A few weeks ago, I told you that my friend Jeni encouraged me to start using oils in our daily life…and so for about 3 weeks now, I have. So many of you emailed me and commented that you use these oils too!
Today, I would love for all of you oil-lovin’ people to simply comment and share with me (and everyone else) your favorite oil tip, remedy, use, or whatnot.
What I’ve learned so far is that oils can be very beneficial but also very overwhelming at the same time.
Thank you in advance for all of your tips! I’m going to really study them and incorporate them into our family too!!
(And psssst…don’t forget to check out my foodie blog today….I whipped up Pizza Meatballs for supper…my kids went nuts for these!)
Liz says
I love essential oils! Over the summer I use diluted lavender oil to stop bugs from biting, and it's a wonderful DEET-free solution to not being eaten alive.
Aromatherapy is a serious business, though. I have been seriously ill from individuals who claim to be experts but provided bad advice and sold oils they claimed to be pure.
My recommendation to anyone who is serious about oils is to research the brand before you buy (they are pricy, and there are so many companies with Amway-schemes!) or consult a Certified Clinical Aromatherapist.
Anonymous says
Great post! My friends have suggested them to me too and I just find them too overwhelming. I've tried a few of them and they honestly didn't work for me/my family. I'll be interested to see people's tips, perhaps that would change my thoughts on essential oils.
Andrea Gramelspacher says
I would love to help you out, perhaps even send you some free samples. Email me at livepurely1@gmail.com They are definitely overwhelming at first, and I was scared to use them, but after much research and trial they are now part Ido our daily life.
Julie Connelly says
YLEO's have helped w/ my family's allergies tremendously!! When my daughter went to her allergy dr for a check-up, she was amazed at how clear her lungs were for that time of year…most people w/ grass allergies were REALLY suffering. Since my daughter wasn't on any medication & didn't have any problems, she got released from that dr…YAAAY!!! Also, on Monday my daughter woke up w/ a sore throat. I was applying oils hourly, but nothing was helping. I decided to use a different oil and BAM, she felt better 🙂 I absolutely LOOVE my oils!!!!
Ariane says
I use a non-YL version of Theives diluted around 3-10% in a roller ball with fractioned coconut oil. I'm amazed at how affective it's been in warding off catching colds from my daughter. I also use Lavender before bed
Anonymous says
Lavender for burns (curling iron, cooking, etc)
Lavender and Peppermint mixed with a moisturizing lotion for sunburn relief (and if done regularly when burnt, can prevent peeling)
Lemon in my water bottle to add a nice flavor to my water
Amy says
I keep a jar of lavender mixed with coconut oil for diaper rash at out changing table. Thieves everyday to prevent sickness. Lemon, peppermint, lavender in the diffuser for allergies…….the list could go on and on, I found going on Pinterest and looking up specific oils and their uses really helpful as an on going log and go to. I've only been oily for about 6months and there are still oils in the starter kit I haven't used yet. I've found it best to use them as needed and slowly build my understanding. When I first got them and started researching I got overwhelmed, now I feel more confident in how to use them and even knowledgable at times. Good luck!
Cheri says
Go to: http://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com, she has lots and lots of uses for Essential Oils and her sister, Rebecca sells them.
Shaina says
I use melaeuca (tea tree) for any blemishes that pop up on my face – dries them right up! We use peppermint on any bug bites to relieve inflammation and itching! I made a spray bottle of water and peppermint oil and we use that as bug spray! We use frankincense on anything that needs help healing. That's just to name a few! I know they can be overwhelming! Have fun 🙂
Lindsay Evans says
I just recently started using oils too. I really like Lemon, Lavender and Peppermint together for allergies either in my diffuser or a capsule.
The Lavender diffused has helped us all sleep better including my 18 month daughter. She had a lot of ear infections as a baby and wish I had these oils before she got tubes because I have heard amazing things about them. Recently she had a runny nose and I diffused RC in her room and she was better in the morning. I really like have a first option to help my family that are not over the counter drugs. I still give her meds but I now try oils first! Oh and also Theives I heard is great to prevent illness just ordered the spray to have when we go on vacation next month since we are flying! Hope you to a post soon on them!
Anonymous says
I just started using oils a couple weeks ago. My favorite is 2 drops of Frankincense and 3 drops of lemon in the diffuser in the morning. Its uplifting and gets me going. After my evening shower, I use a few drops of lavender with fractionated coconut oil as an all over moisturizer. I can feel it relax my muscles and it smells so wonderful. The brand that I'm using has Slim & Sassy (a metabolic blend) that I'm using in ice water to break my daily soda habit.
