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Essential Oils: Why Use Essential Oils?
Why Use Essential Oils?
Long before modern medicine as we know it today, people depended upon plants to help care for their bodies and support their well-being. Plants have been used for thousands of years in traditional health practices, personal care, food, fragrance, and spiritual practices.
Once the Industrial Age came around those plants were taken apart by scientists and the chemical makeup of the plant was separated into key components that were isolated for that one particular property. Synthetic chemicals were then added to give us our modern-day pharmaceuticals. The problem is these come with a high price - side effects, cost, and dangerous contraindications. Have you ever watched a commercial for a prescription drug medication? The entire commercial can be filled with a list of possible side effects from taking the drug, some of which can be very serious. This is one reason I have always been interested in learning about the plants God has given us and the many ways they have traditionally been used.
Plants were created by our Father in Heaven to be used in their full form, each chemical component playing a key part in its ability to heal without side effects. Plants are incredibly complex, containing many different natural compounds that work together as part of the whole plant.
Essential oils are highly concentrated plant extracts and can contain many different naturally occurring chemical compounds. Each oil is unique and the chemical makeup can vary depending on the plant, where it was grown, when it was harvested and how it was extracted.
But have you ever stopped to think about how much plant material it takes to make one little bottle of essential oil?
Some plants require an incredible amount of plant material to produce even a small amount of essential oil. The exact amount varies greatly depending on the plant, the part of the plant being used and the method of extraction. A few drops can represent a tremendous amount of plant material, along with the water, soil, time, energy and harvesting that went into producing it.
It is also important to think about sustainability. Some plants are more vulnerable than others, and the way a plant is grown and harvested can make a difference. I think this is something worth considering when choosing and using essential oils.
For this reason, I don't believe we need an essential oil for everything. Sometimes a whole herb, tea, infusion, decoction, tincture or herb-infused oil may be a better way to work with the plant. Essential oils are one way of working with plants, but they are not the only way.
One difference between whole plant material and essential oils are the molecules are very small and some of the individual compounds found in essential oils have been studied for the ways they interact with the body. They can be absorbed through the skin and olfactory senses affecting the physical, emotional and maybe even spiritual well being.
As with all gifts from God, wisdom and prudence must be applied in their use. . Essential oils are extremely concentrated and some can cause skin irritation, allergic reactions, photosensitivity or other problems if they are not used appropriately. This is why I believe it is so important to study each individual oil and learn its uses and cautions before proceeding, seeking the spirit as a guide all along the way.
What Can I Use Essential Oils For?
Essential oils are used by many people in a variety of traditional, personal-care, household, and wellness practices. Some examples include:
Personal wellness practices
Personal care and hygiene
Beauty and skin care
Creating a relaxing,uplifting, or mood atmosphere
Meditation, prayer, and other spiritual practices
Emotional well-being and relaxation
Massage and other personal care practices
Laundry and household cleaning
Freshening and deodorizing the home
Garden and household applications
Cooking and baking, when the particular oil is specifically intended and labeled for culinary use and used appropriately
