How do I use essential oils?
Okay, so we talked about what an essential oil is, now let’s talk about how to use them. Now, remember I am specifically talking about doTERRA oils. Please don’t go buy other oils and use them in these ways. That could be dangerous.
dōTERRA’s oils can be used three different ways:
1. Aromatic Use
The first way is aromatically, - it’s just breathing it in. Like you can do with Wild Orange and Peppermint - you can put a drop of oil in your hand, cup it over your nose and mouth and inhale deeply several times. This is a great way to open up airways. This is also a great way to help our mood or emotions because our olfactory system, our sense of smell, is directly linked to the part of our brain that affects our mood. Another way you can use oils aromatically is in a diffuser. Have you seen or heard of a diffuser? You just add some water and a couple drops of oil to the diffuser, turn it on and experience the benefits for hours. This is also a great way to clean the air and have your house smell amazing. It's especially awesome to have a long diffuser if your wanting to diffuse for a good night sleep - that way it will run all night. So aromatically is a super easy way to use essential oils for helping you breathe, to boost your mood, or clean the air, or any of your respiratory or emotional health goals!
2. Topical Use
The next way to use an essential oil is topically - so it's just like it sounds - putting it directly on your skin. The rule of thumb is - apply it as close to the area of need as possible - so if you have an upset stomach, you can just rub it right on your stomach, if your knee is bothering you, you can rub it right on your knee. If there isn’t a specific area of need, something like you’re wanting to boost your immune system - a great place to put the oils is the bottom of your feet or down your spine - that will support your entire body. So, using an oil topically could be a great way to use it to a huge variety of health concerns. I want to make sure to mention some oils need a little extra caution when using them topically. One example would be something like Oregano - that one can feel “hot” on the skin by itself so you want to make sure you always dilute it with a carrier oil, like fractionated coconut oil. This doesn’t lessen the efficacy - it just helps disperse it more so it’s not as direct on the skin. If you have sensitive skin or are putting oils on a baby or pets you can go ahead and always dilute the oils.
DEEP BLUE
Okay, so let’s look at one oil you can use topically. Maybe you have sore muscles from working out or stiff joints every morning. Maybe as you’re getting older you’re experiencing some discomfort and inflammation in your hands. Maybe after a long day at the computer you have some knots and tension built up in your neck and shoulders. One oil that is great to use topically is Deep Blue which is a blend of oils.
This one comes in two forms - you can buy it in an oil bottle or in a lotion. I’m gonna go ahead and pass the lotion around so you can try it - a little goes a long way, so you only need a pea size amount - just rub this anywhere you have discomfort or tension. This is great to use before or after a workout so you can really get the most out of your workout and finish strong. It will ease your achy joints in the morning so you can move like you want all day long. It will address the inflammation in your hands so you can feel great. It is amazing to rub on your neck and shoulders to release that tension so you can feel calm, at ease and ready to take on the world.
- Deep Blue -
PRODUCT HIGHLIGHT
3. Internal Use
The last way to use an essential oil is internally. Again, this is specific to dōTERRA oils. Because they are ONLY essential oils - they are safe to take internally - cause hey, we already consume them every day as we eat plants. You’ll notice here that there is a supplement fact box on most of dōTERRA's bottles because it’s labeled as a dietary supplement. So if it has that box, it is great to take internally. If it doesn’t have that box, it’s just not intended to be used that way. To take an oil internally - you can add a couple drops to your water (because the oils can break down plastics and other toxins), you can drop it directly under your tongue or put into an empty pill capsule and swallow it if you don’t like the taste. Taking an oil internally is a great way to support the digestive system, the immune system and the body as a whole. (So using an oil internally could be a great way to use it to address your ________)
"Essential oils are organic compounds extracted from plants with tremendous healing properties."
Dr. Josh Axe
DC, DNM, CNS
If you look at that picture below of the green leaf - that is a peppermint leaf. And the picture to the right - that is a peppermint leaf under a microscope. You see how there is a little white sac right there? That is the oil sac. So that is what we are talking about with essential oils.
Remember this is the first question we want to make sure you know how to answer. So when someone asks you what an essential oil is - you can say - just part of a plant!
PEPPERMINT
I wish we were in the same room so I could put a drop of peppermint in your hands! I’d have you rub your hands together - being careful not to touch your eyes - cup your hands over your nose and mouth and take 3 deep breaths. After that you'd take your hands and rub them on the back of your neck.
Imagine it really opening up your airways. It’s a great one to grab if you’re having trouble breathing, or have a stuffy nose, just one drop in your hand and you can breathe easy.
Oils are chemically complex so they can affect our bodies in more than one way. Unlike pharmaceuticals that are designed to do one specific thing, the essential oils can work with our bodies in multiple ways. Peppermint is a great example of that because it’s not only great for helping you breathe, but also if you’re having some digestive issues, or head tension, if you have any achy muscles, or need help focusing or remembering something. You can pull out your peppermint and quickly feel better, relax your muscles, focus and remember where you put your keys. It’s also great if you’re feeling warm, whether that’s from being outside or hormones or you’ve caught something - peppermint is great at cooling your body down.