Stress is Just One of the Reasons People Try Essential Oils

When essential oils come up in conversation, many people immediately think of stress relief and lavender. But this is only one of the many reasons someone might try essential oils. Essential oils can serve a number of purposes, from helping the body or mind to affecting the environment around a person.

Essential oils are all-natural and can be used every day. They have little to no negative side effects when used properly, unless someone is allergic, making them incredibly safe. They can be used in multiple ways, from inhalation to topical application, making them versatile and easy to use on-the-go. Many essential oils offer multiple benefits which allows the user to feel they're getting more value for their dollar when they purchase them.

But in order to make the most of essential oil use, it's important to know how to use them, what the potential benefits are, and which ones to spend your money on first.

How to Use Essential Oils

There are a few basic methods of using essential oils that everyone agrees on:

• Diffuser (misted into the air for inhalation)
• Inhalation (inhaled directly from the bottle or from hands/roller bottle)
• Topically (applied to the skin after dilution with carrier oil)
• Dry Evaporation (oil applied to dry material such as cotton ball and then placed to allow scent to disperse)
• In the bath or shower (a few drops added to bath water or on shower walls)

Other methods for using essential oils that aren't as widely agreed upon include:

• In a humidifier (some humidifier or oil brands specifically state not to)
• Ingesting the oils (this is controversial because some oils may be toxic when ingested or if they're not properly sourced or processed)

If you plan to use essential oils on your skin in any way, it's critical that you first dilute the essential oil with a carrier oil. Carrier oils include almond, olive, or fractionated coconut oil, among others.

Benefits of Using Essential Oils

There are more benefits of using essential oils than can be listed here. Some of the most common benefits are:

1. Disease prevention - Many essential oils contain antioxidants. Those antioxidants help prevent damage by free radicals, which can cause diseases such as cancer.
2. Improved sleep - More than one study has found that lavender essential oil diffused, applied topically or sprinkled on pillowcases and sheets can make falling asleep easier and help people sleep longer.
3. Clear up fungal infections - Athlete's foot, oral thrush, and other fungal infections like candida have cleared up from the use of tea tree oil. It's believed that tea tree oil contains antimicrobial properties that help clear up the fungus.

Other essential oil benefits people have found include:

• Clearing sinuses (Eucalyptus)
• Reducing nausea (Ginger)
• Boosting alertness (Peppermint)
• Reducing headaches (Peppermint)
• Reducing anxiety (Sweet orange)
• Increasing focus and concentration (Rosemary and Lemon)

Favorite Essential Oils Used

Lavender is, by far, the most popular essential oil. It can improve sleep, lower blood pressure and heart rate, lower skin temperature, and reduce anxiety. It has antibacterial, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antiviral and immune-boosting properties. Lavender is the powerhouse of the essential oils.

Another popular oil is lemon. Lemon eases anxiety, lifts mood, and is antibacterial. Mixed with a little carrier oil or water, it's a great skin toner. It can also add a fresh, clean scent to homemade cleaning products.

Peppermint's fresh, minty aroma does more than just give you fresh breath when you brush or chew gum. Peppermint essential oil reduces fatigue and makes you more alert, and can fight virus, fungus and microbes. It can relieve headaches and even make you feel a few degrees cooler when you're overheated. It can also reduce chocolate cravings.

Tea tree oil is antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and has been used to heal gingivitis, heal mild dandruff, and battle the flu virus. Many people add it to their shampoo to both heal dandruff and to deter head lice.