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Become More Medically Self-Reliant: Put Essential Oils to Work for You

Avatar for Jodie Weston Jodie Weston  |  Updated: July 4, 2019
Become More Medically Self-Reliant: Put Essential Oils to Work for You

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When people first purchase essential oils they are excited to use them and to discover their benefits but sadly, a good percentage of those purchasers fail to move ahead and often don’t learn how to use them with much success. In fact, I know quite a few people who have good oils languishing in their cupboards for want of knowledge. This article gives suggestions and examples that may motivate a robust use of the essential oils you already have or have been thinking about trying.

Once understood and mastered and their efficacy established by successful application, there may be a desire to find other oils and other ways to include them in your home and emergency medical preparedness.  It is exciting to see a medical problem solved by an essential oil or a healing herb and thereby feeling a little more medically self- reliant, moving step by step. This knowledge is only acquired through using the oils correctly and experiencing what they can do to improve a medical concern. My small personal experiences build more confidence and put one more tool into my medical bag to help my family and others who may ask for help.

essential oils work for you

Three Successful Examples of Oil Use

Here are three examples of the many ways oils have worked. Please forgive me for sharing personal experiences. I do this with the hope that these stories will help others see that if essential oils worked for me, they may also work for you…making us all more medically prepared and better able to care for ourselves in our ailments and small accidents now and in harder times.

Two months ago the tiny wart on my forehead began to grow. At first, it didn’t bother me. It was small and hardly noticeable. Then a few weeks later a friend said, “What’s that on your face?” That was it. This tiny thing had grown quickly, about ¼” high right in the middle of my forehead and was still expanding. I didn’t want to see a dermatologist because it would take about four to five months to get an appointment and I knew she would suggest  I have a surgical procedure which I knew from experience would be painful both to my forehead and to my wallet to the tune of about $400. When the dermatologist removed the first one about 20 years ago I was left with a scar and a divot after the procedure!  No thanks. So what else could I do? There were over-the-counter products available but instead I searched through my essential oils book and found several options.

Since warts are typically viral in origin I chose oregano oil. There are other antiviral oils available like melaleuca, helichrysum, clove, melissa and a few others but I knew that oregano was potent.

What I Did to Make Oregano Oil and Geranium Oil Work for Me: 3 Experiences

1.     Using a Q-tip I applied less than 1 drop of oil on the wart only and avoided the surrounding skin since oregano is one of the hot oils. If I happened to get some oil on my skin I simply used another Q-tip to apply a bit of coconut or vegetable oil….any kitchen oil will work to dilute the essential oil and neutralize the irritation if the EO gets onto your skin.

This I did three times a day. The evening application was covered with a small Band-Aid.  At the end of two weeks, the wart was completely gone. The area was a little reddened because of the irritation but faded completely within two additional days with no scarring at all. So here was one essential oil application that worked for me….and saved time, money and pain. I wish I’d have taken successive photos for documentation of the vanishing offender!  Oregano essential oil worked for this purpose for me

2.     Another oil I’ve used recently with good success is Geranium. My sister was visiting for a reunion and had burned herself with a curling iron two days before she arrived at our home. Those hot irons get to be about 450°! The injury was on her forehead and it looked very angry. In the morning I used geranium oil on it and continued several more times that day. At night we applied bruised comfrey leaf. By the end of day two, there was only a slight redness left. I can’t tell if it was the geranium oil, the comfrey leaf or a combination of both but I do know that the speed of the healing was extraordinary. The burn went from angry looking to faintly pink in just two days.  She went to her high school reunion looking radiant! Chalk up another success for oils and herbals. They worked, quickly, painlessly and without any ill side-effects.

3.     Respiratory Oils: By simply breathing one essential oil blend called Breathe, my husband was able to reduce his nebulizer use significantly. One 15 ml. bottle of oil has 250 drops and he only uses about 2-3 drops per day; each drop costing just cents.  This is a remarkable blend of essential oils which include Laurel Leaf, Peppermint, Eucalyptus, Melaleuca, Lemon, Ravensara, and Cardamom oils. Not only is he greatly helped by breathing one drop of oil rubbed into his palms and then covering his nose and mouth with his hands and taking deep breaths through the nose, but the long-term side effects of more frequent nebulizer steroid medication use is reduced. I’m sure that many of the higher quality oil brands carry an oil blend that is directly targeted to help with respiratory challenges. Over the past 3 years, the use of this oil has saved hundreds of dollars and there is the added benefit of being able to store away a couple years’ supply, something that cannot be done with his prescription medications.

If the time comes, and it’s looking like it will, that life-sustaining medications are not available or they are difficult to get, I feel better knowing that we have a natural medicine chest at our disposal AND that we know what works for the problems at hand. Simply having and using essential oils that provide antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal properties is a major component of medical preparedness……….but we are not limited to that. There are a myriad of other tried and tested uses for essential oils.

