What Are Essential Oils and How Can They Change Your Life?

Essential oils have been around for centuries, used all around the world in many different countries and cultures. Within the last century, the use of these essential oils and many herbal medicines have diminished and been forgotten with the introduction of Penicillin and the building of today's western medicine.

However, with dramatic side effects, allergic reactions, dangerous prescription errors, and rising medical costs; the use of herbal medicines and essential oils in these modern days is making its comeback.

Many people are familiar with herbal, or "home" remedies. But, many people haven't heard about essential oils, or have heard of them, but have no clue what they are and what they do.

What Are Essential Oils?

Essential oils are natural aromatic compounds found in parts of plants, such as: leaves, bark, flowers, roots, seeds, berries, or shells. These oils are located in microscopic sacs all over the plant to protect it from disease and impurities. The aroma of the oils also attracts certain insects and creatures that will help with pollination, and repels others that are harmful to the plant.

A neat thing to try at home: Peel a ripe orange, then squeeze the peel with your hands. The fragrant residue on your hands is full of essential oils.

The photograph on the left is a peppermint plant. The photograph on the right is a microscopic close up of the peppermint plant and its essential oil sacs. 

How Do Essential Oils Help My Health?

Essential oils help the plants fight off diseases and impurities, and since the human body has similar chemistry as plants, the oils can work with our bodies to kill off  harmful bacteria, viruses, and any other impurities that do not belong in us. They also have great effect on improving emotional wellness through aromatic, topical, and/or internal use.There is so much information and research on essential oils that I can't even include a portion of it in this article. www.aromaticscience.com is an amazing website to go to that has a lot of information from researchers and medical professionals about essential oils and how they work.

How Can I Use Essential Oils?

There are three ways to use essential oils: (Note: Before using ANY brand of essential oils, confirm with the brand that the oil is safe to use aromatically, topically, or internally.)

Aromatically:

The stimulation of hormones and other metabolic processes are influenced by our sense of smell. Essential oils are often used with Aromatherapy. When diffused in the air, some oils can be very stimulating, while others are soothing and calming. Other than emotional benefits, diffusing essential oils can purify the air of bad odors and some airborne pathogens.

The most popular way of using essential oils aromatically, is with a diffuser. Be sure the diffuser you use is low or no-heat, as they will not change the chemical structure of the oil being diffused. Another way of using the oils aromatically, is to make homemade laundry and surface cleaners to use throughout the home.

 

Topically:

Essential oils are easily absorbed by the skin. Due to their natural molecular composition, essential oils are easily absorbed by the skin and can be safely applied topically. Application of essential oils can have immediate, localized benefit to the target area of application. They have restorative and calming properties and can be used effectively with massage and beauty therapy. They are also natural disinfectants. The chemical structure of essential oils also allows them to be absorbed into the bloodstream via the skin for internal benefit throughout the body.

When using essential oils topically, the oils can be applied in two ways: neat or diluted. Neat means applying the oil directly on the skin. Diluted means adding another oil (such as vegetable oil, olive oil, or coconut oil) with the essential oil when applying on the skin. You will want to dilute if the essential oil will be used on infants, children, people with sensitive skin, or "hot" oils.

When applying the oils, be sure to massage the oil(s) in for about 20-30 seconds, or more. When the oil is massaged into the skin, the bloodstream is able to absorb 80% more of the oils, making the effects of the oils more efficient.

Internally:

Note: Many essential oils are generally regarded as being safe for dietary use, but some oils should not be taken internally. Do not use any essential oil product internally that does not have the appropriate dietary supplement facts on its label. 

Essential oils can be used as a dietary supplement to support health and wellness. Some essential oils can have powerful antioxidant properties, while others help support healthy responses in cells.

There are several ways to take essential oils internally.

Gel/Veggie Capsules: If you don't like the taste of the oils, or if the oil is too hot for your mouth, you can take the oils in an empty gelatin or veggie capsule and wash it down with water. Empty capsules can be found in many health food stores or online.

Shots: A quick and very effective way to take the oils internally is to make a "shot". Using a small shot glass place a few drops of the desired  oil(s) and a small amount of water and drink it down. Be sure to fill the glass up with water and drink one more time to get the extra oils that may be left in the glass.

