Why Raindrop?

We just hosted a Facebook class on the Raindrop technique.

Side Note: Yes, you can attend in your PJs. If that sounds like your kind of class, good news: we host an online class every month! Stay in the know here and here.

If you missed the class, or would love to keep learning, this post is for you. Here’s the spoiler: Raindrop = essential oils + massage.  

The Basics: What is the Raindrop Technique?

Before we go into the why of Raindrop, here’s a quick rundown of the what.

The Raindrop technique was developed by Young Living founder Gary Young back in the 1980s. As he developed this technique, he drew from his experience with Native American wellness traditions. The end result was a revolutionary means of supporting the body and mind.

The technique involves applying therapeutic grade essential oils to the spine, neck and feet. The application process is typically about an hour, but the benefits may last up to a week or more.

The Benefits: Why Raindrop?

What benefits? There are plenty of emotional and physical benefits and here are just a few…

• Invigorates the Mind

• Supports Healthy Body Energy and Emotions

• Aids the Body’s Response to Natural Irritation or Injury

• Promotes Healthy Circulation

• Helps with Structural Alignment

• Supports Stress Level

• Supports Immune Function

• Promotes Healthy Respiratory System

• Promotes Overall Body Wellness

The Beginning: What Oils are in the Raindrop?

The Raindrop Technique includes seven single oils and two oil blends. Check out all the benefits of these individual oils! So many “whys” here.

Thyme

Thyme is a key ingredient in Ortho Ease massage oil and is great for use after exercise. It is also believed to bring a sense of purpose when used aromatically, and is great for supporting your immune system.

Basil

Basil essential oil has a fresh, herbaceous aroma that can be calming, refreshing and bring clarity of thought. It can also help support the respiratory system. Ancient Greeks thought very highly of basil and considered it the “king of plants” and actually used it to anoint kings.

Peppermint

This oil can be diffused to create a stimulating, focused atmosphere for daily tasks. You can also apply it topically to create a cool, tingling sensation on the skin, which can be very soothing after hard physical activity.

Oregano

As an herb, oregano shines in Italian and Mediterranean cuisine; but as an essential oil, it has a wealth of benefits and uses outside the kitchen. Oregano essential oil’s warm, herbaceous scent is excellent at purifying the air when diffused with oils such as Peppermint. It also pairs especially well  with V-6™ Vegetable Oil Complex when used in massage for supporting the immune system.

Wintergreen

Wintergreen’s refreshing minty aroma is stimulating and invigorating. It’s a great addition to lotions that are applied after activity to support bone and muscle health. It is a key ingredient in our Cool Azul Pain Relief Cream.

Cypress

Cypress has a fresh, herbaceous aroma that can promote a sense of security and grounding. It is also known for supporting healthy circulation in the body.

Marjoram

Marjoram is a key oil used in the Raindrop Technique and can be used in massage after exercise. It can also be very calming and relaxing. It was known as the “herb of happiness” to the Romans and “joy of the mountains” to the Greeks.

Valor®  

Valor essential oil blend is one of our most popular products and was a favorite of Founder and Chairman of the Board D. Gary Young. A truly unique blend of Black Spruce, Blue Tansy, Camphor Wood, Geranium, and Frankincense, Valor has a woodsy, grounding aroma that is great for massages and other topical and aromatic uses. Use it to greet each morning with a positive attitude or to refocus at the end of a challenging day.

Aroma Siez™

A key Young Living blend, Aroma Siez™ combines the soothing and relaxing properties of Basil, Marjoram, Lavender, Peppermint and Cypress. A great blend for supporting healthy bones and muscles.

Is your interest peaked? Stay tuned! We’ll share the how’s of Raindrop soon.

May Promo MVPs: Ravintsara & Valor

Every month, we like to give extra insight on any unusual and exciting promo freebies, and today we’re doing just that with Ravintsara and Valor. If you’ve already earned them, (woo hoo!) we hope this quick look helps you enjoy your new oils, and, if you’re still planning your May purchase, here are a few reasons why you’ll love what you earn.

Ravintsara & Valor aren't just May Promo MVPs, they are daily MVPs. 

