How To Treat Upset Tummies

How To Treat Upset Tummies and stop your child from throwing up.

Nothing zaps you out of a deep slumber faster than a child leaning over you pronouncing the need to throw up. No one likes to throw up and no one likes to clean up throw up. When one of my children has an upset tummy, I waste no time getting that tummy feeling good again. I want the child feeling fine and I want the germs staying put and away from the other five people in our house. Here are my steps to treating upset tummies and preventing the spreading of germs.

Remedies for an Upset Tummy

Activated Charcoal

The first thing I reach for is activated charcoal (affiliate link). This is typically used for gas, but is very helpful when your stomach is upset. My kids who can swallow pills will just swallow two. For those who can't, I empty 1-2 capsules into a small cup of water, stir it up, and have them drink it all. It is tasteless. I have heard (from Carrie over at Wiley Adventures) that having it in the cup of water might make it more effective faster than swallowing a capsule. Note: Do not take this if you are pregnant unless you talk to your OB first. 

Bucket or Bowl

Step two is not a remedy, but I get that kid a bucket or a bowl. If an incident is going to go down, I want the kid able to make it into a bowl and avoid the couch, bed, carpet...baically everything else. From a young age, we teach them to look down into the bowl.

We save the 5 gallon ice cream buckets so we can use those for these fun moments. Then it is a "free" container you don't feel bad about throwing away later. 

Motion Eaze Drops

Motion Eaze drops are drops a friend told me about when I was pregnant with Brinley. It doesn't take away the queasiness, but it helps take the edge off. Put these behind the ears and it helps you so you don't feel so much like you need to throw up. Bonus on owning this, it is great for motion sickness. NOTE--I have linked to Amazon so you can see what I am talking about, but if you buy them, go to Walmart and get them for $5 instead of $20 (yikes). 

DigestZen

This is the oil blend from doTERRA that helps with digestive issues. Rub this around the belly button, smell it, and rub behind the ears. 

OnGuard

OnGuard is the oil blend from doTERRA that helps boost the immune system and fight off viruses. You can put drops on the feet, rub on the spine, and inhale. I always rub on the feet, spine, and have the child take a big sniff. Then I run it in every diffuser in the house in hopes of preventing things from spreading. I have this inexpensive diffuser from Radha Beauty (affiliate link) in every bedroom in my house. I have more expensive ones from doTERRA in the large rooms in my house. 

Sleep

I encourage the sick child to sleep as much as possible. I find sleep a good way to slow the puking down, so it helps that way. Also, as Daniel Tiger teaches us, when you're sick, rest is best. To help sleep come easier, I usually rub some Serenity or Peace essential oils on their feet and spines. 

Isolation

I require the sick child to stay in bed until everyone has left for school. During the getting ready for school time, I encourage sleep as I just discussed. Once kids have gone to school. the sick one can move to the family room if he/she would like. We bring the sick child's own blankets and pillow so the germs stay with the child. I spread a blanket out under the sick child so if any throw up makes it past the bowl, it hopefully lands on the blanket and not on the couch. 

Wash Everything

Hand-washing is obvious. We all wash hands frequently. Once the sick child is better, I wash all of his/her blankets and pillows along with any others that may be carrying the germs. I wash anything I think needs to be sanitized, and I do it on the sanitize cycle. I will go around with some Lysol wipes (affiliate link) to clean up door knobs, remotes, and whatever else may need to be de-germified. I can't always stop the spread of the germs; we are often contagious before we even know we are sick. But preventing even just one person from getting a stomach bug is WELL WORTH the effort I put in to trying to prevent it from spreading.

Related Sickness Posts:

• 4 Essential Oil Diffuser Perks {Friday Finds}
• 6 Simple Ways to Naturally Prevent and Treat a Cold
• Tips and Tricks: Dealing with a Cold
• Surviving an Ear Infection
• Surviving a Cold
• When to Keep Sick Kids Home and When to Send them To School

6 Simple Ways to Naturally Prevent and Treat a Cold

In this post: How to Prevent and Treat a Cold Naturally. Natural ways to prevent getting a cold.

