Mother Nature’s Medicine Cabinet

Essential Oils are like Mother Nature’s private stash.  She keeps them hidden inside all kinds of flowers, plants and trees. She has them on hand for all kinds of ailments and injuries or when you just need a pick me up or when you want to de-stress and relax.

 They have been used for thousands of years dating back to ancient civilizations as far back as 2000 b.c. by Chinese herbalists, in Tibetan temples, Indians, Egyptians, Romans and Greeks. They used them as perfumes, massage oils, in ceremonies and rituals and as remedies for several ailments. Hippocrates, the Father of Medicine, was known for using myrrh, cinnamon and cassis to treat skin inflammation and battle wounds.

Aromatic oils can be found in various parts of a plant including the seeds, bark, roots, leaves, flowers, wood, balsam and resin.

The term “Aromatherapy” was first used by a French chemist, Rene-Maurice Gattefosse in 1928.  He accidentally learned that lavender oil healed a burn that he had and also prevented scarring.  After that incident in his lab, he continued studying the therapeutic uses of essential oils for most of his life.

The effects of these oils provide a lot more benefit than just smelling nice.  They actually provide:

• Pharmacological changes (when absorbed through the skin or inhaled)
• Psychological effects (when inhaled)
• Physiologically (giving you a sense of relaxation or invigorating you)

When applying essential oils to the skin, I recommend mixing them together with some kind of carrier oil such as:

• Coconut oil
• Almond oil
• Jojoba oil
  

My favorite way to enjoy essential oils is by diffusing them.  I have a small diffuser that I bought online from GreenAir.   They sell several types of ultrasonic diffusers that gently lets out a mist of whatever oil you choose to use.  The scent wafts through the air and creates a comforting sense of peace and calm.

Here I am using my Green Air diffuser at work. This compact model is called the “Scenttrekker”.  As you can see, it doesn’t take up a lot of room. It has a USB connection cord that you can plug into any computer or USB adapter.  You can turn on the soft lavender light on top which is really nice in a darker setting.  It’s very easy to use: just unscrew the top, fill with a small amount of tap water up to the fill line and add  5 drops (or more if you want) of your favorite essential oils.  You can try a single oil such as Lavender or a pre-blended mixture for multiple, synergistic benefits such as Plant Therapy Germ Fighter Synergy Essential Oil Blend. 100% Pure, Undiluted, Therapeutic Grade. Blend of: Lemon, Clove Bud, Cinnamon Cassia, Eucalyptus, and Rosemary. 30 ml (1 oz).” to fight off germs, which is what I use at work. We are surrounded by sick people all of the time and patients are always asking me how I don’t get sick.  I tell them it’s the essential oils!

You can purchase the “Scenttrekker” HERE

Here is a great guide for creating your own essential oil recipes for your diffuser:

CLICK HERE: