For years I’ve been a huge skeptic of the “snake oil” salesmen out there pushing all natural remedies for whatever ails you at the moment. Mostly because of a lack of education. Home remedies, holistic healing, you name it I was against it simply because I just didn’t buy into it all. My daughter contracted poison ivy one time, and unbeknownst to us she had the oil from the ivy on her skin which was transferred from her skin, to her rag doll and pillowcase, then onto her face. We were out of town at a family conference at the time, and the first morning there she woke up looking like the elephant man. Her entire face was so swollen she didn’t have a chin, and one ear was HUGE. I regret that I didn’t take a photo of that, but she was very insistent that we not. It took a lot to convince her that she was not going to look like that forever, especially when I wasn’t sure what was wrong. My husband ran her to the Emergency Room and they put her on steroids for it, seems the child is highly allergic to poison ivy. One of the not so sweet things she gets from my side, as I am also very allergic.
While there at the conference a fellow attendee told me she had an all natural remedy for my daughter, and that it worked great because it was, after all, all natural. Skeptic me said “thanks but no thank you, poison ivy is all natural too and you see where that got her.” Well yes, it IS natural, but not all things natural are bad for us or dangerous. But as I said, at the time I thought the ‘all natural’ crowd were a bunch of kooks with braided hair, flowy skirts and they homeschooled their kids. I never braided my hair, but there is a lot to be said for those flowy fabrics, and I did end up homeschooling my kids! However I still didn’t buy into aroma therapy and essential oils. And I didn’t know anyone else who did either. My family is made up of nurses and paramedics, a doctor and, well we’re pretty solid on medical science and technology.
Years ago I began reading a series of books by Jean M. Auel, called The Earth Children’s Series. Dated to prehistoric times, cave man days, the characters of the book used all sorts of plants for medicinal purposes. Chamomile for teas to sleep etc., which I found on the grocery store shelf! In fact there are all sorts of herbal teas on the market and honestly I’ve used a few and found them to work as claimed. Of course it could all be in my head but there are those out there like my ex-husband who shall remain unnamed, that would say there isn’t much of anything in my head. But mind over matter or real properties, they work for me.
Recently a friend began working for SwissJust, a company that sells “Swiss natural products for the body and mind”. Essential oils and herbal therapy type items. My skeptical barriers went up immediately, though she was very sold on the benefits. I spent some time researching online and discovered that there is a difference between SwissJust and many other ‘essential oils’ on the market. The vast majority, about 95%, of the essential oils on the market are perfume grade. SwissJust sells 100% pharmaceutical grade essential oils. They are not diluted, they are the real deal. But I still found it hard to believe that the aromas and oils could have any real benefit.
My friend had me sent the Just Favorites set to try. I admit I did not go into this with a real open mind, but rather set out to prove it’s all bunk.
The first item I ended up trying is the Eucasol. My bad cat allergies make for a very stuffy nose most of the time. So, I sprayed it on a tissue, then got comfy and put it across my face. All prepared to dispel the myths…I found I could breathe. Seriously, head opened right up, go figure. My sinuses are traders! But hey, I could breathe! I’ve sprayed it on my pillow case next to where my head is most nights (you don’t want to have it directly on your skin or it irritates it). But still I was not sold. One item doesn’t make me a believer.
Next I tried the Anti-Stress oil. Don’t know if it relieved my stress really, but I DID feel way more relaxed. But I wrote that off to being all in my head.
The Chamomile hand cream, okay this stuff is flat out amazing. A little bit goes a very long way, and lasts through 4 hand washings. It isn’t sticky or greasy so I could text (very important) right away. But hey, a good lotion doesn’t necessarily have to be natural, I thought. But I was sold and have continued to use it.
The biggie for me is the body balm. I was told to put it in a small, clean spray bottle to spray down my shirt front and back for hot flashes. As life has me in the beginnings of menopause I’m BFFs with hot flashes the past few years. Now that, I know was NOT all in my head, the portable tropical climate I walk around in is very real. This stuff is amazing, and it works. My sister used a little on a blister and it was gone the next morning. Okay now it has my serious attention.
I was now plain curious and the next thing I tried, that is not in the Favorites, is Lavender oil. I was having some insomnia issues and someone said a few drops rubbed in my hands and inhaled would help. I did as my friend and rubbed my hands on my pillow case too. And yes it helped, I slept like a downed tree!
My sister used the Juniper cream for some serious neck spasms and pain she was having, said it worked like a charm. She being a nurse, was skeptical at first too until the blister went away so fast.
So here I am, a skeptic turned believer. So much of one that I’m now working for SwissJust. Still with Avon too, but now also a “snake oil” sales woman.
And I’m recruiting. SwissJust is 80+ years old, and in Switzerland, but is still relatively new to the United States. If you are interested let me know, I’d love to have you on my team. Or if you just want to purchase essential oils because you are already a firm believer in their properties, please browse my site! Yes, 100% pharmaceutical essential oils are pricey, but remember you are using a few tiny drops at a time, they last. And honestly, they work and they are worth every penny! You can read info on the company and products when you are on my site as well.
Marti Gardner 