Uses & Benefits of Essential Oils

Contents
What Are Essential Oils
How To Use | Common Uses
Popular Essential Oils
Choosing The Best Essential Oils
Where To Buy | Safety

For every problem there's a good chance that there is an essential oil for it! But what exactly are pure essential oils?

Essential oils are natural and highly concentrated chemical compounds found within plants. Once extracted, these natural compounds maintain the plant’s aroma and overall 'essence', to be bottled up and become what we know as pure essential oils. Whether they are being used for aromatherapy, diffusing or topical application, each essential oil contains an array of benefits that can enhance daily routines and assist in combatting life's unexpected challenges.

The healing powers of plants, particularly essential oils were first recognised by our ancestors in 1800 BCE, where they were used to strengthen immunity and heal the sick. Nowadays, essential oils are used as a natural alternative to help improve physical and mental health, wellbeing and overall quality of life.

As humans, our sense of smell is the only sense of the five that is connected to the limbic system - the part of the brain that influences emotions, behaviour and memory. Every time an essential oil is inhaled, the limbic system is activated; the brain will respond by sending chemical messengers linked to our nervous system and this will initiate an emotional response. Have you ever heard the saying "nothing is more memorable than a smell", there may be scientific truth to it after all!

• Wellbeing – Because of the way that essential oils interact with the brain, the uses and benefits of essential oils are known to enhance physical and emotional wellbeing.
• Sleep and Relaxation – There are many essential oil uses and benefits that have been seen to promote sleep and relaxation.
• Skincare – The benefits of essential oils in skincare are quite versatile, from treating acne and balancing oils, to reducing dark circles and wrinkles. Various essential oils are also used to treat eczema, psoriasis, scarring and pigmentation.
• Headaches & Nausea – Essential oil benefits have also been seen when managing headaches and nausea.
• Inflammation – Some essential oil uses are beneficial in easing inflammation. You can experience these essential oil benefits by diluting your essential oil in a carrier oil and applying topically.
• Muscle and Joint Pain – Many essential oils naturally carry anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic and analgesic (pain relieving) properties, and are commonly used to ease arthritis, muscle and joint pain.
• Household Cleaning – Because of their antiseptic, disinfecting and deodorizing properties, various essential oils hold many benefits when it comes to cleaning. In addition to their household cleaning capabilities, essential oils are also one of the many ways to keep your home smelling fresh, naturally!

For those wondering “what is aromatherapy?”, aromatherapy is the process of using natural plant extracts (essential oils) to receive the therapeutic benefits they offer. Every time we use pure essential oils in the bath, a massage or in an essential oil diffuser, we are practising a form of aromatherapy. When you inhale a natural aroma, its therapeutic properties stimulate part of the brain which encourages an emotional, and quite often a physical response.

• For instance, because of its anxiolytic and sedative properties, lavender essential oil is known to be one of the best essential oils for stress and sleep.

An aromatherapy diffuser allows you fill an entire space with the therapeutic aroma of an essential oil. Not only does this enhance your environment by creating a pleasant smell, an essential oil diffuser also allows us to safely receive the benefits of essential oils through inhalation.

• You may wish to add a few drops of your preferred oil to an essential oil diffuser, electric vaporizer or mini personal diffuser.
• You can always add a drop or two to your aromatherapy necklace.
• Or you may add a few drops of your favourite essential oil to an aromatherapy car diffuser.

When applied topically, some essential oils are known to promote healthy glowing skin, whilst others can ease joint and muscle pain through massage. We receive these essential oil benefits because once applied topically, the oil is absorbed deep into the skin and enters the blood stream. Essential oils also affect the skin cells and underlying muscles they are applied to. In saying this, it is important to remember that these oils are highly concentrated, which is why we always recommend diluting when in direct contact with the skin.

As a general guideline for healthy adults we recommend:

• 2 - 4% dilution for skin application
• 1 - 2% dilution for facial application

Here are some ways to use essential oils topically:

• Add your essential oil to a carrier oil or base massage oil to create a soothing massage oil.
• For a quick and convenient way to use essential oils topically, add your dilution to a glass roller bottle and apply to your pulse points (temples, wrists, behind your ears and soles of your feet).
• To ease muscle and joint pain and promote relaxation, add a few drops of your favourite essential oil to a warm bath.
• You can also add a couple of drops of your chosen essential oil to a daily moisturizer to boost its existing benefits.

