Whether it’s to cleanse your body, clear nasal congestion, or provide soothing relief, you will need essential oils to elevate yourself from stress, ailments, and pains with its therapeutic properties.
Essential oils are a must-have product in spas because of their therapeutic properties. They have strong fragrances that help with aromatherapy. Essential oils are also very useful for beauty and cleansing therapy. They also provide more than cleansing therapies. They can be used for whatever depending on the parent plant and the dose.
If you would like to know what essential oils do, how they can be used and the benefits of good essential oil, this article is for you. We would take you on a guide on how to buy a good essential oil, and also what you should look out for in essential oil.
Shopping Guide
When it comes to buying essential oils, you have to know they perform different functions, depending on the type of oil it is. Knowing what this product is and what it offers will guide your buying decision, especially if you need it for a specific use. This section will tell you everything you need to know about essential oils and their benefits to us as humans.
What are essential oils?
One thing we should do before delving into essential oils is to reiterate the fact that they are quite different from vegetable oils. They have the same color and form but they are quite different from your vegetable oils like jojoba, coconut, avocado, olive oil, and almond oil in function. But some essential oils need to be blended or diluted with vegetables or carrier oils.
To define essential oil then, we would describe it as a concentrated oil compound extracted from plants or fruits. They are oils that have healing benefits to the user, and can even be described as a foundation for some medications. They are derived through steam distillation of water and oil. The oils are natural and organic because they are extracted straight from fresh parent plants.
With essential oils, you will be getting strong aromas that should be used in small doses. The efficacy of the oils is strong because it is concentrated. This is known as the essence of the oil and it is what makes the oils potent.
What are the benefits of essential oils?
Essential oil is used for many health issues and it provides them with abundant benefits. These benefits are based on the parent plant of the oil. But be warned, you should avoid an essential oil that is not natural. This is because essential oils are supposed to be made 100% organically without additives, colorings, or preservatives.
Essential oils are great for treating simple ailments, though there’s not enough research to back this claim. Asides from this, an organic essential oil has can cure some common ailments which include:
- Sore muscles
- Headaches
- Constipation
- Dry mouth
- Sinus infection
- Nasal congestion
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Insomnia
- Low appetite
Essential oils are great for protecting the general health of a person through their soothing, regenerating, antifungal, and antiseptic properties.
How is an essential oil extracted?
You can extract essential oils through three methods which are steam distillation, carbon-dioxide distillation, and cold pressing. Steam distillation is the most popular method. It involves passing hot steam through the plants to pull out the oil. The steam passes through a tube where the steam is condensed to a liquid.
Carbon-dioxide distillation involves using carbon-dioxide to separate the oil from its plant. The molecular structure of the plant does not change because of the low heat used. This also makes the method create potent oil. But a disadvantage is that it uses a solvent, which is not organic.
Cold pressing is a method that uses a machine to press the plant’s matter. It is a rarely used method because the mechanical process in making the essential oil is intensive. But the potency of the oil is of the highest quality.
What can I use essential oils for?
You can use essential oils for several things, both for the body and the environment. The uses are categorized into how they can be applied, which are through ingestion, aromatherapy, and topically.
Aromatherapy is one of the most popular uses of essential oils because of its strong scent. It is used for aromatherapy when it is sprayed, dropped, or puffed into the air. The scent of essential oils can treat some ailments by inhaling. A good essential oil used for aromatherapy provides a relaxing fragrance that de-stresses, aids sleep, or makes the air of a particular place smell refreshing.
Essential oils can also be applied to the skin to cure simple ailments with their antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. Most times the oil is diluted with other components like carrier oils or water. Essential oils could help heal skin blotches like eczema, relieve pain in the body, and smoothen the skin. You can also use the oils to cure your radical skins, dry skin, and fungal infections.
When it comes to ingestion, it is recommended you take essential oils in very small doses and under the strict supervision of medical personnel. Taking essential oils in large doses could be dangerous, so proceed with caution. There are other unique uses for essential oils you might not know about.
Who are essential oils suitable for?
Essential oils are good and suitable for people of all ages which also include children. What’s important when it comes to essential oil is using it in the right dosage. Essential oils are also great for animals and crops as they act as pesticides to deter insects.
They are also great for improving the mental health of anybody. You can use the oil for anxiety, especially for pregnant women. But not all essential oils can be used for pregnant women and babies. If you are a pregnant woman or nursing a child, you should consult experts or doctors before using any essential oil, especially when using it for aromatherapy purposes.
Who should stay away from essential oils?
Has said earlier, pregnant women can use essential oils but not all kinds. They have to be careful with the oils. It is recommended to stay away from the product during the first trimester of pregnancy. They could also use the oil depending on the recommended dosage. Women who are breastfeeding should not apply essential oils topically because of their babies.
Another group of people who are to stay away from essential oils is asthmatic people. Essential oils contain concentrated aromas that might be too strong for the lungs of people who suffer from asthma. In such cases, the oils should be diluted with lots of water to pose less risk. But to avoid complications, consulting a doctor before using the oil is the best option.
How do I recognize a good essential oil product?
As mentioned earlier, a good essential will have a seal by an official organization that certifies that it is 100% organic. This seal is usually on the label of the bottle. Also, the label should identify the plant from which the oil is extracted, the mode of extraction, and the country of origin of the plants.
The ingredients list should list the part of the plant the oil is extracted from. It could be the root, stem, flower, or fruit. Each part offers differing effects, which is why they have to be identified.
There should also be the identification of the chemotype of the oil. This is the chemical group the oil belongs to. Most essential oils belong to the thujanol chemotype, which is based on anti-infective properties. Other popular groupings are thymol and linalool.
What are the common essential oils available?
There are several dozens of essential in different categories based on how they are applied and what part of the plant they are extracted from. Of all the essential oils, one of the most popular oils on the market is lavender essential oil. Not only does it have a splendid aroma, but it is also used for other things like moisturizing the body, and pain relief.
Other common essential oils include:
- Tea tree: It is distinct for its treatment of fungal infections on the skin and acne treatment.
- Jasmine: Great for its aromatherapy. It can relieve stress and help with its anti-aging properties and inflammation on the skin.
- Geranium: It is added to skincare products for its antimicrobial properties.
- Eucalyptus: This is a popular oil that is used for treating congestions, colds, and coughs.
- Basil: This also helps to treat colds, coughs, improve digestion and enhance mood.
- Bergamot: Is great for anxiety relief. It could also help to lower cholesterol.
- Cinnamon: It is used to relieve fatigue and stress in the body. It also works as a pesticide.
- Myrrh: You can use it for coughs, colds, improve digestion, and also help boost your immune system.
- Peppermint: This is another popular essential oil that is used to relieve headaches, pain, and irritable bowel syndrome.
- Rosemary: You can use rosemary essential oil to improve your mental alertness.
- Lemon: The citrusy oil is used to relieve anxiety and enhance weight loss.
- Neem: Its anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties are used for treating fungus and acne.
- Carrot seed: Carrot seed essential oil has anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties to treat the skin.
- Clove: You can use clove to treat pains in the body, including toothaches.
- Frankincense: You can use the oil to treat dry skin and use the anti-aging properties to treat scars, wrinkles, spots, and stretch marks.
- Sandalwood: You can use the oil to treat insomnia and anxiety.
- Ylang ylang: the oil is used to reduce inflammation, lower blood pressure and improve your mood.
How do I use essential oils?
Essential oil is known to be heavily concentrated, which is why they have to be diluted with water or carrier oils like vegetable or nut oils. When using it for aromatherapy, for instance, you should add only a few drops of the oil in a humidifier with distilled water. This way the oil won’t be too strong but still enough to saturate the room.
Also, you can use an essential oil two to three times daily with a dosage of two to three drops for each use. But it is best to follow the manufacturer’s guide or instructions.
What are the side effects of essential oils?
Essential oils have certain side effects that may affect their efficacy. For instance, they are known to cause burning and irritating effects on sensitive skins. Essential oils are also known to cause headaches if the dose is too much. This is why it is important to use the recommended doses. You can also get sunburned if you use essential oils on your skin. You can apply sunscreen after the oil application.
What are the pros and cons?
Before using any product, you have to be aware of its pros and cons to help you make a better buying decision. Essential oils have pros and cons like any other product. And they include:
Pros
- They are organically made.
- They do not contain harmful chemicals or preservatives.
- Essential oils can be used to treat simple ailments like colds and coughs.
- They have a nice fragrance that can be used as perfumes.
- The oils can be used for aromatherapy like treating insomnia and anxiety.
Cons
- There are side effects like headaches.
- It could irritate if you have sensitive skin.
- The concentrated aroma could be dangerous for people who suffer from asthma.
- It could be dangerous to the health if taken in large doses.
Buying Guide
Before buying any type of essential oil, you need to check some criteria off your list. These criteria will help your buying decision to get the best essential oil product.
Therapeutic Properties
This is essential when it comes to choosing an essential oil. Essential oils have therapeutic properties and for whatever you need the oil for. Bottom line- it must meet your satisfaction. For instance, if you wish to de-stress the product you do choose must have a relaxing effect. Naturally, essential oils should be able to have soothing effects, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, and antiseptic properties.
