Make Your Own Whipped Vapor Rub

I grew up with Vick’s VapoRub always being present in my childhood medicine cabinet. When I was feeling under the weather, my mother would rub this on my chest, and almost immediately, the mentholated fumes would start working their magic.

I decided to make my own whipped version of this old-fashioned herbal ointment using natural ingredients and couldn’t be more pleased with the end result. By whipping the coconut oil and shea butter together it created a soft texture that rubs on smoothly. And, since this was such a simple recipe, I had to share it!

Alleviate Cold and Cough Symptoms with Essential Oils

Ensure that the essential oils you purchase are therapeutic grade oils. The essential oils I used were ones that were decongestants, helped relieve symptoms associated with cold and flu symptoms, and possessed antimicrobial properties.

• Camphor essential oil acts as an antispasmodic, antiseptic, decongestant, anesthetic, anti-inflammatory, disinfectant, calms and gently sedates.


• Eucalyptus essential oil is antimicrobial, as well as an expectorant, making it a good oil to use for respiratory issues.


• Peppermint essential oil is antibacterial, soothes pain and has anti-inflammatory properties. The menthol cools and refreshes.


• Lavender essential oil is soothing and promotes sleep.


• Tea tree essential oil is antimicrobial, making it a good addition to this rub if the chest congestion is the caused by some sort of pathogen.

A Special Note: If you plan on making a Vapor rub for children to use, reduce the essential oil amounts by half. The essential oils listed in the recipe below can be harmful to youngsters. It has ingredients that act as irritants which the body reacts to by producing even more mucous. Reducing the essential oil amounts and using small amounts on children will help reduce the reaction.

 Vapor Rub

• ¼ cup organic coconut oil, at room temperature


• ¼ cup unrefined shea butter, at room temperature


• 30 drops camphor essential oil


• 15 drops eucalyptus essential oil


• 15 drops peppermint essential oil


• 10 drops lavender essential oil


• 5 drops tea tree essential oil 


• 4 ounce glass jars

1. In a mixer ( I use an immersion hand mixer), whip coconut oil and shea butter together until combined. About 45 seconds.


2. Stop mixer and use spatula to bring whipped mixture to middle of bowl.


3. Add the essential oils to whipped butter mixture and slowly stir to blend. Note: Reduce essential oils by half if vapor rub will be used on children.


4. Pour mixture into clean containers and add lid.

To use: Rub a small amount on the chest as needed to relieve congestion and reduce coughing.

Also, try these vapor bath blocks to add to your bathwater. The essential oils in the bath blocks create a powerful bond and helps to ease symptoms through aromatherapy; especially those of the upper respiratory tract, nose and sinuses. Additionally, the baking soda in these bath blocks assists your body in purging toxins and softens the skin.

The post Make Your Own Whipped Vapor Rub appeared first on The Sleuth Journal.

The 9 Best Essential Oils For Your Survival Kit

There are many reasons why learning about essential oils is useful for preppers.  Not the least of those reasons is to lessen the reliance on expensive and often ineffective and toxic pharmaceuticals.  How often have you filled an expensive prescription only to have side effects or find that the drug simply did not work.  Other than add these meds to your SHTF barter kit, you are out of luck.

On the other hand, most essential oils are quite inexpensive and have the added bonus that a prescription is not required.  With essential oils you have the freedom of where to shop, how much to pay, and how to use them.  You can dilute essential oils in a carrier oil or salve, use them in a compress, or diffuse them, or use them in a myriad of other ways suitable to your situation.

With that in mind, today I want to answer one of the most frequently asked questions I get regarding essential oils: what are the best essential oils to set aside for my survival kit?   In other words, what are the specific “set it and forget it” oils that are on par with emergency food and water storage?

Nine Essential Oils for the Long Term Survival Kit

There are many factors that have gone into my choices, including an oil’s versatility and its ability to resolve multiple woes.  I have also taken into consideration price and shelf life.  More about that in bit, but first, here my own list of the nine best essential oils for the long term survival kit along with my top 4 uses for each of them.

1.  Lavender

Treats cuts, scrapes, and burns and works to promote healing

Induces calm, relieves anxiety and stress, promotes sleep

Eliminates the sting of bug bites

Relieves pain and soreness caused by sprains and muscle aches

For more uses: The Miracle of Lavender Oil: 25 Amazing Uses for Survival

Resource:  Lavender Essential Oil

2.  Peppermint

Relieves headache pain

Topical treatment of allergies

Repels ants, spiders, mice and other pests from home and garden

Treats digestive disorders such as heartburn, bloating, indigestion, and constipation

For more uses:  The Miracle of Peppermint Oil: 20 Practical Uses for Survival

Resource:  Peppermint Essential Oil

3.  Melaleuca (Tea Tree)

Use as an antiseptic, antiviral, antibacterial and fungicide.  Kills germs and prevents infection!

Eliminate mold and mildew

Fights colds, sinus infections, respiratory ailments and bronchitis

Treats wounds

For more uses:  The Miracle of Tea Tree Oil: 80 Amazing Uses for Survival

Resource: Melaleuca (Tea Tree) Essential Oil

4.  Rosemary

Improve concentration and memory plus provide increased mental and physical stimulation

Relive anxiety and stress by calming and relaxing the nerves

Sooth and heal skin disorders by reduce itching, dryness and irritation

Treat respiratory problems and congestion through inhalation

For more uses: The Powerful Healing Qualities of Rosemary Essential Oil

Resource:  Rosemary Essential Oil

5. Frankincense

Reduce inflammation and relieve conditions where pain and inflammation are present

Heal wounds from cuts, scrapes, and burns

Mitigate depression and feelings of helplessness

Boost and supercharge the effectiveness of other essential oils when used in tandem or layered on top of other oils

For more uses:  22 Powerful Uses of Frankincense Essential Oil

Resource:  Frankincense Essential Oil

6. Clove

Relieve toothaches and reduce the pain of canker sores and gum irritation

Disinfect hard surfaces and utensils

Freshen foul or stale air

Treat wounds, cuts, scabies, athlete’s foot, fungal infections, bruises, prickly heat, insect bites and stings.

For more uses:  20 Ways To Benefit from Clove Essential Oil

Resource:  Clove Bud Essential Oil

7. Lemongrass

Provide immediate relief to “clenched” and knotted tendons and muscles

Reduce fevers

Eliminate body odor and other foul smells

Reduce bacterial around the home by using it in DIY cleaning products

For more uses:  23 Awesome Uses for Lemongrass Essential Oil

Resource:  Lemongrass Essential Oil

8. Roman Chamomile

Promote sound sleep (especially when nothing else works!)

Create a sense of well-being by reducing stress, anxiety, and fearfulness

Heal skin conditions such as dermatitis and eczema

Treat nausea, vomiting, heartburn, and gas

Resource:  Roman Chamomile Essential Oil

9. Shield Protective Blend or other “Robber’s Blend”

Use as an effective hand sanitizer

Blend into DIY cleaning products for extra disinfecting power

Create an anti-viral spray to eliminate both airborne and surface micro-organisms

Prevent or relieve the symptoms of colds and flu

Note:  “Robber’s Blend” can go by many names, including Shield, Thieves or simply “Protective Blend”.  The components are similar and include various amounts of clove bug, lemon, cinnamon, eucalyptus, and rosemary oil.  Although you could make it yourself, having it ready-to-go in your survival kit will save you time and eliminate the need to store the variety of oils needed.

Resource:  Shield Protective Blend

What About Shelf Life?

Something that preppers struggle with is shelf life, especially under climate conditions that are widely variable.  This not only applies to food storage, but also to essential oils.  That being said, essential oils have been known to stay viable for years, even when kept at room temperatures.

The issue, so it seems, is that once opened, if not tightly sealed, they may evaporate or oxidize.  Certain oils, and especially citrus oils and some coniferous essential oils, are rich in a hydrocarbon class called “terpenes” tend to deteriorate more quickly.

