Do you ever suffer from monthly lady issues? It seems like, at one time or another, each of us experiences this. 

I suffered from terrible cramps when I was a teenager. The kind that keep you in bed for a day. Now that I'm in my forties, they have lessened to almost nothing, most of the time. But there is the occasion month that keeps me humble. 

I am now one of 3 gals in my home that has to deal with "that time of the month," so there are many symptoms that we ALL deal with. 

Do you experience any of these:
Acne breakouts
Headaches and migraines
Lower back pain
Abdominal cramps
Moodiness
Emotional breakdowns
Nausea
Breast tenderness
Food cravings
Bloating

When I was young, the only things in my toolbox were a heating pad, sleep, and Aleve. I hadn't yet been introduced to the power of essential oils that are now at my fingertips. I'm so grateful that when my girls and I need help, I've got solutions, natural solutions. 

If you or a girl you love is struggling with any of these, know that doTERRA products can help. And you can trust the ingredients. For overall hormonal health, I would suggest using ClaryCalm, our monthly blend, on the abdomen and taking the LifeLong Vitality pack everyday. These are foundational products that keep our bodies functioning (hormonally) at higher levels.  

Here are tips for specific issues:
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Acne breakouts: Melaleuca, Yarrow/POM, HD Clear Facial System (https://doterra.me/gI7CEtCh)

Headaches and migraines: Peppermint, Frankincense, Copaiba, PastTense

Breast Tenderness, Lower back pain and Abdominal cramps: Lavender, Clary Sage, DeepBlue Rub, DeepBlue Polyphenols, AromaTouch, DeepBlue Rub (https://doterra.me/ByvivRzh)

Moodiness and Emotional Breakdowns: Balance, Lavender, Serenity, Forgive, Console, Peace (https://doterra.me/31ctIdZv)

Nausea, Food Cravings, Bloating: DigestZen, Ginger, Ginger Drops, Cardamom, Peppermint, Slim & Sassy (https://doterra.me/iF3BpIOA)

PS. I still LOVE my heating pad. 

I am what you would call a "good sleeper." {Maybe too good of a sleeper.} It has never been hard for me to go to sleep or stay asleep. Most of my life I've been able to take naps during the day and still fall asleep at night. I love getting into bed and drifting off. I have perfected my sleep environment. I like the fan on, temps in the low sixties, firm pillow, no sleeves (or pants!), and I start on my belly facing the left. I've got it down! But what I've been learning is that the quality of my sleep is pretty poor. Because of smart technology, we can now track things like our sleep and see a whole other side of the coin.
I just finished a great book called Sleep Smarter by Shawn Stevenson. He lays out 21 tips for BETTER sleep, not just more. I've put many of his tips into practice already. I now have low-lumen light bulbs where I sit at night and oxygenating plants in my bedroom. I'm trying to get my bare feet on the earth each day and I'm loading up on magnesium. {Did you know that more than 80% of Americans are magnesium deficient and this one mineral is responsible for over 300 chemical responses in our bodies....that we know about!) I can't recommend this book enough, so whether you need to sleep more or better the quality of it, check out his book.
But the one resource he doesn't mention in his book is essential oils. There is so much they can do to enhance our health and wellbeing. Lavender is widely known for its calming properties. But did you know that it is just one of many oils that help calm and relax our minds and our bodies? I just taught a MINI class on Sleep which you can check out on my LEARN page. But here is a list to get you started:

Roman Chamomile: You can diffuse this beautiful floral oil or make some tea with your favorite mug, some hot water, good ole' local honey and just a toothpick touch of this oil.
Petigrain: Known as the manly Lavender, it has so many benefits. Use it however you would use lavender without the floral smell.
Serenity: This is doTERRA's restful blend. It combines eight essential oils known for their ability to reduce tension and calm emotions, and support a restful sleep. Put several drops in your diffuser or put it on your pulse points when you start calming down for the night.
Vetiver: Vetiver smells like fresh dirt and takes me back to my gardening days. When I have a hard time shutting off my mind, I put a drop of this oil on my wrists and under my nose.
And do you want to know the best part for this mama? These essential oils are safe and effective on my children. I trust doTERRA with their sourcing practices and high standards to keep my kiddos safe.
Each of my kids have their favorite product for different things. Each of their bedrooms has a diffuser and it's part of our nighttime ritual to fill it up and get some oils on their bodies before they nod off. ​