In the northern hemisphere, the 2019 autumnal equinox – one of two days each year when the length of day and night are roughly equal – fell on September 23rd. Regardless of the weather where you were (it was hot and sunny at my house!), this day represented the end of summer and official start of fall.    In many parts of the U.S., the air is getting colder ...

Are you in on the bath bomb craze???    Bath bombs are an easy way for tired bodies and souls to wind down, relax, and indulge in a bit of pampering at the end of a long day. Depending on the combination of ingredients, they may help detoxify your body, moisturize your skin, soothe sore muscles, or reduce stress.    These colorful, fizzing orbs also make bat...

Feet… we rely on them to move us an untold number of steps in our lifetimes, but we rarely think of them (except when they hurt!) and do precious little to care for them. Seems to me they deserve more thanks than they are getting!  One way I’ve recently started taking better care of my feet, as well as my entire body, is through the practice of soaking them ...

There are times when we all need to increased focus to get something done, learn a new concept, or achieve a goal. Or when everything around us seems chaotic or out of control, leaving us feeling overwhelmed, frazzled, and ineffective. Essential oils are a great help to us in these situations, whether it’s to clear our minds, clarify our thoughts, provide g...

Today is the winter solstice in the northern hemisphere.  Not familiar with this term? It’s the day each year when the sun travels on its lowest arc in the sky. This results in the shortest amount of daylight and longest period of darkness . It’s also the first official day of winter on American calendars. Yes, the sun is at its least today, with darkness ...

I DON’T WANT TO GET SICK   (pleads everyone this time of year) !!!   This post (and  it's companion ) will show you the natural remedies you need to stay healthy until Spring! November is here! We are now well into Fall and hurtling quickly toward winter.  With the cooling weather has arrived various forms of seasonal “ick.” You know what I’m talking about…...

New to golden milk, a.k.a. the " turmeric latte "? You're missing out on a most delicious, nourishing treat!  Originating in India, golden milk is a centuries-old Ayurvedic drink that has recently been making inroads in other regions. This comforting beverage is traditionally made by simmering milk with turmeric and other spices, such as ginger, cinnamon, ...

Welcome back to the third and final part of my series on healthy travel! You’ve planned wisely, packed smartly, and journeyed using strategies to best to avoid illness and counteract the stress that travel puts on your body. Now that you’ve reached your destination, how do you best support your health? And how do you keep on track with your wellness goals wh...

Hi, again!  Welcome back for part 2 of my green cleaning series. As I discussed in  this blog post , many of the cleaning products on store shelves have been linked by peer reviewed studies to both acute and chronic health issues. Definitely not something to mess around with! Is it possible to clean your home (office, car, or any other type of facility) wit...

Yoga and its health benefits have been studied for generations. In the last 10 years, yoga participation numbers have grown steadily, with over 10 million more people participating in yoga in the spring of 2017 than there were in 2006 . It’s no surprise that today there are 36.7 million yoga participants in the United States alone! Those are staggering numb...

Winter is upon us and many are already feeling under the weather.  My husband laid low for much of the weekend feeling less than stellar.   In addition, even healthy practices can put us at greater risk of weakened immune systems .  For example, prolonged periods of exercise and heavy training regimens are associated with suppression of  immune system  func...

I almost always dilute my essential oils before applying them to my skin.  Why? DOWNLOAD FREE DILUTION GUIDE Except in certain cases where applying oils "neat" or directly to your skin without a carrier oil may be appropriate (e.g., to stop active bleeding or immediately after burns, bug bites, or stings), dilution of oils is important before applying them ...

Most of us experience muscle or joint pain or discomfort from time to time. Whether we sustain an injury, overdo exercise or yard work, or have a chronic condition, we are looking for ways to experience relief. There are so many natural methods to consider, from massage to acupuncture to infrared sauna to yoga to heat and electric stimulation (electromyostim...

We don't often think about the role that the scents we inhale play within our bodies. We may be vaguely or even acutely conscious of certain aromas, which can span the range from fresh, clean, light, flowery, spicy, earthy, or sweet to loamy, stale, musty, repulsive, putrid, nauseating, or just plain rotten. But does their effect go beyond the mere enjoyment...

Mosquitoes are an inevitable downside to summertime. I absolutely hate being bitten, followed by the days of itching and temptation to scratch the welts. Unfortunately for me, I’m a mosquito magnet. Even if no one else is getting bit, my arms and legs are being eaten alive. Couple that with having spent the majority of my career traveling in parts of the wor...

I recently took an overseas business trip for the first time in over two years. I definitely couldn’t take my entire oil collection with me to Bosnia and so set about trying to narrow down the list to just the “bare essentials.” So many choices!  Which to take? Here’s what I finally chose to pack and why:  Balance  – promotes tranquility, brings harmony to t...

Summer is quickly drawing near. We’ve had a few hot, sunny days in the DC area already! If you love applying essential oils to your skin (most of us do!), but also love to spend time in the sun (which is important for Vitamin D acquisition), take note: certain essential oils are photosensitizers (phototoxic) when applied to this skin .   What in the world d...

Cold pressed from the peel, Wild Orange essential oil is one of my all-time favorites for its fresh, sweet, and invigorating aroma. It has a variety of uses from aiding the digestive system to energizing the mind and body. Part of its appeal stems from its chemical makeup. Wild Orange is high in monoterpenes, which gives the oil purifying and stimulating...