Disclaimer: Always ask an aromatherapist or a doctor of your usage of essential oils. You might have underlying conditions that can further complicate your breathing, skin problems, or illness. This article is for informative purposes only. We are not liable for your use of essential oils. Always seek professional help.
People have used essential oils for thousands of years to benefit many aspects of their physical health and mental wellbeing. They are now used in complementary therapies and modern research has proven the health benefits of using essential oils. If aromatherapy and essential oils are something you are interested in trying, it can seem confusing understanding which oils you need and how to use them. This guide gives an overview of everything you need to know to get started with using essential oils.
What are essential oils
Strictly speaking, essential oils are not oils at all; they are complex organic chemical compounds. Essential oils come from the roots, bark, seeds or flowers of trees and plants. There are many methods used to extract the oils, including cold pressing and steam extraction.
How do essential oils work?
Aromatherapy works by the essentials oils entering the body. This can happen in three ways; inhalation, skin absorption, or ingestion. Essential oils are usually inhaled by heating the oils to release vapors. These are then breathed in naturally and evidence shows that they then enter the bloodstream.
The body absorbs oils in various ways. These include direct application, massage, or diluted in water for soaking. Essential oils have a low molecular weight, so they are easily absorbed into the skin.
Essential oils are sometimes used as an ingredient in food or medicines. When they are ingested, they enter the bloodstream. It is important to note that you should never ingest pure essential oils on their own unless advised to do so by a medical practitioner.
How are essential oils used?
When people think of using essential oils, they often think only of massage. However, this is not the only way that you can use essential oils as there are many other ways you can benefit from the properties of the oils.
Baths
Add a few drops of essential oils to an oil or soap solution and add to the bath just before you get in. Alternatively, you can add the oils directly to the bathwater. Don’t put the oils in too soon or they will evaporate before you can benefit from them.
Body massage
Use six drops of your chosen essential oil into 15ml of carrier oil before massaging into the body.
Facial massage
Facial skin is delicate so you need to use less essential oils on the face. Add one drop of essential oil to 5ml of carrier oil and massage into the face, avoiding the eyes.
Fragrancers
Fragrancers use heat to diffuse the essential oils through the air. They are sometimes called oil diffusers. A standard fragrancer involves adding a few drops of oil to some water and heating from below with a small candle or nightlight. However, there are many other forms of oil diffusers that do not involve a naked flame. Some examples are radiator fragrancers, electric diffusers, and light bulb rings.
Footbaths
A foot bath is effective for stress and is an ideal use of essential oils for people who are on their feet all day. It is also a good aromatherapy method for those who are immobile. You should add four drops of essential oils to a foot spa or a large bowl of warm water before soaking your feet for 20 minutes.
Inhalations
If you are suffering from sinusitis, a cold, or nasal congestion, then an essential oil inhalation is beneficial. Add three to five drops of essential oil to a cup or bowl of hot water and inhale.
Localized application
You can use some essential oils to treat insect bites, cuts, grazes, cold sores, athlete’s foot, warts, and verrucae. Try applying neat tea tree oil or lavender oil directly on the affected area using a cotton bud.
Sprays
Using a plant spray bottle, add 8 drops of essential oils for every 300ml of water. Shake the solution vigorously as essential oils do not dissolve in water. You can then use the solution for a room spray.
Water compress
It is possible to use essential oils in a water compress by adding 12 drops to water and soaking gauze in the solution for use on injuries. You can use a water compress on sprains, rashes, sunburn, bruises, inflammation, and skin infection.
Are essential oils pure?
True essential oils are pure. However, you may come across some cheaper versions of essential oils that contain synthetic ingredients. While these still have many of the benefits of true essential oils, buying a pure oil is better.
Are all essential oils safe?
If you suffer from a health condition, it is important to understand that it is not always safe for you to use all essential oils. Similarly, there are some essential oils to avoid using in certain situations. Oils that are not safe for use in specific circumstances will usually display a contraindication warning.
- Alcohol. If you are drinking alcohol, you should avoid using clary sage.
- Breastfeeding. Some studies show that jasmine essential oil inhibits milk production in lactating mothers. Also avoid mint, parsley, and sage.
- Driving and using machinery. Avoid clary sage and vetiver.
- Epilepsy. Those who suffer from epilepsy should not use fennel, rosemary, wormwood, sage, or hyssop.
- High blood pressure. Avoid eucalyptus, cypress, rosemary, ginger, sage, thyme, and rose.
- Low blood pressure. Avoid garlic, lemon, clary sage, ylang-ylang, lemon, lavender, and marjoram.
- Pregnancy. Always tell an aromatherapist you are pregnant. Avoid using cypress, rose, thyme, basil, clary sage, jasmine, cinnamon, marjoram, juniper, myrrh, fennel, peppermint, sage, pennyroyal, and rosemary.
What is a Carrier Oil?
When reading instructions for creating blends or diluting essential oils, it will often tell you to use a specific amount of a carrier oil. A carrier oil is something that you use to dilute the essential oils that have no aromatherapy benefits of their own. They are usually unscented or have only a mild aroma and are simply used to create a larger quantity of oil for massages. Using only essential oils is too scented and is also expensive. Oils used as carriers are usually those obtained by cold pressing. Some of the best carrier oils include coconut oil, olive oil, grape seed oil, jojoba oil, and rose hip oil. Some people also use unscented body lotion or aloe vera gels. These are carriers and not carrier oils.
Choosing essential oils
For aromatherapy novices, it is difficult to know which essential oils you should buy. Each oil has a unique aroma and is used for specific purposes. Which ones you choose depends on whether you are buying them for your own use or whether you will use them on other people.
If you are buying them for personal use, you need to think about how you will use them and for what purpose. On the other hand, if you are buying them for using on other people, you might need a more diverse collection of essential oils to use for different purposes. The following are some of the most common essential oils.
Bergamot Essential Oil
The bergamot tree is native to Europe and Southeast Asia. The oil is extracted from the leaves using the cold pressing method. It has a spicy citrus aroma and is often used in cosmetics and perfumes. The benefits of using this essential oil for aromatherapy are:
- Antiseptic
- Aids respiratory problems
- Energizing and stimulating
- Reduces tension and stress
- Improves skin problems
Cedarwood Essential Oil
This oil comes from a tree that is native to North America. However, its history comes from a different continent as it was used in ancient Egypt for mummification, as an insect repellent, and in cosmetics. Research has shown that cedarwood oil is beneficial to skin and is often used to treat eczema. Other uses include:
- Antispasmodic
- Soothing and calming
- Antifungal
- Antiseptic
- Improving focus
- Diuretic
Chamomile Essential Oil
There is evidence that chamomile essential oil was originally used for digestive problems in the 1st century. Around the world, chamomile essential oil has been used for calming and in cosmetic products. There are two different types of chamomile; Roman chamomile and German chamomile. However, there is no difference in the beneficial properties of the two types and both are a very gentle oil that is even suitable for use on children. Its benefits include:
- Reducing stress and anxiety
- Improving sleep patterns
- Calming
- Relieves teething pain
- Anti-inflammatory
Eucalyptus Essential Oil
Scientists knew that the eucalyptus tree had many beneficial properties, so they distilled the oils from the tree in the 18th century to reduce the symptoms of colds. They then found that eucalyptus essential had many other benefits. These include:
- • Insect repellent
- • Relieving muscular pains
- • Air purification
- • Antibacterial
- • Improving concentration
- • Decongestant
Frankincense Essential Oil
People have used frankincense for over 5,000 years. Throughout history, this oil has been used for a variety of medicinal purposes, from alleviating the symptoms of cold to reducing hemorrhoids. The oil is extracted from the bark Commiphora and Boswellia trees. You can use this oil for the following purposes:
- • Helping asthma
- • Calming anxiety
- • Aiding digestive disorders
- • Boosting immunity
- • Relieving stress
- • Reducing pain and inflammation
Grapefruit Essential Oil
Grapefruit essential oil comes from the glands within the peel and it is extracted through cold pressing. It has a zingy and refreshing smell that makes it perfect for room sprays and cleaning products as well as for use in aromatherapy. Some of the benefits are:
- • Stimulating digestion
- • Invigorating and energizing
- • Reviving the mind
- • Improving the mood
- • Reducing congestion
Jasmine Essential Oil
Jasmine oil comes from the jasmine flower and it has been widely used in Asia for thousands of years. The benefits of this oil include:
- • Reducing stress
- • Increasing libido
- • Reducing anxiety and depression
- • Improving sleep patterns
Lavender Essential Oil
Lavender is one of the most popular essential oils. Throughout history, this oil has been used for cleansing, embalming, cosmetics, healing, and as an antiseptic. Some of the benefits of this essential oil include:
- • Antifungal
- • Antibacterial
- • Calming
- • Improves mood
- • Reduces anxiety and depression
- • Relieves headaches
- • Improves sleep
- • Reduces menstrual cramps
Lemon Verbena Essential Oil
