Essential Oil Basics

NEED TO KNOW ABOUT ESSENTIAL OILS

The use of Authentic Essential Oils commonly known as Aromatherapy is derived from the ancient practice of using plant essences for personal care, beauty, health and longevity. Essential Oils are made by using different extraction processes like: Co2, steam distillation or cold-pressing. These processes force open pockets and allows the plant to release these aromatic compounds known as essential oils. These natural compounds can be extracted out of many different parts of a variety of the following plant parts: fruits, leaves, needles, flowers, tress, bushes, barks, resins and roots. Aromatherapy is the use of these oils and hydrosols after the extraction process is complete.

The use of authentic unadulterated  essential oils and hydrosols can help to life your spirits, ease discomfort from a variety of aliments, treat injuries, and physical aches and pains.  All with out causing dependency or causing strain on your organs like many medications can do.

The use of these types of oils can also have positive affects on the central nervous system, reducing stress, uplifting your spirit and relieving anxiety and depression. They have the ability to stimulate, sedate or relax restoring you both emotionally and physically.

It is imperative that you get your oils from someone who has authentic unadulterated essential oils, hydrosols and carrier oils. I started using oils over 18 years ago and have witnessed the industry explode with fake and watered down products, chemical perfumes passed off as Essential oils and so much more. These altered oils will not have the same affects as a pure essential oil will and will often have undesired physical side affects.

 

Some things to be aware of when using, storing and administering your oils:

Essential oils are to be stored in dark colored glass bottles (usually Blue or Brown) with the lid tightly sealed when not in use.

Once the oils hit oxygen they are only good for two hours; after that they are essentially just a perfume product with no medicinal value. Always keep the lid on when not in use.

Extreme temperatures of hot or cold can affect the quality and potency of oils.

Oils remain fresh for three to five years after the bottle is opened for the first time.

Essential oils enter your blood stream in 20 seconds after application and circulate through your entire system in about 20 minutes.

Some oils are mild on the skin and some are harsh and can cause burning. Some are beneficial when taken internally the proper way and some are so harsh they can only be used from inhalation. Remember these oils are very concentrated versions of the original herb, plant, root, stem or flower it was derived from.

There is large amount of misinformation circulating that tells you that all oils must be diluted and that you should only ingest oils under the care of a physician and this simply is not the truth. Many oils can be used directly on the skin and ingested. However, it is imperative that you educate your self before using oils internally or used directly on the skin. Lavender, Tee Tree, Rosemary, Black Pine, White Pine, Ravintsara, Eucalyptus Radiata, Geranium, Frankincense, Helichrysum are just a few of the oils that are safe and tolerated by most to put directly on skin if they are authentic. Small amounts of Peppermint, Spearmint & Wintergreen are usually non-sensitizing as well. Making sure to avoid eyes, ears, nose, mouth, armpits, inner thigh area).

If you apply an oil on the skin and it burns or skin becomes red and irritated put a carrier oil on immediately and burning should cease in a few moments. Some people are more sensitive to some oils than others. It’s always wise to start with 1 drop on the inner elbow to test a new oil. There are not allergic reactions to Essential oils, only chemical reactions and these reaction often only last for serval minutes and go away on there own.

Avoid getting oils inside of nose, lips, armpits, groin area and eyes, if this happens you will know it by the burning sensation that follows; apply carrier oil immediately. Organic, Cold-pressed coconut oil works well in the eyes. Do NOT add water; it will just make it worse.
You need to use a carrier oil when using harsh oils. Your carrier oil should be a pure oil as close to its natural state as possible with no harsh chemicals or dyes in it. Remember these oils are entering your blood stream and they will pull anything un-pure from the carrier with it.

There is a myth that clove and cinnamon should never be used or ingested and this is not the case. These two oils are highly controversial and I will be speaking more on them in the future.

Many, but not all, Citrus oils and others are considered photo sensitive oils and can burn the skin if you go out in the sun after using them on the skin. The same goes for natural juice of a citrus fruit.

Always keep in mind that these oils are used medicinally all over the world and should be used with caution and care. They are highly concentrated and everyone’s sensitivity level is unique.

