Learning About Essential Oils
The Basics
OUR BODY AND ESSENTIAL OILS
Our bodies are an amazing thing. When they get hurt or ill they know what to do to heal. Colds, scrapes and other mild maladies are things which we can get over with a bit of rest and being sure infected areas are kept clean. We can strengthen our bodies by eating right, exercising, and resting regularly. But with much of our food source being genetically engineered it does not have the same nutrient levels like they used to. So adding supplements (vitamins/minerals) helps offset and gives our bodies more building blocks to work with.
Essential oils are another source of building blocks we can give to our body to help it be stronger, and therefore able to deal with the environment and various conditions our our lives. Essential oils can can provide us with many benefits such as
- Promoting a whole-body sense of relaxation
- Helping to protect cells against oxidative stress
- Reducing the appearance of blemishes
- Promote vitality and energy
- And so much more!
Unfortunately, no matter how well we try to take care of ourselves we eventually run into something the body just can’t fix on its own. That is why it is great that we have doctors and modern medicines to help when things really go awry.
Common sense must rule out. If you have something persistent or chronic, or if you have a hunch you really have something serious then please seek out a modern medical doctor. That is the blessing of living in an age where science can engage in a way that nature cannot, and provide a cure to relieve the symptoms which are preventing your body from healing.
QUALITY VS. QUANTITY
Sadly not all things in life are created equally. Even growing a crop varies from place to place. Soil condition, the amount of rainfall, sunshine, etc… all influence what is grown. To produce essential oils there are more steps involved such as the method of extraction and when you harvest the product. Finally there is the manufacturing process.
- Does a manufacturer add synthetics or a cheap base to make the oils cheaper?
- Does a manufacturer take the time to look at the chemical constituents ( what’s in the plant material) to determine if they are getting the best possible quality and benefit for us to use?
- Are the oils extracted and manufactured in a way that benefits us the most?
Whatever company you look at as a supplier for something you are going to be adding to your body (for whatever reason) you owe it to yourself to be sure that you have something that is certified pure.
It is very hard for us non-professionals to look at the results of chemical analysis and say “oh.. that proves it’s pure.” We can learn some things to spot the worst cases, but when it comes down to the hard analysis we have to trust in the reputation of professionals, and in the reputation of the company whose products we are about to consume.
This goes for everything from the diet regiment we want to try, the whole foods we are about to pick out of the natural section of a supermarket, and over-the-counter products for mild ailments. Be smart about what you are going to consume. Learn… Learn… Learn! Give yourself the best chance to steer your own health and wellness!
Lastly on this subject, please remember, all things in moderation. You would not pound down 10 pounds of vitamin C (even the yummy orange flavored chew-able ones) each day to battle a cold. So don’t over do the natural solutions too. An apple a day.. not an orchard a day is said to keep the doctor away. With essential oils, one or two drops will do it. A good quality product will have a sufficient number of molecules to serve all the cells of your body with a drop or two. So please don’t believe you have to swig an entire bottle of grapefruit every 2 hours to affect the desired results!