Oil boom: Essentials and health + wellness {Guest post}

In the nearly four years I've been blogging at Healthy Strides, the posts have been almost entirely written by me save for the few times Mark has done guest writing and the one time Miles "did" a race recap.

But today that changes.

I'd like you to meet Sara Darwin. Sara was born in Missouri, grew up in Northern Indiana, and now lives with her husband and young son just outside Vancouver in the Coast Mountains of British Columbia, Canada. She loves to climb, kayak, cross country ski, and loves living near the ocean and the mountains, though a part of her heart will always be in the Midwest. She and her husband, Walden, run an outdoor education business called Wilderness Adventure Outreach, and Sara also volunteers as a peer support counselor for those recovering from birth trauma.

Sara, a long-time reader, first contacted me about trying a product - doTERRA essential oils for which she is a consultant. I had never heard of using essential oils beyond the burner I bought 10 years ago at The Body Shop - much less the company. I started reading, though, and the more I started reading, the more I was interested. It wasn't just anecdotal evidence about the benefits of oils but scientific studies related to runners. Rather than doing a quickie review just to score some free stuff, I thought it could be helpful for Sara to share the health and athletic benefits of oils.

Take it away!

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I was first introduced to essential oils eight years ago when a friend suggested I try Oil of Oregano for my frequent respiratory and sinus infections. It worked, and significantly reduced the amount of times I needed antibiotics. A few years later, I began using essential oils to make my cleaning and personal care products, but I didn’t think of them as plant medicine, because they were clearly labeled as "not for internal use." It wasn’t until a friend of mine introduced me to doTERRA that I realized there was so much more that essential oils could do for my family. 

What are essential oils?
An essential oil is the volatile aromatic compound found in plants. It is extracted through steam distillation or cold pressing, and the resulting essential oil contains powerful chemical constituents that can be used to bring balance and healing to the human body. Its molecules are so small that it can penetrate cells, and some essential oils have been proven to pass the blood-brain barrier. Essential oils have been shown to be effective against viruses and bacteria, and have even been shown to be effective against antibiotic resistant bacteria, including MRSA.

doTERRA essential oils are unique in purity, sourcing, sustainability, and testing practices. They are graded for internal use, and when used properly are safe for aromatic, topical and internal use.

Using the oils
Just like a lot of people, we used things like pain relievers, antibiotic ointment, allergy medicines and OTC’s for stomach and heartburn relief. But before long, it had been months since we had used any of those, and we had even managed to reduce our need for antibiotics and doctor visits. Ear and sinus infections, sore throats, seasonal allergies, tummy bugs, aches and pains, and cuts and blisters were now cared for with essential oils, and they were as effective as the medicines we had been buying. In fact, the essential oils worked faster and didn’t have any unpleasant side effects, so we found them to be more effective for both the adults and children. If I’m really honest, I was even able to use doTERRA essential oils to support my emotional and mental health, which included struggles with issues of focus and depression. 

But what about runners and other athletes? 
I talked with a few of my friends who are athletes and use doTERRA essential oils, and they reported them to be very useful. What they had to say made me want to lace up my shoes and give their ideas a try. In fact, we did use some of their ideas for my husband when he returned from leading a bunch of students on a mountaineering trip, and the eos worked just like they said they would. 

Here are some of the tips my running friends gave me to share with you: 

• Peppermint and a blend called Breathe help increase oxygen levels, and Peppermint helps with energy. One marathon runner told me he takes a drop of Peppermint under his tongue every 30 minutes on his long runs. [From Kim: A study published in the International Society of Sports Nutrition showed that The oil improved exercise performance, respiratory function, blood pressure, heart rate, and respiratory gas exchange. It also reduced resting blood pressure and heart rate.]
• Citrus oils such as Lemon, Lime, Wild Orange, Bergamot and a blend called Citrus Bliss helped another runner conquer the mind block of, “I can’t do this.” Putting a drop of a citrus oil in your hand and inhaling deeply while cupping your hands over mouth and nose invigorates and stimulates you physically and mentally. It’s a great one to use on days when it’s tempting to hit the snooze button instead of the pavement. 
• For recovery after a run, Lemongrass was the number one suggested essential oil as a powerhouse when it comes to cartilage and muscle repair. In fact, it’s even prescribed by orthopaedic surgeon Dr. Paul Winterton for his patients after knee replacement surgery. 
• Frankincense is well-known for its anti-inflammatory properties, and is a favorite for helping heal from inflammation of the joints. 
• Other oils like Birch, Cypress, White Fir and a blend called Deep Blue were also highly recommended for cartilage and muscle recovery. One runner shared that he regularly rubs a combination of those onto his achilles tendons after running. 

If this information intrigues you and you’d like to learn more about how to use essential oils, you may contact me through my website, and I will be happy to provide further information. Using these powerful plant medicines safely and effectively is important to me, and I am committed to helping others learn how to use essential oils properly.

Healing my heart

As with most things these days, it started with a text message.

"mom was having trouble breathing and had a fever so she is in the hospital."

The message came from my aunt, and "mom" was my grandma.

After taking a nasty fall a couple weeks before Thanksgiving, my beloved grandma has been plagued with problems. Her legs are swollen, breathing is labored and a wicked cough has kept her up during the night. The once spry woman was moving slowly around her house, sleeping in a chair and only going out for doctor's appointments. But she promised to bounce back. She said it might take some time but she would.

Now, I am not so sure she can keep that promise. It's been six days since that text message, and she is still in the hospital and I have heard on mention of when she'll be released. Doctors have told us that the right side of her heart is not functioning and is merely a garage in her body; the heart troubles are causing hypertension in the lungs and the difficulty breathing; her tremors are Parkinson's; and she has second-hand emphysema. The woman who so valued her independence might not ever live alone again.

