Essential Oils: Part Four (My Top 10)

Yeah, so remember that part in last night's post where I promised to share my top 10 personal favorite EO's? I must have been delirious from lack of sleep because it has been near impossible to only pick 10 favorites! This may have something to do with the fact that Tim and I have consistently good results when we use the oils in our ever growing collection, and discovering that there truly is an oil for everything. Alas, here is my current list of top 10 EO's and their most common uses. These lists are most definitely not complete and is largely compiled from the EO's I find to be the most versatile (in other words, they get plenty of use around our house).

Lavender:  This is one that gets use every. single. day. around our house and should really be considered to have super powers.  It is a gentile oil that is generally safe for everyone (even the littles) to use aromatically, topically, and internally. Lavender is a natural antihistamine (which comes in handy this time of year), and is commonly used for health concerns such as: allergy relief, relaxation/sleep aid, anxiety, bug bites/stings, burns, diaper rash, dry/fragile hair and hair loss, poison ivy/oak, rashes, seizures, dry skin, sunburn, teething pain, vertigo, wounds, and so much more!

Lemon: Rather than using the actual fruit, this EO is collected from the rind (as with all the citrus oils) and can be used aromatically, topically, and internally. With lemon's anticancer, antidepressant, antiseptic, antifungal, antioxident, astringent, and invigorating properties, it is great for purification, bite/stings, blood pressure regulation, colds, disinfecting, aiding with digestion, stress, throat infections, furniture polish, getting gum/stickiness removal, grief/sorrow, and heartburn.

Peppermint: Not only does it smell cool, invigorating, and refreshing, peppermint EO has several impressive uses including: headache relief, fever reduction, digestive support, heartburn relief, memory support, motion sickness, muscle aches, breath freshener, ulcers, and varicose veins.

Side note..... Lavender, Lemon, and Peppermint are the first the EO's I started out with as part of a small intro kit and I quickly realized why they were suggested. These three EO's totally rock! If you are overwhelmed with where to begin, I highly recommend you starting with these. I have been continuously finding new ways to use them, even with over a year of use. doTERRA has posted 101 uses for these three oils & you'll find them here. Seriously, check it out... there are some really great tips there :)

Got it? Ok! Were moving on.... with the remaining 7 oils, I am going to briefly share how I use each one.

Frankincense: To me, frankincense has a very "regal" smell. Maybe it is the connection of frankincense with Jesus, but I feel like I am having a religious experience each time I use it. This is a wonderful oil to use for skin concerns and migraines. In addition, the recognized rule is "When in doubt, use Frankincense!"

Clary Sage: This is my go to for PMS symptoms. It helps relieve my abdominal cramps and balances out my moodiness. This makes Tim a happier husband when dealing with me during "that time of the month". It's awesome!

Melaleuca: You are probably familiar with the more common name of  Tea Tree Oil. I take advantage of the antibacterial properties by including this one in my deodorant. I have also had great success using it to help soothe a sore throat.

The remaining four EO's I am going to share are actually proprietary blends created exclusively by doTERRA.

Balance: Recommended for aromatic or topical use, it is a grounding blend I use to help calm anxiety and improve my mood. I especially like using it first thing in the morning to help put me in a positive mindset & shape my mood for the day.

Elevation: This joyful blend smells like sunshine in a bottle and is usually my go-to for use in the diffuser for an uplifting and invigorating citrus-y boost.

DigestZen: This one works wonders for the digestive system when used topically or internally. It relieves indigestion, and surprisingly, helps relieve a stuffy nose.

OnGuard: The EO's present in this protective blend work to support your immune system. Personally, when I have felt any hint of sickness coming on and used this blend, I felt better within a few hours with no return of symptoms.

Wow, have I already listed ten?!? Let's pick this back up tomorrow with a few of my go-to recipes for some specific health concerns, followed by a handful of personal testimonies.

Please keep in mind that the above statements are not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure anything. I am not a doctor, just a girl who is passionate about educating myself and others about natural alternatives available to us by God's amazing creation.

Interested in trying oils for yourself? I have added a link to my personal doTERRA page at the top of the blog, and will be happy to chat more with you about products, how to get wholesale pricing and even earn free oils, and/or the business opportunity. Email me at crunchylikegranola@gmail.com to get the conversation started. It would be my pleasure to help you and your family take the steps to a more natural and healthy lifestyle.

