Essential oils are very effective in treating different disorders or problems. Very often, little is known about essential oils and this is why they tend not to use them. In fact, essential oils, in addition to being very easy to use, can be solvents of discomforts or major disturbances.
In this regard, we want to provide you with a guide that will help you make the most of your essential oils by choosing them based on your disorder and listing all of your properties.
Let’s start!
What is essential oil?
Essential oil is the volatile fragrant fraction extracted from the plants. In essence, essential oil is a concentrate of so many molecules synthesized by plants to defend against aggression such as excessive heat of the sun, worms, insects, viruses and bacteria. It should be noted that essential oils have much more intense effects than the plants they originate which are often taken in the form of herbal teas or natural supplements. This is why improper use of essential oils can cause damage as the application of a quantity slightly higher than the recommended one can be dangerous.
The places where essential oils are made
The first countries producing essential oils were the countries of the Mediterranean spread throughout Europe. Today, thanks to the development of aromatherapy, essential oils have spread and are produced all over the world. Among the main producers:
- South America: Peru, Brazil;
- Oceania: Australia and Tasmania, New Caledonia, New Zealand;
- Madagascar;
- South Africa;
- Asia: India, China, Vietnam;
- Central America: Mexico, Costa Rica;
- Mediterranean countries: Italy, France, Spain, Egypt and Morocco.
Essential oils
Essential oils enjoy beneficial properties that in turn characterize the therapeutic properties of the oil itself. Generally, essential oils have the same properties of the plants they produce, but sometimes their properties depend on their chemical composition and their active ingredients. Therefore depending on the symptom or disorder you need to use the right oil so that you can achieve the desired result.
Let’s start by listing the innumerable properties of essential oils …
- Aphrodisiacs: Stimulate sexual impulse.
- Anxiolytic: Calm anxiety and anxiety.
- Antalgics: It fights the pain and calms the inflamed.
- Anti-allergic: Decreases the symptoms caused by allergies by strengthening the immune system response.
- Anti-bacterial: Prevents bacterial proliferation and fights them definitively.
- Anti-emic: Calm nausea and vomiting.
- Anti-fungal: Solves mycoses.
- Anti-inflammatory: Relieves pain by calming inflammation.
- Anti-spastic: Calm the pain caused by contractions and spasms.
- Anti-virals: Fighting viruses.
- Aromatic: Emanates odor useful to the senses and body.
- Balsamic: It stimulates the respiratory tract.
- Cicatrizzanti: Helps heal of skin wounds.
- Decongestants: Calm inflammation of the respiratory tract.
- Diuretics: Ease the expulsion of toxins produced by the body.
- Emollients: Softens the tissues.
- Febrile: Reduces and resolves febrile states.
- Immuno stimulants: Stimulates the immune defense of the body.
- Lactative: Helps intestinal transit.
- Sedatives: Calm insomnia, aches and anxiety.
- Tonic: It works as a general stimulant to the body.
How to Use Essential Oils
Essential oils can be taken orally or breathed through aromatherapy or applied on the skin. In the latter case it is necessary not to apply pure oil directly to the skin as it may cause redness resulting aggressive. Therefore if you need to apply the essential oil directly to the skin it is necessary to dilute it with a cold squeezed oil such as jojoba oil or almond oil and if at home you should not have any of these two cargo oils you can opt for the extra virgin olive oil. Therefore, the rule number when you want to use the essential oil at the top level or by inhalation it is necessary to have a vector oil to dilute it. It is also always good to buy an essential quality oil and keep it while taking the necessary precautions. Depending on the annoyance or problem you want to solve, you can use essential oil through …
- Inhalation
- Diluted in bathtub water
- Footbath
- Massage
- Clutch
- Diffusion of aroma in the environment
Essential oils for acne
Acne is characterized by the presence of comedons that are generally inflammation and redness caused by excessive sebum production. You can find very detailed information on acne in these two articles that could help you understand more about it if you suffer from it:
- Acne, what is it, types of acne, causes, symptoms, remedies
- Acneic creams: creams, natural remedies and surgical procedures to eliminate them
- Brownies on the neck? What are the causes and how to eliminate them?
Essential oils, however, are often a helpful aid to soothe redness and soothe inflammation caused by pimples.
Tea tree essential oil
Tea tree essential oil also known as melaleuca oil, is an antibacterial and anti-inflammatory, whose application is very effective on the particularly inflamed and reddened pimple. Just dilute a few drops of tea tree with water or a vector oil (almond oil or jojoba oil) and rub it with a gauze.
Essential oil of lavender
When talking about lavender oil many think of aromatherapy where in fact lavender inhalation is very useful against anxiety. Few people know that essential lavender oil is a powerful antibacterial and antiseptic that works very well on pimples. Just dilute two drops of lavender essential oil with two drops of almond oil and apply directly to the pimple.
