Lemon Essential Oil To Remove Stickers From Clothing

Recently my daughter received a sticker at the dentist, and put it on her shirt. She was wearing a fleece pullover. Without noticing the sticker, I put the fleece through the wash. The sticker was spot-welded to that shirt!! I figured it was a loss, but thought I'd ask my connections on Facebook if they had any ideas before I threw the shirt out. I had just bought recently, and wasn't ready to give up quite yet. I got several ideas from people, but the one that stood out was to use lemon essential oil. I love EOs so I was excited to try it. I was skeptical, as I always am. I dropped three drops of lemon EO on the area. I had pulled off the top of the sticker, and what was left was a thin paper lining covering the "glue." I left it on there for about 20 minutes or so as I went about my day. I then went back to it and peeled the paper part off. It was as simple as that. It came right off! Sticky stuff and all. All that remained was a couple of tiny areas around the outside of the circle which had a little sticky left on it. My daughter and I used our fingernails, and the sticky was gone in a minute. I threw the fleece back through the wash, and it is as good as new. Essential oils prove their worth to me again! 

Tea Tree Oil As Antibacterial (etc.)

From http://www.WebMD.com: "Tea tree oil comes from the Australian paperbark tree and has been used traditionally as a folk remedy by Australian aborigines. There are close to 300 varieties of Melaleuca alternifolia (the Latin name for the tea tree), but only one produces the medicinal oil...According to naturopathic and homeopathic doctor Asa Hershoff, DC, of Los Angeles and San Francisco, tea tree oil has antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties..."


For months now, I have been using tea tree oil (Melaleuca alternifolia) exclusively to treat any number of skin issues. I use it on myself, my husband, and my children. I have watched tea tree quickly resolve minor infections. It helped to heal a boil that had been present for months and simply would not go away, but became irritated again and again. If the kids get scrapes or booboos that are dirty or have high infection possibilities, I apply tea tree as a preventative measure. And it works. It does not sting, like some EOs can (lavender, for example.) And a little goes a long way. Tea tree can be diluted if desired. Just add a couple of drops of tea tree to sweet almond oil, or any good carrier oil. 


I was told by a holistic practitioner that it is important not to overdo essential oil application. She suggested applying an oil once or twice a day for one or two days, then taking a day or two off for rest, repeating as needed. I have followed that advice with good results.


I buy Tea tree oil from Young Living, whose prices tend to high but their products are all therapeutic grade. You can find it online at a number of places. It is probably available at Whole Food Markets and others. 

Holistic Health Management - Another Attempt At Finding a Guide

I am trying to restore my health, physical and emotional, through natural means. I am fairly new to it, and am hoping to find someone to help guide me. I tried the Natural Health Improvement Center in a nearby town, and after finding myself "detoxing" with strong stomach discomfort without knowledge of what was going on and what the goals for me were, I decided that it was not for me! But I'm feeling tired and crummy and tense and down and in the need of serious recharging. While some of the ways of achieving that are pretty obvious, others are not so clear to me, and so.

Yesterday I went to a center in town which houses a large number of holistic practitioners with many different areas of expertise. The one I sought out is a woman who, among other things, practices acupuncture and Chinese medicine. I looked her up after several people, from Holistic Moms Network and other places, recommended Chinese medicine as a good approach to seeking good health through holistic means. And I really would like someone who is knowledgeable in the areas of health management that I am interested in and am currently using to help guide me in my efforts.

The woman I met with is knowledgeable in acupuncture (which I've never had,) Chinese herbs (no experience here either,) movement (yoga and another I can never remember the name of. I have done yoga many times and love it) aromatherapy (I have been dabbling with essential oils for a few months now) and Eastern nutrition (whatever that is.)

