All You Need to Know About Essential Oils

Essential oils have been a hot topic for quite a while now. But what exactly are they? And are all brands just as good as the next?

What are they Essential Oils?

Essential Oils as explained in the book, Modern Essentials by Aroma Tools, are: “the volatile liquids that are distilled from plants (including their respective parts such as seeds, bark, leaves, stem, roots, flowers, etc.)” Purity and therapeutic value all depend on what part of the plant that oil is expressed from, where it was grown, the variety of the specific plant that is used, the season it is distilled in, etc.

It can take several hundred pounds or even several thousand pounds of plant to produce just one pound of plant essential oils. This adds to the high cost of oils. Oils can be extracted in two ways: by steam distillation, or by cold pressing. Many companies put filler man-made chemicals in their oils and are able to lower the cost, but unfortunately, it diminishes the amount of pure properties from the plant that are needed to get therapeutic results. When looking for an oil to purchase, make sure it is third party tested and therapeutic grade.

Benefits of Essential Oils

Essential oils are the powerful, immune boosting, healing parts of the plant extracts. They are small in molecular size and are fat soluble. Therefore, they can enter the skin quickly. The body is able to metabolize them fast and use them efficiently. They are robust antioxidants.

When our bodies are overwhelmed by free radicals in the environment- such as smoke, cleaning supplies, processed food, it has a hard time neutralizing them. Your body enters a state of oxidative stress, which is a domino effect of inflammation and damage in the body. Adding in essential oils as another antioxidant aids your body in fighting all the free radicals it comes in contact with daily.

Not only can essential oils help fight free radicals, many are:

• anti-inflammatory
• anti-fungal
• anti-viral
• anti-bacterial
• anti-tumor
• anti-parasitic

Some oils such as rosemary, are great at detoxifying the liver. Frankincense and Sandalwood are known for being able to cross the blood brain barrier. (There are only about 2% of drugs that can do this.) The benefits of this would be for treating brain diseases/disorders. Even if the oil doesn’t cross the blood brain barrier, many have an impact on the brain through the olfactory nerve (by smelling it). The amygdala, in the brain, is affected by smells and can enhance emotion with smell.

Use of Essential Oils

Essential Oils can be applied topically, inhaled aromatically, or ingested. Not all oils can be ingested, and not all brands can be. It is highly advised to do extensive research on the brand you use to ensure it is pure and therapeutic grade. Oils can cause systemic (whole body) effects, or localized effects. For example, inhaling eucalyptus when you have a cold has more of a localized effect on the lungs.

The mode of application also impacts the effect of the essential oil. Applying peppermint to sore muscles provides a cooling sensation. When inhaled, peppermint can help alleviate nausea/upset stomach.

If you choose to apply an oil topically, it is advised to dilute it in a “carrier oil.” Options for carrier oils would be olive oil, coconut oil, jojoba oil etc. 1-3 drops of oil in 1 teaspoon of carrier oil is a good ratio. You can apply an essential oil without a carrier oil. This method is called applying the oil “neat.” Because oils are so extremely concentrated, it’s important to test them first and see how your body and skin react. Some oils like oregano really shouldn’t be applied neat as they produce a burning sensation.

You can ingest a therapeutic grade oil in a vegetable capsule, in water, or by putting drops under your tongue. Diffusing essential oils is the most popular, and this is highly effective. Many places sell diffusers now. Place 5-6 drops in a diffuser with water and enjoy! You can also place a few drops on a tissue and inhale. Place a few drops in hot water and inhale. Make your own perfume, the options are endless!

The Brand I Prefer

I have been using Doterra oils for 10 plus years now and am very pleased. The oils are therapeutic grade and third party tested. My top 3 “go to oils” are Peppermint, Lavender, and On Guard. I get a lot of headaches, so I use peppermint on my temples and neck. I use it under my nose for nausea, or if I have a cold, it opens my sinuses. You can drink a glass of water with 2 drops of peppermint to settle your stomach.

Lavender is wonderful to help stop mosquito bites from itching. It’s also great to treat acne, scrapes, rashes, etc. I use it in my boo boo oil recipe! On guard is an amazing oil to have on hand when fighting infections. Diffuse it, ingest it, or rub it along the spine/lymph nodes and great toe.

Lemon is wonderful to diffuse to make your home smell fresh. I even add it to my steam mop to sanitize the floors. Tea Tree Oil is amazing for treating fungal infections and placing on wounds. I use Lemongrass as our bug spray to keep mosquitos away. There is a great starter kit with Doterra that gives you the essentials and a diffuser. If you are just curious about a few oils, I would start with lavender and peppermint, and On Guard. I keep all my oils organized in a wooden essential oil box . This keeps that nice and neat- and easy to get to.

Summary

Essential oils have been used for ages to treat ailments. They are easily processed by your body and provide wonderful immune boosting properties. Not all essential oil companies are created equal, so always do your own research. They are an essential to have on hand for the natural minded mama. The complexity of the oils from plants all points back to our Creator. I always stand in awe his creation.

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_{Medical Disclaimer: The information on this site is not meant to be medical advice in any capacity. It is informative in nature, only. Please always consult your doctor for medical advice. Pregnant and nursing moms need to consult with their doctors as well before consuming any herbal medicine.}