Whether you work as a holistic massage therapist aligning chakras or a personal injury attorney chasing justice for those wrongly injured, your personal life may benefit from the incorporation of essential oils. Again, I’m certainly not suggesting oils to replace any medications your healthcare provider may prescribe or suggest, but I am heartily suggesting supplementing your self-care routine with oils.

Essential oils are highly concentrated plant compounds and while those teeny bottles seem pricey, it can take up to 4,000 pounds of the plant to get just one pound of its oil. And the use of them is often highly diluted.  Keep your eyes on the labels for pure, medicinal, steam-distilled oils and stock up on jojoba oil to use as a diluent. And here are my top ten oils and their usages:

1. Eucalyptus: this may be used to loosen tightness in the chest or sinuses during cold season if inhaled through a vaporizer. It may also work as muscle soreness relief is used with a hot bath. If you’ve ever found yourself in a spa suddenly able to breathe easily through your nose and chest, it’s likely because they’re diffusing eucalyptus oil for this just this reason.
2. Lavender: I like to combine my eucalyptus oil – which can be an overwhelming scent – with lavender which balances it with an herbal, floral finish. This is a very versatile oil as it’s commonly known for its relaxing quality, but it’s also great on skin irritations. My favorite use of lavender oil is to put about three drops into my hands and rub them together right before going to sleep.
3. Peppermint: This oil is more of an *upper* that the aforementioned two. It purifies and stimulates the mind and can increase mental alertness. I like to add a couple of drops to my morning coffee to help with digestion and mental acuity. This is a strong oil for the skin though, so if you’re going to use it topically – mix it with a good diluent like jojoba oil first. Peppermint oil, while not a chemical component, can cause something akin to chemical burns if used on the skin in too high of concentration.
4. Lemon: Lemon oil is great if you have blemishes or acne. I like to drop a big into my evening moisturizer for this purpose. This is also a great oil to keep at the law office as it can help with focus. Just drop a couple drops into the hands, warm it up, and breathe deeply into your palms for thirty seconds. You might find yourself sharper and more focused to follow. This may, of course, be more attributed to the momentary meditation, but why not supplement it with an uplifting sensory experience.
5. Clove: Clove oil is very very strong. Please understand that disclaimer before using it in any capacity. That said, clove oil is an excellent anti-imflammatory and antiseptic so if you’re having any dental issues or a toothpain and can’t get right into the dentist, clove oil may be your best friend. Just remember to mix it with a carrier oil (I use coconut oil, due to its versatility in form) as it’s very strong!

Oils and holistic healing options in general tend to get a bad rap, being resigned to “witch doctor” status or “hippie wicca healing” which can be true. But essential oils have been around and in use in different cultures for millennia. To discount them just because hippies and witches use them is to do yourself and your health a disservice.