A Simple Intro to Essential Oils

I first met Olivia–oh gosh, how did we meet? Well, anyway, it was like I had known her forever. She’s that kinda gal. We’re two peas in a pod and our little sons are electronic BFFs. I asked her to tell us about Essential Oils because last time I asked you guys what you wanted to hear more about, EOs came up! Read on, and learn. Me too!

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Have you heard about essential oils? They seem to be the latest craze in the health world, although they are certainly no fad. And unless you live under a rock (which is totally ok if you do), you’ve probably been bombarded with loads of information about essential oils, which kinds to use, how to use them, and so forth.

I don’t want this to be another one of those posts. I’m not going to talk about the science behind the oils, their properties, how they respond and react in our bodies, or where they come from here. But I’d be thrilled to talk with you about those things through email, because I find these aspects fascinating and love to dialogue with my fellow science nerds!

But for our purposes here, I’m going to talk to you like a mom. A mom who likes to treat sickness and aches naturally when possible, a mom who is on a budget, a mom who is concerned about what she puts into/onto her child, and a mom who doesn’t have a lot of time to waste pouring over countless articles. I’ll address the questions I get most frequently, and chat with you about my favorite oils. Does that sound good? Great, I knew I’d like you :)

How do I know which essential oils to use?

Like in all things, quality is so key when it comes to using essential oils. When I’m using oils to better my health, I want them to be held to high standards. I want them to be pure, unadulterated, and safe. So when you’re choosing an essential oil brand, make sure that you look for Pure Therapeutic Grade essential oils. Unfortunately, most of the essential oils sold at health food stores do not meet these standards. They may say “pure” on the label, but they are filled with additives that lessen the quality of the oil itself. It gives warning against ingestion and some are not even suitable for topical use. I would also choose a brand that is going to provide support, because you’ll likely have a lot of questions, and it’s great to have a wonderful, trust-worthy community to turn to.

But the oils at health foods stores are so cheap!

I know, and I understand. But look at it this way: eating real food is more expensive than eating a box of pasta; wearing a cheap brand of sandal is more affordable at the onset than buying a pair of Birkenstocks. But which has more value? We see purchases as an investment, and we are willing to pay a little more in the beginning to obtain a product that is going to last us longer and treat us better than something that may cost less initially. Why? Because otherwise, either our health or our wallets (or both!) will suffer greatly in the long run. It is so worth the little extra change to ensure that you are using quality essential oils on yourself and your family.

I love essential oils, but I’m not quite sure how to use them.

There are four basic ways you can use (most) essential oils:

1. Direct Inhalation – Breathing in the oils directly from the bottle, or by placing a drop in your palms, cupping them over your mouth and nose, and inhaling.

2. Diffusing – Say goodbye to toxic air fresheners and candles! Diffusing the oils leaves your house smelling fantastic, and it’s also another great way to experience the oils through the nose.

3. Topically – Putting the oils directly on the skin. I recommend starting by mixing the essential oil with a carrier oil, like coconut oil, and then placing it on your skin. That way, since everyone’s skin is different, you can see how yours reacts to each oil.

4. Ingestion – Consuming the oils. Some people enjoy a drop of lemon in their ice water, or they add a drop of peppermint to their gluten free brownies. Many people also do oil pulling with a drop of thieves or peppermint.

How can essential oils help me?

Well, it depends on who you are and what your health history is. But I’ll share some of my experience with you. I have terrible seasonal allergies. I used to have to take a Claritin every day in order to keep my allergies in check, but since using essential oils (particularly lemon, lavender, and peppermint), I haven’t had to take a Claritin in over a year. When I was pregnant, I had terrible all-day-sickness (whose idea was it to call it “morning” sickness?!). Fortunately, I was able to avoid Zofran because of peppermint oil. We usually don’t have to resort to antibiotics during the winter-sickness months because of thieves. My naturally-stressed-out-all-the-time personality is calmed by Peace and Calming. My husband actually owes his leg to oregano oil. Lavender helps us (especially our three-month old!) sleep better, deeper, and longer. I could go on for days, but you get the idea.

we all know that when baby is sleeping and happy, everybody’s happy ;)

Are there any precautions I should take when using essential oils?

Although the oils are all-natural, there are still some things you shouldn’t do with them.

1. Don’t drink the whole bottle – I hope that this is obvious. The oils are super concentrated so when you use them, you don’t need much to do the trick.

2. Don’t put the oils directly in your eyes or ear canal – Ouch! And if you do (accidents happen!), wash out with oil, not water, as water will spread the oil instead of mitigating it.

What are your favorite oils to use?

Ah, my least favorite questions because it’s so hard for me to choose! Can I give you my top five and what I use them for the most?

1. Lavender – This oil is so versatile; I use it on burns, in a bath with Epsom salts for relaxation, to stop bleeding, to heal cuts and scrapes, and for allergies.

2. Thieves – This oil is dynamite when it comes to fighting infections and cleansing the air.

3. Gentle Baby – I would be pulling my hair out without this oil. It helps my baby calm down when he’s fussy and helps him sleep sounder during the day.

4. Stress Away – Because who isn’t stressed? This oil smells awesome and it helps me calm down throughout the day.

5. Valor – Nicknamed “Chiropractor in a Bottle”, this oil helps maintain alignment, boosts confidence and strength (seriously, I’m not one who’s into hokey-pokey feel good kind of crap; but this stuff really does help transform your attitude), and relieve soreness.

Ok, so where do I begin?

For anyone new to essential oils, I always recommend starting with some sort of starter kit, which typically includes a variety of oils. While I would never call myself an expert of anything, really, I have done much, much research on the topic of essential oils and we use Young Living Essential Oils. I won’t detail what directed my choice here, but feel free to ask me about it in the comments or via email! Young Living has a fantastic starter kit that includes 11 oils, a diffuser, sample oils, and lots of great literature about the oils and how to use them.

And just practice! Don’t get overwhelmed by all the oils and all the various ways to use them. Just start incorporating essential oils into your daily life and you will learn as you go. If you’d like to be a part of an awesome community where we share testimonials, suggestions for use, and information about particular oils, feel free to join my team’s Facebook group: The Good Thieves. No inquiry is too small, and I am so happy to help you in any way I can, be it the ordering process or a basic question!

Finally, take control of your own health. Don’t be passive; rather, take an active role in sustaining your own health and the health of your family. No one knows you like you do. You know what’s best for your family. So at the end of the day, use your brain and do your own research. But I am confident that essential oils are something that can enhance the quality of life of your family.

So what about you? Do you use essential oils? What are your favorite uses? Have any questions for us? Ask below!

A big thanks to my dear friend, Nell, for letting me crash her place! XOXO

*And for the boring but necessary disclosure … This is not an extensive treatment of essential oils, so please do not treat it as such. As always, we suggest doing your own research in order to equip yourself with the knowledge to make proper decisions for yourself and your family. I am not a doctor and I do not treat or diagnose. Always talk to your doc, especially before making any changes with medication or starting the use of a product during pregnancy (obviously!). And in emergencies, go to the ER! But y’all are smart, so just use your brains ;)

Olivia lives in Kentucky, where sweet tea and bourbon flow like milk and honey. She’s a middle school religion teacher turned SAHM who is married to her high school best friend. She spends her time changing diapers, exploring the crunchy side of life, organizing anything she can get her hands on, and dancing in the moonlight. You can come along for the adventure at To the Heights.

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