How do I use essential oils? How will they benefit me? What does that oil do? Allow me to share and unravel why I LOVE and use essential oils, and why you need them in your life. They are my first port of call as a medical toolkit, to say the least.

I’ve been using essential oils since I was in school, which admittedly, were the cheap $2 oils you could readily buy from the Hot Dollar Store. I loved them but have come to learn that these ‘fragrant’ oils were a synthetic, chemical compound, with little or no actual plant material and certainly no health benefits. In fact, they could induce an allergic reaction.

As fate would have it, I was gifted the beautiful, quality dōTERRA oils a few times for my health and medicinal support. After using them as a treatment modality, then researching the historical and scientific backgrounds, I was HOOKED.

I love the dōTERRA range as they are tested and trusted CPTG (Certified Pure Tested Grade) harvested in their natural habitat and third party tested for verified purity. So yes, I use them for their scent (aromatically), as a food additive (internally) and on my body (topically).

There are copious volumes of uses for these pure, naturally derived oils. Many which have been scientifically proven and published (cue: my excitement!). This truthfully was my turning point to fully appreciate these gifts from Mother Earth, dive into a ‘Low-Tox’, evidence based, natural lifestyle completely empowered to create the day, health and life I choose to lead. It was quite literally a Game Changer.

I love that the minute you smell a scent, you have the power to change your motivation, mood, emotion and more, within seconds. Allow me to explain. Your sense of smell is detected in the Olfactory Centre, located in the temporal lobe of the brain, which is involved in organising sensory input. This olfactory cortex is a component of the limbic system. The limbic system is a connection of brain structures that help control emotions, in addition to memory, learning, motivation and bodily functions like appetite and sex drive. Now, stay with me a moment more on this, I know I’ve gone all very science-y on you! This means that the scent of an oil alone can truly effect your moment and your day READILY. Within seconds. Emotions, like fear and love, are carried out by the limbic system. FACT. To me, this is so utterly powerful. Which is just one reason why I absolutely love how empowered I am to use essential oils and choose how I shape my day. Every day.

75% of all emotions generated every day are due to smell.

I honestly become so excited, not only to create good vibes and set moods, but to energise and heal! Not just for myself,  but to assist in the transformations I’ve witnessed in my friends, their kids and families. Health and wellness emerges. Natural processes are evoked within our body’s innate healing ability. The result?  The most natural and empowering kind of growth, health and greater good, it’s truly beautiful.

Here are 6 reasons I use and LOVE these essential oils:

 

1. I have a completely natural Medical Toolkit to take care of my body and health

This is a big one for me. I have the power to use completely natural solutions and products, with the purest of essential oils, as my go-to medical cabinet. If you’ve read my Meet Sarah bio, you will understand the impact and concerns I have about prescriptions and pharmaceutical use.

I turn to these oils as my first port of call, without hesitation. Period cramps and the moodiness that can pop up for us ladies at that time of the month? I roll dōTERRA Clary Calm Blend straight on the lower tummy, and I find it takes effect on my body within minutes. Every women needs this blend! Pimple deciding to rear it’s ugly head?  I dot Tea Tree (Melaleuca) Touch onto it.

In fact, multiple studies have found that tea tree essential oil inhibits Staphylococcus, MRSA and other infection and viral diseases (evidence and studies by Brady et al, 2006, Carson et al 1995, Ferrini et al 2006, and more). Tea tree essential oil is also awesome for it’s anti-fungal properties for healthy fingers and toe nails.

Uncomfortable stomach from eating something not quite right? Sip a few drops of dōTERRA DigestZen Blend in water and it will clear up digestion in no time. Pull up a little tight and sore after the gym, or the old knee joint niggle is flared up? Ice Blue Rub goes straight on for natural anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antispasmodic properties thanks to a combination of wintergreen, camphor, peppermint and more. The Ice Blue Blend is great for neck tension and joint aches all year round. A happy body is key to healthy movements!

Way back in the day, Frankincense was gifted to Baby Jesus, along with myrrh and gold. Turns out, the thieves of that time actually stole the Frankincense over the GOLD, due to it’s incredible and versatile medicinal uses. Today, it is deemed excellent for it’s anti-inflammatory properties (Zhou et al 2004).

Now I have to be careful with ‘claims’ here, but there are enormous amounts of new research not only for Frankincenses ability to assist with low moods, but also to inhibit proliferation of a certain, life threatening disease that western medicine is struggling to treat. Look into the works of Zou et al 2013, Zhang et al 2013 and Li et al 2013 (and several other studies) for their work on the use of Frankincense for this disease related to the ovaries, breast and lungs, respectively.

I use The King of Oils dōTERRA Frankincense daily, under my tongue as a strong anti-inflammatory and to boost immunity.

