Abundant Health™ Blog

May 17, 2016
by Abundant Health™
0 comments

Clean Your Kids' Toys Naturally with Essential Oils

Kids’ toys are notorious for having lots of germs! Not only are they constantly being dropped on the floor, but because babies and toddlers like to put things in their mouths, germs seem to be ever-present on toys. If you are concerned about keeping your kids’ toys cleaned, give this Toy Cleaning Spray a try!

Toy Cleaning Spray

Servings: Yield=1/2 cup (120 ml) | Time: 2 minutes active | Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients & Supplies:

Instructions:

  1. Fill the 4 oz. spray bottle with hydrogen peroxide. Add the lemon essential oil. Screw the lid on, and shake to combine.
  2. To use, spray the toys thoroughly. Let sit for a few minutes, then wipe dry with a clean cloth.

Note: Hydrogen peroxide can lose its effectiveness if exposed to sunlight. It is best to store your Toy Cleaning Spray in a container that will protect it from sun exposure.

May 14, 2016
by Abundant Health™
7 Comments

Pet Deterrent Spray

We sure love our pets, but dogs and cats are notorious for scratching and chewing up furniture, carpet, and everything else. Have you tried using essential oils to keep them away? Cats and dogs don’t like the smell of citrus or eucalyptus, so we’ve come up with a mixture using these ingredients to help discourage pets from tearing up your home.

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Pet Deterrent Spray

Servings: Yield=4 oz. | Time: 10 minutes active | Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients:

Instructions:

  1. Pour water, a few drops of soap, and essential oils into a glass spray bottle, and shake to combine.
  2. Spray mixture over an inconspicuous area of your desired surface to ensure that no staining or discoloration occurs.
  3. Spray over the area you wish the pet to stay away from.
  4. Shake well before each use.

Note: Many have questioned the use of these oils around animals. The low concentration of such oils in this recipe shouldn’t be harmful to animals. Contact your veterinarian if you have any concerns.

May 12, 2016
by Abundant Health™
1 Comment

EO-Flavored Water: Strawberry Lemon

Do you enjoy flavored water? Try flavoring your water with fruit and essential oils! This strawberry lemon flavor is quite refreshing and will leave you wanting more water! Simply add a few slices of fresh strawberries to your water along with a drop of lemon essential oil.

Don’t just try this at home—take it with you wherever you go this summer with one of these essential oil–safe water bottles!

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May 10, 2016
by Abundant Health™
2 Comments

Healthy Cranberry Orange Gummy Candies

Do your kids love gummy candies? Try making some of your own with real fruit juice and essential oils—and rest easy knowing your kids are enjoying a healthy treat!

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Healthy Cranberry Orange Gummy Candies

Servings: Yield=1 1/4 cups (300 ml) | Time: 15 minutes active; 1 hour inactive | Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients:

  • 2/3 cup (160 ml) cranberry juice, divided
  • 1/3 cup (80 ml) orange juice
  • 3 Tbsp. (27 g) powdered gelatin
  • 1–2 Tbsp. (15–30 ml) honey (depending on sweetness preference)
  • 5–6 drops orange essential oil

Instructions:

  1. Pour 1/3 cup (80 ml) cranberry juice and 1/3 cup (80 ml) orange juice in a saucepan. Sprinkle the powdered gelatin over the liquid, and let sit for 5 minutes.
  2. Turn the heat to medium, and stir until the mixture gets bubbly and the gelatin dissolves. Whisk in the honey, and stir until completely dissolved.
  3. Stir in the rest of the cranberry juice (1/3 cup or 80 ml) and the essential oil.
  4. Pour into a silicone mold or mini ice cube tray, and refrigerate until set (about an hour).

May 7, 2016
by Abundant Health™
2 Comments

Happy Morning Diffuser Blend

Make your morning a happy one by diffusing this delightful blend! Don’t have a diffuser? No problem. Abundant Health™ has exactly what you need!

