There are so many incredible ways to use essential oils and adding them to our bath routine is one of them! Detox baths can be an incredible way to help your body through acute needs, help with skin issues, or help you get back above the wellness line as soon as possible! My boys know that when they aren't feeling their best, a detox bath with Epsom salts will be one of the first things they'll get to do.
DETOX BATHS AT A GLANCE
- Helpful when we are under the weather
- Can be great for both kids and adults
- Are a great, customizable way to use oils for specific needs
- Use magnesium and essential oils to help the body process and detox from invaders, environmental exposures, and more
- Use very warm water, sit for at least 40 minutes, and ideally sweat during that time
Detox baths are a really great way to give your body comfort, support, and a little TLC! This is a wonderful tool when you are feeling your defense go down (or they have already been breached!) or are fighting an acute skincare or muscle need. Essential oils, baking soda, and Epsom salts or magnesium flakes combined in hot water can help flush impurities from the body by allowing it to sweat out toxins!
BASIC DETOX BATH RECIPE
This is a super easy way to use essential oils and also help give your body some magnesium! We like the Epsom salts but magnesium flakes will work as well.
1 cup Epsom salts
½ cup high quality baking soda (optional)
20-40 drops essential oils of choice
Simply add oils to the Epsom Salts and mix well.
To use, run hot water into the container of salts and let it overflow into the tub!
When adding essential oils to detox baths, you can use your own judgment on the number of drops, but remember that we are using this for an acute need (versus a relaxing soak!). Because of that you want to use enough oil to give your immune, respiratory, or other body system the boost that it needs. For most detox baths, we use around 30 drops of essential oil. When we are making detox baths for our little ones, we usually use about 15-20 drops of essential oil, depending on their age. You can use your discretion and start lower and add as desired!
The goal with a detox bath is to sit in the bath with the water as hot/warm as comfortably possible. Ideally you are sweating as you soak so that your body is processing (detoxing!) the invaders! You want to sit in the bath for 40 minutes or so, up to an hour. The first 20 minutes will give your body time to remove toxins from your system while the last 20 to 40 minutes will allow you to absorb the minerals in the water and help you emerge from the bath feeling rejuvenated.
Some of our favorite oils for detox baths include:
Northern Lights Black Spruce, Idaho Blue Spruce, Frankincense, Copaiba
Dorado Azul, Ravintsara, Eucalyptus
Cilantro Vitality, Lemon, Pine
Purification, Thieves, Aroma Siez
FLEW-AWAY DETOX BATH
This is the recipe we swear by for acute immune needs! If you don't have all these oils, use what you have on hand. Feel free to play with the number of drops for a recipe that is exactly what you want! Also, we like to use tepid water in the presence of a fever for even more comfort.
1 cup magnesium flakes or Epsom Salt
½ cup high quality baking soda (optional)
15 drops Ravintsara
6 drops Frankincense
6 drops Idaho Blue Spruce
3 drops Dorado Azul
2 drops Eucalyptus Radiata
1 drop Wintergreen
Add oils to epsom salt and mix well, then run hot water into the jar of salts/oils and overflow into the tub to mix!
RAINDROP DETOX BATH
This curated set of essential oils is a powerful tool for promoting health, wellness and vitality – both proactively and for acute needs since the oils included can be incredible tools for healing! We love using these oils in rollers, massages, and in detox baths.
1 cup magnesium flakes/Epsom Salts
½ cup high quality baking soda (optional)
1 drop each Oregano, Thyme, Basil, Cypress, Wintergreen, Marjoram, Peppermint, Valor and Aroma Siez essential oils
ROARING 20S DETOX BATH
In 2020, Pine, Geranium, and Lemon were huge players in our arsenal for ‘that which shall not be named.' Grab this recipe to help provide comfort and support for your immune system!
1 cup magnesium flakes/Epsom Salts
½ cup high quality baking soda (optional)
10 drops each Lemon, Geranium
15-20 drops Pine
SKIN SOOTHER DETOX BATH
This is one of our winter time go-tos. Adding oatmeal to the bath is helpful for more acute skin needs, especially for children. Think conventional oat baths but without the fake (chemical, man-made) fragrance!
1 cup organic oats, ground
¼ cup organic powdered milk (or coconut milk) (or goat milk)
1 Tbsp liquid castile soap
2 tsp Vitamin E oil
10-15 drops Frankincense
5 drops Lavender
5 drops Helichrysum
SOOTHING ACV DETOX BATH
This one is incredible for both the skin and for joints! An ACV soak with magnesium is a great way to support active lifestyles.
