Essential oils have been around for centuries and have been used to treat everything from relieving stress, sore muscles, sinus problems, and even enhancing your mood…. The benefits of aromatherapy can have an effect on your mind, body, and spirit just by the direct connection they have to your brain.
Since essential oils can be absorbed into the blood steam, due to their small molecular structure, they can provide many health benefits to your whole body. Essential oils can be extracted by means of distillation, steam, cold expression, alcohol extraction or fixed oil. There is also a technique called oil pulling an ancient method, which uses essential oils to clean the teeth and gums. You would choose oil such as sunflower or sesame and move it around in your mouth in a light swishing motion then spit it out. You can repeat this a few times per day depending on which health issue you are trying to treat. It is also claimed that the swishing activates enzymes in the body, which can draw toxins out of the blood and treat many health conditions.
It is important to realize that essential oils are extremely potent and they should not be applied directly on the skin. They should be blended together with carrier oil, this process is called synergy. For example you can use almond, apricot, or grapeseed oil. You will still get the same benefits but will not burn or irritate your skin.
If you are using any citrus based oils or blossoms such as neroli, you should definitely make sure you are wearing a sun screen to protect your skin.
Here are a few essential oils that are beneficial for specific skin types and concerns:
Dry/Sensitive skin:
- Essential oils: chamomile, neroli, rosewood, sandalwood, jasmine, angelica, yarrow hydrosols, ylang-ylang,
- Carrier oils: macadamia or sweet almond oil.
Oily/combination skin:
- Essential oils: lavender, tea tree, geranium, frankincense, peppermint, melisa, grapefruit, rose, eucalyptus, cypress oil.
- Carrier oils: grapeseed, soya bean, wheatgerm and apricot kernel are suitable for all skin types.
Acneic skin:
- Essential oils: bergamot, geranium, tea tree, sandalwood, cedarwood.
- Carrier oils: Jojoba.
Aging or premature aging skin:
- Essential oils: frankincense, rosewood, carrot seed, orange, palma rose.
- Carrier oils: wheat germ, apricot, grapeseed, extra virgin, or macadamia nut oil.
Here are some other uses for essential oils:
Lemongrass: used to treat fevers and infections.
Geraniun oil: used for hormonal imbalances.
Lime: anti-viral, anti-septic and disinfectant.
Yarrow oil: used to relieve joint pain.
Cedar wood: used to alleviate acne, eczema, and dermatitis.
Rose Geranium, lavender, lemon balm, peppermint, orange oil: Used to repel insects.
When using any essential oils you want to first do a patch test on a small area of your skin. It is also not recommended if you are pregnant to use aromatherapy oils as some essential oils such as juniper, rosemary, and sage can cause uterine contractions. It is recommended that you contact an aromatherapy practitioner if you have any questions or need help blending oils to customize your results.
