Essential Oil Basics & How Essential Oils Have Improved My Health

These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA

If you’ve read the article I wrote on my Top 20 Ways to Reduce Stress, you know that I listed essential oils as one of the main ways that I reduce stress! Hubby is a nurse, and so we often try to find all natural ways to stay healthy and prevent illness since he has asthma and we both have terrible allergies. We use a Neti Pot for our sinuses, and we even have our own massage table at home! We also started using our own DIY green products instead of many household cleaners! I often use essential oils in these home cleaners as well. However, there are many more uses for essential oils, and we’re including the basics here for our readers!

1. Quality is Key. Many people don’t realize that essential oils found in stores are not therapeutic grade oils. This means that they are not safe for consumption or to be used as a topical treatment, but only for the aromatherapy affect. While I use all of my essential oils for various aromatherapy treatments, some are not meant to be ingested and do not have high quality ingredients. This means that they are strictly just for aroma. However, I started purchasing my oils at our local health food store to ensure a better quality but most of these could not be ingested or applied to the skin. I prefer to be able to apply certain oils, such as peppermint for a headache, or lavender at night to sleep. Being able to apply the oils directly gave me a greater amount of aroma and a deeper sense of calm. Then I found Young Living Essential Oils and I have been a fan ever since (Read why I chose Young Living below!) These oils are a higher quality and many can be applied directly to the skin or even ingested (Check manufacturer’s labels first!)

Many companies claim that they are selling “Pure Essential Oil,” but right now companies are only required to put as little as 5% pure oil from a plant into each bottle. The process of extracting the oil is not regulated, meaning that chemical solvents can be used to extract oils and still claim to be “pure.” Its important to know if the oil is free of residual herbicides & pesticides as well. Making sure the company has its own lab to ensure quality is also key. The distillation process can also involve outside chemicals as well, so its important to make sure the oils you choose are as organic as possible.

2. An oil for every ailment. Hubby & I both suffer from migraines, so we’ve been using peppermint oil for years! However, these are just some of the basic oils that can relieve aches & pains!

Lavender essential oil – minor burns, rashes/hives, sunburn relief, bruises

Thieves essential oil blend – colds/flu, sore throat, headaches, toothaches

Peppermint essential oil – headaches, fever, congestion, nausea

Valor essential oil blend – neck/muscle pain

The oils below are what came in my starter kit, and can help with so many problems!

3. 10,000 People Can’t Be Wrong. I belong to a Facebook Group that has over 10,000 members that use essential oils. As they say in my area, “The proof is in the pudding,” and there are so many people using essential oils for either aromatherapy, topical treatment, or ingestion (Please see my disclaimer at the bottom of this post, as I am not a medical doctor). However, there are so many ways to use oils for prevention, and I have personally used them to treat various ailments. Essential oils can be used three ways: aromatically, topically, or internally depending on the effects/results.

4. Beginner Oils. Because there are so many wonderful oils, it’s nice to start with the basics, which are included in the Young Living Premium Starter Kit as well. These are included in the picture above, and you can see how they are used. When I first started using oils, I wasn’t sure where to begin, so I find it helpful when others can point me in the right direction. I also feel this helped me from wasting money on oils I didn’t need!

5. A Different Outlook. We recently took a trip to Austin, TX from PA with my family and my mother and 84-year-old grandmother. Each night she would use her spray mix of lavender and water on her pillow to help her fall asleep. I use Lemon oil constantly as part of my DIY air freshener, and as part of many of my household cleaners. When I’m stressed, I love to use peppermint in the diffuser, or if I have nausea, I have used it for peppermint water. These are just a few ways that these oils have changed my life and gave me a different outlook or desired feeling. Natural remedies are as old as time, as always, it concerns me that many families use so many products only developed in the last few years, and we really don’t know how these will affect us long-term!

Check out our other Essential Oil Posts:
How to use Lavender Essential Oil

Why I Chose Young Living Essential Oils

Young Living has their own farms and guarantees that no pesticides or herbicides were used in the growing of any of their oils.
They hand weed and use their own essential oils as pest control.
They use the first distillation of oils instead of adding chemicals to get more out of the plant.
Young Living also was the only company that was directly in charge of essential oil farming operations. They do not use brokers to get their oil.
I loved getting great quality at a wholesale price. I was paying just as much (and more) for oils from the health food store that were not as high quality!

How To Buy Young Living Essential Oils

Since I had used essential oils for years, it didn’t take me long to want to begin sharing these oils with others! I have often given family members massages to help relieve stress, so this was another way I could pass along great products that better others’ lives!

1. Sign-up for a Young Living account.

2. Check the “Wholesale Member” option to ensure the lower prices.

3. Be sure the “sponsor ID” and “enroller id” say 1972233 (I have a freebie for you!!)

4. Decide on the starter kit you would like. The best value is the $150 because you get several extra 5ml. oils + a diffuser!

5. Begin ordering oils! I will also add you to the Facebook groups so you can ask questions about which oils to use and what others have tried! I really believe learning from others is key, and there are over 10,000 people in one of my favorite groups!