Essential Oil Basics
It's not a secret the I'm obsessed with essential oils. I use them in everything! I make many of my own beauty and cleaning products with essential oils, I use them for first aid purposes, and I've even used them to help support my dog's health. But it's so important that we use essential oils safely and responsibly and that begins understanding the difference between high quality essential oils and regular essential oils.
Quality vs Quantity First, let's talk about quality. This is one of the most asked questions I hear about essential oils!"Does it matter which brand I use?" YES! YES! YES! Not all essential oils are created equally. Sadly, many are created by using only partial plant material and bulking the rest with additives to keep cost low. Due to poor labeling laws, these products can still carry the "pure" label. Another comment I hear a lot is "Why are some companies selling a 5 ml essential oils for double the price of another companies 15 ml? It seems like a scam!" It is totally a scam, but probably not in the way you're thinking... Most of the companies that you see who sell essential oils for cheap are probably not selling high quality. A lot of things go into quality of essential oils such as how they are grown/distilled, where they are grown, time of year they are planted/harvested and more! I used to buy store bought brands, but my sensitive skin kept reacting to the additives in them. Now that I use quality essential oils, I don't have any skin reactions!
Quite a few companies will use cheap plant matter and try to pass it off as a more expensive product. For instance, there are several varieties of Frankincense and Melaleuca (tea tree), but they are often labeled without their proper names so you don't know which variety you're buying. These companies almost always are selling the lowest quality variety and they may even be adulterated. If you happen to have a bottle of essential oil at your home, grab it to check the label. The label should say the common name (ex: orange) and the latin name (ex: Citrus Sinensis). If you have a peel back label-- the ingredient list is often there. If you don't see both names-- that's a big red flag that something is amiss. How To Use Essential Oils.... Not every essential oil can be used in the same way. Some require dilution and others do not. Some can be used topically and others cannot. ALWAYS follow the instructions on the label. Good companies will provide dilution minimums and usage instructions (if they can be used via topical application, aromatic, or via ingestion) on the labels. If there are warnings on the labels-- please don't assume that this is just some fluff warning. People can get very sick from using certain essential oils (especially adulterated ones) the wrong way. You can also read this blog post about The Basics of Carrier Oils. As I said before... the regulations on labeling essential oils aren't so great so how you use peppermint from one company can be very, very different than how you'd use peppermint from another company due to additives and other factors. So read the labels of every essential oil of every brand you purchase! If in doubt about a company's quality, it should always be researched! I suggest contacting the company direction to ask questions such as...
Do you know exactly where their oil comes from?
Does the company share where the product comes from?
How it's grown? Are there pesticides used?
How it's distilled?
Can they go to the company farm and see the process for themselves?
Does the company harvest and distill with many sample distillations to get the highest amount of therapeutic qualities?
Do they know for certain that the oils they buy are safe to ingest? To put on undiluted?
Are there ANY toxic warnings that come with their oils?
Is there an expiration date?
I do not recommend using the low quality essential oils for any reason because they can cause side effects such as asthma, burns or rashes. Hence, the warning labels. {wink} You can click hereto read more about the company I recommend and why.How to Use High Quality Essential OilsEvery essential oil is different and they can be used in many ways. It is always best to do some research to make sure you are using your essential oils properly. I really love Quick Reference Guide for Essential Oils 2013 as a reference guide to help me safely use my essential oils.
DiffusionThis is one of my favorite ways to get the best value of the essential oils and to make my home smell lovely at the same time.Each essential oils has value in aromatherapy. For instance, lavender is relaxing, orange is uplifting, rosemary helps concentration and peppermint is energizing. If you want to support a certain mood, then you can diffuse a certain essential oil.Diffusers are so easy to use! You just follow the instructions on your particular diffuser. Most work by adding a small amount of water in the well of the machine, add a few drops of essential oil, and then you turn on the machine. It's not rocket science! The diffuser will release a cool steam which will fill your room with a lovely scent.You should never use a mechanism that heats the oils because it will decrease the integrity of the oil.The diffuser that I own will fills up the majority of my great room with aromatherapy. This is fantastic to use for parties or while entertaining. Not only can it make your home smell wonderful, it can help maintain the vibe you want. Or you can just diffuse purification to get rid of dog odors before company arrives (pssst.. that's what I do). But I also use it around bedtime to help me relax and fall asleep. It's pretty awesome.
Ingestion
Ingestion essential oils is a very personal decision. I absolutely do not support ingesting essential oils that do not claim it is safe from the manufacturer. Always read the labels! I recommend reading this article about ingesting essential oils.Many people find that using essential oils internally can provide exceptional benefits. For example, Frankincense under the tongue is fantastic for support of my stress response! You can watch this video for more ideas on how to ingest essential oils.
