Why Do I Use Essential Oils?

I use essential oils because they have changed the way I treat myself; literally. Essential oils have brought me to the study of holistic health and herbal remedies for overall wellness. Holistic health is about a continual maintenance of the mind and body.

I use essential oils because they have changed the way I treat myself; literally. Essential oils have brought me to the study of holistic health and herbal remedies for overall wellness. Holistic health is about a continual maintenance of the mind and body. It’s not an easy task to keep everything in balance, but it isn’t impossible. There are tools available to assist us in doing so like practicing Mindfulness, Yoga, Tai Chi, Ayurveda; but sometimes they come in the form of volatile, potent liquids made from the plants that mother nature has provided for us. When the body is given the right support, there is less cause for concern of future or recurring problems. With the tools just mentioned, combined with the knowledge and use of essential oils, I am finding my own balance of mind and body.

Emotional Stability and Physical Healing

Essential oils have incredible versatility. They not only treat one source, but simultaneously they treat and support others. Oils, properly combined create synergistic effects that can cleanse, ground, lift, balance and calm the central nervous system and the emotional body.

Everything is connected, from the tops of our heads, to the tips of our toes. Essential oils can help bridge the gap between our various body systems and create the whole body healing you hear about.

Aromatic use of essential oils stimulates the olfactory sense (our sense of smell) that is directly related to the brain; more or less associated with memory. Breathing essential oils in will help to reconfigure negative emotional patterns, or enhance the positive ones. Gaining knowledge on our emotional states is essential to our survival. Here is a brief list of what essential oils can do for balancing brain chemistry:

Cleanse negative memories
Reduce stress
Anxiety and tension
Offset mental fatigue
Uplift mood
Calm the central nervous system
Relax muscular tension
Induce restful sleep
Invigorate the senses
Increase feelings of courage and determination
Promote a cathartic effect (facilitating the release of stuck emotions)
Support DNA correction and expression

Feeling good both physically and mentally is vital to achieving overall wellness. Emotional wellness falls under being mentally sound. When moods are regulated, there are less swings and roller-coasters that turn worlds upside down and cause an excess of anxiety and depression, same time.

When you’re mentally sound, the body responds better to treatment. When stress and inflammation is low, the body has an easier time healing itself physically.

Mindfulness

For those who are unfamiliar, mindfulness is the meditation practice of being in the present moment without judgement, just letting it be.

"Mindfulness is awareness that arises through paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment, non-judgementally.” -Jon Kabat-Zinn

Mindfulness comes from the Eastern side of well-being remedies. It is thousands of years old and will continue to be a timeless practice beloved by many. There is not enough time in the day to worry about the various circumstances of a future we cannot foretell. Beautiful moments pass by us because we are focused on everything but the present. By practicing mindfulness continually, consistently, we gain a stronger consciousness of ourselves moment to moment.

We are hardwired to avoid pain and pursue pleasure. It’s not our fault, it’s due to evolution and the current environments we find ourselves in. Essential oils are the safe way to receive pleasure and avoid pain. To take the minute it does to get out an oil and inhale it or apply it topically, it brings me to the current moment of relieving a discomfort I am experiencing.

There is a plethora of essential oils that are available, so the possibilities are pretty much endless for personalized treatment. If I’m listening to my body then I will treat it accordingly. Holistic health is about getting in touch with your whole self and retaining a mindset of prevention through education and a desire to be well.

I use oils topically, regularly. They get me in touch with my body seeing as you have to touch where it hurts. Sometimes that’s uncomfortable, but it’s also necessary to understanding your body and aiding it to heal.

I find keeping roller-bottles with special blends around my place helpful for ‘in sight, in mind’. If your oils aren’t around then why bother using them? I can find essential oils all over my apartment in various forms for personal use.

They remind me that less is more. Essential oils are powerful volatile liquids that are easily absorbed into the air when diffused for aromatherpy moments. They are able to penetrate deep into the cell membranes of our skin and treat the root cause of the condition.

Integrates into Western Medicine

Essential oils address the root causes when symptoms arise, by providing support directly at the source. They give individuals the power to take control of their health and get in touch with their bodies and minds.

