Why care about the benefits of essential oils? What are essential oils? and how can they help you? Why is it worthwhile to make a habit of using essential oils for your healthy living needs?
If you are thinking about creating a habit of using essential oils, this post gives you all the information you need to make informed decisions about essential oils, aromatherapy and what benefits of essential oils may be right for you.
Pharmaceutical drugs have dangerous side effects. These side effects can cause serious bodily harm.
More-and-more people are turning to more natural & holistic approaches to health. By using natural remedies to heal ourselves we can be free of the worries of unwanted side effects.
One of the safest and most effective forms of alternative medicines is aromatherapy.
Aromatherapy uses plant-based essential oils to provide the mind and body with numerous health benefits. These oils are typically inexpensive and free of harmful side effects. Even better, they work very quickly as the oils get absorbed through the skin and lungs.
What Is Aromatherapy?
Aromatherapy is the use of aromatic essential oils derived from plants for the purpose of enhancing the well-being of one's physical or psychological health. Aromatherapy has been used for centuries as an alternative medicine that safely and effectively treats numerous ailments.
To create essential oils, the natural oils in certain plants are extracted and distilled, resulting in an extremely concentrated product packed with healing benefits.
Essential oils used in aromatherapy trigger responses in the brain that send healing to the body. These oils can balance out hormone levels, heal digestive disorders, and dramatically reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety.
Scientific studies have shown that aromatherapy is a completely legitimate form of medicine. By inhaling essential oils, nerves in the nose trigger powerful brain responses. Similarly, topical application allows these essential oils to quickly enter the bloodstream by being absorbed through skin tissue.
When selecting essential oils, it is important to look for pure and natural products. Oils that contain synthetic chemicals and dyes will not be nearly as effective.
How Can Essential Oils Be Applied?
Aromatherapy can be applied in many different ways depending on the condition that you want to address.
Topical use of essential oils is very effective in treating skin ailments and mood disorders.
Some essential oils are highly beneficial when ingested. For instance, by swallowing peppermint essential oil, you can relieve gas and stomach cramps. Some essential oils can even be used as flavoring agents that offer nutritional value, such as lemon essential oil, which adds flavor to water while providing the body with vitamin C.
If you are using aromatherapy to address a psychological imbalance such as stress, depression, or anxiety you may wonder how an oil can effect your brain?
Essential oils for anxiety and other brain imbalances are delivered through diffuser or a hot bath. By simply breathing the oil in, you will receive the benefits that this oil can offer on a psychological level.
These scents work in two methods. First, smell is a powerful sense. pleasant smells can remind us of good times and relieve nerves, stress and anxiety. Second the chemicals inhaled actually enter the bloodstream and can help balance hormone levels.
The best (and most popular) method for using these oils is the diffuser. You can find our review of the best essential oil diffusers here.
An oil diffuser doubles as a humidifier, allowing healing essential oils to enter your body while you sleep.
When applying essential oils topically, some oils require a carrier oil. For example, tea tree oil is highly effective in treating fungal infections and inflammation, but may be mildly irritating to more sensitive areas of the skin such as the eye area and the genitals. In this case, a carrier oil may be required.
Need an Essential Oil Diffuser?
If you don't have an essential oil diffuser (or want to grab a new one), then here are favorite three options. Just find the diffuser that looks interesting and then click the yellow button to get more information:
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Best Overall Choice: Lux Blue Marble Diffuser by Rocky Mountain Oils | CLICK HERE FOR PRICE |
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Best High-End Oil Diffuser: Aroma Tech AroMini | CLICK HERE FOR PRICE |
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Most Budget-Friendly Option: InnoGear Aromatherapy Essential Oil Diffuser | CLICK HERE FOR PRICE |
What Is a Carrier Oil?
A carrier oil is an oil in which the essential oil can be diluted. By diluting your essential oil in a carrier oil, it may then easily be applied to the skin. Carrier oils will reduce skin sensitivity and also increase absorption through skin tissue. There are several different carrier oils from which you may choose, including:
It's important to experiment, as different carrier oils may affect your skin differently. For instance, if you are using an essential oil to treat acne, test out a few different oils on a small section of your face to see how your skin reacts.
7 Benefits of Essential Oils
1. Improve Mood and Set a Positive Atmosphere
Scents are powerful stimuli that directly enter the brain, triggering intense emotional responses.
By inhaling essential oils, your brain will signal certain emotions that can leave you feeling energized, optimistic, and hopeful.
These oils can be added to a hot bath or used in an oil diffuser to create a positive atmosphere inside your home.
Essential Oils to Improve Mood:
2. Benefits of Essential Oils for Relaxation and Sleep
Studies have shown that aromatherapy is very useful in treating psychological disorders such as stress, depression, and anxiety.
