It can be a real challenge keeping balanced and on track when someone you love is going through a painful time and you become the caregiver. It is a challenge for both the person in need of care and the caregiver. Essential oils can be very helpful in a variety of ways.

This is what my husband Mark and I have been going through lately. I have had to step into the role of caregiver. It’s not the norm for us at all. Mark usually does 90% of the cooking and 50% of the cleaning. He loves to cook and just don’t. 😉 I run 90% of our home business, he runs most of the household duties. Well, things have changed a bit over the past year but dramatically in the past couple of months. Mark has 3 bulging disks pressing on the nerve in his spine. It is VERY painful. Lately it is so bad he has been bedridden most days. He can get up for a few minutes but can’t take sitting or standing for very long. He has an appointment with a neurosurgeon next week. Hopefully some help soon.

I thought I would share a bit of all of this with you because you may have need of this information now or sometime in the future. Lots of things can happen to put someone in need of care, even young people.

Take Care of YOURSELF While You’re Taking Care of Others


It is a blessing that I am able to be working from home with Young Living Essential Oils. It allows me to take care of Mark but also have all kinds of oils and supplements that are helping support both of us through this stressful time.

Some days I need a little Clarity oil to get focused on things I need to to. I am running back and forth from my office to our bedroom to check on Mark and care for his needs, plus cooking, cleaning and doing laundry. Shifting back into a business mindset after being in caregiver mode can be a challenge. I used Young Living Clarity oil to get my mind focused on writing this article today. I love Clarity oil blend on normal days but really thankful I have it during this time.

Stress Away is an essential oil blend that is wonderful during times when things are going on. I find myself getting hyper when I have things to do and the interruptions keep coming. Just put some Stress Away on your hands and inhale deeply.

Lately I find myself using a LOT of Young Living Joy essential oil blend. Things have really changed for us. It makes me kind of sad when I see Mark suffering. Well, that’s an understatement. He can’t do the things he loves to do. He also feels discouraged about that. Joy is an oil that can help emotional support for both the one cared for and caregiver.

Sacred Mountain is another oil I find myself drawn to lately. When I use it I feel strong like a tree. Sacred Mountain is a blend of Ylang Ylang and conifer oils that promotes feelings of strength, empowerment, grounding, and protection when diffused. I diffuse it but I also wear it like a perfume. I love the smell.

Valor or Valor II – Use on the bottom of your feet to feel more balanced and confident as you go through the process of helping your loved one through this difficult time.

Harmony – Use on each of the energy center points of your body. There are seven of them along the body: tail bone/root, naval, solar plexus, heart, throat, third eye, and crown (top of head). Helps with balance.

Peace & Calming
– The name says it all. 😉

Sleep can be an issue when a person is caring for someone with a health issue. Sleeping next to Mark, I can hear the painful outcries in the night. It is really difficult to sleep knowing your loved one is suffering. The problem is, you need your sleep so you can have the energy to take care of them.

Lavender and Cedarwood are my favorites for relaxing before bed time. Other options are Roman Chamomile, Stress Away, Valerian, Tangerine, RutaVala and Peace & Calming.

DIY Relaxing Bath Salts
4 cups of Epsom Salts
12 drops of Lavender
6 drops Cedarwood
Glass Jar

Directions:
1. Pour Epsom Salts into the jar and drop essential oil on top of the salts.
2. Seal and Shake to blend well.
3. Add 1/2 to one cup of the salt mixture and add under warm running water.
3. Soak for 20-30 minutes.
3. Drink plenty of water after enjoying your relaxing soak.

DIY Bedtime Linen Spray

4 oz glass spray bottle
2 tablespoons witch hazel or vodka
6-10 drops lavender essential oil
6 tablespoons water

Directions
In the spray bottle, combine the witch hazel or vodka and the lavender essential oil. Place the top on tightly and shake well for 15-20 seconds to combine the oil and witch hazel or vodka. Then take the top off and add water so the the essential oil distributes into the water. Replace the top and shake well again. Spray a bit on your hand to test the smell. If you want the scent stronger, add a few more drops of essential oil.

Shake well and spray on linens or other fabrics as desired.

