Yes essential oils are very useful and work better for me than over-the-counter medications. My wife has become somewhat of an expert by collecting and reading reference books that give recipes and uses for single essential oils and also combining them for synergies that relieve hundreds of human ailments. We do not have a garden so we do not produce them ourselves. We buy essential oils in bulk online. By bulk I mean 1 ounce vials. These oils are very potent and effective so you must be careful because they can burn you externally or internally depending on your sensitivity. For example, oregano oil is amazing at combatting gum infections and I can rub a drop on my gums if necessary at full strength. However, if my wife tried this it would physically burn her and create redness and swelling. So for her the application would be to put two drops in a glass of water and swish the water around in her mouth. Make sure you study and test before applying or ingesting any essential oils. There is a big range of concentrations and not all essential oils are manufactured for internal consumption so you must check the details before you buy. Some essential oils can be very expensive depending on what you need but if you look at the budget of what you spend per year on over-the-counter medications, I think you will find that it is well worth the cost. I no longer take anything manufactured by pharmaceutical companies. Knock on wood, I am in good health and was never big on taking pills.