Essential oils are inspired by Aristotle’s concept of “quintessence”, the fifth element, life force. Distilling a plant down and evaporating away much of its water was thought to be a way of condensing its life force into a small sample of fluid. From the idea we get two terms: the idea of calling a distilled alcohol a “spirit”, and the “essential” part of essential oils.
Of course, today we understand that the process of distillation is nothing magical. In alcohol it means we get more alcohol, and in essential oils it means we get a higher concentration of chemical compounds, which can have many beneficial effects on our bodies and even in our lives if used correctly.
Applying Essential Oils
There are four main ways to apply essential oils depending on the results and on what type of oil it is you’re using. Often these oils will be labelled by what their intended use is, and it’s important to make sure you have the right ones.
Bear in mind that oils come from different parts of the plant, are treated and stored in different ways, and diluted differently depending on their intended use. This means that a food grade cinnamon oil may be radically different from a physiotherapy massage cinnamon oil. They will also come with instructions on how to handle, store, and, where necessary, how to dilute them. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions when available.
Aromatherapy is the Most Widely Known, Popular, and Safe Use of Essential Oils
Aromatherapy is most often used simply because the smells are pleasant. People will use these oils during massages, as air fresheners, in laundry, or in deodorants to make things smell nicer. In fact, most of the all-natural scented products you can buy in stores are probably using essential oils to add some lovely scents. But this isn’t the only purpose for choosing to use aromatherapy.
We all know that harmful compounds can be inhaled and that these affect our bodies. Car exhaust fumes, aerosol fumes, and smoke are a few examples where even if we cannot see them, they enter our bodies and can harm us.
Likewise, we know some medicines can be inhaled, such as laughing gas. In much the same way, there are many essential oils which carry well enough in the air that you can inhale them as a form of therapy. Usually this is done via steam, though massage and oil heating lamps are also very good ways of getting essential oils into the air.
Topical Treatment is Another Safe Use of Essential Oils
Topical treatment involves putting oils only on your skin. Some people do this as a sort of aromatherapy treatment, but please remember it is vitally important to make sure the oil is safe to put on your skin. Almost all the plants used in aromatherapy can be put on your skin, but you need to dilute them in the right amount and the right substance.
For example, some lavender massage oils need to be diluted in almond oil or olive oil, whereas antiseptic tea tree oil needs to be diluted in warm water.
Topical treatments serve a number of purposes. As mentioned, some people use oil massages as a way of indulging in aromatherapy. But some essential oils serve distinct massage purposes of their own, tightening the skin, relieving muscle and joint pains, and helping you burn fat and lose water weight.
And yet, other essential oils are healing for the surface of your skin, helping disinfect your wounds, soothe eczema, or prevent ingrown hairs. Make sure to use the right oil for the right thing here too, as some essential oils can harm damaged skin, whereas others are especially recommended for cuts, burns, and allergies.
Food Grade Essential Oils are the Only Essential Oils You Should Ever Eat
Even essential oils derived from plants we consider to normally be food, such as cinnamon, thyme, or lemon, can be dangerous to eat if they have not been developed from the right part of the plant, processed and stored properly for human consumption. There are very strict regulations about edible medicines for a reason and it is important to follow these regulations.
There are many ways to use food grade essential oils. One of the most important ones doesn’t involve eating them at all, but rather when we need to apply them to our teeth, or ulcers in our mouths. Besides that, we can obviously use them in foods and dilute them in water and smoothies.
Always take the recommended amount, like with any medicine, and dilute them as instructed. And it is best not to heat essential oils. When adding them to food, add them to already prepared food which is warm, but not too hot to eat, so as to not change the chemical balance of the oil.
Treating Your Environment is a Great Way of Staying Healthy
Many of us think of bad smells as just something irritating or unpleasant. But the reason we like some smells and hate others is actually biological. We like smells that are connected to our partners, our families, the outdoors, and good food. And we dislike smells that are signs of stale air, illness, and bacteria. So when your rooms smell bad, don’t just spray an air freshener: address the root cause of the problem.
Many essential oils are antibacterial and balancing, and can be used to freshen up carpets, curtains, and beds. Diluting your mix in a spray bottle full of water and shaking hard to split up the droplets of oil is a great way of misting large areas with an essential oil. This will help dry out dead skin cells and other physical debris, kill excessive dust mites, reduce the number of harmful bacteria around you and, as intended, make the room smell a lot nicer.
