I’m not a stranger to holistic and natural healing. I know yoga has helped me with anxiety, I swear by apple cider vinegar and raw honey to ward off colds, and I believe a host of modern ailments can be healed or prevented with diet rather than pills.
Nevertheless, I’ve always run from the you-know-there’s-an-oil-for-that crowd.
I don’t like being a bandwagoner, and frankly, much of their exuberance for marketing and selling oils scares me.
It wasn’t until a week ago when Baby M was simultaneously teething and struggling with sinus congestion (whether it was a cold or allergies, I’m not sure) that I decided it was time to bite the bullet.
Yes, friends, I’ve officially climbed aboard the Essential Oil Train.
On a whim, I bought the introductory kit from doTerra. It contains 5 ml bottles of lavender, lemon, and peppermint—3 of the most popular oils in the collection.
Now, this might be coincidence, but on that first evening when I applied lavender topically to the bottoms of my feet and onto my pillow, I slept like a rock.
A day later, Mark had a bad headache that he’d developed at work. At my recommendation, he applied peppermint and lavender (just a drop or two) under his eyes and on his temples. Not long after, his headache improved considerably, although he had also taken tylenol.
Since I really wanted to take advantage of my oils at work, I purchased a bottle of organic fractionated coconut oil and some glass roller bottles. My sinuses had uncharacteristically begun acting up, so I desperately needed to relieve my watery eyes and runny nose.
To my roller ball, I added 20 drops each of lavender, peppermint, and lemon and topped off with the coconut carrier oil. That morning, I gargled with a mixture of water, lemon, and peppermint. Later at work, I applied the roller ball under my eyes, under my nose, and sniffed it periodically. The day before I could barely work due to my near-constant sneezing and nose-blowing, but that next day, I breathed infinitely better and blew my nose just once. I didn’t take any other medication, so placebo or not—I felt great!
I’m still researching the various oil companies out there, and I’ve reached out to a few friends to hear their personal experiences. I know Young Living is considered the “gold standard,” and I’m intrigued by their “seed to seal” guarantee. I’m not a fan of the multilevel marketing strategy, however, although I might consider becoming a member simply for the 24% discount.
Price is a huge factor for me; I know you get what you pay for, but with doTERRA’s similarly high prices, I’m not sure if I will increase my collection with their oils. I’m pleased so far with my starter kit, but I’m exploring other options, too.
One company that intrigues me is Eden’s Garden. It’s sold through the company’s website, but the pricing seems almost too good to be true. I’ve also read that “pure therapeutic grade” can mean a range of things, so I’m not entirely sure about their quality.
With all that said, I’m interested in expanding my collection and discovering new uses, whether it’s for household cleaning, first-aid applications, or stress relief. I’m not expecting any miracles, but I am open to discovering natural methods of keeping my family healthy and happy.
**Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional, and these statements are based on my own experience only.**
- Do you use essential oils?
- Which brand(s) do you recommend?
- Which is your favorite or most-used application (diffusing, ingesting, etc.)?
- Which scents—singles or blends—could you NEVER live without?
I use essential oils as well, and went through a similar period of speculation. There are a lot of great oils out there. Ultimately I committed to doTERRA because our physician that is overseeing our treatment for Lyme Disease uses their oils. We use all applications depending on what we are trying to accomplish. Favorite oils… Frankincense, On Guard, Breathe, and the multi-purpose, lemon. 🙂 Though there are many oils we use daily with treatments and all. I get a 25% discount with dT and have been able to get a lot of freebies with their points, etc.
That says a lot if your physician recommends them. I’ve heard a lot of good things about On Guard and Breathe. Probably would be the first blends I’d try.
Those are excellent blends. On Guard has been used in scientific studies, and was proven to be effective against MRSA and the flu virus.
If you do not yet use oils, I am happy to help you get started. I am studying to become an aromatherapist because I want to really know and understand oils beyond the whole MLM thing. 😉
I use essential oils as well, and went through a similar period of speculation. There are a lot of great oils out there. Ultimately I committed to doTERRA because our physician that is overseeing our treatment for Lyme Disease uses their oils. We use all applications depending on what we are trying to accomplish. Favorite oils… Frankincense, On Guard, Breathe, and the multi-purpose, lemon. 🙂 Though there are many oils we use daily with treatments and all. I get a 25% discount with dT and have been able to get a lot of freebies with their points, etc.
That says a lot if your physician recommends them. I’ve heard a lot of good things about On Guard and Breathe. Probably would be the first blends I’d try.
Those are excellent blends. On Guard has been used in scientific studies, and was proven to be effective against MRSA and the flu virus.
