"Ok, just tell me the basics," You might be saying to yourself. "Tell me what I need to know about essential oils in one post."
This is your post. If you want to know more, there is more, but this is the birds-eye-view:
Essential oils are natural plant extracts used for health and nutrition. So why all the fuss?
Some people have funny ideas about them, but Christians recognize that they are gifts from God to be used with moderation and prudence, like any other created good.
Don't essential oils belong to the New Age movement?
In the beginning God made plants for food and oil 'to strengthen man and put a gleam upon his face' (Psalm 104).
Man has always relied on these herbs in order to maintain a healthy body. Oil – both fatty oils (olive, coconut, flaxseed, etc.) and aromatic oils (frankincense, myrrh, cedarwood, etc.) - have been used for healing since ancient times.
Honor the physician for his usefulness, for the Most High made him; and the art of healing is of the Lord. And the compounder of unguents will make the mixture.
[Sirach 38:1, 2, 5]
Are there confused ideas circulating about the nature of essential oils? Yes; but orthodox Christians clearly differentiate between the nature of God, humans, and plants. For example, here is a major distinction: essential oils are not divine essences, but we do encounter God in them insofar as he designed them for our bodily well-being and they reveal his handiwork. Glory to God!
Why should I use oils?
Oils help support a healthy body in many ways. Oils have been used for thousand years for medicine, beauty, embalming, and emotional health. Preserving and rediscovering these natural remedies is the ongoing work of doctors and research scientists today.
God hath permitted the production of oil for the mitigation of men's pains... Ointment is to be employed as a medicine and help in order to bring up strength when enfeebled, and against sinus congestion, colds, fatigue and depression, as the comic poet says:
The nostrils are anointed; it being
[Clement of Alexandria, c.200 A.D.]
Is sickness evil?
Disease, suffering, and death are things we inherit from Adam and the sins of the entire human race. To pinpoint fault is impossible, but the good news is Christ came to set us free from sin and death; he came to forgive us, heal us, and restore us to life!
"So they went out and preached that men should repent. And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many that were sick and healed them." [Mark 6:13]
Jesus Christ has come to heal the whole man, soul and body; He is the physician the sick have need of. His love for the sick has not ceased through the centuries to draw the very special attention of Christians toward all those who suffer in body and soul. It is the source of tireless efforts to comfort them.
Are health and abundance valuable?
Health and abundance keep the soul free and unimpeded, and capable of making good use of what is at hand. “For,” says the apostle [Paul; 1 Cor. 7:32, 35], “I want you to be free from anxieties...to promote good order and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord.” [Clement of Alexandria]
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Health and abundance keep the soul free and unimpeded, and capable of making good use of what is at hand. “For,” says the apostle [Paul; 1 Cor. 7:32, 35], “I want you to be free from anxieties...to promote good order and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord.” [Clement of Alexandria]
If this post has been helpful, thank you for sharing it with others using the share buttons below! We also invite you to LIKE "A Christian's Guide to Essential Oils" on Facebook and follow us there.
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