Essential Oils: Slap a Cold, Kick a Fever!

It's that time of year, everywhere you look.. You can't seem to get away from it, no matter how hard you try. It's cold & flu season, and if you refuse to get a flu shot like me then you are washing your hands nonstop and avoiding anyone who dares to clear an itch in their throat within a five mile radius. These days I'm avoiding human contact with anyone who shows any signs of sniffling, sneezing, coughing, aching, stuffy head or fever.

Moms don't get days off, especially Mom Bloggers!

I often get asked what I use on my kids when they do come across the occasional cold. So I'm sharing it all with you! Now, I usually diffuse Onguard essential oil in my boys room at night whenever they are in contact with a lot of children (which is weekly), I also apply to the bottoms of their feet. Usually if one of my little guys shows any sign of a sniffle I will apply diluted Onguard and rub on the Thymus for some added immune support (many times this is enough to cut whatever it was off at the pass). This, along with tons of hand washing are pretty good at keeping everyone generally healthy for the most part.

Occasionally (much less frequently since I started using essential oils as a means of preventative maintenance), they will come across something that they have to work through and in this case I use an arsenal of essential oils until I see symptoms subside. I keep the following in my medicine cabinet at all times.

• Onguard Essential Oil Blend
• Breathe Essential Oil Blend
• Lemon Essential Oil
• Eucalyptus Essential Oil
• Breathe Throat Drops
• Onguard SoftGels

In case of fever I would also add Lavender or Peppermint oil to the mix. 

The Onguard blend as I mentioned before is great as added immune support, I diffuse this as well as rub it on their feet and/or chest (Thymus). This is in addition to anything else I am using to treat symptoms.

If there is a lot of chest congestion and sinus pressure I apply a diluted Breathe blend on the chest as well as the feet. This usually helps to make breathing a bit easier, clears your sinuses right up (even if only for a little while). When I notice they start to struggle with breathing again I reapply, these blends won't completely erase the cold but it will help make us more comfortable throughout and it seems shorten the length of the cold.

I also apply diluted Lemon Essential Oil along the spine to help cut some of the congestion. For myself and my husband I will just add some Lemon Oil to a glass of water and it really helps ease coughing and break through some of the congestion. Children are not supposed to ingest any essential oil before the age of six so for now I just apply on their spine and I notice the runny nose takes a break for a few hours.

In order to bypass those night time interruptions due to sinus pressure/ congestion/ or constant coughing I diffuse  Eucalyptus Oil. I usually double the dosage when they are really stuffed up, this helps us all get a lot more rest (sleep is essential for a speedy recovery). This, along with a healthy diet, plenty of fluids, my "magic soup" and lots of mommy cuddles will usually do the trick. Before you know it they are up and running ready to drive me crazy keep me going.

If there is a problem with fevers then some Lavender Oil on the temples and forehead should do the trick. For a high fever that wont quit or keeps spiking I add some Peppermint Oil to the temples and/or feet, this usually brings it back down pretty quickly. To be clear, if the fever is scary high or persists, this warrants a trip to the pediatrician. I'm all for taking the natural route as much as possible, but I am not wreckless with my children. I also highly respect the opinion of my pediatrician, which is why I have chosen him. I mean, I was able to reach this man on Christmas Eve at 9pm when I was a new mom dealing with an infant who had severe acid reflux. Let's just say I'm a believer!

Now, during all of this "mommy-care" I have to be responsible and be sure to take care of mommy as well, otherwise I'm no good to anyone. So to help me stay healthy while caring for everyone else I make sure and stay on top of my vitamins, food and water intake, sleep schedule (ha, ha), AND I make sure and take my Onguard SoftGels. Moms need all the added immune support they can get when dealing with a germ filled household.

If I start to get that "scratchy throat" that usually warns me a cold is on its way, then I will start using the Breathe Throat Drops. These are very soothing and help feel as though they open up your airways and take away that tight / dry feeling in the throat. This along with the SoftGels and a little Onguard oil to the throat usually help fight off anything that was trying to form. If not, then I just follow the same protocol listed above with a lighter adult dilution.

