to heavy metals and toxins as well as to provide minerals. Redmond or Bentonite Clay is great to help the body detox and whiten and remineralize teeth. I buy the Redmond Clay bulk in a three-pack. It saves money and I like having a few extra for my pantry. We use it for cooking too.

2 Tablespoons Baking Soda

The major benefits of brushing with baking soda are its teeth whitening and plaque removal properties, as well as its affordability relative to other commercially available teeth whiteners. Brushing with baking soda removes plaque deposits from teeth that contribute to tooth decay.

2 Teaspoons Real Salt or Sea Salt

Salt is known to soothe inflamed gums and help prevent bacterial growth, which is a big cause of bad breath. We use the REAL salt for cooking as well because it has the minerals left in it.

Adding Essential Oils

10-20 Drops Essential Oil

I like to use a mix of Peppermint oil and Tea Tree Oil (Melaleuca). Tea Tree oil is great to protect against environmental and seasonal threats.

Experiment and try other essential oils. Mix a few oils to make a flavorful blend. Make sure the oils are safe for internal use and good quality therapeutic grade oils. Some other oils you may try are lemon, spearmint, cassia and wild orange.

Mix well using a whisk.

Using a funnel, pour tooth powder into a glass container.

I like to use a simple, recycled “better than bullion jar”.

If you have several flavors in the same bathroom, you may want to label them as they will look the same.

Wet your toothbrush and dip it into the jar of tooth powder. Brush and enjoy the freshness and clean teeth feeling you get after having your teeth cleaned at the dentist.

We make one for each person in the family so we’re not spreading germs and we choose our flavor.

You can find this recipe in my Alternative Remedies for the Body, Mind & Spirit Booklet. This booklet is a great collection of tried and tested alternative remedies that really work!

You can find this booklet in my site store.

DIY Tooth Powder

Simple non-toxic ingredients leave your teeth and mouth feeling fresh and clean. This is simple and cost-effective to make!

Prep Time10 min
Total Time10 min

Course
- household recipe

Ingredients

- 2 Tablespoons Baking Soda
- 1/3 cup Redmond Clay or Bentonite Clay
- 2 teaspoons Redmond Sea Salt or Sea Salt
- 10-20 drops essential oil

INSTRUCTIONS

1

Add all ingredients to a small glass bowl

2

Mix well using a whisk

3

Using a funnel, pour tooth powder into a glass container

4

If you have several flavors of tooth powder in the same bathroom, you may want to label them!

5

Either dip your toothbrush in a jar of tooth powder or use this spiffy oil & vinegar jar for easy dispensing.

Glass dispensing jar

Cheers to a non-toxic mouth!

Jan Howell

My intention for this website is to share tips and tutorials that I have found on my journey of life that has brought me joy, improved health, and peace, in hopes that it will do the same for you. I hope you'll join me on this journey!

Share:

Connect:

Jan Howell

Whether it’s a new recipe, a fun craft, or some handy tips for your garden and home, I hope to empower and inspire you with skills that you can use to create joy, improved health, and to do it in a simple way.

alternative remedies bentonate clay clay tooth powder DIY essential oils homemade tooth powder natural tooth care Real salt Redmond clay tooth powder

DIY Natural Deodorant Recipe – Dang Good Stuff

Have you been on a search for an effective natural deodorant? Well, you can stop here! For those of you who want to avoid the seriously toxic ingredients in antiperspirants and commercial deodorant, this is your ticket.

Why do you want a non-toxic deodorant?

Name: How To Make Healing Salve
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: Oven proof pan for infusing oilcheese clothDouble boiler or two sauce pans for melting waxSterile containers (glass baby food jars, empty recycled hair product or face lotion jars work great)LabelsWooden skewers or spoon; 4 cups Olive Oil ( I buy the big jar of olive oil at Costco)1 1/4 cup Dried Herbs (I use 1/2 cup calendula, 1/2 cup plantain, 1/4 cup comfrey leaf)4 – 6 oz Bees Wax (depending how thick you want it)1 Tablespoon Vitamin E Oil (helps salve from going rancid)30 drops each Essential Oils – Tea Tree (Melaleuca), Peppermint, Lavender

It’s not like you are going to eat it. You could if you wanted. It’s that safe. The things we put on our skin are absorbed into the bloodstream, and the ingredients included in commercial deodorants are definitely not something you want to be taking into your system!

