essential oils you won’t want to live without

With so many essential oils to choose from, we can’t pick favorites. But there are some oils we keep coming back to over and over again. Whether we want to get some rest and relaxation, or we want to liven up our living areas, these are the oils we can always rely on!
Learn about these top essential oils and how you can use them in your home!

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1. How to use Peppermint essential oil

Peppermint essential oil is at the top of our essential EO list! We can’t resist Peppermint oil’s invigorating aroma or the wonderful cooling sensation it creates.

Fun facts:

• Our Peppermint oil is created by steam distilling the leaves and flowering tops of peppermint plants.
• One pound of peppermint goes into every 15-ml bottle of Peppermint essential oil.
• Peppermint plants originated in Europe, but today, 75 percent of the world’s supply is grown in the United States.

How to use it:

1. Use Peppermint topically for a cool, tingling sensation that’s refreshing after a tough workout or a long day.
2. Diffuse it to make your space feel more stimulating and energizing.
3. Inhale or apply Peppermint topically to your chest for a stimulating scent.

YL tip: Add Peppermint essential oil to your bath! We love the contrast of the hot water and the cooling sensation of the oil. Relax and take deep breaths of the soothing, aromatic steam.

Simple Peppermint diffuser blend:

Refresh and Unwind Blend

3 drops Peppermint essential oil

3 drops Lemon essential oil

4 drops Lavender essential oil

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2. How to use Lavender essential oil

We’re absolutely in love with Lavender! With a scent that is a beautiful blend of fresh, floral, clean, and calm, Lavender essential oil is wonderful for so many uses! From relaxing routines to soothed skin, this oil can do it all.

Fun facts:

• Our Lavender essential oil is steam distilled from the flowering tops of the plant.
• It takes 27 square feet of lavender plants to make one 15-ml bottle of oil.
• The many qualities and uses of lavender were praised in ancient Greece.

Usage tips:

1. Use Lavender topically to cleanse and soothe minor skin irritations.
2. Use it topically to reduce the appearance of blemishes and support aging skin.
3. Diffuse Lavender to help create an oasis of calm feelings or as part of your bedtime routine.

YL tip: Add a few drops of Lavender essential oil to lotions, shampoos, and skin care products. You’ll love the luxurious fragrance and the topical benefits!

Simple Lavender diffuser blend:

Create Your Zen Blend

3 drops Lavender essential oil

3 drops Bergamot essential oil

3 drops Frankincense essential oil

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3. How to use Lemon essential oil

Lemon essential oil is like a bottle of sunshine! With a joyful citrus aroma, Lemon oil is sure to make any day a little brighter. It’s a favorite for eliminating odors and creating an uplifting atmosphere.

Fun facts:

• We cold press lemon rinds to create our Lemon oil.
• It takes 75 lemon rinds to make one 15-ml bottle of Lemon essential oil.
• The lemon tree originates from of Asia and can reach heights of about 20 feet.

How to use it:

1. Add a few drops to naturally derived floor, window, and surface cleaners.*
2. Diffuse Lemon to help create a sunny, bright space.
3. Add it to conditioner and DIY hair masques to give your hair a smoother, shinier look.

*Do not use Lemon essential oil on granite or stone, as it may etch the surface.
YL tip: Let the bright fragrance of Lemon essential oil lift you up during stressful times at work or school. Diffuse Lemon oil to help create focus and motivation so you can shine.

Simple Lemon diffuser blend:

Bright Day Blend

4 drops Lemon essential oil

4 drops Peppermint essential oil

2 drops Tea Tree essential oil

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4. How to use Tea Tree essential oil

We can’t leave Tea Tree essential oil off our list of favorites. Also known as Melaleuca or Melaleuca Alternifolia, this refreshing oil packs a punch!

Fun facts:

• Our Tea Tree essential oil is steam distilled from the leaves of the Melaleuca alternifolia
• The Melaleuca alternifolia tree is native to Australia.
• Tea Tree oil has been loved for centuries for its abundant beauty benefits.

