DIY: Fight Your Sweet Tooth with Homemade Cinnamon Toothpicks

Everyone enjoys a flavored toothpick! They are great for freshening breath, cleaning teeth, and fighting of sweet tooth cravings.

Not only are flavored toothpicks enjoyable to chew on, but they are easy to make with CPTG essential oils.

Note: Flavored toothpicks have been known to help people who bite their fingernails and help with food cravings. If you feel the urge to bite your fingernails or give-in to an unhealthy snack try chewing on a flavored toothpick to see if it helps stop the urge.

What You Need:

Toothpicks

Glass Jar with Lid

Fractionated Coconut Oil

10-20 drops Cinnamon Essential Oil

Tin to hold Toothpicks

Directions:

1-Take a glass jar and fill the bottom with Fractionated Coconut Oil, about 1/4 inch from the bottom.

2- For a mild cinnamon flavor add 10 drops of Cinnamon essential oil to the jar. Add more drops for a stronger flavor.

NOTE: Try different flavors such as Peppermint, Slim & Sassy, On Guard, Wild Orange, etc. Get creative and try to make your own flavor combination such as Cinnamon and Peppermint, or Peppermint and Grapefruit. The options are endless.

3- Place toothpicks into the jar. Let the toothpicks sit in oil mixture for at least 8 hours or until the oil is absorbed.

4- After the toothpicks have absorbed the oil mixture, lay the toothpicks on a plate and let them dry for at least 24 hours. Make sure to save any leftover oil at the bottom of the glass jar to make more flavored toothpicks.

5- You’re done! Put the flavored toothpicks in a small tin or glass jar and enjoy the taste and health benefits of essential oils.

dōTERRA essential oils can be purchased online, or from any of our Independent Product Consultants. If you would like to locate a Product Consultant in your area, click here.

Essential Gift Giving: Weddings and Bridal Showers

Many happy couples will be saying their “I do’s” this summer and odds are that most of us will be attending a wedding or two.

Why not use this opportunity to share the power of Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade dōTERRA essential oils with the newlyweds in your life by gifting them this home care starter kit filled with natural homemade cleaning supplies?

All items in the gift basket have step-by-step tutorials on this blog. Click on the link in the item list to learn how to make them.

This Home Care Starter Kit Includes:

Window Cleaner: 16 oz. Spray Bottle, 1 1/2 cup white vinegar, 1/2 cup distilled water, 8 drops of any citrus oil of your choice

Wood Polish: 1/4 cup olive oil, 1/4 cup vinegar, 10 drops Wild Orange or Lemon essential oils

All Purpose Cleaner: 16 oz. glass spray bottle, 1/4 cup white vinegar, 1 3/4 cups water, 30 drops Lemon essential oil, 1 teaspoon borax

Toilet Soft Scrub: 3/4 rounded cup baking soda, 1/4 cup liquid castile soap, 1 tablespoon water, 1 tablespoon vinegar, 5-10 drops Lemon essential oil

Mattress Cleaner: 1 cup baking soda, 10 drops Lavender essential oil

Air Freshener: 1/4 cup baking soda, 5-6 drops of your favorite essential oil

Dryer Balls

On Guard Cleaner Concentrate: Item No. 3814

On Guard Foaming Hand Wash with 2 Foaming Dispensers: Item No. 3807

Make Sure to Include Essential Oils so They Can Make Their Own Cleaning Supplies:

Lemon Essential Oil: Item No. 3012

On Guard Essential Oil: Item No. 3110

Lavender Essential Oil: Item No. 3011

Wild Orange Essential Oil: Item No. 3017

Assorted Cleaning Supplies:

Towels

Scrub Brush

Sponges

Other Recommended Gift Ideas:

Family Physical Kit: Item No. 3279

Introductory Kit: Item No. 3218

dōTERRA essential oils can be purchased online, or from any of our Independent Product Consultants. If you would like to locate a Product Consultant in your area, click here.

EO Spotlight: Stay Calm with Lavender Essential Oil

Lavender is one of dōTERRA’s best selling essential oils and for good reason. Lavender essential oil can be used in hundreds of different ways from helping you sleep better to reducing stress.

