Essential oils have been used for thousands of years to help treat illnesses and ailments, from pain to insomnia.
“While essential oils are not a substitute for necessary prescriptions and visits to the doctor, they are an excellent addition to Western medicine because they are readily available and easy to use and, when diluted and dosed appropriately, have a low risk of side effects,” says the right method Lynn Gershan, MD, a pediatrician and assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Minnesota Medical School who is certified in clinical aromatherapy and medicinal herbalism.
But if you’re looking to incorporate essential oils into your wellness routine, then how do you choose the right ones? Here is everything you need to know to find the best essential oils.
How to Choose High Quality Essential Oils
If you are unfamiliar with essential oils, they are obtained from plants by distillation or mechanical pressing. There is no government agency in the US that certifies essential oils, so quality varies. If you’re looking to use these oils for health purposes, here are tips to help you find a good quality oil:
- Choose bottles that contain 100% pure essential oil. These are different from some aromatherapy oils, which can be diluted with other types of oils, chemicals, and fillers and may only contain a small percentage of essential oils.
- Buy oils in dark glass containers that keep essential oils fresh. Essential oils in plastic containers can dissolve plastic over time, causing it to contaminate.
- Order from a reputable company that has been in business for at least several years and can tell you how it is extracted and where it came from. Gershan says one hospital she works at, M Health Fairview University of Minnesota Masonic Children’s Hospital, uses Plant Extracts International essential oils. Sharon Saulenas, a Registered Nurse and Life Enhancement Guide based in Lynnfield, MA, uses Young Living essential oils.
How do you know if you made a good choice? “If you like the smell and it does what you ask it to do with no side effects,” says Gershan.
Possible uses of essential oils
There are three ways that essential oils can be used for your health:
- inhalation. Put a drop or two of essential oil on a cotton ball and breathe in through your nose.
- Diffuser. Add a few drops of essential oil to this machine, which creates a light vapor that can be absorbed into the body through the airways. Dr. Gershan and her team only use dry or waterless diffusers, as water diffusers can form mold, which can be harmful. Saulenas uses atomizing diffusers.
- Currently. Essential oils are strong and generally need to be diluted with a carrier oil or a vegetable oil with little or no fragrance, such as olive oil, almond oil, jojoba oil, to be safely applied to the skin. and coconut oil.
Related: 10 Essential Oils That Might Actually Help You Get Some Sleep Tonight
Best essential oils
Ready to start? Read on to find the best essential oils for your medicine cabinet.
1. Lavender oil
Perhaps you know the sweet scent of lavender in bath and body products. Studies show the benefits of lavender oil for relaxation, especially with insomnia, as well as its ability to reduce anxiety. To relax, put a few drops of lavender essential oil in a diffuser or put a drop on a cotton ball and inhale. Lavender also has healing properties, says Saulenas. To get rid of a scar, make a mixture of a drop of lavender essential oil to a drop of carrier oil and rub it lightly on the scar several times a day.
2. Eucalyptus oil
Native to Australia, the leaves of the eucalyptus tree are distilled to make eucalyptus oil, which has a strong, woody scent. It’s one of the ingredients in Vicks VapoRub, so it’s probably no surprise that “Eucalyptus is a fantastic essential oil for a cough or nasal congestion,” says Kelsey Reardon, Pediatric Nurse at M Health Fairview University of Minnesota Masonic Children’s Hospital who is also a Board Certified Holistic Nurse. “If you’re an adult, you can put a drop on a cotton ball and inhale as needed.” Eucalyptus oil isn’t safe for younger children, Reardon says.
3. Tea tree oil
With a camphor-like scent, this isn’t the most pleasant smell, but “Tea tree oil from the leaves of the tea tree is my preferred acne essential oil,” says Reardon. “If you buy this essential oil, make sure the bottle contains Melaleuca alternifolia,” she says. “Other variations of tea tree oil may not work as well or may even burn the skin.” A safe topical option for use on acne is a mixture of one drop of Melaleuca alternifolia essential oil with one ml of a non-comedogenic carrier oil. Apply to the pimple with a cotton swab once or twice a day until the pimple is gone. Use only on certain pimples; Don’t apply it all over the face or body part with acne when trying to get rid of acne, she says.
4. Peppermint oil
“Peppermint oil has many uses,” says Saulenas. First, it’s her favorite oil for headache relief. You can put a few drops on a cotton ball and inhale if necessary to relieve the headache. Or, you can make a mixture of a drop of peppermint essential oil and two drops of carrier oil and place a drop on each temple or neck and rub gently until it is absorbed. You can also put a few drops of the peppermint essential oil in a diffuser or place a drop on a cotton ball and inhale. Peppermint oil is also Saulena’s favorite oil for relieving the itchiness of mosquito bites. Use the same carrier oil / essential oil ratio as above to control the itching and reapply if necessary. Saulenas notes that peppermint oil is very strong, so keep it away from your eyes.
