"Back to Basics" - Top Ten doTERRA Oil Blends - Past Tense (Headache Relief)

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

Past Tense (Headache Relief) Blend

Whether it is caused by congestion or a hangover, headaches can be debilitating. The pain and tension associated with headaches can be relieved with this amazing blend of oils which includes wintergreen, lavender, peppermint, frankincense, cilantro, roman chamomile, majoram, and basil.

- Wintergreen, Lavender, Roman Chamomile, and Peppermint have antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory properties and can ease bone and muscle pain.

- Frankincense (the king of oils) has sedative properties and it often used to reduce inflammation and relieve headaches.

- Cilantro stimulates circulation and eases muscle aches and pains through its anti-inflammatory properties.

Simply apply to your temples, forehead, and back of neck.

Link:
doTERRA Product Page: Past Tense
Buy Past Tense here

"Back to Basics" - Top Ten doTERRA Oil Blends - Elevation

Today is day 17 of my "Back to Basics" series and the fourth and final post on doTERRA's mood oils.



Elevation (Joyful) Blend

Ever have a "blah" day? Who doesn't?! Elevation, also known as the Joyful blend, can take your mood from blah and to vibrant in no time! This blend contains Lavandin, Lavender, Hawaiian Sandlewood, Tangerine, Melissa, Ylang Ylang, Elemi, Osmanthis, and Lemon Myrtle. It has a floral, sweet, and citrus aroma that is uniquely blended to elevate you mood, increase vitality, and provide an energizing fragrance.

The most common way that I use this oil is in a diffuser. It completely changes the ambiance of the room and truly uplifts our moods. Mornings are hectic around here and not everyone wakes up in the best of moods, but when I diffuse this in the kitchen or living room first thing in the morning we can create a positive environment and lessen the feelings of stress. I also carry a roller bottle that contains the blend and fractionated coconut oil so that I can manipulate my mood throughout the day as needed. I will apply it to my temples, wrists, and/or over my heart to elevate my mood. This is my favorite destressing oil blend!

This blend can be used aromatically and topically, but NEVER internally. It can also be applied beat, but may need to be diluted for individuals with sensitive skin. This blend contains oils that are sensitive to UV rays. See disclaimer below.

Links:
doTERRA Product Page: Elevation
doTERRA Blog Article: Make Over Your Mood with doTERRA Essential Oils
Buy Elevation here

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. Avoid sunlight or UV rays for up to 12 hours after applying product.

"Back to Basics" - Top Ten doTERRA Oil Blends - Serenity

Today is day 15 of my "Back to Basics" series and the second post highlighting doTERRA's mood oils.

Serenity (Calming) Blend

We live in a GO, GO, GO kind of world and even when we have a few minutes to relax and unwind it seems impossible to really relax. Serenity is a blend that contains many different oils that all promote relaxation and peace. These oils include lavender, sweet marjoram, roman chamomile, ylang ylang, hawaiian sandlewood, and vanilla. Together they work to create a calming fragrance, promote relaxation and restful sleep, and less tension. Again, to learn about how to make over your mood with essential oils, read the article posted below.

I use this oil every night in my diffuser (along with Breathe). The aromatic properties help me to relax and de-stress before drifting off to sleep. Lavender is the most abundant oil in this blend and therefore also helps to relieve anxious feelings, which makes it a great blend to use before bed. I also apply it to the bottoms of my feet to help promote sleep. Lastly, it is great to add to a warm bath (recipe for serenity bath salts below).

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

Links:

doTERRA Product Page: Serenity

doTERRA Blog: Soak Your Stress Away With Serenity Moisturizing Bath Salt
doTERRA Blog: Make Over Your Mood With Essential Oils
Buy Serenity here

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. 

"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. 

"Back to Basics" - Top Ten Single Oils - Vetiver

This is day 8 of my "Back to Basics" series.



Vetiver

Vetiver is extracted from the root of Vetiveria zizanioides (a tall perennial grass) through the hydro diffusion extraction method. This grass is indigenous to Southeast Asia, but thrives in hot, humid environments. doTERRA sources their plants from the tropical climate of Haiti. The main chemical components of vetiver oil are Carvone, Isovalencenol, and Khusimol, which gives this oil a woodsy and smoky aroma. Like most woodsy oils, vetiver provides a calming and grounding effect on emotions.

Vetiver is commonly used as a massage oil or in a bath to calm emotions and in perfumes. My favorite way to use vetiver is in combination with lavender in my diffuser at night to reduce stress and anxiety and calm my emotions.

Vetiveria zizanioides root

Links:
doTERRA Product Page: Vetiver
Buy vetiver here

Research:

Filippi, J. J., Belhassen, E., Baldovini, N., Brevard, H., & Meierhenrich, U. J. (2013). Qualitative and quantitative analysis of vetiver essential oils by comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography and comprehensive two-dimensional has chromatography/mass spectrometry. Journal of Chromatography A, 1288, 127 - 148. doi:10.1016/j.chroma.2013.03.002

Mallavarapu, G. R., Syamasundar, K. V., Ramesh, S., Rajeswara Rao, B. R. (2012). Constituents of South Indian vetiver oils. Natural Product Communications, 7(2), 223 - 225. Retrieved from http://europepmc.org/abstract/med/22474964

La, R. K., Gupta, P., Sarkar, S., Singh, S. (2013). Genetic variability and character associations in vetiver (Vetiveria zizanioides L. Nash). Industrial Crops and Products, 49, 273 - 277. doi:10.1016/j.indcrop.2013.05.005

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.