Lemon

Spring is in Full Swing – My Face is Streaming! 😱

ClareWilliamson Leave a comment

You feel me? It’s beautiful sunshine outside, blossom flourishing everywhere, garden is brimming with green and you just want to get out and enjoy the change in season!

However… Your eyes are puffy and itchy, your nose is streaming and you want to rip your own face off 😬

For many a spring and then also into summer too I endured epic seasonal allergy symptoms. Before I started my natural journey I used to use antihistamines, but because of the severity and duration of my symptoms I would be on them for months on end!

I am pretty sure this extended use of prescription drugs was one of the many things that destroyed my gut health and added to my toxic load. And I’m also pretty sure my general state of health and bad diet were making my seasonal allergy symptoms worse! As you’ll know if you follow my blog, I’ve cleaned up my diet a lot and cut most of what was adding to my toxic load out. I do still suffer with symptoms though as we head into the spring/summer season, but I have found some really good natural remedies that help.

Read on as I share them!

1. Neti Pot & Saline

This is a really simple and effective idea. Pollen, dust, other particles hold onto the insides of our nose and the saline washes them away! It takes a while to get used to the sensation, but it is relatively effective!

2. Probiotics

Lactobacillus GG and L. gasseri are believed to be two of the best probiotics for allergies, along with L. acidophilus and Bifidobacterium lactis! Look for these in the ingredients of the probiotic you choose. I use the doTERRA PB Assist. Click here for more details.

3. Local honey

When a person eats local honey, they are thought to be ingesting local pollen. Over time, a person may become less sensitive to this pollen. As a result, they may experience fewer seasonal allergy symptoms.

I’ve got to say, I’m not sure if my love of local honey has helped my allergies or not. I just love local honey!

4. DNA Testing

Now this is a key one. And pretty advanced thinking too. One of the many things our genes show is whether we are prone to inflammation! If we are we can eat in a way that prevents inflammation, which should also help curb our allergy sysymptoms. The DNA test I took provides a detailed summary of how to eat and how to exercise and as our DNA never changes, it is information I can refer to for years to come when making decisions about my health. The test I used also sequences with life-sensing technology to keep the DNA information relevant to the present day because genes are predetermined and particular gene variants can affect the body in real-time. Learn more here

5. Allergy Testing

You know you are sneezing and it’s spring, but is that the full picture?

Many foods or drinks that we consume, especially on a daily basis, can affect our health and wellbeing and are linked to many unwanted effects including fatigue, headaches, skin problems, breathing problems as well as affecting our immune, nervous and digestive systems.

 

Www.allergytest.co.nz are the most helpful, most straightforward and most convenient allergy test service I have found. You can test from the comfort of your own home and choose the level of testing you have according to your budget. You an really get a full picture of the foods and environmental substances that are affecting you. Click here to learn more!

6. Essential Oils

There are 3 essential oils I have used to ease the symptoms of seasonal allergies: peppermint, lemon and lavender.

Lavender is so soothing and has natural antihistamine properties. Peppermint is known to reduce inflammation and clear respiratory passages. And lemon is also a natural antihistamine and naturally cleansing and gives you that lift when the drag of seasonal symptoms brings you down!

Using these 3 oils together is a great idea because they work better synergistically, but I have to be honest in that they have only been able to take the edge off for me when using them topically and aromatically. I raised this with another doTERRA Wellness Advocate and she suggested trying Triease, which is a capsule to take them internally. She suggested that the dose is more targeted and the body’s response to the oils quicker. I know there is some controversy over ingesting essential oils, so read more about that if you are concerned, here.

Learn more about Triease here.

If you want to purchase any of the doTERRA products, visit my web store here! And read why I chose to be an Advocate for this phenominal wellness company here!

Next we’ll tackle Mosquitoes! 😯

Much Love,

Essential Mum x x

 

 

 

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5 Ways to Replace Harmful ‘Fragrance’ with Essential Oils

ClareWilliamson Leave a comment
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), indoor air pollution is among the top five environmental health risks!
 
The chemicals in our laundry detergent, multi-surface cleaner, even DUST can cause irritation of our eyes, nose, and throat, fatigue and nausea, or even longer-term more serious effects like respiratory diseases, heart disease and cancer.

