Green Living Zone

What Essential Oils Are Good for Coughing and How to Use Them?

If you’re asking what essential oils are good for coughing and how to use them, then this guide is the one for you as we’re going to discuss everything that you need to know about them. Here, we’ll not only introduce you to some of the most ideal essential oils to use, but we’ll also teach you some safety precautions that you can follow before using them. 

What are Essential Oils?

To start, let’s discuss first what these essential oils are. To make it simpler for you, essential oils are natural products that are extracted from plants, though not all plants produce essential oils. These oils can also be taken from roots, leaves, stems, fruits, or flowers.

These essential oils are then used in a lot of ways, and one of the most popular methods of using these oils is through aromatherapy. Today, you can expect to see oils being used in spas and any wellness centers. You can also see oils being used in a lot of products as a part of the ingredient list, making essential oils very flexible. 

Why Use Essential Oils?

There are lots of reasons why you should start using essential oils today. One of the most popular reasons why they’re frequently used is because of their health and wellness benefits. Here’s a list of them:

Improves Mood

As these oils are often paired in massages and are used in aromatherapy sessions, there’s only one thing that you can say about these oils – they definitely improve one’s mood. Essential oils have a powerful scent. Thus, they can stimulate the brain directly, triggering that emotional response, so you’re feeling much more optimistic and energized.

Aids Relaxation

There have been a lot of studies indicating that essential oils are very effective in treating several psychological-related issues such as depression, anxiety, and stress. Because of this, people who are exposed to essential oils become much more relaxed, thus improving their overall disposition.

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Relieves Inflammation

Essential oils are also known to relieve inflammation though there are only certain types of essential oils for this. Because of some oils’ anti-inflammatory properties, when applied topically, you can already see a significant reduction in the inflamed area.

Reduces Pain

These oils are also great in reducing pain when absorbed in the skin after being applied topically. This is also a safe method, and it works quickly as well, so one can surely use this to relieve common pains in all parts of the body aside from the sensitive areas.

Boost Immune System

Because most essential oils have a lot of antibacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-inflammatory properties, when applied constantly, one’s immune system becomes stronger. If you have essential oils at home, you’ll definitely notice that you’re less likely to get illnesses.

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Heals Skin Irritations

As mentioned above, as these oils have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, you can use them as a much more natural treatment for skin irritations. What’s more, is that they can target a wide range of skin irritations, so you can surely use certain oils without worrying if they’ll worsen your condition or not.

Ideal Essential Oils to Use for Coughing

Because there are a lot of active components found in essential oils, they’re great for wellness and healing in general. Also, as essential oils are made out of alcohols, terpenes, and ketones, these make them antiseptic, antispasmodic, and antimicrobial, making them excellent in treating respiratory ailments.

If you’re wondering what essential oils are ideal for cough, below are some of the most effective ones:

Eucalyptus Essential Oil

The most popular essential oil that’s used for cough is eucalyptus as it’s high in cineole, making it a potent anti-inflammatory oil that combats respiratory illnesses well. In fact, according to research, it can even lessen steroid dependency in asthmatics, clearing their airways effectively. Lastly, eucalyptus has monoterpenes in them, making them effective antibiotics that you can use to fight off respiratory problems like COPD and bronchitis.

What Essential Oils Are Good for Coughing and How to Use Them?

Lavender Essential Oil

Lavender oil is not just your soothing essential oil that’s often used to aid sleep and boost relaxation. Lavender is also effective when it comes to loosening phlegm and even relieving congestion. Using it is also great for treating flu, colds, coughs, sinus and chest congestion, laryngitis, and asthma.

Lemon Essential Oil

Lastly, lemon essential oil is great when it comes to relieving cough as it contains d-Limonene, an anti-inflammatory agent, and vitamin C, thus aiding your immune system and combatting infection right away. 

What Essential Oils Are Good for Coughing and How to Use Them?

Safety Precautions When Using Essential Oils

If you’re planning to use essential oils for cough soon, it’s important that you know how to use them properly. If you don’t know how below are some safety precautions that you can do:

Don’t ingest the oils – As most essential oils are concentrated, you’re not supposed to ingest them as you might damage your digestive tract. You’re to apply them topically instead.

