The Benefits of Essential Oils

Essential oils are safe for you and your family.

I’ll admit it. I’m a little late to the essential oils game… by late I mean more than a few years behind. Better late than never, right? It’s difficult to change habits that you have been doing all of your life. Like… the way we eat, the food we buy, the cleaners we use, the way we speak to others and ourselves, the candles we light becausetheysmellgoodandlookprettyanditsvanillasoicantsayno. This post is not intended to teach you everything you need to know about essential oils, but it is intended to help you replace basic items in your home that do not serve you or your family. Items that are filled with toxins and have profound effects on our internal health, whether we are consciously aware of them or not. I am definitely still learning, so let’s start with the basics.

WHAT ARE ESSENTIAL OILS?

Essential oils come from plants. It is basically the concentrated part of the plant that they get by “steam distillation, cold pressing, or resin tapping.” They are naturally occurring and pure. They do not contain synthetic ingredients, chemical perfumes, formaldehyde, parabens, phthalates, dyes, etc. They do, in my opinion, smell awesome and contribute to health positively.

You can use them in three main ways: as aromatherapy (sigh, so good), personal care products, or household products.

People also use them as an alternative to traditional medicinal treatments as a way to live more holistically and cleaner (rather than using prescriptions or OTC medicines for example).

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS?

I jumped over to PubMed to write this part of the post. I wanted to make sure that what I am saying is founded in science and research, not only personal opinion. I’ll link the studies with the bullet-point if you are a research-geek like me and want to check them out.

So, the first I’ll talk about is the power of aromatherapy. Some benefits may include:

• Improvement of mood (lord knows I need this daily, just me?); breathing in the aroma of essential oils triggers your central nervous system and gives you an immediate boost
• Relief of anxiety
• Improvement of poor sleep quality and insomnia
• Giving birth. Yeah, for real. I did it, I loved it, I recommend it. Did you know, most hospitals have diffusers in the birthing rooms? Useful for pain management, stress, relaxation and calming, and more.
• Postpartum recovery. I diffused stress all 3 in the image at the top of this post (stress away, peace and calming, lavender) all the time. I love and adore them. Eric specifically asks for stress away and lavender as well.
• Reduction of anxiety for cancer patients during treatments and help ease their pain and fatigue
• Improved sleep quality and reduce anxiety for patients in hospitals
• Reduces nausea

The second is topical use (usually with a carrier oil b/c they are so potent). Some benefits may include:

• Adding oils to moisturizer for glow and restoration
• Relief of headaches and migraines
• Massage for arthritis
• Acne treatment
• Adding oils to massage oil for heightened impact of physical massage
• Support of digestive system

Other ways to use and benefit:

• Adding to your tea for digestion

WHAT ARE POTENTIAL RISKS?

These are super concentrated plant extracts. Should you take a bottle like a shot? Definitely not. Simply follow the instructions on how to appropriately use them like you would anything else. If you are using them topically, often times it is recommended that you use a carrier oil.

HOW DO I USE THEM IN MY HOME?

Essential oils are an excellent alternative to traditional cleaners on the market. I love a clean house as much as the next person, especially a house that SMELLS clean. While I was pregnant, it dawned on me that I should see if the cleaning products I had in my home were baby safe. Things like: window cleaner, Clorox, all-purpose sprays, bathroom bleach, etc. Even if Theo didn’t have direct access to them in the bottle, I realized if I was smearing them all over the surfaces in our home then he would definitely be contaminated. So, I ditched them. Now, I use a combination of Branch Basics and Young Living essential oils. Branch Basics is a talk for another day, but if you are interested then click here for that link.

Thieves oil is a very popular alternative to traditional cleaners. It is inexpensive, safe, and smells wonderful.

Thieves is actually a blend of several essential oils, and it is sold in a large bottle of concentrate. You dilute the concentrate into water and use that to clean your surfaces with. Surfaces like the counters, high chairs, mirrors, floors, appliances, etc.

WHAT ABOUT OILS I SEE AT THE GROCERY STORE?

There are plenty of off-brand essential oils out there that you can buy at Walmart, Target, wherever. But, the source and quality of the plant is extremely important. A few years ago, I tried out the Target version and was less than impressed. The oils were noticeably of much lower quality, and I felt like I wasted my money. Similarly, I have an off-brand diffuser that I bought at the same time, and I donated it within a month. It simply didn’t work well. So, if you’re going to do it then I think it’s worth it to buy quality products. A little goes a long way with YL.

Do you already use essential oils in your home, or are you interested in trying them out? Let me know below!