Most of us are aware of outdoor pollutants, such as fuel exhaust and smoke. But

indoor air may be anywhere from two to five times as polluted as outdoor air!  And we are much less vigilant about it, so I thought I’d help you out by sharing 5 ways to swap out one of the BIG chemical emissions in your home…  FRAGRANCE (also listed as “parfum)!!
Have you seen this harmless word on the ingredients list of your favourite detergent or beauty products?
From Dr. Axe:
“A National Academy of Sciences points out some vital facts: About 95 percent of chemicals used in synthetic fragrances are derived from petroleum (crude oil). They include benzene derivatives (carcinogenic), aldehydes, toluene and many other known toxic chemicals linked to cancer, birth defects, central nervous system disorders and allergic reactions. (1) Unfortunately, 30 years later, toxic ingredients continue turn up in products we use and breathe in on a daily basis. Some of the worst toxic ingredients used in lotions, shampoos, laundry detergents, cleaning products and so much more include synthetic scents, often listed as on labels as the elusive “fragrance.” And many on the list are known or suspected endocrine disruptors, compounds that tinker with hormonal health that can trigger weight gain and even set you up for diseases decades down the line.”
If you are ready to start making a positive change TODAY, here is my top 5 ways to get started!
1.  Make your own deoderant
Just fill a glass spray bottle with 120ml magnesium oil and add 15 drops of doTERRA Lemon.  Or if you prefer not to make your own, or like a solid deoderant, one is available at my Online Apothecary
2. Make your own multi-purpose cleaner
Grab, preferably, a glass spray bottle (these ones are great!)  Add in a 1:3 ratio of white vinegar to water and 30 drops doTERRA On Guard Essential Oil.  On Guard contains a proven mix of certified pure therapeutic grade essential oils that when together work effectively to kill bacteria and viruses.  I have used On Guard to clear an antibiotic resistant staph infection and a clinical study found it effective against the H1N1 flu virus.  The science is emerging on this incredible blend, but I’d recommend it for everything!  Read more here.
To buy essential oils, click here
3.  Ditch the perfume!!!!!
Please, I know it is hard to give up your favourite scent, but the chemicals and the harm they can cause in perfume will surprise you.  And our littlies breathe these chemicals too!  With essential oils you can get a nice smell and a therapeutic effect.  There will be lots of recipes to try on pinterest if you do a search, or visit my board for inspiration!
Pick Me Up and Calm Me Down also have a beautiful perfume as well as HUGE emotional benefits.  Take a look here!

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4. Go no poo!

To be honest, the synthetic fragrance in your shampoo is probably the least of your worries!  The harsh chemical mix in shampoos and conditioners strips your hair of its natural oils, ultimately making it more greasy and less healthy, and the myriad of chemicals are absorbed into our bodies and do significant damage (some are reportedly linked to cancer).

Instead you can easily make your own shampoo that leaves your hair feeling gorgeous!  You can make using ingredients you have in your pantry, plus essential oils!

 

  • Honey (preferably raw and unfiltered) and/or coconut milk
  • Distilled water
  • An essential oil
  • A simple container or pump of some sort
  • A spoon. This is to mix all of the ingredients together.

 

I choose a mix of lavender and Rosemary from my shampoo because I find the lavender soothing and rosemary oil is wonderful for promoting hair growth, soothing dry scalps, and adding volume to your locks.

5. Replace your air freshener/wax melt/any synthetic frangrance with a diffuser

For all of the reasons above, synthetic scents to freshen the air in your home have to go.  Did you know indoor air may be anywhere from two to five times as polluted as outdoor air??  This is because of all of those chemicals emitted from the products we use every day and also the electrosmog emitted from our mobile devices.
I’m really passionate about helping people to move away from synthetic scents and other chemicals because they can cause a myriad of problems, including migraines, skin problems and asthma attacks, and our babies just deserve better.  They emerge from the safe, controlled environment of our wombs into a world that is fraught with risks.  Chemical scents are one we can protect them from, and according to the Breast Cancer Fund, when it comes to the prevention of cancer, avoiding synthetic fragrance is one of the main ways to help yourself and them!  (See article here.)
According to Dr. Axe, there at least 3,000 ingredients that could possibly be used to form a product’s scent and they don’t necessarily have to be listed on a product’s label. So with an essential oil you are just getting one, pure, natural oil that comes directly from the bark, stem, flower mother nature created for us.  I encourage you to take a look at the following list, derived from the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, to see just how many fragrance chemicals you can start replacing today, and as always, I am here to help!
Much Love,
Clare

Essential Mum | Non-Toxic Mama

What’s in your Natural Toolbox?

