Homemade Natural Peppermint Mouthwash

Over the counter mouth washes can contain coal-tar, colorants, synthetic dyes and other petroleum-based chemicals.


They also commonly contain formaldehyde, parabens, methyl salicylate, sodium lauryl sulphate, synthetic sweeteners and flavorings, triclosan and thymol. Many of these ingredients are known carcinogens.

Don't want to give up mouthwash all together? why not make your own.

1/2 cup purified water

1/2 cup hydrogen peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is a mild antiseptic used on the skin to prevent infection of minor cuts, scrapes, and burns. It may also be used as a mouth rinse to help remove mucus or to relieve minor mouth irritation (e.g., due to canker/cold sores, gingivitis). This product works by releasing oxygen when it is applied to the affected area. The release of oxygen causes foaming, which helps to remove dead skin and clean the area.

2 tsp baking soda


5 drops essential oil of Peppermint

Shake before use. It whitens your teeth. If you gargle with it, the hydrogen peroxide gets bubbly and frothy. These tiny bubbles help disinfect the sinus cavities and can prevent sinus infections.

Common Essential Oil Measurements:

1 drop = 0.05 ml
1 ml = 20 drops
1 teaspoon = 5 ml...
1 teaspoon = 100 drops
1 tablespoon = 15 ml
1 tablespoon = 300 drops
1 ounce = 30 ml
1 ounce = 600 drops

Myrrh Resin

Myrrh resin (from Arabic murr, “bitter”), bitter-tasting, agreeably aromatic, yellow to reddish brown oleoresinous gum obtained from various small, thorny, flowering trees of the genus Commiphora, of the incense-tree family (Burseraceae). The two main varieties of myrrh are herabol and bisabol. Herabol myrrh is obtained from C. myrrha, which grows in Ethiopia, Arabia, and Somalia, while bisabol myrrh is obtained from C. erythraea, which is an Arabian species of similar appearance. Myrrh trees are found on parched rocky hills and grow up to 3 m (9 feet) tall.

Myrrh was highly esteemed by the ancients; in the Middle East and Mediterranean regions, it was an ingredient of costly incenses, perfumes, and cosmetics and was used in medicines for local applications and in embalming. In medieval Europe myrrh was also regarded as rare and precious; but in modern commerce it is of trifling value. Modern uses are chiefly as an ingredient in dentifrices, perfumes, and stimulating tonics and as a protective agent in pharmaceuticals. Myrrh has slight antiseptic, astringent, and carminative properties and has been employed medically as a carminative and in tinctures to relieve sore gums and mouth. An essential oil distilled from myrrh is a constituent of certain heavy perfumes.

Myrrh exudes as a fluid from resin ducts in the tree bark when the bark splits naturally or is cut in tapping. Upon exposure to air, myrrh hardens slowly into globules and irregular lumps called tears, which are then collected from the trees.

Goddess Nokomis

In Algonquin tradition, Nokomis is an earth Goddess, the ‘grandmother’ who supplies us with the earth’s riches and gives nourishment to humankind in times of need. When people are hungry, Nokomis provides food. When there is no food to be found, she offers to let us consume her spirit, thereby continuing the cycle of life.

Nokomis (pronounced “noh-KOO-mis,”) means “grandmother,” This name is used in traditional stories that also feature a character named Nanabozho, and it is believed that Longfellow’s poem “The Song of Hiawatha” is partially inspired by this mythology.

In Ojibwe tradition, Nokomis is an important character in both the poem and the original stories. She is the daughter of the moon and fell down to earth, which is why the meaning of this name is sometimes listed as “daughter of the moon.” Eventually She bears a daughter named Wenonah, who allows herself to be seduced by Mudjekeewis (the spirit of the West Wind) despite her mother’s warnings. Mudjekeewis abandons her, and Wenonah dies while giving birth to Hiawatha. Nokomis raises and educates her grandson.

Nokomis is the Algonquin name for the Goddess called Eithinoha by the Iroquois.  Eithinoha ruled the earth and its produce and she created the food for the people and animals.  She had a daughter, Oniata, the corn maiden.  When Oniata was wandering through the land, looking for dew, an evil spirit abducted her and held her under the earth; but the sun found her and led her back to the surface.  Another legend says that men, attracted by Oniata’s loveliness, fought over her.  When the Iroquois women complained, Oniata explained that she never wished for men’s attentions.  To ensure that the men would return to their families, she left the earth, leaving behind only spring wildflowers.

Among the Penobscot, Nok-a-mi was a primal woman, who appeared at time’s beginning, already bowed with age.  The next woman to appear was Nee-gar-oose, who brought love and color to the universe and who became the mother of all people.  After a time, she became downcast because her children were hungry.  So she asked Her husband to kill her and bury her with a certain ritual.  The man did as he was told.  Seven days later, he retuned to find that, from his wife’s body, the first corn and tobacco had sprung up.” (Patricia Monaghan, “Encyclopedia of Goddess and Heroines”)

Magickal Uses Of Myrrh

Deity Association: Isis, Adonis, Ra, Marian

Gender: Feminine

Element: water

Myrrh is a tree resin that has been used and valued since ancient times for its medicinal, cosmetic, aromatic and spiritual applications.

The aroma is woody, earthy and a bit balsmic. It is a wonderful base note to include in blends intended for spiritual, meditative and Christmas room fragrancing applications.

Emotionally, Myrrh Oil is grounding and helps to mellow out the emotions.

