So, before you figured out what this post is about and go running for the hills just hear my out...errr...rather read my words. I know that there are plenty of people that are going to read this, roll there eyes and think to themselves "Uhh, I'm so sick of hearing about those dang oils!"
I get you. I totally, 100% get you. In fact, not too long ago I was one of those people. I read into essential oils about a year ago and rolled my eyes as well. People seriously paid {good} money for a small glass bottle of liquid that they rubbed, drank and squirted into the air? And you mean to tell me that oily liquid may"eliminate" things?! Hhhmm, yeah okay.
Being a nurse and going through nursing school I'd been programmed to believe that for everything "there's a pill for that". I've been a nurse now for three years. I spend much of my time handing out various medications to people. A pill for this, a pill for that and three more pills to combat the side effects of the previous two pills. At first I didn't think much of it. The doctor recommended it so it must be right and okay for the patient right? I was in the "Doctors are God" phase of my nursing career and probably would have hopped up and down on my head if one of them told me to. I was young. I was new. And I certainly wasn't right in my thinking.
Fast forward three years to each work day when I'm passing out a cup full...A CUP FULL of pills to each of my patients. Now granted many are vitamins but so many are not. I literally am not surprised one bit when my fairly healthy, mid 50 year old patients come in with a list of 30 medications that they take daily. For every little thing wrong people are prescribed a new medication. Is it right? The new nurse in me would have said yes three years ago but I've changed a great deal since then, I've learned a great deal since then. I don't ever what to be a person that relies on a cup full of medications to keep me alive and functioning. To keep my body well and doing the things I wish for it to do. I just don't want to be one of those people. I'm not interested in that life style.
And to make this huge, long story short we'll zoom forward a bit. A few weeks ago I ran into one of the Chaplin's at work, Jessica. We're friends on Facebook and she'd posted a recipe she'd made for hand sanitizer out of essential oils. It eliminates germs to the same degree as alcohol based but actually moisturizes your hand and smells great. I asked her if I could try a bottle because my hands resemble that of an eighty year old's who spent his life farming. They are dried out, cracked and at times bleeding. After seeing her post {and asking for a tester bottle} I started looking into essential oils once again. Being very into pure, natural, organic living these days I was intrigued at that aspect of it all. I was shocked when I stumbled upon this graphic and all of the things that essential oils could aid in.
A little thought trickled into my mind..."What if I could rid of cabinets of medications and use oils to benefit my family?" Would it work? Would it be worth it? Was I suddenly turning into a hippie? {Let's face it...a hippie named Stormy is just too perfect. Am I right?}
I wasn't sure I could do it. And I wasn't sure it would be worth it. But I felt this overwhelming urge that oils where the answer. That this was the path in which I was supposed to go, in which my family was supposed to go. I'm not the most religious person but it felt like someone from above was giving me a big ole' shove right into the middle of the oily world. So, with a pocket full of Christmas cash I purchased my first kit, The Premium Starter Kit. I about crapped myself when I clicked checkout. A diffuser, 11 tiny bottles, samples and some literature cost me $150?! {$172 with tax & shipping to be exact} What in the world was I thinking?!?
And so I waited. And waited. I spent HOURS researching oils online while I waited for my kit to arrive. I grew more and more excited. And more and more confident that this was it, this was the most perfect blessing for my family. Something was telling me deep down in my heart that these little bottles where going to change my life. And in the first week? Boy have they ever! My kit came and I tore it open. I'd woke up with a migraine that day and was anxious to try the Peppermint oil and see if it offered relief.
**Short story here** I've suffered with migraines for the better part of eight years. I've tried diet adjustments, I've tried medications and sadly nothing worked. I've been referred to Neurologists, Cardiologists the whole 9-yards. To say I was sick of migraines was an understatement. When I'd read that certain oils may be effective in relieving migraines I knew that would be the ultimate test for me. If the universe wanted me to believe that there was something to this oily stuff ridding me of a migraine was the first step.**
I opened the Peppermint, dropped a drop on my finger and rubbed in on both my temples and the back of my neck. It burned {I've since learned that dilution is key} but within 15 minutes my migraine was gone. GONE! I figured it was in my head. How could one little drop of liquid do in fifteen minutes what I'd been trying for eight years to do? I was astounded! Luckily, my husband had woken with a stiff neck that morning too. I knew this would be the perfect second test. A little peppermint to the back of his neck and 20 minutes later he was rolling his neck every which way, not an ache in the world. Holy cows?! This stuff really worked!
My third test came the next day. For those of you who know me or have read around these parts for awhile you know that my son, Garrett is no lover of sleep. In fact he didn't sleep through the night until he was 11 months old. And even then he was up every once and awhile. He's a goober to get down for naps and getting him to sleep always left me fed up and ready for a nap myself. I'd read {while not so patiently awaiting my kit} that by diluting 1 drop of Lavender to 1 teaspoon of a carrier oil and rubbing in on their feet it can aid in sleeping. So, that afternoon I rocked with Garrett for one hour. After that hour I was ready to pull my hair out and he was bouncing off the walls as energetic as ever. Ugh. I grabbed some coconut oil & my Lavender. One drop, one tablespoon {I was leery and started super diluted with him}, rubbed it on his two toddler feet & covered with a sock. We sat down in his rocker with him fully awake....
Three minutes brought constant yawns.
Five minutes brought rolling eyeballs.
Eight minutes and he was out. I'm talking head flopped, rag doll out.
I laid him down and he napped for two hours, TWO hours!! I knew right there and then that I held some pretty great stuff in my hands. Since then these oils haven't failed to amaze me. They relieved oncoming cold in one dose, continue to aid Garrett in sleeping, have been working wonders on my daily headaches/migraines. They have been such a blessing and wonderful addition to our family! I just can't wait to see where this oily adventure takes us!
If you have any questions in regards to the oils and/or our experiences please, please let me know! I fully believe that everyone deserves to know and experience their greatness! And I'd love to share them with you!
Also, please note that I am not a doctor. I am also by no means promising that these oils would help eliminate any potential problems that you may have. I am simply sharing my love for something that has greatly impacted my family in such a short amount of time. Something that has improved our day to day living.
