There’s a lot out there about essential oils–good and bad, true and false–and sometimes it’s difficult to get the right information about what is proven and safe versus what people simply assume to be true. Essential oils, when used properly and knowledgeably can greatly benefit your lifestyle–the question is ‘How do I know what proper and safe?’ Don’t worry–this blog will provide you with all of the knowledge and resources to get to a point where you are able to use essential oils in a way that is best for you.

So let’s start with the basics–what are essential oils, and where do they come from? Essential oils are a form of natural oil that has been extracted from a particular plant. For example, to make lavender oil, flowers from lavender plants are dried or distilled for extraction, and to make tea tree oil, the natural oil within the narrow-leaf tea tree plant is extracted from the leaves. Knowing how essential oils are made helps to understand why they are so beneficial: they’re natural substances that can be used in a variety of different ways for a medley of different treatments.

Watch this video to learn the growth, harvest, and distillation processes for Lavender Essential Oil.

To get you started, here are my Top Five Essential Oils that everyone should have.

Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil is antibiotic, anti-fungal, antiseptic, expectorant, and antiviral. It is generally used to reduce the length of the common cold or similar symptoms, to prevent viral or bacterial infections, and to clean. Tea tree oil is great, because it can be used for a wide array of things from maintaining good health to removing sticky residue from furniture.

Eucalyptus Oil

Eucalyptus oil is your go-to oil for all things sinus-related. It’s antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antispasmodic, and an amazing decongestant. For sinusitis, bronchitis, allergies, or even just a stuffy nose, eucalyptus oil will clear you up!

Peppermint Oil

Peppermint oil is antiseptic, analgesic, a stimulant, anesthetic, and antispasmodic. It’s best quality is for use to relieve sore muscles and headaches–massage it into your sore back or put a drop on each of your temples, and aches and pains, as well as the worst of migraines, will be relieved. As a bonus, peppermint is also great to use as an energy booster–sniff a whiff of peppermint oil, and get instantly rejuvenated.

Lavender Oil

Lavender oil is a great healer of topical skin injuries–from cuts and bruises to rashes and burns–lavender oil will speed up the healing process. It is primarily known for its anti-inflammatory qualities, but will also promote restfulness–if you can’t fall asleep, put a drop on each of your temples, and you’ll calm right down.

Lemon Oil

Lemon oil is the most effective natural cleaner out there. Its fresh citrus scent, as well as its disinfecting abilities, make it a useful tool for washing dishes, counters, floors, clothes–pretty much anything that needs cleaning.

I am so glad that you have sought out knowledge of essential oils through this blog–I’m looking forward to going more in-depth about all my favorite oils as well as teaching you some helpful uses for each and every one!

Over and Out!

–Courtney