Alternative Uses for Essential Oils: My Top 5

In my previous blog, I spoke about essential oils and their use in aromatherapy (e.g. in a diffuser). Today I will discuss alternative uses for some of my favorite essential oils. Over the past five years, I have come to LOVE all the amazing gifts Mother Nature has to offer, including essential oils. Simply put, essential oils are to a plant as what blood is to a human. They carry nutrients, oxygen and life giving energy to all areas of a plant, just as our blood does for us 🌱.

History:

Natural healing, or naturopathic medicine, has been around for centuries; more recently, the use of essential oils and other herbal remedies have become mainstream. Some believe Mother Nature provides us with all the resources we need to live a healthy life, while others are quite skeptical. Some individuals have even diverted to using only essential oils and natural products to heal their bodies. 

Well here's the thing...

Essential oil use is said to have started in Egypt and India for beauty care, physical and spiritual wellbeing. Tradition and historical records provide insight on how essential oils were used in the past and how they can benefit our lives today. With the new interest in essential oils and the resurgence in their use, there are an abundance of new clinical studies and publications documenting the efficacy and benefits of essential oils today.
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Essential oils enter the body primarily in three ways—applied to the skin, inhaled, or ingested. Pure essential oils are highly potent and need to be mixed with a carrier oil for safe use. Carrier oils (e.g. olive oil, coconut oil, sweet almond oil, etc.) seep into the skin easier, transmitting the benefits of the essential oils into your body. You can apply essential oils topically using compresses, sprays, baths, or massaging them into the skin.
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The essential oils below have a wide array of medicinal uses, but the uses I've listed are the ones I have tried and had the most success with.
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Top 5 

1. Lavender: ​Perfect for overall skin health. It has antibacterial properties that treats redness, reduces scarring and inflammation in the skin. Add a single drop of lavender essential oil to a dime sized amount of either coconut oil or jojoba oil, then massage it into the affected area of your skin. Add a drop of lavender essential oil to your pillow (not your pillow case) to aid in treating insomnia and improve your quality of sleep. Mix 6-8 drops in your bath water to relieve aching muscles, increase relaxation and promote stress relief.
2. Tea Tree: Great for acne prone skin. Ladies, during that time of the month, breakouts are pretty much inevitable. In that case, tea tree oil will be your best friend! It can be used as a spot treatment to treat breakouts overnight. Dilute a single drop of tea tree essential oil in a shot glass filled with sea salt water. Swirl a Q-tip or cotton ball in the solution, making sure to incorporate the essential oil, then apply it directly to the spot. Do not rinse. Also, to help reduce hypertrophic scarring caused by piercing cartilage. Using the same procedure mentioned above but leave the cotton ball on the piercing bump for 5-10 minutes so all the goodies can seep in.
3. Oregano: Immunity booster! The most recent addition to my collection and a must have on your shelf. Oregano essential oil is an antiviral, anti-fungal, antimicrobial and natural antibiotic. When ingested, oregano essential oil can help you lose weight and fight off viral infections. Here's the "oil of oregano tonic" recipe I got from an herbalist: add only 10 drops of oregano essential oil to a 1oz amber vial, then fill with olive oil to dilute. Mix together by tapping the vial aggressively on the palm of your hand for about 20 seconds. Drop two drops under your tongue in the morning and at night; hold it under your tongue for about 10 seconds (so the majority of it can seep into your tissues) then swallow. I did this daily when I felt like I was getting sick and my little sniffles did not even turn into a full blown cold! I had the sniffles for about 4 days and that was all. No body aches, cough or fever. I was sold and had to share. You can also mix one drop of oregano oil into 4-8oz of water and drink the entire cup first thing in the morning.  It can also improve gut health, inhibit growth of cancer cells, and lower cholesterol. Disclaimer: Oregano essential oil can induce uterine contractions, so should be avoided if you are pregnant. Here is a link to an already made version of oregano oil that I've tried.
4. Peppermint: Peppermint essential oil is great to make tea to ease stomach upset and menstrual cramping. Add a few drops to a tea cup of warm water to make your own natural peppermint tea, or use it topically by adding a few drops to coconut oil and massaging it into the lower abdomen (or anywhere you feel pain for that matter). To stimulate hair growth, add a few drops of peppermint essential oil to coconut or jojoba oil and massage it into your scalp weekly. This is one of the more versatile oils. It can be used topically, ingested as a tea and works well for baking.
5. Lemongrass: ​All natural bug spray! Because of its high citral and geraniol content, lemongrass oil is known to repel bugs such as mosquitoes and ants. This natural repellant has a mild smell and can be sprayed directly on the skin. Add about 20 drops of lemongrass essential oil to a 4oz amber spray bottle filled with water and a splash of good ol' witch hazel, shake it up and you're all set! Add 10-20 drops of lavender essential oil for fragrance. Avoid spraying in eyes or mouth.

Where can I purchase essential oils?

Essential oils can be purchased at most retail stores in the "beauty care" section, however, do pay attention to the quality of the oil that you are purchasing. My favorite essential oil vendor is Plant Therapy. Plant Therapy is certified organic, highest quality and purest essential oils on the market. Rated 5/5 by me and most essential oil Gurus on the web. These oils are also sent out for third party testing to ensure that the oil is top notch quality ✨.

Again, please use caution when using essential oils. Infants, small children, and pets may be highly sensitive to essential oils. Always diffuse essential oils in well-ventilated areas, especially in the presence of children and pets. Follow the instructions on your diffuser and always dilute your essential oil when used topically, either with sea salt water or a carrier oil (extra virgin, cold pressed, unrefined: olive oil, jojoba oil, coconut oil or almond oil)

I would love to hear your feedback in the comments below. What are your favorite essential oils or essential oil recipes? Like and share to keep everyone informed 🌷.

"a drop a day keeps the doctor away" 😊

Till next time,

Chérie Jade

Helpful Links
Essential Oils in Aromatherapy: A systematic review
Essential Oils, An Overview by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences