As always if you have questions about essential oils that aren't answered here please feel free to contact me directly. Follow my tips on the myriad uses for these amazing oils on Instagram @breakingnewground!
Showing posts with label health. Show all posts
Showing posts with label health. Show all posts
Friday, September 23, 2016
dōTERRA Essential Oils
As part of updating this space more regularly and providing readers with valuable content I wanted to point out some changes I have made to the essential oils page. This page can be found by clicking on the tab in the upper right under the Breaking New Ground title. If you are reading on mobile this may look different to you; try clicking on the arrow next to the word Home and scrolling down to the essential oils option or just click here. There you will find featured posts about essential oils and you can now click straight through to my dōTERRA page to find out more about signing up for a wholesale account of your own (earn points toward free product!!) or to purchase oils through me. dōTERRA just introduced a whole new line of spa products as well as some new essential oils and other products, all available for purchase starting October 3rd, 2016. I can't wait to try them!
Tuesday, August 30, 2016
Summer 2016: Malakai's Tonsillectomy
If you know us personally or follow us on social media then you know our sweet first born had surgery a little over a month ago. He had his tonsils + adenoids removed. The surgeon also removed his ear tubes that had been placed in June 2015 but had not come out on their own like they were supposed to.
The next morning Malakai only showed one small moment of worry when he got into the car and said "I'm not so sure I want to go to magic sleepy town today" (this is our way of explaining going under general anesthesia that we had made up the previous summer when he was having ear tubes placed). We talked it over and then he was totally fine, dreaming of ice cream for dinner. During our wait he played some games and read a book. Everything was very prompt, he got back to be admitted quickly and fairly easily. He wasn't a fan of the hair covering but he complied after a few chats about why it was necessary and seeing the nurses wearing them as well. He went under anesthesia easily but for some reason I teared up, which I have every time I've seen him go under. Something about it is just the slightest bit unsettling.
I went back to Ben in the admission area and we walked out to the waiting room together where my dad was. I text family and friends that he was in surgery and we chatted casually. He was done in about 20 minutes, his surgeon said everything went perfectly but "now you have the hard part" in reference to navigating his recovery. We waited another 15 minutes or so before the recovery nurse called us back. Malakai was still asleep and she encouraged us to let him wake naturally. She started to chat with us about his recovery when he coughed and began to wake up. His dry and barky cough was startling. The nurse said it was likely a symptom of his being intubated and that getting him to drink, putting an ice pack on his throat and giving him anti-inflammatory meds would help that get better faster. I can't imagine how uncomfortable it had to be to cough after a throat surgery. He was a bit disoriented and didn't really say anything at first but he came out of anesthesia very calmly. He did say he had some pain so the before removing his IV she gave him a dose of pain medicine in it and made sure his IV fluids finished up so he was well hyrdated from the start. He requested a popsicle, and another before we left. They also gave him a dose of liquid ibuprofen.
She talked us through his discharge and recovery instructions, writing down most of it. She made sure to tell Malakai that he could not run or ride his bike for two weeks, he needed to avoid anything that would cause him to breath heavily. He turned to Ben and I and said "I don't think I should go to swimming lessons" with such sweet concern in his temporarily higher pitched voice. We assured him that he would miss a few sessions until he was all healed up. My responsible little kiddo.
We carried him out to the car and I sat with him in the back of the van to make sure I was within reach if he needed anything during the trip home. We said goodbye to G'Pa and made our way back. The entire process was only about 4 hours. When we came home we settled him into bed and he wanted to eat more popsicles right away. We made sure he had plenty of cold water at all times and I set up several little stations to make aiding him easier. He would be staying in our bedroom so I could sleep next to him for a few nights, Ben would be in the bottom bunk in the boys' room and Des would be in the top bunk. Kai had a tv tray next to the bed with a plastic tray of medicines and droppers, a bell to ring if he needed something (although he had someone by his side constantly for the first day and a half), his water, some books and the tv remote. We set up a humidifier on the night stand next to him as well to help with that barky cough.
I set up an app on my phone called "dosecast" that helped me keep track of when to give him medicine but I also kept a paper record. The app alerted me of when he was due a dose of something but the hard copy helped for having a longer history of what we had given him and when. He was on a hydrocodone and we were alternating doses of ibuprofen based on the discharge instructions which meant waking up that night every 3 hours then 1 hour on a rotating basis. It wasn't until the next day we consulted a nurse at his pediatrician's office about his pain medicines and found out that we could give him both at the same time which meant I only had to get up every 4 hours. Having him in our room made that part easier but it was still tiring. None of the exhaustion mattered as long as he was doing well.
Ben had taken the day of surgery off but needed to work from home the rest of the week. It was a nice compromise between him being able to get work done but also be here to help as needed. Malakai was really needy those first couple of days so I spent a lot of time at his side which meant Ben was on duty to care for Desmond and Aurelia much of the day.
