​

10 MOST POPULAR AND WIDELY USED ESSENTIAL OILS

The power of essential oils and the benefits of aromatherapy have garnered a lot of attention from naturopaths and skeptics alike over the past decade or so, and that interest has prompted numerous studies to be done on which oils have the most beneficial properties and for what conditions do certain oils seem to have the most desired effect.

Following is a list of the ten most used essential oils and of what conditions these special oils have healing properties against.

Bear in mind, however, that this list is a compilation of merely a few of the essential oils that are available, and that there are many, many more plants whose oils are beneficial to your health and wellness.

•  LAVENDER:
• The scientific name for this pretty purple plant is Lavandula, and it grows easily in most parts of the world. It is used generously in the perfume industry because of its pleasant fragrance, but its therapeutic properties are that of calming, destressing, relieving anxiety, and combatting insomnia.
•  CLARY SAGE:
• Also known as Salvia Sclarea, the oil from this flower is reputed to have analgesic properties, specifically in terms of female pain such as menstrual cramps or labor pains.
•  PEPPERMINT:
• Although the oil from the plant Mentha x Piperita can be somewhat caustic in its super concentrated form, this oil will work wonders as an anti-emetic when saturated into cotton ball that then can be inhaled. A few drops of this oil in a hot bath will also soothe sore muscles. Peppermint is also a powerful insect repellant, and if lined around kitchen surfaces will create a boundary over which no ant dares cross.
•  TEA TREE:
• The oil from the plant Melaleuca Alternifolia is renowned for its antiseptic properties as it has been found to effective as an antifungal, antiviral, and antimicrobial agent. It can also be added to any shampoo to relieve dry scalp and dandruff.
•  ROSEMARY:
• Not only is the plant Rosmarinus Officinalis wonderfully versatile in culinary applications, but it also yields an essential oil that is fantastic for dry, itchy scalp and dandruff, but also has been used effectively as a bronchodilator and an expectorant for congested lungs.
• LEMONGRASS:
• Like Rosemary, the plant Cymbopogon Citratus also has many uses in the culinary arts; however, its essential oil is highly effective as a sanitary agent and can be used as an antiseptic. It also is a powerful insect repellant.
•  LEMON:
• The oil from the fruit Citrus x Lemon is generally considered to be “uplifting” in that it has rejuvenating, energy inducing, and immune supporting properties. It is also highly effective as a non-toxic alternative in household cleansers.
•  ROSE:
• While obviously famed for its aesthetic beauty, the plant Rosa Damascena is considered by many to be the “Queen of Essential Oils” and is widely used for its anxiolytic, rejuvenating, stress relieving and even pain relief properties. The essential oil derived from roses also has been proven as an effective anti-inflammatory agent and can be helpful for joint pain and other arthritic conditions.
•  YLANG YLANG:
• The plant Cananga Odorata primarily grows in Asian countries and is popular as an aphrodisiac and for its uplifting and anti-depressant properties.
•  ROMAN CHAMOMILE:
• We’ve all heard that drinking chamomile tea in the evening can help alleviate insomnia and restlessness, and the oil from the plant Chamamelum Nobile can be utilized for its sedative properties, as well it has been found to be enormously effective in alleviating PMS symptoms and other discomforts associated with menstruation. Chamomile, in any of its forms is incredibly soothing and calming.

​

Aromatherapy For Better Sleep

Are you tossing and turning at night? Do you have a hard time relaxing and calming yourself when it’s time for bed? If so, aromatherapy maybe the answer.

Aromatherapy is the practice of using certain fragrances and oils that have been reputed to have some type of therapeutic effect or medicinal properties, and it has been used as both a primary treatment and a secondary auxiliary therapy.

One of the benefits of aromatherapy that has been extensively studied is the effectiveness of this type of therapy in terms of improving the quality and duration of one’s sleep, particularly in patients who suffer from hyper-anxiety disorders or insomnia.

It has been widely concluded, even by those who are skeptical of these types of alternative treatments, that regardless of whether or not aromatherapy proves effective, it certainly does no harm or has the potential for any ill effects at all.

Consider the following facts concerning aromatherapy and sleep:

A 2015 study in Turkey that involved using lavender essential oil via inhalation method on 60 ICU patients (the study was prompted because the patients in the ICU were having really terrible sleep issues, and the researchers wanted to try whatever they could to alleviate the insomnia for these patients and ICU patients everywhere).

The clinical finding (based on the patient’s responses to two separate standardized tests that determine sleep quality) that the 2% lavender essential oil solution delivered via inhalation absolutely had a positive, measurable, and marked effect on these patient’s ability to rest adequately, and furthermore, many of these patients were experiencing simultaneous cardiac issues which the anxiolytic effect of the lavender oil seemed to depreciate as well. By relieving some of the anxiety and stress from which these patients were suffering, the lavender oil improved their ability to rest and their conditions in general.

