Home » Healthy Living » Alternative Medicine » Alternative Remedies

A Beginner's Guide To Essential Oils

Ranked #12,176 in Healthy Living, #195,368 overall

What are Essential Oils?

I was first introduced to essential oils by my good friend GOOGLE :-) when i was looking up "easy ways to relieve stress" a few years back.

I had no idea what an essential oil was or how potent it could be. I was reluctant to try it. So i went online and read several reviews before deciding to actually buy a small bottle (half ounce) of 100% Pure Rosemary essential oil for 6 bucks.

That was about 2 years back. I still have the bottle. Not that I did not like it, but the quantity required for use is so miniscule that it lasts for such a long time.

Essential Oils are not really oils but concentrated volatile liquids obtained from various parts of different plants primarily by means of Steam distillation They are believed to have therapeutic properties .

For instance , Rosemary oil is effective for mental fatigue, circulation problems, pain relief for the muscular system, decongests the respiratory tract and is a skin and hair booster.

Table of Contents

  1. Lovely Lavender - The Most Popular Essential Oil !
  2. Always buy 100% Pure Essential Oils.
  3. Essential Oils For Hair
  4. Customize your New Hair care Recipe
  5. Best Carrier Oils For Hair
  6. Base Oils Recommended
  7. Essential Oils For Skin
  8. Best Carrier Oils for Skin
  9. Skin care oils
  10. List of useful essential oils
  11. Find your favourite essential oils!
  12. This is a very informative book About Essential Oils .
  13. Try a Cologne Recipe with Essential oils !
  14. Cologne part 2
  15. Enlighten me - Who is the best?
  16. Did you know?
  17. Let Us Debate
  18. The Most Important Thing
  19. Send me some Lens Love ?
  20. Check out My other Lenses !
  21. New Guestbook Comments

Lovely Lavender - The Most Popular Essential Oil !

If in doubt use LAVENDER !

Lavender is one of the most widely used essential oils. It can be used in combination with almost any other oil and has a variety of uses.There are soo many conditions that are treated by a drop of lavender that it never fails to impress me. So many times , I have gone to my medicine cabinet only to come back with a drop of lavender on my forehead and a relaxing smile on my face. Check out these great uses of lavender:

Lavender has relaxing , soothing and balancing properties.

It can be used to treat PMS, high blood pressure, depression, insect bites, acne, wounds, insomnia, headache and sinusitis.

Lavender essential oils are known to balance the emotion. It is calming and uplifting. It just makes you feel better.

It also helps with convulsion and epilepsy, delusions, nervous tension, trembling, panic, relaxing, stress, shock, and vertigo.

It treats colic, improves digestion, nausea, gas, and is soothing to the intestines.

Lavender is good for the treatment of various skin conditions like abscesses, acne, allergies, athlete's feet and fungal infections, boils, bruises, burns, cold sores, cuts, dermatitis, eczema, hives, inflammations, insect bites and stings, lice, psoriasis, rashes, ringworm, scabies, scars, shingles, stretch-marks, sunburns and wounds.

As an antiseptic and anti-bacterial, Lavender can be applied directly to burns and stings, where it will cool the pain. It will also stimulate blood flow to the affected area, to aid healing.

It is the most versatile all-purpose Essential Oil available. It's inexpensive, and can be applied directly to your skin, if necessary.

Lavender essential oil induces sleep and hence it is often recommended for insomnia.

It is used as a treatment for urinary disorders as it stimulates the flow of urine.

Lavender oil is extensively used for various respiratory problems including throat infections, flu, cough, cold, asthma, sinus congestion, bronchitis, whooping cough, laryngitis, and tonsillitis. The oil is either used in the form of vapor or applied on the skin of neck, chest and back.

Apart from the above benefits , lavender essential oil has a wonderfully refreshing aroma that acts as a good stress buster!

Always buy 100% Pure Essential Oils.

Loading

Essential Oils For Hair

Some of the essential oils have stimulating , nutritive and balancing properties . When these are used in combination with a carrier oil in the right proportion it promotes faster hair growth and makes hair more lustrous.

Carrier oils such as coconut oil , jojoba oil , sweet almond oil , grapeseed oil , sesame oil and olive oil act as a base in which a 1% or 2 % concentration of the essential oil is mixed .

This step is very important because almost all essential oils are UNSAFE for direct application on the skin . The essential oils are readily absorbed into the bloodstream and can cause toxicity.

