What is it about essential oils?

What are essential oils? Most definitions describe essential oils as the concentrated extracts of potentially beneficial plants. The terms used in the search to find which essential oils are right for you can be confusing.

Finding a licensed aromatherapist or trained therapist should be the first step to make sure you find the right oils to fit your needs. It is important that you use essential oils in a way that will be beneficial to you and not cause negative health risks that you never expected.

Distributors of essential oils can be excellent for providing information on the therapeutic use of essential oils.

Shibui Spa in Sisters uses doTERRA essential oils. doTERRA top trainer from Salt Lake City comes to Shibui several times a year to provide updates to the Shibui therapists. Kendra Littrell, who manages Shibui, said, “During treatments our trained therapists share information on the oils with our clients.”

Littrell believes many over-the-counter medicines can be replaced by using essential oils that have a natural benefit to the body.

More information can be found on Shibui Spa at www.shibuispa.com or www.facebook.com/shibuispa/.

There are several other reputable websites with excellent information on essential oils, including the Mayo Clinic www.mayoclinic.org and John Hopkins www.hopkinsmedicine.org.

The Mayo Clinic supports the use of essential oils, including lavender oil to help people with osteoarthritis, dementia, and kidney stones. Lavender also helps to relieve stress.

Peppermint seems to boost energy and aid in digestion, tea tree can be used to help fight infections and improve immunity, and lemon helps with mood improvement and headaches.

Aromatherapy is thought to work by stimulating smell receptors in the nose, which then send messages through the nervous system to the limbic system — the part of the brain that controls emotions.

Studies have shown that aromatherapy has health benefits, including relief from anxiety and depression, plus improved sleep and quality of life for people with chronic health conditions.

Mel Trammel of Sisters has offered classes on essential oils in the past, including an introduction into why they’re useful, how to use them and what different oils are for. Trammell is planning a monthly class on essential oils in the near future.

Customers can talk to Karen Post about oils when they come in to Aqua Hot Tubs.

Aqua Hot Tubs uses Young Living essential oils (www.youngliving.com). Customers can get specific information from trained representatives to know where oils come from and information on use. Young Living oils are tested to make sure quality is met. Customers can purchase products to try at Aqua Hot Tubs without opening an account at Young Living.

Children and elderly need to be very careful in using essential oils and get full information on what not to use.

If you search to find information on essential oils, include a date of 2019 or 2020, since data on essential oils is updated continuously.

If you’re considering aromatherapy, consult your doctor, a trained aromatherapist or a trained therapist about the possible risks and benefits.