Essential Oils Basics

A Toxin-Free Lifestyle

If you’ve had a chance to take a peek around the blog you are probably already aware that we are pretty focused on health and wellness around here. We’ve spent the past 8 years transforming the health of our family through diet and lifestyle changes. (Read Our Eczema Story here.) Throughout that time, we’ve seen remarkable healing through simply removing toxins from our home and choosing to eat only real food. Along the way, we fell in love with this more natural lifestyle, so much so that we decided to pack up and move out here to the country where we have the freedom to grow our own food in a sustainable way.

Little by little, over the years I’ve learned to care for my family’s needs without the use of harsh chemicals or over-the-counter medications. I am SO THANKFUL for the knowledge and resources I’ve collected over the years. It makes my heart so happy that I can go out and snip a bit of chamomile or plantain from my own backyard whenever we have need for it.

There’s just one downside to all this natural remedy knowledge – it can be a lot to think through in the heat of the moment. It’s not impossible, and with practice one does get quicker, but still… sometimes I wish for simple. Because as much as I wish I had all the time in the world to forage for plantain and burdock, dry and store it carefully away, and remember to pull it out at just the right time… real life is staring me right in the face.

Take a middle of the night tummy-ache for example. I’ve got a little one crying (or worse), I’m deliriously tired, and I’m fumbling through my kitchen cabinets trying to think through which remedy would be most appropriate. Would activated charcoal or bentonite clay be best? Maybe I should chew a bit of ginger or make some peppermint tea? Should I go with the digestive bitters? It’s almost enough to make a girl desperately grab back into the recesses of the cabinet for the 8 year old bottle of Pepto Bismol… almost, but not quite.

Essential Oils to the Rescue!

Essential Oils have solved this problem for us, almost completely. I do still use and love many other natural remedies, but oils are almost always our first line of defense (after proper nutrition, rest, and exercise of course). There are primarily 3 5 reasons for this:

They’re Affordable – Now I know what you’re thinking… those little bottles aren’t exactly cheap. And you’re right. They’re not. But here’s the thing. A “dose” of essential oil is usually 1 drop. There are approximately 80-250 drops in each bottle (depending on the size). That’s an awful lot of doses per bottle! Compare this to the price I’ve paid many times over for little bottles of tincture that require a teaspoon every few hours!
They Almost Always Solve the Problem – They just plain work. (Now this was not the case with the essential oils I’ve occasionally purchased from the local health food store. I keet them on hand for random DIY projects, but never really took to using them on my people. They always seemed to be more irritating than soothing and I didn’t like the smell.)
They’re safe – I hesitated to purchase oils for a long, long time. I’d heard so much controversy over safety, seen so many dilution charts… It just seemed overwhelming. I figured what I had going was easier than keeping track of charts for each individual oil and size/age of each child. Who’s got time for that I want to know! But Young Living oils are pure and safe. Using a bit too much of a certain oil can be uncomfortable, but not unsafe. Even so, any discomfort can be quickly remedied by applying a bit more carrier oil. No charts needed. Just follow a few common sense guidelines and do what seems right. Now, I’m not saying you shouldn’t educate yourself about oils. Do your research. But there’s really no need to be overwhelmed or fearful.
They’re simple – Hooray! We still have cupboards crammed full of every last herbal remedy you can imagine. And I like it that way. But you know what, sorting through a few roller bottles labelled “tummy,” “sneezie,” “itchy,” and “ouchie” is a whole lot easier to manage in the middle of the night! In fact, it’s so easy that we’ve given our kids freedom to use the oils that they need whenever they need them. Do you realize how many times a day I’ve got to stop and tend to somebody’s “ouchie”??? Of course you do. At least, if you’ve got more than a couple kids you sure do. Now I just point to the oils and say, “help yourself!” Woohoo!
They’re Life-Giving – What if the kids use them several times a day? Will they be using too much? Nope. All the better. These little bottles are full of the life-giving energy of plants. Does that sound hokey? I know. But it’s TRUE! For more information on how exactly essential oils work to improve your overall well-being check out this post. I love knowing that I’m giving my kids access to remedies that, as we say, “can only help.”

Essential Oils Basics

What are essential oils?

Sometimes essential oils are referred to as “the life blood of the plant” this is because they travel throughout the plant in what look like veins, delivering nutrients and oxygen to all parts of the plant. Not only that, these oils act as the plant’s immune system, protecting the plant from fungus, bacteria, and disease, while also repairing damaged cells – much like what blood does for our bodies.

Are essential oils safe?

Pure essential oils are completely safe. There is absolutely no need to follow complicated and fear-inducing safety advice regarding essential oils. A few common sense safety guidelines is all you need to get started and enjoy your oils.

Does it matter where I get my essential oils?

Essential oils are a safe and fantastic alternative to so many toxic products, provided that they are actually pure. The problem here is that words like “100% pure” “therapeutic” and “all natural” are completely unregulated. Because of the high demand for essential oils, most of what you’ll find has been tainted, diluted, chemically derived, or otherwise compromised. As in all things, the best way to guarantee purity is to KNOW YOUR FARMER!

How do I purchase high quality essential oils?

By purchasing a Young Living Premium Starter Kit (ie: everything you need to get started with essential oils) you’ll receive an automatic 24% discount on all your oils from here on out! Woot! No need to host parties or make regular purchases. Just 24% off forever.