Dilute your oils – Use carrier oils before you apply them topically. Again, they’re very strong, so you need to dilute the oils first.

Check for sensitivities – There are certain people (pregnant women, infants, and even people with epilepsy and high blood pressure) who are not recommended to use oils as they might have a negative effect on the body. Skin allergies and sensitives could also be observed, so always have a skin test first by applying a small amount of oil on the skin.

What Essential Oils Are Good for Coughing and How to Use Them?

Don’t have any sun exposure after applying the oils – Some oils like Bergamot, Angelica Root, or Orange and Lemon oils should not be used when you don’t have at least 6 hours of waiting time before sun exposure. These oils accelerate skin pigmentation, so be very mindful. 

Conclusion

If you want to use essential oils to treat cough, the ones mentioned above are really effective. Just make sure that you follow the safety precautions so that you won’t have problems when applying them.

Did you enjoy reading this content? If you have questions regarding essential oils, do comment below. 

What Essential Oils are good for Earaches and How to Use Them 

There are natural remedies to treat ear infections and soothe pains around the ear. In this article, we will share with you some of the best essential oils that are safe for your ear. It doesn’t matter whether you are an adult or a child, ear infections can be really painful and throbbing. 

The infection can occur in any part of the ear. It could be in the inner ear, middle ear, or outer part of the ear. But the most common infections usually occur in the middle part of the ear. Before I share with you 7 of the best essential oils you can use in relieving ear infections, let us, first of all, clarify what constitutes an ear infection. 

What is an Ear Infection? 

Most infections to the ear are caused by virus or bacteria. Acute otitis media is an infection that occurs in the middle part of the ear. This is the space between the outer part of the ear and the eardrum that is mostly filled by air. An outer ear infection such as swimmer’s ear usually occurs due to the presence of water in the ear. This usually occurs after bathing or swimming. It could also be as a result of an insect bite or an infection. 

The inner part of the ear is the part with the most troubling cases of infections. One such infection is labyrinthitis which makes it difficult for patients to hear with the affected ear. 

Common Symptoms of Ear Infection

It is only right that we mention some of the common symptoms of an ear infection. They include 

Middle ear

  • The most common symptom is fluid in the ear
  • Dizziness 
  • Fever 
  • Headaches
  • Difficulty hearing 
  • Fluid pouring out of the ear

Inner ear

  • Vomiting 
  • Dizziness
  • Headaches
  • Nausea
  • Swollen ear 

What Essential Oils are Good for Earaches and How to Use Them

Outer ear

  • Swollen outer ear
  • Tender 
  • Painful 
  • Redness 

Now that we have mentioned the common ear infections and some of the symptoms, we can now discuss some of the home-remedy you can use in treating ear infections. 

What Essential Oils are good for Earaches and How to Use Them?

  • Tea Tree Oil

The first on our list of essential oils to use in treating ear infection is tea tree oil. It contains terpinen-4-ol which is an antibacterial substance that has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. It is believed that tea tree oil may be effective in treating bacterial infections that occur around the skin. It has proven to be effective in acne treatment which is why doctors often recommend it to relieve ear-related infections. 

To use tea tree oil in treating ear infections, you need to get the essential oil from a trusted source to ensure its effectiveness. Apply a few drops on the affected part of the ear 2 to 3 times daily. When using it to treat inner ear infections, it is best to observe safety precautions and ensure you only use a small drop that doesn’t flood your ears. 

What Essential Oils are Good for Earaches and How to Use Them

  • Basil Oil

Basil oil is equally effective in relieving ear infections. In a 2005 study conducted on rats, basil oil was found to be highly useful in treating ear infections in rats. These findings have made researchers believe that the oil of basil may also be useful in relieving ear infections in humans. 

You can use basil oil for treating ear infections by applying a small drop of the oil in the affected part of the ear. You also want to be careful not to apply too much of the oil on the ear. A little drop is all that is required. 

  • Oregano Oil 

Oregano oil is another essential oil that is safe to use in treating ear infections. It contains a primary component known as carvacrol which has antiviral properties. The ability of the oil to be effective in treating antiviral infections led researchers to believe that the oil is effective in treating ear infections. 

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Other Oils you can Try Out

Apart from the essential oils mentioned above, you can also try the following essential oil in treating ear infections

  • Peppermint Oil
  • Garlic Oil 
  • Mustard Oil 
  • Thyme Oil 

Best Way to Use Essential Oils for Earaches

If you are wondering how best to use essential oil in treating an earache, you can try out this simple method below 

  • Use carrier oil such as olive oil, jojoba oil, coconut oil, to dilute any of the essential oil you plan on using. It is best you add a teaspoon of your choice carrier oil in 2 drops of your essential oil. 
  • After mixing your carrier oil and essential oil, you should use an oil mixture to clean the outer part of your ear. This helps to get rid of any infectious material or bacteria in the ear. 
  • For outer ear infection, you could use tea tree oil to reduce swellings by placing a few drops of it on the affected part of the ear. 
  • To treat inner ear infections, soak your essential oil in a cotton ball and keep it on the ear and allow the oil to gradually seep inside the ear. 
  • You can also heat up a few drops of olive oil and basil oil. This allows the oil to reach the deeper parts of the ear and break up any ear wax that might be on the way. 

Safety Precautions to Follow 

When applying essential oils in your ear, it is important that you observe the following safety precautions: 

  • Use carrier oils to dilute your essential oil 
  • Use a teaspoon of carrier oil for 2 drops of essential oil
  • When heating up your essential oil, it is advisable not to allow it to get too hot
  • Before using any essential oil, ensure you don’t have any allergic reactions or sensitivity to the plant
  • Purchase your essential and carrier oils from trusted sellers 
  • Never ingest essential oils as they can be toxic 

What Essential Oils are Good for Earaches and How to Use Them

You can try out any of the essential oils listed above in treating ear infections. But we always advise you to consult with a medical practitioner before trying out alternative medicine or home remedies. 

Bite Toothpaste Bit Review

If you are wondering what the hell a Bite Toothpaste Bit is, well you aren’t alone. A lot of our readers have been asking us the same question. This is why we have taken the liberty to write this article about toothpaste bit and review one of the popular brands known as Bite Toothpaste Bit. We encourage you to read the article to the end so as you can learn more about the term. 

What is a Toothpaste Bit?

A toothpaste bit is a pill you can chew to clean your mouth and protect it for decay. Dental hygiene is something everyone should take seriously, and frankly, we welcome any new technology that enhances the way we brush our teeth.

Bite Toothpaste Bit Review  

The toothpaste bit works similarly like your tube paste. It is just that it comes in a pill form that becomes foamy the moment you bite on it. This is a welcome development for those who easily get tired from moving their toothbrush up and down their teeth. 

What is Bite Toothpaste Bit?

Bite Toothpaste Bit is a chewable pill that leaves you with white teeth and fresh breath. It is completely organic as it is made from all-natural ingredients. The manufacturers claim that over a billion toothpaste tubes get disposed of in landfills at the end of each year. This is part of the reason why they decided to develop a solution that is both effective at dental care and environmental friendly. The pills are sold in a refillable glass bottle which means it doesn’t end up in the waste bin. 

It can be a difficult task to dispose of your empty toothpaste tubes. They are usually made from plastic which doesn’t decompose when it ends up in the dumpsites. They remain the same at these landfills for years and aren’t easily recycled. The founder of Bite Toothpaste Bit Lindsay McCormick formulated the recipe with the hopes of reducing the amounts of empty toothpaste tubes that end up in dumpsites. 

The product is available for purchase online at the company’s website and major online retailers. You can also find the product in many US stores and in some parts of the world. 

What are the Ingredients in Bite Toothpaste Bit?

