The Many Uses of Lemongrass Essential Oil

Most people only know lemongrass as that odd looking ingredient in their grocery store that looks like a combination of grass and a wood stick. Often used in Thai, Chinese, and Caribbean cooking for its lemony flavor and aroma, its essential oil also provides many health benefits and smells similar to lemon with a sweet and earthy undertone.

Generally recommended as safe (GRAS) for consumption from the FDA, lemongrass essential oil is not only used to cook with, but is also commonly used aromatically to help promote awareness and purification.

Lemongrass has historically been used to help soothe aching muscles and joints, support healthy digestion, and as flavor for cooking. Research is beginning to support its use in cellular health (DDR Prime).

Lemongrass has also been studied for its antimicrobial benefits. It is used for a variety of reasons and found in dōTERRA’s DDR Prime, TerraShield, and Clear Skin essential oil blends.

Lemongrass essential oil blends well with basil, clary sage, eucalyptus, coriander, geranium, lavender, and melaleuca essential oil.

Tips from dōTERRA:

• Dilute with a carrier oil first when using topically as lemongrass essential oil can irritate sensitive skin.
• Rub or spritz on skin before going outside. Lemongrass essential oil naturally repels insects and is one of the essential oils in our TerraShield essential oil blend.
• To help soothe sore joints or muscle sprains, combine equal parts fractionated coconut oil and lemongrass oil and rub topically on area of concern.

Tips from our Facebook Fans:

• “I use it on my massage clients who are dealing with muscle spasms. Works amazing!” -Peggy Lutz Renshaw
• “[I use it] for bruising and for mosquito repellent. I put it on my granddaughter at a bird refuge (tons of mosquitoes). I literally watched them fly away from her and land on other kids. She didn’t get bit! And she smelled nice.” -Amy Higgs
• “I often use lemongrass as a perfume, which is always a conversation starter to share oils. [I use lemongrass essential oil] on my stomach for my gastritis, I diffuse to elevate my mood and to warm my house, and anywhere on my back, knees, hips, etc. for my rheumatoid arthritis. Thanks, dōTERRA!” -Laura Jones
• “I gave it to my mom to use on her toe fungus. She was a bit skeptical about it, but she used it. The next time she visited her podiatrist, she asked him about it, he told her it was the safest way to get rid of her fungus.” -Anjie Wiliams
• “I make an air freshener spray with water, lemongrass and geranium – it makes my home smell so fresh and clean! I use it several times a day!” -Courtney Bridgers
• “Lemongrass is so great for damaged connective tissue. When I use it, my healing time is a fraction of what it would be without it.” -Kaylee Ririe
• “Today I used it mixed with bergamot for a natural deodorant.” -Joni Tucker Lang

*These statements have not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. dōTERRA products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease. Pregnant or lactating women and persons with known medical conditions should consult a physician prior to the use of any dōTERRA product. The statements shared from our Facebook page are the personal opinion of independent persons and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of dōTERRA International, LLC.

Protect Your Family During Flu Season with On Guard: Part 4

Don’t let flu season catch you off guard!

For an extra immunity boost, use On Guard^® Protecting Throat Drops. It can be a potent addition to a defensive health strategy against seasonal threats and infectious outbreaks.

dōTERRA’s On Guard Protecting Throat Drops help calm and soothe dry, scratchy throats while supporting a healthy oral environment. The anti-microbial properties of the essential oils in the On Guard blend, when taken internally, can also support your body’s immune system.

These drops are perfect to keep on hand during the cold and flu season and is a convenient way for a quick immunity pick-me-up.

Take On Guard Protecting Throat drops when you have a sore throat, cold, feel like you are getting sick, or need an extra immunity boost.

For additional oral health to help support your immune system, use On Guard^® Natural Whitening Toothpaste as your first line of defense against germs and other pathogens that can infect the mouth and throat.

According to a study¹ on essential oil mouth rinses, the study reviewed the efficacy of an essential oil antiseptic mouth rinse versus dental floss in controlling interproximal gingivitis. They found that in addition with professional dental hygiene care and brushing teeth over six months, rinsing twice daily with an essential oil–containing mouth rinse was at least as good as flossing daily in reducing interproximal plaque and gingivitis.

Tip on how to use On Guard Natural Whitening Toothpaste as a Mouth Rinse:

•  On Guard Natural Whitening Toothpaste can also be a mouthwash! With foam from the toothpaste still in your mouth, add water, gargle, and spit. Voila. Effective mouthwash.