Lavender is known as the ‘calming oil’ and is often used to assist in balancing the body. Lavender is most commonly used to soothe the occasional skin irritation, help improve quality of sleep, aid in calming nerves, and more.

Check out the following studies on how Lavender was shown to improve sleep and decrease stress.

• Study: The quality of sleep in patients was significantly improved after aromatherapy use of lavender essential oil. The study  shows that aromatherapy with lavender essential oil can improve an individuals quality of sleep and health. Read the full study here.

• Study: The use of lavender and rosemary essential oil sachets reduced test-taking stress, in graduate nursing students, as evidenced by lower scores on test anxiety measure, personal statements, and pulse rates. Read more about the study here.

• Study: When lavender was applied topically, nurses in an ICU setting demonstrated decreased perception of stress, in the intervention group, during three 12-hour worked shifts. Read more about the study here.

Tips from dōTERRA:

Apply Lavender to the bottom of your feet, before going to bed, to aid in improving sleep quality. 

Diffuse Lavender to promote peace and a general sense of well-being.

Apply a small amount of Peppermint and Lavender to your temples to assist in reducing stress.

Chapped lips? Put 1 drop of Lavender on your lips to help sooth and soften.

Check out our previous blog post to see an additional 34 uses for Lavender essential oil.

Tips from dōTERRA‘s Facebook Fans:

“Monster spray – Place Lavender and water in a glass spray bottle. Kids use it to scare away monsters and eventually fall asleep.” -Rachelle Christensen Castro

“Stress reducer – 5 drops Lavender, 5 drops Frankincense, 5 drops Peppermint, and 1 drop Deep Blue. Rub on temples, neck, and the bottom of feet.” -Angela Wimbish

DIY: Make Your Own On Guard Hand Sanitizer

Hand sanitizers are a convenient, on-the-go solution for cleaning your hands when soap and water are unavailable. Today, traditional hand sanitizers contain isopropyl or ethyl alcohol. These ingredients can be harmful, especially if accessible to unsupervised children.

Most hand sanitizers contain between 60 to 90 percent alcohol, which is enough to cause alcohol poisoning if ingested. According to CNN Health, a 2 ounce bottle of hand sanitizer may contain as much alcohol as four shots of vodka. Yikes!

The alcohol in hand sanitizers can also be a fire hazard, cause severe skin and eye irritation, and be extremely drying to the skin.

There is a very simple solution to this problem–make your own alcohol-free hand sanitizer with only a few ingredients. This homemade version will not only sanitize your hands, but moisturize them too. Here’s how:

Materials Needed :

5 Tablespoons Aloe Vera Gel

4 Tablespoon Water

1/4 teaspoon Vitamin E oil

8-10 drops On Guard Protective Blend

Small Squeeze Container

Note: Essential oils can be stored in plastic containers if the essential oils are highly diluted. Make sure they are high quality if you do use plastic containers.

Directions:

In a bowl combine Aloe Vera Gel and Vitamin E oil.

Add 8-10 drops of On Guard Protective Blend to the Aloe Vera mixture.

Add water and mix well to combine. Add more or less water depending on the consistency you want.

Pour into container and you’re done! Put your homemade hand sanitizer in your bag, car, or office for an effective, alcohol-free hand sanitizer.

References:

http://www.livestrong.com/article/101880-risks-hand-sanitizers/

dōTERRA essential oils can be purchased online, or from any of our Independent Product Consultants. If you would like to locate a Product Consultant in your area, click here.

Spring/Summer 2013 Living Magazine Has Arrived!

The Spring/Summer 2013 issue of dōTERRA Living Magazine has arrived. Tell your friends!

You can view it online here: http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/61e10327.

Get your copy of the new dōTERRA Living Magazine! Purchase single or as part of the EMPOWER Kit.

dōTERRA Living Magazine Single

This Issue Features:

• Essential Oil Outdoor Adventure Guide
• Car Makeover
• Essential Oils for Allergy Season
• Slim & Sassy Inspiration
• User Tips, Recipes, and More!

Item No. 48290001 US$ 1.50

EMPOWER Kit (Spring/Summer 2013)

The EMPOWER Kit makes it easy for you to introduce family and friends to dōTERRA.

