You may be thinking the obvious answer... Because feet are stinky, sweating, and full of bacteria. And that is correct! No one is going to argue with that! A little essential oil can definitely go a long way to helping with those issues. But there's so much more that happens! Your feet are an AMAZING part of your body. Underappreciated and undiscovered in many regards. When you apply essential oils to the bottom of your feet, you're actually doing yourself a big favor, in a big way. If fact, for many years reflexologists have recommend using essential oils on the bottom of your feet because they can help you... Get a better night’s sleep Quickly boost the immune system Calm anxious feelings and reduce stress Three Reasons to Apply Essential Oils to the Feet #1. Big Pores. No Hair. The pores found on the bottom of your feet are particularly absorbent and can quickly pull the essential oils into the bloodstream. There are no hair follicles to slow down the application or absorption of the essential oil. Plus, the soles of your feet have 5 layers of skin. Other parts of your body typically have 7 to 10 layers of skin. When essential oils are applied to the feet, studies show that traces can be found throughout the entire body in less than 20 minutes! Your skin is oily and the essential oils are "oils", therefore they can easily mix together and dissolve into one another (lipid soluble). Within just seconds they are penetrating the skin and entering the blood stream. #2. What is Sebum? Sebum is produced by sebaceous glands all over the skin, it's an oily substance that functions as a protective shield and weakens the skin’s ability to absorb foreign materials. The palms of your hands and soles of your feet do not have sebaceous glands, therefore there is no such barrier between the essential oils and your pores. Your soles and palms are the only sites on your body without sebaceous glands. #3. Your feet got nerves! Your feet have around 72,000 nerve endings each! In fact, they contain more sensitive nerve endings per square centimeter than any other part of your body! Wow! For centuries, East Asian medicine has been in the practice of accessing the right nerves within the feet for healing purposes in the body. They believe that every organ and system in your body is connected through meridians of energy that end in your feet, hands, ears and face. Also known as reflexology. With modern day science, we now have a better understanding of the complexity of the nerve endings in the feet and their connections throughout the rest of body. Applying essential oils to your feet allows the benefits of the essential oils to reach multiple organs, systems and areas of your body that are in need of support. Physically, mentally and emotionally. Reflexology Chart According to this reflexology chart, you can visualize which parts of your feet are believed to be connected to which areas of your body. Applying and massaging an essential oil into that specific area of your feet could provide a direct response to that area in the body. Common essential oils used to support the different parts of the body are listed together for reference. Sensitivity Advantage of the Feet While applying essential oils topically to any other parts of the body, it’s typically recommended to dilute them with Fractionated Coconut Oil. This is done to reduce the possibility of skin irritation. However, the skin on the bottom of your feet is one of the least sensitive areas of your body, therefore oils of all strengths can be applied safely and directly without dilution if desired. So go ahead and rub them on! Just be careful, oil residue will still be on your hands, so wash your hands afterwards or mind where you place them next! Best Way to Apply Oils to the Feet You can just drip-drop the oils onto your feet, but sometimes that's a little tough, because the feet can be a bit awkward to get to and you might waste oil if you don't catch it before it runs right off. Roll-on bottles to the rescue! Roll-on bottles are a super convenient and useful way to save you time, money and oil (never lose a drop). Fill with the bottles with the oil(s) of your choice. Snap on the lid. Done! doTERRA sells "ready made" roll-on bottles If you don't have the time or materials to make your own blends or maybe you just prefer to buy ones blended by the professionals, doTERRA carries many options. doTERRA Single Roll-on Oils doTERRA Proprietary Blend Roll-on Oils If the name of the bottle includes the word "Touch", such as doTERRA Lavender Touch Roll-on, this means that the roll-on comes in a base of Fractionated Coconut oil. Why dilute with Fractionated Coconut Oil? Fractionated Coconut Oil is commonly used in roll-on bottles because when applying essential oils to the skin it's helpful to dilute the oils first because: Helps protect sensitive skin Helps to moisturize the skin Helps increase the absorption of the essential oil into the skin because the Fractionated Coconut Oil weighs down the molecules, so less escapes into the air and more passes into the blood stream. How to Make Your Own Roll-on Bottle Just follow these simple steps after you've gathered the necessary supplies. Let's roll! Add the essential oil(s) to the empty roll-on bottle. For an adult, typically about 1/2 to 3/4 will be essential oil. Fill the rest with Fractionated Coconut Oil Snap on the roller ball top Screw the lid onto the bottle and add a sticker(s) to the top to help you remember what's in the bottle RECYCLE TIP: After you've used up the oil in the bottle, no need to throw it away! You can re-use it. If it's going to be the same blend, then just remove the top and add the same oils again. If you want to try something new, wash it out first with a little warm water and soap and dry thoroughly. DIY Roll-on Bottle Recipes Try out some of these easy recipes to get started. Add all the essential oils first, then fill the rest of the bottle with Fractionated Coconut Oil. Get Up & Get Going (Energizing Blend) 2 drops Rosemary 2 drops Lemon 2 drops Lime 2 drops Peppermint 2 drops Cinnamon Muscle and Cramp Support (Massage Blend) 3 drops Wintergreen 3 drops Peppermint 2 drops Juniper Berry 2 drops Lemongrass Nighty Night (Sleep Blend) 1 drop Roman Chamomile 2 drops Lemon 3 drops Cedarwood 5 drops Lavender
