Essential Oils 101 

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Essential oils are plant compounds in liquid form, most often distilled or extracted from the seeds, bark, leaves, stems, roots, flowers, fruit, peels, etc., of plants.

Because it takes many plants to fill one bottle of essential oil, these oils are highly concentrated (granted the product is 100% pure). Therefore, a small amount goes a long way, and it’s fairly difficult to “overdose” on essential oils.

There are hundreds of health benefits to using essential oils, and there seems to be an oil for just about everything. A few of the properties of essential oils include: antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, antihistamine, anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, stimulating, sedative, anticonvulsant, vasodilating, pain-reducing, cleansing, immune-booster, uplifting, calming/soothing, antiparasitic, nerve tonic, warming, cooling, antidepressant, antioxidant, decongestant, digestive aid, anti-infection (natural antibiotic) — and the list goes on.

Essential oils are used to help change your mood, cure ailments or promote balance in your life. Certain oils and blends of oils can help to bring about physical and emotional changes in our bodies. 

When using essential oils for treating an ailment, consistent application will yield the best and quickest results. In general, a little more patience and persistence is needed when using natural remedies, but finding relief with no ill effects, will be well worth it, especially if one of your goals is to raise a healthy family.

The 3 Ways to Use Essential Oils

1. Aromatically: inhaled or diffused into the air using a diffuser or vaporizer.
When an essential oil enters the olfactory system through our nostrils, it reaches the limbic system of the brain, which allows the aroma to have profound physiological and psychological effects. Aromatic use of essential oils is a great way to quickly boost your mood and to help relieve stress, anxiety, depression, and emotional trauma.
Try placing a drop of your favorite oil in the palm of your hand, rub your palms together, then cup your palms around your nose and mouth (taking care to avoid the eyes), and take a nice, slow inhale. You should feel your mood shift instantaneously.
 

2. Topically: applied directly to the skin.
This application works well for treating skin conditions such as rashes, wrinkles, warts, burns, etc.  If you’re spreading the oil over a large area, dilute about two or three drops of essential oil with a carrier oil, (which can be any variation of pure vegetable-based oil, such as coconut, olive, almond, jojoba oil, etc.), so it’s easier to spread. Be sure to dilute essential oils for use on babies, the elderly, and those with sensitive skin.
For quick absorption into the bloodstream, try rubbing two or three drops of oil on the bottoms of your feet, which have the largest pores in your body.
 

3. Internally: taken under the tongue, in water or other beverage, or in an empty capsule and swallowed.
This method is best used when dealing with more serious conditions, where you want to tackle something quickly. Essential oils are often taken internally for gastrointestinal issues, colds, flu, and getting rid of parasites. Oils could help support the treatment of cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, and other diseases. However, pregnant women, those with liver issues, and children under six should not ingest essential oils.

Awareness of aromatherapy - the therapeutic use of essential oils has grown exponentially worldwide over the past twenty years. Essential oils can be found in grocery stores or ordered on Amazon or through Multi-Level Marketing companies… BUT not all essential oils are created equally! To be sure you are using the safest and most effective oils, you should always consult with a Certified Aromatherapist. 

A Certified Aromatherapist has completed hundreds of hours in training. Course work covers Anatomy and Physiology, Chemistry, a specific set of essential oils (60+ oils per course typically), safety and usage guidelines. After course work, assignments and multiple case studies, a student completes two rigorous exams. The average course takes 400 hours to complete. They know their stuff.
Joie Bailey is a Certified Aromatherapist. She has a degree in Applied Science from the University of Texas,  worked as a Radiation Therapist, and has spent the past 20 years working in senior healthcare. Joie has seen first-hand the side effects and counter indications that prescribed medications can have on seniors. She loves the way that Eastern and Western medicine can complement each other, and is passionate about sharing her knowledge to help others.  

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