Oils for Running

I recently posted on my social media that I had a very involved recovery to do list after my 14 mile run which included some essential oils. I got a couple of questions asking what I used and what to use for recovery in running. So I thought I would share in more detail!

My first thing to go when running long distances is my immune system. It tanks after long runs and it's when I'm most vulnerable to get sick. I have been boosting my immune system after long runs by putting a drop or two of the Citrus Fresh blend in my water and so far, so good!

The other thing that I have been dealing with is the humidity...which causes chafing! Besides my copious amounts of body glide that I use, I get really bad chafing under my arms. I've also been getting blisters from my shoes that I just had to retire. Best thing for both of these? Lavender and Tea Tree! Both of these oils have anti septic and an anti-inflammatory properties as well as helps the skin heal faster. I apply them twice daily until my skin has healed. Between chafing and blisters, I heal way faster than without them! Which means next run, I'm not wincing in pain.

My favorite, PanAway! It's a blend that helps with pain. It works a little like aspirin in helping reduce pain and it also works as an anti-inflammatory. Like Lavender and Tea Tree, it promotes healing so that your injury gets better faster. This is perfect for my leg muscles after a long run. I am not nearly as sore after each run like I was last time I trained for a marathon.

Last but not least, I've been dealing with an ankle issue. I won't call it an injury yet, because I can still run on it. But I have had to cut back my mileage a bit. I'm getting tendonitis on the inside of my right ankle. As much as I'm rolling out my muscles after runs, I'm just super tight and it's causing a stress point on this part of my ankle. I'm using a blend of Valor II and RC in conjunction with PanAway in order to help heal it. RC has Marjoram, Lavender and Peppermint which all help with the healing. Valor helps with the pain along with PanAway. After two weeks of putting a few drops on my tendon  twice a day, I was able to do a 12 mile run without any real significant pain the following day. I'm a believer!

So if you are a runner or any other athlete, I hope some of these uses can help you! Happy running!

Essential Oils: Allergy Season!

I've got another great use for essential oils!

Jared and I have long suffered from allergies. Even with medication, I sneeze all the time during the fall season due to the Ragweed and Cedar blooming. Jared doesn't use medication, and this essential oil blend is fantastic for him!

It's simple:
1 part Lavender
1 part Lemon
1 part Peppermint

Put it in a roller bottle, dilute it with some carrier oil (we use Grapeseed) and apply it to the sides of your nose and front of your forehead (where your forehead meets your nose) for all day relief!

This has been such a blessing to us and we hope it can help you too!

Follow up...PTSD and Essential Oils

A little while ago I shared how I have been dealing with my PTSD and how I've grown through struggling with it. What I would like to share is how I have found a great way to help manage those days where it seems super overwhelming. 

In case you didn't get to read the blog where I talked about what struggles I have due to PTSD, here's a recap:

1) I deal with depression.

2) I have nightmares at night more often than I'd like. 

3) A recent development, I have panic attacks occasionally. 

Combine all these together and it makes some days seem insurmountable and demotivates me from getting off the couch in front of Dr. Who on Netflix. Thankfully, I have the mental strength to not stay there but...as promised!...I have found something that really helps me deal with these issues. It's essential oils!

Now, when I say that, most people switch off because they think I'm just trying to advertise and build a buisness. Well, the small little lawyer in me (albeit, she's very, very small) wants you to know I don't share this just to advertise essential oils. Yes, I am a rep and very happy about it. But I'm already building a small business with my husband (LoveLifeDesignCo on Etsy...go check it out!) and I don't need to start another one right now. But I'm sharing this because it really has worked for me. Since I got a ton of response from the last post on PTSD, I really wanted to share a solution that I feel could help a ton of people. 

I'm also not advocating essential oils as cures or substitutes for counselors or doctors.  

Now that we got motives and legal-eze out of the way...essential oils have really helped me and here's what works...

Valor II: This is my #1 go to oil when dealing with PTSD. I put it on my wrists and on the back of my neck and the smell alone helps me start feeling normal again. It's a great blend of several things including Idaho Blue Spruce, Ylang Ylang, Frankensence and German Chamomile. When I diffuse it at night with Cedarwood and Lavender it helps me fall asleep faster and more often than not, I don't have nightmares. On weeks where I'm having consecutive bad nights of sleep, I put it on the bottom of my feet and it does helps me sleep really well.

Cedarwood: Many times I sit in bed struggling to fall asleep. Diffusing this helps me fall asleep and sleep without nightmares. 

Lavender: We joke at our house that this is a cure all oil, but diffusing this or applying it topically helps me calm down when I get tense or fearful. It's much cheaper than Valor so I use it on days where I'm not full blown crazy. 😉

Orange and Frankensense: I love to diffuse a couple drops each of these oils when I'm working during the day. It helps me feel happy and excited about work and I find when I'm already diffusing this, it helps stave off any negative emotions or tension and then I don't have to go to any of the other oils. Days where I don't have to deal with PTSD are the best!

So, like I mentioned, I am a rep and if you wanted a blend like Valor II you would have to buy it through a rep. But for the rest of them, you can find essential oils at your local health store. They aren't as pure so they aren't as strong and you have to use more to get the same effect. So make sure you do your cost analysis there. 

I hope this helps many of you who are dealing with PTSD. On top of everything else in life it's a huge burden to deal with on some days. I hope you can find some relief in oils like I have!