Essential oils have been used for thousands of years, helping people destress and to support health and wellness. You will find essential oils that assist the body from everything to sore throats and headaches to getting a good night’s sleep. But, what are essential oils and how do they work?
What are Essential Oils?
Essential oils are plant extracts created by pressing or steaming parts of the plant to release the compounds responsible for the aroma.
Fortunately, extraction techniques today are a lot more advanced than the primitive processes used by ancient civilizations, and we now have access to the most potent, purest forms of oil possible. Still, several pounds of plants are often required to create just a few ounces of bottled oil.
The compounds released by the extraction process inherit the plant’s healing properties, and you can access them through aromatherapy.
How Does Aromatherapy Work?
Aromatherapy uses gentle heat to diffuse the oil into the atmosphere. When inhaled, the plant compounds are absorbed through your olfactory sense organs.
The scent molecules interact with the olfactory nerves directly, sending signals through to influence the amygdala or emotional center of the brain.
The skin is also able to absorb essential oils, which is why massage therapists often make extensive use of them during treatment. The oils work their way through your epidermis to provide enhanced benefits such as soothing tired muscles or a longer-lasting feeling of relaxation.
Best Essential Oils for Peace and Wellness
One of the most popular uses for essential oils is to release stress, especially after a bad day at work. An essential oil diffuser is used to gently heat the oil so it releases its compounds into the atmosphere where they can be breathed in.
The healing oils are a popular accessory to use during meditation or enjoying a relaxing soak in a warm tub.
You will often find essential oils as ingredients in healing balms and salves. It is said that a lavender healing balm used by a French chemist named Rene Maurice Gattefosse in 1910 provided the inspiration for research into aromatherapy.
After burning his hand in a laboratory accident, Rene noticed that the only remedy available to him at the time, a pure, undiluted lavender salve, provided immediate relief from pain, and also seemed to help produce healing without scars.
It wasn’t until 1937 that Gattefosse first coined the term for using plant extracts to assist with healing as aromatherapy.
There are essential oils to help with a wide range of maladies, relieve stress, and help you relax. Here are a few of our favorites.
Clove: Clove is an excellent oil to keep on standby for sore throats because its antiseptic properties can ward off a wide range of microbes. Clove is so effective as an antiseptic that it has even been the subject of an extensive study. [source]
Lavender: Lavender is a household name well-known for its soothing properties and for providing relief from burns, cuts, and stings. It’s the antioxidant properties of lavender that deliver its powerful effects.
Oregano: Research is ongoing on the healing effects of oregano essential oils. So far, studies show that it may have positive effects on changes in blood count and immune responses and anti-fungal and antibacterial properties.
Peppermint: This essential oil is one that people often use to infuse their homes and offices with its pleasing scent that never fails at creating a sense of peace and calm. Its antibiotic properties also make it an excellent choice for playing a supporting role in getting fast relief from flu and colds.
Sandalwood; Another essential oil that assists with sore throats as well as a gentle bactericide that can prevent bacteria from reproducing to dangerously invasive levels. It is also said to promote property nervous system function, which is why it’s a popular scent used by massage therapists and chiropractors.
Do you want to know more about aromatherapy and how it can help you relax and improve your health? Stop by H2E Aromatherapy for the latest information on all things aromatherapy and the highest quality essential oils for peace and wellness.