I want Doterra Oils!

As always, I am here to help with any questions. 

XO, 

Tiara

Here's a short video (2 min) if you need a visual.
https://youtu.be/jRL9NzFZhkU

I never really thought much about all of this until I was pregnant for the first time and my doctor's office gave me some literature for new moms. I'm one of those people who read through everything. When we bought our first house I annoyed the title company by reading through everything at closing. Anyway, in one of those papers I read a warning against the chemicals found in most of our cleaning products and that they could cause birth defects if inhaled/ingested. I remember thinking "If those chemicals can cause birth defects or miscarriage, what have they been doing to the inside of my body all this time?"

That set me on a course of learning that I never expected and led to how I feel today about the toxic load we are exposing ourselves and our children to everyday. Our chronic diseases, infertility, and a host of other problems can be laid at the feet of the chemicals that are so prevalent in every aspect of our lives. 

So I learned about GMOs, how to grow and can my own food and found easy adjustments for cleaner food and purer products where I could. This homemade wood polish is such and easy switch.

• 1/2 cup Olive Oil- honestly it doesn't need to be cold-pressed, the light will work just fine
• 2 1/2 Tbls Distilled White Vinegar
• 10 drops Lemon Essential Oil- you can also use Orange or if you want a woody scent Arborvitae.
• 16 oz. Glass Spray Bottle- essential oils must be stored in glass, they will eat through plastic. These ones are a pretty color and come with cute chalk labels. 

INSTRUCTIONS  ________________________________________________________________

1. Add olive oil and vinegar to glass spray bottle.
2. Add 10 drops of essential oil.
3. Shake well before each use.
4. Apply to microfiber cloth and wipe wood surfaces clean. Repeat every 2–3 months or as often as needed. 

Enjoy bringing back the shine to your favorite tables, desks, floors, and more with this simple non-toxic recipe for homemade wood polish.

Check out more in our Essential Oil Series.

In the first part of our Essential Oil Series we learned what an essential oil actually is and how the purity of the oil really matters. Just like we are passionate about the quality and sourcing of our food, we should be diligent about the purity of our essential oils. If you have one that is Certified Therapeutic Grade Pure, you can actually take it internally. Other oils without that certification could be up to 80% of fillers, contaminants and unwanted chemicals. No thank you.

Essential Oils are so versatile and can be taken in 3 ways.

AROMATICALLY  ________________________________________________________________

INHALING: This is the easiest way to use essential oils. Place 1 drop of oil in your hands and rub them together. Cup your hands around your nose and mouth while inhaling deeply through your nose. This is the fastest way to get oils into your body to start working instantly. If you don't want the oil on your hands, you could also just take a deep breath right from the bottle.

DIFFUSING: I love this method for purifying the air, mood boosting and just creating an overall healthy atmosphere be it at home, in the car or on your desk at work. It's as easy as it gets. Just add 5-7 drops of your favorite essential oil(s) to a diffuser with water and sit back and enjoy the benefits of aromatic use.

TOPICALLY  _____________________________________________________________________

This is just what it sounds like, applying directly to the skin. Essential oils are potent, that is why we love them, so it is recommended to dilute every oil with a carrier oil before applying to the skin. A carrier oil is an oil like fractionated coconut oil, olive oil, etc that can help dilute the essential oil and allow us to rub/ carry the same amount of essential oils to a larger area of skin without using too much. Place 1-2 drops of oil of choice on hand, dilute with carrier oil and apply to the target area. Some of the best places to apply oils are typically the bottoms of the feel until you are sure there are no sensitivities then you can move to inside of the wrists, temples, base of neck and along the spine.

INTERNALLY  ___________________________________________________________________

I am so excited about the curiosity around Essential Oils these days. I grew up in a pretty holistic, alternative medicine using home so when I first heard about essential oils, almost 10 years ago, I was intrigued and open to the idea. The thing I liked most about them were that they were all natural, pure ingredients. Not the synthetic stuff from a lab which we are usually prescribed. 

