I’ve been using essential oils for seven years, and I would never be without them now. I use them daily for me and my family. Just a handful of oils can cover your bases and the majority of your needs.
Essential oils are all the rage right now. And, there’s a good reason why. As there is a shift back to nature, essential oils are once again finding their way into the spotlight as key elements in supporting a healthy, natural lifestyle.
Super quick oil info: Essential oils are naturally occurring volatile organic compounds. They come from the bark, roots, stems, flowers, leaves, and other parts of plants. They are powerful compounds with incredible therapeutic benefits that can support you and your family’s wellness. (Volatile just means they flash off/evaporate into the air quickly.)
There are three ways to use essential oils:
- Topically
- Breathing in an essential oil is one of the fastest ways to receive its therapeutic benefits. Aromatherapy is incredible for supporting emotional health. You can simply uncap a bottle and inhale deeply or use a diffuser to disperse the oil in the air around you.
- Aromatically
- The molecular size of essential oils allows for them to be easily absorbed through the skin. Topical application is ideal for internal therapeutic benefits for specific areas in the body. For sensitive skin, use a carrier oil, such as coconut oil, to dilute the essential oil. It does not change the effectiveness of the essential oil.
- Internally
- Essential oils are very powerful, and most are safe to ingest in small amounts. A little goes a long way, and 1-2 drops is plenty mixed with water. Before ingesting oils, please do your own research and follow safety guidelines.
One note of caution, please do not purchase essential oils from just anywhere. They are often synthetic, contain harmful chemical fillers, or are simply poor quality. Do your research before grabbing a bottle off a store shelf. I personally use dōTERRA essential oils. Their passion, integrity, and quality is unmatched.
There are 10 must-have oils that I use in my home nearly every day for a wide variety of health and wellness benefits for me and my family. These oils have helped me with an abundance of things including keeping my home clean without using toxic, harsh chemicals and helping ease my children’s discomforts from upset tummies to owies to emotional support. And, we regularly visit our doctor just once a year for well-checks.
Top 10 Must-Have Essential Oils
Lavender is the most well known essential oil around the world and has been used for thousands of years for its calming benefits. I keep a bottle in the bathroom, the kitchen, and my purse.
- Used for its calming and relaxing properties
- Soothes occasional skin irritation and owies
- Reduces appearance of skin imperfections
- Helps to ease anxious feelings and feelings of tension
Lemon has a wide variety of uses. It smells delicious and fresh. My favorite way to use lemon oil is for cleansing. It is an amazing addition to nontoxic cleaners and leaves my house with an incredible scent.
- Cleanses and purifies the air and surfaces
- Naturally cleanses the body and aids in digestion
- Supports healthy respiratory function
- Diffuse to promote a positive mood
- Take internally to assist with seasonal respiratory discomfort
Peppermint has a wonderfully refreshing, cooling feeling. It smells divine! It’s one of my absolute favorites to use aromatically.
- Promotes digestive health and can help alleviate occasional stomach upset
- Promotes healthy respiratory function and clear breathing
- Repels bugs naturally
Melaleuca is best known for its purifying qualities. This makes it useful for cleansing home surfaces as well as the skin and supporting a healthy immune system.
- Renowned for its cleansing and rejuvenating effect on the skin
- Promotes healthy immune function
- Protects against environmental and seasonal threats
Oregano is an incredible oil that offers powerful antioxidants. It can help maintain a healthy immune system when applied to the bottom of feet or taken internally.
- Supports healthy digestion
- Supports healthy respiratory function
- Used as a powerful cleansing and purifying agent
Frankincense has been a prized commodity for thousands of years and has a rich history of traditional use. It is often called the “king of oils” and has the most amazing qualities. It supports healthy cellular function and is incredible for skin support.
- Take one to two drops under tongue or in a veggie capsule daily to support healthy cellular function.
- Dab on skin or add to moisturizer to reduce the appearance of blemishes and to rejuvenate skin.
- Apply to the bottoms of feet to balance mood and promote feelings of relaxation.
Deep Blue is a powerful combination of wintergreen, camphor, blue tansy, blue chamomile, helichrysum, and osmanthus. It is the perfect soothing blend post-exercise.
- Apply on feet and knees before and after exercise
- Perfect for a soothing massage after a long day of working around the house
- Massage with a few drops of coconut oil onto growing kid’s legs before bedtime
Breathe is an incredible oil to support the respiratory system. It is a blend of laurel, eucalyptus, peppermint, melaleuca, lemon, ravensara, and cardamom.
- Maintains feelings of clear airways and easy breathing
- Helps minimize the effects of seasonal threats
- Diffuse at bedtime to promote a restful night’s sleep
- Rub on the chest to support the respiratory system when seasonal threats are high
DigestZen is the perfect oil for all things related to digestion.
- Helps reduce bloating, gas and occasional indigestion
- A great accompaniment when enjoying heavy meals to promote digestion
- Help soothe occasional stomach discomfort and eases feelings of queasiness.
On Guard is the last must-have oil and the most frequently used oil in our home. If nothing else, you need this one. It supports the body’s healthy immune function and protects against environmental threats. It is an effective alternative to synthetic options for immune support. It supports healthy respiratory function. It also offers a fragrant, natural way to clean. I don’t worry one bit about letting my kids help me clean. Here are some ways to use On Guard:
- Diffuse for cleansing the air
- Add two to three drops to a veggie capsule for a quick immune boost
- Rub on the bottom of kid’s feet during school season
- Add to water for an effective all-purpose cleaner
That wraps up my top 10 must-have essential oils. I love having these tools in my arsenal to take care of my home and family naturally, safely, and effectively. It gives me peace of mind knowing that I can be the first line of defense in caring for myself and my children and supporting our bodies in a natural, healthy way.
You can get my top 10 oils all in one starter kit here. If you want to learn more about essential oils and how you can use them in your own home or are interested in my monthly special, please email me at laura@buildmindbody.com.
Disclaimer: I am not a doctor or medical professional, and this post should not be taken as medical advice. Please do your own research. Material on this blog is provided for informational purposes only. It is general information that may not apply to you as an individual, and is not a substitute for your own doctor’s medical care or advice.