On day two of his recovery my aunt brought us dinner and there was macaroni and cheese as a side. Malakai wanted to eat some so we let him try it (his surgeon had said it would be fine to let him eat softer solid foods as soon as he wanted) and he ate a small bowl of it. We were shocked and very excited that he was willing to eat. He was doing great at eating and staying hydrated, which were our main concerns about his recovery. Our secondary concern was managing his pain which we felt like was going well...until it wasn't.
We went by the discharge paperwork and started to give him less of the narcotic pain medicine on day 4 which ended up being a disaster as that was his most painful day. We tried again a couple days later with mixed results. He did great during the day, he was able to tell us his pain level and it wasn't so bad with less and less medicine but one night he was inconsolable and we couldn't get him to take his medicine. By that time he was back in his room but on the bottom bunk. When we tried to give him his dose of medicine before we went to bed he sort of freaked out and refused to take it, he was acting so strangely it was really quite scary. Ben spoke to a nurse and she said it sounded like night terrors. She was totally right, we have experienced night terrors before but being so caught up in recovery and pain management we were thinking it was something related to those things, especially since it was happening when he was due a dose of medicine. She did say it could be his narcotic pain meds causing him to sleep so deeply he wasn't waking fully but it was unlikely since he was having less of them. He had another night terror the following night but it went by much faster because we knew how to handle it, thankfully he hasn't had any since.
We weren't able to really start letting him sleep through the night without pain meds until closer to 7 days this was around when we were able to start giving him less medicine during the day. About 10 days later we were just giving him medicine when he asked for it, which was usually by the end of the day just before bed. By the full two weeks he was off medicines completely and able to play normally again. During those two weeks he watched a lot of tv, played on the ipad, read books, played some minecraft on the xbox with Ben and Desmond and had a lot of caring visitors who brought him things to do and eat and even brought meals for the rest of us. We felt very well taken care of which was so valuable in allowing us to focus on taking care of him.
Near the end of the 2 weeks we eased him back into being out of the house and expending more energy. He would usually self regulate his activity level. Even when he was outdoors he did a lot of stationary activities.
Unfortunately Desmond and Aurelia both struggled a bit with the shift in routine. Desmond really had a hard time with Malakai getting to eat jello and popsicles all day even though he usually had a popsicle once a day as well. It was hard for him to not keep score but it was a good lesson for him. The hardest part was being torn in my giving attention to all the kids. Aurelia really wanted to be with mama a lot. We let them come snuggle up with us as much as possible but a lot of the time it just didn't work out. Aurelia was very clingy to me as things started to go back to normal, it has only just recently gotten better.
Malakai was so brave and relatively easy to care for through out the whole thing. Even with the few rough moments I am just so thankful for how smoothly things went compared to how it could have gone. I was told several stories of other very difficult recoveries with complicaitons so I was prepared for the worst while hoping for the best. We are happy we made the decision to have Malakai's tonsils removed, at this point he isn't snoring at night and seems better rested during the day because of it. I think it is safe to say he no longer has sleep apnea, now we will just be praying it helps him stay healthier during cold season!
I would be happy to pass along any tips and tricks if you find yourself with a kiddo facing this procedure. Everyone recovers differently of course but it was helpful for me to be aware of possible outcomes. I gathered information and experiences from other parents before and during recovery. We are just so blessed by our little community both locally and through the internet.
Malakai has a tendency to get worked up about things, making them a bigger problem than they are. This is usually the case if he is afraid of something whether it be an imaginary thing or the fear of punishment for something he did or was perceived to have done. It is a difficult road some days but with Ben by my side (and our fantastic counselor) we are helping him to get a better handle on it. He has made a lot of progress over the last few months.
So when his pediatrician and then his ENT (Ear, Nose, Throat specialist) both mentioned the idea of surgery back in the winter/spring when he had reoccuring strep throat, my first thought was how it would impact him emotionally. Would he be afraid? Would he worry about it constantly? How would we move forward to help him through these intense emotions? Imagine our surprise when he was able to focus on the positives (ice cream for a week) and not even really mention the potentially worrisome aspects. It helped that he could remember his ear tube surgery well enough to know what to expect out of anesthesia and recovery, but it had been long enough that he didn't remember the painful part. We were simultaniously proud of him and thankful to God for providing this peace.
We scheduled his surgery for after his birthday at a time when our calendars were clear enough that we could both focus on taking care of him and he wouldn't be missing any of the big events he'd been looking forward to over the summer (see previous post for a list of all the fun we've been having!). Then when we had his pre-op about 3 weeks prior to his scheduled surgery date we started to question whether the procedure was necessary. He was healthy and we had the option to "wait and see" which basically means he could outgrow getting sick all the time but we'd have to go through a cold and flu season to find out. Were we willing to risk him still needing surgery in the fall/winter when he'd miss school? Would we be able to actually find a time to schedule it if he was constantly sick? Would our health insurance still cover it if we waited? I literally wrote out a list of the pros and cons of either option and they were totally equal, both in number of things I came up with and the weight they carried.
