Homemade Automatic Dishwashing Detergent

I do believe I have finally found a recipe that I really like!  The last one was pretty okay, but I think this one is better.  I found this one at My Healthy Green Family.  I'm actually falling in love with this blog!!  She's a lady after my own heart :-D

Here are my "ingredients" ... well, actually the Sweet Orange Essential Oil did not get used since the lemonade drink mix (which acted as my citric acid) was so lemony, there was no need for an additional citrus smell.  I used 10-12 drops of Tea Tree Oil and 3 drops Oregano Essential Oil.  Smells wonderful!  Please click the link above to get the full set of instructions and the why's behind this particular recipe.  To be honest, I've often wondered about Borax but it's used all over the place in all sorts of "natural" and homemade products that I figured it must be safe.  Perhaps it isn't... perhaps it is.  I don't know right now.  I *do* know it is used to kill ants ... but then again, beer is used to kill rodents.... and chocolate can kill dogs.  So who's to say that just because it kills ants that it isn't healthy for humans or the environment??  I do not know the answer to this question - and may never know to be honest.

I'm using my super duper citrus vinegar that I make as the rinse aid - whatdya know ~ this is what My Healthy Green Family uses (and makes in almost the same way as I do)!!  As a reminder here is my citrus vinegar at work as a Laundry Fabric Softener :-) .... it is also used as an all-purpose cleaner, mixed half and half with water, in a spray bottle.  Love, love, love it :-)

Bronchitis

Friday I began to feel something going on in my chest and I had an asthma attack (something I don't do unless I have an upper respiratory infection).  By that evening during Bean6's birthday party I realized I had bronchitis.  I haven't had that in a long time and it is usually pretty nasty when it hits me.  So I went straight inside and started drinking some Nettle Leaf and Licorice Root tea.  Unfortunately, I forgot to take some garlic before bed.


Saturday, the gunk in my chest was already starting to break up and I was coughing pretty bad.  I had three asthma attacks throughout the day.  Luckily they weren't bad and I was able to control them with slow, easy breathing and loosening my clothing.  During one I inhaled Sweet Orange Essential Oil and Melaluca Essential Oil (otherwise known as Tea Tree), then I followed that with a warm bath with Lavender Essential Oil when I realized I couldn't find the Peppermint Essential Oil (which should be the first essential oil used).  I also continued to drink Nettle Leaf and Licorice Root Tea but then changed to Marshmallow Root and Licorice Root Tea that night and all day Sunday.



I also made sure to take chopped garlic in local, unpasteurized honey all day Saturday.  It probably would have done me good to take it Sunday as well but I was a bit nauseous from the gunk and I get more nauseous when I take garlic on a nauseated stomach.  So instead I mixed cinnamon and honey together and ate that while canning apple butter.  Unfortunately, I had to miss church Sunday which was a bummer :(  Thankfully, someone was able to take over the class I was teaching for me so it turned out alright.


Here it is Monday and the bronchitis is almost completely gone!  There's still a bit of a small cough here and there but not the constant hacking that has been my friend for two days and I've had no more asthma attacks since Saturday night - oops, no, one small one Sunday afternoon.  I'll continue to drink Marshmallow Root and Licorice Root Tea for a full day after there is no more coughing.  Then I'll know I'm all better :-D