Episode 110: Supporting Yourself with Essential Oils

doTERRA: Essential oils are wonderful gifts of the earth that have incredible versatility. They have the capability to work into every part of your life and daily routine. And today, we're going to talk about some oils that are great to start using every day.

Welcome back to Essential Oil Solutions with doTERRA, the podcast where you'll hear exciting, useful, and simple everyday uses for essential oils from experts in the field. If you like what you hear today, rate, review, and subscribe wherever you listen. We always appreciate hearing from you.

Today, we're excited to talk to Danielle Smith about some of her favorite oils to keep her body supported, as well as oils she uses to create her ideal environment. Dani, thank you so much for joining us today.

Dani Smith: I'm super excited to be here. Thank you!

doTERRA: So taking care of your body is something that everyone wants to do. It becomes a priority in basically everyone's life. So what are some lifestyle changes that I can make to support my body and make sure that I am keeping it functioning at its highest capacity?

Dani: You know what? I really feel like this question is so important, especially this time of year. So we could actually spend our entire time talking about so many things. But if I had to narrow it down for you, I'd say first, I will always be an advocate that with proper nutrition, we can really address so many health concerns.

So making those lifestyle changes of staying away from processed foods, eating whole foods. And I know it's not always easy as a busy mom. I get that. But it's really one of the most important things that we can do for our body. So one of the things that is really important for us and our family are taking vitamins, nutrients that we're not necessarily getting from our diet. And that's why I'm a huge fan of Lifelong Vitality and supplementation as well.

doTERRA: And I love that. And like you said, making sure we're filling in the spots that maybe we're not getting in our diet is so important.

Dani: Yeah. And, you know, I have friends that ask me all the time about essential oils and what I would recommend. And really eating healthy and supplementation is going to be the first thing that I suggest, and then the oils. I like to talk to them about, it's kind of like building a house, you know? Without proper foundation, that's going to collapse, right?

So if you can think of that LLV as the cement in your foundation and sometimes that cement gets cracks and the oils can go in and fill those cracks, but you really have to have that solid foundation first. And then we turn to, ok, what essential oils can I use for whatever you're dealing with?

doTERRA: I love that analogy. So one thing that crops up a lot this time of the year is people wanting to focus on clear breathing. So what do you recommend to help promote clear breathing?

Dani: Yeah, so funny enough, this is actually the question that I was searching for when I got introduced to essential oils—for my son, actually—over 10 years ago. So we had really tried everything to help him, and nothing was working at the time. Then somebody introduced us to the oils, and it was really a game changer.

And we've tried a lot of different oils over the years, but one of our really tried-and-true oils has been Peppermint. And for him specifically, we'll just do a few drops in his hands, and then he cups them over his nose and mouth and just really starts to inhale deeply. And as he's been getting older over the years, you know, he's in sports now. And, you know, whenever he's starting to run or he's at a practice, he makes sure to have that Peppermint with him. He actually now rubs it over his chest, and it just really helps him stay more energized as well.

doTERRA: And I love that that is part of what brought you into doTERRA. And obviously, it's made such a big difference for him in his life.

Dani: It really has. And in addition, we use it throughout our house, too. And like I said, especially during this time of year, you know, I love diffusing Peppermint. I'll add Lime to the Peppermint in my diffusers, and it's a fabulous way, and just really helps you.

doTERRA: So moving on to another aspect that becomes really important around this time of year is our immune system. So what essential oils can I use every day to help support my immune system?

Dani: Yeah, okay. So I truly think that one of the most important oils you could be using to help boost your immune system is On Guard. And we use this all over our home every day, and even more so when it's that time of year when seasonal threats are on the rise.

So our routine is they'll immediately wash their hands. I'll even give them an On Guard Beadlet or lozenge. And for me, myself, I even do a drop on my tongue every single morning. And it might sound like we're obsessed, but I can definitely say with certainty that they are absolutely healthier because we've had this pattern of consistently using On Guard in our family for sure.

So another really favorite for me is Copaiba. And I feel like it gets really overlooked when it comes to supporting the immune system at times. So taking Copaiba internally can really make a huge difference in supporting your body's inflammatory response and, in turn, supporting your immune system. And it's really good for so many other things too. I have friends that use this to support their brain function and even your digestive system. And so Copaiba and On Guard are going to be my two that I would recommend for helping support your immune system.

doTERRA: And those are definitely two powerhouses that can make a huge amount of difference for people.

Dani: Absolutely. And I will say, like, most people that I’ve talked to, those two are the ones that are just real game changers for them as far as, you know, their overall health as well.

doTERRA: Absolutely. So, Dani, I want to shift gears a little bit now from talking about directly supporting our body to supporting our environment that we're in every day. So why is it that intentionally creating your environment is so important?

Dani: I'm a really big fan of intentionally creating the environment that you're in. And really, when we think about it, we have so much thrown at us daily from, you know, right now maybe it's kids in school or not in school or suddenly being forced to homeschool or maybe at work or feelings of uncertainty with your work. And I mean, the list can really go on.

And I think it's easy to feel like you're drowning and all of those things on maybe that checklist that you're making every day. And if you're not intentionally making decisions that are going to really help you take control of your day, you're just going to feel like you're spiraling. And it's—I've been there, done that. So I know I'm coming from that space. And really, when you're creating that space for good things to flow to throughout your day, even though everything around you might feel totally out of control, it's going to help with your energy, and you'll really be less stressed and even more productive.

So when we're talking about creating our environment, using essential oils can be a really great way to do that. But even things like making sure that you're getting enough sleep at night and creating a peaceful environment before bed, shutting off those devices or having a device-less room. Is that even a word? But making sure that the devices are out of your room, and you're not constantly looking at your phone. So it gives your brain time to really relax and settle in so you're getting enough sleep.

