People have been using essential oils to cure ailments, relieve stress and promote overall wellness for centuries—and all over the globe. But what are they, exactly? And just what do they do? Consider this your beginner’s guide to essential oils; we’ll teach you how to get started with essential oils and how they can improve your day-to-day life.
What Are Essential Oils And Where Did They Come From?
If you want to learn how to get started with essential oils, you first need to understand what they are. Essential oils aren’t technically oils at all; they’re actually plant compounds extracted from a plant’s flowers, leaves, roots, bark or peels. The earliest evidence of humans using plants to heal various ailments was discovered through cave paintings found in the Dordogne region of France that date back to 18,000 BCE. Ancient Egyptians were also among some of the first people to use essential oils as part of their medical practice, as well as for beauty treatments and food preparation.
In modern times, the potential healing effects of essential oils were rediscovered by Rene-Maurice Gattefosse—a man largely regarded as the father of modern aromatherapy. A French chemist, Gattefosse healed a bad hand burn with pure lavender oil in 1937 which spurred him to further examine other potential benefits of essential oils.
What Do Essential Oils Do?
Over the years, modern use of essential oils has reached the U.S, though it’s still not as readily accepted here as it is in European countries, where medical aromatherapy is extremely popular. Many physicians in Europe prescribe oils as part of a patient’s medical care, such as Dr. Wolfgang Steflitsch, a physician and vice president of the Austrian Association of Aromatherapy and Aroma Care.
Steflitsch notes that there is high-quality evidence that essential oils can help treat infections, provide relief from sleep problems and pain and improve anxiety and depression. We happen to love dabbing a bit of lavender on our wrists when we’re feeling stressed, or adding some eucalyptus to our bath to soothe a congested nose and chest.
Of course, it’s best to consult your doctor with any medical condition you may have. But just like meditation, why not incorporate alternative therapies to help improve your day-to-da health
5 Ways to Use Essential Oils
There are many ways to use essential oils, including adding a few drops to your bath water or body cream. Here are our favorite five ways to use essential oils.
- Put them in a diffuser
- Dab a little behind your ears, wrists, or anywhere on your skin
- Take a whiff
- Add a few drops to your water
- Mix a couple drops with your lotion and rub on skin
Related: How To Make Fruit and Herb Infused Water
The Best Essential Oils For Common Ailments
Now that you know how to get started with essential oils, here are some of our favorite oils for treating common ailments.
Lavender soothes:
- Stress
- Insomnia
- Allergies
- Cuts and burns
Peppermint aids:
- Headaches
- Nausea
- Heartburn
- Sore Muscles
- Itchy skin
Lemon helps with:
- Colds
- Sore throats
- Depression
- Alkalizing your body
Frankincense assists:
- Arthritis
- Cell regeneration
- Wound treatment
- Dry skin
Eucalyptus can help treat:
- Colds and flu
- Sinus pressure or pain
- Asthma
- Itchy scalp
Always be sure you check the label on your essential oil to make sure the manner in which you want to use it is safe. And double check that you’re buying pure essential oils—not synthetic. Synthetic oils (often sold at drugstores) do not have the same potency as pure essential oils, nor are they ingestible. Our favorite brands of pure essential oils are doTerra and Young Living. And if you want to read more about essential oils, check out these great resources:
-The Complete Book of Aromatherapy and Essential Oils
–Essential Oils Desk Reference
Essential Oils in Diffusers
Using essential oils in a diffuser is a great way to fill a room in your house with specific scents that can benefit your health! Using aromatherapy diffusers like this one, you can blend different oils together for different purposes. Check out these essential oil diffuser recipes to get started today:
Do you use essential oils for health and wellness? Let us know in the comments section below!
8 Comments
Doreen Winkels on May 21, 2017 at 10:05 AM
I recently used Lavendar on a boil my daughter had on her buttock. It was very painful and within a couple days of applying Lavendar it completely vanished. Years ago my son had the same issue and saw the pediatrician. So happy to have saved a doctors visit, putting her on an antibiotic and feeling like I can solve some of these things on my own with the oils I have at home!
Jessica on April 3, 2016 at 7:02 PM
I've been using essential oils for over two years off and on. They've helped me with a slew of ailments. The main thing it has helped with is pain relief. I'm 29 and almost a year ago I had to have back surgery and a few months prior to that I was rear ended and ended up having major problems with my shoulders and mid back. I use many blends of young living oils and it helps to not have to take as many pain pills. I also use peppermint oil for headaches/migraines and lavender/peace and calming to help me sleep at night. I recently got a sinus cold and used a blend of thieves, peppermint, and eucalyptus globulus and symptoms were gone so much faster than normal. I definitely praise essential oils for giving me an alternative when I already have to take so many pills!
Michele on March 31, 2016 at 5:58 PM
I just started using essential oils. I put lavender in a diffuser and run it at night. I've haven't slept so soundly in months! Even my husband, who was skeptical about the oils, said he's sleeping so much better. I'm trying to learn more about then and try more.
Lynn on March 31, 2016 at 4:40 PM
What about hot flashes?
Chris Freytag on April 4, 2016 at 8:59 AM
Hi Lynn - I'm with ya! Hot flashes are no fun. Check out this article: http://essentialoilsanctuary.com/7-essential-oils-for-hot-flashes-and-night-sweats-plus-3-mixtures-application-tips/
Beth on March 31, 2016 at 8:10 AM
I have been using Rocky Mountain Oils (Native American Oils) for about 6 months and love them! My favorite is lavender for sleeping. I put it in a diffuser at night and rub some into my skin...sleep like a baby! I use Grapefruit in my water for an appetite depressant. I use Immune Strenght in a diffuser in my kitchen to ward off viruses, etc. Just a few of the ones I use.
Joan on February 15, 2016 at 5:06 AM
I love using lemon or lime oil in my water. I also use oils for headache relief (Past Tense and/or peppermint). Feels great to not have to reach for a pill.
Beth on February 9, 2016 at 8:59 PM
I've been using them for about 1 1/2 yrs now and love them! I'm a speech therapist in the schools and home health and swear by the Thieves blend to ward off the nasty viruses and bacteria floating around. I could go on with the many uses I have found!