• Aromatic: Place one drop of oil in the palms of your hands, rub your hands together and cup your fingers around your nose and mouth and inhale deeply several times.  You can use a special machine called an essential oil diffuser.  I diffuse everyday and I have one diffuser for each room in my home!  Diffusing essential oils makes your home smell delightful and is a great alternative to burning candles which are known hormone disrupters and carcinogens.  I have used so many different diffusers over the years and doTERRA has a great selection.  Although if you have an Amazon prime account, here is my best recommendation for a diffuser!

• Topical: Apply essential oils onto the surface of the skin to support specific areas of concern such as sore and achy joints, skin imperfections, or stomach discomfort.  Apply to the insides of the wrists, the back of the neck and massage into the temples to balance the mood.  Or apply to the bottoms of the feet for systemic effects such as improved sleep, immune system support, increased energy… etc.  Always dilute essential oils with a carrier oil.  doTERRA’s Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade (CPTG) Essential Oils are pure and potent, and a little bit goes a long way.  Diluting oils not only prevents risk of using too much, but it also allows the oils to work more efficiently as it helps to drive the oils deeper into the tissue.  Essential oils are volatile and therefore they have a high flash point.  Almost 50% of the oil is lost into the air immediately.  This is the very nature of aromatic compounds especially when they are pure.  Using a carrier oil will limit the rate of evaporation and allow the essential oils to move through the skin and into your circulation in a matter of 20 seconds!  And every cell in your body is serviced within 20 minutes.  When in doubt, just use small, frequent doses and always dilute for topical application.  My favorite carrier oil is doTERRA’s Fractionated Coconut Oil.
• Internal:  Again the only brand of essential oils I would ever recommend you use internally is doTERRA’s CPTG essential oils.  There are instructions on the side of the bottle that tell you which oil is recommended for internal use and which oil is not.  Please follow the directions as listed by doTERRA.

Essential Oils for Pregnancy

• Bergamot – Relieves muscle spasms, muscle aches, emotional upset, mouth sore or discomfort
• Geranium – Soothes skin hemorrhoids, varicose veins, nausea, emotions, blemishes
• Ginger – Eases nausea, heartburn, muscle aches, improves appetite, supports the immune system.  Blends well with Cardamom and Peppermint.
• Lavender – Eases anxious feelings, eases muscle tension in the head and neck; induces sleep; soothes skin irritation and itching; breast tenderness, muscle aches; supports seasonal respiratory health
• Lemon – Boosts concentration; eases congestion, heartburn, nausea; safe for household cleaning
• Ylang Ylang – Eases sadness and frustration, supports normal blood pressure, induces peaceful sleep
• Wild Orange – Eases anxious feelings, anger, nausea, sleeplessness, fatigue, heartburn, constipation

Oils To Avoid: Arborvitae, Birch (Sweet), Cassia, Cinnamon Bark, Fennel (sweet), Myrrh, Oregano, Rosemary, Wintergreen. Essential Oil Safety, 2nd ed, 2013

Essential Oils For Labor

Use oils on laboring moms skin cautiously as some woman can be sensitive to smells in labor.

• Geranium –  Enhances circulation and is good for labor management techniques, which focus on breathing and pain relief.
• Basil – Used to relieve pain during labor and in turn gives you the strength needed to endure with greater ease. Have your birth partner rub diluted Basil on your lower back to help with back labor.
• Black Pepper – Similar to basil and can be used to relieve pain in labor. This is especially helpful for back labor. Massage diluted on to lower back.
• Lavender – Great for diffusing in labor room to bring on a sense of calm.
• Peppermint –  Eases nausea. Can help re-energize. Diffuse or use diluted along the spine.
• Clary Sage –  Uterine tonic that assists with effective contractions. It may help strengthen contractions once they have started. It doesn’t bring on contractions unless everything is already in alignment for labor. Once labor has started, you can apply a drop topically to your pinky toes at the nail bed, the inside ankle bones on both feet, and on the low abdomen every fifteen to twenty minutes or until the strength of the contractions has increased. Not recommended until contractions have started or after forty weeks. Also can be used to ease anxious feelings. Calms the nervous system, relieves tension, strengthens labor, and helps with expelling afterbirth. Blends well with Geranium and Lavender.
• Helichrysum –  Perineal Support; helps to stretch tissue while minimizing discomfort and water retention.  This oil is also beneficial if there is significant blood loss after delivery, Helichrysum and Geranium massaged onto the abdomen can slow bleeding.

