Do Essential Oils Work?
Essential oils are highly concentrated plant extracts from flowers, leaves and stems of plants. Essential oils have a wide variety of medicinal and therapeutic properties and can help achieve various health and beauty goals. Aromatherapy and topical use are the most popular uses of essential oils for skin enhancement, treating congestion, promoting relaxation, and more.
What are essential oils?
Essential oils are aromatic compounds obtained from plants by distillation or cold pressing. The oil contains the unique “essence” and the characteristic aroma of the plant.
Some consider essential oils to be effective herbal medicines with immense and limitless benefits. In contrast, others simply enjoy the pleasant, relaxing properties that essential oils bring into a home through diffusion and other uses.
Common essential oils and their uses
Lavender oil is great for reducing stress and promoting relaxation. You can also spray it on your pillow or add it to your bathroom to help you fall asleep faster.
Tea tree oil is widely used for its antiseptic properties. You can also use it as an acne treatment. Apply directly to the pimple with a cotton swab to reduce the appearance of blemishes and promote healing.
Eucalyptus oil is widely used for topical pain relief as well as for decongestion. If you are struggling with a cold or allergies, mist a small amount of eucalyptus oil in a diffuser to relieve a nasal congestion.
Peppermint oil is also widely used to prevent and treat colds and flu because it is a natural anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial oil. You can also add some peppermint oil to your temples, always diluted in a carrier oil, to energize your temples, promote memory and, for example, stay awake while studying.
Often used to promote smooth skin, bergamot oil can be added to a carrier oil and applied directly to your face for this purpose.
How To Use Essential Oils For Aromatherapy
The most common way to use essential oils is to put them in an essential oil diffuser for aromatherapy.
Essential oil diffusers spray essential oils into the air as a breathable mist and are available in different designs. We recommend an ultrasonic aromatherapy diffuser to get the most out of your essential oils.
Follow the instructions for use for your diffuser. In general, you operate your diffuser by filling the tank with water and adding up to 20 drops of essential oil to the water before turning on your diffuser.
How to use essential oils topically
Another popular way to use essential oils is to apply them topically and let them soak into the skin.
You can apply essential oils to most parts of the body, except for sensitive areas. Some of the best places to apply essential oils are on your wrists, toes, neck, and behind your ears.
Whenever you want to apply essential oils to your skin, it is important to use a carrier oil. A carrier oil is a neutral, vegetable oil that contains your essential oils. Common carrier oils are coconut oil, avocado oil, vegetable oil, sunflower oil, almond oil, and jojoba oil.
Diluting essential oils in a carrier oil is critical as it makes a skin reaction less likely and essential oils can work better. Essential oils themselves tend to evaporate before your body has time to absorb the molecules in the oil. A carrier oil slows down the evaporation process.
When diluting essential oils, aim for a ratio of about 15 drops of essential oil per ounce of carrier oil. You store your essential oil and carrier oil blend in a rollerball bottle.
How to use essential oils in the bathroom
Adding essential oils directly to your bath water is a great way to incorporate essential oils into your self-care routine to relax, unwind, and get ready for bed.
Another way to use essential oils in the bathroom is to buy bath products that contain essential oils. We recommend tea tree oil shampoo, lavender Epsom salt or a shower steamer with essential oils.
Other uses of essential oils
Add a few drops of your favorite essential oils or essential oil blend to wool washing balls. Laundry balls replace dryer sheets and are better for the planet, less expensive, and will make your clothes smell like what you want them to be.
Essential oils are an easy way to make your own cleaning products and sprays. To make a sanitizing surface spray, mix 1 cup of water, ½ cup of white vinegar, ½ tablespoon of baking soda, and at least 5 drops of an essential oil of your choice. Store your DIY cleaning products and air sprays in a glass bottle set. Use with reusable cloths for waste-free cleaning.
Make your own fluffy, whipped body butter by combining 1 cup of cocoa butter with ¼ cup of coconut oil and 20 drops of your favorite essential oil or mixture. Melt the butter and oil in a double boiler or bowl and, after melting, allow to harden in the freezer for about 15 minutes. Remove the mixture from the freezer and beat with a hand mixer for about 5 minutes. Store in a glass jar.
How Do I Use Essential Oils Safely?
Essential oils are perfectly safe to use, but there are guidelines that you should follow. Remember that everyone reacts differently to a particular vegetable oil, and you should consult your doctor before using any new health or beauty product.
Start with a drop
Essential oils are incredibly powerful and you should always use less than you think you need when you start experimenting with them. A drop or two is often more than enough for most purposes.
Dilute
While some essential oils are labeled for direct application to the skin, it is always a good idea to play it safe and dilute essential oils before applying them to the skin. We recommend carrier oil for this.
If you’ve applied an essential oil to your skin and experience skin irritation or any other reaction, apply vegetable oil to the affected area to help alleviate the effects.
Read the label carefully
Follow the manufacturer’s directions on the label of your essential oil. Some essential oils are safe for direct topical application while others can be irritating.
Where not to apply oils
Never apply oils to eyes, ears, nose, or other sensitive areas.
Who shouldn’t use oils
Many essential oils are not safe for children under the age of 5. So, be extremely careful when deciding which oils to use around children.
Pregnant or breastfeeding women should not consume or give off essential oils in the air without medical approval.
Never apply essential oils directly to pets, as the oils can severely irritate the animals’ skin and cause injury. Some essential oils that are safe for humans are toxic to pets, so you must consult a veterinarian before distributing oil in a household with pets.
What to Buy to Use Essential Oils
Vitruvi Ceramic ultrasonic diffuser for essential oils
This is a high quality porcelain essential oil diffuser with a matte ceramic finish that looks elegant and uses ultrasonic technology to diffuse essential oils without heat. It has a very slim design, a long runtime and an automatic shutdown.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Lagunamoon Essential Oils Set of 6
This option is a great starter kit with the six most popular essential oils. It comes with essential oils made from lemongrass, peppermint, orange, lavender, eucalyptus, and tea tree. Use with a diffuser or apply topically with a carrier oil.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Liantral essential oil storage shelf
Keep your essential oils neat and tidy in this aesthetically pleasing wooden bottle organizer. It looks great on a side table or shelf next to a diffuser.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Evelyn Waugh writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
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