Peppermint

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These are some of my favorite and easy use tips for summertime using vinegar and therapeutic-grade essential oils from Young Living. Over the years I have found vinegar terrific for somethings and essential oils superior for others. So this list comprises what I have found to be the best-of-the-best in my household.

  1. Storing Winter Clothing – keep moths out of your stored clothing by putting several drops of both Lavender and Cedarwood essential oils on a cotton ball where the clothing is stored.
  2. Mice Nesting Indoors – use lots of Peppermint essential oil! Put drops directly on unfinished wooden surfaces, or put drops on a cotton ball and place cotton ball in desired locations. This WILL keep rodents away and chase them away if they’re already inside. You will have to refresh every so often for it to keep working.
  3. Weed Killer – kill weeds with vinegar – PLEASE – note that the dilution ratio and how often it is used can create positive or negative results. Here’s an article I wrote on Weeds and Vinegar based on two Ag studies and on using vinegar in the garden effectively.
  4. Aromatherapy to Sleep Better – I have been scenting my bed linens every morning when I make my bed for over 12 years now. It is so easy to do and I find it helps me feel and sleep so much better. Here’s an article I wrote, Aromatherapy Bed Linen Spray to learn more.
  5. Vinegar for Fleas and Ticks – I have heard you can add a teaspoon of white distilled vinegar for each quart bowl of drinking water to help keep your pet free of fleas and ticks. The ratio of one teaspoon to one quart is for a forty-pound animal. I tried this with our dog but used Apple Cider vinegar and my dog hated the taste and pretty much stopped drinking his water, so that one didn’t work for us. I have also read that vinegar can be used as a spray on dogs to repel insects, however… doing this too often can be harsh on your dog’s skin, therefore I am not likely to try this method. This I also tried using Apple Cider vinegar and it works well for fleas but did nothing for ticks. I do not spray the vinegar water down onto my dogs skin as was suggested to do. I simply sprayed it a bit down into his coat. Interestingly, he enjoys licking the vinegar spray off his coat which means he’s ingesting it – go figure! Still it’s done nothing to kill or repel ticks. We’ve had fantastic results using Palo Santo essential oil on ticks. Read about our experiment and resultsusing Palo Santo and ticks.
  6. Cure a cement pond before adding fish and plants by adding one gallon of white distilled vinegar to every 200 gallons of water. Let sit three days. Empty and rinse thoroughly.
  7. Keep Cats Out of the Garden – Vinegar will help keep cats away from areas you don’t want them. Sprinkle vinegar on any areas where you don’t want the cat walking, sleeping, or scratching. Pour it around the perimeter of your children’s sandbox and repeat every two months and this will discourage cats from using it as their sandbox.

Read other blog posts on things I’ve found to be effective in daily life.

Subscribe to my Oil Tip of the Day for inspiring ways to use essential oils and other Young Living products.

Evelyn Vincent

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Articles by Evelyn Vincent, Young Living Independent Distributor #476766

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"There is nothing in a caterpillar that tells you it's going to be a butterfly." ~ R. Buckminster Fuller

From perfumes and aromatherapy to cooking and medicinal purposes, essential oils have been a vital part of everyday life, dating back to 4500 BC. After personally experiencing the many benefits of essential oils, D. Gary Young, Founder and President of Young Living Essential Oils, began a personal campaign to promote the ancient healing art of essential oil therapy. The result? An abundant line of pure, therapeutic- grade essential oils, including over 140 single essential oils and unique essential oil blends, and the world’s largest community dedicated to achieving wellness via nature’s purest, most potent gift.

Essential Oils: Pure, Potent Plant Remedies

Uplifting, protective, calming, and regenerating, essential oils are a unique gift from the natural world. Often referred to as “nature’s living energy” or the very essence of a plant, essential oils are aromatic liquids derived from shrubs, flowers, trees, roots, bushes, and seeds. They not only determine the plant’s aroma, but are vital for plants to grow, live, evolve, and adapt. Essential oils also help defend plants from insects, environmental conditions, and disease. Today, research shows that when used aromatically, applied topically, or taken internally, essential oils can calm, energize, balance, purify, and rejuvenate the mind and body.

It is important to have Young Living’s therapeutic-grade essential oils on hand for your home and family. To help you get started, Young Living has a collection of nine of the most popular essential oils and essential oil blends for a wide range of uses and benefits. Try them in the following favorite everyday applications.

