More and more people have started turning to holistic cures for everything from colds to cancer. Therapeutic essential oils have a million different uses. Some oils have purposes on their own; some can be combined for excellent effects. While fragrance oils are synthetic, chemically combined scents, essential oils are distilled directly from the leaves, petals, and stems of various herbs and flowers, therefore containing the properties of the original plant itself.
It is possible to make your own, but it takes a lot of leaves to make a little bit of oil. While the process is not necessarily complicated, it is rather arduous. However, most health food stores or pharmacy sections will carry them for a reasonable price. Make sure to use 100% pure, therapeutic grade oils in your endeavors.
It is important for two reasons to be cautious when it comes to essential oils. For one, their therapeutic use is a controversial matter in the medical world. While some studies have indicated that they may be useful in some circumstances, many professionals believe their healing properties are largely exaggerated. Secondly, some of them have ill effects on certain conditions. For instance, sage and rosemary essential oils are not good for people with epilepsy, and the use of several varieties should be avoided during pregnancy.
However, some individuals claim to have experienced great results using essential oils. While this type of treatment should never replace traditional medical care, they may be useful in a supplementary role.
Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil is made from the tea tree native to Australia. It has antiseptic, antibacterial, and antifungal properties that make it useful for quite a number of things. It can be rubbed on the scalp to clean out pores and is reported to encourage hair regrowth. Rubbing it on the skin can help clear up allergic reactions (like poison ivy) and bacterial or fungal infections (like ringworm, yeast infections, and acne).
Eucalyptus Oil
Eucalyptus is great for the respiratory system. You can apply some to a cotton ball, or even your palms, then take deep breaths and inhale its soothing, cooling vapors. It helps relieve stuffy noses, coughing, sore throats, and other cold or respiratory illness and inflammation symptoms. It can also be added to bathwater or a humidifier to spread it throughout a room or house. It is also reputed to be successful successful as an antiseptic for minor wounds, an insect repellant, and may also help ulcers.
Peppermint Oil
Peppermint is another good option for clearing out the sinuses. Additionally, it helps relieve nausea and headaches. A drop in a glass of water is a great afternoon pick-me-up, as it’s very stimulating, especially for mental exhaustion. Peppermint may also help with vertigo and, believe it or not, flatulence.
Lavender Oil
Lavender is known for its lovely aroma and is hailed as a calming smell, thus it’s reputation for being an antispasmodic, antidepressant, and sedative. Taking a big whiff of oil during stressful situations may help you relax, but it’s also excellent for relieving sore muscles when added to the bath, or soothing aches when massaged directly onto the skin. Additionally, lavender also has antiseptic properties, and it may be useful on burns and wounds, acne.
Thyme Oil
Thyme is another straight-from-the-kitchen scent that’s great for more than seasoning stew: essential thyme oil has long been used as a home remedy, thanks to its antirheumatic, antispasmodic, anti-anxious properties. It can be effective for things like gout, arthritis, and female reproductive system problems. Additionally, it's used to help with thinning hair. It’s good for the mouth, aged or oily skin and scarring, is a natural antibacterial and insect repellent, and helps with hangovers.