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May 5, 2016
by Abundant Health™
0 comments

Pink Lemonade Pie

This Pink Lemonade Pie is sweet, tangy, and delicious. It’s the perfect pie to kick off your summer!

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Pink Lemonade Pie

Servings: 8 | Time: 15 minutes active; 1 hour inactive | Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients:

Crust:

  • 10–12 graham crackers, finely crushed
  • 1/4 cup (60 ml) butter, melted

Filling:

  • 8 oz. (227 g) cream cheese
  • 1 cup (320 g) strawberry jam
  • 8 drops lemon essential oil
  • 1 tsp. (5 ml) lemon juice
  • 3 Tbsp. (45 ml) agave nectar

Topping:

  • 2 cups (480 ml) heavy whipping cream
  • 10 drops lemon essential oil
  • 1 Tbsp. (15 ml) lemon juice
  • 1/3 cup (80 ml) agave nectar

Instructions:

  • Combine the graham cracker crumbs and melted butter. Press into pie pan, and refrigerate until set.
  • Blend together the ingredients for the filling, and spread inside the chilled crust.
  • Whip the cream with lemon oil, lemon juice, and agave until fluffy. Spread on top of the pie.
  • Chill for at least 1 hour before serving.

Note: Chilling in the freezer makes the pie firm up faster and creates a delectable cold treat!

May 3, 2016
by Abundant Health™
2 Comments

Lemon Rosemary Body Scrub

Pamper your mother this year with this quick and simple gift. It takes minutes to put together and will make her feel like a queen this Mother’s Day!

Lemon Rosemary Body Scrub

Servings: Yield=2 cups (480 ml) | Time: 5 minutes active | Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients & Supplies:

Instructions:

  1. In a mixing bowl, combine epsom salt, rosemary essential oil, lemon essential oil, and 1/4 cup (60 ml) of fractionated coconut oil.
  2. Mix well.
  3. Transfer mixture from mixing bowl to a 16 oz. (480 ml) container. Fill the container with the remaining 1/2 cup (120 ml) of fractionated coconut oil.
  4. Scoop a small amount into your hand, and scrub your body during a bath or shower. Repeat as necessary.

April 30, 2016
by Abundant Health™
4 Comments

Citrus Shower Melts

Some of us really aren’t morning people and need a little help feeling energized and positive when waking up. If you can relate, these Citrus Shower Melts may be just the thing you need! Place one in your morning shower, and enjoy the wonderful, energizing citrus scent as your bathroom fills with steam and the hot water hits the shower melt. Be careful though—you may find yourself loving your morning when you start it with one of these!

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Citrus Shower Melts

Servings: Yield=8–10 melts | Time: 15 minutes active; 1 hour inactive | Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients & Supplies:

  • 1 cup (149 g) cornstarch
  • 2 Tbsp. (30 ml) water + more as needed
  • Yellow and red food coloring (optional)
  • 6 drops lemon essential oil
  • 6 drops orange essential oil
  • 4 drops bergamot essential oil
  • 16 oz. PET Jar

Instructions:

  1. Place cornstarch in a mixing bowl.
  2. In a separate bowl, combine 2 Tbsp. of water, a few drops of food coloring, and essential oils.
    Stir water mixture into the cornstarch, and continue adding water drop by drop until a thick crumb-like paste starts to form.
  3. Transfer to an ice cube tray or silicone mold, and freeze until set (about an hour).
  4. To use, place a shower melt on the floor of your shower, and turn the hot water on. Enjoy the citrus aroma as the water and steam hit the shower melt!
  5. Store in a airtight container like this PET Jar. Note: If you added too much water and they start to melt, you will want to keep them frozen until you use them. Otherwise, you can store them at room temperature.

April 29, 2016
by Abundant Health™
0 comments

Coconut Lime Energy Bites

Boost your energy with these tropical-flavored snack bites! You are sure to love them not only because they are incredibly delicious and healthy, but also because they are so easy to make.

