“…And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.” ~Revelation 22:2 NIV
Essential oils are a wonderful gift that nature has provided! I was first introduced to essential oils when I started to take an interest in making DIY personal care products a few years ago. I used them once in a while in my fabric softener and for cleaning, but I never REALLY started using them until just a few months ago when I took an Essential Oils 101 class and learned about their wide variety of uses and health benefits. Here are some of my favorite ways to use these gifts of nature:
- Aromatherapy. Put your favorite oils in a diffuser (this one is my favorite), and enjoy the healing benefits of the oils through your sense of smell. This is a great way to help ease stress. Lavender and Stress Away are great oils for this. Diffusing oils is also very effective at removing odors in the home. I love to run Purification whenever I am cooking fish for dinner, and it really does take the fish smell away. Purification is also great at clearing the air and keeping the germs away when someone in our home is not feeling well.
- All-Purpose Cleaner. Fill a spray bottle with half water and half white vinegar. Add your favorite essential oil (mine is lemon.) Clean away without worrying about exposing your family and pets to harmful chemicals! 🙂
- Removing Stickers. Lemon oil and Orange oil are both excellent at removing glue, stickers, etc. I use it in place of WD-40.
- Toothpaste. Add a few drops of peppermint oil (or orange or clove oil) to 2 tablespoons of coconut oil. Brush and feel how clean your teeth are! Orange oil helps to whiten them, too! Just keep in mind that this toothpaste does not taste or feel like a traditional toothpaste (it will not foam), so it may take some getting used to! But it’s a great feeling to not have to worry if I (or my kids) swallow some of this. Young Living also sells toothpaste, floss, and mouthwash that my daughters and I have used. My daughter went to the dentist in early January and they said she had a cavity. She began using this toothpaste daily. 7 weeks later, she got her braces off and went back to the dentist for an x-ray. The cavity did not show up on the x-ray, and it was nowhere to be seen. I can’t say for sure whether it had anything to do with the toothpaste, but it was sure good to hear that her cavity was gone and she doesn’t have to go back to the dentist until her next cleaning.
- First Aid. I’ve used lavender oil on cuts and scrapes, and sometimes on burns as well (although coconut oil is usually my go-to for burns.)
- Get Rid of Lice. Unfortunately I did have the opportunity to test this one out recently. With three girls and a “super-lice” outbreak hitting my town in recent months, I knew it was just a matter of time. I mixed tea tree oil with olive oil, rubbed it on their scalps and combed through their hair, covered with a shower cap and let it sit for several hours, and then combed through thoroughly with a lice comb. Luckily this happened over a school vacation week, so we had plenty of time to take care of it. This procedure worked beautifully, and I was happy I didn’t have to put dangerous chemicals on their heads!
- Internally. I don’t recommend taking oils internally unless you have done your research AND you use an oil from a reputable brand that is meant for internal use. The only oil I have used internally and have given to my family to take internally so far is Lemon from Young Living. Some people take this every day, but I reserve the use of this for when we are not feeling well. I gave my daughter 1 drop of lemon in 4 oz of water when she had a sore throat, and the next day her sore throat was gone and she felt much better. My husband and I have also had similar results taking lemon internally.
- DIY Personal Care Products. There is no limit to the amount of personal care items you can make with essential oils. From homemade shampoos, soaps, deodorant, toothpaste, face wash, bug spray, and much, much more. Check out this post at Homemade Mommy for some wonderful DIY Beauty Recipes using Essential Oils.
- Fabric Softener. Add white vinegar and a few drops of your favorite essential oil to the fabric softener dispenser of your washing machine for an excellent, natural fabric softener.
- Headaches. I have personally used peppermint oil for tension headaches, and it works wonders! I simply applied a drop to my temples. Just be careful because it is very strong and will make your eyes water. Headache relief is just one of the many benefits of Peppermint oil.
- Pain Relief. In the Essential Oils 101 class I took, we made a Pain Relief cream. In a small glass jar, we mixed together 1/2 cup coconut oil, 5 drops Valor, 5 drops Panaway, 5 drops Peppermint Oil, and 5 drops Copiaba Oil. Rub it on the bottom of the feet or the area of the body that is in pain. It works great!
- Cold/Flu Relief. Combine 5-10 drops of Thieves or Fighting Five with 1 Tablespoon Coconut oil. Apply to the bottom of the feet to help boost the immune system.
There are many, many more ways to use essential oils. The ways I listed above are the things I have personally tried in just a few short months. Frankincense is also an amazing oil with wonderful healing properties, and I have heard some wonderful stories of how it has helped cancer patients. I personally mix it with coconut oil and use it as my daily moisturizer. I have also diffused it, but my family did not care for the scent.
What is your favorite way to use essential oils?