Ravintsara (earned at the 250 PV level)

Ravintsara is a little like Lavender. If you know and love the “Swiss Army knife” of essential oils, this is exciting news. This gentle oil has many applications.

A quick glance:

Source: Ravintsara is steam distilled from leaves and branches of Cinnamomum camphora in Madagascar.

Supports: As we alluded to, Ravinstara is an oily MVP. It helps support the respiratory system, immune system, skin, adrenal glands and helps provide spiritual grounding.

Use It:

• Aromatically: Diffuse for 30 minutes at a time for up to three hours daily. Great for respiratory support and focus during meditation.  
• Topically: Apply directly to area of concern, you can dilute with your favorite carrier oil.

Valor (earned at a new level, 340 PV!)

Valor is an all-time fave Young Living blend...and it was out of stock for over a year. So, we’re all pretty excited about the May promo over here.

A quick glance:

Components:

Let’s look at the oils that make Valor a Young Living bestseller.

• Black Spruce offers emotional support.
• Camphor (a member of the rosewood family) provides skin support and creates a feeling of peace.
• Blue Tansy supports the liver and lymphatic system.
• Frankincense may help promote a positive attitude.
• Geranium comforts with its aroma and pampers skin.

Supports: With a name like Valor, it’s no wonder this blend is beloved for its empowering, confidence-supporting aroma. On the other hand, it’s also a calming blend, like another all-time fave, Peace & Calming. Beyond mood, Valor can also support the spine, muscles, bones, skin, and the nervous system.

Application:

• Aromatically:
  • Diffuse in the morning to kickstart your day
  • Wear as a perfume for a midday pick-me-up
•  Topically: Apply to bottom of feet (6 drops per foot)

What’s your favorite oil blend? Let us know in the comments!

Newborn & Baby Oils

Welcome to our Family + Essential Oils series. We plan to cover every age and stage: Oils for Toddlers, Moms, Dads, Grandparents and Family Vacation. Someone we left out? Let us know in the comments and we’ll add them to our plan!

This is actually our second week, so if you missed our Postpartum post, take the time to catch up (we’ll wait:). Oh, and while you’re at it, check out the Top 10 Oils for Pregnancy – it happens to be one of our all-time top 10 posts.

Ok, now that we’ve talked mamas-to-be and new mamas, we’re ready to share some general guidelines and tips for using oils with your baby.

Essential Tips for Your Oily Baby

Ready for baby's first oil? Try out these oily newborn tips. 

Ingestion Tips

Gotcha! No tips here. Young Living suggests waiting until after babyhood to try any of our vitality line with your child. We agree! The oils are powerful and highly concentrated for such little bodies.

Topical Tips

Young Living’s official recommendation for littles 0-1 is a 1:8 oil to carrier ratio. We say that’s a good starting point, but remember that every baby is different. Test dilution with your little one.

And if you are going to try a new oil on your child it’s a good idea to use just a drop or two on a small patch first, like the forearm. After a successful patch test (a few minutes with no reaction), you can apply as needed!

Pro Tip: Apply the essential oils first, followed by your favorite dilution oil.  

Aromatic Tips

Again, think “start gently” when it comes to aromatically sharing oils with your baby. You can create a bond with baby by simply wearing an oil while skin to skin. And, just like the topical patch test, you will want to diffuse an oil for a short time at first to ensure your child has no sensitivity.

First Oily Days

In their Oils for the Nursery post, Young Living lists a few oils to use with caution with your baby.

• Idaho Tansy
• Clary Sage
• Hyssop
• Wintergreen
• Eucalyptus
• Peppermint

While watching for these oils is a good idea, it’s an even better idea to try out some of our favorites to support your little one’s health.

• Ear Support: Melrose & Roman Chamomile, apply 1-2 drops behind and around ears
• Diapering Support:
  • Lavender & Frankincense, apply 1-2 drops on diaper area after a change with some coconut oil
  • Try our DIY Baby Powder
•  Respiratory Support: Lavender or Peace & Calming, apply to chest, bottom of feet and diffuse intermittently during nap. Also, try diffusing Lavender & SniffleEase during the night or nap.
• Sleep support: Lavender & Cedarwood,1-2 drops on chest and bottom of feet.
• Mood Support: Frankincense & Joy, 1-2 drops over the heart
• Digestive Support: DiGize/TummyGize, apply over the chest and belly 15 - 20 minutes before feedings. You can also apply after feeding, if needed.
• Gut Health: Fennel, apply 1-2 drops over the colon area, rub clockwise

And that’s it, baby! Again, let us know if there are any ages or family members you’d like to see included in our series and we’ll get a writer on it!

