Can you mix EOs and prescription drugs?

“A common question that I receive is whether or not essential oils will interfere, or have adverse reactions with, a prescription drug. In other words, if you are taking pharmaceuticals on the advice of a doctor, is it safe to simultaneously apply essential oils or not?  

“I researched essential oil / drug interactions thoroughly when I was writing my Chemistry Book and was unable to find a single citation or publication that indicated any adverse reactions between drugs and essential oils anywhere. If there is a problem between oils and pharmaceuticals, it must not be a serious one since no medical reference I checked referred to the topic. No publication I have ever read by a physician who uses both oils and prescriptions drugs mentioned any such problems. I have heard verbal statements by uninformed doctors that there may be some adverse reactions between drugs and oils, but they cite no studies or evidence for their opinions.

“From my research I have not come across any problems between prescriptions and essential oils anywhere in print. This is not to say that such adverse interactions don’t exist, it is just that after a thorough search I could not find any reports of such reactions.”

“A review of the medical literature pertinent to this topic is found in Chapter Eleven of my Chemistry Book. Twenty-nine references were reviewed including works by medical doctors, registered nurses, and others.”  

~ David Stewart, PhD, DNM

Author: The Chemistry of Essential Oils Made Simple and 12 other books

12 Reasons To Keep Coconut Oil In Your Bathroom

Hair Treatment - Coconut oil soaks into the scalp moisturizing dry skin and relieves symptoms of dandruff. It also helps to control oil secretion from the scalp, another leading cause of dandruff. Pre Shampoo treatment, rub a little into scalp and hair before shampooing. This is especially useful for those with course or frizzy hair. Hair Conditioner, massage a small amount into hair and leave in for 7-10 minutes before rinsing.

Frizz Tamer. A tiny dad rubbed on your hands and then through hair will help get rid of frizz. Rub a little between your palms and either scrunch into hair (for curly hair) or finger comb in through from scalp to ends (for wavy/straight hair).

Eye Makeup Remover - Wash your face and then use coconut oil to remove the remaining eye makeup.

Eye Cream - on a cotton swab add a dab of coconut oil and apply under the eyes to reduce puffiness, bags and wrinkles.

Shave Your Legs - If you want baby soft legs, rub a small amount of coconut oil on your legs before shaving. Coconut oil will help heal your skin after shaving without clogging pores. Great for razor burn!

Skin moisturizer - Coconut oil is known to help reduce scarring, stretch marks and prevent sagging skin. It’s a natural “miracle” cream! Mixed equal parts sugar and coconut oil for a smoothing body scrub (use in the shower). When used consistently on skin it can help get rid of cellulite. As moisturizer simply scoop some out of the jar and apply all over your body, including neck and face.

Burn and Rash Cream. Coconut oil helps to soothe rashes and burns.  Apply coconut oil to burn site immediately and continue applying until healed. Will reduce the chances of permanent scarring and promotes healing. A small dab of coconut oil will helped reduce and heal diaper rash. Also safe to use with cloth diapers.

Yeast Infections - Coconut oil has great anti-fungal qualities. It can be use both internally as a supplement and externally as a treatment of yeast infections symptoms (check with physician prior to use). 

Cuticle Treatment - The anti-fungal properties of coconut oil are also helpful for keeping toes clear of fungal infections. Massage your fingernails and toenails with it as often as you like to keep ragged cuticles tame and to help nails grow.

Face Wash/ Soap - Mix equal parts coconut oil with either olive oil or castor oil and use in place of soap when washing your face. Wet face, rub oil in and leave on for two minutes, rinse and pat dry. To exfoliate made a body scrub, mix coconut oil and sugar together and rub all over! Rinse off and your skin will be super soft! You can add in essential oils if you would like a specific smell.

Oil Pulling - To help improve gum health, add a drop of oregano essential oil to a tablespoon of coconut oil. Oil pulling is a traditional way to cleanse the mouth of bacteria.

Use as a carrier oil - Add a few drops of your favorite essential oils to a spoonful of coconut oil. Lavender to help you relax and to sleep. Lemon or peppermint for a quick pick me up. 

How do you use coconut oil in the bathroom? Please share with us on the comment box below!

The Many Uses for Coconut Oil

Coconut oil has been a dietary and beauty staple for millennia. I love coconut oil because, is easily digested which make it easier for your liver to digest and convert into energy rather than stored it as fat. Around 50% of the fat in coconut oil is lauric acid, which has been linked to amazing health benefits. It has antibacterial, anti-fungal, anti-viral and anti-microbial properties. This is undoubtedly part of what makes it so medicinally useful, when taken internally and applied externally.

Coconut oil is ideal for all sorts of cooking and baking, as it can withstand higher temperatures without being damaged like many other oils.

Furthermore, coconut oil does not go rancid, which is a awesome when you make homemade items.

General Health Benefits

Support proper thyroid function

Strengthening your immune system

Maintain healthy and youthful looking skin

Promote hearth health

Promote healthy brain function

Can aid in weight loss

Coconut Oil other uses:

Makeup remover

Facial cleanser

Body scrub

Facial scrub

Shaving lotion

Face and body moisturizer

Eye Cream

Cuticle Cream

Deodorant

Bath soak

Soap

Lip Balm

Toothpaste

Oil Pulling

Ear infections

Skin rashes and irritations

Fungal and/or yeast infections

Bug bites and bee stings

Cold sores

Frequents nosebleeds

Hemorrhoids

Vaginal Dryness

Use as metal polish

Moisturize and soften leather goods

Season your pots and pans

Lubricate squeaky hinges and sticky mechanisms

Use as furniture polish

Remove Chewing Gum

Tell me, what's your favorite use for coconut oil?

