Essential oils are plant extracts that are used in alternative medicine to support emotional and physical wellbeing. The use of essential oil is not recent, in fact, the century-old practice has proven its effectiveness in treating myriads of issues such as sleeplessness, nausea, anxiety, and different body pains.
Each essential oil has its own healing properties and is used for a different function. Here are some of the more well-known and widely used essential oils and their benefits:
1. Lavender: Lavender is among the most popular and is known for its calming and relaxing properties which makes it ideal if you are suffering from anxiety or sleep disorders.
2. Frankincense: This oil has extensive health benefits for the mind, body, and soul. Having strong anti-inflammatory properties, frankincense can soothe sore muscles and joints and can also treat rashes and burns. Additionally, frankincense has antiseptic and disinfectant properties. Frankincense can also promote oral health and regenerates skin cells. You can also use this oil to reduce stress and feel calmer.
3. Peppermint: Peppermint is best for digestive problems and helps to ease irritable bowel syndrome symptoms as well as relieving feelings of nausea and upset stomach. Peppermint oil also eliminates fatigue and if you apply a little to your shoulders and the back of your neck, it will give you an energy boost throughout the day.
4. Tea Tree: This has been long known as the ultimate go-to for acne-prone skin for its anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Also, tea-tree oil can rid your hair of dandruff and can relieve dry scalp and any of its symptoms.
5. Eucalyptus: Eucalyptus oil can be of great help if you are suffering from a cold as it helps you breathe better, clears your chest, and silences your cough. It can also relieve sinus problems and a sore throat.
There are literally hundreds of essential oils that have therapeutic benefits. Many are synergistic in their effects and can be combined to enhance healing effects. How do they work?
Essential oils enter our bodies either through absorption through the skin, or inhalation via the nose. They are able to affect the body through several systems and pathways and create an effect much more quickly than taking a pill, which must travel to the stomach and begin to be digested before any effect can be seen.
The skin is the body’s largest organ and anything we apply to our skin is absorbed into our bloodstream. When essential oils are applied to the skin they are absorbed and travel around the body via the bloodstream. In this way they are able to deliver a range of benefits to the body’s systems and organs. Absorption is increased by massage, as this increases the circulation in that area of the body.
When we inhale essential oils through the nose, the airborne molecules of the oil interact with the olfactory organs and can interact with the brain almost immediately. Molecules inhaled through the nose or mouth can also interact with the respiratory system via the lungs.
Essential oils can be used in various ways like inhaling, adding in a diffuser, or topically by directly applying it to your skin but in that case you need to add a carrier oil to avoid irritation.
Carrier oils you can include are:
• Coconut oil
• Sweet almond oil
• Jojoba oil
• Argan oil
• Rosehip oil
Essential oils are easy to use, very effective, and have virtually no side effects. I always recommend that you dilute the oil with a carrier oil(my favorite is coconut oil as the fatty acids found in coconut oil have antimicrobial properties that effectively kill bacteria and fungi) and you test on a non-affected part first to make sure you don’t have any sensitivity to the oil. Safety first!
My favorite essential oils come from doTERRA, a Latin derivative meaning “Gift of the Earth” and this is why:
Here is a snippet from their sustainable resourcing work:
“Although it is difficult to objectively measure the human effect on the health of our environment, there is no debate that industry has taken its toll on our planet. Anthropogenic activities such as deforestation and use of pesticides influence the survivability rate of different life forms.
Furthermore, many essential oils are extracted from plant species that are native to developing nations, where there is significant risk for enterprise to result in negative social impacts. This makes sustainable essential oil sourcing critical, and it is exactly why Cō-Impact Sourcing® exists.
What Is Sustainable Sourcing?
Sustainable sourcing considers ethical and environmental factors when sourcing materials. In essence, a company utilizing sustainable sourcing seeks to acquire the necessary resources to develop their products in a way that does not cause harm, but actually promotes the long-term well-being of our planet and its people. Sustainable sourcing has two key components.
Ethical – supporting small-scale, community-based sources. This means using community and family-owned farms that promote the health and prosperity of the local community. Also, supporting businesses in developing areas, to help them develop financial self-sustainability.
Environmental – focusing supply chain on methods that promote biological perseveration. This means utilizing resources that may otherwise be wasted, using harvesting and extraction methods that minimize carbon footprint, and not harvesting endangered species.
With sustainable sourcing practices, it is possible to have a positive impact on farmers, harvesters, and distillers in economically distressed areas while promoting environmental health, all while producing the best products possible.
How Does doTERRA Support Sustainable Sourcing?
For doTERRA, sustainable sourcing takes the form of Co-Impact Sourcing. The Co-Impact Sourcing model is sustainable sourcing at its finest, allowing doTERRA to have a positive influence on the communities it collaborates with while also promoting a healthy environment.
Essential Oil Purity: CPTG® Quality Testing
Are doTERRA Oils Pure?
The purity of an essential oil is its most important characteristic. When an essential oil is adulterated or contaminated, it becomes less effective and can even be dangerous. Above all else, purity is doTERRA’s first priority when producing essential oils.
How Does doTERRA Make Sure Their Essential Oils Are Pure?
From the beginning, we’ve made it our mission to share pure, quality essential oils with the world. However, without a definitive standard for essential oil purity, doTERRA decided to set the standard for purity in the essential oil industry.
Not all essential oil companies choose to enforce high testing standards for their oils. In fact, many companies skip important steps in the testing process in order to save money or time. Unfortunately, when proper testing measures are not taken, it’s impossible to ensure that an essential oil is truly “pure.”
To ensure that each bottle of essential oil is pure and free from contaminants or synthetic fillers, doTERRA created the CPTG Certified Pure Tested Grade® protocol. The CPTG process includes a rigorous examination of every batch of oil, along with third-party testing to guarantee transparency.
Amen to companies like this!
Take a look at what they have to offer:
~healing plants, healing bodies~
have virtually no side effects.