1. How did you get started with essential oils?

It was in 1985 when I was on my newly begun holistic journey through using herbs and I was introduced to essential oils. Anything that has a high value to healing I was curious as my immediate family had passed away from side effects of prescribed medications from illnesses and I wanted an alternate for mine and my children’s health.
 
2. Different ways people are using essential oils?

The simplest way is inhalation.  This is easy and comfortable for people as when it gets on their skin; they feel there is no backing up.  Diffusing is another very comfortable way and they feel it’s a great aroma for their room or area diffused in. Also, not on the skin so they feel safe using it this way. Topical is very beneficial if you have trusted quality, quality is very important. Use directly and on reflex points.  
 
3. Unusual ways to use essential oils.

I have used essential oils on horses, dogs, pigs since 1985. There are also very powerful in cooking, don’t need much, just a drop maybe two when your quality is good.
 
4. Biggest mistake people make with essential oils.

Not getting the true understanding of the quality and applications from very trusted sources that have had experience usually from just what someone else said or did. Since I have been in it holistic world since 85, I have seen a lot of companies and marketing come and go. Know your source!!!  When people say that oil is too expensive I can’t use that, they are not understanding the extend of what that oil can do for the body.  You need to decide am I using it to give me just a good feeling because of the way it smells or do I need it to help my body recover. The right quality oils can do more than you can imagine.
 
5. Advice for just getting started. Budget.

​In my 30+ years I still have my favorite trio. That is Lavender, probably the safest oil and it is called the universal oil, Tea Tree oil and Peppermint oil.  I have carried these 3 in my purse and in my tack room in the barn because no matter what I am dealing with one of these 3 is going to benefit the situation at hand immediately.  So I would suggest starting with any of these 3 and if I was going to pick just one, it would be tea tree oil. My husband calls it my snake oil. LOL. But it works for so many things.
 
6. If I picked only one oil..  

If I was going to pick just one oil to have on hand, it would be tea tree oil. My husband calls it my snake oil. LOL. But it works for so many things. Everything thing from stopping bleeding, to sore throat to infection, fungus, I could go on and on. My husband says it’s my snake oil. LOL
 
7. Signature blend.  

I do make my own insect repellent, fly spray, face spray, migraine spray, pain spray,    whatever I or someone else needs, I will come up with my own blend.  It is different for each individual needs and emotions.
 
8. Cold weather.

Tei- Fu, wonderful for congestion. Inhale over warm water on stove. Put on warm towel and put around your neck to open you up. On your feet, up your nose, on your chest. It’s really good.  Essential Shield essential oil protects against germs and Lemon is always so cleansing, use these last two to wipe your counters down.  This time of year we close our houses up and we wear more clothing so the skin doesn’t get the fresh breath air as we normally do in warmer weather. So essential oils that are high in oxygen when diffused are great in the air for everyone to breath. Oxygen gives life to our cells and body.
 
9. Parting words.

I am very honored you asked me to give my thoughts on what I feel has rescued myself and my family from  illness or injury due to  the prevention and /or recovery we gave the body immediately with essential oils  to heal itself.
I would like to add that your mindset plays an important part of what kind of results you will get with the oils or anything for that matter. Whatever you believe and think about them that is most likely what it will be.  Balance and true healing comes when the mind and body are in agreement of any belief. So when choosing gathers your information, make a decision and believe in what you’re doing.  Disclaimer: this is all for educational purposes and in no way intended to diagnose. These are my personal experiences.
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 Hectic schedules fill the lives of almost every person today. Our lives can often put us into a state of mental anxiety.  Financial pressures, health issues or relationship problems are a part of everyone’s life from time to time. These things will vary in magnitude and intensity from person to person but one thing is the same and that is all of us will face at least one of these hurdles some time in our lives. The thing that does vary widely is the way that each person deals with them.
   In these times of high stress what then can be done to relieve the pressure that these issues can cause. One thing is for sure though, and that is this, if we don’t find a way to effectively deal with these types of problems they can have devastating consequences. It is in times such as these that people often turn to things such as over eating, elicited relationships, drugs or alcohol or all the above. These things offer only temporary relief at their best but, each of these type things make as much sense as hitting yourself in the head with a hammer to get rid of a head ache! In other words, they simply make things in your life much worse. There is one thing though that will help. This thing is available all the time to everyone.
 Wallace Wattles famous quote from his book the Science of getting Rich sums it up.
The whole process of mental adjustment and atonement can be summed up in one word: Gratitude!
 The apostle Paul said it this way in first Thessalonians 5:18 “in all things give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”
This act of being grateful for what you have is a definite life changer it will shift your thoughts and feelings from what your life lacks to the abundance that you already have. When your thoughts shift to that of the blessings that you already have in your life it is forming a foundation for future abundance.
     Gratitude, turns what you have into enough, it will bring order in to replace chaos. It gives us understanding about our past, offers peace for today and opens doors of vision for tomorrow!
     When your problems are weighing heavy on your shoulders more than likely the last thing that you will want to do is to be thankful; but do it anyway because you are now aware of the power that gratitude has. It is in fact the mental adjustment that has the power to save your marriage or any troubled relationship no matter who or what it is with.
All things are relational.  Your thoughts are relative to your actions. Your feelings are relative to the health of your body.  Your relationships with money either attracts it to you or pushes it away from you. How you relate with people will either draw them to you or cause them to draw back from you.  Animals are especially keen to this law of nature. They are drawn to those that are peaceful and they instinctively move away from confusion and chaotic thoughts.
 
Since practicing gratitude is a peaceful lifter of your attitude the grateful mind is filled with high desire. The best thing that anyone can do is to develop the habit of being grateful.  You can train yourself to be thankful first by making a list every day of the things in your life that you are grateful for. Then practice it every chance  you get.  Repetition is the first law of learning so repeat your thoughtful attitude and behavior over and over and over again.  When you are genuinely appreciative for the people that you meet on a regular basis your life will become supported with good and it will bring more of the same.  Like gravity, being in a continuous mental state of gratitude is a law of nature. It holds the power to instantly and dramatically change your attitude for the better and the results that you get in life are directly tied to your attitude. Your attitude is your responsibility.  
 
Interested in improving your attitude?  Check out the MYARD program.
 
Hope is Alive!
Hope Givers Working Ranch,
Dennis Cappel