This guest post is brought to you by Jenni of Dr Mom Essentials. Jenni blogs at Dr. Mom Essentials and describes herself as a do-it-yourself, mom of six adventurous, but generally healthy kids who seem to keep her well supplied with a continual variety of minor medical dilemmas. She has a master herbalist degree and is currently studying aromatherapy. She is a distributor of Doterra essential oils.
Essential oils are natural aromatic compounds found in the seeds, bark, stems, roots, flowers, and other parts of plants. They can be both beautifully and powerfully fragrant. If you have ever enjoyed the gift of a rose, a walk by a field of lavender, or the smell of fresh cut mint, you have experienced the aromatic qualities of essential oils…Essential oils have been used throughout history in many cultures for their medicinal and therapeutic benefits. – Doterra
I’m going to tell you about some basic essential oils that I use regularly. Once you know a few basics, essential oils are easy to use and extremely effective for a variety of health issues. The most important thing about oils is making sure you’re getting a truly quality product. The FDA only requires 10% inclusion of actual oil for any company to claim that it’s 100% pure oil. So find a brand you really trust, especially if you’re ingesting it.
Store products such as Vicks or Icy Hot use synthetic, chemical copies of the natural compounds found in essential oils. These unnatural duplicates are designed to produce a specific effect, but they don’t communicate with the body to strengthen and heal the way natural compounds do. Essential oils are safer then synthetics and they help all body processes to work more efficiently.
2 Ways to Use Essential Oils
1) Smell them straight out of the bottle, put a few drops in a bowl of boiling water to diffuse them into the air, or use a diffuser which is a bit more effective at spreading the oil molecules through the air.
2) Apply to skin at the location of pain or a specific problem, or rub on the bottoms of feet. The bottoms of our feet have large pores and many nerve endings, so oils applied here will be absorbed and circulated throughout the entire body. It is often recommended that essential oils should not be put directly upon the skin (in case of allergic reaction), but should be diluted with a carrier oil (such as jojoba oil, almond oil, etc – approximately 1 Tbsp carrier to 1-2 drops essential oil), but we do so occasionally as mentioned below with caution. Be aware that not all are safe to put directly on the skin. We recommend you do your research first.
Lemon
Lemon is the one I use the most because I drink it all day long. I put 6-8 drops in my water bottles (1 qt). Lemon can also be used (5 drops) in a spray bottle for cleaning and disinfecting anything around the house. It’s mood enhancing and effective (1-2 drops) with a teaspoon of honey for sore throats.
Lavender 
Lavender is the calming oil. I rub a couple drops on my children’s feet or neck at bedtime or when they’re hurt to calm them down. It works well on bug bites, stings and burns.
For traveling, apply 1 drop to a tissue to calm at anxious moments and to the pillow in a new sleeping place. This gives kids a feeling of home away from home.
Peppermint
Peppermint oil is invigorating and intensely cooling. One to two drops can counteract headache pain if applied straight on the temples and neck. If the summer heat is getting to me or I want to cool down after a work out, I put a drop on the back of my neck or several drops in a small spray bottle to immediately cool down my whole body. It’s amazing!
Dilute a few drops of peppermint in 1 teaspoon of carrier or vegetable oil and rub on the stomach for tummy ache. Keep the bottle open by you when studying for increased recall power. I’ve used it while driving to stay awake on long trips. It smells like chocolate mint—it’s so delicious!
Melaleuca/Tea Tree Oil
Melaleuca or tea tree oil is well known for it’s anti-fungal properties. I combine it with lavender for cuts and scrapes, which capably prevents infection from developing. Multiple studies have shown it to be effective against antibiotic-resistant Staph, acne, and fungal infections such as thrush, diaper rash, and athlete’s foot. (Ferrini et al., 2006, Bassett et al., 1990, Bagg et al., 2006) Use a cotton swab to spread around the inside of your baby’s mouth for thrush. Add 5 or 6 drops to a pint douche of water for yeast infections.
Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus Radiata oil has traditionally been used for congestion, sinus infections and to help open airways. For children, dilute 5 drops with 5 drops carrier oil and rub on chest and neck for all respiratory troubles or diffuse 3 drops at a time.
