Frankincense Essential Oil Benefit + Uses

June means picnics, pool parties, barbecues and more outdoor activities, which is why I want to focus on Frankincense Essential Oil. 

There are so many practical uses for Frankincense, but my favorite is for after sun skin care.

Ingredients:
1 cup aloe vera juice
¼ cup doTERRA Fractionated Coconut Oil
1 teaspoon vitamin E
8 drops Lavender oil
8 drops Melaleuca oil
8 drops Peppermint oil
8 drops Frankincense

Note: You can find aloe vera juice here.

Instructions:
Combine all ingredients in glass spray bottle.
Shake to combine.
Spray on skin after sun exposure for a cooling and soothing effect.

In addition to this use, I also love Frankincense for diffusing around the house to help activate my feelings of relaxation. Add Frankincense’s incredible aroma to any room in your house by making this DIY Room Spray with Frankincense oil. Start by getting an empty glass spray bottle and putting in 15 drops of Frankincense, 15 drops of Grapefruit, and 30 drops of Douglas Fir. Top off the rest of the bottle with water. You now have the most amazing room spray! When using this homemade spray, you will be able to bask in the rich fragrance of doTERRA Frankincense essential oil, and experience its relaxing and peaceful benefits.

The chemical components of Frankincense result in an extremely powerful aroma that can help to dispel negative feelings—like stress. If you are feeling like the pressures of life are weighing down your mood, apply Frankincense to the bottom of your feet. The soothing sensation and aroma will promote feelings of relaxation and a balanced mood. 

What better way to start your day than with the relaxing fragrance of Frankincense essential oil? Whether you are a yoga enthusiast or a morning meditator, diffusing Frankincense oil during these experiences will aid you in focusing your intention for the day. The fragrances of Frankincense essential oil will also help bring added satisfaction, peace, relaxation, and even feelings of overall wellness to your morning routine. With its strong aromatic properties, Frankincense oil is essential in giving a positive and focused lift to the rest of your day.

It's beautifying, aromatic, and health-promoting* properties are extremely powerful and can easily improve an everyday lifestyle. For anyone seeking a helpful essential oil tip, always remember, if in doubt, use Frankincense!

This is also one of the few oils I'll ingest to support healthy cellular function. It also supports healthy immune, nervous and digestive functions when taken internally. One drop pressed into the roof of the mouth or one drop added to an empty gel cap can be taken effectively.

Most often I use it topically to help reduce the appearance of skin imperfections. I love to incorporate self care into my routine with a facial rejuvenation experience with this DIY Clay Facial Mask infused with Frankincense essential oil. With a simple combination of bentonite clay, cider vinegar, and essential oils, your face will feel nourished and fresh. Because Frankincense oil contains properties that help revitalize and beautify the skin, this homemade clay mask with Frankincense essential oil will prove ideal for facial care. For best results, apply this mask to your skin once a week and enjoy that continual fresh facial glow.

But it's not just all about me, if the man in your life suffering from razor bumps from morning shaves, or even on your legs or body hair. It's easy to provide relief to skin with this do-it-yourself Razor Relief Serum enhanced with Frankincense essential oil. Frankincense is one of the best oils to help skin feel and look rejuvenated. By using this serum infused with Frankincense oil, the chemical properties of the oil will aid in reducing appearances of skin imperfections and the serum will benefit the irritated skin by soothing the sensitive razor bumps for an all-day appearance and feel.

Where does Frankincense e.o. actually come from?

Frankincense oil is derived from the Boswellia sacra tree and trees of a similar species. The Boswellia sacra is characterized by its thin and peeling bark, tangled branches, and clustered leaves at the end of the branches. The trunks of these trees often have more than one stem; however, some have only one trunk. These trees can grow up to 8 meters and are commonly found growing on rocky slopes and southern coastal mountains. The Boswellia sacra is native to Ethiopia, northern Somalia, south-western Oman, and southern Yemen.

Did you know one Boswellia sacra tree can produce a couple of pounds of resin each year.1 If Boswellia sacra trees are properly cared for, the tree can produce resin for hundreds of years.

