Saturday, October 5, 2013

Coconut Oil Health Benefits 80 Uses for Coconut Oil

So what’s the deal with coconut oil?

Offering a myriad of health benefits, coconut oil is affordable, readily available and completely natural. I have completely fallen in love with coconut oil and use it for EVERYTHING. Literally. I buy it in 5 gallon increments and keep it all over my house. I even have some in the car. So here is a little information to inspire you to check out this amazing oil including 80 uses for it!

General information about Coconut Oil

Coconut Oil Is:

·       Anti-inflammatory
·       Antimicrobial
·       Antifungal
·       Antiviral
·       Improves nutrient absorption

Daily Dosage:

Here is a chart outlining the recommended daily dosage of virgin coconut oil for persons over the age of 12. Coconut oil may be consumed by children under 12 but it is advisable to check with a healthcare practitioner on the proper dosage. Any good naturopath will have the information at the ready.

(Editor’s note: the amounts below are for “general” health and maintenance. Depending on why one is taking coconut oil, and what they hope to accomplish, the amount can be much greater. For example, many people seeing positive results for neurological diseases like Alzheimer’s are reporting that they are consuming up to 9 tablespoons a day or more to see positive results. For those just starting, amounts much less than these below should be started until the body is used to consuming high amounts of fat. The most common side effect of taking too much coconut oil is diarrhea.)

Weight in pounds/kilograms	Number of tablespoons of coconut oil daily
175+/79+	4
150+ /68+	3 1/2
125+ / 57+	3
100+/ 45+	2 1/2
75+ / 34+	2
50+ / 23+	1 1/2
25+ / 11+	1

Type to use:

·       Expeller pressed coconut oil can be used for anything. It does not have a coconutty smell of taste.
·       Virgin coconut oil tastes coconutty and is great for cooking and baking where you want that flavor.
·       Food grade should always be used.

80 Uses for Coconut Oil

Personal Hygiene/Body

1.       Moisturizer – simply scoop some out of the jar and apply all over your body, including neck and face.
2.       Eye cream – apply under the eyes to reduce puffiness, bags, and wrinkles. Use on the lids in the evening.
3.       Preshave – coconut oil will prep skin for the pending damage caused by shaving.
4.       Aftershave – coconut oil will help heal your skin after shaving without clogging pores.
5.       Deodorant – coconut oil alone can be used as a deodorant, but even more effective in combination with cornstarch/arrowroot powder and baking soda!
6.       Hair Conditioner/Deep Treatment – use as a leave in hair conditioner by applying a teaspoon of coconut oil to your ends and then running your fingers through your hair to distribute the rest! For a deeper treatment, rub in a tablespoon of coconut oil onto your dry scalp and gently work through to the ends. Put a shower cap on to prevent transfer onto bed linens and leave on overnight.
7.       Hair Gel/Defrizzer – rub a little between your palms and either scrunch into hair (for curly hair) or finger comb in through from scalp to ends (for wavy/straight hair).
8.       Toothpaste – there are numerous recipes out there but I just mix coconut oil and baking soda and dab a little of the mix on my toothbrush.
9.       Make up remover – use a cotton swab and a dab of coconut oil and you would be amazed at how well it works!
10.   Chapstick – just rub a little into lips and it not only acts as a softening agent but it also has an SPF of about 4 so you get a little protection!
11.   Massage Oil – pretty simple; grab some and rub!
12.   Lubricant – it is an all natural, perfectly safe personal lubricant. Not compatible with latex!
13.   Sunscreen – see my post on natural sunscreen for more detailed information.
14.   Stretch Mark Cream – coconut oil is great at nourishing damaged skin. It may not be the magic stretch mark cure but it will help.
15.   Nipple Cream – works great to nourish cracked, sore, or dry nipples. Apply to a cotton ball and leave on your nipples between feedings.
16.   Diaper salve – very comforting on a rashy bum with no harsh chemicals. Also safe for cloth diapers.
17.   Cradle cap – having issues with dry skin on your baby’s scalp? Coconut oil will not only nourish your baby’s skin, it also helps eliminate cradle cap. Just rub a teaspoon onto scalp daily.
18.   Body scrub – mix coconut oil and sugar together and rub all over! Rinse off and your skin will be super soft! You can add in essential oils if you would like a specific smell.
19.   Healing – when applied on scrapes and cuts, coconut oil forms a thin, chemical layer which protects the wound from outside dust, bacteria and virus. Coconut oil speeds up the healing process of bruises by repairing damaged tissues. Plus, it smells a heck-of-a-lot better than anything from the pharmacy.
20.   Bug Bites – when applied directly to a bug bite, coconut oil can stop the itching and burning sensation as well as hasten the healing process.
21.   Skin problems – coconut oil relieves skin problems such as psoriasis, dermatitis, and eczema.
22.   Swimmers Ear – mix garlic oil and coconut oil and put a few drops in affected ear for about 10 minutes. Do this 2-3 times a day and it usually works within one or two days.