The thing to remember is that in a survival situation, storage conditions will not be optimal.  Besides evaporation, signs that your oils have degraded include a drastic change in aroma, intense thickening, and cloudiness.  I personally have not had this occur with any of my oils, many of which are over five years old.  In addition, I keep a bottle of lavender oil in my vehicle and even after sitting outside in the sun for the past six months, it smells as fresh as the day it was initially opened.

For more information on the shelf life of essential oils, there is a balanced discussion in this article on the AromaWeb website:  Essential Oil Shelf Life.

A Word About Essential Oils

After a significant amount of research, for health, first-aid, and wellness purposes I use essential oils from Spark Naturals.  There are a lot reasons, the most important being their commitment to both quality and value.  I am satisfied that the raw materials used in Spark Naturals products are tested and authenticated to be of pharmaceutical grade purity.

In addition, the Spark Naturals commitment to customer service is unsurpassed.  They take care of their customers, period.  If you decide to make a purchase from Spark Naturals, please know that you will enjoy a 10% discount on your order when you use the code BACKDOORSURVIVAL at checkout. (Note:  I do receive a small commission on your purchase and for that I extremely appreciative.)  

The Final Word

This article is in response to the many comments and emails I have received asking which oils I personally stockpile for the long term.  This is that list; a list I like to call my “ultimate essential oil survival kit”.  In my experience, all of these oils have proven themselves over and over again in my own use, and, with the exception of Frankincense, are reasonably priced if not downright cheap.

My recommendation?  When one of these oils goes on sale, purchase two or three and set them aside for the long term.  If the stuff hits the fan, not only will food become scarce, so will medications and essential oils.  In my own household, we are stockpiling both, with a heavy emphasis on essential oils.  We do this with the blessing of our personal health care provider who is tracking our progress and weaning us from pharmaceuticals when practical.

As with all things related to survival first aid and healthcare, your mileage may vary.  The best you can do is learn is much as you can now to determine what works best for you and your family.  Something that works well on one person, may work differently on someone else.  Use essential oils neat, in a diffuser, or diluted with a carrier oil or simple salve.  Have fun with them and embrace the use of plant-based oils to foster good health!

Enjoy your next adventure through common sense and thoughtful preparation!

The post The 9 Best Essential Oils For Your Survival Kit appeared first on The Sleuth Journal.

Guide To Using Citrus Oils For Wintery Ailments

Essential oils are used in the practice of aromatherapy for certain health problems. Citrus oils are light, uplifting oils that are particularly useful as the darker winter months approach. Although we traditionally think of warming oils, such as ginger and nutmeg, for winter ailments, citrus oils can uplift your mood and remind you of the warmer summer months!

Orange Essential Oil

There are various types of orange oil; these include bitter orange, sweet orange, orange blossom and petitgrain essential oils. However, both bitter orange (Citrus aurantium var. amara) and sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) oil are the traditional citrus oils. Bitter orange and sweet orange are obtained from similar trees, although the sweet orange tree is smaller than the bitter orange tree. The fruits of the bitter orange tree are smaller than the fruits from the sweet orange tree. Both oils, which are obtained by expression of the fruit, have a sweet, orange aroma. Orange essential oil is useful for stress, colds and flu.

Lemon Essential Oil

Lemon (Citrus limon) oil is also obtained by expression of the fruit from the lemon tree. Lemon is a light, uplifting aroma. It has several properties but is especially useful for the treatment of colds, flu and infections. Lemon is traditionally found in many over-the-counter remedies.

Grapefruit Essential Oil

Grapefruit (Citrus x paradisi) oil is not as well known as lemon or orange oil but it also has several aromatherapy uses. Grapefruit is a hybrid of Citrus maxima and Citrus sinensis. It is also obtained by expression of the fruit from the grapefruit tree. You can use grapefruit oil in a similar way to both lemon and orange oils. In addition, grapefruit is recommended for depression and nervous exhaustion.

Lime Essential Oil

Lime (Citrus aurantifolia) is sometimes used in place of lemon oil because the two oils share similar properties. Lime oil is extracted by expression of the fruit of the lime tree, although there is a distilled variety available too. Use lime oil for winter ailments such as colds, flu and infections.

Mandarin Essential Oil

Mandarin (Citrus reticulata) oil is often confused with orange oil, as the two fruits look very similar. Mandarins originated from the Far East and were brought to Europe and North America in the 19th century. In North America, mandarin is known as tangerine, although the tangerine species is slightly different in appearance than the European mandarin. Both oils are useful for insomnia, nervous disorders and digestive problems.

How to Use Citrus Oils for Winter

You can use citrus oils for winter problems in a couple of ways, depending on the type of problem. An aromatherapy diffuser is a good idea if you want to disperse the fragrance around a room to create an uplifting aroma or dispel cold and flu symptoms. However, for more specific cold and flu problems, use citrus oils in a massage oil. You can also use citrus aromatherapy candles; just make sure that they contain true essential oils and not fragrance oils, as fragrance oils have no therapeutic properties.

Cautions for Using Essential Oils

The majority of citrus oils are photo-toxic, which means that your sensitivity to sunlight increases, if you use them directly before going out into sunlight. However, citrus essential oils that are distilled are usually not photo-toxic. In addition, sweet orange essential oil is not known to be photo-toxic. If you are unfamiliar with the use of essential oils, consult a qualified aromatherapist for further advice before using them. Consult a medical practitioner also, if you have a health condition that may present contraindications for use (such as high blood pressure, pregnancy etc).

Citrus Oils for Winter

Citrus oils are an uplifting alternative to more traditional winter oils. They have several properties that help with common winter problems – and remind us that the warm days of summer may be gone for now, but the aroma still lives on!

The post Guide To Using Citrus Oils For Wintery Ailments appeared first on The Sleuth Journal.

The Smart & Easy Way To Make Your Own Essential Oils

Image source: Pixabay.com

It’s surprisingly easy to extract homemade essential oils at from home-grown herbs.

The health benefits of aromatherapy have long been documented in peer-reviewed studies, and they’re now being used in hospitals by nurses as complementary alternative medicine. Essential oils also have been shown to have antibacterial properties, and are being studied for their uses in creating food-safe disinfectants for fruits and vegetables. Other oils, such as rose geranium, have been shown to be especially effective at deterring ticks.

Commercially produced essential oils are inexpensive and readily available, but it’s easy to imagine an emergency scenario where you might have a need for a safe and effective oil.

The properties of essential oils vary based on the type of plant. Choosing which type of essential oil to extract depends both on what you have on hand and how you’d like to use the oil. Good plants to start with include rosemary, sage, thyme, oregano, cedar and geranium. To learn more about using essential oils once you’ve made them, try this beginners guide to essential oils.

Steam Distillation of Essential Oils on the Stove

While there are plenty of places online to find complicated instructions for creating a homemade essential oil still using a pressure canner and copper tubing, you can accomplish basic steam distillation with just a steamer basket, mason jar and a pot with a glass or metal lid.

Just 30 Grams Of This Superfood Provides More Nutrition Than An Entire Meal!

Add about an inch of water to the bottom of a deep pot and place a steamer basket over the water. Place a mason jar inside the pot on top of the steamer basket. A wide mouth pint tends to work well. Chop your herb material and place it on top of the steamer basket, all around the mason jar. Put a lid on the pot upside down. Inside the top of the lid, add some ice or cold water if available (optional).

Turn on the pot and simmer the water. The steam will come up through the herb material and collect inside the lid. It’ll then re-condense on the lid and flow down to the middle of the inverted pot lid, where it will drip down into the mason jar.

Cook at a low simmer until almost all the water has boiled off and re-condensed into the mason jar. Place the mason jar into the refrigerator overnight. When the water is cold, you’ll notice a small layer of oil on top of the water. This is your steam distilled essential oil.

Carefully scoop the essential oil off the water into a tall and narrow container. Place it back into the refrigerator to re-settle. The oil will again come to the top, and a small amount of water will settle below. Use an eye dropper to carefully extract the oil off the remaining water.

