Essential Oils: Expectations Vs. Reality
People nowadays are looking for the miracle pill, the fastest diet to lose weight, the fountain of youth. The expectations are high while the quality seems to be getting lower and yet the prices higher. “You’ve come a long way, baby” may have been the most popular ad slogan in 1968, but how far have we gone and what have we achieved? In lieu of the handed down remedies, we have thrown in the towel for a more modern approach based on pharmaceuticals. Along with this is the lost knowledge and even misconstrued knowledge of what we think we know about things.
One of those things is essential oils and what they can and cannot do. A long time ago someone said they could cure cancer with them. I do not have to tell you the outcome, but it was grim. People think that an essential oil can make everything better without having to put in effort. The expectations people have really aren’t their fault- they just do not know. Sometimes you do need a medical physician to handle an ailment, and that is okay. Essential oils are a great preventive measure and can handle simple issues such as headaches, muscle aches from tiring, assisting in colds, and pesky summer bugs. However, they cannot handle cancer or other terminal illnesses.
Putting in some effort is absolutely needed! If you have a headache and use peppermint essential oil and then follow it up with loud consistent noise, how do you think the oil will work? There are skin blemishes that a person may have that could be diminished with essential oil blend in a lotion base. Most people will use it for a week and say “Oh well, it did not work”. Why is this? Well, one thing is that natural remedies take a bit longer to work in a lot of cases. The other thing is that you must also work from the inside and change whatever it is in your diet that is causing the blemishes in the first place. You can lotion it up until you are lathered in it, but it will only do so much if you are packing the sugar and other blemish-causing foods into your body. It is a high expectation for an essential oil to do all the work and the person to only put in the effort to slab it on.
Since I mentioned blemish breakouts, here is an easy recipe for those breakouts by Dorene Petersen. Just remember that junk food and stress can cause those breakouts.
Breakout Buster
- Tea Tree Australia Melaleuca alternifolia: 20 drops
- Lavender Lavandula angustifolia: 20 drops
Directions: Blend the two oils in an amber colored bottle. Soak a sterile cotton ball. Apply two drops of the blend to a cotton ball and press gently to the affected area 3-4 times daily.
There are really great effects of essential oils in the pests of the Summer department. Many of these herbs and flowers carry their own natural defense and share them with you in their essence. Here is another awesome blend by our fabulous founder Dorene Petersen.
Natural Insect Repellent Spray Recipe
- Lavender Lavandula angustifolia oil: 15 drops
- Lemon eucalyptus Eucalyptus citriodora oil: 10 drops
- Tea tree Australia Melaleuca alternifolia oil: 10 drops
- Lime Citrus aurantifolia oil: 6 drops
- Bergamot Citrus aurantium var. bergamia oil: 6 drops
- Distilled water: 2 ounces
- Vinegar from your kitchen: 2 ounces (White or Apple Cider)
Directions: Blend all the ingredients and put into a spray bottle. Shake well before using. Note: Both bergamot and lime are photosensitive oils. This is an aromatic blend meant to be diffused into the air around you and is not intended for topical or internal use.
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References:
Dorene Petersen, A. (2020). Green Cleaning: 10 Essential Oils that Naturally Repel Insects | achs.edu. Retrieved 23 July 2020, from https://info.achs.edu/blog/green-cleaning-repel-insects?fbclid=IwAR2JUgJ8KXywlQKwlU4yI9Y0oYIyj34YJIL49eMq1Fc5gD19uP721MxJpNg
Petersen, D. (2015). Aroma 101 (3rd ed., p. Module 6). Portland: American College of Healthcare Sciences.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to treat, diagnose, cure, or prevent disease. This article has not been reviewed by the FDA. Always consult with your primary care physician or naturopathic doctor before making any significant changes to your health and wellness routine.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I am a student of the American College of Healthcare Sciences, the Institution that publishes this blog. However, all opinions are my own. This blog may contain affiliate links. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
About American College of Healthcare Sciences
American College founded in 1978, is a fully online accredited institute of higher education specializing in holistic health. Based in Portland, OR, our goal is to make research-driven and science-based holistic health education taught by industry-leading experts accessible to anyone anywhere while still giving students a hands-on experiential learning experience like a traditional college and a strong sense of community, school pride and student bond.
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We believe education is the most powerful tool for changing an individual and the world around us.
When a person enrolls as ACHS, it is vitally important that they graduate with tools they need to forge their own holistic and sustainable missions, build up their communities confidently and changing the face of healthcare with knowledge.
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