That pretty much wraps up my cold care remedies. I love having natural options for my family. If you'd like to learn more about the essential oils mentioned above just click here. If you are in the Delray Beach area come join us for free Essential Oil Education classes offered monthly at The Salt Suite. The next class is scheduled for January 29th at 6pm. You can RSVP for the class at EssentiallyErika@gmail.com.

If you would like to learn about other all natural options that are available over the counter, you can check out my previous post on Kids Relief Homeopathic Medicine.


Essentially Yours,


Erika

Essential Oils: No More Black & Deep Blues!

Bruises, who needs 'em?

Aside from their obvious discomfort, they can look a lot worse than they feel.

In this case however, it felt just as bad as it looked.

My poor husband had an unfortunate accident at work and his foot took the worst of the beating.

As soon as he returned home and took off his shoe, we elevated his foot and applied an ice pack for the swelling. Getting a closer look at it, I could tell it was going to need a bit more attention. My first thought was an X-ray for sure, which of course he protested.

So off to my trusty oil case I went!

I applied the Deep Blue oil first to relieve the pain and help limit the bruising. I then added some Helichrysum to help speed the healing.

I could tell by the swelling that the bruising was going to be pretty bad, so I reapplied frequently throughout the day.

The next morning I couldn't believe my eyes! I knew Deep Blue was supposed to limit bruising but this was incredible!

Unable to see all the areas that were effected initially I had only rubbed the Deep Blue on the site of the blow which was the center of the foot. The rest of the foot (mostly the toes and the side of the foot) were completely bruised! Applying more ice compresses and elevating it as much as possible helped reduce the swelling. I also kept applying the Deep Blue for pain and alternated between Helichrysum to speed healing and Lemongrass to assist in repairing any tissue. The results were great in just a few days!

I couldn't believe it! I thought for sure his entire foot would be black for weeks!

I must add that unfortunately he did not take a break from walking or working, yet still the results were astounding.

I did however finally convince my husband to go get an X-ray just to be sure there weren't any fractures, lo and behold his foot was in perfect health. Luckily it was just a bad contusion that we were able to treat at home. 

Just another reason I love being able to assist my family in all natural health alternatives without medical intervention unless absolutely necessary.

Another win for #DrMom!

You can purchase or find out more about these essential oils here.

Essentially Yours,

Erika

Essential Oils: I Am Woman!! Must I Roar?

Soooooo... There are days I just want to curl up in a ball with my "magic blanket" and disappear from the world into my deep dark cave -- at least that's how it feels. But not before growling at my husband and then asking him where he's going, "come back and hug me".These are the days when I hear him whisper to the kids, "Be nice to mommy boys!" while running walking out the door to work. This.. I can only assume is guy code for "just smile and nod and everyone makes it out alive".

In times like these I learn to empathize a little more with my toddlers. They aren't the only ones at home who wants to throw a tantrum because they're overwhelmed with tons of emotions they can't explain. After of course, not during. It's all I can do to keep from wandering off into the woods to die slowly (how mammalian of me).

So of course I was searching for the most natural of ways to handle the cramping and crazy totally normal hormonal outbursts episodes. Battling endometriosis for so long I'm used to dealing with pain each month, but hated having to succumb to modern medicine (Naproxen) all the time. Sad as it may seem, when I was struggling with this sort of pain in the past I actually had a doctor offer to prescribe me monthly doses of narcotics!

Naturally, I turn to my trusty essential oils first. DoTerra makes an awesome blend for women called Clary Calm. 

It temporarily relieves cramps, nausea, hot flashes, fatigue, and emotional swings (ahem) associated with PMS or Menopause. This, mixed with the Deep Blue Rub for my killer back pain takes care of all my monthly woes! I'm so happy to have found a natural alternative to dealing with common everyday symptoms.

This blend is most certainly #HusbandApproved and #ToddlerApproved! In fact, it may be #WorldPeaceApproved

If you would like more information on all of DoTerra's blends you can check it out here.


Essentially Yours,

Erika

Essential Oils: Ah, Ah, Ah....Allergies???

Gesundheit!

