5 Essential Oils Uses That Will Improve Your Health

The sense of smell is a very powerful one when it comes to one’s wellbeing. Scents have the ability to make you feel calm, happy, relaxed, and productive. Essential oils have been used for thousands of years for both medicinal and health purposes. Their uses include everything from vanity, aromatherapy, medicinal purposes, and household cleaning products.

The particles that are included in them are extracted from different parts of plants, including the leaves, flowers, bark, peels, resin, and roots. Their benefits come from their antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. The benefit of using them rather than traditional medicines is their ability to act as a natural medicine without the side effects that prescription drugs may have.

There are many ways that you can use essential oils to benefit your health. Whether you are looking for a natural skincare or a sleep aid they have the ability to help you. There are some tips that are important to remember for using essential oils, regardless of the type. It is best to invest in high-quality oils that are therapeutic-grade. These should not be applied directly to the skin because their high concentration may cause an adverse reaction. Here are some effective and safe ways to use them.

Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy involves using essential oils to combat health problems. A popular way of using aromatherapy is to put the oils into a diffuser. The diffuser works by releasing the oil molecules into the air, which creates a mist for you to breathe. You can use different blends of oils, depending on your goal.

You can also do aromatherapy by adding some drops of essential oil to a bath. For example, if you are looking for a natural sleep aid, add some lavender oils to your nightly bath to help induce sleep. Inhaling lavender can reduce stress hormones in your body, which helps you relax. You can also sprinkle a few drops on your pillow before going to sleep. Lavender is a very versatile oil, as it is not only used for sleep, but it can also be effective for healing bruises, skin irritations, and cuts as well.

Topical Uses

While many essential oils cannot be applied directly to the skin, they can be diluted and added to skin products such as lotions and soaps. You can use them and create your own skin products personalizing them to your specific health needs. For example, many choose to add rosemary essential oil to their beauty products. Rosemary oil can benefit hair growth when it is applied to the scalp, so add a few drops to your conditioner. Rosemary also helps improve memory, so adding it to a lotion you will wear all day can have a beneficial effect.

Cleaning

Make all natural cleaning products using essential oils for a pleasant smelling and effective everyday household cleaner. For example, you can wipe the glass doors of your shower that are covered with soap scum with a few drops of lemon essential oil every other week. This will help protect the glass from grime buildup.

Another way you can use essential oils for cleaning is to clean the toilets. Add just two teaspoons of tea tree essential oil mixed with two cups of plain water to a spray bottle. After combining these, spray the mixture around the inside of the toilet’s rim. Let it sit for a half hour before scrubbing it clean. You can also put a few drops of oil inside the toilet paper tube, which will release the scent every time the paper is used.

Baking

Essential oil used in baking recipes can bring a concentrated flavor to your confections. The result is a savory dinner or a delectable sweet treat. Many people choose to add essential oils to their morning green smoothie. A certain blend may be used for weight loss or just for added taste. One great combination (for smoothies) is equal parts of grapefruit, tangerine, spearmint, and lemon essential oils.

You can also make baked goods, such as lavender cookies, by adding just one to two drops of lavender essential oil to the cookie batter before baking. This will help flavor the cookies while also providing a relaxing and enticing scent.

Make sure to do your research beforehand, so you’re aware of what essential oils you can use for baking and what ones you can’t.

Kill Pests

Get rid of an insect problem either indoors or outdoors with the safe and effective use of essential oils. There are several ways they can kill and repel bugs both around your house as well as in your garden. You can use them as a bug spray, in your watering can, and even in candles to keep insects away.

One example is the use of orange oil. Orange oil is a great bug repellent because it clears out entire colonies of bugs and prevents their re-infestation, rather than just killing them individually. Orange essential oil is harmless to humans, however, it is lethal to most insects due to its ability to dissolve the waxy coating on an insect’s exoskeleton. One use of orange oil can destroy an entire colony of ants, and also prevent re-infestation.

There are many beneficial uses for essential oils and several different ways you can use them. Determine your goals from them and then find the right mixture for you.

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Source: Lifehack.org