Healing-essential-oils

Essential oils have become an essential part of our day-to-day life. We use them when we are tired, we use them when we are not feeling well, and we use them when we want to pamper ourselves. We have all heard that essential oils are used for cosmetic and medical purposes, but very few actually know the numerous uses of essential oils.

To know about the benefits of essential oils in detail lets first try to understand a bit more about what these oils are. Essential oils are the natural aromatic compounds that can be found in various parts of plants such as in the stems, seeds, flowers, roots or bark etc. These are non water-based phyto-chemicals that are made up of volatile organic compounds. They are fat-soluble but unlike many vegetable and animal oils, they do not contain fatty lipids. They can be found in beautiful mild fragrances as well as the strong ones. Pure essential oils are translucent. They can be colorless or some shade of blue but other artificial colors can also be added if required. The best feature of essential oils is that they are very clean and our body doesn't take much time to absorb them.

We are aware of the main use of essential oils i.e. they are prominently used in aromatherapy. You have probably enjoyed a massage with one of these oils. The beautiful fragrance combined with the silky smooth texture of essential oils make massage a divine experience. Besides the aromatic properties, they are also enriched with medicinal values and can be used to cure many ailments such as body pain, arthritis pain, headaches and even menstrual pain. One has to be careful in selecting the essential oil for a massage because some of them in concentrated form can cause allergies or rash on the body. A very common example of such oil is lavender essential oil. If you try to use this oil in the pure form, you may end up having irritation on the body part that comes in contact with the oil. Therefore it is always better to dilute the essential oil before using it on body.

Essential oils are a major component in many beauty products these days. They are used to provide moisturizing effect in body lotions and hand creams etc. Some essential oils are used as aphrodisiacs. They are preferred over candles and incense sticks, as they are more effective and safer to use. Many people use perfumes with essential oils in a room before a party to give the room a refreshing aroma.

Here are some ways in which the essential oils can be used to provide relief from aches and pains:

Take two drops of camphor oil and mix it with vegetable oil. Now rub this mixture on the joints or aching muscles and get rid of the pain.

A drop of lavender oil when rubbed on the back of the neck will provide immediate relief from headache and backache.

If you are suffering from arthritis, make a mixture of one part basil oil and cinnamon oil and four parts of almond oil. Use this mixture to massage gently on the affected muscles.

Blend five drops of eucalyptus oil and peppermint oil and gently massage this mixture on the affected area to get relief from pain.

For relief from muscular pain or joint pain, massage the area with two drops of wintergreen oil.

Relief from aches and pains is not the only medical benefit of essential oils. They are used in treating high blood pressure, athlete's foot and skin diseases too. Here are some other medical problems that can also be treated with the help of such oils:

Inhaling rosemary oil is very refreshing and is also known to help in making the memory stronger. Some doctors even recommend that this oil should be inhaled while reading or studying to help in remembering what you are reading. It also helps in refreshing after a long tiring day at work or after traveling.

After a late night party you don't know how to get rid of your stubborn hang over? Don't worry, make a mixture of rosemary, lavender, lemon, fennel, grapefruit and juniper in same quantities and add around 10 drops of this mixture to your bathing water. After your bath with this water, your hangover will soon vanish.

If you put three drops of chamomile oil or lavender oil on your pillow, you will surely get a wonderful sleep.

For those who have digestion problems, put a drop of peppermint oil to half a glass of water and drink it taking small sips. This will take care of indigestion and stomach upsets.

A person suffering from fever should sponge his body with cool water with a drop of eucalyptus oil, lavender oil and peppermint oil added to it. This will help in bringing the temperature down.

Ten drops of lavender and geranium added to bathing water cure depression and anxiety.

Aloe Vera oil is used for treating problems such as eczema, burns, bruises, and psoriasis.

Skin diseases can be curd with the help of spearmint oil. Massage the infected area with two drops of this oil to gain the benefit. This oil is also used as anti-cancerous oil.

Throat and chest infections can be treated with Tea Tree oil.

These are few uses of essential oils. You should never attempt to use them without proper knowledge. You may be allergic or develop allergies if you don't use them properly and in right quantity. Women who are pregnant should be extra careful before using essential oils and should always take the advice of their doctor first.