What are essential oils?
In ancient India,
Egypt and Persia, scents obtained from the extract of flowers, leaves and roots of
some aromatic plants were mixed with fatty oil. They were used to treat people to
soothe their minds and make them relax. This kind of fragrant oil was also used in incense,
massage, medicine, skincare and cosmetics
Nowadays fragrant oil is called essential oils and the therapy to treat using essential oils is called aromatherapy. Essential oils are concentrated extracts of various potentially beneficial plants. Practitioners use them in natural and alternative health practices, such as aromatherapy and naturopathy.
Essential oils are used for many common conditions like muscle pain, skin care, insomnia, sore throat, cold and stress. The use of essential oil at home has been said to help people feel relieved from problems they were facing. Common examples of essential oils are lavender oil, chamomile oil and ginger oil.
Method of extraction
Essential
oils often have a strong smell than the plants they are extracted from. This is
due to the high level of active ingredients present in them. As they require a large quantity of plant matter to make essential oil. Essential oil is extracted by
steam distillation and cold pressing.
·
Steam or water distillation
In this method water or hot steam is passed through the plants, taking
out the essential compounds away from the plant matter.
·
Cold pressing
In this process mechanical pressing or squeezing of plant matter causes it
to release essential juices or oils.
Essential
oils are safe when used correctly. You need to dilute essential oils before
applying them to the skin or inhaling them with steam. But never try to ingest
them. Essential oils are always used with carrier oils.
Essential oils vs natural oils
Essential oils are scented liquids taken from certain plants using
steam or pressure. Essential oils contain the natural chemicals that give the
plant its “essence”. Essential oils are often used in aromatherapy, a form of alternative
medicine that employs plant extracts to support health and well-being.
Essential oils do not have any specific chemical properties in common, beyond conveying characteristic fragrances. Whereas, natural oils are triglycerides in which the glycerine is esterified with three fatty acids. They are the main constituent of vegetable oil and animal fats.
Carrier oils
Carrier oils
are plant-based oils, made from seeds and nuts. Some of the most common
include sweet almonds, cold-pressed coconut, grapeseed, jojoba, and olive
oil. Essential oils are steam distilled or extracted from aromatic leaves,
flowers, and other parts of plants.
Carrier oils
and essential oils both are made from plants. Carrier oils are used to dilute
essential oils and “carry” them to your skin. That’s because essential oils are
potent and can cause irritation when applied directly to your skin.
Most carrier
oils are unscented or lightly scented and don’t interfere with the therapeutic
properties of essential oils. They may be used alone or with other oils to
nourish your skin. Few carrier oils have a distinct odour. When added
to essential oil, it may alter the aroma. Your skin can absorb some carrier
oils better than others. Depending on your skin type, some carrier oils may
irritate the skin or worsen a skin condition such as acne. they can be stored for
longer periods without getting deteriorated.
Types of
essential oils
Lavender oil,
Lavender oil is
an essential oil derived from the lavender plant. It can be taken orally,
applied to the skin, and breathed in through aromatherapy. This oil promotes
relaxation and helps to treat anxiety, fungal infections, allergies,
depression, insomnia, eczema, nausea, and menstrual cramps. The lavender oil
helps cleanse your skin and lessen redness and irritation. To use this
essential oil for the skin, mix 2 drops with 2 teaspoons of coconut oil. You can
apply it on your wrist, palm, forehead or on your temples for instantaneous
relaxation to nerves.
Peppermint
oil
Peppermint essential oil is
extracted from the leaves of the peppermint plant and is used for a number
of purposes. Peppermint oil is promoted for topical use (applied to the
skin) for problems like headaches, muscle aches, joint pain, and itching. In
aromatherapy, peppermint oil is promoted for treating coughs and colds,
reducing pain, improving mental function, and reducing stress.