2 Diffuser Blends for Colds, Coughs, Congestion and The Flu

When autumn starts to chill the air it’s a good time to use the diffuser blends because you know cold and flu season is upon us. The antimicrobial properties of the oils in these blends give an extra added layer of cold and flu protection in your home and car. We use these blends daily, especially on the bedside table where the protective properties can lend a buffer against seasonal threats all night long.

Cold-Free Zone Blend

  • 3 drops Lemon Oil
  • 3 drops Tea Tree Oil
  • 3 drops Thyme or Eucalyptus Oil

Respiratory Boost Diffuser Blend

  • 3 drops Eucalyptus oil
  • 3 drops Peppermint oil
  • 2 drops Melaleuca oil (Tea Tree Oil)
  • 1 drop lemon oil

It’s fun to experiment and create your own diffuser blends. There are guidelines to use when making blends. Five to twenty percent of the oil is for the top note, the highest percentage, 50-80 % is used for the middle note with another 5 – 20 % the bottom note, but I’ve found that this is a very forgiving percentage and I’ve created several wonderful aroma blends simply through making the attempt and experimenting.
Simply use oils that cause the effect you are seeking. For instance, if you want a relaxing, calming blend use 1 to 3 oils in the diffuser that have those qualities. You can also search right here in the “Backdoor Survival Archives” and find which oils are helpful for specific concerns. Here are examples of oils to diffuse for three different purposes.

Calming Lavender and other Oils like Bergamot can Work to Bring Relaxation in Stressful Times:

As most folks probably know by now Lavender oil can be calming used alone, either diffused or simply breathed in right from the bottle. A cotton ball with a few drops of lavender oil sealed into a snack size ziplock baggie works well as a calming source. Pull it out when needed and take a few calming breaths. This is especially effective just before a test, interview or presentation. The cotton ball needs to be refreshed occasionally. Mothers with active children will appreciate the effects of lavender when those active little folks are in the car for longer trips.

Other oils that can work to bring a calm feeling are bergamot, lemon, roman chamomile, geranium, vetiver, rose, jasmine, frankincense, patchouli, and neroli. These can help in stressful circumstances for adults and children. You don’t need all of these oils but choosing one or two to keep on hand for the purpose of calming may be a good idea. There is a great range of price from one oil fragrance to another so choosing the less expensive lemon oil may be just as effective as one of the others listed with a considerably higher price point.

BERGAMOT– It is bergamot oil that gives Earl Grey tea it’s sweet orange fragrance. Studies have shown that bergamot essential oil helps to decrease digestive complaints and the peel, which is the source of the oil, is high in antioxidants and antimicrobial value.

Bergamot Citrus Fruit  (pronounced Bergamo)

Blood Pressure Lowering Blend:

Diffusing a blend of Ylang Ylang, Cypress and Marjoram at night, 2 drops of each oil, helps to keep my blood pressure very happy. Along with using these 3 oils in the diffuser, it has been helpful to create my own roller ball blend in a 10cc bottle with those same three oils.  Check with your doctor before using thyme or rosemary if you have hypertension.

Here is that blend:

  • 15 drops of Ylang Ylang,
  • 6 drops of Cypress oil
  • 3 drops of Marjoram oil.

First, put those three oils into your 10 cc roller bottle then add a carrier oil like jojoba or fractionated coconut oil to fill the bottle, leaving a little space at the top to accommodate then roller ball cap. Place the roller ball cap on snuggly and then the screw on lid. Make sure to label the bottle. Before bedtime apply the rollerball blend over the heart, on the left palm and the sole of the left foot. This routine has proven effective for me. It has decreased the use of blood pressure medication to almost nothing….along with drinking plenty of beautiful red hibiscus tea. Although this has been beneficial for me it may not be for others. I had experimented with other oils for this purpose. Not until this 3 oil combo did I find success; so the takeaway here is that if you make the time to find what works for your own body chemistry there is a good chance of discovering something specific and right for you. Be patient; give new combinations time to work……1 to 2 months perhaps. If you want to have oils work for you…. first you must work with them!  Make sure to work closely with your healthcare practitioner if you are taking medication.

Immune Support:

When you are overworked, are not getting enough R.E.M. restorative sleep, you’ve been traveling, you’ve been burning the candle at both ends and see no relief in sight then something has to give. We all know it is your overtaxed immune system that will falter and you will not be at your best. Your defenses will be low. If this is you, then here is a plan to get you through until your life is on a more balanced course. Your immune system is your body’s defense against imbalance and disease. Let me say:

The best approach to increasing your immune balance is to eat right, sleep right and live right. Oils can’t solve every problem as you know but they can sure help in an important way.

