Diana Hooper
2644 Moonshine Park Road
Logsden, OR 97357
diana@essentialsoflife.net
EssentialsOfLife.net

An Introduction to Young Living Essential Oils Part 8
Using Essential Oils

Nature's purest plant products - essential oils - have properties that will soothe the senses, invigorate the body, and promote physical well-being. The following guide has been prepared to help you get the most benefit from the oils that suit your lifestyle needs.

Various ways of using essential oils can bring you a wide range of benefits - from uplifting you emotionally or healing you physically to flavoring food or cleaning the dishes. Experiment with the following applications to find the ones you most enjoy.

Diffusing

Diffusing essential oils in your home or office is a perfect way to help you relieve tension, dispel odors, and create an atmosphere of peace and harmony. When diffused, essential oils have been reported to improve the immune system and create a feeling of balance and well-being. Start by diffusing oils for only 15 to 30 minutes per day. As you become accustomed to the oils and recognize their effects, you may increase the time.

Diffusing essential oils releases oxygenating molecules as well as negative ions, which reduce bacteria in the air. Young Living's diffuser uses a special air pump custom-designed to disperse the oils in a microfine vapor so they stay suspended for several hours and freshen the air with natural fragrances. The diffuser disperses oils without the heating or burning that can render the oil therapeutically less beneficial.

Essential oils are renowned for improving meditation and mood, purifying the air and refreshing the room.

Research shows that cold-air diffusing certain oils may:

• Reduce airborne bacteria, fungus, mold, and unpleasant odors
• Promote relaxation, relieve tension, and clear the mind
• Help in weight management
• Improve concentration, alertness, and mental clarity

Direct Inhalation

Direct inhalation of the oils is easy and brings many of the same benefits as distillation. Put several drops into the palms of your hands, cup over your nose and mouth, and breathe deeply. You may also apply oils to a handkerchief or tissue and inhale.

Use in Humidifier/Vaporizer

Some essential oils, like peppermint, lemon, or frankincense, make ideal additions to humidifiers or vaporizers. Begin by adding honey, sea salt, or bath salt to the water to emulsify the oils. Next add one to two drops of essential oil directly to the water, increasing the amount as needed.

Note: Because essential oils can damage machine parts, be careful not to apply the oils directly on any part of the machine or plastic covering.

Bath or Shower

Add two to three drops of an essential oil to our special Bath Gel Base™ for an even dispersion and to prevent stronger oils from stinging sensitive areas. Our essential-oil-enhanced shampoos, conditioners, and bath and shower gels provide all-natural cleansing and moisturizing for hair and skin. For maximum penetration, leave them on the skin or scalp for several minutes.

Direct Application

Essential oils give healing benefits when applied directly to the skin. Because they are soluble with the lipid membranes of cell walls, essential oils have an unmatched ability to penetrate cells and disperse within minutes throughout the body when applied topically.

The longer essential oils stay in contact with the skin, the more likely they are to be absorbed. Rose Ointment™, a mixture of beeswax, vitamin E, and other natural ingredients, is designed to be layered on top of essential oils to reduce their evaporation and enhance penetration. It also helps seal and protect cuts and wounds.

In direct application, follow these two tips for safety:

• Always skin test an essential oil before using it. Each person's body is different, so apply oils to a small area first.
• Apply one oil or blend at a time. When layering oils that are new to you, allow enough time (15 to 30 minutes) for the body to respond before applying a second oil.

Wearing as a Perfume or Cologne

As a healthy alternative to synthetic fragrances, therapeutic grade essential oils are all-natural and have long-lasting, distinctive aromas. More and more people are wearing essential oils and enjoying the benefits oil can provide.

Creating a Compress

A compress is ideal for soothing tired muscles or reducing inflammation. Begin by rubbing one to three drops on desired location-diluted or neat-depending on the oil and the skin sensitivity at that location. Cover with a damp towel. (The damp towel should be hot if you are hoping to soothe muscles. To reduce inflammation, use a cold, damp towel.) Next cover the moist towel with a dry towel and leave in place for 10 to 60 minutes.

As the oil penetrates, you may experience a warming or even a burning sensation, especially in areas where the greatest benefits occur. If burning becomes uncomfortable, apply V-6 Mixing Oil™ or any pure vegetable oil.

Massage

Allowing the body to experience relaxation and soothing through a massage brings one to a condition of rest and transformation. Our therapeutic-grade essential oils are designed to work aromatically and functionally, and provide a well-needed delight to the senses. To create your own custom massage oil, mix three to four drops of essential oil with 1/2 teaspoon of a massage oil base, such as V-6 Mixing Oil™!. You may also use our premixed massage oils, such as Ortho Ease™, Ortho Sport™, or Sensation™, for a relaxing, stress-relieving massage. Pamper yourself and get in touch with the senses.

