About Valerie Flynn

An eclectic multifaceted soul, Valerie Flynn, is a lifelong learner who enjoys following various rabbit trails wherever her curiosity leads her. Plottage is afoot at www.ValerieFlynn.com!

Essential Oils: Don’t Do Stupid Stuff

July 17, 2019 by Valerie Flynn Leave a Comment

Knowledge is Power

Herbs and other natural health remedies have various do’s and don’ts, so do essential oils. Just because a thunderstorm is natural doesn’t mean its safe to fly a kite or stand in the middle of a field with a long metal pole during one.

The thunderstorm has cleansing benefits and other meteorological benefits for the air, ground, etc. Those who dream about what’s beyond the rainbow and dance in the rain, understand best how beauty transcends words. Uplifting the atmosphere in various ways.

Our Nemesis: Ignorance and Carelessness.

Knowledge can empower you to brush aside ignorant recklessness and misinformation. Then you won’t do stupid stuff. Well, we’re human, you probably do it about 98% less. With common sense as your sidekick, you’ll survive the adventure to enjoy the comedic relief.

Safety Tip #1: Oil in Eye? No Water!!!!!

If and when you accidentally rub your eyes with oils still on your fingers and get that highly uncomfortable reminder why that is a big “No, No.”

Remember – DON’T use WATER!!!!

Use a carrier oil, (olive oil if you don’t have any), or milk as a diluting agent. Water acts as a driver which will escalate that Ow, ow. into a more emphatic OWW, Gah!

Safety Tip #2: Don’t put oils directly into Eyes, Ears, and Nostrils.

News Flash: essential oils ARE NOT eye drops or ear drops. And must be heavily diluted to even use in a nose spray blend. Good rule of thumb is to keep oils, especially hot oils, out of those sensitive areas. What’s a hot oil? See Rule #3.

Effective methods for internal application – See page 11-12 of this e-book.
https://media.doterra.com/us/en/ebooks/internal-use.pdf

If the essential oil or blend does help to support eye health, put it on the temple &/or around the eye zone, (the forehead / cheekbone area should be close enough without it being too close.) Try not to let it drip into the eye(s).

If you do, remember Rule #1 – No water in the eyes.

If you want to put an essential oil on the outer ear, use a swab to apply it. Don’t poke the swab into your inner ear canal. Listen to your faithful sidekick, Common Sense, on this point. He’s looking out for you.

Photo by Gabrielle Henderson on Unsplash

To clarify, yes some oils can be taken internally. A helpful reference list of which oils are GRAS. What’s FDA GRAS? (Generally Recognized as Safe)

See page 5 in the Cooking With Essential Oils e-book. https://www.doterra.com/US/en/ebooks-cooking-with-essential-oils

Some people have differing opinions of which can and can’t be taken internally. Check with the manufacture company directly. Their answer will the most conservative and probably the most accurate. Many brands, like Doterra, you can call them directly or check the FAQ section of their website.

How Do I Use Essential Oils Safely
https://www.doterra.com/US/en/using-essential-oils

FREE audio books and eBooks on Essential Oils
https://www.doterra.com/US/en/ebooks

Safety Tip #3: Be Sensitive – Not Neat!

Many oils may be applied topically to the skin neat.

“Neat” means applying oils on straight, without diluting with a carrier. Whether it be a carrier oils, lotion, shampoo, etc.

Heroes are strong, but have sensitive souls. Superman and Wonder Woman use their gentle strength for the innocents. So, like the awesome hero you are, don’t apply ANY oils without diluting them for children, the elderly, animals and others with sensitive skin. Some blends are already diluted, ready for use.

DON’T PUT HOT OILS on the skin without diluting it with carrier oil. Like *cough*Oregano*cough*.

Which oils should be diluted before topical use? See page 8 in this Essential Oil e-book: https://media.doterra.com/us/en/ebooks/topical-use.pdf

Different carrier oils? Why so many? Which ones are better? Your faithful sidekick, Common Sense, hands you this clue after he gives our arch-nemesis, Ignorance, a beautiful right hook into the next scene.

http://www.aromaweb.com/vegetableoils/

Followed with this punch line…

Topically speaking, what’s AromaTouch?
https://www.aromatouch.com

Safety Tip #4: Allergies, Asthma and Epilepsy…

Because essential oils don’t have protein molecules in them, they don’t cause allergic reactions. So, technically no. BUT, some people do have sensitivity reactions to some oils and/or allergic reactions to perfumes, scents, etc. Due to asthma or whatever.

