Essential Oils Uses and Benefits

Uses and Benefits of Essential Oils

Essential oils are not simply nature's perfumes, they are very useful and practical. This month we want to share with you basic guidelines and easy uses for common oils. Many of them have a multitude of purposes that range from healthcare to home care. We will be focusing on the essential oils uses and benefits for the mind and body.

Essential oils can be used in many ways.

The most common are:

As scents, your sense of smell has a stimulating effect on your mind and body. You can use oils in diffuses, perfumes, or mix with water to use as a spray.
As soaks, a splash of essential oil into your bath is a great way to soak up its benefits.
As compresses, some oils are helpful for relieving muscle tension, aches, and even heal wounds. A few drops on a damp cloth can work wonders.

For a massage, rubbing on essential oils directly onto your skin is a very effective way to gain their benefits. *be sure to dilute your oil and make sure the oil you are using is safe for skin exposure.

Good To Read: Stress Management - Benefits of Massage

Lavender - Soothes and Relaxes

Lavender is the most popular essential oil. Other than it's pleasing smell, it has many uses and benefits. *Best to avoid if pregnant.

Its main claim to fame is its ability to induce relaxation. It even lowers blood pressure! Simply put a few drops in bath water for a relaxing soak or spray onto linens to improve sleep.
Lavender is very beneficial to the skin and it is safe to apply directly. It soothes the redness and peeling of sunburns. It is a natural cleanser and is useful for disinfecting scrapes or cuts.

Lastly, it is a natural antihistamine it helps soothe sinus issues due to colds or allergies.

Lemon - Kills Bacteria

Lemon oil is an effective cleanser that helps ward off harmful bacteria and viruses. In particular, it helps soothe coughs and sore throats. Adding lemon juice or oil to water helps eliminate certain toxins in the body, including those caused by air pollution- very helpful for those of us living in the City.
The smell of lemon is energizing and invigorating. It even helps fight off anxiety.

Tea Tree - Improves Skin and Relieves Anxiety

Tea tree's main claim to fame is its ability to alleviate acne. A splash of tea tree oil onto a cotton ball and applying it to problem skin is very beneficial and works wonders.
Tea Tree has a strong scent, making it useful for clogged sinuses.
Another notable uses and benefits of Tea Tree oil is its calming scent. The smell can soothe nerves and help anxiety

Peppermint - Cooling and Invigorating

Peppermint works wonders on freshening your breath, but it also has numerous other helpful uses and benefits. *Best to avoid if pregnant.

Peppermint has an almost immediate effect on clogged sinuses or on scratchy throats. It also helps indigestion and an upset stomach. It is truly an all purpose oil, it even can soothe headaches and ease muscle and joint pain.
The scent and taste of peppermint is known to improve focus and energize.

Chamomile - Relaxes and Soothes

Chamomile is best known as a tea, but its concentrate has uses and benefits too. *Best to avoid if pregnant.

Chamomile works wonders on insomnia. It improves sleep and leaves you feeling refreshed and rejuvenated when you wake.
Its scent is relaxing and soothes anxiety.
Chamomile is also aids in digestion.

Sandalwood - Mental Clarity

The smell of sandalwood clears the chatter of anxiety and promotes perception and mental clarity. Rosemary - Relieves Headaches and Fatigue

Rosemary refreshes and stimulates. *Best to avoid if pregnant.
Because of its effect on blood circulation, rosemary works well at alleviating headaches and is a general pain reliever.
Rosemary was used to promote learning by the ancient Egyptians, Romans, and Greeks. They revered it for its stimulates the mind, clearing mental fatigue and enhances memory.

For the most part, essential oils are very safe to use, but only if they are used correctly.

Here are some tips to keep you safe and happy:

Read up on the oil you are using and how to use them properly
Keep out of reach of children and pets. Do not use on babies without professional advice
Do not apply directly to the skin, dilute with water or base oil before use
Test on a small area to avoid redness and irritation
Do not ingest and keep out of eyes, ears, etc.
If you are pregnant, have heart or kidney problems, epilepsy, or any other serious medical condition do not use essential oils without the permission from a physician
Keep away from heat and flame, for they are flammable