Trends ebb and flow and they come and go, while the good stuff outlasts the test of time. Essential oils are the latter, for they are bottled plant concentrates that contain the aromatic properties and essence of a leaf, flower, root, bark or sap. Along with the aroma comes a wide range of medicinal properties, which vary per each plant, and can sometimes vary depending on which part of the plant is extracted. Essential oils are typically extracted by way of distillation, and the process works so well that the end product is so potent you typically only need a few drops, or 0.5%-2% dilution depending on the application.
Essential oils can be used in a countless amount of ways, from aromatherapy to herbal medicine, and for everyday life needs and overall wellbeing. I scent my bath soap with essential oils, and I make my own beard oil with them. I know some people who clean their floors with lemon, and another who wears a necklace diffuser, and depending how she feels, she changes the oil inside for reasons like mood, vitality and energy, as well as for fending off flu and headaches. It’s not hyperbolic to gush about just how amazing essential oils are. I’ve found them to be transformative in my everyday health and wellbeing. Simple applications can have huge benefits in my day, and so my quality of life is improved. But that’s just how I feel.
I’ve been studying in the art of herbal medicine for years, starting with essential oils and aromatherapy, and further gravitating toward the practice of working with the medicinal properties of plants. Modern medicine has been around for a few hundred years, while herbal medicine has been around since the dawn of time. Many of our medicines come directly from plants and fungi, which is something I find fascinating, and it grips me to learn more. For example, Willow bark contains the active ingredient in Aspirin, and Penicillium is the fungus that provided us with one of the most evolutionarily important medical discoveries in Penicillin.
The natural world is amazing and it’s easy to see how detrimental the shift away from Nature has been on humans. Skin cancers and many of our diseases didn’t exist when humans lived naturally, so it makes sense. This is a big reason as to why I’ve shifted in my own life, toward a more natural and chemical-free lifestyle, and away from the processed death that many of our foods, body care products, and medicines have in them. Eating cleaner food is what started it for me, because I didn’t want to be another young diabetic who’s suffering from all sorts of discomforts and major issues. I then progressed to cleansing my body of toxins and chemicals, and other harmful additives in my soaps, beard oils, colognes, and in my household cleaning products. I’m not perfect across the board, and still eat what I want, within reason of course, but I’ve made a tremendous difference in my overall health and hopefully in my longevity as well.
I work with a lot of essential oils brands, and there are a few that really stick out. One of them is dōTERRA, because of the quality of their oils, which is why I asked them to team up with me on a project to experiment with some of their oils in my everyday life. They were very kind and loved the idea, and so here we are…
I’ve been studying in the art of herbal medicine for years, starting with essential oils and aromatherapy, and further gravitating toward the practice of working with the medicinal properties of plants. Modern medicine has been around for a few hundred years, while herbal medicine has been around since the dawn of time. Many of our medicines come directly from plants and fungi, which is something I find fascinating, and it grips me to learn more. For example, Willow bark contains the active ingredient in Aspirin, and Penicillium is the fungus that provided us with one of the most evolutionarily important medical discoveries in Penicillin.
The natural world is amazing and it’s easy to see how detrimental the shift away from Nature has been on humans. Skin cancers and many of our diseases didn’t exist when humans lived naturally, so it makes sense. This is a big reason as to why I’ve shifted in my own life, toward a more natural and chemical-free lifestyle, and away from the processed death that many of our foods, body care products, and medicines have in them. Eating cleaner food is what started it for me, because I didn’t want to be another young diabetic who’s suffering from all sorts of discomforts and major issues. I then progressed to cleansing my body of toxins and chemicals, and other harmful additives in my soaps, beard oils, colognes, and in my household cleaning products. I’m not perfect across the board, and still eat what I want, within reason of course, but I’ve made a tremendous difference in my overall health and hopefully in my longevity as well.
I work with a lot of essential oils brands, and there are a few that really stick out. One of them is dōTERRA, because of the quality of their oils, which is why I asked them to team up with me on a project to experiment with some of their oils in my everyday life. They were very kind and loved the idea, and so here we are…
I received Arborvitae, Blue Tansy, Cilantro, Cypress, Helichrysum, Indian Sandalwood, and Pink Pepper. Upon first impression, I was amazed by the depth of the aroma of each oil, but it wasn’t long before I was whipping up all sorts of recipes. I share two at the end of this post, so you can get started too. To be straight with you, dōTERRA is one of the pricier brands, but this is a case of you get what you pay for, at least from my experience.