ClareWilliamson Leave a comment

As a mum it is great to feel empowered to know what to reach for when your kids get sick, so that you can soothe their discomfort and suffering immediately and naturally and feel confident that you are making the right choices.

I know as mums we question every day whether those choices we make are the right ones and we always have questions!  Rest assured this is a good thing.  As we ask questions we learn and grow.  We will make mistakes along the way, but instead of feeling guilty about these we must acknowledge the good we do every day also!

jade-2 Post probiotics “whoopsie” with my youngest!  She sneezed….!

For today’s blog I thought it would be helpful to share what is in my Natural Toolbox and my ‘go-to’ uses.  This information forms part of the ‘My Family Remedies Course’ I offer to mums.  I know they find the course really useful.  It is quite an in depth discovery of the primary uses for essential oils in common childhood illnesses.

The oils I take you through are doTERRA’s Lavender, Lemon, Peppermint, Melaleuca, Oregano, Frankincense, Deep Blue®, Breathe, DigestZen®, and On Guard™.  Alongside these in my Natural Toolbox I keep Vitamin C, Fermented Apple Cider Vinegar, Arnica, Colloidal silver and Chamomilla.

However, the oils I find I reach for most, and those I will introduce in this blog are Melaleuca, Lavender and On Guard™.  At the hint of a cold or the flu I start with Vitamin C straight away and get On Guard™ in the diffuser.  I then apply 1 drop each of Lavender and Melaleuca mixed with 2 tablespoons of Fractionated Coconut oil to the bottoms of the feet every couple of hours. To really open up the airways I use lemon in babies and Breathe in children,  but the Melaleuca and On Guard will suffice on the feet to help kill viruses and bacteria.  Rollerballs are really handy for this.  It’s also important to know how to dilute essential oils appropriately for babies and children though.  I will be going through this in detail at my Essential Oils Basics Workshop on October 12th.  This is an entry by koha workshop that I really recommend to mums as a starting point with Essential Oils.

Another thing we go through with babies and young children often is ear aches and infections.  You can use Melaleuca and Lavender in this instance too.  Just dilute 1-2 drops of Melaleuca and/or Lavender and apply around the ear (NOT inside the ear) and along the back of the cheek bone down & around behind the ear. You can also add Basil to help with the pain.  Did you know that about 70 percent of children get better on their own within two or three days of an ear infection, and about 80 percent are better within a week to 10 days, without antibiotics?

Melaleuca and Lavender can also be used in cases of stings, burns, cuts, scrapes, chickenpox, measles and Hand Foot and Mouth.

However, prevention is better than a cure in the case of these latter illnesses and this is where On Guard® comes in really handy.  Our littlies encounter germs every day, however hard we try to protect them from them.  They bring these germs home on their shoes, hands, clothes!  We can’t protect them all the while they are out, and encountering these germs and bacteria is necessary for building strong immune systems, but it is nice to think we can keep our homes relatively germ free without heavy chemicals.  This is why I use doTERRA’s OnGuard® range around my home to kill germs and as an immunity booster.

If you are interested in learning Essential Oil Basics and are local to Auckland, please come along to my next workshop on October 12th!  Just click here and complete the contact form to book your space.

Happy kids = Happy Mum!

jade kids-happy-and-healthy

Much Love x x

Achieving Hormonal Balance

ClareWilliamson Leave a comment

Let’s face it, being mum is a crazy journey! It’s exhilarating and exhausting all at once, we have days where we feel like superwoman and we have days where we feel like Superman when he’s on kryptonite. What we don’t need as women is an unhealthy hormone balance to screw with our mood, emotions and our weight, which screws with our self-esteem, our digestion, our sleep and other key areas of our life as well!

