18 Handy Uses for Essential Oils

Essential oils have a plethora of amazing uses for everything from pampering yourself to cleaning and helping with various ailments.

What are essential oils? Essentially…an essential oil is an aromatic liquid extracted from leaves, twigs, berries, bark, wood, root, flowers, citrus peels, or other plant matter. They are not actually oily, but have more of a water-like feel.

Though essential oils are natural, they are very concentrated and should be used with caution. A few things to keep in mind:

Most essential oils should not be used undiluted or “neat” directly on the skin (except for lavender, tea tree, German chamomile, rose, sandalwood, and geranium). Always dilute essential oils with a carrier oil (sweet almond, jojoba, sesame, grapeseed, etc.) unless you know it is safe to use undiluted. To test if you are sensitive to a particular oil, combine 1 or 2 drops to a teaspoon of carrier oil in a small container. Dab a small amount to your wrist or the crook of your arm and wait for 24 hours.
Don’t use undiluted essential oils on pets, especially cats, as certain oils can be toxic to them.
Use extra caution if you have a serious health condition or are pregnant.
Educate yourself about the properties and contraindications of each oil before using it.

Now that we have that out of the way, on to the uses!

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
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Melania P.

8:28AM PST on Feb 15, 2013

Thanks

February 15
send a green star

Paris T.

12:26PM PST on Dec 1, 2012

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