Essential Oils as part of your lifestyle

JodieDownUnder

When I first started to get serious about living a healthier lifestyle, I got into essential oil’s. Not really sure why, maybe timing. Anyway I quickly found out there’s oils and then there’s oil’s. I settled on a brand (I am no way involved in marketing EO) I’m a complete beginner but know more than I used to.

I have quite a collection now, I don’t use them like I used to but they are handy to have around. How I use them, in diffusers around the house, I come up with some funky combinations! Most mornings I put a drop each of peppermint and wild orange on my palm and rub vigorously until its warmed up and then I sit, be in the moment and breathe deeply into my cupped hand, kind of like a short meditation. The peppermint opens the sinuses and the orange has a warm grounding effect. Frankincense is my go to for skin things (mixed with coconut oil) and I put a drop into my morning smoothie. I’ve a friend who swears by it in his complete return to health after being diagnosed with prostrate and bowel cancer.( he was told by his Dr to get his affairs in order) he used an integrated approach to his treatment and Frankincense was and is still part of his daily routine (internally).

I use EO to put into some of my salves & lotions, bath salts and cooking (think just a drop of oregano, thyme or pink pepper when you don’t have fresh). I make roller bottles for insect protection, sleep, invigorating or relaxing moods. A drop or to in the bin to refresh etc.

Anyone else have EO experience, they would like to share?

Lisa K

I love essential oils! I have started to make my own body products and for cleaning supplies. A good source for recipes and knowledge is www.aromahead.com and their store www.aromatics.com.

Linda Bittle

I have a fair collection. I also have cats in the house, so I don't diffuse them as I'd love to do.

Diluted ginger oil is really helpful for my long ago badly sprained wrist. It gets sore sometimes. I want to try it on my mom's arthritis.

I love the citrus scents, rose, and the evergreens, but those are bad for cats.

JodieDownUnder

@Mary Linda Bittle, West Plains, Missouri I’ve read before about cats and some oils. We have a cat that sometimes has breathing difficulties and I’ve been known to rub a small amount of a blend called easy air into the skin inside her ears. Basically peppermint, eucalyptus, tea tree, bay, lemon & cardamom with a carrier oil. Seems to help her and no side effects. Mind you she improved dramatically when we changed her diet to no grain and now she eats ground chicken. So haven’t done the oil on her for a while. Here’s an arthritis pain blend I just found in my notes. 5oz of carrier oil, 14 drops Eucalyptus, 14 of Marjoram, 7 Lavender, 7 Peppermint & 7 Rosemary all mixed in a roller bottle.

annbeck62

I use essential oils in body products, cleaning products and for cooking. I make it a point to only buy food grade, sometimes called therapeutic grade oils. There is a big difference in how different companies process the oils. It's best to avoid chemically processed oils.

Tave

I just made a pain-relieving salve and put wintergreen and peppermint EO in as soon as it cooled down enough not to evaporate it. I regularly use peppermint to clear my sinuses and the occasional sore throat. Spearmint helps keep the neighbor's tomcat from spraying my window.

Lisa K

@Mary Linda Bittle, West Plains, Missouri and @JodieDownUnder Aromahead has offered a free class on essential oils for animals.

Linda Bittle

https://community.thegrownetwork.com/discussion/comment/907242#Comment_907242

I like their classes! Thanks.

Lisa K

@Mary Linda Bittle, West Plains, Missouri You are very welcome and I also like their classes I learn so much!

JodieDownUnder

@Lisa K I’ve done some online stuff with doTerra & Eric Zielinski. Not heard of Aromahead, so thank you.

Lisa K

@JodieDownUnder you are very welcome, another resource is Floracopia which was started by David Crowe who does a lot of teaching about essential oils and herbs.

Torey

The American College of Healthcare Sciences also has aromatherapy courses. I think that might have been their original focus and then branched out into other modalities.

https://achs.edu/academics/

And there is The School for Aromatic Studies.

https://aromaticstudies.com/

Monek Marie

I have just started using Essential Oils. I have a few good small stores nearly where I can ask a lot of questions.

I have used it mostly for lungs and for my cat, Little Man. He has allergioes and dry skin.

jowitt.europe

So far I am a convinced user of plant products as they are, but not extracts. Thus mint leaves instead of mint oil, lavender flowers instead of lavender oil, garlic instead of garlic capsules, etc. But my way of using plants is to remain healthy, thus this is not a path to anybody who want a recovery from this or that. I think that we are part of nature (I hope I am not repeating it too often) and our body needs natural products and not extracts or essences as then the proportion is not right for the body and can either activate too much or suppress too much... Well, this is my intuitive way based on personal practice. Thus I would not overdo with scents. Even for inhalations I would use a mixture of plants, rather essential oils.

