I feel like I am 1 million years late to the essential oil game, but let me tell you, I’m loving it! On Monday I was diffusing essential oils while working from home (how luxury is that!) and I got some questions, so I thought I would answer some here. I don’t know a ton about essential oils (I’m new!) but will share what I’ve got!
Most of you know that I am *trying* to commit more to natural beauty and medicines. Essential oils are just plants, and people have been using plants to heal for thousands and thousands of years. Anything that’s been working for that long must do something, right? Plus, you don’t get the side-effects you get with modern medicine. It’s a win-win in my book!
I finally decided to try essential oils when I learned how they can help with insomnia. I have the hardest time falling asleep, I sometimes lay in bed for 2 hours trying to fall asleep. But once I do fall asleep, I am OUT and sleep so hard. It’s falling asleep that’s the issue. This has been an issue for me for YEARS. I don’t want to take medications or anything, and always try to do things as natural as possible. When I heard that essential oils may help with insomnia, I thought, I’m down to try it! I’ve been diffusing lavender to help fall asleep (lavender is very calming and relaxing!) and I think it’s been working, so I highly recommend this if you have similar issues!
There are a lot of other benefits to diffusing essential oils and the benefits differ depending on what scent you are diffusing. My favorites for diffusing are lavender, lemon, and eucalyptus!
Here are some uses for essential oils:
- For sleep – lavender, chamomile, cedar
- To relax – rose, sandalwood, orange
- For energy – lemon, grapefruit, cinnamon
- To concentrate – rosemary, peppermint, basil
- For inflammation – peppermint, eucalyptus, lavender
Diffusing essential oils also just make the room smell amazing! So even if you don’t believe in all the therapeutic benefits, compare it to just lighting a candle or something (lol!)
I have this diffuser, which is from Nordstrom. I asked for it for Christmas, as I’ve been wanting to jump on the essential oil bandwagon for a while. I like this one because it’s cute and looks a little more like home décor. There are a lot of diffusers out there that are plastic and look cheap (in my opinion). This one is ceramic and has some fun “starlight” details. It has lights that change color (if you’re into that sort of thing) and a timer so you can set it for 60 minutes, 120 minutes, etc. which takes some of the worry away from diffusing.
Essential oils are super powerful, so they should be diluted when used (if you diffuse, you will dilute with water). I wouldn’t apply directly to skin or ingest unless directly told by a doctor. Keep in mind that a little bit goes a long way! Besides just diffusing into the air, you can use them in beauty products or cleaning products. To apply to the skin, you need to mix it with a “carrier oil” to properly dilute it. I haven’t experimented with that yet, so make sure you do research before going down that road! If you have any questions (pregnant, nursing, allergies, etc.) I would consult your doctor!