Alice Vol. 7 No. 3

Essential oils such as peppermint,
lavender and tea tree have
become increasingly popular over
the years. They are often promoted
as part of natural living, yet some
remain skeptical about their
effectiveness and usability. Avid
users of the oils are passionate about
the healing capabilities of essential
oils and are committed to living
naturally without the toxins and
chemicals. Questions have arisen
about the effectiveness of essential
oils and if they actually do more than
just smell nice.
Dr. Abby Horton, a nurse and
professor at The University of
Alabama, whose research has
included holistic care, said ​she
“finds essential oils to be very
helpful for supporting overall health
and wellness, but that they are
not a substitute for conventional
medicine.”
Essential oils can help support the
body when it’s going through an
illness or have certain symptoms,
but Dr. Horton emphasized that it
is important for users to do research
and find what works best for them.
Using essential oils is a very personal
journey so it’s important to find a
brand that the user is comfortable
with and has data to back their
products.
Horton teaches a class through
the WellBAMA Program and said
using essential oils is part of a
lifestyle. Many people don’t realize
the irritation caused by synthetic
fragrances and other toxins. Using
quality essential oils can greatly help
reduce allergies caused by harsh
cleaners and household products.
Essential oil companies, such as
Young Living, support switching out
everyday household products like
soaps and detergents for naturalbased
products that use essential
oils. Essential oils can eventually
become a part of daily life and
positively impact a person’s overall
health.
With many options available, it
may be overwhelming when first
choosing a brand and starter oils.
“I think you definitely have to be
careful in choosing the best essential
oil brand,” said Ainsley Frey, a
nursing student at Franciscan
University. “For example, most of the
oils found at Target or on Amazon
contain synthetic ingredients and do
more harm to your body than good.”
Frey uses Doterra oils since “they
are more transparent in their process
of deriving and processing each oil.”
Young Living is also another
essential oil company that is also
known for its commitment to purity
and transparency in its processes.
“Young Living Essential Oils are
pure, they are nontoxic and delicately
cared for at each farm under strict
standards for quality and purity,”
said Carmine Loper, a member of
the Young Living Company. They
are monitored from when the seeds
go into the ground until the distilled
oil is bottled to ensure the highest
quality oil.”
When choosing an essential oil
brand, it’s important to make sure
the company is committed to both
quality and purity in its products.
Synthetic fragrances found in lower
quality oils can potentially cause
irritation or an allergic reaction for
the user.
Within companies like Young Living
and Doterra, there are a variety of
essential oils to choose from that all
have specific properties and uses.
Most oils can be used in numerous
ways and even combined with other
oils to create a new blend of oils.
Thieves, a blend of essential oil made
from clove, cinnamon and lemon, is
a popular oil for cleaning. Essential
oils can also have many different
uses such as helping headaches,
promoting immune support and
even increasing concentration.
“Clary Sage helps my menstrual
cramps immensely, and ingesting
ginger does wonders if I have nausea
or feel sick,” Frey said. “I also like
peppermint oil for headaches and
always ingest oregano oil in a capsule
when I have an infection.”
Loper also uses a variety of oils
within her home ranging from
skincare to immune support.
“Peppermint is a great oil to diffuse
to enhance focus and concentration
while studying; it also can be used
diluted with a carrier oil to rub on
fatigued muscles,” Loper said.
Other oils, like Frankincense,
can be used in a variety of ways
and can also provide skincare
benefits. “Frankincense is
also one of my favorite oils,” Loper
said. “Frankincense has a very mild
aroma, and sometimes I apply it
to my forehead and over my heart
for calming; it’s also amazing to
use in your skincare routine for
healthy-looking skin and evening
out skin tones.”
Many essential oils can also be
used for their mood-boosting
properties. Citrus scents such as
orange or lime can make a room
feel fresh and clean. Lavender and
peppermint are also popular oils
recommended to people interested
in trying essential oils for the first
time. Loper recognizes that it can
take time to get used to using
essential oils rather than turning
to over-the-counter medicine
right away. Using essential oils
is committing to living more
naturally and recognizing your
body’s specific needs.
Learning to use essential oils
is a personal journey due to the
uniqueness of one’s body and
health needs. It’s important to do
research when first starting out
and recognize that essential oils
are not a stand-in for conventional
medicine but still have many
health benefits.
“I’m going into my ninth year of
using essential oils, and it truly
has been life-changing for our
family,” said Loper.
Learning to use essential oils
may be a learning curve since it
takes time to learn about the oils
and decide on a brand that is a
good fit. It’s important to research
options and learn how the oils can
be used on a daily basis. From
helping headaches to cleaning
a room, using essential oils is a
commitment towards a natural
and effective lifestyle.
Disclaimer: The information
included in this article is for
educational purposes only and
is not intended to be a substitute
for medical treatment by a
healthcare professional. Because
of unique individual needs, the
reader should consult his or her
personal healthcare provider to
determine the appropriateness of
the information for the reader’s
situation.
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