Essential oils are the highly concentrated version of the natural oils found mainly in plants. They can also be found in flowers, roots, wood, bark, or seeds. They have been used throughout history in cultures all over the world for their varied medicinal and health benefits. The oil is derived from its source either by distillation, cold pressing, or solvent extraction.
Though the list of essential oils is extensive, the following essential oils have proven to be among the more popular.
1. Lavender Oil
Lavender essential oil is the most used essential oil. Its oils are distilled from the flower spikes of certain species of lavender.
Its popularity stems from its versatile properties which include antioxidant, antimicrobial, sedative, calming and antidepressive properties. It can be used to reduce anxiety and emotional stress, protect against diabetes symptoms, improve brain function, help to heal burns and wounds, improve sleep, restore skin complexion and reduce acne, slow aging with powerful antioxidants, relieve pain and alleviate headaches.
2. Peppermint Oil
Peppermint oil is derived from the leaves of the peppermint plant which is a hybrid of the watermint and spearmint plants. The oil is gathered by steam distillation of the fresh aerial parts of the flowering plant.
Peppermint essential oil can reduce stomach aches, soothe digestive issues, freshen bad breath, relieve headaches, improve mental focus, clear the respiratory tract, boosts energy, and releases tight muscles. It also has antimicrobial properties
3. Sandalwood Oil
Sandalwood oil is obtained from the heartwood of various species of sandalwood trees through the process of steam distillation of the tree’s chips and billets.
Sandalwood oil has antiseptic properties that can be used to protect external and internal wounds from infection. Its anti anti-inflammatory properties relieve all types of brain, digestive, nervous, circulatory and excretory system inflammation, caused by from infections, fevers, antibiotic side effects, insect bites, wounds or poisoning.
Its antispasmodic properties make it great for relaxing spasms and contractions in the nerves, muscles and blood vessels. You can use it as an astringent for better muscle strength and a tighter skin or as a disinfectant to keep microbes and small insects away. It can also help improve memory and stimulates concentration.
4. Bergamot Oil
Bergamot oil is derived from the rind of a bergamot orange fruit through cold-pressing.
Bergamot oil is favored for its ability to improve blood circulation, prevent infections, reduce pain, stress and anxiety, aid in digestion, and skin care, eliminate bad odors, speed-up healing, relieve spasms, congestion, and respiratory problems.
5. Rosemary Oil
Rosemary Essential Oil is derived from the flowering tops of the evergreen, shrubby aromatic herb Rosmarinus Officinalis, a plant belonging to the Mint family through a process of distillation.
Rosemary oil has multiple varied uses. It is used for stress and anxiety relief, mental clarity, boosting learning and memory, increasing circulation, curing headaches and alleviating muscle and joint pain, boosting immunity, relieving indigestion, coughs, colds and the flu, eliminating dandruff, stimulating hair growth, clearing up acne, and fading stretch marks.
6. Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil comes from Melaleuca alternifolia, a small tree that is native to Queensland and New South Wales, Australia, through a process of steam distillation.
Tea tree oil is used as a natural hand sanitizer and mouthwash, an insect repellant, a natural deodorant, an antiseptic for minor scrapes and cuts, to boost wound healing, to fight acne, eliminate nail fungus and treat athlete’s foot, to soothe skin inflammation, as an all-purpose cleaner, to control dandruff, and relieve psoriasis.
7. Chamomile Oil
Chamomile oil is extracted from the flowers of the chamomile plant by steam distillation. There are two types – the Roman chamomile and the German chamomile. though their properties are mostly similar, Roman chamomile oil is more calming and German chamomile oil is better suited as a powerful anti-inflammatory agent.
The properties in chamomile oil have been shown to help to remove toxins and agents that cause infections, prevent infections which arise due to bacteria and fungi, relieve depression, reduce anger, improve digestion, treat rheumatism, aid in skin care, relieve pain, remove excess gas from the intestines and stomach, boosts nervous system, and tone the body among other benefits.