Usage tips:

1. Use Tea Tree topically to reduce the appearance of blemishes and help maintain healthy-looking skin, hair, scalp, and nails.
2. Diffuse it to eliminate musty odors and freshen living spaces.
3. Add Tea Tree to homemade soaps to boost cleansing properties.

YL tip: Combine a few drops of Tea Tree essential oil with water in a small glass spray bottle and spray it on linens and towels to keep them smelling fresh. Goodbye, musty closet smell!

Simple Tea Tree diffuser blend:

Air Refresher Blend

3 drops Tea Tree essential oil

3 drops Cedarwood essential oil

4 drops Lemon essential oil

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5. How to use Frankincense essential oil

Frankincense essential oil has a grounding and earthy aroma that we love for moments of deep contemplation. The use of frankincense isn’t new—this oil has been popular since 1500 BCE!

Fun facts:

• Our Frankincense essential oil is distilled from the resin of Boswellia carterii
• Boswellia carterii trees are native to northern Africa, near the Arabian Peninsula.
• Frankincense oil is considered a holy oil in the Middle East and is used in religious ceremonies.

Usage tips:

1. Use Frankincense topically to promote the appearance of healthy-looking skin.
2. Use it topically to reduce the appearance of uneven skin tone.
3. Diffuse Frankincense to promote feelings of relaxation, tranquility, and focus.

YL tip: Take a cue from this oil’s ancient history: Diffuse Frankincense to create a tranquil, grounding space that’s perfect for yoga, meditation, or quiet contemplation.

Simple Frankincense diffuser blend:

Meditation Blend

2 drops Frankincense essential oil

4 drops Cedarwood essential oil

4 drops Bergamot essential oil

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6. How to use Copaiba essential oil

We can’t forget Copaiba essential oil! With an aroma that’s warm, woodsy, sweet, and incredibly inviting, Copaiba oil is truly an essential EO.

Fun fact:

• Our Copaiba essential oil is steam distilled from resin tapped from the Copaifera reticulata
• The Copaifera reticulata tree is native to the Amazon region of Brazil.
• The tree grows 50–100 feet high and produces tiny white flowers and small nut-like fruit.

Usage tips:

1. Use Copaiba topically to reduce the appearance of blemishes and promote the appearance of a youthful, radiant glow.
2. Diffuse it to fill your home with a warm, inviting aroma.
3. Massage Copaiba onto fatigued areas after physical activity.

YL tip: Reward yourself after a hard workout: Dilute Copaiba with our V-6™ Vegetable Oil Complex and message it onto your tired muscles. Let the cozy fragrance help you relax.

Simple Copaiba diffuser blend:

Tropical Paradise Blend

4 drops Copaiba essential oil

3 drops Lime essential oil

3 drops Tangerine essential oil

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7. How to use Thieves essential oil blend

This is a blend—unlike the other oils on our list—but there’s a reason Thieves® essential oil blend is one of our most popular products! The warm, spicy fragrance is absolutely irresistible.

Fun fact:

• Thieves blend combines Clove, Cinnamon Bark, Lemon, Eucalyptus Radiata, and Rosemary essential oils.
• Legend says that during the 15^th century, French thieves would douse themselves in a special aromatic blend before sneaking into graveyards to rob from the dead.
• Thieves essential oil blend was created based on this legendary concoction.

Usage tips:

1. Use Thieves topically to cleanse your skin.
2. Diffuse it to banish bad odors and create a cozy, peaceful living environment.
3. Add Thieves to cleaning products to boost cleaning power and fill your home with a fresh fragrance.

YL tip: Refresh musty carpets by adding 5 drops of Thieves blend to a cup of baking soda. Mix it well and let it sit overnight. In the morning, sprinkle this refreshing mixture over carpets and vacuum thoroughly. Your carpets—and your home—will be filled with the warm aroma!

Simple Thieves diffuser blend:

Cleaning Day Blend

6 drops Thieves essential oil blend

4 drops Lemon essential oil

source https://www.youngliving.com/

Essential Oil to Reverse Depression

In the last 3 months, I've been battling against depression.  A lot of things goes through my mind and the struggle to wake up daily with the same feeling of anguish. 