I hear it day and night, allergies are in an uproar this whole season and it seems its worse for everyone!
Either everyone I know who have always had allergies has it worse this year, or people who have never had this problem suddenly develop it well into adulthood. Is it a coincidence that allergies are strongest now more than ever and as a society we are riddled with chemicals now more than ever? Don't get me started

As always I like to find a natural alternative to deal with these kinds of issues and cut them off at the pass if at all possible.

Soooo... Here are some allergy fighting alternatives to over the counter antihistamines:

Purify, definitely one of my favorite oil blends! It's anti-bacterial pathogen killing properties make it perfect for fighting off all sorts of things. I use it in my homemade lysol spray (if sprayed on baseboards in your home can also be used as a natural pesticide, great for picnics!), in my homemade laundry detergent, I even pour a couple of drops on our a/c filters at home for cleaner air.

By applying a few drops of Purify topically, not only will you keep the bugs away but it can also help to protect you from unwanted reaction associated with seasonal allergies!


Wait! There's more...

Another popular line of defense in the oil community is what I like to call the "trifecta". A blend of three powerful go-to oils: Lemon, Lavender & Peppermint. Combining these three oils can help to bring down inflammation from your's body's allergic response, they are great for airborne allergies. There are a few ways you could use this oil blend, I've broken them down into three different methods:

Ingredients:

2-4 drops Lavender
2-4 drops Lemon
2-4 drops Peppermint

Method #1: Place all the oils in a glass with water or juice. Gargle, then drink.

Method #2: Place all the oils in a veggie capsule and swallow.

Method #3: Place all the oils in a spoonful of raw honey and swallow. (Excellent way to administer to children, especially since local honey is great for seasonal allergies)

For really young children and toddlers, you can blend all three oils and rub on the bottom of their feet and along their spine.

Breathe is another one of DoTerra's awesome blends that is wonderful to diffuse at night for added respiratory relief.

Side Note: DoTerra's oils are Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade, which is labeled as GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) by the Food and Drug Administration. The same cannot be said for all oils. There are different grade oils and I only trust DoTerra for this reason.

These three oils together and separate are so powerful they are even offered in an "Intro Kit" by Doterra, you can find out more about this kit and all of their oils at: www.mydoterra.com/erikasessentials.

The new Tri-Ease Seasonal Blend Softgels are also a wonderful way to fend of seasonal allergies, this can also be found at the above mentioned website. The blending work has pretty much been done for you with equal parts distributed in each softgel if your looking for a shortcut.

As always, if you have any questions feel free to e-mail me at: EssentiallyErika@gmail.com!


Essentially Yours,


Erika

Stain, Stain, Go Away!

Stains. They are inevitable! Especially with two boys under the age of four. Around here, they are unfortunately a constant occurrence (insert my mother shrieking here). 

Refusing to use any laundry products with chemicals, I've somewhat backed myself into a corner where I'm either in denial about these stains or I've accepted them as the newest member to our family. Either way, I was in trouble. 

Until now!!!

I'm amazed at the power of essential oils and all they can do for my life! When I first started this blog I didn't intend on promoting any oils, but the change they've made in my day to day life is worth mentioning. The name I chose for this blog was actually just "catchy" and at the end of the day I'm essentially just me. I digress...

I introduce to you essentially the easiest stain remover recipe EVER! 

This concoction only has two ingredients!

You will need:

1/2 cup of vinegar

20 drops of Therapeutic Grade Lemon Essential Oil 

(For more info on different grades of essential oils you can visit:http://www.modernwellness.com/webinar-makeover-your-medicine-cabinet/, this webinar is lengthy but so worth it!)

That's it! 

Add to a glass spray bottle and spray those stains away.

Now, I'm always down on myself for not catching before and after pics for all my oil miracles. I'm still new to this blogger mentality and often race straight into "mommy mode" to fix an issue. But not this time! 

I finally snapped a quick before shot for you fine folks!

It seems my little guy is an artist like his father, I can't keep the crayons, paint brushes or markers out of his hands. It's amazing to watch his natural talent unfold as he tries to color inside the lines and watch his strokes, he's only two! That is until it's on my sofa, then it's no longer miraculous and now it's just inconvenient (ha, ha still cute though). Here is his latest masterpiece..

I've been looking to throw a pop of color in my living area, this wasn't what I had in mind...

