Need bug spray? No problem!

Essential Oils can be used for everything.  As the "lifeblood" of the plant, part of the job of these oils was to protect the plants from bugs.  Why can't we use oils for the same purpose? 

Dr. Mercola has said "Most insect repellants out there are loaded with toxic chemicals, including the pesticide DEET, which is so poisonous that even the Environmental Protection Agency says you should wash it off your skin when you return indoors, avoid breathing it in and not spray it directly on your face. Think about it--if this chemical can kill mosquitoes, it can likely do some harm to other life forms too."  Now if the EPA is saying that, you know it has to be terrible!  DEET is terrible, and I get the same feeling I get when I see someone spraying DEET bugspray that I do when I see spray sunscreen.  I have to fight the urge to grab it out of their hand and run far far away.

So, lets talk about bug sprays using essential oils.  Are these going to work as good as those DEET loaded alternatives?  I am going to venture to say "no", but I am willing to sacrifice a little "protection" to ensure that I am not poisioning my body and especially my kids with every spray!

There are tons of variations of "recipes" for essential oil based bug repellent.  I think the key to all of them are Purification, so I am giving you this one because it has a lot of other oils as well.  If you don't have one of these others (most of them are in your starter kit), I would just leave it out and try without it.  But make sure you have the Purification! 

Protect your family from bugs and from all of the chemicals in those commerical bug sprays.  Use some essential oils and once again, your health will thank you! 

Thieves, thieves and everything thieves

We did a blog post on the Thieves Oil.  Thieves Oil is a blend of five essential oils that are scientifically documented to be highly anti-infectious, antiviral, antibacterial, and antiseptic. Thieves essential oil is a safe and natural way to help care for your family's health. Since the oil is great, why wouldn't you want to try all the Thieves products? 

There are many household products based on the Thieves oil.  They have toothpaste, mouthwash, concentrated all purpose cleaning, hand sanitizer, spray and hand soap.  Do I use any of these?  YES!  I use them all, and I am totally in love.

There have been studies that the Thieves blend works better on bacteria and mold than bleach.  And it is non-toxic.  If your kid happens to put the spray bottle in their mouth and start drinking (not that this has EVER happened to me?) there is no call to poison control.  The suggestion is to drink some water because it might "taste bad".  I don't think Coy thought it tasted too bad.  :)  I use this cleaner for everything, countertops, bathrooms.  I have even put a capful in the laundry to wash the clothes, or to take the mold smell out when I forgot to put them in the dryer- ooops!  

Have you read the ingredients on your toothpaste tube?  It is toothpaste and says that you shouldn't ingest it! Why would you put that in your mouth? The Thieves toothpaste took a little getting used to for me, its not the minty taste of Crest and it doesn't 'foam', but now I can't use anything else. And my teeth feel cleaner ALL DAY.

The spray.  This spray saved me!  My throat was killing me, kept me up all night and then I decided to try the spray.  I sprayed it directly in my mouth and it numbed my mouth immediately and helped so much.  Anytime it started to come back, I sprayed again and poof.  This stuff works y'all!  

And my other favorite- the hand sanitizer!  Regular sanitizers are terrible for you and new research is coming out showing that they don't even work to kill cold and flu germs!  Why put that toxic stuff on your hands (one of the places that your body absorbs the quickest), when there is a non-toxic product available?  

Look at this deal?  You can save about $60 with this deal. http://www.youngliving.com/en_US/opportunity/products/essential-rewards-kits/thieves-essential-rewards

This can get you started, and if you enroll in essential rewards, you are getting 10-20% back in products each month and with reduced shipping costs.  Why wouldn't you switch all your household products over to these?  You aren't spending any MORE money, you are switching your money!  To a better product.  With rewards.  And making your family healthier in the process.

Testimonies 1

Jenna and I have been amazed at some of the comments we've gotten from people who have started using Young Living oils! We wanted to share some of them. We're going to keep collecting them to share periodically just because it excites us so much to hear all the great results from people! I love knowing we are all taking ownership of our health and using natural products on our bodies.

