Make It Yourself Monday- Recipes for Relief

It is that time of year, the time when we spend hours outside, time at the beach or the lake, camping or hiking in woods, working in gardens, or just playing in the yard. So today's Make it Yourself Monday AND tomorrow's Teaching Tuesday will focus on recipes that soothe. Recipes that provide relief from over-exposure to the elements, from insect bites, and even some that  offer relief from dirt and heat. 


Today we will go through some bug bite remedies that are for AFTER you are bitten, not preventative treatments. Then tomorrow we will look at a few preventative recipes, as well as some recipes for relief from other annoyances. 

For those times when you are attacked by a whole pack of mosquitoes, try this recipe for relief! 
Take 1 cup of apple cider vinegar, mix in 10 drops of lavender essential oil, and   5 drops of thyme essential oil. Blend this well and then add it to a tub full of tepid bath water. Swish it around to get it mixed well before you get into the tub, or before you put a child into the tub. Once in the tub, soak a washcloth or a sponge in the water,  and use it to (liberally) wipe down the body areas with the bites. Make EXTRA sure to keep this bath water away from the eyes, you really don't want to experience vinegar and EO's in the eyes, even this diluted! Don't ask me how I know this! LOL

Don't want to get into the tub? Don't need an all-over treatment? Try this recipe as a "spot" treatment for any bug bite. Take 1/4 cup sweet oil (ask the pharmacist for this if you can't find it), and mix in 5 drops each of eucalyptus, thyme, chamomile, and oregano essential oils (you may substitute oregano extract if you'd prefer), This bug bite soother recipe will last about 6 months, so you can have a bottle on hand all summer long!


For stinging bites, take 1/4 cup of baking powder and add enough water (a little at a time) to make it into a paste, then stir in 3-4 drops of lavender and chamomile essential oils. Apply the paste to the affected area and leave it on for about 15-20 minutes. Then rinse it off with cool water, and allow the water to run over the skin for a few minutes. This recipe will help pull the stinging out and keep swelling down if you get it applied within a minute or two of getting stung. It will also help if you keep the affected area under a cold rag or cold running water until the paste can be applied. 

Recipes to Help You Manage the Summer

Summer is here and for many that means dealing with insects, insect bites, sunburns, and minor cuts and abrasions resulting from being outside a lot, enjoying the weather. So here are a variety of recipes to help you manage the inconveniences of being drawn to nature!

SUNBURN RELIEF

1 cup aloe vera gel 1 cup yogurt (plain) 1 cup vinegar (apple cider)

Mix all of these ingredients together in a jar and keep in the refrigerator. Shake well before using. Use on sunburned skin once an hour for the first three hours after a burn to provide relief. Make sure to keep away from eyes and nostrils.

AFTER SUNBURN OIL

10 drops lavender essential oil 5 drops chamomile essential oil (Roman) 2 drops geranium essential oil
2 oz apricot seed oil
2 ounces sweet almond oil

Mix all of the ingredients together and gently rub over sunburned skin. This is also very good to use when you want to replace moisture taken from sun exposure. Try adding one tablespoon of this mixture to your bath, for over all soothing, cooling and healing. This mixture will help to reduce peeling, but if you do peel, keep in mind that your body is ridding itself of damaged layer of skin and healing. This mixture will also help to stop the itching, which is often a sign of healing.



MINOR WOUND WASH

1/4 cup tea- tree tincture* 1 cup witch hazel

Mix together and place in a dark, glass or plastic bottle, one with a spray pump will be quite handy. Store in a cool, dark place and it will keep from eight to twelve months. This is a great recipe to always have handy for those times when you get a scrape or abrasion. As a matter of fact, I always packed this in our camping kit.

Wash minor cuts and abrasions first, then spray or dab this on. It may burn a bit, but better to suffer a tad now than get infected!

* A tincture is alcohol and herbs/flowers combined. The alcohol is used to pull the essential oil from the herb/flower and to suspend it there for later use. While you can make your own tincture with 90 proof vodka, fresh herbs/flowers and a few months of wait time, it is quite a bit simpler to purchase tea-tree tincture in your local health food store. If, however you'd like to give it a go, all you need to do is bruise about six tea-tree leaves and push them into a bottle of 3/4 cup of 90 proof vodka or other low smell, 90 proof alcohol. Shake the bottle vigorously, then place it in a cool, dark place. Once a week shake the bottle for about a minute. After two months, strain the liquid, throwing away the plant material and retaining the liquid. This tincture should remain good for about a year.

RASH RELIEF

This rash relief formula is quite easy. Just add the following ingredients to your favorite unscented, uncolored lotion.

1/2 tsp. chamomile tincture*

1/2 tsp evening primrose oil

4 drops stinging nettle tincture

Mix the tinctures and oil together, the mix with an equal amount of lotion. Rub mixture over the rash, leave on for one hour, then wash off with tepid water. Of course if the rash persists or if you run a temperature with the rash, you should see your physician.

*As noted in the previous recipe, you can purchase tinctures at your local health food store, or you can make your own, whichever you prefer.

