Sniffleease By Young Living Essential Oils Is It Safe

You may have recently discovered a specialty essential oil blend called SniffleEase from the collection KidScents by Young Living Oils and you've heard all the testimonials from moms who say it saves their lives during the cold and flu season, right?

SniffleEase is a blend of oils similar to "Thieves", which is actually not new by any means, but Young Living Essential Oils has pushed it into the limelight in recent years. And like the historical tale of the Four Thieves who inspired the name of this essential oil collection, the safety of using Young Living's Snifflease on children is rife with scandal.

Is this blend actually safe for all ages? Does this blend really work to combat a runny nose? My family used the cold and flu season to our advantage and put it to the test!

How to Use Young Living SniffleEase

Because this oil is already diluted in a carrier oil, it can be applied directly on the skin according to the package instructions. However, always use caution and do a skin patch test to see if there is any reaction or sensitivity to the oils.  Better yet, use a second carrier oil to dilute the dose your child receives and to hopefully avoid any reaction at all. This is especially true for young children regardless of their sensitivity or previous exposure to essential oils.

Some examples of carrier oils that we love to use are coconut oil , argan oil, or jojoba oil.

When I first tried this with my children, I put a drop on my finger and dabbed it behind the ear lobe of my then 6-year-old and another drop rubbed on her sinuses--above her eye sockets first and slightly along the nose near the cheeks. (Update:  many years have passed and now I know this could have caused a reaction because she was so young and these oils are strong! Warnings like this should be given as standard information from Young Living!)

Dangers of using SniffleEase by Young Living

The peppermint oil vapors can sting the eyes, first of all. After my first trial of this blend, I would not apply it topically anywhere without even diluting this blend even more. However, even with more dilution, I would still recommend testing the oil on your child before applying it all over.

While peppermint can be very helpful for respiratory issues, it is not always safe for any use on or around children under the age of 6. Rosemary and eucalyptus globulus fall into the same category. These three oils are said to contain cineole 1,8 and menthol according to this amazing book by Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young. Essential oils high in 1,8 cineole or menthol could potentially cause central nervous system or breathing problems in young children so it should not be applied to or near their faces. Caution should also be used with diffusing these oils around young children.

Is SniffleEase Safe for Kids?

When you research essential oil usage and children you can get conflicting information. Thus, we err on the side of caution and do not use internally without being under the care of a very qualified aromatherapist. As you can see, this "kid safe" blend has the potential to harm some children so we always recommend conservative and careful usage.

Does Young Living SniffleEase Work?

When I pulled this Snifflease out I was desperate. My 1-year-old hadn't been able to nurse for about 19 hours (yes, I was counting). She would try to latch on and immediately dry-heave due to the thick mucus running down the back of her throat. The steam method worked amazingly for her! Within 15 minutes she was breathing and actually trying to play. She nursed, went to sleep and woke up with a slight cough that didn't sound as thick and distressing. This could have been the steam or it could have been the oil.

SniffleEase Benefits

There is a huge list of ingredients in this blend.

Young Living SniffleEase Ingredients
Caprylic/capric glycerides, Eucalyptus bicostata† (Eucalyptus blue) oil, Bursera graveolens† (Palo santo) wood oil, Lavandula angustifolia† (Lavender) oil, Hyptis suaveolens† (Dorado azul) seed oil, Cinnamomum camphora† (Ravintsara) leaf oil, Myrtus communis† (Myrtle) oil, Eucalyptus globulus leaf oil, Origanum majorana† (Marjoram) leaf oil, Pinus sylvestris† (Pine) leaf oil, Eucalyptus citriodora† oil, Cupressus sempervirens† (Cypress) leaf/nut/stem oil, Eucalyptus radiata† leaf oil, Picea mariana† (Black spruce) leaf oil, Mentha piperita† (Peppermint) oil

Each oil has its own beneficial properties in helping the child's respiratory system work better in the presence of an illness. It would be highly expensive to purchase all of those oils individually and then create your own blend. Therefore, just purchasing this one bottle of oil is more cost effective for my family because we do not use it often. 

My Conclusion

I no longer use this brand or this blend. More transparent companies exist with better pricing schemes (you do pay more to purchase from an MLM, no matter what anyone tries to argue). Others to consider: Sniffle Stopper by Plant Therapy and First Defense Synergy (Not a kid blend). We have recently put Sniffle Stopper to use for a minor cold but I can't really say if we noticed any added benefit. We did not repurchase. Next up on my radar, an incredibly conscientious and affordable company that provides hand-batch essential oils with pristine quality, Nature's Gift.

Let me know if you try SniffleEase and if it does or does not work for you. This is our fourth year using essential oils and we have been happy with the results but we do use them sparingly. Essential oils are an extremely concentrated version of the potent plant they come from. I have no doubt they are powerful and potentially toxic! 

Remember, toxic doesn't mean you see an immediate negative effect of using something. It can cause an overload or insult to the toxin-removing organs. As you are using essential oils, always remember the tiny organs of a child and how potent these oils truly are. 

Learn more ways to deal with cold and flu on this episode of the Crunchy SuperMom Show.

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