Essential oils can be be very powerful in rebalancing our hormones. Unlike drugs you may be prescribed by a doctor, the oils do not contain hormones, but have properties that stimulate hormone production and balance. First of all, how do we recognize our hormones are out of sync?

There are a variety of symptoms that we can look out for:

  • irritability, anxiousness
  • PMS
  • menopausal symptoms that interfere with day to day life
  • heavy periods, irregular cycles
  • inability to lose weight
  • breast tenderness
  • hair loss
  • fatigue, insomnia
  • hypothyroidism
  • lack of sex drive
  • dryness “down below”
  • Sore joints and tendonitis
  • increase in belly fat.

This is just a few indications that your hormones could be out of balance.  And it can be different hormones “out of whack.”

The following oils can balance estrogen levels:

  • Clary Sage and fennel (both phytoestrogenic oils)
  • Lavender (naturally lowers cortisol levels)
  • Frankincense (balances hormone levels, which reduces symptoms associated with menstruation and menopause)
  • Basil (great for period pain and increases the body’s natural response to both physical and emotional stress, while conditioning you to cope better)
  • Geranium (an adaptogen oil ).

I use Geranium every day for its overall balancing effect on female hormones.  As I am breastfeeding I have suspected low estrogen, but I also suffer from adrenal fatigue, so this is a great oil for me. I rub it over my kidneys mixed in fractionated coconut oil and frankincense daily. Of course, stress can also cause low estrogen in all its different guises (dietary, emotional, too much work and not enough sleep, environmental toxins, or pain and inflammation) and it definitely causes adrenal fatigue over an extended period of time. So it’s really important to work on this also to avoid a state of chronic stress that causes your cortisol levels to rise, which in turn causes drops in estrogen and progesterone that can cause menstrual irregularities, weight gain, estrogen dominance, and infertility.

Out of all the essential oils listed above Clary sage is the most commonly related to hormone balance and has been used since Medieval times for balancing hormones and relieving pain.  You can dilute a few drops in fractionated coconut oil and rub into your ankles daily. Or, if menstrual cramps are painful, rub the mixture directly onto your stomach and ovary area for pain relief. Add geranium to the blend to enhance pain relief.

You can also add a few drops of clary sage and geranium to a warm bath and enjoy a soak.  Or buy my Balancing Bath Melts that use this blend.

There is a great article on the doTERRA blog about hormonal balance, which also talks about the importance of diet in hormonal balance and introduces some of the doTERRA products available for hormone health. For example, the doTERRA® Phytoestrogen Lifetime Complex contains plant-based phytoestrogens, flax seed extract, and pomegranate extract. The ClaryCalm® Monthly Blend is a specially formulated blend of 12 essential oils that can be applied to the skin for a soothing effect.

There are other things you can do to support your hormonal balance.  Dietary stress (eating the wrong foods for your body, or too many processed foods), emotional stress, too much work and not enough sleep and environmental toxins have a hugely negative effect on your hormone balance.  I refer a lot in this blog to reducing your toxic load by following a more natural way of life.  I have decided to elaborate on this and other ways to get and stay healthy in a free 30-page e-book available when you subscribe to my newsletter.  Look out for the launch of this on my Facebook page in the next few weeks!

The final thing I recommend to keep hormonal imbalances from wreaking havoc is a Liver Detox with Lemon Essential Oil.  The liver regulates the sex hormones, primarily estrogen.

A Dutch study has found that the compounds in lemon peels, a large component of doTERRA’s lemon essential oil, improve liver functions like hormone regulation by lowering liver cholesterol.  You can add 1-5 drops of lemon essential oil to a glass of 250ml water each morning and drink before you eat or drink anything else. I do this for blocks of 6-12 weeks when I feel my body needs it.

You can also buy my beautifully delicate blend of Evening Primrose Oil and doTERRA Balance, Frankincense, Geranium, Clary Sage and Lavender in a rollerball for $10.

I add Balance to the oils I recommend above because it contains Blue Chamomile, Ho Wood and Frankincense to support with stress, quiet the mind and uplift mood, but also Spruce that has a hormone mimicking action that helps reestablish balance, especially in the pituitary, thyroid, adrenal and reproductive glands. You can apply to the t-zone on your face and rub in like a moisturiser nightly, apply directly to hormonal breakouts or use on the soles of your feet/ankles daily to support hormonal balance. Contact me to order yours now.