Lauren M: I sprinkled Purification into the dog crate yesterday because it was stinking up the laundry room and bam smell was gone and it's still smelling amazing in there a full day later (that never happens!)!

Veronica D: RC is amazing. I've had a cough, and it's so much better when I put it on my chest.

Kelly S: I received my diffuser last week and I love it!!!

Laura K: {after using Peace and Calming for the first time at night} OMG. E slept until 7:30 this morning. Her normal wake time is 5:30 - 6:30 at the latest.

Veronica D: Clarity is better than a chai. Never thought I'd say that. {Me neither from another chai-addict}

Kellie:  My husband was asleep snoring, I applied lavender to the bridge of his nose and the snoring stopped!

Lauren:  We cancelled my daughters tear duct surgery because lavender on the bridge of her nose clears it right up.

Lindsey:  I had bad allergies and applied lavender under my tongue.  It tasted terrible but it helped so much!

Don't forget - if you're interested in trying out essential oils, we have a step-by-step guide at the top called 'How to order essential oils'.

Happy oiling!!

How about some conversation about supplements??!?

Ok, let's take a short break from oils (not that I WANT to, but maybe you do?) and talk supplements.  When I started my "crunchy" journey about 5 years ago, I did a lot of research into supplements.  Which ones should I take?  Are all supplements created equal?  Should we even take supplements?  Do we need a multi-vitamin?

The amount of information on this was totally overwhelming.  And the crazy thing was if you talk to one doctor they will tell you the exact opposite of another doctor.  Where do I start?  Luckily there is this lovely thing called the internet, and after hours and hours and hours and HOURS of research and conversations with a lot of different "medical type" people, I formed my own opinions.  And, like everything else oils related, this is my own opinion.  And this is what I do for my family.  So, take what you want from it :)

So, in the winter months my whole family gets this routine everyday:

1. Thieves on feet in morning and night- help with that immunity!
2. Ningxia Red (especially the adults, sometimes the kids)- this is an awesome YL product, which I am sure I will blog about later.
3. At night the kids get what I call "yum yum".  The kids LOVE their yum yum and when it is announced that it is yum yum time, I have cheering kids running towards me.  Are they brainwashed?  Maybe?  :)
Yum Yum consists of applesauce that has a high quality probiotic mixed in as well as about 4000-5000 IUs of Vitamin D.
4. They also get Vitamin C "gummies", a fish oil pill most days and elderberry when they have been around sickos.

The above is everything for the kids.  For Clancy and me, we both take a quality probiotic and about 8000 IUs of vitamin d3.

Y'all, if you haven't done your research on Omega-3, Vitamin D3 and probiotics, I suggest you start.  These three things in addition to my oils, I believe, are key!

So, in the summer we only do probiotics, thieves and fish oil.  I hardly ever put sunscreen on my children or us (another post for later), and so they get plenty of Vitamin D in the summer without supplements.

So, this has worked for us... and maybe it would work for you?  I am sure people would have different opinions than I have, but after my hundreds of hours of research and conversation, this is what I feel most comfortable with.

Is your regiment any different?  Why?

Valor

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Oh Valor..... I will admit that at first, I didn't know what to do with you.  Seemed so weird and random to me?  It is nicknamed the "chiropractor in a bottle".  Why do I need a chiropractor in a bottle when I go to the real chiropractor every week?  Well, I gave Valor a chance and some time, and I will admit, this one is growing on me!

Valor is a blend that has a bunch of interesting ingredients.  Spruce helps release emotional blocks; rosewood has a balancing effect on emotions; blue tansy helps aid liver function and calm the lymphatic system; and frankincense helps elevate the mind and overcome feelings of sadness and despair. Try this popular blend for tension relief, help with sleep, or to relieve snoring.  