After seeking for professional help and using certain essential oils, i feel a lot better now.

For those who are also going through this right now, please do seek professional help and do know that there’s a lot of people who loves you and are ready to listen to you. I also hope that the essential oils mentioned on the article below can somehow help and make you feel better.

Here are my top for essential oils for depression:

1. Bergamot

Bergamot oil is a great antidepressant because it’s very stimulating. Bergamot can create a feeling of joy, freshness and energy by improving the circulation of your blood. It’s also shown the ability to work as a natural remedy for anxiety, as a 2011 study in Thailand found that bergamot lowered the anxiety response in rats. (1)

Another 2011 study hypothesizes that applying a blended essential oil that includes bergamot to participants helps treat depression. The blended essential oil mixed bergamot with lavender essential oil, and participants were analyzed based on their blood pressure, pulse rates, breathing rates and skin temperature. In addition, subjects had to rate their emotional condition in terms of relaxation, vigor, calmness, attentiveness, mood and alertness in order to assess behavioral changes.

Compared with the placebo, blended essential oil caused significant decreases of pulse rate and blood pressure. At the emotional level, subjects in the blended essential oil group rated themselves as “more calm” and “more relaxed” than subjects in the control group. The investigation demonstrates the relaxing effect of a mixture of lavender and bergamot oils, and it provides evidence for its use in medicine for treating depression or anxiety in humans. (2)

You can use bergamot oil by rubbing two to three drops into your hands and cupping your mouth and nose. Breathe in the oil slowly. Try rubbing the oil on your feet and stomach, too.

2. Lavender

Lavender oil benefits mood and has long been used to help battle depression. A study published by the International Journal of Psychiatry in Clinical Practice reported that 80-milligram capsules of lavender essential oil can help alleviate anxiety and depression. The study also showed that there were no adverse side effects from using lavender oil to treat anxiety and depression. This is great news since we know that synthetic medications and psychotropic drugs often have many negative side effects. (3)

A 2012 study published in Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice evaluatd 28 women at high risk for postpartum depression and found that by diffusing lavender in their home, they had a significant reduction of postnatal depression and reduced anxiety disorder after a four-week treatment plan of lavender aromatherapy. (4)

Yet another study showcasing that lavender aromatherapy improves mood was done on people suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which can result in depression. Lavender had amazing results, showing signs of enhanced moods. The results revealed that the lavender oil, when used daily, helped decrease depression by 32.7 percent and dramatically decreased sleep disturbances, moodiness and overall health status in 47 people suffering from PTSD. (5)

To relieve stress and improve sleep, put a diffuser by your bed and diffuse oils while you sleep at night or in the family room while you’re reading or winding down in the evening. Also, it can be rubbed topically behind your ears for the same benefits.

3. Roman Chamomile

Chamomile is one the best medicinal herbs for fighting stress and promoting relaxation. This is why you see chamomile as a popular ingredient in candles and other aromatherapy products, whether in tea, tincture or essential oil form.

Chamomile benefits your emotions by providing soothing qualities to help with depression. According to research from Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine and Pharmacognosy Review, inhaling chamomile vapors using chamomile oil is often recommended as a natural remedy for anxiety and general depression. (6, 7)

4. Ylang Ylang

Ylang ylang may have a funny name, but it has amazing benefits for helping stave off depression and negative emotions associated with depression. Inhaling ylang ylang can have immediate, positive effects on your mood and act like a mild, remedy for depression. Research shows it can help release negative emotions such as anger, low self-esteem and even jealousy! (8)

Ylang ylang works because of its mild sedative effects, which can lower stress responses helping you relax. To enhance confidence, mood and self-love, try diffusing the oil in your home or massaging it into your skin.

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To relieve stress while improving sleep, put a diffuser by your bed and diffuse oils while you sleep at night. You can also rub topically behind your ears, on the back of the neck, your tummy and bottoms of the feet.

The right oils can make a great massage oil, whether you have a full body massage or just use self-massage techniques. Below is a great recipe that you can try!

