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How-To Tuesday: Ten Tips to Improve Bone and Muscle Health

Posted on August 11, 2015 by Beeyoutiful Mary Leave a comment

Without healthy bones and muscles, the body literally cannot function and move as it should. Keep your body strong with these ten strategies for supporting healthy bones and muscles!

1) Eat your greens! Green foods like broccoli, spinach, kale, and mustard greens are great sources of Calcium.

2) Get your healthy fats. Unrefined fats from grass-fed animals, fish, and some plants (nuts, coconut, olive and avocado) contain natural forms and ratios of fat-soluble vitamins A, D and K. These vitamins, along with the Omega fatty acids supplied by these fats, are crucial for bone health and development, as well as preventing osteoporosis. (They’re also awesome for heart health!)

3) Weight bearing exercises. Lifting heavy things increases the strength of your muscles and can help to maintain balanced body weight.

4) Try dry brushing. Using dry brushing during your regular daily routine can help to encourage optimal circulation and muscle tone. It also helps to encourage the elimination of toxins in the body.

5) Drink adequate water for your body. Proper hydration helps to support good joint and muscle health by eliminating toxins that can lead to inflammation in the bones and muscles.

6) Drink some tea! Horsetail and Nettles are amazing for strong bones and good muscle health. Both are abundant in bone and muscle-supporting minerals such as silicon, magnesium, calcium and selenium. Add in your favorite fresh fruit, use as a base for a smoothie, or add some rosehips or hibiscus to mix up the flavor.

7) Keep your supplements handy. Minerals, Omegas, and Fat Soluble Vitamins are must-haves for healthy bones. If you are not getting adequate amounts through your diet, be sure to keep some supplements available to fill in the gaps.

8) Consume Bone Broth and Gelatin. These are two easy and delicious ways to support your bones and muscles through nutrition. Packed with minerals and collagen, Bone Broth and Gelatin, especially used in conjunction with each other, can pack a powerful punch in the war on deteriorating bones and weak muscles.

9) Keep moving! Even when it is hard and challenging, don’t stop and don’t give up. Even if it is just range of motion movements or taking a slow stroll, keep moving and get in some physical activity every day.

10) Take care. Don’t forget your handy aids to support your Bone and Muscle health when you have pushed yourself a little too far. Tension Tamer, Glucosamine/MSM, Bromelain, Ow!-Ease, Hyland’s Arnica, Marjoram, Black Pepper, Basil, Spearmint, Pine and Cypress Essential Oils can all help when you’re feeling creaky.

How-To Tuesday: How To Zap the Ugh Out of Bugs (Three Tricks!)

Posted on May 19, 2015 by Beeyoutiful Mary Leave a comment

Spring and Summer would be absolutely amazing… if not for the bugs. The stings and bites, the buzzing and dive bombing can all combine to make leaving the house a miserable experience.

We want you to enjoy the great outdoors, and here are three tricks to pull it off!

Use a natural bug spray to deter the bugs.

Not only are biting insects annoying, but they can also carry dangerous diseases that are easily transferred to humans through their bites. Not only does deterring the little critters make for a more pleasant outdoor experience, but it also helps decrease the likelihood of exposure to the diseases they carry.

Bug Repellent Spray

Makes 8 ounces

scant ½ cup distilled or boiled water

scant ½ cup natural Witch Hazel

Essential Oils (We suggest a combination of Cedarwood, Bergamot, Lemongrass, Citronella, and Lemon)

Fill an 8oz spray bottle half full with the water, then add witch hazel almost to the top. Add a total of 40-50 drops of the essential oils, adding more or less to reach your desired strength. Shake well and spray to keep all those nasty little biting suckers at bay!

NOTE: When using any recipe containing essential oils, always skin test a small area to check for possible skin irritation. Omit Cedarwood if using this blend while pregnant or nursing. The Bug Repellent Spray should NOT be used on children under 2 years old.

Soothe the Stings.

My kids are extremely scared of bees and wasps. They can appreciate the important job that bees do, but they wish they were far away.

Wasps, though… oh they just hate them! We’ve found two great ways to soothe the stings, and they’ve helped take some of the fear away as well.

Pick a few fresh plantain leaves (in our yard they grow rampant!) and crush well or chew them up a bit to release some of the soothing properties. Then you can put the plantain leaves directly over the sting. This should soothe it very quickly. If you do not have fresh plantain, you can use dried plantain; soak in freshly boiled water for 5 minutes. Strain and when the wet herb is cool enough to touch, use it as a poultice.

Activated Charcoal poultices can be used to help as well. Mix the powdered charcoal with a little water to form a paste. Apply directly to the sting for relief of both the swelling and pain.

We have also developed an easy way to have charcoal paste always ready in case of an emergency. Mix activated charcoal and water into a thick paste. Then, shape it into little one inch round balls and wrap in saran wrap. Keep them stored in the freezer.

You can even add Bentonite clay to the charcoal and it will soothe the pain even faster. The frozen rounds will keep forever (as long as your freezer lasts). Then, when ever an ‘incident’ happens, just unwrap one, hold it on the sting and watch it work! CAUTION: Charcoal does stain pretty badly, so avoid getting it on clothing or furniture.

Take the itch out of bites.

