Essential Oils

Essential oils get their name from the healing essence of the plant being extracted in order to use it for its healing properties. The oils are created naturally using steam, or distilled using water or sometimes alcohol and other chemicals to extract the essence from the botanical. Looking for organic essential oils is usually the best way to be sure your essential oils have been extracted using natural, not chemical processes.
[adinserter block=”1″]The essential oils can be extracted from the flowers, fruit, roots, stems and sometimes all parts of a plant. Some of the essential oils are inhaled to aid healing or serve as a mood enhancer. For example, eucalyptus is great for clearing sinuses and chest congestion.

Others are used on the skin in a range of ways, and for a variety of purposes. For example, many essential oils have anti-fungal, anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, making them perfect for cleaning and dressing cuts and scrapes, soothing skin, and even curing health issues like acne.

For instance, tea tree oil has excellent astringent properties so it is ideal for clearing up acne and disinfecting wounds. Essential oils can therefore become a healthy part of a home first aid kit or an effective daily skin care routine.

Essential oils are used undiluted when inhaled. They can be used directly from the bottle, or used on candles by putting a couple of drops into the melting wax. They are also used in potpourri and stuffed pillows. A couple of drops can also be placed on handkerchiefs, for example, if the person has a cold and wishes to relieve their congestion with eucalyptus.

You can also tuck a hankie with a few drops of essential oil such as wintergreen into your pillowcase when you go to sleep in order to keep your airways open. Essential oil burners and diffusers can also spread the oil into the air. One of the most popular kinds of diffuser can also serve as a humidifier, spraying fine mist into the air to relieve congestion and keep people breathing freely.

You can even make your own Vick’s™ style-Vapoub using one of these oils and what is termed a carrier oil. Essential oils should always be diluted before applying to the skin. Water, alcohol and carrier oils can all be used as the base for applying essential oils to the skin.

A few drops of essential oil in a carrier oil will add to the health benefits of massage provided that you follow the instructions for diluting the oil so it is safe to use on the skin. Examples of useful carrier oils for massage include sweet almond oil, unscented coconut oil, avocado, apricot and olive oil. Each of these have their own properties in terms of healing properties, smell and stickiness.

For example, unscented coconut oil is perfect for massages compared with the others if you are planning on giving a long massage and if you want to deeply moisturize the skin. The warmth of your hands and your skin, or that of the other person, will prevent it from getting sticky and pulling at sensitive tissues. It also tastes fine if you accidentally get some in your mouth.

In terms of water, you can apply a few drops to your bathwater to soothe skin and inhale the aroma. When diluting oils to use for beauty or healing purposes, choose either distilled or bottled water, or tap water that has been boiled at a full rolling boil for 15 minutes to remove impurities that could compromise the healing powers of the oils.
[adinserter block=”2″]In relation to alcohol, a few drops in rubbing alcohol can be used to clean wounds and tone the skin. Apply directly or with a clean washcloth or cotton square. Pure witch hazel with a low alcohol content will also work well, but without the usual sting of high-alcohol products.

Essential oils can not only augment any beauty routine, they can also be used in a wide range of ways to beautify your gift recipient’s home. They can be used as drawer sachets to keep clothes smelling fresh and free from moths. They can also fill the room with fragrance if spread through the air with the help of a diffuser, making it an economical and chemical-free air freshener that will enhance the atmosphere of your home.

Aromatherapy can be a wonderful hobby as each person explores a range of scents to heal, beautify, and enhance their lives. However, because essential oils have to be distilled down from many plants and flowers, they can be quite expensive if you do not know where to find the best prices.
Even more importantly, they can be harmful if not used and stored correctly.