How did we get Essential Oils?

When you think essential oils….

What is the first thing that comes to mind?

A “brand”✔️

Different smells✔️

How we use them✔️

While all these things are thoughts we might have, I would like to talk about the importance of the actual plants they are derived from.

Lavender…known and loved by most people for the soft, gentle aroma it produces. Did you know that it takes 100# of plant material to produce one ounce of essential oil? When i learned that I was shocked! But, it truly helped me to understand the strength of just one drop. Did you know that every part of a plant produces a different scent? Lavender, lavendin

(stem) ; Neroli is another, that is produced by distilling the flowers from the orange tree. So from 1 plant…..2 (sometimes more) oils could be produced. I find this fascinating. These concentrated oils capture the fragrant essence and, significantly, the specific healing attributes of the plants. When inhaled or applied topically, essential oils can support mood enhancement, stress reduction, and overall emotional healing. For example, substances within the oil directly impact the brain's emotional center, the limbic system, which can influence feelings and emotions. Different oils are known for various therapeutic effects; lavender, for instance, is cherished for its calming properties, helping to relieve stress and promote peaceful sleep. On the other hand, citrus oils like orange or lemon are known to invigorate and uplift the spirit, reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression. This versatility makes them a wonderful addition to anyone's approach to emotional well-being.

I also honor the fact that one smell, can bring you back to sitting at your grandmas kitchen table, and taking a deep breath, to “keep that moment alive” because that is where our subconscious kicks in. My grandmother drank Peppermint and chamomile tea after her dinner. When I was 6, I just thought she was cool because she drank afternoon tea- just like my favorite Pattington Bear PBS TV character I watched in the afternoon( back then it was ½ days for kindergarten, and I spent many afternoons with grandma)

Today I realize what Chamomile and Peppermint are, and what they do! She was teaching me so much more than either of us even knew. You can have the same experience from a tea blend that you can have from an essential oil. Internally(tea) chamomile and peppermint soothes, relaxes digestive enzymes,(can) decrease blood pressure(not fully understood if that is from the act of slowly drinking, or the actual herbs themselves) but you get the picture. As oils, these two together have shown to relax- which in turn would potentially lower blood pressure, decrease inflammation if put onto the skin, and calm the anxious mind, in some cases. But understanding that plants are the workers here, not essential oils. And they are plentiful for us to use in every season. You can go into your yard, or a friend or neighbors yard, and get yourself a pinecone, or some needles of a spruce tree…..set out a pan of water on your stove, and simmer- enjoy the scent breathing in these fresh conifer smells not only fills the lungs with immune-boosting phytoncides but it makes us feel comforted and soothed as well – cortisol levels are lowered and so our stress levels drop. You could also take those same pine needles, and boil them to drink a tea containing 5x more vitamin c than an orange or lemon. How wonderful is that!

My hope is that my community understands that we can use our native plants to help us in our daily lives to promote health filled lives, and we don't have to ONLY purchase over priced bottled, branded oils to do it. Sometimes just taking a 15min walk is the best Healthcare we will ever need. Let's start looking outside that box. 😊