When you are looking for a safe deodorant, if you see the word “natural” you still need to be careful. That word can mean a lot of things. It may have some natural ingredients, but it may also have some of the nasty things we don’t want.

Here are some ingredients you need to be aware of

Aluminum

Many deodorants and antiperspirants, including some “natural crystal” deodorants contain forms of aluminum, which inhibit perspiration. There is a reason why our body sweats. I have always thought that stopping our body from sweating in itself, was not a good thing. This controversial ingredient is classified in this review, which was written by an oncologist, as both a genotoxin and hormone disruptor.

I used a natural crystal deodorant for many years. It was good, but it was messy and I still got a little stinky. Although this brand did NOT contain aluminum, some DO! Here are a few informative posts that contain studies related to this. (1) (2)

Propylene Glycol

Propylene glycol (PEG) is a penetration enhancer, which means that one of the things it does is help other chemicals get deeper into skin. It is also classified as a moderate hazard by the Environmental working Group.

Triclosan

Studies indicate that this chemical, which is used in everything from toys to toothpaste, may disrupt normal thyroid function and alter hormones. I don’t think I need anything else to mess with my hormones!

Parabens

Breast cancer most often occurs in the upper outer quadrant, just under where women rub deodorant on. In a 2012 study, 99% of breast cancer samples that were analyzed contained parabens, a common ingredient in deodorants, lotions and makeup.

Parabens mimic estrogen by binding to estrogen receptors on cells. They also increase the expression of genes usually regulated by estradiol (a natural form of estrogen); these genes cause human breast cancer cells to grow and multiply in cellular studies.

Fragrances

The word “fragrance” seems safe doesn’t it? Well, that is just a cover-up word for many chemicals that don’t need to be listed. In one study conducted by the Environmental Working Group, nearly half of the ingredients in the fragrance products they tested were not listed on the label.

Even the word “‘unscented’ is misleading. Products that are labeled unscented may contain masking fragrances, which are chemicals used to cover up the odor of other chemicals. Craziness! Check out the article here.

Well, is that enough dirt to make you want to switch over to something a little safer for your body?

Although I don’t want to put a lot of fear out there about products or food, I do want you all to be informed. Don’t despair; I have a great solution for you.

Over the years I have tried MANY different natural deodorants only to be disappointed. I even made up several recipes that still didn’t do the trick.

I heard about a great natural deodorant that had activated charcoal in it. Hmmmm, now that made sense to me. So I purchased a jar of it and gave it a whirl. WOW, it worked and it worked well. The only thing, it wasn’t cheap, I had to order it, and it didn’t last very long. Being the DIY girl that I am, I knew I could make something like this myself. So after making several tweaks to a few recipes, I came up with the perfect recipe. It is way easy to make, a lot less expensive and it works dang good!

One of the key ingredient is the activated charcoal, which neutralizes odor and absorbs moisture without aluminum, parabens, or synthetic fragrances.

Why does it work so well?

The ingredients in this deodorant form an invisible, absorbent, pH-balanced shield on your underarms that neutralizes odor and protects your clothes from perspiration. It can even be used with those who have sensitive skin.

My dear sister, who has tried everything to calm her sweating and odor, swears by this stuff. When I was testing it out, I gave her a jar and told her to give it a whirl. She text me back a week later and said “this deodorant is freaking awesome”!

Even my husband loves it, and he’s not an easy sell when it comes to stuff like this. He usually gets quite stinky under the arms when he does presentations at work or in other meetings, but he doesn’t anymore. This stuff really is the bomb – and not a stinky one!

This recipe, along with several other alternative remedies, can be found in my Alternative Remedies Booklet. You can find it here.

Would you like to learn how to make it?

Here are the ingredients

It may seem like a huge list of ingredients and you may be thinking it is going to cost a fortune to get all these items. The items will make several batches and most of the items you can use for other things.

½ cup Tapioca Four or Tapioca Starch
2 teaspoons Baking Soda
¼ cup Coconut Oil
½ cup Magnesium Hydroxide
1/3 cup Shea Butter if using a bar, grate it first
½ Tablespoon Rose Water
1/3 cup Cocoa Butter
½ Tablespoon Witch Hazel if you get this witch hazel, it comes with rose water in it!
1 teaspoon Liquid Vitamin E
1 capsule Activated Charcoal
Essential Oils – 30 drops of your choice (make sure they are clean oils and not synthetic oils)

This is a blend that we really like and is similar smelling to the original PiperWai.

