Essential oils can benefit the body most quickly when inhaled or put on the soles of the feet. Recent research is showing that oils placed on the soles of the feet can enter the bloodstream within seconds and can reach virtually every cell of the body very soon thereafter.
With this in mind, you can imagine that people are putting a variety of oils on the soles of the feet. I'd like to share seven favorites with you.
1. Lavender
Entire books have been written about the many uses for lavender, but most people know it for its relaxing properties. What most people don't know is that a therapeutic grade lavender oil contains compounds with antifungal, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antiseptic properties. According to the Essential Oils Desk Reference, it also helps reduce blood fat or cholesterol. This is huge!
2. Oregano
This is a very hot oil, and hot oils don't bother most people when they are placed on the soles of the feet. It contains compounds that have antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antiparasitic, and antiviral properties. For baby boomers, the powerful anti-aging and immune-building properties of some of the compounds in oregano are becoming increasingly important.
3. Anti-microbial blend
The blend I use contains the essential oils of clove, lemon, cinnamon bark, eucalyptus radiata, and rosemary. A therapeutic grade of clove oil has the highest ORAC (antioxidant) rating of all the essential oils tested thus far. This blend is such a powerful protector that it has become the oil of choice to put on the soles of the feet before leaving the house during cold and flu season.
4. Peppermint
Because of its cooling properties, peppermint is often put on the soles of the feet during hot weather. Moms often put it on the soles of their children's feet to help bring down their temperature.
5. Idaho Balsam Fir
This is one of my personal favorites. The Essential Oils Desk reference states that balsam contains compounds with anti-inflammatory properties, but people are increasingly using balsam for many things in addition to this.
6. Frankincense
A therapeutic grade of frankincense essential oil is rather costly, so it feels luxurious to put it on the soles of the feet. This oil contains compounds with immune-building, antidepressant, muscle relaxing properties, and more.
7. Balancing Blend
I've saved this blend for last because it is the last oil that I put on the soles of my feet before going to sleep. The combination of rosewood, blue tansy, frankincense and spruce oils can create a balancing effect on many levels.
If you're wanting to experiment with essential oils, putting them on the soles of the feet is one of the safest applications. This article is written with the assumption that you are using only therapeutic grade essential oils and that you are using them in accordance with what is recommended in the Essential Oils Desk Reference.