Sunday 7 May 2017

Why I am an Essential Oil convert!

As a mum of two special needs children, life can be very challenging. There is always so much new information to learn and absorb and there are times when I question myself over the decisions that I have made.



We've been on this journey, officially, for just over 12 months and I have learnt many new things so far. Three that really stand out to me are i. you need to have patience and lots of it, ii. perseverance goes a very long way and iii. never say never!

Parents who are sleep deprived will try almost anything to help their children sleep and we are no different! I've learnt to think outside of the box when researching new ideas and I am willing to try new things if it means that my little superheroes lives will be made easier and if means that I will be able to get a few hours of decent sleep!

Over the past two years two of my friends, thank you Amanda and Krystal, have introduced me to the wonderful world of essential oils. I must admit that I had always thought that essential oils were for use in oil burners to make rooms smell nice or to be used for massage and in spas. When first introduced to essential oils I did not know that they are in fact beneficial for your health. Essential oils seem to be all the rage now but fear not, I'm not here to push you into purchasing oils or  into joining a group, my aim is to simply introduce you to the world of Essential Oils!

Essential oils have many benefits and the benefits differ from oil to oil. Some essential oils can assist in relaxation and sleep. Others can improve your skin or digestion. Other essential oils can have a healing effect mentally, physically and emotionally.

Although technically essential oils aren't actually oils. They are in fact a therapeutic grade of highly concentrated plant components and it can take a huge amount of a plant to get a small amount of an essential oil which explains why some are particularly expensive.

Essential oils should not be confused with perfumed oils - essential oils are a la natural whereas perfumed oils usually contain artificial ingredients.



There are some general tips that you do need to know about before using essential oils. 

There are several ways in which essential oils can be applied - they can be applied topically onto your skin where they are then absorbed into the blood system - the pulse points are the best areas to be applied as the blood vessels are closest to the skin. Essential can be inhaled, some oils can be ingested and most can be used in oil diffusers which allows the oil to be dispersed into the air.

Most oils should not be applied directed to the skin without being diluted first. Oils can be diluted in either a carrier oil, like coconut oil, or in water. Essential oils are highly concentrated so it is generally recommended that you do a skin test first. And not all oils can be ingested, always ask first!

Most oils have different dilution rates for children and adults. It is important to follow these dilution rates so as not to irritate your child's skin.

You can buy essential oils from a number of different sources, they seem to popping up all over the place now. I buy our oils from doTERRA but wherever you choose to buy your oils from, please ensure that they are quality essential oils and not perfumed oils.


We use oils as one of our alternative ways to manage anxiety, meltdowns, sleeplessness, general restlessness, for aches and pains, breathing and headaches.

The essential oils are certainly NOT a cure, but they do help my little superheroes in some way. We do therapy to help my little superheroes to succeed, so the essential oils are simply supporting their inner well-being.


When we first started using the oils, I really didn't notice a huge difference but after time the effects were able to be seen. The anxiety blends certainly do not take O's anxiety away however the oils do help to calm O enough to the point that she can start using her other management skills.


Most oils are sold as separate oils, Lavender, Wild Orange etc so you will need to establish what oils you would like to work with. You can also purchase oil blends that have been designed for specific uses. As well as the oils, you will also need to purchase a carrier oil to dilute the oils in, Fractionated Coconut Oil is brilliant, and a number of roller bottles to store the oil blends.  You are then ready to start experimenting to find the right blends for you.

If you search essential oil blends on Pinterest or just through Google, you will find many many results. It is a case of searching through the results and choosing which blends suit your needs.



So you're probably wondering which oils you should get. There are so many to chose from and the range can be overwhelming, so here are the oils and blends that we use on a regular basis.

Frankincense Oil - This does wonders for the migraines that I suffer from. Is also great for reducing stress reactions and negative emotions and to assist with focus.

Lavender -  Well known for its calming properties, this is a component of the majority of the calming blends that we use. Lavender has a calming effect, it helps with sleep and it can reduce the effects of anxiety and emotional stress.

Vetiver - It is thought that Vetiver's calming and relaxing properties assist children with concentration and impatience as well as assisting with sleep.

Sandalwood - This oil promotes clarity and also has a calming and relaxing effect.