¼ cup magnesium flakes
¼ cup organic oats, ground
2 Tbsp sweet almond oil
10 drops each Frankincense, Idaho Blue Spruce, Lavender
¼ cup raw organic apple cider vinegar
Mix together and add to bath water. Then add ACV to the water and gently mix.
GENTLE DETOX FOR LITTLE ONES
This is a great recipe to tweak for your little ones! You can alter the oils as needed for specific issues, or you can add even less oils for younger children. If your child has trouble staying in the bath, consider reading to them or playing music while they soak!
1 cup magnesium flakes
½ cup high quality baking soda (optional)
15 drops Frankincense
5 drops Lavender
Simply add oils to magnesium and mix well.
To use, run hot water into the container of salts and let it overflow into the tub!
OIL CHOICES BASED ON NEEDS
Detox baths are a really wonderful tool to have in your toolbox and can benefit every need that you have. Use the basic recipe above and customize it based on your specific issue at hand:
Muscle love → Frankincense, Idaho Blue Spruce, Aroma Siez
Aches away → Peppermint, Lavender, Clove, Cypress
Immune needs → Purification, Lemon, Frankincense, Thieves
Shark week → Dragon Time, Copaiba, Aroma Siez
Belly woes → Ginger, Peppermint + Lemon, DiGize
General detox → Frankincense, Lemon, Aroma Siez, Lavender
Happy Soaking!
Cultivate a happy, healthy home with this curated kit of green home favorites! These products are some of our most used and are such a huge jump start on a low-tox home. This is your easy button when it comes to all natural, plant-based cleaning.
HAPPY, HEALTHY HOME KIT AT A GLANCE
* A curated kit of natural home favorites
* This kit makes it so simple to leave harsh chemicals behind
* Products are versatile and easy to use
* Contains everything you need to clean your entire space
* Products are infused with Thieves essential oil blend - a cleaning must have!
* Includes 15mL bottles of Lemon and Thieves essential oils
* Includes Thieves Household Cleaner, Thieves Dish Soap, Thieves Laundry Soap, & Thieves Kitchen and Bath Scrub
The Make a Shift Happy, Healthy Home Kit features some of our most loved and most used Thieves products! The Thieves essential oil blend is infused into the cleaner, scrub, dish soap, and laundry soap because it is our go-to when it come to kicking the ick to the curb.
This kit includes:
Thieves essential oil blend, 15 mL
This powerful blend of immune boosting oils works with the body's natural defense systems, making it one we reach for every day. Use this spicy smelling oil in all your cleaning DIYs and to support overall immune health and daily wellness!
* Dilute Thieves 1:4 (1 part Thieves, 4 part carrier oil) and apply to the spine, over the lymph nodes, and/or to the bottoms of the feet.
* Add Thieves to your cleaning DIYs - all purpose cleaner, linen and upholstery sprays, scrubs, and more. (There's a reason Young Living has an entire line of household products infused with this blend!)
* * Add a drop to honey, then pour warm water over for a Thieves Tea (you can also add your favorite herbal tea). I also like to add Lemon essential oil to my tea. Add a drop or two to coffee grounds before brewing, or mix into your favorite latte recipe.
* Diffuse! Studies have shown that the Thieves blend can blast 96% of airborne germs. Pair with Peppermint for a pick-me-up or with Lavender for a bedtime blend that supports the immune system.
Lemon essential oil , 15 mL
Lemon is a bright, sunny and versatile oil that can be used for a variety of things, including a balanced health and wellness regimen. Lemon is very cleansing, so we can use it for our homes or for our bodies. Lemon oil is a wonderful way to support the liver!! And the oil is made from the rind of the fruit, making it alkaline instead of acidic so we get tons of great immune and wellness benefits!
* A drop or two of Lemon can help you get sticky, hard to remove items or residue off of windows and other surfaces with ease.
* Use Lemon for cleaning! Talk about the entire house smelling wonderful. Add to Thieves Household Cleaner, cleaning DIYs, wool dryer balls, your laundry soap, your mop bucket, anything!
* Add Lemon to your Thieves roller for an everyday wellness blend. Other great additions: Frankincense, Oregano, Pine. This oil is also great for supporting clear airways, so use it in a roller or chest rub!
