Essential Oils 101

Essential oils are the concentrated extracts from plants, and even though they are natural, should be treated as medicine and not overused, or ingested (this one is in debate, I dislike it, but others encourage it).

Plants in their full form have been used for millennia to treat many ailments. As a concentrated form of this, essential oils unique chemical makeup (constituents) and distinct composition leads to not only influence how it smells, but also how the oil is absorbed, and what effect it can have on the body. Essential oils are strong, so we must be mindful of why and how we are using them, treat them as a complementary medicine and this will help to ensure that you are not misusing them and causing greater damage to yourself and or others.

Essential oils smell great, and have been known to help to reduce stress and anxiety, relax the body, enhance massage therapy, reduce headaches and  help you get a better night’s sleep.

All essential oil companies are going to claim that studies have shown that essential oils may help:

• Boost mood

• Improve job performance through reduced stress and increased attentiveness

• Improve sleep

• Kill bacteria, funguses and viruses

• Reduce anxiety and pain

• Reduce inflammation

• Reduce nausea

• Relieve headaches

Personally, in my experiences with them, I agree with all these claims.

It is important to find a quality oil. Particularly as you will be affecting your body if they are full of chemicals or the like, and not ‘pure’. Some tips to help shop for pure essential oils would be;

• Look at the label and make sure that the Latin name of the plant is included. This is particularly important for blends.

• Purchase from reputable companies that have been around for several years.

• Ensure that the bottles/containers are dark-coloured glass. Plastic bottles/containers can dissolve/degrade over time and this will taint the oil.

• Avoid oils that are labelled as fragrance or perfume oils. Whilst they might be made from essential oils, they are often combined with chemicals. Look for bottles with oils in their purest form with no other fillers.

• Check and compare prices. The amount of roses required and the method of extraction are massive time and material consumers. This means that a pure rose oil will be way more expensive then say an orange or lemon oil which requires a lot less effort to extract. If you find a cheap oil that should be expensive, it probably is not pure, and filled with chemicals.

There are a few ways in which you can use your essential oils once you get the purest version into your hot little hands. The two main applications are that I have found can help, aromatherapy and topical application of it on to your skin.

Aromatherapy uses the smell of the oils to improve your health and/or mood. Ways to use them in an aromatherapy context would be:

• Diffuse them

  • Mix essential oils and water in an essential oil diffuser. A diffuser is a device that disperses tiny oil particles around the room so you can breathe them in. Follow the directions of your diffuser’s for the right oil to water ratio.

• Dry evaporation

  • Put a few drops of essential oil on a cotton ball and smell the aroma as it disperses. Alternatively, you could put the oil on a necklace, bracelet or keychain that is made with absorbent materials.

• Steam inhalation

  • Put a few drops of essential oil in a bowl of hot water. Put your head over the bowl, a towel over your head and breathe in the steam.

Topical applications to your skin indicates that the oils are applied directly to your skin, in locations specific to the ailment. It should be noted that some people can react to oil on their skin, and oils applied to your skin should be done so with a carrier oil. To avoid skin irritation it is important to dilute them with a carrier oil such as either FCO (Fractionated coconut oil) or Jojoba oil. Benefits can be reaped by applying essential oils to the skin. Some people put their essential oil blend into a small rollerball bottle for easier application.