Most essential oils can be used around the house, but make sure to check in advance before applying any to wood or fabric. Some essential oils will stain, bleach, or damage fabrics and woods. If there is no information and you are not sure, test a tiny drop of the pure oil somewhere inconspicuous and see if it damages the furniture. If not, you’re good to go!
Two Things to Remember when Choosing Essential Oils: Make Sure the Brand is Trustworthy, and Know What It Will Be Used For
Many do not believe this, but the production of essential oils is actually regulated and standardized, like with any medicine. The International Organization for Standardization has established that for an essential oil to be considered genuine and legitimate, it must be isolated via a long, complex physical process.
The product is slowly distilled in any physical method, and then the oil is split from the remaining water volume. This process cannot be replicated chemically without risking changing the composition of the essential oil, and therefore changing its properties too.
When considering the use of an essential oil, we must bear in mind that different oils serve different purposes. Without getting complicated at all, it is easy to see that a more concentrated essential oil may not be suitable for use on our skin, or one stored a long time may not be fit for consumption.
So always stick to the instructions on the bottle, and choose essential oils based on what you want to use them for. And always remember to choose a reputable brand, so you can feel confident that the oil is correctly labelled and safe.
Essential Oils for Physical Health
Essential oils have long been used to treat a wide range of medical ailments. Sometimes they are used as an official medical treatment, such as tea tree oil being used as an antiseptic. Sometimes they are used as a complementary medication alongside others, such as lavender being used to help relieve migraines.
And sometimes they are used as alternative therapy, such as using argan oil instead of deep heat or deep freeze for sore muscles. Whatever your ailment, these are some of the top essential oils for various health complaints.
Headaches can be treated topically with essential oils lavender and peppermint, either on their own or combined. Just rub into the temples, or around the area where the headache is. Peppermint is particularly good for tension and stress headaches, whereas just inhaling lavender oil can help with a lot of head pain.
A sore throat or a blocked nose are common complaints of people with colds, flus, and allergies. And a lot of your favorite cough relief medications already have an essential oil in them: eucalyptus oil. Skip the middle man and use eucalyptus in steamy water for clearing your nose and throat, or add it to some warm tea and sip for longer lasting itch relief.
If you have a cut or a scrape and you are worried about infection, or if you already have an infection such as sore acne, a swollen hangnail, an infected corn, or an oozing wound, a few drops of tea tree oil is amazing. If using as prevention, avoid drying the skin by mixing it with warm water for a soak. If using as treatment for an infection that’s already established, put a few drops directly on the infection three times a day.
If you have internal pain anywhere which is not muscle tension, mix basil, sage, and rosemary oils and rub deep into the area before applying a warm wet towel, hot water bottle, or having a hot bath.
If your pain is muscular, on the other hand, use arnica oil or hot chili oil mixed with plenty of coconut oil to prevent damage to the surface of the skin and massage it in thoroughly before resting the muscle.
If you have sore skin due to dry skin, eczema, swelling, etc., use a combination of lavender oil and peppermint oil with Epsom salts as a warm soak, and then use a moisturizer made of lavender oil and shea butter immediately afterwards.
Essential Oils for Mental Wellbeing
Mental health issues carry a lot of stigma unnecessarily. The fact of the matter is, we all have our quirks and we can all cave into stress and suffer. It just happens that some quirks and some ways of caving into stress are considered better than others. Which is ridiculous.
In reality, all quirks are harmless personality traits, whether they’re due to mental illness or not. And all stress-related suffering is important and deserves help, whether it meets the criteria for mental illness or not. Seeking help, or treating yourself, due to stress or discomfort is not a bad or shameful thing.
And there are many types of essential oil treatment which can help you manage stress and discomfort, whether you live with it every day as a part of mental illness or whether it is just a temporary problem caused by your situation.
For a low mood, use rose oil. You can apply it to your neck, temples, and hands for a sense of peace and serenity. You can also make a warm bath with a heavy dose of rose oil and peppermint to reinvigorate and elevate your mood. You can also add an essential oil which reminds you of happy times and safety, to create a positive environment.
