Even though spring is on its way, it seems that there is some nasty, nasty junk going around. I count more than the fingers on my hands how many friends of mine are sick or their kids are sick, or both. And bad sick, like nasty sick. Every cold and flu season, my kids and I get the nasties. In fact, we seem to get it all year long. I always struggled with extremely bad respiratory sicknesses, ever since I was a child. One time a ND explained, it as because I am low on a certain antibody that specifically protects against infection that would cause sinus and respiratory infections. She also said that it was genetic, so I should watch to see if my children had the same issues. Well, long story short...I've been using another brand of essential oils for a couple years now, and me and my kids still seemed to get sick almost as often, if not the same amount as before. But there has been a change since I expanded my DoTerra Essential Oils usage, an enormous change that my extended family members have noticed. We aren't getting sick!! Every time the kids have started a cold, fever, sore throat, or stuffy nose, they've kicked it within a day or two. And then for me, my husband can't believe it. I started to get sick this past week, and I could feel it moving to my chest as it normally did, but within two days, no joke, it was gone completely. You have no idea how thankful I am, to have this gift from God, this tool in our hands. It may not be a magic portion and cure, but it is definitely an effective tool when used well. So below is the protocol I did with the kids and myself this past week... along with what the rest of our week looked like.
Well as soon as the goobers hit, I started us all on our elderberry syrup, garlic lemon drinks, immune boosting supplements, and started rubbing on the DoTerra oils. I started with OnGuard, Lemon, and Lavender diluted with coconut oil on their feet and behind their ears, and also diffused the mixture. Both older kids came away with no sickness from the week (which is great because our upstairs neighbors and their kids had horrible respiratory colds for over a month and my kids are always with them). But the kids defeated it within a day. Myself, I came down with a really weak upper sinus cold, which cleared up within a couple days. Besides the hourly Onguard, Lemon, and Lavender, I also used Breathe on myself. But the redhead, oh the redhead. My little baby, she came down with the nasties this week. Being that she is still so little, I didn't give her anything, no oils, but my natural God-given gift of breastmilk; plus diffusing the essential oils in the air. But then pretty quickly near the beginning, I realized this was a tough bug, and I started rubbing very diluted Lavender on her feet and behind her ears, and then added Lemon. Also I would recommend Melaluca as well but didn't have any this past week. But that wasn't enough for her. After a few days, she started having enough of a hard time breathing at night and while nursing that if I was a first time mom, we would have been living at the ER. It was not quite croupish, but definitely sinus infection and chest infection.
So on top of that, we had another fun issue arise. I love my little redhead, and I have been oh so diligent to cover her up appropriately every time we stepped out into the sun or have gone to the beach. But just this past week,we decided to take a hike up Hualalai, volcano/hill behind Kona town. It was cloudy, misty, and rainy. Not sunburn weather. We were up the mountain, nowhere near the beach. And we were all wearing jackets, pants, and hoods. Sunscreen never entered my mind. Later that evening, we were all not so pleasantly blessed with bright red burned faces. My redhead got it the worst. She was lobster red from her nose to her hair line (all that had been exposed). By the next morning, she developed a blister that covered her entire nose, and some smaller ones on her cheeks. It then scabbed over and was slowly draining pus. I had the sense that everyone I came in contact with was wondering if I was a child abuser. Not fun!
Lavender is amazing for so much. And it is the healer of all things skin. At least one of the healers. It's a powerful little flower, and a powerful little oil (and smells oh so good).
I immediately started lathering my babes with coconut oil, aloe, and very diluted Lavender essential oil. For us and the two older kids, our sunburn cleared up without peeling within a day.
So that's been my week, and the essential oils that we were able to use effectively this last week. Looking forward to a brighter more sleep filled week this upcoming one.