'Closer to wellness': Some see oils as essential part of well-being and healthy lifestyle

What does Aristotle have to do with sinus infection, mildew, spider bites and fungus?

What do lavender, ginger and frankincense have to do with well-being and health?

They all -- and more -- come into play when discussing the growing popularity of essential oils, whether used in aromatherapy, first aid, cleaning supplies, personal hygiene or as a dietary supplement.

The National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy provides this definition of essential oil, and this is where Aristotle comes in:

"The term 'essential oil' is a contraction of the original 'quintessential oil.' This stems from the Aristotelian idea that matter is composed of four elements, namely, fire, air, earth and water. The fifth element, or quintessence, was then considered to be spirit or life force. Distillation and evaporation were thought to be processes of removing the spirit from the plant ... far from being spirit, essential oils are physical in nature and composed of complex mixtures of chemicals."

Cutline-File Credit:Dana Christisen explains the benefits of essential oils at the Mother Earth Wholistic Fair at VFW Post 3838 in Cape Girardeau on April 11. (Glenn Landberg)

A February 2015 report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates one-third of American adults used "complementary health approaches" in 2012, the most recent year the study covered. The term refers to practices outside conventional Western medicine and includes non-vitamin and nonmineral dietary supplements, acupuncture, hypnosis, yoga and other practices.

Dana Christisen introduces attendees of the Mother Earth Wholistic Fair at VFW Post 3838 in Cape Girardeau to essential oils on April 11. (Glenn Landberg)

Dana Christisen of Perryville, Missouri, has been an advocate of the benefits of essential oils since 2006, when she became involved with Young Living Essential Oils.

"The use of essential oils can be complementary to what your medical professionals are doing for you. The goal is to make you feel better," she says.

Christisen, a self-described "wellness consultant," tells a personal story when asked what piqued her interest in essential oils.

"When I was in my 20s, my father got leukemia, and my father-in-law was battling cancer. That was in 1994. I wanted to find whatever was out there that would help my father. I watched these two men die because the doctors had nothing they could do for them. When I had a baby in 1996, I was determined not to let fear of disease rule my life. I learned a lot about nutrition," she says.

"My goal is for you to never know that feeling. I want everyone to know there is still hope. That's where the oils shine. They bring you closer to wellness than not," says Christisen, who as a "gold-level" member of the Young Living organization, her performance puts her in the top 3 percent of the company, and, she says, "there are close to a million members now."

Applications for the oils range from using lemon oil to deal with pimples; frankincense to minimize visual blemishes or moisturize dry skin; peppermint to support digestion; and cedarwood or lavender for relaxation or calming. Ginger may be effective in dealing with stress, and lavender is believed to take the sting out of burns and bug bites. Tea tree oil may be helpful in treating foot or nail fungus.

"We can use oils to normalize blood sugar levels," Christisen says.

While Young Living is careful to advise that statements of its products' benefits haven't been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration, devotees of essential oils are eager to share their experiences with one another and on social media sites such as Pinterest.

Mendi Black, who has been a member of Young Living for about a year, is a strong advocate of essential oils.

"I see the oils working in my family. We have improved health, reduced stress," she says. "They are our first go-to when we have health issues -- circulatory and digestive issues and dealing with common, everyday problems."

Black has used "lemon oil to help with my digestive system" and says she and her family use the oils "in our daily lives."

She references the Young Living oil blend, Joy, which, she says, "is good for emotional balance and pretty much explains its name."

Many Young Living members reference an oil blend with the unlikely name Thieves, which, Black says, "we love, and our immune system does, too."

Young Living materials say "Thieves ... was inspired by the legend of four 15th century thieves in France who formulated an aromatic blend composed of cloves, rosemary and other botanicals to use while robbing the dead and dying."

Essential oils at the Mother Earth Wholistic Fair on April 11 in Cape Girardeau. (Glenn Landberg)

Natural Health Organic Foods in Cape Girardeau carries essential oils, including the brands Aura Casia and Now Solutions.

"We've been carrying essential oils for nearly the entire 19 years we've been here. There has most definitely been an uptick in their popularity within the last couple of years," says Becky Brown, the store's owner. "People are using aromatherapy products to make their own skin care products and their own cleaning products because of the known antiseptic and antibacterial qualities of essential oils."

Brown sees the essential oils as a logical complement to the store's product offerings -- a full line of natural foods, including local honey and grass-raised beef; USDA certified organic produce; vitamins and herbal supplements; and bulk food items such as grains, cereals, dried fruit, herbs and spices.

While individuals are creating their own cleaning and personal hygiene products, most essential oil brands -- including Young Living, Aura Casia and Now Solutions -- also purvey those products as well as snacks, vitamins, foodstuffs and pet supplies.

Christisen holds regular classes to introduce oils to the curious, and get-togethers for essential oil devotees, called the "Open-And-Sniff Essential Oil Experience."

"We have classes to teach people about the oils and to share experiences. We share our stories, and it offers confirmation that 'what I'm doing is acceptable.' It's a sense of social proof by bringing people together," Christisen says. "There is no agenda; it's run by what people want to talk about and what they want to learn about."