When our children are sick, we as parents often rush to find any remedy that will help them. The same goes for Dayang Saemah Abang Roselie, who founded Oilzania Borneo in an effort to help her children feel better.
Mother turns to essential oils for healing
As parents, we are usually concerned about our children’s wellbeing, especially when they are ill.
And when we’re at our wits’ end, we’ll look for alternative treatments to help them recover.
Such was mother of four Dayang Saemah Abang Roselie’s plight whenever her children get sick.
Dayang recalled how her teenage children were often sick when they were toddlers.
“I became a full-time mother after resigning as a research officer. Because I am always with them, I am aware of all of their problems. My children are always sick, and they go to the doctor frequently.”
Dayang claims that her second son suffers from asthma. He would have shortness of breath at night.
“I was terrified by the sound and sight of it.”
She recalled holding her son down by the limbs with her husband to give him medicine when he was four years old.
“He had to take medicine three times a day, and he disliked the taste of it. I felt terrible for doing that to him.”
To her, a child’s mouth should only be filled with delicious food, not with unpleasant medicine.
“A child, after all, only knows how to play and eat. They would be disgusted if you fed them something bitter.”
Her eldest daughter was also always sick. Despite being in the science field at the time, Dayang admitted to feeling helpless.
“As a mother, I was at a loss for what to do for my sick children.”
Using a natural treatment
Dayang, feeling helpless and hopeless, turned to essential oils as an alternative to aid in her children’s recovery.
The 42-year-old added that she was introduced to an essential oil brand late in 2016.
“When I found out about it, I was relieved that I had discovered a way to help further alleviate my son’s ailment. Little that I know that the way I had been taught to use it was risky.”
“I was using an essential oil blend (a combination of several essential oils) to treat my second son’s asthma. And whenever they coughed, I applied essential oil to their chest.”
During her struggles, she found that it does not help with recovery. Instead, Dayang, who had diligently applied essential oil to her children, discovered that her body had reacted badly.
“My palms became dry at first. The skin on my entire body then became worse. I was diagnosed with dry and sensitive skin. I never had it until I came into regular contact with essential oils.”
Dayang, on the other hand, said that her children’s bodies have never gotten a reaction. She believed that her sensitive skin was caused by contact with essential oils and then detergent.
“I usually wash the dishes after I’m done with them.”
She avoided coming into direct contact with essential oils after figuring out the problem.
The call for help also caused her to spend hundreds of ringgit each month. According to the former research officer, the essential oil itself is potent and thus cannot be used directly.
Dayang also said that essential oils should be used only when absolutely necessary.
Essential oils can be helpful
Although she found essential oils to be risky, Dayang said that the risks are only present for those who do not prioritise safety.
“When I discovered that essential oils did not work as claimed, I began researching each essential oil and its benefits. I’d try to figure out how to blend it to meet my children’s needs.”
Dayang also started looking for other reliable information sources.
“I learned about the Tisserand Institute. They educate people about essential oils. I discovered that what they share is more reliable.”
Dayang provided New Sarawak Tribune with some details about the courses she was taking at the institute, which was taught by an aromatherapist.
“The majority of essential oils cannot be applied topically. To dilute the content, only a few drops should be mixed with a carrier oil. It’s like minimising the content in order to maximise its potential.”
She also said that the only time there is no need for dilution is when diffusing.
Dayang discovered that essential oils can be made into balms to maximise their benefits.
As a person in the science field, she is fascinated by the process of creating and improving things.
For the sake of her children’s health, the mother began making balms to treat their illnesses.
The start of Oilzania Borneo
In late 2017, Dayang began making balms for every problem that she and her family face after discovering a better way to help her children through the use of handmade balms.
She also founded Oilzania Borneo to assist parents in similar situations to hers. Dayang initially made balms to help her children.
“When my second son experiences an asthma attack, I just rub my homemade balm onto his chest, then he will start breathing normally. The symptoms of an asthma attack became manageable. The balm helped in gradually reducing and not making matters worse,” she said, adding that the balm is called ‘Breathe Easy’ by Oilzania Borneo.
She revealed that when she started making balms, she had a large supply of them.
“And I had no idea what to do. When I mix the ingredients, I can make at least five balms. I only need one and it will last me several months. I wondered how I was going to keep all of them.”
Because of this, she founded Oilzania Borneo in an effort to make parenting easier for many families.
However, Dayang said that when she first began, not many people were convinced by her balm.
“So I gave them away as souvenirs. When they give me feedback after using it, I use it to promote.”
Her balms are completely plant-based and kid-friendly, she said, and contain ingredients like essential oils, shea butter, Vitamin E, coconut oil, and plant-based wax. Meanwhile, her inhalers contain only essential oils.
Dayang attributes the creation of her balms and inhalers to the Tisserand Institute she attended, and she adds that each product was created to help her family’s problem.
“My ‘‘Balm Batuk for adults’’ was crafted for my husband. He was sensitive to cold and was coughing nonstop for two to three weeks. This balm helps warm his chest.”
Meanwhile, the ‘Anti-Anxiety’ inhaler was created as a result of her struggles as a full-time mother managing the household and children.
“During that time, I had a panic attack because I was overwhelmed and tired from constantly rushing the children, feeding them, and sending them to school.”
Dayang said that despite the hassle and burden, her “Anti-Anxiety” inhaler was there to help her control her anxiety symptoms.
Dayang, who lives in Miri, considered the difficulties that other parents face.
That became her motivation to keep Oilzania Borneo going to this day. There is something available to help a mother’s struggles and challenges, whether it is a balm or an inhaler.
Although being a parent may seem like a simple job, it actually requires a lot of work and energy.
Nonetheless, with help and assistance, a parent’s burden can be reduced.