Oil of the Week: R.C. – Don't Leave Home Without It!

I have used R.C. for the past 15 years. It is an amazing blend formulated to maintain and support a healthy respiratory system. I always think (and tell people) It's kind of like that old MasterCard commercial – don't leave home without it!  

When you see Young Living's R.C. Essential Oil, think respiratory support! 

All About R.C.

My Favorite Ways to Use It

One of my favorite ways to use R.C. takes just a couple of seconds. I drip a couple of drops in the palm of my hand, rub my hands together three times, cup my hands around my nose and mouth and then inhale it deeply. I love its invigorating scent!

Essential Oil Pro Tip: When I inhale an Essential Oil deeply several times, I move my hands away from my face when I exhale. This helps the essential oil not evaporate as quickly. 

Here are a few more ways to try incorporating R.C. into your Essential Oil routine:

• Rub R.C. on your feet or chest before exercise to uplift and inspire.
• Massage three drops on your feet before bedtime to encourage an atmosphere of comfort.
• Diffuse to create a comforting aroma.
• Use in place of Aroma Siez™ in Young Living’s Raindrop Technique®.

The Ingredients

R.C.™ Essential Oil Blend is a unique combination of Cypress, Spruce, and three types of
Eucalyptus (E. globulus, E. radiata, and E. citriodora) oils, and includes the naturally occurring
constituent limonene.

Questions? Ask Away!

We'd love to help out with any questions you have about R.C. or any of the oils we discuss (and adore) on the blog! Leave us a comment or contact us today!  
 

Graduation Inspiration: Leaving the Nest (with Oils!)

A year ago, my oldest son graduated from high school. For those of you who are parents, you both look forward to that day and dread it. You do everything in your power to help your child become the young adult he should be. You have laughed, cried, played, disciplined, and prayed with and for your child through the years.

Then, there comes a time to loosen the apron strings and let go.

Will He Be Ready to Leave the Nest?

Andrew is dyslexic. From his early elementary years when we were more or less told he was not college material to when he graduated in the top 8% of his high school class, you can imagine the blood, sweat, tears, and prayers that went on. We never told him in those struggling years that he wasn’t college material because we knew he was! We believed in him! 

There were years of struggling, years of tutoring, and years of hard work. His confidence grew. His abilities grew. Success was imminent! But with success comes leaving for college — leaving the nest. Most of you probably haven’t gone through the exact scenario we have, but you have your own scenario when you wonder “will my child be ready to leave the nest?”

Time to Let Him Fly

Fast forward to letting to our baby bird fly. It was time for him to go to college. As a parent, you worry about your child’s Christian faith, about the friends he will make, about his study habits, and of course his health when he is away from home. That brings me to the purpose of a post on an essential oils blog — you were beginning to wonder, right?

A Premium Start(er Kit) 

Well, it was time to loosen the apron strings. It was time to have the faith that he would be okay leaving home for college. My husband and I equipped him the best we could through the years. We have prayed for our son often (as well as for our other kids who are younger than Andrew), and we will continue through his college years and beyond. 

We equipped him spiritually, mentally, physically, and emotionally. But, we also taught him how to use the oils to maintain and support his health. (We became an oily family just in the past few years — around the time Andrew went into high school.) A physical, tangible item that could give me peace of mind as a mom was making sure that Andrew went off to college with a Premium Starter Kit. All of us parents need peace of mind, right?

Well, going off to college would test that — think of public bathrooms/showers that the dorm shares, think of living with a dorm full of kids who don’t always take care of themselves in a healthy and/or hygienic way, think about staying up late, think about being around classrooms full of students, think about cafeteria food that you know your child will not always make healthy choices from, and on and on.

So what is a mom supposed to do in a situation like that when she lives miles away from her child and does not “control” her child’s health environment? Send oils and Thieves cleaner, of course!