Leave a little bit of the oil on top of the water, and this remaining oil/water is now a hydrosol, or mix of water and essential oil. Hydrosols can be used diluted further and used as cleansers or perfumes, or preserved by adding a small amount of alcohol.

The oil you extracted off your hydrosol is your finished essential oil. Leave the container open on the counter for 24 hours to allow it to off gas a bit, which will remove any harsh off smell that developed in the extraction process. Afterwards, cap tightly and use as you would any essential oil, depending on what plant type it is.

Steam Distillation of Essential Oils in a Crockpot

Essential oils can be extracted from plant material in a crock pot using a similar method. Start with 3-4 cups of chopped plant material, and place it in a crock pot. Fill the crock pot with enough water to cover the plant material. Place the crockpot lid on, upside down, so that the evaporating water collects and drips back into the pot. Be sure the water level is low enough that the inverted lid is below the water level. Cook on high for 3-4 hours, and then turn the crock pot off and allow it to cool.

Place the crockpot in the refrigerator and allow the essential oil to collect on the surface of the water. Carefully scoop off the essential oil using the same process outlined above for the stovetop method.

Have you ever made essential oil? What advice would you add? Share your tips in the section below:

Treating Psoriasis With Essential Oils

One day, a few years ago, I happened to notice that my husband Shelly was wearing a long sleeved shirt on a hot summer day.  When I questioned him, he gave be a funny look then rolled up his sleeve to show me a large, unsightly, and extremely crusty patch of something on his elbow.  Not knowing what it was, I suggested some heavy duty moisturizer and left it at that.

When this dry, itchy patch on his elbow did not go away, it was time for a trip to the doctor who diagnosed psoriasis and prescribe a prescription steroid cream. Mind you, this was before I became a total convert to natural remedies and the use of essential oils for health and wellness.

The bottom line is this:  at the time, little did I know that we would be able to succeed at treating psoriasis with essential oils.  But, in truth, that is exactly what happened.

Conquering the Woes of Psoriasis With Essential Oils

I will let Shelly aka the Survival Husband tell you the story in his words:

A number of years ago I was diagnosed  with a case of plaque psoriasis on my right elbow.

There are multiple types of psoriasis with the most common being plaque psoriasis. Psoriasis is a disease of the immune system.  What happens is that the immune system over produces inflammatory cells. These skin cells build up, rise to the surface, and form raised red patches often with silvery scales know as plaque.

There is no cure and the recommended treatment is a prescription drug ENBREL.  This drug has major side effects so I chose not proceed with this remedy.  After discussing this with my doctor I was prescribed a steroid prescription ointment which didn’t do much to control the psoriasis.

What I didn’t realize is that any stress can exasperate the condition.

Enter Gaye my wife aka “Survival Woman”.  In late November of 2013, she  started applying oregano essential oil and her Miracle Salve to my elbow and I started to get immediate results. I began applying it twice daily, once in the morning and once in the evening.  This seemed the control it somewhat.

Since then, Gaye has put the oregano essential oil in a small container with a rollerball and the Miracle Salve in a small container so I can apply this remedy during the day a couple of times in addition to my morning and night ritual. By doing so, I have greater control and don’t have the unsightly visual usually identified with psoriasis.

Needless to say, I have become a advocate in the healing properties of essential oils. There are many uses for essential oils; do your research and find out for yourself.

I should note that Shelly wrote this over a year ago but, for one reason or another, I did not share it here on the website.  Then, in January of this year, more than one reader sent an email asking if I had an EO solution for psoriasis.  Boy did I!

Over time, I have refined the formula that Shelly uses to control his psoriasis.  It has worked well for him and except for one brief period of a few days last fall, the psoriasis on his elbow is in total remission and has not shown up elsewhere on his body.

The Essential Oils Psoriasis Buster

Here is the two part protocol for using essential oils to conquer psoriasis.

Psoriasis Roller Ball Formula
36 drops Oregano essential oil
5 drops Patchouli essential oil
Fractionated Coconut Oil (like this)

Add your oils to a 10ML roller ball bottle.  Top with fractionated coconut oil.  Apply on affected areas once or twice a day.

Psoriasis Salve
3 teaspoons DIY Miracle Healing Salve
32 drops Bergamot essential oil

Mix together in a small jar.  After applying the roller ball formula, layer some psoriasis salve over the affected areas to seal it in.

This is a two-part formula.  You start with the roller ball then layer the salve on top.  This will add moisture plus it seals in the more liquid roller ball formula.

You can download a printable version here.  In addition, a recipe to make the DIY Miracle Healing Salve is here.

Note:  When I started out using essential oils, I was very exact in my measurements but these days? Not so much. Keep in mind that often times more is not better and everyone’s body may react differently to a particular formula.

How and Why Does this Work?

Two of the oils, oregano and patchouli, are powerful anti-fungals.  I don’t know the science behind it, but my guess is that the anti-fungal properties play a role in the success in busting through plaque psoriasis.  As far as the bergamot, I knew that it was a terrific stress reliever and felt that the added boost would be beneficial.  I proved to be right, in Shelly’s case, at least.

Here is a brief description of each oil and its health benefits, excerpted from the Organic Facts website (a good one to bookmark if you are interested in natural remedies).

Oregano:  Some of the most impressive and important health benefits of oregano include its ability to protect the immune system, prevent the onset of chronic disease, improve digestion, detoxify the body, strengthen the bones, improve heart health, increase energy levels, and even protect against diabetes.

Patchouli:  The health benefits of Patchouli Essential Oil can be attributed to its properties as an antidepressant, antiphlogistic, antiseptic, aphrodisiac, astringent, cicatrisant, cytophylactic, deodorant, diuretic, febrifuge, fungicide, insecticide, sedative and tonic substance.

Bergamot:  The health benefits of Bergamot Essential Oil can be attributed to its properties as a deodorant, vulnerary, vermifuge, antibiotic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, sedative, analgesic, antidepressant, disinfectant, febrifuge, cicatrisant, and digestive substance.

More information about Oregano essential oil can be found in the article 25 Ways .to Use Oregano Essential Oil for Health and Wellness.

Here are instructions for DIY Miracle Healing Salve.  (Don’t worry, it’s easy.)

A Word About Essential Oils and Roller Ball Bottles

When selecting the oils to use in these Psoriasis formulas, be mindful that you want to use 100% pure, undiluted, essential oils.  I get mine from Spark Naturals because I feel that they are the best quality I can buy at a reasonable price.  If you are interesting in giving them a try, you will enjoy an extra 10% by using coupon code BACKDOORSURVIVAL at checkout.

Resource:  Oregano Essential Oil, Patchouli Essential Oil, and Bergamot Essential Oil

I get my roller ball bottles from both Spark Naturals (my essential oil vendor of choice) and Amazon. You can probably find them at craft stores but since there are none close to where I live, I must purchase them online.

Resource:   Cobalt Blue Glass Roller Bottles – Pack of 6

You will find it useful to know that 10ML is approx. 1/3 oz or 2 tsp. In a pinch, you could probably use one of those small travel bottles that are ubiquitous. Instead of rolling it on, you could dab it with your finger.

The Final Word

As with all things related to essential oils and natural remedies, what works for one person may work differently for another.  That said, I have provided samples of these formulas to friends and it has worked for all of them.

If you or someone you know suffers from the woes of psoriasis, I hope you will give this a try.  Feel free to experiment by using one formula or the other, or do as Shelly does and use both.  And definitely – report back with the results.

Enjoy your next adventure through common sense and thoughtful preparation!

The Best Essential Oils For Hyper And Moody Kids

Image source: Pexels

Anyone who has children knows that kids are an absolute blessing. However, some kids suffer from hyperactivity and mood swings – conditions that can turn a happy home into a daily grind. If you take your child to the doctor to ask for advice, they may prescribe them mainstream medications to “calm them down.”

There is a better way, though – essential oils.

