Essential Oil 101

It takes hundreds – sometimes thousands – of pounds of plant material to make a small amount of essential oil. And because of that, it's a powerful thing.

Michelle Gagnon, bio-alchemist, consultant for THE WELL and founder of MKG Bio Alchemy and Bio Alchemy Olfactive says the use of essential oils as an art and science can influence physical, mental and spiritual changes in you and others.

“I use essential oils in every aspect of my life — for my skin, body, and hair care products and as natural medicines, household products, and perfumes.”

In addition to being powerful and strong, essential oils are also believed to be able to treat. While there is some research that supports the effectiveness of certain oils for certain ailments (such as depression, sleep disorders, and anxiety), there isn't enough research to prove this. Nevertheless, the use of aromatic substances by various cultures around the world over thousands of years is a strong testament to their efficacy.

Essential oil

Essential oils are volatile aromatic compounds that are extracted (usually by means of steam, water, and heat) from various parts of plants — roots, bark, wood, leaves, grass, flowers, fruit, seeds or resins. The vapour is then cooled in a condenser, which returns the essence to a liquid form. There is also a cold-press extraction method, which is commonly used for citrus essential oils.

Regardless of the manufacturing process, aromas from essential oils are processed in the same parts of the brain as memory and emotion. It is capable of giving rise to many feelings and images and can enhance and captivate all the senses. What's more, “the efficacy of essential oils depends entirely on their quality and properties.

How to Use Essential Oils

You can inhale it gently straight from the bottle or rub a few drops in your hands and then inhale deeply. However, some of these pure oils can cause skin irritation, so be careful. You can also emit it into the air through a diffuser, or add it to a carrier oil and apply it to your skin. Here's how experts recommend using it:

Inhalation: Gagnon recommends inhalation for mental and emotional-related ailments. Inhale slowly from the bottle throughout the day, or add a few drops to the diffuser. You can even add a drop to your pillowcase at night.

Topical application: This method allows your body to absorb the oil, passes through your bloodstream and is an obvious application for skin care. Topical application is also suitable for treating isolated areas, pain, muscle aches, and inflammation.

Note: You must dilute the essential oils in a carrier oil (jojoba oil, coconut oil, sweet almond oil or apricot kernel oil) before applying. The general guideline is 10 to 15 drops of essential oil per one ounce of carrier oil.

*Source: https://www.the-well.com/editorial/all-about-essential-oils