Breathe
There are respiratory blends that work more effectively than single oils. We will be giving away one such Blend called Breathe made by Doterra. It’s a combination of oils that open, strengthen and fight infection in the sinuses and bronchioles. I’ve recommended this blend with great success for asthma and other breathing problems.
We don’t always need to turn to specialists to get the health treatments our families need. We can learn simple tools to be more self-reliant in our homes. Essential oils can help us be healthier and happier.
Doterra offers an introductory kit that comes with an audio CD and usage chart ($26.67 value). We are excited to offer one of these kits today for a giveaway. The Intro Kit comes with 3 basic oils as pictured above: lemon, lavender and peppermint in addition to the Breathe combination oil.
How To Enter:
1. Leave a comment below and share your favorite essential oil and what you like to use if for. If you are new to essential oils, tell us about what intriques you about them.
2. For a second entry, head over to Dr. Mom Essentials and subscribe to her blog. She shares a wealth of information on natural living, doctoring, and homeschooling that will benefit one and all. Come back and tell us you subscribed in a second comment.
Giveaway Closed.
If you want to purchase or learn more about using essential oils in your home, please read the other articles on Jenni’s website at Dr Mom Essentials. Doterra essential oils can be found through her website here.
Thank you Dr. Mom Essentials for your June sponsorship of our site!
DISCLAIMER: We are not licensed aromatherapists, so please always use essential oils with extreme caution. We recommend you consult a naturopath or doctor before using these essential oils, especially if you are pregnant, have high blood pressure or susceptible to allergic reactions.
I subscribed to Dr. Mom’s blog
We use peppermint for headaches and nausea. I want to use more essential oils for scents like in car, etc.
Burn lavender in home…a favorite
I use lavender in homemade deoderant. Love it!
I really like orange oil in my cleaning. I am going to try the peppermint as a bug spray someone recommended.
Thanks for hosting this give-away
Michelle
I am now a subscriber to Dr. Mom Essentials blog!
My favorite is Tea Tree Oil, for cleaning products I make and I use it with Jojoba Oil for a facial moisturizer as well as to treat yeast infections! Its amazing!
Hi ,I am a homemaker i come from Europe and never heard or used OILS,I do read this blog as well as Dr.Mom’s,and they are very usefull to me ,I wish I knew these while growing up,many blessings for all you that find time to share great tips for everyday life.That’s why I would like to win .IL.PE
i
I would love something to freshen up my diaper wet bag!
I subscribed to Dr. Mom Essentials!
I love to use tea tree oil. I’ve used it to clean ear piercings, as a skin cleanser and to wash hair with to avoid lice when around children who have it.
I’ve used tea tree oil, but would love to try some others…
went to Dr. Mom Essentials and subscribed to her blog
I am so very interested…we moved into a new home about a year ago and the previous owner had cats. I so desperately have tried to get the odor out but it still returns. I have two little ones and try to be very careful as to what they are exposed to, so these would be wonderful!
I’m new to essential oils. I’m excited to learn more about them and their healing properties. All natural is the way to go. Seems like the doctors now-a-days just prescribe an antibiotic for everything.
I’ve only used tea tree oil and I like it! I use it for acne and in my cloth wipe solution.
How timely…I just used some peppermint oil today because I have been having sinus headaches. Literally within three minutes, my headache was gone and has stayed away. I also love using peppermint or spearmint oil to make homemade toothpaste. Can’t wait to look into more ways to use essential oils. Thanks for a great post!! I just subcribed to Dr. Mom’s blog
Great as well!
I love the way these scents can change a mood! I’ve had lotions and candles with these oils, so I’m anxious to try the actual oil.
I would be lost without my lavender and tea tree EO’s. Other favorites are rosemary and eucalyptus.
One of my favourite essential oils is Eucalyptus. Not only does it smell great but you can use it to get sticky labels/stickers/price tags/etc off.
I’m new to essential oils, but I think what intrigues me the most is the ability to help our children without having to head to the doctor.