Lavender and Chamomile Massage Blend for Depression

INGREDIENTS:

• 20–30 drops pure lavender essential oil
• 20–30 drops pure chamomile essential oil
• 2 ounces grapeseed oil

DIRECTIONS:

1. Blend all ingredients well into a glass jar.
2. Massage into your entire body, or take it to your masseuse and ask him or her to use it, 2–3 times per month.
3. You can also use hand and neck massage oil daily or even massage into the bottoms of your feet at night before going to bed.

Read more ...

Coffee Essential Oil Should Be Your New Best Friend Forever

 

It stimulates hair growth, it firms skin, and it invigorates the senses! Who knew that Coffee essential oil could be so versatile? 

If you’re one of the millions of people who drink coffee in the world, than Coffee essential oil is for you. This scrumptious bottle of all things good proves that coffee is beyond great for more reason than one. Didn’t think there were more reasons to love coffee? Coffee EO will surprise you with its multitude of benefits and uses. Here are EG’s top three reasons why Coffee EO is about to become your new best friend.

Hair Growth

Many know that Rosemary is a go-to for hair care, but did you know Coffee was great for hair growth? Caffeine has the ability to stimulate hair cell growth and counteract the suppression of hair growth in both men and women. EG’s Coffee essential oil contains between 1.0- 1.5% caffeine. We recommend adding a drop or two of Coffee to a dollop of shampoo/ conditioner and leaving it in during your shower. Be sure to rinse well.

A Substitute for Your Morning Cup

Pregnancy, hypertension and other health issues can lead to a restriction from drinking coffee. No worries! Coffee essential oil is regarded as being generally safe to diffuse and use topically despite these scenarios, so you can continue to enjoy coffee no matter what arises! Just check with your doctor beforehand. And if you want to enjoy coffee but your bedtime is nearing, you could drink decaf, or you could savor the delicious aroma of Coffee in a personal inhaler.

Skin Tightening

Coffee is known for its astringent flavor, but also its ability to act as a skin tightening astringent. Drinking coffee and applying the essential oil is a great way to reduce the appearance of cellulite and fine lines. Our recommendation is to make an exfoliating coffee scrub by combining 1 oz ground coffee, 1 oz Rosehip carrier oil and 18 drops Coffee EO (6 drops if using on the face). Use a spoon to scoop out and scrub onto wet skin. Rinse well, and enjoy the results.

**Coffee essential oil is not recommended to be ingested without the consultation of your doctor and an aromatherapist. Do not get scrub wet in order to prevent contamination.

 

Let us know how you've used this exciting oil! 

GET COFFEE ESSENTIAL OIL NOW!

EDENS GARDEN http://rwrd.io/s6kom4k

5 essential oils for travelers

The thrill of purchasing an airline ticket to a new country is the starting point of exciting and magical vacations. Whether you’re headed to Rome, Morocco, or Nantucket, travel can create some of the happiest memories. Navigating airports, foreign languages, or unknown cities, however, can put a damper on an otherwise adventurous week away. We want to make sure your only concern is whether you should buy one pain au chocolat or two. Check out our sightseeing secrets for a worry-free vacation.

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Peppy Peppermint

Jet lag, sore legs, stomach issues—these are just a few things that could plague a fun-filled getaway. That’s why you should carry along both Peppermint essential oil and Peppermint Vitality™ essential oil for a little extra help along the way.

• Inhale Peppermint’s refreshing aroma after stepping off the plane for a much-needed pep in your step.
• Massage Peppermint on the bottoms of your feet after a long day of walking up and down the streets of Amsterdam.
• Take Peppermint Vitality each morning in a veggie capsule to support gastrointestinal system comfort.

Soothing Stress Away

It’s possible that travel issues such as missing trains or losing reservations at your hotel can almost ruin the whole experience; or maybe you’re 17 years old, in the middle of India with your friend, and you lose your passport. Not saying that’s happened … Let’s just say some Stress Away™ would have been helpful at the time. Keep this staple in your bag at all times!

• Breathe in the inviting aroma when your phone dies and you’re lost on the metro.
• Apply Stress Away to your wrists before heading out the door on a cliff diving excursion.
• Use it as a personal fragrance for a night out in Tokyo.

