subject: The Most Widely Used Essential Oils: What They Are And How To Use Them [print this page] So many people are interested in aromatherapy, but are just unsure where to start. What oils should they get? How should they use them? Here's a look at the five most popular oils in aromatherapy, and ways you can use them. This will help you incorporate essential oils into an overall natural health lifestyle for you and your family. The idea here is to be using essential oils in a way beyond their aromas -- to really begin to tap into their true medicinal values.
Even if you've only heard the word "aromatherapy" and no nothing else about it, chances are you've also heard about lavender essential oil. The most popular oil is the one that actually began what's called the "modern aromatherapy revolution" -- the rapidly growth of the medicinal use of oils beginning in the 1930's. Lavender's aroma has been shown in laboratory research to have significant calming effects; recent research indicates that ingesting small amounts can be very effective at reducing clinical anxiety. The oil does wonders for skin care as well -- it was the fast healing of a wound from a laboratory accident, due to the application of lavender oil, that prompted modern aromatherapy's beginnings.
Probably the single most common use of lavender is for getting a better night's sleep. One can simply sprinkle a drop or two on the bedspread (a hint of the aroma works best), or invest in a diffuser. One can also massage the feet with a couple drops before bed -- this works great for kids. For small kitchen burns, just apply a little essential oil directly. For larger wounds, blend equally with tea tree to create a soothing, potently-antiseptic blend.
The beginner may also heard of the next oil, yet not even associated with "aromatherapy". It's important to understand that this term really means the "entire branch of botanical medicine utilizing the volatile constituents of plants". And tea tree is really medicine. Tea tree essential oil has been shown in laboratory research to destroy MRSA bacteria as well as having potent antiviral action. It's a perfect all around antiseptic, useful for cuts and scrapes, acne, athlete's foot and the like. Virtually any time you're wanting to prevent or treat infection of the skin, tea tree essential oil is a great place to start. Use it sparingly at full strength, or blend in a carrier at the rate of 40 drops per ounce (this is a five percent concentration, shown effective at treating acne in a recent study).
Lemon essential oil is the great cleanser -- both of our bodies and around the house. Lemon essential oil can be taken internally to promote cleansing of the liver and gall bladder -- 3 to 5 drops in a small cup of water taken on an empty stomach is recommended by some natural medicine professionals. It will also have a purifying action for the water (killing certain waterborne microbes), and adds a little lemony flavor. Lemon essential oil is found in many natural home cleaning recipes. For an all-purpose cleaner, mix 1 cup of white vinegar with 4 cups of water and 4 drops of lemon oil. You can vary these ratios to suit your needs, and even add a little plain castile soap or baking soda for extra cleaning power. The aroma of lemon itself is a great pick-me-up, too.
Peppermint's primary uses are for helping your digestion and for bringing about alertness. When you're feeling drowsy or foggy, just inhale a little peppermint and you'll feel like you instantly got more oxygen to your brain. You can try a drop on your tongue as well (though some folks find this a little too "hot"). To stimulate digestion, a couple drops can be taken in a small cup of warm water. This can help with nausea too. Peppermint can even be found in enterically-coated capsules for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome. The oil has been used for ages as a food flavoring agent, so if you want to make something a little minty, try a drop or two in your dish or drink -- remember that the pure oil is very potent, so you'll almost certainly need less than you expect.
There are really many essential oils vying for the number 5 position. Eucalyptus is very popular, as it helps many people with asthma, allergies, or other breathing conditions (use in a diffuser, or sprinkle a few drops in a steaming bowl of water and inhale). It's also found in many invigorating massage formulas for enhancing blood flow. Rosemary is used almost interchangeably for the breathing support, and is a great addition to skin and hair care preparations. Chamomile is considered the foremost oil for calming children, and may work best in a very low concentration in a foot massage blend. And frankincense, while a little more esoteric, has profound health-enhancing effects. Its been studied as an anti-cancer agent, is thought to support the immune system, reduces pain and inflammation in joint-care recipes, and in skin care formulas is highly regarded for its anti-aging actions.
Now that you've got the scoop on the top five essential oils, you're ready to dip your toe into aromatherapy. You can even have a look at pubmed.gov, searching for "essential oils", and you'll find a great long list of scientific reports researching the health supportive effects of many of the oils used in aromatherapy. The practice is in fact a whole world of herbal medicine, and a little investigation will show you there's an oil for nearly everything that ails you.
