Wood Pecker and Peppermint

 














Here's is a fun story. We have a cabin in the mountains and we go there every weekend. We had a Wood Pecker fly into the window and stun itself. It laid there limp for 20 minutes after my dad dunked it's head in water. I'm really not sure why he did that. LOL, but he's had many birds in this condition and it's seems to wake them up and they fly away. Well it wasn't working this time and the bird just sat on a pillow not moving a bit. It's eyes were open and that was the only sign of life. I was getting ready to leave my parents place to go to ours and I decided to pull out the peppermint for the heck of it. I rubbed a tiny bit on the peak, neck and head of the bird. The bird moved it's head a little and seemed to perk up some. I told my mom to apply more the same way in 20 minutes. Shortly after I arrived to our cabin my mother calls and said that she did what I said and before she could apply it to the wood peckers head it stood up, took a crap and flew away. LOL!!! Was it the peppermint? I want to think so. Whenever I apply peppermint to myself I perk up and start breathing better. Gotta love it!!

doTERRA Lemongrass

My newest favorite and it's pretty cheap. :) It's analgesic, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-parasitic, antiseptic, astringent and sedative. It has a long history of use, dating back thousands of years. Lemongrass oil is not a citrus oil but is sweeter and more powerful than lemon oil.

Lemongrass can be used for its calming effect, to relieve stress.  With its sweet, citrus scent, it is excellent to help restore and balance the emotions. I recently got a diffuser and this oil has been my favorite one to diffuse. It sure smells up our home and makes it inviting to walk into.

When I first listened to a webinar about Lemongrass the speaker mentioned that it was helpful in ligament or tendon damage, aches and pains. Well I had a couple of those and purchased some Lemongrass to apply on those areas. I had one section on my wrist that I had twisted in April when I went over my snowmobile handle bars. I never went to the doctor but could feel the damage. I started applying the Lemongrass and the ache went away.  My wrist is ready for dirt bike season. Yeah! Then recently My knee had been aching where I had ACL surgery last year. The area where the incision was from them removing one of my hamstring ligaments. I started rubbing on the oil 2 to 3 times a day and the pulling feeling is now gone.

LOL, This was a hard hit and then the sled ran me over. Luckily the only damage to me was my wrist. Oh and the sled suffered a bit. I snapped my handlebars in half!!! That was a fun ride out. lol!!!

The damage to my handlebars....

** Lemongrass oil revitalizes the body and relieves the symptoms of jetlag, clears headaches.

**  It is a great overall tonic for the body, and it boosts the parasympathetic nervous system. 

** It is useful with respiratory infections, such as sore throats, laryngitis and fever, and helps prevent the spreading of infectious diseases.

**  Lemongrass oil may help tone the muscles and tissue, relieves muscle pains by making the muscle more supple.

** It helps to keep pets clean of fleas, ticks and lice.

** Lemongrass is a great oil to add to a bath, to assist with cellulite, digestive problems, as a diuretic, for infections, nervousness, for over-exerted ligaments and as a general tonic.

** Mix lemongrass with  doTERRA's fractionated coconut oil and use in massage for clearing cellulite, as well as toning the skin, opening blocked pores and helping with acne.  The antiseptic and anti-fungal properties are useful in treating athlete's foot and other fungal infections.

I love doTERRA Lemongrass.

Buy doTERRA Lemongrass here 

Tiz the Season "SUNBURNS"

Yep, I got the first one for the season and I quickly turned to my oils for relief. Lavender and Frankincense worked for taking the burn away with my fractionated coconut oil. You could also try the melaleuca.

I also want to try this spray I read on one of my favorite sites "EverythingEssentialMe.com:

Healing:

Add 20 drops each of lavender (soothing, healing) and peppermint (cooling) to a 2 ounce spray bottle.  Fill the remainder with either water or fractionated coconut oil.  Shake and apply as soon as possible to the sunburned area.  Repeat every 2 hours for the 4 to 6 times. 

Continue with a blend of 1 ounce fractionated coconut oil and 20 drops each of lavender and frankincense sprayed or applied directly 2 to 4 times daily.  If there is any blistering add 20 drops of melaleuca to the mixture to prevent any infection from open sores.