There are much worse sicknesses to have in life than a cold, however, having a cold is not enjoyable in the least. A cold will interfere with your sleep since you are contested. A cold makes it hard to focus on things around you since you do not feel well and you aren't sleeping well. A cold also seems to last forever, so this non-sleeping, non-paying-attention cycle lasts a significant amount of time.

We have some things we do to help prevent a cold from making a home in our home and for helping banish it as quickly as possible when it does settle in. Whether it is a parent or a child with the cold, we want it gone quickly. A child can really be grumpy when a cold is present. Sleep suffers and obedience can decline because the child just isn't feeling well. As a parent, when you have a cold, you can be less patient and kind toward your family because you don't feel well and aren't sleeping well. We want the cold gone as fast as possible!

6 Ways to Naturally Prevent and Treat a Cold

Humidifier
When anyone in our house gets a cold, we put a humidifier in the bedroom at night. We live in a dry climate and winters get VERY dry. A humidifier always helps us to get over the cold quickly. You do need to make sure you don't have the home too humid (see this article to find out ideal humidity levels). You also need to make sure your humidifier is kept clean and free of mold and bacteria. We have been using this humidifier and really like it (affiliate link).

Essential Oils
I love On Guard from doTERRA to prevent sickness--the oils, the beadlets...the everything. They have a whole line. If one person in the house gets sick, or if sickness is running rampant through the school, I run On Guard in a diffuser. If someone gets a cold, we use the oil Breath. We rub it on the chest and put it in a diffuser. It helps a lot to help you breath (hence the name). 

Healthy Eating
It is an age-old piece of advice, but eating healthy foods helps your body be stronger and fight off sickenss. Be sure you are eating healthy and getting the necessary vitamins and nutrients you need. This can be harder in the winter since fresh fruits and veggies are more expensive. You might try a multi-vitamin or some vitamin C to help you out. 

Exercise

Another age-old piece of advice, but exercise is very helpful in keeping you healthy. Exercise boosts your immune system.

"In one study in the American Journal of Medicine, women who walked for a half-hour every day for 1 year had half the number of colds as those who didn't exercise. Researchers found that regular walking may lead to a higher number of white blood cells, which fight infections." Exercise and the Common Cold

If you have a cold, I always find cardio to clear my sinuses, which is a much-welcomed time of relief during a cold! I work out six days a week, and I only skip if I am puking. Colds do not stop me.

Hand-washing
I know this is super obvious, but I can't cut out the obvious! Wash your hands regularly with soap and water. Be intentional about washing your hands when you get home. If I have helped at the school or have been out shopping, I make sure I wash my hands as soon as I walk in the door. 

Manage Stress

I rarely get sick with my above tactics, but always find that when I do get sick, it is when I am at a point of high-stress in my life. The worst is at Christmas! Take extra care of yourself in times of stress. I know, believe me, it is hard to take time to relax when you are stressed about something. There is no time! Just remember how much less effective you will be if you get sick. You will not be operating at full capacity.

There you have my simple system! Do you have any tried and true methods you use to prevent and treat the cold?

Click here for a great list of tips on how to survive a cold.

Essential Oil Car Diffuser {Friday Finds}

One of my very favorite uses for essential oils is to diffuse them. I have always been a person who is strongly impacted by smells. Smells immediately take me back in memories and can easily impact my mood.

When I learned they have diffusers for cars, I was all over that! Car freshening, perking up the driver on a late night drive, maybe getting kids sleepy on a late night drive (I haven't dared try that one--what if I get the driver sleepy, too!).