We prayed a lot and talked a lot about what we should do. We asked others for prayer and advice. At one point we had said we would be cancelling his surgery, but then I took a glance at his throat and it was red. He had an episode of ear pain during our 4th of July camping trip but not since then, still I thought we should have him looked at just in case. We saw a doctor at his pediatrician's office who confirmed he did have an ear infection and prescribed him antibiotics. One challenge with him is that he has allergy/sensitivity to 2 very common antibiotics, making him hard to treat. This is part of the reason he was put on the road to a tonsillectomy in the first place as his strep throat was very difficult to get rid of. Thankfully this time he didn't have strep. The doctor told us that she could see good reason to do the surgery but would also support a decision to "wait and see". She then referred us back to the ENT to check out his ear and also determine if he could have the surgery if he was getting sick. His ENT was out of the office so by the time he had seen Kai his ear infection was gone. He said because of his history he was still a candidate for surgery, he would never recommend surgery for a child if it was unnecessary, but that we could wait and see if we wanted. However he did say if he's getting an ear infection and cold symptoms in the summer that the likely-hood he'd struggle in the fall/winter again was high. I told him I just needed someone to tell me whether or not we should do the surgery, and he told us he thought we should do it.
So Ben and I took everything into consideration and decided that it would benefit Malakai's future health to go ahead an have the procedure done. It was a simultaneous sense of relief to have a decision made, but also panic as his surgery was just a week away at that point and I felt totally unprepared. I woke at 3am that night worrying about all the things we had left to take care of. We didn't have anyone ready to watch Desmond and Aurelia so we could both be with Malakai at the surgery center, we didn't have the right groceries to support his limited diet during recovery, we didn't have the pain medicine prescribed by his doctor yet... I did my best to give these concerns to the Lord and he really did show up, everything fell into place and then some. We had friends and family offering to bring meals and balloons and you would not imagine the number of popsicles we stuffed into our freezers.
We made sure to do a lot of fun things that week since he would have to be very stationary for the two weeks after. He got to jump on the trampoline at his grandparents', we took him and Desmond to their very first theather movie (Finding Dory) and we focused on his 7th birthday. We let him ride his new scooter late that night to make sure he got a chance to try it out.
The day before his procedure we received a call with his surgery time. He wouldn't be checking in until 8:45 and his surgery wouldn't be until 9:45. I was dreading a long morning of having to keep him from eating and drinking. We kept him up late so he could have a snack prior to the midnight cut off and we kept spirits high by making a batch of homemade vanilla ice cream together.
The day before his procedure we received a call with his surgery time. He wouldn't be checking in until 8:45 and his surgery wouldn't be until 9:45. I was dreading a long morning of having to keep him from eating and drinking. We kept him up late so he could have a snack prior to the midnight cut off and we kept spirits high by making a batch of homemade vanilla ice cream together.
The next morning Malakai only showed one small moment of worry when he got into the car and said "I'm not so sure I want to go to magic sleepy town today" (this is our way of explaining going under general anesthesia that we had made up the previous summer when he was having ear tubes placed). We talked it over and then he was totally fine, dreaming of ice cream for dinner. During our wait he played some games and read a book. Everything was very prompt, he got back to be admitted quickly and fairly easily. He wasn't a fan of the hair covering but he complied after a few chats about why it was necessary and seeing the nurses wearing them as well. He went under anesthesia easily but for some reason I teared up, which I have every time I've seen him go under. Something about it is just the slightest bit unsettling.
I went back to Ben in the admission area and we walked out to the waiting room together where my dad was. I text family and friends that he was in surgery and we chatted casually. He was done in about 20 minutes, his surgeon said everything went perfectly but "now you have the hard part" in reference to navigating his recovery. We waited another 15 minutes or so before the recovery nurse called us back. Malakai was still asleep and she encouraged us to let him wake naturally. She started to chat with us about his recovery when he coughed and began to wake up. His dry and barky cough was startling. The nurse said it was likely a symptom of his being intubated and that getting him to drink, putting an ice pack on his throat and giving him anti-inflammatory meds would help that get better faster. I can't imagine how uncomfortable it had to be to cough after a throat surgery. He was a bit disoriented and didn't really say anything at first but he came out of anesthesia very calmly. He did say he had some pain so the before removing his IV she gave him a dose of pain medicine in it and made sure his IV fluids finished up so he was well hyrdated from the start. He requested a popsicle, and another before we left. They also gave him a dose of liquid ibuprofen.
