Introduction:
How things smell is a big deal nowadays. Just watch TV at night and there’s lots and lots of commercials about how luscious this soap smells, how delectable those laundry beads smell, or how that room spray or plug in will make your life totally more heavenly. The commercials are cute; I’ll give you that, but they make me cringe.
The Chemical fragrances those commercials are selling are endocrine disruptors. That means they mess with your hormones. Hormones are more than just womanly issues, as we think of them most of the time. They are that, but God made everybody’s hormones to carry messages to all parts of the body. They regulate so many things! For instance: hunger, body temperature, blood pressure, blood sugar, fluid retention, energy levels, thyroid function, metabolism, immune function, emotions, moods, etc., etc, etc. And etc again! That’s all controlled by your hormones. So… not messing them up is a good thing if we want our body to do what it should do.
Think about all the health issues that folks seem to have nowadays. There’s a reason there’s lots of Auto-Immune diseases floating around. Lupus, Fibromyalgia, Hashimoto’s (thyroid problem), Skin issues, IBS, Celiac disease, MS, and myriad more. Now, I’m not saying synthetic fragrances cause all of these things, but dis-ease does happen when our hormones get out of whack. So being careful with synthetic chemicals of any kind, including all those good smellies advertised, is just simple wisdom. If you want to keep your yummy smells and be healthier all at the same time, you can!
Enter: Essential Oils.
Part ONE
EO’s: What They are and How They Work
EO’s are more than just fragrances. They’re derived from all-natural, God-made plants, trees, leaves and flowers. A plant’s smell is called it’s ‘Essence’, hence the word “Essential”. The liquid that’s in a plant is it’s ‘Oil’. So, now we have “Essential Oil”. The liquid in the plant is extracted (through various means, but by distillation most often). While it’s not ‘oily’ like a vegetable oil, it’s still called the plant’s ‘oil’–and along with it also comes the essence (smell) which is made up of tiny, minuscule droplets (called molecules) released into the air.
Those teeny, tiny droplets (essence) are one of the main ways essential oils work by effecting our olfactory system, i.e., our nose and our sinuses. Theses lead to the brain, also into the lungs, and then into the bloodstream. (That’s quite over-simplified, but it’s the bare bones of the process). Those droplets interact in the brain (emotional healing) and eventually the bloodstream (physical healing) and do their work—which is the same way man-made chemicals effect those hormones that we already discussed. Look above (in the bold) to remember what all hormones can effect.
Think: If man-made chemicals will and do effect our hormones negatively and lead to dis-ease and debility, then using the opposite, which would be all natural, God-made smells can effect hormones positively and can help lead to health and soundness.
Now, I don’t want to force Christianity on anyone, but I personally do believe in God and he said he gave us plants for our healing. Herbs, leaves, flowers, resins. Essential oils are a part of every plant, so I do believe EO’s can support physical healing in our bodies as naturally-derived medicines. They are so much more than just feel-good smellies, but the good smellies are a bonus for sure. 🙂
Part TWO:
Methods for Using Essential Oils as Natural Medicine
Before we get into the how’s, it’s important to point out that EO’s as medicines are only helpers. They’re unlikely to be a complete cure, but they are excellent at assisting. Say, for instance, you have a cold. If you catch it in time and are diligent about using oils, they often can and will head off an illness. But let’s say it comes on anyways. At that point you may need something a little stronger; echinacea or elderberry for instance, to bolster your immune function. Or perhaps you’re on something the doctor put you on. Essential oils can still open up your airways, treat coughs, help pain, clean the air, help fight infections and viruses, etc. They’re very useful to add to whatever herbal or allopathic protocols you are doing, and can give your body that little extra oomph it needs to kick an illness out.
With that said, there’s two main methods for using Essential Oils. Diffusing them and using them Topically.
