essential oils

do any of you use essential oils? i'd love your favorite brands and applications for them if so. i've just gotten into them since last summer or so and i'm totally sold. i've used herbal remedies for most of my adult life but have never ventured into oils really. i totally remember the first time a friend (tara arcade) put peppermint oil and deep blue on my head and my headache vanished. so anywhere here is what i've been using lately:

individual oils
patchouli - perfect for stress management! i either put it on my wrists or diffuse it into the air when i'm feeling anxious. it makes me feel more grounded. it's also good on wounds as a skin repairer but i haven't used it for that yet.

lavender - a few drops on my pillow, back of the neck, or bottoms of my feet helps me sleep. i also use it when i'm tense or feeling anxious on my temples or wrists. if i've got a sore muscle i mix peppermint and lavender and apply it topically.

frankincense - i use frankincense for everything from immunity boosting to a skin treatment at night (i mix it with my night cream). it's good for when i feel scattered and need to focus. i rarely use this aromatically but you can. it's just so darn expensive ($70 for 1 oz) so i typically only put a drop at a time on my wrists. however when we are sick i mix this with oregano oil and on guard and slather it on our feet.

lemon - i don't use this that often but i add a few drops to my cleaning solution whenever i make a batch. this is a big favorite to add to the little diffuser because it's such a happy, uplifting scent. plus i swear it tricks the mind into thinking the house is cleaner than it is.

melaleuca - aka tea tree oil. if melaleuca and oregano oil can't knock out an infection GET THEE TO A HOSPITAL. both taste pretty harsh so it's easier for me to take internally by making up a tiny capsule with a drop of two in vs drinking it in a glass of juice or something. melaleuca is a wicked strong anti-fungal, antibacterial, anti-microbial. i use this on zits or blackheads and POOF. heck i even use this on my dog when he has dry skin and stinks a little!

oregano - i've read that oregano oil has been shown to be just as effective as antibiotics in fighting infections. that has certainly been my feelings about it. i've kind of switched from using ecchinacea to regular doses or slatherings of oregano oil on the bottoms of our feet when we're in a sick season. this is a serious-business immune system supporter. if ever we have something throat-y going on, gargling with a few drops of this will burn out anything going on. emphasis on BURN but it works wonders. diffuse this and it will kill germs in the air.

peppermint - headache relief! slap some of this on your temples and feel any tension in your head just melt away. it has a very sweet smell and when applied topically it has a cooling effect. i diffuse it or put it on my wrists or neck when i'm tired and need a pick me up. you can also put a drop in your mouth for not only fresh breath but to clear our your sinuses.


oil blends (all from DoTerra)
balance - which has spruce, rosewood, frankincense, and blue tansy with fractionated coconut oil. this is for anxiety or feelings of disconnectedness.

breathe - which has laurel leaf, peppermint, eucalyptus, tea tree, lemon and ravensara. whenever anyone in the house has a cough we use this much like vicks vaporub. it smells intoxicating!

deep blue - which has wintergreen, camphor, peppermint, blue tansy, blue chamomile, helichrysum and osmanthus. whenever i've got sore muscles or when i'm starting to feel sick and am achy i put this on. it has a slightly analgesic effect. i give the kids a massage with this when they are acting out of control or are sick and need to go to sleep.

digestzen - ginger, peppermint, tarragon, fennel, caraway, coriander and anise. we used this on the cruise when we had motion sickness. you can use it for anything stomach related. also this smells unreal good! i think it's the fennel.

on guard - which has wild orange essential oil, combined with clove, cinnamon, eucalyptus and rosemary. this is the oil we use the most in our house. it smells wonderful but it's fantastic as an immunity booster and protector from germs. when the kids come home from school lately (there's been a big pinkeye outbreak at augustine's school) i like them to wash their hands and rub a drop into the hands after drying. i mostly put this on the back of our necks but you can add it to your cleaning mix to kill germs and such around the house. diffused this will kill airborne pathogens.

past tense - i've only use this starting this past weekend (from a friend) but i've already put an order in for it. it has wintergreen, lavender, peppermint, frankincense, cilantro, marjoram, roman chamomile, basil, and rosemary. HOLY CRAP GUYS CILANTRO. this is for calming, focusing, and the relief of tension.


i use DoTerra oils almost exclusively but am starting to branch out to other companies as long as they are still 100% essential oils. that is the biggest thing, that they are 100% pure and not diluted with anything synthetic or cut with another oil. DoTerra only uses 100% pure stuff. however i find them pretty expensive so i've been finding some of my lesser used stuff from NOW or aura cacia which is available at my neighborhood co-op. they don't have any of the blends though so i think ill always be a DoTerra customer.