Essential Oils for Babies and Toddlers

Never use essential oils on babies younger than three months of age. There are only four essential oils that are deemed to be safe for babies and toddlers:

• Lavender essential oil ─ a sleep aid; anti-anxiety; calming; soothes rashes


• Roman chamomile essential oil ─ soothes the nerves; good for soothing rashes


• Neroli essential oil ─ a sleep aid; calms


• Rose otto essential oil ─ calming; moisturizing

After an infant has reached the three-month point, it is safe to use only one drop of essential oil diluted in four teaspoons of a carrier oil, such as coconut oil, as a massage blend. Be sure to perform a patch test first, as described below. You also can use a room diffuser containing one drop of your chosen essential oil, dropped in purified water.

Essential Oils for 2- to 10-Year-Olds

For a massage blend, it is safe to use up to four drops of essential oils. Never use more than four drops of essential oil per four teaspoons of carrier oil for a blend. Use your judgment here, as it might be better to only use two drops for a two-year-old and up to four drops for a 10-year-old. Also, be sure to perform a patch test, as described below.

For aromatherapy, use up to four drops in a room diffuser, dropped into purified water. Remember that heavily scented oils tend not to appeal to children. Here is a list of good essential oils to use for children ages two to 10:

• Roman chamomile essential oil ─ soothes the nerves; soothes rashes and skin irritations


• Lavender essential oil ─ a sleep aid; anti-anxiety; calming; soothes rashes and insect bites


• Lemon-scented eucalyptus essential oil ─ relieves coughs, congestion and colds


• Lemon essential oil ─ uplifting; can unblock a clogged nose


• Sweet orange essential oil ─ uplifting; calms emotional stress


• Spearmint essential oil ─ relieves tummy aches and indigestion


• Neroli essential oil ─ a sleep aid; calms fretfulness


• Rose otto essential oil ─ soothing, soothes skin irritations

Safety First: Perform a Skin Patch Test

Perform a patch test on a small area of your child’s skin before applying an essential oil massage blend to a larger area of the body. This way, you will know if the oils are safe to use on your child.

The All-Natural Pain Relief With No Nasty Side Effects!

To do this, apply a small amount of the blend on the inside of your child’s arm. Cover the area with a bandage and leave it overnight. Remove the bandage in the morning, and if the skin looks healthy, your child should not have an adverse effect to using the particular oil blend.

Safety in the Sun

Image source: Pixabay.com

It is important to realize that some essential oils are phototoxic. This is primarily true with the citrus based oils, such as sweet orange and lemon essential oils. Don’t use these oils on your children in massage blends if they will be heading outdoors, as they can lead to a sunburn.

If you are not sure about the safety precautions of each oil you use, be sure to do some research before using them on your children and even yourself.

Ways to Use Essential Oils for Hyper or Moody Children, Ages 2 -10

1. Massage blends

Proportion the drops of oils to your child’s age, 2-4 drops for children two to 10 years old. Do a patch test first.

Blend One: Calming Blend

• 2 drops lavender essential oil


• 2 drops Roman chamomile essential oil


• 4 tsp carrier oil, such as coconut oil

Blend Two: Restore the Mood

• 1 drop lemon essential oil


• 1 drop sweet orange essential oil


• 1 drop Roman chamomile essential oil


• 4 tsp carrier oil, such as coconut oil

2. Diffuser blends

You can discover different diffuser scents by combining various essential oils. Here are a couple of recipes to get you started:

Blend One: Calming/Sleep Blend:

• 2 drops lavender essential oil


• 2 drops neroli essential oil


• Drop into a diffuser full of purified water

Blend Two: Mood Buster Blend:

• 1 drop lemon essential oil


• 1 drop sweet orange essential oil


• 1 drop spearmint or peppermint essential oil


• 1 drop rose otto essential oil


• Drop into a diffuser full of purified water

3. Room and linin sprays

Many parents have found it helpful to blend a calming spray which can be misted on sheets, blankets and curtains, or just be sprayed into the air. When using an essential oil linen spray, the scent will last the entire night, promoting a good night’s sleep.

Lavender Linin Spray for calmness or sleep:

• 2 tbsp witch hazel


• 8-10 drops lavender essential oil


• 6 tbsp purified water


• Small spray bottle


• Shake well before each use

Sweet Orange Linin Spray for Bettering the Mood:

• 2 tbsp witch hazel


• 5 drops sweet orange essential oil


• 3 drops spearmint or peppermint essential oil


• 2 drops lemon essential oil


• 6 tbsp purified water


• Small spray bottle


• Shake well before each use


• If you don’t like the minty aroma, leave out the mint oils

Final Thoughts

One of the best things about essential oils is their ease of use and accessibility. You can go out today, buy some oils, and begin using them right away. But buy your oils from a reputable source, ensuring they are 100 percent pure. Also, try different variations of these oils to find the perfect scents for your children.

*This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose or cure any particular health condition. Please first consult with a qualified health professional.

Have you ever used essential oils for your children? Share your tips in the section below:

How to Pick a Sunscreen That’s Safe for Coral Reefs and Aquatic Life

Hopefully, before you head to the beach, you’ve already looked for some safe sunscreens for your body. But if you’re not reading labels, and if you don’t understand what the ingredients on those labels are, studies show the product you’re lathering on your skin could actually pose a grave threat to the ocean environment. These sunscreens are especially not safe for coral reefs.

The world’s most popular reefs are at risk because of a common chemical found in all types of sunscreen: Oxybenzone. [1]

Oxybenzon – Why Sunscreen is NOT Safe for Coral Reefs, Aquatic Life

According to a study published in 2015, oxybenzone poisons coral by contributing to bleaching, has a similar effect on DNA to gasoline, and causes young corals to become fatally deformed because the chemical disrupts reproduction and growth.

Craig Downs, one of the study’s authors, explained:

“It causes weird deformities in soft tissue and also causes the coral larvae to encase itself in its own skeleton, in its own coffin.”

A dose of oxybenzone the size of a drop in 6.5 Olympic swimming pools is enough to damage coral reefs.

Downs said:

“Oxybenzone can cause an adverse effect in coral at 62 parts per trillion, that is equivalent to one drop of water in six and a half Olympic size swimming pools, so you don’t need a lot to cause a lot of damage.” [2]

In fact, scientists have discovered that many beaches popular with tourists have dead and sterile reefs, compared to beaches with little human traffic, which are healthy. [1]

It is believed that up to 14,000 tons of sunscreen is deposited on coral reefs each year. [2]

Hawaii is contemplating banning oxybenzone-containing sunscreens on the islands for this reason. Sunscreen isn’t safe for coral reefs!

Other sea life is imperiled by oxybenzone, as well. Downs’ team found the chemical has toxic effects on fish larvae and embryos. [1]

How to Ensure You’re Buying Sunscreen Safe for Coral Reefs

Some sunscreen manufacturers have started producing and marketing sunscreens as “reef friendly,” but there’s no way to know for sure what you’re getting. Scientists warn that, like the “natural” and “healthy” labels on food, there is little to no regulation over such claims.

Read: Eco Artists Build Interactive Dive Site That Doubles as Artificial Coral Reef

So here are a few tips for picking a sunscreen that is, indeed, reef-friendly.

Read Labels

Look for sunscreens containing the “Protect Land + Sea” Certification Seal. This means the product has been laboratory-tested using analytical-forensic techniques to verify that it is free of the following chemicals:

• Any form of microplastic sphere or beads.


• Any nanoparticles like zinc oxide or titanium dioxide.


• Oxybenzone


• Octinoxate


• 4-methylbenzylidene camphor


• Octocrylene


• Para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA)


• Methyl Paraben


• Ethyl Paraben


• Propyl Paraben


• Butyl Paraben


• Benzyl Paraben


• Triclosan [3]

While sunscreens containing ONLY zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are considered reef-friendly, when these ingredients are uncoated and nano-size (less than 35 nanometers in diameter), they can enter the cells of invertebrates and cause oxidative stress in sunlight. Downs explains that “This blows up the cells so they die.” [4] [5]

Buy Sunscreens with the Simplest Formulas

According to Downs, even oils added to sunscreens, such as eucalyptus and lavender, can harm invertebrates. Industrial insecticides can contaminate beeswax, that, when emulsified in beauty products, can release these chemicals on your skin and in the water. This is why it’s so important to buy organic sunscreen.