A. Diffusion
Circulating the essence into the air is essentially what you’re doing when you diffuse essential oils. Remember, that “smell” contains droplets of the plant’s oil which you breathe in which carries it to your bloodstream. There’s several easy and effective ways to do that so that the medicinal properties of the oil can do their healing work:
1. You can buy an EO room diffuser–even Dollar General or Walmart carry them nowadays. There’s even mini ones that can go in your car or plug into the usb ports in your computer. There’s lots of very expensive kinds too that you can explore. (We won’t discuss them here since they’re very $$$ and we have never used them. :P)
2. Diffuser jewelry (necklaces, earrings, brooches and bracelets) made with lava stones which can absorb the EO without damaging the stone. Essential Oils will eat through plastic anything. So beware of any jewelry that has plastic beads or parts that might touch the lava stone and get EO on it. Be careful to wipe off excess EO when using bracelets where the lava stone may touch your skin. (Lava stones are awesome little beads, made from lava, that absorb the oil, and will often carry the smell for 1-2 days with just a couple drops. Very frugal as well as fun).
3. Super simple diffusing method: Kleenex, or swatch of material, which you carry with you or pin to your shirt and keep near your nose.
4. Super duper simple diffusing method: I like to put a couple drops on the thick part of my shirt collar if the oil is light and won’t stain. You have to be careful to not allow it to touch the skin or it may irritate, but applied to the thick part is perfect.
Ok, before we go further with more methods to use oils as medicines, let’s talk a few safety issues. While we very much believe in using EO’s on the skin, we don’t recommend using them straight out of the bottle (called “neat”). Some oils can blister your skin and cause damage almost immediately. Most do not. While you might be able to get away with an infrequent neat application for very mild oils like Lavender and Tea Tree, we still preach a cautious approach.
I like to explain it this way. For 35 years I wasn’t allergic to poison ivy and could walk right through a patch… and then one day, suddenly, I was allergic—and it was not fun. I still can’t even look sideways at poison ivy without getting a rash. Similar reactions have been known to happen out of the blue to those using EO’s without first diluting them. It’s rare, and I don’t think we should live in fear of getting a drop of oil on our skin now and then, but just so you know, sudden allergic reactions have been known to happen, especially to those who use neat oils consistently. Many MLM company reps (like Young Living or DoTerra) will tell you it’s okay to use oils neat, but most actual aromatherapists do not agree.
For myself, I’m kind of in the middle there. I don’t think we need to fear, but I do think using essential oils wisely and with respect (as with any herb) is very warranted. You have to keep in mind that Essential Oils are super duper concentrated. To get just one ounce of an essential oil takes hundreds of pounds of plant material being distilled down. Hundreds of pounds of plant material into one ounce. That’s concentrated and potent. So, while an occasional drop isn’t going to harm, especially in an emergency situation like a bee sting or burn or an accidental contact, consistent ‘neat’ application of oils def increases your chances of having an allergic reaction. I speak as one who has experienced this.
I sensitized myself to our Grave Robbers Oil by overdoing it undiluted on my skin. It’s such a wonderful, useful oil, and not knowing any better at the time, I would apply it neat to the bottom of my feet and behind my ears. I did this for years with no problem. And then one day, I applied it, and I was itching like a banshee all over my body. Thankfully, I didn’t get hives or a worse reaction like others have had to oils, but I was suddenly allergic and couldn’t use it for a long time. I have worked with my body since then by diluting it, and slowly and gradually un-sensitizing myself to it. I can now use it in diluted form fairly freely, but can still always tell by the itch factor when I’ve used it too much.
So again…. Essential oils are always to be used with wisdom and respect. Okay, back to our discussion on methods.
B. Topical Application
The best rule of thumb to remember with putting EO’s on your skin is three things:
1. Dilute!
2. Dilute! and
3. Dilute!
Not only are essential oils safer to use diluted as we saw above, they’re also way cheaper and far more effective as an herbal medicine.
1. Diluting is Cost Effective.
One thing I noticed when I first started learning to dilute oils was that it was easier on the pocketbook because I wasn’t going through them nearly as fast. Two drops of EO in a teaspoon (2% dilution) of a carrier oil goes A LOT farther than 2 tiny drops of just plain oil. Even in a diffuser machine, one uses 5 or more drops, depending on the size of the area you’re trying to cover. So, in terms of essential oils, by diluting you’re using at the very least half the amount of drops. That means a bottle of oil goes at the very least twice as far. That is a tremendous amount of money staying in your pocket! And that’s at the very least–it’s probably more when all is said and done.
