Essential oils are quickly becoming one of the most popular wellness trends. They're a great way to relax and destress and can also help improve your health in many ways. You can use essential oils for aromatherapy or in a diffuser, add them to your bath water or even use them topically on your skin. Pure essential oils from Soapery are 100% pure and natural, so you can rest assured that your quality is always top-notch. Even better? Essential oils are a great way to start incorporating wellness into your life without spending a lot of money on expensive products or treatments.
What Exactly Are Essential Oils?
Essential oils are made from the aromatic essences of plants. Each essential oil has a distinct scent based on its chemical components and their varying concentrations within it.
Distillation (through steam and water) or mechanical processes, such as cold pressing, is used to produce essential oils. After the aromatic compounds have been extracted, they are mixed with a carrier oil to make a finished product.
The extraction method is critical because essential oils obtained by chemical processes are not regarded as authentic essential oils.
Essential Oils as Aromatherapy
Essential oils can be used in a healing practice known as aromatherapy. For thousands of years, people have used aromatherapy. When essential oils are inhaled, the aroma molecules move directly from the olfactory nerves to the brain, focusing on the amygdala, the brain's emotional centre.
The skin can also absorb essential oils. To help relax tense muscles during a rubdown, a massage therapist may add a drop or two of wintergreen oil to the oil. A skincare brand may add lavender to bath salts to provide a calming soak.
Other Applications
Aside from aromatherapy, essential oils have numerous applications.
Many people use them to smell their houses or refresh items like laundry. They are also utilised in homemade cosmetics and high-quality natural items as a natural aroma.
Furthermore, essential oils have been proposed as a safe and environmentally friendly alternative to man-made mosquito repellents. However, the findings of their effectiveness have been equivocal. Certain oils, such as citronella, have been found to repel specific mosquitos for up to 2 hours.
What Are the Benefits of Essential Oils?
Although some say that essential oils are natural cures for various ailments, there hasn't been enough research to determine their efficacy in human health. Lab studies show promise — one at Johns Hopkins discovered that particular essential oils kill a strain of Lyme bacteria better than antibiotics — but human clinical trials show conflicting outcomes.
Some research reveals that essential oils have a benefit, while others show no change in symptoms. Clinical investigations have been conducted to determine whether essential oils can help with illnesses such as:
● Anxiety● Depression● Nausea● Insomnia● Low appetite● Dry mouth
How Do Essential Oils Work?
Essential oils are most typically utilised in aromatherapy, which involves inhaling them through various techniques. Some essential oils should not be consumed. Essential oils' molecules can interact with your body in multiple ways.
Some plant compounds are absorbed when applied to the skin. Specific application methods, such as using heat or diverse body parts, are thought to increase absorption. However, research in this field is limited.
Inhaling essential oil smells can stimulate your limbic system, which controls your emotions, behaviours, sense of smell, and long-term memory. Surprisingly, the limbic system is intensely engaged in memory formation. This explains why familiar odours can elicit memories or emotions. The limbic system regulates unconscious physiological activities, including breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure. As a result, some people believe essential oils might physically influence your body. However, investigations have yet to confirm this.
What Are the Best Essential Oils?
There are dozens of essential oils, each with a unique scent and chemical composition. Which essential oils are ideal depends on the symptoms you want to alleviate and the fragrances you enjoy. Some of the most well-known essential oils are:
Lavender Essential Oil
The lavender aroma is soothing to many individuals. It is frequently used to reduce tension and anxiety and to promote healthy sleep.
Tea Tree Essential Oil
This essential oil, also known as melaleuca, was utilised by Australia's aboriginal people to treat wounds. It's routinely used to treat acne, athlete's foot, and insect bites.
Peppermint Essential Oil
There is some evidence that peppermint essential oil in an enteric-coated capsule helps improve irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms (from a trusted health supplement provider). When administered topically, it may help reduce tension headaches.
Lemon Essential Oil
Many people find the zesty aroma of lemon oil to be uplifting. It's also frequently found in homemade cleaning products.
How to Select the Best Essential Oils
Many businesses advertise their oils as "pure" or "medical grade." However, because these concepts are not uniformly defined, they carry little weight.
Because essential oils are the products of an uncontrolled sector, their quality and content can vary widely.
Keep the following guidelines in mind when selecting high-quality oils:
● Purity: Look for an oil containing aromatic plant compounds and no additions or synthetic oils. Pure oils are typically labelled with the botanical name of the plant (such as Lavandula officinalis) rather than words like "essential oil of lavender."
● Quality: The extraction procedure has altered authentic essential oils the least. Select a chemical-free essential oil extracted via distillation or mechanical cold pressing.
● Reputation: Purchase a brand with a reputation for creating high-quality products.
Safety And Side Effects
Simply because something is natural does not make it safe. Essential oils, like plants and herbal goods, contain various bioactive components that can harm your health. However, most essential oils are considered harmless, whether breathed or mixed with a base oil for use on your skin. Consider other people in your environment who may be inhaling the perfume, such as pregnant women, children, and pets.
Nonetheless, they may have some side effects, such as:
● rashes● asthma attacks● headaches● allergic reactions
If your reaction is severe, seek medical attention or contact a physician.
Bottom Line
With just a whiff of their smell, essential oils can raise your mood and make you feel good. They may even assist some people in relieving the symptoms of various diseases. Pure essential oils are a great way to treat your body and mind, but using them properly and safely is critical.
Northern girl Laura is the epitome of a true entrepreneur. Laura’s spirit for adventure and passion for people blaze through House of Coco. She founded House of Coco in 2014 and has grown it in to an internationally recognised brand whilst having a lot of fun along the way. Travel is in her DNA and she is a true visionary and a global citizen.