Essential oils are extracted from therapeutic plants, which are exceptionally strong, resilient, adaptive, protective, and rejuvenating.
Where plants are harvested, when they are harvested and the
methods used to harvest play a pivotal role in their chemical constituents and
will greatly affect the quality of your experience and consistency of your
results.
Using essential oils allows us to rediscover the ancient
wellness practices, cultural rituals, and cuisine of many powerful and prolific
ancient cultures across the globe. It literally takes a ton of plant material
to make essential oils, many companies may add various additives, synthetics, and chemicals during their distillation process to either speed the process or
stretch the oil. This is why it is important to be mindful of where you
purchase your oils
Which essential oils have medicinal properties?
Here are some common essential oils and their benefits:
Lavender oil
Lavender is the preferred go-to oil by many consumers. It’s
gentle and has a lot of benefits. You can use it in a variety of ways.
Try adding it to a bath or diffuser as aromatherapy, adding
to water to make a room spray or body spritzer, or combining with a base oil to
make body oil.
Lavender can help
with stress, pain and sleep. Before the discovery of
antiseptics, lavender was also used as a cleaning agent in hospitals.
Tea tree oil
Most people use tea tree oil as an antiseptic or
anti-fungal. You can also use it to help with:
- Acne- Take
a cotton swab and dip it into tea tree essential oil. Then, apply it
directly on the acne — this is one exception where you don’t have to
dilute it.
- Athlete’s
foot and ring worms. Dilute it with a carrier oil (a base or
vegetable oil like coconut or jojoba oil that helps dilute essential oils)
and put the blend on the affected skin.
Peppermint oil
Peppermint oil is known to:
- anti-inflammatory
and anti-fungal.
- Ease
headaches.
- Fight
fatigue.
- Lift
mood.
- Reduce
gut spasms.
- Support
digestion.
- Support
memory.
When using the oil topically, make sure you dilute it. Do
not use peppermint oil around pets.
Eucalyptus oil
Eucalyptus is a great essential oil to have on hand during
cold season. It soothes a stuffed-up nose by opening your nasal passages so you
can breathe easier. (Peppermint oil can also help with this.)
It can also relieve pain and fight against herpes
simplex virus due to its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties.
Take precautions when using eucalyptus oil, making sure to
dilute it before applying topically. It should not be ingested and can have
dangerous side effects on children and pets.
Lemon oil
Extracted from the peel of lemons, lemon oil can be diffused
into the air or applied topically to your skin with a carrier oil.
Lemon oil is known to:
- Reduce
anxiety and depression.
- Reduce
pain.
- Ease
nausea.
- Kill
bacteria.
Lemongrass oil
Lemongrass oil has a strong citrus scent and is known to
help relieve stress , anxiety and depression.
Its antibacterial properties make it a good natural remedy
to heal wounds and kill bacteria. It has been shown to prevent the growth of
fungus found in athlete’s foot, ringworm and jock itch.
Be sure to use a carrier oil before applying to your skin.
Orange oil
Orange oil is made from the rinds of the citrus fruit. It
can be diffused into the air, topically on the skin (with a carrier oil) or
even used as a natural cleaner in your home.
Orange oil is known to:
- Kill
bacteria.
- Reduce
anxiety.
- Reduce
pain.
Orange oil has the potential to make your skin more
sensitive to sunlight, so be careful about using it on your skin and then going
outside.
Rosemary oil
You’ve probably reached for rosemary to add flavour to some
of your recipes. But using rosemary oil also has some additional benefits like
improving brain function, promoting hair growth, reducing pain and stress,
lifting your mood and reducing joint inflammation.
Rosemary oil is safe to use in aromatherapy and topically on
the skin with a carrier oil. If you’re pregnant or have epilepsy or high blood
pressure, it’s advised to avoid using rosemary oil.
Bergamot oil
What is bergamot? If you’re a fan of Earl Grey tea, then you
have had bergamot. The oil, which has a fruity and floral aroma, can be
diffused or applied topically with a carrier oil (but it can make your skin
sensitive to the sun).
Bergamot oil is known to:
- Reduce
anxiety.
- Lift
mood.
- Lower
blood pressure.
Cedarwood oil
Cedarwood oil, which has antioxidant and antibacterial
properties, is a popular ingredient in insect repellent, shampoo and deodorant
with its woodsy scent. But you can also use cedarwood oil to help
with sleep and anxiety.
You can use cedarwood oil as aromatherapy, as well as a
topical treatment mixed with a carrier oil.
How to use essential oils
Because essential oils are so strong being mindful about why
and how you’re using them. Only small amounts — typically just a few
drops — are used.
It’s also a good idea not to use them routinely, as your
body can get used to them, lowering their effectiveness.
Diffuse them
You can diffuse essential oils, which is a type of
aromatherapy.
It’s a great way to change your mood quickly. As you breathe
in, the oil’s aroma immediately stimulates your central nervous system,
triggering an emotional response, It can reduce anxiety and stress response
quickly.
Mix essential oils and water in an essential oil diffuser
and turn on the magic. A diffuser is a device that disperses tiny oil particles
around the room so you can breathe them in. Follow your diffuser’s directions
for the right oil-to-water ratio.
There are several other aromatherapy methods. Whichever
method you choose, avoid direct contact with the essential oil and dilute it
first. Other aromatherapy methods include:
- The
old-fashioned way. Take deep breaths of the aroma after opening
the bottle.
- Dry
evaporation. Put a few drops of essential oil on a cotton ball
and smell the aroma as it disperses.
- Steam
inhalation. Put a few drops of essential oil in a bowl of hot
water. Put your head over the bowl, a towel over your head and breathe in
the steam.