Essential Oils Safe for Babies & Children

Essential oils have been used for healing since biblical times.  All throughout scripture we see the mentions of special oils.  Somewhere along the way, the use of essential oils has been lost, but I am so excited to be a part of sharing this information as we regain the confidence to use them once again.

While we do not hesitate to use essential oils on ourselves, the question has been asked time and time again,

Are essential oils safe for babies & children?

The answer is yes.

Yes they are.

Here are a few things to consider:

1. Essential oils are the plant source in it’s most concentrated form, therefore they are very potent.  For precautionary reasons it is recommended to use with care.  If you usually use one drop on yourself as an adult, try half of that on your little one. One way of doing this is by inserting a toothpick into the orifice of your bottle and using the amount on your toothpick via the larger drop that would normally dispense through the orifice.
2. Dilute your essential oil before using on your little one.  Wait to see how they respond and than later you can try the undiluted (neat) application.
3. When using your diffuser, it is recommended to use the gentler essential oils.  Stronger oils can be applied directly to their feet but infant lungs are more sensitive than an adults and could make breathing uncomfortable for them.  (Think of placing your nose directly over a hot cup of tea with peppermint.  The first smell is one that catches your breath).

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Essential Oils

The following oils have been found safe to use on babies & children:

Lavender*

Peppermint*

Roman Chamomile

Geranium

Tangerine

Grapefruit

Lemon*

Orange

Rose

Frankincense*

Marjoram

Cedarwood

Jasmine

Melaleuca Alternifolia

Sandalwood

Thyme

Ylang Ylang

Ginger

Cypress

Fennel

*these essential oils are included in the Everyday Starter Kit.

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Gentle Baby

Item No. 3345

Gentle Baby™ is a soft, fragrant combination of essential oils designed specifically for mothers and babies. It helps calm emotions during pregnancy and is useful for quieting troubled little ones. It is also soothing to tender skin. Many of the essential oils in this blend are used in elite cosmetics to enhance a youthful appearance.

A recommended resource on using essential oils for babies is this book by Debra Raybern called Gentle Babies.  Here is the book’s description:

“Combining two decades of professional knowledge with tried-and-true techniques and first-hand testimonials, the author has compiled this insightful and easy-to-follow guide benefiting both experienced and first-time mothers. In addition, the book contains an introduction to therapeutic-grade essential oils and applications and provides safety information and a section on discerning the quality of essential oils. Every family taking proactive steps to better health should have this resource in their home library.” 

For more information on this book, click here.

As always: this page is for educational purposes only. 

* These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. Products and techniques mentioned here are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Lavender for Allergies

ALLERGY SEASON

Lavender is perfect for allergy season as it has natural antihistamine and anti-inflammatory properties.  Lavender essential oil can be used in many ways to help combat allergies, here are just a few ways that we use it in our home:

1.  Itchy Eyes:  we place a drop of lavender in our palms, rub them together and cup our hands over our eyes.  With eyes open, we roll our eyes around looking left to right, up and down which allows the molecules from the lavender in our palms to enter our eyes and allow for cooling, soothing and healing to take place.

2. Runny Nose: we place a drop of lavender essential oil on a cotton swab and run around the inside of our nasal passages.  This allows the lavender to enter through the mucous membranes and get the antihistamine response into the body right away, it also prevents the nasal passages from becoming inflamed and brings a halt to the runny nose, making it easier to breathe (great for sinuses too!).

3.  Scratchy/Itchy throat: my son loves this one.  We place a drop of lavender essential oil on 1 tsp. of honey and take by mouth.

More Options

We have not tried these methods as of yet but they are not ruled out either, many have had success with simply dropping 1-2 drops of lavender directly under the tongue, holding it for 30 seconds and than swallowing.

Another is the cheek swipe where you can place a drop of lavender on your finger or cotton swab and swipe the insides of the cheek.

Know Your Essential Oil

No matter which method we choose, Lavender essential oil is our “go to” oil for the upcoming allergy season.  Please remember that not all essential oils are created equal and that you want an excellent quality brand that you can trust.   Young Living is the only essential oil company in the world with the Seed to Seal process.  From the land that they own, to the seed that they plant to the distillation process and quality control, it is all done on the Young Living farms and ensures the highest quality essential oil without synthetics or artificial enhancers.  When Young Living states that their essential oils are 100% pure, you can put your trust in knowing that they mean exactly what they say.  I would never encourage you to put another brand of Lavender in your nasal passages or to ingest and will only speak on Young Living essential oils. This is  because of incidence experienced by myself and others which resulted in burnt nasal passages and chemicals being  ingested by other brands marked 100% pure.  Please be cautious when choosing a brand and make sure it is a brand you can trust, read ALL sides of the label before using.

Disclaimer: The information provided is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to prescribe, diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. It is your responsibility to educate yourself and address any health or medical needs you may have with your physician. Please seek professional help when needed.

Essential Oils Enhance Yoga Practice

 Essential Oils Enhance Yoga Practice

I have always heard about the benefits of Yoga on the body and the mind of course, but hadn't taken the step into trying it out first hand until I read about Yoga and Pregnancy. 

