To prevent stretch marks or heal existing ones, blend 1 Tablespoon (15 ml) EACH of wheat germ, and rose hip seed oil in 5 tsp (25 ml) jojoba, grapeseed or sweet almond oil. Add no more than 10 drops in total of the following: (use singly or in combination) rose, neroil, frankincense, lavender. Use twice daily for light belly and breast massage. Use circular, clockwise motions on the belly. I also find coconut oil to be very beneficial for all types of skin issues.

Oils rich in Vit E are great (borage, wheat germ oil)

Here are some oils to avoid altogether during pregnancy:
basil, clove, cinnamon leaf, hyssop, juniper, marjotam, myrrh, spanish sage, thyme

best avoided during first 4 months:
fennel, rose, peppermint, rosemary, atlas cedarwood

this from Julia Lawless’ book “The Complete Illustrated Guide to Aromatherapy”

Pam at TLC Naturally

http://www.tlc-naturally.com

Salt glows
Mix together about 1 cup of fine grain salt and about 1 cup of oil (safflower, sweet almond, grapeseed, olive, etc.) and scent with your EOs of choice. You can also add poppy seeds for extra exfoliation to the salt glows or to your sugar scrubs!

Pam at TLC Naturally

http://www.tlc-naturally.com

An easy, inexpensive body scrub idea is a sugar scrub.

Fine white sugar,  grapeseed or safflower oil and some liquid castile soap - I like Bonners.

Approximately 1 cup of sugar, 1/4 each of liquid soap and oil and add scent of your choice. I enjoy Lavender and peppermint and they are even very nice together.

If you want something different, try adding powdered cocoa for a sweet chocolate scrub.

Pam

TLC Naturally

http://www.tlc-naturally.com

Making Your Own Echinacea Or Herbal Tinctures
If you are spending a fortune buying echinacea pills or tincture these days to combat the flu and colds, here’s a way to make your own herbal tincture at a fraction of the price: Take a small GLASS jar with a tight fitting lid (a small jelly canning jar will work nicely). Then take your dried echinacea (or other medical herb or herbs) and place in the glass jar, (if your grow your own fresh herbs, dry them first!) Then just barely cover the herbs in the glass jar with 100 proof Vodka. Print the date you started the preparation and the kind of herb used on a label and tape it to the jar. Leave this to sit in a dark cool cupboard for 2 weeks to 1 month and shake the mixture every day. After it’s sat for several weeks, strain the herbs out and pour the strained Herbal Tincture into a small glass jars with an attached eyedropper..

. (If you have extras, store these in a cool, dark place or the fridge. The dose used with echinacea (to combat flu and colds) is about 5 - 10
drops under the tongue several times a day. For other herbs, ask a professional herbalist. The tincture will keep it’s strength for one year and up to 2 years. You can usually find the small glass eye-dropper bottles on E-Bay or online. Herbal Information Center:
http://www.kcweb.com/herb/coldflu.htm
Echinacea Fact Sheet:

http://nccam.nih.gov/health/echinacea/

Mojito Marinade
http://www.arcamax.com/healthyrecipes/s-316247-887306-print

Mint Pesto rubbed Leg of Lamb
http://www.arcamax.com/healthyrecipes/s-316246-820612-print

Iced Mint Green Tea
http://www.arcamax.com/healthyrecipes/s-316248-793750-print

Fresh Fruit with Lemon Mint Cream
http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/Fruit_lemon_cream.html?utm_source=ArcaMax

http://www.arcamax.com/healthyrecipes/s-316249-197427

“Fresh Mint
By EatingWell, EatingWell.com

If there’s one herb your kitchen garden needs this spring, it’s mint.
Excellent in teas, fruit salads and, of course, mojitos, mint also has
a long history as a medicinal herb.”

more at the link above, including links for preserving fresh herbs and
finding out which herbs are rich in antioxidants.