How I Used Essential Oils During a Hospital Stay in India

How I Used Essential Oils During a Hospital Stay in India | Elizabeth Solanki

Last month, my mother-in-law (aka - Mummy ji) had a respiratory infection that turned into a bad case of pneumonia, which unfortunately landed her in the hospital for three and a half weeks. We did not expect her situation to be so severe and for her stay to be so long. Honestly, there was A LOT we didn’t know going in, and with each passing day, the situation got harder and harder.

The hospital was dirty and mismanaged, we (my husband, sister-in-law - aka - Didi, and myself) were all sleeping in Mummy ji’s hospital room, taking turns between one “sofa” and two spots on the tile floor (with the cockroaches!), Mummy ji’s body did not handle IVs well, nurses were not proactive or attentive, doctors were on vacation as it was over the Diwali holiday and getting answers took twice as long, etc. I could go on and on, but I think you get the point.

Much of the situation was up to us to manage and we ended up leaving the first hospital and transferring Mummy ji to a different hospital in my in-law’s hometown 3 hours away. It was all so overwhelming!

The night before we admitted Mummy ji to the hospital, we were throwing things in bags, thinking this would be a 3-4 day maximum stay. We were taking the bare minimum - a couple pairs of clothes, a blanket, pillow, and travel size toiletries. We had been using some essential oils for Mummy ji during her respiratory infection the weeks prior, but with taking such a small bag, I didn’t plan to pack the few essential oils I still had in India (the month before I took 90% of my essential oils to the US in preparation for Adi and I to move there) thinking that Mummy ji wouldn’t need them as she would be on medications in the hospital and would be more comfortable.

The next morning, as we were taking bags to the car and getting ready to leave for the hospital, I impulsively grabbed my Family Essentials kit from dōTERRA, more so for me in case I got a headache or needed help to fall asleep, and I’m so glad I did! We used 9 of those 10 oils is so many ways I didn’t expect during her hospital stay! (There’s a reason why this kit is known as the top 10 most used essential oils from dōTERRA!)

So today I’m sharing how I used essential oils during a hospital stay in India and why I would never go without them again!

The Family Essentials kit is a selection of dōTERRA’s top 10 most used essential oils and blends - lemon, lavender, peppermint, frankincense, oregano, tea tree, DeepBlue, Breathe, OnGuard, and DigestZen. Each oil comes in a 5ml bottle, packaged conveniently in a reusable box with a magnet closure. Here’s how they supported us throughout the hospital stay:

Lemon:
- added two to three drops in the diffuser alone or blended with other essential oils to freshen up an otherwise stale hospital room
- used to lift adhesive bandages and residue around Mummy ji’s lung drain and multiple IV ports
- freshened up boring water and supported my liver by adding 1-2 drop in my water bottle daily

Lavender:
- used as a massage oil on Mummy ji’s legs when they became restless in bed
- added two to three drops in the diffuser to promote a calming atmosphere and encourage sleep
- applied over the chest when anxiety was high for all family members

Peppermint:
- added to the diffuser to lift our spirits and brighten up the room
- applied to my temples and the roof of my mouth when a headache came on

Frankincense:
- put one to two drops on Mummy ji’s skin where she developed bruising from the moving of her IV port to multiple veins
- added to the diffuser with lavender for a calming, centering blend when anxiety was high
- applied to the bottom of Mummy Ji’s feet for cellular-level support
- used as a serum after facial cleansing when I ran out of my travel size moisturizer

Tea Tree:
- used in the diffuser blended with lemon to neutralize odors
- applied over mosquito and cockroach bites we got overnight to decrease the chance of disease spread and itchiness

DeepBlue:
- used as a massage oil on our achey backs and necks from sleeping on the hard floor
- eased my menstrual pain by applying over my abdomen during peak cramping days

Breathe:
- diffused this daily to help with respiratory support and freshness in the air
- put a few drops on the floor of the shower (away from the direct water flow) to create a full body steam, spa-like experience
- applied on Mummy ji’s chest to provide lung support during a coughing fit

OnGuard:
- added to the diffuser with Breathe or lemon to support everyone’s immune system, crucial in any hospital setting
- opted for extra immune system support by rubbing 1-2 drops on the bottom of my feet
- key ingredient in the disinfectant spray mentioned below

DigestZen:
- applied and massaged in a clockwise motion over Mummy ji’s stomach to ease constipation from lack of physical movement while bedridden (she was shocked by how well this worked!)

Oregano:
- the only oil we didn’t use during this hospital stay, but could have been used for additional immune support, digestive-cleansing, and fatigued muscles

Additional essential oils and products we used:
- a diffuser! this was by far the most used item I grabbed!
- cypress essential oil was so helpful in promoting circulation in Mummy ji’s legs that were prone to water rentntion from the amount of IV fluids and lack of physical movement
- did you know that Indian hospitals don’t disinfect patient beds after a bodily fluid accident?! ours was just wiped down with water and cotton gauze. whewwww…. OnGuard spray was the hero, disinfecting Mummy ji’s bed and keeping all surfaces actually clean!

This is in not an exhaustive list of what these oils can do by any means, but are the ways they supported us through a three and a half week hospital stay in India, and I’m sure reduced the amount of meds Mummy ji would have needed to take. I am so thankful I grabbed this little box of oils and the diffuser. Never again will I even think about leaving it behind. Get your own Family Essentials kit with diffuser in India or the US and be prepared when life throws you it’s next curveball. [Drop me a comment if you live outside India or the US and need a link for the kit in your country!]

- Elizabeth

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