* Lemon helps support oily skin or blemishes. Use on the t-zone with Lavender & Frankincense or use on a q-tip to spot treat blemishes.
Thieves Household Cleaner 14.4 oz.
ONE cleaner for your entire home – truly! This bottle of concentrate marks about 20 bottles of all-purpose cleaner and can be used in so many different ways that you can clean your entire space with it. It's economical, safe for my Golden Retrievers, horses & cats (pets in general), kids (so my boys can clean their own bathroom 😁)has no harsh chemicals, and smells amazing. There are SO many ways to use this one bottle (see recipes below!).
* Mix up 1 capful with water in a 16 oz glass spray bottle (included in the kit!) for general cleaning. Option to add a few drops of Lemon or Thieves oil for more scent!
* Use 2 capfuls in a bucket of hot water to clean floors.
* Dilute in a spray bottle and spray onto ped beds.
* Mix with water and vinegar and use in a steam mop, spray mop, or other floor cleaner.
Amber Glass Spray Bottle
The perfect companion to Thieves Household Cleaner! Use this spray bottle to mix up your all-purpose daily cleaner. The stylish bottle means you can leave it on the counter without sacrificing your aesthetic!
Thieves Laundry Soap
Thieves Laundry Soap is one of our laundry room must haves. Safe, effective, eco-friendly and economical cleaning with the power of plants? Sign us up! This plant-powered laundry soap is tough enough for dirt stains, but gentle enough for newborn clothing. Fabrics come out of the washer clean and with a pleasant citrus aroma, thanks to a 100 percent pure blend of Thieves, Jade Lemon, and Bergamot essential oils!
* Standard load: ½ cap for conventional washers, ¼ cap for HE washers.
* For extra oomph, you can add a few drops of Lemon or Thieves essential oil to the soap in the washing dispenser!
Thieves Kitchen & Bath Scrub
Thieves Kitchen and Bath Scrub is the perfect naturally derived cleaner: tough on messes and safe for your family! The scrubbing power comes from nepheline syenite, a naturally occurring mineral from Canada; baking soda that gently absorbs odors; sodium percarbonate that provides a powerful boost of oxygen-based cleaning power; and Young Living's signature Thieves blend.
* Use to clean kitchens, sinks, bathtubs, showers, commodes, etc.
* Use it to naturally tackle soap scum, built-up grease and grime, and hard-water stains in the kitchen and bathroom.
* Keep it on hand for cleaning ovens, grills and barbecues as well and dutch ovens or pans with baked-on grease. Add a few drops of Lemon for the most pesky food residues!
Thieves Dish Soap, 12 oz
If you want a dish soap that cuts the grease, doesn't leave your dishes with a scented residue, and is gentle on your hands, then Thieves Dish Soap is perfect for you! This cleaning powerhouse is free of the typical sulfates, dyes, and synthetics found in many dish soaps, and the plant-based formula leaves no harsh chemical residues - on your dishes or on your skin. Plus, a little goes a long way, and this bottle can up your cleaning game in the rest of the house too!
* Use to clean your dishes. Fill a sink with hot water, Thieves Dish Soap and a couple drops of Lemon for sparkling, clean dishes.
* Use to pre-treat laundry stains! Simply wet the stain, rub Thieves Dish Soap onto it, scrub with a laundry brush, and wash.
* Add to a shower brush for easy shower cleaning! Fill your brush with half cleaner and half soap. Use to scrub your shower every time you get in!
DAILY HABITS WITH THE MAKE A SHIFT HAPPY, HEALTHY HOME KIT
Here are some of our favorite recipes, DIYs, and ways to use the products in this kit! This is truly all you need to clean your entire home.
Whip up a Thieves Household Cleaner for general cleaning - counters, bathrooms, everywhere!
* To the 16oz glass spray bottle add 1-2 capfuls of Thieves Household Cleaner. Option to add 10-15 drops each Lemon and Thieves essential oils. Fill with filtered water.
Pretreat stains with Thieves Dish Soap! Simply drop onto stains, use a wooden laundry brush to rub in, then wash in Thieves Laundry Soap.
Make a stain stick!
* 30mL roller bottle
* Fill halfway with Thieves Household Cleaner
* Add 1Tbsp hydrogen peroxide and 10 drops Lemon essential oil
* Fill the remainder with Thieves Dish Soap
Shake well and roll onto stains, then brush with a wooden laundry brush
Make a DIY Carpet & Rug Freshener to freshen up your space whenever you vacuum.