Don’t Buy Aerosols

Aerosol sunscreens are worse for reefs than other types because it travels and leaves residue in the sand. Waves wash the sand and the residual ocean spray into the oceans. [2]

When researchers sprayed a small piece of coral from Trunk Bay in the U.S. Virgin Islands with one of the top aerosol brands, the coral lost all its algae, and turned white and bleached within 96 hours.

John Burns, PhD and coral biologist, who has worked on coral health and disease for nearly a decade, said:

“They actually have a basic immune system that is a lot like humans, they react when they are being stressed out. When they’re white, their stressed, it’s a lot like us, when we’re sick, we’re pale and we’re not as healthy, and that’s what’s happening to the coral.”

Now that we know that most sunscreens aren’t safe for coral reefs or ourselves, let’s make it a goal to explore other, safer options for protection this summer.

Sources:

[1] The Guardian

[2] BigIslandNow.com

[3] Haereticus Environmental Laboratory

[4] The Inertia

[5] Vogue

National Park Service

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About Julie Fidler:
	Julie Fidler is a freelance writer, legal blogger, and the author of Adventures in Holy Matrimony: For Better or the Absolute Worst. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and two ridiculously spoiled cats. She occasionally pontificates on her blog.

Can You Eliminate Stress With Aromatherapy?

Aromatherapy is the use of essential plant oils to improve well being. Natural plant oils are often placed in diffusers and allowed to permeate the air and have been used for centuries to address mostly psychological issues. Aromatherapy as a practice is thousands of years old. Ancient Egyptians employed the use of essential oils and other plant substances for massages, bathing, and healing. One of the major uses of aromatherapy in the US is for stress management.

How Aromatherapy Works

Some of the methods of aromatherapy include aerial diffusion (typically with an oil burner), topical application, and inhalation. It’s even occasionally administered vaginally, rectally, and orally for things like infection and congestion. Many practitioners use only natural essential oils since synthetics don’t provide the same benefit as the natural compounds. Synthetic fragrance oils may also contain chemical additives that can irritate the skin if applied topically.

Aromatherapy is very popular today for stress relief. ^[1] It offers a natural, organic alternative to pharmaceutical substances and works to enhance lifestyle modifications that further reduce stress. These natural lifestyle modifications are of course exercise, diet, meditation, and proper sunlight exposure. One primary application method for essential oils is indirect and direct inhalation. Through inhaling the oils (from a safe distance, of course), the brain reacts by slowing down. This elicits a deep level of relaxation.

Massage is another stress-relieving technique that commonly employs essential oils, incorporating touch and the physical manipulation of joints and muscles to relieve tension and stress. Many essential oils used during massage are often diluted.

Aromatherapy has seen a great deal of scientific scrutiny, and research continues to report the amazing benefits of these natural concentrated plant oils. The scientific research being done so far reports positive results. In France, it’s already part of their mainstream medicine, which is appropriate considering that France is credited with being the birthplace of “aromatherapy.”

The Stress of Daily Life

Stress is an aspect of life; however, there are different types of stress that must be addressed. ‘Good’ stress, or eustress, can actually motivate you to accomplish goals and keep you safe from adverse situations. Negative stress, on the other hand, usually stems from some prolonged negative thought about the past or the future. The negative stress is what should be dealt with in order to support good health.

While you may not be able to always eliminate a negative situation, there are many things you can do to reduce stress which will hopefully eliminate health problems related to that stress. Aromatherapy is one effective way to combat the emotional upheaval that accompanies stressful events. Stress can hinder digestion, immune function, and increase the likelihood of cardiovascular disease. ^[2][3][4] Simply by reducing your negative emotions that surround a certain situation, you begin to change the way you think and act, thereby minimizing the situation.

The Dangers of Unmanaged Stress

It’s not worth ignoring stress or accepting it; you have power over the stress you experience. You can attenuate the effects of stress in your life by practicing meditation, deep breathing, exercising, socializing, or simply taking a hot shower. Of course, using essential oils in your daily routine will also support a positive mood no matter what the situation. If you choose to ignore stress, your body becomes worn down in multiple ways. Not only do you become tired and lose motivation, your immune system, cells, and brain weakens.

Consider the following:

• Stress can affect your blood sugar levels, leading to hunger and, eventually, insulin insensitivity.^[5]


• Many people who do not properly manage their stress experience weight gain.


• Premature aging is another possible danger of not properly managing your stress levels.


• General pain throughout the body can be a side effect of unmanaged stress.

Some of the most popular essential oils with stress-relieving properties include geranium, peppermint, lavender, jasmine, chamomile, and lemongrass. Add aromatherapy to your arsenal as you fight against stress. The benefits can be quite effective, and the ease of use makes it a great choice.

How to Use Essential Oils

Be sure to read your labels to make certain that your oil contains organic, all-natural essential oils. Never apply essential oils to the skin without proper diluting it in a carrier agent. Proper carrier oils include jojoba, olive, and coconut oil. Because oils are concentrated, they can irritate the skin without a natural and benign carrier oil accompanying its application. One method of using aromatherapy is simply applying oils to your hands and breathing in the oil deeply. You can apply the oils to clothes, handkerchiefs, pillows, and just about anything. When you go for a massage, ask your masseuse if they can use essential oils geared toward soothing, relaxing, and de-stressing. You may be able to bring your own oil to the session.

How do you use essential oils? We’d love to hear your suggestions in the comments!

References:

1. Tang SK, Tse MY. Aromatherapy: does it help to relieve pain, depression, anxiety, and stress in community-dwelling older persons? Biomed Res Int. 2014;2014:430195. doi: 10.1155/2014/430195.


2. Bhatia V, Tandon RK. Stress and the gastrointestinal tract. J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2005 Mar;20(3):332-9.


3. Suzanne C. Segerstrom and Gregory E. Miller. Psychological Stress and the Human Immune System: A Meta-Analytic Study of 30 Years of Inquiry. Psychol Bull. 2004 Jul; 130(4): 601-630. doi: 10.1037/0033-2909.130.4.601.


4. Steptoe A, Kivimaki M. Stress and cardiovascular disease. Nat Rev Cardiol. 2012 Apr 3;9(6):360-70. doi: 10.1038/nrcardio.2012.45.


5. Shiloah E, Witz S, Abramovitch Y, et al. Effect of acute psychotic stress in nondiabetic subjects on beta-cell function and insulin sensitivity. Diabetes Care. 2003 May;26(5): 1462-7.

We recommend ‘Best Blends’ Set of 6 (Organic) 100% Pure, Best Therapeutic Grade Essential Oil – Which consists of various oil blends oncluding Lavender, Peppermint, Bergamot, Patchouli, Ylang-Ylang, Orange, Tea Tree, Lemon and Four Others.

Managing Blood Pressure With Essential Oils

Something of that concerns every single one of us is how we will deal with health issues in the event modern medicine and western doctors are no longer available to keep us well.  This goes far beyond current health woes because, as you know, stuff happens and someone that is perfectly healthy one day may be stricken with a health-related malady the next.

With that introduction, a few months back I decided to explore whether the use of essential oils could help manage high blood pressure during times of trouble.  From the get go, I will tell you that managing blood pressure with essential oils is a very personal quest.  My own, traditionally perfect blood pressure, had suddenly taken a leap from 120/80 to 160/90 and higher.  I was not a happy camper.

After consulting with my physician, I decided to experiment using essential oils before taking more drastic measures, named pharmaceuticals.

What is Blood Pressure?

Let me quote from Joe and Amy Alton’s excellent book, The Survival Medicine Handbook:

Blood pressure is the measure of the blood flow pushing against the walls of the arteries in your body.  Without this flow of blood, oxygen would never get to all the organs of the body.

