Essential oils have been around for ages, and a lot of people don’t really know the benefits that these oils have to their livelihood. Most people assume they are only used to improve the smell around the home by putting in a little diffuser to make the room smell nice, that’s a guarantee.
Talks on the dangers of phthalates, a chemical mostly found in commercial air fresheners, have made some people consider essential oils as a healthy and natural alternative to air fresheners.
But, there is more than meets the eye. You can easily get started by checking out the essential oils guide to know how to use essential oils if you have never tried them before.
Essential oils are affordable, but you could still find some great deals out there through our platform.
What are essential oils?
Before we get started on the benefits of essential oils or even learning how to select the best essential oils for use at home, because there is variety, we need to know and understand what essential oils are and how useful they can be.
Anyone who has undergone or is in the field of aromatherapy has come across these oils. Aromatherapy is an alternative form of medical care that employs the use of extracts from plants to support health and general well-being.
Essential oils, therefore, are liquids with a concentrated aroma or essence that are obtained from different parts of a plant like the fruit, seed, flower, stem, bark, or roots and are used for various purposes.
Plants produce these oils naturally and store them in tiny sacks to either attract bees and other pollinating insects or to repel pests, profound, right?
On the other hand, fruits in the citrus family like lemon, lime, and oranges, store their essential oils in the rind, and they are literally the odor of the plant. Funny thing is, although they are called essential oils, they are weirdly not oily at all.
Organic essential oils are those that have been indigenously grown, without any pesticides sprayed on them, harvested at the right time, and taken through a proper distillation process without tampering or altering in any way.
Suffice to say, true essential oils are often labeled 100% pure because there are no additives to them. In most cases, it is usually worth the price, because of its purity and the fact that it is healthier than non-organic.
What Does Science Say about Essential Oils?
Science recognizes aromatherapy and the use of essential oils as a billion-dollar industry and the big debate is usually where to buy essential oils, considering there are both organic and non-organic essential oils.
There is scientific evidence, according to a study in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, that essential oils extracted from lemons have the power to reduce agitation in patients with dementia.
Another proven fact for essential oils is the treatment of acne with tea tree oil and treatment of hair loss with oils like thyme, rosemary, and cedarwood.
Benefits of Essential Oils – How to Use Essential Oils in Your Home
Besides aromatherapy, essential oils are beneficial in many other ways. They can be used to clean the home, or for skin and hair care. We also have essential oils for sleep, oils that cure your restlessness and help you to sleep soundly after a long day. Here are some of the common benefits of essential oils:
| Condition | Essential Oil to use | How to apply |
| Acne | Lavender oil | Add 1-2 drops of lavender oil in diluted water. Shake to allow the mixture to blend well. Apply directly to the affected area to help rejuvenate your skin. |
| Minor anxiety | Lavender or citrus oils | Either diffuse 1-2 drops in water to your skin and massage it by applying generously at the back of your head or temple. Or directly inhale the oil for a few minutes. |
| Hyperactivity in children | Lavender oil, cedarwood oil | Diffuse a few drops of oil in water and allow your child to inhale for a few minutes, or massage oil in the bottom of your feet. |
| Dandruff and hair loss | Hibiscus and peppermint oil | Mix a few drops of oil in diluted water and shake well. Spray on the scalp every day until you see results. This mixture also allows for the growth of thick hair |
| Common cold | All citrus oils, thyme, and peppermint | For better results, drop some oil in hot water and directly inhale the water vapor to open your airways and help fight bacteria. You can also directly apply the oil to your temple, throat, and forehead for quick relief. |
| Insects infestation | Tea tree oil | Add a few drops of oil to water and pour in a spray bottle. Spray around your home to repel insects |
How to Make Essential Oils at Home
Essential oils for cleaning your home
Citrus oils not only neutralize the acid in your body and stimulate the immune system to fight infections, but also are great to use in the kitchen and around the entire house. Citrus oils clear greasy tabletops, they are antibacterial and freshens up the air, leaving a sweet-smelling aroma after you clean up.
They also have uplifting and anti-depressant qualities, which is why walking into a room that has been cleaned using citrus oils leaves you relaxed instantly, making it the best choice if you are looking for essential oils for anxiety.
How to Make Citrus Essential Oils
- Pick a citrus fruit of your choice; lemon, lime, orange, or tangerine, and wash before peeling the skin. Note that essential oils from citrus fruits are extracted from the rind (skin).
- Place the peels in a glass container and add 15 drops of coconut or tea tree oil before covering and letting it sit in a warm, dry place for about 7 days to extract all the nutrients before straining out the oil and enjoying the benefits of citrus oils using a spray bottle.
- If you need to use the citrus oil instantly, mix a few drops of extract from any citrus fruit, add drops of tea tree or coconut oil in a spray bottle then fill it with water. Shake to allow the mixture to diffuse well, and voila! You have a strong disinfectant that is 100% food safe.
Essential Oils for Skin and Hair Care
If you are having skin and hair concerns that you need to address, then using essential oils can be something to consider. There are essential oils like hibiscus or peppermint oil that help in the fight against hair loss and dandruff. It boosts hair growth and regrowth, and also clears dandruff.
How to make hibiscus, peppermint oils
- You can either choose to use freshly handpicked hibiscus flowers and peppermint leaves or use the dried ones used in hibiscus or peppermint tea bags.
- If you choose freshly handpicked hibiscus flowers, separate the petals, then add peppermint leaves in a wide bowl. Pour in coconut, olive, or sesame oil to cover the leaves and petals.
- Allow it to sit for about a week to extract all the beneficial nutrients in the herbs before straining the infused oil. Spray the oil in your scalp to help fight hair loss and dandruff. You can use it within 4 months of infusion before discarding and making a fresh one.
- If you are unable to find fresh flowers and leaves, use hibiscus and peppermint tea bags. Cut up the bag and pour the contents into a container. Add some coconut, olive, or sesame oil and let sit for 2 weeks. This takes longer because the hibiscus and peppermint in the tea bags are super dried, so they need a longer time for extraction. Strain into a spray bottle and use as desired.
Other Health Benefits of Essential Oils
Essential oils can be used in a number of ways, and one of the abilities that it holds is to treat certain health conditions. Some of the common health issues that essential oils and aromatherapy are known to have treated include:
Migraines
Migraines, a recurring type of pain that causes severe throbbing and a pulsing sensation, can make you uncomfortable when they strike. In the traditional Persian headache remedy, peppermint and ethanol mixture was known to be the most effective essential oils for migraines. Applying this oil on the forehead and temples reduced migraines almost instantly.
Insomnia
More people today are struggling with insomnia almost every night, and quite a number of people resort to sleep-inducing drugs. Soon enough, the body becomes used to these drugs that no longer help to induce sleep. In pursuit of a safer and healthier option, essential oils for sleep like frankincense, lavender, and cedarwood oils can be used to improve relaxation and make it easy for you to fall asleep.
Allergy Busters
Essential oils for allergies are also available for individuals who have to fight different allergies. For whatever allergy you have, you can simply make use of allergy relief oils like lemon, peppermint, frankincense, and lavender to help cure seasonal allergies. Allergies come in different ways, but the good news is that these particular oils can ease any kind of allergic reaction you may have.
