Herb Garden 2015

Irish Gardens is finally in PA.  We aren't up and running yet but maybe next year.  This year is all about the family and getting some stock plants.  So what was my first plant purchase?  Herbs of course.  I love herbs.  With all the smells, colors, and uses they have whats not to love. 

In the pot pictured above is Lemon Balm, Chocolate Mint, and Tri-color Sage.  A word of caution not a mix I would recommend to a novice.  Why?  Well Lemon Balm and Chocolate Mint are both in the mint family and grow fast and can spread so the Sage if not properly kept in check will get over shadowed.  But of all the herbs that were pot ready at the local greenhouse these are my favorite. 

Need reasons to get these herbs? Well as the season moves on I will be posting ways to use these and more herbs.  But to start how about some lemon tea?  Or a chocolate mint mojito?

So what will your first purchase of the 2015 gardening season be?




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Got a cold?

One of my new favorite oil's On Guard.  A protective blend of oil's that help prevent or lessen the effects of colds

They now come in cough drop form.

So when I get a cold I usually get knocked on my butt.  Which for a mother of 2 is never a good thing.  I can get ear infections easily and usually run high fevers and am moody and well just plain miserable.

So what was different this time?  Well let me tell you.  To begin with at the onset of symptoms I started with the On Guard drops.  They helped keep the cold to a very tolerable level.  I was just sleepy and ran very low grade fevers if any at all.  I did get an ear infection too but again no fever and yes some pain but could have been far worse

So why would I tell you about this if I still got sick and an ear infection?  Well cause it worked.  I was able to function the whole time I wasn't sleeping.  My throat hurt for a day not days.  My ear infection hurt for a day but not intolerable like usual but I used oil's for that too - solution to come in another post.

So what would I recommend? On Guard of course.  It has a nice citrus smell to it so it's uplifting as well as protective.  At the first onset of any cold like symptoms I recommend either diffusing it or using the drops.



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Cedarwood

So did you know that cedarwood oil is good for more than just smelling wonderful?

I have always loved the smell of cedarwood.  But as an oil it's good for anxiety and even eczema.

In fact it is good for other skin disordered and skin care in general.  As well a wounds

What do I use it for?  Well I use it at night to help me sleep a little bit better along with some serenity.  Although it isn't known for chapped dry skin I put a drop on my chapped dry hands before I add lotion and man besides relaxing me does it work.  No burning or anything, just soft wonderful smelling hands. 

Have I mentioned I love the smell of this oil?  It's an amazing oil that really does bring a relaxing feeling to me.....and brings back memories of my child hood.  You know cedarwood chests and stuff like that to keep the moths away. I just love it. 

http://www.doterra.myvoffice.com/melissaoneil/

A new ADHD blend

So my son has ADHD and although he is on medication I am trying to find a blend of oils that can do what his meds to with out the side effects. 

 These two:
Lime and Vetiver combined with some fractionated coconut oil in a roller bottle is working a little. 

An even amount of drops of each oil in a small roll on bottle are mixed together and applied to the back of the neck.  It is a bit of a strong smell and some find it unpleasant so I add a drop of lavender to the back of the neck as well. 

The question you are asking is....is it working?
Well yes and no.  It is helping a little but he still needs his meds.  But you never know everyone is different so this combo may work for you or your child so give it a shot.

A refreshing blend

Here is a blend that I found and have fallen in love with.  Lavender, Lemon, and Rosemary:

 This blend may not sound like much but man is it nice.  And so fresh smelling. 

 No one smell is over powering over the other and I just can't describe the smell that it is other than fresh.

So give this blend a try the next time you have company over or just want something fresh smelling. 

I have been using it to freshen up the new house that has a pet odor smell to it.  I love it.

Stuffy nose relief

So Fall is upon us and that means lots of stuffy noses.  Did you know that you can simply open this bottle of Breathe and inhale it and it can open up your stuffy nose? 

Well you can.  This stuff is a unique blend of the following Essential Oils:
Eucalyptus radiata
Laurel Leaf
Lemon
Melaleuca alternfolia
Peppermint
Ravensara

Blend these together and you have a mild vicks like smell that really opens you up.

Right now as I suffer from allergies or a cold I am diffusing it and it has opened up my airways quite well.  It's making my nose run a little but more it is opening up the passageways.  This Essential Oil Blend can also be applied topically under the nose and on the chest if need be but I like to breathe it in or diffuse it. 

It is also great for asthma as well so it's a good oil to have on hand in one of these:

A cute little bottle with just enough oil space for you to inhale or apply topically once or twice.  I keep will be keeping this in my purse from now on especially during cold and flu season.

Children and sleep.

 So your child has problems sleeping some nights right?  Well here is some Essential Oils that may help. 

Most nights for my son who has ADHD diffusing just lavender is more than enough but then there are nights that he is just so wound up that sleep seems impossible.  Or other nights where he just seems anxious....so what is a Mother to do?

 Well the Balance blend is a grounding blend and on it's own can help him relax and sleep but even that's not always enough.

So diffuse Balance and Lavender together.  Combined they have Spruce, Rosewood, Frankincense, Blue Tansy, and Lavender.  A great blend for sleep when he is hyperactive. 

But then there are the days that he is not only hyper but needs to just calm down and relax.  On the days that it truly seems impossible that he will sleep I diffuse Serenity and Lavender together.

Now Serenity has Lavender in it as well as Marjoram, Roman Chamomile, Ylang Ylang, sandalwood, and Vanilla Bean, but adding extra Lavender seems to help even more. 

So here are 3 different solutions to rough nights sleeps....actually make that 5 as you can use Serenity and Balance alone or with the Lavender.    Does it work for adults you say?  Of course it does! 

Have you used other oils for sleep?  Please let us know.