I’ve been using homeopathy for nearly two decades. In the last few years, I’ve also discovered essential oils.

When the right homeopathic remedy is chosen, it attacks a specific set of symptoms with a laser-like precision. I don’t know of any other method of healing that can so effectively bring relief, even in the case of long-standing ailments.

For a chronic condition, it will take time, and often an assortment of remedies. But, with the right care, homeopaths believe the body can begin to heal itself.

However, homeopathy requires a lot of skill. Unless already familiar with this discipline, you need to work with an experienced practitioner. It can be very difficult finding a good homeopath.

My current one is an excellent teacher. I’ve learned a lot from her. I’ve also spent many hours reading books and studying how various remedies work. In addition, I’ve seen their effects on myself and my family members.

Despite the amazing healing power of homeopathy, it also has its limitations. Please understand that I’m writing this from the perspective of a Mom, and not a licensed healthcare provider. So everything you read is my personal opinion only, and should not be taken as medical advice. I urge you to direct all questions to your doctor, and never neglect getting appropriate medical care.

Homeopathy vs Essential Oils

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A couple years ago, my teenage son was sick. He had a nagging cough. His fever shot up. He should have gone to bed and slept it off. But he was scheduled to work. Since his employer was short handed, he was needed for a full eight-hour shift.

With only an hour to go, before he was going to leave the house, I didn’t have time to call my homeopath or try to choose a remedy for him myself. He also wasn’t showing a lot of symptoms, other than a cough and fever. So picking the right remedy would have been difficult, even for a professional.

But my son needed something to support his body. He wasn’t going to get any rest. Now, we only had 45 minutes until he’d leave for work.

So I grabbed a bottle that contained a mix of five essential oils. There’s a very interesting story behind this particular recipe. According to various accounts, a band of medieval thieves robbed the sick during the height of the Black Death, which swept through Europe, killing millions of people.

Germ Fighting Essential Oil Blends

Once they were apprehended, the king wanted to know why they weren’t getting sick. He also offered them leniency, in exchange for information. So, they confessed their secret. They were descended from a line of pharmacists, or apothecaries. They used a special blend of herbs and spices, which seemed to ward off illness.

It’s this ancient recipe that a growing number of people in the 21st century are using once again, and calling it “Protect” or “Germ Fighter” or some other variation on this theme. If you hear the term “Thieves,” this is the name of the Young Living brand. This company can take credit for making “Thieves oil” a household word.

The real Thieves oil is sold online, and elsewhere But it’s relatively expensive. However, if you’re interested in the original proprietary blend, you can order it here. It’s an excellent product.

Protect Oil by Fabulous Frannie

There are probably dozens of suppliers now selling variations of this five-oil recipe. The germ-fighting oil we have in our home is made by Fabulous Frannie, a small California-based company that also sells good oils.

Fabulous Frannie Protect Blend

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So, given our time crunch, I took a tablespoon of olive oil and added three drops of the Fabulous Frannie formula. My son put this on the inside of his wrist and on his chest. I also had him take a packet of Lypospheric Vitamin C, a readily absorbable high-potency form of ascorbic acid that I use when a stubborn infection hits the house. (We always have this on hand, in hopes of avoiding antibiotics. So far, so good.)

My son went to work and I worried. But I shouldn’t have. He returned feeling much better than when he’d left. Although I can’t prove the oils or the Vitamin C healed him , it’s an interesting story to share.

Essential Oils for Upper Respiratory Infection

In this one instance, with limited time, essential oils were a better choice than homeopathy. However, if we weren’t so rushed, a well-selected homeopathic remedy would have been better.

A remedy given for an acute situation, such as a fever, can have profoundly positive effects on someone’s overall health. It has the potential to greatly improve something entirely different than what it was originally given for.

Homeopathy can also quickly zero in and fix a problem. For instance, there are specific remedies that can bring fast relief and even cure tooth pain located on the upper right side of the mouth. However, an essential oil will probably only dull the pain until you can get to a dentist.

Aromatherapy Or Essential Oils

But essential oils are much easier for beginners to work with. You don’t necessarily need professional guidance, and there’s a wealth of information on the Internet.

So, It’s impossible to say which healing modality is more useful, essential oils or homeopathy. They have very different actions, even though they can be used for overlapping conditions. You probably want to stock your natural medicine cabinet with both. Unfortunately, though, since essential oils are fun and so user friendly, it seems as if there’s less interest in homeopathy. I wish this weren’t the case. Both have their unique intrinsic value. One shouldn’t replace the other.

Homeopathy for Conjunctivitis

Essential oils are not a solution for conjunctivitis. That’s because they can’t be placed inside the eye. This point was driven home recently when our elderly dog’s right eye was red and oozing with pus. First, we called the vet to schedule an appointment. Next, we called our homeopath. The remedy she recommended solved the problem so quickly that we cancelled our upcoming veterinary visit.

Homeopathy for Diarrhea

Recently, our elderly dog developed gastrointestinal distress, after a period of diminished appetite. He had refused to eat any food. In an old dog, this is a very gad sign. Then he developed diarrhea. A homeopathic remedy solved the diarrhea. He’s gone back to wolfing down his food. It’s my personal opinion that a well-selected homeopathic remedy can apparently lead to very deep healing, in a short period of time.

I don’t think we would have seen these same results with essential oils, even though they’re much easier to use.

Can You Use Homeopathic Remedies and Essential Oils at the Same Time?

I need to stress that I’m not a professional homeopath. I’ve been studying this natural healing method for 20 years, on my own and with two excellent professional homeopaths. They’ve both been really generous with their time and information. So I know a fair amount about homeopathy. I know enough about it to treat myself. Legally, I cannot treat anyone else.

You probably won’t find total agreement among professional homeopaths about whether you can use remedies alongside essential oils. Personally, I use both. But not at exactly the same time. I’ve heard people say that certain aromatics will neutralize a remedy. I haven’t found this to be true. I’m really sensitive to homeopathic remedies. Occasionally, I’ve overdone it by taking too many doses of homeopathy. I’ve tried essential oils to antidote the remedy. I don’t think that’s what happens. At least that’s my experience.

How To Use Homeopathy and Essential Oils Together

I generally don’t use essential oils at the very same time I take a homeopathic remedy. This doesn’t mean I won’t use my essential oils a few hours after taking a remedy. But not at the same time. I’d also caution against opening a bottle that contains homeopathic pellets immediately after using essential oils. Essential oils are very strong and I wouldn’t want them to interfere with the pellets in the bottle.

But I personally don’t shy away from using homeopathy, and then using essential oils a few hours, or a day or two later. That’s because I believe one can compliment the other. It’s my belief that each of these healing modalities work on different levels. So (used properly) both can help push my body in the right direction.

Disclaimer: These statements have not been approved by the FDA. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. People with health concerns should discuss them with a doctor. Women who are pregnant or nursing should not use essential oils, unless directed to do so by a healthcare professional.Disclaimer

I’m not a healthcare professional, so all of the above statements are my personal opinion, and are not intended as medical advice.

For Additional Reading

Homeopathic Treatments for Inflammation

Where to Find a Homeopathic Practitioner