My most recent check on Amazon for “cough medicine” indicated 1242 options. Expectorants, suppressants, decongestants, non-drowsy,  you get the picture.   The back of the label will most likely be filled with side effect and cautionary information.  Our family deals with coughs from colds and allergies naturally without all the man-made chemicals found in these over the counter drugs.  Essential oils have been our best form of defense with taming coughs.  The first thing we do when a cough occurs is to have a spoonful of agave nectar with a drop of lemon essential oil added to it.  The lemon soothes a dry, scratchy throat  and can boost your immune system as well.  For adults, add a drop of  Thieves to this spoonful for a super charged boost in immunity.  The Thieves will also relieve any soreness in the throat.

There are specific essential oils that are helpful for coughs: Eucalyptus Radiata, Eucalyptus Globulus, Ravansara, and wintergreen are especially effective.  Young Living has made a couple of essential oil blends that we use for coughs and colds in the winter.  R.C. is one of the most used oil blends in our home – it has four different kinds of eucalyptus in it  plus peppermint, lavender, cypress and pine essential oils.  At the first sign of a cold or cough, we apply a drop or two to each foot.   Commercial Eucalyptus oils on their own can be too potent for children, but when it is combined with more gentle oils of lavender and cypress it is a great choice for kid’s colds & coughs.  For children under 3 dilute a drop with a 1/2 teaspoon of a carrier oil and massage onto the feet.

Raven is another Young Living blend of ravansara, wintergreen, Eucalyptus radiata, lemon and peppermint essential oils.    The ravansara encourages expectoration and the wintergreen, eucalyptus and peppermint essential oils open up airways.  We find just one application of the oils onto the feet at bedtime is enough to settle a cough for sleep.  For children and those with asthma apply the oils to the soles of the feet.  For adults, massage the oils into the chest, add to bath water or place a drop in a bowl of warm water and breathe deeply.

Alternating application of R.C with Raven may be a powerful remedy with coughs.  Layering the oils increases the synergy between the oils.  For adults, apply 2 drops of R.C. mixed with V-6 oil to the chest area, then 2 drops of Raven on top.  This can also be done on the bottoms of the feet concentrating on the lung area points of reflexology.  For children, mix 1 drop of essential oil with a tsp of V-6 carrier oil or olive oil (or lavender essential oil which acts like a carrier oil), massage onto the bottoms of feet, cover with cotton socks and rest.   If you are using Young Living’s therapeutic grade oils you may not even have to dilute oils when applying to the soles of the feet.  Last week my 8 year old had a cough that started with fall allergies.  I rotated oils, one day applying them every hour (the time it takes for the body to metabolize the oils).  I took 2 drops of 2 different oils  (RC & Raven , for example), rubbed them between my hands and held my hands on the soles of her feet a few minutes.  Her face would light up as she said she could feel her chest relaxing.  Within minutes she’d have a healthy cough to expectorate the junk.

Frankincense also offers powerful respiratory support and it has the benefit of reducing anxiety, often associated with violent coughing spells.  Frankincense is also a very gentle oil as long as it is not filled with chemicals or synthetics.  I use Young Living’s Frankincense neat (undiluted) on the chest or soles of the feet.  Frankincense is very soothing to the respiratory tract especially when diffused.

Drinking plenty of fluids and foods rich in vitamin C are essential to feeling better.  For those with asthma, always apply essential oils to the soles of the feet.  For any persistant cough or difficulty breathing make sure to seek medical care right away

This information is not meant as a substitute for medical care, if you are sick, contact your doctor for advice.

Farid A. Badria, Eman A. Mohammed, Mohammed K. El-Fadrawy, et al (2004).  Natural Leukotriene inhibitor from Boswellia (frankincense): A potential for treating bronchial asthma. Altern & Comp Therapies. 10 (5) 257-265.

Inouye S, Takizawa T, Yamaguchi H. (2001). Antibacterial activity of essential oils and their major constituents against respiratory tract pathogens by gaseous contact.  J Antimicrob Chemo. 47: 565-573.