General Health and Wellness

23.   Stress Relief – relieve mental fatigue by applying coconut oil to the head in a circular, massaging motion. The natural aroma of coconuts is extremely soothing thus helping to lower your stress level.
24.   Digestion – the saturated fats in coconut oil have anti-bacterial properties that help control, parasites, and fungi that cause indigestion and other digestion related problems such as irritable bowel syndrome. The fat in coconut oil also aids in the absorption of vitamins, minerals and amino acids, making you healthier all around.
25.   Fitness – coconut oil has been proven to stimulate your metabolism, improve thyroid function, and escalate energy levels, all of which help decrease your unwanted fat, while increasing muscle.
26.   Nose bleeds – coconut oil can prevent nose bleeding that is caused by sensitivity to weather such as extreme hotness and extreme coldness. This condition happens when the nasal passages become dry because of cold or dry air resulting to burns and cracks in the mucus membranes so bleeding happens. To prevent this just put coconut oil in you nostrils. Coat your finger with coconut oil and then lie down and coat your finger inside your nose. Doing this will strengthen and protect the capillaries in the nasal passages. A Vitamin C supplement will also help prevent nose bleeding.
27.   For breastfeeding moms, consuming 3 ½ tablespoons of coconut oil daily will enrich your milk supply.
28.   Helps with weight loss & controlling cravings.
29.   Helps keep blood sugar levels stable and/or helps with cravings in those with diabetes.

Health Problems (that coconut oil is known for aiding, relieving, or even curing when taken internally)

30.   Eczema – in addition to taking it internally, many have success applying it externally, some don’t
31.   Skin problems
32.   Toenail fungus
33.   Hot flashes
34.   Bleeding hemorrhoids (can also be applied externally twice a day)
35.   HIV
36.   Head lice
37.   Improvements in menstruation regarding pain/cramps and heavy blood flow
38.   Migraines (with regular use)
39.   Mononucleosis
40.   Parasites
41.   Thrush
42.   Relieve gallbladder pain
43.   Has helped some people improve symptoms of an underactive thyroid gland, results have shown subsequent thyroid blood tests becoming normal
44.   Energy boost
45.   Flaky, dry skin
46.   May relieve acid reflux and indigestion when taken with each meal
47.   Adrenal fatigue
48.   Alzheimers
49.   H. pylori
50.   Candida albicans
51.   Asthma, even in children
52.   Autism
53.   Cholesterol – improves HDL (‘good’ cholesterol) to HDL (‘bad’ cholesterol) ratio in people with high cholesterol
54.   Chronic fatigue
55.   Circulation/feeling cold all the time
56.   Stronger immune system
57.   Mental Clarity
58.   Depression
59.   Helps with inflammation in Crohns

Health Problems (that coconut oil is known for aiding, relieving, or even curing when applied topically)

60.   Athletes foot
61.   Back pain/sore muscles
62.   Canker sores
63.   Acne
64.   Cellulite
65.   Herpes (applied topically and taken internally)
66.   Genital warts (through topical application over 6 weeks, and coconut oil enemas twice a day depending on the location of the warts)
67.   Circumcision healing – although I am personally against circumcision, I have read that coconut oil is a really great healer for this.

Cooking

68.   Use 1 cup to 1 cup ratio when replacing other oils/butter in recipes with coconut oil.
69.   Replacement for butter/lard/Crisco/PAM in it’s solid form – greasing pans, pie crusts, etc.
70.   Replacement for various oils in liquid form – baking, cooking, sautéing, etc.
71.   Nutritional supplement – melt and add to smoothies.

Other Uses

72.   Insect repellent – mix coconut oil with peppermint oil extract and rub it all over exposed skin. Keeps insects off better than anything with Deet! Tons safer too.
73.   Great for dogs and cats for general wellness. Just add a teaspoon to their water bowl daily.
74.   Goo Gone – just mix equal parts coconut oil and baking soda into a paste. Apply to the “sticky” area and let it set for a minute. Then scrub off with an old toothbrush or the scrubby side of a sponge.
75.   Chewing Gum in Hair Remover – just rub some coconut oil over the stuck chewing gum, leave in for about 30 minutes, then roll the gum between your fingertip. Voila! It’s out!
76.   Polish Furniture – coconut oil with a little bit of lemon juice to polish wood furniture. However, I recommend you test it first on a very small, unobtrusive part of your furniture to make sure it works the way you’d like.
77.   Polishing Bronze – all you have to do is rub a little oil into a cotton towel and then wipe down the statue. It cleans and helps deepen the color of your bronze.
78.   Seasoning animal hide drums
79.   Seasoning cookware
80.   Moisturizing and cleaning leather products

Did I miss any? Do you use coconut oil for something not on my list? Please add it in the comments. I am always excited to find new ways to implement coconut oil!