If this pressure, however, is elevated over time, it can cause long-term damage.  Many millions of adults in the U.S. have this condition, which is often asymptomatic (no signs or symptoms).  Because of this, it has been referred to as a “silent killer”.  Blood pressure tends to rise with increasing age and weight.

For better or for worse, many adults routinely take blood pressure medications to control this silent killer.  The hope is that by managing blood pressure, a stroke or heart attack can be avoided.

Essential Oils to Manage High Blood Pressure

The results of my research and testing have been quite remarkable.  Before I share what has worked for me, I want to state that my use of essential oils to manage high blood pressure began with a baseline of good health.  A healthy diet, frequent exercise, and height and weight in proportion are always a good starting point for any sort of natural protocol and I passed on all accounts.

With that out of the way, I can tell you that by applying the blend below, my blood pressure has stabilized at about 110/76 in the mornings and 106/66 in the evenings.  On a few occasions it has been lower; low enough for me to verify that it was not too low. (It wasn’t.)

After a bit of trial and error, here is the recipe I use.

Blood Pressure Salve

1 ounce Simple Salve
30 drops Ylang Ylang
15 drops Cypress
15 drops Marjoram
15 drops Rosemary
15 drops Frankincense

After melting the Simple Salve, add the essential oils and mix well using a small stick or toothpick.  Set it aside to firm up overnight.

Twice a day, take a bit of BP Salve, as I call it, and rub some into the sole of the left foot, right below the big toe.  Also rub some below the ring finger of your left hand and over your heart.  These are commonly referred to as the “reflex points” for the heart.  (You might find the WikiHow on Reflexology interesting.)

If you don’t want to make up a batch of Simple Salve (directions here), you can use coconut oil, olive oil, or some other carrier oil.

Although I prefer the salve, I have also used the same essential oils in a roller ball topped with fractionated (liquid) coconut oil.  In that case, use just 10 drops of Ylang Ylang and 5 drops each of the other oils.

Essential Oils Equals Calm Equals Less Stress

There is one additional step I have been taking as part of my overall blood pressure management protocol.  Nightly, I have set a diffuser up on my nightstand and have diffused this same blend throughout the night.

To simplify the process, I have mixed a small bottle of the oils in the proportions shown.  Then before bed, I add water to the diffuser and 8 drops of my blend.  Whether it is a coincidence or not, my nocturnal visits to the bathroom have gone from six or seven times a night to one or two.  I am sleeping better and, of course, my blood pressure is back in the normal range.

This has me thinking that perhaps the reason this protocol is working is because the the oils have been calming.  Calm evokes relaxation and the end result is less stress.  Is that really what is happening here?

I leave it up to you to decide whether you want to try a diffuser; all that I can say is that it is working for me.

A Word About Blood Pressure Monitors

I currently have two blood pressure monitors, although one is new and did not arrive in time for this article.  One, the LifeSource UB-512 is more than a few years old and is being replaced because the battery cover has broken.  It is being held together with tape at the moment but still is cranking away giving readings very similar to those in my doctor’s office.  That said,  I am looking forward to my new Omron 7 and expect that it will perform equally well.

Both Shelly and I have found that our BP readings are lower at night than in the morning. According to our physicians, it is normal to have some fluctuation so there is no cause for worry unless the numbers start to climb above the 140/90 range and stay there.

Regardless of what particular monitor you choose, taking a periodic reading is important so that you can take action if your levels become too high.  As I discovered myself, that can happen in a flash.

The Next Step

Before you rush off and begin to self-medicate using essential oils let me say this.  If you are under a doctor’s care for hypertension (high blood pressure), keep track of your results and share them with your health care provider before making any change in your drug protocol.  With Shelly (aka the Survival Husband), his cardiologist was on board and  changed his drug protocol ever so slightly because the results with EOs were promising.  Not as good as mine, but promising.

The other thing is similar to all natural remedies, what works for one person make work better – or not at all – for someone else.  Always keep that in mind and anticipate the need to experiment to find your own unique formula.

Disclaimer:  Remember that I am not a health care professional.  Furthermore, essential oils have not been approved by the FDA for medical use and this should not be construed as medical advice.

Essential Oils for Health and Wellness

After a ton of research, for wellness purposes I use 100% pure essential oils from Spark Naturals.  There are a lot reasons the most important being their commitment to both quality and value.  I am satisfied that the raw materials used in Spark Naturals products are tested and authenticated to be of pharmaceutical grade purity.

I also like that they are not an MLM and everyone pays the same price without having to cough up dues or membership fees. Spark Naturals is open about the fact that there is no official system that grades essential oils as A, B, C or Therapeutic grade.  If you see a site that makes that claim, it is marketing hype and not fact.

If you decide to purchase the essential oils used in my Blood Pressure Salve from Spark Naturals, you will receive a 10% discount when you use the discount code “BACKDOORSURVIVAL” at checkout.

The Final Word

I personally feel that essential oils are minor miracle workers.  Some of my personal favorites include Melaleuca (Tea Tree), Oregano, Peppermint, and Lavender as well as the oils used in the blood pressure salve/blend.  That said, if you are just starting out, I suggest you start with these four and branch out as you become more comfortable with using essential oils for day to day first aid purposes.

If the time ever comes when modern medicine is not available, I know for sure that I will turn to my cache of oils to get me through.  As I have taken to saying:  Stuff Happens – Be Ready!

Enjoy your next adventure through common sense and thoughtful preparation!

How To Naturally Make An Essential Oil Diffuser (Plus Aromatherapy Oil Blends)

 

Aromatherapy has been shown to have a profound impact on lifting moods, purifying the air, and making a room smell great in the process.

This type of therapy interacts with the “emotional brain” or limbic system. During inhalation, odor molecules travel through the nose and affects the brain through a variety of receptor sites, one of which is the limbic system.

As much as I love to use my oil diffusers in many rooms of my home, I have begun to steer clear of the oil refills that are commercially sold as they contain artificial fragrances or the carrier oils are phthalate-laden and defeat the purpose of breathing in healthy aromas for therapy. Instead, I have found that mixing your own essential oil solution with a little vodka and a carrier oil can help you create a more natural, balanced, healthier oil solution to add to your diffusers.

Make Your Own Essential Oil Solution For Diffusers

Here’s what you need:

Because you will be combining oils, I recommend you purchase a set of essential oils. This is one of my favorite kits.

I have found that making your own essential oil diffuser is simple. All you need is a small container and a blending of your favorite oils. Ensure that the vessel you use has a small neck. This will help to prevent rapid evaporation of the essential oils. Here are some other ideas:

• flower bud vase with a small neck


• votive candle holders


• ceramic vases or containers (ensure the vase is glazed inside so that it doesn’t leak)


• empty spice jars


• rattan reeds

A note on reeds: Rattan reeds are better to use than bamboo because the capillary action of the reeds pulls the oils up through the reed and the oil is slowly diffused into the air.

Also, an alternative to do-it-yourself oil diffusers is to consider using rice. Adding a small amount of rice to a bowl and pouring the essential oil liquid (listed above) over it will also create pleasing aromatic effect. The evaporation rate may be faster because the oils are exposed so openly, but it will work all the same. You can also make aromatherapy rice bags, as well. Here are instructions in creating this project.

Get in the Mood

Now that you know how to create essential oil liquid for your diffuser, now it’s time to get in the mood! We found the following list for essential oil combination blends used to balance moods and adapted them in order to add them to the diffuser. The originals to these blends can be found here.