Larrondo J, Agut M, Calvo-Torras M. (1995). Antimicrobial activity of essences from Labiates. Microbios. 82: 171-172

• Morning:   splash face with warm water, apply 2 drops of frankincense over entire face.  Follow with lavender lotion or Boswellia wrinkle cream for more hydration.
• Night:  Wash with orange blossom face wash (for normal days), melaleuca geranium bar soap for oilier days.  Splash face with Aubrey’s pure aloe vera, follow with 2 drops frankincense or lavender essential oil.  Finish with lavender lotion or Boswellia wrinkle cream.  Apply wolfberry eye cream before bed.

I modify my routine as needed, and have found that keeping my digestion healthy keeps my skin healthy.  My favorite for staying “regular” is Sulfurzyme, 1-3 times a day between meals.  It’s excellent for alleviating joint pain as well.  For occasional breakouts due to hormones I’ve used lavender, frankincense, lemon or Thieves (sparingly, only a tiny drop on blemish), sandalwood & myrrh for drier times.    Let me know what works for you!

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Anxiety, depression and attention disorders are on the rise. I believe the causes are two-fold, first simply because we live in a culture saturated with unimportant things. We have thousands of choices we can make every day, from the foods we eat to products for our home and health. Marketing campaigns reach for our hearts, showing that we will be happy if we just purchase their goods and services. We can have instant gratification: on-demand movies, fast food and drugs to take away our symptoms in an hour. These are solutions targeted at making us content for the moment. It’s easy to fall into habits that can be harmful to us if we only have a short term fix in mind, leading to anxiety with so much information or depression from lack of contentment.

I believe a second cause of the increase in these health issues is the vast amount of chemicals we are exposed to every day. Some have even said today we are exposed to more chemicals in a day than people 100 years ago were exposed to in a lifetime. This does not even include chemicals we choose to subject ourselves to: over the counter & prescription drugs, plastics, untested cosmetic ingredients, perfumes and artificial fragrance. All of these chemicals can wreak havoc on our bodies and may cause hormonal imbalance which also may contribute to anxiety & depression.
I saw a mom with a newborn baby in the home fragrance aisle at the store the other day contemplating which “home scent” to purchase, I couldn’t help myself and I just told her to avoid using any of it around her kids, for their sake. Our children’s bodies and ours are being bombarded with chemicals, many of them we consciously are burning and “plugging in” to our homes, poisoning our air. We are chemical beings and all these fragranced products are causing chemical reactions in our bodies – the evidence is mounting that these chemicals are linked to anxiety, depression and attention disorders to name only a few. Over the counter and prescription drugs are even worse, with these and other health issues listed as potential side effects. I’m actually surprised at how many people ask if essential oils will interact with the drugs they are taking, yet don’t give a thought to using a home cleansing wipe labeled “harmful to humans and domestic animals” or consider how common household products and cosmetics are interfering with their prescriptions. Perfumes and artificial fragrance are known to disrupt hormones and the endocrine system making us more vulnerable to symptoms of anxiety, depression and attention disorders.

If you are truly looking for help with issues like anxiety, depression or attention disorders, you seriously have to consider cleaning up your environment, diet and personal care products. Essential oils may offer some promise for dealing with these but they cannot compensate for a lack of common sense and poor choices. I myself have used essential oils to deal with anxiety and depression but I have been careful to assess what might be triggering these symptoms in my body. 

Anti-depressants are some of the most widely prescribed drugs, with prescribed usage doubling in just one decade: 1996-2005.  Some studies have even shown that their effects may be questionable.  Dr. Mercola offers some insight into this research and alternatives to prescription drugs even suggesting that placebos have as great an impact on improving your mood .   Keeping this in mind, essential oils may be a great side-effect free option to try before going on medications.   These suggestions have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not meant to diagnose, treat or cure any disease.

Lavender essential oil helps balance the body, may help with insomnia and is calming. Simply smelling something pleasant can have a positive effect on our psyche. Make sure you are using only a pure, food grade lavender essential oil. I met someone the other day who had a bad experience with lavender. After applying a drop to her pillow, she developed a horrible headache. If an essential oils is altered or diluted with any chemical, one can never really know what side effects may occur from fillers. It is always best to use essential oils from a trusted source that verifiies the ingredients of their products. Mine is Young Living essential oils because I know they have the highest quality control standards in the industry.

