Welcome to my little class on essential oils! I wanted to do a little write-up because I know a lot of you are wondering what in the world they are (not to mention why and how to use them)! Some of you are probably even skeptical, and that is okay! Hopefully, I can answer most of your questions in this post. If you have any more, please don't hesitate to
contact me!
So let's begin!
Applying essential oils to help our bodies is a relatively new idea in western culture, but these oils have in fact been used for thousands of years in cultures around the world. They were God's first medicine and are mentioned throughout the Bible. They are not new or a fad! Keep reading to find out more about these powerful little bottles.
Essential oils are not actually
essential to your health the way that essential vitamins and minerals are. They are called "essential" because they are the pure
essence of the plant from which they come. They are powerful fluids within the plant that are essential to the plant's well-being; they are basically a plant's immune system. In order retain the healthful, therapeutic properties of these oils, they are carefully extracted through steam distillation or occasionally cold pressing. Because the oils are very concentrated, they are far more powerful than the plants from which they were extracted.
Pure essential oils have the power to affect change in your body at a cellular level. A single drop of essential oil contains 40 million trillion molecules.
What? (That's a 4 with
nineteen zeros after it!) The human body is made up of about 100 trillion cells. So what does that mean? It means when you put
one drop of essential oil on your skin, each cell in your body will soon have about 40,000 molecules of that oil all over it!
Even just inhaling from the bottle can have an amazing effect on the body, brain, and emotions. Your sense of smell is part of the limbic system, which is connected to the parts of the brain that control emotions, memory, hormones, stress levels, and more. When you breathe in essential oils, the tiny molecules enter directly into your limbic system, which sends signals to the brain, which then communicates with the body. Emotional wellness is such an important factor in overall health!
But not all essential oils are created equal...
Did you know that we actually use essential oils every day? They're in our food, candy, perfume, detergents, candles, and personal care products… pretty much anything that has a scent. Food- and/or perfume-grade oils are typically synthetic unless stated otherwise. These man-made substitutes can be harmful to your health, cause allergic reactions, and/or make conditions worse. So let's stick with the real stuff, mmkay? This reason is why I only recommend using
therapeutic-grade essential oils; they are scientifically proven to work with our bodies to aid our health.
Just because something is "natural" doesn't always mean it's safe. However, essential oils are both if used correctly! Here are some basic rules for safety:
1. Only use therapeutic-grade oils. (Read the next section for why I only choose Young Living.)
2. Do your research, making sure to use reputable sources. Remember that lots of people post opinions online (positive
and negative), and they can sometimes be helpful, but at the end of the day, they are just opinions and are not always reliable.
3. Dilute essential oils in a carrier oil (
especially when applying to children). Some oils are considered hot and can cause a rash without proper dilution. A little goes a long way!
4. Use common sense. Only use as directed on the label and don't use the whole bottle at a time!
5. If you're uncomfortable using certain oils or using them a certain way (such as taking them internally), don’t.
Here are some relevant links:
Life Science Publishing (tons of oily research!)
PubMed.gov
Young Living Safety Guide
Essential Oils In the Nursery
12 Questions to Ask an Oil Company
I've got a whole
page on the blog outlining the reasons I've chosen Young Living, so I'll just hit the highlights here. Distilling essential oils is a very temperamental process and Gary Young (founder of Young Living) has dedicated his life to understanding it, because when a plant is distilled correctly, it will contain every constituent of that plant and therefore the most benefit to our bodies.
I'm also a huge fan of the
Seed to Seal promise, which ensures that Young Living's product is "beyond organic." This promise is made possible by the fact that Young Living owns their own farms around the world. They are not just a rebottler of oils that they've purchased elsewhere. These farms are open to the public and I know people who have visited them.
But most of all, I love Young Living's transparency. When I purchase a 15ml bottle of Lavender Essential Oil from Young Living, I know that I'm actually getting 15ml of 100% of the highest quality unadulterated oil distilled from the
Lavandula angustifolia plant. It's not 5% of that mixed with 95% carrier oil or anything synthetic (man-made).
You can read more here!
Like supplements, essential oils are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration because they technically fall under the canopy of cosmetics or aromatherapy. Essential oils and products made with them do not need to gain FDA approval before they are brought to the market and sold to consumers. Furthermore, essential oils are not patent-eligible because they are not genetically altered. (Yeah, it's kind of silly that this is part of what prevents approval, but there it is.)
The main reason that essential oils cannot be approved by the FDA is because they cannot be consistently and exactly duplicated, a requirement for all new drugs seeking approval. Because the chemical makeup of the plants from which they are distilled vary from year to year, depending on growing conditions, each batch of essential oil may be slightly different than the last.
