Chasing the Monsters Away

Whether it's your little love’s active mind (which means the talking and questions will not quit long enough for the eyes to shut) or fear of a bad dream, try making a Sleepy Time Spray to help your little one sleep. You can make your own or work with a qualified aromatherapist to create a blend that is just right for your family.

When fear is behind the bedtime delays, relaxing and soothing your little one is key. Fear causes a rush of adrenaline, blood vessels contract, senses sharpen, muscles contract – ‘fight or flight’ is not conducive with ‘lay still and relax’.

Spraying your child as well as his or her pillows and sheets a few times before bed will help for a number of reasons:

-Essential oils have physiological effects on our bodies. Choosing oils that are soothing, relaxing, sedative and calming to the mind will counterbalance the physical response to the fear.

-Believing in something has a significant amount of power – if our brains believe we can do it, then mountains do in fact move.

-Routines provide stability, which can calm and soothe anxiety and fear.

Creating a Sleep Spray

Our first spray intended for bedtime was a bit of a fail. Instead of their spray, the boys liked Mommy’s spray much better. Mommy's spray was simply Sweet Grass Hydrosol with a handful of Sandalwood drops. A close runner up was the Attitude Adjuster Spray I created to discourage bad moods (especially while the entire family was confined in small spaces together).

My point, is that whatever you create will likely have multiple applications and uses in your household.

Start your blending process with your intentions. For us, it is to:

Relax

Soothe

Trigger happy memories of snuggly sleep routines

Provide closure and the end to the questions or story telling

There are so many oils that will have the above effect, so you have a lot of room for personal preferences. The last time we blended, all I did was suggest some oils, the amounts of drops and the boys did the rest. Ohh, and I was in charge of set up and clean up of course.

Here are some oils to consider*– Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), Myrrh, Neroli, Orange, Roman Chamomile, Sandalwood, Spikenard, Vetiver and Ylang Ylang

Remember Creating a Smoother Bedtime post has good suggestions about routines and other essential oil blends to help with bedtime.

Making your blend

With or without your child’s supervision (aka their input and help), gather your supplies

For our recent blends, we used:

1oz spray bottle (1 per child can be a good idea)

1oz Sweet Grass hydrosol (water is a great substitute)

½ -1 tsp aloe vera  (this is needed if you want to spray on your body - oils should not be applied to the skin without a carrier oil)

2 drops of Lavender

2 drops of Ylang Ylang

1 drop of Neroli/Petigrain

1 drop of Myrrh

Shake it well before every use.

At bedtime, try one spray around the face area (ask your little one to close his/her eyes first), a spray for each pillow and sometimes a spray for the stuffed friends sharing the bed.

FYI – this works for adults too! When brains are whirling and refuse to shut down, spray your face and neck as well as your linens. Climb back into bed, take a deep breaths and let the relaxation take over.

Wishing everyone Sweet dreams!

*It is important to use high quality oils.

I highly recommend only buying oils from a distributor that provides the GC/MS. This is the scientific analysis/report that categorizes the chemical components in the oil – ensuring that it is natural, not synthetic as well as that your oils was not diluted or the crop wasn’t sprayed with any pesticides or fertilizers.

Going natural doesn’t mean smelling stinky

Smell great AND use something that's natural. Yes, it can be done! Eliminating products with questionable ingredients has been a step by step process – I did not go through my house and throw everything out without anything to replace it (ok, maybe with a few things, but not everything). The ingredients in my deodorant/antiperspirant worried me before I decided to change my cleaners so I have been playing with various alternatives for years. This recipe is by far my favorite! But first...

Why care what ingredients go on your skin? The skin is our largest organ designed to protect us from external contaminants, regulate body heat, and manage nutrient levels and water loss. Many chemicals reach our bloodstream (and later our organs) via absorption through our skin. What goes on our skin is as important as what goes in it.

