Category

Essential Oils

Category

My Nightly Skincare Routine (for clear, healthy skin)

It’s no secret that I have problem skin. I talk about it often on this blog, on social media, and in real life. Having problem skin sucks! You can read more about my skin woes here, but basically, I developed severe acne in the fourth grade that took me well over ten years to clear. I did clear it via diet but was left with a lot of scarring and uneven skin – which I am now working to clear and have improved greatly. I’m very strict about my skincare routine. I never go to bed with my makeup on. I always cleanse, tone and moisturize. Most importantly, I never skip a step. My point is, with problem skin, you have to be pretty regimented in your routine to see results. They don’t happen overnight, but with repeated daily use over time, the results are amazing. So far, I’ve managed…

Homemade Hydrating Hair Mask

This homemade hydrating hair mask with coconut oil, olive oil and essential oils will make your dry and damaged hair soft, shiny and the healthiest it’s ever been! This homemade hydrating hair mask is one of the reasons I still have hair. Okay, maybe that’s a bit dramatic. But it IS one of the reasons I still have long, healthy hair. No matter whether I use heat tools or not, my hair, especially my ends, tends to get really dry. I once went four months without using heat tools, it didn’t make a difference. Now I use them once or twice a week and my hair is still doing really well. In fact, it’s been growing really quickly. Why this homemade hydrating hair mask will rescue your damaged, dry hair: Guys, trust me,  use this hydrating hair mask and your dry damaged hair will be the softest and shiniest it’s…

The Best Natural Remedies For The Stomach Flu

A few days ago I woke up bright and early to wish my husband a happy birthday, only to find out that he was running a fever of 101 and seemingly had the stomach flu. You know – chills, nausea, diarrhea, stomach cramps, the works. The poor guy. We had plans go out to his favorite restaurant, but he could barely get out of bed. Depsite being called the stomach flu (or stomach bug), it’s not actually the flu. The flu is influenza, a virus that mainly affects the respiratory system. The stomach flu, or gastroenteritis, is actually an infection of the stomach and intestines that can be caused either by bacteria or a virus. Unfortunately, most medical recommendations for gastroenteritis include letting it run its course, hydrating and getting rest. Instead of taking a watch and wait approach, letting the bacteria or virus work its way out of his…

Brush This Way For the Healthiest, Softest, Shiniest Hair

Listen, I know it seems weird. Who actually needs a tutorial on how to brush their hair? Chances are, you do. It’s okay. I did too. I had no idea how I was brushing was actually contributing to the seemingly endless amount of breakage I was experiencing as well as the dryness of my ends. If you’re anything like me, you constantly struggle with dry ends and maintaining a healthy, shiny head of hair. I have long hair and want to grow it out – this brush is not only keeping my hair healthy, it’s boosting growth. I stimulate my scalp every time I brush. I also basically deep condition my hair every time I brush, using the natural oils my scalp produces – aka the best conditioner on earth. Watch below for the tips and a demonstration, or just read below for my tips. https://www.youtube.com/embed/f8m0ZRqcsvA Tip #1 Use the…

Top Five Tips For Anxiety

I’ve had anxiety for as far back as I can remember. Which is about since I was 4-5 years-old. To “manage anxiety” was not a concept I would understand for a long time. It worsened when I graduated high school, and feelings of terror would overcome me for seemingly no specific reason. Then it got even worse when I was around 21. This was when my anxiety wasn’t just a feeling of sheer terror, it was also a deep-seated feeling of absolute dread and hopelessness. When I felt a panic attack coming on, which about 10-20 times a day, it was like falling down a dark, terrifying, desolate black hole. And I’d live there for a bit until I could pull myself out. And then the process would repeat. I thought I was losing my mind. When I was in the midst of dealing with severe anxiety and I saw…

DIY Essential Oil Deodorant (That Doesn’t Suck!)

I am not one of those girls who can sweat and not smell. I live in DC, where summers are hot, humid and gross. I go to the gym. I spend as much time outside as I can. And I’ve tried just about every organic, non-toxic deodorant on the market. And I’m going to be rill rill honest with you – none of them have worked for me. Not a single one. They may help a little, but they don’t stop the stank. This is the only organic and non-toxic deodorant I’ve ever tried that actually works. It’s what I use at the gym and I just made a bunch to take to Key West in a couple days (where I’ll also be sweating my pits off). I’m not exaggerating when I say this is awesome. Take is from a previously smelly girl who finally found a solution to smelling…

Wellness Wednesday: Healthy, Non-Toxic Beach Essentials

I know I say I love things a lot, but I REALLY love going to the beach. There’s something so fun and special about going to the beach for me. Scott and I both love it and will regularly decide on a Friday to go to the beach for the weekend. This time around, I rented a beach house with a big group of our friends. I figured it would be an awesome way to kick off the summer. In addition to bringing a ton of food, booze (just organic wine!) and snacks to the beach, I never go without my healthy, non-toxic beach essentials. Everything from suncreen to fake tanner (a healthy version) to lavender/peppermint mist. These are some of the products in my beach bag and I wouldn’t head to the beach without ’em. Yes, I am wearing sunglasses in this video. Yes, I did have bags under…

Wellness Wednesdays: Essential Oils 101 – Intro Class For Newbies

It occurred to me that I’m regularly blabbing about essential oils when many of you likely don’t know much about them, their chemistry, their efficacy, or even what they are really. Essential oils are potent, plant based medicine. In this video I explain the basics of essential oils, how they work, why so they’re amazing and why you need them in your life. https://www.youtube.com/embed/dJKQV6lDdMU

The Top Seven Ways To Boost HDL (The “Good” Cholesterol)

Let me get this out of the way first: cholesterol and heart disease are weakly linked. Cholesterol has been vilified, but the real villain is inflammation. Cholesterol is absolutely necessary for our health. Cholesterol is necessary for proper hormone function, cholesterol is necessary for vitamin D production, and roughly 25% of cholesterol is found in the brain, we need it for our brains to properly function. It is absolutely essential. So in writing this article, my aim isn’t to vilify cholesterol. I want to make this very clear. Cholesterol is great. But when HDL is low and LDL particle number is high, that can be an issue. Remember that when your cholesterol is tested, you want to be tested not just for basic HDL/LDL numbers, but for particle numbers. This is a much more accurate test of your cholesterol. A low LDL particle number is good, while it’s possible to have low…

How I Healed Cervical Dysplasia Naturally

Find out how I healed my cervical dysplasia naturally after having been diagnosed with CIN 2 cells on my cervix – without LEEP procedure! Edited to add: I am happy to chat and discuss and offer sisterly support, but please do not email or comment asking for medical advice including supplements for you, what I did exactly, how I did it, what you should use, what you should do, etc. I am not a doctor. I am unable and unequipped to offer medical advice. The best advice I have is to see a qualified naturopathic or naturally minded doctor you trust. First off, what is cervical dysplasia? Let’s start with the cervix: The cervix is the lower part of the uterus that leads into the vagina. It’s the cervix that dilates during childbirth to allow the fetus to pass through. Cervical dysplasia is a condition in which healthy cells on…