Essential oils are not new to the market – they have been used for thousands of years due to their antibacterial, antidepressant, detoxifying, calming, antiviral and stimulating properties. They are considered a safe, organic and cost-effective therapy, so adding a few of these small bottles to your personal medicine cabinet is a great idea. Made through the process of distillation (separating water and oil), essential oils are highly concentrated liquids with a strong aroma.
There are three different ways to use essential oils:
– Topically – when applied right on your skin;
– Internally – this can be done only with certain high-quality essential oils that are safe for internal use;
– Aromatically – by using a diffuser.
Using essential oils has a lot of benefits including hormone balance, improved immunity, better digestion, improved brain function, higher energy levels, reduced stress and anxiety, restful sleep and many more. But besides your overall health, they can also be beneficial for your body, home and even cooking. For instance, a cup of mint chocolate cocoa is something worth trying. Just add 2-3 drops of peppermint essential oil into a cup of a hot cocoa and enjoy the new flavour you’ll get. Now on to the rest of the uses of essential oils.
Body, hair, oral and skin care
– Cellulite reducer. This is the seemingly eternal enemy of women which makes it hard for them to ever be satisfied with how the skin of their upper legs and buttocks looks like. If you are one of them, don’t give up just yet – grapefruit seed essential oil is here to help you in this struggle. Just blend 5 drops of it with 2 tablespoons of coconut oil and massage the affected areas.
– Deodorant for both women and men. For ladies – make a mix of beeswax, coconut oil and a few drops of tea tree or lavender. For men – use coconut oil, beeswax, and essential oil from clove or cedarwood.
– Hair conditioner. If you need a conditioner for your hair, stay away from synthetic products and try something natural that works. Mix 5 drops of lavender and sandalwood oils with 15 drops of rosewood oil into an unscented oil. Collect the liquid into a small bottle and leave it in warm water for a while so it can heat up. Apply it to your hair and let it sit for about 20 minutes. Then, shampoo your hair as usual.
– Sunscreen. Direct exposure to sun for a long period can be harmful to your skin. So, using sunscreen is a must, not just in summer but year round. With a simple mix of shea butter, Helichrysum oil, zinc oxide, coconut oil and essential oil from lavender you can easily make a toxic-free sunscreen for everyday use.
Home
– All-purpose cleaner. Cleaning your living space with the right products regularly is important for your overall health, so why not try to keep your home fresh and clean with a few drops of essential oil? All you need is a spray bottle, warm water and three drops of each – tea tree oil and lemon essential oil.
– Mosquito repellent. We all know that all those little bugs can be really annoying. Today, there are a lot of bug sprays available but not all of them are effective. A combination of 1 drop of eucalyptus, citronella and lemongrass oil combined with 1 teaspoon of coconut oil will create the right formula that will keep you safe from mosquitoes and other bugs. Just rub the spray on your skin and repeat as needed.
– Smoke eliminator. Smoking harms your health but it also badly affects the freshness of your home. If you want your house to smell nice and fresh all the time, put 4 drops of eucalyptus, tea tree and rosemary oil in a spray bottle and spray around.
The most important thing about essential oils is knowing which ones to buy and from where to get them. Keep in mind that not all essential oils on the market are created the same way – some are completely worthless to your health since they are made synthetically. Look for oils that are certified to be organic, 100% pure, indigenously sourced and have a therapeutic grade.
