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Introductory Guide to Essential Oils

Essential Oils are natural aromatic compounds, found in plants. They come from all parts of the plant, and are steam-distilled (think Lavender or Rose) or “pressed” (think Lemon) into an essential oil. They are highly potent: 1 drop of certified pure,
Oct 14, 2017 | Christine Russell

You know those moments in life when the light bulb turns on, and from that moment your entire universe shifts? That was me when I discovered Essential Oils.

Lovely to meet you! I’m Christine Russell, mama of 2 girls, entrepreneur, mentor, co-founder of 889 Community, essential oil enthusiast, and friend, client and follower of Joy for over a decade. You can learn more about me here!

When Joy asked me to blog for her on Essential Oils I squealed!

There’s nothing I love more than sharing with women and mamas the beautiful power of plants and the radical healthy shifts they have brought to me and my family.

Constipation was always my thing. I know all Joyous readers love to talk about poop, so I’m not holding anything back. OK with you? I consider myself to make very natural and holistic choices in my life. That said, I always had to have some Sensokot (i.e. laxatives) at home for when I needed it. I lived a healthy lifestyle, got some relief from plough pose in yoga, but nothing seemed to work for me.

It was when a mentor of mine from NYC introduced me to Essential Oils, the sky parted. When I first learned about Essential Oils I thought I would get a cute diffuser and my house and yoga studio would smell beautiful. And I was excited about that.

When this mentor asked me “Christine, what are your top health concerns we could address with Essential Oils?” to which I responded, constipation, period cramps and anxiety (who's with me?!)

I’ve gotta be honest. I was a bit skeptical. But I got out of my own way, and I followed her guidance.

I diluted a Digestive Blend drop with a little bit of coconut oil on my abdomen and the bottom of my feet. I remember the feeling a few hours later…WHAAAAAT?! How on earth could ONE DROP of oil from a plant have gotten my pregnant bowels moving?! The light-bulb switched on. There are therapeutic benefits to these oils! I was hooked. I read. I explored. I learned from other women. I studied. I taught. And here I am today, sharing about Essential Oils with you, as part of my life’s purpose to empower women to live happy, healthy, peaceful and abundant lives.

Here's what you need to know about essential oils:

How Essential Oils Work

Essential Oils are natural aromatic compounds, found in plants. They come from all parts of the plant, and are steam-distilled (think Lavender or Rose) or “pressed” (think Lemon) into an essential oil. They are highly potent: 1 drop of certified pure, therapeutic grade Peppermint Essential Oil is the equivalent of drinking 28 cups of Peppermint tea. One drop!

When put on the epidermis (skin), they enter the bloodstream within thirty minutes and enter every cell of the entire body. I know, insane! Unlike pharmaceuticals (bless them when we really need them), Essential Oils penetrate the cell wall and create healing “intra-cellular,” think back to grade 10 Biology class, meaning they create healing inside the cell. They also cross the blood-brain barrier. 99% of pharmaceuticals, on the other hand, work only around the outside of the cell. And because they are synthetic, they don’t speak to the cell the same way a plant essential oil speaks to the human body, hence the real results I’m talking about.

How Can You Use Essential Oils?

  • Aromatically: you can diffuse, 3-6 drops in the diffuser, or simply take a drop in your palm and inhale. Your brain and body receive all of the benefits from inhalation.
  • Topically: apply the oils, diluted, directly on the skin. Most of the time I put them on the bottom of my feet, and then wherever is intuitive to the condition ie: headaches – temples; cramps – abdomen; sore neck – back of neck. With Oils, more isn’t better. Just use 1 drop on/in the body. Coconut Oil is the best carrier oil for dilution.
  • Internally: some oils can be taken internally. Look only for certified pure, therapeutic grade oils and direction on which oils can be taken internally.

How Do I Know Which Brand To Buy?

What’s most important is that you choose a certified pure, therapeutic grade Essential Oil which has been third-party tested, and that you can trace the sourcing. There are lots of low-quality oils out there, often laced with synthetic ingredients and fragrances and are diluted with carrier oils and who knows what else. Quality sourcing is #1 importance to ensure the chemistry of the oil is pure, thus the highest efficacy and therapeutic results for your body. If you want them to work wonders on your cells, ensure these things! Just how Joyous readers choose to invest in good quality food, I urge you to choose to invest in the highest quality Essential Oils.

Who Can Use Essential Oils?

Anyone! I used them on my newborn baby, use them on my toddler, my hubby, my parents. Remember, always, to dilute, dilute, dilute, especially with babies and kids.

Why Use Essential Oils?

I use Essential Oils to move me closer to how I want to feel physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Yes, they support emotions too! One drop gives the body a system upgrade at a cellular level. Heath care is being disrupted in the best way!

Drugs, move on over – empowered self-care is coming through!

Over the next decade, watch Essential Oils hit clinic and hospital treatment protocols (you heard it first on Joyous Health!). The science, the shifts, and the results are undeniable. The conversation is here. So glad we’re having it together.

How Do I Use Essential Oils?

Oh, I could count the ways ... but instead, I'll list some of my top favourite uses for essential oils!

