Essential oils are well, essential around my place. We have used them on our livestock and other animals, and of course us too. I keep roller bottles of my favorite oils handy at all times, and make small vials up so everyone in the family can have some in their pocket while they’re on the go.
Here are my four favorite essential oils to keep on hand at all times:
- Bug Bite Blend
- Tea Tree
- Frankincense
- Lavender
Bug Bite blend
I made this mix several years ago when the bug bothering us most was the gnat. People all over our community were being bitten and having adverse reactions. My family was no different. My oldest got a bite on his forehead that swelled so bad he couldn’t see through one eye. So I turned to essential oils.
Basil has anti-infectious properties and was historically used for poisonous insects and snake bites. Fennel was also historically used for insect and snake bites. It has been known to break up fluids and toxins, and cleanses the tissues. Lavender’s list of good qualities is a mile long. But I put it in this blend for it’s soothing and healing qualities. Blue tansy is the heavy-hitter here. It has antihistamine, anti-allergenic, and anti-inflammatory properties, and calms skin irritations. As a bonus it has a beautiful scent and blue color so the kids can see where they’ve put it.
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What you need:
- 8 drops basil
- 8 drops fennel
- 8 drops lavender
- 12 drops blue tansy
- 10mL carrier oil (I like sweet almond oil)
- 10mL roller bottle
Since the gnat incident my oldest son has been much more sensitive to any bug bite. So I mix up individual sized bottles so we can all carry them in a pocket or purse. This blend also helps to soothe itches from mosquitoes.
Pocket-sized Bug Bite Blend
- 3 basil
- 1 fennel
- 1 lavender
- 3 blue tansy
- 1 dram carrier oil
- 1 dram bottle with orifice reducer
Tea Tree
When sickness hits my family, nine times out of ten it starts with a sore throat. Right away we get the tea tree oil out and rub it on the side of our necks and throat, and across our sinuses and chest if necessary. It has kept us from many colds this winter alone, and if you have a house full of kids you know how quick bugs go around and how long they can stay.
Frankincense
Frankincense is my go-to oil if we’ve been exposed to any crud (virus’). I put it in the diffuser and it always seems to at least lessen the severity, if not prevent anything from hitting us hard. I’ve also used frankincense as an expectorant when son 2 aspirated kernels of wheat.
I’ve mixed it with lavender to put on the 4-H sheep when it had an open wound, and put it on the cat’s feet when it was feeling sickly. *Using essential oils on animals can be very toxic. Heavy dilution is necessary. Use extreme caution.*
Lavender
We all probably know lavender is great for healing, as well as for just about anything. It also acts a bit like a placebo. When my little kids get a scrape or scratch, which happens a lot on the farm, they always want a band-aid. I don’t like bandaging every little thing. So I just tell them we’ll put some oils on it, It always makes them feel better.
When using oils on people, I mix them at a 10% dilution. For a 10 mL roller bottle that’s 24 drops of essential oils.
WHere to get your oils and bottles
I buy my essential oils from Eden’s Garden. I know every one has their favorite place to get oils from. Remember, to always look for quality and purity no matter where you buy your oils from. I like Eden’s Garden because they give back to some Christian organizations. Eden’s Garden also has free shipping on ANY order. They also have a reward program called Aroma-notes.
I have bought my roller bottles and vials from Abundant Health for years and have always had good luck. I usually get amber bottles, but they have many colors and styles. I use the 10 mL roller bottles most because it makes it easy for the kids to put oils on themselves. I also use smaller dram bottles with the orifice reducer.
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