I’m a Nerd. I’m a Geek. I’m an Artist.

The Queens of Spades, Diamonds, and Clubs have finally joined my Queen of Hearts. I’m so excited with how these turned out. Going to work on the other face cards soon.

Sweet gods I’m not trying to be mean, I want you to be aware and safe and stop putting yourselves and others at risk. Please.

I’m not some big pharma advocate. I’m a crunchy witch hippy just like you with salt rock lamps and rose quartz all over my house. I just happen to have spent the last 15 years of my life studying the actual science of holistic medicines and I’m trying to help you not get hurt (or worse) becuase you trusted a sales person with no idea what the ever loving hell they were talking about beyond a sales pitch designed to maximize profit. Gah.

In case you were wondering, eucalyptus can cause respiratory distress in young children.

One of the safest, natural ways to alleviate congestion is with just pure good old fashioned warm steam. Keep the air moist, drink plenty of warm fluids. Menthol can help relieve the feeling of congestion, but there’s limited evidence to suggest it actually clears the airways. And for the love of god don’t inhale mustard or horseradish (I’ve seen that suggestion on posts too, though how you’d get those oils I don’t know). That’s literally what tear gas is made of.

The harm you may do, is in fact death. I am not telling you these things to be a kill joy, I’m telling you so you won’t accidentally kill yours.

So this kind of thing is VITALLY IMPORTANT to remember when you’re using things like essential oils and cleaning products that a child could be sensitive to! Their little bodies are fragile, and they really, REALLY need to breathe. Keep an eye out for respiratory issues in children, especially if there’s something new that has been introduced into their environment.

I am a massage therapist and I use essential oils in drop amounts per jar of lubricant or pot of hot water (for compresses) when I use them at all, and I keep them carefully isolated on a shelf and handle them as if they were caustic in undiluted form. Not all of them, obviously, are highly toxic or will burn your skin, but some will (cinnamon, oh boy), but it’s a good habit to form. Also, they are sold and stored in those cute little glass jars for a reason. Some can melt plastic. Don’t ask how I found out.

Do your homework on ingredients. :/