Nine Essential Oils for Everyday Read the rest of this entry »

Evelyn Vincent

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Articles by Evelyn Vincent, Young Living Independent Distributor #476766

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"There is nothing in a caterpillar that tells you it's going to be a butterfly." ~ R. Buckminster Fuller

How to use essential oils and get successful results begins with knowing how to use your oils properly, particularly when they are therapeutic-grade essential oils. This is a brief overview of the three basic ways essential oils can be used. You will discover that simply using high quality essential oils for aromatherapy purposes is terrific and that Essential oils for everyday useit is only just the beginning!

1) Aromatherapy

  1. Direct Inhalation: Directly inhale the oil from the bottle.
  2. Diffusing: Use one of Young Living’s essential oil diffuser to disperse oil in a micro-fine vapor into the air, more.
  3. Humidifier: Fill a humidifier with water then place a tissue or cloth, sprinkled with a few drops of oil, in front of the escaping vapor.
  4. Steam: Place a few drops of oil in hot water, cover your head and the container with a towel, and breathe deeply and slowly.
  5. Bath: In a small dish, add 2-4 drops of essential oil to 1 cup Epsom Salt or Sea Salt, pour under running bath water, soak for 20 minutes.

Essential Oil Recommendations for Aromatherapy Purposes

Thieves (anti-bacterial), Citrus Fresh (fresh & uplifting), Purification (purifying), Sensation (romantic), Peace & Calming (relaxing).

2) Topical Applications

  1. Direct Application: Therapeutic-grade essential oils can be applied directly to the crown of the head, to the temples, behind the ears, over vital organs, to the feet, and many other locations. Dilution with a carrier oil, such as V-6, may be required.
  2. Massage: Essential oils can be used before, during, and after therapeutic massage. For a full body massage; add 4 drops of essential oil to 2 TBSP carrier oil (such as V-6).
  3. Perfume: With natural, earthy, and exotic aromas, many essentials oils and blends can also be worn as a perfume.

Essential Oil Recommendations for Topical Applications

This topic is quite large and so I will only list a handful of excellent choices, please follow the links provided for more in depth information on specific uses.

Lavender or Peppermint (headache pain), Thieves (bites/stings), Helichrysum (cuts/wounds), Release (muscle tension), PanAway or Idaho Balsam Fir (muscle/back pain), Joy or Sensation (perfume).

Also see…

3) Internal Use

  1. Capsule/Supplement: Add 2-5 drops of oil into an empty capsule and swallow with water.
  2. Water or Milk: Add 1–2 drops of essential oil to a 8oz. glass of water or rice milk.
  3. Bread: Add 1–2 drops of oil on a piece of bread, or put 2-4 drops into a dipping dish and add 6-10 TBSP olive oil for a delicious bread dip.
  4. Cooking: Use Young Living’s food-grade essential oils (sparingly please) in place of herbs and spices in your everyday cooking. Learn more about that here.

Recommended Essential Oils for Cooking, Flavoring Food & Beverages

Lemon, Oregano, Basil, Thyme, Lemongrass, Lavender, Peppermint, Orange, Grapefruit, Mountain Savory (my personal favorite as a dip for bread!), Nutmeg, Black Pepper.

A few of my favorite recipes using essential oils…

Note: Essential oils are highly concentrated and should be used with caution. Please refer to the Young Living’s Essential Oils User’s Guide (PDF) for more information about using essential oils successfully and safely.

Evelyn Vincent

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Articles by Evelyn Vincent, Young Living Independent Distributor #476766

Helping families make informed choices!

Subscribe to my "Oil Tip of the Day"

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"There is nothing in a caterpillar that tells you it's going to be a butterfly." ~ R. Buckminster Fuller

Peppermint essential oilIf you’re not thrilled about ants, and mouse droppings in your food pantry try using Young Living’s Peppermint essential oil! This is a terrific choice for those seeking to have an all-natural home.

Here’s how to prevent ants and mice from getting into your pantry…

Put 3-6 drops of your Young Living peppermint essential oil on a cotton ball, place it in a corner on the shelf of the cabinet. If you have a large walk-in pantry you will want to use several drops and/or more cotton balls. Reapply the peppermint when necessary.

More articles on Peppermint essential oil:

Peppermint Essential Oil to Repel Squirrel’s and Rodents
Essential Oils to Deter Crawling Insects
Peppermint (essential oil) Iced Tea
101 Ways to Use the ‘Essential 7′ Collection of Essential Oils (peppermint is included)

Evelyn Vincent

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Articles by Evelyn Vincent, Young Living Independent Distributor #476766

Helping families make informed choices!

