We’ve used essential oils for years. At first, we just had one or two that were “tried and true.” But over time after hearing more and more friends who loved the benefits of oils, we slowly grew our collection. At this point, we use them daily for many different purposes. Here are our top five ways:
- First sign of illness
- If anyone has an upper respiratory (cough, stuffy nose and runny nose) we begin using a blend we love called Breathe. We put this blend on the chest, or in the case of the younger children on the insides of their wrists (pulse points). This often offers relief within a couple of minutes, making breathing easier and helping clear excess mucus.
- For tummy maladies we use Chamomile, Frankincense or Lavender (blended in coconut oil) directly on the tummy.
- Aches/Pains
- Duncan and I are getting old! Sometimes it’s the knees. Sometimes it’s the feet. Sometimes it’s the back and shoulders. We use a blend we purchased from an Amish doctor as our first line of defense. It that does not do it, we also try Deep Blue. It’s a rub. It has a cooling effect and a minty smell.
- For runners, you can try using a little Cyprus on your feet before a run for an energy boost and to help with achyness as a preventative.
- TMJ- I will use or Lavender in the jaw area and area behind my ears at bedtime before going to sleep to help me relax and prevent clenching. I don’t do this all the time, it’s usually a sign I need to reduce stress and have less caffeine. But once a cycle starts, I usually do Valor for a few days until it’s calmed down again
- Cleaning
- If you make homemade laundry soap, you can add some essential oils to give it a lovely scent, and in the case of lemons or orange, you can help kill germs as well.
- For general purpose cleaning, you can use vinegar and water to clean many things, but adding essential oils makes it smell nice as well.
- Energy
- Getting enough quality rest and plenty of water are the best way to increase your energy. Light exercise and a good healthy diet can help as well. When you are struggling with your energy level, certain oils can give you a little boost. Lemon, Orange, Grapefruit, Lime, Mint are all energizing choices. You can apply these (one at a time or in combinations) to your skin, you can use them in a diffuser (aromatherapy), and some people add the food grade quality oils into their water and drink Drinking it is a controversial methodology, so do research before you digest any oils. If you do try it, a drop or two is sufficient for a large amount of water and I would not suggest using it often.
- Mood Setting
- For parties, we diffuse lemon, orange, and lime. We want a positive, upbeat and energetic environment
- At bedtime use lavender (females) or chamomile (anyone) or a night time blend.
- For anxiety (think pre-test jitters or stage fright) geranium is a favorite, as is lavender.
With our first daughter, when she got sick, we would pack her up and take her to the doctor. Often this resulted in no help at all. If they did not deem they had an infection, they would not prescribe an antibiotic (for which I am thankful) but there was often nothing that could be done. But as a new mom, I had no other tools in my toolbelt. Over years of parenting, we now use a much more holistic approach and look at everything: rest, fluid, nutrition, chiropractic care, essential oils, tea, herbal tinctures, and yes, at times, we still take a child to the doctor. But the net result of all this is that we spend much less time sick, much less time and money on healthcare, an no longer feel helpless or at the mercy of a prescription pad.
If you are interested in learning more about our favorite company, doTerra, I’d be honored if you would check out my doterra site.
