Benefits of Essential Oils – How Essential Oils Can Improve Your Life
Benefits of Essential Oils and How They Can Enhance Your Life
What you may not realize is that essential oils can improve your health. That’s right, their benefits go far beyond a pleasing scent.
We’ve all been affected by the everyday power of aromas. For instance, you know how a particular scent reminds you of your grandmother. Also, the smell of the restaurant you were at when your spouse proposed to you. All of these truly affect how you feel.
by Greg Montoya
Here are just a few of the many benefits these oils can bring to your everyday life. Also, some guidance on selecting the best quality oils.
Stress
Lemon, lavender, ylang ylang, pine, bergamot, vetiver, peppermint and pine can help reduce stress.
Detox
Lemon essential oil can be used to detoxify the body. Among other things, it also helps treat acne.
Insomnia
Ylang ylang, lavender, jasmine, chamomile, benzoin, rose, neroli, sweet marjoram essential oils can help treat insomnia.
Anxiety
Bergamot, lavender, lemon, rose, clary sage, orange, Roman chamomile, pine, rose scented geranium and sandalwood help treat anxiety.
Pain
Lavender, clary sage, rosemary, chamomile, eucalyptus, juniper and peppermint work great as pain relievers. For relief from migraines, green apple works especially well.
Nausea and Vomiting
The essential oils for nausea and vomiting include ginger, mint, orange, lemon, nutmeg, fennel, dill, clary sage, lavender and chamomile.
Low Energy
If you need an energy boost these will help; citrus, tea tree, rosemary, sage, angelica, clove, jasmine, black pepper, cinnamon and cardamom.
Memory and Focus
Sage, peppermint, cinnamon, basil, lavender and rosemary essential oils help improve memory and focus. This gives your brain a little jump start.
Colds, Flu and Allergies
Eucalyptus is great to have on hand if you suffer from allergies or frequently get colds. Oil of oregano is a great flu fighter thanks to its natural antibacterial qualities, too.
How the Terpenes found in Essential Oils Benefit Your Health
Essential oils contain three types of terpenes. Thus, each one provides its own unique benefits:
- Phenylpropanoids have antiviral, antibacterial and anti-fungal abilities and cleanse the receptor sites of the cells. Cells can’t communicate without clean receptor sites, causing the body to malfunction which results in disease. Oils that contain phenylpropanoids include basil, cassia, clove, cinnamon, anise, oregano and peppermint.
- Sesquiterpenes help deliver oxygen to the body’s tissues. Also, help make it more difficult for bacteria, viruses and cancer cells to survive. Frankincense, myrrh, ginger, cedarwood, spikenard, black pepper, vetiver, patchouli are some of the essential oils that contain sesquiterpenes.
- Monoterpenes are known for their antiviral, antiseptic and bactericidal properties. Found in most essential oils, monoterpenes help reprogram miswritten information within the cellular memory. For example, aromatherapists frequently use monoterpenes in mucus membrane tonics as decongestants, for the best results.
Scents and the Nervous System
Your nervous system helps control and coordinate body functions, including breathing and digestion. The nervous system is what makes it possible for you to comprehend and respond to everything around you. Therefore, research shows essential oils that include cedarwood, frankincense, orange, valerian root and lavender have a healthy effect on the biochemistry of the nervous system.
Look for Purity
The quality is critical. Therefore, look for 100% pure (never diluted), therapeutic grade oils from plants. Never synthetic fragrance, perfumes or oils that can be toxic and often contain allergenic chemical compounds. Price is a good sign of quality. Moreover, if it’s extremely cheap, you can bet that it isn’t pure, therapeutic grade oil.
Carrier Oils
Essential oils are highly concentrated plant derivatives. Therefore, they may trigger a powerful reaction if applied directly to the skin. The key to safely using them is to dilute the oil with a carrier oil. These include, coconut oil, jojoba, grapeseed oil or shea butter. Experiment with different carrier and essential oil combinations to find one that suits you best. The amount of carrier oil used will vary depending on the recipe you’re making for a face mask, lotion, healing aid, rub, etc.
Essential oils have become a hot topic over the years. If you’ve been skeptical about their many positive qualities, give them a try. So, you can find out for yourself just how beneficial they can be.