Essential Oils! How have they helped you???

Birdy989

I'm addicted to essential oils -- I signed up with Young Living back last summer, and am a full blown addict now. LOL

I use oils all the time to help with running pain, relaxation, energizing/mood enhancement, etc. I have a few favorites I like to rub on my wrists and neck before working out. I also do add a few drops of lemon or grapefruit oil on occasion to my water.

But other than that, I don't use any oils specifically for weight loss. Has anyone tried any specific protocol, or found something that has helped them? What oils really helped you along your journey? My biggest concern lately seems to be water retention -- no idea why I'm retaining water more than usual, but I am. I'd love to know if anyone has used EOs to help combat that.

Thanks!

Sheseeksstrength

I have heard that grapefruit and lemon help with water retention.

usmcmp

I find it very concerning that you aren't diluting them before topical use and that you are ingesting them. Those are the first two things taught in naturopathy. No wonder so many legitimate essential oil shops hate this new crop of essential oil sellers, it's giving them a bad name through misuse of the oils.

ETA: Your water retention could very well stem from ingesting the oils. Switch to putting lemon, cucumber and peppermint in your water. Real foods, not the oils.

fbmandy55

I have a lot of friends who sell them, and went in with a very skeptic mind about these because they were part of a multi-level marketing type thing. Well I should have stuck to my gut. Dropped a ton of money on them and saw zero results from anything. I will say they may have pleasant aromatic scents but that's about it.

Have yet to find any scientific or medical proof that they work, so I'm still convinced that the people who use them are experiencing a placebo effect.

toadg53

I went to a Young Living round robin last Sunday. They had 14 tables set up with different oils. You spent 5 minutes at each table. A distributor explained each oil, uses, etc. It was so interesting. I'm going to order the starter kit. My friend and I were covered in different oils by the end of the afternoon. I sure slept well that night !!

triciab79

Hmm I heard the whole thing is a giant scam. Does anyone have some independent research that I can look at that shows that these products have any effects (non placebo) at all? I am always a bit skeptical of the latest miracle, especially when they cost an arm and a leg and have so many pyramid scheme like sales pitches.

higgins8283801

I looked into them, until I saw that both young living and doterra have been in trouble in the past for selling practices. no thank you.

TeaBea

I'm thinking scam...WebMD doesn't recommend ingesting them.

http://www.webmd.com/balance/stress-management/tc/aromatherapy-essential-oils-therapy-topic-overview

tulips_and_tea

I would not buy them through any type of distributor or MLM scheme, but I use a few oils that I buy from Walgreens (or a health food store like Vitamin Cottage).

I use lavender oil diluted in water and the add rubbing alcohol to a little spritzer and that is my homemade air freshener. I use a few drops of grapefruit or peppermint oil in safflower or grapeseed oil (again in a little spritzer) as a body lotion. It is pretty oily so I actually like to use this after my workout when I take a break in the sauna. And I use Tea Tree oil for a multitude of things. I put a couple drops in whatever lotion I'm using because it is great for my skin (but only a tiny bit). It works great to clear up a pimple or blemish. Just a tiny dab on a Qtip a couple times for a couple days and it is gone with no red mark left behind.

usmcmp

Here's some blogs from naturopaths that say not to use them internally and to dilute them when using externally. If you were not told those things when you bought them then they were only in it for the money.

http://naturopathicpediatrics.com/2014/09/08/essential-oil-safety-danger-essential-oils-seizures-children/

http://www.granolaliving.com/2012/07/why-we-dont-offer-doterra-young-living-or-other-multi-marketing-brands-of-essential-oils/

earlnabby

I play around with EO's, mostly for the scent rather than any pharmaceutical effect (I make my own lotions and potions including hair care stuff and candles). On the other hand, I really love my foot soak made with epsom salts. I add peppermint and rosemary EO's which give me a lift and eliminate any foot odor. I buy my oils from a retail/wholesale seller to soap makers called Camden Grey. Prices are much better and the quality is very high compared to these MLM sellers.
camdengrey.com/

NiqueKristan

Native American nutritionals is a wonderful reputable brand.

atypicalsmith

Everyone I know (and I know quite a few) who sells them says that you will die young and painfully if you don't use them. They all turned from nice people into maniacs wanting to shove essential oils down your throat. Essential Oils has ruined two perfectly good friendships for me, and promises to do more. I don't get it.