Under the Tongue: Applying a few drops of essential oils under the tongue is one of the fastest way to send the oils directly to the bloodstream, therefore making the effects happen faster. However, the taste can often be very powerful, so be sure you have a glass of water on hand to wash it down.

If you want more information, or have any comments or questions, please feel free to contact me at journeytopersonalfreedom@gmail.com

Tis' the Scents of the Seasons! Holiday Scented Essential Oils

During the holiday season there are many scents that fill the air that make it known that it is that time of the year! I wanted to share some of our favorite essential oil scents that remind us of Christmas and the happiness that comes this time of year. May your Christmas be full of the smells of the season!

dōTERRA's Holiday Joy Essential Oil Blend

Cinnamon Essential Oil

Cinnamon: Essential oils taken from trees can be processed from both the inner bark or the leaves of the tree resulting in much different properties. dōTERRA's  Cinnamon oil is taken from cinnamon bark grown in Indonesia and is steam distilled or water extracted from the inner bark of the tree.

As a physical stimulant, it can be mixed with a carrier oils and applied topically to assist with relieving sore and painful muscles and joints. Some suggest for digestive discomforts, use simply a drop of Cinnamon mixed with warm water and a sweetener, then slowly sip.

Diffuse Cinnamon to help eliminate airborne bacteria. Cinnamon is also great for decreasing inflammation and to promote healing.

Wild Orange Essential Oil

Wild Orange: The orange fruit has been used for years as a scent used to create fragrance-filled detergents, soaps, perfumes, and added to different foods and drinks for flavoring. The essential oil extraction method for dōTERRA's Wild Orange essential oil is a little different than most others. Because of its nature, it is best extracted by cold press rather than steam distillation  and is actually extracted from the rind rather than the fruit itself.

Wild Orange is one of the most dynamic fragrance of essential oils. Its chemistry is comprised of proven properties that support uplifting moods, is anti-fungal, and anti-bacterial.

Additional therapeutic properties of Wild Orange Essential Oil are in aiding as an anti-inflammatory product, is an antioxidant, stimulant, antiseptic, choleric, sedative, and a great digestive aid.

Wild Orange also has a main constitution of limonene, which has strong cancer fighting activities.

Wild Orange is a wonderful holiday favorite for its rarity and tropical feel during the Christmas season in the early parts of the century.

Myrrh Essential Oil

Myrrh: Over 3,700 years ago, Myrrh was implemented in to medical use. Highly sought after for its healing and spiritual powers, Myrrh has one of the greatest sesquiterpene concentrations. Sesquiterpene is a compound that can have a direct affect on the pituitary, hypothalamus and amygdaline glands in your body. The ancient Egyptians used Myrrh in religious ceremonies and meditation. 

Myrrh can have many effects on a person's physiology in supporting the immune system to skincare. A few examples of effects Myrrh can have are with breathing and digestion, discomforts, ringworm wounds, and skin conditions. 

The modern herbalist often suggests Myrrh for cleansing of the mouth and throat, as well as other areas. Throughout the world Myrrh is noted during the holiday season for its important significance during Christ's infancy.

Frankincense Essential Oil

Frankincense: Like Myrrh, Frankincense is most well known for its place in the story of the first Christmas. It is one of the most valuable essential oils for slowing and deepening breathing, helping to dissipate fear, anxiety, nervous tension, and stress. To some, it smells divine, and was traditionally burned as an offering to the gods. Useful in massage and bath oils, Frankincense is also excellent in diffusers and mood blends. It is wonderful for relieving respiratory discomforts. 

Frankincense has profound psychological and spiritual benefits. Many religious and spiritual traditions all over the world use Frankincense. Its centering effect enables people to clearly focus and is perfect for use when meditating, contemplating, and praying. It can suppress the voices in your head that can distract you when trying to focus. Also facilitating a state of single-pointed concentration, it allows the spirit to soar. It is helpful in letting go of the past. Frankincense also creates an environment in which optimism is present and reminds of current successes that allow peace and self-acceptance to take place.  

Frankincense, when used with skincare, is particularly helpful for older skin. It has a definite tonic effect, which has the ability to restore tone to drooping facial skin, and slows down the appearance of wrinkles. 

