By Chloe Maddox
More and more people are becoming concerned with their health and what is going into their body. With that comes the rise of the use of essential oils. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the concept of using essential oils, they are the highly concentrated oil derived from roots, petals, stems, or bark that is used for medicinal purposes. The healing power of essential oils has long been known, and has been used by a multiplicity of ancient civilizations before modern medicine came about. Aspirin, for example, was created from a discovery made with the bark of a willow tree. However, unlike synthetic products, essential oils do not have any side effects.
I became interested in essential oils about three years ago when I used the TriEase Softgels seasonal blend by Doterra. I suffer from seasonal allergies and the blend of lemon, lavender and peppermint really seemed to help. The name Doterra kept popping up after that. I had the privilege of talking to a Doterra representative and founder of Olive La Vida and Aceite Mama, Karissa Raya, and really delved into the world of essential oils. One of the biggest selling points for Karissa (and I’m sure many others) is the fact that essential oils are safe for practically the whole family. Unlike many of the products falsely labelled “green” or “natural”, essential oils are as natural as can be, seeing that they are from the earth.
The natural healing power of essential oils are astounding, especially considering how simple they are and they’re not only good for internal healing but they can also be used for cosmetic purposes and the oh-so-trendy aromatherapy. One of the most popular oils is lavender which not only smells great but improves sleep quality, reduces anxiety and promotes better concentration. Another big one is tea tree oil, also known as melaleuca oil, which is used for clearing up skin as well as relieving coughs and healing wounds. And one cannot forget about peppermint oil which, because of its cooling properties, relieves sore muscles and soothes digestive issues. Those are just a few of the major ones, although the list goes on.
However, Karissa warns, “Of course, safety should be exercised and proper dilution is crucial. With essential oils, less is more.” And it is important to check that you are using the essential oil for its intended use. Some are not meant to be applied topically and others are not meant to be ingested. But otherwise, essential oils are one of the safest “medicines” out there.
Essential oils are inexpensive, effective, and have no side effects which just goes to prove that sometimes the most effective remedies are the ones that come from the earth.