** All DoTERRA essential oils links in this post are links to my wholesaler page. I do not actively sell DoTERRA oils. Rather, I am just an avid user who wanted to share how my family uses oils. Buying oils from my page simple supports my ability to write fun posts like this. Please see full disclosure here.
How We Got Started With Essential Oils
I started dabbling in essential oils about two years ago. There are so many oils and so many ways they can get used. It can be overwhelming. Personally, when I got the Family Essential Kit from DoTERRA our use of oils went up drastically. Much of that has to do with the practicality of the oils that come in the kit. My Family Essential Kit came with Lavender, Lemon, Peppermint, Melaleuca, Oregano, Frankincense, Deep Blue®, doTERRA Breathe®, DigestZen®, doTERRA On Guard®. The new kit also comes with Peppermint beadlets and On Guard® beadlets.
**Disclaimer–I do want to point out that we are not a family that uses only essential oils. We also use modern medicine (e.g. antibiotics when needed, etc.). In addition, essential oil companies are very cautious to say that there is a causal relationship between a particular oil and a cure for a particular ailment. And of course, as you all know, I am NOT a doctor. Nor am I an essential oil expert. This information is purely from a mom sharing what works in our household.
Using Essential Oils with Children
There is a TON of information out there about using essential oils on babies and young children. Personally, we did not start using oils on our son until he was two years old. We dilute every oil we put on his body. We also often put the oils on the bottoms of his feet. I diffuse oils at a less drop rate than I would in a diffuser for our bedroom. If you choose to use oils with children, I suggest you do some research on what can be used for certain ages. Not all oils can be used with young children as they are very potent.
How We Apply Oils
As a family, we choose to either apply oils directly on the skin or diffuse the essential oils. We have the Petal Diffuser and two Aroma Lite Diffusers (affiliate link). I use the Petal Diffuser in my office at work or sometimes in Little MK’s room (affiliate link). The Aroma Lite Diffuser is great because of its range (600 sq. feet). I use it in our living area frequently.
My favorite way of applying oils to the skin is to use rollerballs. These are the ones we use (large kit or a small pack). The rollerball gives you an easy way to dilute the oils as necessary and also gives you the opportunity to make blends if you would like.
Our Top Used Oils
On Guard®
I work in the schools, our son goes to daycare and my husband frequents hospitals as a part of his job. Do you know what that means?! Germs galore! I regularly diffuse on-guard in my office as well as at home. When Little MK is getting sick, outcomes the On Guard® roller bottle.
Purify®
This is the only oil that we use frequently that is not in the Family Essentials Kit. I have asthma that gets worse during allergy season so Purify® becomes a staple in our house during this time. It is intended to purify and freshen the air. It has a nice fresh smell, which is a plus.
Oregano
This might be one of my favorite essential oils for its antibacterial, antiviral and anti-fungal properties. A cautionary note – It is a STRONG oil. You should NEVER put it directly on your skin without diluting it first. It gets used commonly in our house when we are fighting off colds. However, because of how strong this oil it, I do not use it with my 4-year old son. With my most recent cold, I used oregano in a foot soak with Breathe® and On-Guard®. First, I used a simple container (like this). I filled it with just enough warm water to cover my feet. I add 1 drop Oregano, 1-2 On-Guard, and 1-2 drops Breathe. Then I relaxed!
Breathe®
Speaking of Breathe®. This oil gets used for two main reasons in our house. One is an aid in congestion when someone in the house has a cold. I do dilute this oil with Fractionated Coconut oil in a rollerball for our 4-year-old (1-2 drops in a rollerball. Then fill with Fractionated Coconut oil. We use this.). Again, this is a strong oil blend so this is why I dilute it. When I diffuse this oil, I typically only put 2 drops in the diffuser. The second reason we use this oil a lot is for asthma. I have what I would consider mild asthma and my doctor has only prescribed me with a rescue inhaler. I use Breathe® when I am exercising as a preventative measure to prevent the need for my inhaler.
Melaleuca
Melaleuca is a great oil for skin blemishes or rashes. I personally use it on my face when I notice a breakout. It is also great to put on your feet/toenails after working out or swimming because of its purifying effects.
Lavender
This is definitely one of our most used oils. It often gets diffused in Little MK’s room at night to help him sleep. It’s also used to sooth owies or bug bites. We do dilute it when putting directly on the skin to avoid skin irritation.
Digestzen®
This oil is great for digestive issues. It can help reduce bloating, gas, and occasional indigestion. I apply it directly to my stomach when I have an upset stomach. When Little MK has an upset stomach, we apply it to the bottom of his feet.
As you can see, many of the oils we use frequently are in the Family Essentials Kit. I am so thankful I got the kit! It helped me really get into using essential oils for my family without being overwhelmed by the number of oils out there.
If you would like to order any of the oils or the kit, you can use my link here. I would like to note that at first, I was a little shocked at the price of the oils. However, because you use the oils in such small doses, the oils last a LONG time. I have only finished two oil bottles in two years (one On-Guard® and one Breathe®).