Bites toothpaste bit is made with organic plant-based ingredients that are clinically tested and proven to protect, clean, and strengthen the teeth, and gum. The product is completely free from chemicals that are mostly present in regular toothpaste such as fluoride, SLS and the rest. The main ingredients in the Bite toothpaste bit are:

  • Xylitol 

Xylitol is a natural sweetener that helps to repel the bacteria that cause cavities. It is a sugar alcohol that is used in replacing sugar. It occurs naturally in plants and can be extracted from fruits, vegetables, and birch wood. You can also find xylitol in candies, mints, and chewing gums where it is used in place of sugar. 

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  • Activated Charcoal

Activated charcoal is a natural stain remover that helps to detoxify the mouth. It is a form of carbon with a porous surface that easily binds to stains that get washed off when the mouth is cleaned. It is effective in removing viruses, bacteria, tartar, and stains. 

  • Sodium Bicarbonate 

Sodium bicarbonate also referred to as baking soda is an active ingredient in many organic toothpastes as is also found in Bite toothpaste bit. It has a lot of benefits from relieving heartburns, acid indigestion, and sour stomach. It is included in the Bites ingredient where it functions as an abrasive that helps to clean the teeth and neutralizes the acids in the mouth. 

  • Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate

It is included in Bite toothpaste bit as a foaming agent that helps to clean your teeth. It contains coconut fatty acid just in case you have any allergies to coconut products. 

  • Erythritol

It is another sugar alcohol food additive that acts as a sweetener in the Bite toothpaste bit. It is low in calories that don’t alter your blood sugar level. It also helps to prevent bacteria from the mouth. Although it is labeled as a sugar alcohol, it is made from fermented natural sugars that you can find in vegetables and fruits such as sweet potatoes, asparagus, mushrooms, carrots, and cherries. 

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  • Guar Gum

Guar gum is a carbohydrate that is obtained from guar beans. It is a natural stabilizer and thickening agent that is added to Bites toothpaste to make the pill stick together when it is chewed. It also helps it to maintain a paste form which makes it easy for it to bind to your toothbrush for cleaning. 

Benefits of Bite Toothpaste Bit

  • A Naturally Whitening Toothpaste 

Bit toothpaste is a natural tooth whitening toothpaste that leaves you with a clean mouth and fresh breath. This is something you will need from any dental product which is one of the reasons why we recommend it. 

  • Vegan/Cruelty-Free

If you have been searching for a vegan-friendly dental care product, the Bite toothpaste bit is a tested product that doesn’t contain any animal product. Also, no tests were carried out on animals in the course of manufacturing the product. 

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  • All Natural Ingredients 

It is made completely from all naturally occurring plant ingredients that we have mentioned above. You should check carefully that you don’t have any allergies to any of the ingredients before purchasing it. 

  • Foams Perfectly 

Bite toothpaste foams perfectly which helps your toothbrush to glide on your teeth without causing injury to your teeth and gum. A single pill is all you need for a thorough clean. 

  • Sweet Minty Taste 

Another reason why we love the Bite toothpaste bit is because of its sweet minty taste. With a custom made mint flavoring from all organic ingredients that leave your mouth tasting sweet and smelling fresh. 

Bite Toothpaste Bit Review

How to Use

The Bite toothpaste is easy to use. All you need to do is take a single pill from the bottle and chew on it. Once it begins to foam, you can now wet your brush in water and wash away. A single pill is enough to give you a nice fresh clean. 

Have you used the Bite toothpaste bit before? We will like to hear about your experience in the comment section. 

Is Coconut Oil Bad for Septic Systems? What Experts Are Saying 

Is coconut oil bad for septic systems? There has been a lot of question into the effect of coconut oil on the plumbing system. This is the main reason why we have taken our time to do our research and provide you with a reliable conclusion. 

The septic system operates on a simple method; the plumbing pipes transport the waste from the house to the septic tank. You should ensure proper maintenance of your septic system to avoid a septic backup. One step you need to take to maintain your septic system is to avoid disposing of items that can clog up your drain. These items include facial tissues, plastic, food particles, and any other thing that cannot easily be drained with water. 

