Okay, so this post is pretty long but I gotta tell you about the coolest thing I have been learning about the last few months. It is called Essential Oils, ever heard of them? I had only heard the term in a book I had read called Gorgeously Green. But she only talked about Essential Oils as a means of making things smell good-but there is SO much more to them. They are used as an alternative to regular medication. But that is only the tip of the ice berg! They can also be used as a preventative measure as well. Everyday I learn something new about them or a new way to use them. It is just so fascinating & empowering. I LOVE having an alternative way to help take care of my family. So, I wanted to tell all of you a little about it in case you are like me & had never really heard of these amazing tools...
'Essential oils are natural aromatic compounds found in the seeds, bark, stems, roots, flowers, and other parts of plants. They can be both beautifully and powerfully fragrant. If you have ever enjoyed the gift of a rose, a walk by a field of lavender, or the smell of fresh cut mint, you have experienced the aromatic qualities of essential oils. In addition to giving plants their distinctive smells, essential oils provide plants with protection against predators and disease and play a role in plant pollination.
Essential oils are non water-based phytochemicals made up of volatile organic compounds. Although they are fat soluble, they do not include fatty lipids or acids found in vegetable and animal oils. Essential oils are very clean, almost crisp, to the touch and are immediately absorbed by the skin. Pure, unadulterated essential oils are translucent and range in color from crystal clear to deep blue.
In addition to their intrinsic benefits to plants and being beautifully fragrant to people, essential oils have been used throughout history in many cultures for their medicinal and therapeutic benefits. Modern scientific study and trends towards more holistic approaches to wellness are driving a revival and new discovery of essential oil health applications.'
Essential Oils have been around forever. They are mentioned numerous times in the Bible. They are consistently found in Egyptian tombs, & they were even 2 of the 3 gifts given to the Christ child by the wise men: Frankincense & Myrrh. It is truly amazing to me that more people don't know about & use Essential Oils.
So now that you are amazed by the history of Essential Oils :0) you are wondering how do you use them?
'Essential oils are used for a very wide range of emotional and physical wellness applications. They can be used a single oil at a time or in complex blends depending on user experience and desired benefit. Essential oils are usually administered by one of three methods: diffused aromatically, applied topically, or taken internally as dietary supplements.
Aromatic Uses
Our sense of smell influences many physiological pathways including the stimulation of hormones and other metabolic processes. Aromatherapy is founded on the body's predictable response to specific olfactory stimuli. Essential oils are widely used in aromatherapy applications. Certain essential oils, when diffused in the air, can be very stimulating while others can be calming and soothing. Beyond emotional benefits, diffusing essential oils can purify air of unwanted odors and some airborne pathogens. Low or no-heat essential oil diffusers are recommended as they do not change the chemical structure of the oil being diffused. Essential oils can also be used as cleansing and purifying additives to laundry and surface cleaners throughout the home.
Topical Uses
Due to their natural molecular composition, essential oils are easily absorbed by the skin and can be safely applied topically. Application of essential oils can have immediate, localized benefit to the target area of application. They have restorative and calming properties and can be used effectively with massage and beauty therapy. They are also natural disinfectants. The chemical structure of essential oils also allows them to be absorbed into the bloodstream via the skin for internal benefit throughout the body.
Internal Uses
Essential oils can also be used as dietary supplements supporting a variety of healthy conditions. Some essential oils have powerful antioxidant properties while others help support healthy inflammatory response in cells. Many essential oils are generally regarded as being safe for dietary use, but some oils should not be taken internally. Do not use any essential oil product internally that does not have the appropriate dietary supplement facts on its label.'
Amazing right? So basically you can use them as a preventative measure (keep your family from getting sick) & as a treatment (when they do get sick or have some other ailment). Pretty much anything you can think of-there is an oil to treat or prevent it including: fever, headache/migraine, depression, cold/cough, asthma, flu, infections, ear ache, stomach/digestive issues, teething, warts, ADD/ADHD, & the list could go on & on. You can even use them for cleaning-they are safe & effective-not to mention they smell delicious! I love having a natural & safe option for treating my family instead of relying on Tylenol, Motrin, antibiotics, etc. We have all heard the side effects of regular medicine, how they are not as effective anymore, & who knows what kind of long term effects they may have! So I figure that if I can take my kids to the doctor less & use meds less (if at all)-why not?! Since we have been using the oils (about 2 months) my kids have only been sick once. Which is amazing considering the time of year & that Averee is in school now. I think the only reason they did get sick is because I wasn't being as diligent with the oils as I knew I should be & we were over-exposed to a sick cousin during Christmas. Even then-we didn't get as sick & it didn't last as long as it did for our cousin-thanks to the oils.
But even though Essential Oils have been around forever-the industry is not regulated. A bottle can say it 100% oil & only have 10% actual oil in it. The rest would be fillers, carrier oils & who knows what else! Kinda scary. But never fear! :0) My sister-in-law found a company called doTerra that has completely raised the bar in the Essential Oil industry. Their oils are literally 100% essential oil-they call it Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade. Of course they don't just come up with this on their own-they send the oils to a third party lab for testing. Plus, they grow & harvest the plant where & when it naturally grows. In other words they are not forcing things to grow in a green house. DoTerra Oils are the purest & strongest oils you can get. Awesome!
So that is my schpeal for the day. I honestly am not telling you this or distributing these oils to make money. Hopefully you know me better than that! :0) In fact the only reason I did sign up is to get the oils at the wholesale price. I just had to share this great little secret with all of you. Now I can sleep guilt free! I really wanted you to know that you have other options for keeping your family healthy & happy. I also think of the oils as emergency preparedness. Any number of things could happen that would cause us to not have access to regular meds. I am so empowered to know that I can take care of my family with my little box of Essential oils. So now you can do what you will with this info-no pressure! I have a link on the right if you wanna check doTerra out some more. Plus, I would be happy to send you 'out of town' friends some more info if you want. There are so many resources online to help educate you on the uses of essential oils that I would be happy to share-like I said before, I learn something new everyday. If you have any questions-please just ask!
So, anyway...I guess I have rambled long enough for one post! Thanks for sticking it out till the end! :0)