You can pamper your hair with only a few drops of some of the following essential oils mixed in a base oil.
  • LAVENDER - is regenerative and stress relieving.
  • ROSEMARY - stimulates the scalp and regenerates follicles.
  • SAGE - stimulates hair growth and is a very effective hair tonic.
  • YLANG YLANG - promotes thick hair growth.
  • CLARY SAGE - excellent for menopausal women experiencing hair thinning as this essential oil helps regulate estrogen.
  • CHAMOMILE - helps reduce the hair loss due to stress.
  • CEDARWOOD - stimulates scalp thereby helping hair growth.
  • MYRTLE - stimulates , regenerates and balances oiliness on scalp

Customize your New Hair care Recipe

Loading

Best Carrier Oils For Hair

  • COCONUT OIL
  • JOJOBA OIL
  • SESAME OIL
  • EVENING PRIMROSE OIL
  • GRAPESEED OIL
  • HEMP OIL

Base Oils Recommended

Loading

Essential Oils For Skin

The ONLY ESSENTIAL OILS that CAN be directly applied to the skin are LAVENDER and CHAMOMILE . Even these two oils have to be applied in very small quantities(read 3 or 4 drops) as they are highly concentrated oils.

The Most Important Essential oil in skin care is HELICHRYSUM ITALICUM which has amazing healing properties. It is used for scar healing and is extremely regenarative. Other essential oils used in skin care are :
  • LAVENDER (again !!) - for its tissue regenerative properties and it is also anti-inflammatory.
  • ROSEMARY - Regenerates skin cells, heals scars.
  • CALENDULA - antiseptic , heals wounds , reduces inflammation and is an antioxidant.

Best Carrier Oils for Skin

  • COCONUT OIL
  • EVENING PRIMROSE OIL
  • ROSEHIP SEED OIL

Skin care oils

Loading

List of useful essential oils

  • TEA TREE
    Delivers a warm, spicy, medicinal aroma. It is used in colognes and aftershaves and as a scent in room sprays, antiseptics, gargles, shampoo, acne creams, soaps and other skin care products. Has been used to treat fungal infections, urinary infections, cystitis, herpes, warts, insect bites, infected sores, abscesses, acne, intestinal parasites, immune system dysfunction, and other infectious illness.
  • SANDALWOOD
    Rare perfume used in ancient rituals as a spiritually purifying ointment. Sandalwood is a valuable fixative which blends well with other oils. It is a very mild oil suitable for dry skin. Has also been used to treat dry skin, depression, diarrhea, nausea, acne, dry cough, insomnia and impotence.
  • PEPPERMINT
    A strong, cool, minty flavor. Has been used to treat impotence, mental fatigue, colic, indigestion, nausea, diarrhea, fainting, vertigo, halitosis and many respiratory conditions. Peppermint oil is refreshing in both taste and aroma. A popular flavor in breath lozenges, toothpaste and mouthwash.
  • PATCHOULI
    A widely used fixative in perfumes - but very, very strong and not admired by everyone. The very intense aroma is described as earthy, rich, sweet, balsamic, woody and spicy. Said to be a good sedative, nerve tonic and aphrodisiac. Has been used to combat depression, frigidity, anxiety, dandruff, wrinkles, herpes and other fungal infections.
  • JASMINE
    A little goes a long, long way with this strong, floral fragrance. It is estimated that about 90 percent of all perfumes have some Jasmine component. Has been used to remedy sleep disorders as well as aches and pains.
  • GERANIUM
    Delightful and strong floral fragrance. An ingredient in many perfumes, it has a rose-like quality with minty undertones. It is said to be a remedy for diabetes, acne, cellulite, eczema, aging skin, oily skin, depression and nervous tension. It has been used in the past as a natural anti-depressant.
  • FRANKINCENSE
    You have probably smelled this peppery aroma since it is used often for incense and meditation. Also used in perfumes, this yellow or light green oil has been used on aging skin, breast inflammations, uterine disorders and in preparation for childbirth.
  • EUCALYPTUS
    Its clearing properties make this a terrific massage oil in times of chest colds. It is also used in many commercially sold products for the same purpose. Also said to be a remedy for urinary infections, diabetes and intestinal parasites.
  • CYPRESS
    Its balsamic and pine needle-like aroma often used as a modifier in pine fragrances. Said to be a remedy for decrease energy, varicose veins, cellulite, asthma, excessive perspiration and hemorrhoids. Is also useful in cleansing the skin as an astringent.
  • CHAMOMILE
    Best known for its soothing effect. Said to be a remedy for dry skin and is a gentle oil. It is one of the few oils which can be used on inflamed skin. Believed to be a remedy for insomnia, irritability, arthritis, abscesses and over sensitivity (skin). Often used in perfumery , it is for the treatment of dyspepsia, nausea, anorexia, vomiting in pregnancy and flatulent dyspepsia associated with mental stress.
  • BERGAMOT
    Uplifting and refreshing oil, said to be good for confidence building. It is fresh, sweet-fruity, slightly balsamic. Bergamot is useful for oily and blemished skin, eczema, urinary tract infection, intestinal parasites, anxiety and depression. It is familiar as the flavoring in Earl Grey Tea.

