Major Groups of Oils and the Benefits of Each

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To many people, essential oils are really complicated– and I understand that. I was that person, too, at one time! I remember going to my first essential oils party, and purchasing a lavender oil, and then wondering, “What do I do with this?” It stayed in my hoosier cabinet for a couple of years until I got it out again. I have always been the gal who wanted to go the natural way with wellness and prevention, and as I started using lavender, I had some pulled-muscle issues in my hip, and reached out to my friend who had the oils party. She recommended Siberian Fir, and I purchased it. I was really amazed that it worked as well as it did!

It wasn’t until last year I was focused solely on using oils and learning everything I could about them. I am not going to lie, the past year and a half have been absolutely horrible for me in regards to job and health aspects, and these oils have saved my soul. As I started using them, I was confused– how do I use these? What is good for what? I will explain it for you so you have an easier time understanding than when I started out!

Citrus Oils

This category includes Wild Orange, Grapefruit, Bergamot, Lemon, Lime and Tangerine. There are many more citrus oils, but I will stick with the most commonly used ones. Citrus Oils are used primarily for:

  • Calming
  • Postiveity
  • Energizing

Whenever you need some pep put in your step, you can count on citrus oils to do the job for you! Diffuse, inhale direct from the bottle, and use in a roller blend (caution on applying to skin while out in the sun– citrus oils are photosensitive, and you can burn. Wait 12 hours to go out into sunlight if you use citrus oils topically).

Floral Oils

Any oil that is made from the flower itself – petals or other parts, are widely known to help with skincare. The most commonly used floral oils are Lavender, Rose, Yarrow, Ylang Ylang, Helichrysum, Geranium and Clary Sage.

These oils have benefits that include:

  • Anti-Inflammatory
  • Relaxing
  • Regenerative

All of the above reasons are why floral oils are very popular when it comes to skin care. They not only help with anti-aging, they are help with cuts, bruises and burns, to name a few. They, too can be diffused, inhaled directly from the bottle, and also used in roller bottle blends.

Spice Oils

Spice Oils are so aromatic and the most common ones include Black Pepper, Cardamom, Cinnamon, Clove and Ginger. Spice Oils help with:

  • Digestion
  • Immune Building
  • Parasites

You can use these oils by diffusing them, taking them internally (Only with the highest grade oils from a trusted source like CPTG oils from doTERRA), and using them topically diluted in a roller bottle.

Herb Oils

Herb oils are some of the most helpful oils when it comes to building your immune system. A few very popular ones are Peppermint, Spearmint, Oregano, Marjoram and Basil. They help with things such as:

  • Viruses
  • Detoxing
  • Anti-fungal

The list goes on with what the herb oils you can use. I recommend researching to learn more about just how powerful this group of oils can be!

Root Oils

Both oils that are distilled from roots happen to be my favorites in so many ways. They are Vetiver and Spikenard. They are most commonly known to help with relaxation, and helping people sleep. They are also good for:

  • Brain Health
  • Insomnia
  • Focus and Concentration

Vetiver is my favorite for all of the above, and more readily available. Spikenard is excellent as well, but has a scent that may be a turn off for people. Don’t be swayed by the smell– the benefits are out of this world!!

Wood Oils

This is my favorite oil group! I LOVE wood oils. The most common ones are Siberian Fir, Eucalyptus, Cedarwood, Cypress and Douglas Fir. These, too, have some great benefits:

  • Grounding
  • Steroidal
  • Skin and Hair Regeneration

I have used Cedarwood in my shampoo for quite a while now. Cypress is great for lymphatic drainage. Douglas Fir is amazing at relaxing and reducing the look of cellulite! That, and when you diffuse the wood oils, they make you feel like you are walking through a forest!

Resin Oils

Resins are a sticky substance you find on certain types of trees. The most common are copaiba, frankincense and myrrh. These are some of the most powerful oils available to you to use in your wellness toolbox. These, like the other oil groups, all have MANY benefits, but I try to break it down to the top 3:

  • Antidepressant
  • Anti-inflammatory
  • Immune boosting

I take copaiba in softgel form every day to help with inflammation and relaxing. Frankincense is used in most of the roller bottles I blend because it’s one of the most versatile oils you can use. I put a drop of Myrrh on my toothbrush with my toothpaste because it aids in gum health.

There are so many things these oils are good for. I urge you to take the time and educate yourself on essential oils and the impact they can make on your health. Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions!

