Which Essential Oil Would You Choose?

If you could have one essential oil what would you choose?  Essential oils have become very popular over the last 10 years.  They have been used for various reasons by many different people.

If you could have one essential oil what would you choose?

There are many brands to choose from and different therapeutic grades.

I spoke with a lady the other day that stated she was still trying to figure out if oils really do work.  She is in the learning process.  I have used oils for over 25 years and I can testify to you they do work.  At first I was very skeptical about using oils and wondered if they really worked.  It took a friend of mine a year to get me to go to a class.

When I finally attended the class and learned how they worked and what you could use them for I tested them for myself.  With each oil I studied and then used it. I became more convinced of their value for me and my family.

Today I use them on a regular basis.  I enjoy putting them on me and I love to diffuse them.  I have seen them help people emotionally, mentally and physically.  Many years ago I would have chosen lavender.  Now It would be hard for me to choose just one oil because I see the benefits of so many.

My recommendation is to start with a few.  Learn how to use them and then expand.  If you get too many at once you become overwhelmed.

How does and essential oil work?

Our bodies are so amazing and the response we get when using oils is sometimes immediate.  How can that be, I know some of you are thinking.  Yes I have heard over and over they are just snake oils and don’t do anything.  I laugh because at one time in my life that is what I thought.

As I studied and learned about essential oils, and began to use them, my feelings about oils changed.  I started to open my mind to the possibilities and as I did my thoughts changed.

So how do they work?  Without going into a lot of details in this post here is my simplified version of why they do work.  Essential oils, when smelled, send the little molecules through our nasal passages, our lungs and even through our pores. These molecules travel into our bloodstream and can cross the blood brain barrier very quickly.  This is one way it gets into our systems.

How essential oils work with the brain

The Limbic System in our brain is an important control center.  One of the jobs it performs is to take something we smell and figure out what to do with it. When triggered it sends it to one of the systems it oversees in the brain.

That system then goes to work analyzing what to do with this information.   This is how memories and smells come together.

Have you ever smelled something and it brought back a memory of something.  Say maybe homemade bread or a certain smell triggered how you felt at a time in your life or about someone.  This is what the amygdala does.  It causes the brain to trigger a memory or an emotion.

When working through various psychological issues essential oils may help decrease anxiety, fatigue and even anger.

When used topically on various injuries, aches or pains, I have found essential oils very helpful.  Not only can the oil possibly help with the pain it can also possibly speed up the healing process by getting oxygen into the body to encourage healing.

One interesting fact.  When oils are rubbed on the feet they test in the saliva within 20 minutes.  Because they go into the system so quickly I do not use them internally.  Why would you need to?  I always use a carrier oil when putting them on my body.

As with anything essential oils should be used with caution and common sense.  A little goes a long ways.  It takes 1 pound of rose petals to make 1 drop of essential oil.  You would never eat 1 lb.  rose petals.  Essential oils are very potent and should be used with that thought in mind.

Essential oils – Singles or Blends

• Singles –  Essential oils that consist of one single kind of oil, like lavender, or peppermint.
• Blends – Consist of several single essential oils blended together to enhance the properties of an oil.

Remember to always use caution.

• Carrier oils should always be used when applying an essential oil.  Especially on children or someone with sensitive skin. (coconut oil, almond oil)
• Make sure you use high quality therapeutic grade oils safe for putting on the skin.
• Do your research and make sure it is safe for pregnant and nursing women, elderly, babies or if you are taking medications.

Knowledge is empowering.

If you could choose just one essential oil to have in your cupboard which one would it be?  Do you prefer to use blends or singles?  Ultimately when you understand the oils and the way they work on your body physically and emotionally, this may determine partly what you may choose.

I hope you enjoyed my blog post.  I enjoy your comments and thoughts.  Please share with someone who might enjoy this.