We’ve all heard the buzz about essential oils. There seem to be varying opinions on the benefits of these wonderful products, but the fact is that essential oils have been proven to have beneficial uses for overall health and wellness. If you’ve ever considered adding essential oils to your health regimen, you’re in luck.
This guide will tell you everything you need to know about how to get started with essential oils.
What exactly are essential oils?
Essential oils are extracted from a number of plants, including peppermint, lavender and many more. The “essence” is the smell and taste of the plant that is captured, hence the name “essential oils”. Essential oils have been extracted and used for thousands of years, with some sources even suggesting that essential oils were used by the ancient Egyptians.
How do I use them?
Detailing the thousands of uses of essential oils would take an entire article in itself, so for the purposes of this article we will discuss the basic uses of these oils. Essential oils can be used for many purposes, including cleaning, disinfecting, odor control, aromatherapy and more. Essential oils, when used in aromatherapy, actually have a profound effect on your limbic system.
For those of you who don’t know, the limbic system plays a key role in emotions and the creation and storage of memories. Have you ever experienced a scent that brought back specific memories? That’s your limbic system in action. Do certain scents make you happy, sad or otherwise emotional in some way? Limbic system again.
Incorporating essential oils into your health regimen can help improve your regular health routine and preserve your hair, skin, and even your hair mind healthy.
Peppermint essential oil
One of the most used essential oils is peppermint essential oil. This powerful oil has a revitalizing aroma that opens the airways and improves alertness. If you’ve ever ingested a large dose of peppermint scent, you probably know exactly what we’re talking about.
Peppermint also has a cooling effect on hot summer days. Add a few drops to a cool bath and you will come out feeling cool and refreshed. As soon as the air hits your skin, the peppermint oil gives your skin a wonderful cooling feeling.
Peppermint is also said to help improve digestion, although essential oils are not intended for ingestion. For this you need peppermint leaves or another variety.
Lavender essential oil
Lavender oil comes from the wonderfully vibrant purple flowers of the lavender plant. You’ve probably encountered imitations in the form of air fresheners, laundry detergents and more, but nothing compares to the real thing.
Lavender essential oil has an incredibly pleasant scent and is said to help with anxiety and stress by providing a calming aroma. Using lavender oil in an oil burner after a long day can help relieve stress and put you in a more serene state of mind.
Mental health is often forgotten in our health regiments, so it is crucial that we have included lavender oil in our discussion. Mental health can have a huge impact on your physical health and overall well-being, so why not take small steps to reduce stress and anxiety? Aromatherapy with lavender oil can help you with this.
Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil is used in many commercial shampoos, conditioners and soaps. This powerful oil has a unique scent and powerful compounds that can help relieve dry scalp and dandruff. You can also use tea tree oil to treat fungal infections as it has antifungal and antiseptic properties.
Tea tree oil is native to Australia and is extracted from the Melaleuca alternifolia tree. Its many uses have been discovered all over the world, and this is one oil you won’t want to leave out of your collection.
So why should I use these oils?
We’ve listed just a few essential oils to get you started. Let’s discuss it now Why using essential oils is crucial for a well-rounded health regimen. First and foremost, essential oils are natural compounds that come from nature. There are no synthetic ingredients, dyes or preservatives; only oils from plants.
It can be incredibly difficult to navigate the thousands of health and beauty products that contain all those harmful chemicals we mentioned above. These can be dangerous for our body. Some of the harmful ingredients in shampoo and conditioners that can cause hair loss!
Using essential oils exposes your body and mind to the soothing effect of nature’s already effective remedies. Why use harmful products with harmful ingredients when you can use what the earth has already provided?
Are they expensive?
The brand of essential oils you purchase will be the biggest factor in determining cost, as will the presence of one certified organic sticker. Organic oils normally cost more than their non-organic counterparts, but are often of a higher standard of quality. Organic or non-organic, the ingredient must be the same: essential oil of (insert the name of the plant here). Check the ingredients of your bottle to ensure that no additives, preservatives, or otherwise harmful ingredients have been added to the oil.
Conclusion
Essential oils are the naturally occurring compounds found in plants. They are used in a variety of health and beauty applications because of their simplicity and effectiveness. Whether you’re de-stressing after a long day, tidying the house, treating acne, or simply replacing ingredients in your shampoos and soaps, essential oils have endless uses that can make your daily health regimen all the more natural and effective.