She talked us through his discharge and recovery instructions, writing down most of it. She made sure to tell Malakai that he could not run or ride his bike for two weeks, he needed to avoid anything that would cause him to breath heavily. He turned to Ben and I and said "I don't think I should go to swimming lessons" with such sweet concern in his temporarily higher pitched voice. We assured him that he would miss a few sessions until he was all healed up. My responsible little kiddo.
We carried him out to the car and I sat with him in the back of the van to make sure I was within reach if he needed anything during the trip home. We said goodbye to G'Pa and made our way back. The entire process was only about 4 hours. When we came home we settled him into bed and he wanted to eat more popsicles right away. We made sure he had plenty of cold water at all times and I set up several little stations to make aiding him easier. He would be staying in our bedroom so I could sleep next to him for a few nights, Ben would be in the bottom bunk in the boys' room and Des would be in the top bunk. Kai had a tv tray next to the bed with a plastic tray of medicines and droppers, a bell to ring if he needed something (although he had someone by his side constantly for the first day and a half), his water, some books and the tv remote. We set up a humidifier on the night stand next to him as well to help with that barky cough.
I set up an app on my phone called "dosecast" that helped me keep track of when to give him medicine but I also kept a paper record. The app alerted me of when he was due a dose of something but the hard copy helped for having a longer history of what we had given him and when. He was on a hydrocodone and we were alternating doses of ibuprofen based on the discharge instructions which meant waking up that night every 3 hours then 1 hour on a rotating basis. It wasn't until the next day we consulted a nurse at his pediatrician's office about his pain medicines and found out that we could give him both at the same time which meant I only had to get up every 4 hours. Having him in our room made that part easier but it was still tiring. None of the exhaustion mattered as long as he was doing well.
Ben had taken the day of surgery off but needed to work from home the rest of the week. It was a nice compromise between him being able to get work done but also be here to help as needed. Malakai was really needy those first couple of days so I spent a lot of time at his side which meant Ben was on duty to care for Desmond and Aurelia much of the day.
On day two of his recovery my aunt brought us dinner and there was macaroni and cheese as a side. Malakai wanted to eat some so we let him try it (his surgeon had said it would be fine to let him eat softer solid foods as soon as he wanted) and he ate a small bowl of it. We were shocked and very excited that he was willing to eat. He was doing great at eating and staying hydrated, which were our main concerns about his recovery. Our secondary concern was managing his pain which we felt like was going well...until it wasn't.
We went by the discharge paperwork and started to give him less of the narcotic pain medicine on day 4 which ended up being a disaster as that was his most painful day. We tried again a couple days later with mixed results. He did great during the day, he was able to tell us his pain level and it wasn't so bad with less and less medicine but one night he was inconsolable and we couldn't get him to take his medicine. By that time he was back in his room but on the bottom bunk. When we tried to give him his dose of medicine before we went to bed he sort of freaked out and refused to take it, he was acting so strangely it was really quite scary. Ben spoke to a nurse and she said it sounded like night terrors. She was totally right, we have experienced night terrors before but being so caught up in recovery and pain management we were thinking it was something related to those things, especially since it was happening when he was due a dose of medicine. She did say it could be his narcotic pain meds causing him to sleep so deeply he wasn't waking fully but it was unlikely since he was having less of them. He had another night terror the following night but it went by much faster because we knew how to handle it, thankfully he hasn't had any since.
We weren't able to really start letting him sleep through the night without pain meds until closer to 7 days this was around when we were able to start giving him less medicine during the day. About 10 days later we were just giving him medicine when he asked for it, which was usually by the end of the day just before bed. By the full two weeks he was off medicines completely and able to play normally again. During those two weeks he watched a lot of tv, played on the ipad, read books, played some minecraft on the xbox with Ben and Desmond and had a lot of caring visitors who brought him things to do and eat and even brought meals for the rest of us. We felt very well taken care of which was so valuable in allowing us to focus on taking care of him.
Near the end of the 2 weeks we eased him back into being out of the house and expending more energy. He would usually self regulate his activity level. Even when he was outdoors he did a lot of stationary activities.
Unfortunately Desmond and Aurelia both struggled a bit with the shift in routine. Desmond really had a hard time with Malakai getting to eat jello and popsicles all day even though he usually had a popsicle once a day as well. It was hard for him to not keep score but it was a good lesson for him. The hardest part was being torn in my giving attention to all the kids. Aurelia really wanted to be with mama a lot. We let them come snuggle up with us as much as possible but a lot of the time it just didn't work out. Aurelia was very clingy to me as things started to go back to normal, it has only just recently gotten better.
Malakai was so brave and relatively easy to care for through out the whole thing. Even with the few rough moments I am just so thankful for how smoothly things went compared to how it could have gone. I was told several stories of other very difficult recoveries with complicaitons so I was prepared for the worst while hoping for the best. We are happy we made the decision to have Malakai's tonsils removed, at this point he isn't snoring at night and seems better rested during the day because of it. I think it is safe to say he no longer has sleep apnea, now we will just be praying it helps him stay healthier during cold season!
