Introduction to Essential Oils and a Giveaway
Disclosure: I received a sample of this product for review purposes. The opinions are mine based on my experience with the product. I received no financial compensation for this review. This post contains affiliate links.
In December I was contacted by Heather Gibson of My Health Empowered asking if I would be interested in trying doTERRA essential oils and writing about my experience. I am always interested in natural health solutions and have been wanting to learn more about the potential benefits of essential oils and how they can be used, so I thanked Heather and told her I would be delighted to try them.
Heather provided me with some background information and a webcast class so I could begin learning about the oils while waiting for them to arrive. In addition to reviewing the material provided by Heather I spent a lot of time reviewing various websites and I checked out some books from the library, including The Healing Intelligence of Essential Oils: The Science of Advanced Aromatherapy, that were not associated with any single brand of oil, to help me learn more.
Heather’s package included three 5ml bottles of oils: lavender, lemon, and peppermint. (You can enter a drawing to receive the same kit I received and sign up for some informational webinars here.) She also included couple of sample packets of a product called Deep Blue Rub and some helpful literature.
How to use essential oils
There are three ways to use essential oils: topically, aromatically, and internally. The first thing to understand is that a little goes a long way–usually only a couple of drops are used at a time. Essential oils are powerful and should not be used frivolously.
Topically, some oils can be used “neat” which means they can be applied undiluted to the skin. Other oils are considered “hot” and should be diluted with a carrier oil such as olive oil, coconut oil, or a variety of other oils.
Perhaps the most common way essential oils are used is aromatically. This can be done in a variety of ways like using a diffuser (I use this one
), applying a few drops of oil to a cotton ball or other fabric and inhaling, or inhaling them right from the bottle they are stored in.
There are differing opinions about whether or not one should use oils internally. In fact, many oils are designated as GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) by the Food and Drug Administration in small doses. doTERRA labels their oils to indicate whether they are recommended to be ingested and the oils I received were all labeled as safe for internal use. Based on that, and other literature I read, I felt comfortable ingesting small amounts (a single drop in a glass of water) of the lemon and peppermint oils. (I wasn’t uncomfortable about ingesting the lavender oil, I just didn’t have a need to try it.)
Here’s how I used the oils Heather provided. You can click on the name of the oil to get more information about benefits and suggested uses for one. I’ve also included links to YouTube videos that give more information about how each oils can be used.
Peppermint (Mentha piperita)
This oil has a wonderful clear and crisp scent. I used it first thing in the morning by putting a drop on my hand, rubbing it in, and sitting quietly breathing it in. It was a great way to get energized for the day. Mid-morning or mid-afternoon, when energy levels sometimes were at a low (and yet there were still things to do!), a drop of this behind each ear or inhaled from the bottle gave me an added boost of energy. I also used this oil neat on my stomach for intestinal upset and heartburn and hubby used one drop in a glass of water for indigestion.
Lemon (Citrus limon)
Most often I used this by putting a single drop in a glass of ice water. Used this way it is supposed to detoxify and cleanse. I can’t prove that it did that–but I enjoyed the flavour boost to the water. Lemon is a powerful cleansing agent and I mixed up a cleaning solution of water, vinegar, and the oil that worked great all around the house. I especially enjoyed using it in the kitchen as it left a clean and fresh smell. I don’t know about you, but I like the idea of cleaning with something that is safe enough that I can ingest it too.
Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
If I could only have one oil this would be the one. One drop of lavender oil on a burn received while cooking instantly took the pain away and repeat applications helped quicken the healing process. I also used a drop on minor cuts and scrapes various times with the same effect.
A few drops of oil in a bath was relaxing and soothing on cold winter days and I used it aromatically the same way I used the peppermint when I was stressed or in need of calming. Having read that lavender was useful for a good night’s sleep I tried it a couple of ways. I used a few drops on the soles of my feet or a drop on my pillowcase but didn’t notice any real effect. Then, I bought a diffuser and began using three or four drops in it when we went to bed every night. Used this way it I found that it helped me relax faster and I slept better.
Deep Blue Rub
This topic cream is infused with oils like wintergreen, camphor, peppermint, blue tansy, blue chamomile, helichrysum, and osmanthus and I loved it. I regularly experience back problems and recently I twisted the wrong way when I was taking photos resulting in pain in my upper and lower back. This cream helped immensely. Pleasant smell–reminiscent of a toothpaste I used as a child–and it provided a warm sensation similar to other rubs I’ve used but stronger. It eased the discomfort quickly and kept it away.
Conclusion
I was very impressed with the doTERRA oils: the pure, clean, strong smell of each one, and with how they performed for the purpose I used them. Thanks very much to Heather Gibson for the opportunity to try them. Heather is providing an opportunity for you to enter a raffle to win the same Intro Kit that I received as well as register for a free webinar. Learn more about this here.
Contact Heather at myhealthempowered@gmail.com, learn more about doTERRA or order oils here.
Personally, I am continuing to learn more about essential oils in general and how I can best use them for our own situation. I’ll share more about my journey now and then.