Another way you can maintain your septic tank is to make use of septic tank cleaning liquid, powder, or tablet regularly. These products contain materials that help to unclog your septic systems. Having said all this, it is important you know that coconut oil is one of the main things that are clogging up your septic system. 

Coconut Oil Uses

Coconut is one of the main ingredients in many of the DIY beauty and health products. This is because it has a lot of applications in beauty and health care. It is used in hair treatment and as a base in moisturizers and other facial products. When coconut oil is used at home for other purposes aside from cooking, chances are that the leftover oil will end up in your septic tank. The problem with having coconut oil in your plumbing system is that it hardens easily and makes drainage of your septic almost impossible. 

When you notice that there is a blockage of your septic tank, you can easily run hot water through the drainage and if there is any coconut oil residue down there, the heat from the water will melt it and free up the pipes. But the safest practice is to avoid flushing coconut oil down the drain and avoid using coconut oil in your bathroom. 

How to Reduce Coconut Oil in Your Drains

Is Coconut Oil Bad for Septic System

You can reduce the coconut oil that ends up in your drains by simply following some procedures such as 

  • After using coconut oil in your shower or bath, use hot water and flush down the drain. Pour the water down slowly to help melt away any coconut oil that might have hardened below the pipes. 
  • If you use coconut oil as bath scrub, you should go for fractionated coconut oil as they have been engineered not to harden. This type of coconut oil would not clog up in your septic system. 
  • Only use a small amount of coconut oil when you apply it to your hair. Depending on your hair texture, a small amount of coconut oil is enough to straighten your hair. Too much coconut oil in your hair may stiffen your hair. The goal is to use exactly what you need so as not to get any residue in the sink. 

How to Unclog Your Drains – A simple Home Remedy

If you notice that your drains are clogged and do not drain easily, then it could be that the coconut oil residue from your last hair wash might be the culprit. Ideally, you will need to run a bucket of water down the drain to free up the debris in the pipes. If this doesn’t give you the result you need, then you can simply try the simple home remedy below. 

  • Take a few cups of boiling water and gently pour it down the drain. 
  • Take a fist full of baking soda and gently sprinkle it down the drain. The function of the baking soda is to act as a cleaning agent to help remove debris in the plumbing system. You can pour more boiling water to help get the baking soda to reach down the pipes. 
  • You can also take a few cups of white vinegar and pour it down the drain. It also acts as a cleaning agent that works together with the boiling water to remove dirt stuck in your septic system.  
  • You will need to pour more cleaning agents (baking soda/white vinegar) to your drain and allow it to sink for 5 to 10minutes. 
  • You will then need to pour more boiling water to your drain to flush everything out. 

Other Things Clogging Up Your Drain 

Apart from coconut oil, there are other things clogging up your drain that you need to be aware of. These things are not fit to be flushed down the drain and need to be dumped in a trash can to dispose of them properly. Some of the things we throw down the drain that clog up out septic system include: 

  • Flushable Wipes 

There are a lot of flushable wet wipes products circulating around the markets. While they are great for use as wipes, they are not made to be flushed down the septic system. The problem is that they do not easily decompose and are difficult to remove even with rigorous cleaning. 

  • Other Oils

Coconut oil isn’t the only oil you need to be wary about when you think of your septic tank. Other oils you use in your hair care and skin can have the ability to clog your septic system. Oils such as olive oil, rose oil, lavender oil, and other essential oil can harden up inside your pipes and become a problem. 

The best preventive measure you can take to prevent coconut oil from clogging up your septic system is to avoid using the oil in your bathroom. You can make use of an outdoor washing bowl or simply don’t use too much coconut oil on your hair. Also, you should clean your septic system often with hot water and cleaning agents; to get rid of debris that is accumulated down there. 


How to tell if Essential Oils are Pure 

How can you tell if your essential oils are pure? We will be letting you in on some secret tips to help you detect the purity of your lavender, olive, citronella and other household essential oils. 

For you to get the best out of your essential oil, you will need it to be in the best possible conditions. This includes been free from contaminants that can alter the efficacy of the oil. You will need to ensure that you employ the best handling methods when it comes to essential oils. This includes storing it properly in a cool dry place; so it can stay fresh for whenever you want to use it. 