Subscribe to my "Oil Tip of the Day"

Buy at wholesale, Monthly Specials , Contact Evelyn

"There is nothing in a caterpillar that tells you it's going to be a butterfly." ~ R. Buckminster Fuller

Peppermint essential oilCooking with food-grade (therapeutic-grade) essential oils is a wonderful way to get clean and clear flavor into foods and beverages. This refreshing Peppermint Iced Tea recipe is easy and welcomed on hot summer days. Peppermint oil has a cooling effective on the body.

Young Living Peppermint or Spearmint essential oils can be added to chocolate cake, brownies, chocolate milk, hot chocolate, flavored ice cubes, chocolate truffles, or frosting recipes.

Cooking with Peppermint Oil Tip: This essential oil is extremely potent. It is estimated that one drop of Peppermint Oil (Young Living) equals 28 cups of peppermint tea… so, use a ‘light-touch’ when using Peppermint oil in your recipes!

Follow these Guidelines for Successful Cooking with Essential Oils.

How to Get Less Than One Drop of Essential Oil (important to know)

Peppermint (essential oil) Iced Tea

  • 4 Green Tea bags
  • 1/4 cup Agave
  • 3 drops Peppermint essential oil
  • 3 Limes, quartered
  • 64oz. water

In the bottom of a 64oz. pitcher, pour agave and peppermint oil. Pour hot water over top and stir. Add tea bags and steep 6-7 minutes (steeping herbs longer causes the bitter tannins to emerge into your tea). Squeeze a little and add limes. Allow tea to cool. Add ice to pitcher and to serving glasses. Garnish with a sprig of mint and a fresh berry.

Caution: Essential oils found in stores are not high enough quality (safe) to use as food additives. Please know your source and read the label before ingesting any essential oil.

Evelyn Vincent

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Articles by Evelyn Vincent, Young Living Independent Distributor #476766

Helping families make informed choices!

Subscribe to my "Oil Tip of the Day"

Buy at wholesale, Monthly Specials , Contact Evelyn

"There is nothing in a caterpillar that tells you it's going to be a butterfly." ~ R. Buckminster Fuller

I’ve found it pretty easy to use my essential oils to keep crawling insects out of my home. The results are practically immediate. Plus, it makes the entire area smell really nice. What I also like about using essential oils for this type of purpose is that it helps me stay in alignment with my desire to maintain a natural home, no toxic products around here!

These are the 6 essential oils I typically use to deter crawling insects in my home:

  1. Peppermint
  2. Lemongrass
  3. Lavender
  4. Thyme
  5. Geranium
  6. Thieves

You can make a spray (for topical or for spraying into the air or on surfaces) from of any combination of the oils above, or simply put some drops of your chosen essential oils on a cotton ball and set it in the location, or diffuse (with the TheraPro Diffuser or nebulizer diffuser).Spider

I’ve also found that diffusing Thieves essential oil regularly (one to two times a week for about one hour) works very well to draw out and kill spiders. I rarely have spiders in my home just from simply diffusing Thieves essential oil. I also like to diffuse Thieves essential oil because it helps prevent mold.

How to Make a Crawling Insect Deterrent Spray

You’ll need:

  • 14oz. spray bottle (I prefer the ‘Hudson’ brand sold at Lowe’s)
  • 20-30 drops of your chosen essential oil or desired combination
  • Water

Fill bottle 7/8 full with water, add essential oils, shake, spray into the air /on surfaces that won’t become stained / topically.

Other Favorite Uses for Essential Oils Around the Home

50 Ways to Use Thieves Essential Oil
Peppermint Essential Oil to Repel Squirrel’s and Rodents
De-Stressing the Stressful Home with Aromatherapy
How to Use Purification Essential Oil for Bed Bugs
12 Quick Tips for Using Lavender Essential Oil Daily
Essential Oils and Ticks: removing and killing ticks effectively

Evelyn Vincent

Shop Here!

Articles by Evelyn Vincent, Young Living Independent Distributor #476766

Helping families make informed choices!

Subscribe to my "Oil Tip of the Day"

Buy at wholesale, Monthly Specials , Contact Evelyn

"There is nothing in a caterpillar that tells you it's going to be a butterfly." ~ R. Buckminster Fuller

