Essential Oil Basics 101
By Terri Bonin
Essential oils have been getting a lot of hype lately with more and more people jumping on the wellness bandwagon. But what in the world are essential oils and how do you even use them? Valid questions for sure and since not every essential oil is made the same I thought I would tackle that topic this week and just give some very basic tips on what essential oils are and how to use them.
The first thing to know is…
That essential oils are the lifeblood of the plant. They are the highly concentrated version of the natural oils found in plants and are acquired by a method called distillation. There are three main ways to use essential oils: topically (by rubbing the oil directly onto the skin with or without a carrier oil), aromatically (just inhaling the oil and/or diffusing it in the air using a diffuser), and internally (don’t freak out just yet, there are essential oils that are safe for consumption as per the FDA, not just some random person’s opinion).
Topically is pretty straightforward and when you’re just starting out you will likely want to dilute and test it on your skin. You can dilute essential oils with olive oil, coconut oil, or Young Living makes a lovely blend of seed oils called V-6. 1 drop to a tiny squirt is usually enough and it’s best to start by rubbing it on the bottom of your feet because your feet have the biggest pores and the thickest skin.
Aromatically is easy, you can put a drop of oil in the palm of your hand, rub them together and lift them to your nose and inhale. You can also get a diffuser from Young Living and diffuse a few drops, or you can smell it directly from the bottle but don’t keep the lid off for too long because the frequency of the oils means they’re constantly moving and will evaporate!
Young Living has what’s called a Vitality Line of essential oils that are safe for consumption. You can add a drop to a drink, add some to recipes, or put them in a capsule and swallow it. Less is more with oils this potent so stick to a single drop in recipes and if you’re using an oil like oregano you may want to insert a toothpick into the bottle and just swirl the toothpick into your dish.
I only recommend Young Living oils because they are the only company with their own farms (17 around the world) and the only company with the seed to seal guarantee which ensures that what’s in the bottle is exactly what they say it is. The quality is second to none and the results people get while using them are phenomenal.
So there are some very basic tips on how to use essential oils. My team does weekly calls to educate you on what to use and how to use them safely so please feel free to join us! All of our classes are free and we’d love to have you. Click here to join!
~ Terri
Meet Terri Bonin, the author of 31 Days to Fit, 14 Days to Ignite Your Marriage, and Live, Laugh, Love, and Laundry. Terri’s 23-year union with her favorite dentist (her husband), has been prosperous in their prolific production of 10 darling children. She also holds a degree in nutritional counseling which seems to be most frequently used to persuade her children to eat their greens. Terri’s secret pleasure is sneaking away from juggling the daily tasks, homeschooling, and dating her husband to escape to her office to write for her own enjoyment. As you can imagine she has a LOT to write about!
*Disclaimer: The information above is based on my research and personal use of Young Living Essential Oils. I am not a doctor. Statements, products, and techniques mentioned have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
