A Beginner’s Introduction to Essential Oils

Why Should You Consider Essential Oils?

Essential oils are all the rage these days, but what’s the hype about? The truth is, there’s nothing new about them - aromatherapy and the use of essential oils date back to ancient Egyptian and Chinese civilizations! These early cultures laid the groundwork that scientists and physicians later built upon. Fast forward to today, and we’ve got thousands of peer-reviewed studies that have deepened our understanding and use of essential oils. Thanks to technological advancements and years of research, we can now tap into the full power of essential oils like never before.

So, why should you use them? Because of their unique chemical compositions, essential oils are natural tools that support our bodies and aid in healing without harmful side effects. When used properly, essential oils can be a safe, natural, and effective way to boost your health and overall well-being.

To truly understand what essential oils are, how they interact with our bodies, and how to use them effectively, we’ll dive in so you can feel knowledgeable to start using them and experiencing the natural benefits. 

What They Are: The Power of Plants

Essential oils are the natural chemicals that give plants their scents - they are volatile aromatic compounds found in the roots, seeds, stems, barks, leaves, flowers, and fruits of various plants. They’re extracted through distillation, cold pressing, or resin tapping. Each essential oil boasts various chemical constituents that give it a unique aroma and beneficial properties.

The health benefits of essential oils are extensive and include: uplifting moods, supporting sleep, aiding memory and focus, reducing stress, regulating hormones, supporting digestion, promoting healing, reducing tension, aiding respiratory support, and promoting skin health, among many other perks.

The Basics of Essential Oil Chemistry

Essential oils are made up of different kinds of volatile compounds, meaning they can change from liquid to gas quickly. The chemical makeup of any given essential oil determines the specific health benefits it can offer.

Many factors influence the chemical composition of an essential oil, including the region the plant was grown in, the time and season it was harvested, and the quality of the soil. Think of it like your garden veggies: something homegrown often tastes better and has more nutritional benefits than store-bought produce.

Depending on the chemical composition of an essential oil - such as terpenes, esters, oxides, alcohols, phenols, ketones, aldehydes, etc. - each oil supports different aspects of the body. Their small molecular size allows essential oils to be absorbed quickly and easily into the bloodstream when applied to the skin, ingested, or inhaled.

How Essential Oils Enter the Body

There are three main ways to use essential oils: aromatically, topically, and internally. Using an essential oil in different ways can produce different results. For instance, lavender can create a calming effect when diffused, soothe skin irritation when applied topically, and reduce anxious feelings when ingested in a veggie capsule. Let’s dive into how essential oils enter the body in each of these three methods:

Aromatic

The sense of smell, or olfaction, is a powerful connection between our body and our surroundings. Triggered by reactions from the brain, smells can produce significant mental, emotional, and physical responses.

When a scent enters your nose, it’s detected by olfactory sensors. These sensors create an electric response that travels through the olfactory nerves to the olfactory bulb. The bulb processes this neural input and sends the information to the brain through a bundle of nerve fibers and cells called the olfactory tract.

The olfactory system is connected to the limbic system, where emotions and memories are stored. When you use essential oils aromatically, the molecules travel through your nose to the olfactory system, where they’re processed and intensified, triggering responses from the limbic system. The limbic system includes parts of the brain such as the hippocampus and the hypothalamus, which help control memory, learning, and emotions.

Inhaling essential oils impacts more than just your olfactory and limbic systems - when you breathe in the aroma of an essential oil, some of the oil’s molecules are absorbed in the respiratory tract and lungs, and then circulated through the bloodstream.

Ready to take advantage of the aromatic benefits of essential oils? Here’s how:

• Open a bottle of essential oil and pass it under your nose to inhale the aroma.

• Rub one or two drops in your palms and inhale.

• Add several drops to a diffuser and enjoy the aroma for hours.

