When I first learned about essential oils, I realized that they were the exact answer for which I had been looking, but didn't truly believe existed. As I saw more and more friends using them, I realized that there are many people who, just like I was, are looking for these natural solutions in their lives. Since then I have become passionate about educating and empowering others with these beautiful tools. I teach regular classes on what essential oils are and how to use them, and if you are interested in either attending a class or holding one for your network, please email me! You will leave feel uplifted and empowered as you experience first hand the powerful effects of essential oils.
One of my favorite experiences to share in my classes is an oil experience with peppermint, which illustrates the three ways to use essential oils: internally, aromatically, and topically. Not every brand is safe to use all three ways, so be sure to do your research beforehand. The experience goes as follows: Place a drop of peppermint essential oil in the palm of your hand. Take the thumb of the opposite hand, and dip it in the drop of oil. Then place your thumb on the roof of your mouth, and slightly inhale. Almost immediately you can feel your airways open, and your breath freshen.
Next rub the palms of your hands together, cup them over your nose (be careful not to get it too close), and breathe in. Again, you will feel your airways open, but you will also feel more awake and alert. Lastly, rub your neck and shoulders with the peppermint left on your hands to ease any tension in your muscles, and cool your body. I use this exercise when I have been sitting for a few hours in a class or in the car, and it helps give my body and attention span that extra boost.
Now that it is summertime and the temperatures are quickly rising, you will appreciate peppermint for its cooling effects on the body. We like to use it for an after sun spray with lavender and coconut oil, or in a glass of water to feel refreshed and rejuvenated.
What is your favorite way to use peppermint essential oil?
Friday, June 24, 2016
Friday, June 3, 2016
Wild Orange
Some essential oils have a tint to them, like wild orange. I wouldn't put it on my pillow like I do lavender, because it will stain the sheets. Wild orange is my four-year old's favorite. One Sunday, while we were at church, she was feeling a little whiny and tired. Trying to keep her calm and focused, I pulled the bottle of wild orange out of my purse, took off the cap, and waved it around her nose. Immediately she took it from me and started placing drops in her hands and smelling it. Her mood changed instantly, as if I had given her some candy. She wouldn't put the bottle down. She happened to be wearing a white dress that day, so I told her, "Be careful- it can stain your dress, and we won't be able to get it out," to which she replied, "But it will smell good!" (I got smart and filled a tiny sample roll-on vial with it so she could have her own and the oil wouldn't come out as quickly.)
The science of aromatherapy is nothing new. A certain scent can take you back to a specific time/place/memory in an instant. The smell of citrus is sweet and light, causing an uplifting effect. It doesn't take long for the aroma to put you in a better mood. For that reason, it is effective in helping to relieve stress. Simply place a drop in the palm of your hand, rub your hands together, cup them over your nose, and breathe in. We also like to pair it with peppermint in the diffuser to aid in focus.
Wild orange is also used in a protective blend with clove, cinnamon, eucalyptus, and rosemary. This blend has been my go-to lately, since we have been traveling. Everyone wants to feel their best self, especially when traveling, but switching climates, being exposed to different pollen/microbes and simply getting out of the normal routine can often have a negative effect on your body. I used this blend every night with my children on our last trip, and it was a life-saver. I could tell their little bodies needed a bit of an immunity boost, and the oil supported them well. What I loved most was that at the end of the trip, I was feeling better too! When you use essential oils to help others, you cannot help but be blessed from their healing power yourself.
Wild orange is also used in a protective blend with clove, cinnamon, eucalyptus, and rosemary. This blend has been my go-to lately, since we have been traveling. Everyone wants to feel their best self, especially when traveling, but switching climates, being exposed to different pollen/microbes and simply getting out of the normal routine can often have a negative effect on your body. I used this blend every night with my children on our last trip, and it was a life-saver. I could tell their little bodies needed a bit of an immunity boost, and the oil supported them well. What I loved most was that at the end of the trip, I was feeling better too! When you use essential oils to help others, you cannot help but be blessed from their healing power yourself.
What's YOUR favorite essential oil, and why?
Saturday, May 14, 2016
Frankincense
If you could only have ONE essential oil, which would it be? Easy. Frankincense. My mom says the same thing. She doesn't like to carry around a bunch of oils when she travels, so she just carries around the one that's good for anything: frankincense. Gives greater depth as to why it was given to the Christ Child. The ability to use something natural to support and strengthen the body is exciting in and of itself, but FRANKINCENSE?!? That's just icing on the cake.
Some common ways to use frankincense include the following:
• Diffuse during yoga for focus.
• Add to your favorite moisturizer to promote healthy skin.
• Apply to the bottom of your feet to promote feelings of relaxation and to balance mood.
• After a day of outdoor activity, massage Frankincense into hands and feet for a warming and soothing effect.
Frankincense will also support any of the essential oils with which it is used. For example, just today I noticed that my 11 month old wasn't quite himself and I wanted to use something that would support a healthy immune system. so I put a drop of a protective blend, followed by a drop of frankincense. Last night, he woke up in the middle of the night, and was having a hard time falling back asleep. I put a drop of a calming blend, and added frankincense, knowing the two would help promote a restful night's sleep.
