Essential Oils - Benefits and Uses

Essential Oils - Benefits and Uses

July 1, 2021
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Please remember that whilst essential oils are a natural product you must take caution whilst using them. Insure you always dilute your essential oils with a carrier oil before applying it to skin and do a skin patch test prior to using a new essential oil. Children as well as people who are pregnant or nursing should consult their primary healthcare providers before using essential oils. Essential oils and their uses I think we can all agree this year has not been the easiest. Day to day life can easily wrap us up in daily habits which without realising can cause us a lot of strain, physically and mentally. Many people are looking for a more natural way of seeking relief from our daily stresses and worries, with all the pressures from modern-day life leading to forms of depression and anxiety. Natural home remedies are becoming forever more popular instead of prescription medication. So, with this in mind what can we use on a daily to help combat this and allow ourselves to have a sense of calmness and relief? Well, this is where aromatherapy and essential oils come in! If you are new to the essential oil world, welcome! Aromatherapy is the use of aromatic materials which includes essential oils, which is thought to help with psychological and physical well-being. It is often offered as alternative medicine or as a complementary therapy. Essential oils have beautiful properties, they provide numerous benefits to not only your mental health but to your body and its aches and pains. The use of essential oils dates back thousands of years when the ancient Egyptians first burned incense made from herbs and spices. Nowadays we have an astonishing number of essential oils taken from different varieties of, fruits, seeds, roots, generally any part of the plant. Using essential oils can give you that comforting relief and moment to allow you to gain some well-needed headspace. Or depending on the essential oil, give you the up and go attitude to help you take on your day. So which one should I use? How do they work? We here at LiveMoor stock an array of different essential oils which can help combat an array of different problems. What are essential oils? Essential oils are highly concentrated cold-pressed extracts from seeds, flowers, fruits, leaves roots and stems, almost any part of the plant can be used to create extracts. Although essential oils are not supported by scientific research, millions of people turn to essential oils to help treat common health ailments like anxiety, bad skin and joint paint. How do you use them? The most common way of using essential oils is by breathing them in and by applying them to the skin whilst diluted with a carrier oil, (such as almond oil or jojoba oil). Some people may want to ingest by swallowing them, this is an option, but ingestion should only be done when approved by a doctor or certified aromatherapist. Essential oils are popular in homemade cosmetics, creating bespoke skincare and soaps. They are also popular with people who enjoy using diffusers to unwind. Essential oils are generally not used in candle making as they are less effective in candles. You will want to use a significantly less amount as they tend to have a lower flash point and do not mix easily in candle wax, overall, we recommend fragrance oils for candle making as they are much better suited for this. (If you are interested in the difference between fragrance oils and essential and the use of them in candles, there is a section explaining it on our Q&A article which you can find on our website) Why do people use them? People use essential oils typically for relaxing or treating pain, according to aromatherapy practitioners, inhaling essential oil molecules or absorbing through the skin transmits messages to the limbic system - a response for controlling emotions and influencing the nervous system. To which the messages are believed to affect biological factors such as heart rate, stress levels, breathing and blood pressure. Most essential oils are inhaled to experience the effects, which as a result can provide relief from both stress and pain. An important part of aromatherapy is that essential oils are very objective, scents can mean many different things to different people, meaning one scent may be calming for you but for someone else, it may not do anything. The wonderful thing about essential oils is the vast variety and with this, there is surely something that you can find which will help you and your need. Lavender lavender is a beautiful floral scent with a soothing and relieving warm undertone which is great for relaxing and winding down. It has calming effects on your mind and body. Studies show the scent can be useful in helping with mild sleep disorders and helps to decrease anxiety levels. Overall, it creates a comforting and calming environment. It can be used as part of a bespoke fragrance combination, pairing beautifully with other essential oils such as Patchouli and Peppermint. Lavender can be used either on its own or added to handmade candles and soaps. Peppermint Peppermint has a cool and refreshing scent. It is extracted from the leaves of the peppermint plant and is used for a variety of different purposes. Treatment for a variety of conditions including nausea, digestive issues, and headaches. It is also well known for being a popular flavouring agent for foods and