I would be happy to pass along any tips and tricks if you find yourself with a kiddo facing this procedure. Everyone recovers differently of course but it was helpful for me to be aware of possible outcomes. I gathered information and experiences from other parents before and during recovery. We are just so blessed by our little community both locally and through the internet.
Thursday, April 14, 2016
Essential Oils: How NOT to buy
I've been getting a lot of questions lately about how to get started with purchasing and using essential oils. I love oils so much and really believe in their many uses and benefits as we've seen them first hand in our family, so I'm sharing about them all the time. If you are a local friend or family member of mine I've probably offered you an essential oil to try.
There are plenty of ways to purchase essential oils; unfortunately not all of them are beneficial. For this reason, I'm going to cover the best ways to purchase essential oils (at the end of the post) as well as
Where and how NOT to buy essential oils
Where and how NOT to buy essential oils
1. Do not buy Essential Oils at discount sites.
I'm a very frugal gal. I will search for deals all over the place, my favorite being certain websites with "prime" benefits. Great deals shipped to me in 2 days! Who can resist! There are a lot of great things to buy on websites like this, but essential oils are not one of them, and here's why:
How to buy pure + potent essential oils:
Once you sign up to become a Wellness Advocate and purchase your welcome kit, you will be invited into our private Facebook group where we can ask questions, share oil tips, business tips and success stories.
- These oils do not come from the source. Reputable essential oil companies do not condone the selling of their product on 3rd party websites, which means that these oils aren't coming from the company, even if it says their name under "seller". (Talk about an ethics issue!)
- These oils are not guaranteed pure and potent. If they don't come from the source, there is no way to be sure what you are actually getting. Even though the bottle is "sealed" it doesn't mean it hasn't been tampered with. Re-capping supplies can also easily be purchased online!
Bottom line: if the price seems "too good to be true" it definitely is.
2. Do not buy essential oils from the grocery store or other storefronts.
Oils you buy at the grocery store may seem convenient and even a great value, but that's not always the case.
- These oils are often not pure and potent. I would never recommend using these oils topically or internally as they are most often only meant for aromatic use. In my opinion, if I can't safely use an oil topically, I don't want it floating around in the air I breathe either.
- If you read the label, many of these oils are diluted with a carrier oil. So when you thought you were saving money based on the sticker price, you actually aren't based on potency.
3. Do not buy essential oils without a wellness advocate.
I know multi-level marketing type sales are a big turn off for many but they are actually providing stable income for many people in a respectable and ethical format. Trusted companies choose this method to benefit the consumer!
Here's how:
- If you buy oils at the grocery store, online, etc. you don't always know what you're getting- as mentioned above. When you buy from the source you have access to all their ingredients and where the plants came from!
- When you buy without a wellness advocate you may not be getting the oils you actually need and end up wasting money.
- When you buy from a company that is offering deep discounts it may be at the cost of their farmers or other employees. What I love about my favorite essential oil company is not only do they pay farmers and distillers fair wages year round, they partner with them to educate them on the best methods to ensure pure and potent oils. Just Google co-impact sourcing!
- With a wellness advocate you get a teacher, a mentor , a friend who can guide you through the purchasing process and beyond. We are here to help you figure out what oils are best for you and your family as well as to teach you how to safely and effectively use them! Plus 9 times out of 10 you can get a sample of an oil to try before you buy- what online retailer or grocery store offers that?!
How to buy pure + potent essential oils:
1. Retail- you can conveniently purchase essential oils and other wellness products with my guidance online. In doing so you can be sure I will help you along the way with uses and benefits!
2. Wholesale- If you'd like to join just for the wholesale discount then that's great! There will be no pressure from me to ever sell anything. If you'd like to pursue the business side of things, we will happily walk you through that too! Again, just contact me by email and I'll get you going!
Once you sign up to become a Wellness Advocate and purchase your welcome kit, you will be invited into our private Facebook group where we can ask questions, share oil tips, business tips and success stories.
If you sign up with me as a wholesale distributor, you will receive:
Wholesale pricing (25% discount)
No monthly order required
Option to receive 10-30% of your total purchase back in FREE product points
Eligibility to receive a FREE Product of the Month
Ability to earn compensation and bonuses
This is the lowest overall product cost + smartest way to buy
If you're ready to learn more about how to purchase + use my favorite pure essential oils, please contact me via email and I will help you get started!
Disclaimer- This information is my opinion based on my experiences and resources. Please use common sense and the advice of your qualified health professional when making your health decisions. These statements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease.
Friday, April 1, 2016
Fighting off Seasonal Threats...
