Many people wonder how to use essential oils. Should they be used directly on the skin when it comes to skin care or should they be mixed in creams or lotions?
Essential oils are highly concentrated versions of natural oils in given plants. They are extracted through the distillation process with the help of water or steam.
Different parts of the plant-leaves, roots, stems or flowers are used in this process, extracted through distillation; the essential components of a given plant reflect its unique fragrance and their healing properties are retained in the oils that are extracted.
The extracted oil is then used in a number of instances from medicinal to the fragrance and beauty industries.
Essential Oils Guide
A great essential oils guide lets you know which oils can be used for a particular purpose, and which ones should be avoided. It also lets you know when to use certain oils and their proper application. There are numerous essential oils out there, with each serving its’ own purpose. Sometimes, the oils may be blended together to obtain maximum benefits for a specific use.
Considering the process used to extract the oils, essential oils are pretty powerful and beneficial when applied the way they should be. It is not a matter of grabbing a given oil and using a cotton ball to dab it on your skin then calling it a day. This is because when used wrong, essential oils can be detrimental to the cause of healing. It is advisable never to apply essential oil directly onto skin as this can cause irritations. As for ingesting the oils, most professionals strongly advice against this unless specifically advised by an expert or doctor.
It is crucial to dilute essential oils before use. In most cases, you may need to make use of carrier oils such as olive, jojoba, avocado, sweet almond and sunflower seed to safely dilute given essential oils. Different needs call for different dilutions. However, as a general rule of thumb, it is advisable to dilute in a 1:5 percentage.
Essential Oils Cases
Do essential oils work? Yes, absolutely! As long as they are used in the right way, essential oils do provide numerous benefits.
Let’s have a look at how to use essential oils:
- Women health: When it’s that time of the month and you need to improve your energy and mood, you can make use of essential oils such as Peppermint, Lavender, Rose, Orange, Sandalwood, Ginger, Lemon, Cinnamon, Spearmint, Jasmine and Black Pepper.
- Symptoms of a cold: To fight symptoms of a cold, you can make use of oils such as Thyme, Frankincense, Oregano, and Eucalyptus oil.
- Insects: You can make use of oils such as Organic Citronella Leaf, Castor oil, Cinnamon oil, Lemongrass oil, Geranium oil, Peppermint oil, Rosemary oil and cedar oil among others,
- Good sleep: For good sleep, you can make use of Lavender oil to help you fall asleep and fight insomnia. Just a few drops on your pillow will do the trick!
- Problems with skin and hair: if you have problems with your skin or hair, you can make use of oils such as Tea Tree oil, Rosemary oil, Almond oil, Grapefruit essential oil, Lavender oil, and Cedar Wood oil among others.
- Stomach and Digestion: when it comes to stomach and digestion, you can make use of oils such as Ginger oil, Fennel essential oil as well as Peppermint oil.
- Pain relief: For pain relief, you can make use of a mixture of Peppermint oil, Ginger oil, and Cypress oil in coconut oil. You can also make use of a combination of Wintergreen, Eucalyptus, and Cypress in unscented lotion or Coconut oil for achy muscles
- Get more information in article “Essential oil Cases that stand to benefit from the magic of the oils“
Organic Essential Oils
When searching for essential oils, ideally, you should opt for organic oils. This is because such oils tend to be of great quality since their source is as natural as possible. This means that no herbicides, synthetic pesticides or other harmful chemical compounds were used during the plant’s growth.
Do Essential Oils Work?
Absolutely! When used the right way and in the right portions, essential oils do indeed work! They can be used in different such as disinfecting surfaces at home, for massage to aid in relaxation and on the skin to fight or treat certain skin conditions such as psoriasis. In addition, essential oils can be used to improve feng shui in your home or office. It is important to note that there are different grades of essential oil. As such, care must be taken when choosing one over the other. Great care must be taken when buying such oils. This is because there are natural oils and synthetic oils.
Natural essential oils are extracted from the bark of a plant, its leaves, flowers or even its sap. Synthetic oils however come with perfume and don’t provide the same benefits.
Essential Oils For Health
Essential oils are useful in different aspects of health. They can be used both mentally and physically. Physically, they can be applied onto the skin and hair to soothe given conditions. Mentally, essential oils can help relax the brain through aromatherapy.
