How To Use Essential Oils

A common question I get is, how do I use my oils?

There are many ways to use essential oils but most can be categorized into three main uses; aromatically, topically, and internally.

Aromatically

1. Hold the open bottle directly under your nose, push one nostril closed with your finger, and take a deep inhale. Switch sides and take another deep inhale.  Repeat this process three times.

 

1. Fill your diffuser with cold water and add 4-6 drops of your essential oil.  Run the diffuser in your kitchen or living room throughout the day.  I love to turn on the diffusers in each bedroom at night, right on the nightstands.  This way the oils do what they need to do as we sleep.

 

1. Drop 2 to 3 drops of essential oil to the palm of your hand, gentle rub your palms together and cup them over your mouth and nose, creating a little "scent tent".  Inhale and exhale deeply a minimum of three times.  I will usually then rub my hands onto my neck to transfer the extra oil.  It is truly a nice act of self love when you give yourself a little shoulder massage.

Topically

1. Speaking of massage!  How about a nice back rub, made even better by adding essential oils to your massage oil?  Valor is known to do amazing things for the spine and supporting muscles.

 

1. There are many oils that greatly benefit the skin such as, Frankincense, Cedarwood, Vetiver, Neroli, or Geranium.  I often apply these oils neat right onto my skin or I will make a beauty serum or a balm by adding a carrier oil.  Carrier oils are edible vegetable oils like avocado oil, grapeseed oil, olive oil, etc.  Before applying an essential oil, always check to make sure it isn't hot.  Oils like Cinnamon Bark could cause your skin to get red hot.  If you ever experience an unpleasant sensation just apply more carrier oil and never water.  Water drives the essential oil into the skin, carrier oil dilutes and can remove the essential oil.

 

1. The bottoms of the feet is an excellent spot to apply oils.  The feet are not as sensitive as other areas of the body to hot oils, such as Thieves.  There are also points at the bottom of your feet that correspond with organs and other parts of the body.  By using a reflexology chart we can place oils to specific spots for greater effect.  Sometimes I don't use the chart at all and just get that oil on there and allow it to absorb. 

Internally

• The Vitality line of essential oils from Young Living can be taken internally like a supplement.  You can purchase empty veggie capsules and add a couple drops of DiGize Vitality, for example, which is known to be excellent for digestion when you've eaten too much of the wrong foods. 

 

• I also like to add citrus Vitality oils to my drinking water.  Oils like lemon, grapefruit, orange, lime, or tangerine not only taste great but also have lots of great benefits.  They help too boost your mood, aide in weight management, and even help to loosen and release toxins from your body.
  

For maintaining wellness and for prevention, likely just one of the methods will do, in other circumstances, I may do all three, several times a day, as needed.

The most important thing to remember is just use them. Any way you use them can be very effective. I often use my intuition, and I encourage my children to do the same.  To my surprise they will usually grab exactly the oils that will benefit them, even without reading the labels.

What is your favorite way to use your oils?

Author: Agnes Tchoryk

Agnes lives in South Carolina with her husband Michael and two young boys.  She's an advocate of natural healing remedies and spiritual growth practices in the pursuit of living well.

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