Don’t freak out if you don’t have all these oils. Use what you have or acquire the ones you think you will use. These are all exceptional oils that you could use for many other things. They will last a long time.

3 drops of each Bergamot, Clary Sage, Clove, Eucalyptus, Lemongrass, Peppermint, Tea Tree (melaleuca), Rosemary

6 drops each of Lavender, Wild Orange or Mandarin

Equipment you will need

Glass bowl
Sauce pan
Measuring spoons and cups
Spoon and spatula
Whisk

Instructions

Measure the coconut oil, and butters and place them in the glass bowl. If the butters you are using are in a bar,you want to grate it up before measuring. Pack it down in the measuring cup.
Fill a sauce pan about 1/4 full with water and bring to a boil.

Reduce the heat to a simmer and fit the bowl onto the pot. The bottom of the bowl should not reach the water, therefore leave at least 2″ to 3″ space between the bowl and water. You want to heat the bowl with steam and not the water.
Stir until it has all melted.
Carefully remove glass bowl from the pan and whisk in the powdered ingredients until smooth. Add the essential oils last just before pouring into containers.
It will seem rather runny at this point. Don’t be alarmed, the mixture will thicken after it sits a while.
This recipe makes about 5 – 6, 2oz jars.
Allow it to set until hardened. I usually just let it set up overnight. If you live where it is warm, you may need to place in refrigerator to set up.

How to apply the deodorant

Simply dip your finger in and scoop out a small amount.
You only need a pea size rubbed in the armpit area.
If you wait just a minute and allow the deodorant to absorb, it won’t stain your clothes.

Deodorant Jar labels

If you want to apply a label to your jars of deodorant, I have a PDF you can download and print. Kinda makes you feel like it’s a legitimate product. You can get the scoop about them here.

You are going to love this stuff! Let me know how it goes.

If you want to apply a label to your jars of deodorant, I have a PDF you can download and print. Kinda makes you feel like it’s a legitimate product. You can get the scoop about them here.

You are going to love this stuff! Let me know how it goes.

Natural Deodorant

Have you been on a search for an effective natural deodorant? Well, you can stop here! For those of you who want to avoid the seriously toxic ingredients in antiperspirants and commercial deodorant, this is your ticket.

Prep Time15 min
Cook Time5 min
Total Time20 min
Yield5 2oz. jars

Ingredients

- ½ cup Tapioca Four or Tapioca Starch
- 2 teaspoons Baking Soda
- ¼ cup Coconut Oil
- ½ cup Magnesium Hydroxide
- 1/3 cup Shea Butter if using a bar, grate it first
- ½ Tablespoon Rose Water
- 1/3 cup Cocoa Butter
- ½ Tablespoon Witch Hazel if you get this witch hazel, it comes with rose water in it!
- 1 teaspoon Liquid Vitamin E
- 1 capsule Activated Charcoal
- Essential Oils – 30 drops of your choice (make sure they are clean oils and not synthetic oils)

Essential Oil Suggestions

3 drops of each Bergamot, Clary Sage, Clove, Eucalyptus, Lemongrass, Peppermint, Tea Tree (melaleuca), Rosemary6 drops each of Lavender, Wild Orange or Mandarin

Don’t freak out if you don’t have all these oils. Use what you have or acquire the ones you think you will use. These are all exceptional oils that you could use for many other things. They will last a long time.

Instructions

Items Needed

1

Glass bowl
Sauce pan
Measuring spoons and cups
Spoon and spatula
Whisk

2

Measure the coconut oil, and butters and place them in the glass bowl. If the butters you are using are in a bar,you want to grate it up before measuring. Pack it down in the measuring cup.

3

Fill a sauce pan about 1/4 full with water and bring to a boil.

4

Reduce the heat to a simmer and fit the bowl onto the pot. The bottom of the bowl should not reach the water, therefore leave at least 2″ to 3″ space between the bowl and water. You want to heat the bowl with steam and not the water.

5

Stir until it has all melted.

Carefully remove glass bowl from the pan and whisk in the powdered ingredients until smooth. Add the essential oils last just before pouring into containers.

6

It will seem rather runny at this point. Don’t be alarmed, the mixture will thicken after it sits a while.