Roman Chamomile - This oil is well known for its calming, soothing and relaxing properties.

Wild Orange - A drop of this into a drink bottle full of water, touch wood has kept the cold and flu bugs at bay this year. Can also help to reduce anxiety levels.

Ylang Ylang - This oil can have a positive effect on emotions as well as assisting with sleep.


Easy Air - This is a blend of Laurel Leaf, Peppermint, Eucalyptus, Tea Tree, Lemon and Ravensara. I have this in a roller bottle, helps with the little superheroes breathing.

On Guard - This is a blend of Wild Orange, Clove, Cinnamon, Eucalyptus and Rosemary. I have this in a roller bottle, has helped with healing cuts and scraps that L always has!

Balance - This is a blend of Spruce, Ho Wood, Frankincense, Blue Tansy and Blue Chamomile. This is a wonderful calming, grounding blend.

Lavender Peace - I apply this to the soles of the little superheroes soles feet at bedtime to help them to relax.

Past Tense - This is a blend of Wintergreen, Lavender, Peppermint, Frankincense, Cilantro, Marjoram, Roman Chamomile, Basil and Rosemary. This is a great for relieving the tension in my neck that is associated with headaches and migraines.

There are many, many other essential oils to choose from, far too many to list.


What works for some may not work at all for others. But isn't it worth giving something a shot if it means that it will assist our children to achieve to the best of their abilities?


24 comments:

  1. I've always love the fragrance of lavender. Thank you for this.

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  2. I love my Doterra oils and use them daily! I just bought a portable diffuser for the car!

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    1. I did not know that you could buy portable diffusers, will have to look into them :)

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  3. I didn't know they weren't actually oils! Interesting read, thanks for sharing. I've been considering getting some so this will guide me

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  4. Great post!
    https://byveera.blogspot.fi/2017/05/miksi-pitaa-selittaa.html?m=1

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  5. I love essential oils. I am using Rose hip oil at the moment for my skin and it looks so much better for it. I love to burn them at home as I find it really relaxing and as a plus, smells great.

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  6. My sister in law has been trying to convert me to oils for years. She swears by them :)

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  7. I've been sitting on the fence for years about getting into using essential oils. Thanks for the information, it will definitely help me in the decision-making process!

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  8. I used to be the same and thought oils were just for spas but they are actually great stress relievers! I need some more oils speaking of which x

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  9. I love essential oils! I use a lot of lavender and lemon scents. I also use mint to get rid of my migraines.

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  10. Battling anxiety most of my life I've always known the power of essential oils. I'm really glad the word is getting out about them!

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  11. I haven't tried them yet but I always hear about them. Maybe one day I'll try them out.

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  12. I have been using essential oils for years. They are perfect for so many things. I use them to make my own cleaners.

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  13. oooo portable diffusers! Now, we're talking the same channel. I have a diffuser around my neck a lot of times. They have such cute jewelry pieces!

    XOXO //
    SINCERELY OPHELIA | NYC Petite Fashion Blogger

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  14. My friend Amanda also introduced me to oils! doTERRA at that! How funny. My all time fav. is forever Onguard. I love the smell of it too, so it's a win-win!

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  15. I love essential oils. My mum always burned them in our house and it smelled amazing.

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  16. I love essential oils. My fave is Lavender. I helps me relax and fell good

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  17. I've never tried using essential oil but I think it's interesting. Thank you for your suggestions, will look more into it and find one here :)

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  18. Essential oils are amazing and it's awesome to be able to use them to help improve your health. It's definitely a must have! There are so many things that you can use them for.

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  19. We absolutely love essential oil's in our home we love applying them and we love putting them in the diffuser!

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  20. Essential oils are being used so much now and people swear by them that they work. I have been wanting to try them for a while because I have fibromyalgia. Thanks for sharing the information and the other tools needed for using the essential oil if blending.

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  21. Great picks! I really like the scents of lavender and sandalwood. Love the calming smells.

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  22. I have heard a lot of great things that essential oils does but I haven't tried using them. I love lavender, lemon, and peppermint scents so I guess I'll start with those when I try essential oils.

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  23. I love essential oils for my diffuser. I'm a big fan of the Lavender oil.

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