Have you ever wondered what essential oils you should have on hand for yourself and your family?

I will be posting a quick reference guide to each essential oil to help you choose your personal apothecary.

We’re going to be going over what each oil is good for, how to use it, what it goes with to create a blend, and what to watch out for if you’re pregnant, planning to spend some time in the sun, or dealing with a particular ailment or medical condition.

As I sharing these with you we will be looking at pure, single essential oils, not at the many blended products that are available from just about any essential oil provider. Before you choose any of these blends many of with are touted by glowing testimonials on the distributors websites, or by sales representatives with long-winded spiels. Be sure that you know exactly which oils are in them.

Blends are meant as conveniences to help speed relief to you for an ailment, but they often contain oils you do not require for that purpose. Just as you would not mix up a handful of pills and swallow them without knowing what you were taking, be cautious in using blends that contain ingredients you do not require.

And as with all essential oils, check with your doctor before using any product to be sure it will not react with medications you are currently taking. 

Be an informed consumer and take the safest path to overall wellness.

 

Ok, now that we got all that out of the way today we are going to be talking about…

 

Spearmint

 

Spearmint is a sweeter smell then peppermint, and is a safer oil to use with children.  It comes from the Mediterranean region and is produced from the plants flowers through steam distillation.

 

WHAT IS IT USED FOR

• Digestive Issues
• Fatigue
• Itching
• Migraine and other types of headaches
• Respiratory issues
• Skin issues
• Stress
• Urine retention

 

HOW IT’S USED

1. In a vaporizer or diffuser
2. In a cream blend or lotion blend
3. In a massage oil blend
4. In a bath

COMPLEMENTARY OILS

• Basil
• Eucalyptus
• Jasmine
• Lavender
• Rosemary

 

WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR:

Spearmint oil is not associated with any specific warnings.

 

BLEND OF THE DAY

Lip Balm

Forget factory made waxes.  Use beeswax, shea butter, and carrier oils to keep your lips soft and prevent them from cracking. And the best part you can choose the scent.

This recipe make enough to fill 7 (0.15 ounce) tubes.

You will need:

1/2 ounce beeswax

2 teaspoons olive or jojoba carrier oil

2 teaspoons coconut carrier oil

1 teaspoon shea or cocoa butter

1/2 teaspoon pure aloe vera

1/4 teaspoon vitamin E oil

5 to 7 drops eucalyptus, peppermint, spearmint, vanilla, or another essential oil (Keep in mind NOT to use oils that are not meant to be ingested)

 

HOLD THE CITRUS!

Whenever you make lip balm or a lip gloss, avoid using grapefruit, lemon, lime, orange, tangerine, and other citrus oils.  They’re photosensitive, so they’ll react with sunlight or other light on the ultraviolet spectrum, such as light in a tanning bed, causing burns or dark spots on your lips.

 

To make the blend

1. Combine the beeswax, olive and coconut carrier oils, and shea butter in a ceramic or glass bowl.
2. Bring a saucepan of water just to the boiling point, and turn the heat down to a simmer.
3. Place the bowl in the simmering water, and stir the mixture until it melts.
4. Remove the bowl from the heat and stir in the aloe vera, vitamin E oil, and eucalyptus essential oil.
5. Pour the mixture into 0.15 tubes and allow it to cool completely.

 

 

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Sources:

Book: An Introductory Guide Essential Oils and Aromatherapy by Sonoma Press

ISBN #9780989558693

Information pulled June 7, 2020