Raindrop Technique™

Raindrop Technique is a kit of powerful essential oils designed specifically for topical application during massage. Raindrop Technique was developed as a result of research on spinal misalignments.

Vita Flex Technique

Vita Flex is a specialized form of hand and foot massage that is exceptionally effective in delivering the benefits of essential oils throughout the body. Apply a drop or two of oil to the areas of the feet that correspond to the system of the body you wish to support .

Dietary Supplements

All essential oils that are identified as Safe For Consumption can be taken as a dietary supplement to promote physical well-being. Some oils (e.g., valerian, lemon, grapefruit, orange, nutmeg, tangerine, etc.) are more effective when taken orally. Essential oils should be diluted in oil-soluble liquids such as vegetable oil, olive oil, Agave, or goat/rice milk prior to ingestion. More or less dilution may be required, depending upon how strong the oil is. Usually no more than 2 or 3 drops should be ingested at one time during any 4-8 hour period. Essential oils should not be given as dietary supplements to children under 6 years of age. Parents should exercise caution before administering essential oils orally to a child, and oils should always be diluted prior to ingestion for children.

Safe For Consumption Application Code

How To Read The Application Code

Dietary Supplement

Food Additive

Flavoring Agent

Generally Regarded As Safe (by the FDA) for internal use

Dilution not required; suitable for all but the most sensitive skin. Generally regarded as safe for children over 6 years of age.

Dilution recommended for both topical and internal use. Dilute before using on sensitive areas - face, neck, genital area, etc. Keep out of reach of children.

Avoid using on skin exposed to direct sunlight or UV rays. (all citrus oils)

Always dilute before applying to skin or taking internally (if listed as GRAS or DS). Keep out of reach of children!

* May stain skin, fabrics and most surfaces.

** Oil included in Young Living products - not sold as a single oil.

Please see individual product labels for application information on essential oil blends. This application code was developed specifically for Young Living Essential Oils using GC (gas chromatography) analysis and MSDS (Material Data Safety Sheet) information. As sensitivity is highly individualized, skin test each oil by first applying to a small area.

Cooking

Many essential oils make excellent food flavorings-they're much more potent than dried herbs. You may want to experiment in your recipes, but some have found that dipping a toothpick in bottle of oil and stirring it in the recipe provides sufficient flavor. To maximize the benefits of the oils, add them after cooking to avoid undue heat. See the table on page 135 to determine which oils are safe in food (any listed as FA are federally approved food additives).

Cleaning

A few drops of oil may be added to the washing machine, dishwasher, or dishwater to help disinfect and purify. Favorites are lemon, peppermint, Melrose™, and Purification™.

Guidelines for Safe Use

• Young Living therapeutic-grade essential oils are in the purest state. Because of the potency of our oils and because skin sensitivity is highly individualized, always skin test an essential oil before applying it topically. Certain oils may cause a burning sensation on certain individuals (e.g., cinnamon, clove, lemongrass, Sacred Mountain, etc.) are better diluted.
• If you have concerns about skin sensitivity, apply one oil or blend at a time when using them for the first time. When layering oils that are new to you, allow enough time (15 to 30 minutes) for the body to respond before applying a second oil.
• Always keep a bottle of V-6 Mixing Oil, Massage Oil Base, or any pure vegetable oil handy when using essential oils topically. Vegetable oils dilute essential oils if they cause discomfort or skin irritation.
• Keep bottles of essential oils tightly closed and store them in a cool location away from the light. If stored properly, essential oils will maintain their potency for many years.
• Keep essential oils out of reach of children. Treat them as you would any product of therapeutic uses.
• Do not use essential oils rich in menthol (such as peppermint) on the throat or neck area of children under 30 months of age.
• Direct sunlight and essential oils - lemon, bergamot, orange, grapefruit, tangerine, White Angelica™ , and other citrus oils may cause a rash or darker pigmentation if applied to skin exposed to direct sunlight or UV rays within 3 to 4 days of use.
• Keep essential oils away from eye area and do not put into ears. Do not handle contact lenses or rub eyes with essential oils on fingers. Oils with high phenol content - oregano, helichrysum, cinnamon, thyme, clove, lemongrass, bergamot, Thieves, and ImmuPower - may damage contacts and irritate eyes.
• Pregnant women should consult their health care professional before using essential oils containing constituents with hormone-like activity, such as clary sage, sage, Idaho tansy, juniper, and fennel.
• Epileptics and those with high blood pressure should consult their health care professional before using essential oils. Avoid hyssop, fennel, and Idaho tansy oils.
• People with allergies should test a small amount of oil on a small area of sensitive skin, such as the inside of the arm, before applying the oil on other areas. The bottom of the feet is one of the safest, most effective places to use essential oils.
• Before taking GRAS essential oils internally, always dilute with an oil-soluble liquid like honey, olive oil, or soy milk.
• Adding undiluted essential oils directly to bathwater is not recommended. Oils may be mixed with Epsom salts or a bath gel base.

