The World of Essential oils

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.