Frankincense essential oil may be helpful in alleviating symptoms of depression. I apply Frankincense to my face every day, it’s excellent and nourishing to the skin plus it gives a boost to my psyche. Frankincense can be diffused to improve concentration and mental clarity. Because of this quality, it would be a great choice for using when a student needs to get homework done. This is an excellent oil to use for anxiety – when you have a lot of things going on and you don’t know where to begin. This oil is clearly evidence of divine creation – one breath in and your mind is clear and focused for the most important task at hand.

Valor is a Young Living essential oil blend that has similar qualities to frankincense – simply because frankincense is one of it’s ingredients. It also contains spruce which is grounding and helps create positive memory. I used this in one of my yoga classes and afterwards one student commented that at the beginning of relaxation her mind was running in several directions. She said that the second she smelled Valor, her mind was completely cleared and she could just relax. This blend may also be a good choice for helping focus and dealing with attention disorders.

Peace & Calming is a Young Living blend of essential oils. It’s a blend that appeals to most people, it’s a sweeter smell with tangerine essential oil. Some think it evokes thoughts of childhood. Just applying a drop to your carotid artery as a natural perfume can be calming. When it is applied to the soles of the feet it can help move you into a peaceful nights rest. This would be a good choice for overactive children and pets, or adults who suffer from nervous tension.

Stress Away – Roll-On is a Young Living blend that contains vanilla & lime essential oils. This is another blend that works well as a natural perfume with positive side effects of calming you when you are experiencing anxiety.

Peppermint oil is the first choice for mental clarity for attention disorders. Simply applying the oil to the temples can improve concentration and focus. Diffusing peppermint oil when you are studying can help improve memory retention. Peppermint may also be useful in treating headaches brought on by anxiety or depression.

Essential oils have the potential to even out moods, balance our emotions and help improve our mental clarity. But first, it is important to clear your environment and personal exposure to man-made chemicals that may be contributing to these issues. If you are on a lot of medications, have intelligent conversations with your doctor or pharmicist about potential side effects. There are many natural, drug free solutions to anxiety, depression and attention disorders for those willing to do some research and tune into themselves to figure what might be triggering these symptoms in the first place.

Essential oils offer many of the same benefits to pets as they do to people.  They can support the immune system, bring balance to the mind and body, help heal  injuries and offer  natural cleaning options.  As with humans, it is imperative that only the purest essential oils are used on your pets.   I have listed just a few of the many uses for pets taken from oils in the Everyday Oils Collection.  These uses are recommendations from Dr. Mary Hess, DVM.

Lemon essential oil:  Used to increase awareness in training or cognitive issues.  It is an anti-parasitic and can be combined with others safely, excellent for skin conditions.  Use topically, diffused or ingested.

Lavender essential oil:  Use for injuries while hiking or riding. Gentle but anti-infectious.  When combined with peppermint, healing is increased and infection and pain is decreased.  Repels parasites and calms nervous system.  May be helpful for masses and tumors.

Frankincense: Safer, gentle oil that is a favorite for smaller pets and birds.  Used in every aspect of pet care: wounds, tumors, behavior, infections, bacteria and fungal control. Dilution recommended with lavender.

Peppermint: Use with PanAway for any injury. Most used oil for overheated horses and dogs, provides cooling quickly. Used on long hikes, placing a drop in water for internal cooling. Peppermint must be diluted for cats, 1 part oil to 4 parts vegetable oil

Purification: Use for parasites such as fleas, ticks and mosquitos for dog and horse. Dilute 75% for cats. For birds, mist the cage with oil instead of applying directly to the bird.

Valor: Useful for all pets for fear, behavior and training. Especially useful for pet rescue. Use for skin masses, itching, allergies and infections. Diffuse or apply topically. Place around collar or leash.