Essential oils have taught me a lot already about my own body and even more about how to care for it properly when it’s out balance. Holistic health paired with the use of oils is a focus on the method of healing, repair and prevention at a much lesser cost than prescriptions and western treatments.

Traditional Western medicine revolves around the dollar; not the method.

What should be noted is that I have Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS, Type 1). I experience neuropathic pain daily. I am on medication called Cymbalta. It was recommended by my doctor at a pain management program I’m in. This medication is more commonly prescribed now for neuropathic pain, though it is also an anti-depressant and anti-anxiety. This is my first time ever being on medication like this.

The beauty of essential oils is that they create a positive habit of self-care rather than turning to a ‘quick fix’ which only covers up the problem with detrimental long term effects. I may have the same chronic pain in the same places, but after having educated myself on the proper use of oils, I know what other blends treat the same condition, so I don’t risk building up a tolerance. I want them to work when I need them.

When I experience discomfort even on medication, I can self-treat at the source with essential oils and I don’t have to worry I’m double-dosing or mixing up medications.

When I get sick, essential oils are my go to medicine. Since I am on Cymbalta, I don’t want to be taking cold and flu medicine too whenever I get a cold. Over-the-counter cold and flu medicine is hard on the liver and doesn’t always work the ways I want them too. This is where the synergy created between essential oils becomes realized.

When you’re sick, you have multiple symptoms and most medicines only treat a couple at a time. So, day-time pills, night-time pills and cough syrups are needed in a 24 hour period just to get through the day. Our bodies also need to learn how to fight off illness by getting sick. Cold and flu pills and syrups are one of those things that may clear up the problem for a period of time, but doesn’t solve the problem long term. The immune system needs to be supported in the right ways and these cold and flu medicines don’t aid in building up immunity to illness.

Over the last few years I’ve been trying to stay away from taking anything pharmaceutical and using more natural remedies for my ailments. By using essential oils I am able to treat each of my symptoms individually, but also safely at the same time. Little bits go a long way with essential oils. I’ll put a few drops of litsea and a couple of eucalyptus in the diffuser to help purify the air. I have a roller-bottle made with cinnamon, clove, lemon and grapefruit to help increase circulation and warm cold hands and feet. Peppermint can help cool the body down and soothe sinus headaches and pressure.

Cleaning

I have rid my home of chemical cleaning products and replaced them with essential oil mixes I make myself. It is super cost effective and much safer than off the shelf cleaning products. I don’t need a hazmat suit to clean the bathroom, anymore. I also have a cat with little paws that I’d rather not walk across a recently bleached floor.

We don’t need to destroy every single germ that lives in our homes. Actually, a lot of them are good for us. The less normal house germs we are exposed too, the easier and quicker we can get sick. This is where building up an immunity is important. We need to build up antibodies to fight off germs. We get those antibodies from being exposed to daily germs. If they are totally destroyed by a 99.99% effective cleaning solution, then the body has no germ base to get used too; thus, a weakened immune system and increased illness.

Household cleaners on the market are also very toxic to our environments; especially to our waters and what ends up in our landfills.

When did we forget that using vinegar and baking soda is good enough? These are tried and true household items that exfoliate dirt and grime and purifies surface germs. Having an understanding of essential oils and knowing that they are basically anti-everything: anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-fungal, antiseptic and so on; adding a few drops of lemon oil to your house cleaner of water and vinegar, a scrub with baking soda, you have a non-toxic multi-purpose cleaner solution.

General Body Maintenance

Going with the trend of removing toxic chemicals from my environment, I have gone the route of making my own facial toners and tonics, creams, body lotions, scrubs, and cleansers with natural ingredients.

I found I was spending a fortune on beauty and hygiene products at stores like Shoppers Drug Mart. I have admitted that I was a beauty product hoarder in my teenage years. I didn’t have rent to pay and I was working at a nice restaurant part-time while in high-school. I saved a lot of money but I’m sure I spent even more; mostly on hair-care, body-care and make-up products. I’m a little disturbed at how many products I did consume over those years. What is also disturbing is the fact that those products contain thousands of toxic chemicals hidden with the label, and those regulations are a mess. The FDA does not protect the people, these products only benefit the companies that manufacture these chemicals, and those that market them.