For starters, I have to tell you that I was with this woman for 2 1/2 hours. She was thorough. I started by completing paperwork, which took a while. Health history and whatnot. I sat in the hallway in an upholstered chair with muted colors all around, and soft music. She then took the paperwork, left me in the hall, and went over the paperwork by herself. We then talked about what she does, and she drew me some diagrams of basic Chinese medicine principles. (I couldn't reproduce that for you if I tried, but maybe I can find a good link...) She talked about yin and yang (which she pronounced yong) and the seasons, and the body. She seemed to think that most of my complains were in two general, related areas. She then did a demonstration of acupuncture on herself, then treated me. Acupuncture was about what I expected. I really didn't feel anything other that some localized itching around two of the needles. She explained that the itching is due to "heat" coming out, or through, or something. She then jabbed another needle in one of my toes (ouch!) which took the itching away. :/ Anyhow, I don't know about anything else, but it WAS nice to just lie there and think my thoughts for a while!

She informed me that she will begin with Eastern nutrition, then as we meet over time, she'll introduce other areas of interest. She looked at my tongue (?) and told me that I need more fluid, in the form of water and vegetables (veggies, she explained, are like a time-release water source) She asked me to keep a food journal, keeping careful note of the time I eat things. She asked me to note any changes in myself, in any aspect of my being. And she informed me that future meetings, which would initially be twice a month, would be for about 1.25 hours each. I have to say that appeals to me, for the break from my reality it will give me!

And she sent me on my way. So..... so far so good I guess. She is going to help me with essential oils, and informed me that from a Chinese medicine perspective, the oils are very strong, and should be used sparingly. She said that rather than use them daily, they might, for example, be used three times a week for two weeks, then take 2-3 weeks off. Interesting.

I look forward to learning about the movement.

Essential Oils - Illness Caused By The Oils

For months, I have been trying to figure out what causes me to feel so lousy while I am home.

When in or near my kitchen, I sneeze. And sneeze and sneeze. And get congested. And my ears get plugged up. Sometimes my throat gets scratchy. And I get (minor) headaches. And terrible sinus pressure. Something in this kitchen is incompatible with me!

So over the last several months, I have gradually tried to figure out what is causing the problem. I move slowly, as I'm a stay-home mom with two young kids. Other things are prioritized, most of the time! Anyhow, I have tried to figure out what the newer items are in my environment. Those include soap nuts (maybe a year now?), and essential oils (several months.) My friend suggested that the multiple computer components and printer in the kitchen may be "outgassing" and causing some of the problem. We also got two cats. (about 2 months ago)

Soap nuts: I did a trial of testing the soap nuts some months ago. I removed them from the house, and for a couple of months, used other methods for cleaning our clothes. I still sneezed. I brought them back into the house.

Computer components: I removed everything from the kitchen but my lap top.

Cats: The cats are everywhere in our house except for the bedroom. While I wouldn't doubt that they contribute to my sneezles, I don't seem to have the problem upstairs. Just around the kitchen.

Essential Oils: Sighs. When I'm near my bag that held the EOs, I sneeze. But I so wanted it to be something else that I testing every other thing first. But facts are facts. When I apply certain EOs to myself or my kids, I sneeze. And sneeze. And sneeze.

Last week we went on vacation. Upon our departure I was feeling so lousy that I really looked forward to a week outside of our house, and the much desired return to feeling healthy that I hoped that would bring. I left feeling sinusy, exhausted ALL the time, and depressed. I was also premenstrual, but I hadn't felt that crummy, even premenstrual, in years. I felt AWFUL. So off we went. For most of the week, I cycled through periods of feeling exhausted. I was MOODY. I never felt the internal thrill that comes with going on vacation. Going to the beach was a burden, not a joy. What the heck was wrong with me??

I realized pretty quickly that I had brought my problem with me on vacation. At least in part. I finally took the bag that contained my EOs out to the car. And the soap nuts that I had brought went out, too. It didn't do enough to help the vacation at that point, but as soon as I returned home, I took all of the oils from my bag and from the shelf in my kitchen, and closed them up tight in a plastic container. I stuck them in the laundry room.

