We’ve all used one or more essential oils for aromatherapy, or known a friend who has gotten into “oiling.” This all-natural trend is touted to improve health and overall wellbeing, but did you know that you could also add some essential oils to your food and drink to improve digestion, calm the nerves, and more?
Essential oils can be used in three different ways: aromatic (through a diffuser), topical (applied to skin with a carrier oil), and internal (mixed in with food and drink). However, she cautions, not all essential oils are safe to be consumed internally.
To use essential oils safely, make sure you read the labels, consult beforehand with an essential oils expert, and use all-organic, diluted properly in a carrier oil like olive or almond oil, and used very sparingly (a drop or two is enough). Remember, some essential oils are not meant for ingestion at all (for example, a teaspoon of pure wintergreen or eucalyptus oil is toxic), so err on the cautious side.
Here are some drinks and all-natural balms you can make with safe, food-grade essential oils:
#1 Mix it into your tea
According to this recipe from doTERRA, you can make a comforting and delicious tea with a few of their oils. All you need is to heat up three cups of almond milk, put a drop each of ginger, cinnamon, clove, and vanilla essential oils, add honey, and whisk it all together.
#2 Add a bit of citrus to smoothies
Try a dash of (properly emulsified) orange oil to your fruit shakes for a boost of immunity.
#3 Make into DIY cough drops
It’s that time of the year when the bug could hit anybody, so it’s good to have these DIY drops on hand. The ingredients: coconut oil, one teaspoon each of lemon juice, cinnamon, and honey, and one drop of rosemary or inula oil.
#4 How about an all-natural mouthwash?
If you hate the sting and burn of commercial mouthwash, you might want to consider DIY-ing your own natural mouthwash with essential oils. Add two drops each of food-grade peppermint essential oil and tea tree oil to a half cup of distilled water mixed with two teaspoons of baking soda. Decant into a bottle. Don’t swallow the mouthwash.
#5 Bake a cake!
It may sound kind of crazy at first, but some EOs pack quite a punch in flavoring earthy, all-natural cakes.
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