How do you Use Essential Oils?

What are essential oils?

You know when you cut through the rind of a juicy lemon and the aroma fills the air...or when you break open a eucalyptus leaf, or brush up against the flowers of a lavender plant?...what you smell is the essential oils that get released.

Essential oils are super-concentrated plant extracts - from leaves, flowers, fruits, woods, bark, nut, resin or roots. The 'lifeblood' of a plant, providing nutrients and protecting them from disease. They offer us a variety of benefits too! from cosmetic and dietary purposes to emotional, physical, and spiritual wellness that can be truly life-changing and empowering.

Why do we use them?

Essential oils provide support for every system in the body - your skeletal system, your muscular system, circulatory system, endocrine system and your hormones, respiratory system and immune system.

Wellness Oils and their Benefits >

How do you use essential oils?

So how do you use essential oils? Oils can be used topically, inhaled, or ingested.

Oils inhaled from your palms can provide a calming effect when you’ve had a stressful day. Oils applied to our body or skin can provide relief. Oils in a child's diffuser or on their spine and big toes can help them sleep well at night...

Oils can also be used as an alternative to toxic cleaning chemicals in the home and you can literally start swapping out every single chemical cleaning toxin in your home to live a purer lifestyle without breaking the bank.

There just always seems to be 'an oil for that' which makes them incredible tools to reach for.

1. Topical Application

Applying essential oils topically allows them to be absorbed directly into the skin, providing targeted benefits. Popular areas to apply oils include:

• Wrists and neck – ideal for personal fragrance and emotional support.

• Soles of the feet – a popular area to apply oils, especially for stronger oils, as the skin here is less sensitive.

• Target areas – for particular support, add a few drops to a carrier oil like coconut or almond oil and apply to the area.

When applying essential oils topically, always start with a small amount and consider diluting with a carrier oil, especially for sensitive skin types or young children.

2. Inhalation

Inhaling essential oils is one of the quickest ways to enjoy their aromatic benefits, as the scent molecules travel directly to the brain via the limbic and olfactory system, impacting mood and emotions. Here are some effective methods:

• Diffusing – Add a few drops of essential oil to a diffuser with water to disperse the aroma into the air.

• Inhaling from hands – Place a drop or two into your palm, rub your hands together, and cup them over your nose, breathing deeply. This method is ideal for quick mood-boosting support.

• Steam inhalation – Add a drop of oil to a bowl of hot water, cover your head with a towel, and breathe in the steam for a few minutes, or drop them into the corner of your shower for a spa like experience.

  
  

Inhalation is especially useful for promoting relaxation, focus, or a comforting ambiance in your space.

3. Ingestion

Some essential oils can also be ingested in small amounts, though it's important to use only oils that are labeled as safe for internal use, or as culinary oils (check the label for guidance). In fact the most common use of essential oils is in the food and beverage industry for flavouring.

Here’s how you can incorporate them*:

• Water or tea – Add a drop of a food-safe essential oil like lemon or peppermint to a glass of water or tea for a refreshing flavor boost.

• Recipes – Enhance your culinary creations by adding a drop of essential oil to dressings, sauces, or baked goods. Just remember, a little goes a long way!

• Capsules – Place a drop in an empty vegetable capsule with a carrier oil for a convenient way to take essential oils internally.

  
  

*Always use caution with ingestion and consult guidance specific to each oil type, as some oils are not recommended for internal use.

For this reason I personally do not ingest oils that are not already measured out into Young Living's premade supplements and beverages, I prefer to trust their safety standards and ingest what they have premade rather than making my own. But again, that is my personal choice.

How fast do they work?

Within 22 seconds of applying oils, the molecules have reached our brain. Within 2 minutes the molecules can be found in our bloodstream and within 20 minutes of applying oils they can be found in every cell of our body supporting our bodies overall wellness!

Quality Matters

Because essential oils are SO incredibly concentrated (eg. 75 lemons to fill a 15mL essential oil bottle!), a drop or two can go a long way and provide the support you need. Of course though, quality is paramount to effectiveness, so choosing oils that are pure, responsibly sourced, and high quality, is key to noticing their effects.

Many oils in the market are mislabelled as 'pure' when they are mixed with carrier oils, processed in ways that don't harness their true benefits, or use poor quality and non-organic plants, which will produce oils that will not benefit you. This is usually the reason why many people who choose lower cost oils claim that they don't work or they didn't feel any different - because they put their trust in the wrong brand of oils, and the lower cost reflects the lower quality.

For more about which brand you can trust and Young Living's Seed to Seal promise which ensures their oils are of such a high standard, check out the blog 'Why Choose Young Living?'