Disclaimer:I am not a Medical Doctor and I am not giving medical advice, simply sharing what has worked for my loved ones and myself.
MD’s know about Pharmaceutical Medications… Aromatherapists know about Aromatherapy.
If you’re looking for a Doctor, you’ve come to the wrong website. If you’re looking for an Aromatherapist, you’ve come to the right place!
IMPORTANT: I only recommend using Young Living Essential Oils & any information pertaining to Aromatherapy found on this website, is to be applied ONLY with Young Living Essential Oils. Please do NOT buy an oil from the grocery store and attempt to use it in a way I use High Quality Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils.
All brands of Essential Oils are NOT created equally & there is no regulation with labeling when it comes to Essential Oils. A bottle can be labeled “Therapeutic Grade” and can actually contain NO therapeutic constitutes. Most Oils on the market today are synthetic, have no therapeutic benefits, & can cause harm. Long story short, I only use Young Living Essential Oils on myself & my family. Therefore I can only attest to the safety+effectiveness of, & recommend, YL Essential Oils.
There are three basic ways to use Essential Oils- Aromatic, Topical, and Internal.
AROMATIC USE:
You might think that using your diffuser is the only way to receive the benefits of inhaling EO’s, but you’ve got options! Inhale from the bottle, or apply topically and inhale the aroma from where you’ve applied. You could also add several drops of oil to a spray bottle, fill it the rest of the way with distilled water and shake before each use.
FAQ’s Answered:
-use 6-8 drops total of oil in your diffuser, using less is still beneficial & it is wise to start slow
-you can use more than one single oil at a time in your diffuser
-you can use a blend in combination with single oils in your diffuser
-each diffuser is different as far as water level goes, follow the instructions that come with your diffuser
-depending on the oil, you may want to diffuse for 10 minutes, 30 minutes, or several hours. Refer to the label on your oil bottle or check out a reference book for recommendations
-“OMG! My diffuser isn’t putting out any mist!” double check that you didn’t over fill it, if the problem persists try cleaning the diffuser. If all else fails contact Young Living, if it’s been less than a year then your diffuser is still under warranty and will likely be replaced.
Fun facts about diffusing:
-Diffused oils alter the structure of molecules that create odors instead of just masking them
-Diffused oils also increase oxygen availability, produce negative ions, & release natural ozone
-The sense of smell is the only one of the five senses directly linked to the limbic lobe of the brain (The limbic system controls emotions, it is the “emotional control center of the brain”). You can use Essential Oils to release emotions, over-come emotional blocks, lift your mood, and relax.
TOPICAL USE:
Topical use refers to using essential oils (diluted or neat) directly on the skin. Diluted mean mixing the oil with a carrier oil, & neat means using the oil straight, by itself, without a carrier oil. Carrier oils can be beneficial in many ways, & they can extend essential oils & provide more efficient use. More on carrier oils in the post specifically all about carrier oils, refer to the pinned post for the link.
FAQ’s Answered:
-Whether or not you dilute an oil and how much you dilute the oil is unique to each oil and each individual. Whether or not the oil is “Hot” (oils like thieves, oregano, & panaway for example), sensitivity of the individual, & age all play a role in deciding how much to dilute (if at all). When in doubt, dilute dilute dilute. You can always add more EO to your mix, or more carrier oil. For adults, mixing 1-3 drops of EO in ½ teaspoon of carrier oil is a good start. For infants older than 6 months, mixing 1 drop EO in one ounce carrier oil is a good starting point.
-In many situations, applying numerous times through-out the day is beneficial
TIPS:
-Applying directly to location of where you need the oil is beneficial. For example if you have aches in your back, you could mix copaiba, panaway & peppermint in a carrier oil and apply to your back.
-Applying to the feet via flex points is a wonderful effective way to benefit from essential oils! Vita Flex Foot Chart can be found in any good reference book, or by a quick google search.
-Applying to the Ears for both emotional support & physical support is also a great place to apply oils! There is an “emotional ear chart” and a “physical ear chart” that shows the exact location to apply oils for specific needs. (Check out a good reference book or hop on google 😉
-Pre-mixing your favorite single oil or oil combos with carrier oil in a roller bottle makes using oils through-out the day simple and convenient. Check out the Oily Supplies post for recommendations on where to buy roller bottles!
DIETARY USE
Internal use/Dietary use refers to ingesting EO’s. Make sure that the oil you are using is safe to use internally-Young Livings new Vitality line was created specifically for dietary use! Vitality oils are perfect for adding flavor to your favorite foods/drinks, or to use as a dietary supplement. When you add a drop of lemon to your water, not only are you flavoring your water but you’re also benefitting from the therapeutic properties of the oil!
FAQ’s ANSWERED:
-But Tori, I have a bottle of lemon (that doesn’t have the pretty white vitality label) that says for dietary use? –That’s because Vitality dietary essential oils contain the same therapeutic-grade essential oils that Young Living has been delivering to members for more than 20 years. The only difference is the label! This is wonderful though, because it means we are free to promote lemon vitality as a dietary supplement while still promoting the original lemon EO as use for topical & aromatic.
-Why the different labels? It all comes down to the FDA not understanding that a product can safely be used both on the skin, in the air, and internally. To help us stay compliant while still sharing about all three ways that we use our oils, Young Living introduced the Vitality Line! Woo hoo! 🙂
-Check out a reference book for a chart of GRAS oils (Generally Regarded As Safe, as food additives by the FDA) for a complete list of oils safe for internal use
TIPS/SUGGESTIONS:
-As always, it is wise to start slowly when introducing your body to new oils. I promise one drop goes a long way!
-When cooking with oils, it is best to wait until the meal is no longer on heat/in the oven to add your oil so that you don’t damage the therapeutic properties of the oil. If you’re just after the flavor, then add whenever you please! If you’re after the health benefits of the oil, wait until you’re done cooking.
-When trying out an oil in place of a dry herb in a recipe, less is more! Start out by sticking a toothpick into the bottle of oil then stirring the toothpick into your soup/dish. You’ll be surprised how very little it takes to provide a LOT of flavor!
-Before taking oils internally, test your reactions by diluting 1 drop of EO in 1 teaspoon of an oil-soluble liquid like Blue Agave, Yacon Syrup, olive oil, coconut oil, or rice milk.
–When adding a citrus oil (like lemon, orange, tangerine, lime, etc) to your drink, be sure to only use glass or stainless steel. Citrus oils are wonderful natural detoxifiers, & provide many health benefits! They are so great at pulling out toxins that they will pull the toxins out of a plastic/aluminum container & into your beverage. While your liver will thank you for the cleanse that drinking lemon provides, you don’t want to drink the toxins from a plastic bottle!
-Follow the dilution recommendation on the bottle when making a capsule. Example: We drop 2 drops of Digize in an empty gelatin capsule then add 8 drops of carrier oil to the capsule (dilution recommendation for digize is 1:4)
Sources: French Aromatherapy Certification course through NY School of Aromatic Studies, http://www.aromaticstudies.com ; Essential Oil Desk Reference by Life Science Publishing; The Chemistry of Essential Oils made Simple by David Stewart
Blog by Tori Alysha 