I’ve been trying to turn to a more natural lifestyle for several years. This has included changing my food choices and the products I use in my homes, among other choices. As with any shift in lifestyle choices, there’s a learning curve and your confidence grows as you learn more. About two years ago I decided to try my hand at making my own laundry detergent; this was my big leap into trying to reduce the chemicals I use and so began the purchase of items such as essential oils, borax, laundry soda, and copious amounts of vinegar and baking soda. While I’ve had mixed levels of success as I try different mixtures, my homemade laundry detergent has yet to disappoint me (go to the blog’s Green Cleaning page to find out how to make it). And among the other items that have become my go- tos when looking for a natural alternative, essential oils have become something I am using more and more.
While they can seem pricey, they really do go a long way; you only need a small amount for each use. In addition to being used in aromatherapy and to add a desired scent to natural cleaning and toiletry products (vs the artificial chemical scents added to laundry detergents, cleaning products, etc), essential oils have a variety of other applications. That’s why when I was recently contacted by Heather Gibson of doTERRA, I was intrigued to learn more and expand my uses for them. Heather kindly sent me doTERRA’s Starter Kit containing lavender, lemon, and peppermint essential oils. Along with the kit, Heather also included a variety of information about the history and uses of essential oil:
Lavender
– Can be diffused in a room or applied to the skin to help you relax and reduce anxiety
– Soothes irritated/ chapped lips and skin (such as burns and diaper rash)
– Soothes bee stings and bug bites to reduce pain/ irritation
– Apply on or around a burn to soothe skin (only apply around the burn if skin is broken)
– Use after hair removal to soothe skin & reduce irritation
– Is safe for use on sensitive skin
Lemon
– Diffuse in a room to neutralize odors
– Can clean kitchen surfaces such as counters and stainless steel appliances
– Used in aromatherapy to elevate mood
– Can be applied directly to cold sores to reduce irritation
– Use to remove gum, label adhesives, and greasy substances from fabrics
Peppermint
– Take a deep breath to invigorate lungs and increases alertness
– Apply to neck and bottoms of feet or add a few drops to a spray bottle of water & spritz if you’re overheated
– Apply with lavender oil to neck & forehead to soothe headaches
-Rub on stomach or feet to calm indigestion
– Apply with lavender to soothe sore muscles and
joints
– Use with lemon and lavender oils during allergy
season
In addition, other oils can be used to treat a variety of other ailments, and I found the suggestions for babies and kids especially interesting:
essential oils before applying them onto skin. A good rule of thumb is to
dilute 1 drop of essential oil with 1 tbsp of carrier oil (such as sweet
almond, jojoba, avocado, sunflower, coconut, or avocado oil).
at bedtime & during the day to help with symptoms
lavender or melaleuca oil to help with congestion during the day
small amount to bottoms of feet and to liver area. Put socks on baby’s feet so
they don’t get the oil in their mouth or eyes
carrier oil and swish 1 tsbp of mixture in bath water
& 1 drop of whole milk. Swish in bash water to soothe soar skin. Avoid
getting it in baby’s eyes or on face
before applying them to children’s skin. Diluting 1 drop of essential oil with
1 tbsp of carrier oil is a good rule of thumb.
oil & massage a small amount on neck & chest
& use at bath time
carrier oil & massage a small amount on the neck, feet, behind the ears,
& on the back
drop each of Roman chamomile & melaleuca oil. Put a drop of mixture on a
cotton ball and apply in ear, behind the ear, and on reflex points on feet
skin. If skin is not broken, apply 2 drops of lavender oil directly to the
burn; if the skin is broken, rub it around the burnt area. Follow with a cool
compress of 5 drops on a soft cloth & hold on burn area to sooth the skin.
bowl of warm water. Use this mixture to clean the cut, then apply 1 drop of
lavender to a band- aid to cover the wound.
(1/2 cup) calamine lotion; mix & apply 2x per day
oil to small amount of cold water. Soak a cloth in the mixture & hold on
bite for 1 minute to soothe skin
A great way to gain benefits from essential oils is to use a diffuser (one of my girlfriends has one and LOVES it). Some of the benefits:
– Reduce bacteria, fungus, mold, & odors
– Help with relaxation & mental clarity, and release tension
– Improve concentration & alertness
doTERRA claims that their oils are of the highest purity and that certain ones can be taken internally in addition to the benefits listed above; the company has a third party test each batch to ensure this quality and purity is upheld. While I don’t doubt the company’s commitment to quality, I found the suggestion of ingesting essential oils to be a controversial one while researching this post:
some kind of independent body that certifies oils as therapeutic grade, but to
this date there is no such body, at least not one that is widely recognized.
Does this mean there is no such thing as therapeutic grade? No, but just realize
that any therapeutic grade standard out there right now is an internally
derived company standard. Now this standard may be an overall great standard
and perfectly acceptable to me or any other analyst or aromatherapist out there
but it just needs to be noted that its not an independent standard.”