Sore throat or run down? dōTERRA’s OnGuard Protective range has been extremely successful and popular. This potent immunity, antibacterial and antiviral blend is available in it’s blend of pure essential oil form, as well as OnGuard Throat Lozenges, OnGuard Beadlets, a non-toxic Handwash for the home and, as of late 2018, the new OnGuard Antibacterial Mouth Wash. This superpowered blend is a specific mix by dōTERRA’s Doctor David Hill. I enjoy it aromatically diffusing in the house during the nasty cold and flu season as a warming, airway opening scent to reduce airborne bacteria. 

I could go on (and on!) with all the medical research benefits of essential oils. It is HUGE, underestimated and we are just not taught these things. I am so incredibly empowered to be a healer in my own home. This excites me to no end.

 

2. I love Raw Treats, Bliss Balls and Raw Chocolate made with essential oils!

When it comes to a cheeky chocolate treat, I honestly cannot say no. Yummy bliss balls and scrumptious raw slices are even more nutritious and powerful than ever when they are packed with certified pure 100% plant extracts. What a wealth of health benefits for eating the humble raw treat!

I love making Wild Orange Raw Chocolate Bark (as pictured) with just 4 ingredients, and a powerful citrus punch of orange to spice it up. I love spoiling my body with a Cacao Peppermint Bliss Ball, again with just 5 ingredients – roasted almonds, cashews, dates, raw cacao and 10 drops of dōTERRA Peppermint Essential Oil. Delicious!

Did you know that 1 drop of Peppermint essential oil has the equivalent potency of 28 cups of peppermint tea?

The other essential oils that are incredible matches for creating your own homemade treats include the ultra amazing Ginger, Lime and Grapefruit.

 

3. I support my body to detox naturally every day

We know that cluttering our systems with various toxins, from what we put on our face to the air we breathe, can make our immune system overwhelmed. A build up of toxins can lead to allergies, immune disorders, hormonal imbalance and mental changes. So creating meaningful, easy ways to flush these from our circulation and lymphatic systems is so important.

Definition: detox (verb); abstain from or rid the body of toxic or unhealthy substances

By choosing to add yummy oils to our routines, we aid the removal of toxins from the body. The antioxidant capacity of essential oil compounds helps induce detoxification enzymes.

The antioxidant compound citral is found in a host of citrus based essential oils, but it is highest and therefore most detoxifying in Lemon Myrtle, Lemongrass and Lemon Tea Tree essential oils. In dōTERRA’s CPTG (Certified Pure Tested Grade) Range, we can safely ingest these oils as a food additive (think: smoothies) or in your tea (with your green tea or in plain warm water for example).

I use 1-2 drops of Lemon essential oil first thing every morning in my green tea to uplift my mood for the day, increase digestive processes and as an antioxidant.

Lemon essential oil is made cold pressed from the rind. This means the acidic properties of the lemon juice (which eat away the enamel on our teeth) is removed, and the alkalising properties of lemon remain. Lemon essential oil has also been found to reduce neurodegenerative ageing through antioxidant properties which act on our neural system (Oboh et al 2014 and Campelo et al 2011). It’s benefits also include anti-fungal, antidepressant (comparisons were drawn by Komori et al in 1995 to antidepressant drugs) and reduction of stress/anxiety (Komiya et al 2006).

Another favourite oil is Grapefruit essential oil, as it supports the digestive system, lymphatic system, breast health and uterine health. Grapefruit essential oil has been found to reduce appetite and body weight (Shen et al 2005) as well as have an anti-obesity effect (Haze et all 2010). This wonderful staple is the primary oil found in the dōTERRA Smart & Sassy Active Blend (more below). I add 2 drops of Smart and Sassy to my big glass water bottle to sip on throughout the day. (Please Note: Oils must be used in glass bottles only, as they break down the plastic bottle’s toxic compounds.)

Another way to use essential oils to detox your system is to add them undiluted to your bath, or massage into the soles of your feet. Blend your oils with fractionated coconut oil (or your carrier oil of choice) and apply to the soles of the feet, where absorption is quickest to the bloodstream (as these pores are the largest on your body).

 

4. I am empowered to shape my moods & emotions to enhance my day

The aromatic power of an oil directly effects and shapes your mood within seconds. Each day I ask myself; How do I want to feel right now? What do I need to do right now?

I CHOOSE to support my lifestyle and how I want my day to pan out, by actively provoking a response from the olfactory and limbic systems in my brain.

I CHOOSE my oils, by how I feel, by what I need, by what I DON’T need, in that moment. If I really need to make a change, it goes topically onto my heart and the soles of my feet. That way the scent is constantly being inhaled and it is directly absorbed into my bloodstream through the soles of my feet within 30 seconds.

In the morning, I enjoy diffusing citrus essential oils such as Lime, or dōTERRA’s Citrus Bliss Invigorating Blend. It’s the perfect oil blend to get the day started and feel alive and motivated! dōTERRA’s Elevation is a joyful oil blend which includes similar oils, as well as Lavender, Clary Sage and Ylang Ylang to specifically target our JOY emotion directly.