Although aromatherapy would not be recommended as the primary treatment for severe, chronic, medical sleep disorders, it most certainly should be considered as an adjunct or auxiliary treatment, and if no serious sleep disorder exists, then aromatherapy likely will be adequate in terms of alleviating mild cases of stress induced insomnia.

There are a variety of ways via which the oil can be delivered, and all are reputed to have similar results in terms of efficacy. Some of the ways through which the oil can be delivered to you overnight are: 

• Soaking a cotton ball and placing next to bed
• Placing 10 – 15 drops of oil in hot Epsom or sea salt water in a bowl by the bed
• Spraying an essential oil diluted solution on linens, pillows and blankets
• Electronic (and other forms of) diffusers

The Best Calming Oils

The preferred oils that are typically used for the purposes of improving the quality of one’s sleep are (and incidentally, although not surprisingly, all of these oils have a naturally pleasant fragrance and are readily available through health food stores everywhere and through a wide variety of online stores):

• Lavender
• Valerian
• Clary Sage
• Sweet Marjoram
• Roman Chamomile
• Bergamot
• Ylang Ylang
• Sandalwood

The overall general consensus among health practitioners in both the disciplines of standard western medicine and homeopathic / naturopathic alike is that there does appear to be validated data concerning the effectiveness and benefits of aromatherapy on certain conditions. Primarily those conditions which are closely related to stress such as cardiovascular disease and insomnia.

Either way, there does not appear to be any evidence that there are any contraindications or harm to using aromatherapy and so at the very least, you get a nice pleasant scent, and the chances of employing aromatherapy in the hopes that it will improve your sleep is most likely to pay off and be worth the effort.

How To Use Essential Oils: A Guide For Beginners

Essential oils are therapeutic grade oils extracted from various botanicals, like plants. Essential oils have been used for therapeutic reasons for thousands of years. They offer many benefits, each dependent on the plant they are derived from.

So, you’ve heard about the many great benefits that essential oils could have for you; congratulations, you’re well on your way to a better you. Now, you just need to figure out the best application process for you.

This varies based on the type of oil, what it’s being used to treat, and the tools you have available to you. In this article, we’ll walk you through the many different essential oil applications to help you figure out how to use your essential oils to get the most out of them.

Aromatically
Essential oils can be “absorbed into the bloodstream when inhaled,” which is done through the blood vessels located in the lungs. A diffuser is a good option for aromatically absorbing essential oils. You can diffuse any of your essential oils and receive their many benefits like reduced stress, improved mood, better focus, and much more. You can also place some drops

Ingestion
Ingestion is another good option for absorbing your essential oils, however, you must be sure to do your research first. Certain essential oils, like oregano and clove, shouldn’t be taken orally like this for more than a week and should be diluted before ingestion, but oils like lemon and peppermint are fine to be taken as one to three drops in water.

Homemade Items
It’s becoming fairly trendy to make your own items containing essential oils to reap their benefits in your own way. For example, you could make candles or bar soap containing a combination of essential oils and other good things and reap the benefits when you use the soap, absorbing the oils in your skin, or burn the candle and inhale. You could also make shampoos, toothpastes, household cleaners, body butters, bug spray, lip balm, and more.

Topically
Essential oils can be absorbed through the skin and enter the bloodstream for you to reap their many healing benefits. You can either rub the essential oils yourself on the affected area or, if you’d prefer, there are many lotions, body washes, and shampoos made with essential oils in them that you could use as well.

You could also put essential oils in your bath by dropping them on a sponge and placing the sponge in the bath water with you. Be sure to only use the essential oils as indicated by the bottle, as over using could become a problem.

Almost all essential oils must be diluted with a carrier oil, such as Jojoba, avocado, almond or walnut before applying them to the skin.

If you’re applying essential oils topically, you should test first, by applying a small amount of the diluted oil on your wrist to test for any adverse reaction. This is especially important for those with highly sensitive skin.

Benefits of Essential Oils
Essential oils have a world of various benefits they can offer their users. For instance, lavender oil can help to relax you, peppermint oil can help you focus, and rosemary oil can help to minimize hair loss.

There are a wide variety of essential oils that offer several healing benefits each. Each essential oil is different, however, and has unique properties; many have specific ways they need to be applied or taken and certain limitations. You need to do your research before consuming the essential oils.

Essential oils can offer many healing benefits that can improve the health and appearance of your skin and hair, your digestion, treat your pain, help with inflammation, and even reduce the frequency and intensity of your headaches.

There are many ways from which you can choose to apply or take your essential oils. As we’ve shown, this choice depends on the type of essential oil your using and the benefit you’re hoping to receive from it.

What are Essential Oils?

Essential oils seem to be everywhere these days.  But what exactly is an essential oil? It’s important to know the difference between an essential oil and other types of plant extracts so that you get the best benefits.

All plants have oils inside of them.  These oils play a role in the life cycle of the plant from attracting pollinating insects to defending the plant from predators, microbes to securing its place in the environment.

