My 7 Favorite (Single) Essential Oils

I have used many oils over the past 10 years. Read about My First Experience with Essential Oils. It was in 2009 and has had a major impact on my health and that of my families. These 7 oils are on my primary go-to list and head up my top choice oils.

What can I say? Peppermint is my all-time favorite oil!

I turn to peppermint many times for many things.

• As an anti-inflammatory oil, it helps to reduce swelling. Therefore, it is good on tension headaches, sprains and sore muscles by direct application.
• It has amazing properties to clear the head from a stuffy nose (inhalation).
• My daughter has used it many times to reduce the effects of her allergies, both by direct application and inhalation.
• I drink a drop with 4-6 oz. of water to get rid of indigestion.
• Several drops on a cotton ball placed in your car vents can help alertness on a long drive. (This is not recommended as a wake to stay awake for long periods. It doesn't work that way. But it helps to keep the mind alert during long drives, especially when driving alone.)
• I have recommended it to friends who say it helps with anxiety.
• My favorite use: Peppermint ice cream!!! Add a drop to a bowl of vanilla ice cream. AMAZING!!! You may want to add one drop to a large amount that you will serve to several people. My daughter is overwhelmed by 1 drop in a bowl. Me, on the other hand... I sometimes use 2 drops and have been known to use 3 drops in my bowl.

There are many more uses, but these are the ones within my experience. It does come up frequently when searching for an oil for specific uses.

Cautions

Peppermint is a strong oil. It can feel so icy cold that it feels like it is burning. It doesn't, however, cause any irritation. This makes it a poor choice for children unless it is diluted with a carrier oil, like coconut oil or sweet almond oil. (Two of my favorites). Test it on yourself before using it on a child. When drinking it with water, stir thoroughly and drink it quickly. Once it's on your hands, avoid contact with your eyes and never put essential oils in your ears.

OK... second favorite because of it's versatility and MANY applications.

My favorite use for Lavender is for burns... all burns. It's properties not only soothe but increase the rate at which burns improve (OK I'm being very cautious with wording because the FDA does not allow certain words to be used in regards to the use of essential oils. Bear with me. :)

• Lavender placed directly on a burn will relieve the "discomfort" and reduce the damage. I have burned myself several times, and when I apply lavender it reduced the blistering and sped the recovery process. I like putting 10-15 drops in a carrier oil in a small container and dipping a thumb or finger in the oils if that's where the burn is.
• LavaDerm Mist is a special blend of lavender in a misting bottle. It's the perfect way to apply to a sunburn. My daughter is very fair skinned and needs an SPF100 sunscreen to avoid bad sunburns. With Lavaderm, she sprays it on the affected area and feels relief almost immediately.
• This oil works very well for allegies, too. It relieves the itching and rashes that can appear from many allergic reactions. LavaDerm, again, can be wonderful as an easy way to apply to some areas.
• As a sleeping aid, lavender is very helpful. A few drops on a pillow helps to relax and calm our minds, making it easier to sleep.
• I've used lavender also to reduce a fever. It can easily be applied to the forehead or the bottoms of the feet. Another way is to add about 10 drops to a warm bath. It eliminated my daughter's high fever when she had swine flu. We had been struggling for over a day, but 15 minutes in a lavender bath broke her fever.

By far my husband's favorite oil and high on my daughter's list.

They use Geranium essential oil for cramps and charlie horses. One drop placed on the cramping muscles provides almost instantaneous relief for both of them. I have had the same result using geranium also.

The trick here is to have the oil close to you so you can get to it. Trying to walk to your oils when you have a cramp in your is nearly impossible.

So ask yourself where and when you typically experience cramps. Sitting inyour chair? Sleeping at night? Driving long distances? Running or exercising? Keep a bottle handy in the place or places where you frequently gets cramps. Or carry one in your pocket.

Frankincense (this link is for a 5 ml bottle) is an amazing go-to oil. When I'm in doubt of an oil that will help something, I try frankincense and many times it has helped

I've used this oil for:

• Attention help. In a diffuser, it has calmed those with ADD and ADHD.
• Bruises. It is a natural anti-inflammatory oil. It can be used for sprains and sore muscles also.
• Skin care. It can be used as a facial cleanser to reduce acne.
• I've used it to alleviate stomach issues. Rub a drop on your tummy for some relief.
• This is another oil we've used with allergies. A drop placed under the nose or rubbed in your hands so you can breath it in has helped.

