So
I have recently discovered the amazing (and I do mean amazing)
benefits of essential oils. The more I learned, the more
excited I was to try out these ancient oils. Let me tell you, I
was NOT disappointed!
If you think essential oils are only for aromatherapy, then you only know a part of the big picture. Aromatherapy is the practice of using the natural oils extracted from flowers, bark, stems, leaves, roots or other parts of a plant to enhance psychological and physical well-being. The inhaled aroma from these "essential" oils is widely believed to stimulate brain function. These smells can actually send information to our brain to change us not only psychologically, but also physiologically! You can diffuse oils to combat any number of ailments or emotional issues. I love to diffuse an oil called "Thieves" or "Fighting Five" or "On Guard" depending on who you buy it from. It helps to build up the immune system and fight germs and viruses. The legend of the Thieves oils goes like this: During the plagues (enter your favorite plague here, the Black Plague is most common, but the tale has even made its way to America, as a plague that struck New Orleans), a group of four brothers began robbing the dead. At first, they were largely ignored, as everyone knew they would eventually pay the price by catching the plague themselves but, to everyone’s surprise, they managed to avoid catching the plague and continued robbing graves, amassing a great deal of wealth. They became legendary and everyone wanted to know how they managed to avoid getting sick. Was it trickery? Magic? What secret did they possess. Years later, when they were finally captured, they were asked for their secret during questioning. After much debating, they agreed to share their secret in return for their pardon. This offer was accepted and the secret is now out. These men were the offspring of a perfumer and herbalist. They learned about essential oils from their parents during their childhood. They knew these oils would protect them so they rubbed them on their bodies and used them to clean anything they brought back. The powerful blend is now called the Thieves Blend, Legend of the Thieves Blend, Grave Robbers Blend, and countless similar names.
Whenever I diffuse a blend like Thieves, I like to add Sweet Orange because I absolutely LOVE the smell of it and it can be very uplifting.
Another way to use essential oils is topically. Many, MANY oils are antibacterial, antimicrobial, and are excellent to combat different types of pain like arthritis, inflammation, muscle fatigue, and so on. Below I will illustrate some of my favorite oils and what they are used for. All of these oils need to be used with what is called a "carrier" oil.. It can be fractionated coconut oil (MCT Oil, which is what I use. It is the cheapest I have found and I am providing a link to where I buy it), Sweet Almond Oil, Jojoba Oil, and some use Olive Oil, but it's pretty thick. Here is the link to the MCT oil that I buy. I also put this in my coffee and smoothies. It's derived from coconut oil:
And
below are the containers I buy to put the blended oils in (they HAVE
to be in glass):
*NOTE:
I do NOT get a percentage of sales from these.
I
use the rollers bottles with oil and the spray bottles with distilled
water and two teaspoons of rubbing alcohol, which helps the oils
emulsify with the water.
Lastly, some oils can be ingested, but again, USE A CARRIER OIL, and only use oils from reputable companies so you know their oils are truly pure. It can be dangerous to ingest some oils, so please do your research before starting this practice. Essential oils are HIGHLY concentrated!
Below is a list of my "go to" oils-how they are used and what they are used for:
Lavender - If you only use one essential oil, this is it! Lavender(lavandula angustifolia) is the most versatile of all essential oils. Most commonly known for its relaxing effects on the body, therapeutic-grade lavender has been highly regarded for the skin. It may be used to cleanse cuts, bruises and skin irritations. I keep this in my first aid kit.
Lemon oil - One of the most “essential” oils to have on hand and can be used as teeth whitener, laundry freshener, cellulite cream, face wash and household cleaner. I add several drops to a glass spray bottle consisting of 1 part distilled water and 1 part hydrogen peroxide. This is the BEST cleaner I have ever used! Lemon oil also removes sticky residue, including that cement-like glue from mayonnaise jars. Below are the top 10 uses for Lemon essential oil:
Top 10 Lemon Essential Oil Uses
As
you’d probably expect, there is a laundry list of lemon oil uses in
addition to all of these medicinal effects. Here are some of my
favorites:
- Laundry – In case you leave your laundry sitting in the washer too long, just add a few drop of lemon EO and your clothes won’t get that nasty smell.
- Teeth Whitener – Mix lemon essential oil, baking soda and coconut oil and rub on your teeth for 2 minutes and then dense as a natural teeth whitener.
- Clean Hands – Got greasy hands from working on your car or bike and regular soap isn’t doing the trick? No worries, just add a couple drops of lemon EO with your soap and get your clean hands back!