— Less is More
Two drops to a teaspoon (2%) doesn’t sound like much, but it’s an extremely effective dilution and is the standard aromatherapists recommend most often. Remember talking about how concentrated they are from the safety section? It really truly only takes a small amount to make a big impact. While there’s a few of our products that we use a higher percentage, for the most part, those 2 drops are perfectly effective.
Sometimes our tendency with medications is to think ‘this makes me feel so good so I’ll use more’. To be honest, I literally had to fight that mentality when first learning to dilute. I had to force myself to keep to two drops. But now, one of my favorite things to experiment with has become figuring out the least amount I need to get the effect I’m wanting from a particular oil. I mean, if one drop of diluted EO works well, then there’s no need to use more, right? Which only has the very pleasant effect of saving me money!
Another bonus is that such a minute amount of EO has a smell that works and isn’t overpowering to others around you. We’ve all smelled that lady 2 aisles over in the store with too much perfume on. It’s annoying and can trigger reactions in others. With just a 2% dilution (2 drops in a teaspoon), you make yourself happy cuz you can smell it, and others happy cuz it’s not overbearing.
Here’s a quick dilution guide:
As we said, to get a 2% dilution it’s just 2 drops in a teaspoon of carrier oil. Nothing simpler than that. But, how can that possibly be more effective than straight EO on the skin, you ask? Wouldn’t the full concentration be more effective? I know that seems logical, but..
2. Diluting is Actually More Medicinally Effective
Essential Oils are highly volatile. That means they evaporate easily. Various oils evaporate at varying rates. In EO terminology you may have heard of this termed as “notes” (so called because the essences of oils harmonize much the same as music). Lighter oils that evaporate quickly are called Top Notes. Heavier oils that take longest to evaporate are called Base Notes. And everything in between those two are referred to as Middle Notes.
Some Examples of each:
Top Notes: Eucalyptus, Citrus, Lemongrass, Peppermint, Clary Sage, Thyme
Middle Notes: Geranium, Lavender, Marjoram, Fir Needle. Rosemary, May Chang,
Base Notes: Patchouli, Jasmine, Ylang Ylang, Vetiver, Cinnamon, Rose, Ginger, Cedarwood
By diluting Essential Oils, you’re keeping them from evaporating too quickly and having their medicinal value dissipate with little effect (which is why you place oils to diffuse into diffusers or on cloths that hold the scent droplets for a longer time). With a little gentle massage into the skin, the oils are then ‘carried’ through the skin and into the area you wish to effect. So, if you’re having indigestion, then a little oregano in a carrier oil over your abdomen can help. Or a headache can be relieved by rubbing diluted eucalyptus and peppermint on your neck and forehead. Pain in your elbow can be aided the same with pain-relieving oils, etc.
Topical application more than diffusing is actually my most favored way to use oils medicinally, as my body seems to respond best to using them that way. So… what do you dilute them with?
–Best types of Carrier Oils
A carrier oil is an ‘oily oil’ that “carries” an essential oil into the skin. Pretty much any ‘oily oil’ can be used as a carrier. For instance: jojoba, hazelnut, avocado, sunflower or safflower are some possible oily oils you can use. Cold pressed oils are always superior. We prefer to keep it simple and recommend oily oils that people commonly have on hand and are easily accessible at the grocery, such as olive oil or coconut oil. While it’s not as common to have sitting on a home shelf, we also recommend almond oil and use it for many of our EO products. It’s a good medium-weight oil that isn’t too oily yet is still heavy enough to carry the EO’s without them evaporating. Fractionated Coconut Oil (MCT oil) is another good one that we use sometimes in formulations as it’s a light oily oil; heavy enough to carry the EO’s into the skin but yet not stain clothing.
