Essential Oils and Children

+ Photo does not include all suggested oils

As a mother, I am always worried about my boys’ physical health and emotional development. My husband and I spent many sleepless nights struggling to remedy aliments with ineffective treatments. I wish that someone had talked to me about oils sooner. We experienced sleep issues, colic, diaper rash, reflux, baby acne, cradle cap, and hand, foot, mouth disease. Those are just the issues we dealt with in the infant stages. Like every kid, once they started going to daycare and school they were exposed to other bacteria, fungi, and viruses. As their immune systems adjusted to these new pathogens they got sick and I did not have effective forms of treatment available.

Physical health is not my only concern. Mental and emotional health are always in the front of my mind because mental health disorders run in my family. That is an extreme example of what parents have to deal with though. Every parent, regardless of genetics, deals with temper tantrums, sadness, emotional upset, hyperactivity, and stress with their kids.

The good news is, essential oils are versatile and very gentle and therefore, can be used on children of all ages. See dilution chart below for young children. My kids love using the oils and I take it as an opportunity to teach them about self-care. 

Here are some suggestions on oils that you can use on your kiddos. Also check out the doTERRA Science Blog post about kids and oils (link below).

Single Oils

-  Lavender: all things calming (most used oil for children), soothes skin irritations

- Wild Orange: calming/uplifting, digestive support, sedative

- Frankincense: supports brain, mood, and wound healing*, grounding, balance mood

- Roman Chamomile: supports sense of calm and relaxation, sedative, diffuses negative thoughts/moods*
- Melalueca: cleanses skin and nails

Blends

- Serenity (Calming Blend): supports sense of peace and calm, lessens feelings of tension

- Balance (Grounding Blend): supports feeling grounded and stable

- DigestZen (Digestive Blend): supports digestion and elimination

- OnGuard (Protective Blend): boosts immune system*, natural anti-oxidant*

- InTune (Focus Blend): supports optimal focus and concentration
- Breathe (Respiratory Blend): maintains feeling of clear airways, minimizes effects of seasonal threats

Supplements

-          a2z Children's Chewable: food based vitamins and minerals

-          IQ Mega: liquid omega-3 supplement flavor with orange essential oil

Usage Tips

Children love to explore and learn and are naturally curious. This is a great opportunity to involve them in your use of essential oil and have them help you make personalized roller bottles for them. Allow them to smell the oils to build a sense of safety and tell them what the oil is used for. You will create a love of oils for them too!

-          Aromatic: Use oils at bedtime with a diffuser or smell the oils directly from a bottle. Older kids can have roller bottles in their backpack that they can use during the day to help them maintain focus and concentration.

-          Topical: When topically using oil on younger children (infants and toddlers), you always want to dilute them with a carrier oil such as fractionated coconut or almond oil and massage on back, stomach, or feet. With older child, you can apply oils directly onto their skin (NEAT), but you want to limit it to one or two drops. If they have any kind of skin reaction, then dilute the oils as necessary. See chart below for dilution recommendations.

Links:
Learn about more uses for the oils here
doTERRA Science Blog Article: Essential Oils and Kids
Purchase Essential Oils here

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

"Back to Basics" - Top Ten Single Oils - Melaleuca (Tea Tree Oil)

Today is day four of my series "Back to Basics".



Melaleuca

Tea Tree oil (Melaleuca), also known as Melaleuca alternifolia, is extracted from the leaves of tea tree plants through steam distillation. These plants are native to Australia. The main chemical components of melaleuca are gamma terpinene and terpinen-4-ol, but this oil has over 90 different compounds which makes it one of the most versatile single oils. For centuries, Australians would crush the leaves and use the oils to clear respiratory ways and apply directly to the skin for a cooling effect.

terpinen-4-ol

gamma terpinene

Primarily, this oil's benefits include cleansing and soothing skin and nails*, promoting a healthy immune system*, and providing protection from environmental and seasonal threats*. Tea tree oil is best known for its antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties. Melaleuca is commonly used internally (in empty veggie capsules) to help support immune system function*, in facial cleansers to treat/prevent acne and soothe irritated skin*, on nails to treat fungal infections*, and in spray bottles for household cleaners.

In our home Melaleuca is our "first aid" oil. We use it as an antispetic for wounds by mixing one drop with a teaspoon to tablespoon of coconut oil and applying to the wound to prevent infection*. It is also well-known for its antifungal properties and we have used it to treat nail fungus*. My dad picked up a nail fungus while in the Middle East during the first Gulf War and we have used this and Oregano to help treat it*. We have also successfully treated pink eye (conjunctivitis) and ear infections with tea tree oil*.

Melaleuca can be used aromatically, topically, and internally and though it can be applied neat (no dilution) I recommend always diluting if you apply anywhere on your face. If you use essential oils on little kids, you should ALWAYS dilute.

tea tree branch

Links:
doTERRA Product Page: Melaleuca
doTERRA Product Video: Melaleuca
Buy Melaleuca here

Research:

Aroma Tools. (2015). Modern essentials: A contemporary guide to the therapeutic use of essential oils (7th ed.). Pleasant Grove, UT: AromaTools.

Keszei, A., Brubaker, C. L., Köllner, T., Degenhardt, J., & Foley, W. J. (2010). Functional and evolutionary relationships between terpene synthases from Australian Myrtaceae. Phytochemistry, 71(8), 844 - 852.doi:10.1016/j.phytochem.2010.03.013

Keszei, A., Hassan, Y., & Foley, W. J. (2010). A biochemical interpretation of terpene chemotypes in Melaleuca alternifolia. Journal of Chemical Ecology, 36(6), 652 - 661. doi:10.1007/s10886-010-9798-y

Kondoh, T., Yamada, S., Shioda, S., & Torii, K. (2005). Central olfactory pathway in response to olfactory stimulation in rats detected by magnetic resonance imaging.Chemical Senses, 2(30 Supplement 1), 172 173. doi:10.1093/chemse/bjh169

CAUTIONS: Possible skin sensitivity. Keep out of reach of children. If you are pregnant, nursing, or under a doctor’s care, consult your physician. Avoid contact with eyes, inner ears, and sensitive areas. 

* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.