Do you ever wonder how going one place or doing one thing can lead you in a totally different direction and sometimes it just keeps going until all of a sudden you wonder “How did I get here?”
That is exactly what happened on an ordinary trip to my chiropractor. I knew that Melissa B, his office manager, used essential oils as I do. When we got to talking I discovered that she makes many of her family’s health and beauty products.
I am totally into getting away from chemicals in commercial products, but I had never thought about making my own. Melissa is adamant, “I want to know what is in the products that my family uses, and I got tired of reading all the labels, trying to sort it all out. So, I started making my own.”
As far as cost, she says her products are usually cheaper than the commercial brands. Most products are not complicated and can actually be fun to make.
Many of her recipes come from the Pinterest website. This is a great place for learning how to make your own natural products as well as a zillion other things. Since starting myself, I have found the website DIY Natural. It was started and is run by Matt and Betsy Jabs who are passionate about living naturally and re-discovering the traditional value of doing things yourself, doing them naturally and enjoying the benefits.
Following are a few recipes I like:
Toothpaste
2/3 cup baking soda
1 to 2 teaspoons peppermint extract or 10 to 15 drops essential peppermint oil (or your favorite flavor)
Filtered water
Mix all ingredients, adding enough water to reach desired consistency
Natural Antibacterial Homemade Mouthwash
1/2 cup filtered water
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 drops tea tree essential oil
2 drops peppermint essential oil
Mix all ingredients, shake before each use as soda will settle, swish 2 or 3 teaspoons for a minute or two. This batch can be doubled, but larger batches are not recommended because the oils will continue to blend and change the flavor.
Deodorant
6 tablespoons coconut oil
1/4 cup baking soda
1/4 cup arrowroot or corn starch
Essential oils (your favorite)
Mix soda and arrowroot (or corn starch) then mash in coconut oil, add essential oils last. Store in a glass jar.
You have probably heard the hype about commercial deodorants, and it makes one wonder if you should sweat their use. Most commercial brands contain aluminum and other chemicals that are absorbed through the skin, especially if you nick yourself while shaving. These chemicals can interact with the DNA and cause disease, including cancer. A group of chemicals called parabens in antiperspirants have been linked to breast cancer. These chemicals have also been linked to preventing the body from purging toxins, which then concentrate in the lymph nodes where they contribute to cellular changes. After hearing this, I’m game for trying the natural.
Sunscreen Bars
1 cup coconut oil
1 cup shea butter, cocoa butter or mango butter (or a combination of all three)
1 cup beeswax
2 tablespoons non-nano zinc oxide
Essential oils (your choice except not any citrus)
Combine all ingredients except zinc oxide and essential oils, melt these ingredients then add the rest. Pour into molds or a pan and cut into bars when hardened.
The list is endless what you can make yourself. I have listed just a few of the basics. There are so many variations for hand soap, laundry detergent, dish soap and even cosmetics. The biggest benefit is you know what is in your products. Many times the cost is minimal and the ingredients are ones you have on hand.
The one thing to always remember is to use quality, wholesome products. This is especially true for the essential oils because they are so potent. I use the Young Living essential oils and have had good luck.
When getting back to basics for the products your family uses, usually homemade is better made.
Photo: Fotolia/Africa Studio