Botanical Name: Commiphora myrrha

Common Method of Extraction: Steam Distilled

Part Typically Used: Resin

Color: Golden Yellow/Brown

Consistency: Medium

Perfumery Note: Base

Strength of Initial Aroma: Medium - Strong

Aromatic Description: Warm, earthy, woody, balsamic.

Myrrh is a Goddess plant of the Moon's sphere, sacred to Isis. Burned as an incense,myrrh purifies the area, lifts the vibrations aids contemplation and meditation and creates peace. However, it is seldom burned alone; usually in conjunction with frankincense or other resins. Myrrh increases the power of any incense to which it is added. Myrrh is also included in healing incenses and sachets, and its smoke is used to consecrate, purify and bless objects such as amulets, talismans, charms, and magical tools. It also aids meditation and contemplation. The essential oil can be added to blends designed to enhance spirituality and meditation. It is also used in healing mixtures.

Myrrh helps one understand the nature of being spiritually aware. It not only assists in expanding your wisdom, but provides a gentle comfort from the Universe as one moves further into the mysteries.

Altar Oil Recipes:

4 drops Frankincense
2 drops Myrrh
1 drop Cedar
Anoint the altar with this oil at regular intervals, calling your deity/ies to watch over it.

Altar #2

4 parts Frankincense
3 parts Myrrh
1 part Galangal
1 part Vervain
1 part Lavender
Anoint the altar with this oil at regular intervals to purify and empower it.

Combining With Other Essential Oils

This resinous scent goes well with the natural fragrances of allspice, ambrette, amyris, angelica root, balsam of peru, bay leaf, beeswax, benzoin, bergamot, black pepper, blood orange, caraway, carrot seed, cassia, cedarwood, chamomile, cistus, citronella, clary sage, clove bud, coconut, copal, coriander, costus, cypress, davana, fir balsam, frankincense, galangal, galbanum, geranium, grapefruit, guaiacwood, gurjun balsam, hay, hyssop, juniper, labdanum, lavender, lemon, mace, mastic, nutmeg, oakmoss, opoponax, orangeflower absolute, orris, palmarosa, patchouli, peppermint, pine, rosemary, rosewood, sandalwood, spearmint, spruce, tobacco, tonka bean, vanilla, vetiver, wormwood, and ylang ylang.

The myth of Myrrha is a sad story of incest and guilt. Being in love with her father, King Cynyras of Cyprus, the poor girl, seduced him while her mother and all married women were away during the festival of Ceres. On the third, night the king, curious who his lover was, shone a light in her face. Shocked and reviled he grabbed for the sword to kill her but she ran away. Pregnant and unhappy to the core of her soul she wandered the earth for the term of her pregnancy. But before she gave birth she prayed to the Gods to turn her into a tree so she would neither offend the living nor the dead. Her wish was granted and she was transformed into a Myrrh tree. Her tears of sorrow and regret still keep flowing.

How to Make Myrrh Oil

Myrrh essential oil is traditionally steam-distilled directly from myrrh resin. The oil has a milder and more pleasant smell than the actual resin, although some formulas are a bit strong. You can try making your own myrrh oil infusion at home.

Materials:

Myrrh resin
Olive or any vegetable carrier oil
Glass vial
Mason jar

Procedure:

Put a cup of the oil of your choice into a small saucepan, along with a quarter ounce (or seven grams) of myrrh resin to the oil. Set the heat to low, and allow the mixture to sit for six hours, occasionally stirring it.

Put the oil in a mason jar and put it in a place with direct sunlight, such as by a window, for up to two weeks.

Filter the oil to remove any residues.

Pour the myrrh oil into a glass vial.

Why the Wren flies close to the Earth

One day when the birds were all together, one of them said, "I have been watching men, and I saw that they had a king. Let us too have a king."

"Why?" asked the others.

"Oh, I do not know, but men have one."

"Which bird shall it be? How shall we choose a king?"

"Let us choose the bird that flies farthest," said one.

"No, the bird that flies most swiftly."

"The most beautiful bird."

"The bird that sings best."

"The strongest bird."

The owl sat a little way off on a great oak-tree. He said nothing, but he looked so wise that all the birds cried, "Let us ask the owl to choose for us."

"The bird that flies highest should be our king," said the owl with a wiser look than before, and the others said, "Yes, we will choose the bird that flies highest."

The wren is very small, but she cried even more eagerly than the others, "Let us choose the bird that flies highest," for she said to herself, "They think the owl is wise, but I am wiser than he, and I know which bird can fly highest."

Then the birds tried their wings. They flew high, high up above the earth, but one by one they had to come back to their homes. It was soon seen which could fly highest, for when all the others had come back, there was the eagle rising higher and higher.

"The eagle is our king," cried the birds on the earth, and the eagle gave a loud cry of happiness. But look! A little bird had been hidden in the feathers on the eagle's back, and when the eagle had gone as high as he could, the wren flew up from his back still higher.

"Now which bird is king?" cried the wren. "The one that flew highest should be king, and I flew highest."

The eagle was angry, but not a word did he say, and the two birds came down to the earth together.

"I am the king," said the wren, "for I flew higher than the eagle."

The other birds did not know which of the two to choose. At last they went to the oak-tree and asked the owl. He looked to the east, the west, the south, and the north, and then he said, "The wren did not fly at all, for she was carried on the eagle's back. The eagle is king, for he not only flew highest, but carried the wren on his back."

"Good, good!" cried the other birds. "The owl is the wisest bird that flies. We will do as he says, and the eagle shall be our king."

The wren crept away. She thought she was wise before, but now she is really wise, for she always flies close to the earth, and never tries to do what she cannot.