A few sprays and a little scrubbing from my newest concoction and here you have it:

Back in action! We live to fight another stain!! 

To purchase doTerra's lemon essential oil, or any of their fabulous oils you can go to: www.mydoterra.com/erikasessentials

In my research I found tons of advice on how to remove crayon stains, some were quite "crafty", what's your all natural go-to stain remover?


Essentially Yours,


Erika

Essential Oils - Insect Bites

Summertime here in South Florida comes with all kinds of perks, including insect bites!
Mosquitoes aren't the only culprit in the sunshine state ants, spiders, you name it! I noticed that the recovery time and painful itching took a better part of the week, 4-5 days at best! I decided there had to be a better (natural) way of dealing with this.

I did my research and here it is! Purify those bites!

It never ceases to amaze me, what nature's pure essential oils can do for you. I diluted the DoTerra Purify blend with Fractionated Coconut Oil in a 1:1 ratio and added it to a glass roller bottle so I can use as needed.

Just a few swipes of this helped to relieve itching and also cut the healing time in half. These were three ant bites from a recent nature walk, by the next day they were flat and barely noticeable. Anyone who has had a Florida ant bite knows the bite comes to a head after the first day and forms this terribly itchy pimple for the next week!

Just another concoction I have to keep all stocked up, especially in the summertime!

www.mydoterra.com/erikasessentials



Essentially Yours,


Erika

Essential Oils: Bumps & Bruises

Living with two boys under the age of four, you can imagine how many bumps and bruises I see on a weekly basis. Oddly enough it's always my little guy who takes all the tumbles. He tends to be a bit more risky than his older brother who is a little more of a risk analyst when it comes to tricky maneuvers.

The tumble he recently took off off the couch onto my tile floor and into his Fisher Price record player was not a pretty one. It caught him right between the eyes and it started to swell so fast he was beginning to look like a unicorn!

I remember reading on the coveted Modern Wellness page on Facebook that Deep Blue was supposed to help with swelling.
I raced to my oil stash and grabbed ol' trusty tried and true blue! Just a dab will do, although I will say this: Be sure and keep away from the eyes, this oil is potent and can burn terribly if rubbed into a little one's eye.

The true test would be in the bruising in the days to come. I should have taken a picture right away but I was busy consoling a very distraught two year old.

But here you have it!

He never got a shiner as I suspected, and it went straight into the healing phase. By the next day it was visibly swollen, but nothing like before and it was already turning yellow / green. It wasnt tender to the touch and as you can see his mood had greatly improved! (Pardon the shameless plug, I couldn't resist!)

By day two the swelling had completely subsided and you could barely tell he had any bruising at all.

Another victory for Deep Blue and #DrMom!

Thinking of ordering an extra bottle to keep on hand just in case. With these two guys something tells me I'm not quite in the clear just yet!

If you'd like to learn more about Deep Blue or any of DoTerra's essential oils you may do so at www.mydoterra.com/erikasessentials.

If you'd like to learn how to gain access to the coveted online Modern Wellness Facebook Forum, please contact me at essentiallyerika@gmail.com.


Essentially Yours,


Erika

Essential Oils: Growing Pains.. Who Needs Em'?

Until recently I've only heard of these "growing pains" that parents speak of. 

Don't get me wrong, my boys were both really fast growers, but I could never recall a time where they complained about any aches or pains.

Maybe I was just really lucky?? Or perhaps these parents were just exaggerating? Giving the wrong diagnosis?? Nope.

It seems as though the boys waited until this summer to suddenly start complaining about constant nightly pain. 

Nowhere is off limits either, legs, ankles, feet and hips. You name it!

Poor little guys must have hit a major growth spurt this summer amidst all my #CampMom activities (I know I feel they've grown an entire foot and seem like little men all of a sudden).

So I turned to old faithful... 

You guessed it... Deep Blue! (Lovingly dubbed as "The Truth" in these parts)

I decided to give this a try, lo and behold "The Truth" shall set you free! It worked like a charm and made nighttime a bit more tolerable with these new baby /man problems. As with every other Deep Blue experience, the relief is immediate.

Needless to say, another reason to be sure I don't run out of this miracle oil EVER!!

Another win for #DrMom!

