Are you wondering just what in the world an essential oil really is? Have you heard about them but aren’t sure of what they do or how they can be beneficial?  If that’s the case then don’t worry, we’re here to help you understand it all.

Essential oils have been around for thousands of years and are known to have many different medicinal and health functionalities. They’ve been used in aromatherapy, beauty care, and as a natural medicine.  They have many different spiritual and emotionally uplifting properties too.

These oils are considered elements of the plant world. They are located inside of plant life and are found in parts of flowers, scrubs, trees, roots, bark, and seeds.  They’re most generally extracted from the plants by means of steam distillation and can also be cold pressed.

They are highly concentrated because of the distillation process and are found to be far more potent than dried herbs.  Since they are very complex, consisting of hundreds of unique chemical compounds, they are considered to be very therapeutic. They’re not to be confused with a perfume or fragrance oil, as those provide only fragrance and no therapeutic or natural medicinal properties.

So now that you know a little bit about them, how do you use them?  Well, that’s the fun part for sure. They can be diffused aromatically, they can be evaporated, and they can be sprayed, just to name a few way. They can also be applied topically.  But that’s all for another day. Visit “How to use my essential oils” for more details.

In a nutshell, essential oils are very therapeutic and they can bring a whole new level of wellness to both you and your family. Stick with us as we explore the world of oils.

So you’ve got yourself some essential oils and now it’s time to figure out how to use them. Not only are there a lot of oils to choose from but there are also a lot of different ways to use them.

If you’re having trouble deciding which oils are right from you then you might want to buy a pocket reference guide that will give you detailed information about each oil and its benefits. It might help you narrow down which oils are right for what you’re hoping to achieve by using them.

The most common ways to use essential oils are to apply them to your skin or to inhale them.  With each of these, there are different application methods that can be used to achieve the desired effect.

Let’s take a look at our 3 favorite methods:

1.  Ultrasonic diffusing.  An ultrasonic diffuser, like the AromaSoft model pictured above, is a simple unit that holds a certain amount of water depending on the size of the diffuser.  You will drop your favorite oil into the water, turn it on, and watch the diffuser disperse a fine mist of oils into the air.  These diffusers work when electronic frequencies cause the small ultrasonic disk to vibrate at a fast enough pace to disperse the water and oil into the air. So what’s the benefit you ask?  Well, the vibrations break up the essential oil into tiny microparticles that are much more easily absorbed by the lungs as you breathe them in. The gives a much more therapeutic benefit to your body over other methods of diffusion.

2.  Topical Application. Essential oils can be applied topically to your body. Applying them topically allows them to enter your bloodstream rather quickly. This allows them to be circulated throughout the body in fast action. Along with the them being absorbed into your skin, your also getting the benefits of the scent at the same time.  Reflexology and acupressure pressure points can definitely come into play when applying this way. For example, if you have a headache you might want to apply the oils to your neck and shoulders if the headache started out low. Or maybe to the temples if you have a sinus headache. There’s no absolute science to applying oils so be sure to experiement on what works best for you.

3.  Massage.  There’s no doubt that getting a good massage is the perfect way to wind down, relax, and get rid of those sore muscles. Now you can enhance that method by having your masseuse use a blend of essential oils during the massage.  Using oils this way allows them to enter your body and head right to your trouble spots. Take a little time to do some research about what oils are known to help your particular ailment and then talk to your masseuse about the best way to apply them. You’ll be happy that you did.

There are many other ways of using essential oils. This is only a tiny start. But here’s hoping that you’ve found this beneficial. Follow us as we continue to explore some of the others.