I am really enjoying the oils very much! 🙂
Stacy
JB and Cindy says
Good job on choosing YoungLiving, they're the absolute best! If you don't already have it, get the Pocket Desk Reference (Life Science Publishers is a great one). That little book is full of info to help you navigate the oily world.
Anonymous says
I am curious about essential oils, especially if they can help with allergies, but I'm skeptical to try anything that is sold in a pyramid scheme format. I would love y'all's honest opinion on if they actually work and what brand is best.
Caroline says
So glad you are using oils Shay! We are using them for fertility and just love them! One of my fave ways is so simple – a drop of lemon in my water 🙂
LeAnn Rowland says
I use YL oils, love them! Most recently rubbed lemon and purification neat around my 8 year old's ear (for earache) in middle of the night, and she quickly calmed down and was able to go right back to sleep! I've armed myself with extra Thieves, RC, Purification, Raven, for back to school time.
Anonymous says
There are so many things you can do with oils… My favorite is the allergy trio, lemon, lavender & peppermint. They've worked wonders for my son. Peppermint & thieves took my 21 month old fever (103) away in minutes. Whenever you are applying on kids you want to dilute 30:1. Purification is great for bug spray. Lavender is good for rashes and itchiness. I do highly recommend the essential oils pocket reference guide, you can look up anything in there and find a solution. I've only been using oils for 5 months, but I couldn't live without them. I like to diffuse cedar wood and lavender at a night to help with sleep. Valor helps with anxiety also. Hopefully this helps you get started on your oily journey! You will love them and young living is the best!
Lauren B. says
Peace and calming on my chest after a stressful day, must have!
Valor is great for many things, but we have used it most for body aches/ back pain. some people call this the "chiropractor in a bottle"
Thieves is great for immunity and detoxing!
These are my three favorites so far since I bought my started kit last January!
Tiffany {A Touch of Grace} says
I just started using YL oils and absolutely love them. I am diffusing Thieves right now to help with a sore throat. I use Lavender on my daughter to help her sleep. There are so many uses. I think mixing with a carrier oil to use on your feet to help you sleep is another fantastic way to use them.
Lavender has also helped with bug bites and sunburns. Good luck as you get started! There is so much to learn.
Mara Kreiling says
I do a mix of white vinegar with water in a spray bottle, and add a few drops of lemon oil and tea tree oil for a natural disinfectant to use on counters, etc. You just wipe off with a wet paper towel.
Beth Purdom says
All of you that are commenting that you're "diffusing" a certain oil or oils–how are you doing this? What method do you use?
The Nelson Happenings says
I can't wait to hear more about your use of oils. I'm hoping that you tell us more. I love your food blog !! I'm hopping over there now.
Brianne R says
With the premier starter kit for the Young living Essential Oils you get the diffuser along with the oils in the photo above. You put water in the container and add a couple of drops of whatever you want to use and turn it on! It is fantastic!
I love to diffuse purification after cooking fish or broccoli or bacon to take the smells away.
I LOVE the thieves cleaner too! I just put 2 tablespoons of the cleaner solution into a spray bottle and fill with water and have my household cleaner. I clean EVERYTHING with my cleaner and love the smell!!
Anonymous says
Beth
Here is a link to the cold air diffuser that I use. Very simple to use… a little water with 4 or 5 drops of oil. It runs for 3 or 4 hours maybe and shuts itself off when it runs out of water. You could also add oils to a humidifier if you wanted.
Stacy
http://www.amazon.com/Greenair-Advanced-Wellness-Instant-Healthful/dp/B004GJRG3K/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1408039541&sr=8-1&keywords=greenair+diffuser
Casey says
I use the YL but am too overwhelmed! I love to diffuse them for the smell. And I think Frank and Purification with jojoba oil help my complexion. But my favorite thing is to put peppermint oil on a couple cotton balls and put them in the car vents on trips. It helps so much with motion sickness! That's my favorite!!
Angela Betlewicz says
I blogged about my experience here and how I used them for my husband's wound. Hope this helps! http://simplydesignlife.blogspot.com/2014/03/young-living-essential-oils-and-cuts.html
Susan Pelizzaro says
Hi Shay! I know I already emailed you with some uses, but my advice is to just start using them everyday, however you know how. I didn't use mine for a while because I didn't know exactly where to put them, etc. I would use Thieves on everyone's feet everyday and lavender at night on everyone (also cuts, burns, bug bites). I just got Progessence Plus and I've been told to put it on my wrist and neck daily. I'm also told that in a month or 2 my monthly mood swings will be almost gone – yay!
Kelli @ A Deeper Joy says
So glad you're trying the oils, Shay! 🙂 My favorite is using the Pan Away when my neck is tense from sitting at a desk or sleeping on it weird. It immediately loosens up the muscles. I do the same on my back when it's hurting…especially "that" time of the month! I also have used it for cramps, headaches and bruises!
