Seize the moment...

First, I apologize for not keeping up with my blog the last several months but between working, training for the 3-day breast cancer walk and my passion for essential oils, I've been very busy!

My interest in using essential oils on animals has been expanded over the last couple of months as I have done more research in essential oils for dogs and been using more oils on my own dogs.  Very recently, I provided someone with some oils to try for reducing a fatty tumor on their dog and they have reported that the tumor has decreased.  Just last week, I was talking to a business associate over the phone and she told me about her 5 year old lab who has very frequent seizures.  It saddened me to listen to her story about her dog Emma and hear her say that she may have to put Emma to sleep because of the seizures and the quality of Emma's life.  They had tried several different drugs prescribed by the vet, but nothing was working.  I asked her if she had ever tried something natural like essential oils and she said no.

So I seized the moment to tell her what I knew about using essential oils on dogs and that I would do some research into what oils are recommended for seizures in dogs.  Within an hour, I had some great information on what oils to use, how to apply them and how often.  The most recommended oils were lavender, lemongrass, valor and frankincense.  I called her and told her about the oils recommended and that I had three out of the four oils in my inventory and would gladly give her some samples to try.  So I prepared some sample bottles and met her the next day with the samples and instructions for applying.  I talked to her Friday afternoon and she said she started using the oils that morning and would let me know on Monday or Tuesday as to whether the oils were working or not.  She called me on Tuesday, elated to report that Emma had been seizure free since she started applying the oils on her.  She told me she was hopefully optimistic that these oils might be the answer to her prayers and that her Emma would be with her longer then expected.

I can't tell you how happy it made me to hear this success story.  I believe in the oils and I've seen how they work for others and myself and it's absolutely amazing.  So seize the moment to share your knowledge of essential oils because you never know when you can make a difference in someone's life!

Essential Oils and Animals...

As my interest in essential oils continues to grow, I'm learning more and more about different ways to use the oils.  I guess I never thought of using them on animals but you can!  I recently experimented with this by using my sleep cream (made from organic coconut oil, valor, lavender and peace & calming) on one of my dogs.  She is always a bit restless at night when we go to bed and since I was in desperate need of a good nights' sleep, I decided to try it on Molly after apply it to myself.  I put a small amount of my sleep cream in my hands, rubbed them together and then rubbed my hands on the back of her head and down her back.  In no time at all, she was calm and fell asleep without changing positions and locations on the bed several times.  In fact, she didn't move all night.  She fell asleep stretched out next to me and that's how she slept all night.  Being a bit of a doubter, I decided to try it again the next night and dang, same results!!  So not only do I use the sleep cream on myself at night, but also on the two dogs so that we all get a much more peaceful nights' sleep.

There are several oils that can be used on dogs for various uses such as for a flea, tick and mosquito repellent, to relieve anxiety and skin irritation and for pain and arthritis.  If you spend a little time doing a Google search or look on Pinterest, you kind find many suggestions for using essential oils on your animals.  But in case you're limited on time, here's a useful flyer that will provide you with some basic uses.

So the next time you are thinking about going to the pet store to buy something to repel fleas for your dog or something to settle him down during a storm, reach for your Young Living Essential Oils instead!

Oh no, not allergy season again!

Are you one of those people who suffer from seasonal allergies and hate taking prescription drugs or the over the counter drugs that leave you feeling lethargic?  Many people can't tolerate allergy medicine so they just suffer with the seasonal allergies year after year after year.  Well finally there is something all natural you can use!  Who would have thought that Young Living Essential Oils could be used to combat allergies?  I certainly never would have thought of that prior to learning more about the oils.  But it's true!    In the Young Living Oil Biz we call it the "allergy trio".  Just three Young Living Essential Oils can help make seasonal allergies a thing of the past... Peppermint, Lemon and Lavender do the trick.   The bonus is you can use these three oils for many other purposes in addition to using them to fight seasonal allergies.  Here are some suggested uses for these three mega oils:

Use Peppermint for:  colds, fever, headache, lethargy, sunburn, constipation, congestion, indigestion, stress, soreness, odors, and gas.

Use Lavender for:  stress, scrapes, pains, sleep issues, cuts, sunburn, burns, headaches, dry skin, bacteria, cramps, and fever.

Use Lemon for:  bloating, lethargy, energy loss, anxiety, brittle hair and mails, household dirt & grime, infections, mouth sores, cough, and inspect bites.

So next time seasonal allergies get you down, try this recommended protocol using Peppermint, Lemon and Lavender!

Pain, Pain, Go Away!

I recently had a friend at work who was suffering from sciatica pain.  If you've never experienced this, I'm here to tell you that it's very painful.  Sciatica affects the sciatic nerve which is a large nerve extending from the lower back down the back of the leg.   The common symptoms of sciatic include:  

• Pain in the rear or leg that is worse when sitting down
• Burning or tingling down the leg
• Weakness, numbness or difficulty moving the leg
• A constant pain located on one side of the rear
• A shooting pain that can make it difficult to stand

Sciatica usually affects only one side of the lower body.  Often, the pain extends from the lower back all the way through the back of the thigh and down through the leg.  Depending on where the sciatic nerve is affected, the pain may also extend to the foot or toes.  For many people, the pain from sciatica can be severe and debilitating.  

I had made some homemade pain cream using organic coconut oil and Young Living essential oils to keep on hand if I had any knee issues when I began my training for the 3-Day Breast Cancer Walk.   I felt bad for my friend so I told her about the cream and offered to bring her some the next day.  She said she'd try anything because Ibuprofen was not working.  The next day I brought her a small sample jar of the cream and told her where to apply it and how often.  She was leaving that day for a trip to Florida so I knew I wouldn't hear from her immediately about the cream.  But her first day back in the office, she contacted me to tell me how great the cream worked and how much relief it brought her.  Needless to say, she asked me if I would make her another batch for her to keep on hand!

So you are probably wondering what's in this magic pain cream?  It's really pretty simple.  1 cup of Organic Coconut Oil (can be found at Whole Foods or Costco) and 10 drops each of Young Living Valor, Panaway, Peppermint and Lemongrass Essential Oils.   Mix well with an electric mixer and store in an air tight container.  Apply to painful areas as needed.

Essential Oils 101

Welcome... if you are reading my blog then you are about to learn everything you've ever wanted to know about essential oils but were afraid to ask... Whether you already use and understand the benefits of essential oils or if you are just curious about what all the hype is about, I hope that you will find my blog useful and informative.  Each week, I'll highlight a different essential oil or talk about a different health issue that can be addressed with essential oils and how to use them. In addition, I'll gladly share recipes for making your own creams, lotions, and sugar scrubs using essential oils.  And of course, I welcome all questions and comments. Chances are that if you have some sort of health issue... there's an oil for that!



Essential oils are some of the oldest and most powerful therapeutic agents known.  In their purest state, essential oils are some of the most concentrated natural extracts known, exhibiting significant and immediate anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and hormone-balancing effects.  In clinical practice, essential oils have been shown to have a profound influence on the central nervous system, helping to reduce or eliminate pain, release muscle tension, and provide strong emotional uplift.  The chemical structure of essential oils is such that it can rapidly penetrate cell membranes, travel throughout the blood and tissues, and enhance cellular function.