Essential Oils
Today we are going to talk about the amazing benefits of Essential Oils!
WHAT ARE ESSENTIAL OILS?
Essential oils (EO) are known as volatile oils, meaning the oil of the plant from which they were extracted. In other words, an oil is essential because it contains the “essence of” the plant’s fragrance. Essential Oils are insoluble in water, but often have an odor and are used in perfumery and food flavouring. These oils are prepared through distillation or extracting the different parts of the plant: including the flowers, bark, leaves, roots, resin, and peels. Essential oils are used in aromatherapy, household cleaning products, personal beauty care and medicinal treatments. For ex. antioxidants, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory.
HOW DO I CHOOSE ESSENTIAL OILS?
The essential oil you choose will depend on the purpose–do you want your mood elevated or do you need to treat a burn, or bug bite, or just to clean your home, or laundry? A good place to start is by doing some research, or by reading a book on aromatherapy, or consulting an experienced aromatherapist; paying close attention to cautions and application methods.
HOW DO I USE ESSENTIAL OILS?
Essential oils can be used by applying to the skin, inhaling, or ingesting. There are many different methods of application. The application method you choose will depend on the essential oil you choose and what is your desired effect. Essential oils can be applied topically to the skin through baths or if using for wound care. They can be inhaled through a diffuser with water or by heat., or by placing several drops on a cotton pad or in a bowl of steaming water and inhaling. I have used Eucalyptus essential oil in a bowl with boiling water, covered my head with a towel and inhaled deeply. Trust me, my stuffy nose was cleared up immediately. I could feel the coolness all the way down to my stomach. Of course you have to close your eyes or they will burn.
Before applying essential oils to the skin it should be diluted in a carrier oil such as coconut oil, olive oil, sweet almond oil, jojoba oil, or avocado oil. Three drops of essential oil should be added to 1 teaspoon of carrier oil making a 3% solution that may be applied topically. If you are using essential oils for massage, then a 1% solution is adequate. meaning 1 droop of essential oil to 1 teaspoon of carrier oil. There are many many ways we can use essential oils effectively in our daily lives.
The Benefits Of Essential Oils
Anise essential oil— Properties: Has traditionally been used as an anti-epileptic, anti-hysteric, anti-rheumatic, antiseptic, anti-spasmodic, decongestant, digestive, expectorant, insecticide, sedative, and stimulant.
Health Benefits: It has been commonly used to treat rheumatism and arthritis, protect against sepsis, relax spasms, act as a purgative, aids in flatulence, warms the body, clears congestion, and ease breathing.
Bergamot essential oil –It is considered a deodorant, antibiotic, antiseptic, anti-spasmodic, sedative, analgesic, antidepressant, disinfectant, and digestive in nature.
Health benefits: It removes body odor, relieves spasms, suppresses pain, improves mood and fights depression. Bergamot heals cuts and scars, and promotes digestion.
Camphor essential oil—is used for coughs, colds, arthritis, eczema and other skin rashes. Health benefits: It cures spasms, protects wounds from infections, eliminates congestion, desensitizes and acts as local anesthetic, calms nervousness, cures neuralgic pain, soothes inflammation, fights infections, and kills insects.