“Essential” Spotlight – Tulsi (Holy Basil) and why you should add this to your collection

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Tulsi, or “Holy Basil” is an essential oil (Ocimum Sanctum) that has been used for generations, and is considered an adaptogen, meaning, it will adapt to what each individual’s body needs, whether it be stimulating or sedating.

Here are some of the key benefits to Holy Basil that you need to know:

  • Reduces anxiety
  • Helps maintain cortisol (stress hormone) levels
  • Improves blood circulation
  • Helps with acne, cold sores and warts
  • Aids with Heavy Metal Toxicity and Radiation levels that come from electronic devices
  • Helps with Parasites

If you are looking for a quality Tulsi (Holy Basil) oil, doTerra has it 10% this month. (If you become a wholesale member, you automatically get 25% off the retail price. If you have been curious about learning more about essential oils and don’t know where to start, I can help you. Click on this link to get Tulsi, or sign up as member. Please feel free to reach out to me if you need help!

“Essential”Spotlight: Citrus Oils – Lime

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When you think of citrus oils, I think the top two that comes to mind are Lemon and Wild Orange. I mean, let’s face it, citrus oils are the most popular picks when it comes to purchasing some of your first oils. Having said that, very rarely does Lime come to mind first. Before I go into the great benefits of Lime, I am going to give a little background on citrus oils and why they are so beneficial.

Why?

  • Price- Citrus Oils are extremely affordable. These oils can be distracted from every part of the citrus tree, including the rinds from the fruit itself. Therefore, the yield from citrus is very high.
  • These oils are versatile. They are great for everything from cleaning to emotional balance. Excellent cleansers and disinfectants. Great for metabolism and immunity.
  • They are just smell good! Put them in a diffuser, and citrus oils just roundout a great diffuser blend, especially with wood oils.

Why Lime?

  • Lime essential oil can clean water. I like putting a drop in a bottle of water if I don’t have my own water bottle.
  • Great for mental clarity and brain fog.
  • Detoxifier. Helps cleanse organs such as the pancreas and liver.

Lime essential oil has been very beneficial for me lately because I have a been using this along with Lemon essential oil to clean my produce. And Lime smells great in the diffuser with Black Spruce and Cinnamon.

Produce Cleanser

  • 2 drops Lemon
  • 2 drops Lime
  • Bowl of water

Place produce in bowl of water, let sit for 15-30 minutes. You wouldn’t believe the dirt that comes off!

When considering your next oil, please consider Lime. It’s cleansing benefits can not be beat!

Want to know more about the benefits of Lime? Just ask me!

“Essential” Spotlight: Guaiacwood

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Last week, doTerra had their annual Convention to unveil new oils and products that they will be offering. Though they had some really amazing products that were the highlight of the show, I would really like to focus on the oils that they presented. Today, I am going to talk about the brand new wood oil, Guaiacwood.

Guaiacwood (rhymes with kayak), is a smoky wood oil with fruity undertones. It is sourced in Paraguay, where it is called “Palo Santo”, or “Holy Wood”. It has been used for thousands of years in meditation and prayer. Even though South Americans call it “Palo Santo”, this is NOT the same as the actual Palo Santo oil. They are two different species of trees.

This oil reminds me of sandalwood and Hawaiian sandalwood. Due to it’s substantial thickness, this oil is combined with Fractionated Coconut Oil. This is an excellent oil for relaxation, great for the skin and skin hydration, and diffusing it makes your house smell so comfy and cozy. I have currently been using the combo of doTerra’s Harvest Spice and Guaiacwood, and it is such a heavenly scent for this time of year!

Guaiacwood is called “Holy Wood” in Paraguay.

I personally love wood oils, and I will go into more detail on the different groups of oils and what their primary uses are. I love the forest and outdoors, so it is not surprising that my favorite oils tend to be the wood oils!

Guaiacwood is available October 1, and I plan on purchasing another one, as I am already going through quite a bit of this at a fast clip! I highly encourage you to learn more about this great new oil and the benefits it offers. If you have any questions, I am here to help!

“There’s an oil for that”– Including the Seasons!

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I remember for many years, I used candle melts. I LOVED candle melts. I literally had a huge plastic back for each season full of candle melts for that particular season’s scents. Spring would be “Lilac”, summer would be “Sea Breeze”, fall would be “Apple Orchard”, and so on. I did this for YEARS. Right up until a year and a half ago, when I put one of my favorite candle melts in — Lilac– and I started to get such a terrible headache, I remember I felt like I was going to get sick. I was so upset because I LOVED my candle melts! I loved how they made my house smell! I was devastated that I couldn’t use them they way I used to. I even started chunking them up into 1/8 pieces because I couldn’t use the whole square anymore. It wasn’t until I started diffusing essential oils that I noticed such a huge difference it made. The headaches were gone, and my house always smelled lovely!

