Beginner's Guide to Using Essential Oils

Essential oils have really grown in popularity over the last several years, but they have actually been around for thousands of years. The Bible mentions their use on many occasions. For example, Moses was directed by God to use cinnamon, calamus, cassia, myrrh, and olive oil to make a substance that would protect all whom he administered it to. Even before the time of Moses, the use of essential oils was legendary. Today, research has confirmed that essential oils truly are beneficial and support the body and the mind.

There are close to 300 oils that are used by massage therapist, aroma therapists, and home practitioners today--each oil with its unique and powerful use. Some of the characteristic benefits include antiviral, anti-inflamitory, antibiotic, anti-fungal, anticeptic, antineuralgic, antirheumatic, antispasmotic, antivenomous, antitoxic, antidepressant...and these are just from the list of the "A's". We haven't even delved into the other twenty-five letters of the alphabet.

Another great benefit of essential oils is that, unlike drugs, they do not remain the the body for long periods of time. They are excreted within six hours for a typical healthy body, and fourteen hours in an unhealthy/obese body. It's interesting to note that different oils will excrete in different ways. For example, Juniper is excreted in the urine, Garlic is excreted through exhalation, and Geranium is excreted through the skin. And this is regardless of how the body takes it it--through aroma or skin application.

Essential oils are wonderful in their use in a dilution with a carrier oil. A carrier oil is base oil such as vegetable oil that carries the essential oil to the skin. The ratio for most essential oils is 3-5% essential oil suspended in a carrier oil.  Essential oils diluted with a carrier are also called massage oils. They can be massaged into the skin, on the bottom of the feet, or on the hands to be absorbed into the body to be used. The hands and feet have reflexive points that lead to vital organs. When essential oils are applied to those points, they can go directly to the corresponding organ for direct benefit to that organ.
Caution should be used when using reflexology on children or infants. Some oils are not suitable for children and can actually cause harm.

Because of the wonderful aromatic qualities of essential oils, it is easy to assume that there is no "real" health benefit to the breathing in essential oils. Nothing could be further from the truth. Essential oils may smell appealing, but their chemical makeup is complex and the effect they have on the body is powerful. Let me explain what happens when you breath in an essential oil:

When you breath the aroma, molecules of the oil are taken into the lung and carried to small sacs called, aveoli, and there it is absorbed by the capilaries and brought into the blood stream. From there it circulates throughout the entire body and is picked up by systems that are lacking in the nutrients the essential oil provides and all the while it's doing this, it is also cleansing the body and neutralizing toxins. This is actually more efficient than taking the oil internally. In fact, it is not recommended that essential oils should be taken internally--except on rare occasions and only under the direction of a naturopathic doctor. Because of the potency of essential oils, taking them internally can be dangerous. It take an incredible amount of plant matter to make a small bottle of essential oil. Therefore, there is a real risk of overdose when consuming essential oils.

Below is a chart outlining the safe use of Essential Oils:

References: 

Jones, B. (2014) 1,001 ways to use essential oils.


Worwood, V.A. (1991) The complete book of essential oils & aromatherapy. San Rafael,

       CA: New World Library.