I subscribed to Dr. Mom Essentials. hanks!
I am new to all of this but excited to start trying! Thank you for the brief descriptions you provided about each oil.
I have really enjoyed a mix of Ylang-Ylang and Myrrh for a relaxing bubble bath.
I have used tea tree oil for wound care. I would love to learn more though!
I use essential oils for everything! Deodorant (thanks for the recipe by the way!), household cleaners, perfume, healing purposes, they have endless uses!
I use lemon for immunity support and am a new subscriber to Dr. Mom.
I enjoy essential oils. Especially Lavender…. I am really good at burning myself in the kitchen and in the sun, and when ever I do get burned I put Lavender essential oil on it directly it will take away the pain almost right away (ice is also used for a severe burn)
I love lavendar oil. It is very calming!
I’ve been intrigued by essential oils for years because the smells are so much nicer than any perfume, but not really sure how to make the best use of them and get started incorporating them in a more wholistic way. I finally did buy some lavendar oil a month or so ago, and I’d love to win this kit with the CD and usage chart!
I was wondering if anyone knows of a natural and completely safe product to dye your hair when your pregnant.
I love using a little Tea Tree Oil in my homemade all purpose (all natural) cleaner. It makes cleaning up spills fun because I love its scent.
Through the research that I’ve done into natural cleaning products and body care it seems that essential oils are an indispensable ingredient, and now I find they are useful for homemade remedies as well! I am working towards changing over to these recipes, but struggle most in justifying buying the oils. I would like to have lavender the most because of it’s calming qualities, which I believe would go far in bringing a greater sense of peace to myself and my home.
My mom taught me to use essential oils as aromatherapy. Her trick was to place a canning ring upside-down on a light bulb and then put a few drops of lavendar oil in the ring. The ring heats up while the light is on and distributes the fragrance. Lavendar in my college dorm room helped ease the stresses on my first semester of college life. Warning: do no place oils directly on the light bulbs as they can cause the bulb to break.
i would love to try these essential oils! i am moving all of my toxic cleaners out & starting with all natural/all homemade! down to dishwasher detergent…this would be a huge boost for my project!
I subscribed too.
I think I would enjoy trying out the pepermint! I’ve used lavender before in a bowl of hot water for a steam tent for a congested child or mommy. Thanks for the offer.
I subscribed to Dr. Mom Essentials
It’s really hard to choose just one. I think Lavender (tummy aches, headaches, stop bleeding/close wound, Tea Tree (cleaning wounds, antibacterial), Peppermint (tummy ache, headache, colds) and Eucalyptus (sore muscles, colds/stuffy nose/cough) are my favorites.
I have been more and more determined to give essential oils a try since my baby ( now 3) who was born with Down Syndorme struggles with bronchitis from November through MArch ( June this year!) Reading the description of Breath by Dotera, makes me think perhaps this is finally the help we need!
This is great! Thank you.
I love grapefruit oil mixed in my Jojoba oil as a moisturizer. It wakes me up in the morning.
I also put tea tree oil in my coconut oil deodorant.
What a great giveaway! My favorite oil to use right now is lemon for cleaning purposes. I put it in my mop water with Mountain Rose Herbs Castile Soap and vinegar.
I’ve really wanted to branch out with other oils (I have lemon, orange, and tea tree right now), but haven’t fit them into the budget just yet. I’d love to try this package!
I love ginger!!! It’s so refreshing. I use it in a scrub and it makes ANY hard day disappear.
I’ve always loved cedarwood oil. Smells like the antique chest my mother had…and like the forests. Very calming, and it helps with rheumatic aches.
I already subscribe to Dr. Mom.
I like to use peppermint oil diluted in water for bug spray.
Just subscribed to the blog. Thanks!
I’d love to win this kit. We like tea tree oil in our home for many uses.
Wow! Ive never heard of using essential oils for asthma. My son has very bad asthma, and his preventative medicines are so expensive that we can’t afford to keep him on them. I would love to be able to try out he Breathe and see if it would work for him!
I subscribed to Dr Mom’s blog.
I’m new to this and am excited to learn about the plants God provided for our healing.