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"Drugs do not restore, but destroy...
The God of nature directs the human agent to use natural remedies now." - EGW

How to use Essential Oils

Learning how to use essential oils (EO's) is probably most peoples most enjoyable part of this journey. I know it was for me. Hearing about all the wonderful benefits of EO's was great, but what really got me was when I got to start playing with them, applying them, and learning all the many ways I could use them. And till this day I’ve never stopped having fun or reaping the benefits!

If you’re going to spend your money on EO's in an effort to obtain natural healing, I cannot stress enough that you get only the highest quality therapeutic grade essential oils; oils that you can safely apply, ingest, and inhale, except where certain restrictions apply.

Topical Application

Most EO's can be applied directly to the skin neat (without the need of a carrier oil). However, some oils are best used with a carrier oil, such as an organic olive oil or similar, to avoid skin sensitivity. Using a carrier oil does not reduce the potency of your EO's, it only allows the oils to absorb into the skin slower avoiding irritation.

Unless you are using a synergistically blended essential oil, it is best to layer the oils you want to use. Allowing only a few seconds between each layer of oil is fine as they quickly absorb into the skin. Using peppermint as your last oil will help drive all the other oils in deeper.

Besides direct application, there are other ways to benefit from the topical application of EO's such as:

Vita Flex Technique – This is a simple method of applying oils to contact points (or nerve endings) in the feet as well as the hands.

Raindrop Technique – This special massage technique of applying therapeutic grade essential oils to the feet via Vita Flex and the spine stimulates every organ, muscle, and bone at the cellular level. Because this treatment has such as powerful impact on both the physical and emotional level, it is literally changing peoples lives.

If you live around and/or will be visiting the Palm Springs, California area, please contact me to schedule yourself for a Vita Flex or Raindrop appointment today.

Neuro Auricular Therapy – A technique that integrates EO's and acupressure by using a small pen-shaped instrument with a rounded end to apply the oils to the acupressure meridians or Vita Flex points of the ears. This technique has shown remarkable benefits in both the emotional and physical realm.

Acupressure – EO's can greatly enhance the benefits of acupressure.

Massage – If you enjoy massages, you will enjoy them so much more and will receive benefits at the cellular level if you have your therapist incorporate therapeutic grade EO's into the treatment.

If you would like to learn more about the massage industry and/or have an interest in becoming a massage therapist, massage-education has some great resources.

Perfumes or Cologne – Using EO's vs. the highly toxic man made perfumes and colognes can provide wonderful emotional and physical support.

Warm Packs – Applying warm heat over your EO's allows for deeper penetration. Heat is great for soar and aching muscles. Lay a wet/warm cloth or towel over designated location and then cover with a try towel to keep heat in and let sit for 15-30 minutes or until your warm towel has gone cool. Note: You will never want to use heat with neurological problems such as Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Lou Gehrig’s Disease (ALS) or Parkinson’s Disease. Always use cold packs to reduce pain and inflammation.

Cold Packs – Using a wet cold towel or ice pack over your EO's is best when treating inflamed or swollen tissue. Frozen bags of corn or peas also work great! Be sure to keep the cold pack on until the swelling diminishes.

Internally

Unless noted otherwise, it is safe to take therapeutic grade essential oils internally and the FDA has even approved many by designating them as GRAS (generally regarded as safe for internal consumption.

Although the oils can be added to capsules, I personally love to flavor my water with my favoite oils and cooking with essential oils is a great method too. I’ve been having a lot of fun lately making different flavored salad dressings out of them. However, I do have to warn you that no matter how beautiful an oil may smell or how safe it may be to take internally, they do not all taste good so be sure to do a taste test first. Trust me! The ones that don't taste good get put in the capsule.

Toothpick Application – The toothpick application is sometimes the best method when cooking with essential oils. When one drop of oil is too much, as many oils are extremely strong, you will want to dip the end of the wooden toothpick into the oil and then apply to your mixture, sauce, etc.

Essential oils can also be taken in vaginally and rectally.

Vaginal retention – this is excellent for systemic health problems like Candida or vaginitis and is one of the best ways to absorb EO's. Ladies, what you’ll do is mix 20-30 drops of essential oil into 1 tablespoon of carrier oil and apply this mixture to a tampon (for internal infection) or a pad (for external issues). It is recommended that that the tampon or pad you use be made from organic cotton.

