Replies

I'm beginning an introduction to essential oils, for those who know little about them.

First, lavender. Unless you just want a pretty scent, use pure, real lavender oil for anything having to do with your body. Lavender is called The Swiss Army Knife of oils because it’s so versatile. If you only have one oil, let it be lavender.

Lavender oil in a capsule or under your tongue can quickly clear sinus congestion.
Lavender is a powerful anti-viral.
Combine with peppermint oil and lemon oil in a capsule to clear seasonal allergy symptoms.
To fall asleep more easily, rub a few drops of lavender oil in your palms, on your pillow, on the back of your neck and the bottoms of your feet.
Put 4-8 drops lavender oil in your diffuser to help everyone (including your pets) come down a few notches, or use at night (or during nap time) to promote a restful night's sleep. It promotes love, peace and a general sense of wellbeing.
Use pure lavender oil in baking and in lavender lemonade.

Lavender is so calming and at the same time helps uplift the mood, and a lot of EOs do that. Dual purpose. Lavender EO is a great first aid tool for burns of any kind. A small burn will get healed with just a few applications, in a couple of hours. A bad burn will need cooling in ice water, then lavender and a clay compress. With those three methods I healed overnight an unbearable painful burn that covered the whole top of my R hand. Since then I make sure I am NEVER without lavender and clay.

Great you are doing this, thank you. I will chime in if I have any ideas.

An additional point about Lavender EOs is the cheaper vareity (probably NOW brand, and definitely some of the cheap ones on Amazon) use Lavender EO blended with Lavendin EO which is a close relative and still useful in its way but with not as nice a smell and probably not quite as effective. Labels should say what variey of the plant and place of origin if possible. It really depends on usage - if strictly therapeutic, the real all Lavender is best; for things like adding to calming salves or blends using other EOs too, soap, just for room aroma use, etc the cheaper varities are probably fin.

Next up, peppermint oil.

Apply to temples when you have a migraine, or on foot soles or neck for fever or hot flash.
Apply to face and inhale from palms as a late afternoon wake-me-up/coffee replacement.
Diffuse for focus in the office, or for concentration during FReeping.
When applied topically, peppermint oil helps drive in other oils faster and deeper.
Add a few drops to a capsule to help with occasional nausea and to support healthy digestion.
Put a drop in your water bottle to support your exercise performance.
Add a drop to hot cocoa. Add to snack-time tea to curb your appetite. Put five drops of peppermint oil in your next batch of brownies.