FAQs
What are essential oils?
Essential oils are the concentrated liquid form of plants, seeds, roots, flowers, and trees. When grown, harvested, and distilled properly the essential oils that are realized can have a variety of life-enhancing benefits. Essential oils have have been used for centuries to promote balance to all body systems and are revered for their restorative properties to the body, mind, and spirit.
What is Therapeutic Grade?
There are four grades of essential oils produced today.
1. Therapeutic grade EOs are pure, medicinal, steam-distilled essential oils containing all desired therapeutic compounds.
2. Natural Organic and Certified Oils pass oil-standard tests but contain just a few or no therapeutic compounds.
3. Extended or Altered Oils are fragrance.
4. Synthetic or Nature-Identical Oils are created in a laboratory.
How are essential oils used?
Aromatically: Inhale directly from the bottle. Diffuse in a diffuser. Add a few drops to a bowl of hot water, cover your head and bowl with towel and breathe deeply. Place a few drops in your hand, rub hands together, cup over nose and mouth, and take several deep breaths.
Internally: Add 1-2 drops to a glass of milk, juice or tea. Put several drops in a vegetable capsule and take with a full glass of water. Place a drop or two onto a spoonful of honey. *Only take internally if pure therapeutic grade and obtained from a trusted source! If you have any questions on how to obtain pure therapeutic grade essential oils contact me.
Topically: Essential oils can be applied directly to your skin, mixed into a massage oil, or added to your health and beauty care products. Most essential oils require dilution with a carrier oil before being applied topically!*
*Carrier oils such grapeseed oil, sweet almond oil, olive oil, sesame seed oil, jojoba oil, and coconut oil are mixed with essential oils prior to application to ensure they are used comfortably. A Mother's Nature EO blends are prediluted to a safe and effective ratio with organic carrier oils. Young children and those sensitive to certain oils may require a higher dilution. Simply apply your choice of carrier oil to the skin prior to application of the EO/blend. Carrier oils may also be applied to the area after an EO/blend, if necessary.
NOTE: DO NOT USE PETROLEUM BASED PRODUCTS, BUTTER, MARGARINE, OR SHORTENING AS A CARRIER OIL.
What do I need to know before using EOs?
Whenever you are working with natural products, you never know which will work best for you until you try it. Different oils work for different people. You may have to experiment until you make the determination based on your body's specific chemistry.
When first getting started with essential oils, take it slow. Use one oil or blend at a time for a few days before introducing your body to another and take note of how you feel. Essential oils are VERY potent so a little goes a long way. Drink plenty of water to aid in flushing toxins that your body is releasing with the use of EOs. And remember that as powerful as these oils are, they cannot replace a healthy lifestyle (nutritious diet, regular exercise, adequate sleep).
If you have a disease or medical condition, or are currently on perscription medications it is recommended that you consult with a healthcare provider before using essential oils. If you have specific questions about using essential oils feel free to contact me.
What are "hot" oils?
"Hot" oils are essential oils that when applied to your skin may cause a warming or burning sensation. While, some find this side effect pleasant, others may not. When using hot oils such as clove, cinnamon, peppermint, oregano, thyme, lemongrass, or tea tree -especially for the first time- you may want to apply a carrier oil before or after applying the EO/blend as extra dilution.
Are essential oils safe for everyone?
While essential oils are general safe everyone to use there are times when you may want to avoid using certain EOs. Obviously, if you have a known allergy to geraniums, for example, avoiding using geranium essential oil.
Preganant and nursing women should avoid: basil, birch, calamus, cassia, cinnamon bark, hyssop, Idaho tansy, jasmine, lavandin, mugwort, rosemary, sage, tarragon, thyme, and wintergreen essential oils and should only use sparingly or with caution: angelica, cedarwood, chamomile, cistus, citronella, clary sage, clove, cumin, cypress, davanna, fennel, bay laurel, marjoram, mountain savory, myrrh, nutmeg, peppermint, rose, spearmint, vetiver and yarrow.
Epilepsy patients should avoid cajeput, camphor, eucalyptus, fennel, peppermint, and rosemary essential oils.
Children under the age of 12 should use essential oils only under direct supervision of a knowledgeable oil user.
If you have a disease or medical condition, or are currently on perscription medications it is recommended that you consult with a healthcare provider before using essential oils.
How often can EOs be used?
When first starting out you can comfortably use your EO/blend 1-2 times a day and work up to 3-4 times daily as needed. Follow instructions on each specific bottle for best results.
Does sun exposure affect EO use?
Some essential oils, especially citrus oils such as lemon, orange, grapefruit, bergamot, tangerine, and lime react with UV light and may cause a sensitivity. It is recommended that you avoid sun exposure for 12-48 hours after applying these oils or apply oils/blends to areas that will not be exposed.
What if I am experiencing irritation from an oil product?
If you are experiencing irritation or discomfort discontinue use of that specific product and apply a carrier oil to the affected area. Never use water to flush essential oils from your skin as this may increase your discomfort.
It is recommended that you avoid contact with essential oils near sensitive areas such as eyes, ears, genitals and mucous membranes. If an essential oil comes in contact with a sensitive area DO NOT FLUSH WITH WATER! Water serves to drive oil into the skin and eyes. Saturate the area with a carrier oil (such as olive oil) instead. This will absorb the essential oil. Wipe with a soft clean cloth and reapply carrier until EO has been fully removed. It is then safe to wash with a mild soap and warm water.
If a rash occurs, this may be a sign of detoxification. Drink plenty of water to encourage the release and removal of these body toxins. Petrochemical based soaps and body care products as well as many detergents and perfumes are known to trigger and intensify detoxification reactions. Consider discontinuation of these harmful agents. Before using EO/blend again, test a patch of your skin (on your forearm) and observe for 1-2 hours for a noticable reaction. Usually, reactions occur within 5-10 minutes. If you experience another reaction on your test, discontinue use of that product. You may have an allergy to one or more of its ingredients.
How do I learn more?
While essential oils are very new to some of us, the uses and medicinal benefits have been relied on for centuries. In recent years, essential oils have grown in popularity and with that we are seeing more and more information on the web about EOs. Unfortunately, unless you have access to a trusted source it can be more work that it's worth sometimes weeding through all of it. I do have access to several priceless resources that I use daily (message me if you would like details). Though, I got started with an Essential Oils pocket reference and would never want to be without it. Not only can you search by essential oil but you may also look up by personal usage and it answers questions you never even knew you had. I highly recommend it! If you do have specific questions on essential oils please reach out. And best of luck on your oil journey!