Night Time Body Lotion
1/2 cup shea butter
1/4 cup coconut oil
1/4 cup almond oil
10 drops lavender essential oil
10 drops Stress Away or Cedarwood
Melt Shea Butter and Coconut oil together. Then add almond oil. Cool until almost hardened. Whip with mixer while adding essential oils. Continue mixing until completely mixed. About 5 minutes.
Use before bed time.

When caring for someone, you sometimes can find that you have worked a little too hard and need a little soothing for those tired muscles.

Muscle Roll On
20 drops Wintergreen
20 drops Copaiba
20 drops Peppermint
Mix in 10 ml roller bottle fill to top with coconut oil.

Soothing Relief Recipe 1
10 drops basil
8 drops wintergreen
6 drops cypress
3 drops peppermint

Rub oil blend neat on location. Mix with V-6 Mixing Oil or or Base Recipe below.

Soothing Relief Recipe 2
3 drops lavender
4 drops cypress
3 drops wintergreen
4 drops marjoram
5-6 drops Roman chamomile
4 drops peppermint

Rub oil blend neat on location. Mix with V-6 Mixing Oil or Base Recipe below.

Base Recipe:
1/4 cup coconut oil
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
Beeswax, Shea Butter, or combination of the two:
SOFT: Use 2 Tbsp Beeswax per 1/2 CUP of oil mixture
FIRM: Use 4 Tbsp Beeswax per 1/2 CUP of oil mixture
EXTRA-FIRM: Use 6 Tbsp Beeswax per 1/2 CUP of oil mixture
HARD: Use 8 Tbsp Beeswax per 1/2 CUP of oil mixture

SOFT – This is a good one if you are wanting something closer to a lotion.
FIRM – A little more firmness.
X-TRA FIRM – this version would be a good choice for a foot or elbow balm.
HARD – Good for a lip balm or deodorant.

DIRECTIONS
Place coconut oil, extra-virgin olive oil and beeswax and shea butter in small glass jar. Place jar into pan and fill with approximately 2-inches of water. Heat over medium-heat, stirring mixture in jar until everything is melted. Remove pan from heat. Using a clean kitchen towel or wash cloth, carefully remove jar from pan and place on cutting board to cool. While cooling stir with knife to make sure contents stay well mixed.
Before adding your choice of essential oils, let the mixture cool a little but not too much. Letting the mixture cool helps to preserve and protect the delicate chemical constituents in the essential oils. You can speed the process by gently stirring with a clean knife. Add the essential oils while stirring and mixture is just starting to turn opaque and beginning to harden.

Supplements to support balance: Super Cal, Super B, Mineral Essence, OmegaGize, NingXia Red, NingXia Nitro, NingXia Zyng

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Young Living Lavender Oil
Lavender is often called the “Swiss Army Knife of Oils.” I need to be clear, I am talking about Lavandula angustifolia, sometimes called Lavandula officinalis.

Lavender is one of those oils that everyone should have on hand. If you have some issue that you wonder what oil to use, it’s a good bet lavender will be helpful.

Lavender is very soothing to the skin. It is wonderful added to aloe vera on those days when you are getting a little too much fun in the sun.

Make sure you are using true Lavandula angustifolia and not one that has been extended with a hybrid lavender like lavandin or a synthetic linalool and linalyl acetate. Many companies use things to extend the oil and thus make more profit. For example: Lavandin is commonly used to extend lavender. Lavandin is a hybrid that has 5-12% camphor as one of its constituents. Camphor is irritating to the skin.

Note: France is the number one producer of lavender oil. They export more than 100 times more lavender essential oil than they distill. Think about that. That means that there is a whole LOT of adulterated lavender oil being exported.

It is very important that you know where your lavender came from and that it is true Lavandula angustifolia. I only use lavender oil from Young Living Essential Oils. I know how much attention to the highest quality essential oils they have. I have also visited Young Living Farms on many occasions, seen the lavender fields and the oils being distilled.

Lavender is one of the mildest oils and can be used for children and the elderly. It is one of the oils that can be used undiluted, that is, if you are using authentic unadulterated lavender oil.

Lavender is very relaxing and is wonderful to wind down in the evening before bed time. I love to use lavender along with cedarwood at bed time. Layer a few drops of each, lavender and cedarwood essential oil, on the bottom of your
feet then inhale the oil from your hands cupped over your nose. You will love how relaxing it is.