JodieDownUnder

@jowitt.europe I agree with you. Although,100% pure organic E Oil is the most potent part of the plant but I then realised that you need so many plants to get 15mls of EO and thats not sustainable. Who do you trust, are they ethical, do they use more energy to set up a factory to produce the oil etc??? Besides the basic scents, lavender, mint etc, I had no idea until the last few years that herbs/plants played such an integral roll in our health and lifestyle. All this information has been learnt by me by joining TGN and having wonderful conversations with people such as yourself.😊

Torey

It does take a lot of plant material to make such a little bit of EO. However, during the commercial harvesting of certain plants, there may be excess material that can be processed into EOs.

One local company that is producing conifer EOs (Sitka Spruce, Shore Pine, Western Hemlock and Douglas Fir) is making them from the waste produced in a logging and sawmill operation. The limbs and needles, which would normally be waste material and burned, are processed to make the EOs. Its a First Nations company and their EOs make a great value-added product for their operation.

Most citrus EOs are made, not by distillation, but simple expression from the peels. Again, often a waste product from production facilities making juice.

We just have to be vigilant in making sure that any products we buy (not just EOs) are produced in a sustainable way.

Lisa K

The two companies I purchase essential oils from are very big ethically source, harvest in sustainable ways, organic and process the plant material safely. Also they do not recommend taking them internally since they are so concentrated.

One reason I like EOs is to use them when the plant(s) are not in season or something it is a plant(s) I cannot grow. One example, where I live Mountain Arnica does not grow so I can buy dried flowers (which may or may not be fresh or strong) and I can add arnica EO to a balm to increase the strength.

monica197

The one thing that I would say is:

Don't use citrus and then go out in the sun. They are phototoxic - for real!

In another thread recently I mentioned that I am getting ozone therapy for my skin...this is why. I used lime EO and then went outside and did my power washing. (To this day, I can't believe I did the to myself. It was so dumb.)

I can't begin to tell you how sick I got. My skin was so sensitive that I could not even were clothing. It was terrible. Thankfully the Lord healed me and I stay covered up all of the time now. Recently I started to do the HOCATT treatments because I was feeling like me skin needed a little help and it has helped me TREMENDOUSLY. I am so thankful. Actually this past Saturday I went outside to do some yard wok for the first in in 3 years with short sleeves on.

I love the idea of using EO when needed but WOW this experience was really...I don't know what! Whew!

I still find myself very sensitive to the phenol oils.

tiffpharmd

I have been using essential oils for about 7 years and my list has expanded on what I use them for. I make a really effective pain salve with St Johns Wort/beeswax base with Helichrysum, Peppermint, Frankincense, Lemongrass, Laurus Nobilis, Palo Santo and CBD. I love making rollers and bath salts for gifts! I’ve found them to be really yummy in dessert recipes. I’m happy to share other recipes anytime. I have an account on Gab called Nature’s Pharmacy where I share info and recipes on natural medicines.

Torey

Welcome to TGN's forum @tiffpharmd.

Have you had a chance to check out "Our Front Porch Welcome" at: https://community.thegrownetwork.com/categories/our-front-porch-welcome%21-%28please-read-before-posting%29

Or the Introductions section at: https://community.thegrownetwork.com/categories/introductions

JodieDownUnder

@tiffpharmd a big warm welcome to TGN forums. I recently made a pain salve with SJW as the main ingredient (fresh flowers) & then added frankincense EO, gotta say I’m impressed. I make a rocky road type chocolate snack & either put a couple of drops of either wild orange or peppermint EO, depending on my mood & it tastes great.

Thanks for the heads up on Natures Pharmacy, I’ll check it out. I’m sure you’ll enjoy this group of like minded people from around the world. I’ve learnt so much since I joined up. Have a look around the site, courses, blog and older discussions on the forum. All the best for 2022.

Lisa K

I have discovered that Tea Tree oil works great on spider bites! It takes away the itch and reduces the swelling.

annbeck62

@Lisa K do you use it neat or dilute with a carrier oil?

Lisa K

@annbeck62 I use Trader's Joe which is 100% Australian Tea Tree Oil (I had to look😊), there is no carrier oil mixed with it but it does say to put on a cotton pad and not to put the full strength on the face.

Merin Porter

https://community.thegrownetwork.com/discussion/comment/908419#Comment_908419

I know I'm late to the party here, @tiffpharmd , but I'd love the recipe for this pain salve if you'd be willing to share! Thank you!