Series 1:Essential Oils: Koala Heaven: Eucalyptus

Besides being the favourite food of the adorable koala bear, eucalyptus has a multitude of uses. For instance, do you know that eucalyptus leaves actually contain a potent insecticide, cyanide? (Not to worry, however, the amounts are minute and not harmful to us. A little chemistry here: Adequate protein in the diet helps to detoxify hydrocyanic acid, or HCN by providing sulphur amino acids. Ingested in small amounts over prolonged periods of time, the HCN will be neutralized.)

The Belle believes in balance-Even the most deadly of plants, when used correctly, can help us. (Take the deadly nightshade plant, for instance.) Similarly, even the best medicines, when used incorrectly, can be deadly. (Your bottle of innocent looking cough syrup suddenly isn't so innocent after all-some actually abuse it and use it as a drug!) So, keep an open mind, and use with caution and some common sense research. Exercise extra caution when using with the very young or old, pregnant and nursing, as well as the very sensitive.

The list of uses are as follows:
-Analgesic
-Antibacterial
-Anti-catarrhal
-Anti-Inflammatory
-Anti Infectious
-Expectorant
-Insecticidal
-Anti-viral

The Belle understands that the above can be quite difficult to digest, so here is a breakdown of the common ways that eucalyptus (essential oil) can be used at home.

1) Aromatherapy-Place a few drops in an aromatherapy oil burner or diffuser to help freshen the air, relieve coughs, jet lag, and clear blocked sinuses. Also helps with stress, mental exhaustion, as well as sluggishness.

2)Massage- For sore, aching muscles, rheumatism, as well as congestion-use diluted with a carrier oil (eg. sweet almond oil) and massage over affected areas. Can also be used for pain relief in shingles.

3) As an anti bacterial room spray-Mix 10 drops eucalyptus oil with 5 drops tea tree oil with about 150ml water (preferably distilled) in a spray bottle. Shake well, and spray to kill airborne bacteria. (I notice this also helps with pesky mosquitoes!)

4)Insect repellent- Place a few drops on a ribbon, and tie at a window where insects tend to enter. Drip drops on cotton balls, and place on shelves. Refresh weekly.

5)Lice-Place a few drops on comb, and comb through hair to help with itch and get rid of lice.

6)Itching skin/ inflammation/minor wounds- Mix 5 drops tea tree, 5 drops lavender, and 5 drops eucalyptus with 150ml water. Shake to mix thoroughly, and dab with soaked cotton pad on affected area, or spray directly and allow to dry.

7)Fever relief-Mix 5 drops eucalyptus and 5 drops peppermint oil with 100ml water, shake well, and apply by soaking a towel in the mixture. be careful not to get into the eyes!

This eucalyptus is mine, all mine!

This list, is, of course, not exhaustive, but lists the most convenient and common ways eucalyptus oil can bee used at home. Please feel free to share your recipes!

Series on essential oils, to be continued!

Pardon my tardiness with updates, a lot has been happening at home. But the Belle is trying to keep up with updates at least twice a week on this blog, so please do keep coming back!

*Image of koala bear from Google. Do let me know if you are the owner of this photo so that I can credit you!

Series1:Essential Oils:All Purpose Wonder:Tea Tree Oil

Tea Tree Oil has become a staple in our daily routine. We use it for almost everything at home- From a concoction for spraying smelly feet and shoes, to dabbing it on stubborn zits-you get the picture.

My trusty friend

Tea Tree oil is also obtained from the Melaleuca Alternifolia. It has a wide range of uses, so let me list the most common ones down for you.

1)Antifungal- For the treatment of foot fungus, especially toenail fungus. Just dab directly on the affected areas. (Helps to relieve associated itching too!)

2)Antispetic-For wounds, cuts and grazes: Mix about 8-10 drops in about 100ml of water, and spray on affected areas. (Never use undiluted on open skin, it can sting!)

