The consensus on my last inquiry into the Himilayan Salt Lamp for strictly curiosity sake with no intention of buying was snake oil.

What about these essential oils specifically lavender or sleep blends?
Our 4 year old is the worst sleeper on the planet. It takes between 2 and 3 hours to get him to sleep then he generally wakes up twice throughout the night. Used to take an hour or so to get him back down but we are down to about 15 minutes on those. Then the kid will not sleep past 6 generally is up at 5. It is freaking miserable! The 2 year old on the other hand is awesome asks to go to bed between 7 and 7:30 and sleeps till 6.

Many peopls have suggested lavender or sleep blend essential oils in a diffuser to help the kiddo sleep.

So what says the greatest brain trust on earth? Legit or snake oil??

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Black92LX,

They MAY make things more comfortable, which could help relaxation and sleep, but are mostly snake oil when it comes to medicinal purposes.

Have you done sleep coaching? Typically, such a thing is geared towards a much younger child/infant. Have you looked for any medical reasons that sleep may be going so poorly?

My wife likes essential oils for their scent. She uses a few drops of oil with some water in a diffuser/vaporizer. Makes the house smell nice, and helps keep her classroom from reeking like dirty kids.

It's clear that certain oils have simple topical effects that are beneficial, like applying mint/pepper oils to soothe a sore muscle (similar to Icy Hot) or rubbing mint/camphor oils on your chest to help with congestion and coughing (similar to Vaporub).

But where they lose me is when essential oil true believers start talking about how drinking XYZ oil cures cancer, and rubbing ABC oil on your feet fixes insomnia, and putting three drops of DEF oil behind your right kneecap on the full moon improves memory and raises your IQ, etc. etc.

Nope. Bullshit. Essential oils have minor effects, if any. And they're certainly not a replacement for real medicine when faced with a serious issue.

According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, there have been some small studies that indicate lavender may help calming for sleep:

http://www.umm.edu/health/medi...altmed/herb/lavender

quote:

A number of studies have reported that lavender essential oil may be beneficial in a variety of conditions, including insomnia, alopecia (hair loss), anxiety, stress, and postoperative pain. However, most of these studies have been small. Lavender is also being studied for antibacterial and antiviral properties. Lavender oil is often used in other forms of integrative medicine, such as massage, acupuncture, and chiropractic manipulation.

More info at the link.

I think you have to look at the claims for all the different 'essential oils' individually.

Theure not magic but can aid in sicknesses and mood. I really like atlas cedar in my difuser at night time. Its like being/sleeping outside.

Plenty of citrus types for waking up and getting the mind moving a bit faster.

Some help aid breathing like lavender and peppermint oil.

I can confirm oregano oil kills a plantars wart. My wife had one for 16 years and tries the freezings and everything. She got it in high school. An oil dealer recommended it so we thought why not. She used and a bandaid on a cotton ball and after a week the damn thing turned black. 2 more weeks it was gone. I was really surprised. The wife said it was painful the last few days as she didnt dilute it, but it worked.

I also use a homeade mosquito repellant out of a basic bland lotion, lemongrass oil, rosemary, and eucalyptus oil. Works for aboit 3 hours. I have had skeeters land on me and not bite. Itested this somewhat scientifically as they get me pretty bad.

Check out Dr. Axe on essential oils:

https://draxe.com/essential-oils-guide/

quote:

Originally posted by RogueJSK:
Nope. Bullshit. Essential oils have minor effects, if any. And they're certainly not a replacement for real medicine when faced with a serious issue.

This is mostly true but not quite always - the best example being wintergreen essential oil, which is about 97% methyl salicylate, which your body metabolizes into aspirin (salicylic acid).

They smell nice, which is okay.

Well, no.... in the sense they don't come from snakes...

But for "healing" or any other nonsense... yes. Total BS.

I mean, if you like the smell, sure. But not different than a scented candle.

The only ESSENTIAL oils out there that are actually useful are as follows

1. Bacon grease

2. Gun Oil - can be Rem Oil, slide glide, etc

3. Coconut oil - you know stripper oil

quote:

Originally posted by Mars_Attacks:
The only ESSENTIAL oils out there that are actually useful are as follows

1. Bacon grease

2. Gun Oil - can be Rem Oil, slide glide, etc

3. Coconut oil - you know stripper oil

I would just add:

4. Synthetic Motor Oil Of Your Choice - keeps the scooter running smoothly.

But seriously folks, aromas can be calming and calm is good. Other than that...

Unless the child is allergic to it all you can do it give it a try. Some people get relief, some don't.

Lavender keeps our dog moderately calm during storms.

Essential oils - isn't

We use Dotera and generics. My daughter gets stuffy at night so we use a mix of breathe and on guard. Make sure you have fractionated coconut oil to dilute it. Full strength it will burn their skin.

How's it for getting out stains?

Linky

It is a fact that certain oils have medicinal properties to them.

However, when you hear the over-the-top claims made by quacks using terms like "detoxify", it's usually best to run. If you've got a infected hangnail, get on some Keflex and pass on the oregano oil.

There is also a big difference between essential oils and fragrance oils. Avoid the latter.

Do they work? I do not know.

They keep the Mrs. Happy and that's worth their cost.

I am amused by the online queries asking which combination of oils will address whatever ailment.
Yes, certain plant oils have benefit, but no, it will not cure your little kipper's screaming fits.

Some of these folks have kinda gone off the deep end.

Essentially.