Essential Oils 101

Essential Oils are the highly concentrated oils that have been extracted from their natural plant. They have been used throughout history for their therapeutic and medicinal benefits.

History:

The Greek physician, Hippocrates used essential oils to help combat the plague. One of his students wrote,  “It is to be expected the perfumes should have medicinal properties in view of the virtues of their spices. The effect of plasters and of what some may call poultices prove these virtues, since they disperse tumors and abscesses and produce a distinct effect on the body and its interior parts.”  

Greece was not the only country in history to use the healing power of essential oils; India, Rome, China, and Egypt are only a few of the countries in history to have used them . In India, essential oils have been a core element of the Indian Ayurvedic health care system. These practices have been around for at least 5,000 years and are still widely practiced today. 

Present day:

Today we use essential oils for aromatherapy, skin care, perfumes, medicinal purposes, cleaning, insecticides, and much more. One way you can benefit from essential oils is aromatherapy. Many oils are antibacterial, antimicrobial, disinfectants, and much more! Why not clean your home with it? We have home recipes on our "Green Cleaning"  tab above. Go green for a happy healthy home without chemicals.

How to use:

You can place 3-5 drops of essential oil per 100 milliliter of water to create the atmosphere you desire. You can also use your personal shower to create an atmosphere. Place 3-5 drops of your favorite essential oil in the corner of your shower and allow the steam to carry the aroma to you.  

One can benefit from some medicinal uses from inhalation as well. This is especially true of those oils that open the airways as well as those with sedative qualities.  Some oils can be applied topically with a carrier oil. This allows the essential oils to be absorbed through the skin and into the bloodstream. This allows the essential oil to be applied directly to the ailment or for freshening up as in a perfume.  

Cooking is another popular method of using your essential oils. If a bit of lemon juice zests up your dish, think what a concentrated form would do! Dilute your essential oil in an olive oil or honey to add intensity to your flavors while providing you the medicinal benefit.