Botanical Name: Melaleuca alternifolia

Extraction Method: Steam distilled from leaves

Properties: Analgesic, antibacterial, antifungal, anti-infectious, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiparasitic, a strong antiseptic, antiviral, decongestant, digestive, expectorant, immune stimulant, insecticidal, neurotonic, stimulant and tissue regenerator

Historical uses: The leaves of the melaleuca tree (or tea tree) have been used for centuries by the aborigines to heal cuts, wounds, and skin infections. With twelve times the antiseptic power of phenol, it has some strong immune building properties.

French Medicinal Uses: Athlete’s foot, bronchitis, colds, coughs, diarrhea, flu, periodontal (gum) disease, rash, skin healing, sore throat, sunburn, tonsillitis, vaginal thrush.

I swear by it for athlete’s foot. I put a few drops on my feet and spread around like lotion & never have problems. ~Heather J. @MiltonRMT

Other Possible Uses:

• acne
• boils
• burns
• candida
• cold sores
• digestion
• fungal infections
• hysteria
• infectious diseases
• inflammation
• mites
• shock
• ticks
• viral infections
• warts
• wounds (promotes healing).

Body System(s) Affected: Immune and Respiratory Systems, Muscles and Bones, Skin.

Aromatic Influence: It promotes cleansing and purity.

Application: Can be applied neat (with no dilution) when used topically.

I used Melaleuca on our baby who had a pretty bad diaper rash. I didn’t have to dilute it unless it happen to leak near sensitive parts. ~Shanta

The way I have used Melaleuca:

• diaper rash
• immune support
• wounds cleansing

Purchase Melaleuca here.

Botanical Family: Labiatae (mint)

Extraction Method: Steam distilled from leaves, stems, flower buds

Properties: Analgesic, antibacterial, anti-carcinogenic, anti-imflammatory, antiseptic, antispasmodic, antiviral, invigorating

When I get a fever I get really sore skin – even with low grade fevers. Even Tyenol doesn’t work (normally I took Advil). Peppermint does. ~Sarah D. (@Dreamom)

Historical uses: For centuries, peppermint has been used to soothe digestive difficulties, freshen breath, and to relieve colic, gas, headaches, heartburn and indigestion.

Nothing works better an a colicky baby or two than a little peppermint on the bottom of their feet and a little on their tummy. wait 10 mins and boom…. no more colic. ~Amanda T.

French Medicinal Uses:

• Asthma
• bronchitis
• candida
• diarrhea,
• digestive aid
• hot flashes
• indigestion
• migraine headache
• motion sickness
• nausea
• respiratory function (aids)
• skin (itchy)

Peppermint is one of my favourite essential oils for many reasons. – mix it with vinegar and water for a spray cleaner. I use it on the pads of my steam mop for a refreshing and peppy fragrance for the house. I blend it with other essential oils when we have colds or flu to open up sinuses. I have used it on my temples when a headache arises. I sometimes use it to add fragrance to my homemade laundry soap and my homemade baking soda/essential oil combo for multi-purposes like carpet freshener etc. ~Miranda M. (@mirandababy)

Other possible uses:

• anger
• arthritis
• depression
• fatigue
• food poisoning
• hives
• irritable bowel syndrome

In my last pregnancy I developed PUPPS in the last 2 weeks – I used many remedies but would often use Peppermint at night and it would relieve the itching long enough for me to fall asleep. ~Shanta

Aromatic Influence: It is purifying and stimulating to the conscious mind and may aid with memory and mental performance. It is cooling and may help to reduce fevers.

At work nurses smidge a tiny drop of peppermint oil on the inside of their face masks or just under the nose when working with smelly odors….works great for dads with over sensitive gag reflexes when changing diapers too ~Julie K.

How I have used Peppermint:

• fevers (combined with lemon and lavender)
• PUPPS/hives
• in hot chocolate (yum!)
• sore muscles

Information taken from Modern Essentials: A Contemporary Guide to The Therapeutic Use of Essential Oils

Order your oils here: doTERRA

We are talking about Lemon today:

Botanical Family: Rutaceae (citrus)

Extraction Method: Cold pressed from rind (it requires 3,000 lemons to produce a kilo of oil)

Properties: Anticancer, antidepressant, antiseptic, antifungal, antioxidant, antiviral, astringent

Historical Uses: Lemon has been used to fight food poisoning, malaria, and typhoid epedemics, and scruvy. Lemon has also been used to lower blood pressure and to help with liver problems, arthritis, and muscular aches and pains.