Leslie says
Hi Shay! Thank you for this post! I am thinking about getting into oils one of these days! My husband is a chiropractor, and we have a lot of patients coming in and talking about them, but I never knew where to get credible information. I appreciate all previous comments so I can learn more!
Cara @ Imperfect Progress says
I have been using Young Living Oils since January, and I agree, it can be very overwhelming. I found it helpful to focus on figuring out one "issue" or oil at a time and very quickly I started feeling comfortable using them for everything!
It's hard to pick just one favorite use, so here are my top 3:
1. I put Thieves on my son's feet the days he goes to daycare or church nursery to protect him from germs.
2. I love to drink grapefruit in my water.
3. I mix frankincense with coconut oil as a face moisturizer.
You can get more information at this website: http://wearelivingitout.com/cara-morris/
Or I have also done a few oil blog posts: http://www.caramorris1.blogspot.com
Heather says
I felt overwhelmed too! I started small. I use purification rubbed on my lymph nodes when I feel a cold coming on and take a diluted theives capsule to help boost my immunity. As a mom and teacher this shortens my cold and keeps it from getting worse. Lavender and cedarwood help me sleep better. I also make my own earner with lemon oil and use it to get sticky messes off like stickers on jars.
inesebokisa says
As many others I love my essential oils. There are many good advices already given, I just wanted add that I used orange oil when I give birth to my second son. It helped to built energy and activated me, I felt more fresh. I also took with me lavender oil, but it didn't work for me that time. I felt that I need something fresh to stay fresh and built up energy level.
Anonymous says
I love YL oils and use 2 of them daily. I use the wow brand eucalyptus oil. I purchased a 6 pack of amber glass 2 0z bottles with droppers on amazon and then write on the bottle with a silver sharpie what is in it. It makes it easier to use.
Eucalyptus oil: I use about 8-10 drops on the top of my shark steam mop to clean my hardwood floor. I also use about 5 drops in my laundry. My son has super sensitive skin so we cannot use any artificial scents in our soaps etc.
Lavender oil: I use it in the laundry for our sheets and towels. I swear my 3 year old sleeps better, ha.
Tea tree oil (metaluca) I use in the shower and add a few drops to my shampoo to help with dry scalp. It works. I also use it to clean the sinks etc. The smell takes a while to get used to.
Kris
tabitha dickerson says
I use doTERRA essential oils and they have been life-changing for our family.
Lavender for burns, sleep, allergies.
Balance, our Grounding blend…EVERY DAY!!! Keeps me sane by the end of a long day with 3 sweet kiddos.
Lemon…I use in my water every day. 2 drops…it detoxes you and also helps with iron levels.
Serenity, our Calming blend…every night before bed.
I diffuse breathe (which has helped my husband stop snoring by putting it on his big toes), lavender and wild orange at night. Wild Orange helps you cut your brain off and stop thinking! ha!!! Vanderbilt University Hospital in Nashville, TN diffuses our Wild Orange, Citrus Bliss, Lime and Lemon in their trauma units/ER to help with mental focus.
I have a page on facebook called…Doterra Chicks. I post recipes, crafts and how to use the oils on there!!!
You will LOVE them!!!
Emily says
With the kids I nanny for I use the peace & calm on their feet and behind their ears before bed 🙂
Alison says
I agree with the previous commenters! I've been using YL essential oils for about a year. I know they can be overwhelming ! My friend gave me the Reference Guide for Essential Oils (abundant life) as a gift when I got my intro kit and it has helped so much! I swear Thieves got us through last flu season and I've been rubbing valor, wintergreen and Rc on my husband's foot to help is plantar fasciitis . We have a cat that has a chronic sinus condition and I've been rubbing her ears with purification. It is making such a difference!
Enjoy your vacation! My daughter starts kindergarten on Monday 🙂
Jill says
Hi Shay! I've been using EOs for a while. Now that they've become trendy, I see lots of recommendations for how to use EOs that are totally dangerous. For example, peppermint and eucalyptus is bad for kids. It can cause them to have trouble breathing. Someone from one of the MLMs recommended I put clove oil on my baby's gums for teething. Fortunately I knew enough about clove oil (it's a hot oil, meaning it burns), so I tried it on me first and oh my gosh, does it ever burn.
Your first commenter, Liz, is right on – do your research first before you listen to recommendations from people who are not licensed health professionals and Certified Aromatherapists.
You can also get sensitized from using the same oils too much and too often. You shouldn't use the same oil for more than a few days without taking a break because it can be bad for your body and cause you to become sensitized.
