favor-“ette”: essential oils

i was the LAST person to even think about using essential oils….

Seriously – the LAST person to consider essential oils as anything other than a DIY/craft ingredient. Let me explain…

I’ll start by saying that the way I would have described myself – for many many years – is as the “sickest healthy person you’ve ever met”. Meaning, any doctor I visited, any testing I underwent, any check-up I had, found me to be a person in practically perfect health. From immune system, to cholesterol, to whatever the “good” blood cells are – gold stars all around.

Yet I was constantly (and I mean CONSTANTLY) fighting a chronic and persistent, “meh” feeling. Nothing bad enough to take me out of commission, but enough to make me feel lousy, or send me to yet another doctor – who would say “all tests are clear; probably a virus”. Liquids, rest, blah blah blah. And as you can imagine, I tried everything under the sun – supplements, diet, nutritionists – you name it. Spent a lot of money and saw no real change. So, so frustrating.

Then last fall, something happened. In the span of just a few months, two friends from two completely different parts of my life spoke to me about the effects of essential oils on their health and overall well being. One had been using them for about a year, the other for over 15 years.

Now about these women – they are both super smart, savvy and meticulous about what they put on and in their bodies. I value their opinions and trust them completely. And the essential oils they both use? Young Living. And this really gave me pause.

I realized that I had been on the “fringes” of healthier living for years – I had ditched dryer sheets and scented candles, switched to a less toxic brand of deodorant and was even enjoying the benefits of a eucalyptus shower. We worked with a wellness chiropractor for Noah for several years (after he went on steroids to address his epilepsy), and he spoke often about gut health, probiotics, and all of the toxins lurking in our everyday products. I KNEW I could do better, with a little research. Ugh, RESEARCH.

Now about me and research. I detest it as I get completely overwhelmed, and tend to just shut down after a typically short attempt (and information overload). But if you give me ONE place to research I will dive deep.

Which is exactly what I did with Young Living, after my friends recommended it. I knew nothing more about essential oils other than they made my DIYs smell nice. Was there really more to them? I researched Young Living and was blown away. Not only by what I learned, but what I hadn’t a clue about. Here’s what I learned:

* Young Living has an unmatched Seed to Seal process, to guarantee the purity & potency of every oil. Each batch of oils is rigorously tested in-house for therapeutic viability, and they are so confident in their products that you can actually visit the farms and participate in the harvest/distillation process.

* Young Living is the world leader in essential oils, and has been harvesting and distilling oils for over 25 years.

* Young Living essential oils do not have any additives, and can be taken internally.

And here’s what I hadn’t a clue about:

* There is no governmental regulating body that grades or certifies essential oils as “therapeutic grade” or “aromatherapy grade”, so any company can label their oils as such, and you would never know otherwise.

* It is a highly temperamental process to distill oils from plants, and it cannot be rushed. Young Living is a part of the entire process from “Seed to Seal”. They make sure that the soil the crops are planted in has never been touched with pesticides or herbicides, so that toxins are never present in the plants or in the oils. Young Living oversees each step, ensuring that the correct temperature is used for the correct amount of time so that every constituent is intact. They go above and beyond to guarantee that every drop of oil is “beyond organic.”

I couldn’t resist – I HAD to give this a try.

So I ordered a starter bundle (click the link to see what I got!) and dove in. I immediately fell in love with diffusing, and now have a diffuser running all day in my kitchen, as well as every evening in both of our bedrooms. But I was most excited about all of the oils, so I kept them out on my counter to ensure that I would reach for them at every opportunity.

I then learned that Young Living has so much more than essential oils, which allowed me to start ditching every single toxic product in my home – from all of my cleaners, to laundry detergent, hand soap, supplements and more!

And they’ve made a difference. Some from the moment I used them (like Panaway and Peppermint), others over time. I knew that consistency was important so I bought a few books and started making some blends for me and Noah (who LOVES them) to use each day. My feeling of overall wellness started to improve, as did my sleep, and I am grateful to have one reputable source for slowly making the switch to a healthier home. It couldn’t be easier with this company. And I think that’s what this all boiled down to for me. We ALL want to do better for ourselves, our homes and our families. And let’s be honest – we are more likely to “do better” if it’s easy, right? When we find a company or products that work we can check that off our list and use them exclusively. EASY.

What was NOT so easy? Sharing all of this with you. I have not even shared this with my friends till right now (hi guys!). Why? Frankly, I was embarrassed. I mean, how could I credibly share my love of essential oils without sounding like a COMPLETE KOOK? Not to mention the stigma attached to these products. I did NOT want to be “that person”. I mean, there are MEMES.

So I kept it to myself.

But I soon questioned that decision. I think nothing of sharing my favorite doughnuts, a must-have sweater, or the best way to freeze berries. But a company whose products have made a significant change in my family’s life? Yeah, I’ll just keep that one under wraps.

You guys – I LOVE this company. And I think you will too. But I respect this space and don’t want it to be anything other than what you’ve come to expect when you visit. So I thought long and hard about how I could talk about Young Living products and our quest for a healthier home – WITHOUT it taking over this blog.

You’ll notice on my home page a new tab called “Essential Oils”, with drop-down pages for more specific information on how to get started. But I encourage you to reach out to me anytime at Sheri@sherisilver.com, so we can have a conversation that is geared toward your specific questions and concerns.

Sound good? I can’t believe I’ve been writing this blog for almost NINE years. Some of you have been with me from the very beginning – when it was “Donuts, Dresses and Dirt” – and have seen this space transition and evolve over time. I hope this latest addition is a positive one for you, even if it inspires you to make one small change in your home.

Thank you so much for reading this super-sized post; I value all of you so much. xo

Any suggestions made on this blog are very specific to Young Living essential oils and should not be used with oils from another source. Statements made on this website about Young Living Essential Oils have not been evaluated by the FDA. These products and information are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Anyone suffering from disease or injury should consult with a physician. If you are currently on medication, please do not stop.

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