WAYS TO USE AND APPLY YOUR ESSENTIAL OILS

Essential Oils are Used for a Wide Range of Applications, Both Emotional and Physical.

This Post is about Different Ways to Apply Essential Oils in Your Daily Life!

Essential Oils are usually typically used in two main ways, inhaling or topical application, plus a third way NOT recommended (ingestion) unless working with a certified professional.

When you use Essential Oils, you either use a single oil (such as Lavender or Frankincense) or a blend (mixing oils together with or without a carrier oil).

1) INHALING THE GOODNESS.  You typically inhale the Essential Oil(s) directly from the bottle, from a cloth or cotton, by means of a diffuser or vaporizer (which diffuses the goodness in the air).

2) TOPICAL APPLICATION.  You may apply a blend or single oil mixed with a carrier oil topically to your skin and massage it in.

In some cases, you might use a single oil “neat”, that is directly, on your skin after patch testing first.  Essential Oils are very concentrated and powerful, and some are too irritating to be used directly on the skin. Others, such as Lavender, Tea Tree or Frankincense, may be used for specific application like on a burn or cut.  Always do a skin patch test before using any Essential Oil directly on your skin.

LET’S TALK INHALATION FIRST!

It takes a millisecond for a smell (aroma/odor) to travel to your limbic system and brain. (It takes 9/10 of a second for the sense of pain to get to the brain.)

Even if you are going to apply an oil topically, we recommend to ALWAYS inhale and smell the Essential Oil first. That way the healing properties of the oils begin working immediately as the brain sends the healing messages throughout the body.

DIFFUSER – A diffuser is a perfect way to get the essential oils into the air to cleanse the environment and purify the air (and make the room smell great!) It also facilitates your inhaling of the oil.  Diffusers are an excellent way to help with respiratory difficulties, or in such situations as sleep at night. A cold-water diffuser is best when using essential oils.

SOME OTHER METHODS OF INHALING

* You may put a drop or 2 into the palms of your hand. Cup your hands around your nose and inhale.

* Apply a few drops onto a tissue, handkerchief or cotton ball. Inhale as needed for desired effect.

* You may apply a few drops onto the pulse points of your body. While the Essential Oil will absorb into your body systems, you will also enjoy the scent.

* Put several drops into a container of steaming hot water and inhale the vapors that rise from the bowl. You may also make a “tent” by covering your head with a clean towel and leaning over the container of oils and water and inhaling the steam vapors that rise up.This is a preferred method when you have a cold or congestion to break up, or perhaps for a headache.

* Place 7-10 drops onto the corner floor of your shower (NOT where you walk or stand, as the oils can be slippery), turn on the hot water (BE CAREFUL NOT TO BURN YOURSELF) and breathe in the steam (similar to a sauna). With the water at a comfortably warm temperature, get into the shower and continue to breathe in the vapors.

* In a Bath – Add 2-10 drops of an essential oil onto some Dead Sea salts, Epsom salts or even onto powdered milk (for a milk bath). (Always add the essential oils onto a salt or powdered milk. The oils will adhere and mix with the water when added this way. Otherwise, the oils will be drawn to the sides of the tub.) Then add this to the running bath water. Depending upon which essential oil you choose to use, this bath will be calming, relaxing, healing, invigorating, sensual or just about anything else you may want.

2) TOPICAL APPLICATION.

We apply Essential Oils topically in several ways or for several reasons.  First, as a means of immediate action, such as reducing pain, helping to heal and disinfect a cut or scrape, or a compress on a sprain.

We also apply Essential Oils in massage or for well-being, such as boosting the immune system or helping with relaxation.

Essential Oil blends with a carrier oil (such as jojoba or baobab) are a wonderful way to bring the effectiveness of the oils to your body systems.  The Essential Oils will absorb into your skin, muscles and blood, and then carried to your body systems.

MASSAGE – Massage is a wonderful way to get the essential oils moving throughout the body. By choosing specific essential oils you are able to help with pain, relax, calm down, nurture, help with draining blocked lymphatic systems, calm down Charlie horses, etc. Mixing 3-4 drops of an essential oil with 1-2 tsp of Carrier oil will create a custom blend for use in massage.

Those with tense shoulders, for instance, can benefit from a massage in the area with Essential Oils included.

A Foot Massage is always nice using Essential Oils, too – and if used on reflexology points, you can gain added benefits.

NEAT – (directly onto skin) – Many essential oils may be applied directly to the affected part of the body and rubbed/massaged into the skin. Often times you will LAYER the essential oils by rubbing in 1 oil at a time and waiting a few minutes in between applying the next oil. This allows each oil the time to travel throughout the body.

CLEANING AND DISINFECTING – Adding a few drops of essential oils to the dishwasher, washing machine or into a spray bottle filled with DISTILLED water and your choice of essential oils, you will be killing and disinfecting all types of bacteria and germs. Some of the favorite essential oils for cleaning and disinfecting would be Lavender, Peppermint, Lemon, Thyme, Orange and Tea Tree.

COMPRESSES – There are 3 different types of compresses, hot, warm or cold.

A HOT compress (pack) is used when a deep penetration of the essential oils is necessary. You may rub several drops of essential oil directly onto the desired location. Cover with a hot and damp towel. Then cover with a dry towel and allow the oils to penetrate for 10-30 minutes.

A WARM compress would be used for those who have sensitive skin, children or elderly people. For this type of compress, use comfortably warm water, about 100 degrees. Add 5-15 drops of essential oil into a container of warm water. Agitate the water. Place a washcloth into the water, then wring out. The oils will attach themselves to the cloth. Apply the cloth to the desired location, cover with a dry towel and allow the oils to penetrate for the desired time, usually until the cloth becomes cool.

A COLD compress will be used for issues of inflammation and swelling. Rub 1-3 drops of essential oil onto the desired location. Cover the area with a cold damp cloth. Now cover with an ice pack. Do this for about 15 minutes at a time to help reduce swelling.

PERSONAL PRODUCTS – Add a few drops of essential oil into the non-antibacterial soap by your sinks. Add a few drops of desired essential oil to your body creams or oils, face creams and your shampoo to your hands. It is best if you are using pure, organic products for this purpose.

ENJOY THE BENEFITS OF ESSENTIAL OILS IN YOUR DAILY APPLICATIONS!