And then as you're waking up in the morning, you know, maybe it's through, again, diffusing as soon as you get up to just create a peaceful environment in your home, whatever it is that you decide, but making sure that—it's almost like you're kind of taking the, you know, taking the steering wheel of your life instead of reacting to everything. And those couple things, just creating that environment that you're really wanting, is going to make a huge difference.

doTERRA: Absolutely. So what are some essential oils that you turn to when you're wanting to create a calming and relaxing environment?

Dani: Yeah, so there's a couple. But the first that I'd say is Adaptiv. So this oil, for us specifically, has been one of my go-to oils in my toolbox really for my entire family. I have six kids, so I talk a lot about kids and family, and we have a lot going on with all of us. But, you know, everyone is dealing with something a little bit different. I do have a couple of kids in particular, though, that really struggle. And honestly, I think as they've been getting a little bit older and a couple are now teenagers, I think just, you know, school, friends, and hormones is just magnifying everything for them.

So the Adaptiv oil—as well as the capsules, I'm a real big fan of the capsules—has really helped them in a way that can help them feel calm. And it's been pretty incredible to watch, actually, especially, you know, when you see your teens stressing out about a test or a game practice. For them to be able to come to me and say, “Mom, I think I need some Adaptiv.” It's just such a blessing. And they can feel it working, and that's why they ask for it, which has been really, really amazing.

Another new one that is a favorite of mine is Northern Escape. And I have to tell you, when I opened this bottle, I literally felt like I was in the middle of a forest. It was incredible. So this oil is super calming. It has that woodsy aroma, and it has lots of tree oils in it, like Black Spruce and Siberian fur, Cedarwood, Frankincense. And it feels amazingly grounded. So just with the visual, I always like to talk about how our tree oils, you know, trees develop roots. So when the wind and the storms come, they don't fall over. And that Northern Escape has been doing that exact thing for me, almost helping me stay planted and balanced and calm.

doTERRA: I love all of that. And I love that visualization of the roots of a tree just going in deep and helping you stay planted.

Dani: yeah, and you know, interestingly, just yesterday, I had a pretty quick experience where I saw this working so quickly. And it was with my four-year-old. And I grabbed that Northern Escape, and I put a couple drops in my hand. I put him in my lap, and just let him breathe it in. And, you know, we've used things like Cedarwood and Frankincense by themselves for stuff like this before. But it was really great to have something perfectly blended with so many of those calming favorites in there. And I can't wait to use it more as well.

doTERRA: That's incredible. So we've talked about a lot of different oils today, and you've mentioned some of the ways you use them with your family. But how do you work all of these oils into your daily routine?

Dani: Yeah, this is honestly probably the biggest question that I get from families. And it's really important because if you aren't creating a routine, you really aren't going to see the results that you're hoping for. And I think that the one thing that I would tell everybody to remember is consistency and frequency are two very important factors in creating lasting change. So if you're only using the oils every two months, you're just really not going to see the results that you want to.

So some things that we do as a family is first thing in the morning, we fill up the diffuser with something uplifting. And again, we're trying to create that kind of happy, peaceful environment in our homes. So we will grab any kind of grounding our citrus oils. We love Wild Orange and Citrus Bliss in the diffuser.

In addition, we have jars, like mason jars, that we have filled up with our supplements in the kitchen. So where we can see them to grab them first thing. And all of my family, all six of my kids, take the vitamins and probiotics. So we start with that diffuser, getting kind of that supplementation in at breakfast.

And then I think the biggest key is making sure you have lots of access points throughout your house with oils in them. So I have a little tray in my kitchen and in my basement, my bathroom and my office. And I'll be honest, I am all about easy. So sometimes if I have to search the house for an oil, I won't use it. And I'll get distracted and go do something else. But if it's visible and I can grab it quick, it makes all the difference and really having it accessible for everyone in my family. So when they need something like that Adaptiv, it's just a really quick and easy way to get it to them. And so we make sure that we have that kind of throughout the house in the day.

I also make sure I always have the oils in my purse or a little keychain of some of my favorites for access when I'm not home. And I use those all the time, not at home. I mean, if you've ever tried to go to Costco with kids, then you know that you have to have like frequent oil breaks throughout the store or, you know, so making sure that you're just able to use them throughout the day as needed is important.

One of our most, I would say, treasured parts of our day is at night when we put our kids to bed. And so we have a routine every night. We've literally done it every night for ten years because if we don't do it, my kids won't go to sleep. So if we've been busy and we forget to put oils on them, they will just yell, “Mom, you forgot oils.” So at night, before they go to bed, we will put On Guard on the bottoms of their feet, Lavender or Adaptiv on the back of their neck. And it's just part of their routine, and it helps them relax and go to bed.

So, you know, honestly, at first, it may seem a little bit daunting as we talk about all these different oils and “Oh, can I remember to grab that diffuser and remember to put it in my purse?” But once you find your groove, it gets easier and easier. And really, I think the most important thing is once you start seeing those results, it's really something that you will not forget to do.

doTERRA: I think you are 100 percent correct. Dani, thank you so much for talking with us today, for sharing these incredible tips and tricks and how they have helped your family.

Dani: You are so welcome!

doTERRA: Thanks for joining us and congratulations on living a healthier lifestyle with essential oils. If you liked what you heard today, rate, review, and subscribe wherever you listen. Also, if you want to try any of the products you learned about, go to doterra.com or find a Wellness Advocate near you to place an order today.