Article and Photography by Jennifer Klementti
Essential oil educator and wellness advocate
www.celebratetheartoflife.com
Essential oils are naturally occurring, aromatic compounds found in the seeds, bark, stems, roots, flowers, and other parts of plants that are extracted through steam distillation, cold-pressing or resin tapping. Essential oil use and aromatherapy dates back to ancient civilizations who used them to improve their physical and emotional well-being. More and more people are now looking into essential oils because they are safe, natural and have proven health benefits.
As a mom, I love using essential oils for my family to support our overall health and wellness. Over the past decade, we have made more educated choices about the personal care products that we use as well, choosing products that do not contain harmful chemicals or ingredients.
We have also gotten rid of all toxic household cleaners, and now make our own using essential oils.
You may wonder why this is important to consider? It’s currently estimated that over 85,000 chemicals are used in our modern manufacturing of household cleaners and personal care products. Eliminating toxic chemicals from our homes and the products that we use on our body every day can have significant impact on our health and how we feel.
Choosing Certified Pure Test Grade essential oils in your daily self-care routine is a great way to feed your body the natural goodness of plants.
I recently had the opportunity to interview my daughter who is 8 years old about essential oils. She fell in love with essential oils immediately, and intuitively understands how the oils impact her health and wellness. It’s important to always have the guidance of your parent or guardian when using essential oils. While essential oils are natural, there are safety guidelines that are important to follow.
What do you love best about essential oils?
I love how they smell and I love how they make you feel, and I love how different oils mean different things, like lavender calms you down, and wild orange wakes you up. Lavender was the first oil that I smelled. It reminds me of a flower and makes me think of a beautiful meadow and rocking a baby to sleep.
What was it like the first time you used essential oils?
It was really fun opening the box when it arrived at our house… kinda like Christmas. You see how much the different oils can do for you once you try them. I found that using lavender and Cedarwood in my diffuser at bedtime helped me to go to sleep. You express yourself by using different oils that help your body. The different smells make you feel happy, calm, cheerful. They really help me with my emotions and they help keep me healthy.
What is your favourite essential oil?
I love Wild Orange and Easy Air (which is a respiratory blend by dōTERRA.) Wild orange wakes me up. I love to smell it and put it in my diffuser necklace. My friends at school all love the smell too. It reminds me of orange butterflies flying in the field. It’s very soft and fruity. It makes me feel good, gentle and light. I love Easy Air because it has eucalyptus in it. It makes me feel like I am in the wind or on the top of a mountain over a waterfall. I feel like a big tree with my branches flowing in the wind. I love it because it’s natural and like in nature it is leafy and soft. It really helps me when I am sick because you can breathe the oil in and it helps to clean out your lungs. It makes me feel light and airy.
Why do you think essential oils work?
Because they are made out of the most pure plants in the world. Herbs, flowers, fruit, trees. It’s cool because they really help you with your health. It just feels good. It’s very fun to use once you actually learn what they can do and how they can help your body. It’s also important to listen to your mom, because she will know how much oil and what oils to use.
As with any product, it is always important to note that not all essential oils are created equal. Unfortunately, the essential oil industry is not regulated, and brands can use any words they choose on their labels. It is always important to do your research and find a company that is transparent with their sourcing and testing of their oils, and that is committed to purity and quality. I also recommend finding a great mentor who can help you get started on your essential oil journey and provide continuing support.
“Nature itself is the best physician.” — Hippocrates