Topical

Applying essential oils to the skin is another simple, fast, and effective way to reap their benefits. Essential oils are lightweight and fat-soluble, allowing them to absorb into your skin through hair shafts and pores. At the end of hair follicles are capillaries, and when an essential oil reaches the capillaries, it’s distributed through the body via the bloodstream. While some of the oil makes its way through the bloodstream, part of it gets absorbed into the deepest layer of the skin, the hypodermis. This means you can experience benefits both in the applied area and potentially throughout your entire body.

Many essential oils are known for their cleansing and purifying properties, making them great for promoting clean, healthy-looking skin. Others have warming or cooling effects that can soothe tired and sore tissues.

To use essential oils topically:

• Apply the oil directly to the area you want to support. Using a carrier oil (such as fractionated coconut oil) and mixing it with a couple of drops of essential oil makes the essential oil more available to absorb into the skin and provides longer-lasting benefits.

• Examples of where to apply essential oils:

• To promote relaxation and concentration, apply to the temples, forehead, and base of the skull.

• Apply and massage into the chest to promote clear breathing.

• Apply to the bottoms of the feet to leverage reflex points.

• Apply to the abdomen in a clockwise circular motion to relieve digestive discomfort or menstrual cramps.

• Massage into the arms, legs, and back to soothe the body after physical activity.

Internal

Are essential oils safe to ingest? If they are pure, and among those one can safely ingest, then absolutely! Essential oil constituents already exist as a regular part of our diets (think citrus fruit, juice, carrots, coffee, bananas, and baked goods), and our bodies are familiar with metabolizing small amounts of these molecules. A substantial amount of clinical research supports the safety and effectiveness of using essential oils in this way. Before taking essential oils internally, it’s important to understand that not all oils are ingestible, just as some plants aren’t safe to eat. Check the label on the essential oil bottle for guidelines on internal use.

Research shows that internal use of essential oils offers unique benefits that other methods don’t. Here are a few examples:

• Promote healthy cell function

• Aid gastrointestinal health

• Maintain a healthy immune function

• Support respiratory system function

• Provide antioxidant support

• Assist with healthy cardiovascular system function

• Calm the nervous system

• Aid in the body’s normal cleansing activities

What happens in the body when you ingest essential oils? When ingested, they are transported through the gastrointestinal tract, absorbed in the small intestine, and moved to the liver via a portal vein. The liver metabolizes and processes the molecules before releasing a portion of them into the bloodstream to travel to cells throughout the body. Because essential oils are lipid-soluble and have a low molecular weight, they can be transported to various cells and organs - even the brain.

Here are a few ways to take essential oils internally:

• Add one or two drops to a glass of water. Be sure to use a metal or glass container, as certain essential oils can break down plastic.

• Add a few drops to an empty veggie capsule.

• Place a drop or two directly on or under the tongue.

• Add a drop to your morning smoothie.

Not All Essential Oils Are Created Equal: How to Buy Them

Not all brands produce pure essential oils, which means you may not experience the same benefits (and in some cases, such as when outside chemicals are mixed in, there’s a potential for adverse side effects). To ensure you’re buying a brand that produces pure essential oils, keep an eye out for the following:

• Botanical name: The essential oil label should always include the botanical name of the plant species the essential oil was derived from. For example, Rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary).

• Other ingredients: Pure essential oils should not contain carrier oils or other additives listed on the label. Some companies dilute the essential oil to bring down the cost.

• Cheaper substitutes: The back label should match the essential oil on the front label. Some companies will substitute cheaper alternatives (for example, lavandin for lavender) and falsely label the product.

• Fragrance: Look out for the word “fragrance” on the bottle. It typically means synthetic fragrance is present.

• Pricing: It takes a wide range of plant materials and resources to make essential oils. Rose oil should not cost the same as lemon oil. When essential oils are all priced the same, it’s a concern for purity.

• Packaging: Essential oils should be stored in dark-colored glass bottles, commonly found in 5ml, 10ml, and 15ml sizes.

Now that you know the basics of what essential oils are, how they interact with our bodies, and what to look for when buying essential oils, we’ll dive into which essential oils to get started with and the benefits they can produce in the next blog. Stay tuned!