Essential oils have become trendy in recent years and I have a tendency to distrust things that are “trendy.” I often wonder if things are just hyped up with crazy group-think or if things are trendy because they actually are just that good. Essential oils fall into this camp (this post may contain affiliate links).
A couple years ago I decided to try them. I figured that if I found a set for a decent amount of money, then it wouldn’t be a huge loss. I found a set by Calily on Amazon for under $30, so I figured I didn’t have that much to lose. Calily has a box of 14 oils, which seemed to give a wide range of options. I started researching what each oil was supposed to be used for and started experimenting with them.
There are a number of different ways to use oils, so if you’re interested in exploring like I did, you might start with the Calily set so that you have a few to try out in different ways. The ways that I have used oils are with diffusers (room and jewelry), topically, and oil pulling.
Diffusers: Many people use essential oils for diffusers. Diffusers are fairly inexpensive, and work similarly to an air freshener, but have the added benefit of whatever the oil is “good” for. For example, lavender is a helpful with calming, soothing, and relieving headaches, among other benefits, so diffusing this in the evening as you’re preparing for bedtime could be helpful. There are also diffuser necklaces that can be worn that contain felt pads that carry the scent of the oils and diffuse the oils throughout the day.
Topical: Many of the oils can be used for different topical issues like psoriasis, eczema, athlete’s foot, mosquito bites, and so forth. I developed crazy psoriasis during pregnancy and depended heavily on oils to help control the itching and clear up the skin.
Oil pulling: Oil pulling is not something I see as much in the essential oil circles as I see within the coconut-oil-is-the-answer-for-everything circles. I’m a big fan of coconut oil and the myriad of uses it has. I’m a fan of essential oils, and together, they are a fabulous duo. So, I will be the first to admit that oil pulling sounds super disgusting, but I swear by it. Look it up, do some research, see what others say about it. You take a spoon of coconut oil and swish it around in your mouth for about 20 minutes while you’re showering and getting ready for your day. My husband thinks it’s disgusting, but I can definitely tell a difference in my wake-ability and my mood when I have and haven’t pulled in the morning. It’s recommended to do first thing in the morning to get the greatest positive effects. I don’t remember the exact science behind it, but basically the oil pulls out the toxins in your body, which are often housed in your mouth, and it also contains MCTs that boost energy. You can have the coconut oil by itself, but if you want to add a little extra, that’s where the essential oils come in. You always want to double-check which oils are digestible (even though you won’t be swallowing it), but my most common oils I’ve used for pulling are citrus and cinnamon leaf for guard against illness and fatigue (shout-out to new moms here, this is when I started oil pulling because man, was I desperate to stay healthy and combat the little sleep I was getting). And, be sure to spit it out into the trash can (I use little dixie cups) so that you don’t clog up your drain when the oil re-solidifies.
You can purchase single oil bottles or manufactured blends made of multiple oils. There are a number of examples of these. I have used gentle baby, a digestive blend, thieves, and inner peace. The first two I used on my infant and both seemed to help calm her down and help her feel better. I have frequently used inner peace in my necklace diffuser, and have loved the calm that it has provided, along with the scented reminder to breathe deeply. You can also make your own blends, either by putting multiple oils in a diffuser or by using roller-top bottles that you put the desired oils into with fractionated coconut oil.
I was happy with what I found in experimenting with essential oils. Some still say that oils are a just a placebo, but I definitely saw results and feel like there’s more to explore and discover. Honestly, if I had the money, I’d probably jump on the Young Living train, but for now, I’m content with Calily, which I would still recommend as a great starter kit if you’re still on the fence and want to see for yourself what the oil hype is all about (you can get it here).