This post is dedicated to all of my mom friends who are too busy to learn about using essential oils. Do you wish you knew more, but just don’t have the time to learn? Well, here are 10 easy tips and tricks as a quick reference for the next time school calls or you are up all night! Many of the oils are found in the Premium Starter Kit. More info.

Over the weekend my son was hit with a nasty stomach bug and it occurred to me that my knowledge of how to use essential oils to help my little one feel better should be shared. He actually asks for oils now when he feels sick. Yes, at the age of 2! The more I use essential oils with my family the more I understand how important they are to providing benefits for healthy living.  Essential oils can be used in addition to a prescription from the Doctor or you can also replace over the counter medicine entirely with some of these natural remedies as long as they are working for you and your family. As an all-natural, healthy alternative why not try it?

1. Fever. Apply 1 drop of diluted Peppermint to the soles of feet and along the spine for reducing fever. Why? The bottoms of the feet have really thick skin that’s not so sensitive, but when you apply oils there, they get absorbed quickly. I’ve seen this firsthand work in many cases with my son bringing his fever down within hours.

2. Teething. Use Thieves essential oil for cranky kids going through cutting those first teeth!  Make sure you test it on your own lip before giving it to your baby and if it doesn't burn or have a warm sensation then it is ok and apply directly on baby's gum. Dilute with olive oil. If you do not have Thieves you can also try using 1 drop of lavender or chamomile oil on a washcloth wrapped ice cube to relieve teething pain in children.

3. Stuffy nose and cough. Purification and thieves on the throat is great for soreness. Apply a mix with a carrier oil of lemon, lavender and peppermint behind the ears for stuffiness. For coughing you can also use Frankincense on the chest diluted and put a few drops of lemon in the diffuser and place by your kid's bed for nap or bedtime.. 

4. Pink eye- Apply diluted lavender around the orbital bone. Make sure you do not get any in the eye, reapply often, and wash your hands after application.

5. Stomach flu. One of the best oils outside of the premium starter kit is Digize for a stomach bug (can also be used for kids with diarrhea).  Dilute 1 drop of the essential oil to 1 tsp carrier oil and rub on an upset tummy and feet. You can use lavender or peppermint with the same dilution ratios above.

6. Nausea + Cleaning Up from a Sick Child. Probably one of the hard things about being a mom is trying to make sure you stay healthy when you kid is sick! If your child (and you) are feeling nausea symptoms apply diluted lemon behind your ears and across your belly. Add a few drops of Peppermint to the diffuser to help reduce symptoms and clear the air. This also really helps for all of the clean-up moms have to do post puke sessions. Also, applying Thieves essential oil to your feet and everyone in your family is important for boosting immunity.

7. Ear infections. Make a salt sock to help sore ears feel better.  Add a few drops of either lemon & basil, or lavender & melaleuca (tea tree oil).  The salt sock will feel so good on a sore ear and the heat can help draw out the infection.  Just drop the oils onto a sock filled with Rock and Sea Salts.  Heat it for 30 seconds in the microwave and press your ear against it.

8. Bug bites? Keep tea tree oil on hand (Mel A.) to help dry up bites, bring swelling down, and reduce pain and itching.

9. Crying and irritable baby? We’ve all been there. Probably remembering to use your essential oil in this moment is the hardest part! Put 1 drop Lavender on your shoulder and rock the baby (or maybe even a fussy toddler) while the baby's head rest on your shoulder. A great resource on more tips is Aromatherapy for Mother and Baby By Allison England, R.N.     

Additionally, diffusing Citrus oils like Grapefruit, Lemon, and Orange bring a mood change for children.  Orange brings happiness and warmth, which is excellent for depression, stress, tension, frustration and anxiety. Citrus oils help lift the spirits and promote joy, so it’s great for a playdate or children’s party in the diffuser.

