InTune

A personal experience, from a local doTERRA user, with doTERRA's essential oil blend, InTune:




"My almost 10 year-old son has Asperger's and Inattentive ADD and we are totally not on board with medicating for his ADD (Asperger's has no medications). We have been using InTune for about a month and after the first week started to notice a big difference in his behavior at school. His teacher even wrote us a note telling us that she can tell he is trying hard and she has never seen him be able to focus in class like he is. His behavior got so out of control (running around the halls, up and down stairs, interrupting in class, talking to neighbors during lessons, etc.) that we had a meeting with the school psychologist, principal, vice principal, teacher, etc. They set him up on a points system where he has th...

ree categories and can earn 2 points per category per day (0 is bad, 1 is good, and 2 is excellent). Since starting InTune, he has not had one 0 (not ONE), and usually comes home with a 2,2,1 day. Only once or twice has it been a 2,1,1. We went out last night and when we got home, I didn't put OnGuard and InTune on him. He got up this morning and said, "Mom, I need my oils!"."~Sarah Alexander

 

Other oils and blends that people I know have said worked well with these issues are:

 

~Melissa essential oil and Serenity blend

 

~Balance blend and Vetiver

 

 

 

 

Amazing

A fellow doTERRA user, here where I live, has experienced amazing healing results from using doTERRA's Helichrysum and On Guard blend essential oils on her husband's diabetic ulcer, which formed on his foot. Below is what happened after he began using the oils!

"He has an injury from his time in the airforce that caused the bumps on his foot in the arch and on the top of his foot. Than the complications of diabetes cause an ulcer to start in April of 2012. They fought with antibiotics for 4 months. She got her oils from doTERRA in September of 2012 and in 3 weeks came this MIRACLE that has everyone dropping their jaw. It was a blessing to see him up and walking. :)

The ulcer was a result of a blister he got the last Saturday in April. The first weekend in June, the blister burst and the ulcer was the result. When we came back from vacation, his podiatrist put him on the knee dolly and said he would not be able to walk on it until February 2013. Once we received the oils he began using them. The 3rd photo is the 10 day mark, and it was fully healed after 3 weeks. I was concerned he would lose the rest of his foot after this; however, he is now walking better than I have seen him walk in years. This is the same foot he lost two toes and part of the foot on (the outer side of the foot). "~ Dawn Hansen

Dawn's husband put the two oils directly on the ulcer (neat, no dilution) twice daily.

Absolutely amazing is all I have to say!

Emergency Preparedness Essential Oils

These oils are the most important ones to have in your camping gear, emergency/first aid kit and some people store them with disaster relief/emergency preparedness gear. Since we live in a place that can have earthquakes, and camping and hiking can become life threatening very quickly, these five oils are invaluable.

  

1. Lavender- This universal oil is great for almost everything. You can use this on bug bites, bruises, sleep deprivation, allergies, inflammation, sunburns, lice, ringworm, and many more. This oil is my absolute favorite and I use it daily for so many different reasons.
2. Lemon- This oil is known for its cleansing ability. Adding a few drops of this to your water can purify it, although still use another purification process since this won’t get rid of any sediment. It is also great for intestinal parasites you might get, it reduces fever, helps your digestive system and liver work, it is a disinfectant and an antiseptic.
3. Peppermint- This essential oil is great for headaches or any muscle aches or pains, it is also a catalyst when mixed with other oils. Peppermint is anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, can be used for shock, colds, nausea, colic, and heartburn.
4. Helichrysum- This oil is great for bruising, sprains, and swelling. Any injury, that does not have broken skin, can be treated with helichrysum oil. This essential oil can be used to treat shock, heal bruises, help with broken bones, help with allergies, and is beneficial against infections and viruses.
5. Purify- This is a blend of many different essential oils such as lemon, lime, pine, citronella, melaleuca and cilantro. This blend was meant for purification. You can use it to kill airborne bacteria, viruses, mold, or fungus. It works great on neutralizing poison from insect bites, bee or wasp stings, or spider bites. It can treat respiratory conditions, help with skin healing, and repel bugs and mice.