My favourite evening oil blend, to incite the good vibes of love, relaxation and softening is a mix of Geranium, Grapefruit and Lavender (pictured above). 2 drops of each of these in my Petal Diffuser brings me to my best self, increases my awareness of self and opens my heart. I also have this blend made up in a rollerball for using on my body after a shower.

 

Geranium essential oil supports your emotions by creating a sweet calming and grounding effect, while topically it promotes clear, healthy skin and hair. It provides emotional stability and can alleviate pain and anxiety – the perfect oil to soothe PMS and heart aches.

I use Lavender as an analgesic for head tension and pain, seasonal allergies and hay fever, as an insect repellant and for a CALM mental clarity.

Lavender is one of those ‘oils that does everything’. It relaxes, calms and centres your attention. Head over to PubMed, the website for scientific, published studies, to see for yourself the enormous amount of research supporting the use of Lavender essential oil medicinally. At the time of writing this, I cite 1395 articles published for this oil alone.

I love dōTERRA’s Passion Inspiring Blend to awaken the excitement and joy, but with softness and warmth. dōTERRA’s Smart and Sassy Active Blend not only curbs appetite and suppresses sugar cravings, it’s Grapefruit and Peppermint ingredients allow me to focus, open my airways, invigorates and allows me to write huge posts like this one!

 

5. Because Peppermint

Peppermint essential oil is so powerful and astounding, it is seriously a reason to use essential oils on it’s own. My partner recently announced that Peppermint essential oil was the best kick up the butt he’s had for the mid morning and afternoon energy slump. He has his own oils to take to work, but loves his Peppermint to avoid excessive caffeine consumption, focus on work and also aid his digestion. Peppermint is honesty wonderful for everyone, from men at work, to pregnant women, right through to elite athletes:

• Peppermint essential oil aids nausea, treats painful indigestion and reduces IBS symptoms (Liu et al 1997)
• Memory and alertness is enhanced with the inhalation of the aroma (Moss et all 2008)
• Peppermint is great for it’s antibacterial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic properties.
• From an endurance exercise perspective (which excites the cyclist in me) 10 days of consumption of peppermint oil IMPROVED performance (measured by an increase in respiratory efficiency, energy expenditure, time to exhaustion, distance during exercise and decrease in resting heart rate). (Meamarbashi et al 2013)
• Peppermint essential can alleviate head tension and pain by applying topically with dilution of a carrier oil, to the back of the neck. Be careful not to get ANY essential oil in your eyes, ears or nose!! 

I recommend 1 drop straight in a cup of warm water, to wake you up from brain fog and focus, to open up your airways or simply for a quick boost.

 

6. My nervous system gets the relaxing break it deserves

Hello Vetiver, my good friend.

In today’s day and age, it’s harder than ever to calm our neural system down when everything runs around the clock. So much of what we are exposed to on a day to day level winds up our nervous system; from our phone and computer screens, to the dog on the street that barks all day… and all night. Working face to face with many people all day, discussing their health niggles, I find it hard to turn off my racing ‘need to help them’ mindset, and overactive (often overanalysing) thought patterns.

Vetiver is my ‘knock-out’ oil of choice, and my most valuable essential oil.

I was gifted Vetiver essential oil as a treatment modality, to allow a sense of calm groundedness, without escaping what sat on my plate at the time. A quiet achiever, Vetiver is used for hormonal and nervous system normalising, as well as creating a balance. Vetiver is a natural tranquilliser, and allows me to fall DEEPLY asleep and sleep heavily and soundly through the night.

dōTERRA’s Lavender Peace is simply the next level, blended for a completely restful state. Be warned; my friends have been known to sleep straight through their alarms when diffusing this blend all night! This tranquil blend can be felt immediately and includes Cedarwood, Ylang Ylang and Roman Camomile – oils renowned for their ability to soothe the senses and calm emotions.

Every single day is different. Every day I experiment with different oils to help support my body, my health and reach for the most enjoyable day I can manage. It doesn’t always go to plan, but I always receive the desired effect when I turn to the oils for support.

Are you ready to take your health to the next level naturally?

Do you want to choose natural solutions for health ailments and health BENEFITS?

 

 

JOIN ME IN WELLNESS by signing up TODAY

Most of the oils mentioned are included in the kit I recommend for people new to using essential oils. The Enrolment Kit I recommend is the dōTERRA Home Essentials Kit. It’s a very economical starting point, that has you covered with the 10 most useful oils and a beautiful quality dōTERRA Petal Diffuser. The Home Essentials Kit saves you $130 when you sign up as a Wellness Advocate and Wholesale Customer.

There are several great enrolment kits to choose from, all which set you up as a Wholesale Customer and to receive 25% off the retail cost of the oils – the same price that I buy my oils for. When you purchase any of the Enrolment Kits, your joining fee is wavered.

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Experience these beautiful oils for yourself.

 

Which is your favourite oil? Which oil do you want to learn more about?

Feel free to ask questions in the comments below, or if you wish, Contact me direct.