Make Your Own Flavored Water

3:03 PM Posted by jo

It is getting warmer outside so it is important to stay well hydrated. I like to add essential oils to my drinking water for some extra healing effects. It adds a nice aroma and taste. Essential oils have high antioxidant value, may detoxify the body, and most oils are anti-fungal, anti-viral, and anti-bacterial. Many oils are also energizing and uplifting. So, really, I can't go wrong by adding a couple of drops to my bottle of water. Essential oils are extremely potent, for example, it takes about 3000 lemons to produce one kilo of essential oils. A couple of drops is plenty for my bottle.

I found this cool glass bottle at Starbucks a while back. It is mostly made of recycled glass, and it has a silicone cover.

You have to be absolutely sure that the company you buy from are selling essentials oils that meet AFNOR standards, and that they sell therapeutic grade essential oils before your ingest any oils. Far too many companies cut their oils with harmful ingredients. I refer to Young Living Oils in this post, and their website have instructions on how to ingest their oils.

There are a few things to consider before you decide to add essential oils to your water:

Only use therapeutic grade essential oils that meet the AFNOR standards, are Generally Regarded As Safe (GRAS), or certified as Food Additives (FA) by FDA. Young Living will tell you if their oil is safe to use as a supplement.

Essential oils should always be diluted in rice milk, honey, or in at least 4 ounces of water.

No more than 2-3 drops should be ingested at one time (during a 4-8 hour period).

Essential oils should not be given as dietary supplement to children under the age of 6.

I alternate between lemon, orange, grapefruit, tangerine and peppermint:

Lemon, (Citrus limon)

has a purifying, uplifting and revitalizing aroma. It clears the mind and sharpens the senses. It is a very pleasant and soothing oil. The main constituent is limonene, which has been studied for it's anti-cancer effects.

Lemon is a powerful antibacterial and it has been proven to kill Diphteria bacilli at a 0.2 solution. According to Jean Valnet, MD, the vaporized aroma of lemon can kill meningococcus bacteria in 15 minutes, typhoid bacilli in one hour, Staphylococcus aureus in two hours, and Pneumococcues bacteria within three hours.

In his book, The Practice of Aromatherapy: A Classic Compendium of Plant Medicines and Their Healing Properties, Valnet wrote that lemon is a tonic for supporting the nervous and sympathetic nervous system. Lemon also counteracts the acidity and makes the stomach more alkaline. I like to add lemon oil to warm water first thing in the morning. It also stimulates the action of the white blood corpuscles. It also has a tonic effect on the circulatory system. Historically lemon has been used in skin care due to its astringent effect. Lemon has an approximate ORAC of 6,619

Orange (Citrus sinensis)
is my favorite oil to add to drinking water and I really enjoy the fresh orange flavor. It is high in d-limonene (85-90%) and therefore a powerful antioxidant. Orange has an uplifting, rich, fruity, and at the same time a very calming aroma. It is a happy aroma. Orange aids in maintaining normal cellular regeneration. Orange has been used to settle the digestive system. It is known as a cholagogue and hepatic, and as such it may be used to improve the flow of bile and improve the metabolism of fats. It is considered to be one of the best all-round oils for the digestive system. Orange has an approximate ORAC of 18,898.

Grapefruit (Citris paradisi)
is uplifting and positive. It is a very energizing and reviving scent. This is another oil rich in the powerful antioxidant d-limonene. Grapefruit has diuretic and detoxifying properties and has historically been used to treat cellulite. It has unique fat- dissolving characteristics just like many cold-pressed citrus oils. It also has anti-depressant properties. Grapefruit may also have a cleansing effect on the kidneys, the lymphatic system, and the vascular system.

Peppermint (Mentha piperita)

has a strong, sharp, minty and refreshing aroma. The aroma is very potent and concentrated, so I dip a toothpick in the peppermint bottle first and then swirl it around in the water. The antispasmodic properties of peppermint has been confirmed in clinical trials. Peppermint is one of the most effective oils of the digestive system. The German Commission E Monographs recommend peppermint oil for obstructions of the bile ducts, gall bladder inflammations and severe liver damage.

Jean Valnet MD studied peppermint's supportive effect on the liver and respiratory systems. Peppermint has an approximate ORAC of 373,455 (TE/L).

Tangerine (Citrus reticulata)

has sweet, tangy aroma that is very similar to orange. It is very calming and may help with occasional irritability. Tangerine is also high in the powerful antioxidant d-limonene. It has a tonic effect on the digestive system, and it may be used for calming the intestines. Therapeutically, tangerine has similar properties to mandarin and orange.

As mentioned, make sure the oils you use are of high quality before you ingest them, I recommend to use Young Living Essential Oils.

Before you leave:

I recommend that you always perform a skin patch test when you try a new oil on the skin.

Check out my safety page to make sure you are aware of any contrindications before you use essential oils. Some oils are not suitable when suffering from certain conditions. Also, Read this Before You Start Using Essential oils. Some oils should not be applied prior to sun exposure so make sure you check this list before spending time in the sun.

Not sure how to apply the oils? Visit these pages to learn how to apply the oils:

If you're new to essential oils you might want to check out my Getting Started Guide.

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Johanna is an aromatherapist and she is passionate about educating people about health, essential oils, real food, natural remedies, and nutrition so they make healthier choices in their lives.
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