The definition of an essential oil is “a concentrated hydrophobic liquid containing volatile (defined as “the tendency of a substance to vaporize”) aroma compounds from plants. Essential oils are also known as volatile oils, ethereal oils, aetherolea, or simply as the oil of the plant from which it is derived.”

The therapeutic value of essential oils varies greatly depending on an equally varying number of determinate factors, such as the quality of the method of extraction (which is usually done by a steam extraction method), the timing during which the plant being utilized was grown and harvested, and naturally, the medicinal power that is inherent to the plant itself. Typically, 100% pure essential oils are the ones that hold therapeutic value for a variety of health benefits.

There are numerous methods via which essential oils can be employed into any health benefiting regimen, and the following are 5 of those methods (although there exist more options concerning this, these are the 5 that tend to be the most “user friendly.”

Direct Inhalation:

This method can be achieved through a variety of ways, the most obvious being to simply inhale nasally the vapors from the bottle directly. You can also soak a cotton ball with the oil and leave it in your purse to inhale all day. This can be particularly helpful to pregnant women or any other person experiencing nausea when they inhale a cotton ball soaked with peppermint oil or other anti-emetic essential oil.

Another method is steam inhalation, which involves placing a few drops of oil in a bowl of steaming water, placing a towel over your head and breathing in the vapors that way.

Diffusing Through The Air Via Natural Evaporation:

This method is probably the most used of all of the ways in which essential oils can be employed and involves no electric sockets or other electronic devices. This method can be achieved simply by placing 10 – 15 drops of the chosen oil in a bowl of hot water that has been salted with either Epsom salts or sea salt, which help with the diffusion process throughout the night.

Other ways of achieving this method are by the commercially made and produced terra cotta bowls that are designed specifically for diffusing essential oils, or by soaking a cotton ball in the oil of your choice and placing it by your bed overnight (this is probably better for the very pungent or overpowering oils but is not quite as effective as the other natural diffusion methods listed above).

Direct Skin Contact:

Diluting any chosen with a carrier oil, such as Jojoba, Olive or Almond oil allows you to apply it directly to the skin without the risk of burns. This method is ideal for massage, or dabbing the blend onto your wrist, neck or other parts of the body. Diluting with a carrier oil is important as some oils, such as peppermint, wintergreen, lavender and others can cause burns if applied directly to the skin.

Indirect or Diluted Skin Contact: 

This method is a great option if there are oils that would do best by direct contact but are too powerful when they are not diluted somehow. Placing several drops of any oil in a hot (preferably salted with Epsom salts) bath or into your shower basin provides for an aromatic and healing experience.

Diluting an oil in distilled water in a spray bottle and then spraying on linens, clothes, etc. are both fantastic ways to “gently” receive the beneficial properties of the more potent oils.

Diffusion Via Electrode Devices:

We certainly live in a modern world, and there are a number of commercially made devices that deliver oil through electric diffusers that work in your home, office or car, and there are even diffusers that work via USB ports (that are reported to be quite user friendly and effective).

Internal Use of Essential Oils:

While internal use of essential oils is a mystery to some, research has found plenty of safe, beneficial uses for essential oils internally. Yes, aromatic and topical use of essential oils provides a variety of benefits; however, internal use can be equally beneficial when done properly. Internal essential oil use offers some exclusive benefits for the body that aromatic and topical use simply cannot accomplish.