I’m happy to be sharing some advice from my close friend and DoTERRA Wellness Advocate, Julia Ruggiero, about how essential oils can truly transform your daily routine. Sometimes there seems to be no easy solution when we are feeling stressed out or restless from a long day, but it can actually be as simple (and natural) as a few drops of essential oils.
AK: How and why did you begin incorporating essential oils into your daily routine?
JR: “During my senior year of high school, I hit rock bottom from my anxiety and depression. I caught the stomach flu during this time and have a severe phobia of vomiting. Three months after, I still felt nauseated, lost a ton of weight, and was in and out of the hospital. After tons of tests and a variety of recommendations for medication, I was released from the hospital with my usual anxiety diagnosis. When I was in the hospital and waiting to hear back from test results, my boyfriend’s family visited me. His mom told me about essential oils for the first time. Out of desperation, I tried whatever I could. To my surprise, the oils helped me cope with my anxiousness. I thought it was too good to be true, so I studied them for a long while, and was sharing them with everyone and anyone along the way. I started to use the oils daily for multiple different parts of my routine. By the time I moved in to college, I realized that I could save money by using the oils, as well as take care of myself and others, naturally. I started my brand @campusoils in the middle of my freshman year of college and is my pride and joy! I love when people join me on my journey with essential oils while creating their very own!”
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AK: What changes in your mood/physical wellness have you noticed since using them?
JR:Â “There have been many changes in my life since I started using the oils. I have been off of all medication for over 2 years now, and continue to use oils, meditation and therapy, to cope with my anxiousness. Instead of waiting until I hit rock bottom with my mental health, I now am proactive instead of reactive! I now know which oils help me cope with my nervous feelings, and I have been able to improve so many other areas in my life drastically along the way. If I have panic attacks, I feel prepped with the tools that I know will make me feel at ease. And if one oil does not work as well for me, there are multiple others I can use for the same purpose that fit to my liking better. There are so many options, and the best part is that they are safe, effective, and natural!”
AK: As a college student who wants to incorporate essential oils into my routine, what are the first steps I should take?
JR:Â “If you are in college, the first step to take on your oil journey is finding someone who you can trust to direct you to essential oil resources that are credible and helpful. There are tons of opinions and sources out there that do not always lead us in the right directions to find out how to use the oils and which ones are safest. Make sure to use a brand, like DoTERRA, that has 100% natural oils with no additives or chemicals. Labels can be misleading, so making sure you know your product is very important. Give @campusoils a follow to ask any questions and get customized support! You then can find out how to get the best oils for the cheapest price and how oils can actually help us save a ton of $$$ in college, because I too am on that college budget and understand the struggle! As for your next step, trust the process! These oils get to work right away, but overtime, we realize how much they help us in multiple areas of our lives!”
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AK: What are some unique ways to use essential oils?
JR: “There are so many unique ways to use DoTERRA essential oils! For example, Lavender essential oil helps with relaxation and rest, but is also helpful to soothe the skin! Lemon is another great example of essential oil versatility. We can use Lemon to make our own natural cleaner (maybe even a yoga mat spray!) and can also use this to cook, since DoTERRA Lemon can be used internally! And these are just 2 out of the many ways Lemon and Lavender can be used. One oil can do so much!”
Some of my favorite tips:
- Night-time Spray: 7-15 drops of Lavender oil alone or pair with Cedarwood oil in a glass spray bottle and fill the rest up with water. Spray on your sheets before bed!
- 7-10 drops of lemon and or OnGuard essential oil to clean surfaces.
- Makeup brush cleaner with Coconut oil, Grapefruit essential oil, and Melaleuca oil (Tea Tree)
Julia also recommended some oils that are perfect for college students in the following categories:
Oils for De-Stressing
- Peppermint for energy, clearing airways, and cooling down
- Lemon for clearing the mind and cleansing the body
- Lavender for relaxing the muscles and mind
Oils as Perfume
- Any of the oils can be used whether it’s a peppermint or even a cedarwood! If you want something a little bit more fancy, Rose is my go-to for perfume AND to use for de-stressing! The Whisper blend is another amazing blend that is known for it’s beautiful musky scent!
Oils for Studying
- InTune Blend
- Patchouli
- Orange and Peppermint mixed together in the diffuser or a drop of each in your hand for energy
Oils for Health
- OnGuard Blend
- Oregano
- Breathe
Oils at Nighttime
- Lavender
- Serenity Blend
- Vetiver and/or Cedarwood
*Note from Julia: Make sure to dilute with coconut oil when applying oils to the skin. This will help reduce any skin sensitivities because essential oils are potent! All of the information above are suggestions for DoTERRA Essential Oils. Most of DoTERRA’s oils can be used in three ways: Aromatically, Topically, and Internally. You will know if they can be used internally if there is a supplement facts label on the bottle. DoTERRA’s oils are 100% pure, tested on many different levels to ensure that they oils you get in your home are free of any additives!Â
Thank you so much to Julia for this very informative interview! If after reading, you have some more questions about essential oils or would like to begin your own journey toward natural wellness, you can follow @campusoils on Instagram and give them a like on Facebook! Send Julia a private message or an email at julcruggiero@gmail.com with any questions, and to be added into the private Campus Oils support community! I hope this article opened your mind and introduced you to the natural health options that are available out there. Julia is a wonderful resource and I’m glad to have shared her message with you!Â
HCXO,
Ash