Sources:
I gathered the information shared from Modern Essentials: A Complete Guide to the Therapeutic Use of Essential Oils,  Fourth Edition and from the web at: www.everythingessential.me

Disclaimer: This series has been written to provide information and to help educate others. This information was not provided to diagnose, proscribe, or treat any disease, illness, or injured condition of the body. The information present should not be used as a substitute for medical counseling and anyone suffering from a disease, illness, or injury should consult a qualified healthcare professional. 

Essential Oils: Part Three (Usage)

Well, here we go! Gathering again for day three of my five day Essential Oil Series. If you missed days one and two, don't worry!  You can find them here and here, respectively.

As promised, today's topic is sharing the three ways to use essential oils and how to decide which way is best for your specific needs.

1. Aromatic
This method is most widely used  for mood enhancement, respiratory support, and air purification.

-Diffusers

•  I use two on a regular basis and love them for different reasons. The Lotus Diffuser is exclusively sold by doTERRA and I purchased the Oil Drop Diffuser from an online aromatherapy tool website. Both are used in the same manner, by filling a well with water and a adding 3-5 drops of EO. They work by atomizing EO's into tiny ion particles that are more easily absorbed by our bodies.  This process also works to purify the air. Don't have a diffuser yet? No worries! There are other ways to enjoy the therapeutic benefits of essential oils.

Lotus Diffuser

Oil Drop Diffuser

-Direct Inhalation Tips

• Inhale the aroma straight from the bottle.
• Aromatherapy jewelry. I made a clay/terracotta necklace to act as my own personal diffuser. 
• Put a drop or two of EO in your hands, rub together, cup and inhale.
• Make a room spray by putting a few drops of EO in a small, glass, spray bottle with distilled water.
• Using a cotton pad or cotton ball, add EO and place near a fan, vent, or other sources of moving air.
• Make a steam tent to help with stuffiness or colds by putting a few drops of EO in a glass container of steaming water, put a towel over your head and around the container to breathe in the vapors.

2.Topical

Our skin is porous, so, of course you can expect  whatever we put on it to be absorbed into our bodies. Because of this, when EO's are applied, they travel to bloodstream quickly, in fact, within 30 seconds of application! Applying oils topically are most commonly used for localized areas of concern such as temples for a headache, on stomach for digestive trouble, and on muscles for soreness. 

Just a few benefits of topical application include relaxation, relief from pain/discomfort, immune
support.

It is important for me to include that while most EO's are mild enough to be applied neat 

(using no dilution), some oils are considered "hot" and need to be diluted before applying directly to skin.You would do this with a carrier vegetable oil such as coconut, jojoba, almond, or olive. It is always a good idea to spot test and area of skin to check for sensitivities before applying to a larger area. *Added bonus, the dilution does not hinder the effectiveness of the EO's you're applying, but actually makes the oils more effective.

* Never attempt to dilute an essential oil with water. Oil and water don't mix and the addition of it will drive the EO deeper into the tissue, causing more discomfort. This is especially helpful to know if you accidentally get an EO in your eye. In that case, dilute with a carrier vegetable oil.

** Some oils (mostly citrus) are photosensitive. If using these topically, it is best to avoid direct, prolonged sunlight or UV exposure  after use. Doing so could result in  burns.

3. Internal

I am going to say the last way I am sharing is highly controversial in the aromatherapy community. This is largely due to the lack of research present in addition with a market flooded with low quality EO's that would make consumption potentially harmful. I wholeheartedly trust doTERRA's
distillation methods and the purity of the oils they provide, so I consume EO's that are labeled GRAS (generally regarded as safe) on a daily basis. Internal consumption is useful for (but definitely not limited to) targeted wellness with the mouth, throat, digestive system, urinary tract, and metabolic support.

* Follow this link to see what Dr. Hill has to say about using EO's internally.

Whew! There is soooo much more I want to share, but to keep the information manageable I will  stop here. Tomorrow, I will share my top 10 essential oils & blends and their most common uses. 

Leave a comment and let me know your thoughts on this little series! 

Heather

Disclaimer: This series has been written to provide information and to help educate others. This information was not provided to diagnose, proscribe, or treat any disease, illness, or injured condition of the body. The information present should not be used as a substitute for medical counseling and anyone suffering from a disease, illness, or injury should consult a qualified healthcare professional. 

Essential Oils: Part Two (Purity)

Hello & welcome to day two of my five day blog series on essential oils! If you missed day 1, you can find it here.

