What Are Essential Oils?

"This by far is not anything alternative. Essential oils have been around for thousands of years. The more we educate ourselves, the more aware we become of what has been around forever for us to incorporate into our lifestyle to maintain a higher quality of life". - Dr. Erika Duffy

What are essential oils and why would it benefit me to know about them?

Essential oils were man's very first medicine. From the Egyptians, the Chinese and well preserved oils that were located in jars inside King Tut's tomb, are just a few places we know of. There are over 188 references about essential oils in the Bible. For many centuries essential oils were used for treating disease, illness, religious rituals and other spiritual and physical needs. Many people today are taking ancient wisdom and applying it to their lives. Essential oils are volatile liquids that are distilled from all respective parts of plants such as the seeds, leaves, bark, roots, flowers, fruit etc. The chemical constituents of the oil is only one of the factors that determine the purity. It is imperative we use 100% pure grade A essential oil so we can receive the maximum benefit the oil has to offer. Never adulterated oils. The climate, the way the oil is expressed, and depending on the conditions of its growth, altitude, organic or chemical fertilizer to name just a few determines this factor.

Our cells in our body need oxygen to stay healthy. Stress, lifestyle, internal subconscious dialogue, the type of food we eat, lack of exercise etc. determines how much oxygen our cells receive. Basically, an essential oil puts oxygen into our cellular structure. If we keep our cells oxygenated, we are less likely to get an illness and if an illness does happen to occur, it is of a much lesser duration.

Different essential oils have different affects on the body and our brain. Some are anti-fungal, antiviral, antiseptic, anti-bacterial, anti-infectious, anti-tumoral, anti-parasitic, immune stimulant, anti-inflammatory, insect repellent, sedative, analgesic, anti-depressant, expectorant, antimicrobial, lymphatic decongestant, diuretic, anti-asthmatic, antioxidant, antispasmodic, astringent, along with calming, relaxing and a sedative affect to name only a few. Essential oils have been shown to destroy all tested bacteria and viruses within the body while restoring balance to the body simultaneously.

We can understand that by applying oils on our bodies the oils go into our cellular structure oxygenating our cells and raising our energy, but WHAT EFFECT DO PURE ESSENTIAL OILS HAVE ON THE BRAIN?

Everyone knows the powerful influence of aromas on our body and mind. Our sense of smell is the only one of the five senses directly linked to our limbic lobe of the brain. This is our emotional control center. Depression, anxiety, fear, anger and joy all emanate from this limbic region. This is why a scent can evoke a memory and emotion before we are even conscious of it. The limbic lobe is a group of brain structures that includes the hippocampus and amygdala that is located below the cerebral cortex and it can directly activate the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus is one of the most important parts of our brain and acts as our hormonal control center. It releases chemicals that affect everything from energy to our sex drive. All the production of our growth hormones, sex hormones, thyroid hormones, serotonin etc. are all governed by the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus because of this is referred to as our master gland. Inhaling essential oils with their unique molecular structure can directly stimulate both our limbic lobe and the hypothalamus. Therefore, by inhalation, essential oils can have a powerful affect on our body and mind. Not only can essential oils combat stress and trauma, they can directly stimulate the production of hormones in our body.

The French, English, and Germans have been using essential oils and have schools and clinics using different modes of application. We are just beginning to understand their value they have understood for years.

A couple of techniques I have learned is the Raindrop Technique and the Vita Flex Technique for applying essential oils. The Raindrop Technique was developed from research that suggests that the spine has misalignments which can be caused by muscle spasms and inflammation producing viruses and bacteria. By learning and applying this technique one can release bacteria and viruses which may be causing pain and discomfort in the spine. Vita Flex means energy through our reflexes. It is said to first originate in Tibet thousands of years ago, long before acupuncture. The energy is released through the electrical impulses when the oils are applied via the fingertips and reflex points. This electrical charge follows the nerve pathways to the break in the electrical circuit which was caused by the toxins, damaged tissues, or the loss of oxygen. This system balances the entire body, mind, releasing tension and congestion that was inhibiting a healthier life.