  • If I want to feel sleepier, I’m grabbing my lavender, cedarwood and vetiver and dropping 2 drops of each into my diffuser.
  • If I’m anxious, I’m diffusing Bergamot (“the Oil of Self-Acceptance”).
  • If my little one has a cough, I’m grabbing a Respiratory Blend with Peppermint to rub on their chest.
  • If my kids have “ouchies” I’m spraying a blend I made of Lavender + Tea Tree Oil in a spray bottle.
  • If I want to call in abundance, I’m reaching for Wild Orange (“the Oil of Abundance”).
  • 3pm foggy brain, it’s Peppermint on the roof of my mouth and my temples
  • Feeling like I need a detox, I add one drop of lemon + grapefruit to my water.
  • Sweet sugar craving (I’ve been off sugar since June 1, 2017!!!), cinnamon on the roof of my mouth.
  • Sad or something is “up,” it’s Frankincense.

There’s an oil for that! Natural solutions, joyous readers! How can we fill our fridges and our medicine cabinets with plants and thrive from the energy of mama earth? How can we make this our base-line, first-line, always-way-of-high-vibe-living? Food for thought!

Special treat for all Joyous readers:

I’m hosting a fun, free online class for all Joyous followers to learn “The Top 10 Oils I Use” and a Q&A on Friday October 27th from 12pm-1pm. If you can’t make the class I will record and email out. For those on live I will be drawing for a free Introductory Kit of Oils and a diffuser. RSVP to christine@889yoga.com

Thank you for listening. It’s a privilege to have your attention. This matters to me.

Christine xo

Have you had success with essential oils? Share in the comments below!

33 Comments
Julie Marsh   •   October 19, 2017

Love essential oils. Saje carries a wonderful Sleep Remedy that to my surprise really does work. In a diffuser a few drops of Mountain High can really change the scent but also mood of those in it and love their roll-on Peppermint to help with a headache. Highly recommend them as a go-to for those looking to explore essential oils! Great post! Thank you!

Reply
Rachel Molenda   •   October 20, 2017
Christine Russell   •   October 20, 2017

Megan   •   October 19, 2017

Oh I am defiantly joining in on this class !! Sounds amazing !! 🤓

Reply
Rachel Molenda   •   October 20, 2017
Christine   •   October 20, 2017

Carol   •   October 20, 2017

I use Doterra and love Easy Air, ON Guard for breathing. I love diffusing best and go on pinterest for different blends for the season and time of day.

Reply
Rachel Molenda   •   October 20, 2017
Christine Russell   •   October 20, 2017

Joanne Goodman   •   October 20, 2017

OMG!!! I'm so excited!!! I've started making my own air care with essential oils

Reply
Rachel Molenda   •   October 20, 2017
Christine Russell   •   October 20, 2017

Margaret   •   October 20, 2017

DōTERRA life long Vitality everyday! I am now off my thyroid meds. My doc is very interested so I got a blood test follow up at 8 weeks, 3 months and next at 6 months. Breathe in roller bottle on hubs feet at night- best thing for snoring - thank goodness!!! I could go on and on 👍😃👍😃

Reply
Rachel Molenda   •   October 20, 2017
Christine Russell   •   October 20, 2017
Colleen   •   December 12, 2017

kenishia   •   October 20, 2017

Hi Christine! I just got a look on the page for oil essentials. So awesome! I have tried oils before but not essential oils. But I am going to try it now since I have read and looked at this page. Thank for your inspiration abd encouragement!😃 Also your influence on getting into and using more plants!!! I'm all for it!😉 also a huge thank u to joy for allowing you to share everything... please keep sharing! I could use it.😉

Reply
Christine   •   October 23, 2017

Heather Naugler   •   October 20, 2017

Can't make the session on the 27th, so could you email to me please?

Reply
Christine   •   October 23, 2017

Stella   •   October 21, 2017

Which brand of oil do you use?

Reply
Rachel Molenda   •   October 23, 2017
Christine   •   October 23, 2017

Karen Flanagan   •   October 22, 2017

Please e-mail me. I would appreciate that. Thanks! kflanaga@uwaterloo.ca I’m hosting a fun, free online class for all Joyous followers to learn “The Top 10 Oils I Use” and a Q

Reply
Christine   •   October 23, 2017

debbie H.   •   October 28, 2017

I love essential oils!! I was surprised when my daughter had her son 2 years ago they offered her lavender oils at the hospital!! Wow!!! Awesome 👍👍

Reply

Leanne Taylor   •   March 20, 2018

Hello! Obviously this comes a few months after your post, but I hope you still read your responses! I am an avid user of high quality oils, but I’m concerned about an article that was just written in the paper regarding the use of EO’a, and how lavender and tea tree oil may disrupt hormones. Any thoughts on this? Thank you!

Reply
Rachel Molenda   •   March 22, 2018

Nesstate Flora   •   June 11, 2018

Thanks for sharing this blog

Reply
Rachel Molenda   •   June 11, 2018

Rebecca   •   June 21, 2018

M cousin made me a blend of essential oil that I used directly on some vulvar variscosities that developed during my second pregnancy. They were incredibly painful and in a (ahem) uncomfortable area to say the least. I was wearing a compression cup and could hardly stand. But the essential oil blend cured them right up. I honestly could not believe it. I stopped wearing the compression at 7 months pregnant and even at nine months the varicose veins did not come back. Cured me of my skepticism.

Reply
Joy McCarthy   •   June 22, 2018

Aroma Foundry   •   July 25, 2018

Thanks for sharing how you discovered Essential Oils. You're right saying that health care is being disrupted in the best way.

Reply

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