I first tried a few DVDs online, and some YouTube videos to experience what it was like at home first. Then I took the plunge this past week, and went to my local library where they offer a evening class each week for free to members. 

WOW!! At first learning the posses was difficult, even though I was talking Gentle Yoga. The mental clarity it gave me, and eased my muscles. 

But after the hour long class, I came home had a cup of tea & diffused some lavender oil in the room. I was SO entirely calm, that I slept the entire night without waking up, which for me being a few weeks pregnant is a feet in and of its self! 

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Being that I recently started using Young Living Essential Oils, I also knew the benefits of pairing the 2 together. This excerpt from YL website best sums up Yoga & YL Essential Oils:

"Yoga is an ancient discipline that originated in India. It focuses on joining the physical and spiritual bodies through poses (asanas) and meditation. Archaeological discoveries suggest that yoga originated sometime between 3300 to 1700 B.C.E. Today, yoga is experiencing increased popularity worldwide as a form of relaxation, a way of deepening the mind/body connection, and as a method of total-body exercise.

Essential oils naturally complement yoga by supporting physical and mental strength and focus through the science of aromatherapy. Essential oils are extremely versatile and have many practical applications in yoga, including techniques for complementing pranayama, meditation, relaxation, post-practice, and for cleansing and purifying. Essential oils are also used to activate and balance the energy centers of the body.

Young Living Therapeutic Grade™ essential oils can create an environment that supports deeper yoga practice. Watch Rodney Yee and Colleen Saidman Yee talk about integrating Young Living essential oils into their yoga practice."

Essential oils can naturally enhance your yoga experience by stimulating focus and physical and mental strength through the science of aromatherapy. Diffuse, directly inhale, or apply essential oils topically to experience their many practical applications for yoga. I have found that a few special oils are the best when doing yoga (or pilates):

Purify

Diffuse essential oils during yoga practice like Lemon, Grapefruit, Citrus Fresh™, Purification™, Peace & Calming™, Lavender, Valor® or Raven™ before or during the session.  This will purify the air and bring a fresh uplifting energy to the space.

Cleanse

Keeping your mats clean and free of bacteria by spritzing with Thieves and water. You can also use Lavender and Lemon mixed with water!

Afterwards

The use of Peppermint to refine mental clarity and focus.  By adding a drop to a cool glass of water for a refreshing drink (helps with stomach upset too).  Using equal parts Lavender and Peppermint will ease joint discomfort. Also PanAway® & Deep Relief™ help ease muscle and joint tension.

Essential Oils: Not All Created Equal

After looking closely at the picture above, you are probably wondering, “how do I know which essential oil is the real deal?”  Because like me, you were probably shocked to see that both of them are labeled 100% pure.  Yet you could clearly see that one of the labels specifies not for internal use and not for topical use.  Well what exactly do you use it for than?  On the other side of the bottle, the label states to add a few drops to an oil ring and place on a light bulb.  So you are not to ingest it, not to apply topically but it’s okay to inhale it? Would you want to inhale it? Inhaling this oil means that it will enter your nasal passages and into your bloodstream, so that could also be categorized as “internal use.”   My point for this post is to show you how to read the label and to know if the product being marketed, truly is 100% pure.

Here is what I came to realize when looking at the difference between both labels.

1. If it comes from a plant source that is edible, the essential oil itself should also be one you can ingest. So look at the two essential oil labels in the picture above.  The one on the left is Clove essential oil from another company, the one on the right is also Clove, this one is from Young Living.  We know that Clove is edible.  Think of some other plants that are edible and than take a look at your essential oils that you have, read the label and see what it says.
2. If the plant is edible and the oil should be also, than what happens if it says “not for internal use,” and/or “not for topical use?”  This should be an immediate warning for you. No matter what the label may say, you can assure yourself that it is not 100% pure.

What Does All of This Mean?

This leaves us with the fact that these are essential oil imposters (my own name for them).  They are chemically concocted and harmful for us.  These chemicals are harmful to us!  They enter into our bodies via the skin, mouth or nose and become stored in our organs. Our bodies are not sure how to process these foreign substances, thus leading to illness and disease. No wonder they add on their label not to ingest or apply topically.  (I would like to say how nice of them, but than again they also falsified the label by saying that it was 100% pure.)

What to Look For

 

(In the above two photos, it shows you that Young Living’s labels peel back.)

1. Clear instructions: the bottle on the left shows the label with clear and specific instructions on how to use for ingestion, inhalation and topical use.  It is a high concentration of that plant source and therefore potent, so the warning label recommends diluting, keeping out of reach of children, not to use on infants and to consult a healthcare practitioner if pregnant or nursing.
2. Supplement Facts: the bottle on the right provides you with information on Daily Value (DV), serving size, servings per container and how many milligrams per serving

Young Living Therapeutic Grade (YLTG) Standard

Young Living is my essential oil company of choice.  They strive for top quality and and have the science to back them up.  They even have their own standard of guidelines they meet from the time they cultivate the ground for planting, to preparation, purity and potency. To read about their standard, click here.