 

Organic Carrier oils

Virgin, unrefined, cold-pressed coconut oil (great for hot climates)
Almond oil
Grapeseed oil
Sesame oil (fatty oil great for moisturizing skin/healing wounds)
Avocado oil (great for dry climates)
Jojoba oil
Cold Pressed Rose hip oil (great for the face and neck)
Raw cocoa butter
Raw Shea butter

 

Bath soaks

Choose a mild, relaxing oil and add 15 to 20 drops to your bath water. The hot water opens up your pores and allows a full body absorption. I often add 3 cups of Epsom salt or dead sea salt to water and relax.

 

Headaches

Mix 8-10 drops of chosen oils with a teaspoon of carrier oil and apply to temples and neck and shoulders. I often take a drop of pure peppermint or wintergreen and apply that to my temples, this is also a great way to cool down when outside in warm temperatures.

 

Cold diffuser

Fill with water and add your chosen oils to diffuser, I like to stand over the diffuser and inhale the mist so that I receive an immediate treatment as well as making my home smell good; this will also kill bacteria in the air.

 

Massage oil

Mix 10-20 drops of your choice of oils with carrier oil and apply to body. If you’d like to make larger amounts, store unused oil in a brown or blue glass amber bottle and store in a cool dry place. Smaller amounts are to be used on babies and small children.

 

Medical Conditions that Warrant Avoiding Some Oils
If you are pregnant: avoid Basil, Cedarwood, Clary, Coriander, Hyssop, Jasmine, Juniper, Marjoram, Oregano, Myrrh, Peppermint (which should also be avoided while nursing), Rockrose, Rosemary, Sage, and Thyme.

Please note, the above oils are listed as contraindicated during pregnancy by most aromatherapy authors. However, Martin Watt, a source that I highly respect regarding the safety of aromatic materials used in aromatherapy has this to say: “There are NO essential oils that used externally are proven as harmful to a developing fetus. The vast majority of oils you have listed are common food additives. This is all stuff from the aromatherapy novel writers.”

On Hormonal Birth Control: You should avoid Vitex, it may counteract the synthetic hormones you are taking. I recommend finding a none hormonal birth control to avoid depression, stroke and future thyroid and other major health issues linked to taking synthetic hormones.

 

Oil safety for infants and toddlers

Always mix with a carrier oil on children under three years old. Use only on skin; never let children or babies swallow oils.

Apply oil mixture to bottom of feet or on their back so they can’t touch it and get it in their mouth or eyes.

Always mix oils with ½ ounce of carrier oil. Give child plenty of water/fluids when using aromatherapy as a treatment.

Do not use in the baths, you do not want your baby to get the oils in their eyes or mouth and their skin is more sensitive than ours.
Only put oils on the bottoms of their feet before the age of 6 months old after that they usually want to put there feet in there mouth.

You can use oils mixed with a carrier oil on their backs or where they can’t touch the oil and put it in their mouth.

“Great caution is necessary for infants. Since neonatal skin does not mature until three months of age, it is more sensitive and more permeable to essential oils. A newborn is also less equipped to deal with any adverse effects than an adult because of lower metabolic capacity, i.e., enzymes present in lower concentrations. These cautions apply even more to premature babies and here it would be prudent to avoid all use of essential oils.”
(Essential Oil Safety, p. 48-49)

Dosage safe for infants and toddlers

Infants up to 3 months use diffuser in room only, nothing topically.
Babies 6 months to a year 1-5 drops (1 drop per 4 teaspoons carrier oil)
Children over a year old 5-8 drops (1 drop per 4 teaspoons carrier oil)
Children over two years old 10-15 drops

Oils to Avoid using in infants and toddlers Under 2yrs of age                                       Mint oils will be too harsh for their respritory system. Stick to mild oils like lavender or citrus, Ravintsara.  