As always you can find out more about this oil and all of DoTerra's products at www.mydoterra.com/erikasessentials.

Essentially Yours,

Erika

"Germs Are Not For Sharing"

Anyone who really knows me knows that I am a bit of a recovering germophobe. In fact I've had to learn to "curb" my 'tude towards germs and those who enjoy sharing them in order for me to keep some friends or enjoy any social activities.

I wouldn't say that I am currently "germ-friendly", but I'm certainly a bit more "germ-tolerant". With all of the online debates, and information swirling around leading to the conclusion that some germs are necessary in order to grow a much healthier immune system. I am aware, (nor is it my wish) that my children cannot grow up inside of a "germ-free" bubble. In my quest to find inner peace and allow myself to live more in the "now" I have learned how not to overreact to some of the inevitable germ sharing experiences that come with toddlerhood.

HOWEVER... I do feel as though there is a definite group of people (you know who you are) who take this approach to another level. And by another level I mean they downright do not care who they infect, where they spread their germs or why they should be more mindful. Let me start by just laying it all out there, all children are different and handle illness differently. What may just be a nagging runny nose for your child, can be two weeks of breathing treatments for another child! (As seen on www.youaretheroots.com) What may be only a day or two of inconvenience in your home with your ONE child, may be a month of recirculating germs for a family of FOUR.

Here's some advice:

If your child is sick, STAY HOME!

If you are sick, STAY HOME!

If ANYONE in your home is sick, do NOT show up to public places where there is bound to be tons of kids. i.e., birthday parties, theme parks, local parks, libraries, play dates, indoor playscapes, and certainly not MY house!

STAY HOME!

(And get better of course)

If you need to explain to your child(ren) why they cannot see their friends, feel free to read them "Germs are not for Sharing!"

I know there are certain situations that are just beyond a parents' control, but the majority of the time its only a matter of common courtesy.

On our recent trip to the www.schoolhousemuseum.org, I witnessed a mom hovering over the train table sneezing all over the children! Not to mention touching all of the trains, constantly intervening and would not allow the children to play peacefully or work out any "sharing struggles" amongst themselves. She was even touching other children re-positioning them at the train table! As I looked onto the room of poor unsuspecting children who would soon have sniffles of their own (myself and my boys included), and the poor parents whose holiday weekend was changing before their very eyes, all I could think was "I just ran out of Onguard!"

(My go-to germ killing powerhouse essential oil)
We said a brief goodbye the train table and we hightailed it out of there. I dilute Onguard with Fractionated Coconut Oil in a 1:15 ration (that's 1 drop of OnGuard to 15 drops of FCO, told you this stuff was powerful), that's all you need. I also use this oil in my all natural hand sanitizer recipe, if used before contacting germs it can act as a barrier until you can get to a hand washing station.

Needless to say, we've spent the rest of the week recovering from "Sneezy's" attack on us all, I wonder how the rest of the group from our excursion is holding up.

Since we were already pretty sniffly by the time my stash arrived...

(nothing makes a girl happier these days...)

I had to do damage control and put together what is lovingly dubbed as "The Cold Bomb".

Now this is packing the heat!!! (literally)

Cold Bomb Recipe:

5 drops Onguard
5 drops Melaleuca
3 drops Oregano

There are different variations of "The Cold Bomb", this is the one that worked for me. I put it into a roll-on bottle and applied every two hours for about 8 hours. Within minutes I was feeling better, and within a day my symptoms were gone.

This, mixed with some diluted doTerra Breathe (I also use this in my homemade vapor cream) rubbed on the chest a few times daily is more than enough to get you "Breathe-ing" for sure. The relief was instant I didn't have to wait for some cold meds to "kick in", and I didn't have to expose myself or my family to any chemicals in the process.

#DrMom to the rescue!


As always, if you need any more info on any of doTerra's oils you can find it at: www.mydoterra.com/erikasessentials

Now, I'm curious.. Where is the last place you or your little ones got sick?


Essentially Yours,


Erika

Essential Oils: Summertime Stash

Summer is here and in full effect!

Here at #CampMom, we are keeping very busy on our hunt for all natural playscapes that offer up an opportunity for "true play". (Imagination included)You can read about some of these adventures at www.ModernBocaMom.com.

