Good morning! I'm lying in bed on this gloomy Saturday and since I've got some time before CrossFit, I figured it was the perfect opportunity to do some writing. I know its been far too long, but with all the changes in the Anderson household, I've been lucky to have time for anything! So today I wanted to share a little about my newest passion, essential oils. Now I've been using oils for years, mostly in cleaning products, but lately I've taken it to a whole new level.
My husband suffers from pretty awful allergies, which cause his asthma to flare up, so I am always on the hunt for natural remedies. I had heard in the past that there was a combination of oils that could be used for allergy symptom relief so a couple months ago I began a quest to discover this magical concoction. My online search brought me to this blog and ended up meeting with the writer, Mary Crimmins just a few days later. Mary is a local yoga teacher, health advocate, and consultant for dōTERRA (one the most highly respected essential oil companies in the world). Although I'd heard of dōTERRA, I really didn't know much about the company, let alone the differences between all the various oil brands. Like other supplements and "alternative" products, there is no regulatory board that certifies essential oils, so companies can make all kinds of claims about their products. This makes it difficult to discern if the oil or oil containing product you are buying is good quality. If you wander down to your local Wholefoods or other healthfood store, as I've been doing, you'll likely find essential oils but I challenge you to find one that contains only pure oil and no fillers. Additionally, its almost impossible to find one that you can use internally. That is perhaps the most compelling reason for me use choose dōTERRA’s products. Because their oils can be taken internally, you have even more options for use.
Here's a little tidbit from the company website:
dōTERRA’s therapeutic-grade essential oils are 100% pure natural aromatic compounds carefully extracted from plants. They do not contain fillers or artificial ingredients that would dilute their active qualities. Proper extraction and quality control methods also ensure that dōTERRA’s essential oils are free of any contaminants such as pesticides or other chemical residues. In addition to being 100% pure and natural, dōTERRA’s Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade essential oils are subjected to further quality testing that ensures the correct composition of the active natural compounds found in each oil. Even though an essential oil may be 100% pure, if the right species or part of a plant has not been used, or if the plant has not been grown in the right environment or harvested at the right time, or if it has not been distilled under the right conditions, the natural chemical makeup of the extraction will not provide as predictable and powerful a benefit. In some cases, the wrong plant harvested at the wrong time may result in an extract that contains harmful levels of some constituents
After meeting with Mary my head was absolutely spinning with all the potential uses for essential oils. I almost didn't know where to begin so I ended up purchasing a kit containing 10 oils, and adding a couple extras to get me started. Here's what I got:
melaleuca
lavender
oregano
lemon
Breathe (respitory blend)
Onguard (protective blend)
clary sage
bergamot
slim and sassy
peppermint
Frankincense
deep blue
So how have I been using the oils? Well I've always kept lavender, tea tree, and peppermint oil on hand because I use them in my various homemade cleaning products, deodorant, and moisturizer. I also use them with my doula clients. But, adding all these new oils has opened up a whole world of possibilities. Here is how I use them in my daily routine:
Lemon: lemon and other citrus fruits have amazing detoxifying properties. I add a couple drops to my glass water bottle, with lots of ice water, and sip it throughout the day. Not only does it add great flavor to my water, but it helps my liver detox all day long.
Bergamot: This is one of my absolute favorite oils for its beautiful scent. It has calming properties so I rub it on my wrists before leaving for work in the morning, and I break out the bottle for a quick sniff throughout the day. It instantly gives me the boost I need.
Lavender: Lavender is an incredibly beautiful scent and has calming, antidepressant, and antihistamine properties. It's a staple in my deodorant recipe and it works well as a facial toner. I often sprinkle a few drops in my bath water and I also place a drop or two on my pillow to promote a good night's sleep.
Melaleuca: this oil has great antibacterial properties so its ideal for use in cleaning products. I use it to help keep my acne prone skin clear. I mix it in with lavender and coconut oil and use it as an evening facial moisturizer.
Oregano: This oil is HOT! It needs to be diluted for use but it is incredibly effective for fighting infections. I always get a tinnea rash on my back in summer (happens as soon as it gets humid) so I mix oregano and coconut oil, and apply it to the rash daily until it's gone.
Onguard: This blend is absolutely amazing. Not only does it smell yummy, it is highly effective as both a nontoxic cleaner and an immune support. It's a combination of wild orange, clove, cinnamon, eucalyptus and rosemary oils. I usually rub a couple drops on the bottoms of my feet at night. If I feel a cold coming on, I'll put a couple drops under my tongue.
Deep Blue: This blend is a combination of wintergreen, camphor, peppermint, blue tansy, blue chamomile, helichrysum and osmanthus and is basically an all natural biofreeze. It is wonderful for sore muscles, something I have A LOT of experience with. I mix it with a little coconut oil and massage affected areas after a brutal WOD.
Frankincese: This is another oil that is fabulous for decreasing inflammation. I put 1-2 drops under my tongue each day and rub it on sore muscles or add it to my bath water.
Breathe: This blend is a combination of laurel leaf, peppermint, eucalyptus, tea tree, lemon and ravensara. It helps to open up the airways so its great for chest colds and asthma. I rub a few drops over Chad's chest at night and put a drop right under his nose. My next big purchase will be a diffuser so he can breathe in the scent all night.
These are the oils I use most often, but I'm learning more and more just how many possibilities there are for other uses. I just placed my next order, and I cannot wait to try out some new products. One thing I love about this company is that you can sign up as a "consultant" which essentially just gives you a 25% discount on products and allows your to accumulate credit, which can be redeemed for free products. So yes, you guessed it, I went ahead and enrolled because I definitely can't say no to a great deal! With as much oil as I use, this was the best choice for me. If you are interested in learning more, shoot me a message or check out my doTERRA website. Stay tuned for more!
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