When to Use Essential Oils:
Physical Benefits

Many essential oils have antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal properties: Diffusing these oils can purify the air and help   control the airborne spread of infectious agents. 

I like to diffuse On Guard (Protective Blend) in my home to help protect against environmental and seasonal threats. When taken internally either in as a chewable tablet or as a lozenge this blend can also provide immune support.

For help cleaning and disinfecting surfaces and hands doTerra offers other On Guard products including a non-toxic all-purpose cleaner , a foaming hand wash, hand wipes, hand gel and a sanitizing mist. You can also make your own hand sanitizer by adding a couple drops of protective blend to a few drops of fractionated coconut oil.

Did your mom rub Vicks vapo rub onto your chest when you felt stuffy or congested?  Mine did. And to this day I still am comforted by its distinctive smell.

That smell came from eucalyptus oil, whose primary chemical component, eucalyptol (1.8-cineole) has been shown to help maintain open airways 

Today, to promote feelings of clear breathing and restful sleep, I like to diffuse Eucalyptus oil or Breathe (Respiratory Blend) -  a proprietary blend of several essential oils known to promote respiratory health - into my bedroom.

I also use a Breathe vapor stick and Breathe lozenges (respiratory drops) for the same purpose.

For additional help with seasonal respiratory challenges I reach for Lavender oil which has been shown to help stabilize mast cells. 

For relief of occasional aches and pains I like to use Deep blue rub, The essential oils in this blend create both a cooling and warming sensation.

If you are a massage therapist, chiropractor or sports medicine practitioner try  using deep blue in your practice.

It can be purchased as either a liquid or a cream (rub): Placing a few drops of the liquid on the affected area prior to using the rub can  provide a more intensive treatment.

In 1910, French chemist René-Maurice Gattefossé suffered serious burns as the result of a laboratory accident.

He treated the burns with lavender oil - and found the treatment stopped the developing gangrenous infection and helped heal the burns with little to no scarring. In his words . . .

"In my personal experience, after a laboratory explosion covered me with burning substances which I extinguished by rolling on a grassy lawn, both my hands were covered with a rapidly developing gas gangrene. Just one rinse with lavender essence stopped the gasification of the tissue. This treatment was followed by profuse sweating, and healing began the next day".

After that incident Gattefosse and other physicians went on to treat wounds suffered by soldiers in the first world war with lavender and other essential oils.

Since then, many studies have demonstrated lavender oil’s anti-microbial and wound healing properties.  (The links are to two such studies but if you google "lavender and burns", "lavender and wounds", and "lavender and infections" you will find many more.)

But lavender is not alone. Many essential oils have these same properties. 

For minor abrasions, I like to use Correct-X,  a petroleum and preservative- free ointment containing a mixture of essential oils that assist in soothing skin irritations while providing a protective moisture barrier.

For itching skin irritations and bug bites I use peppermint oil which has been shown to decrease the itching associated with several conditions,  

I first became convinced of the efficacy of essential oils when I experienced a sudden episode of some pretty nasty intestinal cramping and diarrhea.

I happened to have a bottle of Digestzen tablets (Digest Tabs) on hand and decided to give them a try. Much to my amazement, both the cramping and diarrhea eased within a few seconds, And it didn’t return!

Since then, I make it a point to keep these tablets in my medicine cabinet and travel bag to combat occasional digestive upsets.

I also use peppermint softgel capsules for this purpose: There is a fair amount of research showing that, when taken internally peppermint oil relaxes the smooth muscle of GI tract. 

Fennel oil can also be used to aid digestion and reduce occasional gas and bloating. Add a few drops of fennel oil to food or place in a vege cap and take as any other capsule. 

One orthopedic surgeon I know uses a combination of peppermint and ginger essential oil to combat post- operative nausea.

He has his patients rub a couple drops of each oil into their palms, then cup their hands over their nose and breathe in. (If you try this, be being careful not to touch your eyes)

These two essential oils may also effective in combating nausea associated with travel or morning sickness associated with pregnancy.

For travel place a couple drops of each on a cotton boll, place in a small sealed plastic bag and carry with you or place in your vehicle's air vents.

When rubbed on the back of the neck and temples peppermint oil has been shown to help relieve tension headaches.

Past tense (Tension blend) is a proprietary blend specifically formulated to promote relaxation, making it a good choice as well.

Many essential oils have antimicrobial activity. And they can easily penetrate skin.

So its not too surprising that certain essential oils can help control breakouts and promote a clear complexion. Tea tree oil, in particular has been shown to improve mild to moderate acne. 

doTERRA also has a line of skin products called HD clear specifically formulated to clean and help hydrate acne prone skin.

Normal energy production produces free radicals or “reactive oxygen species” (ROS).  Stress and exposure to ionizing radiation for the treatment of cancer can dramatically increase the production of  ROS.

Excess free radicals damage tissues and cause breaks in a cell’s DNA resulting in the death of healthy cells.

Monoterpenes, chemicals found in many essential oils. scavenge these reactive oxygen species helping to protect cells.

Recent research has shown that linalool - a monoterpene found in lavender, ginger and coriander - has particularly potent radio- protective activity: When treated with linalool 80% of cultured mouse cells remained viable following exposure to X-ray irradiation. Linalool scavenged the ROS produced by the radiation and prevented DNA breaks.

Peppermint oil is often used to fight bad breath (Before seeing patients in the office I bite into a peppermint beadlet/ These are amazing breath fresheners!) 

It is also antibacterial and so may help promote good oral health. 

doTERRA also offers an alcohol-free antibacterial mouthwash and a fluoride free, naturally whitening toothpaste.

Plants need to protect themselves from damaging insects, so its no surprise that certain essential oils can help repel pesky insects.

Terra Shield is a proprietary blend of essential oils specifically formulated for this purpose. In addition to the bottle pictured here, Terra Shield is also available as a spray. 

(In my experience, this blend doesn’t work as well as DEET but it is non-toxic and, unlike DEET-containing repellents, it smells really good!)