Your Important Information To Important Oils

Dried chamomile and lavender flowers and essential oils.

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Essential oils are currently experiencing a renaissance in the world of holistic health and wellbeing – with fans touting their all-round benefits / effectiveness in treating stress and anxiety to nausea and pain.

If you are considering trying them out for yourself, it is important to first learn how to find the right essential oil and use it safely.

Here, two aromatherapy experts explain everything there is to know about essential oils and how to use them safely:

First things first, what is an essential oil?

“Essential oils are basically plant extracts. They are made by steaming or pressing different parts of a plant (flowers, bark, leaves, or fruit) to trap the compounds that produce fragrances,” says John Hopkins Medicine.

Why should you use essential oils?

Essential oils have many benefits, notes Dr. Yufang Lin, Cleveland Clinic’s integrative medicine specialist, in an article on essential oils. “The problem is how people use them,” she adds.

“Research shows that essential oils have antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and antispasmodic properties,” said Amy Galper, founder of the New York Institute of Aromatherapy and co-author of The Ultimate Guide to Aromatherapy. Some studies also suggest that they can help improve memory, mood, and sleep. In addition, essential oils can help relieve symptoms of anxiety, depression, and insomnia.

It is important to note, however, that despite some promising results, scientific data on the clinical effectiveness of essential oils is still relatively limited.

Each essential oil has its own unique healing profile, so the first step should be to educate yourself about the individual oils you’re interested in, says New York-based aromatherapist Andrea Scalisi.

How to Choose the Right Essential Oil?

The most important thing when buying essential oils are the words “pure” and “organic,” says Scalisi. It is important to use pure, organic essential oils as they contain the healing properties that you have come to expect. Poor quality oils can do more harm than good, notes the aromatherapist.

“Some labels use the word ‘natural’ which is just a marketing term that says absolutely nothing about the quality of the oil,” says Scalisi. The word “fragrance” is another warning sign as it usually means the oil is synthetic and should be used as a perfume, “adds Scalisi.

Galper recommends choosing only Ecocert or USDA certified organic essential oils. “Also make sure that the label clearly states the botanical name of the plant, where the plant was grown (i.e. France, South Africa etc), how the oil was obtained (it should always be done by steam distillation – or cold for citrus peel pressed) and from which part of the plant the oil was obtained (roots, leaves, flowers, etc.), ”she suggests.

Also, pay attention to the price tag. “Essential oils can have very different prices. For example, rose, jasmine, sandalwood, and frankincense oils are quite expensive because they are more difficult to distill. “Says Galper.

That being said, you should also do a little immersion into the brand that sells the essential oils, suggests Galper.

Essential Oils 101: Do’s and Don’ts

• Breathe it in. “The best and safest way to use essential oils is to smell them,” says Galper. So, if you are a beginner, try the inhalation method by using an essential oil infused candle, frankincense, or essential oil spray. Or, “You can carry an essential oil bottle with you and sniff it regularly throughout the day,” suggests Galper. You can also put a few drops of oil on a cotton ball and store in a small glass. “Open it and sniff whenever you need to clear your thoughts or relax,” says the wellness expert.
• Do not apply it directly to your skin. “Always mix it up in something like a carrier oil, liquid soap, or an unscented lotion or cream,” says Galper. A single drop of essential oil in a ten-cent amount of carrier oil (like jojoba, avocado, or coconut oil) is a good rule of thumb, Scalisi notes. Also, check the product label for warnings and directions, as some oils can be irritating to the skin, especially when exposed to sunlight, she adds.
• Use your intuition when choosing an oil. “Just ask your body what it needs and pay attention to which fragrances you are attracted to. Flowers support heart healing, citrus oils energize and woody oils have a grounding and calming effect, ”says Scalisi.
• Store the essential oils in a cool, dark place. Also, make a note of when you bought them. “When essential oils go bad, they lose their therapeutic benefits and can irritate your skin,” says Scalisi. “You can often tell by the fact that the aroma changes. But if you’re not sure, throw away anything that’s over a year old, ”she suggests.
• Always use less than you think. “I would recommend 8 to 12 drops of an essential oil per ounce of anything you mix it with,” says Galper.
• Do not leave the diffuser on 24/7. If you are using a diffuser, make sure you are diffusing in a well-ventilated space and that the device is on a timer. Ideally 10 minutes on and about 30 minutes off, says Galper. “Never leave a diffuser running 24/7,” she advises.
• Try hydrolates. If you’re looking to add an expensive oil like rose or frankincense to your collection, Scalisi recommends trying a hydrosol. Hydrosol is the water that is left over from flowers or plants after steam distillation or hydrodistillation. It is less concentrated but still has the therapeutic properties of the plant and is much cheaper.

The Best Essential Oils For Beginners:

If you’re just starting to build your essential oils collection, check out these versatile aromatherapist-approved oils:

• Lavender oil: Lavender (Lavendula angustifolia) has more uses than perhaps any other essential oil, Scalisi says. “It contains skin healing properties and offers pain relief. So it’s great for minor scratches, burns, and bruises,” she says. In addition, its calming effects make it a perfect bedtime oil for misting.
• Peppermint oil: Peppermint (Mentha x piperita) is very refreshing and detoxifying. “Add a single drop to a foot bath to relieve pain and stimulate blood circulation. While taking a deep breath straight from the bottle is great for relieving nausea, ”says Scalisi.
• Tea tree oil: Tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) has powerful antimicrobial and antibacterial properties, making it perfect to spread during the cold season, says Scalisi. Adding two drops to a bowl of hot water also makes a wonderful steam treatment for a sore throat, she notes.