Alyssa_Is_LosingIt

These things are just another money-grubbing MLM scheme. They smell nice (well some of them stink, sorry) but that's it.

No real effects. If you want to use essential oils for the smellz, buying them cheaply at a health food store will suffice. You also probably shouldn't eat them.

Alyssa_Is_LosingIt

usmcmp wrote: »

I find it very concerning that you aren't diluting them before topical use and that you are ingesting them. Those are the first two things taught in naturopathy. No wonder so many legitimate essential oil shops hate this new crop of essential oil sellers, it's giving them a bad name through misuse of the oils.

ETA: Your water retention could very well stem from ingesting the oils. Switch to putting lemon, cucumber and peppermint in your water. Real foods, not the oils.

This, too^^

I have tons of friends on FB who have fallen for this crap and are constantly rubbing them with abandon all over their kids and ingesting them. It's ridiculous.

sullus

usmcmp wrote: »

I find it very concerning that you aren't diluting them before topical use and that you are ingesting them. Those are the first two things taught in naturopathy. No wonder so many legitimate essential oil shops hate this new crop of essential oil sellers, it's giving them a bad name through misuse of the oils.

ETA: Your water retention could very well stem from ingesting the oils. Switch to putting lemon, cucumber and peppermint in your water. Real foods, not the oils.

Yeah!! If you want to use them the homeopathic/naturopathic way, you have to keep diluting them until there's no measurable amount left in the solution. The oil does nothing, but essence of oil is miraculous. pfffft. amateur.

teephil

I love you guys!

charliesangel13

I use Lavender (mixed with a carrier oil of course) to help sleep. I mix lavender and frankincense with coconut oil(as a carrier) to use as a moisturizer on my face. Prior to that I was just using coconut oil on my face. The EO gives it a nice fragrance plus clears up any blemishes pretty quickly. I don't sell anything and I don't buy from sellers. I pick them up at my local health food store. I love the NOW brand. Most of them are 100% oil and you can read lots of reviews on amazon in regards to quality. NOW also offers organic oils in some of the them.

I also make homemade cleaners with the lemon and lemon grass.

I use them to replace everyday toxic products, I guess you could say.

usmcmp

sullus wrote: »

usmcmp wrote: »

I find it very concerning that you aren't diluting them before topical use and that you are ingesting them. Those are the first two things taught in naturopathy. No wonder so many legitimate essential oil shops hate this new crop of essential oil sellers, it's giving them a bad name through misuse of the oils.

ETA: Your water retention could very well stem from ingesting the oils. Switch to putting lemon, cucumber and peppermint in your water. Real foods, not the oils.

Yeah!! If you want to use them the homeopathic/naturopathic way, you have to keep diluting them until there's no measurable amount left in the solution. The oil does nothing, but essence of oil is miraculous. pfffft. amateur.

That's not what I meant. A drop of oil is concentrated. It has to be diluted. Sort of like how you shouldn't eat the contents in a bag of tea, but you soak it in water until it is an appropriate dilution of the substance in the bag. If you leave the bag in the water too long the tea will be too strong. If you don't dilute the oils they could do more harm than good.

*I do not believe in using essential oils, but if I were to rant against their use entirely I would be ignored. I can at least advocate not using them in a potentially harmful manner.