A Few College Pre-Requisites 

The new dorm essential: Thieves Cleaner!!

Andrew knows to use Thieves Vitality for immune support.  He knows to use Lavender Vitality and Peppermint Vitality for respiratory support.  He knows Purification helps him enjoy a hike outdoors annoyance free. (There are several great hiking areas within an hour of his college.) Andrew knows that Lavender is great for skin. He knows PanAway is great for massaging into his skin after playing intramural sports. He knows DiGize is good for digestive support.  

My point is Andrew knows how to use the oils. Equip your kids, even when they are young, with oily knowledge. They will then use them when they are leaving home, and you — the parent — can have such peace of mind!

Andrew had the knowledge needed to use the oils to maintain and support his health. He had the tools to do it — the oils. And, more importantly, he used them! I am happy to say that my son got through his first year of college with only a minor bump in the road now and then! As a mom, the oils gave me such peace of mind letting my baby bird fly.

Did I Let Him Fly?

So tell me, did I loosen the apron strings or not? The answer is YES to both! I did loosen them! He received a lot of independence! He was equipped spiritually, mentally, physically, and emotionally for leaving the nest.

He was ready to fly. I needed to let him go. It is the natural progression after all, right? But I also didn’t loosen the apron strings in a sense because I knew he had the oils and the knowledge and desire to use them, which gave me a sense of some control of his health! We moms need that, right?

Apron strings or no apron strings — who cares when they have a Premium Starter Kit in their hands!

The Perfect Graduation Gift 

It is graduation time for high school and college. A Premium Starter Kit makes a great gift! Let your baby birds fly with confidence! Support both the grad AND the parents during this exciting transition. If you have questions about getting started, let us help! 

Winter Wellness Toolkit

Sure, there are 38 days until Christmas (see our top picks in the Young Living catalog here!), but that also means that winter is just around the corner. Support your family’s health and mood with a Winter Wellness Toolkit. Bye bye winter blues, hello winter wonderland.

Top Winter Tool: Thieves Essential Oil Blend & Products

If you’ve ever read any of our posts, you know that Thieves is a year-long Tree of Life favorite. We especially adore it for Winter Wellness. In fact, no cold-weather kit is complete without a few Thieves products. This powerful blend can support everything from dental health to a chemical-free (and effortlessly clean!) home, but most of all, we value it for its immune system support. If you’re just getting started, here are 3 Winter Thieves Must-Haves.

3 Winter Thieves Must-Haves

1. Thieves Essential Oil Blend: Start simply with Thieves Essential Oil Blend. Use it daily in your diffuser and add it to your family’s night time routine. Just rub a couple drops on everyone’s feet before bed to help support your family’s immune system.

2. Thieves Waterless Hand Purifier: Take Thieves with you anywhere with the waterless hand purifier. Your family can support health and hygiene with just one squeeze of this powerful product. It also comes in a new larger 7.6 oz. size for every room in your house!  

3. Thieves Hard Lozenges: Give you family some soothing winter relief with Thieves Hard Lozenges. These lozenges are another great on-to-go winter solution.

Golden Touch I Kit

The Golden Touch I Kit tackles winter woes in one convenient package. Find out how this collection of 7 oils can help support your family’s health this season.

Winter Vitality: EndoFlex   

This blend of sesame seed oil, spearmint, sage, geranium, myrtle, nutmeg, and German chamomile supports the endocrine system. A healthy endocrine system translates to overall vitality for those long, cold winter months.

Digestive System: Di-Gize & JuvaFlex

You can use Di-Gize daily to promote a healthy gastrointestinal system and intestinal comfort. Complement this support with JuvaFlex. This blend supports liver function along with your digestive and lymphatic systems.

Respiratory System: Raven and RC

Diffuse Raven and RC or apply to your throat and chest to soothe your respiratory system as temperatures drop.

Skin Challenges: Melrose

Brisk breezes outside and drying heat inside can pose serious skin challenges. Use Melrose to create a protective barrier for your skin, no matter the weather.

Immune Support: Thieves

No surprises here, Golden Touch I Kit includes Thieves for all your winter wellness needs.

Have questions? Contact us today!

How do you stay warm, cozy and well during the winter months?