Essential Oils
What are essential oils?
Have you ever crushed a fresh peppermint leaf between your fingers, or taken a whiff of the scent on your hands after peeling an orange? If so, you’ve already experienced the power of essential oils.
Essential oils are simply distilled plants in a bottle!
Essential oils have long been used for food preparation, 
beauty treatment, and health-care practices. As you know from previous mentions, I do prefer natural and holistic methods for health when the option is safely available. Essential oils can be used for a very wide range of emotional and physical wellness!
Some essential oils are ok for ingestion through cooking or other means, but others are better for topical absorption or aromatherapy.
Young Living, doTerra and LorAnn, are a few brands that offer products which, when used in proper amounts, can be not only safe but beneficial to the body’s health.
One we use regularly with our family, when we have a cold or other ickiness cycling through our home, is oregano . Most wouldn’t think of this spice as anything more than an addition to their spaghetti sauce, however as an essential oil, this one is a bit potent on the tongue, but it helps to boost the immune system and snuff out all the nasty!
You can also blend certain oils together for various calming, or emotional balancing.
Learn more about cooking with essential oils!
(always check labeling or check with the manufacturer first – Mamas Voice is not responsible for any misuse)
| SAFE FOR COOKING | ||
| Anise | Cumin | Marjoram |
| Basil | Dill | Nutmeg |
| Bergamot | Eucalyptus | Orange |
| Black Pepper | Ginger | Oregano |
| Caraway | Grapefruit | Peppermint |
| Cardamom | Juniper Berry | Rosemary |
| Chamomile | Lavender | Sage |
| Cilantro | Lemon | Spearmint |
| Cinnamon Bark | Lemongrass | Sweet Fennel |
| Clove | Lemon Verbena | Tangerine |
| Coconut | Lime | Thyme |
| Coriander |
Using just a single drop, substitute fresh herbs and spices for essential oils as well as in recipes that call for lemon rind, orange peel, or zest.
Essential oils are typically added at the end of the cooking process in order to preserve their flavor. However, if you find that your flavor is coming out too strong, then let the dish simmer for just a bit before serving.
Oils to avoid ingesting
This is not a complete list by any means, but here are some of the essential oils you might think are safe because of their names, but actually are not:
Bitter Almond aka Prunusamygdalus var. amara
Camphor aka Cinnamomumcamphora
Horseradish aka Cochleariaarmoracia
Mustard aka Brassica nigra
Sassafras aka Sassafras albidum
Wintergreen aka Gaultheria procumbens