Using essential oils as a part of your family’s daily routine doesn’t have to be scary or intimidating. I am a mom of three and was married to a Board Certified Family Physician for 12 years. In our home we always had a balance between using natural products for wellness and using prescription medications. There is a time and place for both.
Things changed for us when my middle child was born and was allergic to everything, including the family dog. She got itchy, congested and had severe headaches from store-purchased cleaning agents, so I immediately switched over to using all natural products and noticed that within a couple of days that her sneezing and headaches quickly disappeared. Since then it has been my mission as a mother to use what knowledge and resources I could to provide the most natural products in our home when at all possible.
Before I get into how we use essential oils daily in our home, let me give you some information that will help explain why we use them.
What are Essential Oils?
Essential oils are the aromatic compounds found in the seeds, bark, stems, roots and flowers of plants.
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History
Essential oils have been used throughout history. The Egyptians used them as medicine, as well as for religious ceremonies. Greeks used the oils in their practices of therapeutic massage and aromatherapy, and both Chinese and Indian cultures use herbs in their practice of Ayurveda.
How To Use Essential Oils
Essential oils that are Certified Therapeutic Grade (containing no synthetic ingredients) can be used three different ways:
Aromatically: The best way to use the oils in this way are with a low heat or no heat diffuser which does not change the chemical structure of the oil being used. Our sense of smell influences many physiological pathways including stimulation of hormones and other metabolic processes. There are oils that can be very stimulating, while others are calming. Some oils have been shown to rid the air of odors and airborne pathogens.
Topically: Essential oils are easily absorbed by the skin and usually provide immediate benefit to the area applied. Because of their restorative and calming properties, they are used effectively in massage.
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Internally: Essential oils can be used as dietary supplements and those to be taken internally MUST be labeled for internal use. Some oils have antioxidant properties while others help support healthy inflammatory responses.