And I'm feeling much better. MUCH better. Yes, I do sneeze a bit when I first come downstairs in the morning. I chalk that up, probably, to cat hair. But my nose is not congested. My sinuses aren't swollen. I have no headache, no sore throat, and my mood is much better! I'm still waiting a day or two to see if the bouts of exhaustion settle down. But so far, so good. I'm always tired. That comes with the territory. But it had gotten to the point where I was having trouble functioning.

EOs are as different as the plants they come from, so I know, of course, that I am not allergic to all of them. I own, currently, somewhere between 10-15 different oils. That's 10-15 different plant extracts I have brought in to my home in a very concentrated form. Wow, how's that for an allergy test? Total submersion. So I guess the next step is to try them out one at a time. Now I know there are some that cause me to sneeze immediately. Bergamot, for one. And that is most unfortunate, as I credit Bergamot oil for helping me to wean off of steroid creams in my battle against eczema. I also believe Lavender causes the sneezles for me. But I'll know for sure over the coming weeks as I test them.

But boy am I glad to be feeling better. Phew.

Essential Oils - Chamomile For Hives

Both of my kids have been fighting a virus. First my daughter, last week, and now my son. Both kids broke out in hives! (On different days, but in the same areas) My son went to the doctor yesterday for another condition, and was checked for allergic reaction at that time, so it is my belief the hives are due to the virus, and not an allergic reaction to something environmental. When my son broke out in hives this morning, I did a Google search on essential oils for hives, and three were recommended the most: chamomile, lavender and peppermint. I chose chamomile, as I've read before that it is ok for kids. I have chamomile German. There is also Chamomile Roman (I think it is.) It didn't specify, so I used what I have. I rubbed the oil right on the hives, and they immediately started to go down. The redness went out of my son's skin. He continued to get outbreaks after that, to which I also applied the oil, which then went down. After using the oil, I did give my son a little oral Benadryl, only because we had a long drive ahead of us and I wanted him to be comfortable. We ended up not going..... but I was and am pretty impressed with the results of Chamomile oil! I am carrying it around with me in case he has more patches of hives today.

Essential Oils

Well, it seems that I have really come to appreciate these tiny little bottles full of essential oils. I rather impulsively bought a bunch from Young Living some months ago. I did so out of curiosity and a need to do something a little goofy and risky, not out of any experience with the oils or much knowledge of what they do or what they are for. I am learning.

I just went to check how long I've had them. It's been four months. I would have guessed longer! I use them every day. Every day. Now I was a skeptic when I bought them. So why did I buy them? I wanted them to work. I wanted them to replace some of the chemical, artificial stuff we have become so dependent on. I didn't think they would.

Since that time, I have become dependent on Bergamot essential oil to manage my (life long) eczema. I use a blend of EOs as a bug spray on the kids and myself. I use peppermint oil very often for a whole slew of things, including headache, sinus pressure, energy, hives and room freshening. I use lavender oil very frequently, for diaper rash, in the bath for relaxation, for bruises, etc. And I dabble with several others as the need arises.

I just placed my second order with Young Living. Although the kit I ordered back in February came with quite a few "starter" oils, and I have purchased a couple other ones locally, I found the pull to order some more from YL.

I'm not sure why, because let's face it, Young Living is expensive! And their marketing direction is to really encourage shoppers to "earn" points towards "rewards." One way to really "earn" points is to sign up for the "essential rewards" program, which requires you to purchase a minimum of $100.00 worth of products each month, and to have them "auto-shipped" to your home. And if you sign up as an independent distributor, which I did, you receive a discount on future purchases. And if you convince other people to sign up using your member # as a referral, you receive benefits. And so forth. It seems like a lot of work, honestly. For me, anyhow. But I do like the oils they make. I've had good experiences with them.

Essential oils are certainly available other places. You can find them online easily, along with loads of information. I refer to the internet often to find uses for the oils I have that aren't listed in the literature that came with them. And I appeal to others who use them also. You can also purchase oils at local health stores. And the other day, I found the two "essential" essential oils, lavender and peppermint, in our local grocery store!! I was surprised, and happy. Of course this is not great news for distributors like YL (and there are others out there) who have to rely on their claim of having the purest EOs and so forth. But they seem to do ok....