MOSQUITO AWAY SPRAY

1/2 cup eucalyptus leaves
1 1/2 cups cedar wood shavings

3 cups rubbing alcohol

Mix ingredients together in a large bowl or jar. Cover and let stand 5 days. Strain the solid ingredients out and save the remaining liquid. Store tightly sealed. To use, pour into a small spray bottle and spray lightly on skin.

BUG BITE RELIEF

Here are three remedies for AFTER you are bitten by insects.

• When bitten by a mosquito or black fly, place one drop of lavender essential oil directly on the bite. But only use this directly on the skin if you know for certain that you do not have a sensitivity to lavender. If you do not know this, add 2 drops to one teaspoon of oil and, after mixing, rub a small amount of oil into your skin, at the inside of your elbow. If it itches or turns red, wash off with soap and water and do not use lavender again in any form. If it doesnt bother you, cover with a band aide and wait 24 hours. Then uncover and check skin. If there is not redness, swelling or irritation, then you are good to use the essential oil. *Know that some people still do not recommend the use of lavender directly on the skin, as sensitivities can build, change, and develop when you least expect them.  
• For multiple bites, take 1 cup of vinegar (apple cider) and mix with 10 drops of essential oil of lavender and 5 drops of essential oil of thyme. Blend well and add to a tub of tepid bath water. Pour mixture into the tub and swish to mix well before putting yourself or your child into the tub. Soak a washcloth or a sponge in the water and then use it to liberally wipe down the body areas affected by bites. Make sure to keep this water away from the eyes.
• Take 1/4 cup sweet oil and mix in 5 drops each of eucalyptus, thyme, chamomile, and oregano essential oils (you may substitute oregano extract if you'd prefer), This bug bite soother recipe will last about 6 months, so you can have a bottle on hand all summer long!

Much Ado About Bugs!

Bugs, bugs, bugs, how to deal with bugs! Spring has sprung and summer will be quickly upon us, so you'd better have a plan in place to deal with those ever present, yet uninvited guests...bugs! The best thing to have on hand is some lavender essential oil. Once bitten, to take care of the itchy, irritating feeling, here are some easy, home-made remedies!

• When bitten by a mosquito or black fly, place one drop of lavender essential oil directly on the bite.
• For multiple bites, take 1 cup of vinegar (apple cider) and mix with 10 drops of essential oil of lavender and 5 drops of essential oil of thyme. Blend well and add to a tub of tepid bath water. Pour mixture into the tub and swish to mix well before putting yourself or your child into the tub. Soak a washcloth or a sponge in the water and then use it to liberally wipe down the body areas affected by bites. Make sure to keep this water away from the eyes.

• Take 1/4 cup sweet oil and mix in 5 drops each of eucalyptus, thyme, chamomile, and oregano essential oils (you may substitute oregano extract if you'd prefer), This bug bite soother recipe will last about 6 months, so you can have a bottle on hand all summer long!

OR

• To protect you and your family from getting bites to begin with, try my all natural bug repellent soap. Made from a proprietary blend of several essential oils known to repel insects, this is a natural, chemical-free way to protect you and your family from pests that ruin beautiful, warm evenings! All that you need to do is to rub this solid bar over exposed areas of skin, making sure to keep away from the eyes and the mouth. Or, if you prefer, you can spray the skin with water first, then slide the bar over the dampened skin. Either way, you are sure to appreciate the ease of its use, as well as the fresh, herbal scent.
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Recipes for problems

Sooth BEE STINGs with a simple home recipe. Mix 1/4 cup of baking powder with 3-4 drops of chamomile oil or extract. Then, run the powder through a sifter a few times. When mixed well, add enough water to make a paste. Stirring in a little at a time to ensure the proper consistency. When you have the paste made, apply to the affected area and toss out the left over, as there is no shelf life. With help for BUG BITES, mix 1/4 cup of sweet oil (sweet oil is the purest form of olive oil. Ask your pharmacist for it if you cannot find it), 5 drops of eucalyptus, oregano pure, and thyme essential oils (you may use oregano extract instead of EO if you want), and 6 drops of chamomile essential oil. Mix together well and store in a dark, glass bottle. It is best to keep in a cool, dark location also. There is a 5-6 month shelf life, so you can make a batch & use it all summer long! For SUNBURNS mix equal amounts of aloe vera gel, plain yogurt, and apple cider vinegar. Keep the mixture in the refrigerator and be sure to shake before you use. Apply once an hour for the first three hours, then as desired. This mixture will remain good for 1-2 weeks. For PROBLEM SPOTS on your FACE (pimples and acne), mix 1tsp. of tea-tree extract, 2 tsp. of witch hazel, and 1/4 tsp of wintergreen oil. Mix all together and shake well. You may store in a bottle for about 6 months. Dab a cotton ball into the solution and dab onto the problem area. This mixture has anti-inflammatory, antibiotic, antiseptic and analgesic properties. **Again, the basic recipes are from the Good Earth Bath, Beauty and Health Book written by Casey Kellar. Now see how good this book is? It is definitely worth the money to purchase it!