Oils can also be ordered in these handy packs of 4 mini bottles in a beautiful purple or black carry case that you can take out and about with you for use when you need to.  $60 with your choice of 4 oils.

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Please note, what works for one person may not work for another and my experience/products should not replace advice from a doctor.

Much love x x

How Essential Oils Can Boost Your Weight Loss

ClareWilliamson Leave a comment

Today I am chugging away on my Slim & Sassy essential oil blend after food cravings got the better of me yesterday!  It made me wonder if people actually know how helpful essential oils are when it comes to a weight loss/fitness journey, so I thought I’d share some facts!

As you may or may not know, I coach TERRAfit challenges.  I also take part in them when I have my own personal goals to meet.  At the moment I am training towards my next muay thai fight.  My essential oils and doTERRA products are a big part of why/how I succeed. Now I am back into my muay thai training they are making a big difference there too.

Essential oils are a catalyst that can help you reach your goals faster and boost the effectiveness of your efforts.

A key reason for this is digestion.

Digestion is paramount to your health and maintaining a healthy weight. A healthy digestive system allows the proper nutrient absorption needed for overall health. The blend that I am drinking today, Slim & Sassy contains Grapefruit Peel, Lemon Peel, Peppermint Plant, Ginger Root, and Cinnamon Bark essential oils that help promote digestive health, but also healthy metabolism, help manage hunger cravings, calm your stomach and lift your mood!  Slim & Sassy is also a diuretic, stimulant, and is calorie free.

Maintaining healthy insulin and sugar levels is imperative to weight management. Eating healthy, nutritionally dense foods along with using essential oils like cinnamon and grapefruit will increase your chances of maintaining healthy weight loss.

Another thing that I know influences my eating and weight patterns are hormones!  I am in the process of writing a whole blog about essential oils and hormonal balance, but for now let it be said, essential oils can be amazing for healthy hormonal balance!

Hormones assist just about every function in the body. Hormonal imbalances dramatically affect weight management. Essential oils are uniquely intelligent and work with hormones for cellular communication.

Check out this video and blog from Dr Axe about his top 3 essential oils to balance hormones naturally.

The other essential oils that I generally use with my Slim & Sassy are Lemon, Wild Orange and Frankincense.  These detoxify and boost energy levels significantly and the citrus oils and frankincense in particular support healthy adrenal function as well, which is really important for me, as I am currently battling adrenal fatigue. Basil, coriander and geranium are also helpful for adrenal health.

It has been suggested that a major reason we hold onto weight is because of toxicity. Many of the doTERRA products I sell are aimed helping us reduce our “toxic load”.  We encounter toxins daily and the organs that help to filter toxins are overloaded. Toxins accumulate in our fat cells and until we can eliminate the toxins the fat cells are there to stay, so use your lemon oil every day for a period of time, along with clean eating and exercise to detoxify.  You will also get gloriously soft skin.

Next, circulation is important to increasing tone and shedding excess fat.   Essential oils that help with circulation are cypress, basil, rosemary, cinnamon, peppermint, lemongrass and frankincense. You can apply the oils before, during and after workouts.

The final two areas in which essential oils can be really helpful are respiratory function and endurance.  Your muscles need oxygen to repair themselves after exercise.  They will repair faster with essential oils.  Blends like Breathe improve your respiratory function and peppermint oil is being studied with athletes for its effectiveness at increasing endurance levels, with positive results. I have a fellow kickboxer trialing peppermint essential oil at the moment, so watch this space for her feedback!

If you want a one-to-one chat about how essential oils might be able to support your weight loss and/or fitness, drop me an email to nzessentialmum@gmail.com.  I can also share more info about the TERRAfit challenges!  You can buy essential oils and the Slim & Sassy Product Line at my retail shop.  Click here.

slim & sassy range

Much Love until next time x x

Essential Mum

 

Common Myth that Essential Oils are Expensive BUSTED!

ClareWilliamson Leave a comment

Yes, good quality, pure essential oils will cost you money outright (read about why here), but all the other stuff you are buying when you could be buying essential oils is more expensive in the long run!

The quality of the essential oils you use and thus their potency, means that the quantity you use each time is MINIMAL.

