Here are some simple solutions to common childhood illnesses, putting the power of essential oils to work for you in your home.

Ear infections – to fight off an ear infection place 1 drop each of Lavender and Melaleuca behind and in front of the infected ear.  Within 12 hours the infection should be clear.

Runny nose –Eucalyptus is a very effective oil for fighting runny noses.  Simply by applying the Eucalyptus under and around the nose you can help to fight one off.  It usually lasts a couple of hours (sometimes more) before needing to be reapplied (if it is a persistant runny nose).  Some children may find that Eucalyptus is difficult to handle, in such cases you should dilute it with Fractionated Coconut Oil.

Cough – to relieve a child of a cough you can rub Eucalyptus (again, diluted if necessary) up a childs spine and around their lungs (on their back).  You can also use Lemon for this.  Rubbing these oils in allows the mucus to break up.  You may notice that your child cough can change from a dry cough to a phlegmy cough very shortly after applying these oils.

Respiratory distress – If your child is showing signs of respiratory distress you can use Breathe.  Breathe is an amazing oil to use as it opens up airways.  If you feel the distress is to great to skip a trip to the ER or a call to an ambulance then apply Breathe on your way or as you wait, to help calm some of the problems.  When a child is in distress you might only need 1 drop, but it is quite possible that you will need more.  Don’t be afraid to use 3-5 drops in these scary situations.

Anxiety/fear – Lavender and Serenity are great oils to help calm down children with.  Children often experience anxiety and fear as they continue to learn about the world around them.  To help ease some of these symptoms which could include screaming, crying, shying away, etc. you should apply these oils to bottoms of the child’s feet.  The feet have the largest pores in the body and so the oils will get into the bloodstream the quickest from that point (often within 30 seconds).

Cuts and bruises – Children are constantly scraping their knees and bruising their elbows.  In order to help the healing along Lavender is a great oil to apply.  Lavender is sort of a one oil fits all type of deal and it is recommended that you have a bottle of Lavender at all times.  Lavender will help to disinfect cuts and clear up bruises as well as eliminating that anxiety associated with getting hurt and thus calming the child.

By following these simple pieces of advice you can help your child through some of the most common childhood ailments without any added toxins and with peace of mind.