Here at Northcote Chiropractic we are advocates for natural health and healing. So one of our favourite tools we always stock is essential oils.
If needed essential oils can be used during chiropractic adjustments and massage therapies and even diffuse them throughout the clinic. Therefore, as an essential oil enthusiast, I thought I would explain a bit more about them, what they do for some common issues and see if I can spike your interest too!
What is an essential oil?
Think about what happens when we squeeze and twist lemon peel with our fingers; a greasy residue and strong lemon scent remains on our finger tips. Essential oils are highly concentrated versions of these naturally occurring oils found in plant sources (e.g. bark and leaves and in citrus rind). Essential oils are extracted from plants mainly through steam distillation.
What essential oils I use and why…?
Staff illness at Northcote Chiropractic Clinic is a rarity! Being regularly adjusted keeps our immune systems in top condition, but life does happen sometimes and we can fall victim to a cold! At this point we call on our favourite: Dottera’s On-Guard. On-Guard is an immunity essential oil blend. It contains wild orange, clove bud, cinnamon leaf and bark, eucalyptus and rosemary. This blend of oils is formulated to provide immune system support from seasonal and environmental threats. In particular, clove bud has been shown to have higher antioxidant and antimicrobial benefits then many other plants and spices and can provide great support to your body fighting off a bug! It comes in a pure essential oil, beadlet and roll-on form. This way, you can get the benefits of this blend inside and out to support your immune system through the seasons.
Another popular Doterra essential oil blend is Breathe. This unique blend contains laurel leaf, eucalyptus leaf, peppermint plant, melaleuca leaf, lemon peel, cardamom seed, ravintsara leaf, ravensara leaf essential oils. This also comes in many forms, but my favourite is the standard essential oil form. Blends including peppermint and eucalyptus are great to use at this time of year for seasonal allergies. Peppermint can relieve the pain of a sore throat or dry cough and eucalyptus is great to open the respiratory passages. Putting a couple of drops in a diffuser or using it in an inhalation steam really helps to clear through blocked up airways and groggy sinuses.
Lavender oil has become another favourite. I first came across it when suffering from an ear infection and found applying it topically behind my ear helped soothe any pain I was experiencing. Due to its soothing and relaxing properties, it can also help you wind down into a sleepy state at the end of the day. A 2015 study* showed that in a group of post-partum mothers, inhaling lavender before bed significantly improved sleep quality. Therefore putting a few drops into a diffuser or onto your pillow could really support your sleep!
There are many essential oils available, with so many benefits. All the oils I have mentioned above are sold at Northcote Chiropractic Clinic in a roller bottle, mixed with coconut oil for easy topical application.
The clinic also has many other essential oils in their pure form which patients are welcome to sniff and sample. If there are any special requests from anyone, we are happy to order them!
Please check how to use oils before ingesting or applying to skin. A carrier oil may be necessary, especially for young children and pregnant women. Essential oils are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
* Lavender Fragrance Essential Oil and the Quality of Sleep in Postpartum Women. For further information please click here.
Claudia Russell
Practice Manager – Northcote Chiropractic Clinic