French Medicinal Uses:

• air disinfectant
• anemia
• asthma
• cold
• fever (reduces)
• germicide
• gout
• heartburn
• intestinal parasites
• red blood cell formation
• rheumatism
• throat infection
• ureter infections
• varicose veins
• water purification
• white blood cell formation

Other possible Uses:

• anxiety
• blood pressure
• soothing broken capillaries
• clarity of thought
• digestive problems
• energy
• gallstones
• memory improvement
• sore throats

Aromatic Influence: It promotes health, healing, physical energy, and purification. It’s fragrance is invigorating, enhancing, and warming.

The way I have used Lemon:

• fever
• stain removal
• in drinking water
• household cleaning
• washing vegetables and fruit

Information taken from Modern Essentials: A Contemporary Guide to the Therapeutic Use of Essential Oils

Visit our website to order.

As a doula I honor the role of your birth partner. That intimate relationship creates an important bond and protective energy that most birthing mothers need and want during labor. My presence is meant to enhance that bond – not replace it. I am also doula to birth partners as in many cases they are becoming parents also and need support as they experience the birth of their baby.

A doula will not morph into a voice over.

As your doula I will not speak to medical staff on your behalf. I can help you assess how you are coping, clarify the different options you have been given and support you through making those decisions.

A doula will not morph into a natural epidural.

While I would love to lessen the intensity of your labor, I do not have any natural alternatives that will take all the intensity away. I will provide constant support, suggestions for pain coping and optimal birthing positions. All those things can help some women to cope more effectively with their intensity and is one of the many reasons many women choose to have a doula present at their birth.

A doula will not morph into a magic 8 ball.

As you doula I will not be telling you what you should do next. I am not in a position to advise you on decisions you may have to make during your labor but I can help you get the information you need to make those decisions. Sometimes those will be decisions that you didn’t want to have to make and in those moments I am present to remind you that it takes just as much courage to make those hard choices as it does to make the easy ones.

A doula will not morph into gypsy.

Even though it might make my life a bit easier somedays, I do not own a crystal ball. I won’t be able to predict anything to you before, during or after your birth. Labor and birth are journeys that can only be walked by the parents. As I support you and offer suggestions to manage your labor intensity and events that happen during your experience, together we will journey through Laborland and come out on the other side…no matter how long it takes.

We are in Manitoba where the mosquitos are the size of horses. Libby’s bites used to swell up to the size of an adult hand, but if I get the lavender on quick it doesn’t, and if it has, it brings it down nice and quick and the itch goes away almost right away. ~Sarah D.

Let’s get started with some logistics:

Botanical Name: Lavandula angustifolia – it’s important to know the botanical names of the essential oils you are using so that if you are looking at different brands. In most plants there are several different species, so each oil can have therapeutic value but likely offer different types of healing. For example, lavandula angustifolia is a great oil to use when you have suffered any kind of burn but other types of lavender oil can and will make the burn worse and more painful. So you don’t have to become an aromatherapist to use oils, just know the botanical names of the oils you do use frequently in case you are looking for it on your shopping travels.

Almost from the time Cameron was born he had a sty. At some points it was quite large and red. It didn’t seem to bother him but it was really big and noticeable. When we moved to Ontario when he was about 9mths old it just went away. It was gone for quite sometime when it reappeared and I decided to give Lavender a try. I put a bit on my finger and rubbed it on the bridge of his nose. I didn’t really know if it would do anything because it was not applied directly…but I couldn’t apply it directly…it was on his eye! The lavender did the trick, every time it has come back we put lavender on and within a short time it’s gone. ~Shanta

Properties: Analgesic, anticoagulant, anticonvulsant, antidepressant, antifungal, antihistamine, anti-infectious, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antimutagenic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, antitoxic, antitumor, cardiotonic, regenerative, sedative.

Lavender is considered to be a universal oil. This means that it can be used for almost anything. It is well known for it’s relaxing, sedative quality.

“I use lavender with a combo of oregano, tea tree and peppermint oil for my dog’s chronic yeast infections in her ears” ~@mirandababy

The ways I have used lavender:

• skin related issues: rashes, hives, bruises,cuts, wounds, burns, scars, sunburns
• teething
• for relaxation and calming
• depression
• acne
• in combination with other oils: fever, muscles aches
• ear aches

I love using lavender on the kids when they have gotten hurt as it offers germ protection and also helps them to calm down quickly. I have also used it for teething although I think that the effect was more calming in addition to them having a funny taste in their mouth than it was the pain going away…but I say “whatever works!!” When I have used it for ear aches or what looks to be sore ears I will apply the oil around the outside of the ears – remember never to drop any essential oil inside of the ear. I do know that some people have put a few drops on a cotton ball and then place that over the opening of the ear – but I have never needed to do that personally.