Spring is here and I am FEELING it! Are you? Goodness, it's so annoying to have itchy, watery eyes, and respiratory discomfort when the weather is finally sunny + enjoyable. Right now tree pollen is making it's way around to bother those of us that suffer from this type of seasonal threat and by the time it lets up, grass will be in full force!
In the past I've tried several options that claim to make all these issues go away. One worked for a little while but not even a whole season, and I still had 3/4 of the bottle left! Money wasted!
What works for me now? I'm sure many of you have already guessed, essential oils! There are several kinds that can help support healthy respiratory function and different ways to use them to best help with what your specific needs are. Try one or two solutions or implement them all! Read on to find out my favorite ways to use essential oils to alleviate seasonal discomforts...
The best oils for this job are lemon, lavender, and peppermint: a trifecta of oils affectionately referred to as LLP. Together they are a refreshing and invigorating way to support healthy respiratory function.
If you're new to oils, the 3 main ways to use them are topically (on the skin), aromatically (breathing them in), and internally (by way of capsules or in food/drinks).
Essential Oil uses to fight off seasonal threats:
In the past I've tried several options that claim to make all these issues go away. One worked for a little while but not even a whole season, and I still had 3/4 of the bottle left! Money wasted!
What works for me now? I'm sure many of you have already guessed, essential oils! There are several kinds that can help support healthy respiratory function and different ways to use them to best help with what your specific needs are. Try one or two solutions or implement them all! Read on to find out my favorite ways to use essential oils to alleviate seasonal discomforts...
The best oils for this job are lemon, lavender, and peppermint: a trifecta of oils affectionately referred to as LLP. Together they are a refreshing and invigorating way to support healthy respiratory function.
If you're new to oils, the 3 main ways to use them are topically (on the skin), aromatically (breathing them in), and internally (by way of capsules or in food/drinks).
Essential Oil uses to fight off seasonal threats:
Topically
>>When using essential oils topically I always advise the use of a "carrier" oil to avoid any skin sensitivies and to make a small amount of oils go futher! If using lemon or other citrus essential oils, please avoid direct sun exposure to the area for 12 hours due to increased photo-sensitivity.
>>Apply your diluted oils to your temples (closer to your hairline than your eyes!), the back of your neck and bottoms of the feet. If you experience seasonal eye discomfort, you can apply a small amount of your blend to your wrists and lightly dab your wrists around the eye socket.
>>A great way to simplify application are these handy glass rollerball bottles. I have these for all my favorite topical solutions. I just add oils, top off with a carrier oil (fractionated coconut oils is my favorite) and they're ready to go!
Aromatically
>>Diffusing these oils can be very effective, as often the respiratory system is affected greatly this time of year. Purchase a quality essential oil diffuser and add your oils for a breath of fresh air!
>>Diffusing is also great because the extra moisture helps to soothe those dried out sinuses!
>>For those without a diffuser, or when you're out and about you can simply add a drop or two to your palm, rub hands together and cup over your face to inhale.
Internally
Internally
>>I always recommend internal use be reserved for adults only. This is my personal preference. Additionally, a good rule of thumb is to not exceed 10-12 drops of oil taken internally per day.
>>Put a few drops of each essential oil in a gel/veggie capsule and swallow. This can be repeated several times a day as desired.
>>No capsules? A mouthful of water in a spoon or shot glass with your oils added can do the trick as well. In fact, one of my preferred methods for supporting seasonal discomforts is to add one drop each lemon, lavender, and peppermint oils to a tablespoon of water and simply swish, gargle and swallow. So refereshing!
>>And with any essential oils you'd like to take internally, you can simply add to your drinking water! Just make sure you are using only glass or stainless steel as the oils can degrade plastic. A drop or 2 to ice water is so nice, or add oils to some hot water with honey for a comforting tea!
Want to learn more about my favorite essential oils?
Send me an email so we chat about it!
Disclaimer- This information is my opinion based on my experiences and resources. Please use common sense and the advice of your qualified health professional when making your health decisions. These statements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease.
Disclaimer- This information is my opinion based on my experiences and resources. Please use common sense and the advice of your qualified health professional when making your health decisions. These statements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease.
Thursday, February 5, 2015
How I Started Using Essential Oils
A little over a year ago I started sampling essential oils with the advice of a friend. The biggest impact was a calming blend. My boys struggled to get to sleep and stay asleep at night. I mixed a few drops of the calming blend with unscented lotion (or coconut oil) and slathered it on their feet and the back of their necks at bedtime. In the beginning they did drift off a little faster, but Desmond would still wake in the middle of the night. Ben would reapply (we started using a roller with fractionated coconut oil which was much easier) and Des would ease back to sleep. After a while, he didn't wake at night anymore.
Later I started using the calming blend as well when I found I couldn't fall asleep because my mind was too busy to slow down and let me rest. It helped me fall asleep faster. Then Ben's sleep "antics" started to become a problem (he's been a sleep walker for a long time, especially when he's very tired). Neither one of us was getting enough sleep because of his frequent and jolting night waking. He decided to try the calming blend first and it worked! He falls asleep quickly and sleeps more soundly all night. All of our initial experiences were so positive, I just couldn't wait to try more essential oils!