Peace & Calming: Main calming blend of this collection. Use for fear, anxiety, behavior problems, car rides, excitement. Builds confidence.

PanAway: Best oil blend for injury. Can be used with cats if diluted. Used for urinary issues, osteo-arthritis pain, dental extraction or post surgery. Use topically in warm compresss, in raindrop technique or vita-flex points on feet.

Thieves:  Strongest anti-infectious blend in this collection. Can be used on all pets if diluted properly. Provides significant pain relief, particularly for dental problems. Has anti-parasitic properties, especially for ticks. Can be used topically to location of injury, vita-flex, raindrop, or internally.  Diffuse

Using essential oils on pets is similar to people as there are precautions you should take.  Because pets are much smaller, essential oils should be diluted more than for an adult person.

Dilution guidelines:  when in doubt contact your DVM.

Horses require minimum to no dilution ( 1 drop essential oil in 1 tsp carrier oil to help disperse)

Dogs:     0-25lbs – 75% dilution (1 drop essential oil to 4 drops carrier oil)

26-45lbs -50-75%

46-75lbs – 50%

76-90lbs – 25-50%

90-150lbs-25%

+150lbs – 0-25%

Cats, ferrets, rabbits, reptiles – 75-90%

Birds & Amphibians – 90-95% or hydrosols (1 drop essential oil mixed with water in 8 ounce spray bottle)

Lemon

Lavender

Peppermint

Frankincense

Purification essential oil blend: contains citronella, lemongrass, lavandin, rosemary, Melaleuca alternifolia and myrtle.

Peace & Calming essential oil blend: Blue tansy, patchouli, tangerine, orange, ylang ylang.

Valor essential oil blend: Rosewood, blue tansy, frankincense, spruce

PanAway essential oil blend: Helichrysum, wintergreen, clove, peppermint.

Thieves:Clove, rosemary, lemon, cinnamon bark, Eucalyptus radiata.

See 110 uses for the Everyday Oils Kit for specific usages of these oils.

You can purchase the Everyday Oils Kit for $115 wholesale or    $150 Retail

Or for $150, you can get wholesale pricing on any Young Living products when you purchase the Start Living with Everyday Oils Kit  (select Independent Distributor and order the $150  Start Living With Everyday Oils Kit for lifetime wholesale pricing, and no monthly minimums)  or retail (select customer).  If your cookies are not enabled, enter #1003003 as your sponsor & enroller, Pure Home and Body.

These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not meant to diagnose, treat or cure any disease.

Young Living has several blends of oils that might be useful for managing a headache:  M-Grain (marjoram,lavender,peppermint,basil,Roman chamomile, helichrysum)  Brain Power (frankincense,sandalwood,melissa,cedarwood,blue cypress,lavender,helichrysum) Clarity, Deep Relief Roll On (cardamom,rosemary,peppermint,basil,bergamot,geranium,jasmine,lemon,palmarosa,Roman chamomile,rosewood,ylang ylang)  (peppermint,lemon,Idaho balsam fir,Copaiba,clove,wintergreen,helichrysum,vetiver,Palo Santo) and Relieve It (spruce, black pepper, peppermint, hyssop).

Another way our bodies eliminate toxins is by sweating.  Anti-perspirant has become such a huge part of the American bathing ritual.  We are terrified of smelling offensive to our neighbors.  Entire industries have been built to support this.  But did you know the more toxins you have in your body the more offensive your sweat will be?  Obviously that would not be a good marketing angle for fast food places.  Because you are suppose to be eliminating toxins via sweat, it is very dangerous to stop this process with Anti-perspirants.  The first is obvious because you are holding toxins into the body when they are trying to get out.  The second reason is most anti-perspirants and many deodorants have aluminum in them.  Think about this, Parkinson’s & Alzheimer’s patients have unusually high concentrations of ALUMINUM in their brains – can aluminum applied to the underarms day after day make it’s way to your brain?  I’m not a chemist, but to me that coincidence is too close for comfort.  I have not used anti-perspirant for years and I still have friends (or they are being nice and not mentioning my ‘aroma’ – actually I have had individuals tell me I smell like essential oils, and sometimes it’s on days when I have not applied any – they seem to be a part of me – I’d rather be detoxifying “essential oils” from my body than a double cheeseburger or propylene glycol!)