Snowflake Square

The original pattern for the square was for the snowflake square in 101 crochet squares published by American School of Needlework. I have also seen the same pattern in their Great Granny Crochet Book.
What I did was make 2 squares. One using white for the center and Red Heart Fiesta Navy for the outside. I then made another square using the opposite, Fiesta for the center and white for the outside.

Materials:
G Hook
Color A - White
Color B - Red

Instructions:
With color A, ch 6; join to form a ring.
Rnd 1: (right side): Ch 3 (counts as a dc on this and following rnds), 15 dc in ring; join in 3rd ch of beg ch-3 - 16 dc.
Rnd 2: Ch 5 (counts as a dc and a ch-2 sp), dc in same ch; sk next dc; *in next dc work (dc, ch 2, dc); sk next dc; rep from * 6 times more; join in 3rd ch of beg ch-5 - 8 ch- sps.
Rnd 3: Sl st in next ch-2 sp, ch 3, in same sp work (dc, ch 3, 2 dc); in rem ch-2 sp work (2 dc, ch 3, 2 dc); join in 3rd ch of beg ch-3 - 8 ch-3 sps.
Rnd 4: Sl st in next dc and in next ch-3 sp, ch 3, in same sp work (2 dc, ch 3, 3 dc); in each rem ch-3 sp work (3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc); join in 3rd ch of beg ch-3.
Rnd 5: Sl st in next 2 dc and in next ch-3 sp, ch 3, in same sp work(3 dc, ch 2, 4 dc); in each rem ch-3 sp work (4 dc, ch 2, 4 dc); join in 3rd ch of beg ch-3 - 8 ch-2 sps. Finish off Color A.
Rnd 6: Join Color B in any ch-2 sp; ch 3, in same sp work (dc, ch 3, 2 dc) - beg corner made; working in sps between dc, dc in next 5 sps, hdc in next sp, sc in next sp, sl st in next ch-2 sp; sc in next sp, hdc in next sp, dc in next 5 sps; * in next ch-2 sp work (2 dc, ch 3, 2 dc) - corner made; dc in next 5 sps, hdc in next sp, sc in next sp, sl st in next ch-2 sp; sc in next sp, hdc in next sp, dc in next 5 sps; repeat from * twice more; join in 3rd ch of beg ch-3.
Rnd 7: Ch 3, dc in next dc, in next corner ch-3 sp work corner; * dc in next 6 dc, sc in next 7 sts, dc in next 6 dc, in next corner ch-3 sp work corner; rep from * twice more; dc in next 6 dc, sc in next 7 sts, dc in next 4 dc; join in 3rd ch of beg ch-3. Fasten off and weave in ends.

Now make one more but reversing the order of colors(center will be Color B and outside will be Color A).
Outside border: I then placed them, wrong sides together, and single crocheted through both thicknesses with Color A sc along edge and doing 3 sc in each corner and adding a ch 10 loop in one corner in between the 2^nd and 3^rd sc of that corner.

Bloglovin

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

End of Season

Jonah's little league season went out with bang. Even though they did not advance past the first playoff round, their Manager celebrate the end of the season with a Pizza Party and Award ceremony.
The surprise for us was finding out that Jonah (even though he didn't hit the ball once during the season) has the most on base percentage than any of his teammates.

I also make special theme cupcakes to commemorate the occasion.

Easter Cookies

Thank you Jonah for your help. My sister couldn't make up her mind as to which bake good to bring to here Easter Sunday Brunch. At the last minute she asked me to bake some cookies. I was at a lost because she didn't specified which cookies she wanted. Since most of the time the kids are the ones who enjoy this treats I decided to make them kids friendly.

When I deliver the good my sister was flabbergasted. She was expecting drop cookies (chocolate chip, oatmeal etc.) or bar cookies. She never expect decorated cookies and to top it all of not so many. She asked how long and I told her loooong, but thanks to Jonah the decoration went smoothly. He help a great deal even though we didn't include his creations (forgot to take picture).  

Rigatoni Pasta Pie

What to cook when you have to decorate 3 dozen cookies? Pasta!!! Jonah wanted spaghetti with red sauce (he doesn't like tomatoes), but I want to make something that was simple, fast and won't let my boys feel neglected. Since I need to have this cookies ready for Easter, I went to one of my favorite inspiration sites Pinterest and came across this deliciousness.

It is simple and you can make your everyday "pasta with red sauce" into something eye catching and delicious.

Rigatoni Pasta Pie

Ingredients

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

1/2 pound ground turkey
1/2 pound ground beef

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 pinch crushed red pepper flakes (optional)

1/4 teaspoon of salt
1/8 teaspoon of pepper

1 (28 ounce) crushed tomatoes 

1 pound rigatoni pasta

1 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese

2 cups shredded mozzarella

1. Preheat oven to 400.

2. Put a pot of salted water and follow the directions in the box and cook the rigatoni al dente. 

3. While the pasta cooks, heat the oil in large skillet over medium-high. Add the turkey & beef and cook until it's browned all over, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic, crushed red pepper, salt and pepper. Sauté another minute. Then add the crushed tomatoes and simmer on for 10 minutes or until it thickened.

4. Once the pasta is done drain and rinse with cool water. Toss with parmesan cheese. Lightly oil a 9-inch springform pan. Tightly pack the rigatoni in the pan, standing on their ends. 

5. Pour the meat sauce over the pasta. Push the meat down into the holes as best you can.

6. Put the pan on a baking sheet to catch any spillage, slide into the oven for 15 minutes.

7. Remove, top with mozzarella cheese, and bake another 10 to 15 minutes, or until cheese is browned and bubbly.

8. Let it sit 15 minutes before slicing and serving!

9. Top with fresh basil if desired.

Source: Tablespoon.com