Using Essential Oils for Tummy Upset

I have had so many friends and family suffering from tummy upset, food poisoning and viruses lately that this is the first subject I have decided to cover with Essential Oils.  Before we get started I just want to remind the readers that all essential oils are NOT created equal.  Oils purchased from your local grocery store are for fragrance use only and should NEVER be used for health purposes.  If the label says 'Do Not Eat or Ingest' then do not use it.  Only use Therapeutic grade essential oils.  Usually the therapeutic grade oils are only available online or through a dealer of some kind. 

It is also important to know that Essential Oil companies and distributors are not able to make health and healing claims.  All information I give you is from my personal experience or from testimonials of friends and family.  Remember, every single person's body is different, and although I have never heard of an adverse reaction to any therapeutic grade essential oils being used you will need to use your own judgement, and the positive reactions vary by person.  Some people may need to use more or less to get the same results, and some may like one type of oil whereas someone else may like a different oil for the very same use (I have seen this in my own family and will talk more about that when I do a post about Essential Oils and Sleep Issues).

Another important thing to note is that it is wise to dilute the oils when using.  I typically dilute one drop of oil to one drop of extra virgin olive oil when I use an oil for the first few times, or when I am using oils on my children or on sensitive skin.  You can dilute more or less as needed.  Another great thing about diluting when placing oil on the skin is that the carrier oil helps to spread the essential oil easily and helps it to not evaporate before being absorbed by the body.

Most of my stock of oils is through Young Living Essential Oils, and I must say that I LOVE them.  I have always had positive and swift results using their oils and am confident in their product line.  They also sell wonderful cleaning products, hand sanitizer, personal hygiene products (soap, shampoo, toothpaste, skin care...) and more.  A couple of really nice things about Young Living is that they are International so you do not have to live here to order, and you can choose your shipping time.  I typically use the standard 5-7 business day shipping, but if you are in a great hurry you can have your products overnighted.  To use their products you must order or sign up under a distributor.  My distributor number is 1069772 if you need to order!  You pay retail price as a customer and get discounted pricing as a distributor.  Check them out at the link above.  Oh, and if you use a quickly vanishing product such as shampoo, supplements or other you can get on a monthly auto ship!

I have recently discovered Heritage Essential Oils, and of the three products I have used from them thus far, am completely satisfied.  They do not have a distributorship program, so you simply order straight from them.  One really nice addition to their website is the ability to look up a condition (such as allergies) and get recommendations.  Through Heritage you can not choose your shipping method (unless maybe you call them?) but I received my products in just 3 business days.

Alright, LET'S GET STARTED!

As I mentioned above, I am going to talk about tummy upset. 

My absolute favorite essential oil blend for food poisoning, upset tummy, gas issues, diarrhea, vomiting and tummy flu (excluding Morning Sickness) is the Young Living blend Di-Gize.  (Heritage's similar oil blend would be Digestion Support, but I have yet to use this).  In my experience, even in the most extreme cases of vomiting and diarrhea, putting a drop or two of full strength Di-Gize in my belly button and/or on the bottom of my feet, starts to work (or has completely worked for my family) within about 30 minutes.  If a problem still persists I would recommend repeating as often as necessary (although I have yet to need to repeat)!  I even use this full strength on my young children (1 year and 4 year old) in their belly buttons.  If dealing with a sever case of food poisoning I would even go so far as to drink a drop in hot tea or in a teaspoon of local honey!  Yeah, it probably would not taste that great, but if I was that sick I would tolerate the taste to feel better.

Another GREAT oil for tummies when the tummy problem is not so severe is Peppermint.  I use this one when my little girl tells me her tummy hurts, but there is no other sign of problems other than a tummy ache.  Again, I just put a drop or two (slightly diluted with a carrier oil) in her belly button and/or on the bottom of her feet.  Repeat as often as necessary, but I have yet had a need to repeat application.  The oil in my stock is also Peppermint from Young Living, but Heritage also sells Peppermint that I have yet to try. 

Another wonderful thing about peppermint essential oil is that it both smells and tastes great.  You can use it for pain, headaches, bruises, bad breath, tiredness, clogged sinuses, itchy eyes and other things.  It is great in hot tea or water (you may not want to use a full drop, but rather dip a toothpick in it and stir the tea or water with the toothpick) for daily use or enjoyment.  My mother uses it for headaches by rubbing it on her temples and dipping a toothpick in it and sucking on the toothpick.  You could also place a drop on your tongue and push your tongue on the roof of your mouth.  Peppermint is a very strong oil, so always dilute until you know how you like it.  Also, if using around the bony part of the eye or bridge of the nose for sinus/allergy relief be sure to really dilute and be aware that it may sting the eyes a bit for 5 minutes or so even though you did not get the oil in your eyes...even the fumes of peppermint are strong!

Yet another great use for peppermint is fever reduction!  I know the mind reels at the thought of peppermint doing even more, but it does so much.  I always use peppermint as a first defense against fever in my children (avoiding pharmaceutical chemicals when possible).  For my babies and young children I have always diluted peppermint and put it in the belly button, on the bottom of the feet, on the chest and back.  I know that sounds like a lot, but I like to attack fevers (especially since my kiddos get really high fevers when teething.  I know they say that is not possible, but that is the only negative thing that happens for three days before my kids cut a tooth.).  I reapply as often as necessary and alternate with luke warm baths.  I have rarely ever had to resort to over-the-counter meds!

Peppermint also helps to drive other oils deeper into the skin.  So if you use lavender and wanted to drive it deeper for some reason you could then apply peppermint over the same are.  Beware...it really does drive deeper, and if this is too intense apply a carrier oil over that same spot to dilute ;)

Note: some nursing women have experienced milk reduction when using peppermint, so you may want to avoid.  I have not had this issue personally.

Enough about peppermint, this is a post about tummy upset...oops!

I also recommend talking to your health care provider before beginning any type of natural routine.

But these oils are so expensive!!!!  Yes, the upfront cost of essential oils can be quite daunting, but when you realize that each 15ml bottle contains about 250 drops of oil that is not so bad and will last a really long time.  Essential Oils (if properly taken care of by storing in a cool or room temp, dry place) will last essentially forever, so you do not need to use them up quickly.  Also, one doctors visit is much more expensive than one bottle of oil, and you would also have to add in prescription medications and whatever else is deemed necessary.  In reality; the oils could save you time and money!

My family uses the oils for EVERYTHING, and we have only had one really rough family illness in over 4 years.  (I had also run out of almost all of my oils and believe that they would have helped had I had them.)  Other than this instance we have practically never been to the doctor, and that is saying a lot for us because before using the oils I was at the doctor all the time.  Our personal philosophy is to apply the oils with prayer and discernment.  Go to the doctor if something really serious is happening or if the oils are not showing signs of working in a relatively short period of time (you will have to use your own judgement for that).  I love doctors and their service and I especially love our doctor, but our family chooses to try natural before using chemicals and thus far it has been extremely successful!

Other ways to PREVENT tummy upset: eat a healthy diet, drink lots of water, exercise, get good sleep and wash your hands.

So go now and check out those links!

**These statements have not been evaluated by the food and drug administration.  These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.**