Prevention:

To prepare a sunscreen add 60 drops each of helichrysum and lavender to a 2 ounce spray bottle.  Fill the remainder with fractionated coconut oil. Spray on and use as any store purchased sunscreen.

Shop for Oils Here :)

Digestzen "A Little Bit of Magic"

Well this super essential oil has brought relief a couple times in our home. The first was over Memorial weekend when our 9 year old had stomach issues and threw up before he went to bed. I applied the oil on his abdomen and his feet. It took a few applications (every 15 to 30 minutes 3 or 4 times) and the stomach ache was gone by the next day. Then we used digestzen again last night for my husbands heartburn. I put 2 drops digestzen and 1 drop peppermint in an empty gel cap and the heartburn was gone in 15 minutes. That's faster and more effective than any over the counter medicine we have. We are really falling in love with this stuff.

doTERRA Digestzen essential oil is a blend of:

Ginger, peppermint, tarragon, fennel, caraway, coriander and anise each have specific attributes which add to the overall efficacy of this potent blend. When used internally, dōTERRA®'s DigestZen brings soothing digestive relief. For aromatic, topical, or dietary use.

All-natural certified pure therapeutic grade essential oil that brings soothing relief from heartburn, indigestion, and other digestive symptoms. What a wonderful oil!!!!

buy digestzen here....

AromaTouch Technique (ATT)

Makes me want to get a massage a.s.a.p.

AromaTouch Technique Kit doterra here 

FAQ We All Have Them

Some of the questions I had and found answers to are:

1. What is an essential oil?

Essential oils are natural aromatic compounds found in the seeds, bark, stems, roots, flowers, and other parts of plants. Essential oils contain the true essence of the plant it was derived from. Essential oils are highly concentrated and a little goes a long way.

2. How often can I apply oils?

There is really no set rule for how often to apply the oils. You have to make a mental shift from how we view using western medicine. For many of the things you will use the oils for, a couple of times a day is probably adequate to see results. However, other problems may require more frequent application.

3. How do I know where to apply the oils?

The sole of the foot is a good place to start. Applying oils to the feet helps absorb into the system better than almost anywhere else. However, often it is better to apply to the area that is affected. For example, if you have digestion problems, apply the oils to the stomach, for a headache, apply the oils on the temple and hairline, for minor scrapes and cuts apply the right oil directly to the injured area. Keep oils away from eyes and ear canals.

4. Is it safe to take over the counter medicines with the oils?

You may find that the oils are actually more effective than many of the OTC medicines, and may not need to use your OTC medicines. 

5. Can I overdose on the oils? How do I know if I'm using too much or too often?

Moderation in all things is a true principle. While the vast majority of essential oils can be used freely, there are a few that contain compounds that could be toxic at higher dosages (Wintergreen, Idaho Tansy, Hyssop would be examples).

6. When applying multiple oils, do I need to wait between applying each oil, or can I apply one immediately after the other one?

You do not need to wait between application of the different oils, they can be applied immediately on top of each other. I think by the time the first oil is rubbed into the skin your ready for the next one.

7. Are the oils safe to use on my children? Are they safe to use if I am pregnant?

When using essential oils on babies and children, it is always best to dilute 1-2 drops of pure essential oils with 1/2-1 tsp. vegetable oil.  More about using while pregnant click here.

8. What is the shelf life of an essential oil and how should it be stored?

The shelf life of an essential oil is approximately one year. After this time they lose some of their potency. How quickly this occurs depends on the specific oil and how it is stored. They should be kept in dark bottles (to protect them from ultra violet light), away from heat, preferably in a cool dark space. Some essential oils' scents will change regardless of how they are stored. The scents do not go bad or turn rancid they simply lose their subtlety. Although some choose to refrigerate their oils, this is not necessary (except rose) and can be disadvantageous because some essential oils are solid at low temperatures. I've also notice expiration dates on some of my oils. :)

9. Are essential oils oily?

Essential oils are not oily although some of the thicker oils appear so. The oils absorb quickly in the skin when applied topically.