You may also like to read: Development of essential oils
Essential oils for sore throat
If you have a sore throat, or just feel something in your mouth that punches or pinches you can try solving the annoyance with essential oils. In particular you can choose from …
Essential oil of eucalyptus
Eucalyptus oil solves the sore throat by gargle, diluting a few drops of water in a little water. Repeat the operation at least twice a day. Another very good alternative to using is suffusion. Add three liters of eucalyptus drops into a liter of boiling water. Cover your head with a towel and breathe its scent.
Essential tea tree oil
Even in this case, the tea tree oil is very valuable. The ideal is to make gargle with this oil that having antibacterial properties disinfect the oral cavity by eliminating the bacteria in the mouth. About hiring you need to dilute a drop of tea tree in a teaspoon of honey. It is preferable to limit your intake only in case of very severe sore throat.
Essential oils that fight mycosis
Mycosis is a skin mushroom that involves mucous membranes or nails. It is possible to treat fungal infections with essential oils. In this case it is necessary to apply different types of oils. Mix 1 ml of essential oil of palmarose, 1 ml of essential geranium oil, 1 ml of essential oil of manuka, 2 ml of essential wood oil of Ho, and 10 ml of Tamanu vegetable oil. Mix well and apply this mixture for about 20 days 2 times a day.
Essential oils for intestinal disorders
There are not many essential oils that have detoxifying and soothing properties that are very effective in solving problems with the intestine. In particular …
Mint essential oil
To be used in case of heartburn or digestive problems. Dilute a drop of essential mint oil with a teaspoon of olive oil 2 times a day for up to 3 days.
Essential oil of grapefruit
In the case of difficult digestion, grapefruit essential oil can be very useful. Just dilute one or two drops at most with one teaspoon of olive oil. To be taken three times a day for 7 days.
Essential oils against nausea
Nausea is usually a malaise that often precedes vomiting. Causes can be different. In this case, two essential oils are very effective, to you the choice.
Ginger essential oil
Known for its effective action on digestive problems, the use of ginger in the event of nausea is excellent. Dilute one or two drops of ginger oil in a teaspoon of honey to take three times a day for seven days.
Mint essential oil
The essential oil of mint as well as solving the pain associated with bad digestion is a helpful aid when you suffer from nausea. Just dilute a drop of peppermint oil with a teaspoon of olive oil and take it twice a day for three days at most.
Essential oils against insomnia and stress
If you suffer from insomnia and you are in a very stressful period of your life, the following oils are used to help you.
Essential oil of lavender
Essential lavender oil has a delicate or intense aroma. Before going to sleep, you can apply three drops of essential lavender oil on a cloth and place it under the pillow so that its perfume can help relax and help you fall asleep serenely. It is also very useful to apply two drops of lavender diluted with almond oil directly on your wrists, or massage your feet plant avoiding using pure oil, but diluting it.
Essential oil of bitter orange
It’s a great regenerating tonic that works very well against anxiety. Just pour one or two drops on your wrists or you can take a warm bath by adding a few drops of this oil.
Essential oils for solving pain in the limbs
There are not a few times that you suffer from pain in the limbs and you do not think about using essential oils that in this particular case often turn out to be pain relievers.
Essential oil of Roman chamomile
This oil is an all-effects anti-inflammatory and works very well for topical use. Therefore, after diluting a few drops of Roman camomile oil to almond oil, carefully massage the body area causing pain.
Rosemary essential oil
The essential rosemary oil has a mild odor and even this oil has anti-inflammatory properties. Its application in this case consists of a massage like for Roman camomile oil.
Essential anti-inflammatory oils and relaxing essential oils
After indicating which essential oil to use based on the disorder, and how to apply it or take it, we want to indicate what are the essential oils that promote relaxation and which function as true anti-inflammatory agents.
Relaxing oils
Some oils act directly on the mind, memory, and concentration capacity. Therefore, the periods characterized by lack of sleep, irritability and anxiety can be solved by the use of some oils that can be applied on a pillow, directly on the wrists or diffused in the environment:
- Lavender oil against anxiety and restlessness
- Chamomile oil against stress and nervous
- Sage oil for depressed states.
Anti-inflammatory oils
There are essential oils that function as a real anti-inflammatory and can be used to find relief whatever the part of the affected body.
- Tea tree oil or melaleuca oil especially indicated for high airway infections;
- Eucalyptus oil : suitable for coughing and sore throat;
- Thyme oil effective to cure influenza states.
Essential oils and contraindications
The use of essential oils should be recommended by a physician, since due to the high concentrations of active ingredients, their use requires much attention and information. It is no coincidence that the assumption of essential oils is forbidden for women who are pregnant and breastfeeding. Topical use can be recommended by a naturopath or herbalist, always paying attention and never use pure-blooded oils. Given the subjectivity of the reactions, topical use is also not recommended during pregnancy and lactation. In addition, essential oils should never be applied on the mucous membranes such as nasal, rectum and vaginal tissues and eyes.