05/21/2026
This post was written by my wife, Erin, a few years ago, and I felt the need to reshare it because it may help someone else out there.
How Petitgrain (and Young Living) Changed Our Lives…
We were already familiar with how essential oils could help with life's everyday nuances—soothing a burn, calming an itch, or comforting a teething baby. But when a friend shared some research about Petitgrain in a social media group, we had no idea just how much Young Living and the power of oils were about to completely transform our lives!
Scott was born with spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy and has used a power wheelchair since he was three years old. If you’ve ever built a rubber-band guitar as a child, you have a perfect analogy for how his spasticity works. When you pluck the rubber band, it vibrates and builds tension. Imagine that happening in muscles all across your body, all day long, every single day. Scott’s spasticity is affected by many factors—including stress, illness, and especially the weather—and it can be incredibly intense and painful.
As a child, Scott’s spasticity was treated with numerous oral medications, Botox injections, physical and occupational therapies, and multiple surgeries—including a major spinal surgery. As an adult, oral medications continued to be his primary treatment, but many of them left him feeling "out of it" or not quite himself.
In 2007, his medical team suggested a baclofen pump. At the time, it sounded like a wonderful option. However, within six weeks of having the pump implanted in December 2008, a true nightmare began. He underwent three emergency surgeries in less than two weeks. In August 2009, doctors attached a new catheter to the pump, and for a while, things improved. Over time, though, the medication became less effective, requiring constantly increased doses to achieve the same relief.
Following standard medical protocol, the pump was replaced after five years in 2013. Unfortunately, more complications followed. In June 2015, just a few days after our second daughter was born, Scott began experiencing stroke-like symptoms. It turned out the pump was malfunctioning, causing simultaneous symptoms of both overdosing and underdosing. After a week-long hospital stay, his doctors began titrating the medication down, and the pump was finally completely emptied in November 2015.
Following the baclofen pump ordeal, Scott’s doctors found an oral medication that worked well for him to take as needed. For the most part, we thought it had very few side effects. That is, until we discovered Petitgrain.
For almost a month now, Scott has not taken **any** spasticity medication or over-the-counter pain relievers. He has been using **only** Petitgrain to manage his spasticity. It has been absolutely life-changing!
In just this short time, Petitgrain has:
* **Decreased** muscle fatigue and spasms.
* **Eliminated** all pain caused by spasms.
* **Made his speech** even more crisp and clear.
* **Increased** range of motion in both his arms and legs.
* **Decreased** urinary urgency and frequency.
* **Nearly eliminated** episodes of choking caused by GI issues that were exacerbated by spasticity.
* **Improved** skin quality and reduced skin breakdown.
* **Boosted** his mood, mental clarity, and overall health.
As his wife and full-time caregiver, witnessing the power of this oil has been incredible—especially after watching him endure the harsh side effects of pharmaceuticals for so many years. This oil is even improving our marriage! When you live together 24/7 in a cozy home, maintaining a good mood is key.
The benefits of Petitgrain have also extended to my own health, making caregiving much less stressful. I deal with carpal tunnel syndrome and Celiac disease, among other challenges.
For me, Petitgrain has:
* **Diminished** carpal tunnel flare-ups (I’ve been facing the need for surgery for years because it gets so severe).
* **Eased** early signs of neuropathy and leg pain.
* **Decreased** overall inflammation.
* **Managed Scott's spasticity so well that:**
* He can comfortably enjoy his coffee while I run errands, thanks to his decreased urinary urgency.
* Transferring him to and from his wheelchair is much easier.
* Getting him dressed and assisting with his bathroom needs is smoother.
* He drops items much less frequently.
* All of this means fewer interruptions while I am tending to our children, homeschooling, or managing household tasks.
Scott is no stranger to adventure, but the baclofen pump and years of heavy medication stripped away some of his freedom. As a child, he did therapeutic horseback riding. As a teenager and young adult, he was deeply active in martial arts—he is even a 2nd-degree black belt in Karate, Jiu-Jitsu, and Judo! He has gone water skiing on the lake and has even been rock climbing. As an ordained minister, he doesn't back down from a challenge, knowing that through Christ, he truly can do all things.
Now, as a husband of 15 years and a father to three active girls, we cannot wait to see the new adventures ahead of us, all made possible by this amazing oil.
Note: These last couple of photos are from the years I was on oral baclofen and had the baclofen pump. I am incredibly thankful that the Lord Jesus Christ has brought me out of that situation, and I am so grateful for my health and how wonderful I feel today.
