How Do I Use Essential Oils?

Healing,’ Papa would tell me, ‘is not a science, but the intuitive art of wooing nature.’

~W.H. Auden

Now that you have your essential oils, you may be wondering, what is the best way to use them? So, how DO you use essential oils? The answer is – “It depends!”

It depends on your goal. If your goal is to balance the emotions, aromatic (inhaling) is best. Aromatic use also is a wonderful way to support the respiratory system.

If your goal is to soothe muscles that are achy from exercise, gardening or other daily activities, you might wish to apply an oil such as PanAway topically – that is, directly to the skin. Do a patch test first (apply the essential oil on a small area of skin, cover it with a gauze, and wait to see if your skin has a reaction). Some oils should be diluted in a vegetable oil first. Young Living offers a vegetable oil mix created especially to blend well with essential oils – it is called ‘V-6’ for the six vegetable oils in it: coconut, sesame, grape, sweet almond, wheat germ, sunflower, and almond.

Oils also can be taken as a dietary supplement, by putting them in an empty gelatin capsule, or in water, tea, or juice. Young Living has a line of oils created especially for this purpose, call the ‘Vitality‘ oils. I love to put a drop of peppermint in my water – it refreshes me and freshens my breath.

Oils are flexible. For instance, if you have a sour stomach, you could apply an oil such as lavender, peppermint or DiGize topically on your stomach, or take a drop in water, tea or juice.

When people around you are coughing, you can support your immune system by using a diffuser to inhale an oil such as Thieves, applying it topically (the soles of the feet are a good place, as Thieves can be a bit ‘hot’) and by taking it as a dietary supplement. I call this the ‘1-2-3 Go’ method.

So, you see, it depends! Watch this video, and also keep an eye out for future newsletters on each of the 11 amazing oils in the Premium Starter kit.

More oil usage ideas

Wear as a perfume or cologne
Apply your favorite oil to the pulse points behind your ears, on your wrists, elbows, etc. I love it on the back of my neck, or to rub into my hair.

Massage into arms, legs, torso
The soles of the feet are an excellent place to absorb essential oils, especially the ‘hotter’ ones such as cinnamon, oregano or Thieves.

Hot compress
For extra absorption, soak a towel in hot water, then wring it out and lay it over the skin after you’ve applied the essential oils. If your towel gets too hot, you can put a dry towel between the skin and the hot damp towel.

Add to bath water

Essential oils do not naturally dissolve in water (oil and water don’t mix) so simply mix your chosen essential oils with a dispersing agent such as Epsom salts, milk, or bath gel. Then just soak and relax.

Inhale
Use a diffuser, put on a cloth or tissue, rub on your palms and cup over your nose, put into hot water, put into a vaporizer or humidifier, put on a cloth over a fan or vent – or any other way you can think of!

As a dietary supplement
Young Living’s ‘Vitality’ line of essential oils was created especially for you to use as a dietary supplement. Put into a gelatin capsule, in water, juice (Young Living’s NingXia Red juice is a great choice), in a drop of honey or Young Living’s Yacon syrup, or in tea.

In your recipes
Essential oils add natural flavoring to your recipes. Add lavender oil to your lemonade, dip a toothpick into basil oil and swish through your tomato sauce, or make yummy lemon bars.

Portable air freshener
Put a few drops of essential oil into a spray bottle and fill it with distilled water. I carry one whenever I travel, to spritz down the hotel bedspread, carpeting and bathroom. It cleanses the area, purifies the air and uplifts the atmosphere.

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