Tea Tree Oil: Your New BFF

Most of us who have ever set foot inside a Whole Foods or a Trader Joe's have, at least, heard of tea tree oil.  It's in TJ's all natural shampoo and I can't imagine that Whole Foods doesn't just sell the straight essential oil.

With homeopathic medicines and do-it-yourself remedies gaining popularity ( and for good reason if you ask me), this once unknown wonder oil is quickly becoming a household name.

Because of its incredible anti-fungal, antibacterial and even antiviral properties, tea tree oil has a plethora of uses. It has proven effective on everything from acne, to controlling mold, athlete's foot and head lice. You can even use it as an all purpose cleaner. It's really quite amazing. And the best part is, a little goes a long way: one or two drops on a cotton ball for acne, one drop and one tea spoon of olive oil for earaches, 15 drops in a quart of water for bug repellent...you get the idea!

The reason essential oils are so powerful is due to the way they are processed. Tea tree oil, for example, packs it's hard-core punch thanks to a process called steam distillation, which enables the super powers of the Melaleuca alternifolia plant to come shining through. A tiny bottle of the stuff can last for ages, because essential oils are the "Mighty Mouse" of the natural remedies world.

If you are interested in "getting into" essential oils there are a few things to consider before diving head first into a tiny bottle of nature's finest.

1) Be on the look out for essential oils in DARK BOTTLES. They are your friends. Oils in lightly tinted, or clear bottles tend not to be pure essential oils. The pure stuff does best in a cozy, dark bottle, no light peeking in. This helps maintain the quality of the oil and keeps its potency longer.

2) Avoid purchasing oils that market themselves as "fragrance" or "perfume" oils...not the same as ESSENTIAL OILS. You want the pure natural stuff that doesn't have any chemical additives (which is what you'll get with a "fragrance oil").

3) Do your research: read up on how to use an essential oil ( tea tree or otherwise) and learn if they require  dilution in carrier oils ( such as fractionated coconut oil ) for use. Check out The Directory of Essential Oils by Wanda Seller.

There's a lot more to learn, not only about tea tree oil, but  about essential oils in general and I have only scratched the surface of the top layer of the surface, but I think it's important for each of us to know what healing remedies are available to use courtesy of Mother Nature.

As I learn more I will share it with you, of course, but in the meantime, do your research and I'll continue to do mine.

I am happy to be in a position to be using a few essential oils in our home now for cleaning as well as skincare. I recommend Verefina's line of essential oils available at my website below. If you have any questions, feel free to email me at back2naturekate@gmail.com.

Until next time, my dears!


Get your essential oils here: katew.verefina.net

My Revolution: How the Loss of My Father Changed My Life Forever

In October of 2011 I said goodbye to my father. I remember the night before he died my sister and her infant son arrived from the West Coast. Everyone was at the house to greet them and my father, who had been too weak to speak for at a least month, mutter the words, "YEAH BOY!" when his beloved grandson came into view. That night he was desperately trying to speak to us all; he was down-right chatty. It was devastating though, because he couldn't speak clearly enough or strong enough to be understood.The next morning he was gone.

Cancer is terrible and it took from me the greatest hero I have ever know. I worshiped the ground the Ol' Boy walked on. My father's death rocked me to the core, and as a result I began to take a hard look at how I live, eat, and take care of my body.

In the time since his death I have been on a journey that has proven both challenging, and revolutionary. Revolutionary in the sense that I have had to make hard choices that have radically changed my life and the lives of those closest to me. Namely my husband and daughter. We are working to eat cleaner, spend more time together, spend more time outdoors, slow the pace of our lives down and make changes in everything from the deodorant we wear to what we scrub the toilet with.

I'm discovering that we are surrounded by toxins: chemicals in our food, our clothes, our furniture, our personal care products. No one knows for sure what causes cancer or why certain people struck with it, but the more I learn the more I can't help but think that all these chemicals are not helping in the fight against cancer and other diseases that plague the priceless treasures we call loved ones.

Part of my  personal life revolution included "going natural" when it came to the birth of my daughter. She was born in a birth center, and brought into the world without the assistance of any narcotics or anesthetics. It was beautiful and spiritual and natural. Not just natural, as in "drug free," but natural as in it came naturally. Birthing came naturally. It was after that experience that I was even more certain that I wanted to stay home with her; be with her as much as possible.

As my personal revolution marched on, and I was now a "stay at home mom," I came across a company called Verefina. These fine folks offer ALL NATURAL personal care products that contain NONE of the harsh chemicals and toxins that we find in most all of the items that  line the shelves of our favorite grocery stores. Founded by a young mom on her own revolutionary journey, Verefina was birthed out of Jennifer Lugo's desire to create safe, non-toxic soaps and lotions for her little ones. The company now offers everything from soaps to first aid ointments to essential oils.

Let me tell you something, the stuff is great. I've switched out so many of our "usuals" for Verefina's products I'm pretty sure I've lost track. It feels good. It feels good to make my home a haven, to offer my husband and daughter something pure. It feels good to know that even though I lost my dad, I can help the people who I still have to lead healthier, happier lives.

I'm going all out. I'm going big. As I learn more about natural remedies, essential oils and replacements for toxic household items I will share it with you. In the meantime, I've gotten on board with Verefina as a consultant. If you are interested in making changes for a healthier home, take a look at my webpage below and choose one item to try. You won't regret it.

I have to believe that if my dad was still here he would be proud of the choices I am making for my family. I know that if he could have, he would have made different choices too. I miss him...everyday. It's brutal.  I guess, in a way, I am fueled by the loss, fueled by a desire to make the lives of my family better. To keep them healthy. To give them the best.

To anyone out there who has been thinking about changing your lifestyle and making a move toward more natural and organic living: DO IT. There is no day but today and no time like the present.  

You deserve it.


Visit me at katew.verefina.net or email me at back2naturekate@gmail.com