INTERNATIONAL ESSENTIAL OILS DAY
In honor of International Essential Oils day, I want to share with you a little history of the Essential Oil, some that are common and beneficial, and lastly, which ones are on my list of favorites. I invite you to grab a cup of tea or coffee and settle in for a bit.
HISTORY OF ESSENTIAL OILS
Essential Oils are highly concentrated plant extracts that are prepared by a method such as steam distillation out of the plant material or mechanical pressing of the peels of citrus fruits. The oils represent the ‘essence’ of the plant components. Essential oils vary in color (although many are colorless), and odor. Essential oils can help the body to balance natural function by working with the body’s own natural healing systems. Aromatic plants such as herbs have been discovered some 80,000 years ago, but essential oils have only been widely available since the invention of the distillation process of extraction at about 3000 BC. By the 1800’s doctors cataloged in the Materia Medica (1882) twenty-two essential oils that were widely used internally including chamomile, cinnamon, lavender, lemon, peppermint, and rosemary.
It is very important to note that not all essential oils are created equal. The plant itself must not be treated with chemical pesticides, therefore it is important to choose a reputable company that offers their essential oils without the addition of additives or adulterants, synthetic and to be organic and pure.
BENEFITS OF ESSENTIAL OILS
Now that we know a little bit about Essential Oils, let's discuss some of the most popular ones and their benefits. Fennel, Ginger, Lavender, Lemon, Peppermint, and Rosemary.
- Fennel - Digestion, menstrual irregularities
- Ginger - Digestion, Nausea, Anti-inflammatory, Pain relief
- Lavender - Calming, stress-relieving, general skincare
- Lemon - Immune enhancing, stress and congestion relieving
- Peppermint - Nausea and headache/migraine relieving, energizing
- Rosemary - Respiratory congestion, relieving cold/flu, expectorant, expands/deepens the breath
MY FAVORITE ESSENTIAL OILS
Along with the Essential oils mentioned above, some of my favorites that my family and I enjoy by either diffusing in a large room or in the use of our Essential Candy proprietary Healthy Hard Candies are Frankincense, Mandarin and Copaiba.
- Frankincense - Immune enhancing, stress-reducing, antiseptic (kills germs) memory, skin
- Mandarin - Calming, digestion, pain-relieving, skin health
- Copaiba - Respiratory health, Anti-inflammatory, pain reliever, auto-immune, colds/flu
Essential Oils, as mentioned, are beneficial at helping the body’s natural response to healing. I am asked often which Essential Candy blend is my favorite. My summer favorite is our New Day with Peppermint is cooling to the body, and my winter favorite is our Digestive Blend due to ginger being warming. Both are great for when I have digestion upset and need a little help.
Have a beautiful International Essential Oils Day and let me know which oil is your favorite!
Much love to you all,
Tracy
Essential Oils are highly concentrated and need to be treated respectfully so be mindful when diffusing them with pets and young children in the room as all oils are not appropriate and can be harmful. Also, check with your physician if you are taking any medications and would like to try our Essential Candy healthy pure candies.