Frankincense has been used traditionally to expel and ward off evil spirits. This can be seen in Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, French, and Asian folklore and rituals. These spirits could be thought of as obsessions, fears and anxieties which can manifest itself as a physical illness. We can see the benefits of using Frankincense for all occasions. 

Balance Essential Oil Blend

Balance: This blend has a warm, piney smell that creates a sense of grounding, connectedness and well-being. It contains many essential oils within and as I inhale the smell, it imprints in my mind and heart the feeling of Christmas. In times when you feel doubtful, confused, or unsettled; this balancing blend may be the best option to help. Balance is an amazing aromatherapy blend that has a powerful calming effects on the central nervous system. 

Let's take a quick look at what is in some of the oils in Balance.

Spruce: Used by the American Indians for medicinal and spiritual purposes. They believed it had the power to capture the universal energy on earth. Spruce has been used for back and joint discomforts, assisting for healing of infections, and immune support.

Rosewood: Brazilian famed tree whose wood has a strong sweet smell, yielding the name Rosewood. This essential oil has properties that have antidepressant, antiseptic, cephalic, stimulant, and even aphridisiac qualities.

Frankincense: This essential oil has profound psychological and spiritual benefits. Frankincense promotes self-acceptance as well as counteracts respiratory problems and is useful in relieving respiratory and throat discomforts.

Blue Tansy: Contains chamazulene; a derivative of asulene, which has a chromophore (meaning a part of a molecule that is responsible for its color), resulting in it's blue-violet color. The color as well as the anti-inflammatory properties are a result of the steam distillation process. Blue Tansy is excellent for easing stress and nervous tension.

Coconut: Though it is often only considered for it's application as a carrier oil, coconut has its own properties to positively contribute to the human physical condition. Coconut oil has the ability to help the body's resistance to bacteria and viruses. It is also supportive in the defense of fungus, yeast and candida. 

Holiday Joy Essential Oil Blend

Holiday Joy: It is dōTERRA's most popular essential oil blend during the holidays.  People actually wait all year just to be able to buy Holiday Joy. This essential oil blend comes out just before Thanksgiving and sells through Christmas. While it is not the strong vanilla-piney you would expect, its smell resembles that of wassail.

Let’s take a look at each essential oil in the blend and how they can benefit you:

Wild Orange: Supports the immune system and has the ability to awaken and energize the senses. Also good for anxious feelings and elevating ones mood.

Pine: This essential oil has antibacterial properties, which when diffused, helps lower the airborne pathogens in your home keeping your family healthy and happy through the Christmas tree season.

Cassia: Has properties to help with physical and emotional well being. Similar to Wild Orange, Cassia is known for its ability to calm ones anxiety.

Cinnamon Bark: Cinnamon essential oil has stronger antimicrobial properties than other essential oils. This essential oil has the ability to assist your body in fighting viral and infectious disease.

Nutmeg: More than just a sweet and spicy scent, Nutmeg supports a comfortable and relaxed emotional well-being.

Vanilla: Helps calm and relax, uplifts moods, and can help reduce stress, anger, tension, and irritability. Many people love vanilla ice cream not only because of the flavor, but also because of the smell! Every home could use a little more relaxation during the holidays.

Holiday Joy does more than just smell good! Make sure you diffuse this in your home to keep your family happy, healthy, and joyful during the holidays this year.

Do-It-Yourself Blends

Here are a few more do it yourself blends suggested by the dōTERRA corporate team. Try them out and let us know which one you liked the most!

1. 3 drops Bergamot 1 drop Ginger 1 drop Cassia (optional: 1 drop White Fir)	2. 2 drops White Fir 1 drop Grapefruit 1 drop Frankincense
3. 2 drops Clove 3 drops Wild Orange	4. 2 drops Slim & Sassy 2 drops Peppermint
5. 2 drops Slim & Sassy 2 drops Lemon	6. 2 drops Serenity 2 drops Peppermint
7. 2 drops Holiday Joy 2 drops Peppermint	8. 3 drops Wild Orange 2 drops Cinnamon
9. 2 drops Frankincense 2 drops Wild Orange 1 drop Peppermint	10. 2 drops White Fir 2 drops Cassia 2 drops Wild Orange

If you have any questions or would like more information, feel free to contact Adam and Laura Farley at journeytopersonalfreedom@gmail.com