Thoughts from Vacation by Kristen Harte

Last week I had the opportunity to go on vacation to Jamaica. As all of you New Englanders know, it is a “gift” to spend some time in a warmer climate in February. I had a great relaxing time and as I was on the airplane flying home I had two thoughts or reflections about my experience.

The first thought centered around the Zika virus and protection from mosquitoes. Jamaica has had one case of the virus and they are concerned with protecting themselves from mosquitoes and the spread of the virus. This past summer we had an essential oils class at Well Life where we taught people how to make their own mosquito repellent out of essential oils. In Jamaica, they too are worried about the toxic chemicals in commercial mosquito repellents. I discovered in a local newspaper a recipe for mosquito repellent using essential oils, however it is slightly different from our recipe so I thought I would share both with you.

Jamaican recipe

30 drops lemongrass or clove oil
25 drops of citronella oil
15 drops lavender oil
1 ounce witch hazel or vodka
2 ounces distilled water
1 tsp. organic coconut oil
4 ounce spray bottle

Our recipe

20 drops Purification oil ( this is a Young Living blend which includes citronella, lemongrass, rosemary, melaleuca, lavindin and myrtle.)
12 drops of peppermint oil
4 ounces distilled water
4 ounce spray bottle

The newspaper article stated that according to the Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Disease 2013, the estimated repellent period when citronella and lemongrass oils are combined is 105-112 minutes. You would need to reapply every 1 1/2 -2 hrs. Finally they stated as I always say, all essential oils are not created equal. They should be therapeutic grade and have independent testing to ensure quality, which is why I favor Young Living oils. If you are interested in learning more about essential oils, we are having a class on Thursday February 25th at 6:30 focusing on essential oils and pain relief. We will be making a roll-on for muscle relief and the cost is $20.  You can sign up online or call the office to enroll.

This brings me to my second thought. In this fast paced world where we are all trying to do more with less time, I was reminded to “practice what I preach”. Life is about balance. We deserve some fun and joy in our lives each day to balance out the work and stress. Opening our new integrative medical practice a year and a half ago has been both exciting and exhausting at times. I was reminded on vacation the importance of sitting still sometimes and just enjoying the simple things in life. As we all know life can be short, so PLAY and LAUGH and then be still and silent and appreciate how blessed you truly are. I feel blessed for many reasons including the privilege to work at such a special place that helps others to find the balance they need to enjoy life.