Whenever I travel I use Young Living Lavender Vitality Essential Oil in chamomile tea before bed time. I make a cup of chamomile tea then add 2 or 3 drops lavender to the tea. Sometimes I take several drops of lavender in a capsule. I usually don’t sleep very well in hotel rooms. I guess I’m just used to my own bed. The tea helps me wind down and relax before bed time.

Diffuse lavender essential oil for a comforting and calming scent. Unwind by adding a few drops to a nighttime bath.
Diffuse for a fresh, clean scent and to eliminate odors. Lavender oil may complement some of your favorite shampoos, lotions, or skin care products. Just add a few drops for a wonderful lavender scent.

Have you ever had lavender lemonade? I had it for the first time at Young Living Farm. They have lemonade booths at the farm for Convention Farm Day.

Lavender Lemonade
Ingredients:
7 lemons, peeled and juiced
2 limes, peeled and juiced
14 c. water
1.5 c. Blue Agave
1 drop lavender oil

Mix all ingredients together and chill. Add more water or
Blue Agave, depending on size and tartness of the fruit.

Lavender Hair Detangler
From extreme rollercoasters to an afternoon on water skis, summer activities can tangle up your hair. Smooth out knots with this hair detangler!
Ingredients:
1/2 cup Lavender Volume Conditioner (or other Young Living conditioner)
1 1/8 cup hot (not boiling) distilled water
3 drops Royal Hawaiian Sandalwood
3 drops Cedarwood
3 drops Frankincense

Put conditioner into a 12-oz. spray bottle. Add distilled water and shake. Add essential oils and shake again. To use, spray on dry or damp hair, focusing on the ends.

Lavender Body Powder
Ingredients:
30 drops Lavender Essential Oil
4 net wt. ounces of Non-GMO Cornstarch
4 ounce Body Powder Sifter Container

Fill a large mixing bowl with Non-GMO Cornstarch. If you have skin that is oily, you may want to substitute up to 1/2 oz. White Kaolin Powder for the Cornstarch. White Kaolin is a particular clay that helps to absorb oil.
After you have located your powdered ingredients into the mixing bowl, add the Lavender Essential Oil. Mix thoroughly the essential oil into the powdered ingredients. Pour your Aromatherapy Body Powder in a Body Powder Sifter Container.

Lavender Foaming Hand Soap
Ingredients
2 tablespoons castile soap (preferably unscented)
1½ teaspoons vegetable glycerine
8 – 16 drops of Young Living Lavender Essential Oil
Instructions
Fill a 10-ounce foaming soap dispenser about 80% full with water. This doesn’t have to be exact. Add the castile soap and vegetable glycerine. Then, add your Young Living Lavender Essential Oil until you reach the desired aroma. Screw on the top, give your soap a good shake and enjoy!

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Getting ready to go to Young Living Convention and then onward for our summer vacation. Traveling and sleeping in hotels is usually a challenge for me. I sleep better in my own bed. I guess it is partly the excitement of travel, new things learned at the Young Living Convention and a bed I am not used to. I have a hard time getting settled down for a good night’s sleep.


lavender-tangerine-essential-oils
I have a special evening tea I like to drink in the evening while reading or watching a bit of TV before bedtime.


Travel Time Relaxing Tea
1 Celestial Seasonings Sleepytime Tea bag
2 drops Young Living Lavender Vitality Essential Oil
3 drops Young Living Tangerine Vitality Essential Oil


Steep tea bag in cup of hot water. Add Lavender and Tangerine essential oils. Enjoy with a good book.

road-trip
Well, it’s that time of year again. there is always a lot of travel in the summer. Essential oils are always with me whenever I travel. There are lots of oils that can be helpful when you are on the road.


Thieves and Melrose are two oils I like to have for rubbing on my feet. I always hate walking barefoot on hotel bathroom floors. Sometimes you just want to take your shoes off but who knows how clean the floors really are. I guess I am a little OCD about it because I also like to bring a spray bottle filled with Thieves Household Cleaner so I can spray down the floor, tub and toilet. Just to make sure. 😉


Other oils I carry when I travel:


DiGize – Add to a gel capsule. Add 2 drops DiGize and 1 drop Peppermint to water for a stimulating beverage. Use as a dietary supplement in water when traveling abroad.