The Power of Diffusing

Many teachers I know diffuse essential oils in their classrooms. Many homes I know do as well, but I think it's even more important in a classroom setting. So many different germs and sicknesses floating around, not to mention odor issues. Popular and affective oils to use are Wild Orange, Lemon, grapefruit and On Guard. These will all purify the air of contaminants and germs, while leaving behind a fresh, clean and uplifting scent. These oils can also be used as a disinfectant spray. On Guard, especially, can be added to water in a spray bottle and sprayed over hard surfaces. Purify is another doTERRA blend that is used to clean the air.

Lavender is also used in diffusers to help calm nerves and promote focus. I use lavender often for this purpose, especially at night when my creatures need to settle down and sleep soundly. Works like a charm.

I also use the blend Breathe or eucalyptus, rosemary and lavender when my littles' have a cold or allergy/sinus issues. Works wonderfully to help clear their nasal passages and chests.

There are LOTS of diffusers out there, here are a couple popular ones:

Lotus Diffuser

Aroma-Ace Diffuser






*Another low-cost option is taping a cotton ball, that has a drop or two of EOs, to a fan. Turn it on and it will diffuse. One thing you do not want to do is use heat when diffusing. It affects the properties of the oils and makes them less affective.

Essential Oil Recipes

dōTERRA EOs are not only medicinal and therapeutic, but you can cook with them...which, I LOVE.

 Here are a few recipes:




~Spinach and Feta Pasta Sauce~

1/4 cup pine nuts
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2 cloves crushed garlic
10 ounce package of thawed frozen spinach (or fresh spinach chopped and wilted)
8 ounces of crumbled feta cheese
1/2 bundle chopped scallions
4-6 diced Roma tomatoes
1 cup sliced mushrooms
1 drop oregano
1 drop black pepper
1 drop rosemary

Directions: Brown pine nuts in a hot pan, then add 1-2 TBS EVOO and saute with the crushed garlic. Next, add the spinach and feta cheese. When the cheese is mostly melted add the scallions. Once the cheese is incorporated into the spinach, add in the tomatoes and mushrooms and stir. Take care not to overcook the tender vegetables. Remove from heat and cool slightly before adding the essential oils and herbs. Stir to mix well.

Serve over pasta. Can also be used as a hot or cold dip!

*Tip~
The rosemary essential oil is key in this recipe as it balances out the spinach flavor. Add more or less, to taste.

By: Rachel E Hall, IPC




~Broiled Lemon Asparagus~

1 large bunch asparagus
Unrefined coconut oil
Lemon essential oil

Directions: Wash asparagus and trim ends. Place on a large cookie sheet and sprinkle with sea salt. In a separate container melt 2 TBS coconut oil and add 3-5 drops of lemon oil and stir; then drizzle over the asparagus. Broil on high for 5-7 minutes, watching carefully to ensure they don't burn. Serve immediately.

By: Angela Zavala, IPC




~April's Raw Vegan Veggie Dip~

1 to 5 cloves
16oz package of garbanzo beans, soaked for one day and then rinsed. OR, 15oz can of garbanzo beans rinsed.
Juice from 2 lemons
5 handfuls of spinach
Red and orange bell peppers
1 can of black and a variety mix of green and kalamata olives
2 stems of fresh basil
Small bundle of Italian parsley
2 sprigs of rosemary
4 Roma tomatoes
1 tsp Real salt [Sea Salt]
2 TBS Bragg's Vinegar
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 yellow squash
1 zucchini
1 small egg plant
Handful of almonds or pine nuts
Small red onion

Directions: Pulse everything in a food processor [or blender], then add in:
1 drop oregano
2 drops rosemary
3 drops clary sage
4 drops fennel
7 drops basil

Serve with celery and pita or Terra Chips. Add feta cheese, if desired.

*Tip: The essential oils used in this recipe produce a strong flavor. Start with 1 drop first, and add more until desired flavor is achieved.

By: April Reeder, IPC




~Lavender Pecan Cheesecake~
With Blueberry Lavender Sauce

Crust:
 1 cup crushed pecans
1/2 cup crushed graham crackers
2 TBS sugar
1 TBS butter, melted

Filling Ingredients:
32oz full-fat cream cheese, softened (four 8oz packages)
1 1/2 cups sugar
4 whole eggs
1 cup sour cream
1/2 TBS vanilla extract
3 drops lavender essential oil

Sauce Ingredients:
1 pound blueberries, fresh or frozen
1 cup sugar
1 TBS cornstarch
2 tsps lemon juice
1 drop lavender essential oil
A pinch of salt

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350F. Grease the sides and bottom of a 9" springform pan.

