Be Gone Mastitis! Take That!!

If you don't know what mastitis is ... it is an infection in the ducts of a lactating breast. That's a lot of information so if this post is not for you, kindly close it out now.

I am breastfeeding my 9 month old baby girl. I have never had any infection. This past week I was out of town, and started noticing some soreness in my right side. My thoughts, "Oh NO!" Please not while I am out of town. Over about 2 days the soreness became so intense that I could not even hold my baby because I could not even stand anything to touch it.

I figured I was well on my way to a nasty infection. I had thought about loading up on pain meds because I felt so bad. But I stopped, and remembered to try some oils first. I did not have my reference with me so I just went off of gut instinct.

I had a bottle of Mountain Savory oil. It is a good antibiotic. I decided to just rub it all around that area. I said some prayers hoping it would get in there and get rid of any possible infection that could have occurred.

I followed up with some Frankincense because it is just good at healing everything in my opinion.

Then I did what I teach in my childbirth class. I for the first time did a dangle feeding. That was an interesting experience to get in position for. Haha!

But, later that afternoon with plenty of continued nursing I was PAIN FREE!! How amazing!! I don't have the time or energy for full blown mastitis and I am so thankful that these oils helped in preventing that.

Until next time ...


Heather

Sizzling Sunburn

I went with my 4 year old on her field trip to the park on Monday. I am so blessed to work at a job where I can be with my kids. My baby came along too.

You know how it is when you are a tired mom. You are so concerned about your kids and don't think twice about yourself. I had made sure both kids were slathered in sun protection, and totally forgot about myself. I stood in the shade a lot that day so I didn't think much of it.

Boy was I wrong!!!

I started to treat it with olive oil and lavender and frankincense. I did that once before bed. The next morning I got up and treated with the same mix every 2 hours. That was my plan at least. But when you are busy being a mom sometimes you just don't take care of yourself the way you should! So I really ended up doing this treatment about 4 times that first day.

Here is what it looked like only 48 hours later!

It's pretty amazing. The shoulder redness is completely gone. My neck still only has a little left. The best part is that My skin did not burn when I was sleeping or when I would move my arms. That was great. I feel like it helped speed up my healing a LOT.

I won't forget to use sunscreen again this summer! I have a recipe to make some using oils and will post that soon.

Until next time ...


Heather

Focus Friday: Frankincense

Frankincense. This is a big one. I could write for days and still miss a lot. It's like I don't even know where to begin ... but here I go!

I will start with my foundation. A reference from the Bible. (there are over 52 references to frankincense in the Bible)

"And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshiped him; and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh" (Matthew 2:11)

Here is a bit from the Essential Oil Pocket Reference:

"It was well known during the time of Christ for its anointing and healing powers and was one of the gifts given to Christ as His birth. 'Used to treat every conceivable ill known to man,' frankincense was valued more than gold during ancient times, and only those with great wealth and abundance possessed it."

"It increases spiritual awareness, promotes meditation, improves attitude, and uplifts spirits. Frankincense contains sesquiterpenes, which stimulate the limbic system of the brain (the center of memory and emotions) and the hypothalamus, pineal, and pituitary glands. They hypothalamus is the master gland of the human body, producing many vital hormones including thyroid and growth hormone."

And that description is just its aromatic benefit! I use it as a cure all type of oil. It has made 2 dark spots on my face (had been there for years) all but disappear. I use it on skin conditions with great success.

It is also being used (the sacred frankincense) to fight cancer in studies. Here are some links to that information.

Study done at OU Cancer Center right here!

28 days to kill cancer

What is "sacred frankincense"?

Skin cancer

An example of how I use it a few months back was when my dad was about to have a 2nd surgery to remove cancer. It was his only hope of survival. We spent the night before with family and friends just begging and pleading with God for my dad's healing. We placed frankincense on him and layed hands on him. It was such a special time. When I smell the oil now I am reminded of how God heard us that night. He healed my dad! It is an oil that is incredibly special to me. I hope you can find great use for it as well.

Until next time ...


Heather

"Dark Spot Corrector"

I will be doing a few beauty tips this week!

Since I was a young girl I have always had freckles and moles. Luckily mine are not like this little gem.

But, back to what I was talking about. Just normal everyday moles and freckles. Unfortunately looking grossly tan was really in style when I was young. And I spent way too much time in the tanning beds. Hopefully I did not look like this woman.

Ugh. If I could only go back and shake some sense into my young self. But, I can't and now I am left to deal with the consequences. So, this is where my Frankincense oil comes in.

First, I have a disclaimer from the Essential Oils Pocket Reference (5th edition) page 27. It says, "Keep essential oils away from the eye area and never put them directly into ears. Do not handle contact lenses or rub eyes with essential oils on your fingers. Even in minute amounts, many essential oils may damage contacts and will irritate eyes." I have heard to use them only above the eyes on your face to avoid any burning. But, I have also heard how Frankincense can help fade dark spots. So I very sparingly have been dotting a tiny bit on 2 age spots I have on my left cheek area. It has been great to watch them fade! I think they are faded about 50%. It's like that Clinique commercial except I am not putting all those nasty chemicals on my face. I am not advocating you to put oils all over your face, but just sharing what is working for me.

Until next time ...

Heather