A word about what ‘oily oils’ to avoid. Mineral oil is not recommended to put on your skin. Many older folks back in the day would use mineral oil for moisturizing, but basically it’s been shown to be poison and should be avoided. Using vegetable oil, canola oil, peanut, or any cheap oils from the grocery are not good either, as they are quite possibly rancid (we don’t recommend them for cooking or baking with either). The same is true for whatever might be in your cupboard. Using olive oil in green glass jars or coconut oil, preferably in glass, are fine from the grocery, or look for cold pressed oils in darker jars if possible.
If you’re in a pinch, like if you’re dealing with a fever and need to use peppermint or yarrow and you don’t have olive or coconut oil on hand, you can sub in some lotion instead. Of course, we recommend something without fragrance and no parabens (hormone disruptors), but in a pinch it’s better to use what you have on hand, and worry about getting the better stuff later.
3. Best Techniques for Diluting
You can dilute in several different ways. The most common in aromatherapy circles is what’s called a Roller Bottle. 10ml is the most common size. 10ml is 2 teaspoons. So, say you want to make a rollie to help you relax and sleep. Looking at the chart above, go to the 2 teaspoon line, follow it over to the 2% column and you’ll see it takes 4 drops. Taking the Roller Bottle, put 4 drops Lavender EO into it then fill it with your choice of carrier oil. Shake the heck out of it. That’s it. You just made a Chillax-me Rollie! Apply it to your feet or behind your ears before bed and any time you wake in the night and it will soothe you back to sleep.
Other options if you don’t have a roller bottle would be a glass baby jar, small jelly jar, or metal tin to mix oils together. (Remember, EO’s corrupt plastic, so use something other than that—and beside plastic is an endocrine disruptor as well, so using less plastic everything is healthier). Measure out however many teaspoons, add 2 drops for each, then mix with a toothpick or kabob skewer. Using lotion or a salve in the same manner works well too.
Other dilution preparations include:
*Body Sprays—used as deodorant or for cooling sunburns.
*Body Powder—usually made with arrowroot powder or cornstarch or half of each. Add EO’s and shake. Let sit 1 week before using on rashes, under arms, or on private parts.
*Creams and Lotions—any cream or lotion you already have on hand can be enhanced with EO’s. (Again, we recommend unscented, paraben-free products).
*Compresses—made by soaking a clean cloth in hot or cold water mixed with one or more EO’s. Especially good for sports injuries.
*Liniments—a combination of EO and food grade alcohol, (be sure to not use rubbing alcohol as it can irritate), or witch hazel. These are so effective for sore joints. One of my favorite things to do is combine an herbal tincture with essential oils. For example, the one I use most often is passionflower tincture with some lemongrass and black pepper in it. So wonderful on sore muscles.
*Liquid soap—EO’s can be added to any soap or shampoo (preferably unscented and no parabens) to enhance and treat scalp and hair issues.
*Massage oils—these are made by combining EO’s with a carrier oil. My fave thing is to infuse oily oils with herbs and then combine that with EO’s.
*Salves/Balms—these have a firmer texture than a cream or massage oil, and are made by combining EO’s, beeswax and an oily oil. Again, all the good things by using herbal-infused oily oil and adding EO’s to the formulation.
Ok. Now. What’s for what?
Part Three:
Medicinal Application for Essential Oils
Once more, just a reminder, EO’s are assists, and not likely to cure the whole thing. If you catch something before it gets too involved, at the very beginning when you think you might be getting something, EO’s can be very effective at helping to ward off the baddies. But if you don’t catch it in time, or maybe it just drops on you anyways (sometimes our bodies need to engage germs in order to keep the immune system in shape), you’ll likely have to add in herbs or see a doc. Don’t stop using the EO though! It will definitely supplement and strengthen any protocol you’re using which ultimately can mean a shorter down time and faster recovery for you.
So, with that said, let me give you an example of how we handle getting a cold.
For me, I almost always start feeling any illness coming on with a headache or a scratchy throat. Usually, I ignore and keep trying to work around it, and then one day, it will hit me and I will shake my head and do a facepalm …Ah, ok. This is me trying to get sick.