In order for a drug (something that treats or prevents disease) to be approved, its effects on people also must be replicable and evaluated. However, essential oils are utilized by our bodies in a variety of ways and they may vary from application to application! Additionally, each essential oil has
so many different uses, which raises the question of which "claim" to get approval for.
Instead of questioning why companies don't seek FDA approval, we really should be asking why they should! Given the rigorous testing processes, the unpredictability of essential oil makeup, and the "inconsistency" in how our bodies use the oils, it would not be beneficial to consumers for essential oil companies to even try. In fact, the most likely outcome would be for these products (that have been used safely for thousands of years by people all over the world) to suddenly become unavailable while awaiting approval and limited after approval. (Imagine having to have a prescription to use lavender!)
There are so many reasons for incorporating oils into your daily routine, but I don't want to overwhelm you! I'll just mention a few here.
- they can enhance overall wellness (immune boosting)
- they can promote the body's ability to do its normal thang
- they can provide support for a variety of health concerns
- they can refine healthy hair and skin
- they can inspire positive emotions
- they can help maintain energy and mental clarity
- they have calming properties
- they can be added to food and drinks for flavor
- diffuse them as safe alternatives to scented air fresheners
- purify your home with them as natural substitutes for chemical-filled cleaners
- they are free of chemicals, synthetic materials, and toxins
- they're just so dang fun!
Want to know more? I'd love to chat about all their benefits so leave a comment or
give me a shout!
The easiest way to use essential oils is aromatically. They can be inhaled directly or diffused! Both are very effective, but I personally find many of the oils too strong for direct inhalation most of the time! I'm a big advocate of the diffuser and Young Living makes some of the best, longest-lasting ones on the market. I use my diffuser every day; it's so fun finding and creating new combinations!
Using a diffuser is simple: fill it with distilled water, add 5-10 drops of oil (depending on your room size), replace the lid, and push the little button. What comes out is a fine mist of water and tiny particles of essential oils. The oil freshens a room
and gets into our bodies (and we've already discussed the health benefits oils have), so it's a total win-win.
Diffusing is a great alternative to scented candles and air fresheners. The chemicals that make those synthetic fragrances can be highly toxic. Those toxins build up over time and can make us sick and unhealthy. With essential oils, you don't have to worry about what you're inhaling
and they promote the proper functioning of your body's systems, like boosting the immune or respiratory systems and creating an emotionally balancing atmosphere.
The next way to use essential oils is topically--applying directly to your skin. Because the skin is the largest organ in our bodies, this is a very effective way to absorb the goodness in these oils. Within minutes, that drop of oil enters the bloodstream and is carried throughout the body.
It's always best to dilute oils,
especially for kids. Some oils are considered hot and can cause a rash without proper dilution. Diluting also makes the essential oils last longer! If you notice a rash or a burning sensation from topical use, just add more carrier oil.
My favorite way to use oils topically is to make roller bottles with olive or fractionated coconut oil and a few drops of essential oils. It's fun to make up our own blends (Happy Tummy, Happy Mama, Happy Kids, etc.) and the kids love to name the blends. We have a whole nightly routine with rollers; if I forget, the kids always remind me!
Lastly, you can take many oils internally! Seem weird? I thought so until Young Living came out with their Vitality line of oils. These oils are specifically labeled for internal consumption and are Generally Regarded as Safe (GRAS) by the FDA. They can be used as flavorings in food and drinks or added to gel capsules and swallowed like a pill.
The Vitality oils can aid in weight loss, support the digestive and immune systems, and contribute to healthy cognitive function. More pure and powerful than the extracts or dried herbs and spices, these oils can be an amazing addition to any dish! (Honestly, my morning routine doesn't feel complete without the detoxing and energizing power of a drop of lemon in my orange juice!)
I hoped you learned something about essential oils that you didn't know. If you couldn't tell, these oils have completely changed how I view health and wellness. They've changed our mornings, our homeschool days, and our evenings. They've even changed how we sleep! Essential oils are a daily thing for us and I carry a little case of rollers wherever I go.
If there was something I didn't cover, or if you have more questions, leave a comment or shoot me an email and I'll answer to the best of my ability. And if you're not already a member with Young Living, I'd love to have you on my team! It's super simple to sign up...
- Sign up here!
- Choose either Customer or Member (more info here)
- Make sure to indicate that you were referred by a member (me!) and that the number 1734595 in is both the "enroller" and "sponsor" fields.
- Fill out your information and be sure to include your email.
- Choose your Premium Starter Kit if you chose Member // choose your oils if you chose Customer
- If you chose Member, you can also sign up for Essential Rewards for reduced shipping and to start accumulating points towards free products!
I will definitely be posting more about the oils we love to use, so be sure to follow along! Subscribe to my RSS feed in the sidebar to get my posts delivered straight to your inbox so you never miss one.
These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose or treat any condition.
