Helping Mom Relax by Dr. Kathleen Oden

What do moms do the most? They give of themselves. And what most moms do best is caregiving to their family and others. This is the perfect picture of Jesus. When moms care for us they are “Being His Hands and Feet.” This month, show some extra love to the caregivers in your life. Help them relax and chill out!

Lavender essential oil is one of the most popular essential oils worldwide; gentle and safe for most people, including children. Ancient texts tell us that lavender has been used for therapeutic and religious purposes for over 2,500 years. The Egyptians used it for mummification and as perfume. The Romans used it for cooking and scenting the air. They also added lavender to their bath water; hence, the name from the Latin “lavare” meaning “to wash.”

Mary may have applied lavender essential oil with her hair to anoint Jesus. Interestingly, many researchers claim that 2,000 years ago, lavender was referred to as spikenard or simply “nard” from the Greek name for lavender, naardus, after the Syrian city of Naarda.

John 12:3 tells us what is probably the most famous use of lavender essential oil… “Mary then took a pound of very costly perfume of pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet

with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.” (NJKV) Today, lavender is the most commonly used essential oil in the world.

“And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head.” (Mark 14:3 KJV)

Lavender is a “must-have” oil to keep on hand at all times because of its versatile uses, including relaxing properties that promote peaceful sleep and ease feelings of tension and/or stress. The lavender flowers are steam-distilled for their essential oil, and the aroma is floral, sweet, and calming.

In February 2019 shingles appeared on my left shoulder but I thought it was a rash at first. However, my doctor informed me it was shingles and she asked me what I was using for the pain. She was very surprised when I told her essential oils– Lavender, Frankincense, and Pine. All 3 of these contain a pain compound and other healing properties, which is the reason I choose these 3 oils:

Lavender: stopped the itching and pain. Apply as needed.

Pine: for the super-fast healing properties. Apply several times a day.

Frankincense: also for skin healing properties and prevents scarring. Apply several times a day.

DAILY USES FOR LAVENDER ESSENTIAL OIL

• Take 1-2 drops daily as a supplement. (under the tongue)

• A soothing remedy to use on kids cuts, scrapes, wounds & burns.

• Add 5 drops to bathwater (optional with Epsom salts) for a relaxing bath.

• (Warning: Epsom salts are not good for some people with high blood pressure.)

Show Jesus that you are “Being His Hands and Feet by helping mom or caregiver relax by fixing them a hot cup of Lavender tea: Boil water and pour in a cup. Add 1-2 drops of lavender essential oil. Sweeten with honey and/or a little Stevia. They will love you for it!

Great tips and tricks by Dr. Kathleen B. Oden

USE LAVENDER ESSENTIAL OIL FOR…

1. Skin Soother Lavender has been shown to be highly soothing to skin, cuts, irritations, and pain. Mix lavender oil with coconut oil and apply as needed.

2. Stress Reliever or Before Bed Relaxer Inhale from the bottle or diffuse to relieve stress. Diffuse 30 minutes before bed to relax and/or apply to the bottom of feet, over heart, back of the neck, and temples.

3. Lower Blood Pressure Diffuse lavender oil during the workday to help soothe stress and promote healthy blood pressure.

4. Headache Reliever For relief from headache pain, inhale lavender oil for 15 minutes. You can also mix 2 drops of lavender oil, add 1 drop of peppermint oil with 1 tsp of coconut oil. Apply to the back of the neck and on the temples to relieve tension and/or pain. (AVOID EYE AREA)

Dr. Kathleen Oden

Dr. Kathleen B. Oden is an author, missionary, and Bible teacher. She has been the Administrator of God’s House of Refuge Church & School of Evangelism, for 25 years. Dr. Oden attained a Doctorate degree in Christian Theology in 2000. After a bad fall in 2014, she realized that she had to start eating healthy, in order to fully recover. She became a Certified Health Minister and a Certified Essential Oil Coach. She loves ministering to people and God gave her a health ministry called, Create AnewU Health Ministry. Her health ministry has opened the door for her to share what the WORD OF GOD has to say about eating healthy. Dr. Oden has published over 20 books through Amazon.com and several of them are about health and wellness. https://createanewuhealthministry.com