It is incredible how different scents can promote different feelings. The science of aroma is a post for another day, but being on the subject of frankincense, I will highlight one of my favorite uses. With it being the oil used for the Christ Child, simply placing a drop over my heart during prayer deepens the connection I feel to God. The world (and sometimes my own thoughts) often creates distance between me and my Father in Heaven, and so I use all the tools that I can to bridge that gap and stay in tune with His will.
Saying I have a favorite oil is like saying I have a favorite song, book, or movie. There is never just one, and even if there was, it would likely change from time to time. But if I could only have one essential oil, hands down I would choose frankincense. Addressing physical, emotional, AND spiritual needs, it truly is "the king" of all oils.
Some common ways to use frankincense include the following:
• Diffuse during yoga for focus.
• Add to your favorite moisturizer to promote healthy skin.
• Apply to the bottom of your feet to promote feelings of relaxation and to balance mood.
• After a day of outdoor activity, massage Frankincense into hands and feet for a warming and soothing effect.
Frankincense will also support any of the essential oils with which it is used. For example, just today I noticed that my 11 month old wasn't quite himself and I wanted to use something that would support a healthy immune system. so I put a drop of a protective blend, followed by a drop of frankincense. Last night, he woke up in the middle of the night, and was having a hard time falling back asleep. I put a drop of a calming blend, and added frankincense, knowing the two would help promote a restful night's sleep.
It is incredible how different scents can promote different feelings. The science of aroma is a post for another day, but being on the subject of frankincense, I will highlight one of my favorite uses. With it being the oil used for the Christ Child, simply placing a drop over my heart during prayer deepens the connection I feel to God. The world (and sometimes my own thoughts) often creates distance between me and my Father in Heaven, and so I use all the tools that I can to bridge that gap and stay in tune with His will.
Saying I have a favorite oil is like saying I have a favorite song, book, or movie. There is never just one, and even if there was, it would likely change from time to time. But if I could only have one essential oil, hands down I would choose frankincense. Addressing physical, emotional, AND spiritual needs, it truly is "the king" of all oils.
Monday, May 9, 2016
Where It Began
It all began in the summer of 2009. I was visiting my best friend, and she took me to her kitchen, where I saw, sprawled out all over the counter, bottles and bottles of what she called "essential oil". Huh? You mean the oil in this little bottle can help relieve head tension AND stomach discomfort? And that other little bottle of oil over there is good for anything and everything? It didn't make sense to me, but I LOVED it. I wanted to smell every bottle, and I'm pretty sure I did. It's a good thing my friend was as excited to share as I was to learn.
I always knew that one day I would learn more about herbs and natural concoctions of sorts, but was never assertive enough to get out there and do it. The task always seemed overwhelming and I knew no mentor. But there it was right in front of me, and so beautifully and simply packaged. All the hard work of growing, distilling, measuring DONE. But how does it work? You just open the bottle? Just a drop? Again, it made no sense to me, but I LOVED it! So simple. I love simple.
I'm also a slow learner. Fast forward a few years to the summer of 2012 when my husband and I made the decision to move ourselves and our three children to Las Cruces, NM to be closer to family, with no job and no insurance. I finally bought a set of oils from my sister-in-law, and used a blend of oils known for supporting the immune system. If I ever forgot, my son would sweetly remind me, "Oh Mom- the cinnamon roll! Do the cinnamon roll!" I loved watching him breathe in the aroma from his hands afterward with a sigh of pleasure, and was grateful for that time I had to connect with him and with my daughters every night. They got the oil; I got the oil. Win-win.
Even after a few experiences I wondered if these oils "worked". I put that in quotation marks because whether or not you think the oils work, they are still complex structures made up of compounds that interact with the cells in our body in amazingly beneficial ways. It's not rocket science, but it IS science. After a number of positive experiences with the oils, the experiences became more than just coincidences, and I knew I had something that I needed to share with the world. So here it is.
I always knew that one day I would learn more about herbs and natural concoctions of sorts, but was never assertive enough to get out there and do it. The task always seemed overwhelming and I knew no mentor. But there it was right in front of me, and so beautifully and simply packaged. All the hard work of growing, distilling, measuring DONE. But how does it work? You just open the bottle? Just a drop? Again, it made no sense to me, but I LOVED it! So simple. I love simple.
I'm also a slow learner. Fast forward a few years to the summer of 2012 when my husband and I made the decision to move ourselves and our three children to Las Cruces, NM to be closer to family, with no job and no insurance. I finally bought a set of oils from my sister-in-law, and used a blend of oils known for supporting the immune system. If I ever forgot, my son would sweetly remind me, "Oh Mom- the cinnamon roll! Do the cinnamon roll!" I loved watching him breathe in the aroma from his hands afterward with a sigh of pleasure, and was grateful for that time I had to connect with him and with my daughters every night. They got the oil; I got the oil. Win-win.
Even after a few experiences I wondered if these oils "worked". I put that in quotation marks because whether or not you think the oils work, they are still complex structures made up of compounds that interact with the cells in our body in amazingly beneficial ways. It's not rocket science, but it IS science. After a number of positive experiences with the oils, the experiences became more than just coincidences, and I knew I had something that I needed to share with the world. So here it is.
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