My first go-to is our Grave Robbers Rollie. It’s our generic Thieves oil version. It’s some powerful stuff. Look up Thieves Oil on the internet and you’ll see how much it can do. Lots of folk swear by it. It’s so named because the idea for it came from a bunch of grave-robbing thieves back during the black plague era in the 1400’s. The plague was all around and people were dying in droves, and these grave-robbers capitalized on it by assembling an arsenal of herbs that they wore around their necks which protected them as they went among the dead stealing their personables. Essential oils as we know them didn’t exist then, but remember, eo’s come from plants, so those essential oil essences were still very involved in the protection process.
Since Young Living has the copyright on the name Thieves Oil, we’ve named ours differently but according to the same concept: “Grave Robbers”. I’ve used YL’s Thieves years ago, and ours is comparable. It smells just the same and is just as powerful and is about half the price of the multi-level marketing giant’s product.
(We won’t speak a lot about MLM companies here, like Young Living or DoTerra, but will say that while they are excellent oils, we also believe there are also a lot of other reputable EO companies selling good, pure oils for a lot less than you’ll pay in a pyramid company. Some that we use and recommend would include: Plant Therapy, Eden’s Garden, or Mountain Rose Herbs for organic).
I will put GR on my forehead and behind my ears (and on my throat/chest if needed), massaging it in lightly so that the carrier oil will carry the essential oils into my skin and thus into the blood stream. I often will put it over the bridge of my nose as well. After doing so, I’ll rub my hands together with the oils and then cup my hands over my nose and breathe in the essential oils for several breaths. By doing this, I’m effectively getting it into my system both topically, but also by inhalation. After this, I wash my hands with soap in case I accidentally rub my eyes without thinking about it.
Please note: any essential oils used on the face should be done with great care, and never on young children. I have gotten oils in my eyes before. I’ve never had any lasting negative effects, but it’s NOT pleasant. It’s akin to soap or pepper spray in your eyes. We all touch our face a lot more than we think we do, so if you or your children are ones who do this then it’s best to just apply behind the ear or throat and skip the face.
Most EO’s exit the body within an hour and a half, so I will try to be diligent to apply every couple hours. Grave Robbers has a “hot oil” in it—Cinnamon Bark, so after several applications it will def get hot when you apply it. If I catch it before it really gets going, and if I’m diligent to keep after applying the oil (if is a big word, yes?), the cold will often go away after a day or so. Occasionally though, due to back and forth weather or exposure to others’ germs, it still ramps up no matter what I do. (As I shared earlier, we don’t need to be afraid of this process if it happens for getting sick is how our immune function learns how to ward off germs and illness).
For some that may mean a trip to the doc, usually for me though it will mean adding in herbal remedies like Elderberry or Echinacea, both tea and tincture, to my protocol. I will do that every 4 hours. In addition, I will continue with EO’s like Grave Robbers topically, and also diffuse oils to clean the air of germs. If there’s a cough involved, I will add in our Coughs and Colds Rollie, and also some diluted Eucalyptus which is an expectorant. Oregano Oil is awesome too. We often use Tea Tree as well. That’s it. That’s how I handle almost any cold or flu.
As we said waaay at the start of this discussion: Essential Oils are much more than just good smells and lovely fragrances. They’re also way more than just for emotional support as most people think of them (although that’s an important healing aspect in their capability). If utilized correctly and with diligence they can become some very powerful and useful Natural Medicines to assist in physically healing one’s body. So, don’t throw ‘em under the bus in your thinking as you sit and look at all those pretty little bottles on your shelf and mourn that you spent so much money on them and never use them. Don’t sell your investment short. Pick ‘em up and put ‘em to work for you! You won’t regret it. They’re just begging to help you heal.
Mary Beth Wine, CCAT, NHC
The purpose of Jordan’s Crossing Herbal Connections is to promote the sharing of information about healthy, natural products and dietary supplements. JCHC’s views and opinions are INFORMATIONAL ONLY and are not intended to constitute medical advice. If you are sick, injured or pregnant, please consult a licensed health care professional.