Close your eyes for a moment. (Ok, I know it’s a silly request when I also, clearly, want you to read this post. But do it anyway after you read the next few sentences!) Think about your favorite scents. Think about a scent that brings back a memory or a feeling that’s so strong that you’re there. Think about a scent that makes you feel happy or content or joyful.
Go ahead. Close your eyes and think for a moment. I’ll wait.
(No, seriously! Close your eyes! Just for a moment.)
What did you think about? Was it someone’s best-ever chocolate chip cookies? Was it the ocean wind over the beach? Or the smell of the garden after a rain, or the almost-forgotten scent of a loved one’s cologne, or the sharp tingle of a campfire’s smoke?
How did it make you feel? Are you calmer, happier, or maybe slightly sad or nostalgic?
Scent is a powerful thing. It can settle us down when we are agitated, or wake us up when we are dragging. Now think about having that scent in a bottle, and that’s one of the reasons that I use essential oils for some things around our home. Primarily, I use them for diffusing (aromatherapy), applying to certain acupressure points, and also for pain relief.
What’s the deal about essential oils? Many plants have beneficial properties, and if properly extracted, the essential oils for those plants compound the benefits. (That’s the theory, anyway.)
(As a side note…many plants have not-so-beneficial properties and yes, the oils compound those as well. We won’t talk about the monkshood in my garden...)
I have a few that I like very much and use almost daily. I also have an excruciatingly sensitive nose (or it seems that way) and many scents (particularly concentrated) really bother me. For example, I don’t use pure lavender oil for anything, but I have two essential oil blends that include lavender and that’s ok for me.
When I did some digging into the topic, I learned all sorts of interesting stuff. Essential oils are now being considered for alternatives to antibiotics in livestock. Some of the compounds in some essential oils might be useful in fighting inflammation caused by air pollution. Some of this I knew already; some essential oils are used in cleaning products, skin care, and even cooking!
If you’re considering adding essential oils to your wellness toolbox, do some research, such as in the WikiBooks item linked in comments. Definitely be cautious when using essential oils topically, as some can irritate your skin (you may want to use a carrier oil). Talk to people and find out what they use and why and how! You will learn something interesting and potentially useful!
If you do already use essential oils, I’d love to hear what types you use, how, and for what! :)
Cheers! Here’s to your health!