Essential Oils

I purchased a humidifier the other day, the fancy kind with cool mist instead of the evaporation style with a filter. Those filters were nothing more that mold producers and I didn’t care for their efficiency.  As I was unpacking the machine there was a little drawer that slid in and out, which perplexed me. I read the instructions and discovered that this drawer was for essential oils. What in the world are essential oils?

When I was a kid I learned about 3-IN-ONE oil, which was essential for maintaining bikes and roller skates. At ten I discovered Neatsfoot Oil, which was essential for keeping my Duke Snider baseball glove in tiptop shape. When I was old enough to drive, 10W40 oil was certainly essential to keep my 1949 Dodge running. In fact I had to keep two cans of the stuff in the trunk since I needed to add a quart a week!

When I had three kids under three years old, I discovered that Johnson’s Baby Oil was essential to keeping the tykes dry and diaper rash free. When I purchased my first house I quickly learned that fuel oil was essential in a Minnesota winter. In my seven years between marriages I found that massage oil, while not essential, could - when used correctly - be entertaining.  As I became more interested in cooking I discovered that good olive oil was essential to producing satisfying meals.  However, none of these oils seemed to be something that I would want to pour into the little humidifier tray, no matter how essential they had been to me over the course of my life. So what are essential oils?

^{Essential oils are often used for aromatherapy, a form of alternative medicine in which healing effects are ascribed to aromatic compounds. Aromatherapy may be useful to induce relaxation, but there is not sufficient evidence that essential oils can effectively treat any condition. Improper use of essential oils may cause harm including allergic reactions and skin irritation, and children may be particularly susceptible to the toxic effects of improper use.} 

^{I think I’ll keep the tray empty!}  

^{Best wishes and good health, Cindy and William}