When I was a kid, my mama always said that good food was like medicine, and on some level, she was totally right. A good bowl of chicken noodle soup or a swipe of Vick’s VapoRub to the chest does tend to make people feel better, so why are we so hesitant to accept the natural healing process that aromatherapy provides? Is it the fear of turning into a crunchy mom– who swears that essential oils are why “medical miracles” exist– or the lack of knowledge in the general public surrounding them? While option one is a completely valid fear, there is always more we can learn in order to help our bodies.
Now, in order to understand the benefits of essential oils and aromatherapy, you have to know what it is. The name “essential oil” itself is derived from containing the “essence” of a plant, typically smelling and flavored after said plant. Herbs, and plants in general, have been used medicinally as early as some scholars say 3000 BCE. The bark of a yew tree creates a great salve for cuts and scrapes, lavender is calming both mentally and physically, elderberries are fantastic for digestion issues, and so on. Aromatherapy, a type of treatment based on the usage of these plant essences, can include oil massages and oil diffusion among other things. Topical application of essential oils by way of beauty products or skin care can help the holistic healing of the plant’s derivative to travel through the body’s bloodstream, as well as assist in emotion and behavior regulation via the body’s olfactory cells (how you’re able to smell things).
My three most used essential oils are as follows:
- Peppermint and lavender for my chronic migraines
- Young Living’s DiGize for an upset stomach (This blend includes Ginger, Peppermint, Juniper, Fennel, and other herbs that assist in soothing and progressing digestion)
- Lemon-Rosemary for an added freshness to the air. Perfect for stagnant rooms without being an overpowered perfume (I created the blend as a dupe for Bath and Body Works Cotton and Lemonade scent, which I found pleasant, but way too artificial).
Now, you may be thinking at this point, how do I even mix oils without one overpowering another or the blend itself is too much? To that, I’ll answer, a carrier oil. There are two main uses for carrier oils, topical and digestible. There are three different carrier oils that I’ll be discussing; Coconut, Jojoba, and Olive oil.
Coconut oil is both edible and used for topical applications. Unrefined coconut oil is made from fresh coconut meat and contains fatty acids that are perfect for skin nourishment and deliver a nice coconut flavor to different foods. Keep in mind that whatever oils you choose to blend with this carrier should pair well with the coconut aroma and flavor to avoid a…gross flavor.
Jojoba oil is made from the seeds of the jojoba plant and is typically used for topical application. As an already pretty oily teenager, Jojoba oil was the best carrier for me as Jojoba works to mimic sebum (the skin’s natural oil) and tricks the body into thinking it’s produced enough oil, decreasing the amount of acne present on the skin. This is the base for my peppermint lavender blend.
Olive oil is a well-known cooking oil, but it’s also used for aromatherapy and skincare! Olive oil is packed with fatty acids like coconut oil which make it perfect for the skin, and unlike coconut oil, it has a subtler fruitiness to its aroma and flavor. This is the oil that I use for my lemon-rosemary blend (and I occasionally cook with it too!).
While my experience with essential oils may not be your own, I have had quite a positive encounter with them and would definitely recommend all three of my blends. The journey into essential oils is one of exploration. Don’t be afraid to start off with dollar store essential oils to test out scents (though I don’t necessarily recommend them for digestion or topical use, they work just fine for scent) to find what you like and what you don’t. As you discover your scent and flavor profile, maybe dig a little deeper than lavender salt baths and try a peppermint mix when little Timmy’s arm has growing pains. Remember, breathe in and breathe out.