Who can and can’t use essential oils, the benefits and usage of some of the most popular essential oils and how to choose high-quality oils
The United States essential oil market size was estimated at around $ 4.8 billion back in 2019. It was expected for the market to reach around $ 5.2 billion by 2020.
Essential oils have been used for hundreds of years in different cultures to help heal the body naturally. Essential oils are not just there to make your room smell pretty but they also have natural healing properties. People use them because of their smell as well as their natural ability to help the body heal. They are easy to use and a professional can mix up oils for you that will help you deal with your current conditions.
Today, we are going to share with you how you can use oils safely as well as some of the main benefits of the most popular essential oils that are being used around the world today.
What are essential oils?
According to Healthline, essential oils are compounds extracted from plants. The oils help to capture the plant’s scent and flavor or their ‘essence’.
Essential oils are captured through a distillation process. Either the plants are steamed or they go through a mechanical method known as cold press. Once the compounds are extracted, they are often combined with carrier oils to create a product that is ready to be used.
You must find out how the essential oils are made because if they are done through a chemical process, they are not considered true essential oils and will not give you the full benefit that the oil is meant to give.
Who can use essential oils?
Anyone can use essential oils. The trick is how you use the oils and when you should not use the oils.
Essential oils have a few contraindications, which means that you need to check with a qualified aromatherapist or doctor to see if you can use the oils you wish to purchase. There can be components that people are allergic to so if you have a nut allergy, you cannot use essential oils that are extracted from nuts or the plants that produce nuts.
Young children and elderly people may be more sensitive to the oils. If you wish to apply the oils to your skin, make sure that you dilute the oils with a carrier oil so that it is less potent. Do a patch test and see how the skin reacts after 24 hours.
You can place essential oils into diffusers for anyone to use. Inhaling the oils does take longer for the benefits to be present but it is a safer option for elderly people and young children.
Are essential oils safe?
Essential oils are safe for the most part. Just because they are natural, does not mean they can be used on anyone.
Using essential oils on your skin or inhaling when they are combined with a carrier oil is safe. There are a few oils that cannot be used if you have certain illnesses or diseases. For example, if you are diabetic, you should not use an oil that has the word ‘sweet’ in the name.
Some of the side effects can include but are not limited to:
- Skin irritation
- Asthma attacks
- Headaches
- Allergic reactions
- Dizziness
If you have any side effects, do not panic. Wash the oil off your skin with a cold, clean compress. Turn off your diffuser and open the windows to get fresh air into the room. If the reaction gets worse or does not go away after 24 hours, seek medical help as soon as possible.
Do not use essential oils if you are pregnant! Professionals are not 100% certain that it is safe to use during pregnancy so rather do not take the chance. Another thing that you need to remember is that essential oils should not be ingested. Swallowing essential oils is not recommended and can be harmful and in some cases, fatal. If an oil says that you can drink it, it is not pure oil.
Speak to a professional Aromatherapist to check which oils are safe for you to use with your current conditions and diseases. Some oils like we said before are not safe to use when you have a disease such as diabetes, high blood pressure, low blood pressure or hormone imbalances.
How to choose the right essential oils
Just because a company might tell you that their essential oils are good, does not mean that they have been harvested correctly or that they are pure essential oils. Since essential oils are part of an industry that is not regulated, the quality and composition of the essential oils can vary.
Here are a few tips you can keep in mind to make sure you are buying the best of the best:
- Quality
High-quality oils have been changed the least by the extraction or harvest process. You want to choose a chemical-free oil and that has been extracted through distillation or the cold-press process. - Reputation
Researching brands will help you see who has the best reputation when it comes to high-quality products. It is always a good idea to go with the brands that the professionals’ trust and use. - Purity
Pure essential oils contain no additives or synthetic oils. If you look at the labels, pure oils will list the plants’ botanical names such as Lavandula Officinalis and not terms like essential oil for lavender or fragrance.