After working with each of the oils, I fell in love with the Blue Tansy and Indian Sandalwood especially, for each has a beautiful aroma. Blue Tansy is Mediterranean flowering plant that has a range of benefits, like anti-aging, blemish fighting and some say it helps improve their mood in Aromatherapy. I found it most dynamic when used in a beauty balm that specializes in deep moisturizing, drying up acne, and providing a glow to the skin. And yes, I included that recipe below. It smells so good, I can’t even begin to explain. I know I wouldn’t do this oil any justice.
The Indian Sandalwood is subtler, but has one of the most soothing scent of sweet, aged wood. Sandalwood can enhance mood, ground you in meditation, and can help with improving facial complexion. The Cypress and Arborvitae oils are also very beautiful, with each reminding me of how it smells to wander in the forest. In the other recipe below, I found a great blend for an icy-hot sore muscle salve by using Cilantro for its cooling sensation, Pink Pepper for warming, and Helichrysum for pain.
If you would like to learn more about dōTERRA, click here.
Both of these salves require other ingredients, and each recipe will make 4-5oz. So if you decide to make the full batch, try making 4-5 1oz tins, so you can share your creations. You may switch out some ingredients, but it’s important to be sure of any changes, so do your research.
After working with each of the oils, I fell in love with the Blue Tansy and Indian Sandalwood especially, for each has a beautiful aroma. Blue Tansy is Mediterranean flowering plant that has a range of benefits, like anti-aging, blemish fighting and some say it helps improve their mood in Aromatherapy. I found it most dynamic when used in a beauty balm that specializes in deep moisturizing, drying up acne, and providing a glow to the skin. And yes, I included that recipe below. It smells so good, I can’t even begin to explain. I know I wouldn’t do this oil any justice.
The Indian Sandalwood is subtler, but has one of the most soothing scent of sweet, aged wood. Sandalwood can enhance mood, ground you in meditation, and can help with improving facial complexion. The Cypress and Arborvitae oils are also very beautiful, with each reminding me of how it smells to wander in the forest. In the other recipe below, I found a great blend for an icy-hot sore muscle salve by using Cilantro for its cooling sensation, Pink Pepper for warming, and Helichrysum for pain.
If you would like to learn more about dōTERRA, click here.
Both of these salves require other ingredients, and each recipe will make 4-5oz. So if you decide to make the full batch, try making 4-5 1oz tins, so you can share your creations. You may switch out some ingredients, but it’s important to be sure of any changes, so do your research.
| Blue Tansy Beauty Salve: In a double boiler, infuse the herbs in oil. Extract the medicinal properties on medium heat for 1.5-2 hours. Let cool, then strain with cheesecloth. Then, in a clean pan, combine oil, wax and heat in double boiler until melted. Remove from heat, let cool one minute then stir in essential oils. Pour into glass jar or metal tin with tight fitting lid. Leave untouched to cool and set, then once cool, use as spot treatment for acne, scars and wrinkles, or use as a night mask. I find that breathing in the aroma of the salve by means of meditation can also help greatly in easing nerves and soothing the racing mind. A true Blue Tansy essential oil will turn the salve blue, but the salve will rub in transparent. Always do an allergy test by placing a small amount of the salve on the inside of the arm, and if there’s no reaction after an hour or so, feel free to use a bit more liberally as you see fit.
| Sore Muscle Icy-Hot Salve: In a double boiler, infuse the herbs in oil. Extract the medicinal properties on medium heat for 1.5-2 hours. Let cool, then strain with cheesecloth. Then, in a clean pan, combine oil, wax and heat in double boiler until melted. Remove from heat, stir in crystals then essential oils. Pour into glass jar or metal tin with tight fitting lid. Leave untouched to cool and set, then once cool, massage into sore muscles and joints. Do not touch the eyes. Always wash hands after touching salve. Always do an allergy test by placing a small amount of the salve on the inside of the arm, and if there’s no reaction after an hour or so, feel free to use a bit more liberally as you see fit.
*This article is for entertainment use, and should not replace the diagnoses of any disease or the subscribing of any medication. Always consult with your doctor or a medical professional for any and all health-related advice. |
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