In a medium bowl, mix pecans, graham crackers, sugar, and butter. Press the mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan and set aside.

In a large bowl, use a hand mixer to beat the cream cheese until it is nice and smooth (no lumps!). Slowly add the sugar as you continue to beat the cream cheese; scrape the sides of the bowl and continue to beat until combined.

Add eggs, one at a time, beating on low just long enough to incorporate. Don't over mix. Add the sour cream, vanilla, and lavender essential oil and mix just until you have a smooth consistency.

Pour filling over prepared crust and stick your pan into your preheated oven. Turn the oven down to 250F and bake for 1 1/2 hours. The center should still wobble a little. Once done baking, turn the oven off and let sit for at least an hour. After about an hour our so, open the oven door and let it sit for a few more hours. Once cooled to room temperature, refrigerate for several hours.

Sauce:
In a small sauce pan, bring blueberries, sugar, and cornstarch to a boil.

Lower heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in lemon juice, lavender oil and salt.

Allow to cool and refrigerate until ready to top your cheesecake. You will not be disappointed!

By: Shannon Carver, doTERRA Consumer



~doTERRA Living~

Got a puker?

Try this:

DigestZen and Ginger together in a carrier oil and rub on stomach and back. Basil diluted in carrier oil and rubbed on the bottom of feet. Inhaling peppermint (a very small amount, on a cotton ball, also combats nausea).

DigestZen works wonderfully to calm an upset stomach. I have heard a couple people attest to this, lately. Ginger has long been used to help with nausea and throwing-up, as well as peppermint. Basil is helpful for gastric spasms, is useful for infections and is calming. Some use it diluted and massage it right onto the abdomen.

Dental Work, Heavy Metals and Mercury

Great info on mercury, heavy metals and how dental procedure changes and cilantro can help
balance the thyroid gland and endocrine system. Wow. I need to make some dental appointments!! My mouth is FULL of silver. Oy.


http://thelightsomelife.com/heavy-metal-chelating-doterra-cilantro-essential-oil

Peaceful Child

A friend shared this blend and so I am passing it on...

Helps with anger, frustration, stress, anxiety, ADHD and other emotional and behavorial issues.

*You can also add lavender oil to this. Some prefer it added in.
*You can use any carrier oil, as well.



Here is more info:

http://www.peacefulchildblend.com/about-peaceful-child/

Thinking I need to make a really large batch of this stuff!! Ha!

Itchy Winter Heads

It's basically Winter in Alaska now with plenty of snow, cold temperatures and very short days. Winter also brings itchy heads at my house. Thankfully, it is not lice (which we've had the displeasure of experiencing once before), but the dry conditions. So, what I have found to work is putting a drop or two each of rosemary and melaleuca oils into my shampoo. You could also rub it on the scalp after washing, but I prefer it in my shampoo. I leave it in awhile, while I am showering, and it makes a huge difference. You can also add a drop of peppermint, which gives a nice cooling/tingling sensation, for that extra clean feeling:) When my kids (or hubs) compalin of itchy heads, I do the same for them. I also have psoriasis on my scalp, which I've had all my life, as does my mother and late grandmother. Winter has always been the worst for my condition and I usually have terrible itchy head and danderuff and all things yucky that psoriasis has to offer. By using these oils, each time I shampoo, I have seen an improvement in the health of my scalp and the itchiness of others in my household. It sure beats all the other concoctions I've put together over the years to provide relief and it's completely natural and therapeutic, unlike the "medicated" shampoos you buy at the store. Plus, we keep the snow outdoors and off of our shoulders.


~Additionally~

Psoriasis and dandruff/itchy skin can be a sign of yeast overgrowth (candida overgrowth). Some may see better results by doing a cleanse by following a candida diet; cutting out sugars and gluten for a time, which feed yeast and greatly contribute to candida overgrowth.

Tested Usage Suggestions

Here are some tested usage suggestions that people I know have given...aka. testimonials. It's important to realize that sometimes what works for one person, may not work for another. Our bodies are all different and respond uniqely to all medicinal practices. But, chances are, if it worked well for one person, it will work well for another.  All of these ailments and suggested uses can be found in the Modern Essentials guide book as well as the everythingessential.me website. I thought it would be useful to add what I've personally found to work and what others have shared.

