Lavender, Eucalyptus and Peppermint; oh my!

So, I have had great intentions to talk more about essential oils and now I actually am going to.

It is important to note that all oils are toxic, that is why they are medicines, and should be used with caution and knowledge. Less is better when using essential oils. You will get the same benefit from one drop of oil as you will from pouring it on you.

If you want to know more about the basic benefits of essential oils and how to use them refer to this post.

You will notice that I will not be talking about any blends. There are a few reasons for this. 100% pure essential oils last longer than a blend. Additionally, I can control what carrier oil is used and how much is used thereby insuring that the pure essential oil can be used without fear of going rancid because of a carrier oil. Most 100% pure essential oils are 2 to 3 times more costly than blended oils, however when you mix 3 drops of 100% pure essential oil with 20 drops of olive oil, you will find out that your pure essential oil will cost you much less than if you had bought the “blend” already mixed. I also like to be able to use my oils for may things. If they are already in a blend it limits what I can do with that oil. I do occasionally make my own blends, but I never use more than 2-3 oils in a blend. One thing that is important to consider when blending oils is their "note". It is also important to know the "note" of the oil so that you will have a better idea of how often you should reapply the oil. There are 3 kinds of "notes" when it comes to essential oils.

Top notes- have small chain molecules. They go into the air easily and evaporate easily. They work quickly, but the effects of them also wear off more quickly. Generally energizing will last for 1-2 hours.

Middle notes- will last for 3-4 days.

Base notes- don't go in to the air as quick and will last for up to a week.

If you are using a middle or base note oil, it is not necessary to use that oil again for a while. You will still get the benefits from it without having to reapply it.

Most of what I have learned about oils has come from this book.


I think it is the best oil book out there and I love that it is not from a particular company trying to sell oils. I feel like I get really great information from it that is not bias toward any one brand.

With all that said, I thought I would just start off by talking about three of my favorite oils. These three I probably use the most and they are very versatile.

Lavender (middle to top note)- We all know that lavender smells great, but did you know that it has the best healing properties of all the essential oils out there. If you only have one essential oil in your home it should be lavender. I will list just a portion of it's benefits below.

• It is a very calming oil that relieves stress and anxiety and calms the nervous system.
  
• It is a great treatment for insomnia, migraines and headaches.
  
• It is very effective for muscle aches and helps ease the pain caused from arthritis.
  
• It helps with other conditions that involve inflammation such as acne, psoriasis and boils.
  
• It is beneficial for asthma.
  
• It is great for insect bites as it calms the bite and helps relieve the itch.
  
• It helps to regenerate cells in the body quickly, therefor it is great for cuts and scrapes. It also works wonders for healing burns, including sunburns. A great burn "lotion" is:

Burn "lotion"

2 oz of carrier oil (Calendula oil and Rose hip oil are both great for the skin)
25-30 drops of essential oils including:
Lavender 15 drops
Geranium 5 drops
Frankincense 5 drops
Peppermint 2 drops (gives a cooling effect)

Eucalyptus (Top note)-

• Great for the treatment of headaches. It is recommended to take it internally (if it a trusted brand) for migraines and issues with the pancreas.
  
• Best know as a decongestant for colds, asthma, flu, sinusitis and bronchitis. . When put on the chest and bottom of the feet it will help greatly with breathing.
  
• The physiological properties of it are great for people who feel emotionally constricted by their surroundings. It helps them to feel like they can achieve greater freedom and gives them "room to breath"

Peppermint (Top note)-

• Used for relief of muscle pain, bruises and contusions, joint pain and insect bites.
  
• One of the most effective oils for the digestive system. It releaves nausea, stomach pains, diarrhea and flatulence.
• Helps with metal fatigue
• Helps relieve headaches and migraines