Essential Oils: Work for Your Immune Defense

If you are going to be with a group of people, especially during cold and flu season it’s a great idea to arm yourself with a defensive oil. Each essential oil company has their own proprietary blend to provide a flu and cold defense. Any of these will supply a degree of germ-fighting support. I’ve checked the oils in each blend and they all have at least three oils in common and each is a strong antibacterial, antiviral, antimicrobial oil.

Comparable Germ Fighters

Here are names of five oils from different companies that have similar uses and can effectively ward-off colds, flu, and other pathogens: Thieves, Fighting Five, On Guard, Immune Strength and Germ Fighter.

If you do not have any of these blends and want to make your own spray blend then here are some oil blend suggestions you might find helpful.

  • Cinnamon
  • Rosemary
  • Eucalyptus

For additional support you may add one of the following oils:

  • Clove Bud
  • Lemon
  • Melaleuca

When you are around or with other people, there will always be a few who are coughing, sneezing and sniffling.  Using these defensive oils, topically (on your hands), internally (some companies have specific soft gels), in a diffuser or mixed with water and sprayed on hands and in the air can be very helpful. Use the spray in a public bathroom or in the air if someone sneezes in close proximity to you. This may sound like overkill to some but sadly most people do not have strong immune systems. We also must consider the health of those in our homes since babies, the elderly and the infirmed have a greater susceptibility so if you bring home a bug they are at greater risk too!

Six Essential Oils that Work to Uplift

Negativity and pessimism are far too common these days. We are bombarded through news, at work, on the internet, TV, and radio. So taking the time to de-stress is important for our mental and physical well-being. One of the ways to make the de-stressing process easier is to have a diffuser or two around the house. Keep them in areas where people spend the most time.

The cost of diffusing is mere pennies a day. The oils can create feelings of peace, harmony, and uplift. Your home should be your place of renewal and oils can help with that.

  1. White Fir Essential Oil – This brings the uplifting feeling of being in a pristine forest. It is grounding and generates balance. For me, it brings back those feeling of childhood when we spent most of our time outside. The fir aroma brings the outdoors into your home. That’s especially useful in the cold, dark winter months.
  2. Frankincense Essential Oil – What an oil! This is such a versatile, useful oil that I wouldn’t be without it. But for our purposes here the qualities we are looking for are the calming effects on the body and the lowering of anxiety and stress, which it has in abundance. Diffuse.  Rub Frankincense on back of the neck, shoulders or bottoms of the feet, then rest for a few minutes.
  3. Myrrh Essential Oil – Promotes awareness elevates mood.
  4. Lavender Essential Oil – Generates feelings of well-being.
  5. Orange Essential Oil – Supplies an energizing aroma that can uplift the mind and body.
  6. Grapefruit  Essential Oil –  Has an energizing aroma that can uplift the mind and body. It is uplifting, soothing and is a known stress reliever and brings on feelings of peace and relaxation. In a 2002 study published in the Journal of Japanese Pharmacology the adults who inhaled grapefruit essential oil experienced a 1.5- to 2.5-fold increase in relative sympathetic activity that improved their mood and reduced stressful feelings. They also experienced a noticeable drop in systolic blood pressure.

De-Stressing and Essential Massage, Bath or Foot Soak

We live in an increasingly chaotic world. This can present a full frontal attack on our health if we don’t take steps to relax. If this happens we can become unable to cope in a productive way which opens us up to poor decision making. This is a dangerous place to be, especially in times of any type of turmoil, confusion, and uncertainty. Happily, there are many ways to de-stress successfully. Using oils in a massage blend is a great way to help the body manage chronic stress; promote restful sleep and general relaxation.

You may add these oils below into a carrier oil or in a cup of milk, put into a tub of warm water and relax in the bathtub. If you don’t have the time for that then do a foot soak while reading.  Relaxation encourages a healthy mind and body. 

Ingredients for a relaxing de-stressing soak:

  • Almond oil- 2 tablespoons
  • Frankincense oil 5 drops
  • Geranium oil 5 drops
  • Clary Sage oil 5 drops

Not everyone relaxes in the same way so if jogging,  walking in the woods, spending time with family and friends or yoga is your way….do it regularly to decrease the stress and disease states that prolonged tension can trigger.

Just for fun ~ 5 Uplifting Fall Diffuser Blends

Diffusers

Oil vapors or mists can be diffused into the air using several modes. There are at least four widely used types:

  • Ultrasonic diffusers
  • Vaporizers that use a small fan or warmed water
  • Electronic aroma stones
  • Inexpensive reed style diffusers that require no electrical attachment.

Even room sprays are a form of diffuser but really they do not provide long-lasting aromas and usually, the droplets just fall quickly to the floor.

Being in a room or vehicle where oils are being diffused is an effective way to passively inhale oil molecules and receive healthful benefits from their therapeutic properties.