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Coconut Lime Energy Bites

Servings: 16–20 balls | Time: 15 minutes active | Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients:

  • 2/3 cup (62 g) shredded coconut, divided
  • 1/2 cup (71 g) almonds
  • 1/4 cup (28 g) cashews
  • 1 cup medjool dates, pitted (about 10 dates)
  • 1/4 cup (60 ml) lime juice
  • 2 drops lime essential oil

Instructions:

  1. Pulse 1/3 cup (31 g) shredded coconut a few times in a food processor to get a finer texture for rolling. Place finely shredded coconut on a plate for using later.
  2. Add almonds to the food processor, and pulse until roughly chopped. Add the rest of the ingredients, and pulse until it reaches a cookie dough consistency and the ingredients are combined thoroughly.
  3. Roll dough into bite-sized balls with your hands, and then roll the balls in the finely shredded coconut to coat.
  4. Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to a week.

April 26, 2016
by Abundant Health™
6 Comments

Essential Oil Dilution Stick

Many essential oils require dilution, especially if used on children, pregnant women, or people with sensitive skin. Click here for more information about diluting essential oils. Sometimes, carrier oils can get a little messy and can especially be a hassle when using essential oils on a wiggly child. One way to reduce the mess is to use these Dilution Sticks! Each stick contains a formula of carrier oils that are not only good for the skin, but also remain solid at room temperature. The sticks are so simple to use, even a small child can help you!

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This Dilution Stick recipe does not contain essential oils, so it can be used with whichever essential oil you need at the time. To use the stick, simply twist it up and rub it onto your skin before (or after) applying your essential oils. If you have a favorite essential oil you know you will be using a lot, you can simply add the oil to the melted liquid before pouring the mixture into your containers. Or you can add the essential oil after pouring the carrier oil mixture into the containers—just make sure to stir the essential oil in with a toothpick or bamboo skewer before the mixture cools. A good dilution ratio is 1–2 drops per .15 oz. (4.25 g) of carrier oil mixture. This would result in the following essential oil drops per container:

If you love this idea, but don’t want to take the time to make it, you can always buy a Carrier Oil Stick from Abundant Health™ that is all ready to go. A smaller On-The-Go Stick is also available for purchase.

The following recipe makes 2 Dilution Sticks—1 big and 1 small. Keep the big one at home and the small one in your purse or travel oil bag so you always have one available when you need it!

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Essential Oil Dilution Stick

Servings: Yield=3 oz./85 g | Time: 10–15 minutes active; 15 minutes inactive | Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients & Supplies:

Instructions:

  1. Place the shea butter and beeswax in a double boiler on the stove over medium-low heat. You can create a double boiler by placing a glass measuring cup (containing the ingredients) in a pan filled with an inch or so of water.
  2. Once the shea butter and beeswax are melted, reduce the heat to low, and add the coconut oil. When the coconut oil is melted, add the sweet almond oil, and remove from heat. Continue stirring until all the oils have melted together.
  3. Make sure your deodorant containers are clean and twisted all the way down. Pour the oil into your deodorant containers, and allow to cool. You can place them in the refrigerator to speed up the cooling process.
  4. To use, rub the stick over the skin before applying essential oils.

Extra Idea:

  • If you have a favorite essential oil you know you will be using a lot, you can simply add the oil to the melted liquid before pouring the mixture into your deodorant containers. You can also add the essential oil after pouring the carrier oil mixture into the containers. Just make sure to stir the essential oil in with a toothpick or bamboo skewer. A good dilution ratio is 1–2 drops essential oil per .15 oz. (4.25 g) of carrier oil mixture.
  • Other twist-up containers will also work, including our Lip Balm Dispensing Tubes (.15 oz/4.25 g).

Note: Shea butter contains latex (a natural rubber). If you are allergic or sensitive to latex, do a skin patch test prior to making this recipe, or use Mango Butter for a substitute and reduce the amount of beeswax pellets used.