Burns:

Lavender oil applied NEAT (undiluted) to the burn has proven to provide pain relief and aid in healing.

Nausea:

Peppermint oil is great to help nausea. Just inhale/diffuse and/or rub it (diluted with a carrier oil) onto the abdomen. Simple and effective.

Sleeping/Insomnia:

Lavender is wonderful for sleep issues. Rubbing it on the soles of the feet and diffusing it works wonders to help adults and children get to sleep and sleep better.

Arthritis and General Tissue Pain:

I've seen a few different protocols for arthritis, but this one seems to be the most popular:

-Aromatouch blend, followed by the Deep Blue blend, followed by peppermint (diluted) to drive it in deep.

Another suggestion is :

-Aromatouch, Black Pepper, Deep Blue, and White Fir. 

Overactive Thyroid:

-Myrrh and lemongrass (look up appropriate usage for each dilution-wise) and apply in the area of the thyroid gland as well as on the soles of the feet. Diffusing is also an option.

Stuffy/Runny Nose:  (for infant/toddler and adults)

-Breathe blend. Rub on chest and back and inhale with diffuser. Dilute with a carrier oil for infants and toddlers. Can also be put in the bath. Cupping the hand and inhaling will also be helpful, if a diffuser is not available.

-Melaleuca or lemon or lavender (2 drops in a diffuser) and diffuse during the night and day. These oils can also be diluted with a carrier oil and rubbed on the chest and back and soles of the feet. Lemon and melaleuca are purifing and lavender is soothing.

-Eucalyptus and rosemary are also very helpful. Dilute with a carrier oil and apply on chest, back and soles of feet. I have mainly just done the chest and back and then I use the OnGuard blend on the soles of my little one's feet.

*If using for an infant or toddler, it is a good idea to not layer too many oils all at once. Like, using Breathe 3-4 hours apart topically throughout the day and then lavender at night, to promote restful sleep.

Teething Pain:

-Lavender is very helpful with teething pain in infants and toddlers. Rub either NEAT (undiluted) or diluted with a carrier oil along the jawline.
-White Fir is also helpful and can be diluted (or used NEAT) and used right on the teething area. It helps with numbing and it doesn't taste too awful.

*Since teething causes sinus issues, using Breathe or eucalyptus and rosemary is very helpful for runny/congested sinuses.

Tooth Pain (for older kids and adults):

-Deep Blue blend along the jawline or on the actual location of the tooth.
-Clove (neat) on the location of the tooth, either along or also with OnGuard.
-Clove and peppermint on the tooth.
-Peppermint and Onguard on the tooth.


*Clove, peppermint, white fir and Deep Blue are used a lot for tooth pain.

Essential Beauty and Spa

Essential oils are an 'essential' (pun intended) part of natural beauty and spa treatments. If you've ever had a massage or facial, you know that EOs are used to encourage relaxation and pampering. Here are some great EOs recipes, for all natural skin care, that I thought were blog worthy, as well.


~Facial Cleanser~

1oz vegetable-based glycerin
2oz unscented liquid Castile soap (like Dr. Bronner's)
1oz distilled/purified water
1/2oz witch hazel
1 drop rosemary
1 drop peppermint

-Mix together and store in a glass or plastic bottle (glass preferably).
 For all skin types. Lasts 3-6 months.


~Facial Toner~

1/4 cup water
1 Tbsp witch hazel
1/2 tsp vegetable glycerin
5 drops clary sage
5 drops grapefruit
5 drops Roman chamomile

-Sterilize the water by boiling for 3 minutes and then letting it cool. Next, combine all ingredients in a 2-4oz spray bottle and shake to blend. Shake well before each use and spray directly onto clean skin, or spray a cotton ball and apply. Lasts up to 2 months.


~Daily Moisturizer~

2 Tbsp almond oil
2 tsp vegetable glycerin
1 1/2 tsp grated beeswax
1 Tbsp distilled or spring water
1 vitamin E capsule
30 drops EO (try: lavender and Roman chamomile to soothe, melaleuca or geranium for a clearer complexion.)

-Combine first 3 ingredients in a small saucepan and warm the mixture over very low heat, stirring occasionally until the beeswax melts. In a separate saucepan warm the water over low heat. Remove both pans from the heat and cool until the wax and oil mixture just begins to thicken but is still liquid.