The kit includes:

20 Issues of dōTERRA Living Magazine:

dōTERRA® Living is a unique lifestyle magazine, with the added convenience of select product information also available in our catalog. Each issue is packed with product and wellness tips to help you make the most of a healthy dōTERRA lifestyle.

20 5 ml bottles of dōTERRA Wild Orange Essential Oil

30 Invitation cards allowing attendees of your next event to redeem a copy of dōTERRA Living Magazine and a 5 ml bottle of dōTERRA Wild Orange Essential Oil.

Available while supplies last.

Item No. 48300001 US$ 50.00

Say Happy Birthday with these dōTERRA Inspired Gift Giving Ideas

A birthday should be filled with luxuries, surprises, and of course dōTERRA essential oils. This birthday basket is filled with wonderful gift giving ideas using essential oils. Follow the tips below to provide a luxurious birthday surprise for anyone in your life.

Note: These gift giving ideas would also be great for Mother’s Day, Anniversaries, Special Occasions, etc.

All DIY items in the gift basket have step-by-step tutorials on this blog. Click on the item list to view each tutorial.

This Basket Includes:

Homemade Cordless Heating Pad

Deep Hair Conditioner

Citrus Bliss Sugar Scrub

Lavender Epsom Bath Salts

Fast-Fizzing Bath Bombs

Variety of essential oils and dōTERRA Spa Products:

Lip Balm: Item No. 3619

Healing Hands Lotion: Item No. 3617

Serenity Calming Bath Bar: Item No. 3614

Citrus Bliss Essential Oil: Item No. 3102

Lavender Essential Oil: Item No. 3011

Assorted Accessories:

Towels

Could Also Include:

Aromatherapy Jewelry

Salon Essential Hair Care System: Item No. 3628

Other Recommended Ideas:

Family Physical Kit: Item No. 3279

Introductory Kit: Item No. 3218

dōTERRA essential oils can be purchased online, or from any of our Independent Product Consultants. If you would like to locate a Product Consultant in your area, click here.

Spotlight: The Many Uses of Fractionated Coconut Oil

Fractionated Coconut Oil (FCO) is an all-natural carrier oil that readily absorbs into the skin, making it ideal oil for topical therapies. Its feather-light emollient effect provides a soothing barrier without clogging pores and is excellent for dry or troubled skin. It leaves skin feeling silky smooth, not greasy like other vegetable carrier oils. It is completely soluble with all essential oils and is colorless, odorless, and will not stain or go rancid.

FCO is extremely versatile and can be used in many ways, from making bug repellant to hair serum. Check out additional uses below.

Tips from dōTERRA:

Use as a lubricant with Deep Blue Soothing Blend for a deep tissue massage.

Use with Lavender for a diaper cream. 

FCO is a must have for those with sensitive skin. Dilute with any essential oil when using topically to help with skin sensitivities.

If you accidentally get an essential oil to close to your eyes, put some FCO on the eye or around the eye area for quick relief. Don’t, however, use water, as it will only make it worse.

Use it as an after shave to help moisturize skin. Add essential oils, such as Lavender or Meleluca, to help calm skin if you get razor burn. 

Dilute essential oils with FCO when using on infants and children. It allows one drop of essential oil to go a long way without irritating their sensitive skin.

Tips from dōTERRA’s Facebook Fans:

“[I use it] after being in the sun with Lavender” -Melissa Charles Cates

“I actually use it to remove eye makeup and I have used it on my face, just a couple of drops will do it! I also use it when making homemade lotion. And we use it to help our essential oils carry farther.” -Amy Higgs

“With a few drops of On Guard for oil-pulling” -Laura Rawlins Ceja

“[I] make the family a bottle of bug repellent by adding a few drops of TerraShield” -Valarie January

“I use it as my face moisturizer. Works great!” -Lindsey Miller

“Running a bit through your hair makes a great shine boost and smoother.” -Christine Bachmeier

“We use it to pre-dilute our oils in roller ball bottles, that way the kids can use the oils when they need to without wasting the whole bottle!” -Cara Rotering Jones

“I make my own liquid foundation with Bare Minerals & FCO. I shake some mineral powder out in a little dish or in my palm, add 2-3 drops of FCO and voila! Applies great and smooth and makes my face feel great.” -Melissa Wilson Weber