I’ll give you an example.  My 19 week old baby came down with a cold yesterday.  In addition to breastmilk and some vitamin c, I used 1 drop of Melaleuca (0.01c/drop*), 1 drop of Lemon (0.07c/drop*) and 1 drop of Frankincense (0.46c/drop*) in 3 tablespoons of fractionated oil ($1.50) in a roller bottle ($1.45) that is probably going to last me 6 months (and cost me $3.49).  Let’s call this List 1.

Let’s compare that to what I would have spent at the pharmacy, pre-essential oils…  This is List 2!

Nasal Aspirator to suck out the snot – NZ$24.95

Vicks – NZ$12.50 – to clear her airways

Pamol – $12 – to relieve her pain and help her settle.

Total – $49.45

Now let’s look at why you might want to be avoiding those things in List 2…

  • The nasal aspirator:  Look how delicate your baby is on the outside.  I don’t even want to hazard a guess at how delicate they are on the inside, especially in places like the nasal lining.  Plus, my daughter always found nasal aspiration traumatising!
  • Vicks VapoRub:  I could write an essay on why I wouldn’t put this on my babies’ skins, even with a barge pole!  I won’t.  I will let you do your own research.  Have a look at the recommendations about dose and age first off.  Firstly, many parents don’t realize that most doctors do not recommend the use of Vicks for children under 2. One reason is because it contains camphor, which is linked to causing seizures.  Also, swallowing just a few teaspoons of camphor (we all know what toddlers are like) — one of the main ingredients in VapoRub — can cause fatal poisoning in toddlers. Topical camphor absorbed through mucous membranes or broken skin also can be toxic and another study found the ointment to cause inflammation in young children, as well as increase mucus!  Next just have a wee investigation into the ingredients, which are seemingly natural on the surface.  However, there are some worrying reports around some of the ingredients, like petrolatum (Petrolatum Health Report):  “Among the studies linking the petrolatum impurity PAHs [polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons] to breast cancer is a Columbia University study in which researchers found that the breast tissue of women with breast cancer was 2.6 times more likely to contain elevated levels of PAHs bound to DNA (called DNA adducts) than the breast tissue of women without breast cancer (Rundle et al. 2000). Serious questions need to be answered over the safety of petrolatum or petroleum jelly as it is more commonly known.”  Skin Deep Report on Petrolatum (from the Environmental Working Group’s website):  “Breast cancer and impurities. EWG’s [Environmental Working Group’s] assessment of product ingredient labels and data on cancer-causing chemicals identified three common impurities in personal care products that are linked to mammary tumors in animal studies — ethylene oxide, PAHs [polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons], and 1,3-butadiene. The ingredients for which these impurities are of concern are used in one of every four personal care products on the market.”  Finally, check out this groovy fact!  “Some of the ingredients in Vicks, notably the menthol, trick the brain into thinking that it is easier to breathe by triggering a cold sensation, which is processed as indicating more airflow,” he said. “Vicks may make you feel better but it can’t help you breathe better”(CBS).“”This may be of little physiologic consequence in older children and adults, but in infants and small children, this potentially can lead to respiratory distress,” the study’s authors concluded” (CBS). 
  • Pamol:  Again, I could write an essay and it’s a topic that gets peoples’ backs up so I won’t!  But, I will say to once again look at the ingredients (if you can find a full ingredients list.  Google it.  It’s hard to find info outside of the active ingredient, but basically Pamol contains e-numbers and an artificial sweetener that may act as a possible carcinogen and needs to be further investigated for its potential effect on an increase in the incidence of cancer.)  Also, paracetomol is hugely liver toxic, even in adults and is the number 1 cause of liver failure in the UK, and the number 2 cause in the US (of cases requiring liver transplantation).  It is more common than viral hepatitis leading to acute (sudden) liver failure.  So, in small children, an accidental overdose can lead to liver failure.  Accidental overdose is easier than you think when you look at how many combination products include paracetomol, including over the counter cough syrups, Nyquil, pain formulas and more.

So finally, let’s look at the benefits of going with List 1 and the multitude of other things you can use these powerful essential oils for, increasing your bang for your buck!

