ESSENTIAL OILS: TREND OR THERAPEUTIC?

February 28, 2018

Essential oils have been around since the beginning of time. Ancient cultures utilized essential oils for spiritual rituals, beauty and health. The Egyptians applied juniper, frankincense and myrrh oils during the mummification process.  History shows that the application of aromatics for healing was implemented in cultures found in India, Rome, Greece, Persia, China, and Europe. During the Bubonic Plague frankincense and pine was burned to ward off “evil spirits” for protection from disease. It was in Europe that after burning his hand in a laboratory French chemist Rene-Maurice Gattefosse discovered that plunging his hand into a vat of Lavender oil decreased inflammation and shortened healing time (Essential Oils Academy, 2017).

This accidental discovery took place in 1910, since then we find ourselves today in the middle of a fast-growing trend of essential oils more than ever before. Essential oils popularity has shifted away from just candles, lotions, soaps, and being found in massage treatments for relaxation because the use of essential oils has expanded towards more advanced therapeutic healing methods like vaporization, ingestion and even as a healing method paired with Acupuncture. Like many trends there arises questions. Does it work? What does it treat? How do I use it? Who is competent to use essential oils? Where do I purchase essential oils? How do I separate one brand from the next? What are good quality essential oils? What are the risks of using essential oils? Is it expensive to use essential oils? The world of essential oils is vast and may be intimidating to many.

I am here to say from experience that essential oils do not need to be intimidating and with very basic steps one can incorporate their healing properties into daily life. Start slowly, and begin with basic concepts is my suggestion. There are three ways to welcome essential oils into your regular day to day life depending on your health goals. The three methods are Aromatic, Topical, and Internal. Are you seeking calming, invigorating, antidepressant, antiseptic, or antifungal results? Knowing what you want to achieve is a great place to start.

Select common oils that you are familiar with, for example Lavender, Peppermint, and Lemon. Lavender has relaxing qualities, peppermint has pain relieving and cooling properties. Lemon has invigorating and antidepressant qualities. I would recommend purchasing brands that are within your price range and labeled Organic or Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade. The purer the quality, and cleaner the extraction methods applied usually means higher priced essential oils.

You do not need to spend more money and purchase an expensive diffuser as there are cost friendly ways to diffuse and benefit from your oils. You can apply 1-4 drops to a clean tissue and wave it around in the room you are in or toss it into an open wastebasket. You can place 1-4 drops into a clean spray bottle filled with distilled water and spritz your surrounding areas. Diffusers are recommended because it will mist the healing benefits of the oil into the atmosphere for a timed number of hours. Make sure that the room is well ventilated to keep the strength of the oils in the air at a healthy ratio for respiration.

When applying oils topically always dilute with a base oil such as coconut, grapeseed, avocado, or any oil of your choice. The back of the neck and on pulse points of the wrist are great places to apply essential oils. If you want specified healing then knowing which oils treat what ailments is the best route to take. There are many websites and texts available that list the curative properties of essential oils. Some oils relieve muscle tension-rosemary, pain-chamomile, aid the healing of scars-frankincense, reduce swelling-lavender, benefits digestion-fennel, and decreases stress-sandalwood.  Prior to ingesting any oils please make sure that the brand indicates that they are safe to ingest, these are usually approved as Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade. Also consult your physician prior to ingestion to verify it is not contraindicated to your health. Starting off with 1 drop in 4oz of fluid with common essential oils such as lemon, and peppermint is safe.

The benefits of essential oils have also pioneered its way into being used alongside Acupuncture. This comes as no surprise because Aromatics were mentioned in Huang Di’s Neijing Suwen, The Yellow Emperor’s Classic Of Medicine (Essential Oils Academy, 2017). Currently acupuncture is integrating the use of essential oils to stimulate the energetics of the points or meridians. The two healing methods work synergistically. Peter Holmes is renowned in working with essential oils and acupuncture. He teaches a variety of continuing education seminars nationwide. He has written numerous books about the topic. More information can be found on his website www.snowlotus.org. Jeffrey Yuen has written Materia Medica of Essential Oils: Based on Chinese Medical Perspective.

Practitioners who want to incorporate essential oils into their treatment plans can do so directly or indirectly. An indirect method is to diffuse essential oils in your waiting area. A direct method is to select an essential oil that relates to the treatment plan of your patient. Usually essential oils can be applied prior to needling. This application is done with a q-tip and held for one minute or more. Oils can have a physiological and psychological effect on your patient (Acupuncture Today, 2009).

Peter Holmes described a protocol using essential oils with acupuncture in Acupuncture TodayOctober, 2009, Vol. 10, Issue 10. “If we were treating someone for general qi stagnation and decided to use the Four Gates, we could use qi-regulating oils such as spearmint, bergamot and mandarin. Of these three, spearmint would be the most appropriate for LI4, while either of the other two oils would be extremely compatible with Liv3. Again, this is based solely on knowing the actions and indications of both the oils and the points, and matching them as closely as possible. Alternatively, we could make a blend of spearmint and one of the other two oils and use them on all four points”.

Essential Oils are therapeutic and not just a trend! Essential Oils played a historical role in healing and is here to stay as awareness, understanding and integration of its use evolves. With the support of research backing their healing qualities essential oils will become less intimidating and more accepted into the daily uses of our lives.  

Please be sure when using essentials oils internally to do so with a qualified professional and get clearance from your medical doctor. The National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy is a good place to begin searching for an aromatherapist. Massage therapists who are certified in using aromatherapy in their services are also good resources to get introduced to the topical application of essential oils.

The following texts are useful resources to acquire more information on essential oils: The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy Book by Valerie Ann Worwood, Essential Oils for Beginners: The Guide to Get Started with Essential Oils and Aromatherapy by Althea Press, The Essential Oils Handbook: All the Oils You Will Ever Need for Health, Vitality and Well-Being by Jennie Harding, and The Complete Aromatherapy and Essential Oils Handbook for Everyday Wellness by Nerys Purchon, and Lora Cantele.