1. Blends to Combat Anger

• 12 drops Orange


• 10 drops Patchouli

2. Anxiety Blend

• 12 drops Lavender


• 10 drops Clary Sage

3. Blends to Help with Depression

• 12 drops Bergamot


• 10 drops Clary Sage

4. Energizing Blends

• 12 drops Bergamot


• 10 drops Rosemary

5. Blends to Ease Loneliness

• 10 drops Bergamot


• 12 drops Clary Sage

6. Stress Relieving Blends

• 10 drops Clary Sage


• 4 drop Lemon


• 4 drop Lavender

7. Blends to Ease the Winter Blues

• 12 drops Orange


• 8 drops Grapefruit

or

• 12 drops Bergamot


• 10 drops Clary Sage

8. Blends to Ease Fear

• 12 drops Grapefruit


• 10 drops Bergamot

9. Blends to Help Increase Confidence

• 12 drops Orange


• 10 drops Rosemary

10. Blends to Enhance Memory and Concentration

• 12 drops Rosemary


• 10 drops Lemon

or

• 10 drops Peppermint


• 12 drops Lemon

The next time you feel that your mood is”off” or that you want to enhance your memory try some of these essential oil combinations and see the positive effects. Aromatherapy is a natural way to improve and balance your moods and create a healthier environment.

What Are Essential Oils? A Guide from Extraction to Uses

Essential oils are the oil-based aromatic extracts derived from the leaves, stems, fruit, bark, flowers, roots, or seeds of plants. They are a highly concentrated form of volatile oils—another name for essential oils—and have many beneficial properties.^[1] Historians estimate that humans have been using essential oils for 5,000 to 6,000 years for medicinal, cosmetic, and hygienic purposes. The earliest methods and technology did not produce the essential oils we are familiar with today. Whereas many of today’s essential oil producers focus on purity, the ancient versions were likely adulterated with stray plant materials, debris, and other oils. As time passed, extraction methods and technology improved. Let’s look more at how essential oils are created and the many ways they can be used.

How Are Essential Oils Created?

There are a few ways to create essential oils and the ideal extraction process is determined by the oil’s source and how well it’s phytoconstituents respond to extraction. Distillation and using solvents are the most popular ways to extract essential oils. Plants or oils that are too delicate for distillation must be expressed, mechanically crushed, or extracted using solvents. Others, like whole citrus fruits, may be mechanically rolled over needles that puncture and release essential oils, a process known as the ecuelle or scarification method.^[2]

Distillation

When using the distillation method, there are three distinct ways to obtain oils: water distillation, water and steam distillation, and steam distillation. Pure steam distillation is the most gentle of the distillation extraction methods. In water distillation, the plant material is boiled, and the essential oils are decanted off the water. Water-steam distillation involves both boiling and steaming the plant material.

Steam distillation takes place in a still. If the essential oils are processed fresh, this typically takes place in or near the same field from which the plant is harvested to preserve the delicate phytochemicals. The heat from the still forces the plant matter to release its oils at the lowest temperature possible to prevent burning or denaturing the more fragile phytochemicals. The steam carries the essential oils through the equipment to condense in another section of the still with the water. The essential oils are poured off the top of this water. This water, called hydrosol, contains the water-soluble, aromatic phytoconstituents of the plant. Hydrosols are often used in cosmetics for their more subtle aroma and gentle, beneficial effects on the skin.^[3]

Enfleurage

Enfleurage is an old, tedious, and expensive method of collecting essential oils. Historically, essential oil producers used it for fragile plant sources, such as jasmine flowers, that couldn’t tolerate more aggressive extraction methods. The process involves gently placing flowers on top of a fatty medium, either a scent-free vegetable oil or lard, so that the volatile oils would transfer into the fat. These flowers were continually and regularly replaced on the surface of the medium until it was thoroughly imbued with the desired oils. Once completed, the producer would use alcohol to separate the essential oil from the fatty medium by allowing the alcohol to evaporate away.^[3]

Solvent Extraction

A relatively new technology for extracting essential oils is called supercritical CO2 extraction. This method applies high barometric pressure under specific temperature conditions to release the oil from its source. Liquid CO2 is used as a solvent and poured over the plant matter to release the essential oils. Sometimes ethanol is added to this process. Afterward, the CO2 (or ethanol) evaporates and only the essential oil remains.

Alcohol tinctures are another method of extraction that uses ethanol to release essential oils. The plant matter is submerged in alcohol and the volatile oils of the plant are extracted by the ethanol. One potential downside of these tinctures is that they contain as much as 60-90% alcohol, and may not be an appropriate choice for everyone.^[4]

How to Select Essential Oils

The best quality essential oils are 100% pure, organically grown, and minimally processed. Many phytochemicals are sensitive to heat, light, and harsh chemical solvents, so they must be handled gently to retain the full spectrum of their beneficial constituents. If an essential oil provider doesn’t openly explain how they extract their oils, consider a different brand.

Though the scientific community is skeptical, some aromatherapists ascribe to an idea called an energy signature. They believe that living beings resonate at a particular frequency and life experiences, or processes in the case of essential oils, change the speed at which their molecules vibrate. This energetic signature is what they believe provides the many health benefits of essential oils.^[5]

The Top 33 Uses of Essential Oils

Essential oils do much more than just smell nice, they have a variety of health-promoting and helpful uses. Try essential oils the next time you want to soothe a headache, reinvigorate your mind, calm frayed nerves, or any of the other uses for essential oils listed below.^[3]

1. Clean Surfaces, Air, and Clothes

Many natural and organic cleaning products already contain essential oils as they tend to have antimicrobial properties.^[1] Beyond just cleaning surfaces, the volatility of these oils makes them ideal for reducing microbial contaminants in the air. For example, you can:

• Use eucalyptus and tea tree oil to freshen humid rooms like the bathroom.


• Add a few drops of lavender oil to a dry washcloth and throw it in the dryer with your wet clothes.


• Use lemongrass or rosemary to freshen and disinfect the fridge or freezer by sprinkling a few drops on a damp washcloth and wiping down surfaces.


• Freshen up gym bags, lockers, car, and shoes with a few drops on a cotton ball or piece of felt.

2. Get Rid of Shower Mildew

Shower mold is unsightly and unhealthy. To get rid of it, liberally sprinkle eucalyptus oil on any areas that have darkened, especially grout or the tracks of sliding shower doors. You can also apply to problem spots with a cotton swab.

3. Promote Skin Health

There are several skin care benefits that essential oils provide. Patchouli and clary sage slow skin aging and increase cell turnover to reveal fresh glowing skin. Orange oil revitalizes aging skin by promoting collagen production, just like the vitamin C in the whole orange.

Apply a drop of bergamot oil to soothe dry, cracked or inflamed skin. Chamomile also helps with skin dryness but is great for itchy skin as well. For dandruff, add a few drops of tea tree oil to your shampoo bottle and shake well to distribute evenly.

Patchouli also calms irritated skin and expedites wound repair. Slow or stop a small cut from bleeding with a small dab of cypress oil.

4. Moisturize Hands and Nails

For a DIY cuticle oil, dilute lemon or rosemary oil into sweet almond oil and rub into bare nails.

5. Clear Blemishes

Basil, bergamot, and cedarwood will help clear blemishes. A compress made with bergamot oil promotes the healing process by soothing swollen, painful skin eruptions. Cedarwood and orange oil help balance the production of skin oils.

6. Encourage Supple Lips

Topical bergamot oil minimizes pain from lip conditions, while lemongrass and peppermint promote clear, moisturized lips.

7. Calm Anxiety and Promote Relaxation

Essential oils are well known for their ability to improve mood. Lavender is effective at reducing feelings of anxiety that it’s encapsulated and taken orally by some. Diffuse oregano, basil, black pepper, and cedarwood in a humidifier to create a calming home or work environment.

8. Discourage Harmful Organisms

Several essential oils are good for addressing topical Candida overgrowth, so you’ll have no trouble finding one that suits your preference. These include:

• Lavender


• Peppermint


• Sage


• Tea tree oil


• Thyme


• Tulsi


• Clary sage

Make sure to apply them correctly. Check to see if your preferred essential oil requires a carrier oil. You can mix these into your lotion or coconut oil to apply.

For athlete’s foot, rub a few drops of cedarwood into your skin, or mix a couple of drops of tea tree oil into a teaspoon of a carrier oil and massage into skin. For nail fungus, use a cotton swab to apply 100% tea tree oil to the affected area.

