​ SERIES ON ESSENTIAL OIL APPLICATION

How does the body recognize essential oils?
Many clients ask about applying essential oils:

• Can I apply an undiluted essential oil directly to my skin?  
• How many drops at a time?
• What percentage of essential oils should be used in a massage oil?
• How many drops should be added to a diffuser?

These are important questions as the quantity used affects the results in the body. To begin with, the answer is always “less is more.” 

Essential oils cannot be compared to any product or medication that is made in a laboratory. Though there is much information now about the constituents of each essential oil, there is still much that is unknown.  Many effects of essential oils cannot be explained or proven scientifically, nor can they be copied.  Lavender, for example, contains over 1200 bio chemicals, which accounts for the stunning healing effects on a variety of complaints. 

Essential oils, coming from plants, have evolved over millions of years.  And for thousands of years humans have inhaled, eaten, and worn plants for nutrition, medicine, and protection.  Our very cells evolved from plants and have receptors that recognize these fragrances and constituents.  Unlike synthetic substances, “essential oils do not act as weapons but as agents of interaction.  They are a key ingredient of life itself, strengthening its fabric.  Since plants do not move or speak, the need to relate to other plants and animals was answered by developing molecules that trigger physiological responses in other organisms.  To reach this degree of efficiency, molecules underwent intense molecular modeling over long periods of biological evolution and thus reflect the genius of life itself.” [1]

Essential oils are highly concentrated, thus we must apply them carefully in small amounts.   The assumption that applying a large quantity of an essential oil or a massage blend will result in a greater effect has been proven not to be true.  In fact, when diluted and in small amounts, the effect is greater. When the molecules see too many molecules of its own kind, they become inactive.  In addition, using large amounts at a time could result in the user becoming sensitive to the ingredients.  This can be explained by imagining that humans evolved ingesting and inhaling very small amounts of these substances over thousands of years. 

Each bottle of essential oil has a small plug called an orifice reducer.  By inverting the bottle the orifice reducer allows the essential oil to come out drop by drop. When determining an application, to be able to count out the drops is crucial.   All my single essential oils (undiluted), diffuser blends (more than one undiluted essential oil blended together), and massage oil blends (more than one essential oil diluted in a carrier oil) have an orifice reducer.  Clients have told me the drops come out so slowly, they take out the orifice reducer and pour the contents into their hands.  Thus they are applying far more than is needed.  For the reasons outlined above, this is not recommended.  Patience and consistent use of small amounts over time produces the best results.

I hope everyone enjoyed the Holidays as much as I did visiting with family and friends.  As we begin 2016, let’s stay as healthy as possible.  Currently, we find colds and flu making their rounds.  I am offering a one-time special on Thieves Diffuser Blend well known for its anti-microbial effect.  Details on the use of Thieves is in the Healing Essential January Newsletter featuring Clove Oil.  There are links to all newsletters here in the website.

In future blogs, I will cover various ways essential oils can be applied and the appropriate percentages.

May each and every one have a Joyful and Happy 2016!

Patricia Wing
 
 [1] The Healing Intelligence of Essential Oils by Kurt Schnaubelt, PhD, pgs. 33,34, 12, 130.