“I put it in a spray glass bottle with a few drops of On Guard and let the kids spray each others spines during their night/morning teeth brushing routines.” -Natalie Ririe

“I mix a 15ml bottle of Grapefruit in my bottle of FCO and use it as a daily after shower moisturizer.” -Jody Richardson Simmer

“I use a blend with Melaleuca and rub it on my dry itchy scalp. Helps sooth and stop itch. Added bonus – makes my hair silky smooth.” -Desiree Saporito

“I quit buying perfumes & make-up when I found out what toxic things are in them….so I use Ylang Ylang, Whisper & Fractionated Coconut Oil mixture on my face, neck & arms when going out & many of my friends want to know what kind of “perfume” I use!!! I made some for a friend & she loves it!!” -Kandi King

“I love the FCO, it’s really great to use as a carrier oil, but I recently made mayonnaise out of it. I can’t use Best Foods/Hellmans anymore because it’s 100% soybean oil (allergic to) and the other mayonnaise made from alternative oils just don’t taste right. I couldn’t use the regular extra virgin coconut oil because of the hardening when cold, but this works fabulously!” -Jan Maland Magness

Try these fun tutorials using Fractionated Coconut Oil:

Sugar Scrub

Making Your Own Perfume/Cologne

Homemade Disinfecting Wipes

Fractionated Coconut Oil can be purchased online, or from any of our Independent Product Consultants. If you would like to locate a Product Consultant in your area, click here.

*These statements have not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. dōTERRA products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease. Pregnant or lactating women and persons with known medical conditions should consult a physician prior to the use of any dōTERRA product. The statements shared from our Facebook page are the personal opinion of independent persons and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of dōTERRA International, LLC

Gift Giving Ideas: Teacher Appreciation Week

Teacher Appreciation Week is just around the corner!

As a parent, you worry about so many things where your children are concerned; but when your child has a teacher that goes the extra mile, it is comforting to know there is one less thing to worry about. Show the teachers in your life that you appreciate them by giving them a versatile and great smelling gift. Essential oils make great teacher gifts because they have so many practical uses, from disinfecting a classroom and making white boards shine, to helping relieve headaches, increasing energy, or even just making skin extra soft.

Gift Ideas:

1. Remember the Lemon essential oil on the whiteboard trick? (if not, watch this tip shared by Rob Young) Restock their teaching supplies with some new dry erase markers and Lemon essential oil for an easy non-toxic cleaner for their white board.

2. Give them a classroom disinfecting kit. The classroom is home to millions of germs, which results in nearly 22 million school days lost annually due to the common cold and causes 52.2 million cases of the common cold each year for kids under the age of 17. Help the teacher fight germs by giving them On Guard Cleaner Concentrate to help disinfect surfaces and On Guard Foaming Hand Wash to help those in their classroom stay protected. Make sure to include some refill bottles and dispensers as well.

3. Teachers are with dozens of children each school day, and are bound to get the occasional headache as well as experience decreased energy. Peppermint essential oil is great for headaches when rubbed on the temples and back of the neck, and inhaling it helps to energize the senses.

4. Every teacher deserves a little pampering. dōTERRA Hand Lotion, Bath Bars, or Lip Balm work wonders on dull and tired skin. You could even make your own spa products to give to them. Additional ideas include a sugar scrub or Epsom salt bath.

5. A diffuser for the classroom (if permitted by the school or district), along with a few select essential oils is a great way to show your appreciation. Essential oils can help improve behavior and boost performance for both the students and the teacher.

Here are some ideas on essential oils to diffuse in the classroom:

On Guard: to help fight germs

Lavender: to help everyone stay calm and relieve stress

Peppermint: to wake people up and keep them alert

Rosemary: to boost memory and brain performance

Citrus Bliss: to freshen the classroom and uplift moods

Get more information on essential oils in the classroom in the Fall 2012  dōTERRA Living Magazine.

dōTERRA essential oils can be purchased online, or from any of our Independent Product Consultants. If you would like to locate a Product Consultant in your area, click here.

EO Spotlight: Clary Sage—Nature’s Gift for Women

It’s no secret that women are different from men. Women give birth, have menstrual pain, breastfeed, have hot flashes, and are sometimes known to have the occasional mood swing. Clary Sage essential oil then should also be no secret to women!