Dependable DiGize

Traveling is simply an excuse to eat lots of food in a new place. If you’re gorging on churros and paella, empanadas and asado, or spicy curry, you’ll want some assistance. When taken as a daily supplement, DiGize™ Vitality™, with its antioxidant properties and cleansing benefits*, will become your most faithful travel companion.

• Add 2 drops of DiGize Vitality and 1 drop of Peppermint Vitality to your water bottle for a minty twist.
• Take DiGize along with Essentialzymes-4™ before each delicious meal.

 

Trusty Thieves

Recycled oxygen on airplanes and shared living spaces in hostels can always use a quick freshening. Also, you’ll want to give your body general wellness support* to enjoy every second of your adventure. For best results, take the dynamic duo of Thieves® and Thieves® Vitality™ with you.

• Ask the flight attendant for a hot hand towel; add 2–3 drops of Thieves and wipe down your airplane seat for a fresh aroma before settling in for the flight.
• Add a drop of Thieves Vitality to your morning tea or coffee at the local cafe for a flavor boost and to support general well-being.*
• Spritz Thieves® Spray around the room when you first check-in to your hotel to freshen your home away from home.

Lovely Lavender

Sometimes the best vacations push us far out of our comfort zones. That could include traveling to the other side of the world, swimming with sharks, or simply landing in a place where you don’t speak the language. That’s no reason for nervous tension or occasional sleeplessness to prevent you from having the time of your life. Keep Lavender and Lavender Vitality™ with you, and you’ll be ready to roll.

• Fight the occasional restlessness from time zone changes by adding Lavender Vitality to a nighttime tea to improve sleep quality.*
• Use the floral aromatic experience of Lavender for its calming scent before zip lining in Costa Rica.
• Massage Lavender into skin with V-6™ Vegetable Oil Complex after a day of sun bathing in Fiji.

YL Tip: For even more uses of these five oils, take a travel-sized diffuser! These carry-on approved diffusers will help you refresh and uplift any space you’re in.

YOUNG LIVING https://yl.pe/7qhj

EDENS GARDEN http://rwrd.io/s6kom4k

Do Essential Oils Affect Your Dreams?

Dreams can be amazing and unpredictable experiences. On any given morning you may recall dreams that were wonderfully entertaining, downright bizarre, unforgettably terrifying, or anything in between. Why our brain creates these stories during sleep may still be a mystery, but we do know that a healthy dream cycle relates directly to our emotional and physical well-being [1]. If you want to know how essential oils can promote positive dreams or influence the way a dream plays out, read on!

Why would essential oils influence dreams?

Anything that impacts our emotional state is likely to shape the dreams we have. So, since smells are processed in the brain’s limbic system (which deals with our emotions and memories), even the slightest whiff can arouse powerful feelings. Also, getting to a state of deep sleep is necessary if you are interested in lucid dreaming – dreaming that you are consciously aware of and can, to some extent, control. 

Research has shown that external stimuli present during sleeping can affect dream content [2], so let’s take a look at a few essential oils and blends that have been repeatedly linked to better sleep, improved dream recall, and may help create dreams that are vivid and pleasant – helping you get the most out of your nights sleep!

If you’re looking for a wonderfully crafted blend of essential oils to soothe your emotions and set you up for a night of positive dreams, Plant Therapy’s Sweet Dreams Synergy may be just right. Made with Orange Sweet, Juniper, Coriander, Blue Tansy, and Rose, this slightly sweet and spicy aroma is perfect for both children and adults. It is designed to keep bad dreams at bay so that you or your child can rest peacefully without the mental stormy stories that can destroy a good night of sleep. This synergy also comes in a super quick and easy pre-diluted roll-on!

Try this recipe to create an irresistible balm with Sweet Dreams Synergy:

What you’ll need:

• Sweet Dreams Synergy
• 2 oz. Cocoa Butter
• 2 oz. Beeswax
• 2 oz. Coconut Oil (solid)
• 3 – 2 oz. twist up tubes
• Fine glitter (optional)

What you’ll do:

1. Melt beeswax, cocoa butter, and coconut oil in a double broiler (or glass bowl over simmering water).
2. Remove from heat and add 30 drops Sweet Dreams Synergy.
3. Stir well!
4. Add glitter (optional)
5. Pour into tubes, cap it up, and allow to cool completely.