Anyhow, I'm hooked. On the oils, not the company. But I do like the blends that YL sells (i.e. Purification, Peace and Calming, etc.) and am about to try the Thieves Household Cleaner concoction. I'll let ya know. =)

Essential Oils For Eczema IN CHILDREN

I recently posted about my success with using bergamot oil for eczema for myself. I have received a few replies from folks who have kids with eczema. I appeal to you with children. Essential oils are great for kids! But not ALL essential oils. In fact there are a number of EOs that are NOT recommended for use on children.

After receiving those messages, I referred to the book Aromatherapy for the Healthy Child by Valerie Ann Worwood. She has a few recommendations, which include soothing oat baths, a calamine lotion mix, a vegetable oil bath, an anxiety relieving bath and an oil mix. Bergamot is part of the oil mix, but it is a small part. I am happy to share more information on any of the above. For single essential oils, she recommends the following:

Camomile German (which I have used with good results)
Yarrow
Lavender*
 Elemi
Ho-wood
Palmarosa

*Please note. Lavender essential oil has been linked to hormone disruption in boys. (I don't have the link handy, but a Google search would bring it up) It is an issue with daily use (from shampoo, etc.) I use it occasionally in the bath, and I'm not overly concerned about it. But do your homework just so you know the facts. Basically the two boys with the symptoms had enlarged breasts due to chronic exposure, and in both cases the condition resolved itself with the removal of the oil.

Eczema and Essential Oils - Trial Phase

Today is am trying essential oils on my skin, and DS's skin, for the first time. I read on this website that camomile essential oil could be used on kids, so I mixed two drops of Camomile German EO into about two tablespoons of Sweet Almond carrier oil. I applied it a few minutes ago. It's hard to judge what works with eczema because there are so many variables, but I will report how our skin is doing over the next few days. The website lists many EOs that can be used for eczema care, so if you're limited with what oils you have or have access to, there will likely be something for you on this list.

July 14th, 2010: I've got to remember to update these posts once in a while. =) It has been almost 4 months since I started using the oils on my skin, and I have not used my steroid cream a single time since then. (yeah!!) I use sweet almond oil in place of lotion, and sweet almond with Bergamot on my eczema patches. As time has gone along, I have needed the Bergamot blend less and less often. My skin is doing incredibly well. It is gradually improving on a consistent basis. I have made a couple of other changes as well, which I'm sure are contributing factors. I take fish oil supplements two times every day, and I take a probiotic once a day. I just switched (maybe three days ago) to a high-potency probiotic that is supposed to help keep the body's yeast in balance (another issue I was dealing with...see my post on Natural Yeast Infection Remedies.) Anyhow, things are moving in a very good direction for me. I hope it can work for you, too!

Essential Oils - Peppermint For Sinusitis

I have been suffering from daily sinus pressure for a number of weeks now. It's worst when I've been home a lot. I am reacting to something in the house. In the last couple of days some other symptoms have added themselves to this: exhaustion, scratchy throat, sneezing. Well, sneezing isn't new. But anyhow, I caught DD's slight upper respiratory infection. So I decided to pull out the oils.

My little pamphlet from Young Living states "Topical Use - (dilution may be required) - Rub 1 drop on the temples, forehead, over the sinuses (avoid contact with eyes), and on the back of the neck to help soothe head pressure."

Good enough. I tried it. Neat. Wow! It's like putting Ben-Gay on sore muscles. You definitely feel it. I don't know how to explain the sensation, but it feels almost cold. Whether or not it aids in the sinus (or other head) pressure, it certainly distracted me from that discomfort, and in a good way. It did not last for a long time, but for an hour anyhow. I have used it twice more so far. I will say that putting peppermint oil near the eyes can cause your eyes to water. It's strong stuff! You may want to dilute it (almond oil, or another carrier oil) to put it on your face.

It's been hours since I started with this experiment. Maybe 9? I've applied it three times today. I no longer feel the pressure in my sinuses. I have also been away from home since this morning, which may be helping, too.  But I would definitely use it again for sinus pressure.

