Essential Oils

 

What are Essential Oils?

An essential oil is a liquid that is generally distilled by steam or water from the leaves, stems, flowers, bark, roots, or other elements of a plant. Essential oils contain the true essence of the plant it was derived from. Essential oils are highly concentrated and a little goes a long way.

Why use Essential Oils

Essential oils have enhanced lives for thousands of years, offering a variety of benefits from cosmetic and dietary purposes to spiritual and religious use.  Most essential oils are clear, but some oils such as patchouli, orange and lemongrass are amber or yellow in color.

Note:  Be sure to purchase high quality, pure essential oils!  There are essential oils that contain 5 to 10 percent oil and the rest is made with a synthetic filler.

Are you concerned that your household cleaners aren’t so clean? Do your children have allergies?  Do these cleaners make you sick? If you answered “Yes,” you probably need to forget about using conventional cleaners like Lysol, etc which are formulated with harsh chemicals.

Essential Oils are an awesome natural, non-toxic alternative!

Many mainstream household products from skin care, toothpastes, hand soap to household cleaning products like spray disinfectants, dish washing detergent, and laundry detergent contain toxic ingredients that research indicates may be harmful even in small amounts. Don’t you think your family deserves better? Check out my eBook on Amazon.  Also, check out the Environmental Working Group, http://www.ewg.org/.

Remember, your skin is the largest organ on your body. What you put on it is quickly absorbed into your body!

I’ve broken down how essential oils can be used into categories:

• Personal Care and Natural Cleaning 
• First Aid/Pain/Injuries
• Emotional Release/Stress/Yoga/Chakra Balancing
• Digestion 
• Rest/Relaxation/Sleep/Meditation/Grounding

Personal Care and Natural Cleaning Products

Young Living has a line of products ranging from personal care to household cleaning.  You may also want to try using essential oils in your laundry, for cleaning your counter tops, freshening stale linens, and removing stubborn stains. Check out Amazon to purchase your essential oil accessories such as spray bottles to make your DIY cleaning products.

The most popular essential oils for cleaning include: Lavender, Lemon, Pine, Cinnamon, and Melaleuca.  Diffuse these oils to keep your home smelling fresh and clear of stale air with healthful air purifying solutions.

Using a diffuser with essential oils makes it easy and convenient to purify the air in your home without using chemical-laden aerosol fresheners. Add 5 drops of Young Living’s Thieves, lemon, Purify to your diffuser and allow these clean, refreshing scents to fill your home.

Fill your home with homemade body care (lip balms, sugar scrubs, rollons, and sprays), shampoo, dental care, and cleaning products you can feel good about using. And these essential oils are natural, healthy additions to your first aid kit, medicine cabinet, and spice cabinet.

Dental Care

Young Living has a dental care lines which is formulated to help you keep your teeth healthy, and is free from harmful chemicals.  Nadine Artemis’ Living Libations Holistic Dental Care line is great too.

First Aid and Medicine Cabinet Makeover

Natural protection for your busy life has no room for sick days! Essential oils offer ideal natural support for a stressed immune system. Essential oils can help you maintain the cold season wellness you need to keep working, playing, and caring for your family. Support your body with these immune-supporting oils like Young Living’s Breathe Again. Keep Cedarwood on hand for sleep issues, skin problems, and focus issues.

First Aid/Pain/Injuries

Keep on hand these essential oils that can help make all the difference when  your family member is injured or not feeling well. Add these first aid favorites to your collection: Lavender, Peppermint, Lemon, Frankincense, Deep Blue, and Breathe Again.

Emotional Release/Stress/Yoga/Chakra Balancing/Rest and Relaxation/Meditation

Consider using these oils for emotional imbalances: Peppermint, Lavender, Young Living’s Feelings Kit, Peace and Calming Blend, Grounding Blend for balance, Stress Away, and Citrus Fresh.

Digestion

For digestive distress, use Young Living’s DiGize, Lemongrass, Peppermint, or Ginger.

Some popular essential oils to keep on hand are: Geranium, Eucalyptus, Bergamot, Clove, Myrrh, Sandalwood, Rosemary, and Cypress.

 

Healthy Cooking

 

Are you looking to add variety and flavor to your cooking? Make room for essential oils in your spice cabinet! Their rich, bright aromas can add a delicious kick of flavor to your favorite recipes. Try adding a drop of lime to fresh salsa or to your favorite Mexican-inspired marinade, lemon to grilled fish, peppermint to hot cocoa, or basil and oregano to homemade pasta sauce.  Note: remember to dilute oil.

Get creative and enjoy all the culinary possibilities of essential oils. Popular essential oils for cooking include: Peppermint, Basil, Lemon, Nutmeg, Cinnamon, Orange, Ginger, and Lemongrass. While certain essential oils can be harmful if taken in high dosages, moderate use as flavoring (1-2 drops) is not only safe but delicious! Young Living has a Vitality line devoted for cooking use.

 

Be sure to keep a carrier oil (organic sweet almond, organic jojoba, avocado, grapeseed, or olive oil) on hand to dilute your essential oils.

 

One of my favorite do-it-yourself recipes: Orange vanilla sugar scrub. Use white sugar to make it look and smell like a dreamsicle dessert!  This reminds me of when I used to have Dreamsicle popsicles as a child!

Ingredients:

1/4 cup of coconut oil

3/4 cup of organic brown sugar or white sugar

1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

5 to 10 drops of orange essential oil

Directions:

Scoop coconut oil into container.  Microwave until liquified.

Add in brown sugar, vanilla, and essential oil.

Pour in 8 oz glass mason jar.

By the way, if you are wondering why I have parchment paper under the lid of my coconut jar, I put it there during the Summer when the coconut oil melted and made a mess on the jar.

If you are ready to experience the benefits of using essential oils, there are several companies so I would suggest doing your research to find the company or companies that benefit you.

 

My Essential Oils Story

I was first introduced to essential oils in 2012 by a friend and colleague’s (another health coach) mother.  She, my friend’s mother who had just undergone two (2) brain surgeries and mentioned that my friend said that she should look into using essential oils.  I purchased an essential oils collection and, to be honest, I didn’t know how to use the oils.  I had never used essential oils before; although I had purchased books on aromatherapy and essential oils. So, I did some research and figured it out…how to use them.  And I’ve been using essential oils ever since!

After years of research and using essential oils from several companies, I chose Young Living for these reasons:

• Quality of the Oils
• Seed to Seal
• Their Farms are onsite
• Business Integrity and Culture
• Quality

There are no regulations for essential oils. Their oils are distilled from plants that have been harvested at the right moment by experienced growers from around the world.

Do your own research and find what is best for you and your family. And be sure to check for purity!  Remember, you want to avoid essential oils that contain synthetic fillers and say “fragrance oils”.

 

References:

https://www.organicconsumers.org/news/how-toxic-are-your-household-cleaning-supplies

http://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/household-chemicals-chart-whats-in-my-house

 

Essential Oils Accessories