Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Everything Essential Works

I've used essential oils from time to time over the years.  I'd learn about this or that in my reading and research and try it out.  Last year, I started learning more about essential oils and how much they can really do to help support wellness and actually help our bodies heal.  A couple of friends were selling doTerra essential oils, and I started seeing posts from them on Facebook.  I began to research what might be beneficial to add to our soaps and lotions for our customers, and decided to accept the offer of some samples from one of my friends.  We traded - I sent her goat milk soap, she sent me oils.  I think we both felt it was a fair exchange!

As soon as I opened the bottle of lavender oil, I knew that this was something special.  I've purchased lavender oil in the natural products aisle of my local hometown grocery store.  The difference between the two was striking, like emerging from a dank dungeon into pure sunlight.  When I smelled the wild orange oil, I was over the moon.  It was incredible!

Researching doTerra told me that this is a company that obtains the purest oils available from small farms, supporting organic agriculture in the locales where these plants are grown best.  I decided to sign on as a consultant to get the discount and to be able to make these available to others.  I ordered the family physician's kit and had my base oils to begin to work with.  As health issues of friends and family came up, I did research and added to my collection.  I made solid lotion bars with the On Guard blend that saved me days and weeks of misery when I got a cold.  For the first time in my life, I did not have a pile of Kleenex by the bed while recovering from a head cold.  I simply did not have the runny nose at night or during the day that typically plagues me, nor did I have the lingering cough that lasted for weeks!

Last weekend, I had a rare headache, and I decided to turn to my book and see what might help.  Rather than take ibuprofen, which I normally would have done, I applied a dab of peppermint oil to my temples, forehead and back of my neck, massaging it in.  Within minutes, my headache was fading.  I had tried this skeptically and was prepared to take the pills "when it didn't work."  Well, it worked.

The latest surprise recovery happened yesterday.  I have a herniated disk in my back that I have been successfully managing for the last several years.  Occasionally, if I move wrong or fall, it may get inflamed and I may have to rest for a while or take devil's claw or ibuprofen until I feel better. 

I don't know what happened yesterday, but midway through the day my back was hurting badly.  I was at work and wearing high heeled boots.  It was not an environment in which I could remove my shoes, and I was stuck.  I limited my walking and gingerly made my way to the car after work.  I had to go to the store, so I stopped, got out, walked into the store and recognized that I was in too much pain to make it.  I slowly made my way back to the car and removed the boots.  I picked up my daughter and went home, walking on damp dirt and gravel in socks without caring.  I hurt too much.

We did chores slowly.  I hobbled through them and then sat down on the couch to relax and knit for a while before bed.  When I tried to stand, I couldn't.  I had to put my hands on the couch and roll to the side slightly to be able to get up.  I could barely walk, pain shooting through my back as I walked hunched over to turn off the light.  I was heading to the kitchen to get some ibuprofen.  I decided to look at the essential oils book, which was also in the kitchen, first.  It suggested the Deep Blue blend that I already had in my EO wooden pharmacy box, so I decided to try it.  I didn't want to mess around with melting coconut oil to diffuse the blend because I was in excruciating pain.  I added the Deep Blue to olive oil in a shot glass, stirred with my fingers, and applied to my back, rubbing in as I hobbled toward my bedroom.  By the time I finished with my nightly routine and was ready to get into bed, I could walk erect, and my back didn't feel like it was going to break when I climbed under the covers.  I was amazed.  I had fully expected to hobble out for ibuprofen before going to sleep.

This morning, my back was stiff, but I was able to get up easily and do chores cautiously.  Before heading outside into the rain, I applied more of the oil blend to my back.  I am NOT wearing heels today, but I feel much better!  I have a little residual muscle pain from them being clenched against the pain, but it is nothing compared to the misery I was in yesterday.

I am am constantly in awe of how well these oils work, even when I don't expect them to.  If you are interested in more information about essential oils and their applications, check out www.everythingessential.me.  If you are interested in trying them, go to my web site here.  Send me a message if you are interested in becoming a consultant.  There is a very small fee to get started, and if you are using the oils regularly for yourself and family, you will very much appreciate the discount!