Originally, the lemon verbena tree grew in South America. However, it spread to North America and was introduced to Europe in the 17th century. The oil is extracted from the plant using steam distillation. The pure version of this oil is rare, and retailers often sell lemongrass oil or lemon balm oil as alternatives. The benefits of using this essential oil include:
- Boosting immunity
- Improving moods
- Reducing depression and anxiety
- Alleviating respiratory problems
- Invigorating
Orange Essential Oil
Like grapefruit oil, the oil from oranges is extracted from the peel using cold pressing. It is one of the most widely used oils as it is used as a food flavoring, for room fresheners, and in cosmetic and beauty products. As an aromatherapy oil, it is beneficial in the following ways:
- Anti-inflammatory
- Antiseptic
- Settling digestive problems
- Energizing and invigorating
- Improving moods
- Aphrodisiac
Patchouli Essential Oil
Patchouli oil comes from a Southeast Asian herb that grows at high altitude. This oil is better as it ages as it loses its pungent smell which is replaced by a sweeter aroma. This is a great essential oil for:
- Meditation
- Stress relief
- Alleviating tension
- Skin care
- Focus and concentration
Rosemary Essential Oil
Rosemary is often used to flavor food, but the oil that is extracted from this herb has many health benefits. It is used for medicinal herbal care and studies have shown its properties benefit the liver, brain, and heart. In aromatherapy, you can use rosemary essential oil for the following:
- Indigestion and digestive complaints
- Detoxification
- Increasing focus
- Promoting calm
- Revitalizing
Tea Tree Essential Oil
This is extracted from the leaves of the tea tree and is used in everything from cleaning products to cosmetics. It is also one of the most widely used essential oils in aromatherapy as it has so many health benefits. Some of these include:
• Reduces urinary tract infection symptoms
- Antiseptic
- Anti-inflammatory
- Antifungal
- Treating acne and other skin problems
Ylang-Ylang Essential Oil
Although this oil has been used throughout history, it is only in the 20th-century that people have realized the medicinal properties of ylang-ylang oil. This oil comes from the flowers of the ylang-ylang tree, which grows in Madagascar, Philippines, and other parts of East Asia. The benefits of using this oil are:
- Reduces insomnia
- Calms fast heart rates
- Calming
- Reduces anxiety
- Good for high blood pressure
Blending and diluting essential oils
In most cases, you should dilute essential oils before use for skin application or in a diffuser. To do this, you will mix the essential oils with a carrier oil. How much you need of each depends on how you will use the oils.
Benefits of essential oils
An essential oil is not always used alone as sometimes there are benefits from blending two or more essential oils. For example, if you are giving a massage to someone who is suffering from several different health problems, combining essential oils can have a positive effect on the different issues.
Which oils you combine will depend on the specific needs of the person receiving the massage. Similarly, you can combine several oils in a diffuser to reap the various benefits of the oils you use.
Aiding Sleep
Insomnia is a common problem and a lack of sleep can severely impact how you function during the day. Aromatherapy is proven to help people who have trouble getting a good night’s sleep. Some of the best essential oils for aiding sleep are lavender, ylang-ylang, patchouli, chamomile, and frankincense.
Relieving Stress and Anxiety
In theory, any aroma you find pleasant will help to relax and calm you. However, there are some essential oils that are known to work especially well for reducing stress and anxiety. These include frankincense, lavender, bergamot, orange, chamomile, ylang-ylang, and lemon.
Mental Boost
If you want to increase your focus by giving yourself a mental boost, the essential oils you should use are rosemary, grapefruit, or juniper. Try combining two of these oils to create a wonderful aroma while also rebooting your mind.
Increasing Energy Levels
Sometimes you feel weary and need an energy boost. It is possible to increase your energy levels using essential oils. Some of the best essential oils for increasing energy are grapefruit oil, orange oil, lemon verbena, rosemary, eucalyptus, and jasmine.
Problems with essential oils
Skin Problem and Inflammation
While many people use essential oils to improve their mental wellbeing, the most common physical ailments aided by aromatherapy are inflammation and skin problems.
Essential oils with antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, and soothing qualities are ideal. Some examples include tea tree oil, eucalyptus oil, chamomile oil, and lavender oil. Combining these essential oils can treat skin rashes, skin inflammation, muscle pain, sunburn, and blemishes.
Disclaimer: Always ask an aromatherapist or a doctor of your usage of essential oils. You might have underlying conditions that can further complicate your breathing, skin problems, or illness. This article is for informative purposes only. We are not liable for your use of essential oils. Always seek professional help.
