Hello and thank you for making the launch of this publication incredibly spectacular! I am honored that I have so many supporters over this past week and there has been such an amazing group that has formed in just this week!
Saturday we covered our first herb and today we are going to address a basic question people typically have when they want to have a more natural life and keep a lot of harsher chemicals out of their house for whatever their reasons may be. Read my full medical disclosure in the footnotes1
I fully believe that essential oils are very easy to use and can make an amazing starting point if you put your essential stack of essential oils together.
So what are they?
Essential oils are compounds extracted from plants! They capture the essence of the plant.
Essential oils are generally extracted by distillation – steam/water or other methods such as cold pressing.
Check with the manufacturer to ensure you are getting a pure essential oil and not a blend of essential oil and other various chemicals. The way they have been made is really important to us because we need to be sure of what we are using.
Steam distillation uses steam — of course. Steam gets put through a hopper containing the plant and the plants release their compounds. These vaporize and rise with the steam (water vapor) into a steaming chamber. These are put through a condenser and the vapor turns back into a liquid — then they separate the oil from the water. The oil is your essential oil!
Cold pressing takes the plant and does a few things like pricking and soaking in water and then mechanically pressed. The pressed liquid and pulp get centrifuged and then separate into juice and essential oil. This is a common practice for citrus oils and citrus peels are able to be obtained in bulk! (Make sure you used organic oils specifically here so you know the citrus fruits had no pesticides used on them).
Earlier I had mentioned to be sure of what you are using. This is a buyer beware notice so you know you are getting something that is going to add a positive to your home and health and not take away from it. See the videos below.
Tips for essential oil shopping:
look at the label thoroughly. It should contain the Latin name, where it was grown, and other ingredients. There technically should be one ingredient, the plant itself. It may also contain a batch number and shelf-life.
Look into the company (I’ve listed some below)
Dark amber or dark blue glass containers. Oils will break down plastic and indicate a fake oil. Glass!
Stay away from things labeled “fragrance oil” as they are mixed with other chemicals.
Don’t buy the cheapest thing you can find.
Don’t stress, just do a little looking around. Look for a USDA certified organic label.
Reputable Brands (no affiliate links, just main websites):
Simply Earth - this one is decent for beginners as they have packs and recipes (I do have a discount code for them if anyone wants that feel free to email me or contact me on social media I am happy to share that)
Photo by Charlotte Thomas on Unsplash
After you have ensured your oils are real and contain what the label says they do…
How do I use essential oils?
This is answered in many many ways as there are seemingly endless recipes. The three primary ways they are used are:
diffused into the air (be sure of any allergies or pets)
put into carrier oils for skin care items or hair care items
in food with a food-grade oil
we can get into recipes later, I want to stick to the basics for now (if you follow us on Twitter or Facebook we post recipes there).
A great book on essential oils can be found here
Do:
Consult a professional aromatherapist for advice on essential oils
Mind ages, conditions (like pregnancy), and doses, not everything works for everyone.
Learn your dilution percentages when adding to oils, creams, gels, etc.
Tell your physician (if any allergies come up, they will know what types of things you use)
Throw out old oils to stay on the safe side. Recommendations are typically 3 years to be on the safe side
Don’t:
Put oil directly on your skin
Use on damaged skin
Do too much at one time
Eat oils that aren’t labelled food safe
Be afraid of them
Build your first collection:
Some of the most common and popular oils include
peppermint — a stress reliever, headache reducer, or anti-nausea. I usually put this one in my bath.
tea tree oil — this one is very common. This too can help you relax or ease pain, has been shown to help bacterial infections, and the old wives’ tale is to use it for lice. I also put this one in my bath
lemon — commonly used for acne, bug bites, and fresh smell while cleaning.2
lavender — this is one of the most commonly used for many reasons. It’s a stress reliever, pain reducer, night time relaxant, acne treatment, and has shown to repel bugs!
Why use essential oils?
Granted you have verified they are organic and contain no other compounds, these oils are completely natural compounds found just outside.
Many people worry about the effects of cleaning supplies with harsher ingredients and that is completely a valid concern! Many people use essential oils to spruce up homemade cleaning supplies or use them as common ailment cures.
Aromatherapy is a great field and a lot of research is being done on how many things we can help people with, just with oils! It’s really a great topic to go in and study about because there are still so many people that care about your health and well being. Natural medicine seems to be making a big comeback.
When you start taking your health into your own hands, you become more in tune with your body and begin taking precautions before health problems arise. I think this is the biggest benefit to using herbal remedies and essential oils in your life. If we take one step per month into learning one new thing and develop a regular habit and routine with it, you will be more confident than just drowning in information
I hope this article has been informative for you and gives you the confidence and a few tools to implement one new thing in your life this month. Being proactive with your health and being aware what can be done to improve your life gives us the confidence to know how to live a beautiful life as naturally as possible.
Maybe one day you may be able to make your very own batches of oil and pass on the knowledge to the next generation!
This publication has not been approved by your local health department or the FDA and is not intended to provide diagnosis, treatment, or medical advice. The content provided on this publication is for informational purposes only. Please consult with a physician or other healthcare professional regarding any medical or health-related diagnosis or treatment options. Information on this publication should not be considered as a substitute for advice from a healthcare professional. The claims made about specific products throughout this publication are not approved to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease or ailments.
citrus can be phototoxic, please use care when using them in skincare products and routines! The sun may not be kind to you.