Use caution and dilute properly ages 3-6yrs of age                                                Eucalyptus, Peppermint, Spearmint, Cinnamon Bark

Oils safe for infants and toddlers under the age of two
According to Essential oil experts Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young
Author of Essential Oil Safety

Basil linalool  – Bergamot Black  – Pepper
Blue Tansy  – Catnip  – Cedarwood Atlantica
Citronella –  Cinnamon Leaf  – Cedarwood Virginian
Copaiba balsam  – Clary Sage  – German Chamomile
Cypress  – Coriander  – Roman Chamomile
Dill weed  – Fir needle  – Frankincense carteri – Hyssop
Pink Grapefruit  – Geranium bourbon  – Frankincense serrata –
Helichrysum italicum  – Juniper berry  – Helichrysum splendidum
Lavandin  – Lavender   Cold pressed Lemon –
Mandarin  – Sweet Majoram  – Neroli
Blood Orange  – Sweet Orange  – Palmarosa
Patchouli  – Petigrain  – Pine –
Rosalina  – Spearmint  – Australian Sandalwood –
Spruce  – Tangerine  – Turmeric –
Vanilla –  Vetiver

If you are told to use caution with plant extracts just imagine what injecting formaldehyde, aborted fetal cells that contain human DNA, animal cells that contain disease and animal DNA, polysorbate 80, Sodium bicarbonate, Monosodium glutamate (MSG), Aluminum, ammonium sulfate and many more toxic ingredients will do to your infants developing system. These are just a few of the ingredients in vaccinations, so do your research.

My medicine cabinet is full of aromatic oils

Over the next few months I am going to share with you my favorite medicinal oils. There are hundreds of essential oils to choose from and they all carry medicinal factors but the following oils are the ones I try and keep stocked in my medicine cabinet. These are the oils I use in place of medicine and a few I use as my skin care regime. When purchasing oils to ingest or put on my skin that enter my blood stream, I make sure to get authentic, unadulterated oils many of them are organic and often wild crafted oils and only cold pressed organic citrus oils. Not all oils have to be organic (I will speak more about this in a future post) if I get French lavender, true vetiver or patchouli I want it to be grown In a certain region, I want to know that the farm and distillery have integrity.  The soil, the air, the water all make a difference in the quality of an oil. Cold pressed citrus has a better chemical constitution than a steam distilled citrus oil.

The oils I use in my products are Authentic Essential Oils Directly from the Producer. These companies sources their oils from around the world and will explain how each batch is unique from each other. It’s hard to find reputable essential oils companies now. Speck Analysis reports are pretty much useless because they can add synthetic ingredients that mimic what a quality oil should have in them so they meet the standards of “quality oils”. This is natures medicine and you want to make sure you are getting what you pay for, essential oils should not be cheap, a little 10ml bottle can last you six months to a few years depending on what you use it for so don’t be scared to invest in your health and know your source. I have been using Essential oils for over 16years and have watched the industry blow up and get diluted by money hungry companies much like the CBD industry is doing now. It’s important that you know your source. I get a lot of my information from renowned aromatherapists like Kurt Schnaubelt, Ph. D., Michaels Scholes, Ph.D. and others with exemplary reputations in the industry.

Oils can be very confusing to someone who hasn’t had any training in them. You may have heard about them and then you get these little tiny (often expensive) bottles and then you have no idea what to do with them. I hope this section answers all your questions, so you too can have aromatic oils in your medicine cabinet instead of poisonous pharmaceuticals.

If you are feeling ill and don’t have a specific oil don’t put too much thought into it; use the oils you have on hand, make a combination that smells good to you and apply it your favorite way. All oils have benefits and will help raise your immune system and calm your nervous system.

If you want to know about a specific oil don’t hesitate to contact me and I will prepare a blog on the subject.

 

Disclaimer: The strategies, suggestions and techniques expressed here are intended to be used for educational purposes only. The Author, Kira Miller, is not rendering medical advice nor is she trying to diagnose, prescribe or treat any disease, condition, illness or injury.
If you are under the care of a physician it is imperative that you consult their advice before beginning any new exercise or nutrition program.

Kira Miller claims no responsibility to any person or entity for any liability, loss or damage alleged to be caused directly or indirectly as a result of the use, application or interpretation of the material presented here.
At this time none of the companies mentioned in this book have asked me to promote their products, given me free products or samples, nor do I make any money if you decide to use the same products that I use and suggest to other people.