Essential oils have several benefits for both the body and the mind. These benefits are compounded when you choose the right essential oils for your needs, and you learn how to use them. Essential oils are commonly used for many conditions, including anxiety and stress. They are the highly concentrated versions of the natural oils we find in plants.
If you have a burn or a wound that needs treatment or you are suffering from the effects of depression, essential oils can help. They can be used effectively for a variety of ailments.
How Do You Use Essential Oils?
There are three primary ways in which essential oils can be used – they can be applied to the skin, inhaled, and, in some cases, ingested. It is important to understand that within these three methods, there are things you need to do before using essential oils. For example, many essential oils need to be diluted with a carrier oil before being placed onto the skin.
So, how do you know which way to properly use essential oils? The method of application is largely dependent on the effects you desire and which essential oil you have decided to use. It is recommended that you test each essential oil before use as well because some oils may be overly irritating to the skin due to their unique chemistry. In cases like these, further dilution may be required to curb these effects.
Topical Essential Oil Application
When you apply something topically, the skin begins to slowly absorb it, and it then enters the bloodstream. The slow permeation of correctly diluted essential oils can help with pain, inflammation, and other skin issues you may be experiencing.
If you are applying the essential oils to areas of the body where the skin is much thinner, then the permeability of that oil will be much faster than when it is applied to thicker skin. Additionally, heat causes the essential oils to penetrate the skin easily. Therefore, if you choose to use your essential oils in the bath, for example, you will require a lower dilution rate.
Inhalation of Essential Oils
When you are having problems with sleeping and anxiety, it may make more sense for you to inhale the essential oils. Aromatherapy is an alternative holistic treatment that can help positively boost your health and overall wellbeing. When you inhale essential oils, you are stimulating your olfactory system – the part of your brain that is connected to smell.
Inhalation is the best method for essential oils when you are looking for a faster rate of absorption to help with emotional and neurological issues as well as respiratory issues or infections.
For wound care, topical applications are the most common method. However, for mood effects, you can choose to use either inhalation or topical application. Using essential oils in your bath involves both of these methods.
Ingesting Essential Oils
When essential oils are ingested, the oil enters the mouth and then makes its way to the digestive system. The most common ways that people ingest essential oils is through food, drinks, capsules, or drops.
The internal ingestion of essential oils isn’t a widely practiced method and not always recommended. When you ingest essential oils, they are coming in direct contact with your vital organs as well as your tongue and mouth. They then attach to the mucous membrane and can potentially cause irritation or possible damage.To avoid these risks, it is best to stick to topical and inhalation methods for essential oils.
Diffusing Essential Oils
When diffusing essential oils, it is best to use a nebulizing diffuser. This kind of diffuser does not require any heat or water to disperse the oils. Nebulizing diffusers are clean, safe, and quiet to use. Since no heat or water is required for operation, the integrity of the essential oils you are using stays intact.
With other diffusers that require these elements, you will find that you can’t experience the full benefits of the essential oils because they have been diluted. You are not getting the full and most powerful aroma you can.
Applying Essential Oils Topically
Most essential oils as already mentioned need to be diluted with a carrier oil, so the concentration of the oil is no more than 3-5%. So, for every one teaspoon of carrier oil, you can add three drops of pure essential oil. Whenever you use a carrier oil with essential oils, you should also make a habit of shaking the mixture before each and every use.
Organic and cold-pressed carrier oils are preferred -jojoba oil, for example, makes for the ideal carrier oil. Carrier oils don’t typically have a strong aroma on their own, so they go well with essential oils.
Choosing the Right Essential Oils
Now that you know how to use essential oils, you need to learn what some of the best oils are and what you can use them for to take full advantage of their therapeutic properties.
- Lavender– this essential oil promotes while inspiring calmness and relaxation. It can be used in body oils, lotions, mists, and can also be diffused among many other applications. It is one of the most popular and most versatile essential oils.
- Frankincense– this can be diffused, used in body care, and is also commonly used in perfumes or body oils. It is meditative, grounding, and calming. It can help relieve chronic stress, anxiety, and boost immunity support.
- Tea Tree– this essential oil has clarifying and purifying benefits. It is used in a variety of different body and home care products. It is an anti-inflammatory that can also help with redness, swelling, and inflammation.
- Eucalyptus– this is great for topical application as well as inhalation. It can be used in diffusion and mists to help with clearing up any respiratory infections you may have.
When you know how to use and choose the right essential oils, you will find yourself taking full advantage of everything they have to offer. All while boosting your overall health and wellbeing in a safer, natural, and much more effective way.