Benefits and uses of some of the more popular essential oils
Benefits of lemongrass essential oil
Lemongrass is a powerful essential oil that is derived from the leaves and stalks of the lemongrass plant. It has a powerful citrus scent.
Some of the benefits include but are not limited to:
- Antibacterial properties
- Antifungal properties( can be used to help treat athlete’s foot, ringworm and jock itch)
- Anti-inflammatory properties
- Strong antioxidant
Benefits of vetiver essential oil
This is a plant and the root is used to make the essential oil.
According to WebMD, Vetiver can be applied directly to the skin to help relieve symptoms of stress and anxiety. Professionals use it to help their patients deal with emotional trauma and shock. It is also used to help relieve pain from arthritis, strings as well as burns. It can also be used to help get rid of lice and repel insects.
You can also inhale the oil to help with nervousness, insomnia as well as joint and muscle pain.
Benefits of lemon essential oil for the skin
Lemon is another strong citrus smelling oil. When you dilute the oil, you can apply it topically to your skin and it will help kill bacteria that may be trapped in your pores which causes skin breakouts.
According to Healthline, it can help you clear out your skin as it is an antioxidant and contains Vitamin C. These properties help to exfoliate the skin which will get rid of unwanted dead skin cells that sit on top of your skin and cause the pores to become filled with gunk.
Benefits of valor essential oil
Valor is also known as courage in a bottle. It can boost your courage and help you deal with your anxiety. Valor essential oil is a mixture of different oils such as:
- Rosewood
- Spruce
- Frankincense
- Blue Tansy
These oils mixed together gives you an ara of different benefits such as:
- Reduces stiff muscles
- Relaxes muscles
- Provides courage
- Gives you a mood boost
- Treats burns
- Helps with anxiety
- Eases anxiety
- Relieves headaches
Benefits of nutmeg essential oil
This oil is extracted from the seeds of the nutmeg tree. It is not safe to use if you have a nut allergy. It has a strong, spicy scent with a musky undertone.
Some of the benefits include:
- Anti-inflammatory
- Pain-relieving
- Antimicrobial
- Cleansing and energizing
It is a great oil to use in the morning to help you get up and get going.
Benefits of birch essential oil
Birch bark has been proven to accelerate acute wound healing. Further studies need to be done into this oil to see how effective it can be with the wounds associated with diabetes.
This oil also helps to reduce pain, relieves symptoms of arthritis as well as acts as a skin toner that can be used on all ages.
Benefits of amber essential oil
Amber essential oil is used in a lot of natural everyday products but most of us are not aware that it is there.
Some of the proven benefits include:
Benefits of yarrow essential oil
Yarrow is a herb that has been used since ancient times.
It is used for:
- Fever
- Common colds
- Hay fever
- Toothache
It can be applied to the skin to help with wound healing. You can eat the natural herb and it can be used in salads or steeped in hot water and turned into a tea to help with bloating, intestinal gas, mild gastrointestinal cramping as well as other stomach issues.
Benefits of anise essential oil
Anise is a herb and the oil comes from the root and leaf to make natural medicines.
It is used for:
- An upset stomach
- Runny nose
- As a diuretic
- Insomnia
- Constipation
- Appetite stimulant
You can diffuse the oil to help with runny noses during the winter seasons. If you want to use it to help with digestive issues, you can eat the herb or you can turn the herb into a natural tea and drink it with a bit of honey.
Conclusion
There are a lot of studies out there that prove the benefits of essential oils. Please note that essential oils are not there to heal or to replace modern-day medicine. They are there to help you maintain a holistic approach as well as to help keep your body in a natural and healthy state. You can use them in conjunction with your medication to help your body manage better. You can try using an essential oil such as mint or lavender to help with a mild headache for example before taking a pill.
Takeaways:
- Do not use essential oils when pregnant or lactating
- Keep oils out of reach from children
- Always do a patch test before applying oil to your skin
- If you have a reaction, wash the oil off and seek medical help if the reaction gets worse or does not go away after 24 hours
- Speak to your doctor or a professional to see which oils are best for you
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