I have been using essential oils for myself and my family for a little over a year now. I got interested in them from a friend who uses them, and he offered some to me. I am a healthcare worked by trade, and as such am very interested in healing, in easing suffering, and in making those around me feel better.
I don't think a pill or a cream is always the best answer to an ailment, and so I have been digging around and searching for some other remedies to use. Alternative medicine is usually associated with granola people who don't shave, shower, or eat things that haven't fallen off of a tree naturally. It carries connotations of hippies and people who shun traditional Western, or allopathic, medicine. Well- I can happily tell you that the attitude such as that is incorrect. Several alternative therapies that "work" are in use today for a multitude of ailments.
In fact, you may have used, or know someone who has, alternative medicine in the past. Several modalities are considered safe and effective. In an article published on CNN's website about 4 years ago- the top 5 alternative treatments were discussed. These were acupuncture for pain, vitamin B6, calcium, and magnesium for PMS symptoms, St. John's Wort for depression, guided imagery for pain and anxiety, and glucosamine for joint pain (Cohen, 2007). These therapies are joined with a host of other alternative medicine practices that have moved into the mainstream: massage therapy, acupressure, meditation, biofeedback, and aromatherapy. Essential oils are another up and coming "re-discovery" being used for a variety of purposes. In fact, the therapies are effective, science is now telling us so as well. Several studies have been done to tout the effectiveness of essential oils- a recent one was used to study the effects of lavender oils in episiotomy care in postpartum women. The study found that the application of lavender oil to the incision site resulted in decreased redness, swelling, and decreased healing time (Vakilian, Atarha, Bekhradi, & Chaman, 2011). That is just one example found in medical literature.
This blog is a place to learn about essential oils, learn how to use them, what they are, what they can do, and how to incorporate them into your daily routines. I'll have some guest bloggers on, some articles, reviewed literature, and the like- we'll discuss the oils, what works for some of us, what works for others, and any tips or tricks we find along the way. We welcome you to this blog and encourage your participation, questions, and comments. We will learn from each other and hopefully help each other out along the way.
Two things:
1) I get my oils from a company called DoTerra- yes, it is affiliate marketing, so the links you will find here for products will most likely lead to my store (or the stores of my guest bloggers) for you to purchase those products. I have found DoTerra oils to be the best, but I will not bully you into using them.
2) This blog is NEVER to be used as a substitute for qualified medical advice. This blog is for your information only, you are responsible for what you do with it, we do not diagnose, treat, cure, advise, or dispense medical advice here. Info given on this site is the authors' opinions and should never be used to replace the opinion of the certified, licensed, educated healthcare provider of your choice.
With that out of the way, "Welcome!" Lets enjoy this journey together.
Clint
Sources:
Cohen, 2007. http://articles.cnn.com/2007-10-04/health/ep.alt.med_1_alternative-medicine-acupuncture-weil?_s=PM:HEALTH
Vakilian, K., Atarha, M., Bekhradi, R., & Chaman, R. (2011). Healing advantages of lavender essential oil during episiotomy recovery: a clinical trial. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, 17(1), 50-53.