9. Create a Rejuvenating Bath Elixir

Add a few drops of lavender, lemon balm, jasmine, or chamomile to your next hour-long soak. Drop the oil on your bath salts, on your bath bomb, or add it directly to the water. Boost the efficacy of your foot bath by resting tired feet and killing fungi. If you’re prone to urinary tract discomfort, using bergamot oil in the bath helps keep your bladder and kidneys healthy.

10. Assist Recovery After a Workout

Add a few drops of lavender, rosemary, or rose oil to a damp hand towel and freeze it. Fold over your eyes during savasana at yoga or drape it around your next after your workout to cool down and boost your mood.

11. Increase Alertness

Mix a few drops of eucalyptus and peppermint oil together in your humidifier to increase alertness. You can also try basil oil, bergamot, and black pepper for similar results.

12. Boost Memory and Concentration

Inhale the vapors of black pepper, cypress oil, or eucalyptus to boost your concentration. Clary sage, cloves, sage, and coriander increase your ability to concentrate with the bonus of increasing your recall.

13. Deepen Meditation

To deepen your meditation practice, inhale the vapors of benzoin and cypress oil to increase your focus and turn your thoughts inward.

14. Repel Insects

Peppermint, lemongrass, basil, and eucalyptus are natural insect deterrents. Either diffuse the oils to deter mosquitos, or use a mixture of the essential oil in vegetable glycerin and water and spray lightly on clothing. Just make sure to shake well first.

15. Support Normal Digestion

There are many ways that essential oils can help relieve gastric upset like bloating and gas. Lemongrass relieves gas and helps your body recover from stomach distress. For indigestion, dab a dry mint with peppermint oil. After letting it soak in thoroughly, quickly crunch the mint and swallow. For heartburn, use the same method but with chamomile oil. To relieve gas, stimulate appetite or prevent constipation, try basil, black pepper, coriander oil.

16. Boost Cleansing and Detoxification

After a weekend of overindulging, dilute 3 drops of fennel oil into a teaspoon of olive or flax oil and swallow to help yourself detox.

17. Calm Upset Stomach

Peppermint has long been used to quell nausea, and it’s an effective non-pharmaceutical option for people undergoing aggressive medical therapies, but there’s no scientific evidence it helps with morning sickness. You can also try inhaling the scent of ginger, peppermint, or coriander.

18. Appetite Suppressant

Inhale fennel or bitter orange to suppress appetite.

19. Encourage a Happy Mood

Surround yourself with uplifting scents when you’re feeling down in the dumps. Chamomile and clary sage resist down moods, basil oil brings about feelings of joy, and eucalyptus increases optimism.

20. Boost the Immune System

Many essential oils stimulates the immune system. Add them to your diffuser to reap the health benefits.

21. Promote Respiratory Comfort

Calm a cough with cedarwood and clary sage. If you already have a sore throat, soothe it with bergamot, lavender, or black cumin seed oil. If your lungs ache from coughing, inhale the scent of benzoin to soothe the discomfort. To reduce feelings of bronchial tightness, add 10 drops of clary sage to your humidifier. For a runny nose, inhale cypress or eucalyptus oil through your nose to dry it up.

22. Support Easy Breathing

Many OTC medicines contain chemicals that help loosen thick phlegm, so you expel it, but there are several natural ways to break through chest congestion. Use your humidifier to moisten dry air and diffuse the vapors of essential oils like benzoin, cedarwood, Manila elemi and eucalyptus loosen phlegm and make your coughs more productive.

23. Clear Nasal Passages

To clear a stuffy nose, inhale the scent of basil or black pepper oil.

24. Relieve Headache

Apply lavender, ginger, lemongrass, or willow bark with feverfew to temples to relieve headache pain. Dilute a few drops of eucalyptus or peppermint in a carrier oil and apply the same way, or simply rub a few drops between your hands and inhale the scent.

25. Topical Pain Relief

To relieve local pain, apply clove, echinacea, kava, or myrrh topically to the affected area.

26. Menstrual Pain Relief

Attenuate menstrual pain with basil oil, chamomile, clary sage. Rub undiluted chamomile on the abdomen, or dilute basil or clary sage oil in equal parts sweet almond oil and apply.

27. Ease Symptoms of Menopause

For hot flashes, keep a bottle of clary sage on you. Rub a few drops into your hands and inhale the aroma to quell a hot flash.

28. Calm Joint and Muscle Discomfort, Swelling, and Stiffness

Massage black pepper, chamomile, basil, coriander, or eucalyptus into the skin to relieve joint and muscle stiffness and soreness. ef. Dilute the essential oils according to the directions on the bottle.

29. Encourage Restful Sleep

Dispel insomnia with chamomile. Either rub some onto your chest, add it to your humidifier, or sprinkle lightly on your pillow case.

30. Flavor Foods

To flavor your hot chocolate, try a drop or two of peppermint in your cocoa.

31. Promote Hair Growth

Some believe cedarwood and clary sage stimulate hair growth. Add a few drops to your shampoo to apply.

32. Add Shine to Hair

Return some luster to your locks with basil or chamomile oil. Even distribute 2-3 drops into dry hands and comb your hair with your fingers to coat strands lightly.

33. Enjoy a Pleasant Fragrance

You can use essential oils to scent your home, car, or even yourself. Dilute a little rose, orange, lavender, lemon oil in jojoba and rub into your pressure points for a perfume. To fresh your breath, add a drop of peppermint oil to your toothbrush and brush as normal after using toothpaste. For your home, use a humidifier to distribute the oil’s aroma throughout your house.

Be careful about putting essential oils in your car. Some oils phytoconstituents are rough on finishes, but you can easily apply a few drops to a cotton ball, piece of cardboard, or felt and put it somewhere safe to keep your car will smelling fresh and clean.

Essential Safety Tips for Using Essential Oils

The dose is what matters most when using essential oils at home. Always check the label or consult your trusted essential oil producer’s website to ensure you’re correctly using these powerful oils. Many of essential oils must be diluted to prevent skin irritation, and some should only be used in humidifiers or diffusers.

Follow the directions when using essential oils. In addition to skin irritation, some essential oils increase your susceptibility to sunburn when applied to skin. If you’re pregnant, nursing, or trying to get pregnant, consult with your healthcare practitioner before using any essential oils, even if you’ve used them before. Some essential oils stimulate the shedding of the uterine lining and should be completely avoided. If you cannot find information on the essential oil you want to you use, do not apply to your skin or ingest it.^[6]

Some essential oil producers intentionally dilute their oils to make them safer for consumer use or to lower the price of extremely expensive oils like neroli. Make sure to buy your essential oils from organic sources and check to see that they are therapeutic grade if you intend to use them pure. If you’re not yet ready to try using pure or undiluted essential oils, you can always try products that contain them—there’s no shortage of options. Parfait Visage® features a blend of essential oils, each selected to promote beautiful, radiant-looking skin.

Have you tried essential oils in your skincare routine? Tell us about it in the comments!

References (6)

1. “Aromatherapy.” University of Maryland Medical Center. University of Maryland Medical Center, 1997. Web. 30 Jan. 2017.


2. “EXTRACTION METHODS OF NATURAL ESSENTIAL OILS.” N.p.: Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, 2012. Web. 30 Jan. 2017.


3. Wilson, Roberta. “The Essential Guide to Essential Oils: The Secret to Vibrant Health and Beauty.” United States: Avery Publishing Group Inc.,U.S., 2016. Print.


4. “How Are Essential Oils Extracted?” National Association of Holistic Aromatherapy. 2017. Web. 30 Jan. 2017.


5. Rhind, Jennifer Peace, and David Pirie. “Essential Oils: A Handbook for Aromatherapy Practice.” N.p.: Singing Dragon, 2012. Print.


6. “Are Essential Oils Safe?” University of Minnesota. Taking Charge of Your Health & Wellbeing, 2016. Web. 30 Jan. 2017