A Beginner’s Guide to Essential Oils

For years we’ve dabbled in natural medicine, working to avoid most over-the-counter medication for daily maladies. My dream is to have a “natural medicine chest” with go-to treatments for everything from headaches to sore throats to scrapes and cuts.

As I looked up facts about the oils and ways to use them (unfortunately, I had a lot of reasons the past few weeks!), I realized there’s a lot to know before jumping into using essential oils. So, mostly today’s post will give you an overview of essential oils in case you’re thinking of joining in, too!

A beginner’s guide to essential oils:

Essential oils (EO) come in concentrated form (distilled), so a little goes a long way, that’s why they come in “drop” bottles.

Use glass when storing or using EO because the oils digest plastic (a petrochemical).

Essential oils are “hot.” That is, they will “burn” (sting, tingle) in sensitive areas like your eyes, so essential oils should generally be diluted with a carrier oil (coconut or olive are good choices). Don’t dilute with water – oil and water don’t mix, remember, so that will just spread the oil around MORE and continue to irritate you!

Oils should be applied diluted, but in some cases “neat,” or full-strength is acceptable, such as when applying on the bottoms of the feet. (Always dilute for infants and children).

How to purchase essential oils

You can find many brands of essential oils at natural food stores, spas, or online. But they aren’t all created equal. Most essential oils you’ll find are synthetic, not organic or natural. These are considered “perfume-grade” and just like that sounds, they basically smell good, but won’t provide the health benefits. Also, they’re often diluted with solvents and alcohols. Wow, that doesn’t sound good, does it? It’s not.

Check the background of the essential oil brand you choose.

Instead of alcohol and solvents, look for oils that use a gentle extraction methods like steam, cold pressing, and resin tapping to produce unadulterated, undiluted oils. Then these oils are tested in their own labs, and third party labs to be sure they exceed international standards.

So what can you use essential oils for?

Oh the list is nearly endless! Name a common malady, and there’s an oil for it! Essential oils can be taken internally (some people don’t agree on this point), topically, via inhalation or diffusion.

The lavender oil I tested out is good for things like soothing burns, blisters, bug bites (hello, summer bug repellent!). Or relieving the symptoms of rashes and inflammation (bye-bye diaper rash and eczema!). I like to use it for headache relief. I even whipped up (literally) a creamy and soothing lotion with the YL Lavender oil and coconut oil.

Thieves oil is such an interesting essential oil blend. The story is, four thieves developed this blend and used it to protect themselves while stealing from victims of the Plague! Kinda gross, but hey it worked! Thieves is a blend of clove, lemon, cinnamon, eucalyptus, and rosemary. It smells yummy to me – like holiday baking!

I’ve used Thieves on my recent cold and sore throat, and learned it’s also great for anti-bacterial or anti-fungal uses (gonna make some spray for when we’re out in public!).

I’m going to be trying out essential oils to help with my frequent headaches to see what works best for me!

Allergy Bomb Recipe

You can make your own essential oils “recipes” by blending various single oils together yourself! A popular one for the springtime is this “Allergy Bomb” recipe: 

• 1 roller ball bottle (find them here)
• 10 ml light carrier oil (almond, jojoba, or liquid coconut)
• 20 drops Young Living Lavender essential oil
• 20 drops Young Living Peppermint essential oil
• 20 drops Young Living Lemon oil

Directions: Blend all the oils into the roller ball and replace cap. Gently rotate to blend. Apply three times daily (try applying to soles of feet, back of neck and ears, and across the nose).

Use for ages 2+ and always test for sensitivity on the soles of the feet first!

Shop this story – get all your essential oils supplies here:

6, Cobalt Blue, 10 ml Glass Roll-on Bottles with Stainless Steel Roller Balls – .5 ml Dropper IncludedTrue Essence 2 ml, 5/8 Dram Amber Glass Mini Roll-on Glass Bottles with Metal Roller Balls – Refillable Aromatherapy Essential Oil Roll On (12)Essential Oil Carrying Case – Little Bird M FNow Foods Variety Moisturizing Oils Sampler: Sweet Almond, Avocado, and Jojoba Oils – 4oz. Bottles eachNOW Foods 100% Pure Sweet Almond Oil 16 Oz Moisturizing Oil Promote Healthy SkinNOW Liquid Coconut Oil, 16-Ounce

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