The products I make are specialized towards what my body needs; this reinforces a stronger relationship with my whole self on various levels.

I know exactly what has gone into my body-care products and I’ve made them specific towards my needs. I have different skin afflictions that need certain care and with essential oils, natural butters like shea and cocoa, hemp seed and aloe oil, witch hazel and aloe juice, I can treat them all effectively and safely.

I will see too it that my products will support your needs just as much as they support mine.

Essential Oils Usage and Safety

How to use essential oils safely and where to take caution. Essential oils must be respected.

Respect the Oils

I am cleansing my life one drop at a time and returning to my roots. By this I mean, essential oils are powerful forces of mother nature and they should be respected just like any other material that has potent chemical properties. I strongly advocate for the use of essential oils in MODERATION.

I advise to literally use one or two drops of essential oil at a time, over the course of a day, because one drop of peppermint oil is equivalent to 30 cups of peppermint tea. That’s a high potency.

I also recommend the use of dilution with a carrier oil such as; fractionated coconut oil; almond oil; grapeseed oil etc., if anyone has sensitive skin. Using a carrier oil also helps the essential oil spread across the skin to make it go much father than not using a carrier.

Do your own personal research before slathering essential oils all over your body, inhaling and taking them internally. I would advise DO NOT go insane like the routines you see advertised by MLM companies. It is over consumption of highly potent chemical compounds, that research has yet to determine long-term effects on the body in high quantities daily, never mind all those vitamin pills. No thank you.

A good majority of essential oils are anti-bacterial and anti-microbial, which means they have the power to kill any and all bacteria. We have good bacteria in our mouths and in our stomachs and if the good bacteria is killed off by ingesting too much of any essential oil, it will cause sickness. Essential oils are chemical in nature; they can penetrate the cell membrane and treat the issue at the root cause. If they are disrespected by the user, then the end results will not work out on in the users favour.

RESPECT THE OILS.

Essential Oils Three Ways

Aromatic – Aromatherapy is the aromatic use of essential oils. This means that oils are being inhaled in the air. To do so, the most popular way is by use of a diffuser. This machine uses ultrasonic vibrations to create a mist with the mix of water and a couple drops of oil to give your room a spa like experience. Essential oils are volatile liquids and evaporate rapidly in the air. Therefore, you receive the positive benefits of cleansing the air, improving the respiratory system and regulating mood.

Topical – I use essential oils topically. I only use a couple drops with a carrier oil every few hours to the area of discomfort because our bodies can only absorb so much at a time. Everything in moderation still applies. There is always a risk of skin sensitivity.
These oils are powerful and highly concentrated. Holistic health and wellness is about preventative measures. Applying a lot of oil once per day is not how to practice preventative health.

It is a continual practice that must be done throughout the day and every day after that.

Note: Citrus oils are photosensitive, meaning they are extremely sensitive to the UV rays from the sun. Avoid the use of any photosensitive oil at least many hours before going into the sun, or avoid it completely.

Internal – Use extreme caution when going down the route of taking essential oils internally. As mentioned time and time again, they are powerful, potent and anti- a lot of things. They do make your water taste great, but you need no more than a drop of lemon oil in a single glass. Recipes I’ve come across that include the use of essential oils call for tooth pick stick dips and swirls with the oil (which are less than a drop). Understand that essential oils have incredible health benefits when taken internally, but only in very small doses. Abuse the oils they will abuse your insides. By this I mean the renal system of the kidneys can be permanently damaged.

So, take caution when exploring usage of essential oils, talk to your health care provider.

My MLM Story

Freedom to Fly was partially created because of a decision to leave the Multi-Level Marketing (MLM) world after three tried and failed attempts. Mind you, they shouldn’t be considered failures because I came away with new found knowledge on health and life that I have turned into my own creation.

