I first encountered essential oils while attending a Doterra workshop at my local yoga studio. Never having heard of them before, I was skeptical at first, but soon became an advocate for their versatile healing qualities. Not every oil is guaranteed to work for everybody, so experiment with a few different ones and find out what is best for you.

Essential oils are distilled from plants and are extremely concentrated. Each oil has countless uses, so I will be focusing on some of the common oils and their most relevant properties. You can utilize essential oils through aromatherapy, topically through the skin, or by ingesting them. Not all oils are safe for ingesting however, so make sure to check first. If you plan on adding a drop to a bottle of water, you may want to use one like organic peppermint oil. Before using directly on the skin, it is best to dilute essential oils with coconut oil or grapeseed oil. There are many more options for dilution, so try some different ingredients out to see what helps you feel your best. To use for aromatherapy, you can add a drop of oil or two to a candle or diffuser. Any way you choose to use essential oils, you can experiment with single oils, or even create your own blends.

Peppermint oil is one of the most widely used oils and is beneficial for a wide variety of issues. If you would like an energizing alternative to caffeine, you can add a drop of peppermint oil to a bottle of water or apply it to your chest or the back of your neck. It also helps soothe nausea, along with providing relief from sunburns and insect bites. It helps with concentration and is even good for oral health.

Lavender is soothing and calming, often used as a sleep aid. Spraying lavender on your pillow or having a diffuser in the room can help relieve stress and lead to increased or deeper sleep. It can also be used as an anti- itch treatment for insect bites or irritated skin.

Clove oil is a warm and comforting oil, often times found in natural toothpastes and mouthwashes because of it’s antioxidant and leaning properties for the teeth and gums.

Oil blends can be used as well to target specific problems. For example, peppermint, lavender, eucalyptus, and frankincense are just some of the oils commonly used to treat migraines and headaches. For a cold, lavender, eucalyptus, lemon, rosemary, clove and orange have shown to be beneficial. Rose, lavender, frankincense, chamomile and bergamot are wonderful for stress relief, while peppermint, lavender and lemongrass can be used to as insect repellant.

Essential oils range in price from a few dollars to close to $100, depending on the quality of the brand and the rarity of the oil. Doterra and Young Living are two popular companies that have plenty of information available if you would like to learn more. So if you are looking for a break from traditional medicine, there are countless essential oils out there that are definitely worth fitting into the budget. Give them a try for yourself!