My favorite oil is lavender. It's my go to oil that fixes almost everything.
Leslie says
Please just do your research (outside of Young Living) about which oils are dangerous to take internally, or even to have to absorbed into skin. While a cold/infection seems to be clearing up amazingly quickly, making an oil seem like a miracle, we can't see the toxicity building up in our livers over time. Just as pharmacueticals can harm our bodies/have severe side-effects, so can these essential oils. Natural doesn't always equal safe. Little boys should stay far away from certain oils such as lavender, tea tree and clary sage. They have estrogenic effects on their little growing bodies. 🙁 Not good.
Just be super, super careful. This new "oily" fad is all about making money, even though proper, careful use of oils can be beneficial.
Love your blog, love your recipes (lemon cheesecake bars-YUM!), and think you have the sweetest family-which is why it is on my heart to give my two-cents. 🙂
Suzee says
We use some oils and I consider myself a healthy skeptic about oils. We use YL, Mountain Rose, and once in a while, the NOW brand.
We diffuse lavender for my kidlet's allergies and while I'm not sure it helps, it smells great. I also put a drop or two in a small glass of OJ or grape juice at night. That does seem to help his horrible allergies.
I mix eucalyptus and lemon into shea butter that I whip and it's a heavenly body moisturizer.
My husband uses RC for his asthma and it has been helping. He also uses Lavender and coconut oil after being in the sun. We use lavender for bug bites.
I made a mix of Palo Santo and oil for my father in law's knees – he had knee replacement surgery not too long ago. I don't think it's doing anything for him.
I use peppermint instead of Tylenol – i just take a few deep inhales and my headache goes away. It doesn't work as long as Tylenol, but anytime I can go without a pill I'm a happy girlie.
And, I'm using diluted Thieves as a cleaner. I'm not sure I like it but I'm giving it a try.
Allison says
Hi! I use oils for so much— I use a different brand than you, but I have found so many benefits from them– there is a blend I use for stomach troubles in our family, and it works like a charm. Peppermint can also be used for that. I use the equivalent of Thieves daily on my toothbrush when I brush my teeth to ward off colds, etc. When my kids are sick, I dilute (the equivalent of ) Thieves and rub on their feet and diffuse in their rooms. It has prevented me from getting their colds and sore throats, as well. I use a drop of frankincense with a couple of drops of fractionated coconut oil on my face at night as my "night cream"– it has significantly improved the appearance of my skin, reduced my pores, and diminished some residual scarring I had from acne when I was younger. Lavender/Peppermint/Lemon in a roller bottle diluted with fractionated coconut oil for allergies. Lavender and melaleuca works WONDERS on any bug bites/skin irritations/rashes. I use melaleuca now in place of something like Neosporin when someone has a cut or scrape. Lemon and melaleuca in a spray bottle mixed with water can be used as a household cleaner (Thieves could, as well). I've made my own deodorants and lip balms using the oils, and their uses are limitless. I was very skeptical at first, but I have seen one child come off of prescription allergy medications, one child (and myself) come off medications for stomach troubles, my sister with allergies and asthma has found some relief using the oils, etc. There's so much information out there, and it can be very overwhelming, but I found a lot of info on Pinterest, by googling websites, and talking to other "oily" people I know. Good luck! 🙂
Angie says
Oh I have a whole blog about Young Living oils!! 🙂 We have had great success using them for seasonal allergies and keeping the kids healthier during the school year, among MANY other things. They have honestly replaced everything in our medicine cabinet, we just don't need OTC meds anymore! (We would use them if we needed them, we just don't!) You will love your diffuser! I'm so excited you took the plunge and are trying them, they have truly been life-changing for our family!!
April says
I love your blog and was so excited when I saw this post. We love our Young Living oils and I also have a whole blog dedicated to our stories of using them. It is empowering as a Mom to keep your kids healthy with safe natural options. I read your post about Kensington being nervous for Kindergarten. I can so relate. My son was the same way. He started full day Kindergarten last week (really wish they still offered 1/2 day.) I oiled him up and myself and it was a really great 1st day! I had imagined something so different in my mind…lots of tears by both of us. The oils are so awesome for emotional balance. Our favorite is White Angelica on the shoulders for school days. If you just have the Premium Starter Kit, you can use Joy, Peace and Calming or Stress Away on her for her first day, oh and Valor on her wrists for confidence. Wishing you both a GREAT first day of school!! 🙂
Amber781 says
So glad you're using essentjal oils Shay! I don't know if you remember but I emailed you a few months ago about doTERRA essential oils but you weren't interested. I am just happy that you are seeing how they can be used in so many ways and to care for your family's health naturally. 🙂 Yay!!!!