For those who are unaware, MLM companies sell products that encapsulate a certain type of lifestyle. The sellers for the company gain commissions based on how many products are sold and the amount of people recruited beneath them. The avenue of communication is typically through word of mouth by friends and family. The end goal for the seller is to recruit as many people as possible to then teach the replication of the business model at a rapid rate. Money is then funneled upwards as everyone does the same thing, replicate.

I was first introduced to Arbonne at age 18, the year before I went to University. Arbonne is roughly a step-up from Avon. The new and improved, Avon Ladies. I went to a friend’s house for a "party" and noticed the white Mercedes Benz parked out front.

After hearing from the presenter speak about the company and talk about how successful she had become… Of course, the car was hers; a physical product of her success; she then went on to tell us why these products are ‘the best out there’. Everyone listened intently. The skin-care and make-up products were brought out and shared around. The skin-care line I tried gave an instant feeling of gratification because it made my skin feel much nicer. It isn’t your typical drug-store cream, it’s different, it’s special.

The product descriptions promise a better everything for the future as long as you continue on their product path. The woman did what she set out to do, as a few people made purchases. She made me want to purchase the products even though at the time I couldn’t afford them, I wished I could.

During my second year of University, I was asked by my roommate to have a one-on-one meeting with them about Arbonne. I still didn’t know much about MLM’s or how they worked at the time. The way it was presented to me was enticing. I was an undergraduate learning Arts and Contemporary Studies at Ryerson University, because I didn’t know what final avenue to take. So, the idea of running a business with guidelines and products all ready to go strongly appealed to my lack of direction. The company offered incentives such as trips and cars (like a Mercedes Benz!) to the top team leaders. Those leaders would have many customers and business associates buying products and running their own businesses just like them, which is why they became successful. Something everyone wants, isn’t it?

They will all tell you why their company isn’t a pyramid scheme, but it’s still a pyramid system, no matter how you slice it. Those advocates follow compliantly because they believe in the system so much they would do whatever they can to support it.

So, after the one-on-one with my roommate, I felt elated and encouraged that something like this may be possible. I was certainly too young and too busy at school to commit the time and energy to building my own business. Doesn’t mean I didn’t try in the beginning. I bought some of the most popular products and I’ll admit they were pretty good. The skin-care did it’s job, though it was multiple steps and different creams both morning and night. The vegan protein powders and other supplements weren’t too bad either. But, the retail price of some of the kits were outrageous; well into hundreds of dollars.

I did end up hosting a couple parties with the help of my uplines (the people who recruited me). They assisted in hosting spa-like parties for my friends to try out some of the most popular skin-care and anti-aging products. This is a traditional personal business start-up gathering, basically; hoping people buy what you’re selling. It was all good and fun, but the prices were a big concern for my friends who all had school debt they had looming over them. There was no real future for me in Arbonne. I decided to move on from the idea and put my focus back on University.

While I was kept busy writing essays and studying for exams at all hours of the night, eating shitty food because you’re basically broke and on a budget, I was dreaming of living a wholly healthy life. It certainly wasn’t possible at the time.

The company that I really took to was doTERRA. Not only had I fallen in love with essential oils and the idea Holistic Health; they painted a dream before my eyes of owning a business and having more freedom.

Going into my fourth year of University, I was asked to attend a party hosted by a friend selling essential oils for doTERRA. I had already known that essential oils existed, but I didn’t know to what extent. I was offered the possibility to reconnect with myself through the use of these oils. I believe that this is a very important step to where I am today in my own journey.

I wasn’t at first interested in doing business, though. I wanted relief for a few health concerns I had. A woman sat down and told me an amazing story about what doTERRA’s essential oils had done for her physically and spiritually. She became my mentor in the company for a period of about a year, sporadically. She taught me a lot and showed me an example of a great mentor for an MLM company.

She did her job well; I walked away with the top 10 oils kit for $180, with tax included of course. That’s a lot for a young 20 something year old woman. Regardless, I spent the money anyways because I wanted an alternative solution to relieve my chronic pain other than over the counter medication.