As always, respect other people’s boundaries. Don’t be a preachy parrot. When the day is done, ride off into the wild orange sunset. Common Sense says, “Live and let live.”

There’s different species of Lavender. If someone really wants to use it, yet they’re have sensitivity reactions to it, have them check out another species that doesn’t have the chemical component that’s causing the sensitivity reaction.

Science focused articles for our chemistry geeks.

Learn more about Lavandula
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/dicine-and-dentistry/lavandula

Patch Testing with Main Sensitizers Does Not Detect All Cases of Contact Allergy to Oxidized Lavender Oil
http://www.aromaticscience.com/patch-testing-with-main-sensitizers-does-not-detect-all-cases-of-contact-allergy-to-oxidized-lavender-oil/

Here’s a simplified summery for us mortals:

The Difference Between Lavandula angustifolia and Lavandin Essential Oils
https://www.gurunanda.com/blogs/essential-oils/the-difference-between-lavender-and-lavandin-essential-oils

Epilepsy: There’s a list of DO NOT USE essential oils for folks with this this condition. If you or someone you know deals with seizures, check out the oils with “Anticonvulsant” properties.

Article: Essential Oils that are safe and those to avoid for epileptics.
http://www.rscdiagnosticservices.com/blog/are-essential-oils-helpful-for-seizure-disorders

Exercise Induced Asthma: Doterra’s Breathe blend really helps me when I get winded or have shortness of breath from a workout.

Safety Tip #5: Sunny Oils for Night Owls

Good rule of thumb to remember: If you apply any citrus oils topically, avoid sunlight on your skin for 12 hours. You probably won’t turn into a vampire. But your skin won’t get all irritated and other uncomfortable stuff.

More details on Sun Sensitivity, see page 9 in this ebook: https://media.doterra.com/us/en/ebooks/topical-use.pdf

For the chemistry geeks among us, here’s an e-book you’ve been craving. Essential Oil Chemistry eBook
http://joom.ag/obYY

Uh, no its okay, you don’t have to teach me about the constitute types of the isoamyl angelate vs. the geranyl-acetate. Actually, I’m impressed you know how to pronounce those words. Here’s another link since you’re an awesome scientist.

Aromatic Science
http://www.aromaticscience.com

Common Sense points out a new trail for Indiana Jones to dig for more information.

Organic Essential Oils Information Link Directory
https://www.fragrancex.com/fragrance-information/organic-essential-oils.html

**Valerie Flynn**
Independent Wellness Advocate
https://www.doterra.com/US/en/site/valflynn

Congratulations, you now know how to avoid doing stupid stuff with essential oils! Breath easy and stay safe out there. Common Sense, your faithful sidekick, is rooting for you.

Please share this article to thwart our dastardly arch-nemesis, Ignorance and Carelessness. Knowledge is power and sharing is caring.

Story Camp’s Fifth Anniversary

June 27, 2018 by Valerie Flynn Leave a Comment

My dear friend Mrs. Laure Hittle is the mastermind behind Story Camp and the head librarian at Clearwater Church Library. I’m her willing minion in plotting for Story Camp and the Faith Libraries of Northern Colorado.

What is Story Camp?

Story Camp is a week-long VBS-style storycrafting adventure for elementary-aged kids. This is our fifth year! Each day includes storytelling games, a readaloud, snacks, some writing exercises, and time for the kids to write their own stories.

Our first year was a blast, as campers traveled the magical world of Roverandom together and learned about storycraft concepts such as setting, character, and plot. Our second year we build an entire Story Town together. In our third year we used puzzle pieces to find connections between our characters and their world and motivations. Last year Henry and the Chalk Dragon guided our creative adventures.

This year we expanded it to TWO weeks of Story Camp: June 11-15 and June 25-29. Below is a short story I penned in honor of Story Camp’s fifth anniversary.

There and Back Again
by Prism Kite

Once upon a time there was a homemade and slightly weather-worn patchwork kite named Prism Kite. It was a modest Delta kite, but it did rather enjoy daydreaming of flying windward someday. Time passed, then one day it was packed up along with a few of the other kites for a trip to the park.

The other kites went up first. The youngest child was mentored on how to launch and wield the string. Then one of the adults double-checked that the cross-sticks were properly attached to both sides, as well as snugly tucked into the top nose bag and the spine tunnel.

Shortly afterwards, Prism Kite was launched, only to fall or spin back to the ground. Suddenly a great wind blew and the patchwork kite flew up and up. Higher and higher. Swirling, twirling drifting and gliding upon the air currents. The view of the park and the sky shifted as though the kite was stationary and the world around it was pushed helter-skelter by the wind.

