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Daily Guide to Essential Oils: How To Use Tips and Benefits

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Daily Guide to Essential Oils: How To Use Tips and Benefits

Whether you’re a veteran looking for some new tips or a beginner who wants to start using oils but doesn’t know where to start, my essential oils daily guide will help you and your family start using them today the right way!

My wife and I have been using essential oils for years. I’m actually a late-bloomer compared to Mama Z, who has been using these precious natural solutions since she was in her teens! We’ve tried several brands and have completely rearranged our medicine cabinets over the years, and have become leaders in the industry as my articles, books, and conference presentations grow in popularity.

Do’s and Don’ts of Using Essential Oils

Before I dive into my essential oils guide to help you use them as part of your daily natural health regimen, there are some “housekeeping” items we need to discuss. When using our essential oils guide, here are some do’s and don’ts to consider.

Daily Do’s:

  1. Inhale essential oils in a diffuser, inhaler, spritzer, and other fun ways. See some of the most popular diffuser blend recipes to help you get started.
  2. Add essential oils to your daily body care regimen.
  3. Be careful – and learn the basics. My Aromatherapy 101 for Essential Oil Beginners article will help.
  4. Enjoy the good things in life! There’s nothing like one drop of lemon or orange oil that has been solubilized in a 32-ounce glass liter of sparkling water with some liquid stevia as a special soda pop treat.
  5. Have fun & be empowered! Using essential oils and other natural therapies is a life-changing experience for most people and remember to enjoy the journey as you learn all about them in our essential oils guide.

Daily Do Not’s:

  1. Consume essential oils for “prevention.” This is wasteful and dangerous, and I was a victim of the take-a-drop-of-essential-oil under your tongue (or in your water) everyday myth until I irritated my esophagus and developed acid reflux! The more I learn about EOs, the less I consume them – only for specific health conditions or my special soda. 😉 And, no, it doesn’t matter how “pure” or “therapeutic” they are stated on the label (see our report on the best essential oil brands for more about labeling language). Daily consumption is NOT the most effective (and medicinal) way to use them, and it has taken me 3 years of trial & error (lots of error) and literally hundreds (if not thousands) of research hours to get to this “revelation.” So, please learn from my mistakes! 🙂
  2. Believe that “there is an oil for that.” Essential oils have changed my life so much that I have devoted much of my personal and professional lives to sharing the message that they are truly God’s Medicine. Seriously, I’m the “oil” guy, and I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to be featured on countless health summits, conferences, and documentaries. Yet, let’s be real. Like anything, essential oils are limited by what they can do, and we should not fall into the trap of believing that they are the end-all cure because misguided hope will disappoint.

Ok, now that we’ve cleaned house, let’s get to work…

Aromatherapy for Fragrance

When people say that essential oils have been used for thousands of years, they’re referring to the art of aromatherapy when tribal cultures burned plants to make incense for spiritual and medicinal purposes. Remember, modern-day distillation didn’t exist back then, and our ancestors never had access to what we know now as “essential oils.” Still, the use of aromatic herbs, roots, flowers, and fruits was widely enjoyed.

Throw away the glade plug-ins and wall flowers! They emit toxic chemicals that have been linked to neurotoxicity and cancer, which is why every house should have multiple diffusers running throughout the day. Not only will they help make your house smell and feel refreshing, but they also emit aromatic “volatiles” that have significant medicinal properties.

Research studies have linked inhaling diffused lavender essential oil to:

  • Decreased oxidative stress
  • Reduced postnatal depression and anxiety
  • Improved mood for people suffering from PTSD
  • Enhanced sleep and decreased moodiness
  • Increased overall health status
  • Prevented allergic reactions

Applying diluted lavender EO directly on cuts and burns has also been shown to speed the healing. On a personal note, I have extremely sensitive skin, and I have a tendency to nick myself pretty well when I shave my face. Whenever this happens, I put a drop of diluted lavender on my cut, and the bleeding usually stops immediately!