* To an airtight glass jar add:
* 1 cup Baking Soda
* ½ cup Fine Sea Salt
* 15 drops Thieves
* 20 drops Lemon
* Mix well. When ready to use, sprinkle over carpets and let sit for 10 minutes before vacuuming.
Make a Linen & Upholstery Spray to use when you change the sheets or anytime a surface needs a little freshening:
* 16oz glass spray bottle
* 1-2 capfuls Thieves Household Cleaner
* 15-20 drops each Thieves, Lemon
* Filtered water
Shake to mix and spray on linens, upholstery, mattresses, anything really!
Make a DIY Laundry Scent Booster to make your laundry smell divine with zero harsh chemicals:
To a large glass jar with a lid add:
* 1 cup Epsom Salt
* ½ cup Fine Sea Salt
* ½ cup Baking Soda
* 30 drops Lemon (or a mix of desired oils)
To use, add 2-3 Tbsp directly to the laundry.
Make a DIY Wood Polish
* 1 cup olive oil
* 5 drops Thieves
* 5 drops Lemon essential oil
Diffuse!! Diffuse Thieves and Lemon together anytime you need a little freshening!
There are so many uses for this kit and I love that the products are versatile and safe to use around my family.
Are you ready to go green? I'm happy to help you get started!
Are you in the “prevent getting it” mindset? It might be time to think “What will I do WHEN I get it?” Even better, “How can I support my body now, before I get it?”
- Are you getting adequate sunshine and fresh air?
- Do you drink plenty of clean, filtered and fluoride-free water?
- How do you take care of your mental health?
- Are you staying active?
- Do you take care of your gut health? Your immune system depends on it!
- Do you eat whole foods? (think LOTS of fruits, veggies, green juices, bone broth and nutrient dense foods) Our Functional Medical Doctor recommends a Paleo type of diet.
- Have you reduced the toxins in your home? Artificial fragrance is in everything and is the absolute worst. GET.IT.OUT.OF.YOUR.HOME! Replace your scented candles, wax warmers, air fresheners, dryer sheets, scented fabric softeners, detergents and scented cleaning products. I have replaced all of the above with pure essential oils, plant-based cleaning products and clean, pure, safe self-care products.
- What supplements do you take?
- We all have to start somewhere, and baby steps add up to big changes.
Here’s a short list of some options!
- Vitamin D (Super D)
- Vitamin C (Super C Chewable or Super C)
- Melatonin (Immupro)
- NingXia Red (whole food antioxidant liquid supplement)
- Multivitamins (MightyVites for the boys)
- Mineral Essence (Combines the benefits of minerals with premium essential oils)
- Longevity essential oil
- Probiotics (Life 9 and MightyPro)
- Inner Defense (reinforces systemic defenses & promotes healthy respiratory function plus offers immune support)
- Thieves essential oil blend: diffused 24/7 in a diffuser and in a roller bottle; applied to our spines and feet every day and more often if we’re feeling off.
- Thieves Chest Rub
- Breathe Again applied to our chest area, RC and/or Raven in the diffuser.
- Do you take Epsom Salt baths? These can help pull out the toxins and ease the aches and pains. Aim for at least 30 minutes of soaking. Some lavender, peppermint and PanAway can be added to the bath for more support.
- Prayer & meditation to help manage stress.
- Do you get plenty of rest? Every body is different, but on average, 8 hours of sleep certainly helps you stay above the wellness line! A cool dark room, no electronics for an hour before bed and a quiet, calm environment to set the stage before sleep is also helpful.
There are plenty of ways you can support your health and adjust these suggestions for your own comfort. If you are curious about any of the products mentioned they can be found here or click on the "Place An Order" button up in the right-hand corner!
Just know, you are the only one in charge of your health and NO One cares more about your health than you. Empower yourself and make self-care a priority. You can do it! I believe in you.
Sending love,
Traci
Focus!
Last week I mentioned that our Golden Retriever, Murphy, was a little stinky. He definitely still needs a bath, but he does smell much better this week. We can hug him again without having to hold our breath! He does love his hugs! He’s like a big yellow puppy bear. (Teddy bear, yet a puppy at heart = puppy bear!). It is time to call the groomer and set up his trim and bath.
