Prevent the Flu!

Prevention is half the battle when it comes to battling the flu!  Below are some great things to have on hand and use to help keep the flu from taking hold!

1. Lemon Oil Hand Spritz. Hand washing is best. doTERRA makes a foaming version with On Guard essential oil blended right in. However, when you are out and about you can pull out your little spray bottle with lemon oil and water. Spray down shopping cart handles, your hands, restaurant tables, etc. Great way to cleanse on the go. Also, takes care of any sticky kid messes great!

2. Breathe blend. For the congestion, stuffies, and general yuckiness that can settle in sometimes. For ease of use on the go, you can add a few drops of Breathe blend to a roller bottle and fill the rest of it up with Fractionated Coconut Oil. Layer it with Lime oil for added decongestive ability- have a tissue near by, it works fast!

3. The “FLU BOMB”. I’m sure you’ve heard of this combination by now. If you are new or just forgot, it’s worth repeating the recipe:
4 drops Lemon
2 drops Oregano
2 drops Melaleuca
2 drops On Guard
Place in an empty gel capsule and swallow. This knocks it out fast! Try and take this as soon as you start to feel a little “off.” Repeat it often until it’s kicked. If I feel something starting, I’ll take this every hour or so until I feel better.

For kids who can’t swallow the capsules, you can add the drops to a roller bottle and fill it the rest of the way up with Fractionated Coconut oil. Apply it every hour or so to the bottoms of the feet.

4. Homemade Cough drops and Cough Syrup. Eucalyptus oil works great to help stop coughs. Sometimes a little bit rubbed on the feet or chest is enough for relief.
doTERRA sells On Guard throat drops which are awesome to have around or keep in your bag for emergencies. They are a great line of defense to help boost the immune system.
If you want something a little more DIY, try these recipes:

Natural Honey Cough Syrup
4 drops Lemon
2 drops Clove
2 drops Clary Sage
2 drops Thyme
2 drops Ginger
1 drop Chamomile
1 drop Fennel
4 tbs Raw Honey
2 cups Distilled Warm Water
Dissolve the honey in the warm water. Don’t overheat. When combined and cool, add the essential oils. Pour into a amber glass container and store in the fridge. Shake before use. Take a spoonful or so when you need cough relief. Repeat often.

Honey Throat Drops
1 1/3 Cup Raw Honey
1 1/2 Cup Water
20 drops On Guard Essential Oil Blend
Stevia Powder
Candy Thermometer
Mound stevia in a pie plate. Create rounded indentions in the stevia with the back of a small spoon. Set aside. Bring honey and water to a boil. Continue boiling until hard crack stage. Take pan off of the heat and stir. Add On Guard Essential Oil. Spoon drops of the mixture into the stevia molds. Let cool to touch. Roll drops around in the stevia till coated. Wrap in parchment paper.

5. Headaches and Fever. Peppermint and Lime are great. Apply them down the spine, on the feet, and the back of the neck. This helps bring down fever. Remember, small amounts, applied often works best.
For headaches, try Past Tense blend, peppermint, lavender, frankincense, chamomile, etc. Experiment and see what works for you. For the big ones, you can also use Deep Blue, or Wintergreen. Apply topically but don’t forget to use them aromatically too. Sometimes, just inhaling the aroma is enough to help you feel better.

6. On Guard Product Line. Products made from this blend include the oil blend itself, toothpaste, cleaning concentrate, hand wash, and throat drops. This is from the doTERRA Blog:

“In a study done at Oklahoma University, research was conducted by using On Guard Protective Blend to see it’s effectiveness on influenza virus infections. The results were staggering. Despite antibiotics not being able to treat  the influenza virus, results showed that On Guard Protective Blend reduced this virus by up to 90%. The researchers concluded that On Guard plays an important role in keeping families well without harsh side effects.”

Use On Guard throughout the day to keep up your immunity and reduce viruses. Just line everyone up and apply it to the feet every day. Or make everyone in your family their own On Guard roller bottle filled with a few drops of the blend and filled the rest of the way with fractionated coconut oil.

Thanks to Ilovedoterra.com  for the info!

DigestZen

I thought I would share with you some of my favorite oils one by one.

I decided to start with the oil that really got us interested in DoTERRA.  The first oil we tried.  When our daughter Cali was having major digestive, stomach issues I was given a sample of Digestzen and she began using it.  We found that this $31.00 bottle oil took care of the same issues that the $300.00 worth of homeopathic remedies we were using.  This was all after having gone through extensive and expensive medical tests to see what was causing her problems.  The doctor's could come up with no other explanation other than IBS (irritable bowel; syndrome) and just wanted to put her on prescription medications.

We decided to try another more natural approach and visited a naturopath who really helped her by identifying various food sensitivities.  He also gave her some very expensive homeopathic remedies which worked but were expensive.  When a friend shared a sample of Digestzen with me and Cali tried that it worked as well as the expensive remedies. 