If you want to try single oils to make your dreams sweeter, give these a go in your diffuser or dilute with a carrier oil and use it as a chest or neck rub:

Rose: Popular for its distinct and unforgettable aroma, this essential oil demonstrated its ability to help people have rosier dreams in a study supported by the University Hospital Mannheim in Germany [3]. The rich floral scent has calming properties and helps relax the mind before sleep.


Lavender: This sweet and floral goody is full of therapeutic benefits, particularly relieving restlessness and producing a perfectly calm and tranquil environment. Its use for sleeping has been recorded for centuries; John Parkinson, a famous 17th-century London botanist, wrote that lavender is “especially good for all griefs and pains of the head and brain.” This makes it ideal to put a positive spin on dreams and help you wake up feeling refreshed and positive.


Jasmine: Another sweet and flowery scent, Jasmine is known to aid in deeper and more restful sleep, which leads to pleasant dreams. One study conducted by researchers at the Wheeling Jesuit University found that Jasmine is almost as effective as conventional sleeping aids for falling and staying asleep. The study’s participants were also noted to wake up and remain more energetic, compared to participants who slept in an unscented room [4].


Sandalwood: Revered for centuries to help reduce nervous tension and quiet the mental chatter that often keeps us from falling asleep. The rich, sweet woody aroma is known to improve the quality and duration of sleep. One study published in 2000 by the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health found that one of the natural compounds found in Sandalwood, called santalol, notably improved the test subject’s sleeping patterns. Regular deep and restful sleep will keep those happy dreams rolling along!

Got your oils? Don’t forget these tips for sweet dreams!

Keep it clean!

Wash your bedding regularly, at least once every other week. Not only will this keep your bed free of bacteria and fungi growth, it will keep it smelling oh-so-fresh!

Try this DIY linen spray for some extra sleepy-time goodness:

What you’ll need:

• 4 oz. Vodka or Witch Hazel
• 4 oz. Spray bottle
• 28 drops Mandarin
• 40 drops Lavender
• 12 drops Cedarwood Virginian

What you’ll do:

1. Add Vodka or Witch Hazel to the spray bottle until almost full.
2. Add the essential oils.
3. Allow the oil to meld with the Vodka or Witch Hazel for at least one hour.
4. Shake well and spray down your bed for a relaxing atmosphere!

Start a dream journal!

Keep a journal and a pen by your bed. When you wake up, write or draw about your dreams. Not only is this therapeutic to the mind, but you may see patterns in your dreams over time. This practice may also increase the intensity of your dreams and the brain’s recall ability when you wake.
Turn off the lights, keep it quiet, and take away any excess stimuli that may negatively impact your ability to fall asleep and stay asleep. Remember, dreams occur during deep sleep, so if you want to experience your dreams to the fullest, the first step is to focus on your quality of sleep!

Have you ever tried using essential oils to influence your dreams? Have you noticed that certain oils affect your dreams more than others? Let us know in the comments below!


References:
[1] Walker, Matthew. (2017, October, 24). Why your brain needs to dream. Retrieved from https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/ item/why_your_brain_needs_to_dream
[2] Schredl, M., Atanasova, D., Hormann, K., Maurer, J.T., Hummel, T., & Stuck, B. A.  (2009, August, 11), Information processing during sleep: the effect of olfactory stimuli on dream content and dream emotions. Journal of Sleep Research, 18: 285-290. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2869.2009.00737.x
[3] Carroll, Rebecca. (2008, September, 23). Smells Influence Dreams, Study Says. Retrieved from https://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/09/080923-smell-sleep.html
[4] Freeman, Bill. (2002, October 27). Jasmine Found to Encourage Restful Sleep. Retrieved from https://www.worldhealth.net/news/jasmine_found_to_encourage_restful_sleep/

Source https://www.planttherapy.com

by Katrina Scampini