How To Use Essential Oils
Essential oils are the natural aromatic liquids found in flowers, trees, roots, bushes, shrubs and seeds. Essential oils protect plants against disease, pests and environmental pollution while also critical for plant growth. Essential oils also are beneficial to humans and other living creatures.
Essential oils are extracted from plants and other sources using a steam distillation process. They are extremely concentrated and potent and can be harmful if used directly on the skin.
Dating back as far as biblical times, essential oils have been used as aromatics, incense and ointments intended to heal the sick. Essential oils are still used quite frequently today to infuse scent into bath and body products as well as for their relaxation and healing properties.
There are two basic uses for essential oils, aromatherapy and application. Aromatherapy is basically the inhalation or breathing in on the oil, while application is the topical placement of the oil on the skin.
When using essential oils for aromatherapy it is essential to use only the purest, most natural products. While less expensive synthetic oils are available, they provide little benefit to your health and well being.
Use care when applying essential oils topically to your skin. While it’s okay to put the oils directly on the skin, many oils must first be diluted with another oils such as sesame oil or pure vegetable oil.
Common areas for application topically include:
- Forehead and temples
- Behind the ears
- On the neck
- Soles and ankles of the foot
- Rubbed between the hands or on top of the hands
Many manufactures of bath and body products use essential oils to add scent to their items. Bath and body lotions commonly use essential oils as a key ingredient to not only add a wonderful smell, but also for their holistic healing properties. When purchasing bath and body products, make sure the ingredients are pure and all natural not synthetic or chemical in nature.
Essential oils are also used frequently for massage therapy. Massage therapy has been shown to improve overall wellness. Massage dates back as far as 3,000 years, it’s therapeutic benefits have been well documented for hundreds of years.
While massage therapy alone has been shown to have a wide array of health benefits, the combination of massage with essential oils can result in increased benefits such as anxiety reduction, pain relief, reduction in muscle soreness and pain as well as general relaxation.
Essential oils have a number of uses throughout the home. Antiseptic bathroom spray, air freshening spray and peppermint spray to get rid of spiders, mice and other unwanted intruders are just a few ways essential oils can be used in the home.
Essential oils have many uses and have been shown to improve health and wellness. Experiment with different essential oils to find the ones that work best for you. You’ll be glad that you did.