Make a poultice out of green tea, or simply use a damped teabag to apply to the bites.

Mix a small amount of honey (1 teaspoon) with Bentonite Clay to form a paste. This is sticky but can be applied to the bites for soothing relief.

Rub a slice of cucumber or the inside of a banana peel on the bites.

Spray Laveshmint Hydrating Toner on the itchy areas; the Aloe, Lavender and Peppermint are soothing to the bites.

Mix some Witch Hazel with two drops of Lemon Essential Oil and use a cotton ball to dab on each bite or sting.

Herbal Bug Bite Compress

1 tablespoon Chamomile

1 Tablespoon Peppermint

1 Tablespoon Calendula

1 Tablespoon Catnip

Mix dried herbs together and then steep in 8 oz of freshly boiled water. Use the mixture to dampen a cotton cloth, then drape on the bites to provide relief. Mixture can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Bug Bite Relief Oil Blend

1 drop Basil Essential Oil

1 drop Lavender Essential Oil

1 drop Lemon Essential Oil

1 drop Chamomile Essential Oil

1 drop Spearmint Essential Oil

Add all five drops into 3 ounces of a carrier oil. Apply a drop of the blended oil to the bites or stings.

NOTE: Omit Basil if using this blend while pregnant or nursing. Bug Bite Relief Oil should not be used with children under 2 years old.

Do you know a friend who would benefit from these recipes? What are your strategies to ward off bugs this summer? Share your ideas on Facebook or in the comments below!

The Detoxifying Power of Eucalyptus

Posted on January 6, 2015 by Beeyoutiful Toni Leave a comment

Eucalyptus. What a funny-sounding name for an even more exotic plant! You might recognize eucalyptus as the preferred habitat of Koalas in Australia. The cuddly-looking marsupials live almost exclusively in groves of eucalyptus trees, and the pungent leaves are nearly all they ever eat.

While we can’t recommend making eucalyptus a part of your own diet (it’s toxic to humans when taken internally), the oil extracted from the leaves can play a very important role in detoxifying the air you breathe, your home and laundry, and even your body.

Eucalyptus contains high levels of cineole (also known as eucalyptol), a chemical compound widely studied and shown to have a massive range of beneficial properties. Studies have shown that eucalyptus oil is:

antimicrobial
antifungal
antioxidant
analgesic
insecticidal
a respiratory aid
an immune booster

We’ve grown to rely on eucalyptus essential oil for so many uses! Here are some ideas to get you started.

Use eucalyptus in household cleansers to disinfect your home (see one of our favorite and most-requested recipes below). Add a dropperful along with your laundry detergent to rid your linens of dust mites and bacteria (especially appropriate after sickness has visited!).

Include eucalyptus in homemade salves as a pleasant scent and natural preservative. Add a few drops to shampoo or body wash to combat dandruff, ringworm, lice, and scabies.

Dilute thoroughly with a carrier oil and use topically as a rub for sore muscles and sprains, a soothing balm for minor cuts and scrapes, or an antifungal foot treatment. Use eucalyptus-based lotions or creams on the chest, back, and soles of the feet to soothe respiratory issues. (When using on the skin, always dilute eucalyptus with a carrier oil and test for sensitivity.)

Dab a few diluted drops on your body (or place a eucalyptus-dampened cotton ball in a loose pocket) to act as a bug repellent. Spray around your home to ward off invading creepy-crawlies. Dab on insect bites to cool and calm itching.

Use eucalyptus as a base when diffusing essential oils. The distinctive scent of eucalyptus blends well with many other plant oils (especially those that also contain cineole, such as Rosemary, Tea Tree, and Basil) and helps to stretch more expensive oils and make them last longer.

Take a bit of olive oil and eucalyptus and mix with bath salts, then soak in the perfumed water to soothe irritated skin and enjoy a rejuvenating dose of aromatherapy.

Eucalyptus supports respiratory health and breaks down mucus; breathing the aromas has historically been helpful with colds and congestion, allergies, and asthma.

Producing pure essential oil requires a large amount of the herb, flower, or plant. It takes over 100 pounds of eucalyptus leaves and stems to produce just two pounds of oil! This distillation process concentrates the powerful plant compounds into a potent and easy-to-use liquid form, making it simple to keep eucalyptus on hand.

Even with the costs of distillation, eucalyptus essential oil is one of the least expensive oils available, and given its versatility and ease of use, its low price means it packs an even bigger wallop. Once you realize the benefits of eucalyptus, you may come to love it as much as koalas do!

NOTE: Eucalyptus Essential Oil is not considered appropriate to use while pregnant or nursing, and should NOT be used with children under 10 years old. (Spearmint is a much safer choice for children.) If you are on medications or have a medical diagnosis, please consult with your doctor prior to using Eucalyptus because it can interact with medications and is contraindicated in some situations. Eucalyptus Essential Oil should always be diluted when used topically. The maximum concentration with mixed with a carrier oil should be 20% (to achieve, mix 20 drops of Eucalyptus Essential Oil to 1 teaspoon of carrier oil).

Learn more about Beeyoutiful’s Eucalyptus Essential Oil and watch a delightful 1-minute video here.

For even more ideas on how to use eucalyptus essential oil, read longer articles here and here.