Essential Oils- "I have a sick kid" edition

When I first started using essential oils- it was to boost my baby's immune system (Julie at the time). She wasn't sick and I thought, "These essential oils are awesome! She's not sick!" And then she got a cold- and my bubble was burst. Using essential oils does not mean your children will never get sick- but it helps keep them healthy- and is a great support when sickness does hit.

While I haven't been able to reschedule our class yet, I've gotten a lot of questions about this. I am by no means an expert- but there are some things I've learned along the way. So here I'll share with you our "sick" regimen for my kids. *As I said before- Essential oils are my first line of defense. If my children's sickness progresses to a more serious state- I take them to the doctor. I am not anti- doctor. But I do like being a pro-active mother so I can hopefully avoid the doctor.

One of my favorite "sick" oils is Eucalytpus
It is used for calming and clearing, and helps ease breathing. When I have a sick-y, I rub in on their feet, their chest and/or back, and down their ear canal. Probably 2-3 times a day- depending on the sickness. ($18.50)

Another favorite is peppermint
If they have a cough, I'll rub it on their feet along with the eucalyptus. (Like vicks vapor rub and socks at night- only all natural) Peppermint is also amazing if you have clogged sinuses. Put a drop on your pinkie and swap it in your nostril. *Warning- this will BURN for about 1 minute. And then you can breathe through your nose and it doesn't burn anymore. It's amazing, really. Alan and I do it when needed, but I've only done it on my child (Julie, when she was 2) once- when her nose was totally plugged and I knew it would fix it. Because it really does burn. She cried. I knew she would. But she's still alive, and still lets me put oils on her. You've been warned about peppermint in the nose.

You can also use peppermint to help with a fever. I'm of the school of thought that fevers are helpful and productive to a certain extent. But when relief is needed-peppermint can do the job. ($27)

Another favorite is lavendar
It's used all the time- but can really help calm an agitated child if they're sick. I rub it on their feet. It's also great for all things skin and would be one of my top 3 oils to recommend in general.($28)

One thing  I really love about Doterra is the blends.
OnGuard is a good "sick" one
I'll rub it on my kids feet, and on their chest or back if I feel the need. (For my girls- I don't dilute it, but it will feel really warm to them for a minute. If you have a sensitive child- you might want to dilute it on their back or chest. You can also add it to a spray bottle with some water to sanitize your house (door knobs, light switches, etc.) ($42.50)

Another blend I really like is Breathe
Our kids are prime candidates for respiratory distress- so when the wheezing beings, I rub Breathe on their feet and chest. ($26.50)

Essential Oils and babies- You can totally use them on babies- you just have to dilute them. I use coconut oil (You can buy it at pretty much any store- the kind you can eat) Or I know of others who use grape seed oil or even olive oil. Or you can buy the fancy message oil. Whichever you choose, they all work.
For infants less than 1 year, you want to dilute 75% (so 3 drops of a message oil to 1 drop of essential oil) Children 1-2 yrs, dilute 50%. Children 3 and older do not need dilution.

I totally understand the feelings of leeriness on using these on children- especially if you are new to essential oils. If you feel that way- try them on you first. Eucalyptus and lavender are very mild feeling (meaning- they work very effectively, but don't really have a distinct feeling when you put them on. Smell- yes. Feeling- no.) Peppermint has a tingle- OnGuard has some heat. (Still totally fine- but you and your kids will "feel" when you put them on) *Make sure your kids don't get the oils on their hands and then rub it in their eyes. They won't like it.
FYI- I have used oils on Kyle since birth. He's never cried.


Other great oils good for different types of "sickness" are tea tree (Doterra calls it Melaleuca)
I would compare this to "Neosporin."  Great for cuts and scrapes or infected skin kinds of things. You can also put a drop in your mouth for a sore throat. ($25)

The other oil I think is great is Oregano
Here's the thing. Oregano is a hot oil. You have to dilute it- regardless of age. Honestly, I was really nervous to use this oil when I first got it. But then I finally did and it works great. I've only ever used it in a veg cap and swallowed it. (My girls- 3 and 5yrs can swallow pills- so that's how they've taken it) I know other people have used it diluted on skin- but I never have. (Katie- did you do it?) It's the natural "antibiotic"- or to me- oregano is the big guns. Very effective. ($32)

Another note-I understand these little bottles are pricey. However, they last a long time, and they work. With my limited budget, it took me 6 months- 1 year to build up my stash. If that is the situation you are in- these are the oils I would work on purchasing first.

If you are interested in buying any- I'm placing an order next Monday, the 28th. Let me know if you want to order any oils- there's no additional shipping if you get in on that order. Email me at marieaguthrie (at) gmail (dot) com or leave a comment.