How To Use Them?

Aromatically

Just breathe in the fragrance. The easiest way is to do this is to just open up a bottle – but still be cautious when smelling an oil for the first time, keep the bottle a healthy distance from your nose and give it a sniff.  If you tolerate it well, try bringing it closer. My favorite way is using one of the medical-grade diffusers from Young Living that comes with your Premium Starter Kit.  Remove the cover and the steam vent, then fill the reservoir with distilled water up to the fill line mark.  Now the hard part, selecting which oils you're doing to put into the water. There are so many combinations, or ‘recipes’ that you can used to make your home smell amazing, to help you relax and sleep, or to invigorate. Put back the covers and turn on to enjoy.

Topically

Essential oils can be used on your skin. When trying a new oil, do a test application on your forearm to see if you get a reaction, one drop is sufficient. If everything looks good, feel free to proceed to use as directed. Since these oils are very potent, use a “carrier” oil (like olive, almond, or coconut) along with the essential oil.  They slow down the rate of absorption and cool the 'hotter' oils off. 'Hot' oils (like peppermint) may cause a tingling or burning sensation when applied. Lastly, be careful applying citrus oils prior to going out in the sun, since they are photo sensitive.

Internally

Young Living has a line of oils specifically created to ingest called their Vitality line, these are Generally Regarded As Safe (GRAS) and certified non-GMO. You can easily spot them by their white labels.  Create your own supplements by adding these oils to a veggie capsule, or add a drop of Lemon, Lime, Tangerine, or Thieves Vitality to water or tea. Try cooking with them instead of using dried herbs and spices. My top pick is Peppermint brownies!

Next Post: Why Quality Matters