References:

1. (Bauroth K, Charles CH, Mankodi SM, Simmons K, Zhao Q, and Kumar LD. The efficacy of an essential oil antiseptic mouthrinse vs. dental floss in controlling interproximal gingivitis. The Journal of the American Dental Association March 1, 2003 vol. 134 no. 3 359-365.)

Protect Your Family During Flu Season with On Guard: Part 3

Hand washing has long been known as vital in stopping the spread of infectious diseases. With more than 52 million cases of the common cold each year in the U.S. and 10% to 20% of the population contracting the flu, keeping our hands germ free has never been more important.

On Guard^® Foaming Hand Wash contains dōTERRA’s proprietary CPTG^® essential oil blend and is a gentle, healthy alternative to harsh antibacterial soaps made with synthetic ingredients that may dry and irritate sensitive skin.

In a study done at Oklahoma University, research was conducted by using On Guard Protective Blend to see it’s effectiveness on influenza virus infections. The results were staggering. Despite antibiotics not being able to treat the influenza virus, results showed that On Guard Protective Blend reduced this virus by up to 90%. The researchers concluded that On Guard plays an important role in keeping families well without harsh side effects.

Placing On Guard Foaming Dispensers at every sink around the home and office provides those in your home and workplace with On Guard protection throughout the day, while also providing subtle style to sinks.

Tips on how to get your kids in the habit of washing their hands:

• A thorough hand wash should last between 15-20 seconds. To help your kids wash their hands for a long enough time encourage them to sing “Happy Birthday”, “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star”, or the “ABC” song.
• Put a little mark on their hand using a non-permanent pen, then tell them they need to wash off all of the ink.
• Leave out a white hand towel for them to use to dry their hands. If dirt shows up on the towel, they’re not washing their hands properly.
• Create a hand washing chart. For every time your child washes their hands, they get a sticker for their chart.
• Always remind kids to wash their hands often. Observe when they are washing their hands correctly and congratulate them on their good work.
• Are you washing your hands? Make sure you are setting a good example by washing your hands frequently. Kids love mimicking their parents.

(Check back Wednesday for the last part in this series where we will write about how to use On Guard Protecting Throat Drops and On Guard Natural Whitening Toothpaste)

Protect Your Family During Flu Season with On Guard: Part 2

It’s good health 101 — in addition to a healthy diet, exercise and plenty of rest, a safe and clean house is the basis for keeping you and your family free from sickness and infectious disease. But what about all those toxic chemicals found in most of today’s cleaning products? You might be concerned, and with good reason. According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, household cleaning products account for 8.6 percent of all poison exposures and children age 5 and under make up more than half (51 percent) of all poison exposures. The last thing you should have to worry about is exposing your family to unnecessary toxic chemicals.

On Guard^® Cleaner Concentrate is a safe way to keep your living space fresh and clean.

This powerful cleaner concentrate is made with a full 5ml bottle of On Guard Protective Blend, dōTERRA proprietary CPTG^® essential oil blend, and is the ideal natural cleaner to defend your surfaces against dwelling contaminants and microbes.

It can be used in every room in the home/office and is safe for your family and the environment. Because On Guard Cleaner Concentrate is natural and made from plant-based derivatives it is ideal for any person who wants a safe and natural alternative to harsh, chemical cleaners.

On Guard Cleaner Concentrate is most popularly used in the kitchen, bathrooms, laundry room, and office. No matter what room it is used in, it will leave a clean and invigorating scent that is germ free.

Tips on how you can use Guard Cleaner Concentrate:

• Multipurpose Cleaner: mix 2 Tbsp (1 oz) of concentrate per 24 oz water
• Laundry: Use 1 Tbsp of concentrate with detergent to help eliminate odors and microbes
• Dishes: Mix 3 Tbsp of concentrate per gallon of water
• Bathrooms: Mix 3 Tbsp of concentrate per 24 oz water
• Tough Jobs: Apply concentrate directly on designated area and let soak.

(Check back Monday for part 3 in this series where we will write about how to use On Guard Foaming Hand Wash)

Protect Your Family During Flu Season with On Guard: Part 1

It’s that time of year again; school is back in session, the weather is changing, and flu season is back. Flu season doesn't have to get you down though because this year you have On Guard.

On Guard is a protective essential oil blend, consisting of wild orange, clove, cinnamon, eucalyptus, and rosemary. We specifically formulated this blend to help support you and your family’s healthy immune system.

On Guard’s spicy and citrus aroma makes it one of the most versatile blends and can be used aromatically, topically, and internally. It is safe to use on counter tops, as a non-toxic way to clean surfaces, or to purify the atmosphere by diffusing.