  • Lemon Essential Oil is great for the respiratory system, but will also boost your energy and clean your whole house!
  • Tea Tree Essential Oil (Melaleuca) has antibacterial, antimicrobial, antiseptic and antiviral properties, so will fight those bugs and has been used for centuries to soothe and help heal damaged skin. It has antibacterial, antiseptic, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory properties, so is great in the cleaning and first aid box too!
  • Frankincense Essential Oil is a must for physical and emotional wellbeing.  It increases ability to focus, grounds, de-stresses and calms the nervous system.  It supports the respiratory tract and can support the body’s ability to keep existing cells and tissues healthy and promote healthy cell regeneration.  It is also an astringent to strengthen gums and hair roots, stop wounds from bleeding and speed up the healing of cuts, acne, insect bites, and boils!  Pure Frankincense is very gentle; even more so than Lavender. It has no known adverse effects yet it’s an essential oil that stands out above all others for it’s regenerative properties on a cellular level. Frankincense has antiseptic, antibacterial, stimulating, analgesic (weak, but better than pamol for me anyway), and expectorant properties.

“But I wouldn’t know where to start using my oils to get my value for money!”

If these were the words on the tip of your tongue and I just beat you to saying them, don’t fret!  If you buy from me you get all the support you need and more.  I have a newsletter, blog and offer one-to-one support.  For example, read my recent (and timely) blog post here about the oils that I recommend for colds and flus.

Have I got your attention yet?

Essential Oils will save you money and improve your health.

If you want to give them a try and are a mum, like me, you need to get your hands on this starter kit of 10 essential oils in 5ml bottles that you will use every day! Screen Shot 2015-01-13 at 3.23.23 PM

The FAMILY PHYSICIAN KIT includes:

– Lavender: For sleeping, calming, sunburns, bites, anxiety, PMS, inflammation and more!

– Peppermint: For headaches, IBS, cold + flu, memory, athletic performance and more!

– On Guard: To protect against sickness, get over cold/flu quicker and cleaning

– Breathe: For asthma, croup (amazing for this), coughs/colds, snoring

– Lemon: For sore throats, energy, wellness, heartburn, cleaning and more!

– Melaleuca: For spots, flakey scalp, healing skin issues, allergies, first aid, cleaning and more!

– Oregano: For infections, allergies, pneumonia, warts and more

– Frankincense: Where do I start?  It’s liquid gold.  Read my blog post here!

– Deep blue: For aches, pains, injuries

– Digest Zen: For tummy aches, gas, bloating, any stomach issues

– On Guard and Peppermint beadlets – same uses as above but for on the go

– A 1 year membership with doTERRA to get your essential oils and other wellness products at a 25% discount*

* If you are interested in getting started with oils without a kit like this, but with this awesome discount, you can do so by signing up for your wholesale account here.  You just have to pay the US$35 membership fee, which is waived with a starter kit.

Click “wholesale prices”, enter your information and either build your first order by selecting Introductory Packet or collect your custom kit! The best value is to either buy the family physician kit or the family wellness kit. Both of these include major discounts on the oils and your US$35 wholesale membership fee is FREE.

** ALSO, if you sign up by April 30th 2016 with a kit, you will get a FREE ROSEMARY ESSENTIAL OIL  to fight those winter bugs!

Please comment below with questions or feel free to email me at nzessentialmum@gmail.com. 

Much love x x

10 Must Haves to Survive & Thrive this Winter!

ClareWilliamson 3 Comments

1. Lavender Essential Oil

Great for the whole family and a multitude of uses Lavender essential oil has powerful antimicrobial properties, but it is gentle enough for use with children.  So this should be a go to for our littlies to fight illness and boost the immune system.  If your littlie is struggling to get to sleep at night because of feeling yucky, place 2 drops of lavender essential oil and 2 drops of roman chamomile essential oil in the diffuser and run at 18 minute intervals through the night.

2. Lemon Essential Oil

Lemon essential oil is great for the respiratory system, but will also boost energy when that fatigue of fighting illness sets in.  Diffuse 3 drops of lemon with 3 drops of peppermint for relief with a boost.

