Abundant Health™ Blog

January 23, 2018
by Abundant Health™
0 comments

Pressure Cooker Orange Cream Cheese Pound Cake

This delicious cake is amazingly simple and beautiful. With the use of your electric pressure cooker, this cake is incredibly easy to make but will awe your family and guests. The sweet orange-cheesy flavor makes a great dessert—or even a yummy snack to feed your sweet tooth.

Orange Cream Cheese Pound Cake

Servings: 4–8 | Time: 10–15 minutes active; 1 hour inactive | Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients:

  • 4 oz. (113 g) cream cheese, softened
  • 1/2 cup (100 g) sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 3/4 cup (90 g) pancake mix
  • 10–15 drops orange essential oil
  • 1 Tbsp. (15 ml) lemon juice
  • 1/2 cup (120 ml) melted butter
  • 1 orange, thinly sliced
  • Sugar and melted butter for preparing pan

Instructions:

  1. Cream together cream cheese, sugar, and eggs. Stir in pancake mix, then add orange oil, lemon juice, and melted butter. Combine thoroughly, and set aside.
  2. Using a separate baking dish that will fit in your pressure cooker, grease dish thoroughly with melted butter, and sprinkle sugar over the butter to coat it.
  3. Line the baking dish with orange slices.
  4. Pour prepared cake batter over the orange slices.
  5. With 1 cup (250 ml) of water in the pressure cooker, place the baking dish on top of the trivet, and seal the pot.
  6. Turn the pot on manual setting for 50 minutes.
  7. Release pressure at the end of the timer. Once the pot has depressurized, remove the baking dish, and turn cake out onto a plate.
  8. Serve with whipped cream or milk.

Notes:

  • This recipe can also be made in a rice cooker by baking the cake directly in the rice cooker pot for 40 minutes.
  • You may also add orange zest for added orange flavor and a beautiful color boost throughout the cake.
  • Orange juice can be substituted for the lemon juice.

January 18, 2018
by Abundant Health™
0 comments

“It’s a Great Day!” Diffuser Blend

It’s easy to let the winter weather get you down. That’s why we created this special diffuser blend to pick you up and remind you that every day is a great day! The properties of lavender, lemon, and rosemary are known to help calm the nerves while keeping the body energized and focused all day long.

Need a new diffuser? Try the Serenity™ diffuser with this amazing blend for an added pick-me-up!

The Serenity™ diffuser is easy to use and has a beautiful design that is sure to amaze your guests and complement your decor. This diffuser can diffuse continuously for up to 5 hours, and it covers approximately 300 square feet. This ultrasonic humidifying diffuser also has several light color options to fit your mood and decor. This beautiful blown glass diffuser comes in white and brown. Click here to learn more!

January 16, 2018
by Abundant Health™
0 comments

Essential Oil Spotlight: Grapefruit

Grapefruit essential oil (Citrus x paradisi) is cold-pressed from the fruit rinds. This oil is known for its clean, fresh, bitter, citrusy odor.

Grapefruit essential oil has antidepressant, antiseptic, disinfectant, diuretic, stimulant, and tonic properties. This oil mainly affects the cardiovascular system.

Grapefruit has been used for many years by the French for cellulite, digestion, dyspepsia, lymphatic decongestion, and water retention. Today, grapefruit is commonly used to help with anorexia, appetite suppression, bulimia, cellulite, hangover, indigestion, obesity, overeating, postpartum depression, and weight loss.

Grapefruit oil can also be used to help with depression, drug withdrawal, fatigue, gallstones, jet lag, liver disorders, and stress. It is also known to have a cleansing effect on the kidneys, lymphatic system, and vascular system.

The aroma of this essential oil may help prevent one from drowning in negativity, as it is balancing and uplifting to the mind and helps to relieve anxiety.

Since the properties of grapefruit oil are very similar to other citrus oils, they can be substituted in many cases.

Safety Data: Unlike other citrus oils, grapefruit does not cause photosensitivity, so it can be used as a substitute for other citrus oils when immediate exposure to the sun is unavoidable. This oil is generally regarded as safe for human consumption by the FDA and can be used as a flavoring agent in food. Not for children under 6 years old; use with caution and in greater dilution for children 6 years old and over.

Ways to Use Grapefruit Essential Oil:

  1. Diffuse grapefruit oil to help calm and soothe withdrawal symptoms and food cravings.
  2. This oil works well in treating cellulite. Try combining 5 drops grapefruit oil with 1 tsp. (5 ml) jojoba oil in a 5 ml roll-on bottle, and apply on location.
  3. Grapefruit is known to help stabilize emotions and relieve tension and anxiety. Combine 4 drops grapefruit, 2 drops sandalwood, and 1 drop lavender for an uplifting and balancing diffuser blend.
  4. Combine 2 drops grapefruit, 2 drops lavender, 1 drop lemon, and 1 drop peppermint with 2 Tbsp. (30 ml) of your favorite massage butter for a relaxing massage cream. Lightly massage onto the desired location.
  5. Grapefruit essential oil is great for baths because of its many health properties and uplifting aroma. Try some of these blends by adding the oils to 1 cup (240 g) epsom salt. Add 1/2 of the mixture to a running bath, and enjoy!
    Hangover Salts
    5 drops grapefruit
    2 drops rosemary
    1 drop juniper berry    		 Detox Salts
    3 drops grapefruit
    3 drops lemon
    2 drops basil
    1 drop juniper berry
    1 drop oregano    		 Relax & Energize Salts
    2 drops lime
    2 drops grapefruit
    2 drops tangerine
    2 drops spearmint

To learn more about grapefruit essential oil and many other pure essential oils, see the Reference Guide for Essential Oils by Connie and Alan Higley.