In my attempt to research essential oils (EO's) over the past year or so, I have found one consistency. There is a LOT of misinformation out there. I believe that this is largely due to the lack of extensive research and the fact that EO's are not regulated by the FDA (on top of that, "taking control of your health" and seeking alternatives to support healthy body function isn't in the best interest for big pharmaceutical companies..they gotta make those benjamin's). With the many different brands to choose from, how do you make the best decision for you and your family?!? For me, this was an initial source of great frustration and has
inspired me to teach others how to safely and effectively use EO's based on what I have learned!

(Again, I am providing my own findings and what I believe to be the most accurate information, but I am not a doctor, so please use common sense with following any tips & advice I share with you.)

I am going to list some things to consider when choosing an EO brand and then explain why I exclusively use doTERRA.

1. There are three classifications of essential oils that are generally recognized.

• Synthetic (mainly fragrance oils and perfumes, poor quality, and man-made in laboratories)
• Food grade (things like Lemon or peppermint oils that are regarded safe for consumption, but still aren't pure)
• Therapeutic Grade (can be purchased at most health food stores or from online sources. Since this isn't a regulated term, having a quality brand that you trust really matters.)

2. Price

• While I am not one to waste money,  I do believe in the saying,  "You get what you pay for". In case you didn't know,  it takes massive amounts on plant material to make just one bottle of EO. Let me put this into perspective: it takes roughly  45 lemons for a 15mL bottle, 30 lbs. of Lavender flowers for a 15mL bottle of Lavender, and a staggering 1000 lbs of Melissa Plant just to produce a 5mL bottle of Melissa. With that being said, would you feel confident in buying product from a company that charges between $5 and $10 per bottle of EO they sell? It would raise red flags for me! I have been told (sorry, can't find the exact reference, but will update when I do) that to be able to slap the "100% Pure" label on a bottle of EO, there only has to be 10% pure oil and the remainder can be whatever filler the company chooses, usually a carrier vegetable oil. This is how some companies are able to charge so little per bottle! Of course this is a generalization and there may be some exceptions, I just want you to be aware that not all oils are created equally. 

Packaging

• Even the best quality EO's lose potency and effectiveness if not packaged and stored properly. When choosing a brand, the oil should be stored in a dark (amber or cobalt), glass container. Sunlight breaks down the oils, resulting in loss of effectiveness and therapeutic quality,  and a dark colored container will better protect your investment. Glass containers are important because, over time, pure EO's (especially citrus) will break down and pull chemicals from plastic, resulting in contaminated product. 
• I would also like to note that extreme temperatures could also inhibit effectiveness, especially exposure to heat. 

Quality/ Questions to ask yourself

• How does the company source plant material? Is is sustainable? Free of pesticides?  Foreign chemicals? What are the distillation methods used to extract oil? Is the end result truly 100% pure? 

Customer Service

• Does the company you are considering provide support and education materials? Do they have a foundation of integrity? 

The above list is by no means comprehensive, but these are considerations that are most important to me. :)

Just a few of the many reasons why I  trust doTERRA:

• First and foremost, my family and I consistently get fantastic results!
• The plants harvested are indigenously grown (Lavender from France, Lemon from Italy, Frankincense from Oman...). This means the plants, and eventually EO, are going to be of the highest quality due to being grown where it is able to thrive.
• doTERRA only bottles and sells EO's that are sustainable.
• Rigorous testing ensures that each batch of oil is free of toxins, contaminates, and microorganisms, meaning they are beyond organic. In addition, doTERRA has created such strict standards for themselves with purity, that they have trademarked the term CPTG (Certified Pure, Therapeutic Grade) and have committed to providing oils that are 100% pure and free of fillers, contaminates, or synthetic materials.(Can I get a WHOOT?!?)
• Select EO'S and Blends are labeled GRAS (Generally Regarded as Safe) and can be used internally.
• Resources, tips, information, and customer service are readily available.

That is quite a bit to take in, so I will  wrap it up for today. Tomorrow, you can look forward to reading about the three different ways to use EO's.

Thank you for spending a little time with me today!!

Heather

Disclaimer: This series has been written to provide information and to help educate others. This information was not provided to diagnose, proscribe, or treat any disease, illness, or injured condition of the body. The information present should not be used as a substitute for medical counseling and anyone suffering from a disease, illness, or injury should consult a qualified healthcare professional. 

Essential Oils: Part One

An out of town friend suggested that I write a blog series about essential oils since she, and others, have not been able to attend my scheduled classes. I am taking advantage of this and sharing my knowledge of oily goodness with you!

So here goes... Five posts in five days! My very first series! Eek! 

I would like to begin by stating that I am not a doctor and what I am sharing should not be used as a substitute for medical diagnosis or treatment. Basically, use your common sense! Now that that's out of the way...

