Essential Oils Introduction

Below is a recap of the information given by Jana at our ARA Staff Retreat on 6/2/2018.

What Are Essential Oils?

• Essential oils are the life blood of the plant- they contain everything the plant needs to stay healthy and thrive.

• We share a majority of our DNA with plants, therefore we can benefit from these same properties.

• Each oil contains several to several hundred different kinds of molecules- each of which offers benefits in promoting good health, healing and regeneration.

• Usage- There are three ways to use essential oils:

• Aromatic: Smell the essential oil directly from the bottle or your hand, or use a cold-water diffuser

• Topical: Place a drop into your palm and rub the essential oil on the back of the neck, bottom of the feet, or anywhere there is need. Use a carrier oil when needed.

• Internal: The vitality line from Young Living are specifically labeled with directions for internal usage. Suggestions: add a drop of a citrus oil to your water glass in the morning to alkalize your system, add 1-2 drops of essential oil with a carrier oil to an empty capsule, put 1 drop under your tongue to get an oil into your bloodstream quickly. Not all oils can be used this way and not all brands can be taken internally- read your labels!

• Everyone is different, what works for one may not work for another.

Carrier Oils:

• These are used as a base oil when you need to dilute essential oils by slowing the absorption.

• They have their own unique properties that have different benefits.

• Include Grapeseed, Extra Virgin Olive, Sweet Almond (beware with nut allergies), Coconut, Jojoba, Jamaican Black Castor, Rosehip Seed Oil and many others

• These only last about 3-6 months unrefrigerated or 12-24 months refrigerated.

Oil Quality:

• Testing- Upwards of 20 tests should be done by any essential oil company, most do only 4-7 tests.

• Young Living tests each batch for quality and purity 18-20 times in triplicate twice during the production process- around 120 tests!

• If you use a different brand, find out what tests they perform for quality and purity and compare it to the 20 tests done by Young Living.

• No labeling laws on essential oils- they only need to contain 5% oil to be labeled “pure” or “therapeutic grade”

• Fractional distillation is a very common practice-it’s the process of removing the heavier molecules of essential oils to make them smell better, more pleasing to the average consumer (subsequently removing a lot of the therapeutic benefits) and adding synthetic chemicals as extenders.

• Young Living does not use fractionated essential oils, that’s why they smell very close to the true botanical scent and will have the most benefits.

Chemicals in our Environment:

• 3,000 new chemicals are introduced each year on top of all the existing chemicals in our world.

• It is a known fact that plastics, synthetics and petrochemicals are known endocrine disruptors.

• Personal care products contain some of the worst chemicals, along with household cleaning products and fragrances.

• Check the safety of your products with the Think Dirty app or the Environmental Working Group website.

• When it’s time to replace an item, use a safer option or check out Pinterest for easy DIY options using basic household ingredients (baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, Dr. Bronner’s Castile Soap, rubbing alcohol or other neutral spirit like vodka, white vinegar and Young Living essential oils

Essential Oil TIPS:

• Use common sense!

• Never add to plastic containers, use glass or stainless steel

• “HOT” means the oil may feel warm or hot on the skin

• “NEAT” means the oil may be applied without a carrier oil

• Eyes- if any essential oil gets in the eye, wipe around or rinse with milk or carrier oil

• Children- always dilute with carrier oil for those under age 12

• Citrus oils- don’t apply to the skin if going in the sun- they are photosensitive & you’ll burn

• Response to oils- if you ever have an uncomfortable response to oils, use a carrier oil at that location to dilute it, never use water!

• Consult your doctor if your taking medications or have a medical condition, certain oils need to be avoided for those with epilepsy, high blood pressure or pregnancy

• Drops per bottle- 5 ml contains 85-100; 15 ml contains 250-300

• Read your labels and follow recommended directions

Classroom Tips:

• Diffuse essential oils in the classroom- purify the air, add a calming effect for all, the kids love it!

• Add essential oil drop to a cotton ball and place in the room in an area you want that scent

• Wear diffuser jewelry around the children

• Naptime- diffuse lavender, put a drop on your hand & rub it in before helping kids settle down, create a spray bottle with lavender and spritz the carpet/ valances before kids go down

• Spiders and ants hate peppermint oil- put it by a doorway where they like to enter

• Citronella & YL Purification oils are great for mosquito repellant; geranium for ticks- 1-2 drops on the bottoms of the feet before going outdoors

• Hair/Scalp support when there’s an issue in your room- apply oil(s) to scalp and bottoms of feet 3x per day; essential oils for this include Melaleuca (Tea Tree), citronella, pine (repels), eucalyptus, geranium, lavender, lemon, rosemary

Reference Materials (I use these frequently)...

Books:

• 7th Edition Essential Oils Desk Reference, Life Science Publishing

• Gentle Babies, Debra Raybern

• Aroma Clean, by Connie McDanel B.S. & Katherine Fuller B.S., M.S

• The Chemical Free Home, The Chemical Free Home 2, Melissa M. Poepping, CNHP

• Heal Your Body, Louise Hay

• The Essential Oil Truth, 2nd edition, Jen O’Sullivan

Websites:

• www.youngliving.com

• 31oils.com

Facebook Groups:

• Essential Oil Club (E.O.C.)

• The Human Body and Essential Oils

• Shedding Light on Essential Oils with Doug and Amy

Apps:

• Reference Guide 4 EO

• The EO Bar

• Live Well

Please feel free to contact me for any questions, ideas, tips- I’m always sharing and learning from others! Email reich456@gmail.com or on Facebook as Jana Rowan Reichel.

If you are interested in signing up for a Young Living membership (onetime fee), I’d love to help you. A starter kit contains 11 different essential oils, your choice of diffuser, some awesome samples, and the beginning to your own incredible journey!

Register online at www.youngliving.com , click on “become a member”, “I was referred by a member & have their ID numbers, enter 3101293 for both and Sponsor ID and Enroller ID.

After starting my journey using essential oils 3 years ago, I’ve experimented with a lot of these different oils and different ways to use them. I love creating rollerballs and healthier skin care and cleaning products for myself and my family. I feel like I’m doing something beneficial for us as well as our environment. I love sharing ideas and helping others make changes to support a healthy lifestyle, we are all in this together!