If you aren’t using essential oils as part of your daily routine, you’re missing out. These natural solutions, derived from plants, have numerous benefits and uses, all without the need for artificial fragrances and excess chemicals. This guide can help you add them to your everyday life.
How To Use Essential Oils
First, it’s important that you start with a high-quality product from a trusted source, such as Young Living Essential Oils, that verifies the purity and origin of their oils. Otherwise, you could end up with something that isn’t as effective or potent or contains unwanted additives. Once you have a few good options in hand, there are many easy and helpful ways to use them.
Cleaning
Many essential oils are highly effective at cutting grease and neutralizing the bacteria that are often found in kitchens, bathrooms, and throughout the home. Rather than relying on harsh or corrosive chemicals for this task, you can create simple sprays and surface cleaners using a combination of water, vinegar, and oils that are great for cleaning, such as:
- Cinnamon
- Lavender
- Grapefruit seed
- Lemongrass
- Rosemary
Be sure to store this in a glass bottle rather than a plastic one and keep it out of direct sunlight. This helps the oils maintain their potency without risking damage to the container.
Self-Care
Some essential oils have medicinal properties and have been utilized for thousands of years across cultures to support a healthy body. Ginger and peppermint are known for helping with nausea, while eucalyptus is often recommended for respiratory issues and headaches. Lavender can help promote a sense of calm and relaxation and is used as a sleep aid in some situations. For skincare, tea tree oil is a go-to that’s sometimes recommended for acne or nail fungus. Depending on the product, you can ingest it, apply it directly to your skin, or place it in a diffuser for deep breathing.
Crafting and Gifting
There are so many fun and functional products you can make on your own using essential oils. From body scrubs and perfumes to scented craft dough and bug bite remedies, it’s easy to find essential oil ideas online when you’re looking to get creative. These ideas work great not just for yourself, but as gifts for others as well.
Improving Your Home’s Environment
One major appeal of using essential oils is the fresh fragrance you can enjoy in every room of your house. Adding them to diffusers helps neutralize odors rather than just mask them. Certain combinations can create the desired mood too, from fresh and energizing to relaxing and comforting. Add them to a diffuser or create your own room spray for a quick burst of natural fragrance.
Tips for Starting Essential Oil Use
There are dozens of different types of essential oils out there. With so many to choose from, it can be difficult to know where to start. If you are brand new to essential oils, it’s a good idea to try individual pure products first before moving on to blends. That way, if you happen to develop a sensitivity, you’ll know exactly which oil to avoid in the future. Eucalyptus, lavender, peppermint, tea tree, and citrus oils are all easy-to-find options that are perfect for beginners.
When it comes to using essential oils, it’s extremely important that you follow the recommendations for usage and dosage. Never ingest an oil that isn’t clearly labeled as edible or intended for ingestion. Those that are safe to consume are typically added to at least eight ounces of water first. Also, never exceed the recommended amounts, as these oils are highly concentrated and can be irritating or harmful to the body in large doses. Always consult a physician before starting an oral essential oil routine.
When applying essential oils directly to the skin, you may need to mix them with a carrier oil first to protect the skin from irritation. There are many options to choose from, but some of the most popular and accessible ones include coconut oil, sweet almond oil, and grape seed oil. Not only do these help dilute essential oils, but they also offer some added benefits of their own, including moisturizing and protecting your skin and nails.
Using essential oils is easy and beneficial when you know where to start. These versatile products can help support a healthy home and body.