It was heart breaking to hear those things over the phone from my aunt but nothing shattered my heart like listening to my grandma's voice but not hearing her. The steroids have made her confused, temporarily, my aunt said, but I fear they have taken her away. And, to be honest, I'm not ready for it. My grandma has been a rock throughout my life, and we developed a unique and close relationship when I moved in with her at age 15. I call her every day and count down the days when I can see her. She is an amazing woman with more faith than I will ever know.

It's all I can do not to break down in tears at work, to not hide under the covers, to not run to the drive-thru and order an extra large shake with a side of hot fudge sundae. To turn to the coping mechanisms I relied on for so long. It's only the knowledge that those things will not change the situation, they will not make things better, that keeps me sane. Or as sane as I can be.

Running helps, too. I put one foot in front of the other and move. This morning I went out for a slow 4 miles. The first dusting of snow came over night and the white and red lights that adorn the festive houses in nearby neighborhoods set the frost aglow in a spectacular winter picture. The air was cool and moist as I breathed in and out, in and out. For 39 minutes I thought of nothing but the sound of my feet on the wet pavement, relaxing my pace and why my bred for running dog who seemed excited to leave for a run was dragging at a barely sub-10 pace.

Note: For all of you animal activists, Denali merely needed to warm up and happily trotted along after reaching the first mile marker.

I came home refreshed and let my heart rate come down as I brewed a cup of Donut Shop coffee in the Keurig. I drew a bath, thankful that Mark was kind enough to save some hot water. I dipped my toes in cautiously before sinking into the tub. I read a few blogs on my Kindle Fire and sipped my coffee. (Yes, I do this in the tub.) When I went to dip my head below the surface, though, my thoughts began to resurface. I violently sat up out of the water, desperate not to drown in the sorrow ... in the fear. I took a deep breath, anxious to find that emptiness, free-ness that I had on the run.


The next few days, weeks, months ... years, if I'm lucky ... will be trying. I am going to have to find my own ways to come out the other side of this strong and healthy. To search for such ways is an almost futile task. Most advise to not keep bad foods around and to avoid triggers as if the stress in "stress eating" is because your boss isn't nice to you and you want to run to the vending machine for a cupcake - not, my grandma might be dying and sugar makes me feel good.

I have some advice for you

My friend Katie is the real deal when it comes to fitness.

Katie is a lifelong athlete, cheered at the collegiate level and coaches tumbling. She is a certified personal trainer and is a certified group fitness, Zumba and Spinning instructor. She's working toward a physical therapy degree, studying exercise and nutrition. The girl has got a body, too - flat belly, toned arms and an ass like whoah. It probably helps that she's never been overweight, never had kids and is the ripe old age of 21.

But anyway, I digress.

Katie had just returned home from a run when the plumber came to fix her sink. She went about her business but stopped in the kitchen for some ice as she always puts it on her knees as a preventative measure. The plumber stopped what he was doing and said, "You know, if you need to ice your knees then maybe you shouldn't be running." She thanked him politely for the advice and told him it was OK. OK it was not because the plumber went on and on about why she shouldn't be running. And he should know - he is a trainer.

Fitness comes in all shapes and sizes but Katie, bless her heart, said in the kindest way possible that he didn't really look like a trainer. Not one she'd take advice from, at least.

And that's the problem: Everyone wants to give you health and fitness advice, whether you ask for it or not and whether they are qualified to give it. Getting more exercise is as simple as parking your car farther from a store, and eating right is as easy as shopping the perimeter. Don't run, walk. Diet soda is just as bad as regular.

Here's a tip for all those know-it-alls: Give me something I haven't heard before. Something I can actually apply to my life.

♦When you go to the bathroom in the middle of the night, use the downstairs half-bath. It's quite possible that you are doing this not to add a flight of stairs to your activity log but to not wake up a baby with the flush. However, a flight of stairs is a flight of stairs and you should take them.

♦Speaking of the bathroom, when you are at work, be sure to use the restroom farthest from your office. Not only to you get in another 100 steps (maybe), your co-workers are also less likely to use it thus reducing the chance for awkward mid-stream conversations.

♦For every diet soda or cup of coffee you drink, drink a glass of water. I tweaked this rule a bit from my grandma's doctrine on alcohol but she doesn't have the Internet and you won't tell. I know you. If you know me, you know I like my caffeine. Drinking equal amounts of water basically means that I'll be walking those 100 steps to the bathroom quite often. Hey - those steps add up!

♦When you go to the store, forgo the cart and opt to carry things in a basket or in your hands to build upper body strength. It also helps to cut down on germ interaction with the handle on the cart and the limited space keeps you from grabbing the double decker mint Oreos.

♦Always carry your child, even if you are in a public place like the store or zoo. The additional weight on your hips, when alternated appropriately, will build strength. For a cardiovascular workout, put him down so you can grab a box of wipes for his stinker butt then sprint to keep him from stealing Ice Breakers gum. Speed work for the win!

♦Don't take a list to the grocery. Yes, I always like to have a menu plan and a corresponding list but leaving the list at homes means that you'll forget potatoes at the store and your beef stew will be mostly carrots, onions and beef and not the starchy, calorie-dense white potatoes.

♦OK, this one is for real: Start your day with a glass of water. When I was all into yoga (aka knocked up), one of the teachers read a passage that advised drinking room temperature water from a copper cup before doing anything else. Well, I have to go to the bathroom first and I don't have a copper cup. So fig you, fancy pants. However, I do drink a big glass - preferably two - before eating or drinking anything. I find it helps me from eating too much and drinking too much coffee.

What wellness tips do you find particularly agitating?