When it comes to cleaning many people are moving away from chemical filled, store-bought products and are opting for natural alternatives, and this is where essential oils for cleaning can become quite useful!
Here are some of our favourite essential oils for cleaning:

• Peppermint essential oil contains antiseptic and disinfecting properties, making it a great multipurpose cleaner.
• Because of its antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral properties, Tea Tree essential oil is commonly used to clean kitchens and bathrooms.
• Lemon Myrtle essential oil contains disinfecting properties and acts as a natural de-greaser, making it great for cleaning kitchens.

Every essential oil has a unique chemical profile comprised of different essential oil properties. Because of this, specific essential oils provide different therapeutic benefits that can assist with specific concerns. Here we have listed some popular uses of essential oils, simply click on the drop downs to discover more!

Because there are so many different essential oils, choosing the best essential oil can be overwhelming. So here we have listed some of the most versatile essential oils:

• Peppermint Essential Oil - Its stimulating and clarifying properties are known to assist with fatigue and support concentration.
• Lavender Essential Oil - Is known to be one of the best essential oils for stress. It is also commonly used to relieve irritability and nervous tension.
• Lemon Essential Oil - Its antiseptic abilities make lemon oil effective in easing painful insect bites and cold sores, as well as treating cuts and wounds. Lemon is also known to be a great essential oil for acne.
• Orange Sweet Essential Oil - Not only known to alleviate cold and flu symptoms, Orange Sweet oil also has a relaxing and calming effect.
• Frankincense Olibanum Essential Oil - Commonly used in meditation because of its ability to clear the mind, it has also been said that frankincense essential oil can help relieve respiratory related illnesses, such as asthma and bronchitis.

Different essential oils contain different therapeutic benefits therefore, when choosing the best essential oil for you, you could start by asking yourself, "what benefits am I wanting to receive when using this essential oil?” Here are some other things to consider when browsing:

For those wanting to purchase essential oils, we always recommend finding an essential oil that is 100% pure. When an essential oil is 100% pure, it is free from synthetic fragrances and other nasties that may be harmful to your health. Unfortunately, when it comes to essential oil purity there are a lot of misleading and false claims within the market. So here we have put together some tips on how to decipher whether an essential oil is 100% pure:

• Find a reputable supplier who is willing to produce product documentation and information.
• Essential oils that are 100% pure should list the botanica species, this is commonly found in the ingredients list.
• Always check the ingredients list, 100% pure essential oils should contain only one ingredient, that being the botanical species of the plant.

Unfortunately, the essential oils industry is highly unregulated. Because of this, various organisations often use marketing terms such as ‘therapeutic grade’ to give the perception of ‘higher quality’, when this is not necessarily the case. At AWO, quality and traceability are of paramount importance. We only supply materials from approved sources because we want to ensure that our customers receive the highest quality every time they purchase.

Whilst essential oils can have profound benefits to your overall health and wellbeing, they are extremely powerful and concentrated and can be harmful when used incorrectly. It is also important to understand that essential oil safety is dependent on several factors, such as:

• Age
• Existing health conditions
• Medication usage
• How essential oils are used

• There have been claims made by multilevel organisations stating that essential oils can be safely ingested because they are 'natural' however, this is not necessarily the case. When taken internally, essential oils can poison the body and lead to serious health issues.
• Because these oils are so potent, we always recommend diluting when diffusing or applying topically.
• Some essential oils can also be harmful to use around pets and certain age groups. Therefore, it is always important to research prior to using specific oils.

When trying to determine what essential oils are toxic for dogs and pets, it is important to first do your research. Whilst there are many essential oils that are toxic to dogs and pets, here are some of the most common ones:

• • Peppermint
  • Pine Scotch
  • Tea Tree
  • Wintergreen
  • Ylang Ylang

Essential oils don’t necessarily have a ‘shelf life’, they can last for years. However, to obtain optimum freshness, we recommend using your essential oils within 24 months. It is also best to store your essential oils in a cool and dry place at room temperature, ensuring that they are not directly exposed to sunlight and are out of reach of children or pets.

Resources

Tanu, B & Harpreet, K, 2016, ‘Benefits of essential oils’, Journal Of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Research, vol. 8, no. 6, pp. 143 – 149

Djilani, A & Dicko, A, 2012, ‘The Therapeutic Benefits of Essential Oils,’ in Bouayed, J & Bohn, T. (ed.) Nutrition, Well-Being and Health. Croatia: InTech, pp. 155 – 177

Lee, B.H, J.s Lee & Y.C, Kim, 2016, ‘Hair growth-promoting effects of lavender oil in C57BL/6 mice,’ Toxicological Research, vol. 32, no. 2, pp. 103 108

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any illness.