You may have heard of essential oils. But what exactly are essential oils and more importantly how do you use them?

That’s what I’m going to teach you about today. 

I’ve been using essential oils for a few years now. I got into them during massage school, and quite honestly, I was a little skeptical about them at first. 

Fortunately, I had an amazing teacher who dug down into the science of it all and helped me understand how they can actually be useful. She broke it down to a chemical level and then I saw the connection. 

So let’s dive in!

What are essential oils?

Essential oils are oils extracted from plants. They can be extracted through:

• Water distillation
• Water and steam distillation
• Steam distillation
• Cohobation
• Maceration
• Enfleurage 

Depending on what part of the plant the oils are extracted from, will determine which method is used. Many oils come from the leaves and flowers of plants. However, some oils, like frankincense, come from the gum resin of the tree. While other plants have the oil extracted from roots, bark, or seeds.

These oils are what give plants their aromas and actually help them with pollination.

Different ways to use essential oils

There are multiple ways to use essential oils. The main ways are:

• Topically
• Aromatically
• Internally

Depending on what your goal is from the oils, you’ll want to choose the best method of delivery.

Topical Essential Oil Use

Oils can be used when diluted into other mediums. You can use them to create shampoo, salves, lotions, and skincare products. 

You’ll want to use this method if you’re treating rashes, acne, or other external issues.

Aromatic Essential Oil Use

Oils can be diluted with water in a diffuser so they are circulated in the air. You can inhale them from your hands or straight from the bottle. Or you can even use diffuser jewelry that holds the scent for hours so you can experience the benefits all day. 

Aromatic use is great for seasonal allergies, cleaning the air in your house, or improving your mood.

Internal Essential Oil Use

Some oils can be used internally. However, there are some oils that are very dangerous if ingested. So they can’t all be used that way. The ones that you can, though, can be used while cooking or by putting a few drops in your water. An alternative is using capsules that you put the drops of oil into and take the capsule — like you would a vitamin.

Certain oils are great for systemic use so using them in capsule form lets your body use them where it thinks they’re the most needed.

How do essential oils work?

Now, you might be a skeptic, and that’s okay. You don’t need to believe in the oils to reap their many benefits. Multiple studies have proven their ability to work fantastically as complementary medicine. 

So quiet that voice in your head that is saying, “how in the world can an oil fix all my problems?” here is the science you need.

Topically and internally it’s more simple for us to comprehend. We are used to using salves, creams, and supplements to remedy our ailments. But aromatically, it can be really difficult to wrap our heads around how smelling something equates to health benefits. 

In their most basic form, essential oils are plant-derived chemicals. Chemicals often sets off alarms in our minds saying, “alert! This is bad! It is not natural and it will hurt you!” 

These chemicals are much like the antioxidants and polyphenols (also plant-derived chemicals/compounds) that offer our bodies healing properties.

The aromatic chemicals affect our olfactory system. This contains the nerves that connect your brain to your nose. As you inhale these compounds they have direct actions on your brain. 

Essential oils can easily cross the blood-brain barrier which gives them potent effects on your mood, motivation levels, and other positive effects on your brain. 

Some studies suggest that there are multiple methods where oils can affect your olfactory system. Depending on the compounds released from that individual oil it can affect different parts along the olfactory system from your nerves to your olfactory bulb to your glomeruli and your brain itself. 

So it’s important to choose oils wisely.

How to know if you have good quality essential oils

The best way to know if your essential oils are a good brand is by testing the oil itself. The biggest thing to know is that your essential oil by itself should not feel oily. 

Contrary to their name, essential oils should have more of a watery consistency than oily. 

Choosing a high-quality essential oil is important because you’re using them in/on your body. So another way to know that you’re getting the oils that you are looking for is to make sure they have a seal of approval. 

CPTG (certified pure tested grade) is the highest quality ranking you can get for essential oils. 

Best brands of essential oils

doTERRA is my top brand for essential oils. They have ensured that all of their oils are ethically sourced and do not allow pesticides to be used that can alter the safety of the oils. They also do a lot to give back to the community so I feel good after I purchase their oils knowing that not only am I giving myself a high-quality health product, but I’m also supporting job sustainability in other countries.

Young Living is comparable to doTERRA However, I really loved the company of doTERRA much more than Young Living so that’s where I will continue to go for my oils.

Aura Cacia is the only other brand of oil I will use. They’re actually carried in stores so I don’t have to worry about shipping. And they’re quite good quality!

All in all, essential oils are a great way to supplement your health. If you’re looking to improve your mood, fight off acne, or improve digestive issues, they can be a great holistic healing option for you to try.
Interested in getting some oils of your own? Check out my personal doTERRA site (I do get a commission off any sales made on my site).