Lavender is a really fun oil and the rule of thumb is – if you don’t know what to use…use lavender.

What benefits do certified pure therapeutic grade essential oils provide?

Essential oils are the regenerating, oxygenating, and immune defense properties of plants.

Essential oils are so small in molecular size that they can quickly penetrate the skin.

Essential oils are lipid soluble and are capable of penetrating cell walls, even if they have hardened because of oxygen deficiency. In fact, essential oils can affect every cell of the body within 20 minutes and then be metabolized like other nutrients.

Essential oils contain oxygen molecules which help to transport nutrients to the starving human cells. Because a nutritional deficiency is an oxygen deficiency, disease begins when the cells lack the oxygen for proper nutrient assimilation. By providing the needed oxygen, essential oils also work to stimulate the immune system.

Essential oils are very powerful antioxidants. Antioxidants create and unfriendly environment for free radicals. They prevent all mutations, work as free radical scavengers, prevent fungus, and prevent oxidation in the cells.

Essential oils are antibacterial, anticancer, antifungal, anti-infectious, antimicrobial, antitumor, antiparasitic, antiviral, and antiseptic. Essential oils have been shown to destroy all tested bacteria and viruses while simultaneously restoring balance to the body.

Essential oils may detoxify the cells and blood in the body.

Essential oils containing sesquiterpenes have the ability to pass the blood brain barrier, enabling them to be effective in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, Lou Gehrig’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and multiple sclerosis.

Essential oils are aromatic. When diffused, they provide air purification by:

• removing metallic particles and toxins from the air;
• increasing atmospheric oxygen;
• increasing ozone and negative ions in the area, which inhibits bacterial growth;
• destroying odors from mold, cigarettes, and animals; and
• filling the air with fresh, natural aromatic scent

Essential oils help to promote emotional, physical, and spiritual healing.

This is obviously a very short, point form explanation of how oils work. I have highlighted what I think are the most important points to remember – that oils work at the cellular level and they deliver oxygen to your cells. After all these years of using oils I still find it amazing that nature is so interconnected that the life blood of a plant can help my body heal – awesome!!

So let’s get started on the fun stuff – the oils!!!

The fact is that most essential oils on the market are diluted with a solvent. The solvent is usually a chemical like alcohol. You have to consider that if only a few drops of lavender can make a positive difference in your body what could a few drops of a chemical do in a negative way. What’s in or not in your oil matters!! My intention is to help parents learn how to use essential oils so I’m not going to tell you which oils to use but I do have recommendations.

When I started using oils, I purchased them from a direct selling company and used that brand for just over 7 years. At that point, as a regular consumer, I felt like it was the best I could find. I have likely smelled every brand sold in stores – I’m always checking – we have been a one income family and my loyalty is to purchasing the best product I can for the least amount of money. So far I have never found any store brand that even comes close to that brand. About 1.5 years ago I was introduced to doTERRA and knew immediately upon smelling them and listening to the company philosophy that I would be making the switch that is how different the aroma was from my current brand. I also was happy to know that each batch of oil is third party tested for purity. After only using them for a short time I was amazed at how powerful these oils were, the results were knocking me off my feet and I had used oils that I thought were the best – these were truly at a new level for quality and potency.

doTERRA’s Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade essential oils are guaranteed to be 100% pure and natural and free of synthetic compounds or contaminates. They are subjected to rigorous mass spectrometry and gas chromatography testing to ensure extract composition and activity. doTERRA’s 100% pure essential oils represent the safest and most beneficial essential oils available today.

There is another brand that I feel comfortable recommending, ONEgroup, as they are certified organic and I use most of their other products and even though I do not have any concerns about the oil being 100% pure – I suspect that it is not as therapeutic as my doTERRA oils. (Normally at this point in the meeting I would pass both bottles around to let everyone smell the difference – everyone is always quite surprised by the difference). I encourage everyone to contact the company they are considering for oils and ask if they do third party testing of the oil. I will also say that in my experience most products that are sold from a direct selling company have higher quality than anything you will buy in a store (that’s why I buy almost everything from personal care products to spices from them) – so that is where I would start looking if you are doing research.

Ok, so you have decided on which oil to use – let’s cover some safety issues. NOTE: These are safety recommendations when using a therapeutic grade essential oil – if you choose to use an oil that is not considered therapeutic, the side effects are numerous and unknown.