*Update... ok, it's nearly 10pm, and I have reapplied the peppermint oil a couple more times. I have gotten braver about spreading it around more, and wow, what a difference it is making! Previous times I had forgotten to put the oil on my forehead. The last couple of times I did. And I spread it a little further around the back of my neck. I am cautious on my sinuses because the oil is strong, and it does create a vapor that I don't want in my eyes. But man, I love the over all effect this has! It does need to be reapplied every couple of hours, but it feels great and seems to work well. I can definitely tell when it's wearing off. But I'm officially recommending it. Give it a try!

>Just a quick note...I would recommend washing your hands after applying the oil - this one or any one. You don't want to accidentally get these oils in the wrong place. They are super concentrated, and they're strong!

YL Purification Essential Oil Blend For Room Deodorizing and Insect Bites

I have had the opportunity to use one of my new Young Living essential oil blends in two ways in the last couple of days.

It's called Purification, and it contains citronella, rosemary, lemongrass, lavandin, Melaleuca alternifolia, and myrtle.


>As a room deodorizer: Our bedroom, which hasn't been aired out all winter, and has four people sleeping in it every night, really needed some air freshening. Following the directions in the pamphlet that came with my Young Living oils, I put a couple of drops in a Q-tip (they suggested a cotton ball-I improvised) and put it in the room. The pleasant scent diffused into the room, but wasn't overpowering at all. (I am sensitive to scents) I left the Q-tip in the room, and it still smelled nice the next day. I emphasize (because it would be important to me) that the scent was mild, pleasant, and wasn't irritating. It  successfully deodorized and refreshed the room. Because it was still diffusing, I moved the Q-tip to a bathroom. =)

>As a bug bite soother: My hubby has an area of skin that he said was itching him like crazy, and felt a little swollen, "like a bug bite." Again, following the directions in the YL brochure, I put a small amount of Purification oil directly on his skin. I asked him about 15 minutes later if his skin still itched. It didn't. Cool!

I'm starting to enjoy using the blends.

Essential Oils - Peppermint for Constipation and Gas - Trial

I have a friend who is presenting with constipation, pressure in the lower abdomen, and gas. You know me, any opportunity to try out my new batch of essential oils.... I asked and was given the ok to try peppermint essential oil on this person. Peppermint oil is supposed to aid in digestion, and can be taken in tea, or 1-2 drops can be placed on or beneath the tongue. This person opted for the drops on the tongue. Two drops.

Tick tick tick.....

Not even 15 minutes had passed when I got the report that the person was no longer constipated. Hm. That's awfully quick. As always, I'm not quick to believe in something right off the bat, but would like to test it a few more times.... I will also ask this person as the day goes on if any symptoms remain.

I'll report back. In the meantime, here's a link to some information on essential oils, specifically peppermint, and how they/it aids digestion. This link came from a google search on "How to take peppermint essential oil for digestion" and it was the first link in the list. Link

This if from http://www.YLessentialoils.com:

Constipation

Single Oils : Ginger, Peppermint, Fennel, Tarragon, Anise seed
Blends : Di-Gize

Solutions for Constipation:

Constipation is usually a consequence of inadequate fluid and fiber intake. Start taking one Life 5 before going to sleep at night. Life5 builds and restores core intestinal health by providing five clinically proven probiotic strains including three advanced super strains to enhance intestinal health, sustain energy and improve immunity
You can ingest the oil or blend of your choice by mixing 1-2 drops with at least 4 ounces of rice milk 2-4 times daily.

