If you’re looking for a natural potion that can improve your health conditions, then essential oils are what you should root for.Have you ever really spared a moment to think about what makes therapeutic aromatherapy, or even stress-busting massage therapy, so uplifting? It’s nothing but the magical properties of the essential oils!In the modern world, essential oils have found a plethora of uses, from the cosmetic to the healthcare industry. Cosmetic manufacturers are heavily dependent on these essential oils to create the most amazing perfumes and fragrances, while these oils are added to skin and body care products, like body washes and creams, to make them aromatic. Moreover, these oils act as natural antioxidants in beauty products, thus enhancing their usefulness. Some of these oils act as anti-inflammatory, anti-spasmodic, and antiseptic agents, due to which they’re often regarded as healing oil. It is unanimously believed that essential oils enhance the quality of living, but there’s no scientific evidence to prove their medicinal effectiveness. Nonetheless, research has brought to the light the fact that essential oils have made a major contribution to overcoming mental issues.In general, essential oils are safe and therefore widely used for their uncountable benefits, but it’s important to be very cautious and aware of the potential health hazards they might cause. Since most commercial essential oils are available in a concentrated form, it’s mandatory to dilute them before application on the skin. Oral contact with these oils should be avoided at all costs, and they should not be applied anywhere near the mouth or eyes as the introduction of these oils into the mucus membranes or eyes might cause allergic reactions, burning sensations, and irritation. Essential oils must always be kept at a safe distance from children as they might unknowingly ingest the liquid and suffer unnecessarily. For safety, pregnant women or lactating mothers should only use essential oils under the prescription of a medical expert.What are essential oils?Have you ever come across the term ’essential oil’? Essential oils are very different from the oils that are regularly used in kitchens. Let’s take a look into what exactly essential oils are, and get to know about their historical use.Aromatic oils were referred to as essential oils.One of the earliest shreds of evidence of the use of oils extracted from aromatic herbs dates back to 4500 BC when these oils were widely used by the Egyptians for different purposes. They were famous for their unparalleled knowledge of aromatic oils, ointments, and cosmetology. ‘Kyphi’, created out of 16 distinct ingredients, was considered the most popular herbal preparation, which the Egyptians utilized as medicine, incense, and perfume.Essential oils refer to hydrophobic liquid in its concentrated form. The liquid is nothing but chemical compounds extracted from a variety of beneficial plants.These oils are characterized by strong fragrances produced from a unique blend of aromatic compounds. The smell of these oils is stronger than that of the plants they’re sourced from, and are constituted by active ingredients of much higher levels.Did you know that Hippocrates, the revered Greek physician and ‘Father of Medicine’, presented the effects and usefulness of about 300 plants? These included peppermint, saffron, thyme, cumin, and marjoram.In India, the use of essential oils can be traced around 3,000 years back to ‘Ayurveda’. Healing potions were infused with these essential oils and were extensively used as cures for several diseases, like the bubonic plague. Not only are essential oils hailed for their healing properties, they are also held in high esteem as God’s manifestation in nature.The word ‘aromatherapy’ found its way into our vocabulary in the 20th century. Did you know that perfume oils cannot be used for aromatherapy? It’s because these oils have greater amounts of chemicals.Essential oils are not a modern discovery. They have been handed down through generations. Countries like China, Rome, Europe, and Persia have produced evidence of the use of essential oils. Are you aware that the ointment named ‘Myrrh’ was one of the important items carried by Greek soldiers for its embalming properties? It served as a protection against infections.How are essential oils made?Now that you are becoming familiar with the concept of essential oils, it is necessary to know how these oils are produced from scratch. So, without delay, let’s look into some of the most common methods that are implemented by essential oil manufacturers to derive these magical potions!Essential oils are naturally occurring. These oils are secreted by the external and internal glandular structures present in the plants. For instance, the fragrance emitted by lavender flowers can be easily transferred to your fingertips from a touch of their petals, while a eucalyptus leaf needs to be broken open to derive its aromatic compounds. However, for commercial use, a more concentrated form of the essence is required due to which plant extracts are collected to manufacture a range of pure essential oils.Plant extracts are converted to essential oils by implementing several manufacturing techniques, such as the water or steam distillation process and cold pressing.In the distillation process, hot steam or water is generally passed through the raw plant extracts so that the required compounds can be drawn out in the vaporized form. The vapor that is released by the steam is enclosed in a cooling chamber. This combination of plant vapor and steam follows the cooling process again in a separate chamber known as a condenser. The vapor converts to its liquid form inside the condenser, and then it passes through a separator that segregates the water from the oil. This floral water is called hydrosol. The oil that forms the upper layer is drained out and forms what we call an essential oil. Hydro-distillation follows a similar process. However, many plants can’t withstand this extracted method as it requires endurance against high temperatures.In cold pressing, the plant matter is crushed, squeezed, and pressed mechanically until the essential oils are released. The refreshing smell of lemon derived from lemon after zesting or squeezing its peel can serve as an easy example of this procedure.Expression is another method by which the extraction of citrus oils takes place.Enfleurage is an old technique implemented by people to bottle the fragrance of some delicate flowers, such as orange blossom and jasmine. Animal fat was combined with the extracted flowers and then compressed between glass pieces. After some days, the flowers were replaced by new ones, and this process continued for several cycles until the animal fat retained the aroma.To increase the quantity of the products, some manufacturers add the