Welcome back, Friends! You've made it to day 3 of Your Simple Guide to Using Essential Oils. I hope you are enjoying the course so far and have learned a few things you didn't know about essential oils. Please know that if you have questions along the way, you can email those to me by replying to this email.
Yesterday, I briefly mentioned how essential oils are typically used for our benefit. Today, let's begin going a little deeper into that.
Inhaling Essential Oils
One of the most common ways essential oils are delivered is through inhalation. Inhaling essential oils is particularly effective for ailments such as sinus congestion, bronchial congestion, sore throats, coughs and colds, bronchitis and for flu symptoms due to the ability to deliver the oils directly to the nose and lungs. However, inhalation is a quick and safe way of getting the essential oil properties to other areas of your body as well.
Inhalation works by distributing essential oil molecules through the air. Once in the air, they are inhaled and come into contact with nerves that send them directly to the brain. Since the brain is the center of memory and emotion and where blood pressure, heart rate, breathing, and hormone balance, are controlled, it is thought that essential oils can effect positive change on all of these areas. The oils also enter the blood stream through the lungs, and are then carried to other bodily systems.
Methods of Inhalation
There are a few ways in which you can deliver essential oils to your body through inhalation. The most common method is by using a diffuser. You are probably already familiar with diffusing essential oils, so let's begin there.
Diffusing Essential Oils
As I mentioned yesterday, diffusing essential oils is a quick and easy way to administer the therapeutic effects of the oils to your family. It is generally safe and effective, and has the added benefit of offering up the benefits of essential oils to your entire family all at once (just be sure you are following the age recommendations for the oils you choose to use).
Diffusing essential oils is commonly used for multiple reasons including:
* general health and wellness
* deodorizing a room
* treating or preventing viral illness
* assistance with sleep and relaxation
* reduction of depression and anxiety
Steam Inhalation Therapy
An alternative to using a diffuser (especially when you are ill or have very young children) is steam inhalation therapy. This is one of my favorite ways to use essential oils when I have an upper respiratory infection, sinus infection, or an attack of allergies. It has also been quite effective for me at the onset of migraines. It is particularly effective when using oils that have decongestant, antibacterial and antiviral properties
The method is simple: place 4-6 drops of essential oil into a large bowl filled with boiling water. Cover your head and the bowl with a bath towel and breathe deeply for up to 10 minutes or until the water cools. Keep your eyes closed and be careful not to put your face so close that you'll get burned! Some of my favorite essential oils to use for steam inhalation include: Eucalyptus, Lemon, Thyme, Tea tree, Rosemary, Lavender, and Peppermint.
Please Note: This is not a method appropriate for young children or for those with asthma.
You can also do steam inhalation in the shower. Read this for more information about how I do that for headaches: My 15-Minute Cure for Head Pain
Personal Inhalers
Personal inhalers are fairly new to me. I only recently began using them, but I'm finding them very handy. If you think about those Vick's Inhalers you may have used for sinus congestion, the idea is the same. You add essential oils to a cotton wick that is inserted inside the inhaler. You can then carry it with you anywhere you go and deliver your essential oils by inhalation, without diffusing into the entire room. Even your children can use these safely. My favorite personal inhalers can be purchased through Rivertree Life.
Diffuser Jewelry
Healthe meets fashion with this latest trend in essential oils. Diffuser jewelry has been gaining popularity in the past year, and I own a few necklaces myself. They work similarly to the personal inhalers only with a cotton disc placed inside a locket-style necklace. I don't find this type of inhalation tremendously beneficial, but it is a nice way to wear your favorite scent. My favorite creator of essential oils jewelry is The Oily Amulet, but Plant Therapy has a few nice pieces as well. (be careful . . . there's a lot of cheap jewelry out there that will break easily -- ask me how I know).
Action Step
Begin making a list of reasons you may want to diffuse essential oils in your home. Also take a look back at the essential oil recommendations from Day 1 and make yourself more familiar with their uses and properties. Tomorrow, I am dedicating an entire day of the course to choosing a diffuser. That email will also include 10 simple recipes you can use in your diffuser, and that top list of essential oils will be included in most of the recipes.
Next Up: Choosing a Diffuser with 10 Simple Diffuser Recipes
