Illinois Mother Discovers Essential Oil Health Benefits for Her Son

(Rockford, Illinois)

Seeing her son struggle with side effects from asthma medications led Christy Moore of Rockford to research the benefits of essential oils.

She diffused “Breathe” – a blend of oils that includes peppermint and eucalyptus – from the direct-sales company doTERRA, and Moore said the congestion in her son’s lungs started to clear. Fast-forward a few years, and Moore now leads a team of about 750 people for doTERRA as a wellness advocate and swears by the oils to aid with everything from digestive health to headaches to sleeping.

“I think people are getting better at asking questions and learning about their own health,” Moore said of the increased awareness of essential oils. “More and more people are wanting to get to the root cause of their health concerns, be proactive and take a holistic approach to caring for their bodies.”

The use of essential oils certainly has increased in recent years. You might recognize popular companies such as doTERRA (which exceeded more than $1 billion in sales in 2015.)

Their use can be controversial because the oils are not regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Miriam Carl, Illinois state director for the National Association of Holistic Aromatherapy (NAHA), attributes the increased popularity of aromatherapy to the rise of social media and the “effectiveness of aromatherapy as a healing modality.”

Education about their uses are as essential as the oils themselves.

“I definitely recommend consulting with a professional aromatherapist,” Carl said. “There is a lot of false information out there about aromatherapy, and it’s very difficult for the consumer to sort it all out.”

Carl is a certified clinical aromatherapist through the NAHA and The School for Aromatic Studies with more than 450 hours of formal training. One tip she suggested when shopping for essential oils is looking for proper labeling requirements. The NAHA has a robust “Explore Aromatherapy” section on its website at naha.org with methods of application, safety information and potential drug interactions. The site notes that the essential oils listed are “not intended to diagnose, cure or prevent any disease, and should not be used as a substitute for medical care.”

Christy Moore likes doTERRA for several reasons, among them is that the company does third-party testing on its oils and tests for quality and clarity. She thinks most people are open to trying natural products, but the skepticism comes when they don’t do enough research and buy low-grade products.

Contact Wellness Advocate Amy Snyder for more information at a_lynns2979@yahoo.com