3. Peppermint Essential Oil

As well as clearing your nasal passages like a gush of arctic air, peppermint essential oil is an immune stimulant.   Immune stimulants can strengthen the immune system by directly inhibiting the micro-organisms, or by stimulating the immune system. Lavender and lemon also work in the same way.   Peppermint can also lower a fever if you want/need to do this.  Dilute in a carrier oil and apply to the feet.  Or inhale from the bottle to clear your nose.  Avoid using with children under 6 years old.

4. Tea Tree Essential Oil

Tea Tree Oil (Melaleuca) has antibacterial, antimicrobial, antiseptic and antiviral properties. Used in a diffuser or within a carrier oil in the bath, tea tree oil is a great alternative for littlies under 6 to help fight the congestion and the resulting discomfort caused by the cold or the flu.

5. Oregano Essential Oil

Known as “nature’s antibiotic” this is a “hot” and powerful essential oil that must be diluted and used with care.  It will work to rid your body of the nasties making you feel unwell.  I use this as my last resort if other remedies haven’t worked because like an antibiotic it can affect your gut flora, although certainly not so badly as a pharmaceutical antibiotic and you only want to be using it for a few days.  Take 3-4 drops 2-3 times daily for up to 3 days.  I place in a capsule with Frankincense, Melaleuca, Lemon and On Guard (read more on this magical blend next!)

6.  On Guard Essential Oil

on guard meme

I love this blend of oils.  It is known as doTERRA’s Protective Blend because the mix of oils strengthen the immune system and work with each other to create a powerful blend gentle enough for your kids.

When I feel any illness coming on, when I notice symptoms in my girls or if there is lots of illness around I start applying On Guard to the soles of the feet in a carrier oil.  If this doesn’t work I go to the Frankincense, Melaleuca, Lemon and On Guard mix in a capsule 3 times a day (without the oregano) and then the oregano is my final step if this still doesn’t work.  Believe me, if you get onto using On Guard fast enough, 9 times out of 10 it will work!  doTERRA also do this blend as a handy (excuse the pun) foaming handwash to kill germs, a cleaner concentrate, a toothpaste and beadlets for on the go!

7. Frankincense Essential Oil

I’ve already mentioned use of Frankincense as part of my capsule mix when illness hits.  This is because Frankincense supports the respiratory tract and calms the mind while the immune system fights viruses.

Pure Frankincense is very gentle; even more so than Lavender. It has no known adverse effects yet it’s an essential oil that stands out above all others for it’s regenerative properties on a cellular level. Frankincense has antiseptic, antibacterial, stimulating, analgesic (weak), and expectorant properties, so is great to calm a cough.

For children under 6, Lavender & Frankincense  together, on bottoms of feet or along the spine is a also a great mix to keep a child calm and relaxed during illness and discomfort.

8. Deep Blue Essential Oil

You know those aches and pains you get with the flu?  Well, long and short is you won’t with this blend.  Unfortunately the Deep Blue blend should be avoided when pregnant or breastfeeding, which is a shame as there are many aches and pains associated with these conditions too!  Also avoid using with children under 6.

9. Breathe Essential Oil

Another amazing proprietary blend from doTERRA.  Breathe includes Lemon, Peppermint, Eucalyptus, Thyme, Melissa, and Cardamom and will help to maintains clear airways and support breathing when congestion hits and support overall respiratory health.

10. Digestzen Essential Oil

Flus don’t just hit your respiratory system.  When you or the children get the dreaded stomach flu it can really suck!  (And we don’t need any more detail than that …)

In partnership with On Guard to kill germs, rub the DigestZen blend (already diluted in coconut oil) on the abdomen.  It’s a blend of ginger, peppermint, tarragon, fennel, caraway, coriander and anise, each with properties specifically aimed at stomach/digestive upset.

Where to Buy Your Essential Oils to Stock up your Natural Medicine Cabinet for Winter!

This is one of the most vital things you must know about essential oils… Not all essential oils are created equally. Many are filled with chemical nasties and will not work therapeutically at all, so when buying, make sure you are buying therapeutic grade from a reputable supplier. If you want to order from the doTERRA range click here.  If you want to read about you can get hold of these oils at a huge discount by ordering them as part of a kit, click here.  As always, if you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me!

Have I missed anything?  Do you have an essential oil or other natural medicine recommendation for cold and flu?  If so, comment below!

Much love x x