-Drizzle the warm water into the oil and was mixture, while stirring rapidly with a wire whisk. Continue whisking vigorously for 3-4 minutes until the mixture becomes pale yellow.

-Pierce the vitamin E capsule and squeeze the contents into the cream. Next add the essential oil and continue whisking for another 4-5 minutes until cream is thick and shiny.

-Transfer to a glass storage jar and allow the cream to set for at least an hour before using it. The moisturizer will keep for 3-6 months if stored in the refrigerator, or 1 month if left at room temperature.


~Whipped Coconut Body Butter~

1 cup unrefined coconut oil
A few drops of a favorite essential oil or blend (doTERRA, of course)

-Use a stand of handheld mixer, mix on high speed with a wire whisk attachment for 6-7 minutes, or until whipped into a light, airy consistency. Transfer the mixture to an airtight container and store at room temperature. Store in refrigerator during warmer months to prevent melting.


~Foot Scrub~

1/2-3/4 cup brown or white sugar
1/4-1/2 cup Epsom salt
1 cup oil (fractionated coconut, olive, jojoba, or sunflower oil
8-16 drops essential oil
*Like:
lavender and peppermint
rosemary and peppermint
wild orange and peppermint
Citrus Bliss
bergamont and ylang ylang
bergamont and sandalwood
Elevation and grapefruit

-Mix the sugar, Epsom salt, and oil until well-blended. Next, add the essential oils, alternating on drop at a time if you are using multiple scents. Make sure the essential oils are evenly blended, and then transfer the mixture to an airtight container for storage. Let your feet be pampered!

~Almond Orange Scrub~

1 handful almonds
1 orange peel
1 cup oil (fractionated coconut, olive jojoba, or sunflower)
2-3 drops doTERRA wild orange essential oil

-Mix the ingredients in a food processor for an antioxidant-rich full-body scrub.



(doTERRA Living Magazine)

Baby Bottoms

Here are some great, all natural, essential oil recipes for baby. I thought these were all blog worthy:


~ Diaper Rash Cream~  (petroleum-free)

1/2 oz beeswax
3 1/2 oz carrier oil (coconut is my favorite in this, preferably fractionated)
2 drops each of melaleuca and lavender oil
4 oz glass jar (empty baby food jar!)

-Place beeswax in glass jar and place in the top part of a double boiler. Melt it over simmering water, stirring until smooth. 
-Slowly add the carrier oil.
-Remove from heat and add essential oils, stir and cool. 

*If too firm after cooling, re-melt and add more carrier oil. 


~Talc-Free Baby Powder~

1/2 cup corn starch
1/2 cup Arrowroot powder
1 drop Roman chamomile
1-2 drops lavender
1/4 cup finely ground oats

-Mix well and put in a shaker style bottle.


~Homemade Wipes~

1 roll of premium paper towels
2 cups warm water
2 Tbsp carrier oil (fractionated coconut oil, preferably)
3 drops lavender
3 drops melaleuca
Airtight storage container

-Cut paper towel roll in half. Use half now and half later. 
-Put towels in storage container and add oil and water mixture. Turn the container until the liquid is absorbed. Remove cardboard roll and pull wipes out from the center.




-(doTERRA Living Magazine)

Officially Winter in the Arctic

It's officially Winter where I live. Not because of massive amounts of snow or cold, but because today is daylight savings "fall back". That is when it's official. When the sun doesn't rise until 9am and then 10am and then 10:30am and sets at 6pm, and then 5pm and then 4pm....you get the point. Personally, I see it as a time of hibernation and an opportunity to get much needed rest, unless you have a newborn....which I do not:)
 
We are homeschoolers, so I have the luxury of letting my children and myself sleep in past the darkness, not rushing around the house- breakfast, book bags, coats, snow boots, mittens and balaclavas flying while we try and catch the big yellow bus! We don't mind the dark or the cold, most days. But, what I do mind is the sickness that inevitably comes with it. That I could do without.

We have pertussis going around the local schools and even though my creatures are not attending public school, they are still at risk.

There are specific essential oils that are proven to be highly effective at killing bacteria and pathogens, as well as disinfect and purify.

Here are some ideas and applications to help ward off the bugs this season:

* Don't kill off the body's friendly bacteria, which is the first line of defense, with conventional hand sanitizers. They do kill bad bacteria, but also the good ones, as well. By using essential oils your utilizing the body's knowledge of which bacteria to get rid of.