These therapeutic properties are spread across different categories of essential oils. Some plants provide oils that may have properties that would benefit the body, space, or mind.
Aroma
A characteristic of essential oils is their concentrated aroma. The oil might smell pleasant but it tastes differently. Essential oils must be able to provide lovely fragrances. This is important if you wish to use it for its aromatic characteristic. Choosing the aroma is also based on your preference.
You should know that most essential oils are diluted with water to make their scent softer to the nose. Some essential oils don’t have a strong natural stench. Such types don’t need to be diluted. Softly scented oils are good for massages, while strongly scented oils are used for aromatherapy, like adding them to a humidifier.
Quality
When getting an essential oil, you have to be sure of its quality before buying it. This is because it comes in contact with our sensitive area, the skin. First thing, it has to have a seal that says it is 100% natural or organic. It also has to be free of additives, chemicals, and preservatives. Good essential oil should be derived from an organic or wild crop without manipulation.
Packaging
Packaging is an aspect that should not be overlooked when buying essential oil. All essential oils are supposed to come in a dark glass bottle. This is to make sure the oils are not compromised in any way. Plastic bottles will melt and their chemicals mix with the essential oil, hence the glass bottle.
Also, if transparent, keep away from the sun or oxygen because it would make it lose its efficacy. That is why it is best to opt for essential oils in dark bottles. The lid on the bottle should always be secured. The lid should have an oil dropper to protect the oil and also keep it from spilling.
Use
Your choice for essential oil is also determined by your purpose or use. Essential oils can be used in various ways that include ingestion, aromatherapy, and topical application. The product is great for massages, for relaxing the mind and body, for cleansing and clearing skin imperfections, and many more. What you want to do with your all will determine the type you get.
For essential oils that treat health problems, you should consult your doctor before buying them. It could lead to dangerous consequences if you use an oil product without prior knowledge of it. Also, following the instructions of manufacturers is important when it comes to using essential oils.
Recommended Essential Oils
Essential oils have various uses which include massage, stress relief, aromatherapy, pin relief, and lots more. There are many oils to pick for and it could get confusing. That is why we have narrowed the list down to the best ones that will give you your money’s worth.
1 Best All-Purpose Essential Oil
Ola Prima’s essential oil comes in different scents but lavender is one of the best. It can be used for aromatherapy and to make products like soaps and candles. You can also use it to make bath bombs, scrubs, lotions, and creams. The product offers an essential oil of the best quality and its all-purpose use makes it more desirable.
2. Best Aromatherapy Oil
These multi-purpose essential oils come in the major essential oil scent. Lemongrass soothes and gives clarity. Lavender helps to enhance cognitive function and mental alertness. Peppermint helps to concentrate and also helps with thinking. Orange boosts optimism and eucalyptus for concentration. And finally, tea tree boosts mental strength.
3. Best Multi-Set Essential Oils
The pack is an Amazon best essential oils by MAYJAM. It has 15 scents which include lavender, sweet orange, chamomile, jasmine, vanilla, tea tree, sandalwood, peppermint, lemon, rose, lemongrass, cinnamon, rosemary, eucalyptus, and ylang-ylang. You can mix and match the oils according to your preference and use. The multi-purpose oil set can be used for improving scents in houses, offices, and cars.
4. Best Gift Set Essential Oil
This six-set oil is great as a gift for a scent-lover. The set contains scents in orange, peppermint, lemongrass, eucalyptus, tea tree, and lavender. It is multi-purpose in use and very good for aromatherapy purposes. All you have to do is add a few drops to your humidifier and let the scent fill the room. You can mix the oils with your creams and lotions.
5. Best Organic Essential Oil
Majestic Pure delivers an essential oil for clearing toxins in the air. The product helps to clear the air and add a cool refreshing feel. Peppermint serves to also cure colds by making them clearer to breathe.
Summary
One of the good things that have been transformed to help us with simple ailments and therapeutic remedies is essential oils. There are many benefits of the product to the body. You can use them for aromatherapy because of their concentrated scent. You can also apply them directly to your skin to clear imperfections and also relax your muscles.
The uses of oils are as vast as the various types of oils. But you should keep away if you are in your first trimester of pregnancy. You should also dilute the oil with water or carrier oil before use.
The benefits of essential oils make them an important product in the beauty and health industry. It serves as an organic product that provides remedies to simple ailments and also helps the mind’s health. You can use it once or twice a day and get to feel your body and mind is rejuvenated.
With beauty and wellness articles and reviews provided by MBGON, you can keep up with the healthy lifestyle you want.