Seasonal Allergies

This post contains affiliate links.


As many of you do, I have seasonal allergies. Spring and Fall are actually my favorite seasons. The weather is just right for anything outdoors: camping, fishing, yard work, gardening, even good choring weather.

Unless--you have seasonal allergies! You know, stuffy nose, that creates a breeding ground for bacteria so you end up with a sinus infection. These things lead to just being so tired!

I have discovered some other things, not so limiting, that do help. 

1.  Cover your hair--Our fore parents covered their hair to keep it clean and to not have to wash it so often. Not a bad idea. But seriously, pollen gets in your hair and sticks to it and all the products in it. Then when you are sleeping, all that wallowing around in the arms of Morpheus, loosens up that pollen and you breathe it in. 

2.   Rinse your sinuses--Invest in a good sinus rinse device that you are comfortable with. I use the Neil-Med pictured below. I use the saline packets along with Alkolol. 

I rinse my sinuses at least twice daily during Spring and Fall. 

3.   Invest in a good diffuser--I use The Breeze, which can be purchased here. 

4.   Use the above noted diffuser. Mine runs almost 24/7! My personal base essential oil is eucalyptus. Other essential oils I add together or alone are peppermint, rosemary, spearmint, and/or lemon. 

Get Ready For Summer Fun--NATURALLY!

This post contains affiliate links.

Photo by Todd DeSantis on Unsplash

Summer is just around the corner and that means FUN IN THE SUN!!!

That also means, bumps, bug bites, sprains, scratches, sunburns, and all sorts of owies! Just goes with the territory.

So, I thought I would let you know my recommendations for an all-natural first-aid kit. 

Miracle Skin Salve from Beeyoutiful is awesome at promoting healing and restoration of all those little scratches and bug bites. It works for sunburn, chapped lips or skin, minor burns (if in doubt, please seek medical attention), cuts & abrasions, and so much more.

Ow! Ease I love this for sprains, strains, bruises, and so much more.

Activated Charcoal--

• Capsules--These are an easy way to swallow the charcoal for tummy upsets or for possible ingestion of poisons. Please call the Poison Control Control Center at 1-800-222-1222 before administering an antidote.
  This is also easy transportation for charcoal used externally. Just open a capsule to make a poultice for stings and rashes. There is an informative book, Charcoal Remedies, here. 
• You can also buy activated charcoal in larger sizes 10 ounces and one pound.

Shoo those pesky insects away!!!

• Jungle Fierce
• Bug Me Not

Essential Oils--

• Peppermint is a medicine chest of its own! It helps with tummy issues, headaches, motion sickness, nausea, and when mixed with a little water and spritzed on the body, it helps the cooling down process. 
• Lavender will help that over-excited child fall asleep, calm someone down after an injury, sooth the itching of bug bites. (Please remember to properly dilute in a carrier oil before applying to the skin. Beeyoutiful has this already diluted, in a roller ball.)
• Relieve It is a blend of essential oils that is the best thing going for instant, long-lasting relief of itching from insect bites. I have found it also works well for that itch that comes along as other owies are healing up. 
• Tea Tree Oil is a natural disinfectant. Keep it handy not only for cleaning wounds (never "neat" only properly diluted.) and for using to clean up around the campsite, boat, etc. 
• Chamomile is a soother, sleep aid safe for use on even small children (when diluted), aids digestion, good for skin care, relieves pain, reduces anger, helps depression. 
• Rose Geranium is a tick repellant. I apply it to pants hems, shirt hems, and sleeve hems. Just one drop in each place. It doesn't take much. This also gives the added benefit of aromatherapy of calming.
• You can obtain the Lavender, Tea Tree Oil and Chamomile essential oils, already diluted, in rollerballs here.
  

Don't forget plenty of fresh water and the aloe gel of your choice.

You simply must stay hydrated in the heat of summer. 

Aloe gel is a cooling (keep it in the ice chest) for those that are overheated or have gotten a touch of sunburn. 

Disclaimers: Nothing I have written here should be considered medical advice. Always, always consult your healthcare provider. 

These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Photo by Andrew Ruiz on Unsplash

MENOPAUSE-NATURALLY, WITH HELP

• Please note: This post contains affiliate links.

I can see the looks on your faces now.  How do you go through menopause, naturally, yet get "help" with it????

First of all, you educate yourself. Talk to your friends and family, including the males. They have been observers of their female loved ones going through. Also, research for yourself. I highly recommend "What Your Doctor May NOT Tell You About Premenopause". Did you know premenopause to menopause to final menstrual period can actually take a decade or longer?

Get tested for hormone levels. Balancing those hormones can be such a relief throughout our lives, but especially when menopause is in process. Your doctor, health department, or even an online lab such as:

• My Med Lab
• Health Labs
• Labs MD

Thee are many others out there. Please check the lab you choose out. Read reviews. Check for BBB complaints. Check with your state licensing office.

Some herbs that are reputed to assist are:

Dong Quai(Angelica sinensis)--this herb is well known to practitioners of Chinese Medicine and is used around the world. Some of the conditions it is used for are: women's health, cardiovascular conditions, osteoarthrosis, inflammation, headache, infections, mild anemia, fatigue and high blood pressure. You can start your own research here. 

Licorice Root(Glycyrrhiza glabra, Glycyrrhiza uralensis) is reputed to relieve the duration but not the intensity of hot flashes. Compounds in licorice root can bind to estrogen receptors-most menopausal women have low estrogen levels. You can begin your research here.

Black Cohosh (Actaea racemosa or Cimicifuga racemosa) has proven effective for relief of hot flashes, reducing both the severity and number of them. It also has compounds that bind to your estrogen receptors. Begin your research here. 

Damiana Leaves (Turnera diffusa) has been shown to increase blood flow to the reproductive organs, to boost your overall mood, and to have hormonal balancing effects. You can begin your own research here. Purchase here. 

Alfalfa Leaves (Medicago sativa) Another source of compounds that can bind to your estrogen receptors thereby giving relief to hot flashes and night sweats. You can begin your own research here. 

Vitex (V. agnus castus) supports the endocrine system so that it can balance itself naturally. You can begin your own research here. 


I also suggest the following natural products:

• Beeyoutiful Balance progesterone cream is specially formulated to help women's bodies achieve hormonal balance.
• Evening Primrose Oil Encourages hormonal balance
• Vitex w/ Dong Quai Get all the benefits of both herbs. 
• ProMiSe Essential Oil Blend a unique combination of pure essential oils designed specifically to support women when their hormonal health is disrupting their lives.

The bottom line is, peri-menopause and menopause can be disrupting to our lives but they are transitionary periods of time in our lives.

Seek advice. Do your own research. And enjoy being woman!

Photo by Jeremy Bishop on Unsplash