Apple Cobbler 

  • 3 drops Douglas Fir or Cypress
  • 2 drops Cinnamon Oil
  • 3 drops Lemon Oil

 Warm Spice

  • 3 drops Clove Bud Oil
  • 3 drops Eucalyptus Oil
  • 2 drops Lemon Oil

Thanksgiving Blend

  • 3 drops Sandalwood Oil
  • 3 drops Frankincense Oil
  • 2 drops Bergamot Oil

Old Fashioned Christmas Blend

  • 1 drop Frankincense Oil
  • 2 drops Orange Oil
  • 3 drops Peppermint Oil
  • 2 drops Fir or Cedarwood Oil

Warmest  Pumpkin Spice

  • 3 drops Sandalwood Oil
  • 3 drops Cinnamon Bark Oil
  • 3 drops Cassia Oil
  • 2 drops Cardamom Oil
  • 1 drop Clove Oil

FINAL THOUGHTS

We’ve just scratched the surface about how oils can work for you. My hope is that if you have neglected those essential oils in your closet then today you’ve been nudged to learn to use them more effectively and discover their health advantages you can become more medically self-reliant.

Get a good essential oil user book from the library. If you like the book, then consider making the purchase and refer to it as often as needed. Then in a real time of need or emergency, you will already know the basics of how oils can work to provide relief for many ailments and injuries.  If not, you will have the book on-hand for guidance in finding the right oil, or combination of oils, that will work for your specific need. Learning about oils is similar to learning about herbals and foraged food; your knowledge grows over time as you use them and see the results.

Learn from reputable internet sites or people you respect. Build knowledge steadily, one oil at a time. Know what it’s good for; know the common application methods, and then learn how to use it with adults and children. After learning all you can about a few oils, share that knowledge and your experiences with others. You can tailor your learning to the needs of your family. This helps to make it part of your medical preparedness strategy.

As always, work with your medical professional, choosing one who is well informed about essential oils. Finding oils that have a strong purity and potency is crucial because it determines the effectiveness of the oil in meeting individual needs.

What has worked for you? Please share your experiences in the comments.

Blessings,

Donna

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10 Responses to “Become More Medically Self-Reliant: Put Essential Oils to Work for You”

  1. Hey Zabeth, Thanks for you detailed comments. They help me to know what readers may find interesting. You enjoyed the personal stories of how essential oils have worked for me….if I included all of the other experiences that friends have had with oils then I could write a book! There are just so many great experiences out there. Of course not every oil works the same for everyone. My husband responds differently to a few of the oils that are so beneficial to me, but then we work to discover the ones that are best for him. An example would be the Blood Pressure Blend that was so successful for me. Yes it was helpful for him as well but not to the extent of my improvement. So it does take some time and diligence, but oh how much better that is than experiencing multiple side-effects that often come with synthetic drugs!
    Thanks for reading and taking the time to comment Zabeth.

  2. What encouragement your comment gave to me Sylvia! Thank you for taking your time to comment. Knowledge of essential oil is growing as people throughout the world are discovering their wonderful healing properties for themselves and feeling the confidence to use them successfully.

  3. Wonderful article! Your three personal stories of successful use of Essential Oils (“EOs”) for medical issues were really helpful to read, as were your great “recipes” for EO blends! I particularly appreciated reading your analysis of the key EOs common to many commercially available germ fighting EO blends, and your recipe for the EO blend that has helped your lower your Blood Pressure. I also loved the beautiful photos illustrating your article.

  4. This is the best article I’ve ever read!
    I’m smarter, more enlightened, and hopeful just by reading it, can’t wait to put the knowledge in place in my own life and home. THANK YOU!

  5. Dear Kevin,
    There are so many essential oil companies now that choosing one can be confusing. I use only oils from a company called doTerra because I like their testing certifications by third parties and their ethics are sound. and they can be purchased online right from the company. However there are other good oils available as well. Rocky Mountain Oils (RMO) is a reputable source as well and is a bit less expensive. They are a reputable company and iof an oil does not work for you or you don’y like it they have a good return policy. Eden Garden and Plant Therapy both have well tested oils too. BUT do not purchase oils through big box stores even if they say 100% pure. Most of those oils have fillers and you would be wasting your money and possibly have problems. I would strongly suggest that you buy the oil book “Modern Essentials” by Aroma Tools as it is extremely well written and covers just about everything you will need to know , otherwise you’ll be taking a shot in the dark if you try to go it alone. And as I always encourage is to begin with just a couple of oils. learn how they work and then move on to more. If you get that book first you can understand which oils might work for your needs. Those are my best recommendations. Hope that helps.
    We just had another blend of oils this week that is helping my husband with some nerve pains in his forearm. I am constantly amazed at what oils are able to do! Thanks for commenting Kevin.

  6. TA Da!!…..need this post. Thank You!
    I have M.M and want to take some of the …”sting”..out of the treatments’ side effects.

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