Essential Oils For Postpartum

• After Pains –  Massage diluted lavender or clary sage onto lower abdomen.
• Anxious Feelings –  Inhale orange or lavender, or use in a diffuser to benefit everyone in the family. Roman Chamomile and Frankincense are also helpful.
• Cesarean Section Incision Care –  (Only to be used once incision has scabbed) Apply Lavender, Frankincense, and Helichrysum to promote healing. Add Melaleuca if unwanted bacteria or pathogens are a concern.   
• Perineal Care –  Prepare at least one of these remedies in advance; they are perfect for soothing soreness or sutures.
• Peri Mist –  Add a few drops of Geranium, Lavender, and Helichrysum to a small misting bottle. Top with carrier oil. Mist onto the tender area frequently.
• Soothing Pads –  Add 20-30 drops of Lavender, Roman Chamomile, or Geranium to a bottle of witch hazel. Shake mixture well and apply to large maxi pads. Place pads in the freezer until needed. Use during the healing process.
• Postpartum Sadness –  Use a combination of Lavender, Frankincense, and Clary Sage in a diffuser, in a bath, or use with carrier oil for a massage. Apply to the bottoms of the feet several times a day.

Essential Oils For Breastfeeding

• Cracked Nipples –  Lavender and Melaleuca are soothing to the tissue and they can bring on a sense of calm for both mom and baby during breastfeeding to support bonding.
• Fussiness –  Diffuse Lavender and/or Orange to help calm mom and baby.
• If you discover a hard, red, and painful area on your breast-  Don’t stop nursing/pumping. Use Lavender on top of each infected breast throughout the day. Massage the following blend over the entire breast: 10 drops each Melaleuca, Lavender, Roman Chamomile in 2 tablespoons carrier oil. Massage from armpits toward the nipple. If symptoms do not get better within a day or two, or if they worsen seek professional help.
• Milk Supply –  Apply 1-2 drops on top of each breast for each of the following suggestions
  Starting Production: Clary Sage (AVOID Peppermint in essential oil or tea form. In some women, it may reduce milk supply).
• Increasing Milk –  Basil or Fennel (do not use fennel for more than 10 days at a time). Drink plenty of water, rest as much as possible, and eat a nourishing diet.Decreasing Milk Supply: Peppermint. Start slowly; for some the effect is mild and gentle, while others, milk supply drops dramatically.
  * Don’t wait to seek support if you are having difficulty. Contact a lactation specialist, or find a local La Leche League meeting at www.llli.org . If you need any recommendations please reach out.

Essential Oils For Baby

• Dilution for babies –  1 drop per 1 tablespoon of carrier oil.
• Basil –  Ear discomfort, insect bite, respiratory health, nausea, immune support
• Lavender –  Emotional upset, skin issues, sleeplessness, aches and pains, colic
• Lemon –  Runny nose and congestion, relieves anxious feelings, airborne and surface germs
• Melaleuca –  Germs, cuts, scrapes, scratches, immune support, yeast overgrowth
• Roman Chamomile –  Emotional upset, irritability, skin irritation, teething
• Colic –  apply fennel to the belly button. Apply Lavender to the bottoms of feet.
• Congestion/runny nose –  apply lemon on chest, or to the bottoms of feet.
• Constipation –  use grapefruit or ginger. Apply to stomach.
• Cord-stump care –  apply Lavender or Myrrh.
• Cradle cap –  apply Lavender and organic olive oil to the scalp 1 hour before bath time, rinse well.
• Diaper rash –  apply sore bottom spray or soft and dry powder (recipes below)
• Digestive support –  apply a digestive blend, fennel, or ginger to the belly button.
• Ear discomfort –  apply Melaleuca, Basil, and Lavender
• Liver Support –  apply lemon to the bottoms of feet.
• Immune System –  apply Basil, Frankincense, or Melaleuca to the feet.
• Insect bites –  apply Basil or Lavender
• Irritation around the eye –  apply Lavender to the bottoms of feet, and Jasmine around the eye.  Be sure to keep a wide margin and apply with clean hands.  Do not roll the applicator on the irritated area so it does not become cross-contaminated.
• Teething –  apply Lavender and Roman Chamomile along jawline.

Baby Care Recipes

doTERRA Touch Kit

With nine of doTERRA’s most popular oils in a base of Fractionated Coconut Oil, the doTERRA Touch Kit combines the best benefits found in essential oils, with the goal of protecting sensitive skin.  These oils are all ready to go and safe on any one of any age.  I never leave home without mine.  I was so excited when this kit came out because it helps to take so much of the fear and guessing out.  You can rest easy knowing these oils are safe for even your newborn baby!

The doTERRA Touch kit includes: 

• doTERRA Breathe, Deep Blue, DigestZen, Frankincense, Lavender, Melaleuca, doTERRA, On Guard, Oregano, Peppermint

To purchase the doTERRA Touch Kit, click HERE!

Safety Precautions