Birdy989

People, you don't need to reply that it's a scam -- that's not what I was asking. I've had first hand experience with them helping me with depression, cluster headaches and really bad PMS. Plus, I have close friends who have seen them help kids with night terrors, ADD, and one gal who is recovering from PTSD thinks they're the biggest blessing that has ever dropped into her lap. If you don't like them, then you don't have to use them. They gave me my life back this winter when I usually spend my winters with Seasonal Affective Disorder, gaining 15 lbs and hibernating under a blanket. Instead, I've become a runner and ran several 5Ks on my treadmill and just ran 5 miles for the first time last week. Usually by this time every year, I'm smoking forbidden cigarettes and in tears because of the depression I feel from the weight I gained over the winter. I'm comfortable ingesting certain oils, and am even more comfortable with the MLM platform of this company. So please... if you have negative things to say, keep that to yourself. I wasn't asking what hasn't worked for you. I'm curious to know what HAS worked. Thanks!

punkuate

If you believe the oils are why you've seen positive results, who are we to tell you otherwise?

Birdy989

Charlie's Angel, I use Frankincense on my face with a carrier oil, too. OMG, it's heaven! My sunspots have lightened considerably, and my tone is no longer red and ruddy. For the first time in a long time, I have beautiful skin. Plus I'm in love with the way it smells! I also use them to replace every day cleaners and chemicals. Thanks!

usmcmp

Birdy989 wrote: »

People, you don't need to reply that it's a scam -- that's not what I was asking. I've had first hand experience with them helping me with depression, cluster headaches and really bad PMS. Plus, I have close friends who have seen them help kids with night terrors, ADD, and one gal who is recovering from PTSD thinks they're the biggest blessing that has ever dropped into her lap. If you don't like them, then you don't have to use them. They gave me my life back this winter when I usually spend my winters with Seasonal Affective Disorder, gaining 15 lbs and hibernating under a blanket. Instead, I've become a runner and ran several 5Ks on my treadmill and just ran 5 miles for the first time last week. Usually by this time every year, I'm smoking forbidden cigarettes and in tears because of the depression I feel from the weight I gained over the winter. I'm comfortable ingesting certain oils, and am even more comfortable with the MLM platform of this company. So please... if you have negative things to say, keep that to yourself. I wasn't asking what hasn't worked for you. I'm curious to know what HAS worked. Thanks!

You should not be ingesting the oils. Please go read the links I shared above. It's not just opinion, it could be causing harm.

Also, unfortunately you posted on a public forum and people can respond even if they only have something negative to say. You don't get to choose who responds.

Birdy989

usmcmp wrote: »

I find it very concerning that you aren't diluting them before topical use and that you are ingesting them. Those are the first two things taught in naturopathy. No wonder so many legitimate essential oil shops hate this new crop of essential oil sellers, it's giving them a bad name through misuse of the oils.

ETA: Your water retention could very well stem from ingesting the oils. Switch to putting lemon, cucumber and peppermint in your water. Real foods, not the oils.

Honestly, I'll tell you truthfully. You know what was concerning? Really concerning? The incredibly awful symptoms I had from ingesting MSG and flavor inhancers. They really messed up my heart! I'd lay there awake at night feeling my heart race and think I was dying. Also, whenever I ate gluten, I'd get horrid stomach aches, and the worst brain fog ever. Same thing with sugar. Whenever I went on a sugar binge, I'd break out something fierce.

Oddly enough, the only thing I've experienced after applying straight essential oils and ingesting lemon and grapefruit oil is a super sense of well-being, uplifting joy, an incredible amount of energy, glowing skin and a clear-headed mind. I'm not sure what the side effects are of people who are angrily accusing us of not using oils the right way. No one that I know has ended up in the hospital from essential oils.

I appreciate your concern, tho. Thanks for posting...

Birdy989

earlnabby wrote: »

I play around with EO's, mostly for the scent rather than any pharmaceutical effect (I make my own lotions and potions including hair care stuff and candles). On the other hand, I really love my foot soak made with epsom salts. I add peppermint and rosemary EO's which give me a lift and eliminate any foot odor. I buy my oils from a retail/wholesale seller to soap makers called Camden Grey. Prices are much better and the quality is very high compared to these MLM sellers.
camdengrey.com/

Oh, yep! One of my all time favorite things is an epsom salt/baking soda bath with lavender and frankincense! It's sooo relaxing and wonderful for sore muscles. I just made some detangler for my hair, and a bed/mattress spray.