Blessings,
Jennifer

Read the Full Article Here: http://hybridrastamama.blogspot.com/2011/06/80-uses-for-coconut-oil.html

NOTE: Jennifer has revised this article and now has a list of 333 uses for coconut oil! Read it here!

Great article on the uses of coconut oil.

Benefits Of Extra Virgin Coconut Oil For Skincare

Extra virgin coconut oil is another one of my favorite ingredients for natural skin care and hair care. It is rich in natural “good” fatty acids, antioxidants and anti-bacterial agents so it’s the perfect base for skin care masks, creams and lotions.

Extra Virgin Coconut Oil Benefits:

Coconut has many properties that make it the perfect ingredient for natural skin care products including:

Coconut is a natural emollient (make the skin softer and plumper while helping it so absorb beneficial nutrients)
Humectant (draws moisture to your skin).
Anti-bacterial compound (helps to combat acne and other bacterial skin issues)
Mild SPF protection (used by people in hot climates to protect their skin from UV damage)

Coconut has been used for thousands of years for moisturising and protecting skin and hair. It is fabulous as a base for moisturizers, creams lotions and cleansers. It is also fantastic for use in soaps. You can drink the milk, make masks from the cream or juice, and use the husks or desiccated pulp to exfoliate your skin.

My favorite use for Coconut oil is in home made face masks, especially in acne masks and for deep moisturizing dehydrated skin.

See Natural Homemade Facemasks And Skincare Recipes for more coconut tips and recipes.

Coconut Oil Mask:

You can take advantage of the benefits of extra virgin coconut oil for skin by making a basic mask from coconut cream, oatmeal, honey, avocado, egg and even ingredients like mashed carrot. Coconut makes an excellent base to add other ingredients to.

Another option is to add the oil to a serum for a super hydrating moisture treatment. Oils like Avocado, Olive, Wheatgerm, and Almond oil are also good base oils to add Argan, Carrot or other anti-aging oils (like the ones suggested by our serum wizard or in Natural Homemade Facemasks And Skincare Recipes .

Friday, October 4, 2013

Cinnamon Ornaments Scented with dōTERRA Essential Oils

Posted on November 23, 2012 by dōTERRA

The holidays are a great time for fun crafts, great smells, new traditions, and quality family time. With Christmas right around the corner, there are probably many families decorating their trees, so why not add a little dōTERRA spice in the process?

These fun cinnamon ornaments are great to do by yourself or with the whole family. They are inexpensive to make and turn into a great quality (and smelling) ornament that you can hang on your own tree and enjoy for decades. They are also great as gifts, or air fresheners.

Ingredients:

2 cups apple sauce

2 cups ground cinnamon

straw

ribbon

Christmas cookie cutters

dōTERRA essential oils of your choice (some essential oils you could use are cinnamon, clove, Holiday Joy, wild orange, etc.)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 200°F. Mix together 2 cups applesauce, 2 cups ground cinnamon, and 15 drops of dōTERRA essential oil(s) in a large mixing bowl until it forms into a ball.

2. Take the cinnamon dough ball and roll onto a piece of parchment paper until it reaches 1/4-1/3 of an inch thick. You might have to divide the ball into 3-4 sections and roll out 1 section at a time depending on counter space.

Tip: To help keep cinnamon from sticking to the rolling-pin or table, sprinkle ground cinnamon on table and rolling pin to help it not stick.

3. Take desired cookie cutters and cut into the dough. Take the cut pieces and place on baking sheet that is lined in parchment paper.

4. Take the straw and poke a hole in the top of the ornament. This will be where you will later tie your ribbon.

Tip: Don’t put the hole too close to the top of the ornament. Leave at least a 1/4-1/2 inch space from top.

5. Put baking sheets in preheated oven and bake for 2 1/2 hours or until ornaments are completely dry. Once dry, transfer to wire rack.

Note: You could also dry the ornaments at room temperature. To do this, carefully place each ornament on wire rack and let them sit for 1 to 2 days until completely dry, turning occasionally.

6. Insert ribbon through holes and tie.

7. Hang tied ornaments onto your tree.

Tip: You can also tie an ornament in your car for an air freshener or onto a present to use as a tag.

8. When done using for the holidays, store in an airtight container.

Tip: To continually bring back the holiday scent to your ornaments, lightly spritz or put 1-2 drops of essential oil(s) onto ornament and enjoy.

- See more at: http://doterrablog.com/cinnamon-ornaments-with-doterra-essential-oils#sthash.hqv7dDi4.dpufCINNAMON ORNAMENTS SCENTED WITH DOTERRA ESSENTIAL OILS

by dōTECinnamon Ornaments Scented with dōTERRA Essential Oi