• If you happen to get oil in your eyes – dilute with a carrier oil like olive or coconut oil – NEVER water. Water makes the oil spread and will make the discomfort much worse.
• Oils do not go in eyes, nose, or inside ears.
• With small children, I recommend most oils be applied to the feet and then put their socks on so that they don’t mistakenly touch their feet and then rub their eyes or face.
• If you have sensitive skin, you should always do a patch test with any new oil you introduce.
• If skin becomes irritated or uncomfortable dilute with a carrier oil like olive oil or coconut oil.
• doTERRA essential oils have a dietary supplement box on their bottles of oil that are generally regarded as safe (GRAS) for internal use. ie: peppermint. If your brand does not have a dietary supplement box, always consult a reference guide.
• Headaches: If using a therapeutic grade oil – you can get a headache if you are a new user because the oil delivers oxygen to your cells and this can be overwhelming. You can also get a headache from using a therapeutic oil because of toxins in your body. Essential oils do a great job of purging toxins, but headaches and rashes can be unpleasant side effects. Open a window, and just start by using less – in time you will be able to use them at your leisure without getting headaches. If using a non-therapeutic grade, it could be because of the solvent used to dilute the oil or other chemicals that were on the plant when harvested.
• Drink lots and lots of water when using essential oils. Even the most healthy of us have toxins in our body and as I just mentioned, essential oils do a great job of ridding the body of them. If you don’t drink enough water and you have a load of toxins that is being cleared hit your liver, you will end up with rashes. Some might consider this to be a sign of a reaction to the oil, but most of the time it’s just a sign that you need to detoxify and drink more water and decrease the use of oils till the rash is gone.

Essential oils are fun and easy to use. Most people can use them with little to no problems but I like to address some of the concerns that I have had myself (remember my headache when I was sitting there smelling all those oils for the first time) or have heard from other people. When starting to use any natural product you have to take time to learn how that product is going to react in your body and what works for you – the way our body uses or reacts to a natural products will be unique to you – that’s the great thing about it – you can customize it for your own personal make up and needs. It takes time and trust.

Now we are ready to get into the fun stuff – the oils!!! My next post will be about how oils work in the body and then I will be covering the oils in the Family Physician kit that is offered by doTERRA because it’s a great place for beginners. Follow along and have fun with your oils!!

Before you I loved life.
After you I celebrate life.

Darlene Emma Rose
May 30th, 2000 – June 14th, 2000

10 years ago today – my life changed. I was expecting some change, but not a change that would alter the entire course of my life.

I know that there are many ways to reach a destination and I don’t fool myself to think that I would not still be here had Emma been born with a healthy heart or if her surgery had been successful. I don’t try and guess, I just know that the moment she was born and the moment she was gone, were both monumental in shaping the life I now live.

I miss her a bit more this year. 10 years has passed so quickly and while I have overwhelming joy that fills my heart because of Emma’s life, the sorrow sits quietly in a corner of my heart. It is a constant reminder of all the moments I wish we could have shared. Most days I try to not think about what I wish because I accept that her life was perfect as it was and to wish would mean it was less than perfect. But I am realizing that as we find it a blur to watch our other children grow and change – and seem to forget the moments we thought we could never forget, so it is with Emma also. Some days it feels like a dream and when you wake up you wish it were real – but just like a dream, you can never seem to remember every detail.

Emma’s life opened new doors for us and for that I will be so very grateful. My love for Emma is what has transformed my life. I think it’s extraordinary that a person can live 15 days and totally change another person’s life which in turn likely changes the world in some small way…or maybe big way, only time will tell.

I am honored to be a mother. I am honored to be Emma’s mother. To help celebrate Emma’s life we collect donations for Sick Kids. It is because of their research that there was a surgery to offer Emma and all children born with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome a chance at life. We would love if you would join with us in celebration and consider donating $10 – $1 for each year we have loved her.

We hope to collect $1 for each day she has brought joy into our lives between today May 30^th, and her angel day June 14^th.  We thank you if you are able to celebrate with us.  Here is Emma’s Heart celebration page.

I love you Emma.

MCNEIL PRODUCT RECALL

Shanta thinks: This is a great article to help you decide if the Vitamin K shot is the right choice for your baby. If you decide to not consent to the shot or would like to administer the Vitamin K in a different form – you should talk to your caregiver about this prior to your baby being born. If you decide that you do want to give your baby the Vitamin K shot, I would suggest that you ask your caregiver to wait to administer the shot until you are able to nurse your baby to minimize any potential “trauma” to your baby.