Essential Oils are everywhere these days! People that I’ve talked to range from the opinion of “I don’t know anything about them, nor do I want to” to the people to whom they have been life changing. If you are anything like me, the whole thing seems a bit overwhelming, and you have no idea where to start. I have only dipped my toe into the huge world that is essential oils, but the few that I have used have shown results!
Note: The only oils that I have used have been ones through the company Young Living. While there are other companies out there that might be good as well, I am familiar with Young Living and their “Seed to Seal” promise. This means, to quote from their website, that “from the time the seed is sourced until the oil is sealed in the bottle, we apply rigorous quality controls to ensure that you are receiving essential oils exactly the way nature intended.” So, basically I choose to use this company because I am sure that what I’m putting on my skin or in my body is 100% natural with no additives or anything like that.
Here are the top five oils that have proved to be beneficial in my life along with the ways I use them.
1. Tea Tree Oil
Tea Tree Oil has helped me conquer breakouts very quickly! It is very important to avoid putting undiluted essential oils on the skin because they then can cause irritation or become potentially harmful. So, I added a few drops of this oil to a ‘carrier oil’ (olive oil, coconut oil, avocado oil, etc.). When I’m experiencing a breakout, I apply this oil at night after washing my face to the affected area. Tea Tree oil is known to aide with getting rid of blemishes because it naturally zaps the bacteria.
2. Thieves
Thieves is an oil that has be proven to be very helpful to your immune system. When I am home on the weekends, I always put in in my mom’s diffuser for 15-20 minutes which purifies the air and, honestly, smells really good! Thieves has a kind of cinnamon-like scent and taste. I will occasionally put a few drops into my tea in the morning. I also know that my family adds it to water in a spray container to use as a cleaning spray because it works very well at killing bacteria.
3. Lemon
This is also another oil that works great in a diffuser. It smells so clean and fresh! When I am at college, though, I uses lemon drops in my water to add flavor. Lemon also has lots of vitamins and nutrients and helps cleanse your body of toxins and waste. The list of the benefits of lemon in your life goes on and on as it supports digestion, supports kidney and liver function, and all around makes me feel brighter and fresher when I drink it in my water.
4. Stress Away
This is a blend made specifically by Young Living that includes lime, cedarwood, vanilla, and lavender. ALL great smells! This oil does just what it claims – takes the stress away. I have a perfume roller attached to my bottle and apply it to my wrists or the back of my neck. Sometimes, when the pressures of classes are really getting to me, I keep it with me in my bag and just smell it when I feel anxious. I highly recommend this oil!
5. Peppermint
This oil is a staple for me when I just don’t feel good. If you have it in a bottle with a carrier oil, you can put it on your temples to help relieve a headache. Also, when I have a crampy stomach I can put some on my stomach and it really helps calm down my digestive system. Peppermint is also great if you need a minty boost during the day – you can smell it or put it in your coffee or water.
I know that the world of oils can be a lot to take in, but the oils that I mentioned are a good starting point if you are interested in how oils might you in your life. It is very easy to research the properties of each oil online, also, so you are able to find just what you need!