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What is Facial Gua Sha?Gua sha is a traditional healing technique of East Asian medicine. Sometimes called ‘coining, spooning or scraping.  For our purposes today, we will be talking about a gentler version of gua sha that uses lighter, gentler strokes, which have multiple anti-aging benefits as well as health benefits. Body gua sha deserves its own blog post, so we will cover that at a later date.DIY gua sha facials may be slightly more involved than using a cold jade roller but …

Although clary sage essential oil has been long considered a leading "woman's oil", clary sage has benefits that go well beyond those for women. We love clary sage for the anti-inflammatory properties, and clary sage has also been proven to produce feelings of lucidity, and tranquility, and is an excellent night time oil, among other things.Printable Recipe Cards Are BelowPrimary Benefits of Clary Sage Essential OilRelieves Hormonal ImbalanceClary sage essential oil has earned its …

Orange Essential Oil, most commonly referred to as Sweet Orange Essential Oil, is derived from the fruits of the Citrus sinensis botanical, and should not be confused with Bitter Orange Essential Oil which is derived from the fruits of the Citrus aurantium botanical.The high content of antioxidants and organic compounds in Orange Essential Oil makes it highly versatile. Orange essential oil has a variety of applications that can improve overall health, such as reducing muscle spasms, improv …

Basil (ocimum basilicum) is often referred to as "Sweet Basil".  The compounds in steamed distilled Basil essential oil are much greater than what is found in dried or even fresh leaves.  These compounds make Basil an oil worth keeping on hand for its medicinal benefits, and the warm, spicy, and herbal aroma make it one to beautifully enhance the aroma of many essential oil recipes.  Our printable essential oil recipes are below!Primary Benefits:Soothes Sore Muscles and …

Misty Monthly is The Herbal Toad's feature where we bring you essential oil diffuser recipes.  This month we are doing it even better by giving you our diffuser recipes on a printable index card. Just print it out on an index card, or card stock and trim to size and start your own essential oil diffuser recipe card box.Click on the image below, save, and print out. Prints to 3x5 index card size …

Quitting smoking is hard. The nicotine in cigarettes stimulates the central nervous system, cardiovascular system, and digestive system. When the nicotine leaves the system, the craving start, making it challenging to keep away, but combing the right herbs with your genuine desire to quit smoking can lead to success.Where to StartDesireDraw a line down the center of a piece of paper. On one side, make a list of all the reasons you enjoy smoking. On the other side, make a list of all th …

Kava is one of my very favorite of herbs for a number of things including sleep, pain, anxiety, and even liquid courage (no kidding). Kava comes from the Pacific Islands, where people have used it for centuries.  Kava is known to be a potent anxiety reliever, and a non-alcoholic way to wind down at the end of the day, especially if you’re working late or you have trouble falling asleep.  The secret lies in kavalactones, the psychoactive parts of the kava plant. The kavalactones …

What is hay fever?Hay fever is a term that refers to cold-like symptoms that result from airborne allergies such as pollen.  Although hay fever is not a virus, the symptoms are similar.  For many people these airborne particles can cause sneezing, watery eyes, cough, congestion, or rash. A person with hay fever may also feel fatigued, suffer from headaches, develop eye puffiness, and dark circles (known as allergic shiners) may appear. For many people symptoms are season …

I get asked quite often as to what books are good resources for different levels of essential oil know-how. I only recommend books that are authored by those who are practicing aromatherapists or are deeply rooted in the science of aromatherapy. I have come to see the growing number of publishers and authors who try to profit off from the popularity of essential oils, and publish books that are attractive, but full of inaccurate and even dangerous information. It is because of this that I have d …

One of the most joyous moments of spring is the celebration of Easter!  This month we bring to you diffuser recipes that are built around that special holiday. We hope you make these recipes a part of your family celebration. Happy Easter!Easter Lilies2 drops Ylang Ylang2 drops Geranium1 drop Lavender1 drop Rose (use Palmarosa if you are on a budget)Risen2 drops Lemon2 drops Spearmint2 drops Clary Sage2 drops Basil …