Methods of Use for Essential Oils
Aromatic
Inhaling essential oils heightens the senses and can trigger numerous healing responses in the body. Aromatic use is one of the easiest ways to introduce essential oils to your household.
Topical
The average adult carries 8 pounds of skin with a surface area of 22 square feet. Your skin is also incredible effective at absorption, making it an efficient method to introduce essential oils to your system.
Internal
Research indicates some oils are effective when taken internally. Personally experience indicates they taste delicious.
Suggestions for Using Essential Oils Aromatically
- Disperse essential oils into the air using a diffuser. Diffusers do not heat the oils, as heat can damage constituents in the oils and diminish their beneficial effects.
- Mix essential oils with witch hazel and water in a spray bottle.
- Inhale directly from the bottle or put a drop or two in the palm of your hands and cup your nose.
- Put a few drops on a cotton ball to refresh small spaces.
- Pour hot water into a bowl then add a few drops of essential oils. Form a tent with a towel to cover your head an the bowl. Breathe deeply and slowly.
Suggestions for Using Essential Oils Topically
- Measure carrier oil into the palm of your hand, carefully add the necessary drops of essential oil, rub palms together in a circular motion, then massage onto desired area.
- Measure carrier oil into a glass container, carefully add drops of essential oil, stir to blend essential and carrier oils, apply as needed or store in air-tight container for later use.
- Use a roller fitment to roll the essential oil directly onto the desired area or drop essential oils directly onto the area to apply “neat.”
- Mix essential oils with carrier oils. Use a fitment to create a diluted roll-on blend
- Utilize recipes to make your own lotion, bath soak, makeup remover, etc.
Suggestions for Using Essential Oils Internally
**NOTE: Only pure essential oils, proven safe and labeled as dietary supplements should be used internally. Not all essential oils are recommended for use internally. When in doubt, err on the side of caution. If you’re looking for oils that are safe for internal use, the Vitality line from Young Living is a great place to start. Dilution and dosage is dependent on age, size, and health. Follow recommendations on individual product labels. When in doubt, seek the advice or a health care professional before administering essential oils internally.
- Put several drops of oil into an empty capsule with or without carrier oil. Securely close capsule and swallow with water.
- Add 1 to 2 drops to a glass of water.
- Drop directly onto or under the tongue and swallow. Exercise caution with this method. Essential oils are very strong. Test by pouring a single drop onto a spoon and tasting a small portion to determine the amount of oil you will use.
- Add a drop to your morning smoothie or coffee for a flavor boost.
- Incorporate into recipes in place of dried spices.
"I go to nature to be soothed and healed, and to have my senses put in order."
-John Burroughs
Diffusers
Diffusers are great for using oils aromatically. Every diffuser on the market has different features and benefits. Here is an overview of some of the most popular designs and a list of their features. Rainstone and Dewdrop are my personal favorites.
Carrier Oils
When using essential oils topically, you will often find it recommended to use carrier oils. They are in roller bottles, massage oils, lotions, and just about everything else under the sun. It’s actually pretty impossible to talk about using essential oils and NOT talk about carrier oils. A carrier oils is simply an oil used when applying oils topically. They slow the rate of absorption into your skin, they also slow the rate essential oils evaporate, so you will find carrier oils in some aromatic recipes as well. When using a carrier oil, you can mix in the essential oil ahead of time in a glass bottle with a roller fitment, you can make a lotion or massage oil and store that as well, you can also mix as you go by putting a small amount of carrier oil in the palm of your hand then adding in the essential oil of your choosing, one drop at a time. Here is some information on the most commonly used carrier oils and some useful advice for purchasing your own.
Different carrier oils tend to work best with different skin types. It may take a little trial and error for you to find the perfect carrier oil for you, especially when using carrier oils on your face, but here is a good reference guide for getting started.
- Normal Skin: hempseed, coconut, grapeseed, sunflower, and sweet almond
- Oily skin: grapeseed, sweet almond, apricot oil, jojoba, and sunflower
- Dry skin: avocado, sweet almond, rosehips, and olive oil
- Sensitive skin: jojoba, sesame seed, sweet almond, and apricot oil Mature skin: Jojoba, sesame seed, rosehips, almond, and apricot oil