Always consult your health care professional about any serious disease or injury. Do not attempt to self-diagnose or prescribe any natural substances for serious health conditions that require professional attention.

 Testimonial

 Here is Kathy and Karyn's story:

(as you read this, please keep in mind that these women have been using these oils for only SIX WEEKS!!!) I am typing this for Kathy Steed, one of my new oil friends! She has a daughter, Karyn that was born (37 years ago) brain damaged and blind.

Kathy feels that Karyn's issues are partly related to the fact that she (Kathy) had Rubella while she was pregnant with Karyn. (Karyn is 37 and has the approximate mental age of a 16 year old.)

Kathy was introduced to oils in late February. She signed up as a distributor and we discussed what should be in her first order.

She ordered an Essential seven, and Brain Power, Valor, Thieves and Clarity oils in her first order.

That month, Kathy layered (on Karyn's big toes and across Karyn's forehead) Valor, Brain Power and Clarity.

In that first month, Kathy noticed the following changes:

Karyn was more aggressive, and talkative. Kathy's brother called and talked to Karyn...then called Kathy and said: "I do not know what you are doing with her...but DON'T stop!!! She just talked my ear off...her brain seems so much clearer and active!"

Kathy also noticed that Karyn was exhibiting behaviors that she has never seen before. She had the confidence to approach strangers and speak to them.

Karyn, herself, says that she was less confused and "thought clearer". Karyn also stopped stammering.her thoughts came to the front of her mind faster.

The second month.She then put on the arch of both feet.Valor, Thieves and Raven in a RDT type application down her spine and on her feet at the spine vita flex points.

The second month, they started using Sandalwood and Frankincense across Karyn's forehead and above her eyebrows.

Within three days, Karyn started telling Kathy that her eyes were not BLURRY anymore. Karyn is still legally blind.but she started seeing more clearly.

Karyn also has a large mole that was DARK brown and after a few days of applying the Frankincense and Sandalwood over Karyn's eyebrows.the mole has gone from DARK brown to light beige.

Here is the Experience in Karyn's words: (She _offered_ to share a journal entry so that people could understand what the oils have done for her!)

Friday March 7. 2003. It has been a long winter.now I am using these oils. My mother rubs them on me and I can tell I am more sure of myself and not confused. My mother says she can tell the difference in me. I am smiling today. I wonder if the oils help every illness on the planet? That would be fabulous if they did. Imagine what life would be like if oils were used in Doctors offices and hospitals instead of drugs."

Kathy is ASTOUNDED at the progress she is seeing in her daughter! She is excited to start having Karyn receive RDT's...to see if they can't purge some of the "lingering rubella" out of Karyn.

Thanks for letting us share!

Jessica Wild, for Kathy and Karyn Steed

A Reply:

Oh Jessica Wild--thank you so much--to you and your friends--for sharing this story of how the oils are helping someone who was brain damaged at birth!

My brain was damaged five years ago in an acute toxic chemical exposure. I was in a building where some very illegal-to-use-indoors--and restricted use outdoors--chemicals were being used and in a few short, unsuspecting hours, my life turned upside down. Immediately, I had flu-like symptoms; in fact--you should all be aware that exposure to toxic chemicals is often mis-diagnosed because the initial symptoms mimic the flu.

I was fortunate that it was such a bizarre event (a business neighbor in the building my live/work artist's studio was in had decided to cover the 1200 sq. foot floor of their studio with asphalt) that we knew exactly why I was made so ill and were able to obtain a sample of the asphalt to analyze.

