What are Essential Oils?
Essential Oils are highly concentrated pure plant extracts. Essential oils are extracted using one of two methods: by simple pressure extraction, as is the case with most citrus oils, or steam distillation, which is the method used for the majority of essential oils.
These resulting oils are volatile in nature due to their concentration. This is why they are sold in such miniature bottles – you only need a few drops to be effective in most applications. One of the benefits of essential oils is their wonderful scent, but most have also been said to have therapeutic and healing properties.
Essential oils are very fragile in nature and must be stored correctly to preserve their shelf life. If stored in dark bottles and away from sunlight and heat, most oils can last several years. (Citrus oils are an exception to this, and usually only have a 6-12 month shelf life.) As soon as essential oils are exposed to light or heat for a period of time, they will begin to oxidize and degrade, and they will continue to lose their beneficial properties.
4 easy ways to use essential oils:
- Baths – Enjoying essential oils in the bathtub is one of the easiest ways to benefit from the wonderful aromatherapy they have to offer. Simply add 5 to 10 drops of essential oil to a full bathtub. I like chamomile and lavender for relaxation and stress relief; pine oils and rosemary are good for a post-workout soak when your limbs are achy. If you want to have something luxurious already mixed up and ready to dump into the tub, you can make bath salts and include your favorite essential oil.
- Room spray or potpourri – To avoid adding toxins to your environment with chemical air fresheners, try mixing up a homemade aromatherapy room spray with a pleasing scent. It’s always fun to gather some seasonal essential oils to make a holiday room spray. If you have potpourri that needs to be brought back to life, try adding a few drops of essential oil for a fragrant new display.
- Foot soak – Sore, tired feet can enjoy a special treat when essential oils are added to a foot bath.
- Body scrub – Homemade body scrubs are a great way to exfoliate dry, rough skin in the winter, leaving your skin smooth and soft. Treat yourself to a fragrant body-polishing session by adding essential oils to a basic sugar or salt scrub recipe.
Essential Oils vibrate at high frequencies, They’re said to have therapeutic and healing properties. Depending upon the specific, they can be inhaled, ingested or used topically concentrated or diluted to balance and/or raise you own frequency.
Frequencies for some of the therapeutic grade essential oils that have been measured:
- Rose (Rosa damascene)………………….320 MHz
- Frankincense………………………………..147 MHz
- Lavender (Lavendula angustifolia)……..118 MHz
- Myrrh (Commiphora myrrha)…………….105 MHz
- Blue Chamomile (Matricaria recutita)…..105 MHz
- Juniper (Juniperus osteosperma)………….98 MHz
- Aloes/Sandalwood (Santalum album)…….96 MHz
- Angelica (Angelica archangelica)…………..85 MHz
- Peppermint (Mentha peperita)……………..78 MHz
- Galbanum (Ferula gummosa)………………56 MHz
- Basil (Ocimum basilicum)……………………52 MHz
Kathleen Pettey
Independent Wellness Advocate
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