This week we are nearing the end of the school year and the boys are getting more and more excited to be done with it all! So am I for that matter. We’re in week 35 of 36! It is so tempting to just toss it all aside and call it good. However, since the weather isn’t great for being outside today (51 and soggy), we could just as well press on and get some school done.
Here are a few things we do to keep school rolling forward with focus:
Take breaks: Boys like to move. If I fight them on that, it becomes punishment for all of us. So we find a happy medium and get some work done, then move a little. Then we focus on school again.
Breakfast: It helps to include some protein and limit sugary foods. It’s tougher for all of us if sugar is included in breakfast. My husband and I like eggs. The boys, not so much. When I am intentional on getting them a small protein shake or something with protein in it for breakfast, it's easier for them to focus.
Grace: We all have our good days and not so good days. It is what it is. Talk it through it. Let it go and move on. No one is perfect. How many times has God forgiven us? A LOT!
Be Flexible: Life happens. Just a few weeks ago, one of my horses had a severe colic episode so I spent the day with her while my husband took over school with the boys. They did what they could for school even though their minds were on me and my horse, Dakota. I did end up having to put Dakota down and send her, with love, across the rainbow bridge; but was greeted with a lot of hugs when I finally came in. The next day we picked up what didn’t get done the day before, which was minimal. They do very well with their dad as teacher. I am so grateful that my husband was here and he jumped right in. He's a great substitute teacher!
Avoid Distractions: Turn off the television, set the phones or any electronics aside and focus. It also helps the two older boys if I keep "T" busy.
I also keep diffusers going both upstairs and downstairs. One of their favorite diffuser recipes is:
Orange Dreamsicle
- 4 drops Orange
- 4 drops Stress Away (TM)
- 3 Drops Bergamot
Other essential oils that have helped us focus or calm down include:
- Peppermint
- Lemon
- Lavender
- Vetiver
- Jade Lemon
- Frankincense
- Sacred Frankincense
We also love the blend Peace & Calming (TM) because it does just that for me and the boys.
What do you do to keep everyone focused these last days of school? I would love more tips!
Hey all! Today’s 71 degrees is tough to beat for South Dakota in April. I’m so grateful! It definitely makes the "please stay at home" time so much more tolerable!
So, just a little introduction on myself.
I’m a boy-mom. Three young boys still in the house, one all grown up and has a family of his own.
I’m a homeschooling mom. This is something I never anticipated doing, ever. But, oh how things change once we have actually have children.
I'm an animal lover. I currently have 2 quarter horses and one mini-pony that loves to be on the wrong side of the fence. She likes free range life. We also have several barn cats and one large Golden Retriever.
With horses, I am a huge fan of keeping it natural, and have spent many years studying Parelli Natural Horsemanship. I love a good weekend horse-man-ship clinic and spending a couple of days with other horse lovers!
I love the oily lifestyle. That brings me to my purpose for today’s post.
Life in the country, with horses, cats, and a Golden Retriever can certainly bring about particular smells. A couple of weeks ago, our dog, Murphy decided to swim in our stock pond. Yuck! Of course after a swim, there’s always a roll in the horse yard to add to his essence of country dog. After a day, he kind of self cleans, but still definitely stinks. He is an outside dog, 90% of the time. This week, he found a deceased cat in the ditch across the road and decided to roll in it, then drag said cat onto our yard. So now we have a stinky dog and my boys are a bit distraught over seeing cat parts on our lawn. My 6 year old came and said “Um mom, this is kind of gross, but I think Tiger’s tail is on our yard.” Ugh! So sorry buddy.
Life is busy and I don’t have time to bathe a double coated, long haired dog every time he rolls in something or goes for a dip in the pond. I did have time to whip up an oily recipe. It helps with comb outs, reduces his country odor, and can even help repel some creepy crawlies, since he likes to explore our pastures:
Country Dog Spray
10 drops Lavender
5 drops Geranium
5 drops Lemongrass
5 drops Palo Santo,
5 drops Cedarwood
3 tsp conditioner
½ oz vodka
6 oz water.
Combine in a spray bottle and shake well before each use. Spray liberally and let it set a few minutes before brushing. Murphy is a 110 pound dog, so if you have a small dog, you may want to reduce the number of drops and adjust to your liking.
Not all oils are created equal. Please do not buy oils from your local grocery or large box store and think you will achieve the same results as pure therapeutic grate oils. I love Young Living products. I even used my Young Living conditioner in this recipe.
