I’ve gotten so many requests on how our family uses essential oils, but never took the time to write it out! Finally sharing how we use them for our family on a daily and seasonal basis. There are few regulations here in the U.S. on what is allowed to be manufactured and sold in our common household and personal care products Therefore, I started a while ago to be my own health care advocate for myself and my children. Not everything is in our control, but cutting out toxins and chemicals in our lives certainly improves the quality of it. With the recent release of the study confirming the connection between Formaldehyde to Leukemia, I am convicted now more than ever of this. We need safer FDA regulations, but until then I have to actively read labels, and understand what certain ingredients mean. Formaldehyde was found in products I trusted, and it is disguised under different names. When I find companies I can trust that are committed to clean labels and transparency, I stick with them! A few being Seventh Generation, Honest, Beautycounter, Follain, Young Living, etc. Since I keep receiving requests on how I use essential oils for our family, I went ahead and wrote out this post of ways I have integrated them over the past 5 years. If you have any questions please let me know!
Why are essential oils effective?
This is something I didn’t really get when I first started using them so it was hard to find the motivation to actually use them consistently. Essential oils are the lifeblood of a plant that can be found in a plant’s flower, stem, leaves, bark, or fruit. What is fascinating is that they can reach every cell in your body within 20 minutes when topically applied! They can transport nutrients, are powerful antioxidants, help support cellular regeneration, digestive, nervous, and immune systems, and can even purify the air. These oils are highly concentrated and complex which deliver the human body the purest and best parts of the earth we live on. It does matter where you buy your oils from since many that are sold on amazon or wal-mart have been diluted. DoTerra or YoungLiving are the two I know of that have the purest and most concentrated oils which will give you more for your money. (We use Young Living.)
There are a million and one ways to use oils, but finding simple routines that work for you and your family is what will help incorporate those healthier lifestyle changes. I was overwhelmed at first and the oils sat in my cabinet for a year until I started reading about ways that didn’t seem as intimidating to try. I hope this post proves to be the same for you!
I am not the best at remembering to use roller bottles on my kids’ feet throughout the day, but I do stick with a wellness roller to help prevent all of the sickness that comes with flu season. They actually request it now, and the older ones can do it on their own. When they have a sore throat they ask for Apple cider vinegar, and when they start to get the sniffles they ask for a roller bottle;) These oils are so concentrated that the smallest amount even when diluted can be so effective to our immune and lymphatic systems. We are lucky to go to a school where the teachers even have diffusers in their classrooms! This recipe above is what is also known as the flu bomb roller!
My medicine cabinet is no longer overflowing with cough syrups and prescriptions from the doctors office. From changing our diet, cutting out sugar, focusing on gut health, and proactively taking probiotics…we actually haven’t had more than head colds in over a year! I do not think oils should replace modern medicine, but I do think they can be used to prevent so much of the health issues we face in our country. We made it through flu season last year, and have somehow even avoided the dreaded stomach flu. It is incredible what cutting out sugar, toxins, and chemicals from your home can do. If you are new to oils, a starter kit with 11 every day oils is a great place to start.
Items I have slowly replaced in our home:
Body Wash
Body Lotion
Skin Care + Makeup
Shampoos + hair products
Toothpaste
Dishwasher Detergent
Dish Soap/Hand Soap
Household Cleaners
Diaper creams/baby products
Diapers
Bug Spray
Sunscreen
Candles
Perfume
Deodorant
I have used essential oils for pregnancy, post-partum, and miscarriage healing as well, but I think that deserves it’s own post!
For a good fruit & veggie wash to remove those pesticides: 1/4 c. apple cider vinegar, 6-8 drops lemon essential oil, and fill the rest with water! It won’t make your fruit taste any differently…maybe a little fresher! One bottle will last you a while, so I usually make all of my spray bottles in one day, and don’t have to worry about it for months! I got the labels for the bottles at this etsy shop.
I replaced my detergent with Thieves laundry concentrate as well as started using dryer balls in the dryer. A few drops of lavender + purification on these wool dryer balls. Dryer balls help dry faster as well as add that wonderful scent to your loads of laundry. *Add a safety pin to the dryer balls to reduce static!
If you are using oils for your little ones, this is a helpful ratio chart for diluting!
I have a diffuser in their room as well to help with bedtime. WOW. What a difference it makes when the sleep time blends are on. My son Max is usually really restless, but these calm him down significantly.
For sound sleep: Lavender, Sleepyize, or Peace & Calming do the trick!
For focus during school days: GeneYus, Peppermint, Frankincense, or Peace & Calming
A really easy recipe for opening up airways and helping with congestion! I haven’t used cough syrup in a few years, because oils helped significantly on their own! Of course, when things get serious, I ALWAYS recommend calling your doctor. I am grateful for the endless care good doctors and nurses can bring us when we are in need.
We burn candles a good deal, so that was a hard thing to give up! After reading more about what toxins they can release into the air, I started to diffusing more instead and haven’t missed them! This is one of my favorite blends for a smell very similar to the Anthropolgie Volcano candle! (5 drops Grapefruit + 5 drops Orange + 4 drops Lime + 3 drops Idaho Blue Spruce)
I also love when the house smells like mulled cider or pumpkin pie. For that I use a few drops each of tangerine, cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove. Heaven.
(Photo by Lovin Oils)
Here is a fun recipe for little ones for play-do with immune boosting properties! Not to mention it’s therapeutic play time:)
2 C. cornstarch
1 c. non scented lotion
4 drops cardamom
2 drops orange or tangerine
1 drop cinnamon bark
1 drop clove
(Natural dyes to color)
Mix all ingredients together- that’s it!
Where to get oils + supplies
I hope these recipes and info are helpful for you! If you have been wanting to try essential oils, but not sure where to start, the premium starter kit is a great bundle deal that also includes a diffuser. When you order a kit, you get the wholesale membership price which is awesome. I used just that kit for a long time, and ended up signing up for essential rewards as well to earn free items and get all of my normal household essentials like detergent, cleaners, toothpaste, etc. I buy the amber glass bottles and roller bottles on amazon. I also would get a bottle of fractioned coconut oil for diluting your oils.
You can grab a kit here, and I will add you to our FB group, where I personally learned so much about how to use these little bottles! It really helps to have a place to search or ask q’s.
I’d love to hear about what other topics you would like me to cover in relation to whole being health. I’ve written more on these topics in the wellness section of our blog:)