  • For burns, mix a 2% dilution of lavender in some thickened aloe gel. Struggling with eczema? A 2% lavender body butter speeds up the healing process. Use equal parts beeswax, cocoa or shea butter, and sweet almond oil (we suggest apricot kernel oil if you’re allergic to almonds) to make your butter base!
  • For sunburn or dry skin, add 5 drops of lavender in 1 ounce of thickened aloe gel and allow it to chill. The combined relief provided by the lavender and the cool touch of the chilled gel is heaven on sunburned skin!

Daily Guide to Body Care Essential Oils

Next to inhalation, safe topical essential oil application is a must for anyone wanting to experience Abundant Life health and wellness. The benefit is two-fold:

  1. Essential oils penetrate into the bloodstream within minutes of being applied to the skin and are completely metabolized within hours. How much and how fast this occurs ultimately depends on the oil used. But this absorption does mean that your body will benefit from the healing chemical compounds in the essential oil for a more limited time, which (unlike drugs that can linger much longer in the body – some even days!) gives you more control of your body.
  2. When you apply topically, you also receive the inhalation benefit as the volatile organic compounds reach your nose!

We try to do it yourself as much as possible in our home and include EOs in everything from our toothpaste to body lotion and liquid hand soap. The aroma in our home is intoxicating, and my family and I are always asked why we “smell so good!” Chances are that you’re applying aromatic compounds on your skin as it is with conventional, store-bought body care items. So, why not use the real deal instead of the synthetic stuff that has been connected with cancer, autoimmune disease, and neurocognitive disorders?!?

While Americans are incessantly enticed by the intoxicating aromas, flashy packaging, and false promises of sustained youth and beauty from healthcare products, the global beauty market is expected to reach $265 billion in 2017! Now, there is nothing wrong with making a buck, but one question we all should be asking is what is the real cost of using these products to our health?

“Well, nothing.” You may be thinking to yourself. “I don’t eat them; I just put them on my skin!”

True, but did you know that your skin is the largest organ in your body, and EVERYTHING you put ON your skin goes INTO your body? Just think about the price of beauty when you consider the long-term effects of putting chemicals on your body every day!

But don’t worry yourself sick over it. By using our essential oils guide, ALL of your body care products can be made with essential oils!

  1. Be sure to visit my wife’s Essential Oil Guide: Body Care Recipes database for tips on how to make everything from flea shampoo for dogs to toothpaste!
  2. Also, don’t forget to check out our Essential Oils Guide: Household Cleaners to protect you from all the toxins of conventional household cleaning products!

Guide to Oil Pulling

Love, love, love oil pulling! Anyone can do it, and all you need is some essential oils and a carrier oil that’s probably in your kitchen already, like olive, coconut, or sesame. I have found that it’s the easiest, most effective way for anyone to start using essential oils to get immediate results!

With that said, I still don’t recommend oil pulling every single day. Like most natural therapies that cause a strong detoxifying response, I give my body a break once in a while. Personally, I like to oil pull a couple of times per week.

Oil pulling works by detoxifying your oral cavity in a similar way that soap cleans dirty dishes. Because most toxins are fat-soluble, it literally sucks the dirt (toxins) out of your mouth and creates an antiseptic oral environment that contributes to the proper flow of dental liquid that is needed to prevent cavities and disease. The ancient Ayurvedic system for health in India has used oil pulling for years to treat just under 30 systemic diseases, ranging from headaches and tooth decay to diabetes and asthma.

To help detox, keep your smile bright and shining, and freshen up your breath, mix essential oils with unrefined, organic coconut oil or another carrier. Here are some tips:

  • Like most other detoxification procedures, the best time to oil pull is first thing in the morning, right after you get out of bed.
  • All you need to do is swish between 1 – 2 tablespoons of the coconut or sesame oil and 1 drop of an essential oil (or EO blend) in your mouth for 10 – 20 minutes. Easy peasy!
  • Don’t worry, you won’t even notice 20 minutes have gone by if you do this during your normal morning routine (i.e. while you shower, put your clothes on, and prep for the day).
  • Be sure NOT to spit out the mixture into your sink, or the coconut oil will harden and may end up clogging up your pipes.
  • Either spit it out in the trash or in a jar or some other container.
  • Immediately afterward, rinse your mouth out with warm water.
  • Use salt water for added antimicrobial properties.
  • Don’t be shocked if the oil/saliva mixture you spit out is milky white or yellow.
  • Finally, brush your teeth as normal.

