Taking charge of your health could be as simple as taking a deep, long breath. It seems that a pleasant aroma is the health boost that you always need. Essential oils are natural oils obtained from seeds and plants. With their pleasant scent, they’ve been found to provide a wide range of health benefits.
Whether it’s dabbing a few drops onto your skin, adding them to your bath water, or ingesting them as supplement capsules, essential oils are the perfect addition to your daily routine. For this post, we’ve provided six of our favorites.
Read on to find out more about these oils and the benefits they provide.
Our Top Essential Oils
1. Chamomile oil
Chamomile is often synonymous with tea, but this plant works as well as oil. According to a study published in Molecular Medicine Reports, chamomile oil is great for skin care, helping with blemishes, acne, and inflammation(1). As chamomile tea is often drunk before bed due to its relaxing effects, the oil also provides the same benefits. It has also been linked to stress relief, so add a few drops to your pillowcase and enjoy a good night’s rest.
2. Peppermint oil
Oral hygiene aside, peppermint works as an extremely versatile essential oil. Peppermint oil is the scented oil that keeps you awake. Research conducted by Dr. William Denver from the University of Cincinnati discovered that the regular use of peppermint oil increases your alertness by 30 percent.
The oil can also help deal with nagging headaches. Peppermint oil can also benefit your digestive system. The oil can help with indigestion and also improve issues related to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
A study from the University of California San Diego revealed how peppermint oil capsules significantly improved symptoms and abdominal pain related to IBS. Peppermint oil could also be the answer to all your hair loss problems. At the end of a 2014 animal study, researchers saw the oil as a possible alternative form of treatment in regards to human hair loss.
3. Frankincense oil
Regardless of its religious connotations, Frankincense oils provide plentiful benefits. Frankincense oil health benefits are mostly centered on disease prevention. An article published in The Journal of Oncology Letters emphasized the oil’s potential to kill cancer cells – mostly those related to breasts and tumors. Frankincense oils are also used before yoga sessions and meditation in order to induce relaxation.
4. Lavender oil
Extracted from the flower, the pleasant aroma associated with lavender oils is just the beginning of its benefits. A few drops of lavender oil on your pillow can guarantee you an insomnia-free night, according to researchers at the University of Minnesota. The individuals in the study who doused their pillows with lavender oil showed an improvement in their sleeping patterns as well as an overall improvement in well-being.
Furthermore, according to a clinical study, the oil can also help to ease menstrual pain cramps. 80 nursing and midwifery students who rated their pain on the first day of their periods all later lowered their pain ratings following a lavender oil massage. So whether you’re adding it to your bath water or enjoying a much-needed massage, enjoy both the intoxicating scent and the benefits it provides.
5. Tea tree oil
Native to Australia, tea tree oil contains properties to treat most fungal and bacterial infections. With its anti-fungal properties, tea tree oil can help treat a number of skin conditions such as athlete’s foot and dandruff. According to a study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, tea tree oil improved dandruff severity by at least 41%. Another study emerging from Italy showed a 1% concentration of tea tree oil kill off 100% of 69 head lice and 187 louse eggs in 30 minutes. It’s no wonder oil is often found in natural shampoos.
6. Eucalyptus oils
With the change of seasons, eucalyptus oil works well with allergies and the flu. The oil is typically used to clear nasal and chest congestion and sinuses. In a study published in the Journal of Asthma, asthma patients who received supplements that contained eucalyptus oil as the active ingredient displayed huge improvements in regards to their lung function and asthma symptoms.
Aside from these seven, there’s plenty more essential oils that contain a range of benefits. These include Sage Oil, Rosemary Oil, Jojoba, and Argan Oils – which are often used for skincare.
Whichever oils you choose to purchase, make sure you get the ones that are organically produced. It’s also important that they do not contain chemicals obtained during processing.