Tips on how you can use On Guard essential oil:

• Diffuse 2-4 drops of On Guard in home or office.
• Take internally by putting a couple of drops in a capsule 2-3 times a day.
• Put 6 drops per 24 oz. water in spray bottle to use to disinfect counter tops.
• Massage on feet, back, neck and shoulders with a carrier oil to offer immune support.
• Sanitize your toothbrush by mixing 2 Tbps water with 5 drops of On Guard in a small glass. Set toothbrush in glass and leave overnight.

(Check back Friday for part 2 in this series where we will talk about how to use On Guard Cleaner Concentrate)

Natural & Chemical-Free Spring Cleaning!

It is now officially spring so naturally it is time for spring cleaning! I absolutely love to clean my house using essential oils, not only because they make my house smell amazing but because they are free of chemicals! Even better, they actually clean and purify the air - whats not to love?!


Major benefits of cleaning with essential oils:

• Chemical-Free
• Eliminate or decrease allergies
• Decrease pathogens inside your home
• Boost immunity
• Kills Germs without adding any of the bad stuff
• Eliminate bugs and dust mites
• They are more effective!

Why use doTerra Essential Oils? Because if you are looking to get rid of chemicals, they are the only company out there that are 100% Pure, 100% of the time. Why switch to using oils if your still going to get the chemicals and synthetics anyways? 

**IMPORTANT** Make sure when putting essential oils into a spray bottle that it is a glass spray bottle, preferably Amber Glass, because they are so good at cleaning they will eat right through your synthetic plastic spray bottles!


Okay lets get more specific....

Basic Cleaning Solution:

In a glass spray bottle full of water, mix together:

• Purify, or Citrus Oil (3 drops)
• Peppermint (3 drops)
• On Guard (2 drops)
• Distilled Water

You can use this solution to clean and disinfect any surface that needs to be wipe down such as: door knobs, light switches, interior of car, outside of toilets, counter tops etc. Since oil and water will separate, make sure to shake before spraying. 

Floors:

Use several drops (10+) of your favorite oil & mix with sink or bucket of warm water

Hard floor cleaner:

*This will clean, disinfect rid the floor or mold, fungi, repel spiders and ants and leave whatever unique aroma you use.

To clean hard floors, add 1/4 cup of white vinegar to a bucket (appx 1 gallon) of warm filtered water. Then add 5-10 drops of your favorite essential oil. Many are suitable, choose your favorite(s): Lemon, white fir, melaleuca, cassia, On Guard, or Purify. Also consider the powerful antiseptic properties of Oregano essential oil. If the floor is especially dirty, you can add several drops of mild dishwashing soap.

Aromatic carpet freshener:

• 1 box baking soda
• 1 empty and cleaned potato chip canister
• 1 hand-held hole punch
• 15-20 drops essential oils

Clean out an empty "Pringles" type potato chip canister. Take a hole punch and punch out five or six holes in the plastic lid. Sift the baking soda into a glass mixing bowl to break up any clumps. Mix essential oils of your choice into bowl, mixing well with fork so that baking soda takes on the scent of the oils. Pour the mixture into canister and replace plastic lid (with the holes on top). Sprinkle onto carpet and let sit, then vacuum for a sweet and clean smelling, fresh carpet. 

*Note: If you don't want to spend your money on making the canister, just sprinkle over carpet carefully. 
Carpet sprinkle suggestions:

• Option 1- 10 drops lavender, 5 drops lemon, 5 drops oregano for deep cleaning
• Option 2- 20 drops On Guard to get rid of germs
• Option 3- 20 drops Elevation, Citrus Bliss to set an uplifting mood
• Option 4- 20 drops Serenity to set a calming mood.

Vacuum Cleaner:

Drip several drops of your favorite essential oils on a tissue and place it in the collection bag of your vacuum. This will diffuse a pleasant odor as you clean as well as kill germs that are often found and disseminated as you vacuum.


Vents and air ducts:


Change your air return filters often, and when you do, drip 10 drops of your favorite sanitizing essential oil to reduce pathogens, lesson allergic responses to duct air and to kill fungi and mold in duct work.
Consider: On Guard™, Citrus Bliss™, Purify™, Oregano, Peppermint

Window and Mirror Cleaner:

Normal window cleaners are harsh and full of chemicals. Vinegar cleans windows, however, the sour smell is usually not pleasant. This recipe will fix that! 

