By Brent Hauver

It’s that sweet feeling that overtakes you when you chance to catch the smell of roses on the air or the invigorating scent of clean citrus left on your fingers after peeling an orange. These smells appeal as much to our psyche as to our physical senses, but they do so much more than that. The oils that give roses and oranges their distinctive odors are just two examples of essential oils. Essential oils have been called Nature’s living energy. They are the natural, aromatic, volatile liquids found in the seeds, bark, stems, roots, flowers, and other parts of the plants. While all of these oils are either powerfully or beautifully fragrant, they do much more than simply smell good.

Essential oils have an illustrious history of being used for aromatherapy, massage therapy, emotional health, personal care, nutritional supplements, household solutions, etc. In fact, essential oils are mentioned more than 200 times in the Bible. Ancient Egyptians used essential oils extensively in medical practices, beauty treatments, food preparation, and especially in religious ceremonies. Greeks and Romans use these oils to promote health and personal hygiene. Records show that aromatic herbs were used by the ancient Chinese, Indians, and Persians. In ancient times, essential oils were as valuable as gold. The use of essential oils survived even through the Dark Ages as medicine and hygiene products, but with the advent of a more chemically based pharmacology; essential oils fell from style in the recent past. However, the trends are once again turning toward natural holistic alternatives, and there is no better alternative than essential oils.

The components of essential oils defend the plants against insects, environmental conditions, and disease. They are vital for the plant to grow, live, evolve, and adapt to its environment. The same qualities that provide these benefits to the plants can readily be utilized by humans through the essential oils. The use of essential oil in your everyday life adds natural fragrance – but more importantly you also benefit from the therapeutic properties of the oils. Being very clean without the fatty acids and lipids found in vegetables and animal products, these oils are almost immediately absorbed through the skin. Combining the aromatic qualities with the therapeutic qualities, the possibilities and uses for essential oils become endless. Common uses include air freshening, bathing, therapeutic compresses, facial creams and body lotions, floral waters, Hair care, Steam inhalations, and Vaporization / diffusing. The medical uses attributed to essential oils are vast and impressive in sheer volume. Ranging from topical antiseptics to seasickness, from varicose veins to hypertension, the remedies credited to the use of essential oils deserves serious attention and study.

So next time you pull out a stick of spearmint gum to freshen your breath, or put limes down the garbage disposal to clean and freshen, remember the essential oils that you depend on regularly. Essential oils are not something exotic or foreign to your everyday existence. They are all around us, in many products that we take so much for granted. It is only for us to learn how to more fully employ the power contained in these oils.

Brent Hauver is a Holistic Health Researcher who owns and operates Sage Health and Empowerment Center in Overton, NV.