The topical application of peppermint oil is
generally safe, although it is necessary to dilute it with a carrier oil like
almond or jojoba oil. Inhaling steam and vapours can be helpful for easing
nasal congestion from colds and other upper respiratory infections
Eucalyptus
oil
It is the essential oil from the eucalyptus tree and appears in many over-the-counter cough and cold products to relieve congestion. It's one of the best essential oils for sore throats, coughs, seasonal allergies and headaches.
Eucalyptus oil is also used in creams and ointments to relieve
muscle and joint pain and in some mouthwashes. t is a natural cure for
insomnia. Inhaling the oil is not
dangerous, but one should be very careful in young children and babies, as it
could be dangerous to expose them to high dosages of eucalyptus oil, even when
inhaled.
Chamomile oil
Chamomile oil is an essential oil that's been used for a variety of conditions, from digestive issues to wound healing. chamomile oil easily qualifies as wonderful oil to nourish the hair and scalp. Chamomile Essential Oil is a wonder ingredient to help soothe your complexion.
Whether it's irritation,
breakouts or any other skin concerns, Chamomile Oil is a great natural
remedy to calm your skin and reignite your radiance. Using chamomile on the skin
brings along powerful antioxidants which help the skin to regenerate, tighten
pores and slow down ageing effects in the skin. Skin lightening: Blemishes and
redness can be lightened by chamomile which is sometimes referred to as natural skin bleach.
Rosemary oil
Rosemary oil has anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties that can help you to relax. You can benefit from its pain-relieving properties by massaging the oil on the affected area. Mix 1 teaspoon of carrier oil with 5 drops of rosemary oil to create an effective rub.
Use it for headaches, sprains, muscle soreness or
pain, rheumatism or arthritis. As an oil, rosemary is known for its soothing
properties, making it an ideal pick for itchy scalps or those looking to repair
scalp damage. It not only smooths down the cuticle, but it heals and calms
the scalp from irritation and itchiness.
sweet orange
essential oils
Orange essential oil is used for various purposes like lifting mood and reducing stress and adding a fresh, orange-like aroma to a room. Orange essential oil is extremely beneficial in antimicrobial action, pain relief, and anticancer properties. The enzymes in the orange oil keep the skin clean and blemish-free.
The orange oil has antiseptic properties that help to prevent bacteria from
further spreading and leading to more acne. The sweet orange essential oil works
well for all skin types: oily, dry, and combination skin. If you apply it in its
concentrated form, it can cause skin burns.
Ginger essential
oils
Ginger oil is an essential oil extracted from the rhizome of the ginger plant. Ginger Essential Oil facilitates the elimination of toxins, boosts digestion, eases discomforts of the stomach and bowel, enhances appetite, clears the respiratory tract, soothes aches, and reduces inflammation. As with any essential oil, ginger oil is very concentrated and shouldn't be applied to the skin undiluted.
Ginger essential oil is high in antioxidants, and it can help
prevent the signs of ageing. Use it topically to prevent free radicals that can
lead to fine lines and wrinkles. It can also help boost skin elasticity
and tone the skin. There are a lot of anti-inflammatory properties of ginger
that can help your brain. For example, ginger increases serotonin and
dopamine levels. This can reduce inflammation, which may cause depression.
How to use essential
oil
The
concentrated oils are extracted from the fruit, flowers, and other parts of plants. And for thousands of years, people
have used them to help with stress, insomnia, and other health concerns.
Typically,
you use essential oils with aromatherapy techniques. For example, you can
diffuse essential oils to inhale them. Or you can apply them directly to your
skin for muscle aches.
Always
dilute using a carrier oil when applying oils topically to children. Like perfume, apply oils behind the ears, on the chest or on the wrists. You can
also apply oils down your spine or on the bottoms of your feet before bed. For
super-fast absorption apply oils on your stomach, near your belly button
The most
common way to use essential oils is to inhale them, either directly out of
the bottle or by using a diffuser or humidifier. You can also dilute essential
oils with a carrier oil and apply it directly to your skin. Or you can get
creative and add the mixture to a body wash, shampoo, or bath.
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