Related: Do you have a headache? Skip OTC medications and try these 6 essential oils
5. Ginger oil
“Ginger essential oil has been used in the oncology departments of large US hospitals for several years to relieve nausea associated with chemotherapy,” Saulenas says. You can use it to relieve nausea by placing a few drops in a diffuser or by placing a drop on a cotton ball and inhaling. Saulenas says you should use this with caution if you are taking blood thinners or taking aspirin.
6. Sweet orange oil
Obtained from the fruit and peel of oranges, “this is one of my all-time favorite oils,” says Reardon. “This essential oil helps reduce anxiety and nausea, and can also be used as an appetizer. Most of the kids I work with find this essential oil one of their favorites too, ”she says. Reardon suggests placing two to three drops in a diffuser or placing one drop on a cotton ball and inhaling.
7. Vetiver oil
“Vetiver is known to be psychologically grounding, calming and stabilizing. It helps us cope and is known to aid in recovery from emotional trauma, ”says Saulenas. In one study, Terry Friedman, MD found this oil was even able to treat ADHD symptoms in children, resulting in improvements in behavior and school performance. Saulenas suggests placing one to two drops of essential oil on a cotton ball and inhaling, or placing several drops in a diffuser.
Related: These 10 Essential Oils Might Be the Answer to Anxiety
8. Wintergreen oil
This oil is powerful anti-inflammatory, says Saulenas, so it’s very beneficial in relieving joint and muscle pain. Use a mixing ratio of one drop of wintergreen essential oil to two drops of carrier oil and rub it gently into your skin wherever you are in pain. Saulenas says you should use this with caution if you are taking blood thinners and not use it if you have epilepsy. Gershan says not to use this essential oil on children.
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9. Frankincense oil
Legend has it that gold, frankincense and myrrh were the three gifts given to the baby Jesus more than 2,000 years ago. The earthy smelling incense was considered very valuable and is also good for health. “Frankincense has been used for thousands of years to be therapeutic for many conditions, including inflammation,” says Josh Ax, DNM, CNS, DC, Founder of Ancient Nutrition and DrAxe.com and author of Ancient Remedies. For pain relief, Ax suggests mixing a drop of frankincense essential oil to a drop of carrier oil and rubbing it on the area where you feel uncomfortable.
A bottle of frankincense essential oil with frankincense resin on a wooden table
10. Lemon oil
This lemon peel essential oil has a pungent citrus scent that many people enjoy. It’s considered a mood-enhancing fragrance, and studies have shown that it helps reduce stress. Reardon suggests placing two to three drops in a diffuser or placing one drop on a cotton ball and inhaling.
Safety Precautions When Using Essential Oils
Keep these safety issues in mind when using essential oils:
- While some of these supplements are suitable for children 2 years and older, others are not. Consult a doctor before using these on children, and do not use oils on pets.
- Always make a small test spot on your skin before applying.
- Never apply oils to the eyes, ears, nose or sensitive parts of the body.
- Apply easily. If there is too much fit on the skin, flatten it over a larger area.
- Wash hands after using essential oils.
- Always keep a carrier oil nearby. If you accidentally touch your eye and get oil in it, pour carrier oil into your eye – not water. The sting will wear off within a minute or so.
Finally, because the FDA does not regulate essential oil use, consult a doctor of your choice before using essential oils.
Next up: Do you have any allergies downstairs? Try these essential oils
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- Lynn Gershan, MD, Pediatrician, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Minnesota Medical School, certified in Herbal Medicine
- Sharon Saulenas, Lynnfield, MA-based Registered Nurse and Life Enhancement Guide
- Kelsey Reardon, Pediatric Nurse at M Health Fairview University of Minnesota Masonic Children’s Hospital, Board Certified Holistic Nurse
- Josh Ax, DNM, CNS, DC, founder of Ancient Nutrition and DrAxe.com, author of Ancient Remedies
- BioMed Research International: “An Overview of the Biological Effects of Some Mediterranean Essential Oils on Human Health”
- National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences: “Essential Oils”
- Johns Hopkins: Aromatherapy: Do Essential Oils Really Work?
- Complementary therapies in medicine: “The effect of aromatherapy with lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) on serum melatonin levels”
- The Mental Health Clinician: “Lavender Essential Oil For Anxiety Disorders: Ready For Prime Time?”
- Terry S. Friedmann, MD, ABHM: “Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)”
- Behavioral research in the brain: “Lemon oil vapor has an anti-stress effect by modulating 5-HT and DA activities in mice”