Essential Oils - Pan Away For Upset Stomach - Trial

My hubby has sensitive guts. That is to say, sometimes, when he eats something that is a little more exotic than what he usually eats, he pays for it later. Last night we went to an Indian restaurant, and by the late evening, he was very uncomfortable. I grabbed the pamphlet that came with my essential oils and got to reading. The pamphlet claims that PanAway, a blend of three essential oils, is good for cramps and bloating. As instructed, I took a hot towel (I assume that means drench it in hot water, which is what I did, then squeezed it out) and put three drops of PanAway on the towel. I placed this on his midsection for about five minutes, until the towel cooled. I took it off. He went downstairs. Within the hour he returned to tell me that his stomach felt better. This morning he has some "residual" mild discomfort, but he was basically feeling better. So..... Once again I leave it to your judgement. Was it the oils? Or was it just time and lying down? Who knows. But I'd be willing to try it again. And an added bonus: I really like the smell! It's wintergreen and clove and one other oil that I can't remember at the moment. (Look it up, silly self...) Ok, it's 4 oils. Wintergreen, clove, peppermint and helichrysum. If it's not healing, and I'm teetering toward believing it is, it at least calms a person with its pleasant aroma. =)

Essential Oils - Lavender For Diaper Rash - Trial

My son has diaper rash. It is an unusual event in this house, but it does happen from time to time. In the past, I have used Desitin, with great success. In my attempt to remove chemicals from our personal and medical care products, I am attempting to use other diaper rash treatments this time. For a couple of days I have been putting Burt's Bees Diaper Ointment on the area. There wasn't much change until this afternoon - the rash appears to be spreading, it is much redder, and he is more uncomfortable. Yuk. Poor goober! So this time I turned to essential oils. It's an opportunity to try another one out. If it doesn't work, and pretty quickly, I'll once again turn to Desitin, but I'm giving it a shot. I have read and been told by dear Suzanne (see Hats Off to Suzanne!) that Lavender essential oil can be used for diaper rash, so that is what I am trying. I wasn't sure if it should got on "neat" or diluted, so I mixed a few drops with Sweet Almond oil, and put it on all over the behind area (note: EOs shouldn't be put on the genital areas, according to one book I have.) It didn't hurt or sting, so that's good. I'll report back at the next diaper change, and throughout today and tomorrow. Fingers crossed.

UPDATE: Ok. So last evening I changed DS's diaper, and his skin was still very irritated and red looking. Hubby put him in the bath, allowed him to run around without a diaper for a while, reapplied the oil blend, and put him in a disposable diaper. This morning he needed a #2 diaper change first thing. (That poor butt!!) Despite the "soil" his skin looked almost perfect!! He had two very small red areas - a great improvement from last night. Whether it's due to the oil blend, the bath, the air-dry time, or a combination, I don't know, but I was so happy to see his diaper area looking happier again. =) Once again, I gave him some air-dry time, and I've kept him in cloth diapers except overnight or when we're going to be out for a while. Today I increased the amount of lavender in the oil blend as per some information I got from Suzanne (see Hats Off To Suzanne!) I put it on after the first diaper change but haven't since. A friend forwarded an article focusing on a link between tea tree and lavender oil and hormonal disruption in boys, and though I'm not really concerned about it, I only intend to use the blend when really necessary. I think it's always better to let the body heal itself when possible anyhow. But .... it's possible the blend really helped, so I intend to use it again should the need arise.

Essential Oils - Pan Away

The first oil I am going to learn about and test is Pan Away. I have chosen it as I have a way to test it right away.

From the pamphlet that accompanied the Every Day oils from Young Living: "PanAway is a soothing essential oil bend containing eugenol, a constituent used historically to numb gums. Also containing wintergreen and clove - two oils traditionally used for pain relief - PanAway aids the body's natural response to irritation and injury."

This statement had an asterisk, which led to another statement that reads, "This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease."

The oils in this blend are: Wintergree, Clove, Peppermint and Helichrysum.

From the pamphlet: Topical Use: Apply to affected area to help relieve discomfort, stressed muscles, or cramping.

TRIAL: I am going to put some on my neck/shoulder area. It's really bugging me again, so this is a good place to start with oils.