extracted liquid to the carrier oil, but this mixture immediately disqualifies these products as pure essential oils.Types Of Essential OilsYou would be really amazed to know that essential oils are available in many variations. To be precise, there are over 90 essential oils that are used for different purposes. Some are used as repellents to ward off insects, while a few others are used to attract pollinators. Here’s a list of some of the more common, popular, and beneficial essential oils that you can incorporate into your day-to-day routine.Lavender essential oil is actually one of the most popular as the smell of lavender is extremely soothing to the senses—fragrance oils, like lavender, help to overcome insomnia by boosting sleep. Lavender oil is also efficient in stress and anxiety relief. Lavender oil is also used in bath salts for a relaxing experience.Ylang-ylang oil is known to lower blood pressure levels, kill harmful bacteria, and promote relaxation. It is used in aromatherapy to sharpen thinking skills and memory.According to research, it has been underscored that peppermint essential oil can offer relief to irritable bowel syndrome. This form of medication should be recommended by a medical professional. Capsules can be taken under prescription. Peppermint essential oil helps with headaches, joint pain, itching, and muscle aches with topical application.Rosemary essential oil is associated with improved brain function, pain relief, and excellent hair growth stimulation.Lemon essential oil finds use in households as a common cleaning agent. The citrusy aroma of the oil acts as a mood enhancer too.Eucalyptus essential oil is mainly used for curing asthma and nasal congestions.Sage essential oil is mostly used in aromatherapy as it helps to reduce stress.Tea tree oil, or melaleuca, was previously used by the aboriginals of Australia to treat wounds. In the modern world, tea tree oil takes care of insect bites, acne problems, and athlete’s foot. This essential oil is in high demand due to its benefits to the skin. For instance, it can be used to treat problems like eczema and dry skin by simply combining the oil with a carrier oil or a few drops of moisturizer.Coconut oil is also one of the popular essential oils that is extensively used for massage therapy as well as skincare. You can prepare your personal massage oil by mixing a carrier oil and coconut oil, jojoba oil, olive oil, or lavender oil.Some other essential oils include anise oil, ajwain oil, basil oil, black pepper oil, birch oil, camphor oil, cannabis flower essential oil, cedar oil, clove oil, dill oil, fenugreek oil, geranium oil, German chamomile essential oil, ginger oil, jasmine oil, lemon oil, moringa oil nutmeg oil, pine oil, sandalwood oil, and others. The list is quite endless.Health Benefits Of Essential OilsThe effectiveness of essential oils actually depends on the purpose they’re used for. If you are a regular visitor of spas and massage parlors, then you must be aware of the therapeutic properties of essential oils. However, essential oils have got more going for them. These oils play a really vital role in our daily lives. Today, health experts recommend the use of essential oils to deal with numerous health issues. However, some people have developed the notion that an essential oil is free from side effects since it’s derived from natural sources, but this doesn’t hold true. So, it’s time to learn about some of the health benefits, as well as the potential ill effects, associated with essential oils.Essential oils are absolutely indispensable for medical practitioners, particularly for aromatherapists. In aromatherapy, these essential oils are diffused into the air to create a soothing environment. This is the most significant part of aromatherapy as it is believed that inhaling the essential oils benefits the body as they make their way to the lungs and, gradually, to the bloodstream.According to a study, aromatherapy is also used to clear out sinuses, wherein a vapor rub spiked with menthol is used to help with dyspnea or shortness of breath and congestion. Apart from inhaling these oils, massaging them in addition to carrier oils also helps to transfer the active ingredients to the skin.Has anyone ever informed you that diffusing essential oils actually aids the circulation of more atmospheric oxygen inside rooms? You can get yourself an essential oil diffuser or an aroma stick, or make your room sweet-smelling just by preparing a potpourri of your choice!Essential oils, like peppermint essential oil or eucalyptus oil, can alleviate sinus infections, colds, and the flu. They can also be used for sore muscles as the cooling properties provide relief to the pain.Headaches can also be treated with the help of essential oils, but excessive inhalation can sometimes trigger headaches.Essential oils work wonders for treating depression and anxiety. They are amazing stress busters. Simply add some lavender essential oil to your bath salts and prepare a warm bath. You can even read a book and sip on peppermint tea while soaking in the water. This will refresh your body and mind while uplifting your mood.Essential oil must never be applied to the skin in its undiluted form without the guidance and authorization of a medical professional. Also, one must bear in mind that swallowing essential oils can be dangerous because they’re available in extremely concentrated forms, and can cause allergic reactions and irritations if not used properly. It is advisable to do a patch test before you start applying essential oils to your skin.Some of the major side effects caused by the use (or improper use) of essential oil are burning sensations, skin irritation, and in some cases, asthma attacks. An essential oil can also prove to be hazardous and sometimes fatal, especially when ingested. For instance, a case study in 2012 revealed an almost-fatal incident due to the ingestion of peppermint oil. While this oil generally doesn’t come with such severe outcomes, it can be damaging to people for whom the oil acts as a toxin. In case of accidental ingestion of essential oils, one must urgently contact poison control.Essential oils can be found in every other household these days due to their innumerable uses, but if you’re new to the use of these oils, then you might be ignorant of their expiry. Yes, essential oils expire! These oils expire due to the process of oxidation. However, the shelf life of each oil differs. Some of them have a shelf life of three to four years (like lavender and star anise), while others last for a year to two (like mandarin, lemon, and orange sweet). You can store them in refrigerator, but be sure to check the expiry date before using any of these essential oils.
If you’re looking for a natural potion that can improve your health conditions, then essential oils are what you should root for.