Digestzen

Digetzen is a blend that consists of anise, caraway, coriander, fennel, ginger, peppermint and tarragon.

Digestzen is great for things such as constipation, diarrhea (yes it works for both), heartburn, indigestion, Crohns Disease, Celiac Disease, IBS, food poisoning, motion sickness, nausea,  and stomach aches.

So many of our heal issues begin in our digestive track and Digestzen can help many of them.

How to Use

 Take 1-2 drops in 1/4 cup of warm water or juice for stomach issues or heartburn.

May also be applied directly to stomach area.

For infants and small children, apply topically to the stomach area with a carrier oil 

to protect their sensitive skin.  Works well for colic

Combine 1 teaspoon of fractionated coconut oil with a drop each of a Digestzen blend and lavender and apply the dilution for diaper rash.

Add 2-3 drops of digestive blend and 1 drop of lemon in 1 tablespoon of olive oil and take internally every hour up to 8 hours while relief comes from gallbladder attacks.

How I Use Essential Oils

For many people using essential oils is a new concept and I often get asked how I use essential oils on a daily basis. When I started making a list of how I use them each day I was amazed at how much a part of my daily life they had become.

Morning:
I begin my day with my doTERRA Lifelong Vitality Supplements. These vitamins are amazing and have totally stabilized my energy level. I have energy all day long. I no longer hit that 3:00 wall! I could go on and on how these supplements have helped people I know and love but I"ll save that for another post!

After I shower I apply a few drops of Balance behind my ears and on my feet. It helps me start the day right and feel more grounded. If I am having a stressful day I will use more during the day.

I also use doTERRA skin care every morning.  I love the way it smells and the way it makes my skin feel.  Essential oils have been known for centuries to have anti aging qualities.  Immortelle is a great blend that I use on my fine lines and wrinkles.

Afternoon:

For lunch I will usually enjoy a protein shake using doTERRA's Slim & Sassy protein powder.  I like the vanilla flavor.  Just add in a bit of water or milk, some ice cubes and a few drops of Wild Orange essential oil and it tastes like an orange creamsicle shake!

I also use Slim & Sassy, an essential oil blend that reduces appetite and increases metabolism 3-4 times during the day.  It has totally helped decrease my sweet craving and Jim has been losing about 2 lbs. a week consistently using it.

If I've spent too much time at the computer and I feel a headache or a neck ache coming on I'll roll some Past Tense on my temples and the back of my neck for almost instant relief.  Jim keeps a bottle of this in his lunch bag too and uses it every day to help relieve the neck strain from sitting at a computer all day.

When it is allergy season I take my "allergy potion" several times a day.  It is a combination of lemon, lavender and peppermint oil.  I put a couple drops of each into a gel cap and it totally keeps my allergies under control and keeps me from getting a sinus infection.  If I feel like it is moving into my sinus area I add a few drops of oregano into the capsule too

During cold and flu season I will use a few drops of OnGuard in a capsule each day too to keep myself healthy and from catching the flu bug.

I have been training to run a half marathon and that means a lot of sore muscles.  Before I go out for my run I put peppermint oil on my calves which are really tight.  It helps warm up my muscles and makes running long distances easier.   After my run I will use lemon grass, geranium and Deep Blue to help with pain and muscle recovery.

Evening:

Each night Jim and I both use Serenity on the bottom of our feet before we go to bed to help us relax and sleep better. It smells so good.

Jim also has a lot of problems with tight Achilles tendon so he applies Deep Blue each night to his calf area so they aren't as tight in the morning.  It now allows him to walk down the stairs in the morning normally!

In the Kitchen:

I always keep a bottle of lavender near by in the kitchen.  Applying lavender to burns will give instant relief and help prevent blistering.

I also manage to cut myself now and then in the kitchen and helichrysum is an amazing oil that helps stop bleeding immediately.  It is an anti-coagulant.

I also use essential oils in my cooking.  My favorite oils to use are lemon, wild orange, rosemary, ginger and lime.  The flavor it gives food is amazing and so much stronger and better than herbs.  I always replace lemon or orange extract with a drop or too of oil.  If a recipe calls for fresh lemon juice I use the juice but add in a drop or too of the oil to take the flavor over the top!

Here are a few of my favorite recipes that use essential oils:
Wild Orange Honey Butter
Quick and Easy Orange Rolls

We use essential oils for so many other things!  The list goes on and on - wart removal, athlete's foot, sore throats, wound healing, fever reduction, mood elevation, etc.

If you have some specific ailments or medical conditions that you would like to know how essential oils can help I highly recommend the book Modern Essentials - A Contemporary Guide to the Therapeutic Use of Essential Oils.  If you live in the Portland area I keep a supply of these books on hand at a reduced price ($20.00) or they can be bought from Amazon.


