Nip It In the Bud!

Sick Kids

A tale of two sicklies:

Last night, my Little Monkey wasn't feeling very well.  He had a little bit of a fever, and he said he felt like throwing up.  I pounced with my oils -- rubbed some DigestZen blend on his tummy, some OnGuard blend on his feet, and a little PastTense blend on the back of his neck for his headache.

Ms. Grace, my teenager, also complained of a tummy ache, but we didn't connect the dots.  I attributed it to swallowing too much water (she plays water polo).  I suggested she use some DigestZen, but I didn't follow up.  She fell asleep on the couch before she used any oils.  Again, I thought it was just being worn out from water polo.

My Little Monkey slept well and woke up feeling much better.  He still has a little bit of a fever, but he's active and playing video games with his brother.

His sister?  Not so lucky.  She woke up vomiting in the middle of the night.  She was still very feverish and listless this morning.  Better late than never, she got some DigestZen and OnGuard and has been sleeping it off today.

Now, back in the day, I would be trembling with fear, bracing myself for a nasty stomach flu making its way through all eight of us.  But this time, I'm spritzing lemon oil water in every room, diffusing OnGuard in the main living area, and  making sure everyone, including those of us still healthy, are getting doses of OnGuard.

Getting sick is a miserable thing.  Thankfully, my oils let me nip it in the bud so we can all get back to normal.

*****

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Kicking Colds and Flu

Kicking Colds and Flu

With the holidays upon us, no one wants to be left out of the fun because of a cold or flu.  Luckily, there are many things that we can do to protect ourselves during this season.

Exercise.  Many of us get so busy during the holidays that our exercise routines suffer.  But people who exercise for at least 20 minutes five days a week suffer from half as many colds as those who get moving just one or two days a week.  Even if you don't get formal exercise in, remember any movement is good -- including fast walking with your arms loaded with shopping bags or cleaning your house before guests arrive.

Don't be touchy.  Be conscious of how often you touch your face and try to stop doing it.  Flu germs enter the body through the nose, mouth, and eyes, so even a quick rub of the eyes can cause a week of the sniffles.

Less sweets.  With all the holiday goodies around, this may be a tough one, but a diet low in refined sugar strengthens the immune system.  When baking yourself, opt for natural sweeteners such as stevia.

Get your rest.  Skimp on sleep and you are three times more likely to catch a cold.  Aim for at least seven hours a night.  If you find yourself with an unavoidable late night or two, try catching up on the weekends.

Wash, wash, wash!  The single most important preventative measure you can take to stave off colds and flu is to wash your hands often.  Skip the hot water and lather up with lukewarm.  It works just as well for killing bacteria and won't dry your skin, which can cause skin to crack and leave you more susceptible to infections.

Try this:  Make your own foaming anti-bacterial hand wash.  Purchase or reuse a plastic foamer bottle (I bought mine at www.aromatools.com).  Add about a teaspoon of dish washing liquid or regular hand soap.  Add five drops of OnGuard blend essential oil.  Fill with water.  Shake to mix.  Enjoy the fresh scent and feel confident you are doing what you can to protect yourself and your family from germs.

Sick Day

“Mom, I don't feel so good,” said my Little Monkey, just seconds before he started to throw up on the floor. He looked up at me apologetically, and I think if I hadn't stopped him, he would have started cleaning up. But I could tell he wasn't done, so I whisked him into the bathroom.

While my poor little guy retched, I rubbed his back and smoothed his hair, trying my best to comfort him. In between heaves, he said, “I love you, Mom!” I don't think he has ever meant it more.

In bed with the flu

When he finished, I cleaned him up and made a bed for him on the couch in front of the TV. I rubbed some DigestZen essential oil blend on his stomach, then rubbed some OnGuard blend on his feet. He had a bit of a fever, so I took a cool wet washcloth and added a drop of lavender oil. It seemed to soothe him.

I have spent many, many nights tending one child after another as the stomach flu swept through our family. This time, I planned on nipping it in the bud. I ordered everyone in the house to use the OnGuard, too, and I had it running in the diffuser. I returned to give my son a couple more treatments. By dinner, he felt well enough for a little chicken soup.

I kept him home from school the next day, which annoyed him, because it messed up his perfect attendance. He was back to normal within twenty-four hours – and no one else in the family got sick!

I think that's what I love most about having essential oils in the house. Sure, we still get sick from time to time, but with early intervention, it is short-lived and never very severe. It sure makes being a mom a little bit easier.