Tissues and Cough Drops are on sale for a reason

I have a friend, Veronica.  She is one of those people I don't see often but love deeply.  I think of her and smile.   This week she has been beaten and battered by a nasty virus.  She has been very ill, and my heart goes out to her.  I can relate to her misery; we both have a tendency to be inflicted with respiratory infections.  There was a year a few back when I had bronchitis once and pneumonia twice in the same year.   Most falls I end up in the ER with severe bronchitis and by the winter months I found myself in my doctor's office for regular breathing treatments.  

As I have stated in other posts, I believe in the benefits of essential oils.  Since I really started using them regularly, I have not had a single case of bronchitis or pneumonia. Why?  Because I support my immune system with an oil blend called Thieves - named after a group of bandits who robbed the dead during the Bubonic Plague; the bandits did not get sick because the soaked their face masks in a blend of oils including cinnamon bark, cloves, and Eucalyptus to name a few. And I treat tightness in my chest immediately with oils such as Raven and Breathe Easy.

Because it is the season of giving:  coughs, sneezes and colds -- I wanted to let you in on my must have cold remedy oils. 

 

Thieves – a blend of high anti-microbial and anti-bacterial oils such as cloves and cinnamon bark.  This oil builds your immune system.  So I use it even when I am well.  But the second I feel sick I pull it out and start it in big does.  You can put one intense drops under your tongue (which I do when I have a sore throat) or you can rub it on the soles of your feet.  I regularly diffuse it in the air; it has a wonderful scent that makes the house smell delicious.  I do all three.  My kids have not been sick with the flu for years, and at the first sign of a sniffle I rip off their socks and rub the oil over their feet.  The stuff works.  (NOTE:  I also have a cleaning solution that is made from Thieves that I use to wash the floors and counter-tops.)

1     Raven – it’s a blend of numerous oils..high in Eucalyptus and ravinsarita with some added peppermint too. Because my winter woes usually result in respiratory infections, I rub this right on my chest and all tightness goes away almost instantly.  (You can use olive oil as a carrier to make it go farther or apply the oil right to your chest.)  I literally do not leave home without Raven.  Whether it’s pneumonia or asthma or just seasonal issues…this is my go to oil for making breathing easier.  My body just says, Ahhh..as soon as I open the bottle. 

Along similar lines as Raven- there is an oil blend called Breathe Easy that is in the form of a roll on stick.  I keep one in my purse and one by my bedside.   The second I feel labored breathing I roll it on my chest.  Great for taking to work work and grabbing in the middle of the night when you don’t want to go looking for a certain oil.

3     R.C.  – another blend with Eucalyptus.  This one is good for the hacking coughs.  Raven goes deeper for respiratory infections, but R.C. is one I tend to think of for throat irritations and general coughing.  I put three drops in my hand and rub it on my throat.  Then I cup my hands around my mouth and nose and breathe it in.  I have also made a salve using R.C. It is a good oil to have on hand.  It is gentle enough to use with kids 2 years and older.

Speaking of using oils with kids....here is my disclaimer:  as often as I can I use a single oil rather than a blend of oils.  R.C. is okay to use with kids as is Thieves...but I do vary my approach slightly with my little ones.   I put Thieves on their feet not in their mouth - cinnamon bark and clove is intense and burns for a second in the mouth.  On the feet kids are less likely to get it in their eyes or mouth.  I tend to diffuse more with kids and rub on feet more than other body parts.  I will diffuse marjoram in the kids room when they are coughing.  Marjoram is helpful in reducing muscle spasms - coughing is a muscle spasm.    I will also put a drop of marjoram in a carrier oil (olive oil works fine) and rub it on their chests.  Ravinsarita is also another kid friendly oil to use with respiratory infections.  Lavender is wonderful for fevers.   There is a terrific book I recommend if you are interested in learning more about using oils with young children:  Aromatherapy for the Healthy Child: More Than 300 Natural, Nontoxic, and Fragrant Essential Oil Blends by Valorie Ann Worwood.

I buy my oils from Young Living Essential Oils.  I believe in the quality of product they produce. Hope you all can stay healthy in the new year.