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. =)