lovecommacancer

via Daily Prompt: Infuse

I love the word “infuse” and its myriad definitions:

(adj) Inspired. Filled. Permeated.

(vb) Steep. Infuse. Marinate. Brew. Soak. Extract the flavor or healing properties.

I first began dabbling in essential oils in the fall of 2015 through our neighbor who sold DoTerra essential oils and was enthusiastic about their healing properties. I jumped in, stocking up on all kinds of oils, including those for boosting immunity, relaxing and healing. We bought several diffusers to place around the house, scoured Amazon for rollerballs to make application easier, and started using the oils in cooking. So, when my husband was diagnosed with cancer less than a year later, I was more prepared than I would have been to help him deal with the unpleasant side effects of chemotherapy treatments and recovery from surgeries. I was more open than I might have been to trying complementary treatments. I also like to think the oils had made his body more prepared to fight those rouge cancer cells and kept his body healthy so the chemo could do its job.

At this point in our cancer journey (2 years+ post diagnosis), we’ve found all kinds of ways to incorporate essential oils into our daily life. I’ll admit, my husband the (former?) cancer patient, is still not as wholly devoted to their uses as I am, but he has come a long way. In other words, he indulges me and “lets” me try out various concoctions on him. My youngest daughter, on the other hand, is an eager participant in our DIY days, joining me in making lip balms, bath bombs, soaps, face mists, and more. When either one of them feels a little under the weather, they both come to me for advice about which oils to use–a huge step in the right direction!

Here are a few basic uses of certified pure grade therapeutic (CPGT) essential oils:

RELAX:  

• Quick fix: Put a drop or two of lavender or bergamot essential oil on a cotton ball and breathe it in. Take slow, deep breaths. Close your eyes.
• Quick fix: Spray yourself or your room with a mixture of lavender or bergamot EO, witch hazel and water/distilled water. Be generous.
• 5 minute fix:  Spray a homemade eye pillow or an ordinary clean, wet washcloth with above spray. Lie in shavasana (yoga pose–aka corpse pose) for a few minutes with eye pillow covering your eyes.
• 20 minute fix:  Put 10-12 drops of lavender or bergamot essential oil in 2 cups of epsom salts. Fill the bath. Turn off the lights. Light a few candles. Breathe slowly and deeply. The magnesium in the epsom salts will also help relax your muscles.
• 20 minute fix: Fill a large bowl or foot bath with 1 cup of epsom salts, add your fave EO
• 8 hour fix:  Diffuse 8-10 drops of lavender or bergamot essential oils in your diffuser overnight. Add frankinsense, too, for its incredible healing powers. Or “Breathe” if you’re feeling stuffy.

Pick me up:

• Quick fix: Put a drop or two of peppermint, spearmint, grapefruit or orange EO on a cotton ball. Take long, deep breaths.
• Quick fix:  Dab a drop or two of peppermint, spearmint, wintergreen, orange, grapefruit EO on your chest or mix a drop or two with a tiny bit of a carrier oil (my favorite is fractionated coconut oil by DoTerra) and dab it under your nose.
• Quick fix:  Spray yourself or your room with a mixture of peppermint, spearmint, wintergreen EO or orange or grapefruit EO mixed with witch hazel and water/distilled water.
• 5 minute fix: Place a few drops of peppermint, spearmint, wintergreen, grapefruit or orange EO in the bottom of the shower (close the drain) and inhale deeply while you shower. (If your nose is stuffy, add DoTerra’s “Breathe” or Eucalyptus EO)
• 5 minute fix:  Mix carrier oil (fractionated coconut oil is my favorite) with a few drops of peppermint, spearmint, wintergreen or orange or grapefruit EO and rub over your chest, neck and arms.
• 10 minute fix:  Make peppermint EO tea:  add several peppermint EO drops in warm water. Inhale as you sip slowly.
• 20 minute+ fix:  Diffuse peppermint, spearmint, wintergreen, orange or grapefruit EO in your office, living room, kitchen or wherever you’re hanging out for the day.

Disinfectants:  Good blends to use for cleaning all kinds of things from kitchen counters to yoga mats! Add a little witch hazel and water/distilled water, and you’re good to go! If you’re making a hand disinfectant, you can also add a little carrier oi to the mix to avoid drying out your skin, but you’ll need to remember to shake it up before you spray!

 

• peppermint and melaleuca (tea tree)
• lemongrass and lavender
• lavender and rosemary

To Stay Healthy:

Use DoTerra’s EO called “On Guard”. “On Guard” contains the following EOs: Wild Orange Peel, Clove Bud, Cinnamon Leaf, Cinnamon Bark, Eucalyptus Leaf, and Rosemary Leaf/Flower essential oils. Put a little on the bottom of your feet at night, or diffuse. You can even put a few drops in a DoTerra veggie cap (empty vegetable capsule). Trust me, you’ll be glad you did! Our family swears by this EO!

DoTerra Beginner’s Trio (good deal!)  Lavender, Peppermint and Lemon (use can use lemon instead of orange/grapefruit EO in the mixes mentioned above), 5 ml bottles.

DoTerra Traveler’s Kit (another good deal!) Lavender, Peppermint, Wild Orange and AromaTouch, 5 ml bottles.
Carrier Oils:

Sweet almond oil, Jojoba oil, EVOO, Rosehip oil, Argan oil, Avocado oil,

and my personal favorite, because it’s light & fragrance-free, is:

DoTerra Fractionated Coconut Oil