So if you feel more comfortable applying something under the arms for odor control, look for an aluminum free deodorant, and keep that area clean so the bacteria does not begin to grow.  I have a friend who swears by Naturally Yours crystal roll on.  Young Living has a couple of great deodorants that are loaded with essential oils.  Or make your own combination.  I’ve read research on the protection Lavender, Frankincense and Geranium therapeutic grade oils offer to breast tissue.

Mix together these Young Living Therapeutic grade oils: 20 drops Lavender, 5 drops Frankincense & 10 drops Geranium. Keep in a small dark bottle and apply a couple of drops to each underarm to combat odor and to cleanse the lymph system.

Frankincense has been used for centuries and was often more valued than gold.  It has been researched and found to be anti-tumoral, anti-inflammatory, an immune stimulant, anti-depressant and muscle relaxant.  Our family has found it to be effective for viruses (place 1 drop on the tongue or massaged into the feet – using only Young Living food grade therapeutic essential oils for internal use).  Frankincense also supports the respiratory tract and can be soothing when inhaled .  It is one of the most powerful essential oils, yet is gentle enough for newborn babies.  Frankincense is very high in sesquiterpenes which stimulate the limbic system of the brain – the center of memory and emotions, the hypothalamus, pineal and pituitary glands.

Frankincense promotes meditation and spiritual awareness – not surprising that the Lord instructed Moses to burn Frankincense in the temple as it would keep worship focused on him and keep worshipers healthy.  Frankincense helps you to focus and concentrate and has shown promising results in use with autism and ADHD/ADD treatments when combined with dietary changes.  It is also healing to sun damaged skin.

Gary Young has found a source of frankincense in Oman where he also distills the frankincense.  Frankincense is a most sought after oil and therefore, often diluted and adultered to extend a supply.  Verify any source of frankincense to be sure it is comprised of only frankincense-no additives, from the Boswelia Carteri or Boswelia Sacra species which are offered by Young Living.

Frankincense is found in many Young Living products including the ART skincare line, Boswelia wrinkle cream, the oil blends: Abundance, Acceptance,  Awaken, Believe, Brain Power, Egyptian Gold, Exodus II, Forgiveness, Gathering, Gratitude, Harmony, Highest Potential, Humility, ImmuPower,Inspiration, Into the Future, Longevity, 3 Wise Men, Trauma Life and Valor.

This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any disease.

Essential oils have been used for thousands of years with documentation of their use even found in ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics.   Essential oils are documented in the Bible in over 500 places, with specific usages.  Frankincense and Myrhh were brought as gifts to the Christ child.  These original therapeutic grade oils offered many health benefits that our culture is rediscovering. Over time, however the essential oil industry has become overrun with imitations and adultered versions that have fillers and chemicals added to extend the supply.  The unknowing consumers can smell the oil’s fragrance but it may not have the healing benefits, and could even be harmful depending on what unknown chemicals have been added.  Avoid these inferior oils in all situations, even for inhalation or diffusing where chemical additives could irritate the respiratory tract.

Currently, the FDA does not have regulation to differentiate between Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils that offer healing properties and perfume grade oils that only offer fragrance.  The Fair Package and Labeling Act of 1973 specifically excludes the term “fragrance” and does not define it.  Fragrance listed on any U.S. product does not need to meet any requirements and is most likely just a combination of chemicals, many of which are now found to be toxic and harmful with use.  For example, musk ketone, a synthetic musk found in many perfumes has been found to disrupt hormones and negatively impact the endocrine system – many of the secret chemicals in perfumes have even been found in fetuses.  For more information on the safety of the products you use, check out www.ewg.org and see how your current health & beauty products rate for toxicity.

Young Living Essential Oils meet the FDA guidelines as being GRAS – Generally regarded as safe and many of the oils are certified safe as food additives (FA).  Gary Young has often said if it you can’t eat it, don’t put it on your skin.