Use of an essential oil or blend can have physical benefits. An example is that essential oils can be used to help with temporary relief of pain: Joint Pain, Arthritis, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Frozen Shoulder, Headaches, Sore Muscles, Fibromyalgia, Cystitis, and Cold Sores.* Explore how essential oils and blends can help you on the path to better health.
*This statement has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease.
Essential oils are great for helping physically and expanding spiritually. Essential oils are also beneficial emotionally. Oils affect the brain two ways: via olfaction and via essential oil absorption. Essential oils are therapeutic due to the known chemical components. They are also likely working in tandem with other factors.
When a fragrance is inhaled, the scent of an essential oil impacts the brain through the olfactory system. The odor molecules travel up the nose and are trapped by olfactory membranes. These membranes contain approximately 800 million nerve endings, which receive the micro-fine, vaporized oil particles. They are carried along the axon of the nerve fibers and connected with the secondary neurons in the olfactory bulb in the brain. The olfactory bulb then transmits the impulses to the limbic system, which is directly connected to areas of the brain that control heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, memory, stress levels, and hormone balance.
Essential oils have emotional benefits. They work because essential oils and human beings have a lot in common. As Valerie Ann Worwood (author of The Fragrant Mind) says, both are alive—“chemically, electrically, and in terms of infrared radiation” (Worwood, 11). Frequency, a measurable rate of electrical energy that is constant between any two points, is within every living being, according to Robert O. Becker, M.D., who wrote The Body Electric. In his research, he discovered that lower range essential oils actually create physical change in the body, and high frequency oils create spiritual/emotional changes. So the application of a high frequency or vibrational substance, alters our physical, emotional and spiritual vibration or frequency. This can alter our mood and make us feel good.*
*This statement has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease.
There are many ways how to use essential oils. The first thing to do is research—find which oils are best for you. Take an open bottle of essential oil or a perfumer’s smelling strip (plotting paper with a smear of essential oil) in your hand and move in a circle about 6 inches underneath your nose. From there, inhale under each nostril. Be sure to focus and inhale deeply!
When using essential oils, remember that less is more! Doubling the amount will not double the effects, so use in moderation to avoid long term sensitization. There are no rules regarding the length of time for essential oil use—it depends on the person, the root of the problem, and other factors. It is best to alternate essential oils to avoid long term sensitization. Ideally, have several on hand that you feel work well for you and alternate every few days.
So, which method do you use? There are many different ones—you can use essential oils with a massage, in a bath, inhaling via steam distillation, or sniffing directly from the bottle. There are also diffusers, candles, room sprays, water bowls, humidifiers, and heat sources. What method you use depends on your requirements and circumstances. If you are at the office, it is likely that sniffing directly from the bottle is the best course of action. Experiment and find what works best for you!