JUST RELEASED

Check out our Lavender Hand Sanitizer!

With the shortage Hand Sanitizer in stores, here is a quick way to make your own.  

Ingredients

2/3 c. Rubbing Alcohol (at least 60%)
1/3 c. All-Natural Aloe Vera Gel 
3 drops Tea Tree Oil
3 drops Lavender Essential Oil
3 drops Lemon Essential Oil 

Instructions

In a small/nonreactive bowl, combine alcohol and aloe vera gel until well mixed (for thicker sanitizer, add an additional tablespoon of aloe vera gel), then stir in tea tree, lavender and lemon oils. Stir well to combine after each drop. 

Use a funnel to transfer sanitizer to a glass bottle with a spray or pump top. Leftover sanitizer can be kept at room temperature in a tightly sealed jar/bottle.

Note: We also have created our own hand sanitizer. Check it out here!

DISCLAIMER: This hand sanitizer is not a substitute for proper handwashing. And while this home remedy contains commonly-accepted natural antiviral ingredients, it has never been tested in a lab to determine its efficacy. As always, check with your health care professional before using any home remedy on you or your family.

Dear Suzi’s Family,

During times like these, when everything seems to be happening at once, it is hard to step back and pause. It seems like frantic activity is the only solution to the uncertainty and fear so many are experiencing. Questions like—Will I get sick? Are my loved ones safe? Will my business or employer survive this downturn?—are questions I and many others are wondering right now.

I want to offer something: the thought that we will make it through this. And also the urge to pay close attention to whatever sense of wellbeing you can find—whether it’s your local community, your co-workers, family, friends, or even your animal companions. It is important to me to focus on what good is around me, rather than focusing on the pain and fear I want to feel.

On a practical note, the scientist in me wants to seek more knowledge about what may or may not happen due to the coronavirus. I want to be informed, as many do, about how long it may be before things return to normal. In that direction, here are some useful guidelines on how best to protect yourself and your loved ones from the virus. And keep in mind, most people’s experience of the virus is that of flu-like symptoms, or less.  Based on available evidence from the CDC, children are not more susceptible to the virus, and symptoms in children are reportedly mild. It’s also important to note that after strong and difficult quarantine action in China, they are reporting less than 100 new cases per day.

Most important is the need to hold onto hope and positive perspectives in trying times. I have a little trick that I do when I feel uncertain or afraid. I take time to take care of myself. I shut out the whole, painful world for a little while. I make a cup of tea, and read something that inspires or interests me. To that note, thousands of acres of forest were just preserved in Alaska. This is wonderful news for our planet and its inhabitants—creatures large and small. Spring is coming, plants are leafing out and blooming. The weather is warming. It’s not all bad news. 

With love and care,

~ Suzi and the team

As spring begins it's slow northward greening, we wanted to share some practical uses for lavender! 

1. Calming Anxiety

Feeling stressed? Dab a little lavender oil on your pillow at night for restful sleep. Place a drop or two on your temples or under your nose to take the edge off.

2. Naturally Antimicrobial

Lavender flowers and water were used by nurses to wash linens and bathe patients. This knowledge was lost as hospitals began to rely on more powerful drugs and antiseptics, but lavender’s benefits haven’t gone anywhere! You can substitute lavender oil for the flowers by using 8-10 drops per cup.

3. Baking

You can add a few tablespoons of lavender to all kinds of baked goods, savory and sweet. Check out our favorite Lavender Lemon Scone recipe!

4. Soothe Wounds & Pain

Lavender has been found to speed wound healing and reduce scarring. It is one of the only essential oils safe to apply directly to skin.

Lavender First Aid Recipe
In a small bowl or on a cotton wad, mix 2-3 drops pure lavender oil with a few drops of coconut or almond oil. Apply gently to affected area.*

5. Curb Hot Flashes

A study showed that women who used lavender essential oil as aromatherapy during hot flashes lowered the duration by 50%! Dab oil under your nose and on your temples for relief.

6. Motion Sickness

Lavender oil can be useful for relieving nausea from motion sickness. It also helps relieve anxiety, which can be part of the problem, or make the nausea worse. Carry some with you on your next trip!

7. Nail Health

Lavender is naturally anti-fungal. This helps keep your nails and cuticles in top shape. Just a few drops daily on nails and cuticles will help!

*This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any illness or injury.

Did you know that your heart beats more than 100,000 times a day? Every beat pushes nutrients, blood, and oxygen through the tissues of your body. Today we talk about circulation and how it affects your skin.