Frankincense oil is produced from the resin of the Boswellia sacra tree. The resin of a tree is a sap-like substance with a high viscosity. For centuries, the resin of the tree has been obtained by slashing or making an incision into the tree, which then emits large amounts of resin. After the resin secretes from the tree, it is then scraped off or collected as it drips onto the ground. When doTERRA obtains the resin from trees, the trees are carefully scored or “bled.” From there, the resin is delicately distilled and essential oils are extracted.

Chemistry of Frankincense Oil
Main Chemical Components: α-pinene, limonene, α-thujene

Frankincense oil contains a complex mixture of monoterpenes such as alpha-pinene, Limonene, alpha-Thujene, and beta-Pinene. This intricate mixture of components works together to make an oil with many uses and benefits. The unique chemical constituents contribute to Frankincense essential oil’s renewing effects when applied topically and ability to support diverse cells in the body when taken internally.* The monoterpenes also contribute to the aromatic benefits of Frankincense oil, including its ability to promote relaxation and a sense of focus. To learn more about the chemical components found in Frankincense or other essential oils, visit the doTERRA Science Blog.

Oils that Blend Well with Frankincense Oil are citrus oils like Lime, Lemon, and Wild Orange, and other oils such as Cypress, Lavender, Geranium, Rose, Sandalwood, Ylang Ylang, and Clary Sage for diffusion.

If you're interested in earning free oils and eventually income email me and I can help you get started sharing!

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

     

All these products can be found at doterra.com my enroller ID is 1767826 for those looking to purchase oils at wholesale rates, using my ID grants you access to my top secret Facebook group and a network of over several thousand like minded customers and resources that's growing everyday. So don't forget to enter it when ordering.

Spring Cleaning and Diffuser Blends

I don't know about you but with all the flowers in bloom and sun shining it gives me the perfect energy for cleansing and cleaning.  I leave the front door open when I deep clean, not only to let in the birds chirping and warm fresh air, but to also release any of that stale energy.  This is also important when saging a space - the door should be open to release any negativity, some people also believe this allows spirits to leave as well.  I really believe cleaning is more than just surface deep.  I usually start with the quick cleaning, like picking things up and putting them in the kids room, and then I go room by room pulling anything that no longer serves us.  I have three paper bags; one for goodwill, one for recycling and one for trash.  Sometimes I find things that would be good hand-me-downs for nieces and nephews, so I set those in paper bags for each family.  

View + Download spring cleaning checklist Modified from Real Simple Mag.

To find my motivation, I sometimes turn to dōTERRA's Cheer Uplifting Blend.  It is an amazing combination of citrus and spice oils that will brighten anyone's mood. This uplifting oil can be applied to the skin to counteract negative emotions and provide a boost of happiness and positivity when feeling down.  I like to diffuse this while doing my spring cleaning to remind myself I clean out of love.  And prevent me from harboring negative thoughts while cleaning up after others.

Once I'm done with the living room I move to the kitchen, I pull all the drawers and sort anything extra. Then I move onto the fridge, I toss all the leftovers, saving plastic containers to be rinsed and recycled, I wash all of our glassware and then once dry, put back in the fridge (even if it's empty).  I saw an organization show once that explained it's better to store your empty reusable food containers in the fridge because your fridge performs better fully stocked.  The cool things in the fridge help keep the other things around it cool.  It's easier to keep a bunch of stuff cold around itself than cooling empty air.  And then when putting things into the containers to store in the fridge there is already a head start on the containers being cooler.  Sometimes, if I have help I'll pull the fridge or stove, but yikes, it's gross under there, I wish those appliances came on wheels.  I would definitely move them around more if that was the case. 

Next up, the art supplies and project zones.  I have to admit this and my work space do not get the love or attention they need.  I often stack piles and piles until I get overwhelmed and make time to sort these areas out.  When cleaning my work areas and project zones, I put on my diffuser in my work space filled with lemon and lime, and get to work.  I feel like it's much easier to clean when everything smells so fresh.  I sort all the old papers tossing between recycling and organizing, I make file folders and put everything away.  I feel calm as my work space clears off and adds some control to the chaos.  