Find your favourite essential oils!

This is a very informative book About Essential Oils .

The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy: Over 600 Natural, Non-Toxic and Fragrant Recipes to Create Health - Beauty - a Safe Home Environment

The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy: Over 600 Natural, Non-Toxic and Fragrant Recipes to Create Health - Beauty - a Safe Home Environment

by: Valerie Ann Worwood

Amazon Price: $9.00 (as of 06/01/2012)Buy Now

This book offers a comprehensive guide to the use of various essential oils. There are lots and lots of recipes for the preparation of various homemade health and beauty products that are specific to a certain condition. Worth it!

Try a Cologne Recipe with Essential oils !

powered by Youtube

Cologne part 2

powered by Youtube

Enlighten me - Who is the best?

Loading poll. Please Wait...

Did you know?

source - allnaturalprevention

Essential Oils are mentioned in the Bible over 500 times.

The original thieves of King Tut's tomb only robbed the essential oils leaving gold and other treasures behind.

Caravans of 3,000 camels transported a costly treasure, Frankincense, over 2,400 miles across the famous Frankincense Trail.

For many centuries Essential Oils were considered the treasure of empires and were used successfully as the original form of medicine.

Let Us Debate

Do you think that essential oils should be endorsed by physicians as a supplementary treatment ?

Loading

This is Alternative medicine - cannot be mixed with western medicine.

Can give it a try - Afterall there is a plethora of cures available in these oils.

miaponzo says:

I absolutely do (I happen to be an aromatherapist :)

RinchenChodron says:

Yes, absolutely, but we are a LONG WAY FROM THAT IN THE US. Too much resistance because of ignorance. I take my YL oils internally all the time.

 
Important!

The Most Important Thing

PREGNANT WOMEN AND LACTATING MOTHERS SHOULD NOT USE ESSENTIAL OILS WITHOUT CONSULTING THEIR PHYSICIAN.

Send me some Lens Love ?

I Heart you too!

This module only appears with actual data when viewed on a live lens. The favorite and lensroll options will appear on a live lens if the viewer is a member of Squidoo and logged in.

Add this to your lens »

Check out My other Lenses !

Loading

New Guestbook Comments

  • miaponzo Apr 2, 2012 @ 1:58 am | delete
    I definitely feel that alternative and allopathic should go hand in hand! Blessed!
  • jadp27 Apr 2, 2012 @ 11:27 pm | delete
    Thank you mia:))..you r a doll:)
  • three-em Mar 19, 2012 @ 7:28 am | delete
    very good lens..
    i learne somthing here..
    and actually my father was doing the same like you..
  • jadp27 Mar 19, 2012 @ 2:28 pm | delete
    interesting.. happy that i was able to convey some valuable information..thanks for stopping by..pls do read my other lenses too:)
  • Funny_Beekeeper Mar 9, 2012 @ 3:07 pm | delete
    So many valuable information - I certainly have to bookmark your lens as I'm very interested in essential oils and it's production.
    I like your lens ;)
  • jadp27 Mar 13, 2012 @ 12:06 am | delete
    thank you so much..do read it when u find time ..thanks for the squidlike!!
  • RinchenChodron Mar 5, 2012 @ 2:09 pm | delete
    Of course, you can feature my diffuser lens on this one. Thanks
  • jadp27 Mar 7, 2012 @ 12:07 pm | delete
    thank you for visiting my lens:)
  • jadp27 Mar 13, 2012 @ 12:07 am | delete
    i am unable to do so bcos it says work in progress. will sure try again later:)
  • JoshK47 Feb 26, 2012 @ 11:46 am | delete
    Wonderful info about oils here - looks like you covered all the essentials. Okay, bad pun... but still - great work! Blessed by a SquidAngel!
  • jadp27 Feb 26, 2012 @ 9:58 pm | delete
    wow..thank you again Josh.. U r really an angel!!:-))
  • d-artist Feb 21, 2012 @ 7:50 pm | delete
    Great informative lens! I can just smell all those varieties of essential oils
  • jadp27 Feb 21, 2012 @ 10:21 pm | delete
    Thank you d-artist.. I appreciate you for visiting and commenting on my lens..you should definitely try some and let me know which oils you liked!
  • Upon-Request Feb 20, 2012 @ 11:01 am | delete
    Great lens - I also use essential oils on an almost daily basis for everything from laundry to relieving congestion.
  • jadp27 Feb 20, 2012 @ 12:46 pm | delete
    wow ..i bet you live a stress - free life :-)) Thanks for visiting and sharing your opinion !
Show All

Table of Contents

by

jadp27

Hello Squidoos .. I am Jan from chicago and I love to find myself squidooing. I am surprised that it took so long for me to discover squidoo. Just Pos... more »

Feeling creative? Create a Lens!

Explore related pages

Related Tags