10. How long do essential oils last in the body?

Essential oils will last 12 - 24 hours in the body depending on several factors: viscosity, concentration, application method (massage or diffuser), skin type and to which body part the oils were applied. After entering the blood stream, essential oils are circulated to the tissues and organs. They will eventually pass into the lymphatic system and will then be eliminated through sweat and normal bodily functions. Combined with massage, the effect of essential oils can last for days.

http://www.doterra.myvoffice.com/jeanette/index.html


 

My Essential Oil Story

I was introduced a couple weeks ago to a product I hadn't heard of, doTERRA Essential Oils. A friend of mine saw a story I posted on a forum I frequent often and wanted to help me heal in the fastest, safest way possible. She has been using the Essential Oils and they have helped her tremendously in so many ways I can't begin to share them with you now. Any way some of you may know about my recent accident and some of you may not. 3 weeks ago we took the kids hiking and I slipped and fell hurting myself again. Yes, just a hike. lol! I really haven't had the luck lately but I'm dealing with recovering once again. My fall resulted in dislocating my right ring finger, and an added 1/2 inch laceration where my knuckle bone popped through the skin. Yes it hurt and the shock factor was even worse. We still had 2 miles to hike to the car. I learned a few things about myself that day. (good ones ) I will attach pictures. Day 1 thru now (3 weeks).

Well I was willing to try anything to get the healing started. The hand surgeon I saw referred me to a physical therapist twice a week. My co-pay's are $50 for each visit. I thought holy crap I can't do that, but had to considering it was doctor recommended. My friend emailed me all the essential oil information and I purchased my first oils and quickly began using them. I've also been to therapy 3 times now. My therapist said it could be anywhere from 6 to 9 weeks for the finger to get full use again. I am determined to make that sooner in the safest way. My 3rd PT visit my therapist was amazed at how quick I was healing. His exact words were "wow!" "You must be a quick healer." He said I was way ahead of schedule and wished he healed that quick. Do I think it's the oils? Well, my answer is yes. Of coarse it's me using them properly and consistently and doing hand/finger exercises, but I really do think the oils are helping the process speed up a bit. I'm really focusing on my finger getting back to normal because I want to be able to play and do the things I enjoy as fast as possible.

I first started using pure organic coconut oil and then the Deep Blue blend. It has wintergreen,camphor, peppermint, blue tansy, German chamomile, helichrysum and osmanthus. The work together to ease achy joints and reduce inflammation (which the finger has a lot of). I also apply Lemongrass for ligament and tendon damage. It's also good for the aches and pains. Then for the laceration I apply Melaleuca (tea tree oil) first aid for the skin.

When I started therapy my finger was 100% fused. It did not bend. It was actually hiper-extended and beginning to dis-form. Not good! Today I'm close to making a fist and feel I'm 70% there. That is fast! My cut that was NEVER stitched is completely closed up and looking great. I do owe my friend Romi the thanks for introducing me to the oils. I will continue using them in more ways than one. I have a list of ailments I will be using them for now and in the future for me and my family. I'm hoping my trips to the doctor will be less and my family will be a healthier one in the future. BTW our kids love the oils. A drop of lavendar on their pillow has them sleeping like a baby in no time. They love the wild orange for it's yummie smell. It's excellent for energizing and revitalizing. A real mood lifter! Oh and a drop or two of lemon oil in their water get's them to drink more water. 

I will admit I'm still learning about all the benefits of essential oils and I'm very excited about them. They really do work and the articles and real life stories are very motivational and uplifting to me.

FYI:
It has been estimated that at least 80% of the population has or currently are using some form of alternative medicine.  Bacteria has outsmarted even our strongest antibiotics leading to the rise in the dreaded superbug. Many of our over the counter medicines have been removed and studies are linking many synthetic drugs to serious health problems. Leading us to seek after alternative medicine.

Updated picture... Of the laceration....

5 weeks later and the strength is coming back and we are going to ride the dirt bikes this weekend. Wish me luck!!!!!


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