Getting Started with Essential Oils – Address Common Ailments with Natural Solutions + Giveaway

Getting Started with Essential Oils – Address Common Ailments with Natural Solutions

When I started looking into living more naturally the first thing I was concerned about was what was lurking in my medicine cabinet. I started pouring over ingredients and expiration dates. To say I didn’t love what I found is a slight understatement. Did you know that most medicine contains artificial colors and flavoring, sugar, high fructose corn syrup, as well as ingredients that could cause liver damage, drowsiness, stomach ulcers, hyperactivity…you get the idea.

I no longer wanted to be at the mercy of the pharmaceutical industry, I wanted to be in charge of my healthcare and that of my family. I started diving into my options and fell in love with essential oils. I know they are getting quite a bit of attention these days and there is a lot of confusing information out there. What I can say is that I found something that worked for my family and in reality it has been nothing short of amazing. Of course, we try to eat healthy, get good sleep, exercise, but when it comes to addressing ailments and health concerns, essential oils are our first line of defense.

My son was sick the first four years of his life. I don’t mean a little sick, it was like if someone sneezed within a mile of him he would catch whatever they had. The Dr.’s of course offered no solutions and I didn’t have a clue what I could do to help him. A friend suggested essential oils (and I’ll be honest, I thought it was bizarre) but I was desperate so I took the leap and got a set of oils (which I will highlight below) that were supposed to be able to address common ailments. What these oils did for my son was nothing short of a miracle in my eyes. He went from being sick three weeks out of the month to being sick for a few days. Then it wasn’t even once a month it was every couple of months until last fall when he got sick I had to strain my brain to think of the last time he had been really sick ~ It had been a full year! This (amongst other amazing things) is the reason I’m so passionate about sharing essential oils with others.

There are a few different ways that you can use essential oils.

• Aromatic – Most people are familiar with aromatherapy and the benefits it can offer to help manage mood. In addition to that using essential oils can also help kill germs and airborne pathogens as well as open the airways.
• Topical – This is another great way to use the oils to address muscle and joint pain as well as to help boost the immune system. You can apply them topically on location where there is pain (head, stomach, joints, muscles, etc.) or you can also apply them on the bottom of the feet. Our feet have very large pores which make it a great place for oils to be absorbed. We also have reflex points on the bottom of our feet that provided added benefits when using the oils on our feet.
• Internal – There is a large debate as to whether or not essential oils are safe to take internally. This is where I recommend you do your research. The oils that I have selected to use I feel are safe to use internally when needed. I do not use them internally everyday but know many who do. Do your research and use your better judgment. Inexpensive oils are often times low quality and are not safe to take internally. Using oils internally can help flush toxins, helps your body fight illness, and may help with issues in the mouth, throat, and stomach.

6 Common Essential Oils and What We Use Them For In Our Home

Lavender – Lavender is considered to be the “Swiss Army Knife” in our home. It is so versatile! The more common things we use it for in our home are burns, fevers, cuts, scrapes, bruising, itching, calming and relaxation. It is also great for allergies, hair (dry or fragile), inflammation, mood swings, rashes, stress, and teething pain.

Lemon - Aside from the fact that it smells amazing this oil is fabulous for so many things. We like to diffuse it to uplift the mood, use it in the washer when the clothes sat too long, use it on the feet to aid in fighting illness, and in our water to flush toxins out of the body. This is also a favorite of many when making homemade cleaners. It has antiseptic, antifungal, and antiviral properties that help to disinfect surfaces and the air.

Peppermint - Peppermint is a very powerful oil. It has a very pure smell and works amazingly fast. There was a study conducted in Germany that put peppermint essential oil up against acetaminophen. The peppermint was proven to be just as effective in treating headaches and isn’t harmful to the body like acetaminophen is. It is my go-to oil for headache relief. We also use it in our home to help clear nasal passages, reduce fevers (love it for this!), and diffuse for mood enhancement as well as to aid in respiratory illness. Peppermint is also commonly used for asthma, cramps, diarrhea, heartburn, IBS (irritable bowel syndrome), Indigestion, decreasing mother’s milk supply, muscle aches, and so much more!

Melaleuca (Tea Tree Oil) – Tea Tree oil is one of the most commonly tinkered with oils. In fact there is 300% more tea tree oil sold than is actually produced. (Source) Again, make sure you are doing research on the company you choose to buy oils from. Otherwise you could end up with a synthetic or diluted oil. We love to use melaleuca in conjunction with lavender to address pink eye, ear infections, as well as scrapes, scratches and owies. It is also great for acne, rashes, and other skin issues. We’ve also used it for fungal infections, boils, cold sores, and to aid in fighting illness. Tea Tree oil has antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antiparasitic, and antiviral properties. This doesn’t even cover half of the ways you can use this oil, which makes it easy to see why this is a very common oil for people to have in their homes.

