Try It Tuesday: Essential Oils

It is April Fool's today, but there is no joking in how wonderful essential oils are. I first fell in love with essential oils when I began making my own self-care products, and wanted to use only natural scents. I bought and mixed lots of scents, and through that began to become more knowledgeable about the other benefits of essential oils. My nose got me to essential oils, but the benefits to my health has kept me.

These powerful plant substances have come to be my first line of defense in my family's health.  I have used them in conjunction with other forms of healing to fight almost every health challenge my family has faced in the past couple of years. I use them to help relieve my son's asthma symptoms, my daughter's horrible hay fever, and my stomach woes. Common colds, critters that love to bite, don't stand a chance with us.

I use essential oils in aromatherapy, which is healing with essential oils through inhalation, ingestion, or application of the oils to the body. Essential oils have been around for thousands of years, and have been used by countless cultures for a myriad of issues. Essential oils are known as the heart and soul of the plant, and are obtained through a process called distillation. In distillation, plants are broken down, heated over water and the oils are released as a vapor that is then collected.

In her book, The Aromatherapy Book, Jeanne Rose explains this process in depth, and also teaches how to create a home still to make your own essential oils. I am as DIY as they come, but I think I'll stick to buying my oils for now.

How do I get started? 

I would advise anyone new to essential oils to start off with a few, then build from there. Essential oils are power volatile substance and must be treated with care. Many can be ingested and applied to the skin directly, but there are those that can cause serious harm. I have put together the information below for your reference.

Essential oils are very versatile. In my home, we cook, clean, eat, drink, meditate, inhale, rub (as in massage, and not that kind of massage *side eye*), and treat boo boos and skin irritations with them. You can mix them in with carrier oils and use them to massage, make body products, or apply to the skin. You can inhale them or put them in a diffuser to disperse the scent. You can cook with and drink certain oils, but you must be careful with this and do your research first. doTerra is the only brand I will ingest because of their distillation process and high quality.

My collection is extensive, and some may say costly, but I don't put a price tag on my family's health. In the long run, the money I invested in these oils will be nothing compared to what I would have spent on doctor's visits. And even worse, trips to the pharmacy, which I find to be the worst place on Earth.

Where do I buy my oils?

There are many essential oil companies out there. I have used oils from: Aura Cacia, Silky Scents, Mountain Rose Herbs (they have the nicest labels), NOW, and doTerra. I have been collecting essential oils for some time now, and have come to like doTerra's essential oils the most. In doing countless hours of research into companies that sell essential oils doTerra kept coming out on top, so that is what I will be buying from now on (or at least until something better come along). Their oils range from $14-100 retail. I get mine wholesale because it saves me 25% and I earn rewards. If you want more info on this feel free to email me.

My doTerra Site

If doTerra just seems way too expensive to you, then try another brand. When I was amassing my oils I used coupon deals like: Living Social and Groupon to get many of the oils. They occasionally have promotions where you can get discounts at health food stores and online retailers. I would jump on these, and come away with deep discounts on some of the more expensive oils. Living Social has a deal on now for $12 for $24 of products at Lucky Vitamins. This could be a good place to start.

I would also be on the look out of sales at Whole Foods and other retailers. You can find some really good deals.

Don't be an April Fool, give essential oils a try. I am sure you will be amazed.

XOXO,
Riss

Do you use essential oils? What are your favorites? Any questions, comments, advise? Chime in!