Back for week TWO of my “Essential Oils 101” series! If you missed last week “What are essential oils and how are they made?” you can check out that post here!

Also, TONIGHT (Tuesday, November 11th), at 9pm EST, I’m hosting an ONLINE essential oils 101 class on Google hangouts! You can RSVP to the Facebook event here and you can view the class here!

Today’s post is all about how to USE essential oils! This is such a common question and one that I had when I first got my starter kit because you get these oils and then you’re suddenly like… uhhhh, what do I do with them?!

How To Use Essential Oils

1. Topically

Because of the molecular structure of essential oils, they are absorbed by the skin at a CRAZY fast pace. You can apply them directly to the skin in one of two ways…

• NEAT: this means applying the oil, by itself, right on the skin
• DILUTED: this means mixing the oil with a “carrier oil” like coconut oil, sweet almond oil, or olive oil, and then applying it to the skin

You can apply the oils to really ANY place on the body EXCEPT directly in the eye or directly in the ear canal… because if you put the oil in either one of those places it’s going to BURN. If you do happen to get any oil in your eye or ear canal, dilute it ASAP with a carrier oil. NOT WATER. Oil and water do not mix and water will NOT help the situation.

You can also apply the oils to the “Vita-Flex” points on your foot that relate to an organ system and activate that particular system’s reflex. (See the picture below)

Applying the oils directly to your feet on those points are a GREAT way to absorb the oils into your system quickly. Your foot has over 2,000 pores – they’re some of the largest on the body! You can also put some of the oils in the bath, if you’d like… I know some people who like to mix a few drops of the oil with epsom salt in a separate bowl and then pour that in the bathtub!

2. Direct Inhalation

Okay, I’m about to get real science-y on you. You’ve been warned.

Think about how a certain smell or fragrance can trigger a certain memory… you know what I mean? Well, there’s a lot of research that shows that when you inhale the pure constituents in these oils, they can stimulate the olfactory receptors (the little things in your brain that detect odor) and activate regions in the brain’s limbic system associated with memory, emotion, and state of mind.

So, basically, in less than ONE SECOND, the scent of a particular oil has the power to activate and turn on a bunch of physical and emotional responses. This causes the pituitary gland to be stimulated and release chemical messages that travel via the blood to all of your glans and organs and create physical body responses.

SO, all of that being said, that’s why inhaling the oils can have a major impact on your emotions and emotional patterns. The only way to really reach that part of your brain (the emotional part) is through your nose, not your mouth.

3. Diffuse

Diffusing helps to purify and cleanse the air around you from environmental impurities… things like cigarette smoke, pets, food, and other disagreeable odors.

75% of homes in America use synthetic air fresheners that contain a TON of chemical agents that have been linked to air fresheners… like formaldehyde. Yuck.

Diffusing is a GREAT way to make your room smell great and to experience the same benefits of the oils in the air.

4. Internally

*I should note that you should only take oils internally that are listed as SAFE for internal use. In this post I’m talking about Young Living oils and my experience with Young Living oils because I know that these oils are safe for internal use… If you see an oil that is labeled “not for internal use” or “do not ingest” – that should be a HUGE red flag to you about what is in that oil.

You can put oils into your water, tea, coffee, milk, or juice… you can put them into an empty vegetable capsule… you can even COOK with your oils and add them to you food. Many oils are a GREAT supplement and you can reap crazy awesome benefits by ingesting them!

Just always be sure to read your labels carefully. 🙂

PRECAUTION Guidelines:

• Do not put essential oils directly in eyes or ear canal, it will burn.
• If an essential oil feels hot to the skin, put a carrier oil on the area and it will bring relief.
• If an essential oil gets in your eye, put a carrier oil around the eye for relief. Do NOT use water!
• Pregnant women, epileptics, and those with high blood pressure should consult their doctors as there are a few oils that should be avoided.
• Citrus oils are photosensitive, so if applied topically, avoid being in the sun for a long period of time.
• Read the label for any allergy information.

So, there you have it. That’s how you can actually USE your oils! 

I hope y’all can check out the online class tonight! And I’d LOVE for you to submit a question or two by leaving a comment on this post… it will be answered in the class tonight!!