Natural Wellness

Owie Spray {with essential oils}

This Owie Spray is an easy and effective way to soothe skin irritations.  Melaleuca (tea tree) cleanses and rejuvenates, while Lavender helps skin recover quickly. Frankincense is optional, but smells fantastic and also provides tremendous soothing properties. The next time you or your child suffers a skin irritation, no need to panic.  Just whip out this…

A Surprising {and Easy} Remedy for Post-Infectious Cough

The moral of this story (I’m giving it to you first, so you won’t miss it): always, always, always hit it hard when you feel something coming on.  Do not ignore the signs.  You do not have time to get sick! However, if you miss the signs or find yourself so busy…

DIY Chest Rub {with essential oils}

  It’s that time of year!  I hope you won’t have the opportunity to put this recipe to use anytime soon, but if you do, you’ll be ready. This DIY Chest Rub supports respiratory health, which is especially helpful during the winter months, don’t you think?

How to Give Your House that ‘Holiday’ Smell–the Easy, Non-Toxic Way

The holiday season is fast approaching.  Many folks love to fill their homes with “holiday scents”–cinnamon, pine, vanilla and citrus are popular aromas that evoke cozy feelings associated with Thanksgiving and Christmas. By now you’re no doubt aware that artificial fragrance is downright dangerous, having been linked to cancer, migraines, fertility issues and the like.…

What to Do When You Forget to Pack Your Favorite Non-toxic Shampoo

Oops… On our recent family trip to the beach, I completely forgot to pack my favorite shampoo and conditioner: Hugo Naturals Volumizing Shampoo, Vanilla and Sweet Orange. There was absolutely no shampoo available at the beach house, either. Since I’d also completely forgotten to pack a few other beach house essentials, like paper towels, hand…

Essential Oils for Back to School: Get a Good Night’s Rest with Sleepytime Oils

Sleepytime Success with Essential Oils Not too long ago, I reported my sleepytime success with Chamomile Oil. Since then, I’ve been experimenting with combinations of Chamomile, Lavender and Vetiver.  And I’m waiting for delivery of another new oil reported to aid in sleeping: Marjoram. Currently, I really like Vetiver and Lavender at bedtime.  I place…

Homemade “Lysol” Spray {Easy & Non-toxic, with Essential Oils}

During my days as a Coupon Queen, I used to stock up on cans of Lysol and other aerosol sprays for next to nothing. We used them mainly for the kitchen trash can and in the bathroom. But guess what?  Now I know that most household cleaners and sprays contain dangerous chemicals.  When you know…

Yet Another Reason to Love the E-cloth

We’re still loving our e-cloths here at the Yankee Homestead.   Have you tried them? I thought I’d give a quick report on yet another reason to love these microfiber cleaning cloths: they remove permanent marker! Recently, I picked up a few ex-library CD’s at a local used book sale.  

Homemade Hand Sanitizer {with essential oils}

Honestly, I’ve never been a big fan of hand sanitizer.  We rarely use it.  For starters, it dries out my hands.  And I was less than thrilled to learn about the ingredients in most mainstream versions.

Which Diffuser is Right for You? {Part Four}

Did you read the first three posts in this series on essential oil diffusers? Which Diffuser is Right for You? {Part One}–features to consider Which Diffuser is Right for You? {Part Two}–my personal experience with two mid-range options Which Diffuser is Right for You? {Part Three}–all about doTerra’s official diffusers, plus one low-cost option I…