Fields of Lavender...
Last week I had shared about some of the ways that essential oils can positively effect our emotions and spirit in ‘Breathe Simply, Simply Breathe‘. There could be 10 blogs easy on just that aspect of essential oils alone, and I am sure there will be more- my passion for skincare did stem from a love and appreciation for botanicals, after all! For now, I want to go into the relationship between essential oils and our physical well-being
To start, what are essential oils? I think that, before I got to know more, I pretty much believed they were some sort of elixir that healed only the people who ‘believed in them’…yup, I was pretty far off. According to Aromaweb, essential oils are:
‘…a liquid that is generally distilled (most frequently by steam or water) from the leaves, stems, flowers, bark, roots, or other elements of a plant. Essential oils contain the true essence of the plant it was derived from. (They) are highly concentrated and a little goes a long way.’
So how can this ‘essence’ effect our physical well-being? I’m so glad you asked, because just a ‘brief’ overview reveals a wealth of knowledge that- if you’re at all like me- will leave you wanting more. An excerpt from the 3000BC Product Manual:
3000BC Product Manual
‘Essential oils are highly complex, volatile substances with profound and
far reaching influence on the body’, soothe respiratory conditions
and headaches. When applied to the skin, the fragrant oils are
quickly absorbed by deeply penetrating the epidermis and reaching
the small capillaries in the dermis, where they are carried by the blood
to restore and rejuvenate the skin and body. Many of the essential oils
contain natural antibiotic, analgesic, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory,
antiviral and cytophylactic properties. Due to these therapeutic qualities,
application of selected essential oils can build up the skin’s natural
resistance to infection, deeply cleanse, dissolve bacteria, nourish,
rejuvenate, correct minor skin imbalances such as excessive oil
secretions and dehydrated skin, soothe irritated conditions, treat
troubling skin disorders such as acne, psoriasis and eczema, and
prevent the formation of wrinkles by holding back the aging process.
Because essential oils contain plant hormones and vitamins, they
influence the body’s hormonal equilibrium, regulate the production
of sebaceous glands, stimulate circulation, and rejuvenate and firm the skin.’
It’s overwhelming, right? To think that something so small (often a drop or two diluted in a carrier oil or diffused) can produce these effects. With all that possibility, though, it’s certainly worth a try! There are so many options for feeling or getting better being thrown our way, many of which cause harsh side effects and make our bodies more sick in the long run. I am a huge advocate of traditional medicine when it is both effective and necessary, but there is so much more that we can do to help ourselves in the process! Essential oils can be a great compliment- or even alternative, if possible- to a doctors treatment, and very effective with everyday physical challenges.
A fun way to get started is simply learning what oil helps which physical condition, and how to use that oil to most effectively treat what you are seeking to heal or correct. This chart is a great crash-course on the basics of essential oils and very user-friendly. Click on the pic to see all of the bonus info!
Essential Oils 101
I’m curious, what essential oils do you use and how? I’d love to hear your input in the comments below!
Best,
Korin.