For anxiety combine chamomile, lavender, and peppermint essential oils and rub into your hands, temples, and the back of your neck. You can also mix them in your bath with some Epsom salts, or use food-grade ones in a mild warm tea to help calm your nerves. If you are using meditation to handle your anxiety, use cloves, orange, and sandalwood for energy and serenity.
For poor sleep, use lavender oil as a part of aromatherapy. Sprinkle some drops on your pillow, put some in a reed diffuser, or even use a lavender oil steam session before bed to help yourself relax. Some people even put a few drops of lavender behind their ears and under their nose to ease the tensions which lead to insomnia.
Essential Oils for Beauty
Essential oils are already used in a wide range of beauty treatments, particularly because they are so effective at fighting the signs of ageing and ill health. Naturally, it is always best to avoid doing things which age us prematurely or harm our health before we start using beauty products.
However, we are all affected by our genetics, time, and general bad luck, and there is no harm in using a little natural beauty remedy made from essential oil during these times.
For acne breakouts, make a special face wash that fights both the infection, and cleanses the pores. Make a sort of sugar scrub with Manuka honey, tea tree oil, and granulated sugar. Rub it gently onto your face and use circular motions. Rinse off. Use daily.
For cellulite, harness the powers of grapefruit. Put a few drops into a tablespoon of virgin coconut oil and massage into the areas twice daily. It will not get rid of it, but it will reduce the appearance of them. If you want to fight stretch marks and skin sag too, add frankincense and myrrh to the mix. Consider using cocoa butter instead of coconut oil for sensitive skin.
To thicken hair, add rosemary oil to your shampoo, or make a shampoo of your own with coconut milk, lavender, rosemary, and some aloe vera gel or rosewater. This should strengthen and thicken your hair. For greasy hair or persistent dandruff end your shower by rinsing your hair in water with a few drops of tea tree oil in it.
For dry hair, an itchy scalp, or dry, ashy skin, put a teaspoon of rosewood oil, two drops of sandalwood and three of lavender into almond oil, cocoa butter, or shea butter. Massage the mixture to warm it before applying to your hair and allowing to soak in for 20-60 minutes before rinsing. Use two tablespoons of the mixture and comb through the hair for a stay-in conditioner for textured hair.
For age spots, sun spots, and dark circles, use frankincense essential oil directly on the blemishes every morning and night to slowly fade them. But always watch any marks on your skin in case they seem abnormal. If they grow, talk to your doctor.
To soften dry, cracked skin on your feet or hands, mix lavender oil into pure virgin coconut oil and massage deeply into your skin every night. Use food grade lavender oil in coconut oil to make a healthy lip balm too!
Surprising Uses of Essential Oils
And I’m not talking about putting it on our personal possessions as aromatherapy, or using it for our pets or children. I’m talking about seriously weird things that essential oils are amazing for around the house. All this forms the basis of a lot of natural home cleaning products, and once you know how to make your own, you may never go back to conventional household poisons and detergents.
To keep rodents and spiders at bay make use of their natural aversion to peppermint. Use peppermint essential oil in a spray bottle and spray any areas where rodents or spiders get into the house, as well as around door frames and skirting boards. You can even use reed diffusers in key locations to keep your home pest free!
To stop cats and dogs from chewing things, nothing beats tea tree oil. Other than the occasional weird dog that loves it, the vast majority of dogs and cats hate the taste and will not chew or even scratch or be near something that has been sprayed with tea tree.
To deter ants, slugs, and cockroaches, use cinnamon essential oil. This oil upsets their pheromones and can even burn them, so they will avoid it. If you are really worried about them, you can add powdered cinnamon to the oil too, to add some boost.
To clean crusty burn marks from pans, stoves, and ovens use a combination of boiling water and lemon oil. You can either mix them directly, or apply the lemon first, let it soak, then use the scalding water to rinse. Sometimes two treatments are needed, but after this, the crust lifts off.
When it comes to carpets and upholstery that you cannot take the covers off and throw in the laundry, sometimes it can feel like a nightmare trying to clean them. But rather than turn to artificial solutions, try mixing baking soda and your own essential oil blend, for a natural carpet freshening powder. Just shake it into your carpet and onto your furniture, use a brush to rub it firmly in, leave it an hour, then vacuum it back out.
All in all, there are many amazing ways of using essential oils for health, beauty, and your home. What is your favorite way of using essential oils?