There are numerous diseases and conditions that can be healed, soothed or reduced with the help of essential oils. Some of them are listed below:
| Anxiety |
Pneumonia |
| Arthritis |
Psoriasis |
| Candida |
Ringworm |
| Diabetes |
Rosacea
|
| Eczema |
Seborrheic keratosis |
| Fibromyalgia |
Sinusitis |
| Hemorrhoids |
Toenail fungus |
| Hypertension |
Varicose veins |
More about use of oil in diseases: “What Essential Oils Are Used To Treat Illnessess”
Where Oils are used
Considering there are numerous essential oils in the market, it is important to understand what essential oils are used for. Depending on how they are mixed, essential oils can be used in different aspects of our lives. You can mix a few drops of your favorite essential oils in carrier oil such as Coconut oil and apply to your skin. You can place drops of essential oil such as Lavender on your pillow for a good night sleep. When diluted, there are oils essential for the health of your skin such as Citrus oil and Rosemary oil.
On the other hand, if you wish to clean your household; there are also different ways to use essential oils. For example, you can mix 20 drops of Tea Tree oil with borax if you wish to thoroughly clean your carpet. When it comes to mental health and relaxation, you can mix Lavender oil into your bathwater that also comprises a combination of Epsom salt and sea salt; soak in and help rejuvenate your body. You can also add a few drops of your chosen oil in unscented lotion to come up with your own scented lotion
More information in article “What essential oils are used for”
Let’s have a comprehensive look at the best essential oils for specific purposes:
Beauty and Health
When it comes to essential oils for beauty and health, different people have different preferences. For example, you may desire lavender essential oil while another person can’t stand the smell. Another person may crave peppermint essential oil while another can’t do without citrus oils.
If you wish to reduce cellulite on your body, make use of 5 drops of Grapefruit essential oil and 2 teaspoons of Coconut oil. Massage the mixture into the dimples spots. If you have wrinkles, simply mix 3-5 drops of Geranium, Sandalwood, Lavender, and Frankincense in your unscented lotion and proceed to apply to your face. Avoid applying to the eyes.
If you have dandruff, mix 5 drops of Lavender and Rosemary with 3 tablespoons of unscented oil and proceed to massage the same onto your scalp. Leave the mixture on for about 10 minutes then shampoo. If you suffer from migraines on the other hand, combine a few drops of Peppermint oil and Lavender oil and apply the same to your temple. This natural remedy can help soothe headaches or migraines.
Recommended for reading: “Essential Oils for Beauty and Health You Can Use at Home”
Essential Oils For Home
You don’t have to buy expensive cleaning detergents. Instead, you can mix the right essential oils for home and come up with the right cleaning product. For example, three drops each of Tea Tree oil and lemon oil in a few ounces of warm water can act as a great all-purpose cleaner. Cinnamon Essential Oil is a great air cleaner while a mixture of a drop each of Lemongrass oil, Eucalyptus oil and Citronella oil can act as a great mosquito repellent. Simply mix the drops of essential oil in a carrier such as a Coconut oil, apply the same on exposed skin and you should be protected from mosquito bites.
Essential Oils For Pets
When it comes to essential oils for pets, it is important to understand that not every oil will work. Quality does matter as pets may be sensitive. Unfortunately, there are a number of oils in the market that contain extenders and other substances that may be harmful to pets. As such, when looking for essential oils, it is important to consider high quality oils and do away with those that are clearly labeled ‘for aromatic use only”
The right essential oils for pets can benefit them both physically and emotionally. You can apply essential oils directly on large pets such as horses and goats; however care must be taken with smaller pets such as birds. When it comes to cats, steer clear of oils that are high in ketones or phenols and these include Clove, Cinnamon, Peppermint and Spearmint. As for dogs, depending on the size, you might want to dilute the oils before use.
If your dog has an ear infection, you can dilute Basil, Lavender, Geranium and Frankincense and apply the combination around the base of the pet’s ear. If it is prone to seizures, you can orally administer Frankincense twice a day in addition to giving the pet omega 3 supplementation.
