Transcription:
Essential Oils 101

Deborah Howell (Host): Welcome to Stoughton Health Talk. I'm Deborah Howell, and I invite you to listen as we get introduced to essential oils and how to use them for various health benefits. This podcast is for education purposes only and does not serve as an endorsement. Joining me is Valerie Howard, a Certified Essential Oil Specialist. Valerie has been practicing holistic health for herself and her family for 12 years plus. Essential oils are her favorite tool for supporting health. Valerie, such a pleasure to have you with us today.

Valerie Howard: Thank you. I'm so happy to join you.

Deborah Howell (Host): Oh, it's our pleasure. Now, first of all, what are essential oils?

Valerie Howard: So, essential oils are basically compounds. We extract them from plants, all different parts of the plants, and it's basically the plant's immune system. And they work with our body, so they help us to address issues, health issues, emotional issues. And it's really cool the way that they work. They work on a cellular level in the body.

Deborah Howell (Host): Wow. Plant's DNA. I love it. Who's a good candidate to start using essential oils?

Valerie Howard: Everyone. So, as long as you're using a good quality essential oil, so a certified therapeutic-grade essential oil, everyone can benefit from them. So, all ages from babies up to the elderly. I'd say babies from about four weeks and up and, of course, you're going to dilute them extra for babies and kids. And we also even use them on pets and animals.

Deborah Howell (Host): Wow, I did not know that. Dogs and cats?

Valerie Howard: Yes, and many other animals as well.

Deborah Howell (Host): Wow, that's incredible. What have essential oils done for you and your family?

Valerie Howard: Well, we use them pretty much for everything. So really, I can't even imagine not having them anymore. We've been able to replace non-natural remedies for our health. We removed toxins and chemicals in the home, and that equates to less doctor visits and just being healthier overall. And our first big experience with using essential oil would be on my son. So, probably about 10 years ago when he was a toddler and he had frequent meltdowns and just hard time focusing and we just needed something to help calm him and balance out his emotions. And I made up a blend and we started using that on him and noticed a huge difference.

Deborah Howell (Host): Wow. Can you tell us the blend?

Valerie Howard: Yeah, that blend, it had Serenity and Balance, which are actually blends in themselves, wild orange and vetiver.

Deborah Howell (Host): Interesting that the wild orange calmed your son, huh?

Valerie Howard: Right. Yes. Yep. It kind of balances out all the calming oils in that blend.

Deborah Howell (Host): And how do you apply the oils?

Valerie Howard: So that one was a roller, which is diluted, and I would do a couple swipes on the bottom of his feet. You could also do a couple swipes on the back of the neck, is also a really good place, and then just rub it in.

Deborah Howell (Host): Interesting. Can you take us through an appointment with you, how you begin the session, and then what happens after that?

Valerie Howard: Usually, I do group classes, either online or in-person. But I do also offer like one-on-one appointments. And I just start off with a basic class, making sure that the person knows what essential oils are, the different qualities of essential oils. There's three different ways how you can use them. And once they're familiar with the essential oils, then we go over a personal protocol, what they would use for themselves and their family. Everybody is biochemically different, so it's going to be different oils for each person. So, teaching them how to use oils and then how they continue and continue to get support and all the resources we have for them to continue learning.

Deborah Howell (Host): Do you have any success stories from clients who've come to see you that particularly benefited from using essential oils?

Valerie Howard: There's hundreds and that's my favorite part of what I do, hearing all of the stories from people and how the oils have helped them and some of them have changed their lives. So, one client I could think of, I mean, she had a huge success story this last summer. Her son, he must have been about three or four, and he was having respiratory issues for quite a few months, and it was mostly coughing during the night when he was sleeping and they'd tried multiple things and I gave her a blend. We weren't sure what it was, what kind of respiratory issue. And I gave her a blend that could just support his respiratory system. And she applied back to his chest and also put it in the diffuser. And the first night, she noticed a difference. The second night, she said he completely stopped. And she was amazed. And so of course, she came back and learned more about the oil. So that was amazing.

Deborah Howell (Host): I definitely want to learn what that is, if you could share it with us.

Valerie Howard: So, that particular blend, I use it to support seasonal allergies. And so, that one was lemon, lavender, peppermint, frankincense, and our blend that's called Breathe.

Deborah Howell (Host): Wow. Frankincense and Breathe. Interesting. I'm writing this down, because I'm coughing during the night too, so this is great. Are there any side effects?

Valerie Howard: No, there are not. There's no side effects. There are people that can be more sensitive to certain oils, just like with anything else.

Deborah Howell (Host): That leads me to my next question. Are people who are allergic to perfumes and colognes able to use essential oils?

Valerie Howard: Yes. And again, that goes to what kind of essential oils you're using. There's different qualities and different types. So if you're using a therapeutic essential oil, there's going to be no fragrance, no artificial anything in it. There shouldn't be any chemicals, pesticides, anything like that. So, it's going to be completely different than a perfume, which is an artificial fragrance.

Deborah Howell (Host): Got it. Is there anything else you'd like to add to our conversation today?

Valerie Howard: Some people are intimidated to use or to start using essential oils because they sound complicated and they think they need to be an expert in how to use them, but they're actually really simple. I'd just say just start off with one and incorporate that into your routine and go from there.

Deborah Howell (Host): I love it. How can people get in touch with you, Valerie?

Valerie Howard: I'm on Instagram. Wellness by Valerie is my Instagram handle. And then, email would be wellness@valeriehoward.org.

Deborah Howell (Host): Okay. Wellness by Valerie, is that what the Instagram is?

Valerie Howard: Yes.

Deborah Howell (Host): Okay, great. I think everybody got that. Well, Valerie, thank you so much for joining us today. I've really learned a lot and I think our audience did too.

Valerie Howard: My pleasure. Thanks.

Deborah Howell (Host): And for more information, head on over to our website at stoughtonhealth.com. And that concludes this episode of Stoughton Health Talk. Please remember to subscribe, rate, and review this podcast in all the other Stoughton Hospital podcasts. I'm Deborah Howell. Have a terrific day.