Essential Oils 101: The Essentials with an Expert

Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past five years, I’m sure you’ve heard the term “Essential Oils.” Long used for aromatherapy and in eastern medicine practices, essential oils have been well accepted and utilized in holistic wellness practices, massage therapy institutions, and within a niche group of natural wellness constituents.  However, as we’ve all begun to embrace more holistic practices, engage in proactive health initiatives, and reduce the amount of chemicals/toxins we expose ourselves too, mainstream society has really started to embrace these oils. Even the western medical community has become more accepting of the benefits of these oils. Many studies at prominent institutions like Johns Hopkins, are looking into the effectiveness of essential oils in combating diseases, medical conditions, and the spread of germs.

As a certified skeptic, I wasn’t quite sure what to think about these essential oils…

I willingly admit that I’m somewhat of a critic when it comes to the latest trends. It wasn’t until I started working as a marketing manager for an Integrative Wellness practice that I really started experimenting with eastern medicine practices and considered a more natural approach to healing. I saw, first hand, how life changing these seemingly simple practices could be.  So, when Matt and I entered into our “Trying to Conceive” journey, I knew I wanted to really take a look at our lifestyle and identify areas that may be worth addressing….like his obsession with 409 spray and Windex. After doing a little research of my own, I came across essential oils. Touted for fertility benefits, stress/anxiety reduction, and “natural alternatives” to cleaning and personal care, I figured it was “worth learning more.”  Note the non-commitment. I reached out to a friend of mine about this latest trend in holistic medicine after noticing how frequently she used them for day-to-day remedies. I wanted to understand, first hand, how these oils could help both myself and my clients with everything from fertility and digestive health to simply living a more natural, “chem-lite” lifestyle.

Two essential hours later…

After spending about 2 hours in Starbs chit-chatting about oils, listening to my friend Nicole’s amazing story, and really digging deep into the therapeutic uses, I was sold. I ended up purchasing one of the doTerra starter kits and can honestly say it’s been a spectacular investment. I use my oils for everything from cleaning and personal care/beauty  to anxiety relief, sleep assistance, muscle recovery, allergy relief, digestive health, and even headache alleviation. PRO-TIP for all my pre-moms that have to temporarily quit Advil: peppermint and lavender are a saving grace.  I even have my computer engineer, former 409-addict of a husband using the oils. And trust me, a little goes a long way. I’ve had some of my oils for almost a year.

In fact, aside from my husband, the medical team, my trusty bouncy ball, and some Dave Matthews Band on repeat, these oils will be the only  present during my labor and delivery. Clearly, there’s a special relationship. If you’d be interested in a mini-series on my go-to essential oils and concoctions, let me know in the comments below or on social media. But first, especially for all my readers that are ready to write me off as bat-you know what- crazy, I’m handing the pen over to my personal oil guide, Nicole Moore. I’m an expert in a lot of things, friends…but not oils.  I’d consider myself more of a fan. So, what better way to give my readers on some baseline “oil-edge” (see what I did there) than consult with an actual expert.

Without further adieu, let me introduce you to my friend and essential oils maven, Nic Moore.

Xtina: Hey girl! Thanks for taking the time to sit down for a few minutes and share some of your Essential knowledge. Your story is so inspiring and really sets the stage for how impactful essential oils can be. In fact, I was so inspired by your story, that I encouraged my mom to start using oils with my grandmother as she battled an autoimmune condition and anxiety. They helped her immensely. Can you give us a brief background as to how you found essential oils and doTerra?

Nicole: My journey with oils began about 3 years ago. I’m a single mama of a beautiful, wild 6 year old, but for the first half of her life I experienced many health and life challenges, including an autoimmune condition, major digestive issues, anxiety and depression. These things took a toll on my body and, equally as important, my soul. I was looking for a solution because the medication and other avenues I tried were not working and I wanted to be stronger, healthier, able to enjoy each moment with my daughter just a little bit more. Around that same time,  I reconnected with an old friend and attended an oils class she was teaching. I was immediately intrigued and wondered if these oils could be my answer. I tried a few samples and was amazed by how much – and how quickly – they helped me! I soon thereafter ordered a starter kit and began using them every day. I’ve never looked back. We use the oils for our physical health and wellness, cleaning, emotional support, skincare, on and on and on. doTERRA essential oils (the most tested, most trusted, highest quality oils on the planet) and the gorgeous community that came along with them (when you get started through a Wellness Advocate like me, you get ongoing support, education and love) quite literally saved my life – and changed the way I look at natural health forever. I now share that knowledge and passion with others through free classes, workshops, one-on-one consultations, and by being a mentor to my team of Wellness Advocates. My life is so much brighter and fuller because of doTERRA! I am forever grateful.

Xtina: What did I tell you folks? AMAZING. Now, there are so many oils out there and it can be a bit overwhelming for someone that’s just entering into the EO game. If I’m someone just starting out with oils, what are your top 5 recommendations and why?

Nicole: This is a tough one! All of the oils have such amazing benefits and it really can vary based on specific needs, but if I had to choose five that would offer a nice little foundation, they’d probably be: Peppermint (head tension, tummy troubles, cooling, energy, focus); Lavender (sleep + calming, skin therapy, bug bites, burns, allergies); Lemon (gentle detox, uplifting, and cleaning your home); On Guard (doTERRA’s Protective Blend – big time immune support and sanitizer); and Frankincense (the King of Oils – when in doubt, grab the Frank!).