That's just one small part of my testimony for essential oil use. I will share more in posts here and there along with tutorials for homemade products using essential oils and other ways to use specific oils and blends.
I would love to help you try essential oils for the first time or add to your collection. Head to my essential oils page for more information. Contact me to get started on your wellness journey!
Disclaimer- This information is my opinion based on my experiences and resources. Please use common sense and the advice of your qualified health professional when making your health decisions. These statements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease.
We use essential oils because of the health benefits we've seen in our family. Every person is different and you might not experience the same results, although I truly hope you will!
Thank you so much!
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
symptoms + "remedies"
It's funny how we use the word symptoms when referring to the normal things that happen to our bodies when we're pregnant, and also to list the things that are wrong with us when we're sick. Sometimes, especially early on, pregnancy can feel more like being sick than anything else.
With Malakai I had nausea but no vomiting from 7 weeks to 13 weeks. It was uncomfortable, yet manageable. This time around, the nausea hit me at the same time, but with more force. As I mentioned earlier, I switched from a prescription prenatal vitamin to a lower over the counter dose and it got better. Then, the heartburn hit. The first time I had ever experienced heartburn was when I was about 7 months pregnant with Malakai. At that point everything is so squished it's a pretty common complaint. At 8 weeks, I was not expecting heartburn + nausea at the same time. I know it could be worse, but it's certainly not fun!
I had my first OB appointment last week. I got some tips from the nurse about taking B6 for nausea (apparently I wasn't taking enough), and picked up some generic zantac for my heartburn on the way home. Neither one has helped much. I quit taking the B6 again, I truly think my body hates that stuff. I've also switched to an even more mild vitamin...chewables. Yep, like Flinstone variety vitamins. They told me to take 2 a day in place of my other vitamins and it's the same thing but much more gentle on my tummy. It's kind of funny.
I've also been getting headaches: tension headaches but not quite migraines (thank God). Before pregnancy I would treat headaches like this with a 16 ounce dose of iced caramel machiatto. It.worked.wonders. Now that I'm not supposed to have caffeine I would probably splurge for on in decaf form BUT since coffee irritates heartburn I'm stuck with tylenol... which does nothing.
Some other remedies for nausea that I've found:
It's been 2 weeks, going on 3 but it has felt like forever. I hesitate to count down to the 13 week mark in case I don't feel better by then. I'm at the point where I'm sick + tired of being sick + tired. The house is getting worse + worse by the day as I focus all my energy on Kai while he's awake and my part-time job + some rest of my own during nap times. I know in the grand scheme of things that the piles of laundry don't matter, but it's certainly starting to bug me. What's worse the smell in the fridge that kills me every time I open it and Ben hasn't had a chance to investigate. I can't handle it. Someone get me a flu mask.
With Malakai I had nausea but no vomiting from 7 weeks to 13 weeks. It was uncomfortable, yet manageable. This time around, the nausea hit me at the same time, but with more force. As I mentioned earlier, I switched from a prescription prenatal vitamin to a lower over the counter dose and it got better. Then, the heartburn hit. The first time I had ever experienced heartburn was when I was about 7 months pregnant with Malakai. At that point everything is so squished it's a pretty common complaint. At 8 weeks, I was not expecting heartburn + nausea at the same time. I know it could be worse, but it's certainly not fun!
I had my first OB appointment last week. I got some tips from the nurse about taking B6 for nausea (apparently I wasn't taking enough), and picked up some generic zantac for my heartburn on the way home. Neither one has helped much. I quit taking the B6 again, I truly think my body hates that stuff. I've also switched to an even more mild vitamin...chewables. Yep, like Flinstone variety vitamins. They told me to take 2 a day in place of my other vitamins and it's the same thing but much more gentle on my tummy. It's kind of funny.
I've also been getting headaches: tension headaches but not quite migraines (thank God). Before pregnancy I would treat headaches like this with a 16 ounce dose of iced caramel machiatto. It.worked.wonders. Now that I'm not supposed to have caffeine I would probably splurge for on in decaf form BUT since coffee irritates heartburn I'm stuck with tylenol... which does nothing.
Some other remedies for nausea that I've found:
- Vanilla wafers
- ginger ale
- gatorade (instead of plain water)
- lemon in water (except when I have heartburn, citrus irritates it)
- oyster crackers
- apples + applesauce
- popsicles
- snacking all day
Some remedies for heartburn:
- Tums smoothies, they aren't as chalky so they agree with the nausea. They taste like smarties :)
- Sitting up for at least half an hour after a meal even though I want to lay down
- popsicles (I have one almost every night before bed)
- yogurt + frozen yogurt
- avoiding onions, citrus, tomato sauce, spices, caffeine, high fat content foods
- small meals + snacks throughout the day and eating less at regular meal times.
