You guys probably already know by now, but we had a pretty rough winter over here in terms of sickness.
Bouts of the stomach bug (x3), strep, lingering colds that plagued many of us (and just seemed like they would never fully go away), and Alex’s hospital ordeal), have given us a run for our money!
Between grumpy kids (and adults!) who weren’t feeling well + some rough nights of sleep + the feeling like we were forever quarantining ourselves from other in an attempt to not spread whatever we had, it all really starts to wear on you after a while.
So I started researching all sorts of things to do to “boost immunity” and prevent the germs from always seeming to find us. I fully recognize that this isn’t always possible, but I felt like, at least if I was trying, then maybe it’d make me feel better? Who knows… : )
I ordered elderberry syrup from iHerb (you can use my code SAZ564 for $5.00 off your first order!) and elderberry gummies (found at Target), and I even went as far as buying dried elderberries on Amazon and making my own elderberry syrup for myself (more details on that in this post).
I got both the boys taking a daily probiotic, and just recently, started one for myself, too.
And to go along with my best attempts to try and keep us healthy, I also started incorporating some essential oils into our daily routine by creating some essential oil rollerballs blends for each of the boys and myself (Jay wasn’t interested : ) ) which are supposed to help with building immunity.
As you guys may have seen a couple of weeks ago, I’ve been having some fun with essential oils lately, and these rollerballs were actually the first thing I tackled. They probably took all of about 5 minutes to put together, and now we use them every day!
Immunity Boosting Essential Oil Rollerballs
What You’ll Need:
- 10ml Glass Roll-On Bottles
- Fractionated Coconut Oil (you can also use olive oil, grapeseed oil, or another favorite carrier oil of choice)
- Lemon Essential Oil
- Frankincense Essential Oil
- Thieves Essential Oil
How To Make Them:
PLEASE NOTE: The essential oil rollerballs that I made for the boys are much more diluted than the one I made for myself; these oils are incredibly potent, so it’s important to follow recommended dilution amounts. I did a lot of research online and also consulted with a close friend who is very knowledgeable on oils.
For the Boys (Kids, recommended ages 1-5):
- 3 drops of Lemon Essential Oil
- 3 drops of Frankincense Essential Oil
- 4 drops of Thieves Essential Oil
Fill roller bottle with the 10 drops of oil then fill to the top with carrier oil.
For Adults:
- 10 drops of Lemon Essential Oil
- 10 drops of Frankincense Essential Oil
- 10 drops of Thieves Essential Oil
Fill roller bottle with the 30 drops of oil then fill to the top with carrier oil.
When/How to Use Them:
While I know there are a number of different ways to use oils, I apply the rollerballs to the bottoms of the feet every night before bedtime (kids and myself). Nice and easy!
Who knows if/how any of my attempts at keeping germs at bay are helping, but it certainly can’t help to try!
***FYI: This post does contain affiliate links. My account with Young Living is also (and has been) a distributor account, but I just never shared it much. So if you’re at all interested in making a purchase, I’m more than happy to help! I’m not going to be soliciting this “business” (I use quotes because I’m really not looking to make this a business – I’ve got my hands full as it is!) any further than simply sharing the oils I use and love with any various recipes I make. Thank you, as always, for your continued support for STSL <3
Disclaimer: Please be sure to do your research before using essential oils. Not all essential oils are safe for children or pets (no matter what the grade), so please be cautious before using these around the house if you have kids or pets.
heather @Lunging Through Life says
Weve had a similar winter of sickness and I finally got essential oils a month or so ago and we haven’t been to the doctors since! (knock on wood) ha
Suzanne @My Life Is A Mix says
You should really look into supplementing with Vitamin D. Low levels are linked to low immunity and a good majority of people are deficient. I live in the south with plenty of sun exposure and mine were at a 17(30 should be bare minimum). I’m still low at a 23 but since supplementing my energy levels have gone up and my colds have gone down. Just a thought!!
Courtney says
That’s really interesting, thanks for sharing, Suzanne! How did you figure out your levels? A blood test? What do you take as a supplement? (sorry for all the questions!) :)
Pam says
I’m interested in trying Elderberry syrup – may give that a go next winter! I love diffusing oils but haven’t used them in other ways yet – the roller balls sound like an easy way to get some good benefits!
I saw a previous comment about Vitamin D – I know here in Canada they recommend even newborn babies be given Vitamin D – we buy a brand called ‘D Drops’. Very easy to take. They make formulas for babies, kids, and adults. I’ve never heard of finding out your Vitamin D level but we take it regularly since we don’t get as much sun :)
Ashleigh says
Hi! I know that you didn’t mention these varieties, but I wanted to raise a flag for you (or other moms reading this) regarding essential oils and young boys. A few case studies were found with young boys who developed gynecomastia (breast tissue development) and it was linked to lavender and tea tree essential oils. When the products containing these oils were removed, the tissue shrank back down.
While there’s not a ton of scientific evidence for it, if I were a parent, it would be enough for me to keep these items out. The products included soaps, hair gels, shampoo, and a “healing balm”.
I never comment, but I thought it was worth flagging attention to as you have super cute little guys!
Courtney says
Thanks Ashleigh! I have been aware of that one and since learning about it a while back, we have been avoiding those with the boys :)
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