Essential oils are highly concentrated oils extracted from plants.  In order to create this highly concentrated version, a process called distillation is used. All parts of a plant from roots to flowers can contain the oils.  Distillation uses steam to extract the oils and separate them into a more highly concentrated form.

Some essential oils are extracted using mechanical means and are pressed out of the plant.  This is particularly true for essential oils derived from citrus fruits.  In still other cases chemicals are used to extract the oils.

Just as essential oils work to protect and nurture plants, they can be put to use to help people.  They can be used as medicine to relieve pain, reduce stress, help nausea and other digestive problems, and improve our immune systems.

It’s important that you look for true essential oils if you want to use them therapeutically.  Essential oils are all natural and shouldn’t be confused with perfume oils that are synthetically developed in a lab.  Perfume oils don’t have any therapeutic value.

You can purchase essential oils as individual, pure products.  You can also buy them in blends and/or added to carrier oils.   Purchasing them individually gives you the most potent form.  However, buying blended versions can also be beneficial.

A blend will often contain oils that work together in harmony for a specific need.  For example, a headache blend that contains several essential oils known for headache relief.  You can also purchase individual oils and create your own blends.

Oils can be applied directly to the skin in some cases.  Those that are too strong for skin on their own can be mixed with oils such as coconut or grapeseed oils.  Additionally you can diffuse essential oils to use for aromatherapy.

Currently there is no industry standard for certifying the purity of essential oils, so you’ll need to look for oils from reputable companies that guarantee quality.  Look for a 100% pure essential oil that doesn’t contain fillers or added chemicals.

You’ll also find that the price of essential oils can be widely variable.  The higher the quality the higher you can expect the price.  Additionally there are some essential oils from plants that cost more and therefore have a higher price.

Essential oils typically come in glass vials that don’t react with the oils to contaminate them. You’ll also find that they are stored in dark or amber glass which protects them from light.

When you purchase essential oils you should store them at room temperature in their original container.  If you create blends or lotions, make sure you store them in dark glass to preserve them properly.

Aromatherapy – How to Get Started Safely

As you’ve learned about the amazing health benefits of essential oils, you may be ready to get started.  But aromatherapy can seem overwhelming.  Which essential oils do you begin with and what do you need to get started?

Main Benefits of Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy provides a natural way to prevent illness, treat health conditions, and provide natural healing.  Read on to learn some of the main benefits of this natural health practice.

One of the best benefits of aromatherapy is stress relief.  People turn to aromatherapy time and time again in order to feel more relaxed and reduce anxiety.  Oils such as lemon oil, lavender, chamomile, and peppermint can all be used to help destress.

Skin Application

Essential oils can be applied to the skin either directly or added to a carrier oil.  You will be able to inhale some of the aroma as you apply them but you’ll also be able to absorb some through the skin.

Your skin is permeable and oily substances are able to pass through it.  The active chemicals in essential oils will be able to go straight into your skin and enter the bloodstream.  This boosts their healing properties.

There are some areas of the body where essential oils are absorbed faster such as the head, soles of the feet, palms of the hands, and armpits.  These areas have more sweat glands and hair follicles that help absorb oils.

Inhalation

When you inhale the fragrance of essential oils you’re actually inhaling the chemicals in them.   This enters through your nose or mouth and into your respiratory system.  From these soft tissues your bloodstream is able to absorb the chemicals. 

They can also pass through the blood into the brain.  So while aromatherapy may seem like just “smelling something nice” the truth is you are actually delivering natural medicines to your bloodstream and into the rest of your body.

Ingesting Essential Oils

While some people choose to ingest essential oils, this is not a recommended practice especially for someone new to their use.  Some essential oils passing through the digestive system and ingesting essential oils can be toxic to the liver or kidneys.

And moving through the digestive system with exposure to stomach acids actually can change the properties of the essential oils and render them ineffective as well as dangerous.  You can also experience drug interactions.  Always check with a healthcare provider before ingesting essential oils.

Understanding the Healing Properties

Many essential oils have healing properties.  These can be categorized in different ways.  For example, some are antimicrobial.  That means they kill bacteria, viruses, and fungi that can cause disease.  This is true of thyme and myrrh. 

Anti-inflammatory essential oils help to reduce inflammation in the body.  This can come from environmental toxins and disease.  Anti-inflammatory essential oils include rosemary, lemon, and lavender.

Essential oils can also support and protect the respiratory system.  For example, chamomile, eucalyptus, and frankincense are known to protect the lungs.  The digestive system can also be supported by essential oils such as chamomile, cardamom, ginger, and peppermint.

Headaches can be relieved by chamomile, peppermint, rosemary, and lavender essential oils.    And sunburn can also be soothed by chamomile, eucalyptus, and lavender.

Essential oils work with the body to help it naturally heal rather than adding synthetic chemicals that can do more harm than help.  Just as the chemicals in these plants in nature help them to ward of disease and have good health, they can help human bodies do the same.