NOTE: While the amount of toxic chemicals found in one product used for a specific period of time, might be deemed acceptable enough to get the product on the shelves, scientists are finding it difficult to test over extended periods of time with vast amounts of chemical and product combinations. Just think of how many products you have used over the last year, never mind the last five. Logic tells me when the human body is bombarded from multiple sources over a long period of time, these toxins will have an impact.

Here’s a quick look at the toxins found in commercial antiperspirants/deodorants:

• Aluminum compounds (chlyorohydrate and zirconium tetrachlorohydrex) – neurotoxin
• Parabens (methyl, ethyl, propyl, benzyl and butyl)– disrupt the body’s hormone balance
• Propylene glycol – damaging to the nervous system, heart and liver
• Phthalates – may disrupt hormone receptors, linked to birth defects and increase the likelihood of cell mutations
• Triclosan – is classified as a pesticide by the FDA and as a possible carcinogen by the EPA

Want to more in-depth research on the ingredients in your deodorant? Take a look at the SkinDeep database.

This is how antiperspirant works. Sweat is a natural function intended to rid the body of toxins – why stop it, especially with something toxic?

When you are super stressed out while sitting in the hot seat, your body will sweat regardless of what deodorant or antiperspirant you use. Plus, sweat itself does not have an odor, the bacteria in the skin cells does. Sometimes diet and not drinking enough water can affect it as well.

So, if we are supposed to sweat and going to sweat anyway in those crazy uncomfortable situations (which let’s be honest is when you are trying to hide it anyway) – what are we really worried about? Smelling stinky, right!?

I am not an expert on any of these ingredients or the research that surrounds them, but I am confident that there are non-toxic ingredients that are gentle on the body and the planet, plus are easy to find and simple to put together.

Natural deodorant ingredients from the pantry or a quick trip to the store. Start with a small batch to ensure that you like it (which you will, so feel free to double this recipe from the start)

• 1oz or 2-3 Tbsp Coconut Oil – virgin, unrefined and organic are best. Coconut oil is naturally anti bacterial, plus it is a moisturizer. Remember it melts into a liquid at temperatures above 75° F.
• ¼ cup Baking Soda – Absorbs odors
• ¼ cup Arrowroot Powder – Helps keep the silky texture. Some people use cornstarch, but I suggest arrowroot.
• Supplies include small mixing bowl, fork (whisk or hand mixer) and an air tight storage container (2oz or ½ cup size should do it)
• Cool variations if you have the supplies on hand or want to get them:
• ⅛ oz Beeswax – Besides being great for your skin, this will keep your deodorant solid in the container even during warmest months.
• 4-6 drops Essential Oils – optional  Not necessary for your odor fighting needs, but a great variation and you have lots of scents to customize it to fit your preferences. Depending on the oils you choose you will add more anti bacterial and deodorizing strength to your deodorant. Of course there is the obvious reason – it smells nice. Suggestions of my favorites are citrus (deodorizing and uplifting), lavender (anti-bacterial and smells so great) and Laurel Leaf and Grapefruit (great for lymphatic system, deodorizing and uplifting). Some other ideas: lemongrass, vetiver and tea tree.

Instructions: In a small mixing bowl, sift together the baking soda and arrowroot then add to the coconut oil and mix until well blended. Transfer it to your airtight container. If it is hot out, you might want to stick it in the fridge to harden it. Variation – If adding beeswax, melt beeswax in a double boiler* stirring often, then add the coconut oil. When beeswax and coconut oil are melted and combined, add the arrowroot, baking soda and essential oil, then pour into your storage container(s).

Additional supplies Use mini deodorant holders instead of a jar from home. Check out SKS options

*Create a double boiler by heating water in a small saucepan until it is at a low boil then place your glass pyrex measuring cup into the boiling water. Leave the handle out of the pot so it is easier to pick it up when you are done.

ENJOY your new deodorant!

RESOURCES

Environmental Working Group Cosmetic Database (http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/)

Aluminum, antiperspirants and breast cancer (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0162013405001613)