Source: Reference Guide for Essential Oils, 2017 Edition.

January 11, 2018
by Abundant Health™
0 comments

Understand Chakras with the New Mini Tear Pad!

Have you ever wanted a fun and simple way to teach a class, your friends, or even your family about chakras? These mini tear pads will make great handouts and teaching materials for your next class! Take charge of your energy with this fun new tear pad.

The Chakra Tear Pad teaches you all the basics to understanding your 7 chakras and the specific essential oils that affect them. This new tear pad is convenient because of its small (5″ × 7″) size and comes with 50 sheets for you to pass out to your class attendees! With this handy tool, you can learn and teach about the different application methods to help cleanse and balance your energy centers. On the back of this tear pad, you will find a map of the location of each chakra, what each one represents, and the oils that specifically affect it.

Essential Oil Class Ideas:

  • Teach the yoga poses that help to balance energies.
  • Teach topical application locations that will open up the individual chakras.
  • Diffuse oils or blends in the room while meditating; focus on a specific chakra.

There are many essential oils that will aid you in balancing your chakras. Here is a meditation blend to promote feelings of safety, stability, and belonging as you stimulate and balance your root chakra:

These tear pads make a great tool that will only aid you in all your teaching and learning endeavors. Click here for more products to help you learn more about your chakras and how you can better control your energy.

January 9, 2018
by Abundant Health™
0 comments

Calming Lavender Salt Scrub

This salt scrub is great for exfoliating your skin! It also makes a great gift for any woman, young or old. Just grab a little bit of the scrub and rub it all over your hands, legs, or wherever needs some good exfoliation; then rinse it off with water. The epsom salt will do the exfoliation, the carrier oils will help soften and moisturize your skin, and the essential oils will have a calming effect on your mood. This is a perfect and easy way to pamper yourself or someone else!

Salt Scrub

Servings: Yield=1/2 cup (120 ml) | Time: 5 minutes | Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients & Supplies:

Instructions:

  1. Apply the label to the side of the 4 oz. salve jar. For instructions on how to apply vinyl labels, click here.
  2. Once your vinyl label is secure, place the salt scrub ingredients in order into the 4 oz. salve jar, screw the lid on, and shake to combine.

Note: Salt can irritate open wounds, so you should avoid using this salt scrub near open cuts or wounds.

January 4, 2018
by Abundant Health™
0 comments

EO Tips for Life: The Illusion of Cleaning

If you have a New Year’s resolution to be better about cleaning, try this simple tip to appear like you are staying on top of your goal on days when you really don’t feel like it. If nothing else, it will look like you’ve done something, and your home will smell good.

The key is to use essential oils! Here’s what you need to do:

  1. Do a quick tidy-up.
  2. Leave cleaning supplies at random around the house.
  3. Diffuse or spray citrus essential oils near the front door.

Here are a few diffuser blends that will make it smell like you’ve been cleaning:

Sparkling Clean:
2 drops lemon
2 drops lime
1 drop lavender
1 drop rosemary		 Fresh Air:
2 drops lemon or orange
2 drops lime
2 drops melaleuca		 Clean Wood:
3 drops cypress or fir
3 drops lemon		 Clean Kitchen:
3 drops orange
1 drop clove
1 drop rosemary

Here are a couple recipes for air spritzers that you can use with these diffuser blend recipes (just double the essential oil drops):
Homemade Room Freshener
Air Spritzers

To learn more about essential oils that are used for cleaning or deodorizing, see the Reference Guide for Essential Oils by Connie and Alan Higley, 2017 Edition.

December 28, 2017
by Abundant Health™
0 comments

Essential Oil Spotlight: Balsam Fir

Balsam fir essential oil (Abies balsamea) is steam-distilled from the branches of conifer trees. It is known for its fresh, clean, balsamic, and sweet odor.

Balsam fir contains antiseptic, astringent, diuretic, expectorant, anti-inflammatory, sedative, and tonic properties. This essential oil is historically known for its fragrance and aids with respiratory complaints, fevers, and muscular and rheumatic pain. Today, the most common use of balsam fir is for muscle fatigue and overworked muscles and joints. Some other possible uses of this oil are for asthma, burns, coughs, cuts, depression, hemorrhoids, pain, tension (nervous), and urinary infections.

