How To Use Essential Oils

Essential oils can be super intimidating.

When I first had oils many years ago, they were mostly given to me by my mother-in-law. I would think oh that smells good, or these are neat! Then I would stick them in a box, close the lid, never to be seen again until I got the next oily gift. 

I just had no idea how to use essential oils. So I didn’t use them at all. Which I’m finding is probably the BIGGEST reason people don’t even try them. 

That’s why we are going to get you started today. Grab those essential oils you have tucked away and let’s walk through the basics!

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How To Use Essential Oils

Safety First

The most important thing you can do when you start to use oils is making sure you know the safety precautions. In general, oils are safe- they are just natural oils from plants. But like all things in this world, if abused or used incorrectly then oils can have adverse side effects.

Always consult your doctor when incorporating essential oils into your routine. 

I personally use Young Living essential oils because their Seed to Seal promise let’s me know they are of the best quality and purity. They provide so much information on their website and even have a safety guide of their own. You can check it out here. It covers everything from sensitive skin to using oils during pregnancy. Give it a once over and then come back over here with me!

The Basics of Using Essential Oils

You can use essential oils in three different ways:

1. Aromatic-Diffuse
2. Topically- on skin
3. Ingest – take by mouth

Aromatic

Probably when you think of essential oils the first thing you think is “well they smell nice.” In fact, you probably take the top off and take a sniff every time you see one right? Well, that’s exactly one way to use them- smell them- aromatically!

Maybe you think, well I have candles for that. Please, friend, get rid of the candles! Candles are filled with all sorts of carcinogenic toxins that you are just perfusing into the air. Not to mention with animals or children, it might not be safe to have an open flame. Do yourself/your health a favor and ditch the candles for a diffuser. 

Diffusers are the easiest ( and prettiest) way to fill your home with the lovely scents. You can grab one from almost anywhere like Young Living, Amazon, or Target. All you have to do is pour water into the reservoir, drop 5- 10 drops of your favorite essential oils, and press the on button. It’s really that easy.

If you are starting your day- fill your diffuser with oils that are uplifting and energizing such as En-R-Gee, Rosemary +Lemon, or Envision.

If you are feeling a little overwhelmed- fill your diffuser with oils that are calming such as Stress Away, Peace and Calming, or Lavender. 

The more you use them, the easier it will be to know what to reach for. 

Topical

This is the one that threw me for a loop to begin with. I knew I could use oils on my skin for health benefits, but WHERE did I apply them? 

Outside of mucous membranes like ears and eyes, the answer is really anywhere! After applying essential oils onto your skin, they can be found in your bloodstream in as little as 26 seconds. Crazy right? So if you put them on the bottom of your feet- perfect. If you rub it on your wrists- perfect. Want to get random and rub it on the back of your knees- perfect!

My personal favorite spots (especially for calming oils) are my wrists, chest, neck, and behind my ears. In fact, when I’m applying oil I usually hit all those spots. I save the bottom of my feet and spine for “hotter” oils.

Ingest

Young Living has made this one so easy for you. White label= vitality oils= ingestible! So that means if you see an oil with a white label, it’s safe to ingest. 

Now not all oils taste good. I take Digize by mouth from time to time and just chase it with water because the taste is not super pleasant (I mostly rub it on my belly). If you have an oil you want to take by mouth you can of course put a drop or two on your tongue and go on about your business, but there are also vegetable capsules you can buy! 

These little guys are pretty handy. Just fill with a few drops of whatever oil you need and swallow just like you would a vitamin. Goodness right in the tummy!

But there’s no need to limit yourself to just taking them straight- cooking with oils is a great option! You can make Peppermint brownies, add Thieves to your morning coffee, or add a little lime to that Corona ( the beer of course- not the virus). 

Do Essential Oils Actually Do Anything?

Short answer is YES!

Now it’s important to know that essential oils are not a cure for anything. They are merely tools that we use in our wellness routine. 

I personally love good medical-based information- it’s just the nurse in me. So I want you to know that when I tell you that essential oils work, it’s not only because I use them, but I’ve researched them with evidence-based studies from reputable sources.

Here are a few examples from PubMed:

1. Lavender essential oil in the treatment of migraine headache: a placebo-controlled clinical trial. 
2. Peppermint oil (Mintoil) in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome: a prospective double-blind placebo-controlled randomized trial
3. Identification of essential oils with activity against stationary phase Staphylococcus aureus

What Are Essential Oils Good For?

Short answer again- everything.

There is an essential oil for almost every chemical in your home. That means that you can use oils to support your immune system, purify the air in your home, make your laundry smell lovely, clean your countertops, calm your nerves, help you sleep, and everything in between. 

When I started wanting to cut down on my toxic load for my health, I knew that essential oils were the way to go. I’ve slowly learned to incorporate them where I can. It does take a little practice, but with consistency and an open mind- I think you’ll find all kinds of things they are good for!

What Essential Oils Are Good For Beginners?

As I mentioned at the beginning of this article, essential oils can be a little overwhelming. There are so many and so many uses for each. So what are the essential oils that are good for beginners?

I like to start with 5 essential oils and I cover those in my Essential Oils for Beginners course. It is packed with information, oily recipes, and even cute printables!

How Do I Get Started?

Well first- shoot me a message because I want to chat with you! I don’t ever want you to feel like you have to figure it out alone so let’s talk through your needs and what your goals are.

1) Click this link here- Sign up link

2) Choose the products you need ( another reason to shoot me a message- I can help you create a custom bundle just for you and your needs- it’s kind of my favorite thing to do).

5) Opt-in or out of Loyalty Rewards which is the monthly shipment. (I personally say go ahead and opt-in so you can get the free promo for the month and the points!)

6) Put in your info and you’re done!