It can be difficult to ascertain the quality of your essential. This is because you can’t be certain of the methods used by the farmers in growing the seeds, harvesting the plants, and the manufacturing procedures used in extracting the oils. 

The first point of contamination of essential oil begins from the planting stage. This takes into consideration the nature of soil, and whether or not pesticides and other chemicals came in contact with the plant. 

How to Tell if Essential Oils are Pure

The processing method is another thing you need to worry about when it comes to the issue of essential oils purity. This is because it is very possible for your essential oils to be diluted with other substances hence affecting its purity. 

The manner in which your essential oil is packaged and stored can also affect its quality. Ideally, essential oils are not supposed to be exposed to heat, oxygen, or light after they have been processed. This is why you mostly see the warning on the labels about storing the product in a cool dry place. Most essential oils are prone to oxidation when they are not stored properly. 

How do you know if an essential oil is good quality?

While it is true that you can’t be 100% sure of the origin of your essential oil, there are some telltale signs to be on the lookout for to help you ascertain the purity of essential oils. We have provided you with a few tips below to help you tell if your essential oils are pure. 

  • Ask about the purity and the extraction process

Before you make payments on any essential oils, you want to ensure that you ask the supplier or seller about the purity of the product. It is best to always purchase from sellers who are distillers themselves or who have a close relationship with one. This way, there will be able to provide you with enough useful information about the product. They will also be able to give you a form of guarantee about the purity of the product. 

  • Buy Essential oils according to their plant derivatives 

If you truly want to get a product that is truly pure, then you want to ensure that you buy the right product. This means that if you are in the market for Lavender essential oil; make sure you buy a product that is made from only lavender oil. This way, you can ascertain that the product is 100% Lavender oil (or according to the manufacturers). If you find a product that doesn’t have information on the package about the ingredients in the mix; you certainly want to avoid it, and purchase the ones you can easily identify the ingredients. 

  • Check that it says 100% pure 

You shouldn’t buy an essential oil that doesn’t say “100% pure” on the label. While it is possible that this can be employed as a marketing strategy by the manufacturers, it is necessary as it gives you the assurance that the oil is the real deal. If it doesn’t say so on the label, then the product likely contains other substances and isn’t worth your money. 

  • Use the price to check the purity 

You can also use the price of the product to determine whether it is pure or not. This is because most essential oils are quite expensive. If you find a product with an unusually low price, then it could be that it has been diluted and isn’t 100% pure. An essential oil that is made from the purest of practices would likely be priced high. This is due to the nature of the ingredients and procedures used in extracting the oil. You know how they say quality doesn’t come cheap. 

How to Tell if Essential Oils are Pure

  • You could ask for a sample

This is important when you want to buy essential oil in bulk. You should request a sample from the supplier to test whether the product is 100% pure. If the supplier is certain about the purity of the product, they wouldn’t hesitate to leave you with a sample if it would lead to more sales. 

  • Perform a purity test

This is advisable if you want to buy essential oils in bulk for use in making a commercial product like organic skin and hair care products. There are a number of essential oil tests you can carry out and they include 

  • GC/MS testing 

This is referred to as the gold standard essential oil test. Here, you first ask for a sample of the product for testing before purchase; and after the whole order has been supplied, you still perform a test of the bulk batch. This is to eliminate the possibility of the supplier switching the products after the samples have been tested and declared pure. 

When performing GC/MS testing, it is important that you ensure that the procedure was signed and checked by a chemist. This helps to guarantee that the test is genuine and also provides you with a contact name in case you have any issues regarding the test. 

The best way to tell if your essential oil is pure is to perform a purity test. We understand this procedure can expensive, and quite unnecessary if you are just buying a small amount of the product. This is why we have provided you with some other useful tips above. You can ensure that your essential oil stays pure by covering it properly with an airtight lid and storing it in a cool dry place. 

How do you preserve your essential oils? We will like to hear from you in the comment section.