Note: This should be a relatively relaxing process, so don’t think that you need to swish your mouth with oil for the entire time – you’ll be bound to wear out your jaw muscles! Simply move the oil in your mouth and through your teeth without swallowing any of it.

Oil Pulling & Daily Essential Oils Guide Uses

I recommend oil pulling no more than 3-4x per week.

  • Add 1 drop of clove, lemon, or orange essential oil with 1 tablespoon of coconut oil.
  • If you’re battling an infection, you may want to would change it up and use 1 drop of an immunity blend as a holistic remedy.

Oral Care

In addition to oil pulling, try using EO instead of (or in addition to toothpaste). One drop of clove, peppermint, or orange on your toothbrush will supercharge your fluoride-free toothpaste, or if you want to make your own remineralizing toothpaste, just combine Himalayan pink sea salt, baking soda, unrefined coconut oil, and essential oils. Some of our favorite combinations are:

Read our in-depth report for more daily essential oils guide toward oral health solutions.

Recent research studies suggest that frankincense can kill cancer. The essential oil also promotes health and vitality in neighboring non-cancerous cells through a process known as “cell selectivity,” which is pretty amazing when you think about it! Before we all drink a bottle of frankincense in the race for the cure, it’s important to put things into perspective and remember that the studies out there are in vitro (cells in a petri dish).

We still have a long way to go before doctors start prescribing oils as a viable cancer treatment, but social proof resounds as the testimonials on the Internet support the possibility that people can receive significant benefits from regular frankincense consumption.

In addition to frankincense, my essential oils guide suggests using other EOs that pack a super-powerful antioxidant boost, with clove topping the charts. I like to make an immunity blend that includes 1 drop of each of these oils: cinnamon, clove, eucalyptus, lemon, orange, and rosemary.

To help prevent getting sick around flu season and boost your immune system, try using my immune boosting shot 2- 3 times per week at the onset of a cold or around flu season.

Morning Immune Booster

Morning Immune Booster
 
Author:
Ingredients
Instructions
  1. Mix together in a glass bowl and enjoy twice daily at the onset of a cold or once per day for prevention.
  2. Wash down with pure, filtered water.
  3. Be sure not to use it for more than two weeks at a time.
Notes
*Immune Boost Blend: Equal parts Cinnamon, Clove, Eucalyptus, Rosemary, Orange, and Lemon essential oils

This can be enjoyed straight or with a little bit of water to wash it down. Depends on your palate.
It is not recommended to add this mixture to hot tea because this will kill the enzymes in the honey and vitamin C. If you want to add to your tea, make sure it is cooled down to room temp.

Safety Notes

  1. Be careful not to take this mixture daily for extended periods of time (more than 2 weeks). Our bodies quickly develop resistance, and so do bacteria and viruses! Alternatively, consider switching up the protocol with a non-essential oil-based product.
  2. Do not consume essential oils on a regular basis for “prevention.” Not only is it a waste of money, but it is oftentimes unneeded, and you may end up causing damage to your body. At one point in my early EO career, I was so enthusiastic about using them that I was taking a couple of drops of a variety of oils in my mouth (straight, undiluted) every day, and I shortly ended up with a mild case of acid reflux and really irritated my esophagus! With that said, there’s nothing wrong with adding a drop of cilantro to your guacamole and enjoying some lemon solubilized in your water if you like the taste, but let’s not overdo it. 🙂

Remember, Quality, NOT Quantity is Key!

One thing to remember is that not all essential oils are created equal. In fact, many on the market are veritably worthless to your health because they are over-processed, include synthetic ingredients, and are not organic. When buying essential oils, make sure they are pure and that you aren’t purchasing fragrance or adulterated oils.

Also, take note of those oils that are “food grade” compared to cosmetic grade. Personally, if I wouldn’t swallow it, I wouldn’t put it on my skin. So, keep a lookout for that as well!

I have outlined all the steps you need to take when choosing an essential oils brand, so don’t worry about making a wrong decision. I’ve got ya covered!

What do you think? Ready to use oils now?!?

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