10. Prevent illness by keeping lemon essential oil on hand to kill germs. Use in a diffuser or spray for disinfecting the air. It has high antibacterial properties. It's antiseptic properties will last for 20 days. Before you start using essential oils on your kids make sure you are aware of any allergies and how to dilute.

Dilute!

Use 1 drop essential oil to 4 drops of a carrier oil (ex: olive oil, grape seed, coconut oil). If you’re not sure about how kids’ skin will react try a small amount first. If a reaction does occur apply more carrier oil to spread the oil rather than water.

Properly Store and Keep oils Away from Little Hands Treat essential oils like you would any other medicine and keep them out of reach of children. Essential oils are a wonderful natural remedy for illness, but they still need to be used with care and adult supervision.

Use a guide and ask questions When it comes to learning about essential oils I often hear that it’s a lot to take in. This is why I’m here to help answer those questions! Essential Oil Pocket Reference (EOPR)- One of the best references that I have found to learn more about EO usage is the EOPR. The first half of this book goes through all of the singles and blends that YL has, which is great to see where each of the oils come from. The second half of the book details tons of different ailments and gives suggestions for different singles, blends and supplements that could be useful.

Here is where you can pick one up: http://bit.ly/X9icd5

For familes, pregnancy, and children I also recommend picking up Debra Raybern’s Gentle Babies: Essential Oils and Natural Remedies for Pregnancy, Childbirth, Infants and Young Children.

These tips do not replace medical advice. Many of these oils are a part of the everyday oils found in the Premium Starter Kit. If you are interested in learning more or purchasing contact me at [email protected].





Let's face it feet are pretty ugly, but winter is a great time to get them back into shape.  Sadly my days of wearing flip flops living in sunny SoCal are long gone and I have to trade them for socks, boots, rainboots, winterboots, etc on cold days in Washington, D.C.  If you are an athlete then you probably beat up your feet pretty badly between sock changes, calluses, and sweat. 

I see toes and hands all of the time as a yoga teacher and I'll tell you I really do not care if you are polished, chipped, or there is something lurking between the toes. I'm usually too busy assisting and adjusting to notice your latest manicure or pedicure; yet it's one of the first things people will tell me, "Oh please don't look at my feet I just haven't had time to get them done." Guess what? This only makes me look straight at your feet!!  Clients love to point out their flaws for some reason when really we weren't look there in the first place, so remember if you are on the yoga mat you are there for yoga and no one (other than YOU) really cares about your latest manicure or pedicure.

What I WILL SHARE today are tips for self-care for your nails using one of my favorite essential oils in the Premium Starter Kit ---- Melaleuca Alternifolia or commonly known as Tea Tree oil.

For those of us that come to our yoga mats often we are stuck looking at our feet in a forward fold or seated pose, so clearly it's on our mind along with one hundred other things, so what better time than winter to go back to natural to give your feet a break from polish? Winter is a great time to cover your toes and take time for self-care of your feet and hands.

Use Tea Tree oil to build nail health:

Remove Nail Polish- take away harmful toxins and the smell by doing it right before a bath or shower

Strengthen Nail Enamel - by applying to the cuticles

Heal Yellow and Dark Nails- do you constantly have nail polish on and then as soon as it's off notice that your nails linger with a yellow tint or dark spots? Give them a break and rebuild them over winter by using tea tree oil daily to help rebuild them for those summer months when you'll want to show them off.

Suffer from Toenail Fungus?- a study published in the journal Trop Med Int Health found that treating toenail fungus with 2% butenafine and 5% tea-tree oil in cream cured 80% of patients.

Athlete's Foot? - Applying oil mixed with a carrier oil like coconut can help aid in systems

If you do suffer from a severe medical ailment of the feet and nails, make sure you consult your Doctor before trying essential oils. These tips do not replace medical advice.

Essential oils can be used in many different ways. Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree Oil) can also be used to help with ear infections, coughing, lice, ringworm and thrush. This oil is a part of the everyday oils found in the Premium Starter Kit. If you are interested in learning more or purchasing contact me at [email protected].