Ok, it's 2:22 p.m., and I have just blended 2 drops of PanAway with what I guessed to be 8 drops of Sweet Almond oil. (Directions said to do 1:4 but I got 2 drops so I went with it - also the almond oil squirts instead of drops....it's a bit of a guessing game.) I mixed it around with a q-tip, and applied it to the back of my neck and should area where I have been so sore and uncomfortable. I shall report as time passes. tick tick tick.....well, about an hour later my neck felt better, though whether the oils had anything to do with it I don't know. I am going to apply more in a few minutes. Ok, so I've had it on now for about 45 minutes. I asked hubby to rub it on this time, to make sure it really covered the area that hurts. I'm not in pain at the moment. Stiff, but no pain. I dunno. Some people swear by this stuff. It will take me a while to become less of a skeptic. But I do smell good. =)

It's now the next morning. I have had no pain or discomfort so far today. Usually it takes a little while for the discomfort to kick in again, but I have been up for almost 4 hours. My neck is a little stiff. But no "knot" (as I call it, as the problem area is typically around the area of my neck where my vertebrae stick out, and it feels like a knot) so far. Unfortunately, my carpal tunnel issue is presenting itself. What can I do for that? Hm...



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My Daily Checklist: (to be updated throughout the day)

Drink water -  Yes.

Name a "happy" moment - ?

Exercise - Swimming with the kids, which really isn't exercise for me

Enjoy peace - 

Time alone - 

Good sleep/rest - 8 hours of semi-good sleep.

Eat well - hm. Pasta, coffee, more pasta...not so good so far.

Do something for purge plan - Yes! DD's school will take some items as a donation. I will bring the first items this afternoon. Yay!

Leisure activity - Blogging, reading a little about EOs
Get outside - Just to car and back
Mood - Morning: Good =)

Essential Oils - Dogs with Fleas

I am posting this in response to a conversation I had with a friend yesterday. I am unable to test these as I don't have dogs. But here's the info. I found.

From The Fragrant Pharmacy by Valerie Ann Worwood, p. 460-463

I will put the photos of the pages here for information on managing fleas with essential oils. If it's too difficult to make out, let me know and I'll type the info in. At the moment I am NAK and have only one hand to type with... Double click to enlarge.

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Essential Oils - Basic Information (from Young Living)

Just some basic information on essential oils that came with the Young Living kit.

Double click to enlarge.

Essential Oils - They're Here!!!

Earlier this month I made the decision to purchase some essential oils. I have never used essential oils before, at least not on purpose. I have just run into them again and again as I research ways of living a more holistic, healthier lifestyle. So I got curious. And my old friend, S, uses them and feels they have been beneficial to her and her family. So out of pure curiosity, I splurged (a good word, they were not cheap) on a starter kit of oils and a "every day" oils package.

The company I ordered from, recommended by S for their purity, is called Young Living. It is a pyramid-type company, meaning you can become an independent seller of Young Living products, and when you sell some to others, you receive benefits, such as a reduced cost of supplies for yourself. In any event, I ordered using S's seller #, thus giving her benefits of some kind.

In addition to the oils, I ordered a couple of books about oils, a bottle of "carrier" oil (a base oil to mix essential oils in to produce a diluted oil or oils) and three empty dropper bottles to keep my mixtures in. Basic supplies.

And now to open the box (dun-dun-DUN.....)....

Two boxes, very tidy. So what's inside?

Ooo. Ok, so the box on the right is the "Start Living" kit, which comes with a membership of any kind in the Young Living company. You then choose the oils package that you feel you'd like to begin with. I chose the "Everyday Oils" package. (The box on the left)

The "Start Living" box contents. There is also a thick packet of paperwork in the same folder. My homework! If you can't read the bottles, there are 3 NingXia singles. The oils are Peppermint and Lavender.

The contents of the Everyday Oils package. Along with a small booklet describing the use of each oil were the following oils: PanAway, Purification, Peace & Calming, Peppermint, Thieves, Lemon, Lavender, Frankincense and Valor.

I bought these separately after reading a little in one of the books I bought. Sweet almond oil is supposed to be a good carrier oil, especially for children. That is, it is used to dilute the essential oils for various uses. The bottles are for putting my own mixes in.