Xtina: Ok, now that we’ve got the basics. What are your favorite, go-to oils?

Nicole: Frank + Copaiba for sure. I place one drop of each under my tongue each morning and night to ease anxiousness. I also consistently use: DigestZen for everything digestive; On Guard to keep myself and my family healthy; Jasmine as my go my go-to “pure” fume; and Turmeric which is a brand new oil and is a legit powerhouse.  I also have to mention the Lifelong Vitality supplements. The LLV is doTERRA’s daily supplement trio. I talk in detail at my classes about how much they’ve helped with my autoimmune condition, but just know that these babies are the real deal. They changed my life.

Xtina: A big question I get from my readers, especially as I’ve chronicled my pregnancy and fertility journey, involves fertility and information on preparing your body for conception. With a history of irregular periods and amenorrhea, both of which took a toll on my hormonal health, I knew that conception may be challenging for Matt and I. I used quite a few oils to assist in my TTC journey, specifically ClaryCalm, Grapefruit for progesterone help, and Sweet Fennel. For my readers, do you recommend any oils for fertility/women’s health?

Nicole: Clary Sage and the ClaryCalm blend are beautifully supportive for hormone/women’s health. Other oils that help with hormone balancing, depending on which hormones are out of whack, include Sweet Fennel, Geranium, and Lavender. I also highly recommend Wild Orange + Balance (the Grounding Blend) for coping with the emotional aspect of this delicate time.

Xtina: Awesome. As a quick reminder to my readers, essential oil recommendations are highly personalized, so keep that in mind when reading this. I highly recommend chatting with Nicole or another educator in order to truly understand what oils make sense for you. Now, we can clearly see how helpful essential oils can be for adults, but what about children? How have you used essential oils with your daughter?

Nicole: How do I not use them with her?! Oils have been our main form of healthcare since she was a toddler, so she knows the function of each oil and how to apply them (with parental guidance). She is super pumped for the Kids Collection (six new blends specially formulated for children ages 3-10) which came out today! It’s the best feeling in the world to know I’m empowering my daughter to listen to and care for her own body, mind and heart.

 

Xtina:  I love that! As we all continue to embrace a more proactive approach to health and wellness, it is ESSENTIAL (no pun intended) that we teach our children to follow suit. Personally, I plan on using oils when Pistachio arrives and I’m super intrigued as to how we’ll be able to incorporate oils into his care. Now, we know that diffusing Lavender can help with sleep and cleaning with Lemon essential oils has super antimicrobial properties, but what are some  of your favorite uses that aren’t so typical?

Nicole: A lot of people don’t realize that you can cook with doTERRA oils, but it’s one of my favorite ways to get creative in the kitchen! I have a killer Southwestern Crockpot Chili that calls for one drop of Oregano + 3 drops of Lime. So delicious! Essential oils also have what we call “side benefits”. For example, DigestZen is typically used for a happy belly, but its properties also happen to be great for the sinuses. PRO TIP: swipe a little over the bridge of your nose when you want to breathe easy. 

Xtina: I love the idea of being able to use the oils in multiple ways, especially in the kitchen. A little really does go a long way and the more uses I can find for the oils, the greater satisfaction I feel with the investment. Love it.  Thanks so much for offering up a little of your EO knowledge to my readers. If you can leave us with some final thoughts regarding essential oils/holistic health/etc, what would they be?

Nicole: Oils are fantastic, but there is so much more, as you know, to living a healthy lifestyle. Listen to your body. Make self care a priority. Eat nourishing food. Move your body. Remove as many toxins as possible from your home. Rest. Be kind to yourself and others. And of course,  use your oils! Above all, approach your health with intention and consistency. Little changes can make a huge impact over time!

Well, there you have it folks….a little essential oils insight from someone who has, first hand, experienced some major life changes because of these these little drops of wonder. 

.One thing I’d like to note here: not all oils are created equal. The oil industry isn’t regulated, meaning that any oil company can put out an oil and make claims. Companies like doTerra and Young Living may cost a little more than the bottle you’ll find on the shelf at Wal-Mart, but there’s a reason for that. These oils are carefully sourced and thoroughly tested using strict protocols in order to ensure safety and purity. It’s also important to note that these oils are powerful and there are specific ways you should use and apply them. Make sure you’re educated on how to use the oils for optimal performance. As I mentioned, while I’m a big fan, I am certainly not an expert (at least not yet). If you’re intrigued by essential oils and want to learn a bit more about them and how they can specifically help you,  feel free to reach out to me and I can connect you with Nicole, or reach out to her directly at nmmoore22@gmail.com. If you’re still a little timid and/or just want to see some sweet oil content before making that scary step to ask for some advice,  follow Nicole on Instagram @nicmoorewellness .

I hope you enjoyed this little switch-up in content format! I love supporting other health and wellness practitioners and sharing their knowledge with my readers. If you want to see more interview-style content, be sure to like this post!

Until next time friends,

Xtina