If you do not yet use oils, I am happy to help you get started. I am studying to become an aromatherapist because I want to really know and understand oils beyond the whole MLM thing. 😉
First of all, AMEN to your very first paragraph.
I’ve used essential oils a little bit (I too bought the starter kit from doTerra, a year or so ago), but I know there’s more for me to learn. I’ve been skeptical, and I definitely think good quality oils is vital. I also think that because they have so many healing qualities, people can easily overuse them, which is (to me) the scary part. Once our baby is born and gets a bit bigger though, I hope to learn more and invest in some others – they’re certainly my pick over any pharmaceutical treatments!
Yeah, with so many “miracle cures” out there, it’s easy to be skeptical. I think if I hadn’t had my son, I probably would still be on the fence.
First of all, AMEN to your very first paragraph.
I’ve used essential oils a little bit (I too bought the starter kit from doTerra, a year or so ago), but I know there’s more for me to learn. I’ve been skeptical, and I definitely think good quality oils is vital. I also think that because they have so many healing qualities, people can easily overuse them, which is (to me) the scary part. Once our baby is born and gets a bit bigger though, I hope to learn more and invest in some others – they’re certainly my pick over any pharmaceutical treatments!
Yeah, with so many “miracle cures” out there, it’s easy to be skeptical. I think if I hadn’t had my son, I probably would still be on the fence.
I was certainly in the “you’ve got to be kidding me” camp about essential oils in the beginning, so I hear you! Like you, I also just had to try a couple of things and see if it actually worked. Clearly, they did, at least most of the time, for most things I tried them for.
My suggestion would be to maybe grab a bottle of the “cheaper” lavender, and honestly just smell that and the dT version, side by side, and see what you think. I truly think you will smell the difference easily. And of course, try the other as well. Does it help you sleep? Then great! Buy those! But try.
dT also offers a similar discount for “members”, which I compare to a Costco membership or something. It has nothing to do with selling oils at all. It’s just a cheaper way to buy, and you can slowly add to your collection, or go more quickly.
We use oils for all sorts of things. My primary focus when getting into it was keeping my kids healthy. We started using a protective blend daily, and in all honesty, no BS, we haven’t had a sick visit to the pedi in 2 years. Truth.
I also use frankincense daily to help my anxiety and stress levels. I do a drop under my tongue each day. That is one I can’t live without!
Good luck on your oiling journey, whatever it may look like! I think if you do some reading, and most definitely some “trying”, you will find what works for your family!
Best-
Corinne
https://alifeofcertainty.wordpress.com/
Thanks! Sounds like you’ve had a lot of success with them. I’m certainly willing to fork over the $ if they work, and so far, so good. I’ve used the lavender again when I was feeling really anxious and just needed to sleep. I didn’t have “the best sleep ever” but it certainly didn’t hurt. The protective blend intrigues me, especially since I’m about to put my son in daycare for the first time! Eek! I want to protect ALL of us from those inevitable germs.
I was certainly in the “you’ve got to be kidding me” camp about essential oils in the beginning, so I hear you! Like you, I also just had to try a couple of things and see if it actually worked. Clearly, they did, at least most of the time, for most things I tried them for.
My suggestion would be to maybe grab a bottle of the “cheaper” lavender, and honestly just smell that and the dT version, side by side, and see what you think. I truly think you will smell the difference easily. And of course, try the other as well. Does it help you sleep? Then great! Buy those! But try.
dT also offers a similar discount for “members”, which I compare to a Costco membership or something. It has nothing to do with selling oils at all. It’s just a cheaper way to buy, and you can slowly add to your collection, or go more quickly.
We use oils for all sorts of things. My primary focus when getting into it was keeping my kids healthy. We started using a protective blend daily, and in all honesty, no BS, we haven’t had a sick visit to the pedi in 2 years. Truth.
I also use frankincense daily to help my anxiety and stress levels. I do a drop under my tongue each day. That is one I can’t live without!
Good luck on your oiling journey, whatever it may look like! I think if you do some reading, and most definitely some “trying”, you will find what works for your family!
Best-
Corinne
https://alifeofcertainty.wordpress.com/
Thanks! Sounds like you’ve had a lot of success with them. I’m certainly willing to fork over the $ if they work, and so far, so good. I’ve used the lavender again when I was feeling really anxious and just needed to sleep. I didn’t have “the best sleep ever” but it certainly didn’t hurt. The protective blend intrigues me, especially since I’m about to put my son in daycare for the first time! Eek! I want to protect ALL of us from those inevitable germs.