Also, many of Young Living’s essential oils are Kosher-Certified, meaning that the product is fit to use in any application in a manner that conforms to the kosher laws rooted in Biblical and Rabbinic traditions.  These products and the facilities that produce them have been inspected and found to meet strict kosher requirements. For more on this and to see which oils are kosher-certified, click here.

~Young Living is a brand I trust.~

For information on joining Young Living and shopping for top quality, therapeutic grade essential oils, click here.

Remember

Just because the label on the front says pure, organic or anything else, ALWAYS be sure to check the label on the back to know for sure.

Rose Petal Body Scrub Sensation

What a beautiful gift to give to someone you love (mother, daughter, bridesmaids, yourself)

Isn't it beautiful? Wouldn't you love to receive one of these as a gift? Look at how the layers alone make this body scrub look elegant.  And with simple ingredients, you can make this yourself!

Ingredients

• Coconut Oil
•  Essential oil of choice (featured in the above photo are Rose and Sensation)
• Organic rose petals (you want them to be fresh and free from pesticides)
• Organic brown sugar
• Pretty glass jar with lid (featured in above photo is a pint-size mason jar)

Directions

The directions for this elegant body scrub are simple.  Visually divide your jar into thirds.  The bottom third will have the coconut oil and your essential oil, the middle third will be the fresh rose petals (just pack them in there), and the top third with the organic brown sugar.

By leaving in layers of thirds, the sugar will help to break down the petals and the coconut oil will help to keep it moist, as well as moisturize the skin upon use.

Consider attaching a raffia ribbon or ribbon of your choice to the jar with a little tag explaining how to use.

Use

To use as a body scrub, simply use a fork or spoon and mash the ingredients together.  The rose petals will crush and mix in with the coconut oil and essential oils and the brown sugar will blend in as well.

Apply to moist skin while in the shower, massaging in circular motions.  Rinse off and you will have beautifully exfoliated, wonderfully smelling skin that is moisturized and reaping the many benefits of the added essential oils.

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Did you know that every chemical applied to the skin, is absorbed within 26 seconds?  Hence the emphasis for natural, organic, pesticide-free products in this body scrub.

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Featured Essential Oils

Rose is stimulating and elevating to the mind, creating a sense of well-being.  Its beautiful fragrance is almost intoxicating and aphrodisiac-like.

Sensation is an essential oil blend consisting of rosewood, ylang ylang, and jasmine.  Because the aroma of this blend of oils is so uplifting and arousing, it creates feeling of excitement and romance, which may help move one to new heights of self-expression and awareness.

You can choose from any essential oil single or blend that you would prefer from the shop now tab above.

The information provided is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to prescribe, diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. It is your responsibility to educate yourself and address any health or medical needs you may have with your physician. Please seek professional help when needed.

Natural Pet Care with Essential Oils

The therapeutic benefits of essential oils are meant for every member of the family, including pets. Whether your best friend is in need of a bath, a mood boost, or suffering from minor skin irritation, Young Living has a pet-friendly solution.

Young Living's Most Popular Products for Pets

• AnimalScents™ Shampoo: Cleans, conditions, and protects your pet's coat without harmful ingredients.
• AnimalScents™ Ointment: A protective and soothing salve formulated for external use on animals.

Did You Know: Essential Oils Pet Care Kit

Veterinarian Dr. Mary Hess of Madison, Wisconsin, recommends that every pet owner carry an essential oil care kit for pets. Based on her experience as a veterinarian, Dr. Hess suggests these Young Living essential oil blends to keep pets feeling their best.

• Peace & Calming® essential oil blend: Ideal for stress, fear, anxiety, and similar conditions, Peace & Calming blend can help calm your pet. If the pet is injured, Peace & Calming blend can relax the animal enough to administer other treatments. It can also be used on cats that are resistant to other forms of treatment for urinary problems or that excessively groom themselves.
• Purification® essential oil blend: Useful for external parasites, such as fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes.
• Thieves® essential oil blend: Perfect for minor wounds, abrasions, and lacerations, Thieves blend can also be used for dental concerns. It is safe for kittens and puppies.
• Melrose™ essential oil blend: Used in conjunction with R.C. and Raven blends, Melrose blend provides respiratory support and can also be used on minor wounds, abrasions, and lacerations if Thieves blend can't be tolerated.
• R.C.™ essential oil blend: Ideal for respiratory and urinary tract support, R.C blend is practical for cats that require bladder fortification, when conventional therapies fail. (It can be paired with Raven blend for added support.)
• Raven™ essential oil blend: Used for respiratory and urinary tract support, Raven blend is more powerful than R.C. blend and features essentials oils not found in the latter. Combined, the two oils are highly effective.
• Di-Gize™ essential oil blend: Gastrointestinal systems respond well to this blend. Nutmeg and ginger can be added for additional support.
• PanAway® essential oil blend: Valuable for relieving discomfort and relaxing the muscles, ligaments, and tendons. This oil blend can be used alone or in addition to other essential oils that aid in general discomfort. Using a moist towel over the area increases the effectiveness of the oils.
• Relieve It™ essential oil blend: Especially beneficial for relieving discomfort, Relieve It blend can be alternated with PanAway blend.