After I clear my desk and art supplies are organized I move to the dreaded closet.  I also have bags in there to help me toss quickly; one for resale - anything clean and in style goes in the resale bag to be taken to poor little rich girl or buffalo exchange. and if I'm feeling ambitious maybe even listing them to posthmark.  Another goodwill bag for anything that I can't imagine selling well, like tee shirts and even old bras.  I throw away anything with stains that I can't upcylce into rags for cleaning, and anything that has holes.  I wish I could make time to repair all the holes in my clothes but sometimes we have to know when we're over committing.  Since I don't actually have that many damaged clothes I probably only throw away into the trash about 3-5 items.  I really try to keep everything in good condition and buy timeless wardrobe items because fashion has a huge negative impact on our environment. 

After everything has been sorted I try to take everything out of the house as quickly as possible to not let things sit around there or in my car.  Sometimes I'll put dōTERRA's Grapefruit Essential oil into my car diffuser because it's a great motivation boost to help uplift my mindset and accomplish and finish my spring-cleaning goals. Organizing and de-cluttering isn't always my favorite hobby, so It helps to diffuse anything that will help give me the kick I need to get it all done! I always  have Grapefruit on-hand in case we need a quick cleanse or extra motivation to finish a task.  I'm gifting one free bottle of grapefruit to anyone who starts with an enrollment kit this spring (now through May 31, 2018. Feel free to email me and ask how to get a bottle for your essential spring collection today! 

If you're already a fan of essential oils here's a few favorite spring diffuser blends. 

*updated to include this 10 day cleaning challenge. 4/10/18

Fire Cider Recipe.

Fire Cider has a history of plant medicine, and more recently a story of controversy not over it's healing power, but in the actual ownership of the recipe; featuring the tag line, "a tradition, not a trademark." Fire Cider was first concocted in the kitchen at the California School of Herbal Studies in the early 1980’s, and from the sound of it, the purpose was to rekindle the herbalism medicine brought froth in the kitchen, and as such the medicine is the food and the food is the medicine. You can read more about the Free Fire Cider movement here. But the point is to take the recipe, make a tonic you love and consume it when you're feeling off, so the nutrient dense tonic can support your immune system and your body can bring you back to where you want to be.

My personal recipe is based on household supplies and intuition so herbs vary as necessary and based on what I feel but the usual recipe is as follows;

1 yellow onion chopped
1 jalapeno sliced
10 cloves garlic
sliced horseradish
1 tbsp of turmeric
1/2 cup of sliced fresh ginger
1 lemon sliced
1 tbsp of dried elderberries
1 tbsp of star anise
rosemary - because I love the correlation between herbs and memory 
parsley - because I love the folklore behind this common herb.
fill with apple cider vinegar
honey after straining.

combine ingredients in a glass jar, top with parchment or wax paper so the vinegar isn't touching the metal of the lid (see; corrosive) and place in a dark cupboard, but be sure to agitate it daily to help with the maceration process. allow to infuse for 1-3 months, strain though a cheese cloth, but be sure to really squeeze out the herbs and veggies to get the nutrients, add honey and then refrigerate the liquid.

I used about 1 tbsp honey but you can use more to taste, you want to actually enjoy drinking this.  The cider should be served with about 1 ounce of liquid and then diluted in tea or water, the ACV can will be corrosive to your esophagus if ingested directly. always dilute ACV.

Everyone's recipe is different, there are a few consistent ingredients but how much or how little you use is kind of up to you, it's food! but the kind of food that provides your body with what it needs to stay healthy.  Here are a few other recipes you might want to check out for more options. 1.  2.  3. 

Kitchen Witch

Last week, I decided to bust out the herbs and make a batch of tincutures and teas to have for the fall.  I don't know what compelled me to make all the things, but I guess we're going to need them because I knew I needed to make them.

