Welcome to my blog. I am glad you’re sticking with me. We are going to be healthy and happy one way or another, so stay with me so we can do it together. Today we are going to discuss essential oils and what they are, what they are used for, as well as some examples of essential oils. So, let’s dive right in and find out about these great oils.
Essential oils have been used for thousands of years. With everything from cosmetic use to spiritual and religious use to alternative medicine, interest in essential oils has revived in recent decades. The increasing popularity of aromatherapy and natural living have made essential oils into our homes for everything from supporting immunity and getting a better night’s sleep, to cleaning our home safely with no nasty chemicals! Some examples of common essential oils include Lavender, Peppermint, Frankincense, Eucalyptus, Tea Tree, Rosemary and Lemon!
So, what are essential oils exactly? Well, essential oils are compounds extracted from plants (or other natural sources). The raw material like the flowers, leaves, wood, bark, roots seeds or peel are subjected to a distillation process which is liquid being heated to create a vapor and then condensed back into a liquid again, it’s then cold pressed (friction, rotation, or pressure is applied without external heat) or resin tapping. These methods extract the potent “essence” of the plant! This in turn creates an oil.
How exactly do you use essential oils? Well, there are really only three ways that most people use them and have used them for thousands of years. These ways include Topically, Aromatically, and Ingesting. I don’t advise going to your local grocery store and getting a quart of essential oil to party with. We will start with Topically.
Topically means applying oils directly to the body. It’s recommended however, that you dilute your essential oils with a “carrier oil” such as coconut oil. A common method of topical application is making a roller bottle with a few drops of oil topped up with the carrier oil to roll-on to your skin. Also, just like perfume you could apply this directly behind the ears, on your chest, or on your wrists.
The other way is aromatically. This means that the oils are inhaled such as in a diffuser. I have a bracelet that you can add a little bit of oil in the small holes and you breathe it in all day for calming and destressing effects. Some people use it in their bedrooms for calming effects or to sleep better. The last way to use these essential oils is ingesting. This basically means that you will add the oils to your food or drinks. A really good way of ingesting them is to add a couple drops of Lemon Vitality Essential Oil to your glass of water upon waking. Just be careful! Not all oils are made for ingesting! Read the label!
So why use essential oils? Good question! Well essential oils (inhaling ones) have been shown to stimulate the limbic system which is the part of your body that plays a huge role in emotions, behaviors, and long-term memory. According to Healthline.com,
“Interestingly the limbic system also plays a role in controlling several unconscious physiological functions, such as breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure. Therefore, some people claim that essential oils can exert a physical effect on your body.” https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/what-are-essential-oils#how-they-work
Where can you get these essential oils? Are they all created equal? What do I look for? For one they are not all created equal. I would look for the ones that are carefully sourced from Seed-to-Seal certified farms and suppliers. They strive to produce ethically, sustainably, quality products. These would be from companies like Young Living.
They even make essential oils for kids. I personally use one for my son in his room. He has a diffuser set up and he just adds a few drops at night and he is calmer, quitter, and more relaxed before bed. Here is a recipe for a wellness roller that kids can use:
5 drops Purification
5 drops of Thieves
3 drops Frankincense
3 drops Lemon
1 drop Oregano
+ organic fractionated coconut oil
Directions: Add oils to a 10ml roller bottle and fill the remainder of the bottle with the coconut oil and roll on the bottoms of the feet or spine and wrists.
One thing that is really good for women is the Diffuse Clay Sage at night. Clary Sage Oil has been used for centuries to help support the female body. It supports a healthy attitude during PMS and is a support for menopausal women emotionally due its balancing nature. This oil has been shown to help with sleep and fewer hormonal night sweats! You can try putting a drop or two on the back of your neck as well as diffusing! This oil is really universal and very beneficial.
I hope this helps you in your journey to discovering the path to essential oils. They are very beneficial, healthy, and could add to your healthy, happy living quest. If you need help in deciding which ones to get and to start with checkout this website I came across. This should put you on the right path. https://thefloweringfarmhouse.com/2020/06/16/a-beginners-guide-to-essential-oils/
As always, Take care.
Darren
Harmony Shift 