If you'd like to receive a free sample of a particular oil to try please contact me through my contact information here on the blog.

Watch this news clip of how Vanderbilt Medical Center is diffusing doTERRA's Citrus Essential Oils in their Emergency Room to help with the overall emotional well being of their patients and employees.

Essential Oils are highly effective with emotional issues such as stress, depression, anxiety, and frustration.

Anxiety and Life Long Vitality Supplements

Thanks so much to one of our team members for the following testimonial.  She discovered that one of the many benefits of the Life Long Vitality supplements was being able to wean herself off her anti-anxiety medication!  How wonderful is that!

The year 2011 has been a hard one for me and my family.  I felt that I was at one of the lowest points of my life, since the death of my mother 20 years ago, in April of this year.  Our family went through a lot of transitions - buying and selling a home, working two jobs while transitioning to a new job, living with in laws, children changing schools, and the loss of a pregnancy. 

As I sat in my doctor's office for a follow up through my tears I promised her that I would faithfully take my anti anxiety medication that I had been on for the previous three years.  I did.  But I felt nothing.  I continued going through the motions of life but I felt nothing.  My husband found a new job with increased pay.  He found an amazing home and bought it for me.  My children were thriving in their new school.  Yet I was numb.

This was not the way I wanted to feel.  This was not the way I wanted my children to remember me.  And this is not the way I felt when I began my medication.  I was introduced to doTERRA and the oils helped us win the battle of my sons allergies.  I decided it was time for me to try something for myself, I started with Balance and Serenity.  I could tell a difference but still felt the need to take my medication as well.  I read more about the Lifelong Vitality Pack and thought I would put the 30 day money back guarantee to work.  It was the first time I have take a supplement and felt a difference.

My head was clear, I didn't get fatigued in the afternoon, and when I got myself out of bed I didn't long to get back in it after my kids went to school.  That was just the first week.  The second week I decided to focus on taking the vitamins first and then take my medication if I needed it.  I still took three that week.  The third week I did the same but only took one that week and the fourth week was the same.  I am happy to say that I have not taken any prescription medication since July of last year.  I enjoy each day I have with my family.  I am also able to see all the blessings and wonderful things that have happened in our lives.  I wasn't sure that was ever going happen. 

Testimonial from a Teenager!

Just had to share a fun testimonial with all of you - this from a 16 year old teenager!  She came to a class and when she arrived she had really bad cramps.  We quickly gave her some lavender, frankincense and rosemary for her tummy area and some Deep Blue for her sore back.  She had relief right away.  She has been using her oils at home and here is what she had to say when I asked her how she was doing with them  and how they were helping her cramps!

Yah it was AMAZING! I wasn't sure but I guessed and used lavender, frankincense, and deep blue. I think you said rosemary would help with that too but I was out of town and had only brought the family physician kit. I use frankincense and melaluca with the fractionated coconut oil every day on my face and love what it's doing. 

I also do oregano and on guard on my feet every night for immunity boost because I get sick pretty easily. My sister and her husband are here with us right now and they both came SUPER sick and I've been doing that and haven't gotten sick at all! Also, I gave them lemon+melaluca+on guard for their chest throat and back along with breathe and they are totally better! I went tubing with a friend's  family and I hurt myself twice in 4 days... I put deep blue on and the pain totally went away. I've also used that past tense magic stuff and WHOA. Lovin it. Don't have it with me here in Sisters but my sis had a headache so I just gave her lavender with peppermint and she said it was amazing how it helped!

So yah, I'm a convert! I also love putting a drop of lemon in my mouth every day.

Essential Oils and Newborns

Wondering if essential oils are safe to use with newborns?   Dr. Hill answers your questions about using essentials with newborns and talks about the best oils to use with them.

Top Oils to Use on Newborns

Acid Reflux, Colic or Tummy Aches: Apply 1-2 drops digestzen, fennel, peppermint or ginger. Apply with 2-3 drops Fractionated Coconut Oil on the abdomen as needed.

Calming/ Sleep: Apply 1-2 drops Lavender, Serenity, or Balance on the bottom of feet, neck or down spine. Diffusion is also beneficial.

Cough: Rub 1-3 drops of Breathe, Eucalyptus or Peppermint Essential Oil with 3-4 drops coconut oil on chest, upper back, neck and if possible, diffuse in room at night.

Diaper Rash: 1-2 drops Sandalwood or Myrrh add 1-2 drops coconut oil and apply to affected area

Fevers: Apply 1-2 drops of Peppermint, Lavender or Eucalyptus essential oil with 3-4 drops coconut oil to the bottom of the feet, back of spine, or forehead.

Runny Nose: Rub 1-2 drops of Lemon on feet or down spine

Teething: 2 drops Clove in 1 Tbsp. Fractionated Coconut Oil and apply to Gums