Essential Oils for you and your pets (Part 1)

Essential oils are deeply rooted throughout cultures worldwide, which uses varying from religious to healing purposes.

Here are some fun facts

Egyptians used aromatic oils and pastes from plants transformed into pills as early as 4500 B.C.E.
In China, between 2697-2597 B.C.E, using aromatic oils was first recorded.
Incorporating essential oils into healing potions is referenced in ancient Indian medicine called Ayurveda.
The Greeks adopted essential oil knowledge from the Egyptians, and soldiers carried ointments into battle to counter infections.
It was customary for the Romans to use essential oils in massages and baths.

As you can see, there is a rich history of aromatic, topical, and oral essential oil use!

Benefits of Essential Oils

Essential oils are associated with so many benefits that many swear using essential oils can prevent and reverse health conditions. The oils are extracted from various plant parts, including the flowers, leaves, bark, roots, resin, and peels distilled to separate the oil from the water-based compounds.

• Balancing Hormones
• Boosting Immunity and Fight Infections
• Supporting Digestion
• Energy Boost
• Improved Brain Function\Reduce Stress and Anxiety
• Alleviate Aches and Pains
• Enhance Skin and Hair Growth
• Reduce Toxicity
• Relieve Headaches and Migraines
• Promotes Sleep

Topical Application

Essential oils are absorbed by the skin and offer a localized benefit where applied? Through light massage, absorption can be increased and helps with distribution throughout the body. Add oils to jojoba oil, almond oil, olive oil, coconut oil, or aloe vera gel to dilute. potency before rubbing into the skin. (Try diluting one drop of essential oil with three drops of coconut oil to start.) Topical treatments should use small doses throughout the day rather than a single, large amount.

Topical applications can be reapplied every 4-6 hours as needed but are dependent on age, size, and overall health status. Applying topical is excellent for the neck, forehead and temples, chest and abdomen, arms, legs, and the bottom of feet. You can use oils anywhere that is not overly sensitive (like under the eyes, inner ears, and broken or damaged skin).

Topical application usage includes; adding a few drops to a warm bath, a hot or cold compress (by soaking a cloth in a water and oil mixture), and lotions and moisturizers.

Oral Application

Some essential oils have a rich culinary history and can also be used as dietary supplements to support various health conditions. You may already be ingesting essential oil compounds without even knowing it! Have you ever drunk peppermint tea, added cinnamon to your oatmeal, or fresh basil to pasta? These contain aromatic essential oil compounds! As you may have guessed, essential oils can offer potent health benefits when ingested, as essential oils travel throughout the body via the bloodstream. Essential oils are lipid-soluble compounds (meaning they dissolve in fat, rather than water-soluble molecules that dissolve in water). As a fat-soluble compound, essential oils are transported to all body organs, including the brain.

Effective oral application methods include: Using a drop or two in recipes, Adding a drop to beverages, yogurt, or applesauce, and  Ingesting via a capsule.  As always, read labels for appropriate use before ingestion. 

Supporting Digestion

Several essential oils can improve digestion. Some oils relieve upset stomach, indigestion, diarrhea, and IBS, while others stimulate digestive enzymes to aid nutrient breakdown and absorption. Helpful essential oils for digestion support include ginger, peppermint, fennel, lemongrass, and marjoram. You can add them to cooking or diluted and applied topically over the abdomen 2-3 times per day.

Energy Boost

Any essential oil with citrus (such as orange, grapefruit, or lemon) has properties known for boosting mood and energy,
Eucalyptus oil is very refreshing and great for improving energy, and spearmint oil help boosts energy levels and is mild enough for use on children.

Suggestions for energizing oils: Mix with almond oil and apply to the back of the neck, add a few drops to a warm bath, or diffuse for continuous release.

Reduce Stress and Anxiety

The best essential oils for anxiety and stress are Lavender, Chamomile, Bergamot, Ylang Ylang, Orange, Geranium, Frankincense, and Vetiver.

Pair these essential oils with other relaxation techniques such as:
– Adding a few drops to a relaxing bath
-Defusing while meditating or doing yoga
-Adding to a relaxing massage
-Diluting with a carrier oil and massaging on temples

Alleviate Pain

When using essential oils for treating aches and pains, you should apply them topically by diluting them with almond or coconut oil. Lavender and peppermint essential oils work well for general aches and pains, while chamomile essential oil has analgesic properties for muscle and joint pains and inflammatory conditions. Eucalyptus oil is excellent for taking the sting out of insect bites, and rosemary essential oil works well to reduce muscle soreness. Juniper essential oil added to a bath can treat painful conditions such as hemorrhoids or be used topically to treat rheumatic pain.

Headaches and Migraines

Wintergreen essential oil can be diffused or diluted to relieve a headache when applied to temples. Clary Sage essential oil relieves a stress-induced headache when used in a diffuser. Mix a few drops of Clove oil in water and apply to the forehead and neck for a potent headache reliever. Try Marjoram essential oil in a diffuser to treat headaches during a cold and fever. *Don’t forget you can add a drop or two of different oils; it doesn’t always have to be one kind of oil in your diffuser!

Safety Tips

Pure essential oils are very safe to use in appropriate doses. Aromatic use is considered the safest; keep in mind diffuse in smaller amounts around children and pets. Topical use needs to be highly diluted to avoid skin irritation. (Remember to dilute with jojoba oil, almond oil, olive oil, coconut oil, or aloe vera gel!) Oils should be ingested in small doses and refer to the label for the ability to swallow. Avoid daily ingestion and children under six, and pregnant women should not ingest essential oils at all.

• Keep oils out of the reach of children and pets.
• Keep all oil bottles tightly closed, cool, and away from direct sunlight.
• Do not place essential oils directly in the eyes, ears, or nose.
• Choose high-quality essential oil.
• Remember, there are different applications, including aromatic, topical, and oral. Choose the right one depending on the desired effect and recommendation of the oil
• When first starting, it’s important to dilute oils so you can determine if there will
  be an adverse reaction in your body chemistry.
• ALWAYS read the labels before ingesting any essential oil for safety measures.

Visit our store for Essential Oils, the perfect gift any time of the year, and for your own health benefits.

Our next BLOG will highlight essential oils for your pets.