Karkade (Egyptian Hibiscus Tea)

This traditional tea is very popular in Egypt and Sudan and was said to be the preferred drink of the pharaohs. In Egypt, wedding celebrations are usually toasted with a glass of hibiscus tea. Hibiscus is extremely hydrating and medicinally used in history (when taken in large amounts) to control blood pressure. Karkade can be found at almost every vendor on busy street corners, train stations and markets. We have made this version for our Essential Oils of Egypt Wellness Workshop by adding doTERRA Citrus Bliss ( a blend of Wild Sweet Orange, Tangerine, Bergamot, Clementine, Lemon, Grapefruit, Mandarin, and Vanilla Bean Extract) and Ginger Essential.

6 cups water
3 cups dried hibiscus flowers (I got mine at Vitamin Cottage)
3 cups agave (original recipes called for sugar)
3 tsp vanilla
Juice of 2 oranges (original recipes called for ½ cup lemon juice)
6 drops doTERRA Citrus Bliss Essential Oil (original recipes called for orange blossom water)
1 drop doTERRA Ginger Essential Oil (original recipes called for fresh grated ginger)
Mint for Garnish

Bring the water to a boil and add hibiscus flowers. Immediately take off heat and let “brew” for 10-15 minutes.
Strain flowers with tight strainer or cheesecloth. While still warm add the agave and vanilla. Let cool. Add orange juice and essential oils.
 This recipe makes more of a “mix” or “base” so you want to …mix 50/50 with water (or we used La Croix Grapefruit Sparkling Water) and serve over ice. Garnish with mint and serve. You can also add vodka for a refreshing cocktail,l or mix 50/50 with red wine for an “Egyptian Sangria”!

Nasal Rinse with Essential Oils

Use an 8 oz neti pot add 1c warm filtered water. 1/4 t of both baking soda and salt. Stir utill dissolved. 

Then add essential oils of your choosing. Here are a couple of blends to use with the saline solution. 

Stuffy Nose

12 drops Rosemary

4 drops Melaleuca

4 drops Eucalyptus

Soothing

5 drops Lemon

5 drops Lavender

Getting a Sinus Infection

6 drops Melaleuca

3 drops Peppermint

6 drops Lemon

1-2 drops On Guard

I have used all of these oils in one combination or another, and find them all to be soothing. I don't use the OnGuard blend for more than 3 to 4 days because it is strong. 

The critical component to nasal rinsing is to make sure that all of the liquid is drained from your sinuses. This involves bending over like you're looking into a lower cabinet, tilting your head sideways and then the other way. You don't want to leave water up in your sinuses so do your best to get it all to clear out. 

Happy Rinsing!

On Guard® Natural Whitening Toothpaste

I am putting the spotlight on dōTERRA s On Guard® Natural Whitening Toothpaste this week.  I was inspired by my client Sharman telling me that it was her favorite dōTERRA product.  She told me "It’s like a spa treatment for your mouth!  It makes me look forward to brushing my teeth more than once a day."

The human mouth is filled with bacteria and germs. Some are friendly microbes that help digest food and ward off harmful pathogens entering the body through the mouth, while others are pathogenic microbes that can cause oral infection and disease. Tooth decay is also caused by microbial activity in the mouth when bacteria break down sugars into acidic by-products that destroy tooth enamel creating cavities. Brushing, flossing and rinsing after eating helps to remove acids and other components of plaque on the teeth caused by bacteria. Managing microbial growth in the mouth also supports healthy gums.

Toothpastes and oral washes are usually formulated to help with plaque removal and killing harmful bacteria that can cause tooth decay and gum disease. Fluoride is also used to help with the strengthening of tooth enamel. However, a growing concern with the side effects of fluoride has caused consumers to look for other tooth remineralization products. Furthermore, mouth washes that use high levels of harsh alcohols to kill germs have also come under scientific scrutiny for their potential to disrupt the sensitive balance and function of healthy microbial activity in the mouth. 

dōTERRA’s On Guard Natural Whitening Toothpaste promotes a healthy oral environment without the use of fluoride or alcohol. Instead, it employs a blend of pure essential oils to help strengthen oral defenses against harmful microbes and uses gentle, safe ingredients that help with plaque removal and that polish and whiten teeth naturally. 