PeachyCarol

I can't believe the OP is ingesting the oils.

I oil cleanse my skin with a varying mix of oils, and use lavender oil to scent the mixture since two of the oils have a weird fragrance to me. I also mix my own cuticle oil and add the lavender oil to that for fragrance.

I buy these lavender sachet things for the dryer at TJ's and refresh them with the oil as well.

I've had more practical use for plain oils than essential oils, frankly.

earlnabby

Birdy989 wrote: »

earlnabby wrote: »

I play around with EO's, mostly for the scent rather than any pharmaceutical effect (I make my own lotions and potions including hair care stuff and candles). On the other hand, I really love my foot soak made with epsom salts. I add peppermint and rosemary EO's which give me a lift and eliminate any foot odor. I buy my oils from a retail/wholesale seller to soap makers called Camden Grey. Prices are much better and the quality is very high compared to these MLM sellers.
camdengrey.com/

Oh, yep! One of my all time favorite things is an epsom salt/baking soda bath with lavender and frankincense! It's sooo relaxing and wonderful for sore muscles. I just made some detangler for my hair, and a bed/mattress spray.

How do you make your detangler? I do one that is mostly cyclomethicone with a little dimethicone and argan oil. I currently use a FO that is a knock-off of Chanel 19 (the same scent I use in my conditioner).

(You just reminded me that I need to make another batch of conditioner before heading to the pool tomorrow.)

usmcmp

mamapeach910 wrote: »

I can't believe the OP is ingesting the oils.

I oil cleanse my skin with a varying mix of oils, and use lavender oil to scent the mixture since two of the oils have a weird fragrance to me. I also mix my own cuticle oil and add the lavender oil to that for fragrance.

I buy these lavender sachet things for the dryer at TJ's and refresh them with the oil as well.

I've had more practical use for plain oils than essential oils, frankly.

The worst part is, all the MLM type companies that sell the oils SUGGEST internal use. That blows my mind.

Alyssa_Is_LosingIt

Birdy989 wrote: »

usmcmp wrote: »

I find it very concerning that you aren't diluting them before topical use and that you are ingesting them. Those are the first two things taught in naturopathy. No wonder so many legitimate essential oil shops hate this new crop of essential oil sellers, it's giving them a bad name through misuse of the oils.

ETA: Your water retention could very well stem from ingesting the oils. Switch to putting lemon, cucumber and peppermint in your water. Real foods, not the oils.

Honestly, I'll tell you truthfully. You know what was concerning? Really concerning? The incredibly awful symptoms I had from ingesting MSG and flavor inhancers. They really messed up my heart! I'd lay there awake at night feeling my heart race and think I was dying. Also, whenever I ate gluten, I'd get horrid stomach aches, and the worst brain fog ever. Same thing with sugar. Whenever I went on a sugar binge, I'd break out something fierce.

Oddly enough, the only thing I've experienced after applying straight essential oils and ingesting lemon and grapefruit oil is a super sense of well-being, uplifting joy, an incredible amount of energy, glowing skin and a clear-headed mind. I'm not sure what the side effects are of people who are angrily accusing us of not using oils the right way. No one that I know has ended up in the hospital from essential oils.

I appreciate your concern, tho. Thanks for posting...

I guess if the placebo effect works for you, then great. I'd at least be mindful of the dangers of ingesting them and the dangers of not diluting them before applying them topically.

jennifershoo

So that's the new fad?

earlnabby

jennifershoo wrote: »

So that's the new fad?

Yup. Be prepared to be invited to "presentations" at people's homes just like Tupperware, Mary Kay, candles, wall hangings, etc.