My plan is to systematically learn what each of these oils is used for, and when possible, to test them out. I will blog about it all. I figure in the very least, I can get my money's worth by sharing the information with all of you! And it will be fun for me. I'm excited to get started. But the books, what little I have read in them so far, make it clear that it is important to know what you are doing with essential oils. Like anything, they can be used improperly to ill effect. So I will diligently do my reading, and will be safe and cautious with the oils. To the books!

Treating Common Illnesses In Kids(?)

Both of my kids are sick with a cold/flu-type thing. I've never been the type to run to the doc at the first sign of a cough. Or even the second or third. In fact, it doesn't occur to me to head to the doc's unless things start to make me nervous, like DD's one and only ear infection (knock on wood.) I treat the symptoms myself, with whatever I feel is needed at the time. Now, I grew up with a doc. I use traditional medicines. I have given my thanks to Infant and Children's and regular Tylenol again and again. I have used decongestant on my children a couple of times. Only when I could just cry from hearing one or both of them suffer so much with breathing that one or both couldn't sleep, and everyone was tired, sick, sore and miserable. I quickly agreed to antibiotics for the ear infection that the doc said would usually be left to run its course but in this case... I use Hyland's homeopathic flu tablets sometimes. And when they arrive, I will try using my new collection of essential oils. (A bunch of bologna? Who knows? Keep posted for my EO trials!)

The question is, at what point do you decide to treat something? Are some symptoms treated and others not? I know that with congestion and runny noses in kids it is generally recommended by the docs and pharmacists to let it alone. The idea as I understand it is that it is generally better to let the nose run and get the junk out of the body rather than dry it up and risk a sinus infection. Fevers are there for a reason, but at which point do you decide that it's gotten high enough? Or that the kid/s are miserable enough to warrant intervention? At which point do the kids stay home from school? Does any symptom warrant a day of rest? Or does the kid have to be positively pathetic? If a kid is home from school, is a small period of time outside warranted? Or is the kid stuck inside all day?

Being relatively new to the child in school phenomenon, I question the go to school/stay home thing frequently. There are days I keep DD home, then decide that she would have been just fine at school. There are days I send her, then feel awful when she comes home looking completely worn out.

And one more thought. If a child is working her/his heart out to convince you that she/he is too sick for school, how do you decide if she/he is full of the dickens? Yesterday hubby and I thought that DD was hamming it up to get out of a field trip tomorrow that she has been very anxious about. Then last night she coughed so hard, a couple of times, that she made herself physically sick. She sure didn't fake that! She and DS have the same bug, and both are plenty sick and feel miserable, but they present in completely different ways. DD's energy, at least this time around, has remained high, and she is all over the house and asks to go outside. DS is content to sit and play quietly. He is needier than usual, asking to be held and asking to nurse more than usual. Very different.

So what do you think? What do you (or would you) do?

Tea Tree Oil

I have seen tea tree oil mentioned a lot while searching the internet for websites dedicated to green and holistic living. I didn't research it but got the idea that it was pretty popular among essential oils. I had the opportunity, while traveling this weekend, to go to a Whole Foods market. (Oh I am in love with Whole Foods markets!) While there I saw, and spontaneously bought, a 5 ml bottle of tea tree oil. I have been very excited about this. I've been thinking about it for some time.

So this afternoon I did some basic google searching, and in a few minutes I found out that tea tree oil has antibacterial, antiseptic and anti-fungal properties. Cool! I also found out that it has been linked to hormonal changes in people, and in some instances has been linked to breast enlargement in boys! Yipes!! I read that it should not be used by pregnant or nursing women (I am nursing) and that it can cause varying degrees of rash on the skin, even when diluted. Well! One site suggested using tea tree in the laundry, another said to never use it in the wash. Ug!

Basically I've concluded, based on this quick and non-thorough research, that tea tree oil is not something I want to get involved in at the moment. The bottle will be sold (hopefully.) Just out of interest I might do some research on other essential oils, and perhaps I'll even try some out sometime, but for now I shall remain scentless. =)