16
May
Essential oils are the essence of the plant. These essences are hidden in the plans’ roots, seeds, bark or flowers. They give the plant its scent and protect it from dangerous environmental conditions. Some of them even assist in the process of pollination. The essence is extracted from the plant with distillation with steam or water, or by cold pressing, and combined with a carrier oil.
This way, you can have the power of essential oils in the comfort of your home and use them as an alternative form of medicine to improve your health. Essential oils can interact with your body in a couple of ways, through absorption and inhaling. Different health issues require a different methods of application.
Essential oils are a great alternative to aid medical conditions and health issues.
This essential oil comes from the Cananga tree, from its star-shaped flowers. This tropical plant grows in countries near the Indian ocean, such as India, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines and some parts of Australia. It has a fruity, rich and flowery scent, and it’s used to make various essential oils. Ylang ylang is always extracted by distillation and can have different scent intensities. Perfume manufacturers use ylang ylang as a scent or a side note in their perfumes, and it can also be used in lotions, soaps or colognes.
This oil can have a few purposes and ways of usage. If you have skin issues, always dilute 1-2 drops of essential oil for every teaspoon of any carrier oil. Jojoba or coconut oil is probably the best skin option. Never put pure ylang-ylang on your skin because it can harm it if it’s very concentrated. Put 1-2 drops in your face cream if you use moisturisers to hydrate your skin. Using ylang ylang essential oil will do miracles for your skin.
2-3 drops in coconut oil will be very beneficial in your hair-care routine, and the same amount will work for aromatherapy. Apply the drops on your clothes, a burner or an essential oil diffuser, and it will help you relax after a long day. Ylang ylang essential oil offers a lot of health benefits.
Lavandula angustifolia, commonly known as lavender oil, derives from the popular lavender flower. The plan’s native areas are the Arabian Peninsula, Russia and the Mediterranean, but nowadays, it is growing worldwide. The flowers are steamed in a distillation process, the steam is captured, and the oil gets separated from the water. Lavender oils are very concentrated, and 2-3 drops will be sufficient when you’re using them.
If you’re applying it on your skin, you need to dilute it first in a carrier oil or a lotion. Rub it on your skin as you do with moisturisers or lotions once or twice a day. You can massage it on your scalp or mix it with shampoo or conditioner. Putting the oil in a diffuser beside your bed is the best option for relieving stress and having a good night’s sleep. Some people even use essential oil to fight the flu. As each essential oil has its health benefits, so does lavender oil.
Teat tree essential oil comes from the leaves of the Melaleuca alternifolia plant, that’s native to the Queensland and New South Wales regions of Australia. Aboriginal people have been using its healing properties for many centuries. They crushed the leaves to get the oil out and inhaled it to help them with colds and coughs. One of the most important compounds of tea tree is the terpinen-4-ol which has germ-fighting properties. It’s one of the most affordable essential oils and safe if used properly.
This oil can be used as a hand sanitiser when combined with a cleanser. It boosts its properties and kills germs and bacteria like E Coli, S. pneumonia and H. influenza. It can also be used as an insect repellent, especially effective with ants and mosquitoes. Because it has antibacterial effects, it’s used as a natural deodorant that eliminates odour. You can use it as an antiseptic for minor wounds and cuts. It helps the wounds heal faster and reduce inflammation.
Tea tree essential oil is excellent for fighting acne because it kills the bacteria that cause them. It can get rid of those pesky nail infections on its own. You can use it as a chemical-free mouthwash to get rid of bad breath and tooth decay or soothe the skin during allergy season. Besides having healing properties, you can use tea tree essential oil as a natural cleaner or reduce mould growth on fruits and vegetables.
Eucalyptus oil is obtained from the leaves of eucalyptus trees with steam distillation. This tree was native to Australia but is now grown worldwide. People used it first in 1788 to relieve cough and cold symptoms. Since then, it’s been used to silence coughs by applying to the chest and throat, getting rid of the mucus and expelling it. It can disinfect wounds because it fights inflammation. It can reduce symptoms of asthma and sinusitis and impact blood sugar control.
Besides mint, eucalyptus essential oil can help you with bad breath by killing the germs that cause it. It eases joint pain and arthritis-related inflammations. One study proved that people that had surgery and inhaled eucalyptus essential oil felt less pain. Plus, it can keep some dangerous bugs and rodents away.
This is a completely natural oil that comes from the peel of fresh lemons. Cold pressing and steam extraction are the most common extraction methods. You can diffuse it in the air to inhale it or apply the oil to your skin. It may minimise symptoms of depression and anxiety because of its calming properties. Doctors recommend it for pregnant women in their time of morning sickness and vomiting as it kills harmful bacteria and acts as a natural analgesic.
Lemon essential oil is good as a home remedy for a sore throat because of the vitamin C and the antioxidants it contains. It can improve your concentration and help in the skin-care routine. The antimicrobial properties promote wound healing and help with treating some fungi infections.
Essential oils can be powerful, so be careful how you use them. Use a diffuser if you have one, and when you rub them on your skin or ingest them, pay attention to the dosage. If it’s not done correctly, it may cause nausea and skin irritation.
