Ok… in my 5 years as a massage therapist I’ve learned one thing is consistent about essential oils. Everyone has heard of them, but very few people know how or why to use them!
Let me start by saying there is nothing scary about essential oils. Yes, we’ve all heard that people have used them for time and eternity. Yes, we’ve all heard how great they are… but what are the practical applications?
Going all natural is a big movement in corporate America right now – super popular with cleaners, personal care products, materials in your home, etc. Truth is that corporate America is just circling back to something that has always been there. Let me give you an example.
How many of you use those plug-in air fresheners you can pick up at your local store? No one wants a stinky house and they make your home smell so inviting, right? Eh, maybe, but read the ingredients on the box and you’ll see that a majority of the contents of that air freshener are chemicals you can’t identify, let alone pronounce.
Think about it – you’re diffusing those chemicals into the air in your home. YUCK!!!! Diffuse an essential oil in your home and you’re not only getting the fabulous scent, but you’re getting the therapuetic benefit of the aromatic properties from that oil. That’s right – it smells good AND its good for you. Try lavendar and chamomile for a relaxing invironment, peppermint for cooling, cinnamon for setting “the mood” or warming your home, eucalyptus when you have a cold or congestion.
What else? Heard of tea tree oil? Did you know that it’s a fabulous topical anti-inflammatory? Put it on a break out to help reduce acne… put it on a bug bite to reduce inflammation and itching… or with aloe to help speed healing of rashes and burns.
Like those amazing citrus cleaners in your home, but have a baby who chews on everything? A combination of water, witch hazel, and lemon or orange essential oils can do the trick. Did you know that the citrus essential oils are antiseptic, energizing, and cleansing? Why do you think home cleaning products use that scent?
See here’s the thing – nature has a funny way of providing fabulous remedies that the pharmaceutical companies have been trying to recreate in a lab for years. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a big fan of anti-biotics when you need them… but what if you can naturally and effectively bypass the pharmacy by using natural products to maintain healthy living so you never NEED the pharmacy?
So you want to try essential oils but don’t know where to start? Try this – pick one concern or interest you have… say you have a teenager at home with horrible acne but aren’t sold on all the pharmaceutical options your dermatologist recommends and those Pro-Activ commercials aren’t convincing. Try a simple and NATURAL remedy by going to your local Whole Foods, Henry’s, or massage supply story and pick up a bottle of Tea Tree. A couple of drops on a q-tip applied directly to the blemish over a couple of days and odds are you’re going to see the inflammation reduce, the redness disappear, and that zit is zapped!
Step #1 – pick a concern
Step #2 – research what essential oils work for that problem/interest
Step #3 – pick up a small bottle of oil
Step #4 – give it a try!
The good news is essential oils are a trial and error type product that is far less likely to have significant adverse effects (unlike pharmaceuticals with their huge list of disclaimers and side effects). AND – they’re good for more than one thing! Aside from being a great cleanser, most of the citrus oils can also help with depression.
Essential oils – honestly, a simple answer and 99.9% of the time they’re 100% safe.
Just try it.