3)Athelete's foot-Shake, and spray the above concoction in (2) on the foot, concentrating on the toe area. Spray on shoes to prevent and treat odour

4)Freshening Laundry- Add  a few drops to the final rinse cycle of your washing machine for freshly scented clothes. I find that it helps prevent the 'wet clothes' smell associated with drying indoors.

5)Acne-Dab with a moistened cotton bud onto affected areas.  You may also want to take a look at  DIY:Tea Tree Aloe Vera Treatment Gel.

6)The concoction in (2) can also be sprayed sparingly to freshen the bed linen/as a hand sanitizer/any other use you can think of. Just be careful and try not to use it undiluted.

What are your favourite uses for tea tree oil? Do share!

As with all essential oils, exercise caution when using with the pregnant, young and elderly.(or the very sensitive)

(NB:The Belle is on a short trip, so this is a scheduled post. Please email me or leave me a comment should you need to get to me, and I will get back to you ASAP!)

Series on essential oils, to be continued!

Review: Thursday Plantation Tea Tree Oil

Tea Tree Oil has become almost indispensable for my family. I use it regularly in my day to day skincare. I took so long to review this item even though I have been using it for a long time, because it has become as common to me as brushing my teeth.

Here goes!

Thursday Plantation Tea Tree Oil

Pros:
-Can be used for almost anything requiring an antiseptic effect.
eg;  DIY Tea Tree Oil Multi Purpose Spray
-Excellent for drying up pimples and infections.
-A bottle lasts a long time, even with daily use.

Cons:
-Bottle dropper can be a little unwieldy--product is a little difficult to dispense at first. But okay once you get used to it, so no biggie.

Now, there are many brands of tea tree oil on the market which I have tested, but I happen to like this one because it is easily available where I am, smells pleasant (to me) and it is 100% pure tea tree oil. A keeper in my daily routine!

Hope this review was useful! Comments welcome!

See you again soon, my beauties!

DIY: Tea-Tree Oil Multi-Purpose Spray

I use tea tree oil for many things- wounds, zits, rashes, infections, etc. Recently, my family has been under attack by the flu virus, and a strange case of rashes caused by goodness knows what-- so, I thought it would be good to post this recipe up. (Not one of my usual beauty DIYs, I know, but I hope it's useful!)

Here it is!

Tea Tree Oil Multi-Purpose Spray

4 drops tea tree oil (I use Thursday Plantation's-review later)
1/2 cup of distilled (Bottled) or cool, boiled water
Spray bottle

Simply pour the water in the spray bottle, add the tea tree oil, shake well (before every use), and spray away!

Tea tree oil not only helps dry up acne and pimples, but also kills acne causing bacteria. (Tip: it is also great for keeping mosquitoes and bugs away)! Use this spray on your pillows (less acne causing bacteria=fewer zits!) and bedsheets, children's toys, or spray it on a piece of cloth and give your keyboard keys a good wipe. You can also use it as an air sanitizer-just a couple of spritzes freshens the air. Just be careful to keep it out of your eyes.

I like to spray in my family's footwear to keep our feet smelling fresh and free of infections. my boy likes it on his legs before he goes to bed, since the mosquitoes at my place have acquired a taste for the poor thing's blood. (It really works!)

I find new uses for this spray every day. My friend just told me the other day she uses a diluted version of this recipe as a toner- being careful to avoid the eyes.

I hope everyone finds this post useful, especially with the attack of the flu virus that seems to be everywhere.

See you soon, my pretties!

DIY:Tea Tree and Aloe Vera Treatment Gel

We all know the benefits of tea tree oil and Aloe. When you put them together, you get a treatment that is not only effective for acne, but also for soothing redness from insect bites.

Ingredients
Aloe Vera Gel
Tea Tree Oil

-Mix the 2 together with a spatula in a sterile container.
-3-4 drops tea tree oil to about 3.5cm of aloe vera gel

Tea tree oil is a natural antiseptic that fights acne or infection. Aloe Vera is anti inflammatory and helps to sooth redness and swelling. This gel treatment can be used to treat inflamed pimples or insect bites. It can also be used as a treatment for minor cuts and wounds.