Benefits of Essential Oils
Essential oil is natural oil typically obtained by distillation and having the characteristic scent of the plant or other source from which it is extracted. Essential oil has also been used for thousands of years for beauty purposes, as well as for their spiritually and emotionally inspiring properties. The purest essential oils are far more powerful than the botanicals from which they were extracted. Any time you hold a bottle of powerful essential oils, you are holding nature’s pure essence.
Different essential oils have lots of different benefits to our health. Here is a list of most commonly used single and blend essential oils and their benefits.
Some Most Common Used Singles
Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) has a fresh, sweet, floral, herbaceous aroma that is soothing and refreshing. Because it is the most versatile of all essential oils, no home should be without it. It is great for winding down before bedtime, yet has balancing properties that make it just as beneficial for boosting stamina and energy. Lavender is highly regarded for skin and beauty. The French scientist René Gattefossé was the first to discover these properties when he severely burned his hands in a laboratory explosion.
Lemongrass (Cymbopogon flexuosus) has a light, fresh, citrus aroma with earthy undertones. Refreshing, rejuvenating, stimulating, and balancing, it inspires and improves mental clarity. Lemongrass is also known to help support the circulatory system. It has a score of 17,765 on the antioxidant ORAC scale. Research was published in the Phytotherapy Research Journal regarding the powerful properties of topically applied lemongrass.
Lime essential oil has an invigorating and stimulating effect and is believed to be native of eastern Malaysia. The pleasant citrus aroma of lime may help mental clarity and encourage creativity. Today, lime is best known throughout the world as a way to help support a healthy immune system. When taken internally, lime may provide antioxidant support and aid in weight management. When applied to the skin, lime oil may also support healthy skin.
Peppermint (Mentha piperita) has a strong, clean, fresh, minty aroma and is one of the oldest and most highly regarded herbs. Jean Valnet, M.D., studied peppermint’s effect on the liver and respiratory systems. Other scientists have also researched peppermint’s role in improving taste and smell when inhaled. Dr. William N. Dember of the University of Cincinnati studied peppermint’s ability to improve concentration and mental activity. Alan Hirsch, M.D., studied peppermint’s ability to directly affect the brain’s satiety center, which triggers a sensation of fullness after meals.
Eucalyptus radiata is cooling, refreshing, and energising. Lighter in smell than Eucalyptus globulus, it has many of the same supportive properties. Because it is relatively gentle and non-irritating, it is the preferred choice for children. This variety is one of the most versatile of the eucalyptus oils and is suitable for topical use, diffusing, and even direct inhalation.
How to use essential oils:
Essential oils can be typically used Aromatically by direct Inhalation or diffusing and topically by Massage.
The aromatic application is the most well-known and used. Most of us understand that essential oils smell good and can be used as deodorizer or to freshen up the home.
Here’s how to use essential oils with aromatic applications:
Direct Inhalation: Directly inhaling the oil can be done by holding the bottle of essential oil a few inches from the nose and breathing in the aroma, or by adding a drop the hands and cupping them over the mouth and nose. It is important to note that constantly opening and closing your bottle does exposure it to air and increase the oxidation rate, so diffusing is not only better for your bottle of oil, but you would likely use less throughout the day too
Diffusing: A good diffuser should use cool or room temperature air or ultrasonic vibrations to diffuse the oil into the air, which help the oil molecules remain air-bound for several more hours and do not affect the structure of the oil through heat, which can diminish the quality of the oil.