  1. Stored Winter Clothing – keep moths out of your stored clothing by putting several drops of both Lavender and Cedarwood essential oils on a cotton ball where the clothing is stored.Lavender Essential Oil
  2. Mice Nests Indoors – use lots of Peppermint essential oil! Put drops directly on unfinished wooden surfaces, or put drops on a cotton ball and place cotton ball in desired locations. This WILL keep rodents away and chase them away if they’re already inside. You will have to refresh every so often for it to keep working. See My Story on Using Peppermint Essential Oil to Repel Squirrel’s and Rodents.
  3. Weed Killer – kill weeds with vinegar – PLEASE – note that the dilution ratio and how often it is used can create positive or negative results. Here’s an article I wrote on Weeds and Vinegar based on two Ag studies and on using vinegar in the garden effectively.
  4. Sleep Better – I have been scenting my bed linens every morning with an essential oil spray I make myself (it’s easy to do) when I make my bed for over 12 years now. It is so easy to do and I find it helps me feel and sleep so much better. Here’s an article I wrote, Aromatherapy Bed Linen Spray. Some of my favorite essential oil blends to incorporate into my bed linen spray are: Sensation, Thieves, Sacred Mountain, Humility, Gentle Baby, or Dream Catcher.
  5. Vinegar for Fleas and Ticks on Dogs – Add a teaspoon of white distilled vinegar for each quart bowl of drinking water helps keep your pet free of fleas and ticks. The ratio of one teaspoon to one quart is for a forty-pound animal. My dog is 80lbs. so I added 2 teaspoons and he hated the taste. Maybe you will have better success. I have also read that vinegar can be used as a spray on dogs to repel insects… I made a 4oz. spray (water with and 1/2 teaspoon apple cider vinegar) and sprayed this on my dog who was scratching frantically because he got fleas… my results have been very good (I do not spray all the way down to his skin in most places though), his itching has stopped and he has been licking the vinegar/water spray mixture off of his coat, so maybe that’s how I can get him to ingest the vinegar mixture.  Note: spraying your dog’s skin too often with the water-vinegar spray can be harsh on your dog’s skin. See my article on Essential Oils and Ticks: removing and killing ticks effectively.
  6. Cure a cement pond before adding fish and plants by adding one gallon of white distilled vinegar to every 200 gallons of water. Let sit three days. Empty and rinse thoroughly.
  7. Keeping Cats Out of the Garden and Sand Box – Vinegar will help keep cats away from areas you don’t want them. Sprinkle vinegar on any areas where you don’t want the cat walking, sleeping, or scratching. Pour it around the perimeter of your children’s sandbox and repeat every two months and this will discourage cats from using it as their sandbox. Caution: Using Vinegar on grass or plants will kill them and can change the pH of your soil, so be mindful where you pour vinegar outside!

Other Cool Summertime Tips

18 Tips to Save Money and Stay Cool This Summer
Lavender and Sunburn
Summertime Chamomile Milk Bath Recipe
50 Ways to Use Thieves Essential Oil
75 Ways to Use Young Living Essential Oils

Evelyn Vincent

Shop Here!

Articles by Evelyn Vincent, Young Living Independent Distributor #476766

Helping families make informed choices!

Subscribe to my "Oil Tip of the Day"

Buy at wholesale, Monthly Specials , Contact Evelyn

"There is nothing in a caterpillar that tells you it's going to be a butterfly." ~ R. Buckminster Fuller

Bandit, our dogTick season is here!!! YUCK!!! This past week I’ve found two on me. And Sunday night I wished that I had grabbed my video camera so you could see what I do when I find a tick on myself, Curt or Bandit (our dog). I didn’t grab my video camera because… I was chicken… I wanted to get the thing off of me ASAP!!! This tick was embedded on my thigh, just above my knee.

Fortunately, my Essential Rewards order arrived last week and in it was a bottle of Palo Santo (#3607) essential oil – in my book, you MUST have this extremely valuable oil handy during this time of year!

Three years ago Curt and I began experimenting on ticks to see which were most effective at getting them to let go and at killing them, here’s what we discovered…

The Jars for Our Tick Test

We had 3 different little jars, each jar contained 3 drops of only the 3 different Young Living essential oils individually.

  • Jar #1 – had 3 drops of Peppermint
  • Jar #2 – had 3 drops of Purification
  • Jar #3 – had 3 drops of Palo Santo

Each time we returned home from walking Bandit we would examine him, and ourselves, for ticks before they became embedded. Every time we found a tick we would scrape it into one of the 3 jars and watch what would happen. These ticks were not embedded.

For the embedded ticks we would apply 2-3 drops of any of the 3 essential oils mentioned above and watch to see if the tick would die or dislodge itself from the skin.

Our Tick Jar Results Read the rest of this entry »

Evelyn Vincent

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Articles by Evelyn Vincent, Young Living Independent Distributor #476766

Helping families make informed choices!

Subscribe to my "Oil Tip of the Day"

Buy at wholesale, Monthly Specials , Contact Evelyn

"There is nothing in a caterpillar that tells you it's going to be a butterfly." ~ R. Buckminster Fuller

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