mouthwashes. Peppermint has been known to provide relief from itching, muscle pain and headaches. Spearmint Spearmint has a refreshing and sweet odour; it is a milder alternative to the strong-smelling peppermint oil but still has that remaining fresh minty scent. The oil has been known to increase energy levels and have revitalising properties. Spearmint has a cooling effect when applied directly which makes it a great oil for relaxing massages. It also can be added to skincare and haircare products. Spearmint blends beautifully with grapefruit, lavender, peppermint, and rosemary. Basil Basil essential oils come from the luscious green herb. It provides a warm and uplifting aroma that can be used to promote a sense of focus while studying or reading. It can be used in an array of health problems such as acne, anxiety, colds, fatigue, and gout. Basil blends beautifully with bergamot, ginger, and peppermint for an invigorating aroma these mixes can help with people under a great deal of mental strain. Basil oil can be combined with a carrier oil such as sweet almond or jojoba oil (which you can also get from our website) which can then be applied to the skin directly or even added to baths. Ginger Extracted from the ginger plant root, it is a spicy and warming essential oil, although especially suited for the winter months it can be used all year round. Ginger blends beautifully with black pepper and citrus oils. Typically known ginger is a great addition to have whilst feeling nausea, many people take it to combat feeling sick. Other treatments include aching muscles, indigestion, and arthritis. Garlic Garlic essential oil is known for having many different healing properties, its strong aroma is well recognized and has amazing healing properties. Garlic essential oil comes from the bulb of the garlic flower. Its health benefits stem from common colds to respiratory aid, skin infections and acne. Its mainly known for its tremendous help in preventing colds and being antibacterial. Garlic oil can even be used to assist ear and mouth infections its uses are extraordinary, and it is a true staple to have in your collection. Black pepper Black pepper essential oil, unlike real pepper, does not irritate your eyes or make you sneeze. The essential oil is from the peppercorn fruit which can have hints of green and perhaps a floral note too. The essential oil works best when blended with others. Black pepper helps bring together other scents such as spice oils, floral and citrus. Black pepper has been known to improve circulation, can help ease pain in muscles and help enhance alertness and stamina. Tea tree Tea tree is a potent essential oil with a strong aroma with a cleansing medical undertone. Tea tree essential oil comes from the leaves of Melaleuca alternifolia, a small tree native to Australia. It contains germ-fighting properties making it a great essential oil to use whilst fighting germs and treating bacterial and fungal skin conditions, using this can help prevent infections and promote healing. It can be used in candles and soaps as the oil pairs beautifully with the scents of lavender and lemon making a gorgeous bespoke mix. Cinnamon Cinnamon essential oil is a comforting scent with warm and spicey aromas with an earthy tone. Derived from the leaf of the cinnamon tree it can be used individually or as part of a bespoke mix to create a wonderful fragrance. Cinnamon pairs beautifully with other essential oils such as clove or orange. Cinnamon is a firm favourite in the candle and soap making industry as it is an extremely appealing scent which many people admire and want to use in their creations due to its soothing qualities. Cinnamon is often used in diffusers for aromatherapy, especially in the autumn and cooler months as it suits the season. Pine Pine essential oil has antibacterial and antiseptic properties, whilst also being energizing with aromatic properties giving cosmetics a sweet aroma. It is used in perfumes and products for hair and massages as well as bath oil. It can be used to remove lice from hair which is why you so commonly see pine oil as part of soaps and cleaning products. Pine oil also has properties that increase metabolism to help boost your activity levels. As well as this it is also known to help relieve pain such as joint pain and arthritis. The oil is known for having inflammatory properties meaning it reduces inflammation and redness of infected areas, therefore eliminating pain. Lemon The scent of lemon is a known favourite, lemon essential oil is produced from the skin of the fruit, by squeezing the fruit, it releases beautiful lemon oil. Lemon oil is particularly known for its refreshing and zingy scent which makes it perfect for revitalizing, making you feel more awake and energised. People use lemon oil in soaps and bespoke skincare as lemon has been found to help ease stress, elevate moods, and reduce pain making it the perfect oil to add to skincare. In addition to all this lemon oil may also be used to address conditions such as warts, acne, and athlete’s foot. The beautiful scent of lemon oil can help decrease anxiety levels, by inhaling this aromatic oil is thought to stimulate serotonin and dopamine levels thus, easing anxiety and improving your mood. Lemon pairs beautifully with scents such as lavender, black pepper or tea tree oil. Carrot seed Carrot seed oil should not be confused with carrot oil which we can get from crushed carrot roots. Carrot seed essential oil is extracted from the seeds of the Daucus carota plant, known for the white flowering plant it blossoms with a beautiful flower. It can also be found under the names of ‘wild carrot’ and ‘Queen Anne’s lace.’ Carrot seeds essential oil has a powerful scent with a warming and earthy aroma which has antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antifungal properties meaning carrot seed oil is a great addition to any DIY skin care products and blends beautifully with scents such as lavender, rose and cedarwood. Chamomile Chamomile is perhaps most famous for drinking as a black tea to calm and relax us, however, the essential oil is widely used as well due to its calming and antioxidant properties. Due to this, there are many other benefits that essential oil can bring. Chamomile is a great oil to use on bad skin from serve cases such as acne or any mild skin inflammation, this is due to its anti-inflammatory properties which can help calm the skin and reduce any redness. The oil also like lavender promotes good sleep and alleviate anxiety levels by acting as a mild sedative due to the compound alpha-pinene which interacts with the brain’s neurotransmitters meaning it is brilliant for anyone who suffers from anxiety, in some cases people have claimed it has helped with their depression as well. Clary sage Also known as Salvia sclarea is a flowering herb that is native to the Mediterranean basin. The plant is mainly grown for its essential oil which has a fresh and clean scent. The essential oil has been found to help women with balancing hormones and calming nerves as well as treating hair and skin. The scent of clary sage has been described as musky and earthy closely related to the common garden sage. Ylang-ylang ylang ylang essential is extracted from the beautiful yellow star-shaped flowers from the Cananga tree using steam distillation. Depending on how strong the essential oil is it can have a unique fruity and sweet fragrance. The scent is fashionable and is often used in perfumes including fragrances such as the iconic Chanel No 5 or Dior J’adore. Weaker versions of the essential oil are often used as a popular base note for cosmetic products like skincare and soaps. The oil is not only popular for its scent but has been found to help boost self-esteem and alleviate stress when applied to the skin. Bergamot Bergamot essential oil is extracted from the peel of the bergamot orange, it has a light citrus scent with floral notes which are believed to have healing properties. The oil is generally used to elevate mood and combat stress. The oil is very similar to grapefruit essential oil as it offers antiseptic and pain-relieving health properties. In alternative medicine, it is believed to help prevent conditions from eczema, headaches, ringworm, depression, and anxiety plus many more. Bergamot must always be mixed with a carrier oil as when directly placed onto the skin it can cause skin irritation due to the substance found in it known as bergapten, this is highly phototoxic and if the skin is exposed whilst having bergamot essential oil on it there is a potential risk in developing redness, pain and blistering whilst exposed to UV radiation from the sun. Rose rose essential oil is the source from the Rosa Damascena plant which contains the flowers aromatic compounds, the scent and healing properties that rose oil holds makes it a forever popular essential oil to use. When using it you are to mix with a carrier oil and then apply it to the skin, some people opt for using it in baths to help them relax. Rose oil has healing properties, it helps to hydrate dry skin and clear acne and helps minimize the appearance of scars, meaning overall your skin will appear much healthier when using. The oil has been found to withhold properties that can help with anxiety, headaches, menopausal symptoms, and menstrual cramps too. It can be inhaled after sprinkling a drop or two onto a cloth or tissue or used in a diffuser. Frankincense this essential oil has been used since ancient times for sacred and medicinal purposes. The oil is typically sourced from the resin of the Boswellia sacra tree, also known as the olbanum. Its scent has a sweet and woody scent which is perfect to help ease stress. It is also known for helping with conditions such as anxiety, colds, coughs, indigestion, and ulcers. It can be used to combat these and help ease the pain. When used in skincare products, frankincense essential oil is said to treat dry skin and reduce the appearance of wrinkles, age spots stretch marks and even scars making it a popular oil to use. Patchouli The essential oil is derived from the leaves of the patchouli plant which is a type of aromatic herb. The oil is harvested from the leaves and stems after they have dried out. They undergo a distillation process to extract the beautiful oils. Its scent is described as woody and sweet with a hint of spice, because of this the scent is often used in perfumes, incense, and cosmetics. The essential oil and its health benefits include treatment for conditions for skin such as acne, cracked skin or dermatitis. It is also known for easing conditions like colds and headaches. The oil is thought to also help with relaxation resulting in lower anxiety levels. It also is known to help control a person’s appetite. As you explore the world of essential oils, take note on which oils affect you and in what way. Remember to consult a doctor if you need considerable support, aromatherapy is not to replace any doctor approved treatment plans.