Essential oils are concentrated oils that have been extracted from plant matter like peelings, leaves, roots, and the whole plant. They are defined by Tisserand and Young in Essential Oil Safety 2nd Edition as “mixtures of volatile, organic compounds originating from a single botanical source”(pg. 5). Essential oils are separated from the plant by a few different methods, but mainly distillation, or expression.
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Extraction
The method used depends on the type of plant matter and what the end use will be. As the aromatherapy world changes the options are changing too. Now you can also find absolutes, CO2 extracts and hydrosols to name a few. For this article though we will focus on
When the organic compound is extracted from a plant it is lipophilic, it will not disperse in water. This is an important thing to understand about essential oils as many people use them incorrectly. Understanding what an essential oil is can be important to keep yourself safe.
There are hundreds of different types of essential oils available to support everything from everyday illnesses to allergies, and more. Two common ways of using them for health support is through inhalation or absorbed through the skin after proper dilution.
You can use essential oils for supporting all kinds of issues, from skin conditions to reducing muscle pain, and more.
Common Essential Oils
Some of the more common essential oils that people know about are:
Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus)
Can be used to help relieve congestion and colds. One of the best ways to use eucalyptus is through a diffuser that dilutes and dispels particles into the air. It also makes a good tick repellent when diluted and rubbed on the skin in strategic spots.
Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
A great oil to use before bed to help you relax and get to sleep faster. It also works for skin and scalp inflammation. Diluting it and then applying directly to the skin is the best way to support skin issues.
Lemon (Citrus x limon)
Boosts energy. It’s common to add this to cleaners for the house and the body due to the energy boost and happy feelings associated with the smell of lemon. It can help relieve issues common with athlete’s foot and warts. Some people have found it to reduce pain. It can also be supportive with weight loss by using an inhaler a few times a day.
Peppermint (Mentha x piperita)
This essential oil has shown a lot of promise in helping people reduce headache pain. A tiny diluted bit placed on your temples seems to do the trick. In a diluted lotion peppermint has an “icy-hot” feeling that can support the body in reducing inflammation.
Rose (Rosa x damascena)
Many have used rose to relieve symptoms of menstrual cramps. It is also supportive as a topical treatment for acne, eczema, and rosacea. Some people swear by it mixed with coconut oil and rubbed on scars as a treatment to reduce scars.
Rosemary (Salvia rosemarinus)
Want to be more focused? Rosemary has a long history of supporting memory.
“There’s rosemary, that’s for remembrance; pray you, love,
remember.” -William Shakespeare (Hamlet, Act 4, Scene 5)
Try smelling rosemary essential oils. It’ll perk you up, reduce inflammation and stress and even reduce pain. It doesn’t hurt that it can repel bugs too.
Tea Tree (Melaleuca alternifolia)
Has long be used for cleaning many things. It is known for its ability to support scalp issues, fungus, and acne. It’s been used for lice, scabies, and ringworm too.
This is just barely scratching the surface of options. However, these are some of the most used essential oils and they are a good place to start. They are also the easiest to find. If you are ready to start learning more pick up a copy of my essential oil journal so you can dive in today.
One important thing when purchasing essential oils is quality. The quality will be dependent on who makes them so make sure you do your research. Good quality companies will do third-party testing and will share those results with you.
