The Root of Essential Oils and My Top Picks for Daily Self Care
Let's be honest, candles are so 2010. Essential oils are surging to the top of the list as wellness climbs to the top of our strategies for living a beautiful life. At the same time, while essential oils, a product of plant medicine, may be new to so many, they have been around for a long, long time.
French chemist, Rene-Maurice Gattefosse coined the term "aromatherapie" in 1937, writing what's considered the first book on aromatherapy. In it, clinical findings for essential oils and their application to a range of physiological ailments. His intent was to distinguish the use of essential oils as a remedies from the idea that they are just scents and perfumes.
As a result, we consider "aromatherapy" to cover the full range of therapeutic application or medicinal use of aromatic substances (essential oils), to help us live and feel better - whether the application is done aromatically (e.g. diffuser, cotton ball next to your pillow), topically (on your skin), ingested (a drop of fennel in your tea), or otherwise. Using plants to heal might first seem like a physical thing - aka, put tea tree on your pimple - but the full spectrum use of essential oils can cover the whole being - body, mind, spirit. Today, with the emerging recognition of mental health as a major factor in wellbeing, more people are using essential oils therapy to support emotional health each day.
I was a pretty early adopter of essential oils as a California kid living near Berkeley, where essential oils was the stuff of "hippies" and woo-woo alternative medicine. Chinese and Japanese medicine was a huge part of my upbringing as a second generation Taiwanese-American whose mother tried to get her to eat "Bird's Nest Soup" (not successfully, I couldn't get over the idea I was eating a bird's house).
In the past decade or so, I've become committed, informed, and agile in the use of essential oils in all parts of my life! My 25+ year yoga practice merged with my wellbeing practice, and chemical substances in plastic containers started making their way out of my life and household as much as possible. I've treated my dad, my mom, my husband, my dog, everyone around me!
Now that the formerly woo-woo remedies are sought after by seemingly everyone (yes, take control of your own health), I work as a partner with my clients, sharing what I use and finding what works for them! I love teaching a good sweaty flow (asana) class, but I also love the idea that wonderful sandalwood can deepen meditation, too.
I have tried a lot of essential oils products (A LOT). I have made many pricey mistakes and wasted product that wasn't good in the end. In full transparency, after years of experimentation and alchemistic exploration, I've chosen doTERRA as my primary source for a few reasons:
the across the board quality and reliability of the product;
their practices in community and global outreach (read more here);
the ability to continue helping people with essential oils therapy and help support my business at the same time
As I share my recommendations, I want you to know the truth. These recommendations come from road testing products and gathering data in my own life and household! I am a doTERRA team leader, though this isn't the main focus of my wellbeing practice. If we connect, and I share my love of essential oils with you, I want to be able to help support you with product I have tested, used, and experienced myself. And, in helping you, because of the business set up, I also help sustain my own efforts to remain a wellbeing professional (and stay out from behind a corporate desk).
That said, here are the retail links to my most frequently recommended products by doTERRA. I choose them because they're good-to-go out of the box and educational ramp up is minimal. These serve as great entry points into the aromatherapy practice for you and your loved ones. The next steps would be to investigate the singular oils for more specific healing and wellbeing... and get the goods, wholesale (here's my wholesale link, but it's best if I help you through the site, really).
Please feel free to ask me any questions at all about what they are, what they do, and how I use them in my life if those questions aren't answered here! And, if you're interested in diving in deeper, please let me help you navigate the terminology, and curate your choices. I want you get the most out of this EO life!
BODY SUPPORT
Deep Blue - my fave for stiff joints and sore muscles (great post-asana or workout)
Correct X - ointment for a wide variety of skin situations and blemishes
Slim N Sassy - metabolic blend I drop into my water bottle to curb hunger and digest better
Beginner Trio - the essential starter kit of Lemon, Peppermint, and Lavender (for a neti pot synergy, for example)
DAILY SELF CARE
Breathe Touch - a must-have for respiratory clarity all-year long
Motivate Touch- my #1 daily for encouraging action
Clary Calm Touch - hormonal balancing blend for women
Serenity - in a diffuser for deep sleep, do not use undiluted
Balance - grounding blend in this busy world, pre-diluted for safety
TRAVEL MUST HAVES
On Guard Hand Sanitizing Mist - protective immunity: anti bacterial/fungal/viral
Peppermint Beadlets - 100 beads to help breath, headaches, nausea, motion sickness - must have for the travel kit
Breathe Touch - a must-have for respiratory clarity all-year long
Adaptiv Touch - a calming blend when you're on the go and dealing with stressors of travel
FOR WOMEN
Women's Health Kit - 30 Day Supply - One Clary Calm Roller and two supplements to deliver hormonal support. This kit is only available in a loyalty order with membership. Ask me!