Here are my favorite oils for diffusing. I use doTERRA essential oils just for having things smell good:

• Citrus Bliss
• Cheer
• Peppermint
• Lemon
• Lemongrass

You can buy oils here at my doTERRA site. If you chose to buy doTERRA oils through my link, I will get a percentage of your sale, but that doesn't change your cost at all. As with anything else I talk about, if you have any questions about essential oils, let me know and I will help you out! You can just buy as a retail customer. You can also buy as a wholesale customer, so you get oils cheaper and can get the free oil of the month if you spend enough money. Another cool thing is your shipping costs are recouped as product credit points. Or you can become an advocate yourself and get all of the same perks, plus get a percentage of what people buy from you. 

To read more about my doTERRA thoughts, see my doTERRA page on this blog.

 

window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">

Essential Oils for Back To School

Going back to school can be super exciting, but it can also bring up a lot of other emotions. One of my favorite things with essential oils is how they can help with your emotions and how the scent of the smells can have a strong impact on you. Here are some great oils for back to school time.

Wild Orange for Anxiety

There can be a lot of anxiety with school, especially at the beginning of the year as first day jitters are at a high. Anxiety can also creep up on a test day. You simply drop some of the oil into your child's hands, have her rub her hands together, and then she can smell the wild orange. This can also work for any moms with first day jitters :). This scent just helps you feel happy. Buy yours here.

InTune for Focus

Your child might have a hard time focusing at times. That is when inTune comes in handy! This is a roll on blend of Amyris, Patchouli, Frankincense, Lime, Ylang Ylang, Sandalwood, and Roman Chamomile. This blend is made especially for focus. Buy yours here.

Peppermint and Wild Orange for Homework Time

Peppermint is one of my all-time favorite oils. I use it all the time. For the purposes of this post, peppermint and wild orange are great for homework time. Peppermint can invigorate you. They can both help you focus in. Peppermint is a great mood-lifter, so some peppermint oil and a diffuser might be a nice back to school gift for your child's teacher to help her get through those stressful days.   Buy yours here.

On Guard for Immunity

When school starts back up, the germs start coming back home. On Guard works very well for fighting germs. I diffuse that baby like crazy and rub it on feet whenever someone is sick at my house. It is so popular with doTerra that they have a whole line of On Guard stuff. Oils, beadlets and softgels, cleaner, hand wash, laundry detergent, toothpaste, and cough drops (fair warning, I find the cough drops to be absolutely disgusting. Some people love them!).  Buy yours here.

Serenity for Sleeping

Sometimes it can be hard to sleep at night, and that can bring anxiety when school is early the next day. Serentiy is great for those nights your child can't sleep or you just want your child to sleep well that night. I used it while camping a couple of times this summer and it helped me actually sleep those nights (I really should just use it every night while camping). You can diffuse this into the room at night. You can rub it on the feet and/or on the spine. I also always have my kids smell it straight from the bottle.  Buy yours here.

Diffuser

A great way to use essential oils for moods is to diffuse. This is my favorite diffuser I just bought off Amazon. We own six of these at our house! That is how much I love them. This is an inexpensive diffuser that you can try out to see if you like diffusing oils. Affiliate link ---> http://amzn.to/2uerhGP



Related Posts

• 6 Essential Oils to Help Your Child Sleep Better

• 6 Essential Oils to Take With You When You Travel
• Surviving a Cold
• Surviving Mosquitoes
• Surviving an Ear Infection
• Surviving Bed Rest

6 Essential Oils to Take With You When You Travel

When I started using essential oils, I started off not really knowing how to use them. I didn't know when to use them. As time went by, they became something I used more often and something I turned to before trying medicine in most cases. After a few years of using oils, I was using them. So much so that when we traveled, I would haul ALL of them with me "just in case." We don't usually have space to take everything with us "just in case" when we travel, so I have refined what is really needed in most instances. Here are 6 essential oils to take with you when you travel. This post contains affiliate links.

Digestzen

Several of my children get carsick. For that reason, Digestzen is a must in our travels. You can rub it on the tummy, under the nose, and/or behind the ears (in the soft spot behind the ear) to help with nausea. It is also helpful to have it on hand in case of indigestion while traveling and eating out more. 

