The Top Ten Essential Oils You Need to Know About
At the recent Yoga + Fitness Morning at Henham Park I met Mel Chesebrough, from Down to Earth Health.
Mel was explaining about essential oils and the health benefits they can provide. It’s something I’ve been interested in for a while and Mel kindly offered to give me a one-to-one lesson.
Mel exclusively uses doTerra essential oils due to company’s ethos and high standard of testing. Founded 10 years ago, doTerra has been on a mission to establish a quality standard in an industry that has never had one. Mel explained that the products are tested to a higher standard than organic testing and the oil is extracted through steam rather than with chemicals.
doTerra is also known for its charity and humanitarian causes. Its Healing Hands programme provides global communities with the tools needed to become self-reliant. You can find out more about its charity partnerships here.
The therapeutic properties of natural ingredients have been known for hundreds of years, and in countries without free healthcare, essential oils have seen a rise in popularity.*
Here are the top ten essential oils that Mel recommends as a starter kit:
Peppermint
When Mel told me that one drop of this Peppermint oil was the same as 28 peppermint tea bags I was astounded!
This oil can be massaged on the back of the neck to help with headaches, as peppermint can be a natural aspirin. It is also good for hot flushes, sore muscles, sugar cravings and sickness.
You can also use the oil as a natural mouthwash!
Mel recommends that it’s not to be used for children under six.
Frankincense
This oil is known as one of the most precious of them all. For thousands of years Frankincense has been used for a number of things including perfumes and salves. It is a repairing oil and can be used to promote clear, smooth skin.
If you enjoy yoga and meditation, Frankincense will be good to use during your practise to centre your thinking.
Oregano
Oregano can be used in your cooking, and also as a natural antibiotic. This is a strong oil and Mel recommends not taking more than two drops a day, and for no more than 7-10 days at a time. It protects cells and can be useful for preventing viruses in the winter. Always dilute this one – one drop in 125ml of liquid. It can be used for cleaning or made into a soap.
Melaleuca
More commonly known as tea tree, this oil is good for the skin, congestion, immune health and nits! It can also be used as a surface spray, and Mel recommends to use it in a diffuser to help clear negative energy in the room.
Lavender
Lavender is one of the essential oils you might be most familiar with. Lavender is good for calming skin irritations, reducing anxiety and as a natural anti-histamine. It is also lovely in a bath or to rub on the bottom of your feet before bed.
Lemon
Lemon is good for cleaning the digestive tract and to energise the mind. The lemon essential oil is good for limescale (which we get a lot of in Suffolk) and can be used on silver and leather furniture. Add to water or food (but don’t use in plastic bottles) to help take away toxins in the body and promote feelings of hope and happiness.
doTerra Deep Blue
Deep Blue is a soothing blend of Wintergreen, Camphor, Peppermint, Blue Tansy, Blue Chamomile, Helichrysum, and Osmanthus.
The Deep Blue oil can be used to help relieve muscle pain such as back aches or when muscles are tight after working out. Massage into the skin directly or dilute with coconut oil. The oil works deep into the cells to soothe and it can work well for cramping too.
doTerra Air
This is a blend of Laurel Leaf, Peppermint, Eucalyptus, Melaleuca, Lemon, Ravensara, and Cardamom essential oils. It can be used as an alternative to menthol products that open the airways.
For adults you will want to dilute this 1 to 3, and for kids, 1 to 5.
The Air blend encourages easy breathing and it is advised to apply to the chest, back or bottom of the feet. It can also help to promote deep sleep, reduce anxiety, lower cortisol and help chest infections. It is apparently good to decrease snoring too – what a bonus!
doTerra ZenGest
Add ZenGest to a glass of water to soothe a stomach upset and promote overall digestive health. I’m currently trialling this for my IBS so I will let you know how I get on!
This oil is a blend of Anise Seed, Peppermint Plant, Ginger Rhizome/Root, Caraway Seed, Coriander Seed, Tarragon Plant, and Fennel Seed essential oils. ZenGest can help with heart burn, sickness and food poisoning. Children over 12 can use it.
doTerra On Guard
On Guard is a mix of Wild Orange Peel, Clove Bud, Cinnamon Bark, Eucalyptus Leaf, and Rosemary Leaf/Flower essential oils.
The oils work together to pack a punch. It can be used internally on a daily basis to support your immune system and create a barrier around the cells.
You can also use On Guard on a cloth with water to wipe down kitchen and bathroom surfaces.
Interested in finding out more?
Mel runs one-to-one lessons, as well as workshops. She recommends that people often start with one or two oils, and really get to know the benefits before moving on to add more to their collection.
If you’d like to find out more, head to Mel’s Instagram page or her doTerra site. She is also running an exciting workshop on March 30that The Hub in Huntingfield. The Reconnection To Wellness Day will include an energising yoga flow practise, a vegan lunch to nourish the body, a mindful walk, and learning about essential oils and crystals. The workshop will cost £50 and run from 10am till 4:30pm.
*The content in this blog post is for educational and informational purposes only and is notintended as medical advice. Please consult a medical professional for any health condition you are concerned about. You may need to consult with a medical professional before using some essential oils, depending upon any issues or medication you may already be using. Neither I or Mel will accept responsibility for the actions or consequential results of any action taken by any reader.
