Most of us are familiar with taking vitamins and supplements as part of our daily wellbeing routines, but what happens when you add essential oils into the mix?
How essential oils work
We respond to smell the same way we have for the last 2 million years. It helps us identify danger, form bonds with other people, experience pleasure and regulate mood.
Essential oils stimulate the smell receptors in the nose, sending messages through the nervous system to the limbic system. This part of the brain controls emotions and governs the autonomic nervous system, which regulates our involuntary physiological responses, such as heart rate, blood pressure, respiration, digestion and stimulation. This is why essential oils are often described as therapeutic agents.
They can also be absorbed into the bloodstream when applied to the skin – mixed with a carrier oil, or added to bath water for example.
Size matters
A ‘low and slow’ distillation method is crucial to ensuring the oil molecules are just the right size to enter the olfactory system and be readily absorbed.
That’s why you’ll want to use certified organic or wild-grown essential oils that have been carefully extracted to preserve the integrity of the active compounds. Oils produced through harsh chemical and high-heat extraction methods are inferior in quality and may even cause harm.
Working together
Essential oils are an easy and effective way to fortify your mind and body, especially when used in conjunction with vitamins.
When applied correctly, they’re a great way to support the reduction of stress and anxiety, improve sleep, and bolster mood. A powerful pairing for everyday wellbeing.
Here are a few effective self-care routines and essential oils that Absolute Essential’s founder and natural health practitioner Bo Hendgen suggests building into your day:
Morning
Before you towel off after your shower, add 5 drops of Absolute Essential Uplift or Vitality to a damp face cloth and wipe it over your body – avoiding any sensitive areas. The oils will give you a bright zingy feeling to help start your day.
Feel a sore throat coming on? At the first signs, put two drops of ginger essential oil on a warm flannel, apply to your throat and leave 10-15 minutes. Take a chewable vitamin C tablet at the same time.
Drink a mug of hot lemon, honey and ginger, using freshly grated ginger for a natural hit of vitamin C and energy. Pop a few drops of ginger essential oil in a diffuser and relax while you drink your ginger tea.
For a quick lift during the day, try using bergamot essential oil in a diffuser. Scientific studies and anecdotal evidence show that this zesty citrus oil reduces anxiety and stress.
Night
When you’re getting ready for bed, add 10 drops of the award-winning Absolute Essential Deep Sleep blend to a diffuser in your bedroom. If you do this every night for 10 nights, you’ll build a scent memory, and your brain will associate the aroma with sleep and relaxation.
If you don’t have a diffuser, you can add 1-2 drops directly onto your pillowcase. You can also add 10 drops to your bath water (remember – therapeutic baths should not exceed 15 minutes, as body toxins can be reabsorbed after this time).
You can combine the Deep Sleep blend, or single oils, such as lavender and frankincense, with vitamins or supplements such as vitamin D, magnesium, or valerian (all well known for assisting with restlessness and anxiety).
These simple practices can soothe and relax your precious nervous system and foster a healthier mind and body. Sleep well, and consult your doctor about using essential oils if you are pregnant. Not recommended for children under 6.
Bo Hendgen, DO ND, is an osteopathic and naturopathic physician. She founded Absolute Essential in 1988.
