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 doTERRA Oil Blends - Balance

This is day 14 of my "Back to Basics" series. The next four posts will highlight doTERRA's mood oils. 

Balance (Grounding) Blend

With advancements in technology, especially personal electronic devices, we are inundated with information and have created a new phenomenon called "The Fear of Missing Out". I think this has contributed to the increasing number of cases of anxiety and depression. A team from the America Journal for Public Health also recently published a study that found that the number of Americans taking anxiety medication tripled over the last 17 years and the number of overdoses has quadrupled (see article link below). It doesn't have to be that way.

Enters Balance, also known as the Grounding Blend. This blend contains spruce, ho wood, frankincense, blue tansy, and blue chamomile. The aroma of this blend promotes tranquility and relaxation and it is one of doTERRA's FOUR mood oils. Be sure to read doTERRA's article about how to manage your mood with essential oils.

Spruce: Grounding
Ho Wood: Ease Tension and Anxious Feelings
Blue Chamomile: Soothing and Relaxing
Blue Tansy (Moroccan Chamomile): Soothing and Relaxing
Frankincense: Balances Emotions

My favorite way to oil this oil is in a diffuser, but you can use it topically as well. Apply it to the bottoms of your feet in the morning to promote calmness throughout the day or apply it to your wrists when you feel anxious. I also have a "to-go" roller bottle of Balance and fractionated coconut oil that I apply to my wrists and neck when I feel anxious. 

This blend can be used aromatically and topically, but NEVER internally.

Links:

doTERRA Product Page: Balance

doTERRA Blog Article: Make Over Your Mood with doTERRA Essential Oils

Buy Balance and Fractionated Coconut Oil here

NBC News Article on anxiety study: Anxiety Drug Overdoses Have Quadrupled Over Last Two Decades, Study Shows

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.