Raising Saints & Martyrs

Let's face it, we all need a good detox every now and then, right? I love soaking and drinking wine...er...tea in my bath. I use essential oils and have been making my own scrubs and soaks for years now. Today, I wanted to focus a quick post on 10 ways we can detox ourselves without doing a harsh detox that will make us sick!


Common Detoxes I Use:

1. Dry brushing - I can only describe it as a way to make the circulatory system work better. Here is a great Pin on dry brushing.

2. Oil pulling - I know...this one is not for every one. I, myself, happen to love it. I use organic coconut oil. I place some in my mouth upon waking and swish it around while I check emails and whatnot. About 20 minutes later, I spit it all out and brush my teeth. It is a really simple process.

3. Salt soak - I make my soaks ahead in large quantities. A single soak is about 1 cup of Epsom Salts (most people are low on magnesium and this is a great way to get it...it can help with sleep issues), I use 5-10 drops of Lavender in my soaks as well. I usually soak for about thirty minutes. DRINK.WATER. Seriously, a lot of water. I then pat dry and apply my lotion (I love Renew by Melaleuca with a drop of Peace oil mixed in).

Check out these great detox baths!

4. Detox tea - There are a million amazing recipes out there, but turmeric is powerful stuff, let me tell you {maybe I ought to do a whole post on it}. Well,a great detox tea will be made with turmeric, cinnamon, and lemon. Add whatever else will make you enjoy it, I have seen honey, ginger, and even black pepper. Better still? Check this pin out! Here are couple ideas to get you started.
*I promise there will be a post with recipe links next week that will include turmeric*

5. Detox waters {infused water} - The clear winner here is lemon and cucumber. Period. It is refreshing, and when used in conjunction with the rest of these, it is a great way to restore electrolytes and get that water in your system. You simply cannot detox without at least 50 ounces of water a day! And that is the bare minimum.

I have seen such a massive influx of essential oils as of late. I think every one of my friends must sell them by now. Really. I am not kidding. All my amazing friends want to get back to as natural as possible for their own kids, and I love that! But what happens when this many people get into something like this? What happens when they all start to become "experts"? Things begin to get dangerous.

I have seen a few very well known companies that claim their oils are so good, no carrier oil is needed. Excuse me while I insert a massive eye-roll here. I hope these companies are joking. Anyone who is not well versed in oils needs to use a carrier until they know what oils are safe with their own skin. And, my personal choice is to always be safe with my own children and use a carrier.

See...here is the issue I have with the fact that oils have become so very commonplace. People are not really being educated on how to use them safely. I have been using oils since 2003...they came to me as a relief for postpartum depression. I went to an aromatherapist and learned. I read, I went to classes taught by those who had actually attended a school, I didn't read a blog, I didn't think all the books I read were right, I learned...for years, I studied.

Did you know that there is a whole list of oils that are discouraged from being used in massage at all?
Did you know that children and elderly people are more likely to have a bad reaction to oils?
Did you know some oils cause photosensitivity?
Did you know ingesting oils is NOT recommended without the instruction of a HHP?
Did you know some oils cause seizures?

Here is my favorite: One well known company has a blend that is used all over the house...this blend is almost TOXIC to those with epilepsy. Almost every single oil in it is extremely dangerous to anyone with seizures. And it is recommended to keep you healthy! And you instructed to just put it right on you skin. WRONG.

Please know, I love essential oils, I use them, and I will not stop. But, I do so safely. I do so without risking the health of others.

Healthy living, clean eating, natural lifestyle...

All of these are very common today, especially with ADD, ADHD, Diabetes, Autism, and other various health issues on the rise. Because we homeschool, and we are together so much, I have a little more control over what my children eat. No unhealthy school lunches or vending machine meals.

Starting this week I am re-overhauling our food intake:

NO high fructose corn syrup allowed...
YES fresh fruits and veggies galore
SOME meat...fish and chicken mostly
We are LIMITING carbs, but not so much the amount, more like the kind. I am using whole grain only

WATER, WATER, and more WATER

This is all, of course, in addition to multivitamins and smoothies we normally drink. 

It is important to note, most medical professionals will tell you that a great many of the issues we have today with the health of our children can be helped a lot with a more controlled diet. Bear's anxiety dropped a great deal, while not totally because of, but at least in part due to a change in diet. 

I also have PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome), and more vegetarian diet helps immensely. I have less mood swings, and less pain. No secret fad diets, no special pills or drinks, just vitamins (I use Melaleuca) and healthy eating. 

This week I am following a one week clean eating routine. Basically I have a menu laid out, ready for the week (we usually do anyway) and I am starting with five days. Then I will add more as I go. I will build a habit again...

Who wants to join in?

Hop on over Tuesday morning for a list of recipes, and feel free to join in and follow along!