Clary Sage essential oil is known for its uplifting and mood-lightening attributes and also for its anti-fungal, antispasmodic, sedative, and soothing properties. Clary Sage has traditionally been used by women to soothe monthly discomfort associated with their menstrual cycles and to help with emotional stress, damaged hair, hot flashes, lactation, mood swings, and more.

Check out the following research on how Clary Sage was shown to help with relieving menstrual pain, alleviating pain during labor, and how it has helped relieve anxiety.

• Study: An aromatherapy massage (consisting of clary sage and other essential oils) may be an effective treatment for menstrual pain in high school girls. Read the full study here.

• Study: An observational study done by midwives over the last 8 years have suggested that aromatherapy using clary sage and chamomile essential oil are effective in alleviating pain and that aromatherapy can be effective in reducing maternal anxiety, fear and/or pain during labor.  Read more about the study here.

• Study: One study found that animals who were given clary sage essential oil-enriched food from the date of conception, showed a significant reduction of dominant and anxiety-like behavior compared to animals who were given sunflower oil-enriched food. Clary Sage essential oil, in this study, was found to posses anxiety relieving properties. Read more about the study here.

It’s no wonder why Clary Sage should be every woman’s best friend!

Tips from dōTERRA:

For menstrual discomfort, massage 3-5 drops of Clary Sage onto your abdomen.

Diffuse to help uplift your mood.

Add Clary Sage to your Epsom salt bath to help relieve nerves and anxiety. Combine Clary Sage and Roman Chamomile essential oils for an even more relaxing bath.

Use Clary Sage to make a deep Deep Hair Conditioner to help stimulate the scalp and promote hair growth.

Put 1-2 drops on your pillow to help you have a better night’s rest. 

Tips from dōTERRA Facebook Fans:

“I used [Clary Sage] for labor pains and to start milk production. I had it in just 1 day after my daughters birth! Loved it!” -Josh-Sylvia McBride

“I put it in my shampoo and on my feet at night. Clary Sage is by far my favorite oil. My body finally feels regulated and I’ve been losing less hair in my shower”-Jaclyn Smith

“I put it on my abdomen for menstrual cramps and they are gone within minutes! I would chose Clary Sage over Ibuprofen any day!” -Amanda Deeter Freestone

“I apply to ankles and feet and heart center for night hot flashes. Also apply to pulse points (wrists, neck) for the calming benefits during the day. Will have to try the liver area. Love Clary Sage!” -Renee Frensko

“It helps relieve my headaches” -Starla Allen

“I use it mixed with coconut oil for hair massage to keep my hair thick and healthy.” -Arpita Chadha

“I use it to help me sleep at night. Put a drop on back of neck and 1 drop on front of neck – 15 minutes later – sleeping.” -Jeri Harwell

Happy 5th Birthday, dōTERRA! Enter to Win Rose or Jasmine Essential Oil

dōTERRA is celebrating 5 incredible years in business, doing what we are most passionate about, educating the world about the life-changing benefits of CPTG Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade® essential oils.

In celebration of dōTERRA’s 5th birthday, we want to give you a shot to win one of our two most rare and precious oils—Rose and Jasmine.

Here’s how to get started:

• Upload a video that is 1-3 minutes long showing us how you use dōTERRA essential oils. Some ideas could include recipes, mommy care, cleaning tips, etc. You can shoot your video on your smartphone, webcam, or digital recorder. Maximum file size is 150 MB. Accepted file formats are .3pg, .avi, .mov, .mp4, .mpeg, .mpg, and .wmv.

• You have until Friday, May 17th at 11:59 pm MT to submit your video. On Wednesday, May 22nd dōTERRA will share our favorite ten submitted videos for you to vote on. The five videos with the most votes by Sunday, May 26th at 11:59 pm MT will win a 5ml bottle of dōTERRA Rose essential oil and the other five will receive dōTERRA Jasmine essential oil. dōTERRA will announce the winners on Wednesday, May 29th.

You will upload, vote, and view the winning videos on our Birthday Giveaway Website, so make sure to check back often.

What an amazing 5 years this have been. We look forward to many more happy and healthy years to come!