A blast of strong wind blew and carried Prism Kite higher than even the box and diamond kites. The clouds darkened and the wind became more erratic and stronger. The string handle jerked out of the child’s hands and the line slackened. Prism Kite soared and spun out of control, tossed hither and yonder by the storm.

Lightning flashed, thunder boom-boomed and rain ripped through the kite’s fragile fabric. Dizzy, exhausted and drenched, Prism Kite crashed-landed into the spiky, hard branches of a tree. The storm raged on, the cold rain poured down and the thunder boom-boomed on who knew how long.

Prism Kite rested, for it couldn’t move. Its sticks were broken and its string was entangled among the branches and around itself. Nothing could be done for quite a few nights and days.

A warm, bright day brought some tree-climbing children Prism Kite’s way. Upon discovering the mangled patchwork kite, they cut its string and dropped string, ripped fabric and broken sticks to the ground. Once finished with their play, the tree climbers took all the kite’s makeshift parts home to their father, a book maker.

The book maker listened to his children’s odd tale and asked for the mangled kite. They gave it to him. The young tree climbers had nearly forgotten the whole matter until they discovered little journals with each of their names on them sitting on the table. Each small book was hardbound with Prism Kite’s fabric and hand stitched together with its string.

The Tree Climbers Club joined the Bubble Hunters in many exciting adventures, the tales of which were written in their patchwork journals.

The Quest Continues…

The last line was a running gag from a storytelling game from Story Camp this year. This short story is dedicated to Madam Sidler aka Mrs. Hittle and all of our Campers from the last five years!

“Won’t You Be My Neighbor?”

June 13, 2018 by Valerie Flynn Leave a Comment

Sometimes life is a mixed adventure of fortuitous happenstance, unfortunate mishaps and curve balls. Moving to Loveland in 2006 was, ironically, all three for my family. Moving is always a tumultuous endeavor. Life circumstances aside, we were very, very happy to move to Loveland. I’m hoping to live here for the rest of my life.

Loveland has the same laid-back, friendly atmosphere of when we first moved to Colorado from New York back in 1980. It was in Loveland that we met our dear neighbor, Rusty, who ran across the street when he heard our car wouldn’t start. He offered to give our car a jump, then drove his truck across the street. After thanking him profusely and rushing off to meet with our production client, I remember our dad, George, telling my brother and me, “That’s how neighbors used to be when I was growing up. They would have backyard barbecues and everyone was always inviting each other over. They were family. That was normal.”

For over a decade, Rusty became one of the best neighbors we’ve ever had. Little did I know that my father’s words planted an important seed in my heart, which has been beginning to sprout within the last seven months. “Is there a way to bring that old-fashioned family of neighbors back to life?” We’ve never owned our own home, but it’s always been a dream of ours. I wish our mom could enjoy the same type of community I’m blessed with thanks to my circle of geek friends. But how?

During my research, I discovered intentional communities and co-operative housing. In the 1980s, a couple of architectural college students went to Denmark. In order to get to their school they had to walk past an oddly designed neighborhood. The individual homes were built much closer together surrounding a cooperative building that was shared. Curious, they interviewed some of the residents. They learned how the buildings’ functionality and physical closeness were designed to increased the neighbors’ social interaction with each other. Bringing back to the States what they gleaned, the college students started a quiet movement which grew into a national organization and fourteen cohousing communities in Colorado.

Some of the benefits of cohousing include reduced living expenses, authentic friendships that form a mutual support network for rides, childcare/elder care and shared weekly meals. So, why aren’t there more communities? Forming and building a mutual / intentional community is very time intensive commitment and initially more expensive than a traditional home. Another reason cohousing isn’t more popular, is because a majority of Americans just don’t have the personality or temperament for this alternative group oriented lifestyle.

Speaking for myself, it’s quite an attractive possibility to create a my own neighborhood with people we know, trust and love. A community of like-minded creators, learners and doers. In the words of Mr. Rogers, “Won’t you be my neighbor?”

Question: What is cohousing or intentional community?

Answer: Here’s how to find out.Check out: www.SowersTrust.org.

Question: Is there a Loveland Cohousing Club?

Answer: Not yet, wanna start one together? Check www.ILoveLoveland.org for updates, details and/or to volunteer.

Valerie Flynn is a lifelong learner who enjoys following rabbit trails wherever her curiosity leads her. She’s fond of writing, hat collecting, essential oils, hanging out with her geek friends and libraries.

Main Menu