So many people are interested in aromatherapy, but are just unsure where to start. What oils should they get? How should they use them? Here’s a look at the five most popular oils in aromatherapy, and ways you can use them. This will help you incorporate essential oils into an overall natural health lifestyle for you and your family. The idea here is to be using essential oils in a way beyond their aromas — to really begin to tap into their true medicinal values.
Lavender essential oil is the most widely used oil for several reasons. It works its magic aromatically, when topically applied, and even when ingested (in very small amounts — not something to do with most oils). Generally, it can be considered aromatherapy’s number one soothing oil. It’s aroma reduces stress markers in laboratory research, and when topically applied it has a mild anesthetic effect. It was recently published that a capsule containing about 2 drops of the oil, when consume daily, was as effective as benzodiazepine drugs at reducing mild to moderate anxiety. It also has regenerative ketones that help the skin heal, and its main constituent is “linalool”, which recently was discovered to have anticancer activity.
Far and away the most common use of lavender is for getting a better night’s sleep, and reducing stress in general. The aroma itself does the trick for many people. Any way you can get the scent in the air can be effective. Some just apply a drop or two under their pillow, while others will use an aromatherapy diffuser set on low throughout the night. A little lavender on the feet is also very popular. A few drops of lavender essential oil does wonders for small burns, and soothes virtually every conceivable skin irritation — either alone (one of the few oils you should do this with) or diluted a “carrier oil” (these are cold-pressed seed or nut oils in which essential oils are blended — most essential oils are too potent for direct application to the skin).
The beginner may also heard of the next oil, yet not even associated with “aromatherapy”. It’s important to understand that this term really means the “entire branch of botanical medicine utilizing the volatile constituents of plants”. And tea tree is really medicine. Tea tree essential oil has been shown in laboratory research to destroy MRSA bacteria as well as having potent antiviral action. It’s a perfect all around antiseptic, useful for cuts and scrapes, acne, athlete’s foot and the like. Virtually any time you’re wanting to prevent or treat infection of the skin, tea tree essential oil is a great place to start. Use it sparingly at full strength, or blend in a carrier at the rate of 40 drops per ounce (this is a five percent concentration, shown effective at treating acne in a recent study).
You’ll find a great many uses for lemon essential oil, too. Lemon’s aroma is (like peppermint’s, which we’ll get to) an uplifting scent which clarifies the mind. It’s been shown to reduce the breakdown of acetylcholine, our primary information-processing neurotransmitter. A study done in Japan showed the aroma significantly reduced the number of errors made by office workers. And its a great cleaning agent, for the body and your surroundings. A couple drops in a bottle of water cleans the water and might help clean your liver. You’ll find many recipes online for homemade cleaning formulas including lemon, not only for its antibacterial activity but for its bright fresh scent.
The essential oil distilled from peppermint is aromatherapy’s number one “stimulant”. Its well known to clarify the mind and bring focus just by inhaling the aroma. Its very potent, so be cautious when first using it, and keep any bottle away from the tip of your nose (it can irritate the membranes very easily). A drop on the tongue is also a great way to enjoy this effect — and both ways seem to bring more oxygen to the brain. Peppermint’s number one medicinal use is for treating all sorts of indigestion, as it stimulates digestive activity. There are many ways to employ this action: ingest a drop or two in a cup of warm water, massage a drop in a teaspoon of carrier into the abdomen, or take a couple drops in an empty cellulose capsule. The inhalation of the oil can help with nausea, as well as headaches for many people. For younger children, because of peppermint’s “spicy-ness”, spearmint should be used instead.
There are really many essential oils vying for the number 5 position. Eucalyptus is very popular, as it helps many people with asthma, allergies, or other breathing conditions (use in a diffuser, or sprinkle a few drops in a steaming bowl of water and inhale). It’s also found in many invigorating massage formulas for enhancing blood flow. Rosemary is used almost interchangeably for the breathing support, and is a great addition to skin and hair care preparations. Chamomile is considered the foremost oil for calming children, and may work best in a very low concentration in a foot massage blend. And frankincense, while a little more esoteric, has profound health-enhancing effects. Its been studied as an anti-cancer agent, is thought to support the immune system, reduces pain and inflammation in joint-care recipes, and in skin care formulas is highly regarded for its anti-aging actions.
This little review might be enough to launch your practice of medicinal aromatherapy — just by having a few of these oils on hand, you’ll learn to start using them, and prompt your interest further on the subject. The more you learn, the more you’ll find the therapeutic uses of essential oils are amazing — they can prevent catching viral illnesses, significantly reduce pain and speed healing, and even have anticancer activity. Wherever you start, good luck and enjoy the ride!
The author has made available reports on specific oils such as patchouli oil and other pure essential oils.
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