By Myra Thompson, P.h.D.

Have you used essential oils? They’re a staple in my household, and for good reason.

The initial thing that drew me to essential oils is that they are from the Earth, their essence extracted from plants. Essential oils treat conditions with rarely any adverse side effects, such as those you get from traditional pharmaceuticals. Also, they promote general health and wellness and can be used in a variety of ways: aromatically, topically, or ingested. They are often a safer alternative to other items and are better for your body than many of the manufactured items out there.

I enjoy making essential oil blends for my family and friends. Not to make any money, but to get them on the essential oil train by experiencing the power of the oils firsthand. I have personally seen oils help with anxiety, sleep, headaches, hypertension, hair growth, asthma, and cuts.

I enjoy using essential oils and teaching my children to use them – to be their own healer without having to rely on physicians for ailments that can be treated at home. I try to teach my children to do what feels right, what resonates with them. Sometimes that may not be what their doctor, friend, significant other, or even a parent thinks is right.

Oils are such a staple in my household, my 7-year-old daughter asked, “Can you make me an oil blend that I can have when Jo annoys me, because he annoys me a lot.” (Jo is her little brother) Also, the kids will ask for the oil rub if they are having difficulty falling asleep at night.

Sleep is really important, and most of us don’t get enough of it or don’t get great quality sleep because of the fast pace of our lives.  Most parents have a bedtime routine for their kids; however, we neglect to follow one ourselves. My daughter’s routine, when she’s having difficulty, is to rub a relaxing oil blend on the inside of her wrists and the bottoms of her feet, then deeply inhale the smell of the calming oil. Then she puts on her weighted eye mask (yes, she’s a little diva :-), “and I’m asleep in 10 minutes,” she says.

We all love essential oils in my house, and I know rave about them to whoever will listen. Because I use oils a lot, I blend oils together with a carrier oil (any oil used to dilute essential oils, such as coconut, almond, jojoba, etc.) in roller bottles, spray bottles, and oil diffusers to utilize them in different ways such as my own sleep roller bottle blend.

If there was one oil that I’d recommend for someone interested in trying out oils for the first time, it’d be lavender. Lavender has a multitude of uses and smells wonderful. For sleep, you can put a few drops in a diffuser. Or, mix it with a carrier oil and rub it on your temples and wrists. Lavender is often used for anxiety, sleep, headaches, muscle pain, skin, inflammation, itching, and sunburn.

Thank you for reading, with love, grace, and gratitude,                

Myra Thompson

                                                                                                                               

If you’re interested in seeing what DoTerra oils have to offer, please check out my page: My.doterra.com/myrathompson1

PS. Not all essential oils are created equal. I’ve found DoTerra and Young Living to have high quality oils. If you have any questions about essential oils, please ask away in the comments below!

Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash