The Power of Essential Oils

Essential oils are wonderful, highly concentrated drops extracted from A LOT of plant material. There are about 20 drops per ml in liquids close to the density of water. However, the size of a drop depends on the fluid and the dropper. For this, we are not going to deal with viscosity, but generally say there are 20 drops in 1 ml. Here is some fun, and not so fun facts.

Fun Facts

Lemon (Citrus limon) – Dr. Jean Valnet, a pioneer in aromatherapy, estimated that it takes 1,500 lemons to produce one 1/2 kilo of lemon essential oil. 15 ml requires roughly 75 lemon peels. Since there are about 300 drops in one 15 ml bottle, 1 drop of lemon oil = about a 1/4 of a lemon.

Lavender (Lavendula angustifolia) – According to Young Living, a 15ml bottle requires roughly 27 square feet of lavender plants. I am not sure if that is true or not, I hate to cite them but since I couldn't find any other data out there, I have to go with this. Since there are about 300 drops in one 15 ml bottle, 1 drop of lavender oil = .09ft² or 83cm² of flowers. That is about 3 pounds of flowers.

Peppermint (Mentha x piperita) – 15ml requires roughly 1 pound (453 gm) of peppermint leaves. Since there are about 300 drops in one 15 ml bottle, 1 drop of peppermint oil = about 0.05 oz. of leaves. So, 1 drop of peppermint oil is the equivalent to 28 cups of peppermint tea!

Rose (Rosa damascena)– 1 gallon (3.7kg) of rose essential oil requires roughly 8.3 tons of rose petals. One gallon may produce only 757 of the 5 ml bottles, making this one of the most expensive essential oils to buy.

Not so Fun Facts - Undiluted Use

1-2 drops of lemon (Citrus limon) essential oil will remove bugs and tar from your vehicle, gum, oil, grease spots, glue, adhesives, and crayon from most surfaces.

1-2 drops of peppermint (Mentha x piperita) essential oil is the equivalent to drinking 28-56 cups of peppermint herbal tea.

1-2 drops of fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) essential oil will strip paint off MY dining room table.

1-2 drops of bergamot (Citrus bergamia) essential oil used in the sun can give you the most excruciating sun burn you have ever experienced.

1-2 drops of thieves essential oil blend can burn a child leaving permanent scarring.

Please respect the power of these beautiful oils. Less is always more. Unless working with a qualified aromatherapy professional, always dilute your essential oils before use. Many of the issues that arise are from using them undiluted, leading to sensitization. No matter what anyone tells you, it is never safe to pour them in your water and drink. They are NOT a water flavoring agent.

What is Sensitization?

Sensitization is not to be confused with “detoxing”. Sensitization is an allergic reaction that shows up in places other than where the oil was applied, often an allergic reaction of the immune system. The severity of the reaction can seem out of proportion to the amount of oil being used. It may take hours, or possibly months, even years for a reaction to appear. This picture is one of many I have seen regarding sensitization. This is only an example, if you do not experience this exact reaction, that does not mean you are not experiencing sensitization. It could be that your body is processing the oils in a different way.

Protect yourself and those you love, educate yourself before using any and all essential oils. Your safety is important to us. Should you have any questions, email me at melissa@sweetwillowspirit.com. If you live in the are and would like to take one of the many classes I offer, visit our website at https://www.sweetwillowspirit.com/education-classes for more information. I plan to offer paid webinars, please subscribe to our mailing list to be notified when they are launched.

Love and light,

Melissa

Caution: The material on this page is not meant to take the place of diagnosis and treatment by a qualified medical practitioner. Since the actual use of this product by others is beyond our control, no expressed or implied guarantee as to the effects of their use can be given nor liability taken. Use at your own discretion. Any application of the recommendations is at the user’s risk. Sweet Willow Spirit, LLC disclaims any liability arising directly or indirectly from the use of this information and assumes no responsibility for any actions taken. This should not be used in place of traditional therapies but solely as a complementary means for bringing well-being. The FDA has not evaluated the statements on this website. No claims are made as to any medicinal value of any oil or healing modality.