• 1 cup White Vinegar
• 1 cup filtered water
• 10-15 drops of Lemon or wild orange oil

Mix vinegar and water and essential oil in a glass spray bottle. Wipe with a paper towel or buff with a newspaper. Shake well before each use.

Dishwashing Soap:

Greatly improve the antiseptic action of your liquid soap , add several drops of essential oils such as purify,

lavender, melaleuca, lemon, wild orange, Citrus Bliss or On Guard.

Laundry:

Essential oils may be used to help clean and sanitize your laundry


*UPDATE* I have recipes for Laundry soap, fabric softener and dryer sheets posted recently.

• Add 10 drops of eucalyptus to each load to kill dust mites or fleas.
• Add 10 drops of lemon or Purify to help further deodorize and sanitize.

Linen/Bed Spritzer:


Freshen your bed linens as you make beds or prior to bed time as you turn down the sheets. Not only will it kill germs and pathogens, it will repel dust mites, bed bugs, fleas and spiders. It also leaves a clean fresh smell. Dust mites live in your bedding, feeding from the dead skin cells you constantly shed.

In a small glass spray bottle, mix;

• ½ - 1 Cup distilled or filtered water
• 10 drops Citrus Oil
• 10 drops Lavender 

Also consider a few drops of eucalyptus (Breathe™ has eucalyptus in it) occasionally as studies show it is effective killing dust mites.

Spray over turned down sheets and pillows a few minutes prior to bed time. Use Serenity™ to help induce a restful sleep. Consider Spritzing closets where clothes or coats are hanging. Or drawers and freshly folded laundry.


Household and kitchen ants:

For small black kitchen ants.
1. Keep counters completely clear of food, spills, and water. Especially sweets or juice spills. Especially over night.
2. In a spray bottle, combine 20 drops of lemongrass and ¼ - ½ cup of carrier oil such as grapeseed oil (this will keep the essential oil from evaporating quickly). Shake well, and often.
3. Spray areas where ants commonly enter or congregate.
4. After spraying countertops where there are commonly problems, you may wipe the cabinet down to get better coverage. Be sure and get under the edge of counters.


Fruit and Vegetable Wash:

Add a few drops of lemon, wild orange, or Citrus Bliss™ essential oil to a large sink or bowl of water. Place fruits or vegetables in a colander lower into the water and agitate for a few minutes. Can be used with several batches. This will also help the food keep longer because it washes off germs and pathogens that can cause mold or rotting. Use a spinner to get moister off food after washing if available.


Another option: Use Lemon, or any combination of Citrus Oils (5 drops) mixed with water in a glass spray bottle. Spray fruit or veggies & let sit for one minute, then rinse.

Use Lemon oil in water to keep fruit from turning brown.

Dusting:

Make a solution of Lemon, or Wild Orange, or Citrus Bliss with coconut oil. Mix one drop essential oil with 10 drops of coconut oil. Then dust with a clean cloth.

Sanitary Toothbrush:

*Terrible germs build up on toothbrushes. It makes average brushing a scary thought. You can be sure that your brush is free from spreading any germs, pathogens or fungi by storing your toothbrush in this mixture.

Appx ¼ - ½ cup of filtered or distilled water 7 drops On Guard
Fill a small glass with the ingredients. Use your toothbrush to mix or agitate the ingredients well. Leave your toothbrush in the mixture over night. Refresh the mixture every few days.

No dust furniture polish:

Regular furniture polish often contains phenol - you should stay clear of it. Phenol causes cancer. Of it gets on your skin it can cause your skin to burn and peel. If swallowed it can cause the circulatory system to collapse, coma, seizures, and death. Nitrobenzene is also found in polish. it is a toxic chemical is absorbed by the skin and attacks the central nervous system. It can cause cancer, breathing problems, vomiting, birth defects, heart, liver, and kidney problems.

Instead, mix;

• 10 drops wild orange or citrus bliss essential oil, (optional)
• 30 drops lemon essential oil 
• 1/3 cup Coconut oil (or grapeseed)
• 1/2 cup distilled water

Fill a glass spray trigger bottle with ingredients and shake to mix well. Spray on furniture and wipe with soft cloth. Shake often.

Natural & Homemade Laundry Recipes

doTERRA CPTG essential oils are great for so many different uses. We use them for health benefits, we use them to cook with and we use them to clean with. We have been very busy replacing all of our toxic house cleaners and today I am going to share a couple of recipes that I've found to work great!

Here are some great homemade recipes for non-toxic, natural laundry!