The On Guard® blend of wild orange, clove, cinnamon, eucalyptus, and rosemary essential oils provides a first line of defense against germs and other pathogens that can infect the mouth and throat.

Order a tube online at http://www.mydoterra.com/lotusbodyworks/

Earth Mountain Blend

This year Lotus Bodyworks has added some amazing new classes on essential oils!
In our new class “Blending Balance and Synergy” the group learned about the art of blending essential oils.
This is the recipe we blended for relaxation, and being both grounding and uplifting. We were all amazed at how wonderful this blend came out and would like to share it! 


Earth Mountain Blend

Essential Oil                  Ratio

Frankincense                 5 drops
Lavender                      5 drops
Clary Sage                    3 drops
Patchouli                      2 drops
Tangerine                     2 drops


It can be put into a base of Fractionated Coconut Oil, or oil of your choice, to make into a wonderful massage oil. For information on upcoming classes on essential oils, go to http://www.lotusbodyworks.com/classes.htm

Bri’s Gluten Free Lemon Blueberry Coffee Cake

 
I love this recipe because it is so easy and delicious. But if it’s not easy enough, the doTERRA Lemon essential oil and frozen blueberries could be added to a gluten free cake mix! This is my husband’s absolute favorite and he is not even gluten free! 

Bri’s Gluten Free Lemon Blueberry Coffee Cake 
2 eggs 
½ cup olive oil 
1 cup vanilla unsweetened almond milk 
2 tsp vanilla 
6 drops doTERRA Lemon Essential Oil 
3 cups gluten free flour (I use 1 cup each of almond, rice and tapioca) 
1 1/2 cup sugar (I use 1 cup Fructevia) 
3 tsp gluten free baking powder 
1 tsp arrow root powder 
¼ tsp salt 
¾ cup Blueberries (I use frozen Wild Maine Blueberries) 


Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Add eggs and olive oil to stand mixer and mix until eggs are slightly beaten. Add all other wet ingredients including the doTERRA Lemon essential Oil. Add sugar and mix until smooth. Wisk together dry ingredients and add to wet. Mix well, but don’t over beat the batter. Fold in blueberries. Pour into well greased bundt cake pan and Bake for 40-45 minutes (ovens and flours vary, so bake until top is firm and rubbery to the touch, not sticky.) Let cake cool completely before wiggling out of bundt pan. 

It can be topped with powdered sugar or lemon sugar and or fresh blueberries.

Chronic Passive Tension and Stretching

The purpose of stretching is to loosen joints and to increase the range of motion of a muscle. But stretching has a minimal effect on a muscle’s resting length or amount of tension the muscle has at rest. This is the reason why stretching has been mostly ineffective for treating chronic pain and passive tension. During a stretch, muscles, tendons, joints are pulled apart until the stretch stops. When the stretch stops the muscle relaxes, and returns to its programmed resting length. So during that stretch, the active range of motion may have increased, but the resting length has been changed little to none.

Due to its ability to increase or maintain the active range of motion of a muscle, it is important for athletes to stretch as part of their routine. Stretching does not however, effectively change the passive resting length of a muscle, and is therefore inefficient in treating Chronic Passive Tension issues.

PUSH Therapy treatments are designed to stop the process of Chronic Passive Tension, creating healthier muscle resting lengths, improving the quality of the muscle tone, and eliminating tension and pain.

The Treatment Plan addresses Chronic Passive Tension by restoring the oxygen and blood flow to muscles, breaking negative muscle patterns, and stopping involuntary muscle contractions. As oxygen supplies are restored to muscles, CPT releases and allows the muscle to maintain a normal resting length in a relaxed, pain- free state.

Welcome

Welcome to my new website! Some of the pages are still under construction, but I hope you find the expanded PUSH Therapy information helpful!