By using essential oils to stimulate positive signals in your brain, you can significantly reduce negative emotional conditions. You may use these oils in an oil diffuser or a hot bath.
You can also apply these oils topically to emotional trigger points throughout the body, such as the neck, the elbows, behind the ears, and the backs of the knees.
Essential Oils for Relaxation and Sleep:
3. Inflammation Relief
Certain essential oils have powerful anti-inflammatory properties that, when applied to the skin, can reduce irritation and inflammation. These oils may either be applied directly to skin or used with a carrier oil.
Essential Oils for Inflammation Relief
4. Benefits of Essential Oils for Pain Relief
Aromatherapy can significantly reduce pain, as the oils can be absorbed through the skin. The topical use of essential oils in the treatment of pain is completely safe and works quickly.
Essential Oils for Pain Relief
5. Prevent Certain Illnesses and Boost the Immune System
Many essential oils have anti-fungal, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties that can prevent the development of certain illnesses.
Aromatherapy can also improve the immune system, as essential oils that are breathed in enter the lungs and are then absorbed into the bloodstream.
Essential Oils to Boost the Immune System
6. Heal Skin Irritations
Certain essential oils have powerful anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. This makes them a highly effective natural method to healing skin irritations of all kinds.
When applied topically to the skin, these essential oils quickly get absorbed into the deeper levels of skin tissue and promote healing.
Essential Oils to Heal Skin Irritations
7. Safer Alternative to Candles and Incense
Aromatherapy is an effective way to make your home smell wonderful in a completely safe way.
Candles and incense put your home at risk of fire. They are especially dangerous if you have pets or small children.
However, by using an oil diffuser, you can dramatically change the smell of your home without putting your precious belongings at risk.
An oil diffuser is a small device that can be placed on any surface of your home. It acts as a miniature humidifier, filling the room with steam or sonically induced water vapor.
Simply fill the tank with water and add 10-15 drops of your favorite essential oil combination. As the water vapor “diffuses”, the fragrances will take over your home, allowing you to enjoy the benefits of aromatherapy while you go on with your daily routine.
Final Thoughts on Aromatherapy and Essential Oil Benefits
We hope that you found this article on the natural benefits of essential oils to be valuable. We tried to link to the deeper research many of the essential oil benefits are based upon as often as possible.
By understanding the many essential oils benefits, you can heal your mind and body in a completely safe and natural way. Aromatherapy has been around for centuries and is an effective way to treat an enormous variety of ailments.
If you are new to the concept of aromatherapy, you can get an essential oil starter pack here.
Also, if you would like to enjoy the many benefits of using an oil diffuser in your home, this oil diffuser is a favorite of ours.
Pure Enrichment PureSpa Essential Oil Diffuser
If you enjoyed the article or have any further questions about aromatherapy or the essential oil benefits, please let us know in the comments below.
If you have your own stories about how aromatherapy or essential oils impacted you life, please also share these thoughts in the comment section below.
I look forward to hearing your thoughts on the essential oil benefits.
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My wife has been thinking about using essential oils more, but we didn’t know how it could benefit us. It’s interesting that they can actually stimulate your brain and trigger emotions! I know that I would want to use this to help us relax at night.
Wow, I had no idea essential oils could be so beneficial! According to what the article says, they not only promote healing and well-being but are also safer than things like candles and incense. My wife and I have been wanting to get into aromatherapy to see if it can help us relax more, so we’ll definitely be sure to look at using essential oils instead of incense.
Thanks for the terrific read. You mentioned that essential oils can be diffused to help with things like stress, depression, or anxiety. I had heard that essential oils were great, and wondered what exactly they did. I’d love to feel that kind of peace and relaxation, so I’ll have to find a good service I could get some oils from.
Rachel.
They work in mainly two ways. First they trigger the sense of smell, which is powerful and way underutilized by many. Just smelling nice things help us remember nice things and puts us in good moods. The second thing is that the particles of the oils will pass through the mucuous membrane where they can have a direct effect on the brain. I am a bit of a skeptic and slightly skeptical on SOME of the claims from this method. But there have been studies showing the efficacy of many of the claims from this method. My ultimate feeling is that the first one is a sure thing, and if it gives come direct connection to the brain too…. so much the better.
I like that you pointed out that essential oils are safer than candles and incense. I love my oil diffuser for that reason. I don’t have to worry about the fire hazard or my grand kids getting to it. Plus, I feel like the scent lasts longer than a typical candle does.
I really appreciated your advice about how a diffuser is safer than a candle, and how you can use it around children! My wife recently had a baby, and she doesn’t want to light any scented candles around the house, just in case our baby were to get too close to them. I will definitely look into finding a diffuser for some essential oils, and hopefully our house can start to smell good again!