- Natural Disinfectant – Want to steer away from alcohol and bleach to disinfect your countertops and clean your moldy shower? Add 40 drops lemon oil and 20 drops tea tree oil to a 16-oz spray bottle fill with pure water (and a little bit of white vinegar) for a traditional cleaning favorite.
- Face-wash – Lemon essential oil uses for skin can can improve your complexion and leave your skin soft and supple. Lemon oil benefits skin by deeply nourishing. You can make lemon oil with baking soda and honey for a natural acne free face wash.
- Wood and Silver Polish – A lemon oil-soaked cloth will also help spruce up your tarnished silver and jewelry! Lemon oil for wood cleaning is also great.
- Goo-Be-Gone – Un-stick the sticky goo your kids leave behind with stickers and gum with lemon oil.
- Promotes Fat-Loss – Putting 2 drops of lemon oil in your water 3x daily can support metabolism and weight loss.
- Improves Mood – Diffusing lemon essential oil in the air can lift mood and fight depression.
- Immune Support – Lemon oil can support lymphatic drainage and help your overcome a cold fast, mix it with coconut oil and rub it on your neck.
Eucalyptus - Another that I keep in my first aid kit in the blend Breathe. The health benefits of eucalyptus oil are well-known and wide ranging, and its properties include anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, decongestant, deodorant, antiseptic, antibacterial, stimulating, and other medicinal qualities.
Peppermint - Peppermint essential oil gives a cooling sensation and has a calming effect on the body, which can relieve sore muscles when used topically. It also has antimicrobial properties so it can help freshen bad breath and soothe digestive issues. Peppermint is a hybrid species of spearmint and water mint (Mentha aquatica). Whenever my son or I have an upset stomach, we rub a mixture of peppermint oil and coconut oil directly onto our abdomens and it WORKS! I also spray a mixture of distilled water with 1-2 tsp rubbing alcohol (you can also use witch hazel or dish soap, as it helps the oils emulsify with the water) and several drops of peppermint oil and lemongrass oil around my back porch and the mop boards in my kitchen and bathroom where spiders and ants like to try and congregate. They are well and truly gone now, thankfully!
Tea
Tree (Melaleuca) - Well-known for its powerful antiseptic
properties and ability to treat wounds. Tea tree oil (TTO), the
volatile essential oil derived mainly from the Australian native
plant Melaleuca
alternifolia has
been widely used throughout Australia for at least the past 100
years. And for over seven decades, it’s been documented in numerous
medical studies to kill many strains of bacteria, viruses and fungi.
Tea tree oil uses are numerous: making homemade cleaning products,
diffusing it in the air to kill mold, applying it topically to heal
skin issues and taking it internally to treat viral infections. It’s
becoming an increasingly popular active ingredient
in a variety of household and cosmetic products, including
face wash, shampoos, massage oils, skin and nail creams and laundry
detergents. Tea tree’s natural antiseptic and
anti-inflammatory actions make it an essential oil that
should truly be part of everyone’s first aid kit.
Myrrh
- A resin, or sap-like substance, that comes from a tree called
Commiphora myrrha, common in Africa or the Middle East. Myrrh is
botanically related to Frankincense, and is one of the most
widely used essential oils in the world. Historically, myrrh
was used to treat wounds and prevent infections. It can still be used
in this manner on minor skin irritations such as athlete’s foot,
ring worm, and acne. Myrrh can help maintain healthy skin. It
can help soothe chapped or cracked skin. It is commonly added to skin
care products to help with moisturizing and also for fragrance.
Ancient Egyptians used it to prevent aging and maintain healthy skin.
Due to its anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties,
myrrh can help relieve inflammation of the mouth and gums caused by
diseases such as gingivitis and mouth ulcers. It can also be used as
mouth rinse to prevent gum disease. Myrrh has the power to increase
the function of white blood cells, critical for wound healing. It was
found to decrease the incidence of ulcers and improve their healing
time, in one 2010 study published in the Journal of Immunotoxicology.
Frankincense
- Great for skin care and nearly everything related to skin;
burns, rashes, cuts, scrapes, and oozing sores. It’s also fabulous
for mature, prematurely aging, and environmentally challenged skin.
Due to its antiseptic properties, frankincense oil is a great
addition to any oral hygiene regimen. Look for natural oral care
products that contain frankincense oil, especially if you enjoy the
aroma. It can help prevent dental health issues like tooth
decay, bad breath, cavities,
or oral infections. You can also consider making your own toothpaste
by mixing frankincense oil with baking soda.
