A bargain at Wal-Mart.

For some time now, I have been saving up to purchase an essential oil diffuser.  I wanted to be able to fill the air in my home with the refreshing and healing scents of my essential oils.  Since Jake is allergic to formaldehyde, I have steered away from store-bought air fresheners.  I have successfully used essential oils in vodka as an air freshener, but the scent does not stay for very long.

Essential oil diffusers are becoming more and more popular.  They are not very cheap.  The company Beeyoutiful carries two different kinds through their catalog.  One is $60.00.  The other is $90.00.  I was saving up for the $90.00 diffuser/nebulizer.

As I was walking through Wal-Mart the other day, I happened to notice a wall of boxes in the craft section.  The picture on the box caught my eye.  I could not believe it; Wal-Mart is selling essential oil warmers.  They are only $4.97.  So, I decided to try one.

The expensive diffuser I wanted uses electricity.  This option is more green in that it only uses a tea light candle to heat the essential oils.

The set-up is really simple.  There is a shallow plate that sits above a tea light candle.  I poured a little warm water in the shallow plate and dropped a few drops of Cassia oil.  Cassia smells just like cinnamon.  I lit the candle and waited.

I really did not smell anything at first.  I had to run outside for something and when I returned I noticed the warm scent immediately.  You could smell it upstairs and at the other end of the house.  The scent carried well throughout our entire home.

When the water had almost evaporated, I added more water.  This time I put a mixture of eucalyptus oil and peppermint oil.  Eucalyptus oil kills germs.  Since we had all been under the weather, I thought it was a good opportunity to disinfect the house.  Peppermint oil is soothing and refreshing.  I really liked the combination of the eucalyptus and peppermint oils.

I am very pleased with my essential oil warmer.  It works very well.  The downside is that the water evaporates.  I have to keep my eye on the water level.  I am finding that I have to add water and oil about every hour.  It certainly is not something you would want to leave burning while you went outside.

I am looking forward to all the different scent combinations I can make.  Both cassia and peppermint were festive for this time of the year.  They made my house smell like Christmas.  Since it is still cold and flu season, I will continue to use the eucalyptus oil.  Every house needs a breath of fresh air.  This inexpensive essential oil warmer does the job.  It goes to show that inexpensive and simple alternatives can still get the job done.

If you want to recommend a scent combination, please do.  Just leave a comment or contact me via email at laradehaven@texashomesteader.com.

Early Sunday morning I woke up with the worst sore throat I have had since I was a little girl.  It hurt so bad that I decided to get up at this insane hour of the night to gargle water.  Before bed I gargled with warm sea salt water, but now I wanted to try something else.  I had read about Grapefruit Seed Extract (GSE) in the Beeyoutiful magazine.  They sell it, but call it Grapefruit Seed Crush.  I had found some in a health food store.  It is called The Original GSE Liquid Concentrate by NutriBiotic.

I warmed up some water and added three drops.  You can hardly taste it in the water.  I gargled for a few times and then I used the rest of the mixture as a nasal rinse.  Like the sea salt, you can feel the tingle of the grapefruit seed extract working.  Hoping for the best, I went back to bed breathing a little easier as I tried to get a few more hours of sleep.

When I woke up, the ache in my throat was gone.  My tonsils were not bothering me anymore.  I was only aware of their presence.  I gargled one more time and performed the nasal rinse before going to church.  I have not needed to again.

In addition to the grapefruit seed extract and the supplements mentioned above, I put my family on the following regimen.  Before bed, I heated up water with eucalyptus and peppermint oil.  We took turns in five minute intervals breathing in the steam.  I combined eucalyptus oil with olive oil for rubbing into one’s chest and the soles of one’s feet.

Everyone is on the mend.  We prevented a full-blown illness from striking our family.  Out of stubbornness, my family refuses to try the grapefruit seed extract.  It is their loss because I am the only one fully recovered.

If you don’t have any grapefruit seed extract, then it is a worthwhile investment in keeping your family healthy and away from the doctor’s office.  You will be able to avoid being put on antibiotics.  It zapped my sore throat and stuffy nose.  It also has the ability to zap internal parasites.  It is certainly something that I will continue reading about and researching.  Grapefruit Seed Extract is my new  friend.

Please remember that I am not a doctor or giving medical advice.  I am just sharing my experience with grapefruit seed extract.  The one thing that I do know is that you must dilute the GSE before use.  Do NOT use it full strength.