~doTERRA's oil blend OnGuard in distilled water, put into a mini-spritzer bottle is a natural alternative as a hand sanitizer.

~Also, just a drop of OnGuard onto the hands, after they have been washed, is effective. After rubbing into hands, inhaling the oil is beneficial to cleanse the nasal passages and lungs.

~Applying OnGuard to the soles of the feet, on reflex points and breathing it in by diffusing it into the air is also very important in cleansing the air from bacteria and pathogens. Since so many diseases are airborne, inhaling antibacterial oils is essential. OnGuard is proven in lab tests to kill bacteria. Lemon essential oil is also purifying. Either of these oils can clean the air in a room in about 20 minutes. Investing in a quality EOs diffuser is an ideal way to purify the air you and your family breathe.


*If you've already contracted a bad cold with cough, etc., you can try the following regimen to help shorten the illness and keep from sharing it with others:

~Rub OnGuard on the soles of feet every 20 minutes for the first hour, then every half hour for the next hour and every hour and every two hours, etc., throughout the day. Use the Breathe oil blend to help soothe a cough as well as inhaling melaleuca. Other single oil options that help with coughs, congestion, etc. are eucalyptus and rosemary. Diluting these oils with a carrier oil and rubbing on the chest, neck and back, as well as inhaling them, are wonderfully effective. These symptoms will not start to improve until the bacteria are under control, however.

~Blessings

Ringworm, Headache, Rashes...Oh, my!

Another busy day in our Madhouse. When I say we use these oils every single day, I speak the TRUTH! There seems to constantly be new opportunities to put them to the test, at least in my household.

My 7 year old son reported to me today that he has a birthmark on his leg and wondered if I'd ever seen it before. I said that I did not remember him having any birthmarks on either of his legs, so I'd better take a look at said "birth mark". What did I find? A red-ringed looking circular patch, on the back of his knee. I'd say that is not a birth mark, but ringworm. I could be wrong, but it certainly looks suspect of just that. So, this is the oil blend I am using on it:

~ 2 drops lavender
~2 drops melaleuca
~2 drops oregano
~6 drops carrier oil (I used grapeseed)

Apply 1-2 drops on the infected area three times a day for 10 days. After that, mix 30 drops melaleuca with 2 Tbs. carrier oil and apply daily until the ringworm is gone.

This seems like overkill, since most remedies do not require this many days for treatment. But, if it is indeed a fungal infection, then it will take longer to treat. I will report back with the results!

With all the rash excitement in the air, my 9 year old son decided to show me his legs and rashes. Which he does in fact have. I guess I need to pay more attention to my boys' legs! But, when they have long johns, wool socks and jeans on everyday, it's hard to get a good look on a regular basis. I think these rashes are either from dry skin or an allergic reaction to soap he may be using in the shower, since he does not have any other sickness or infection going on. They are localized raised, red bumps and are itchy. Hard to pinpoint a clear cause, but here is what I'm using:

~1 drop melaleuca
~1 drop lavender
~3-4 drops carrier oil

I am going to apply this several times a day and see if this clears it up. We have dealt with rashes before and this blend did a beautiful job, so I'm confident I'll have the same great results this time, as well.

Lastly, my oldest son fell today and hit his head extremely hard on our hardwood floors. He was very upset and said he saw spots and stars and his tongue was tingling. That's not good. He laid down for awhile until he felt composed enough to let me look at him. His pupils looked fine and he was able to walk without dizziness, so I decided we didn't need to call EMS...phew! However, his head was hurting a great deal and he said it felt like the worst headache he's every had. What did I do? Got out my oils, of course!! Here is what I blended for him:

*PastTense (a doTERRA blend) is what is first recommended, but since I don't have that oil on hand right now, I used this:

~2 drops peppermint
~2 drops eucalyptus
~2 drops rosemary

Apply to temples, forhead and neck.


After about 20 minutes, he reported his headache was not as bad, but still there. So, I'll continue to use it this evening and maybe tomorrow and see how he's feeling.

EOs are just like any other medicinal treatment. Often times, it takes several applications and sometimes over several days to see results. There are also instances where they work very quickly. The key is patience, consistency and persistence.

~Blessings

This Week in Pathogens....