It's been 2 weeks, going on 3 but it has felt like forever. I hesitate to count down to the 13 week mark in case I don't feel better by then. I'm at the point where I'm sick + tired of being sick + tired. The house is getting worse + worse by the day as I focus all my energy on Kai while he's awake and my part-time job + some rest of my own during nap times. I know in the grand scheme of things that the piles of laundry don't matter, but it's certainly starting to bug me. What's worse the smell in the fridge that kills me every time I open it and Ben hasn't had a chance to investigate. I can't handle it. Someone get me a flu mask.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Thankful on a Thursday: take care
This week has been pretty challenging. Actually, the past two weeks have been a bit difficult. Nothing overly dramatic or significant, I'm just sick. I finally found out what was going on with me yesterday and am taking medication to get better. I'm terrible at getting myself in to the doctor.
I've started to notice that I'm not very good at taking care of myself. I pride myself on taking care of my son, husband, and our household as well as our friends + family when they visit or are in need. I didn't notice that I was neglecting myself. I've been forgetting to eat lunch until it's almost dinner time, I rarely get my hair cut (once or twice a year if I'm lucky), I often don't get the time to shower if I'm just staying around the house, and I don't see a problem in having my family go to the dentist, optometrist, and doctor when it's necessary, but think it's much too expensive for me to go.
It's bad, I know. I think it took me getting sick and ignoring it for so long that I started to think I had something more serious when the symptoms became more severe. I'm fine, but was scared for a bit there. Perhaps I should stop looking up medical things online and let my doctors take care of it. Scaring myself with WebMD's symptom checker did motivate me to get to the doctor though, so that's a plus.
This week I'm thankful for
361. comfort + wisdom from doctors.
362. the way Ben takes care of me + the hard work he does around the house (the leaves are beautiful but they don't rake themselves!)
363. once again, free babysitting. We've been needing a sitter for Malakai more often with some obligations at our church. Our family + friends have been so generous.
364. no-internet cuddle time on the couch after Kai's bedtime.
365. the beauty of the fog. the valley was flooded in grey water particles this morning.
366. story time.
367. Malakai's new found ability to soothe himself to sleep. so so thankful for this.
368. another daycare opportunity starting in 2 weeks. More on that to come.
369. the refreshing feeling after a long overdue haircut.
370. sunny + warm fall afternoons.
Unfortunately Nish over at The Outdoor Wife is no longer hosting Thankful on a Thursday. Which is why you don't see the usual linky image here. I've done it every week since she started it in March and will continue to do so. It's part of my weekly routine and as I've said before, it's a great reminder to look for the positive each week. I encourage you to take part and if you do, leave me a link here so myself and anyone who stops by here can read your post.
I've started to notice that I'm not very good at taking care of myself. I pride myself on taking care of my son, husband, and our household as well as our friends + family when they visit or are in need. I didn't notice that I was neglecting myself. I've been forgetting to eat lunch until it's almost dinner time, I rarely get my hair cut (once or twice a year if I'm lucky), I often don't get the time to shower if I'm just staying around the house, and I don't see a problem in having my family go to the dentist, optometrist, and doctor when it's necessary, but think it's much too expensive for me to go.
It's bad, I know. I think it took me getting sick and ignoring it for so long that I started to think I had something more serious when the symptoms became more severe. I'm fine, but was scared for a bit there. Perhaps I should stop looking up medical things online and let my doctors take care of it. Scaring myself with WebMD's symptom checker did motivate me to get to the doctor though, so that's a plus.
This week I'm thankful for
361. comfort + wisdom from doctors.
362. the way Ben takes care of me + the hard work he does around the house (the leaves are beautiful but they don't rake themselves!)
363. once again, free babysitting. We've been needing a sitter for Malakai more often with some obligations at our church. Our family + friends have been so generous.
364. no-internet cuddle time on the couch after Kai's bedtime.
365. the beauty of the fog. the valley was flooded in grey water particles this morning.
366. story time.
{Malakai prefers to "read" to himself except at bedtime with daddy}
367. Malakai's new found ability to soothe himself to sleep. so so thankful for this.
368. another daycare opportunity starting in 2 weeks. More on that to come.
369. the refreshing feeling after a long overdue haircut.
{just as the rain started to add some unwanted "volume"}
370. sunny + warm fall afternoons.
Unfortunately Nish over at The Outdoor Wife is no longer hosting Thankful on a Thursday. Which is why you don't see the usual linky image here. I've done it every week since she started it in March and will continue to do so. It's part of my weekly routine and as I've said before, it's a great reminder to look for the positive each week. I encourage you to take part and if you do, leave me a link here so myself and anyone who stops by here can read your post.
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