Peppermint – Supports gastrointestinal system comfort. Promotes healthy bowel function. Maintains efficiency of the digestive tract. Supports normal digestion.


NingXia Nitro – Contains naturally occurring caffeine and Bioenergy’s D­-Ribose to increase athletic performance and endurance.
Boosts energy and provides a daily pick-­me-­up. Bioenergy D-Ribose supports physical performance and recovery and increases overall energy reserves.


Deep Relief – Formulated with Peppermint, Wintergreen, Copaiba, and Helichrysum. Use for massage after activity. Inhale for an invigorating and energizing scent. Keep on hand for use at the gym to apply during workout. Blended with Peppermint, Deep Relief has a cooling sensation when applied to the skin.
The relaxing scent and fresh, cooling sensation of Wintergreen essential oil found in Deep Relief makes it a great choice for applying to feet after a long day.

To relax in the evening I like to drink my Travel Relaxation Tea but I also make up a relaxation blend:


Sleepy Time Oils Blend
30 drops Young Living Lavender Essential Oil
30 drops Young Living Cedarwood Essential Oil
30 drops Young Living Tangerine Essential Oil

Mix in a glass oil bottle. I save old essential oil bottles for making my own oil blends. Drop a few drops in night time bath or rub on your feet.


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Summer is approaching and with it, lots of outdoor activities. Essential oils can be wonderful to support all kinds of fun in and out of the sun. Here are a few recipes to enhance your summer fun.
Young Living Summer Essential Oils
Great Outdoors Spray
In a 4 ounce glass spray bottle:
2 oz distilled water
2 oz Witch Hazel
Add essential oils:
10 drops citronella essential oil
10 drops peppermint essential oil
10 drops lavender essential oil

Or 30 drops Purification oil blend

Shake well and spray on as needed when enjoying the outdoors.


Pesky Working In The Garden Spray
10 drops peppermint essential oil
10 drops Young Living Purification essential oil
Add to 4 oz of water in glass spray bottle. Use with mister and spray over body. Shake well before use. Keep away from eyes.


Blend For Walkers, Joggers and Runners
5 drops rosemary essential oil
3 drops peppermint essential oil
4 drops lavender essential oil
Mix and rub on your feet.


Muscle Cream

10 drops Young Living PanAway
10 drops peppermint
2 Tablespoons coconut oil


Or
10 drops Young Living PanAway
10 drops peppermint
in a 10 ml roller bottle filled with carrier oil.



After-Sun Spray
1/2 cup distilled water
1/4 cup aloe vera gel
8 drops of Lavender essential oil
2 drops of Roman Chamomile essential oil
2 drops Geranium essential oil
Blend together and pour into a 12-16 ounce fine mist spray bottle. Spray skin if you have been over exposed to the sun. Do not get any in eyes.



Minty After-Sun Spray
25 drops lavender essential oil
3 drops peppermint essential oil
1 TBS Aloe Vera Gel
Add to 4 oz of water in glass spray bottle. Use with mister and spray over body. Shake well before use.
The peppermint is very cooling to the skin.



Moisturizing Hair Spritz
If your hair is dull or naturally dry, spritz this recipe over your hair throughout the day to keep it from looking dry, particularly if you are planning a day in the sun.
1 cup distilled water
10 drops Young Living Royal Hawaiian Sandalwood
10 drops Frankincense essential oil
8 drops Cedarwood essential oil
8 drops Ylang Ylang essential oil
1 tsp. V-6 Vegetable Oil Complex
Add all ingredients in a 12-oz. spray bottle. Shake well before spritzing over hair, avoiding the roots.



Hair Detangler
From extreme roller coasters to an afternoon on water skis, summer activities can tangle your hair. Smooth out knots with this hair detangler!

1/2 cup Lavender Volume Conditioner (or other Young Living conditioner)
1 1/8 cup hot (not boiling) distilled water
3 drops Royal Hawaiian Sandalwood essential oil
3 drops Cedarwood essential oil
3 drops Frankincense essential oil
Put conditioner into a 12-oz. spray bottle. Add distilled water and shake. Add essential oils and shake again. To use, spray on dry or damp hair, focusing on the ends.


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