Recipe:

• 1 cup water.
• 1/4 cup alcohol-free witch hazel or white vinegar.
• 10 drops Lavender essential oil
• 5 drops Tea Tree essential oil
• ​Spray bottle.

I love using this on my yoga mat at home. Hope you enjoy!

The topic of using essential oils to support sobriety came up in the EO group that I am in last night and I gave it some thought as to how using essential oils could potentially help support the various symptoms and issues that arise through the journey of sobriety.

I would preface this by saying that you should consult with a medical doctor first and if detoxing from alcohol or drugs are involved – this needs to be done under medical supervision at a rehab or hospital setting – quite frankly because you can die because detoxing can cause seizures and other life threatening conditions.  During the detoxification phase someone in a hospital or rehab setting will not be allowed to have things like essential oils in their possession because they could be used to smuggle in drugs or alcohol.
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If the sober person is out of the detoxification phase and out of rehab or a hospital setting, they can use essential oils pretty much like any of us would use them. Some precautions may need to be taken if they have a dual diagnosis meaning that they have underlying mental health conditions, in addition to their addiction or alcoholism and may be treated with other medications. It is very important to note that grapefruit in any form should not be ingested if you are on medications because they can cause you to absorb them rapidly which can lead to some nasty side effects. I’ve had to avoid ingesting grapefruit for many years because of the bipolar/ADD medications that I am on. I can use grapefruit essential oils sparingly topically or in a diffuser without any issues.

Essential oils can help support someone living in sobriety, but cannot replace the crucial components of living sober such as daily AA/NA meetings, having a sponsor and a solid support network, psychotherapy and medication regimens if required. Always consult a medical doctor for any questions or concerns as the Internet, while it is a great source of information, can give you conflicting results.

***Please note that in some cases when dealing with things like cravings and/or severe anxiety and depression: ALWAYS call your sponsor or go to an AA/NA meeting immediately and in some cases, you may need to seek medical attention if you are in danger of using again.***

Some of the areas where essential oils can help support your sobriety will focus on liver support, emotional support, cravings, nausea, and memory issues. This is not a complete list as everyone’s experiences in sober living are different.
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Liver support – alcoholism and drug addiction can cause damage to the liver over time. You can use some essential oils to support healthy liver function. These oils will also help support the digestive system as well. It is recommended that you see a medical doctor and have blood work done to evaluate your liver function from time to time.

There are many different oils that can help support the liver such as: Blood Orange, Carrot Seed, Goldenrod, Rosemary, Fennel, Thyme, Lemon, Cypress, German Chamomile, Peppermint and Juniper. 
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Anxiousness and Stress are common in sobriety and essential oils can help support minimizing their effects. It is recommended to see a mental health care professional if these symptoms persist and are in danger of becoming unmanageable.

Rose, Neroli, Helichrysum Roman Chamomile, Jasmine, Cardamom, Cedarwood, Frankincense, Vetiver, Ylang Ylang, Clary Sage, Lavender, Citrus Oils and many other oils can be diffused or applied topically. 
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Sadness can be common when dealing with a major life change like sobriety – it can often preclude the ending of some friendships, relationships and general habits. This can cause you to feel sadness and longing since you will not want to hang out at your local bars or attend parties with friends where lots of drinking may occur. As with feelings of anxiety and stress many other oils can be diffused or applied topically. It is recommended to see a mental health care professional if these symptoms persist and are in danger of becoming unmanageable.

Oils that help with sadness include: Cedarwood, Sweet Orange, Petitgrain, Bergamot, Cardamom, Jasmine, Lemon, Mandarin, Rose, Ylang Ylang, Peppermint, Vetiver, Rosewood, Neroli, Lavender, Palo Santo, Scots Pine, Clary Sage, Geranium, and many others.
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Cravings - Some people do this via ingestion, but if you are not comfortable with that route of application. I would imagine that an inhaler might help too. . In addition, you may be having other symptoms like anxiety, stress, and sadness that may contribute to the cravings. Consult your support system and/or medical professionals if you are in danger of relapsing.

Cinnamon Bark, Clove, Lemon, Eucalyptus Radiata, and Rosemary can help with cravings. 
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Nausea can sometimes be an issue in the early stages of sobriety. 

Ginger, Peppermint, Spearmint, Lavender, Fennel, and Bergamot.

Sugar and caffeine cravings are common after someone becomes sober. You could minimize caffeine intake (if you are using it for the energy boost) and diffuse citrus blends or use it in a roller with other essential oils and a carrier oil like Jojoba. I personally like diffusing  Peppermint and citrus oils on days that I need an extra energy boost.