Peppermint

Peppermint can also be used for nausea. It is also useful for headaches and for improving mood. You can diffuse this in the car (they make these cool diffusers for cars!).  I also love peppermint for allergies, so if you travel somewhere and find it flares up allergies, you can apply it to the bottoms of feet and/or under your nose. You can also rub peppermint oil diluted in fractionated coconut oil to boost milk supply, so if you are breastfeeding and the traveling is dropping yous supply, give that a try (just be sure it is cleaned off before you feed your baby!). 

Melaleuca

Melaleuca, or tea tree oil, is great for sickness. It is great to fight against fungus, which can be a good thing to fight against when you are traveling at times. It is helpful to pair with lavender to put on a cut or wound to clean and disinfect it. It is also helpful for ear infections (oils cannot go in ears! Just around them). 

Lavender

Lavender is a calming oil. This is another one you can diffuse in the car. If everyone is getting edgy or you want to inspire sleepiness, lavender is a great oil to turn to. It can help at night if your child is having a hard time sleeping in a new place (just put on the bottoms of feed or diffuse. You can also put it on your child's hand and have her smell it). You can also put lavender on sunburns to help heal the skin. Lavender is also a good one for allergies--put it under your nose to help. You can also put it in cuts to help disinfect and over blisters to help them heal. 

Citrus Bliss

Citrus Bliss is my very favorite smell. It really lifts my mood. This is a great one for helping everyone feel happy and to keep your driver awake. It makes a great air freshener, which we all know the car can use during and after a road trip. Another great one to diffuse. It can be used any day while you are doing things. You can put a drop in your palms and rub them together, then smell them when you need a pick-me-up. You can also put it on palms, under the nose, or on the back of the neck. You can also use this as an antiseptic, so if you aren't sure about a surface, this can be mixed with water and sprayed on the surface. 

onGuard

This is one of my very favorite oils. When we are fighting a sickness or if someone just gets sick, we diffuse this through the night. You can also put it on palms, bottoms of feet, or even just smell from the bottle. When you are traveling, you can pick up a bunch of sickness from your activities or from staying in close proximity with lots of people. You can also use this as an antiseptic, so if you aren't sure about a surface, this can be mixed with water and sprayed on the surface. On children, this is one you want to dilute.

How to Transport?

So how do you transport your oils without it taking up a ton of space? I have two different methods. One is a travel oils case. 

This one can hold your exact oils as they are. 

Here is one for just the 5 ML bottles.


You can also use a keychain case that has small vials that you fill up from your bottles of oils.

I also have this case that holds 16 different bottles, from the 5 ML on up through roll-ons. It zips closed and has a carrying case. It is great if you can't possibly go with just 6 oils. Maybe you want to bring along some Lime for your water or maybe you use Zendocrine oil each day to help with your hormones and want to bring those along. This just allows you to take even more oils than what I listed above.


If you want to buy some essential oils and don't know how to get started, or just want help, please email me at valplowman@gmail.com and I will help you out!  You can also go to my doTERRA store to order oils online. 

Preventing and Treating Sunburns

The sun is out and there is fun to be had in the sun! How do you prevent sunburns? And when the time comes that we missed a spot, were unprepared, or just plain forgot about protecting from the sun, what can we do about it? Here are some ideas. This post contains affiliate links.

