LITTLE BITS OF WISDOM

LITTLE BITS OF WISDOM

As my son is getting ready to head off as a missionary for our church, my mother and I are getting him Essentially prepared!  So, as a mom, I am writing this specifically for him, but assume it is good knowledge for anyone else as well.

A LITTLE GOES A LONG WAY.  Many people think that if a little works, a lot will work better.  This is not true with essential oils.  Too much may cause irritation to skin and most of all it just wastes the expensive oil.  Start with just a little.  Add a little more at a time if needed.

NEAT vs DIRTY.  Neat is simply an essential oil or blend without carrier oil added.  Dirty means that a carrier oil has been added. 

WHERE TO APPLY- Obviously, if you have a specific location that is affected you apply to that location or area.  Other areas that are generally used for application are behind the ears and down the neck (close to lymph), back of neck (brain stem), over heart (emotions & breathing), wrists (I honestly don't know why), and bottoms of feet (low skin sensitivity and very high absorption- also great for stinky oils as it is far away from your nose!)

CARRIER OIL should always be used with essential oils when applying topically to skin.  Failure to do so could result in an allergic reaction and permanent resistance to the oil.  This would truly be a shame and because oils are used is so many products from stores, etc, you could be causing yourself big trouble down the line, having to avoid anything with that allergen!  Carrier oils can be coconut oil (in cream form) or FCO (fractionated coconut oil) which is the liquid version, olive oil, avocado oil, apricot oil, etc.  Carriers don't always have to be oils.  Witch hazel is a good carrier for skin care.  Other carriers could be liquid soaps or creams of various kinds.  Water is general not considered a good carrier as the oils do not mix well.

HOT OILS such as Oregano, Peppermint, Cinnamon, Clove Bud, Lemongrass, Thyme, Eucalyptus, etc. are exactly what it sounds like.  They can be irritating to the skin and leave a "burning" feeling.  Be sure to add plenty of carrier oil and test a patch on skin.  If skin is irritated or too hot DO NOT USE WATER to remove!  This will only spread and intensify the irritation!  Apply generously a carrier oil to dilute on skin until burn subsides, then rinse with soap and water.

OREGANO OIL is the strongest anti-everything (bacterial, viral, fungal, etc.) immune oil there is!  Never be without it!  However, only use oregano continually for a maximum of 14 days as it can accumulate in the system and become toxic.  Take a 14 day "vacation" after 14 days of continual use to cleanse it from your system and reboot.

DIFFUSING is a great way to use oils.  I would suggest running your diffuser every night with lavender which will help you to sleep and help purify your air.  If you are sick or even think you might be coming down with something I would suggest adding the Cold/Flu Buster blend formulated for diffusing.  If you just need a pick-me-up try cinnamon, orange, peppermint or Happy Family.  Note that it is better to use oils without the carrier oil (neat) when using a diffuser.  If you use a blend that has a carrier oil, make sure you get a Q-tip and clean out your diffuser really well afterward or you may gunk up your diffuser and it may quit working.  Be sure to clean your diffuser regularly anyway to keep it in good working condition.  Only 2-3 drops of oil is necessary for diffusing.

ROLL-ON/TOPICAL- If I am preparing an oil or blend that I know I am going to be applying topically to my skin, I prefer to use a roller bottle.  It just ends up being less messy and easy to apply.  When preparing a blend in a roller bottle, go ahead and add the carrier oil.  This would be considered a DIRTY blend.

DROPPER BOTTLES are great for NEAT blends.  If I am not necessarily going to be applying a blend directly to my skin but may add it to a salve/carrier later, or if I was possibly going to use it to diffuse or ingest, or use it for cleaning solution, etc., then I would not want to add the carrier to the bottle.

PREGNANCY/CHILDREN- I know this is not a concern directly of my son :), however, I feel I should add this warning.  There are many essential oils that are NOT SAFE during pregnancy and nursing.  Also, some are not safe for children and those that are safe need to be diluted even more when using with children.  Seek further knowledge in these situations.

CONTRA-INDICATIONS- Essential oils should not be used on people with seizure disorders.  Those who have liver or kidney problems should not ingest oils.  Those receiving chemotherapy and radiation may be more sensitive.  High blood pressure can be affected by some oils (Rosemary & Thyme).  If you have a chronic health condition it is wise to seek further knowledge and advice from your physician.

INTERNAL USE of essential oils can be very beneficial in many cases, however caution must be taken as some essential oils can be extremely toxic, even in small amounts.  Also, some may be generally safe but may build up in your system and become toxic over time (Oregano).  Most essential oils are GRAS (Generally Regarded As Safe) by the FDA.  Although it is not all-inclusive, my general guideline is that if it is a tree (with the exception of Melaleuca), it is probably not ingestable.  Arborvitae, Birch, Cypress, Eucalyptus & White Fir for example.  Wintergreen is also extremely toxic and should not be ingested!

DOSAGE- Apply as often as every five minutes with severe injury or progressing illness, two to four times a day if you catch the illness early, or one to three times a day for chronic conditions.  Orally total daily dosage 5-30 drops depending on oils and condition.  Topically, up to 25-45 drops depending on oils and condition.  Typically 2-3 drops per "application" of oil is plenty.

SUN may be intensified by some essential oils.  This is call photosensitivity.  Use caution when exposing skin to sun when using these oils:  (Not an all-inclusive list) Bergamot (very photosensitive!), Dill, Grapefruit, Lemon, Lime, Tangerine, Orange

MUCOUS MEMBRANES such as eyes, ears, genitals, etc. are very sensitive tissues and should be avoided by direct contact with essential oils.  Never put in eyes or directly in ears.  Use in nasal passages only in extreme dilutions.

BIRCH & WINTERGREEN are great pain relievers and have the same chemical used in Aspirin so should not be used by persons allergic to aspirin.