One of the most common questions we hear in modern living is, "What is an essential oil?
Essential oils are composed of volatile organic compounds (VOCs)/ terpenes extracted from plants through distillation or cold pressing. Terpenes are also found in other aromatic plants, including herbs, spices, fruit rinds, seeds and pine needles. The term "essential oil" refers to any liquid with a strong fragrance derived from its source material. Essential oils are concentrated plant extracts that have powerful healing properties. You can use them to treat various health conditions and support your overall well-being. Essential oils can be applied topically, inhaled or diffused in the air. The term "essential oil" is a misnomer because it implies that all oils are derived from flowers — which isn't always true! Some of the most popular essential oils are derived from trees, grasses, conifers and other plants with non-flowering parts such as leaves or bark.
Easy essential oil for aromatherapy:
Lavender essential oil:
Lavender essential oil is a popular choice for aromatherapy, but you can also use it in the bath and the kitchen. Lavender oil has antispasmodic, calming and antiseptic properties. Lavender can help with stress, pain and sleep. Before the discovery of antiseptics, lavender was also used as a cleaning agent in hospitals. Lavender essential oil is a go-to essential oil for many people. It has many benefits, and it's gentle enough for all ages. You can use it in various ways, including adding it to a bath or diffuser as aromatherapy, adding water to make a room spray or body spritzer, or combining it with a base oil to make body oil.
Tea Tree oil:
You're not alone if you've never heard of tea tree oil. The tea tree (also known as melaleuca) is a plant that grows natively in Australia and has been used for centuries by Australian aborigines for medicinal purposes. Tea tree oil is extracted from the tree's leaves and used to treat acne to battle the Athlete's foot. Take a cotton swab and dip it into tea tree essential oil. Then, apply it directly to the acne. It's also an antiseptic, antimicrobial, antifungal and antiviral that can be used topically or orally. People use tea tree oil as an antiseptic, antimicrobial or antifungal. Dilute tea tree oil with a carrier oil (a base or vegetable oil like coconut or jojoba oil that helps dilute essential oils) and put the blend on the affected skin.
Eucalyptus oil:
Eucalyptus oil is a volatile, aromatic essential oil extracted from the leaves of eucalyptus trees. This oil has many different uses, including medicine for treating health problems like asthma and arthritis. You can also use eucalyptus oil to repel ticks and mosquitoes from your skin or home. Eucalyptus oil has potent anti-inflammatory properties and may help reduce swelling in your joints. It also contains antimicrobial properties that may be effective against some types of bacteria and viruses. While there are many different eucalyptus trees, they all contain similar compounds with medicinal benefits. These compounds include cineole (also known as eucalyptol) and pinene — both of which have been shown to have beneficial effects on respiratory ailments such as colds and flu symptoms. In addition to its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, eucalyptus oil may also benefit your respiratory system by loosening mucous membranes in your nose to breathe easier. This makes it an excellent choice for treating nasal congestion caused by colds or allergies.
Lemon Essential Oil:
Lemon oil is extracted from the peel of lemons, and it's known to have antifungal, antibacterial and antiviral properties. It can be diffused into the air or applied topically to your skin with a carrier oil. Lemon essential oil helps reduce anxiety and depression and pain, ease nausea, and kill bacteria. A study suggested that aromatherapy of essential oils like lemon oil can improve the cognitive function of people with Alzheimer's disease. Lemon oil is safe for aromatherapy and topical use. But there have been some reports that lemon oil can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight and increase your risk of sunburn. So, try to avoid direct sunlight exposure after use. Lemon oil can be diffused into the air or applied topically to your skin with a carrier oil.
Rosemary essential oils:
Rosemary oil has many health benefits. You can use it to improve brain function, promote hair growth, reduce pain and stress, lift your mood and reduce joint inflammation. Rosemary oil is safe in aromatherapy and topically on the skin with a carrier oil. However, if you're pregnant or have epilepsy or high blood pressure, it's advised to avoid using rosemary oil. Rosemary essential oil is safe in aromatherapy and topically on the skin with a carrier oil. However, if you're pregnant or have epilepsy or high blood pressure, it's advised to avoid using rosemary oil. Native to the Mediterranean, rosemary oil is a pale liquid oil from the rosemary plant with a herbaceous aroma. It's often used in perfumes, skincare, and haircare as antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial ingredients.
For aromatherapy and a soothing ambience at home, you can also use eco-friendly air-freshener cards like TheBetterHome's air-freshener cards. It is available in four flavours": aqua cool, orange burst, rain forest, and lavender mist.