About Essential Oils

What are essential oils?

Essential oils are natural aromatic compounds distilled from plants including seeds, bark, leaves, stems, roots, flowers, fruit, etc. Essential oils have regenerating, oxygenating, and immune strengthening properties that have been around for centuries going as far back as Egyptian hieroglyphics and Chinese manuscripts that show them being used. 

doTERRA essentials oils are the highest quality essential oils one can buy but not the highest priced oils. The company has taken great strides to ensure that their oils exceed standards, having kept them affordable so they are available for those who wish to improve the quality of their life. The doTERRA difference is easy to see once you have experienced these oils. doTERRA means "gift of the earth" and once you try them you will likely agree that the name is very appropriate. Each of doTERRA's oils are carefully extracted by a skillful global network of growers, distillers, and chemists ensuring a powerful experience. They are 100% pure aromatic extracts and contain no artificial ingredients. They are also tested to be free of contaminants such as pesticides and other chemical residues.

doTERRA oils are Certified Pure, Therapeutic Grade essential oils. In addition to being 100% pure and natural, the oils are subjected to further quality testing, including rigorous mass spectrometry and gas chromatography tests. These tests ensure the correct composition of the active natural compounds found in each one. doTERRA's 100% pure, natural oils represent the safest and most beneficial essential oils on the market today.

How are doTERRA essential oils used?

There are three basic ways to use essential oils aromatically, topically, and internally. The Modern Essentials book (link at the bottom of page) explains these methods. It has a section in the front that tells about each oil individually, and then a very useful section on symptoms, where you just look up your symptom, and get detailed instructions for what oil to use and how to use it. 

Aromatically: 

Diffusing oils is one of the easiest ways to use essentials aromatically. A cool-air nebulizing diffuser breaks down oils into micro-fine mist that can cover hundreds of square feet in seconds.

Vaporizers and humidifiers can also help disburse the oils throughout a large area. Use a cool mist one as heat reduces some of the benefits.

Fans and vents can be used by putting oil on a cotton ball and placing it in the fan or vent. I did this in my car before I was able to buy a car diffuser.

Direct inhalation is an easy way to use the oils aromatically, especially if you do not have a diffuser. I always say, if you have a nose, you have the ability to do aromatherapy!

Perfumes and colognes can be easily made from the oils and scents can be quickly customized to suit just about anyone. Wearing an essential oil perfume or cologne can provide emotional and physical benefits too. A great place to start is by combining whisper and ylang ylang in a small glass bottle, then fill with fractionated coconut oil (you will have to find what concentration works best for you).

Topically:

Direct application is possibly the easiest way to use the oils. Keep in mind, using a small amount of oil (1 to 3 drops) frequently is much more effective that using more drops once a day. If I have a chronic problem, I apply several times throughout the day. 

• Apply to the bottoms of the feet
• Apply along the spine
• Apply at the base of the neck
• Apply on reflex points correlating with your symptoms (this is detailed in Modern Essentials)
• Use fractionated coconut oil when using on sensitive skin or when using warmer oils

Massage: Using the oils combined with a carrier oil such as fractionated coconut oil is a great way to experience the benefits of essential oils. You can use different oils to achieve different desired results.

Reflexology: Apply oils to the contact points on hands and feet that correlate to areas that need improvement. There is an awesome chart in the front of the Modern Essentials book for this technique.

Baths: One of my favorite ways to use the oils in a nice warm bath. Depending on my desired effect, I switch up the oils. If I am in for a mood boost, I always go for ylang ylang, when experiencing muscle soreness, I reach for wintergreen. An added benefit is that the entire bathroom smells fantastic!

Internally:

Sublingual: One of the most effective ways of using the oils internally is to just put a drop or two under the tongue. Oils are quickly absorbed and I tend to experience quick results with this method. I love to use two drops of frankincense and one drop of peppermint under my tongue for a quick pick me up in the morning, or in the afternoon when I am feeling sluggish. Another go to is two drops of clary sage under the tongue just before bed for relaxation and peaceful sleep. Some of the oils are more palatable than others, so you just have to experiment and see what works for you. 

Capsules: I use this method often for oils that I really want to take internally but have a hard time with the taste. You can put 1-10 drops of essential oil in a gelatin capsule and take it internally. For caustic oils such as oregano, fill the remainder of the capsule with coconut oil or olive oil. This also can help to prevent belching.

There are many other methods for using the oils internally in the Modern Essentials book.
https://www.aromatools.com/Modern_Essentials_Fourth_Edition_2012_p/1151.htm

How you can obtain doTERRA essential oils:

You can purchase oils at retail, become a preferred member and receive 20% off, or become an Independent Product Consultant (IPC) and receive 25% plus get free oils. There is no commitment to order on a regular basis if you become an IPC, however, you can receive many free oils by participating in doTERRA's loyalty rewards program. I would love to show you how to earn the most possible essential oil freebies. For more information, contact me at blog4abetterlife@gmail.com

Where does the information on this blog come from?
I frequently listen to webinars, read literature and search the internet for information regarding essential oils and their uses. I am also on a Facebook group that is very beneficial as you can ask questions and then get responses from other oil users from their personal experiences. Most of what is shared here is directly related to experience. Using essential oils is a constant learning experience. The Modern Essentials book is a great resource that should be used as a guide through this learning experience. It has information on how to use essential oils and which essential oils to use for certain conditions. Most of my experience has come from reading this book and then using the oils. The book explains the science and application of essential oils. It has sections for single oils, oil blends, wellness supplements, and essential living and spa products. You can look up an oil to learn more about the benefits of that particular oil, or you can look up a symptom for specific instructions on how to use that oil. I have also read many other books on the usefulness of essential oils, look for references after posts to see where the information comes from.