Welcome & Why

Yay for you, you’re taking time out of your busy life to learn more about natural health!! 

I’m excited to share this info with you because it highlights the basics of essential oils - what they are and ways to use them. Our ‘why’ for this class is to learn just enough about oils to feel empowered to try them for the first time or dive in deeper if you are already an oil lover.

Let's get to it...

- - - - - - - - - - - -

What Is An Essential Oil?

Essential oils are liquids that come from plants. They can come from different parts of the plant such as the leaves, bark, roots, stems, petals, etc. By using steam or by pressing the plant material, a liquid is extracted. These liquids are then tested for purity and safety and then they are bottled.

A plant’s oil is powerful. It contains all of the natural characteristics and properties of the plant. The molecules are extremely small, giving them the ability to penetrate and rejuvenate at the cellular level. They provide powerful therapeutic benefits. Additionally, they are:

• greaseless (unlike other types of oils)
• volatile (they evaporate quickly)
• highly concentrated and potent (you only need a drop or two per application)

- - - - - - - - - - - -

Three Ways to Use Oils

Oils have been used since ancient times. Records show they were used from birth to death for medical and religious purposes. There are three main ways in which we use oils. 

Aromatically (aka aromatherapy)

• Sniff straight from the bottle
• Rub it in your palms and inhale it slowly
• Diffuse it using an aromatic diffuser which is like a mini cool-mist humidifier.

When you smell an oil, it passes into your nose and up into your olfactory system, which is your sense of smell and is connected directly to your brain. What you smell goes into your cells and your bloodstream within seconds.

Topically

• Mix an essential oil with a “carrier oil” to dilute it before you apply to skin. Examples of carrier oils include coconut oil, olive oil, jojoba oil, grapeseed oil and sweet almond oil.
• The feet are a great place to apply oils bc of the reflexology points that connect to every part of your body.
• Hair and nails also benefit from oils.

Internally

You can ingest essential oils only if they are pure.

• Add to a beverage.
• Add to food recipes.
• Put into a capsule and swallow with water.

Some oils can be used in all three ways, such as Lemon or Lavender. Some are recommended not to be ingested, such as Wintergreen. 

- - - - - - - - - - - -

Does Quality Really Matter?

This topic can be tricky, but I’m not sure why, because the truth is that you want the oils to provide health benefits to you. Otherwise you wouldn’t be using them, yes? To reap the health benefits, they need to be of high quality.

Let’s think of a comparison. If someone really needed to catch up on sleep, which would help them best achieve their goal? A thin blowup mattress or a Sleep Number bed? What about if someone wanted their stomach to feel better, which would help them best achieve their goal? Downing a ginger ale flavored soda or steeping a nice cup of hot ginger tea? 

So back to oils…

Scents and fragrances are inspired by nature. So much so that big companies hire scientists to re-create these smells (ex. Lavender, Jasmine, Cinnamon, etc). The most cost effective way to do this is by using chemicals. The synthetic materials are mixed together in a lab. Most often there is no actual plant material that is used. 

These scents are then added to everyday products such as soaps, perfumes, candles, and cleaning supplies. They provide no health benefits and in fact, can be quite detrimental to our health. <--- a topic for a different class

Avoid synthetic fragrances, perfume-grade oils, or food-grade oils because none of these will provide therapeutic benefits. You want 100% pure plant in those bottles. That’s it. 

Some red flags:

• You do not want to see anything else on the label, such as additives like ethanol, palm oil, etc. 
• If the packaging shows an expiration date, that’s a likely sign there is something other than plant oil in the bottle.
• If they say 'do not apply topically' or 'do not ingest', they are likely not safe.

The essential oil industry currently is NOT regulated. So if a brand's "oils" have just 5-10% real plant in their product, they can still label them as 100% pure. All companies try to cut corners to save money, create bigger batches, and make a product that smells 'better' than their competitors. These are not pure essential oils. Buyer beware!

- - - - - - - - - - - -

What Can I Use Oils For?

There are literally hundreds of uses for oils. Let’s categorize them a bit.

Body Support

You have 13 body systems that all help you function properly. Oils can support these systems: Cardiovascular, Circulatory, Digestive, Endocannabinoid, Endocrine, Immune, Integumentary (skin/hair/nails), Lymphatic, Muscular, Nervous, Respiratory, Reproductive, Skeletal, Urinary

You can also use oils for Age Management and Weight Management, Pregnancy and Childbirth, Hormones, Sex, Vision, Hearing, and Oral health.

Mental & Emotional

Acuity, Anger, Balance, Bitterness, Clarity, Concentration, Disgust, Envy, Fear, Focus, Grief, Guilt, Jealousy, Memory, Motivation, Negativity, Sadness, Self-Esteem, Shame, Spirituality, Stress, Trust, and Worry

Around the House

Cooking, Baking, Flavoring, Air Purification, Pets and Animals, Cleaning and Detoxifying, Outdoor Safety, Bathing, Cleaning, Degreasing, and Diffusing.

Here are three great examples.

Lavender – known as "the Swiss Army Knife” of oils because of its versatility

• Diffuse for relaxation and a good night's sleep
• Add to DIY Face Serum because it’s great for skin
• Add to epsom salts and put it in bath water to unwind
• Apply “neat” to ouchies
• Put in a capsule for body system support or allergies

Lemon – known as “sunshine in a bottle”

• Diffuse to clean the air and uplift mood
• Use as a stain remover and sticker remover
• Put a drop in your hands for a natural hand sanitizer
• Mix with water or tea to help detox the body (only use stainless steel or glass when using citrus oils because they eat through petrochemicals like plastic and Styrofoam)

Peppermint

• Drop in the palm of your hand, cup over your nose and breathe in to open up the sinuses and airways
• Put on temples and forehead to relieve head tension
• Mix with carrier oil to massage sore muscles
• Take in a capsule or rub directly on the stomach to relieve nausea
• Diffuse during study times for focus and concentration

- - - - - - - - - - - -

Safety First!

If you are just beginning with essential oils or you are a seasoned vet, please be aware of these safety reminders. 

• Avoid eyes and ears and other body orifices. 
• Use with caution during pregnancy and nursing. Consult your physician.
• When applying oils to the skin, begin by using a carrier oil (fatty oil) such as coconut or olive oil to dilute the potency. Some oils can cause a rash and everyone’s skin reacts differently. 
• Certain oils interact with the sun, so if you plan to spend time in the sun, consult your reference guide or app.
• Keep out of reach of kids and pets.
• Not all oils are safe for ingestion. If you feel unsure, simply use them aromatically or topically.

• Avoid leaving your oils in the sunlight or without their lids. Both light and air will begin to break them down, similar to a piece of fruit or a glass of wine. 

Always do your own research!

• Make sure you find a company that you trust for safety and purity. 
• Consider purchasing a Reference Guide or App to read more about effective use. 
• Find a local support person or group/network to help you enjoy the oily life!

Lindsey Blackburn, December 2020