Prevention:

• Shade: Shade is the first and most obvious idea for preventing sunburns. If you are going to be out in the sun and shade will not be in abundance, bring your own. A pop-up shade works well, but it can be bulky. If it is just me with my kids, I go to the Sportbrella because I can easily manage it on my own. If that is too bulky still, you can use a traditional umbrella. Wide brim hats can be helpful.
• Clothing: You want to be prepared to cover yourself from the sun if needed. long-sleeved shirts and rash guards are great for protecting sensitive skin. I am thinking about trying out a jammer swim bottom for myself because my thighs only see the sun when I am in a swimsuit. No reason to continually burn for that. 
• Sunscreen: There has been a lot going around the internet lately about not using sunscreen because it is dangerous, or yes use sunscreen because the sun is dangerous...it can be confusing to know what you should use. There are some natural sunscreens and recipes you can try if you want to avoid traditional sunscreen you buy at the store. Here is a natural sunscreen recipe. This is a pre-made natural sunscreen cream you might try. Some people even swear by coconut oil! I haven't tried it. 
• Timing: Stay out of the sun when it is the peak of the day. That is usually between 10-4. 
  

Treating Sunburn:

• Essential Oils: Essential oils can be a great way to help with sunburns. Use some coconut oil and some peppermint to help relieve pain and cool the skin. Use some coconut oil and lavender to reduce redness and swelling (you can also put lavender in a spritz bottle and spray it on). I sell essential oils. You can go to my store and sign up under me and be on my team! You can even be on my team simply as a customer, no selling required. In June, until the 15th, you can even get a free bottle of Serenity with qualifying orders. Serenity is my go-to oil for sleepless nights or when I want my children to sleep really well that night. 
• Bayer Extra Strength Aspirin: This is my absolute go-to when I have a sunburn. Aspirin for sunburns! Feeling skeptical about it? Try it! You must. It helps reduce inflammation, fights pain, and takes the heat out. I promise! It is really like a miracle. 
• Aloe Vera: Of course the old go-to of aloe vera. 

There you have it! For even more ideas, see this post below:

6 Great Ways to Stay Hydrated This Summer

The benefits of drinking enough water are well-documented. Water helps you have more energy, eat (or drink) fewer empty calories, keeps skin looking good, keeps your kidneys healthy, keeps the body cleansed, and helps prevent headaches, just to name a few. Being aware of water intake is wise year round.

It is especially important in warm weather to drink enough water. Dehydration, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke are all concerns, and the warmer it is, the more water you need. Here are some ways to stay hydrated this summer. This post contains affiliate links. 

Get a Great Water Bottle

Find something you love to use. We are all different and have different preferences. I love a tumbler with a straw. I use a stainless steel one for my essential oils...

Use Essential Oils for Flavor

I don't mind the taste of just water, but I love it even more with some essential oils. My favorite is lime or lemon. The citrus oils are all great options, including orange and grapefruit. You will want to experiment to see what you like. A bonus for me with the lemon this May has been helping my throat irritation due to allergies. If you really don't like water, essential oils are a great way to flavor it without packing in calories. A big reason I use doTerra essential oils is because they are safe to consume. If you put essential oils into a cup, you want it to be stainless steel or glass, not plastic. 

Filter Your Water

I drink a lot more when my filter in my refrigerator is not past-due to be changed. There are places I have visited that I have to gag the water down to drink it. If you have a hard time, try filtering your water. You can use a Brita water system if you don't have filtered water in your fridge. 

Use an App to Track Water Intake

I use an app to track my water. I have way too much to remember and think about each day--I will not be able to remember how many glasses of water I have had that day. I use an app called WaterMinder. I also use my Fitbit app to track water, but that is only helpful if you have a Fitbit. 

Experiment With Temperature

Do you drink more when your water is room temperature or cold? Somewhere in between? For me, I always thought it was room temperature, but as I started tracking. I realized I drank more when I added ice to my drink, especially in the summer. I can drink a lot at once easier if it is warmer, but I drink more overall if it is cold. 

Take Your Water With You

Be sure you have water with you. Keep your favorite water bottle with you as you move about the house. Take it with you in the car. If you are going to be gone for an extended period, be sure you have a water bottle with you so you can drink throughout the day. 

Conclusion

When I am drinking enough throughout the day, I must go to the rest-room once an hour. That can vary from person to person based on your bladder and such. 

