Getting Into Essential Oils as a Skeptic

I’m happy to be sharing my story with you all, but please know that I am not intending to diagnose, prescribe, or promise cures for any conditions. Always consult with a medical professional if you have questions about combining essential oils with a prescription regimen. 

Just about two months ago, my friend Kayla Aimee started telling me about the wonderful results she was seeing for her family by using essential oils for things like supporting the immune system and helping occasional sleeplessness. I could hear the excitement and passion in her voice, especially since she is NOT the type to ever try to push a product on someone, and so I ordered a kit of essential oils from her, just to try some stuff out.

And I will be the first to tell you that I wasn’t really sure what I was getting into, but I was pretty darn sure that it wasn’t going to work for me. I’ve purchased essential oils before at health food stores, and I’ve NEVER EVER been impressed with the results I have received beyond them making a room smell good. I never found that they helped me relax, fall asleep, or did much to improve skin problems.

When my oils arrived, I started doing a little experimenting. I started by using a diffuser to get some of the oils in the air so I could enjoy smelling them, and also see if they helped do things like wake me up, energize me, or calm me down (depending on the oil or oils I used). And I did feel as though they were working, although I was still skeptical: this could just be a placebo effect, and be the result of me wanting them to work (because I had just spent $150 plus shipping on this large kit of oils and I didn’t want to feel like a total fool, you know? ).

And then I decided to purchase the Essential Oils Pocket Reference , and I actually spent a great deal of time recently just reading over it. It helped me tremendously! I got to read about the science behind essential oils and how they are distilled. I also read about the lack of regulations across the industry and the subsequent extreme variance in quality and helpfulness of oils. The guide also offered some specifics about how these particular oils are produced, and that helped me understand why they are lauded by so many thousands of people and seem to produce outstanding results. On the practical application side, the reference book gave detailed recommendations for which oils to use (and HOW to use them) to address a wide variety of wellness issues. They distill in small batches (it would be more profitable to distill in larger quantities) and they third party test every batch they make. , and I actually spent a great deal of time recently just reading over it. It helped me tremendously! I got to read about the science behind essential oils and how they are distilled. I also read about the lack of regulations across the industry and the subsequent extreme variance in quality and helpfulness of oils. The guide also offered some specifics about how these particular oils are produced, and that helped me understand why they are lauded by so many thousands of people and seem to produce outstanding results. On the practical application side, the reference book gave detailed recommendations for which oils to use (and HOW to use them) to address a wide variety of wellness issues. They distill in small batches (it would be more profitable to distill in larger quantities) and they third party test every batch they make.

Here’s an example of their commitment to consistent quality: they recently became out of stock of an oil that I love called Valor. I wanted to order more, but noticed they were out of stock. When I inquired about when more would be coming in, I couldn’t get a definitive answer. It could be as early at 3 weeks, or as late as 2 1/2 months. I was a bit frustrated at this answer, as it just sounded like someone in the ordering department REALLY screwed up!

As it turns out, this is just a reflection of the dedication the company has to quality. They had a batch of product come in that didn’t meet their expectations, and rather than put out a product that folks were already lined up to buy, they opted to wait for the next round. And you know what? That one may not make the cut, either, which is why they aren’t making any promises. I totally respect that, because many companies would choose to sell something that was “close enough” in quality.

As I have spent a bit more time getting used to the oils and learning about different ways to use them (diffusing, topical application, and ingesting), I have been becoming a bigger and bigger fan. I have realized that these oils contribute to better health for my own family, as well as for other families. And at the end of the day, one of my very favorite things to do is to come up with strategies that solve problems. When I get to do that, I’m in my happy place. That’s why I blog about products and services that I love (or don’t), love to share ideas that are quick and easy and get the job done, and help busy parents like myself find ways (big and small) to make day-to-day life just a bit easier and more fun.  That, my friends, is why 4 1/2 years after starting this blog, I’m still jabbering away!

I can’t wait to share more with you about how essential oils are supporting wellness left and right in my home. I purchase these oils regularly so I signed up for a membership with Young Living, which means I get to place an order each month with discounted prices, as well as discounted shipping. I’ll keep you all in the loop about when that order is coming up, because I’d be happy to include others on it (helping my readers find solutions AND helping them get the best price? I’m in heaven!!!). If you’d like to join a small facebook group I’m in just to learn more about oils and how to use them (it is NOT a sales-y places, just a sharing place), then feel free to join the Oil Love Facebook group!

More essential oils posts:

Supporting My Lungs and Sinuses Throughout the Seasons

DIY Shower Disks for Congestion

Essential Oils for Weight Loss

How to Get Started with Essential Oils

Use Lemon Essential Oil to Safely Remove Crayon Marks

How to Get Free Essential Oils Without Starting a Business (It’s EASY!!!)

How to Get Rid of Hiccups with Peppermint Oil

How to Strengthen Brittle Nails with Essential Oils

Support a Healthy Immune System with Thieves

Have you ever tried essential oils? Did you have a disappointing experience like I did at first? Do you think I sound like I’ve gone off my rocker just a wee bit? And do you have any questions about oils or any problems that you are curious if oils might potentially help with? I’d be delighted to try to find the answer for you!