If you like to use veggie capsules, I wouldn't recommend making too many ahead of time because they can break down the structure of the capsule. If I am making a blend to ingest, I'll mix the essential oils required for the recipe (example: lavender, lemon and peppermint) into a glass dropper bottle in the proper ratio. That way I can make only a few days supply at a time, but I have a supply of the solution already pre-mixed. I'm all about making life easier.TopicallyPlacing essential oils directly on the skin is a very common way to get their benefits. Some essential oils can be used "neat" which means undiluted. A very common essential oils that can be used this way is lavender. It's very gentle on the skin and can be used for so many different reasons! It's called the swiss army knife of essential oils for a reason! Other essential oils require dilution which is usually required to be a minimum of a 1:1 dilution ratio with a carrier oil, but can be further diluted depending on your preference. I usually find that 1-2 drop of essential oil in 1 TBSP of carrier oil is sufficient for many applications. All oils can be diluted and still retain their value, even the ones that can be used neatly.I recommend starting with coconut oil-- simply because it's the most versatile and it's great for the skin. But remember-- it turns a solid when the temp is less than 76 F so if you want to have a liquid base then buy a liquid oil like jojoba or almond oil.Remember, dilution doesn't have to be exact. I often eye ball it when I mix essential oils with carrier oil, but a good range tends to be equal parts or up to 1 drop per 1 tsp depending on how diluted you want something to be.Example #1: I want to put some lavender essential oil on a small sun exposed patch of dry skin. I can use 1 drop of lavender essential oil to 1 drop of any liquid carrier and apply it directly over the area.Example #2: I want to put some lavender on a larger area of skin after spending the day out in the sun. I use 1 drop of lavender essential oil to 1 tsp of carrier oil.In both the cases, the lavender will work the same, but I diluted based upon the amount of skin I would like to cover. If I needed to apply more than 1 tsp of carrier oil to my skin, I would probably begin to think about making a lotion or body butter.Common Base Recipes
Salve
1/4 cup of Coconut Oil
15-20 drops of essential oil
Body Butter
⅛ cup Shea Butter-- Raw and Unrefined
⅛ cup Beeswax Pellets
2 TBSP Coconut Oil
3 TBSP liquid carrier oil
4 drops of Vitamin E oil
15-25 drops of essential oil
Serum
4 TBSP of liquid carrier oil
1/4 tsp vegetable glycerin
10 drops of essential oil
Lip Balm
1 oz Beeswax, chopped (or grated)
1 oz Coconut Oil
0.5 oz Shea Butter
1 TBSP liquid carrier oil
3 drops of Vitamin E (Vitamin E Oil)
5-10 drops of essential oil
Salt Scrub
2/3 c Epsom Salt
1/3 c Coconut Oil
10-15 drops of essential oil
In the event of accidental contact with the eye, dilute with a carrier oil--- NOT water.For read this for more ideas on how to use essential oils. If you'd like to join my Natural Living Support Group on Facebook please fill out this form!So What's a Carrier Oil?A carrier oil is a base oil which is used to help dilute the essential oil. They essential "carry" the value of the essential oil into the skin. Common carrier oils are…
Coconut oil
Olive oil
Jojoba oil
Almond oil
Grapeseed oil
Avocado oil
Rose hips oil (great for beauty products)
But you can also use shea butter or cocoa butter-- it doesn't have to be an actual oil! You can read more about Carrier Oils in this blog post: Carrier Oils 101
Do NOT use in Eyes and Ears Caution: Never use essential oils directly in the eyes or ear canal! They may be used around these parts of the body, but never applied directly into either. How to Store Essential Oils They should be stored in a dark place and away from heat. It is not recommended to use plastic because essential oils can degrade plastic overtime. There are some high quality plastics which can be used. I recommend storing all DIY products containing essential oils in glass containers. Mason jars are fantastic for this because they are often very cheap and have many accessories for different functions. Here's a great trick to use to see if you're running out of essential oils!
Using Essential Oil for Children and Pregnancy Using essential oils in children and pregnancy is something which a reference book is very useful for! I highly recommend the book Gentle Babies Not all essential oils have been tested for pregnancy and small children. It is for this reason that many oils are not recommend or are recommended only during specific times in your pregnancy or in breast feeding. You can also check out these resources: What you NEED to know about essential oils and pregnancy Essential oils for Babies Using Essential Oils for Dogs and Cats As for pets, there are many essential oils which can be used for dogs. I have used essential oils to help my dog with fleas, allergies and to decrease his doggy odor. You can read more about how to use essential oil for dogs at Home Remedies for Dogs Cats are a different story. They lack the enzyme to break down many essential oils. I do not recommend ever using essential oils directly on cats. Veterinarian Dr. Melissa Shelton has used essential oils (Young Living specifically) on cats with great results, but the cats do require blood work to make sure their enzymes are functioning properly during treatment. This should NEVER be attempted at home without the guidance of a holistic veterinarian.
Dr. Shelton also emphasizes the importance of high quality oils around cats. She believes that the use of adulterated oils around cats can be detrimental to their health and recommends Young Living to all of her clients. This was a big reason why I've chosen Young Living! Talk to your Doctor As a nurse, I know that many people do not disclose their use of complementary medicine to their physicians. I would like to encourage you to talk to your doctor about supplements, herbs and essential oils which are you taking regularly. It is possible that they can increase the potency of prescription medication or interfere with the functionality of the medication. It is always best to fully disclose information and have open discussions with your healthcare providers.
Get Quality essential Oils with Young Living Essential Oils! Sherri Griffin and Overthrow Martha