The combinations of essential oil diffuser blends are endless!

I had never thought about the fact that the synthetic fragrance in those candle melts were potentially hazardous to my health, and that it was the actual fragrance that was giving me the headaches. I never really paid attention, to be honest. It’s been about a year and a half that I have really seriously started incorporating essential oils into my life, and it’s amazing the difference. I love how my house smells, and I have had compliments on how my house “smells like fall”. That’s what is so fun about diffuser blends. I remember when I bought my first oils, I asked my friend, “How do I use them?” “How do I know what oils to blend together?”

Well, you just start blending, and experimenting. And that’s when, my friend, you get the “oil bug”. I have been fascinated ever since, and I have purchased and read so many books about essential oils because I just love that they are all natural and come from some of the most rare, yet some of the common plants that could be in your back yard. Health-wise, they have been a God sent, and that will be for another day. Right now, I am going to break down my most used oils by season, so you too can get, not only your house smelling nice, but reap the health benefits of diffusing your oils as well!

*Note: both lists are exhaustive– there really is no perfect seasonal oil- but these are the common ones, and many can be used year round.

Spring and Summer

Florals always come to mind for these easy, breezy, seasons:

  • Geranium
  • Lavender
  • Melissa (Lemon Balm)
  • Wild Orange
  • Clementine
  • Tangerin
  • Douglas Fir ( a really great woody fragrance that doesn’t smell woody)
  • Lemon
  • Lemongrass
  • Petitgrain
  • Citronella (even better, diffuse outside to keep the bugs away)
  • Rose
  • Jasmine
  • Frankincense

Fall and Winter

  • Cinnamon Bark
  • Clove
  • Cardamom
  • Coriander
  • Vanilla (could be used anytime of the year)
  • Siberian Fir
  • Cypress
  • Douglas Fir
  • Wild Orange
  • Grapefruit
  • Ginger
  • Cedarwood
  • Frankincense
  • Myrrh

To see what else I have going on, feel free to follow me on Instagram-– I go into detail on some great oils, and I have some great diffuser blends and all around in general oil-using tips you can try! If you have been on the fence with using oils, and would like to give them a try, feel free to contact me!

Introduction to Essential Oils and Why You Should Have Them in Your Wellness Toolbox

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What are essential oils?

Essential Oils are the “essence” of plants and trees– the purest liquid that is extracted from plants and trees. It is extracted through steam distillation, cold- pressing or a CO2 Extraction process from flowers, roots, leaves, bark and twigs. This very liquid is what protects plants and trees from harmful bacteria and fungus.

For thousands of years, people have been using these plants and trees to help and cure many health ailments, and used in beauty routines. Most of what they used were the plants and trees themselves, as the technology of steam distillation was far from being discovered.

Why You Should Incorporate Essential Oils into your Health and Beauty Regime?

They are naturally occurring, and are void of the harsh chemicals you find in a lot of health and wellness products in stores today. Of course, you must be careful and use essential oils safely, which I will lay out in detail in an upcoming blog.

How Do You Use Essential Oils?

There are three primary ways you can use essential oils. People often times get confused with oils after they purchase them, and I am here to help you get the most out of your oils!

  1. Diffuse– oils can be diffused with water and when inhaled, can have unimaginative emotional benefits. Many essential oils are known for helping with creating a calming and relaxing environment. They are also a great alternative to candles and other heavily-fragranced items you can get at the store. I know I loved candle melts for years, and then all of a sudden, I would get headaches after using them. Now that I use the oils, I no longer get those headaches.
  2. Topically – this is my most popular way to use essential oils. I create different blends with a carrier oil (Fractionated Coconut Oil) in roller bottles, spray bottles, etc. I do not put oils on without a carrier oil, as you can also be sensitive and have severe reactions to different oils and they are VERY potent– one drop is all you need! I have some exciting roller recipes I will be sharing.
  3. Internally – You should only consume QUALITY oils from a reputable source such as doTERRA oils. Oils from Amazon and retail chains are most likely adulterated, and have chemical fillers in them. Always research and find a quality oil brand before considering taking oils internally.

This is just a start to all the education I have for you on essential oils. I truly love learning more about natural ways of living, and if you have been considering trying them out, please contact me! I would love to help you start your journey to a healthier, more natural way of living!