Tag: chemicalfree

It’s Time To Re-Group

Published on by HeleneAnne3 Comments

So we got a few things wrong with this vegetable garden like planting tomatoes before the trellis was built and planting too many cucumbers and zucchini’s. plants need air around them to breathe and without air circulating around them fungus forms. Our zucchini’s ended up with white mould but they still continued to produce. The other thing I found very different between store bought and home grown is that the home grown don’t last as well as store bought. As soon as you pick home grown you want to eat it straight away or it’s starts to wilt especially the zucchini’s and cucumber. Not sure why this happens but it’s another thing we have learned.

I have thoroughly enjoyed this trial garden and we are determined to go again. This coming weekend we will get out there, pull out and re-fertilise the beds and get them ready for another round of planting. I also bought rockmelons and watermelons the other day so I need to get them in the ground ASAP!

The other thing I have learned is that a garden of this size takes a fair amount of work, which I have not been able to do over the past couple of weeks. The heat here is insane and menopause has not been kind lately. I just need to get more organised with stuff and get into the garden late in the evening once it has cooled down. Organisation is key and I have never been great at that but there is always room to learn new skills!

The Asian greens and lettuce have gone to seed and the corn is all but done.
The Shallots have done really well but need to be weeded.
I have a rosella bearing lots of fruit but not too sure when to pick them. There is also pineapple sage flowering madly.
The Zuchinni’s have taken a bit of a battering from the heat and white mould.

Check out the vege garden now!

Published on by HeleneAnne2 Comments

It’s been quite some time since I have posted but it’s 2020 and nothing is easy, straight forward or even normal and things are just getting in the way. But, after giving myself some space over the last couple of days I have had time to get some pics of my flourishing vege garden to share.

I think it’s been about 6 weeks since my last update which is super slack I know but life just keeps twisting around doesn’t it, but anyway, we are now eating out of our garden and the taste is quite different. We have zucchini’s ready to eat, cucumbers, peas, beans, asian greens, parsley and basil. Almost ready are the tomatoes, corn, beetroot and capsicum. We have decided that at some stage in the future we are going to extend the garden and always have things planted, ready to go. I have to say this garden is a lot of work, a lot of water and a lot of power running the pumps to water it, but it’s the most wonderful place to sit and de-stress which is exactly what I have been doing over the last couple of days. Sitting amongst the veges, eating peas, talking to God and escaping the massive crap show the world is right now! The other awesome thing about my garden is there are literally no pests. We have not sprayed the veges with anything, I hand weed, (we did spray the edges with an organic spray), and no pests. I put it down to really healthy plants, good soil preparation and a prayer on my tongue! Anyway here it is, what do you think?

Peas aren’t supposed to be growing this time of year in our area it’s too hot but look at them!

WHY HAS THE WORLD GONE MAD OVER ESSENTIAL OILS?

Published on by HeleneAnne2 Comments

Well probably for the most part people are sick to death of hearing about and seeing essential oils every where they look. They are sick of the justifications, the claims, the medical advice from non medical persons and the call to hideous wealth. People are just getting over it, however, I want to show you how I use essential oils as the world’s once biggest skeptic, to the world’s biggest fan (ok maybe not biggest) of essential oils.

When I first heard about oils I straight up had my guard up, my bristles were spiking up and down my back, and the claws were out ready to attack this new age hippie that stood before me, trying to get me to put an oil on my body so I could experience how amazing they were. I didn’t want to try her hippie juice, I wanted this woman to go away. But I was there at this presentation for my daughter’s sake, it was her meeting, I was just there for support. I remember getting a stress headache because this woman was railroading me, and there was little I could do about it but smile and wave, which is typically not what I would normally do. To cut a long story short, she told me to put peppermint on the back of my neck and that would get rid of the headache. Offff couurse it willll was my reply but I did it anyway and within 10 minutes my headache was gone. That was the start of my oily journey 2 years ago. I have swapped from Young Living to Doterra and back again, I have used oils off amazon, from the chemist and local health food shop, I have used organic oils and non organic oils alike and I can honestly say that Young Living are the best oils I have used and continue to use.

Lets talk chemicals for a bit. Chemicals are found in just about everything we eat, wear, spray on our foods, our cosmetics, soap, everything. Chemicals are causing disruptions to our bodies, our childrens bodies, how they grow, how they develop, how our brains are developing and so forth. Once upon a time I didn’t think too much about this or even care, when I was young I was invincible, I was a smoker, I ate what I liked, I was thin, I likened myself to Xena Princess Warrior. It wasn’t until ‘old age’ started to set in that I realised that lifestyle and ridiculous attitude has signed me up for a less than healthy old age and an even worse menopause. So if you are young start taking care of your body now because it is a whole lot harder when you hit 40’s and then 50’s to undo the years of complacency with your health. So, anyway, this is why I continue to use essential oils, they are chemical free, natural and used correctly won’t have any side effects. They literally work quicker than a lot of meds and they help improve cellular function in the body. Don’t get me wrong I still do medicine when necessary and doctors are essential. If you break your arm don’t grab for the nearest bottle of Lavender get to the doctor, if you have any illness that isn’t getting better get to the doctor you could be prolonging some underlying issue.

So, for me essential oils is a no-brainer, I have all but swapped out chemicals in my bathroom for natural products, all cosmetics, soaps, shampoos, moisturisers, make up is all natural. Essential oils have helped me through some pretty dark times with menopause. Emotionally they will help ground you, they will stop you from killing your spouse, yelling at the kids and kicking the dog. Oils are very calming and will help you get yourself together in a way that you can take a breather and think about your next move. This is really important for any hormone related issue that arises.

Essential oils are for wellness. They are to avoid illness by keeping you above the wellness line. They are not for curing disease and chronic illness although many profess to this, I for one know they work for surface issues but for illness such as cancer etc I would not be mucking around with that, get to a doctor. There have been many many horror stories because people are taking the advice of MLM dsitributors who are at large untrained and unqualified to be giving any medical advice on anything. Don’t do that, get trained professional help and leave the essential oils for emotional issues, calming the kids, getting grounded, helping with skin issues etc. Essential oils will save you emotionally from using anti depressants and heavy drugs like that which I don’t agree with. My daughter was on anti depressants and it made her worse, she now uses oils and has a better understanding of her emotional issues. Use essential oils in your diffuser in your home to uplift the funk in your home. Essential oils can be great in flu seasons to ward of viruses and germs, they are a great protection against seasonal threats and they are also great to use for head colds etc. This is how I use essential oils. I NEVER ingest, EVER. They funny thing with oils is that once you start using them you respond differently to chemicals and at large the world around you. I know for me I want to do better for my health and my home. It’s like health and essential oil use goes hand in hand, it’s very interesting.

So, that is why I use essential oils. Can I be so bold as to tell you to try them, you could very well be surprised!

What is Aromatherapy?

Published on by HeleneAnneLeave a comment

This article explains aromatherapy better than I can and it will help you get a better understanding if you are thinking about giving essential oils a try.

Definition of Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy entails the use of essential oils and other natural aromatics for physical, psychological and spiritual well-being.

History of Aromatherapy

Although essential oils have been available for nearly one thousand years, the term aromatherapy was first introduced less than 100 years ago. Learn more about the fascinating history of essential oils and aromatherapy by reading AromaWeb’s History of Aromatherapy article.

Why Essential Oils are Used for Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy

Essential oils have been found to provide psychological and physical benefits when used correctly and safely. The Essential Oil Profiles area details over 130 essential oils. Absolutes, CO2s and Hydrosols are also commonly utilized in aromatherapy. Although CO2 extracts and absolutes are not steam distilled and thus are not considered essential oils, the term essential oil is sometimes used as a blanket term to include all natural, aromatic, volatile, plant oils including CO2s and absolutes.

In addition to essential oils, aromatherapy encourages the use of other complementary natural ingredients including vegetable oils (also known as carrier oils) and hydrosols.

Products that include synthetic ingredients are frowned upon in holistic aromatherapy. It is important to note that perfume oils also known as fragrance oils (and usually listed as “fragrance” on an ingredient label) are not the same as essential oils. Fragrance oils and perfume oils contain synthetic chemicals and do not provide the therapeutic benefits of essential oils.