7

This recipe makes about 5 – 6, 2oz jars.

8

Allow it to set until hardened. I usually just let it set up overnight. If you live where it is warm, you may need to place in refrigerator to set up.

Amount per serving
Calories0
% Daily Value*
* The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Jan Howell

My intention for this website is to share tips and tutorials that I have found on my journey of life that has brought me joy, improved health, and peace, in hopes that it will do the same for you. I hope you'll join me on this journey!

Connect:

Jan Howell

Whether it’s a new recipe, a fun craft, or some handy tips for your garden and home, I hope to empower and inspire you with skills that you can use to create joy, improved health, and to do it in a simple way.

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diy deodorant essential oils natural deodorant natural remedies non-toxic

Sore Throat: 4 Alternative Remedies That Work

If you are experiencing a sore throat, don’t jump in the car and run to the clinic just yet. I am going to share with you 4 simple alternative remedies for a sore throat that really work! Many of the ingredients you probably already have in your home.

1 Honey, Cayenne and Garlic:

This is one of Dr. Christopher’s remedies I learned about many years ago and it is VERY effective in treating sore throats and even strep throat. When I get a sore throat I don’t even bother with a strep test because even if it is or isn’t strep, this will take care of it.

How long does it take to get over strep throat with the standard medical procedure? 10 days on an antibiotic. This herbal remedy will generally get you over strep throat in 24 hours, and you won’t have to deal with all the side effects of antibiotics.

Put 1 tablespoon of honey in a small bowl (use raw unprocessed honey)
Add 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper
Add 4 cloves of minced garlic (yep, your breath is going to smell fabulous) Trust me it is worth it.
Mix well
Cover and use as indicated below.

Take ½ teaspoon to one teaspoon of the formula every 30-60 minutes. Don’t wash it down – let the honey coat the throat, then the cayenne will bring blood into the area, and then your immune system will be stimulated with the garlic. Garlic is anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-viral, so anything that may be causing the sore throat, is toast! It is quite soothing to your throat!

2 Orange Juice and Cayenne Pepper:

If it isn’t strep, this is great option for a mild sore throat.

Pour a little orange juice in a cup
Add 2-4 shakes of cayenne pepper.
Mix well and drink quickly.

It does burn, but just for a few seconds. This brings more circulation to the area so the body can start fighting whatever is causing the sore throat.

3 Salt Water:

Another very simple option for a mild sore throat is to simply gargle with salt water. This is good to do as soon as you feel a sore throat coming on.

Mix a teaspoon of salt in eight ounces of warm water.
Gargle the whole mixture several times a day.

This will increase the blood supply to the area by washing away mucus and dilating capillaries, thereby enabling better circulation of infection-fighting antibodies. The salt draws out some of the fluid in the throat that causes the swelling and inflammation. If this doesn’t bring comfort, you may want to opt out to some of the other options.

4 Lymph Massage

Lymph massage is a good thing to do whenever you are sick, especially when you have a sore throat or ear infection. Adding this blend of essential oils to the neck and armpit area will help the body move congestion in the lymphatic system. If you do not have all the essential oils listed below, you can still use what you have combined with olive oil or coconut oil.

20 drops Melaleuca
5 drops Lemon
5 drops Cinnamon
2 drops Wintergreen
13 drops Lavender
9 drops Clove
8 drops Thyme
8 drops Eucalyptus

In a 2 oz. dark colored glass jar, combine essential oils and fill with fractionated coconut oil or pure virgin olive oil. If using olive oil, you may want to store this in the refrigerator to keep the oil from going rancid.Place the lid on the bottle and shake well.

Apply the oil around the neck area, especially below and behind the ears. With a soft massaging motion drag your hand down the neck towards the sternum area and around the ear. Go easy because this area may be very tender. The essential oils will penetrate the skin and enter the bloodstream to help fight infection. Apply the oil blend to the bottoms of the feet as well.

I hope you found this information helpful.

Jan Howell

My intention for this website is to share tips and tutorials that I have found on my journey of life that has brought me joy, improved health, and peace, in hopes that it will do the same for you. I hope you'll join me on this journey!

Connect:

Jan Howell

Whether it’s a new recipe, a fun craft, or some handy tips for your garden and home, I hope to empower and inspire you with skills that you can use to create joy, improved health, and to do it in a simple way.