As a pregnant mother for the first time, I also loved that they were safe enough to use on babies. There is almost nothing you can give to a baby medicine-wise, so I loved feeling like I had some control over my baby's wellness. We have been using them to support our health ever since and I am happy they are getting more and more mainstream. Kind of like green smoothies.

Essential Oils are finally having their moment and it is well deserved. We know, and love to use herbs because they are so good for us; but guess what? Essential oils are about 50-70% more potent than herbs. 1 drop is actually equivalent to drinking 28 cups of tea from the same source. Since they are so potent you only need 1 or 2 drops, it makes them very affordable overall.

WHAT IS AN ESSENTIAL OIL  ____________________________________________________

But what exactly are essential oils you might wonder? Well basically, they are the aromatic compounds seeds, bark, stems, roots, flowers, and other parts of plants that have made them sought after for food flavoring, mood enhancing and healing aids for centuries. In fact, most medicine is based off of the molecules found in the natural world known for their healing properties. And, their natural form provides an all-natural health option to benefit our bodies.

The most common method of extracting essential oils is low-heat steam distillation where pressurized steam is circulated through the plant material. The essential oils are extracted from the plant and carried away by the steam and then collected as the water and oil naturally separate. The more pure the essential oil, the more powerful the results.

PURITY  ________________________________________________________________________

Essential oils are definitely not created equal. Many essential oils on the market are not pure. Often, they contain up to 80% filler or other elements that dilute and alter the purity of the oil which then diminishes the healthful qualities of the oil. Just like with food, quality and sourcing matters.

Since I have researched to much into the benefits of eating clean food, I already knew I would not use essential oils from companies that couldn't prove how pure their oil is. I found what I believe is the best company producing the highest quality products and best practices. DoTerra.

"Each doTERRA essential oil is also carefully and thoroughly tested using the strict CPTG Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade® quality protocol. Experienced essential oil users will immediately recognize the superior quality standard for naturally safe, purely effective therapeutic-grade doTERRA essential oils."   -Doterra Website

Doterra essentially (see what I did there?) wrote the book on essential oil purity testing. No one had or has a higher grade of pure oils than them. I love that there are quality controls in place by testing EVERY batch. I also appreciate that they source their products from small farms in the countries where those plants are native grown while paying a fair wage to the farmers and distillers. They are involved every step of the way so they know with confidence that their oil is pure.

Up next, I am sharing about How to Use Essential Oils but if you are ready to get started now click

I'm ready to get started

Normally if you are applying oil topically then we apply it to a targeted site on the body. But you should NEVER put oils directly into your eyes or your ears. The sensitive skin inside of your mouth might be more easily irritated by undiluted oils so be mindful of this before your first use. A good place to start is on the bottoms of the feet or along the spine until you know if you have any sensitivities to the oils. Speaking of dilution...

-cinnamon bark -clove bud -citronella -cumin -lemongrass -thyme -oregano -cassia-

Yes and No. Certain oils can react with sunlight when applied to the skin and then exposed to direct UV rays. Make sure to always dilute these oils well, apply them to an area that is not exposed to the sun, or wait 24 hours before spending any amount of time soaking up its warmth! Oils that are considered phototoxic are: lemon, grapefruit, bergamot, lime, cumin, and any blends containing these.

Absolutely! A bath is a great way to use your essential oils. But just like some of our other cautions, never add an oil that is 'hot', or caustic to skin in your bath water.  Always apply your oils to some kind of carrier before adding to your running water. I love epsom salt but vegetable glycerin or any shower gel/bubble bath that you already use and love, preferably unscented, can be used as well. A good amount to use as you learn your sensitivity levels would be 2-3 drops!

Just like you should speak to your Dr. or Midwife about essential oil usage during pregnancy or breastfeeding; you should definitely consult your physician regarding any reactions that could occur, especially if the medication to which you are referring is vital to your livelihood. There are a couple that truly stand out, such as wintergreen oil being avoided by those taking blood thinners, and being mindful that tetracyclines can make the skin more sensitive to citrus oil + sunlight reaction. Most western medicine physicians will have limited knowledge when it comes to essential oils, so seeking out the opinion of a holistic doctor or registered aromatherapist is always encouraged. It never hurts to do a little research of your own as well.