Oregano - When we use Oregano we refer to it as “pulling out the big guns.” It is so strong! A little goes a very long way! It’s properties include antibacterial, antifungal, antiparasitic, and antiviral properties. It is also helpful to use in boosting the immune system. We usually pull out Oregano when the tingle starts in the throat. You can also use it for athlete’s foot, calluses, candida, MRSA, parasites, ringworm, warts, staph infections, and more. This is hot oil so you will want to make sure you always dilute it before applying on the skin.

Frankincense - Liquid Gold! If there were an oil that would be considered a “Super Hero” frankincense would be it. Its uses are innumerable. Aside from the fact that it contains sesquiterpenes, which enables it to go beyond the blood-brain barrier (aiding in Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s disease, seizures, and depression), it is also effective for lowering blood pressure, fighting allergic reactions, emotional healing, and reducing inflammation. People in the essential oil world usually say “When in doubt, use Frankincense” because it’s properties are so vast and varied. I would never be without frankincense in my home. In fact, we keep an extra bottle on hand just to ensure we never run out.

4 Must-Have Essential Oil Blends and What We Use Them For

Soothing Blend (Deep Blue®) – This blend includes wintergreen, camphor, peppermint, blue tansy, German chamomile, helichrysum, and osmanthus. The combination of these oils make it a very powerful blend that may help in reducing inflammation and soothing sore muscles. For me a bottle of this sits on my desk and is in my purse. It is my go-to blend for muscle pain (which is usually my neck muscles). We’ve also used this blend for growing pains, joint pain, and know others that use it for fibromyalgia, herniated discs, carpal tunnel syndrome, and arthritis. If you have pain, this is a great oil to turn to.

Protective Blend (On Guard®) – This oil may help strengthen your immune system. The US National Library of Medicine now shows that it is effective in suppressing the H1N1 virus. It has also been shown to kill 17 different strains of MRSA. It is great for disinfecting via a diffuser and applying to your feet daily for cold prevention. You can also use it as a mouth rinse in water and as a surface cleaner. Many Moms rely on this oil blend as part of a daily preventative regimen when their kids are in school.

Respiratory Blend (Breathe) - I will never be without this amazing blend. It is the blend that really converted me to essential oils when my son was so sick. We apply directly on the chest and diffuse whenever there is respiratory illnesses or congestion in our home. Not only does it cool, soothe, and open the airways but it also helps fight infections. This blend is also commonly used for asthma, to reduce snoring, calm nerves, bronchitis, mono, sinusitis, and pneumonia.

Digestive Blend (DigestZen) – As the name implies this blend is great for all things digestive related. We use it in our home for heartburn, indigestion, stomach aches, diarrhea, and constipation. I have many young moms say that it helps with with acid reflux and colic in their little ones as well. Some other common uses for this blend are H.Pylori Bacteria, IBS, and food poisoning.

Essential oils have changed the way we feel about and address the healthcare in our home. I no longer stress when my child gets sick in the night or when something pops up that we would have, in the past, gone to the doctor for. I am empowered as a mother to be the healer in my home and I love to educate as many people as possible how they can become the healer in their home as well.

doTERRA Introductory Kit Giveaway

I would love to offer two lucky people an opportunity to try an Introductory Kit from doTERRA! This kit contains a 5ml bottle of Lavender, Lemon, and Peppermint and is a great kit to “get your feet wet”. To get an idea of the many different ways you can use these oils you can review this post 101 Uses for Lavender, Lemon, and Peppermint. Entry options below.  (For those who are reading via email, click through to the website.)

Special Offer – $50 in FREE Oils

If you would like to take the plunge and are ready to get these oils in your home then July is the month to jump in. doTERRA is offering $50 in free oils with every new wholesale membership of 100pv or more. In addition to that, we are offering an extra $50 in free oils plus a free Modern Essentials book with a 250pv enrollment order ($126 total in free products). If you would like to take advantage of this special offer or would like to learn more please visit this page July Special Promotion.

Would you like to learn more about essential oils and the amazing benefits they can provide? Please visit www.modern-wellness.com for more information.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
No purchase necessary to win. Contest sponsored by Modern Wellness. Contest open to residents of U.S. and Canada 18 years of age or older. Contest ends 12:00 a.m. EST 7/17/2013.

This is a guest post by Christy Fechser.  Christy is the wife to 1, mother of 3, lover of health, wellness, the beach and sunshine. She is passionate about living an inspired life and loves to inspire others to live life at their fullest. You can find her online educating others on how to live a more natural lifestyle, especially on how to use essential oils. You can read more about Christy at Modern Wellness. You can also find her on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter.

The post Getting Started with Essential Oils – Address Common Ailments with Natural Solutions + Giveaway appeared first on Common Sense Homesteading.

BR>
Common Sense Homesteading is

about using common sense to be more self-reliant, with an emphasis on home
food production.

Source: http://www.commonsensehome.com/getting-started-with-essential-oils/