  I used the last of our vodka to make some elderberry tincture.  A tincture is a mix of herb and 80 proof alcohol to make a medicinal strength extract.  Vanilla extract is a common extract but it's for flavor, a tincture is NOT for flavor, it's for dense nutrients, so with this process, the minerals and nutrients are extracted ultra concentrated (there's a lot of plant material in the mix, dense and covered with vodka so there't no risk for mold).  Tinctures sit for about 6-8 weeks on average to extract fully. This is FRESH Tincture, the elderberry is so powerful it instantly turned the vodka this dark purple color.  I'm so excited to see how dark it is in 6 weeks when I strain it, This is my favorite tincture when we feel those cold germs, no one wants a runny nose or congestion.  Elderberry is known for it's drying properties, so it helps clear up those mucus membranes.

 Love to get in my kitchen witch mode with one of my favorite coffee mugs, what? am I the only one who believes coffee is pure magic? |sold out but link here|

 Something feels so authentic when I use my calligraphy nibs to make my labels, like I'm feeling the ink and it's more of an experience rather than just a label.  I believe in form and function.

 I also made detox tea in bulk because I believe the only thing that can heal our bodies is our bodies, but it needs the tools to do that, this blend of herbs has a sweet licorice flavor which normally I do not love, but a bit of bitter helps get it down, when I make tea in bulk to last 2-3 days I notice I actually drink it, where as if I make each cup individually I often forget to make it, at all.

 For lavender simple syrup, I use dried herbs from Mountain Rose Herbs (same for the elderberry above and hibiscus not pictured) for my herbal remedies and teas.  I never measure anything but have guidelines for how much of anything to add, above I accidentally poured too much lavender to my sugar and water but I added more water and reduced it down to the flavor I enjoy.  I usually add this to my coffee weird, I know to relax on caffeine, but I enjoy the flavor, I also use this in cocktails like champagne and st. Germain.

a few jars to use over the next few months!  If you're interested in herbs but don't know where to start I highly suggest Medicinal Herbs..  I also love fellow blogger Herb Mother. 

What are your favorite sources for health and healing from the Earth?

Art and Wellness Event Recap.

I thought I should take a moment and share a little bit more about why I've been so absent from this blog and why I might seem so busy to those that know me in real life. The simplest explanation is that I am.  Very.  Busy.  May was an incredibly busy and enriching month.  June is hardly any different. The biggest event in May was the Art & Wellness Event I co-coordinated with some really wonderful women in a really wonderful space.  I really appreciate everyone who attended and contributed to our Art and Wellness Event!  Because, without them it would have been a waste of countless hours and lots of emails. In an effort to strengthen our creative community I have included links to all our vendors, sponsors and contributors because they really made this event what it was!  We knew we wanted to teach a workshop focused on wellness as I teach monthly workshops using essential oils and DIY home and care products.  My Friend Cameron and I usually teach a class once a month, but lately she's been requested to teach private workshops for those who want to pick exactly what to make and in the comfort of their own home as opposed to a total strangers. We really wanted to do something good for our community so when my friend Sara offered the space at Release the Fear, we knew we could help benefit this local non-profit.  Release the Fear benefits local disadvantaged youth and teens creating a safe space to make art and in the process release the fear and self doubt that can lead to troubling mistakes. Together we were able to raise over $140 with our raffle items for Release the Fear and I'll be investing in a painting in the near future too! As an art teacher this is really powerful and inspiring work.  To us art as a tool to experience a full and happy life, I sort of love that about the creative process, how freeing and expressive it all is.  I can't wait to stop in for a workshop to see the process live for myself, until then I'll just have to browse the gallery and listen to the work that has been created and shared. Here's a glimpse at our event...

Seriously we are so grateful to all of our sponsors and vendors! Hawks and Honey Apparel Wren House Brewing  p.s. it's homemade Strawberry Hedgehog Soap Be You Jewelry Postino Wine Cafe Kerri Burki O.H.S.O. Brewery sonora handmade shaklee Metta Yoga Body Butter by Gina Macaroon Mamma  treehouse bakery  Nekter Juice Bar

Make sure to like our page Workshops with Jenn and Cameron to stay informed about upcoming events.  And you can find us on istagram: @workshopswithjennandcameron!