Laundry Soap

- 1 Bar of shaved bar soap

- 1/2 Cup of borax

- 1/2 cup of washing soda

- 3 drops essential oil

If using hot water, just add 1-2 TBSP of powder to the wash. If using cold water, dissolve 1-2 TBSP of powder in hot water first to be sure it distributes through the clothing properly. (This will not sud up much, but it will clean the clothes wonderfully) 

Our favorite oil to use for laundry soap is Purify. 

*If you are looking to kill or prevent dust mites, bed bugs & fleas, add 10+ drops Eucalyptus to your laundry periodically or at time of need. 

Fabric Softener

- 4.5 Liters (19 Cups) Vinegar

- 15 drops essential oil

Use one cup of this mixture in the final rinse as you would regular fabric softener

Our favorite oil's to use as a fabric softener are Lavender, Serenity and Ylang Ylang. 

Natural Dryer Sheets

- Take a handkerchief and rub 3-5 drops of essential oil on it. (You can use a cut-up piece of T-shirt too.)

Throw handkerchief into dryer with clothes. Stops static cling and makes clothes smell great! 

Our favorite oils to use for dryer sheets: Lavender, Wild Orange & Citrus Bliss

Thanks to Joanna Albrecht for these recipes

Fall in love with BLUE

I. Am. In. Love. I seriously am! I have been on a weight loss journey this year and have lost 30lbs! doTERRA has offered me so many products that I love and have helped me in my journey. But the one product I couldn't live without is Deep Blue Rub and here is why...

Deep Blu Rub is a cool, creamy and rich topical cream that is infused with an entire bottle of Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade Essential Oil Blend of Deep Blue. It is a soothing blend of oils that gives targeted comfort to sore muscles & joints. It is full of powerful anti-inflammatory oils. 

As I have been working out, this blend has been a daily friend to me. I use it everyday to help with muscle cramps, tired muscles, joint pain-- all associated with hard work at the gym! Because of the powerful anti-inflammatory oils it was also a wonderful friend when I injured my ankle in the gym this past January. The doc said my ankle would take 3-6 weeks to heal and it healed in 3-4 days thanks to this stuff and Lemongrass oil that helps with the repairing of ligaments. 

I have personally witnessed people find great relief with this oil/rub with things like cramping, back pain, arthritis pain, poor circulation, inflammation, bruising, headaches/migraines etc. It is also just wonderful to use as a massage cream.   

Yes, I am in love with this stuff. I love that March is Fall in Love with BLUE month at doTERRA. You can get Deep Blue Rub and Deep Blue Oil ($81 Retail) for FREE this month- but only for a few more days. Offer ends March 31, 2012. I'd love to share this deal with you, contact me to learn how! You will fall in love with blue, too! 

Fighting Super Germs with On Guard Essential Oil

I am passionate about essential oils and people often ask me why. There are a million reasons I could give you but one of these reasons is because of super germs. Most people believe that if they get an infection all they have to do is get their nice doctor to write them a prescription for antibiotics.  But, what if there were super germs that were antibiotic resistant? The problem we are facing in the United States now is that there is an enormous amount of overuse and misuse of antibiotics and this is exactly what we are seeing- bacteria's that are resistant to these medications. 

One of these super germs is MRSA. MRSA used to be a hospital-acquired infection but now there is a community strain that is resistant to almost all antibiotics. There are also many other bacteria's that are becoming resistant. So, how can you protect your family? 

Essential oils to the rescue! doTERRA's On Guard essential oil blend is being studied by a scientist by the name of Jennifer Eddins. Her laboratory studies have shown that not only is On Guard highly effective at killing this bacteria but when it is sprayed and dried onto a surface, if MRSA were to come into contact with this surface it could not live on it for up to 7 days. It is highly effective at killing and resisting this super germ. She has tested On Guard against 17 strains of MRSA and it has been able to kill all 17! 

This isn't the only amazing thing that On Guard is able to do. Another study published on PUB MED showed its effectiveness against the flu virus, specifically the swine flu. Essential oils are able to penetrate the cell membrane, something that antibiotics and medications can't do, which means that they can kill viruses - also something that antibiotics and medications can't do. This study shows how On Guard is able to kill viruses such as the swine flu. It also showed that it reduces the replication of the virus by 90%. This is amazing! 

We use On Guard everyday in our home to boost our immune system. We put it on us, diffuse it, use it to clean our home with etc. On Guard oil is also infused into doTERRA's foaming hand wash, throat drops and toothpaste.  We have many clients who use it daily as well. One of our clients diffuses it into her home everyday and her two children are the only children at their school that haven't missed a single day this year due to sickness. 

This is why my family & I love essential oils!