What Are Essential Oils?
Essential oils are natural, volatile substances obtained from flowers, herbs, trees, and other plant materials such as the outer layer of fruits, by means like steam distillation, cold pressing, or solvent extraction. Essential oils are not like the olive or canola oils which are fatty vegetable oils while on the other hand essential oils are volatile, meaning they last briefly, usually an hour, and they contain the real essence and smell of the plant.
Some popular essential oils include lavender, peppermint, eucalyptus, tea tree, lemon, rosemary, frankincense, and orange. For centuries, these oils have been used to enhance health, beauty, emotional well-being, and spiritual practices.
Today essential oils are again considered attractive to people who want to replace traditional synthetic chemicals with plant-originated solutions for both personal and home care. These aromas, or fragrances, can promote moods, calm stress, heal skin and hair, refresh the air, remove grease and dirt, keep away insects, and much more.
There are three main ways to use essential oils:
- Aromatherapy: The use of essential oils involves the use of odors through the nose or mouth in order to influence the emotions and mood. Oils come in concentrated form that they can be inhaled directly from the bottle, they can also be aerosolized in air or mixed with water as a mist for a room.
- Topical Use: Oils are used on the skin, hair, baths, etc. to give the skin and hair a booster and treat skin disorders. Before being applied to the skin, they should always be diluted in a carrier oil such as coconut oil, jojoba oil, or almond oil.
- Internal Use: There are oils that can be taken internally but in limited amounts compared to other oils like the massage oils. It is important to note that quality standards are just as valuable as are precautions.
Buying Quality Essential Oils
As the use of essential oils increases, there is an emergent of fake and poor quality essential oils in stores, on online platforms, and through multi-level marketing. Indicators of quality oils include:Indicators of quality oils include:
- No synthetic material used in its production, the oil is 100% natural.
- Otherwise, the method of extraction is stated on the label, and it is at the discretion of the manufacturer to include one or the other or both.
- Plant and plant part botanical classification shown
- Use of batch codes to help in tracking the items.
- Dark bottle that hides oil from the potentially damaging effects of light
- Some of the benefits include: Affordable price when bought from an authentic supplier.
Proper Storage
To retain potency and shelf life, essential oils should be stored properly:To retain potency and shelf life, essential oils should be stored properly:
- It is important to keep the bottles sealed as they should be store in cool dry places.
- Some of the instructions that should never be violated for the product include; do not expose to direct sunlight, heat or temperature changes.
- Keep away from children and pets
- It has a shelf life of 1-3 years but the life differs because the shelf life depends with its production date.
Top 5 Popular Essential Oils for First-Time Users
Some of the most popular essential oils to start with include:
- Lavender: Soothing herbaceous oil with floral scent useful in reducing stress/ anxiety, for skin itch, inflammation, headaches, and burns, and as insect repellent.
- Lemon: Light yellow oil for invigorating the spirit and focus, eliminating greasy substances, and reducing nausea.
- Peppermint: Sweet, mentholated oil to increase energy, eliminate headache and nausea, clear clogged passages, promote digestion.
- Tea Tree: Herbaceous, medicinal oil for washing face to eliminate acne and dandruff, for treatment of nails infected by fungus and for use in cuts and sores as a disinfectant agent.
- Eucalyptus: That, like camphorous, green oil to clear sinuses or ease cough and congestion, repel bugs, or ease muscle soreness.
Essential oils are highly concentrated so start slowly with small doses. Hence, conduct the skin patch test before the widespread utilization of the product.
- For aromatherapy or blending with carriers, dilute the substance with 2-3 drops at most.
- Ensure that usage rates are within the recommended levels for ingestion
- Avoid the contact with eyes and facial region
- Always consult your doctor if pregnant, breastfeeding, or on medication or if the patient is a child or elderly.
Now it is time to have fun and discover the possibilities of essential oils usage safely. Sweet smell coupled with effective nutrients shall ensure they enhance natural health, beauty and home remedies.