Essential Oils: A Trial Period

I tend to avoid things that are trendy, expensive, and promise too-good-to-be-true results. And, don't shoot me, but I think essential oils falls into this category.

However-

I am willing to try new things if they come recommended by someone close to me. Usually it takes more than one such person to convince me, and often it takes multiple tries on their part, but usually I come around if you insist that your favorite miracle cure works.

Such is the case with peppermint oil. My sister-in-law, Kim, has been using them for... ever, and she has been telling me about that long that peppermint oil is a great external solution for headaches. Safer than Motrin or Tylenol, and effective.

The cost held me off for a while. 

But I get headaches. Not a normal skull hammering, and usually not migraines (though I sometimes get "silent" migraines, but that's a topic for another day), but I get a kind of fatigue-eye-strain-pressure thing in my forehead. I get them a lot. Particularly when I have been at work. I am currently blaming the giant room full of bright fluorescent lights. Glasses to help filter the light will cost me about $150, so... I decided to put on my sunglasses and try peppermint oil.

Said sister-in-law's sister sells Young Living, so I decided to support her, since she's family of family, and I paid her $22 (which I think may be her cost, it's over $28 on the website) and got my little bitty bottle the other day.

Then I went two days without any headaches. Yay! I don't actually get them every day, but they are frequent enough that I decided to take the oil to work with me, just in case. Good thing I did. This afternoon, I realized I was feeling so very tired and the pressure was starting to build in my forehead. I took my PM vitamins (which I'm trying for fatigue which is a nearly constant thing; I'm not sold yet) and remembered I had that oil. Huzzah!

I really did put on my sunglasses, but I also got out the oil. I spread a few drops on my forehead and a few more on my neck, as close as I could get to my hairline, and I went back to work. It took a few minutes, but shortly afterward, I realized the pressure was gone. GONE. Also, a few more minutes later, my skin started to tingle, but not unpleasantly, where the oil was. *Note: The website says to massage the oil in. I didn't do this. It might have been even more effective if I had. 

So the verdict? Well, I don't want to say it's a miracle cure, and I don't want to say that it for sure works for everything, but so far so good. I will be using it again and I will even try the tips from the website for keeping energy up. It is expensive, but if it improves my quality of life, it will be worth it.

I understand that there are many companies hocking essential oils nowadays, but only a few are reputed to be processed in such a way as to be most beneficial. The two I know of that are worth your money are DoTerra and Young Living. Some distributors will give you samples if you ask. 

Here are some tips the Young Living site has specific to peppermint oil:

Product Tips

• Add a drop of peppermint essential oil to herbal tea to help aid normal digestion.
• Massage several drops of peppermint essential oil on the abdomen, place a drop on wrists, or inhale to soothe the minor stomach discomfort associated with travel.
• Rub one drop of peppermint essential oil on the temples, forehead, over the sinuses (careful to avoid contact with your eyes), and on the back of the neck to relieve head pressure.
• Place 2 drops of peppermint essential oil on the tongue and rub another drop of oil under the nose to help improve concentration and alertness.
• Apply peppermint essential oil to the back of the neck and shoulders throughout the day to keep energy up.
• Inhale peppermint essential oil, apply topically to your temples or neck, or put a drop on your tongue or in water to jump-start your morning routine.
• Diffuse or inhale peppermint essential oil mid-morning to curb the desire to snack.
• Inhale peppermint essential oil or rub a drop on to your abdomen to soothe minor stomach discomfort.