Essential oils are found in a plant’s flower, stem, leaves, bark, or fruit. This essence helps to provide nutrients to the plant and protect it from disease. People use these oils, created from this highly-concentrated plant extract, as part of their self-care practice for the aroma, for topical application, or internal use.
I’ve seen friends selling oils on social media. Life coach friends swear by scents to set the stage for calm and productive sessions. Homeopathic doctors prescribe oils as alternative medicines to support health and well-being. But what are the best ways to use oils?
the Basics
Essential oils are all the rage. While they have been around forever, they have increased in popularity as the wellness movement has grown. Spas use oils to create an atmosphere, people apply oils to their skin to feel better, and others ingest them as dietary supplements.
From eucalyptus to Ylang Ylang to lavender to Clary sage, they come in great variety. The aromatic oils (highly-concentrated plant extract) derived from plants are used in self-care routines because they are natural, organic, chemical-free, safe environmental alternatives to other home-care products.
According to Plant Therapy, an essential oil is a concentrated hydrophobic liquid containing volatile aroma compounds from plants. Distillers extract the essence, often by using steam, to protect the plant. If you plan to start using these oils, you should know the botanical name, chemotype (if applicable), the origin of the plant (this can drastically change the percentages of the chemical constituents) and extraction method”.
Note: with increased popularity in essential oils, not all oils are sourced organically or ethically. If you’re interested in adding essential oils to your self-care routine, I encourage you to look for ethical and/or certified organic oils. This will likely mean a higher price tag, but is better for our earth and your body!
3 Ways to Use Essential Oils
There are three main ways to use essential oils: for the aroma, for topical application, or internal use. If you are new to oils, using oils for the aroma is a safe and easy place to start.
Aroma
Essential oils stand out for the potent aromas. They are used to relax the body, mind, and soul. To gain maximum benefit, try using a diffuser and mix the oil up with water to produce a mist. Aromatic molecules help produce neurochemicals which either stimulate or relax you depending on the oil. Many people add essential oil diffusers to their sacred spaces or as part of their rituals.
Topical Use
When applied to the skin, the essential oils enter the bloodstream through the skin tissues and hair follicles. The best way to do this is to apply the oil on areas where the veins are closer to the skin e.g. temples, chest, wrists, and neck.
Tip: Remember that essential oils are concentrated and volatile, so they can evaporate quickly. Unless you are certain about the properties and application of the oil, it is best to add them to your skincare products or use them combined with a carrier oil.
Internal Use
You can consume some essential oils, but many are toxic to ingest. You can also add oils to food and drinks to give a boost of flavor and vitality. Oils can also come in the form of capsules and dietary supplements. Please consult a homeopathic specialist if you’re interested in trying this. Again, essential oils are highly concentrated and could cause severe damage if used internally without the necessary expertise in the chemical makeup of each oil.
Top 3 Picks (for beginners)
There are many essential oils out there, and it can be intimidating to figure out where to start. Below are three go-to oils that I recommend for beginners because they are multipurpose and best for daily use.
Like everything else self-care related, try things on for size. What essential oils do you most enjoy? Are you more of a diffuser person or roller-ball user? Let me know! xoxo Mo