What to Look Out for When Buying Aromatherapy Products

The United States does not regulate the use of the word aromatherapy on product packaging, labeling or in product advertising. Therefore, any product can be marketed as a product suitable for aromatherapy. There are quite a few products on the market that are fragranced with fragrance oils that are marketed as being aromatherapeutic. It’s important to look at the ingredient label when seeking true aromatherapy products.

Also, use caution with marketing claims that state a product is “Made With Essential Oils” or “Made With Natural Ingredients.” Claims like these do not state that the product is only made with the ingredient(s) specified. Such products may contain heavy proportions of synthetic fragrance oils and only contain a minute quantity of essential oil to simply be able to profess the “Made With Essential Oils” claim.

Don’t let false marketing hype scare you away from the benefits of holistic aromatherapy. By exploring AromaWeb and other reputable aromatherapy resources, you can learn how to safely use just a few essential oils and start gaining the benefits of aromatherapy. If you realize you hold an even deeper interest, you can learn to make your own products and control the exact ingredients included in your own personal aromatherapy products.

The Benefit of Inhaling Essential Oils

Essential oils that are inhaled into the lungs offer both psychological and physical benefits. Not only does the aroma of the natural essential oil stimulate the brain to trigger a reaction, but when inhaled into the lungs, the natural constituents (naturally occurring chemicals) can supply therapeutic benefit. Diffusing eucalyptus essential oil to help ease congestion is a prominent example.

If not done correctly and safely, however, the use of essential oils can have severe consequences.

The Benefit of Topical Application

Essential oils that are applied to the skin can be helpful with skin care and addressing topical and muscular concerns. Since essential oils are so powerful and concentrated, they should never be applied to the skin in their undiluted form. To apply essential oils to the skin, essential oils are typically diluted into a carrier such as a cold pressed vegetable oil, also known as a carrier oil. Common carrier oils include sweet almond oil, apricot kernel oil and grapeseed oil. A more detailed definition of Carrier Oils is found on the What are Carrier Oils page. A detailed list of carrier oils and their properties can be found on the Carrier Oils Used in Aromatherapy properties page.

Additional Benefits of Aromatherapy

In addition to therapeutic benefit at the emotional and physical level, essential oils are helpful in other applications. Essential oils can be used in household and laundry cleaners. Some oils act as a natural insect repellent and pesticide. You may recall using citronella candles during the summer to keep mosquitoes away. Citronella essential oil is the ingredient in the candles that is responsible for repelling the mosquitoes. Visit the Essential Oil Uses page for additional information on ways that you can use essential oils.

Aromatherapy Blends

Essential oils can be blended together to create appealing and complex aromas. Essential oils can also be blended for a specific therapeutic application. Essential oils that are carefully blended with a specific therapeutic purpose in mind within the scope of aromatherapy may be referred to as an essential oil synergy. A synergistic essential oil blend is considered to be greater in total action than each oil working independently. AromaWeb’s Recipes area offers a variety of recipes and synergies.

About Aromatherapy Products

As touched on above, not all ready-made aromatherapy products labeled with the word aromatherapy are pure and natural. Products that contain artificial ingredients do not provide true aromatherapy benefits. At worst, they provide no benefit or be harmful. At best, they provide only a fraction of the benefit that natural products supply. Buyers seeking true aromatherapy products must look at the ingredient label to ensure that the product does not contain fragrance oils or unpure (chemical) components. A general rule-of-thumb is to be wary of products that do not list their ingredients and those that do not boast of having pure essential oils (look for products that contain pure essential oils on their ingredient list and avoid those that have words like fragrance). A note, however, is that some sellers of good-quality aromatherapy blends do not list their ingredients because they are worried that others may copy their creation. By asking the seller more about the blend, and listening to how they respond, you should have a better idea about the quality of the blend being sold. Good suppliers should be happy to provide you with a list of the ingredients. They understand that some individuals must avoid particular essential oils due to health problems.

 

This article has been taken from my new favorite essential oils website http://www.aromaweb.com