The
very best essential oils I have found for pain are: Clove,
Helichrysum, Wintergreen, Black Pepper, Turmeric, Ginger, Oregano,
Basil, Marjoram, and Copiaba, which also acts as an oil enhancer and
helps the other oils to work even better. I find very good
information for essential oils and ALL of my health and wellness
needs on Pinterest. I encourage you to spend some time browsing
these and other topics of interest there.
I
would be remiss if I didn't post also about how essential oils can
help with depression. So many of my dearest friends and family
are afflicted with it! So I have been researching my favorite,
most reliable resources, and here is what I have come up with:
Depression
is incredibly common. In fact, you may be near someone every day and
not even know that he or she is suffering from depression.
However,
there are symptoms that may signal signs of depression, such as
fatigue, sadness, moodiness, low sex drive, low self-esteem, loss of
appetite, feelings that the tough days will never end, and never
accepting invitations to go out with friends or get involved in
activities. I know that seems like quite a list, but there are many
more behaviors that could be an indication that you or someone you
know is suffering from depression.
Luckily,
there are natural remedies
for depression out there, including using
certain essential oils — similar to the way you can
use essential oils for
anxiety. Below are my top four essential oils for
depression treatment.
TOP ESSENTIAL OILS FOR DEPRESSION:
In
clinical trials, essential oils have been proven to elevate mood. You
may be wondering how essential oils work. Because smells are carried
directly to the brain, they serve as emotional triggers. The limbic
system evaluates the sensory stimuli, registering pleasure,
pain, danger or safety. This then creates and ultimately directs our
emotional response, which can include feelings of fear, anger,
depression and attraction.
Our
basic emotions and hormonal
balance are in response to the most basic smells. This
makes scents very powerful in our day-to-day lives because they’re
a direct pathway to memory and emotion — which is why they can
fight depression and anxiety. Here are my top for essential oils for
depression:
1.
Bergamot
Bergamot
oil is a great antidepressant because it’s very
stimulating. Bergamot can create a feeling of joy, freshness and
energy by improving the circulation of your blood. It’s also shown
the ability to work as a natural
remedy for anxiety, as a 2011 study in Thailand found that
bergamot lowered the anxiety response in rats.
Another
2011 study hypothesizes that applying a blended essential oil that
includes bergamot to participants helps treat depression. The
blended essential oil mixed bergamot with lavender essential oil, and
participants were analyzed based on their blood pressure, pulse
rates, breathing rates and skin temperature. In addition,
subjects had to rate their emotional condition in terms of
relaxation, vigor, calmness, attentiveness, mood and alertness in
order to assess behavioral changes.
Compared
with the placebo, blended essential oil caused significant decreases
of pulse rate and blood pressure. At the emotional level, subjects in
the blended essential oil group rated themselves as “more calm”
and “more relaxed” than subjects in the control
group. The investigation demonstrates the relaxing effect
of a mixture of lavender and bergamot oils, and it provides
evidence for its use in medicine for treating depression or anxiety
in humans.
You
can use bergamot oil by rubbing two to three drops into
your hands and cupping your mouth and nose. Breathe in the oil
slowly. Try rubbing the oil on your feet and stomach, as well.
2.
Lavender
Lavender
oil benefits mood and has long been used to help battle
depression. A study published by the International
Journal of Psychiatry in Clinical Practice reported
that 80-milligram capsules of lavender essential oil can help
alleviate anxiety and depression. The study also showed that there
were no adverse side effects from using lavender oil to treat anxiety
and depression. This is great news since we know that synthetic
medications and psychotropic
drugs often have many negative side effects.
A 2012
study published in Complementary
Therapies in Clinical Practice evaluated 28
women at high risk for postpartum depression and found that
by diffusing lavender in their home, they had a significant reduction
of postnatal depression and reduced anxiety disorder after a
four-week treatment plan of lavender aromatherapy.
Yet
another study showcasing that lavender aromatherapy improves
mood was done on people suffering from post-traumatic stress
disorder (PTSD), which can result in depression. Lavender had
amazing results, showing signs of enhanced moods. The results
revealed that the lavender oil, when used daily, helped decrease
depression by 32.7 percent and dramatically decreased sleep
disturbances, moodiness and overall health status in 47 people
suffering from PTSD.
To relieve
stress and improve sleep, put a diffuser by your bed and
diffuse oils while you sleep at night or in the family room while
you’re reading or winding down in the evening. Also, it can be
rubbed topically behind your ears for the same benefits.
I
hope this helps someone like it has helped me! -J
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