During this process we have hit a few bumps in the road, i.e. bug bites, sunburns, bumps & bruises, even a sniffle or two. (Onguard withdrawals, more on that later)

I've been busy nursing two sneezy toddlers this week and concocting all my blends to last through the rest of the summer, as always I'm sharing them with you!

Bug Spray Recipe:

2oz glass spray bottle
10-15 drops doTerra's TerraShield Blend
Fill the rest of the glass bottle with water, shake and spray!

This has helped tons and smells way better than a lot of my favorite all natural over the counter brands (most of the all natural kinds smell really strong).

Homemade Lysol Disinfectant Spray

1oz glass spray bottle
5-6 drops doTerra's Purify Blend (I also use this blend in my homemade deodorant)
Fill the rest of the glass bottle with water, shake and spray!

This came in handy this week when a close friend of mine was visiting with her three gorgeous babes. I had been nursing two sniffly toddlers earlier in the week, so I made sure to spray everything before they came over. #germsarenotforsharing

Homemade Sunburn Spray:

10 drops Lavender
10 drops Frankincense
10 drops Melaleuca
10 drops Peppermint
Fill the rest of a 15ml glass bottle with Fractionated Coconut Oil

This is a miracle worker for the hubby, I cant seem to get him to wear enough protection and his poor skin always pays the price. This sunburn spray will not only soothe and protect, but it also shortens the duration of what I like to call the "Lobster Face".

Owie Spray:

20 drops Melaleuca
20 drops Lavender
10 drops Frankincense
40 drops of Fractionated Coconut Oil
(I like to add a few drops of the miracle oil Helichrysum)

This is a Mommy Must Have!!!

Having two boys so close in age has proven to test not only my blood pressure, but also my cat-like reflexes. I'm able to reach for this spray in an instant and it has everything I need to help my little guys.
It not only disinfects and soothes, but the Lavender and Helichrysum also aid in speeding up the healing process and keeping any germs from getting in. (Annnnnnnnnnd resume playing!)

Plus, this will not sting or burn like some of those "tried and true" chemical ridden over the counter remedies.

With the over-exposure of chemicals in today's society, it feels good to have some sort of control or say-so in the process of helping to heal and soothe our children of the sometimes uncomfortable experiences in every day life. Let's hear it for #DrMom!

More info on chemical exposure in our everyday lives and how it effects our children can be found at: www.unacceptablelevels.com

If you would like more information or would like to purchase any of the oils mentioned you can find them at www.mydoterra.com/erikasessentials

Happy Fourth Everyone!


Essentially Yours,

Erika

Essential Oils: You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one...

I started strong on the "Essential Oils" train about five to six months ago, using it as a first line of defense for my family or on any of my homemade cleaning products. 

During this time I've been teased, laughed at, and even lovingly dubbed "Gandalf" from Lord of the Rings. 

I've never pushed my beliefs on anyone, or felt the need to defend myself because, well I used them because it worked! (My boys haven't been sick since I started using them consistently) At least for my family it does. Over time though, many of my naysayers have at some point come to me asking "Do you have an oil for this?" 

Needless to say, I do and they are blown away by the results! 

While on vacation here in the Keys with my family we've been able to use oils for bee stings, finger sprain and back pain.

For bee stings I used a combination of Lavender, Melaleuca & Roman Chamomile.

This is my newest oil fan, my mom. She's showing her support for her go to oil for back pain Deep Blue (or as she likes to call it, "True Blue").

Perhaps the best part of this journey (aside from the obvious of being able to address any kind of issue naturally) has been watching the transformation of mind set. Instead of my family reaching for over the counter meds or topical ointments with tons of chemicals. 

Hearing my husband say " He scraped his knee, where's the Melaleuca?" Or my toddlers say, "Mommy I have a skeeto bite (mosquito bite) I need Labender!"(Lavender), it just warms my hippie heart. 

You can check out the oils I've mentioned and any others at www.mydoterra.com/erikasessentials. 

Essentially Yours,

Erika

(If you are interested in learning more about these oils or would like to attend a class or webinar, please contact me at essentiallyerika@gmail.com)