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alternative remedies essential oils natural remedies sore throat

HOLISTIC LIVING: Healthy Travel Tips

I went on a little vacation this week, and as I was gathering all my goods, I thought it would be a fun idea to show you some things I do and some things I take along with me. Here are some healthy tips and tricks that I do to maintain SOME holistic living while traveling.

Notice that I said “some”. When you are out of your routine and in a different place it can be challenging to do all the things you normally like to do to maintain a healthy lifestyle. I suggest you back off a little and do the BEST YOU CAN and enjoy yourself. Don’t freak out because maybe you had to resort to eating a little “fast food” or that you didn’t get your daily run in.

Know and trust that your body is very resilient and it will bounce back quickly once you get back to your normal routine. I say this like I don’t worry about this stuff, well I still do somewhat but have learned to not let it ruin my vacation.

I bring with me and implement the things I can, and then enjoy myself. Yes, you will have to adapt a little, but that is good for you!

Here are a few tips & tricks:

Medications, Supplements, and Tinctures

Make sure you have all your needed medications and supplements! I learned this the hard way. On the last trip I went on I ended up getting food poisoning. Without going into too much detail, because of a particular condition I experience, I am supposed to up my dose of hydrocortisone significantly if I experience any kind of illness or food poisoning. My doctor had given me some shots with cortisone in them in case this ever happens. (I ended up in the emergency room when I had food poisoning before, pretty much because I couldn’t keep the cortisone pill down).

Anyway, I forgot to pack the shots for this trip. DANG, I was sooooooo sick. I would rather go through childbirth than this. Not fun being that sick in a hotel room.

If you have a “daily” supplement container, it is a good idea to tape it closed like I have done here in the photo. I have had it open up and spill all over my purse way too many times before I learned to just tape it closed. I use painter’s tape.

Don’t forget any NEEDED medications, supplements, or tinctures. To save room, I get the small snack zip bags, label them, and put the capsules in there. If I think I may need the whole jar, I will just take the whole thing. Put them all in a BIG zip bag.

Healthy Snacks

Throw a few snacks in a little zip lock bag for those times at the airport or in the car when your sugar levels may drop and you need something to eat. If you have something handy, you will be less tempted to buy junk food, and save some money.

If your hotel room has a fridge in it, go to a grocery store and buy a few healthy snacks to have on hand. I like to get some string cheese, rice crackers, apples, nut & seed mix, carrot & celery pre-cut mix, bottled water, and grapefruit. Yep, that is sauerkraut in there. I got that for a little extra probiotic action for my gut this week. It was a small bag so even though I didn’t finish it, the little I had served me well.

Even if the place you are staying has breakfast available, it is nice to have some of your own alternatives. (The snacks you bought at the store are probably better for you than the instant pancakes, powdered eggs, or sweet rolls they have available). Now, if there is no other option, do the best you can. They will usually have oatmeal packets or yogurt and perhaps some fruit if you are lucky.

If you are really feeling vigilant, I know some who take their blenders with them. I really don’t want to be hauling my Blendtec on the plane. Although I did consider taking my son’s Magic Bullet. Oh, how nice a green smoothie would taste on vacation!

Grapefruit

What about grapefruit? When traveling, most likely you will be eating out more frequently than normal, and perhaps eating foods that are a little more heavy, rich, and fatty. Grapefruit is a good source of fiber, and it contains both soluble and insoluble fiber both of which can help improve digestion and constipation. Who wants to be constipated while traveling?

After eating a heavy dinner, I like to come back to the hotel and have some grapefruit. I peel it just like an orange. You are going to love the aroma as you peel it. Now some of you may never have eaten a grapefruit like this, but trust me, it grows on you and is quite a yummy snack. There are VERY good properties in the pith (white stuff around the grapefruit) so don’t pull it all off, eat it. When I eat a grapefruit, I don’t get bloating, or indigestion, and I feel much lighter.

Water

It is so important to stay hydrated and so easy to forget to drink water while you are traveling. I bring along my own water bottle and pack it empty, so that when I get to the hotel I can fill it up and have it handy. It helps me to remember to drink water if I have my water bottle there.

If you don’t want to pack your own, make sure you at least buy some bottles of water to have handy. I buy a few gallons of water and bring them back to the hotel. Most likely you don’t want to be drinking the water from the bathroom tap!