This week has been a busy one, pathogen-wise. Since we have SO MANY children, Fall...Winter...and... Spring are all testy on the sickness home front. Some weeks we are all healthy, all at the same time and other weeks we are all sick, all at the same time. Then there are weeks where everyone shares their wealth of germs, in stages and we are sick for what seems like forever. I hate those weeks. The battle has been against several bugs this week, including (but, not limited to) double conjunctivitis (aka. pink eye), two ear infections and a nasty cold. Oh, and I pulled my neck/back out of place yesterday. That was the highlight of my week. Try putting your game face on for Arctic trick-or-treating when you can barely move your neck and upper back! Ughhhh...

In the spirit of being positive, I decided to get my oils out and see what, and who, we could slather up. My youngest, who is sixteen months old, woke-up with two very gooey, yellow, watery, red eyes a few days ago, as well as a runny nose and overall feeling like the cruds. Extremely irritable and not interested in eating or drinking his precious goat milk (which he loves more than life). So, I knew he was seriously coming down with something nasty. I looked in my EOs guide and found that lavender treats pink eye. An experienced-in-EOs friend confirmed that treatment option and I began using lavender around both of his eyes, 3 times a day, careful not to actually get it into his eyes (which is much harder than you think!). I did not have to dilute it as it can be applied 'neat' (aka. undiluted). I also rubbed melaleuca and lavender oil, diluted in a few drops of grapeseed oil, and On Guard oil blend into the soles of his feet, several times a day. Since he also had symptoms of a viral cold (runny-stuffy nose/congestion, etc.) I also diluted some eucalyptus oil and rosemary oil with grapeseed oil and rubbed that onto his chest and neck, several times a day and especially at night before I laid him down to sleep. Success!! We are on day 3 and his eyes are completely cleared up and his cold is also on the mend. Most notable is he feels much better and is back to his happy self. Nothing worse than an unhappy babe.

 Hopefully, the virus will have worked it's way through by the end of the week.  And, he has smelled wonderfully with all those delicious oils on him the last few days! I have to say how much I love the lavender and eucalyptus oils, especially when used together. So soothing and therapeutic. The last time I dealt with pink eye, I ran to my doctor's office and got scripts for eye drops and an antibiotic. Of course, I'm not 100% sure if his case was bacterial, viral or allergy related, but I'm guessing viral. I would use the same approach, however, if I suspected a bacterial infection...which is usually coupled with a fever, which he never had. I can't tell you how wonderful it is to be able to use natural oils to treat sickness and not have to run into town, which is 20+ miles away, with all my SIX children in tow, every time we get sick. Not that I refuse to ever see a doctor, but it is a last resort.

My 3rd oldest son (7) and his little sister (3) both had ear infections this week, as well. Lavender and melaleuca on a cotton ball and inserted into the ear (at night, after they have fallen asleep), and massaged around the ear and in the outer ear opening several times a day have done wonders. I also used Mullein drops compound (from the Naturopath doctor) several times a day. Again, I see huge improvements and there are no more complaints of earaches. One happy Momma here.

Two of my other kiddos have the cold that is being passed around and I am using the On Guard oil blend on the soles of the feet (mostly at night, before bed), and eucalyptus, rosemary and melaleuca oils, diluted in grapeseed oil (but, you can use any carrier oil) on their chests, necks and noses, especially before bed. If I had the oil blend Breathe, I would use that on their chests and so on, but I do not currently...so the other oils are working nicely.

And, last but not least, my neck and back. I have chronic back pain, mostly in the sites where I had epidurals with half of my births (the other half I realized that I could indeed birth, drug-free...without dieing). Plus, I suffer from mild to-moderate scoliosis and poor posture, constant lifting of children and being on my feet much of the day. My go-to oils for my back issues/pain are peppermint and lavender, diluted in a carrier oil. I also love the oil blend Deep Blue and sandalwood and frankincense oils are also very effective for back pain. That coupled with a hot pad or hydrotherapy and my back pain melts away. Now, I will admit I have prescription pain pills that I break out when I cannot function, (an in walk, get out of bed...you get the point). But, those are a last resort because of the side effects I experience including: extreme drowsiness, dizziness and a general feeling of fog.

That is our week in pathogens! Hoping next week brings a much needed break from the sicks and we can enjoy some predicted snowfall. :)

~Blessings