There are different ways to apply or use essential oils on your pets. You can apply the oil to the bedding or area where your pet frequents or you can water mist the animal. You can also apply the oil to the paws of the pet (be considerate of its size and skin sensitivity)
Here is article “Essential Oil for Dogs and Cats”
Essential Oils For Baby
Babies have sensitive skin. As such, when it comes to essential oils for baby, it is important to take this factor into consideration. Before attempting to apply or use essential oils on your baby, it is important to educate yourself on proper ratios as well as application methods. In addition, you should consider the quality of the oil you are about to use; go for high quality oil as opposed to one that contains synthetic fragrances. In addition, you might want to avoid oils that are premixed with alcohol as these tend to be irritating.
With the right oils and applications, babies older than 3 months can stand to reap benefits. For example, if your baby has trouble sleeping, the right oil can help encourage sleep. It is important never to orally administer essential oils to your baby as this can be harmful to its health.
When used in moderation and in the right manner, oils such as Chamomile, distilled Lemon, dill and eucalyptus can be used to serve different purposes. Eucalyptus oil can be used to help unclog respiratory congestion while Lavender can help soothe and relax a fussy baby.
As mentioned before, there are different ways to apply essential oils such as through water spritzing, by blending the oil(s) with a carrier or by diffusing it into the room with the help of water-based vaporizers or candle diffusers.
Aromatherapy
If you wish to relax or relieve stress then essential oils for Aromatherapy can help. With aromatherapy, oils are formulated to work harmoniously with the human body and aid in relaxation in addition to relieving stress. Aromatic oils are applied directly on the skin through massage. Such oils can also be used as sprays or diffusers to add aromatic freshness into the air. In addition, with the right proportions, they can also be directly inhaled. Care must be taken however to ensure that the oils are not accidentally swallowed or consumed.
Examples of aromatic essential oils include: Lavender, Cypress, Chamomile, Eucalyptus, Orange, Rosemary, Sweet Marjoram and Tea Tree.
Read more “Aromatherapy Essential Oils – Everything You Need to Know”
Essential Oils For Bath
As far as essential oils for bath go, your needs and desired end result will dictate what oils you should use. If you have trouble getting sleep for example, then 10 drops of lavender oil mixed with 5-6 drops of Roman Chamomile oil, a handful of sea salt, and a tablespoon of Jojoba oil should do for your bath.
If you have trouble relaxing due to anxiety then you should add 5 drops of Lavender, 10 drops of Frankincense, 5 drops of Bergamot and one cup of full-fat milk to your bath. If you are stressed on the other hand and wish to relieve some stress then a mixture of Sea Salt, Coconut oil, Rose oil and Frankincense in your bath should do the trick. For the soothing of sore muscles on the other hand, you will need Lavender oil, Peppermint oil, Jojoba oil, Clove oil and Citrus oil in your bath.
Read more “Top Tips on Using Essential Oils for Baths”
Antibacterial
As for essential oils for Antibacterial, you will need oils such as Thyme, Eucalyptus, Lavender, Tea tree oil, Peppermint, Bergamot, Lemongrass and Oregano among others. Such oils are important in fighting things such as bacterial, fungi and viruses on your body and in your home. This means that they can be used to treat skin conditions and disinfect surfaces in your home. Read more in this article – “What are the best antibacterial essential oils”
Essential Oils For Massage
There are numerous essential oils for massage to choose from, depending on one’s preference. You can choose from oils such as Lavender, Orange, Rosemary, and Chamomile. It is important to remember that oils shouldn’t be applied directly onto the skin. Instead, they should be mixed with carrier oils such as Sweet Almond, Coconut oil, Jojoba oil and Grapeseed oil. Read more “What is the best essential oil for massage?”
For Sexual Life
When it comes to essential oils for sex; there are those that are meant to boost libido and those that are meant to set the mood. Oils to set the mood include Rose, Ylang Ylang, Fennel and Neroli. Oils that can help boost sex include Clary Sage and Jasmine.
There are different factors that contribute to low libido or low sex drive some of which include; stress, alcohol, hormonal changes, as well as illness. Identifying the underlying factor can help solve the problem faster.
Read more “Use Of Essential Oils For Libido And Sexual Life Different Phases” Read more »