Some oils can help stave off sugar cravings are: Cinnamon, Grapefruit, Coriander, Fennel, Ginger, Peppermint, Bergamot, Ocotea, and Dill as they support your endocrine system.
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Memory issues can result from years of alcoholism and addiction.

Rosemary, Basil, Cypress, Peppermint, Lemon, Ginger, Grapefruit, and Sage can help support any lingering memory issues that you may be experiencing.
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***Always be sure to check for any potential drug interactions for anyone who may be on methadone and other types of medications for opioid addiction as there can be serious contraindications***

If you or someone you know is struggling with alcoholism, addiction, or maintaining sobriety, please seek medical attention right away – their life may depend on it. 

I've been on vacation in Seattle and wanted to give the low down on what essential oils and rollers that I brought with me for the journey. I didn't have to worry too much about sunscreen and sunburn remedies since we were doing anything involving too much time out in the sun.

Since I live on the east coast and there is a three hour time difference (and I suffer from insomnia) packing sleep related oils is crucial. I made a mega sleep roller, which helped relax me during the 6 hour flight and helped keep my sleep schedule mostly normal all things considered. I also brought most of my sleep and relaxtion oils to diffuse at night.  I brought the Orb USB diffuser since it is smaller than the Dewdrop diffuser.
 
I packed the following oils and DIY products:

• Peppermint & Jade Lemon came in handy when my husband complained that his sneakers were smelly. They also help to freshen up hotel rooms as well. A couple drops in his sneakers and they immediately smelled better. Mental note for next time: Purification!
• For sleep I brought my mega sleep roller and oils to diffuse.
• For energy I brought Peppermint and Orange make it pleasant to diffuse or use in a roller. This is also good for timezone changes.
• I brought my sore muscle rub and Tummy Rub mixes for emergencies. They have helped immensely with occasional leg cramps and backaches as well as upset tummies.
• I always carry a head tension roller for when my head hurts, which luckily hasn't been much this vacation so far.
• I couldn't bring my entire skincare regimen, but packed my day cream, night cream, under eye roller, and sugar scrub.
• I packed some dry shampoo and shine spray just in case since I don't usually wash my hair everyday.

My daily essential oil routines sometimes change, but I thought that I would go over how I use them on a daily basis.

In the morning, I apply my moisturizer and then do my makeup and get ready for work. 

Once I get to work, I use various combinations of essential oils in my diffuser.

I wear different scents mixed with a carrier oil in a roller bottle. My emotional state has been in flux most centered on grief and sadness and some feelings of anxiety. These particular oils provide an uplifting aroma and help get me through the work day.

I have a couple other rollers I keep in my purse for emergency use in case I feel some head tension coming on or need an energy and focus boost to get over and through the late afternoon wall.

I tend to take baths and showers in the evening because I find them relaxing. I use my own DIY foaming body wash, sugar scrubs, and relaxing bath oils. Occasionally, I will switch out my sugar scrub for clay masks or Himalayan Salt Scrubs. I also use my own homemade bath bombs, which reminds me that I need to make another batch soon.

My night time routine is pretty intense. After I take a bath or shower, I apply moisturizer and an under eye serum for dark circles on my face. I also use a belly firming cream on my abdomen and stretch mark cream on my hips, lower abdomen, and thighs. 

I am currently on a sleep restriction regime to help with insomnia and find myself puttering around my office/studio doing things until midnight so I usually have my diffuser going with various combinations and have been digging a mixture of mint oils with citrus ones. 

Once I am ready for sleep, I diffuse oils that help to promote relaxation and sleep. I use a  Sleepy foot rub. Then its lights out for me 

Sending out a huge thank you to everyone who participated in my online class on Facebook for Mood Boosting Essential Oils. The content will be available for another week in case you didn't get to take a peak yet.
As promised, here are the recipes for each

Mood Boosting Rollers:

• Happiness
• Mood Lifter
• Inner Peace Roller
• Focus
• Tranquil Relaxation
• Stress Relief

These combinations can also be diffused as well.

I get asked a lot of questions about what to use for dark circles and lines under and around the eyes. I made a serum over the fall that has worked really well for me. I put it on at night usually after using my night cream first.
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I've previously tried numerous eye creams and concealers and nothing worked for me and I was wasting a lot of money. That's when I decided to try out using essential oils with Vitamin E and Sweet Almond Oil. I spent a lot of time complaining about how bad my under eyes looked until I realized that I hadn't complained about it in quite some time.

At the beginning of my journey, I took a selfie as a reference point in October. Apologies for the inconsistent lighting, but I wasn't wearing makeup in the images below. In March, I decided to take an updated selfie with no makeup and was truly surprised by how different my under eyes looked and then took another reference shot last week for comparison. Mind you, I am almost 42 years old, so I am counting this as a win!