Although I started using Young Living essential oils to ease symptoms of depression, I now use them mostly to ease symptoms from colds, flu, ear infections, and sinus infections.

Young Living’s essential oils are the purest essential oils available, and therefore, they work with the body’s natural chemistry, and support immunity by alleviating symptoms without creating any imbalances in the body, or depleting gut flora, which is where the strength of our immunity lies.

For sinus infections, I simply rub the blend R.C. directly on my sinuses, and the powerful way that it opens clogged sinus passages is remarkable. When people try it for the first time, they usually respond with “WOW!” — which is what I did many years ago when trying it for the first time. Now, I couldn’t imagine living without it.

My husband has suffered with asthma for many years and wouldn’t be without R.C. and another blend, Raven, which contains ravensara oil - historically used to keep people feeling their best, and peppermint. Peppermint alone is used by some people to simply open their respiratory passages. It is also great for any kind of stomach distress, and works well to bring down the fever of a child if used on the soles of the feet.

For ear infections, I prefer the blend Thieves, which contains cinnamon, (which has recently been discussed on websites such as Mercola.com for having anti-viral, anti-fungal, and anti-bacterial properties), clove, lemon and other essential oils that thieves from the dark ages used to protect themselves as they took money from the sick and dead during a plague. Thieves comes in a handy spray bottle, as well, and I love to spray it in my mouth if I have a cold or sore throat. It instantly soothes any discomfort, and I feel like I’m destroying germs and viruses as I spray it.

Whenever any of my children shows sign of an ear infection, I simply rub either R.C., Melrose, or Raven around their ear. I never put essential oils in the ear canal, as this can be very painful. Around the ear is enough, and studies have recently shown that antibiotics don’t work any better than a placebo in treating ear infection. So, using an anti-infectious oil around the ear which also eases pain is a no-brainer for me, and my kids don’t have recurrent ear infections, and we’ve never had to use antibiotics for any kind of sickness, much less an ear infection.

So, in summary, for colds: R.C., Raven, and Thieves. For sinus infections, R.C. For ear infections, R.C., Melrose, or Raven around the ear - never inside. For stomach viruses and fever, peppermint, or Di-Gize. Visit my site for additional information on how delicious, satisfying foods can keep you happy and healthy, and to learn the details of my free gift offer for those who purchase Young Living from my website link.

Lisa Fyfe, M.S., is a former high school English teacher turned stay-at-home-mom. Her interests include delicious, whole food as natural medicine, nutrition, and parenting as a path to spiritual growth. She is a Reiki Master, essential oil healer, and also runs a website that documents her natural recovery from depression, at http://www.Holistic-Treatment-for-Depression.com “Your Daily Foothold to Happiness.”

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