Besides all the toxic substances one would expect, they also found other toxic chemicals. We later found out that PESTICIDES are a normal addition to today's asphalt blends. This is because when they lay fresh asphalt on a road, they add the pesticides to kill whatever insects might burrow up underneath and undermine the asphalt. Also, some irresponsible types do not want to pay for HazMat disposal of toxic chemicals, so sometimes they dump them into things like asphalt mix. Kind of like hiding dead bodies in cement. When asphalt is applied it is heated up; the "toxic cocktail" (as the lab analyst referred to it) is most dangerous when hot and the fumes and vapors are airborne. In normal outdoor applications, the fumes and vapors blow away. In an indoor one (which is illegal--except under certain, ie laboratory conditions--and then NIOSH respirators and other protections must be used) all the fumes and vapors fill the building and decimate the lives of those exposed. Neurotoxins tend to do their damage over time.

My eyesight began to fog and blur, fading, fading fading.. Two months later I began to fall down and drop things. A year later, my vision had deteriorated more. I now see shadows and blurs of shades of gray. Have movement awareness but life is a gray foggy blur. I cannot read independantly except what my computer reads to me aloud. I lost my hearing in my right ear for 2 1/2 years. Now it is back! (Thank you YLEO's and many other holistic protocols!)

I continued to deteriorate, and my life became a nightmare of multiple daily seizures, loss of cognitive function, physical function, and negative doctors who wanted to drug (tox) me even more. Two years into the journey, I met a Doctor of Science who was a forefront brain researcher, and had developed a new system of neurofeedback, called hemoencephalography. It uses biofeedback to help you move blood to the injured areas of the brain.

I credit him and YLEO's with saving my life. He put me on supplemental oxygen. For more than one year it was 24/7 use of supplemental O2. Two and a half years later, once I had settled with the "smaller" defendants, I had enough money to begin using YLEO's aggressively. Two months of heavy use of frankincense lowered my need for the O2 leash--by about 25-30 %. Now I am on it about one-third of the day.

I only have occassional seizures--either when I have been exposed to something noxious and toxic (like an open magic marker or worse) or when I have been too overloaded--either with work or input--like someone taking multiple flash photo's. A life of detox and rehabilitation takes discipline and it is hard work. But harder for me to be a foggy, confused, disabled individual.

Two years ago, social services wanted to put me in a board and care, where I believe I would have died--especially with all the drugs they put into B&C patients/residents! Instead, two friends took legal responsibility for me and trusted/assisted/supported my instinctual development of a holistic rehab program, very heavy on YLEO's. I have continually used yoga, dance, a variety of body/mind and peak performance techniques and challenge myself with what I cannot do. Including see.

Today, I think clearly most of the time. In December, I woke up a part of my brain that had been decimated and can now do math problems again (first time in four years!) I am CEO and Creative Director of a company involved with holistic health and the arts, and according to everyone who sees me (medical or personal/professional contacts) I am seen as a medical miracle.

I am still blind (my visual cortex got fried) but I am positive that one day I will regenerate that part of my brain too.

Kathy and Karyn's story is particulary important because it clearly shows that we are living, healing, regenerating beings and better health and function is possible for all of us--no matter how much time has passed since the injuries or incidents which created dysfunction. Our medical system is SO negative. How often do we hear: "You will be like this the rest of your life," or "You will need to be on these medications the rest of your life," or (as I did) "we are sorry, it is permanent damage, you will not get much better than this, you must learn to live with it???"

Just a few years ago, the AMA believed that brain cells were the only cells in the body that do not regenerate. Experts said that any healing that occurs after brain injury happens in the first 6-18 months. Now we know that brain cells regenerate all the time and at "astounding speed." By Grace and Divine inspiration, I knew that and just decided to prove the doctors wrong. I have and I continue to.

A few years ago, some doctors recalculated and decided that brain regeneration can happen up to five years after injury/insult and now some have extended that to 10. What small-minded thinkers! Such arbitrary limits and negativity! I believe I will continue to heal and regenerate my brain tissue and one day I will see again. I continue to use YLEO's and to detox and to work with neurofeedback and other non-invasive holistic protocols to rehabilitate myself.

Does it take a lot of time? Yes! Hours out of every day of my life! Is it worth it? Returning to health is SO worth it, there are too many payoffs to describe. Will I continue to heal? All of my life! Kathy and Karyn's story proves that even injury to the system more than 30 years ago can be positively affected by what we do now. Each and every day is blessed and new and a new opportunity to tend to our temple!

Best of luck to you Kathy and Karyn. I am cheering you on as you create and meet new challenges that the benefits of YLEO's are waking you up to! Your sharing of your story gives us all hope and proves that it is never to late to get better! And thank you Jessica Wild--you are a huge and loving heart, and wonderful to share such an inspiring story with us!

Peace Be with Us All - Accept NO Limitations!

Z

This information is intended for educational purposes only. It is not provided in order to diagnose, prescribe, or treat any illness or disease of the human body.

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