Essential oils are concentrated plant extracts used for various purposes, including aromatherapy, skincare, and overall wellness. Using essential oils for your physical and emotion health is such a great way to empower yourself. Here’s a beginner’s guide to using essential oils safely and effectively:
1. Understand Essential Oils
- What Are They?: Highly concentrated extracts from plants, capturing their scents and beneficial properties.
- Common Uses:
- Aromatherapy (stress relief, energy boost)
- Topical application (skin care, massage)
- Household cleaning (natural cleaning solutions)
2. Popular Essential Oils
- Lavender: Relaxation, sleep aid, skin-soothing.
- Peppermint: Energy boost, headache relief, digestion.
- Tea Tree: Antimicrobial, acne treatment, cleaning.
- Eucalyptus: Respiratory support, deodorizing.
- Lemon: Uplifting, cleaning, immune support.
3. Methods of Use
Aromatherapy
- Diffusion: Use a diffuser to disperse oils into the air for inhalation.
- Inhalation: Add a drop to a tissue or your palms, then inhale deeply.
Topical Application
- Dilution: Mix with a carrier oil (like coconut, jojoba, or almond oil) to avoid skin irritation. Common ratio: 1-2 drops of essential oil per teaspoon of carrier oil.
- Spot Treatment: Apply to areas like wrists, temples, or soles of feet.
Baths
- Add 3-5 drops to bathwater with a dispersant (like a tablespoon of carrier oil or Epsom salts) to avoid direct skin contact.
Household Use
- Add to cleaning solutions for a natural, pleasant scent.
- Use in DIY room sprays or linen mists.
4. Safety Guidelines
- Dilution is Key: Never apply undiluted oils directly to your skin unless specified as safe by the manufacturer.
- Patch Test: Test on a small area of skin before regular use.
- Internal Use: Only consume oils if labeled as food-grade and advised by a healthcare professional.
- Storage: Keep oils in dark glass bottles, away from heat and light.
- Keep Away from Children and Pets: Some oils can be toxic to pets (like tea tree, eucalyptus, and citrus oils) and harmful if ingested.
5. Choosing Quality Oils
- Look for labels like “100% pure” or “therapeutic grade.”
- Check the Latin botanical name to confirm authenticity.
- Purchase from reputable brands.
When I was first using essential oils I was so overwhelmed. I wasn’t sure what did what, if I was going to mess up or if I was going to make a horrible concoction, so I got a great resource book and starting learning. In no time I gained confidence and was able to learn how to use them safely and effectively.
Learning new things is exciting to me and this topic still excites me. When I am helping new people get started I often say, “remember when you had to learn how to cook?? You needed a recipe or cookbook, right?”…..Oils are so similar! We all need the equivalent to the Joy of Cooking when it comes to using essential oils. Here is my fave resource book to learn from.
Grab your resource book and commit to learning 1-2 oils a week! In no time you will be making up remedies, creating fabulous diffuser blends to switch up the mood in your space, tossing together a cool DIY and probably sharing your new knowledge with just about anyone!
The most important thing to remember is to choose your preferred company based on the ethics that align with you and your vision for life. I personally chose doTERRA. Here are three key reasons why doTERRA is often considered a great choice:
1. High-Quality Standards
- CPTG® Certification: doTERRA uses a proprietary Certified Pure Tested Grade® (CPTG) process to ensure its oils are pure, potent, and free of contaminants. Each batch undergoes rigorous third-party testing.
- Sourcing Transparency: The company shares detailed sourcing and testing results with consumers, emphasizing their commitment to quality and accountability.
2. Ethical and Sustainable Sourcing
- Co-Impact Sourcing®: doTERRA partners with farmers and distillers worldwide to create sustainable and ethical sourcing relationships. They focus on fair wages and community development.
- Environmental Commitment: doTERRA emphasizes environmentally responsible practices, ensuring their sourcing and production do not harm ecosystems.
3. Holistic Wellness and Education
Education and Support: The company provides extensive resources, including training for wellness advocates, usage guides, and customer support, to help users maximize the benefits of essential oils.
Product Variety: Beyond essential oils, doTERRA offers wellness products, including supplements, personal care, and cleaning solutions, promoting a holistic approach to health.
Keep this handy chart because it really can be as a simple as this, too.
