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

Homemade Deodorant

I have been using homemade deodorant for a few months now and I love it! I feel good about using it because I know that it is not blocking my sweat glands and and stagnating my lymph system, holding toxins in my body. I am also not putting aluminum on my skin. Our skin is the largest organ of our body and takes in everything that we put on it through our pores. I wouldn't eat aluminum, so why would I want to put it on my body? It is also cheaper than buying it, which is a huge bonus! Try it out!

Deodorant

1/4 cup of baking soda
1/4 cup of arrowroot powder OR aluminum free corn starch
1 cup coconut oil
a few drops of lemon or grapefruit essential oil

Melt the coconut oil in a pan on low heat. Add the remaining ingredients except the essential oils to the coconut oil. Stir and let it thicken a bit. Take off heat, add essential oils. Pour into a jar and let harden. When ready to apply simply swipe your fingers across it and apply to your arm pit.

The baking soda soaks up moisture. The coconut oil is great, because it is antibacterial and anti-fungal. The reason that we stink when we sweat is not because of the sweat, but because of the bacteria that grows in the warm dark places of our body. The coconut oil kills that bacteria. Citrus essential oils are great for stimulating the lymph system and they smell good!

Essential Oils

So, today I thought I would talk a bit about essential oils. I have only been using them for about a year and a half and still have much to learn, but I wanted to share some things that I have learned so far. First, Aromatherapy is an ancient healing art that we have just rediscovered in the last century. They were used in Ancient Egypt, Ancient Rome and Greece, China and India and in the Middle East and France. They are a great way to relax and heal your body from emotional, mental, and physical problems.
There are three basic ways of using essential oils. The first is through inhalation.
This works through the olfactory bulb in the brain. Using the oils this way is most helpful to our emotional and mental bodies. (The next two ways deal more with the physical body, but can also be helpful to the emotional and mental.) The second is through applying the oil directly to our skin.
When we apply the oil to our skin it goes into your blood stream and then spreads to the organ that needs it. One of the very best places to apply the oils is to the feet because the pores are bigger there. Also, because of the signal system on our feet that corresponds with the rest of our body it is a good option. You can also apply the oils directly on top of the problem area.
The third way is internally. Taking oils internally is controversial and should definitely be used with caution. There are several methods inside each of these three basic ways to use oils. I will cover those at another time.
Some points to remember:
1. All oils are toxic and should be treated as such.
2. Less is better when using essential oils
3. Because natural medicine fixes the problem, instead of masking the symptoms, it can take longer to see results. Be patient, but know that it is working!
4. Be sure you are using a high quality oil. Using low quality oil can cause other problems because of the additives that they put into them.
5. Be careful when using oils on babies and pregnant woman. Oils are medicine and need to be researched for safety before using.
6. Be careful when blending oils. No more than three oils should be blended at once until you are experienced at it.

I will be highlighting essential oils every now and again. I will also be writing about specific ailments and things that will help the ailments, including essential oils. So, more information is coming. If you have any questions be sure to ask!