With the emergence of stores like SAGE and Escents, essential oils have been all the rage as of late. For many, they're a new concept and can be questionable when it comes to the capabilities many claim they have. Last month however, we gave essential oils a try, and stayed consistent with them to see if they really work.
Our findings? Let's just say, it may be time to give this trend a try and here's why;
Defining Essential Oils
Before we break it all down for you, it's important to understand what exactly essential oils are. Essential oils date back to more than 5,000 year's ago. To put it simply, essential oils are scents derived from the Earth. They give plants their smell, which means that if you're familiar with the smell of tree bark, an orange peel, or a rose petal then you're familiar with essential oils.
These oils are "naturally occurring and can be found in seeds, bark, stems, roots, flowers, and other parts of plants". But don't be fooled, although they come in small dosses one vial can be more potent than a hundred rose petals.
How Essential Oils Work
So how does an essential oil work? How can an oil provide so many benefits?
According to DoTerra, one of the largest and reputable essential oil brands; "as you breathe in the scent of an essential oil, your limbic system creates a response in your brain based on memories associated with that particular aroma. Many times, the responses triggered by your limbic system can be emotional responses that are calming or uplifting, depending on the unique chemical structure of the oil." In other words, the oils scent triggers an emotional response based on past experiences, and there are a range of oils readily available that target common strains.
When we used essential oils, we tried to combat stress, however in using one vial we started to notice a plethora of benefits that we didn't expect. Essential oils are great in that sense, having been proven to make an impact on a series of problems you can target things like, stress, depression, but also aging and acne.
For us, essential oils work great when you're at home or even just dabbing on certain areas of your body. You can buy them as body oils or as "At Home" oils. When using oils for your home it is important to dilute the oil with water since it is a direct concentrate, this will make it much more breathable and relaxing as they can be extremely potent and overwhelming on their own.
As mentioned before essential oils have a multitude of benefits, here are some of the biggest benefits we received from incorporating essential oils into our life:
Helps Relax and Soothe
One of the most common uses of essential oils is to reduce anxiety, and stress . Many essential oils have adaptogenic qualities – meaning that they create a soothing sensation when you’re stressed. In addition, because of their unique properties, a lot of them can actually adapt to different levels of stress and are work very quickly.
For stress we recommend Jasmine, Chamomile, or Peppermint scents. This one from Earth Luxe is called "Shangri-La" and is "Fruity fresh and sweet with just the right touch of spice to make this oil a delight for the senses. With this oil you can retreat to a place of peace where you can relax and unwind."
Fight Off Sickness
Feeling under the weather? Essential oils are a great way to clear the air and fight those pesky colds. In fact, specific essential oils can be "powerfully anti-microbial and when introduced into the air in vapor form, the organic compounds within the oils come into direct contact with airborne pathogens before they can invade your body."
For fighting off sickness we suggest: Oregano, Tea Tree, Sage, Eucalyptus, or Lemon scents. This essential oil "Immune" by Sage "Relieves symptoms of flu such as colds and cough with the therapeutic benefits of comforting eucalyptus , warming cinnamon and soothing tea tree."
Elevate Your Mood
This is one of the biggest reason I tried essential oils. For a period of time my mood was always lacking, I felt groggy and just unmotivated. My mother suggested I try essential oils and I saw a complete 180. This is because, scents from the essential oils are powerful stimuli that directly enter the brain, triggering intense emotional responses. By using essential oils whenever you feel upset you can trigger certain parts of your brain to elevate your mood.
For elevating your mood we suggest Orange, Bergamont, Grapefruit, Ylang Ylang, or Jasmine. This one "Liquid Sunshine" is by Sage and it "fills your room with cheery radiance and uplifting spirits. Bright, citrus notes of grapefruit, lime and a dash of bergamot will bring the feeling of a fresh spring morning to mind." We also vote that it smells like a delicious creamsicle - and why wouldn't that make you happy??.
Aid Respiratory Function
If you feel like your congested or have a bad cough essential oils are a great option. "Essential oils are great for reducing inflammation and congestion in clogged airways to help you breathe more easily". If you're looking to have the biggest impact, invest in a diffuser and have the oils run during the day in your home, you'll see a big difference.
For aiding your respiratory function we suggest Peppermint, Eucalyptus, Chamomile, Lemon, or Oregano. This one called "Respiratory Blend" from DoTerra helps you "maintain feelings of clear airways and easy breathing, more restful nights sleep and can helps minimize the effects of seasonal threats"