This oil primarily affects the emotional balance, muscles and bones, and nervous and respiratory systems of the body. It creates a feeling of grounding, anchoring, and empowerment. Balsam fir should be diffused, applied directly to an area of concern, or applied to Vita Flex points. It has been approved by the FDA as a food additive and flavoring agent.

Safety Data: Can irritate sensitive skin, so avoid direct sunlight for 3–6 hours following topical use. Not for children under 6 years old; use with caution and in greater dilution for children older than 6.

Tips for Using Balsam Fir Essential Oil:

  1. For an energy-boosting bath, combine 2 cups (480 g) of epsom salt, 1 cup (200 g) sea salt, 6 drops balsam fir, 10 drops rosemary, and 15 drops peppermint in a bowl; let sit overnight. Add 4 heaping spoonfuls of the salt mixture to your running bathwater, and enjoy a great refreshing boost of energy.
  2. For an anti-inflammatory ointment, combine 2 drops peppermint and 1 drop balsam fir with 1 Tbsp. (15 ml) of your favorite carrier oil, and gently rub onto the area of concern.
  3. For a muscle relief massage oil, combine 3 drops rosemary, 2 drops marjoram, and 1 drop balsam fir with 1 Tbsp. (15 ml) carrier oil, and rub directly on the area of concern.
  4. Diffuse balsam fir with some of your favorite oils for some nice winter smells. Try some of these diffuser blends!
Wake Me Up
3 drops rosemary
2 drops balsam fir
1 drop thyme		 First Snowfall
4 drops wintergreen
2 drops balsam fir		 Holiday Glow
2 drops cinnamon bark
6 drops balsam fir
4 drops orange

Sources:
Reference Guide for Essential Oils, 2017 Edition, pp. 112–13.
Organic Beauty With Essential Oil by Rebecca Park Totilo.
Aromatherapy: An A-Z by Patricia Davis

December 21, 2017
by Abundant Health™
0 comments

Breathe Easy Diffuser Blend

It’s common to get a stuffy/runny nose when the weather is chilly. If you need a little help when it comes to clearing your airways, try this blend in your diffuser!


We have added several different diffusers to our product line, so make sure to check out the latest styles. We’re sure you’ll find one that is perfect for you!

The Sirona ultrasonic diffuser is sleek and easy to use for all your diffusing needs. It’s also extremely quiet! The Sirona has 3 light options with many color choices to satisfy all types of people. Despite its small size, this diffuser can cover up to 115 square feet. The Sirona uses ultrasonic properties to emit a nice cool mist infused with your favorite oils to share the essential oil health benefits while also humidifying the room. Click here to learn more about this awesome diffuser!

December 18, 2017
by Abundant Health™
0 comments

Lemon-Basil Avocado Bean Dip

When you incorporate healthy snacks into your diet, you’re more likely to keep your health goals. This bean dip makes a great healthy snack and tastes fantastic with vegetables or on a veggie wrap!

Lemon-Basil Avocado Bean Dip

Servings: 2+ | Time: 5–10 minutes | Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients & Supplies:

  • 1–2 avocados, peeled and pitted
  • 1 can (14.5 oz.) great northern white beans
  • 2 Tbsp. (30 ml) lemon juice
  • 1/4 tsp. (1.5 g) salt
  • 1 drop lemon essential oil
  • 1 toothpick black pepper essential oil
  • 1 toothpick basil essential oil

Instructions:

  1. Place all ingredients in a food processor or blender, and blend until all combined.
    You may need to scrape down the sides a few times.
  2. Dip with vegetable sticks or spread on veggie wrap, and enjoy!

December 14, 2017
by Abundant Health™
0 comments

Essential Oil Finger Paints

It’s cold outside, and kids can only play out in the snow for so long; so it’s time to find some inside activities to keep them entertained. These finger paints are easy to make and fun to play with! Make it a full sensory experience by adding essential oil scents!

Essential Oil–Scented Finger Paints

Servings: Yield=2 cups (480 ml) | Time: 15–20 minutes | Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients & Supplies:

  • 2 cups (480 ml) cold water
  • 1 heaping Tbsp. (10 g) cornstarch
  • Plastic bottles
  • Food coloring
  • Essential oils

Instructions:

  1. In a medium-sized pot, whisk together cold water and cornstarch. Heat over medium heat, stirring often, until mixture thickens.
  2. Remove from heat, and let cool.
  3. Pour the mixture into plastic bottles, and add a different color of food coloring to each bottle. Stir with a bamboo skewer (adding more if needed) until you achieve your desired color.
  4. Add a drop of essential oil to each bottle of paint, and stir in the essential oil with the bamboo skewer. Be sure to choose essential oils that are safe for children.
  5. Twist the lids onto your bottles, and your paint is ready to enjoy!

NOTE: It’s fun to choose oil scents that go along with each color, and this also makes for a fun sensory experience. For example, mix a drop of lemon oil with the yellow paint, a drop of lavender oil with the purple paint, etc.