When you're getting enough fluids, urine flows freely, is light in color and free of odor. When your body is not getting enough fluids, urine concentration, color, and odor increases because the kidneys trap extra fluid for bodily functions. source

Know how often is right for you and that can help you gauge if you are drinking enough or not. 

6 Essential Oils to Help Your Child Sleep Better

Even with the best of sleep training, there will be times your little one has a hard time sleeping. There can be a multitude of reasons. Recently at our house, McKenna (age 8) was having a hard time sleeping for a few nights in a row because she finished Anne of Green Gables. No spoilers here, but if you have read it, there is a sad event toward the end. McKenna sobbed, I mean SOBBED, at the end of Frozen. I should have thought better of letting her read Anne of Green Gables. 

Your child might have a hard time sleeping from a scary dream, worries, excitement, sickenss, teething, overstimulation, being up too late...there are a lot of legitimate reasons that come up. When those times come up at our house, we love to use essential oils. They are simple, quick fixes that relax the children right away. If we have something big the next day and I want sleep to come quickly, I go straight to the oils before they ever head to their rooms. 

I apply these oils to the bottoms of feet and also use a diffuser to get them into the air. Another popular method of application is down the spine. 

• Serenity blend--this is my absolute favorite and the favorite of all of my children. It is fantastic! It has a lot of the oils listed below in this blend.
  
• Lavender. This is in Serenity. This is one most people have if they have any essential oils at all. If you have a little one and don't want to dilute the lavender, doTERRA actually has a Touch series that is already blended for you. You can use these on infants. So you can get a Lavender Touch and just keep it on hand for bedtime. 
• Cedarwood. This one blends well with Lavender. A cool thing about buying from doTERRA is every month, you can get a free oil if you spend so much money. This month, the oil is Cedarwood. So this is a great month to get your sleepy oils. 
• Vetiver. Vetiver is very earthy. If you or your child prefers earthy smells, this might be the one for you.
• Roman Chamomile. You hear the word chamomile and think of something intended to relax you. 
• Balance. This is my husband's favorite night and calming oil. 

This month, you can also get the Petal Diffuser from doTERRA at a deal--it is 10% off this month. So you can get your oils, get a diffuser, and you will be set to go and face your next "I can't sleep" night. 

To order your sleep-helping oils, head on over to my doTERRA store. Please let me know if you need help. You can read more here about doTERRA. 

4 Essential Oil Diffuser Perks {Friday Finds}

I love the smell of skunk. One whiff and it takes me right back to driving through Wyoming. Wyoming meant grandparents, family, and fun. Every time we made the trek to Wyoming, we smelled skunk, and even today, when I smell skunk on the road, it brings me back to that feeling of excited anticipation.

The sense of smell is powerful.

"A number of behavioral studies have demonstrated that smells trigger more vivid emotional memories and are better at inducing that feeling of “being brought back in time” than images. " source

This post contains affiliate links.

This past December, I finally jumped on the train of using a diffuser for essential oils. I have been using doTERRA essential oils for four years, but had not yet tried the diffuser. We only got "aromatic" in our application by smelling it from the bottle and maybe rubbing it on a hand. With Christmas approaching, and me owning a fake Christmas tree, I was pushed to finally give the diffuser a try.

You know when you finally try something and then wonder why in the world you thought so long about it before actually trying it? The diffuser has been that for me. I initially bought one for the house. After having it a short time, it was clear we needed a lot because everyone wanted it in their rooms at night. In the course of a month and a half, we went from trying one out to owning six. Yep. Six. That number will grow!