I have had neck pain a couple times, the type of pain that I know I just need to go back to the chiropractor.  I couldn't go at the time and applied Valor before bed.  I woke up and it was all gone.  Through this I also noticed that like Peace and Calming, Valor helps me relax.  So, many times when my husband is out of town, I apply Valor and Peace and Calming for a better night sleep.  

A friend of mine mentioned that Peace and Calming didn't stop her husband from snoring but Valor did! This is the beauty of these oils, if one doesn't work, there is most likely another option to try.

Valor is also a great one to try on kids that have anxiety or need help calming down. Allena will do a whole post about what her family is doing for Trent {and especially the oils they are using}, and Valor is a part of their regimen!

Have you tried your Valor?  Next time you feel a little off, or are uptight, try your Valor!

Purification

Purification is quickly becoming one of my favorite oils! When I first started using Young Living essential oils, I was mostly interested in the ones to help my kids sleep and help keep them healthy. But as I've learned more about all the different oils, I am amazed by so many of them!

Purification is one that has a multitude of uses. First off, it smells really awesome. I think it's one that smells delicious diffusing {and Jenna has tried it mixed with peppermint and says that is really awesome too}. My mom diffuses Purification a lot, and I love walking into her kitchen!

Speaking of kitchens, it is a great one for neutralizing odors. Cleaning out the fridge? Diffuse purification to knock out any bad, lingering odors. Stinky shoes? Put a cotton ball in your shoe to wipe out that funk.

Purification has many uses for skin too. It is great as an insect repellent {hello Texas mosquitos!} because it has Citronella in it and it also soothes insect bites {hello Texas fireants!}. It is also soothing for blisters and canker sores in your mouth. I haven't tried it for pimples {yet}, but it's supposed to be great for that too.

A few other random things about Purification:

• You can put it in your wash to freshen clothes.
• It can help with stress {and who doesn't have a ton of that?}
• It is highly anti-bacterial - similar to Thieves
• It has lemongrass oil in it which is known for improving mental clarity {hello Mom brain!}

All in all, Purification packs a big punch for a lot of different uses. I promise if you start using it, you will love it as much as I do!

AHHHHH Peppermint!

Peppermint has a special place in my heart.  When I was in the hospital having my third sweet child, I got really bad nausea during my labor.  My L&D nurse took some peppermint essential oil out of her pocket, put it on a washcloth and laid it on my chest.  It made me feel so much better she kept laughing at me because the only time I would ring the nurse call button was when I couldn’t find my peppermint washcloth.  So, peppermint is known to help nausea, worked for me, as well as other stomach issues.

I have also used peppermint to help when I had a headache, applying it to my temples and the back of my neck.   And I put peppermint oil on my chest when I am congested or put it in my hands and breathe deeply.  J

A little while ago, my sister found out that there were mice in her car.  Yep, you hear that right, mice in her car.  How nasty is that?  When I was looking up something else, I found that peppermint oil deters mice, ants and cockroaches.  If she would have only known that before she found the chewed up pacifiers.

After thieves, peppermint oil is my second choice in the diffuser.  For some reason, it smells AMAZING diffused.  If you haven’t tried it, please do!

Some other documented uses for peppermint oil are:

1.      Add to water for flavor or fresh breath

2.      Put on the back of your neck to cool down hot flashes

3.      Apply to your wrists for motion sickness

4.      Can help with joint pain if applied directly to the area of pain (think Icy Hot??!)

5.      I have used as a natural way to regulate body temperature!

One thing peppermint also is known to do is decrease milk supply.  So, all you breastfeeding moms, stay away from peppermint oil on your chest area or ingesting it.  I still diffuse it and use it for headaches and haven’t noticed any supply issue.  But also something to remember when you decide you want to dry up???

 Peppermint oil smells amazing.  Again, maybe a little strong for some straight out of the bottle, but put some in that diffuser!  It is a win/win when something is so versatile AND smells so delicious.