Rectal retention – this is the most powerful way to deliver EO's to the urinary tract and reproductive organs. Be sure to use a sterile syringe and place a mixture of 15-20 drops of essential oil along with a tablespoon of carrier oil into a small syringe and inject into the rectum. Enemas can also be created and work quite well.

Reminder: PLEASE do not attempt to use these suggestion with any store bought essential oil unless they say for internal or dietary use and you are 100% sure they are of the purest therapeutic grade essential oils.

Inhalation

There are many ways you can enjoy the aromatherapy benefits of EO's such as:

Directly inhaling – place 2-3 drops of essential oil into the palm of your hand and rub clockwise with the flat palm of your opposite hand. Cup your hands together over your nose and mouth and inhale deeply. Be sure to avoid touching your eyes.

Diffuser – This is one of the easiest ways to get the aromatherapy benefits of EO's.

Hot water – You can add a few drops of an essential oil to a bowel of hot water and inhale. However, the higher the heat the less therapeutic properties you will have. This is why I prefer my cold-air diffuser.

Basic Safety Guidelines

Although everyone using therapeutic grade essential oils should use common sense, as with anything in life, there are still some important guidelines that everyone should follow when learning how to use EO's.

Storage

1. Keep out of the reach of children. Treat your EO's as you would any other product for therapeutic purposes.
2. If kept in a cool location with the lit tightly closed, you oils should maintain their potency for many years.
3. In case of skin discomfort or if you get EO's in your eyes, you’ll always want to have a bottle of carrier oil handy such as an organic olive or almond oil.
   

Usages

1. Everyone’s body reacts different to EO's so it is wise to test your oils on a small area first. If your skin is sensitive, you may need to dilute your essential oil with a carrier oil. The feet, because of the tough skin, is actually the safest location to apply EO's.
   
   Skin sensitivity is usually caused be a few different factors such as having a low pH level. If your body has a low pH (acidic) you may have a negative reaction to the oils. A healthy body is an alkaline body. To increase your alkaline level, drink 8oz of pure water with 1 tsp. of baking soda or 5 drops of lemon essential oil.
   
   Reactions can also occur when EO's come in contact with the petro chemicals that are in most cosmetics, toothpastes, deodorants, and all skin and personal care products. Many of these synthetic chemicals, especially petroleum-based chemicals, can penetrate and remain in the skin and fatty tissue for days and even weeks after use. If you do experience a reaction to EO's, it might be wise to temporarily discontinue their use and start an internal cleaning program and rid your home of all these toxic chemicals.
   
   And “While it is not possible to develop allergies to the tiny molecules of essential oils produced by distillation, it is possible to develop an allergy to fatty oils. Since fatty oils are pressed from fruit and seed, they contain traces of proteins, peptides, and amino acids not found in essential oils.”
2. EO's that are high in menthol (like peppermint), should never be used on the throat or neck area of children under 18 months old.
3. Citrus oils like orange, lemon, grapefruit and bergamot are photosensitive and may cause a rash or dark pigmentation on skin exposed do UV rays or direct sunlight within 1-2 days after application.
4. Avoid the eyes at all times. If you do accidently get an essential oil in your eyes, use a carrier oil. Never use water.
5. Pregnant women should always contact their health care professional before starting any type of health program. Oils to avoid are sage, fennel, and hyssop and those with hormonal qualities.
6. Epileptics and those with high blood pressure should consult their health care professional before using EO's and/or reference the Essential Oils Desk Reference.
7. Before taking GRAS (Generally Regarded As Safe) EO's internally, test your reactions by diluting one drop of essential oil in 1 tsp. of an oil soluble liquid like agave, olive oil, or rice milk. I wouldn’t consume too many internally to start… let your body get use to them and then slowly work your way up to your comfort level.
8. Do not add undiluted EO's directly to your bath water. Please be sure to use a dispersing agent like Epson salt or a bath gel base. This avoid serious discomfort on sensitive skin by not allowing the oils to float, undiluted, on top of the water.
9. Keep EO's away from open flames, sparks, or electricity. Some EO's such as orange, fir, pine, and peppermint are potentially flammable.
10. Layering your EO's is fine, but it’s recommended not to mix oil blends. Oil blends have been synergistically combined by someone who understands the chemical constituents of each oil. Because of these chemical properties, mixing blends can result in undesirable reactions. I personally have had not issues with the oil blends that I use, but I must give the warning anyways.
11. Because of the detoxing affect EO's can have on the body, please be sure to drink lots of pure water.
    

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