As I said, when I'm in doubt, I'll apply a drop to an area or rub several drops on the bottoms of my feet. It's generally a saltier oil, but one that I try to keep on hand whenever possible. One nice thing about the oils is that it takes such a small amount usually so a bottle can last quite a long time making it a great investment

Lemon oil has amazing powers to boost your immune system.

As a result, here are some of the ways I or my family has used it:

• To help boost me immune system, I drink several drops in water. It's the healthiest lemon water you can get. The essential oils have far greater properties than real lemon juice.
• To ward off a cold or virus that I feel coming on, I will make what has been called Thieves tea and drink it several times a day. Thieves tea is nothing more than several drops each of Thieves essential oil and lemon essential oil in hot water with honey to sweeten it.
• My mom is a diabetic and periodically has trouble with gout in her feet, especially her toes. Applying lemon oil several times a day over a few days can eliminate the gout. If she catches it quick enough, she can stave it off before it gets a hold on her.

Cautions

Lemon is a citrus oil and is sensitive to sunlight. Citrus oils should not be applied to the skin when going out into direct sunlight. It can affect the color of the skin and some places that I've read indicate that it may create a permanent stain. I have not had this reaction, but then, I have endeavored not to tempt fate.

I try to keep Clove essential oil on hand especially during summer months. My favorite use is as an insect repellent. I rubbed a few drops in my hands, then run my hands through my hair. It keeps the gnats and bugs away from my face when I'm outside. Another few drops rubbed around my ankles, down my arms and over my legs keeps the bugs away.

Another oil I am just starting to use for insects is Citronella essential oil. I finally got a bottle recently and used it as I described using the Clove oil and had GREAT results on a nature walk this past weekend.

Clove is also my favorite choice for use with a tooth ache. At one time I was told it is the main ingredient in novocaine, but, in truth, it is the substance that dentists would use to swab your gums before giving you an injection. It has a numbing quality that is helpful with toothaches. The taste is not so great, but if you have a hard time with the taste, you can always apply it to the jawline where the toothache is and the oils will still help. As a numbing agent, it can be used for other things as well.

Tea Tree is one of the varieties of melaleuca - melaleuca alternifolia to be exact. I know people use melaleuca for many things and they get confused on the fact that there are actually several different varieties.

Tea Tree oil is one I would recommend for anyone in the education field. Specifically because it is so disliked by lice. Until I worked in education, I had not had any exposure to lice. Lice, however, do not like tea tree oil. You can find it in many hair products for this very reason, as well as many others, I'm sure. I apply like I do the Clove oil. A few drops is the palm of my hand, rub hands together, then run my hands through my hair. I keep a bottle of tea tree oil in my desk drawer at work so I have it when the need arises.

Tea Tree oil is also good as a sleep aid. A few drops on your forehead or pillow can help immensely.

Caution

Tea Tree oil is toxic to cats. Their systems cannot process the oil, so direct contact and exposure to the smell can be toxic to them. They will typically avoid being around it, but you need to avoid touching your cats if you've used it on your hands. Don't diffuse it in a house that has cats and don't expose them to the smell over a long period of time if you've been using it on yourself.

These essential oils are my favorite go-to oils. I try to keep them in my house all the time and I frequently carry several of them with me. I have taken to buying samples of some of the oils, too, because they are easy to carry and can be shared with a friend.

The suggested uses are all ways that I have used these oils and had wonderful results. I know there are many more uses for these oils. The lists of ways to use them just goes on and on. As I come up with new ways that I have tried them, I will share. I prefer sharing things that I have experienced myself rather than making a list of things I've read or heard.

Three things you should keep in mind when using essential oils:

• Drink lots of water when you use them. The water in your system helps them to travel throughout your body. If you are dehydrated or are drinking lots of other things, it will limit the effectiveness of the oils.
• Not all oils work the same or to the same degree with all individuals. There can be any number of reasons for this, but most oils have many uses. If one doesn't work well for you, another one might work better.
• Quality of essential oils DOES matter. There are several brands on the market that are very good. They are pure oils that are not cut with other chemicals. I use Young Living oils, but I acknowledge that they are not the only oils that are a high quality. Just be certain that you do your research. If the price is too good to be true, maybe it is. Many times the sensitivity that people feel about an oil is a reaction to the additional chemicals, NOT the essential oil itself. Just educate yourself before you buy...

Enjoy using essential oils.

Leave me a comment on the oils you love and how and why you use them. I'd love to add a post about your uses and successes.