Background: 

I began using essential oils on a regular basis last spring (2013) at the beginning of my crunchy journey. This was largely my first experience with essential oils (aside from some low quality tea tree oil I tried in high school to help with acne). The more I researched and read, the more excited I became at the thought that I could use essential oils in place of many common household and hygiene products! The possibilities seemed endless, but reliable information on safety and usage was hard to find. Since then I have spent hours finding and compiling the best information to share with you.

First thing's first:

What is an essential oil?  They are the volatile liquids found in the stems, seeds, bark, roots, fowers and other parts of plants. The oil is usually a result from a steam distillation process. This yields a highly concentrated and fragrant compound. 

Sound too textbook-ish? I thought so, but don't worry, it does get better! 

Here the part where individual preference happens... The brand you choose. At this point, I should probably let y'all know that I am a wellness advocate (consultant) with doTERRA. It took a year of research and using a variety of oils to make this decision. Ultimately, the choice is up to you and no matter what brand you choose, I am thrilled that you are trying alternative health solutions! 

Tomorrow, I will share things to consider when choosing a brand of essential oils to use and why quality matters. 

A Long Overdue Update

I really do intend to get better about posting regularly! So here is a brief overview of what has happened since June...

As mentioned in a previous post, I spent some time at the Lotus Center for acupuncture and Chinese herbs to help the underlying causes of my infertility. Well, it worked and I got pregnant right away, but unfortunately on July 4, 2013 we lost our fourth baby, Avery. At that time we didn't want to pursue trying because we didn't want anymore heartache. We did, however, continue testing and after months of bloodwork and exams, we still don't have any answers. It took some time, but Tim an I are ok with that and know that God has our backs no matter the situation or outcome. Who knows?...maybe one day we will have a child of our own.  

In November, we added to our family a different way by adopting a kitten (Sabrina). Adding a Kitten in with a miniature Schnauzer (Olive, the tom boy princess), and another cat (Nimbus, ruler of the house) was (and still is!) entertaining to say the least. They all get along well and I have fallen in love with each of their sweet personalities! 

With the new year, Tim and I celebrated our third anniversary and are still very much in love! We also have some trips planned for the year (yay)!

There you have it! A brief overview of a few BIG things that have happened since early summer (and the last real time I blogged). 

Have a stellar Saturday!

Heather

Laundry Stain Removal

Last week at Bible study I accidentally marked on my pants with pen (poor, graffitied pants falling victim to my "graceful" ways!). When I did laundry using our regular soap nut method, the pen marks remained so I decided to find an Oxy-clean like recipe using only ingredients I had in the house. Thanks to a tip from my husband, and google verification, here is the recipe I tried:

2 parts water
1 part baking soda
1 part hydrogen peroxide
                                                          


Mix all ingredients well and pour on the stained area, then wash normally. Easy peasy, right?!?  I let mine sit for about an hour, scrubbing the pen mark stains with an old toothbrush during commercial breaks of a Gilmore Girls episode (a serious guilty pleasure of mine!)

When I put my pants in the washing machine with another load of clothes, I noticed the marks were faded, but still noticeable. I was starting to doubt this method of stain removal, but after the wash cycle the pen marks were gone! See for yourselves....

Before washing/treating, a little hard to see, but the marks are there.

After washing/treating

Marks are gone!

Introducing: Jade Made Creations!

So sorry for the loooong hiatus...I am pretty sure at this point I don't have any readers remaining! I have been enjoying summertime (yay) and haven't made time to blog (boo).  Today's post was inspired because I came across a station on iheartradio called Indie Vegan Cookbook Radio. Of course I had to choose it to see what that was all about. I was pleasantly surprised that the bands/people featured are ones that already listen to through my other stations (I will listen to anything, but alternative & rock are my favorites). So here I am listening to vegan radio and blogging about my crunchy transition.. It is a good day!

Even though I haven't posted anything new to my blog since June doesn't mean I have abandoned my crunchy/natural journey. One of my favorite changes this summer was significantly reducing our household's use of throw away paper towels. This was possible because Tim and I bought some Un-paper towels from one of my friends, a "work-at-home-mom" Jade Chiu! These towels are made of cloth and have snaps on the corners so they can be attached and placed on a paper towel holder. Use them as you would a regular paper towel, but instead of throwing them away, you just wash and reuse! 

Jade is super talented and makes all kinds of cool, reusable products, accessories, and items for baby! Check out her website here, or visit and like her Facebook page, Jade Made Creations! 

             

As always, thank you for reading and feel free to leave a comment!

Heather