Oh my how much I love it! Seriously, love. The diffuser really utilizes the ability for essential oils to reach you emotionally. My hands-down favorite oil to diffuse for smell is Citrus Bliss. I also really like Lime and the blend Cheer. Then of course you have fun smells at different times of year, like Cinnamon and various Firs at Christmas. Here are my favorite uses for the essential oils in a diffuser:

• Change mood. Need kids to calm down? Use a calming oil. Need them to wake up in the morning? Use a nice citrus oil or peppermint. Need to keep yourself focused? Put an essential oil in while you work (I almost always have it on when I am blogging these days).
• Disperse OnGuard. I love OnGaurd for protecting against sickness. I have found the diffuser the most effective way to use it.
• Make things smell good. I like my house to smell good, and this is a way to do it that is a safe way to get the smell through the house. 
• Help with sleep. Sometimes we have had a busy day and the kids are getting to bed late. Or sometimes a big day is coming up the next day and I want to be sure sleep comes easily and stays solidly for the night. Those are nights I use Serenity in the diffuser. 

In my kids' rooms, I like to diffuse On Guard like crazy. Any time one of them is sick, I diffuse the On Guard through the night in every bedroom. During the play, I had it going all night every night to prevent sickness (none came even though sickness was going through the cast like crazy!). Sometimes we do the blend Serenity to help anyone having a hard time sleeping at night. I love diffusing so much that every bedroom in my house now has a diffuser (two in our master bedroom since it is larger), as does my office. doTERRA of course sells diffusers. I bought this one from Amazon and really like it. There are two different models of the same diffuser. I bought one, then bought one more and it was a little different, then bought three all at once and one was one way and two were the other. I have liked them both, though they have some slight differences and I also think it is very strange that there are different versions being sold.

I plan to get my next one from doTERRA just to get one that can cover a larger area. The one I have is great for a smaller room, but I want something that can fill a large room (like our new family room, which should be done very soon! Follow me on Instagram to track the progress). Also, I think if you are not totally positive you will love using a diffuser, it is nice to go with something less expensive initially. As a side note, the one I have can light up, but you can use it with no lights at all. That was a must for me with them being in my kids' rooms at night.

In the past, when I have recommended an oil for you, I have linked to the oil on Amazon. I recently decided to start selling them myself and sending you directly to doTERRA. It isn't a decision I came to lightly. I literally went to their corporate headquarters and toured the facility for a day. I analyzed every detail. I saw where the customer service reps work and walked among them. I saw their break room. I ate in their cafeteria. I saw where they bottle the oils and where the scientists test the oils. I saw where the oils are stored before they are shipped out (that room is a major sensory overload for the olfactories!). I walked through the board room and saw the main offices. I learned about their efforts to give back to people all over the world. I was impressed with the company, the moral I felt throughout, and their practices and procedures. Above all, it had a good feeling.

That evening, when I got home and was perusing Facebook, I came across a post on how easy it is to swap out oils. There are apparently sellers on Amazon selling oils that have either been swapped out or diluted in some way under the guise that they are doTERRA oils. The video showed how simple it is to do so. Because of this and because of the rise of fake oils being sold, doTERRA came out and asked their consultants to not sell on Amazon.

That was the final tipping point for me. I felt good about the company, I know I love the products. Like I said, I have been happily using them for four years. I already recommend them to you and I didn't feel good about sending you readers to Amazon for the oils anymore. I don't have to carry inventory; when you order, it ships from doTERRA to you. So I am essentially becoming an affiliate for doTERRA . A perk of buying from doTERRA instead of Amazon is you can get the promotional offers. You can get free oils and other products when you order so much. I always like free!

You can buy oils here at my doTERRA site. If you chose to buy doTERRA oils through my link, I will get a percentage of your sale, but that doesn't change your cost at all. As with anything else I talk about, if you have any questions about essential oils, let me know and I will help you out! You can just buy as a retail customer. You can also buy as a wholesale customer, so you get oils cheaper and can get the free oil of the month if you spend enough money. Another cool thing is your shipping costs are recouped as product credit points. Or you can become an advocate yourself and get all of the same perks, plus get a percentage of what people buy from you.

To read more about my doTERRA thoughts, see my doTERRA page on this blog. You can create happy associations with smells for your kids with oils and a diffuser! You can probably even make it smell better than a skunk ;).