Movement

Although you may not be able to attend your favorite yoga class or go for a bike ride, there are some ways you can still move your body while traveling or while on vacation.

Skip the elevator and take the stairs
If the hotel you are staying at has a gym, use it
Go for a walk and do a little exploring
Take an online yoga class in your hotel room

It can be so easy to go several days without exercising while on vacation. It doesn’t have to be a serious workout, just move your body in some way. You will regret it if you don’t.

Herbal Teas

This is another thing I bring with me. I always take some Yarrow tea with me. This is one of my “go-to’s” when it comes to any kind of illness. Also good to help detox.

When I travel I take a little zip package of a blend of herbal teas that I like, usually Yarrow, Peppermint, and Raspberry leaf. I know it looks like I am smuggling some drugs or doing crazy stuff, nope just herbs.

Sometimes, the hotel will have some herbal teas, but not always. What I do is go down to the lobby and get some hot water where they have it for coffee, and fill up a cup. I take it back to my room, put in about a teaspoon of dried herbs, and let it steep for a few minutes. Then I get out my trusty stainless steel straw that filters out the herbs and viola, a nice cup of tea.

Essential Oils

I saved the best for the very last. As some of you may already know, I LOVE ESSENTIAL OILS and I don’t travel without them.

I have a little mini case that I have in my purse at all times, but that is not enough. I like to take as many as I can, AND my diffuser.

Go HERE if you want more information on this little travel case.

There is nothing like being cramped up in a hotel room that is stuffy. Why not diffuse your favorite oils to make it feel and smell a little more like home. I have a small travel diffuser that I pack.

When packing my oils, I have a difficult time deciding which ones to bring. I take the most essential ones and pray I won’t need any of the others. Trust me; these oils have come in handy. On this trip, I was so glad I brought the big bottle of lavender because I got a little too much sun on my back and was able to have my husband apply some on my back. Works wonders. You never know when there will be a need for them physically or emotionally. LOVE EM!

Hopefully, this will be helpful for those of you who want to maintain some kind of healthy balance when on vacation.

What is a tip you have learned and do to stay healthy on vacation? I would love to hear about it!

Cheers,

Jan Howell

My intention for this website is to share tips and tutorials that I have found on my journey of life that has brought me joy, improved health, and peace, in hopes that it will do the same for you. I hope you'll join me on this journey!

Connect:

Jan Howell

Whether it’s a new recipe, a fun craft, or some handy tips for your garden and home, I hope to empower and inspire you with skills that you can use to create joy, improved health, and to do it in a simple way.

What’s so bad about antibacterial soaps?

Here is what you need:

how to make your own non-toxic foaming hand wash

Pour the liquid soap into the jar.

Add 10- 15 drops of essential oils.

Slowly add water. Shake gently.

Jan Howell

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Pump Body Wash or Hand Soap- Every Last Drop

Toothpaste

Dish Soap

Essential Oil Bottles

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SUPPLIES that you will need:

INGREDIENTS:

CALENDULA:

PLANTAIN:

COMFREY:

TEA TREE Essential OIL:

LAVENDER essential OIL:

Let’s get started!

1- Preheat your oven to the lowest setting (150 – 170 degrees)

2- Cover with 4 cups olive oil and stir.

3- Place a few layers of cheesecloth over a bowl or pan.

4- Then I like to strain it again through a piece of 100 % cotton fabric.

5- Melt the bees wax.

6- Prepare jars

7- Add the melted wax to the oil, and mix well.

8- Add the essential oils and vitamin E now and mix well.

9- Pour the salve into the jars.

The jars that you are not currently using, store in the refrigerator so they will last longer and not go rancid.

How To Make Healing Salve

Ingredients

INSTUCTIONS

Jan Howell

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tooth powder ingredients

What are the benefits of brushing with tooth powder?

Adding Essential Oils

DIY Tooth Powder

Ingredients

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Why do you want a non-toxic deodorant?

Here are some ingredients you need to be aware of

Aluminum

Propylene Glycol

Triclosan

Parabens

Fragrances

Well, is that enough dirt to make you want to switch over to something a little safer for your body?

Why does it work so well?

Would you like to learn how to make it?

Here are the ingredients

Equipment you will need

Instructions

How to apply the deodorant

Deodorant Jar labels

Natural Deodorant

Ingredients

Instructions