Essential oils basics
If you’re new to the natural and holistic world essential oils may seem intimidating. Even for those who are not new to holistic living there may still be much to learn about the benefits, safety, and day to day use of these amazing oils.
what are essential oils?
Let’s start by talking about what essential oils are. In short they are the essence of a plant. Inside every plant are highly concentrated and potent chemical compounds. These natural chemicals can be extracted into oils to provide us with a bounty of benefits.
the benefits of essential oils
The benefits of essential oils are seemingly endless. Many oils have antioxidant, antibacterial, and antiviral priorities. Making essential oils very beneficial for our overall health and wellness. Additionally, specific oils have specific properties providing even more benefits. If you’ve got a problem or a need chances are there’s an oil for that.
Asthma– Give peppermint, spearmint, or eucalyptus a try.
Need help sleeping– Try lavender
Have a cold– Just about any oil will do, but our go tos are lavender, lemon, and tea tree oil.
Need more energy– Try grapefruit or tangerine.
Dealing with pests– Cedarwood, cinnamon, and citronella will deter most things.
The list goes on. Oils have so many benefits and can be used for so many different things, the possibilities really are endless.
Essential oil safety
Essential oils are natural and provide many great benefits, but just because something is natural doesn’t automatically mean it is safe.
While most essential oils are safe for most people to use, there are many scenarios where a certain oil may not be safe for certain people. Some oils, like clarey sage, should not be used during pregnancy. Peppermint could reduce a breastfeeding mother’s milk supply and should be used with caution. Some oils are not safe for children under 2 and many aromatherapists recommend oils not be used on babies under 6 months of age. Pets are another consideration as are any medications or medical conditions an individual might have.
My favorite essential oil company Simply Earth provides all the safety information for each of their oils so you can quickly see what is and isn’t safe for your situation. I know some other companies do this as well. Working with an aromatherapists if you have any medical concerns is a good idea to ensure you stay safe while using essential oils.
It’s also important to use proper dilution and carrier oils when applying topically. I also personally believe they should never be ingested. This is highly debated and I encourage everyone to do their own research and seek the opinion of a trustworthy aromatherapist.
Check out this dilution chart from Simply Earth
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Application of essential of oils
Diffusing is the most common and thought of use for essential oils, but it is far from the only use. The possibilities really are endless. I have personally made many things with essential oils from household cleaners to DIY sanitizer, bug spray, and personal care products. It can sometimes be a little trial and error finding the best blends and ratios but it can also be a lot of fun experimenting with different oils. Check out the D.I.Y page where I share many DIY recipes using a variety of essential oils.
Simply Earth is also another great resource for recipes and how tos. Their monthly subscription boxes come with oils, ingredients, and recipes to make all sorts of different things. Use my code MELSHOLISTICFREE for $40 gift card with purchase of your first subscription box.
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