How to Use Essential Oils to Help Achieve Optimal Health

Although there can be numerous explanations of how to use essential oils, the most common methods are through the nose and the skin.

How to Use Essential Oils: Nose

Essential oils can affect the body through the highly sensitive olfactory system in other words, the nose. When cells located in the upper part of the nose capture odor molecules, signals go to the brain that control the body's basic survival functions. Hence, a smell can quickly influence your entire body.

These actions are below the threshold of consciousness. Hence, the most important functions necessary to our survival are powerfully affected by smell – and we don't know it. You don't need to be aware of the smell at all to be affected.

The same is true for odors that bring disharmony and imbalance. For example, the pheromones of fear and violence can trigger the same in another, thereby increasing violence.

How to Use Essential Oils: Skin

Essential oils are easily absorbed by the skin. From there, they enter the bloodstream and quickly circulate throughout the body. Because you smell the fragrances as the oil is rubbed on your skin, it is difficult to separate from inhalation the synergistic effects due to topical administration.

Unlike many chemicals or drugs, essential oils do not accumulate and are quickly excreted from the body. Furthermore, unlike medications that must be swallowed and systemically absorbed, locally applied essential oils bypass the stomach and liver and, therefore, are not compromised by metabolic alteration. They go directly to the spot (e.g., sore muscle) where they are needed the most.

Because essential oils are highly concentrated, they are usually diluted before being applied to the skin with oil-based mixtures, such as mixing oils, salves, creams or lotions, or with a compress (a water-soaked cloth).

How to Use Essential Oils: Annointing

Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:James 5:14, KJV
Images © Olena Antonova ‐ Fotolia

Today, if a Christian minister performs an anointing, they just put a dab of olive oil on the head in a symbolic gesture. However, Biblical anointing was done with precious oil – not just olive oil. God provided a recipe of myrrh, cassia, cinnamon, calamus, in a base of olive oil for the holy anointing oil (see Cinnamon Essential Oil - a Bible Healing Oil). This essential oil blend was used in such large amounts that the oil would run down the head and garments as referred to in Psalms 133:2.

The Hebrew word for “anoint” has a few variations: “masach”, “mishcah”, or “moshchah”. The translation is: to cover, rub, or smear the head or body with oil; sometimes, the translation refers to pouring oil over the head as in the anointing of Aaron. It is interesting to note that both the meaning and pronunciation to these variations is similar to our word massage.

Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.Hebrews 1:9, KJV
Images © Olena Antonova ‐ Fotolia

How to Use Essential Oils in Daily Life

Some essential oils can have calming and tranquilizing effects; others are energizing and are mood elevating. These oils can relieve stress and anxiety by promoting a general feeling of well being.

In therapeutic aromatherapy, essential oils can aid in the treatment of many ailments. For example, they can:

Supports a normal functioning immune system
Revitalizing normal skin rejuvenation
Heat the skin as with a liniment
Supports healthy circulation
Reduce congestion
Fight negative moods
Encourage restful sleep

Can aromatherapy cure my major illness or psychological problem?

If you expect or hope that aromatherapy will in itself cure a major illness or actually cure “stress”, you will probably be disappointed. God alone holds this miraculous power. Many times, He finds it beneficial for us to go through trials such as illness to prepare us for the Kingdom. However, He doesn't leave us without comfort…

Aromatherapy is a complementary alternative health modality. Its current use is not intended to replace standard medical care, but is meant to complement it. However, it is important to tell your medical practitioner if you are using any kind of herbs, supplements, or essential oils. Some drugs are actually neutralized, or otherwise altered by these substances.

Aromatherapy has been known to enhance a cancer patient's quality of life by enhancing the patient's mood, calming fear and easing nausea during chemotherapy treatments. For many others, aromatherapy can help enhance the person's quality of life psychologically.

Aromatherapy can offer daily practical benefits for a variety of common ailments or symptoms such as:

Minor cuts and scratches
Indigestion and bloating
Mild Acne
Hygiene
Menstration (mood and bloating)
Providing mental and emotional assistance with such issues as common stress, fatigue, anxiety, fear
and the list goes on and on.

A Summary of How to Use Essential Oils

There are a variety of ways to easily add essential oils to your daily routine. They are added to skincare to help us look younger, to hair care products, and even to nutritional supplements to improve the delivery and assimilation of nutrients.

I know most of you here have heard this before, but it is worth repeating…One of the biggest secrets in achieving optimal health is to achieve balance within your body.

Imagine having available to you an innovative treatment that will affect the whole person — not just the symptom, or disease… A treatment that will actually help your body's natural ability to balance, regulate and heal…Isn't that something we all want??

Continue reading this Introduction to Essential Oils Beginners Guide: Essential Oil Testimonials

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