Essential oils

Essential oils are compounds extracted from plants. The oils capture the plant's scent and flavor, or “essence.” Unique aromatic compounds give each essential oil its characteristic essence.

You can use them to relieve pain and cramping, improve respiratory health, and heal skin conditions. They also relieve congestion, promote healthy sleep patterns, and boost your mood.

how to use essential oils

the doe's and dont's

DO Try It if You’re Anxious

Simple smells such as lavender, chamomile, and rosewater may help keep you calm. You can breathe in or rub diluted versions of these oils on your skin. Scientists think they work by sending chemical messages to parts of the brain that affect mood and emotion. Although these scents alone won’t take all your stress away, the aroma may help you relax.

DON’T Just Rub Them Anywhere

Oils that are fine on your arms and legs may not be safe to put inside your mouth, nose, eyes, or private parts. Lemongrass, peppermint, and cinnamon bark are some examples.

DO Check the Quality

Look for a trusted producer that makes pure oils without anything added. You’re more likely to have an allergic reaction to oils that have other ingredients. Not all extras are bad. Some added vegetable oil may be normal for certain more expensive essential oils.

DON’T Put Edible Oils On Your Skin

Cumin oil, which is safe to use in your food, can cause blisters if you put it on your skin. Citrus oils that are safe in your food may be bad for your skin, especially if you go out into the sun. And the opposite is true, too. Eucalyptus or sage oil may soothe you if you rub it on your skin or breathe it in. But swallowing them could can cause a serious complication, like a seizure

DO Toss Out Older Oils

In general, don’t keep them more than 3 years. Older oils are more likely to be spoiled because of exposure to oxygen. They may not work as well and could irritate your skin or cause an allergic reaction. If you see a big change in the way an oil looks, feels, or smells, you should throw it out, because it has probably spoiled.

DON’T Use On Damaged Skin

Injured or inflamed skin will absorb more oil and may cause unwanted skin reactions. Undiluted oils, which you shouldn’t use at all, can be downright dangerous on damaged skin.

DO Stop Use if Your Skin Reacts

Your skin might love essential oils. But if it doesn’t -- and you notice a rash, little bumps, boils, or just itchy skin -- take a break. More of the same oil can make it worse. Whether you mixed it yourself or it’s an ingredient in a ready-made cream, oil, or aromatherapy product, gently wash it off with water

Essential oils helps to improve our health

Essential oils smell great, reduce stress, treat fungal infections, and help you sleep. They are concentrated extractions from plants

Health Benefits

Essential oils hold a prominent place in traditional and folk medicine around the world. But modern medicine supports many of the ancient claims made about them, including:

Stress Reduction

Many essential oils are used in aromatherapy to manage stress and anxiety. For example, scientists found that orange oil had an anxiety-reducing effect on male volunteers who inhaled 2.5, 5, or 10 drops. More research is needed, but initial results were promising.

Fungal Infections

Early tea tree oil studies have had promising results regarding antimicrobial qualities long touted in traditional medicine. The oil has been used for athlete’s foot, oral thrush, and fungal infections like candida. Again more research is needed.

Sleep Aid

Lavender oil’s relaxing fragrance is thought to improve sleep quality. Scientists tested this claim on older adults living with dementia. They found that sprinkling the essential oil on towels around their pillows significantly increased their sleep time, helping them slumber longer in the mornings.

Disease Prevent

Many essential oils have antioxidant properties. Antioxidants help prevent damage to cells caused by free radicals. This damage can lead to serious diseases such as cancer. Researchers are interested in how adding essential oils to food can increase our consumption of antioxidants and prolong shelf life.

Although essential oils comes from nature and have been used for centuaries they are not with out risk

Essential oils should be kept away from children and pets, whose bodies often can’t tolerate the same dosages as an adult. In addition, anyone who is pregnant should consult a doctor before using essential oils.

A few of the documented side effects of essential oils include:

Skin Rashes

Many widely used essential oils, like orange, must be well diluted to avoid side effects. Undiluted essential oils are very potent, and direct skin contact with certain oils can cause inflammation and a bad rash needing medical intervention.

Digestive Health

Care must be taken to avoid accidentally ingesting essential oils. For instance, ingesting even a relatively small amount of tea tree oil can cause serious side effects, including loss of muscle control and even coma.

Hormone Imbalance

Lavender oil applied directly to the skin might affect the endocrine system. In one case, prepubescent boys using it developed gynecomastia, a swelling of breast tissue. The condition went away after the essential oil was discontinued.

Amounts and Dosage

Recommended dosages for essential oils vary greatly depending on the plant being used. It’s important to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations. If making your own oil, you should thoroughly research safe dosages for your specific variety.