Back to the business side of things; every excited, new and potentially successful business owner in a company like doTERRA is encouraged to talk to their friends, families and communities. I think I scared mine away, and tired them out with my multiple attempts of starting up a business like this. So, things kind of fell to the wayside — again.

Things were quiet for a while with doTERRA. A couple people close to me got involved on a small scale and began incorporating essential oils into their lives. That’s the end goal right? Well, in the eyes of an MLM, that’s not enough to achieve any kind of commission. You need to speak to a thousand more people and sell a hell of a lot more.

Seeing as things were slow, another friend of mine who knew someone in a health and wellness company suggested that I get in touch. This is an example of the power of word of mouth and hearing it from someone you trust. It wasn’t a difficult decision in whether or not I should meet this stranger, I said, "Sure, why not?". The company is called Zija International.

Zija opened up a whole new realm for me in the world of alternative health solutions. Zija’s main product is derived from the Moringa Oleifera tree. This plant species is extremely beneficial to the human body. Zija’s main focus was directed towards weight loss. I’ve never had a problem with being over weight, but this company also had essential oils and workout supplements galore (much like Arbonne and doTERRA).

I sat down with the man my friend told me about and his wife to talk about Zija. This couple told me incredible stories about what Moringa Oleifera had done for them, their family and friends. The stories were presented like miracles had truly occurred on Earth. I was again, pulled in to something new, something different, something unique. Third time’s the charm, I thought. My mentors this time were in their 40’s with kids. They had clearly done well for themselves while working for this company. They told me that they quit their not half bad careers to pursue selling for Zija. Sounds like a pretty good possibility to me, don’t you think?

The company was called "elitist" by someone who I invited to a three way call with one of my mentors. That really stuck in my mind. As I spent time attempting to make the Zija business work, I came to find that the company did have more of a vibe that they were elite; material items were of prized possessions like the possibility of owning fancy Tesla cars. That’s not the vibe I want to be around. I have found myself moving towards a life of minimalism.

Every time I went through the motions of newly found motivation with a new company, I had set my expectations higher than the last time, to make it work this time; what a continual downward spiral that got me in.

The products I purchased from Arbonne, doTERRA and Zija were all designed to encourage repeat sales. I would consume the products, then need and want more. More is needed because these companies are so talented at advertising; your life needs to have these products in it.

All three companies have these things in common;

A membership fee ranging from $30-$40 CAD first time, with a drop down in price by a few dollars for subsequent years. +
An incentive program to push sellers to make sales. +
A monthly order program designed for wholesale members with special offers and bonuses the more you order. +
A discount ranging around 25% for wholesale customers and members. +
Enrollment kits for ease of being introduced to multiple popular products at a special low price if you sign-up. Also with a little added pressure. +
A promotional intro video that was meant to inspire, showcasing the company as something unique and incredible. +
They encourage the idea of community, but also making money, consuming all the products and driving fancy cars. Make it replicable. +
They offered natural health solutions to the most pressing health concerns. +
Their followers are all devoted to the company and the products, they all have amazing stories to share about how resilient the body can be. +
The products all cost a fortune.

What turned people off;

Price
Signing up / commitment
Generally no interest in MLM’s.
Generally no interest at all.
Maybe my approach was all wrong; or maybe it just wasn’t meant to be.

I believe good health shouldn’t be expensive to achieve.
It should be available to all demographics.

In truth, these companies offer something great if you follow their given blueprints step-by-step. But first, you must be a part of the demographic that can afford the massive mark up in price, and also, not care about it.

What I think turned a lot of people off is having another monthly product purchase. Most people I know are already paying a variety of monthly bills and the last thing they need is one more! For people that can afford to buy into the kinds of lifestyles that MLM’s offer, that’s great. For the rest of us, there are other ways to live a life free of toxins that doesn’t break your bank account.

An argument can be made for the amount of money that women, in particular, spend on themselves to make them more beautiful, or to make them feel better. I was one of them. I’ve come to realize now that it’s truly not worth it and I could save my money through using more natural, simple products that I make myself at home.

I’m striving to live a good healthy life now, even if that means cutting some costs and finding better, less expensive, natural solutions.